Some Hidden Facts of John Milton's Life

John Milton, the renowned English poet and writer, led a fascinating life filled with remarkable achievements and intriguing aspects. Here are some lesser-known hidden facts about John Milton's life:

 

Visual Impairment and Blindness:

One of the most significant hidden aspects of Milton's life is his visual impairment. Milton began experiencing vision problems in his early 30s and eventually became completely blind by the age of 43. Despite his blindness, Milton continued to write and dictate his works, including his epic masterpiece, "Paradise Lost," with the help of assistants.

 

Political Activism:

Milton was actively involved in politics and held strong political convictions. He championed republican ideals and advocated for the abolition of the monarchy. During the English Civil War, Milton served as a propagandist for the Commonwealth, writing influential political tracts in support of the Parliamentarians.

 

Marriage and Personal Tragedy:

Milton's personal life was marked by both happiness and tragedy. He married three times, with his first two marriages ending in the untimely deaths of his wives. His first wife, Mary Powell, left him after a month of marriage, but they eventually reconciled. Tragically, his second wife, Katherine Woodcock, died shortly after their marriage. Milton's third marriage to Elizabeth Minshull brought him lasting companionship and support.

 

Polyglot and Linguistic Abilities:

Milton possessed exceptional linguistic abilities and was a polyglot. He was fluent in several languages, including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, French, and Spanish. His extensive knowledge of languages allowed him to draw from a wide range of literary and philosophical sources, enriching his works with diverse influences.

 

Education and Intellectual Pursuits:

Milton received an excellent education, attending the prestigious St. Paul's School and then proceeding to Christ's College, Cambridge. He excelled academically and developed a reputation for his intellectual prowess. Milton's voracious appetite for knowledge led him to become a lifelong scholar, constantly seeking to expand his understanding of various subjects.

 

Controversial Writing and Censorship:

Milton's writings often courted controversy and drew the attention of authorities. His pamphlet "Areopagitica" is a renowned defense of freedom of speech and expression. However, his radical ideas and provocative writing style brought him under scrutiny, and some of his works were banned or censored during his lifetime.

 

Influence on Later Writers:

Milton's works have had a profound impact on subsequent generations of writers and thinkers. His epic poem "Paradise Lost" in particular continues to be widely studied and regarded as one of the greatest works in the English language. Many renowned authors, including William Blake, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and T.S. Eliot, drew inspiration from Milton's writings and incorporated his themes and ideas into their own works.

 

John Milton's life was filled with remarkable accomplishments and fascinating aspects that often go unnoticed. From his visual impairment and political activism to his linguistic abilities and enduring literary influence, these hidden facts shed light on the multi-faceted nature of this influential poet and writer.

John Keats as a Poet of Beauty, Sensuousness, Escapism, and Melody.

 Exploring the Enigmatic Writing Style of John Keats

John Keats, one of the most revered Romantic poets, is celebrated for his evocative and profound poetry that continues to captivate readers to this day. His writing style, characterized by a fusion of sensuousness, vivid imagery, and deep emotional resonance, remains an enigmatic force in the realm of literature. In this article, we delve into the distinctive elements of Keats' writing style, shedding light on the techniques that contributed to his enduring literary legacy.

1. Sensuousness and Beauty:

Keats' poetry is often hailed for its unparalleled sensuousness and emphasis on beauty. He sought to engage readers' senses through rich and vivid descriptions, immersing them in the sensory experiences of his poetic world. In "Ode to a Nightingale," Keats writes:

"Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations trample thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown: Perhaps the self-same song that found a path Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien corn; The same that oft-times hath Charmed magic casements, opening on the foam Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn."

Through this excerpt, Keats transports the reader into an ethereal realm where the song of the nightingale becomes timeless, evoking a sense of awe and beauty.

2. Imagery and Visual Appeal:

The poet's masterful use of imagery is a hallmark of his writing style. Keats had a remarkable ability to paint vivid and striking images through his words. In "To Autumn," he creates a tapestry of imagery:

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease,"

Through these lines, Keats transports us to an idyllic autumn landscape, painting a picture of ripe fruits, buzzing bees, and the warmth of the sun. The imagery creates a multisensory experience, evoking the sights, sounds, and scents of the season.

3. Musicality and Lyricism:

Keats' poetry exudes a remarkable musicality and lyrical quality. His verse is characterized by a delicate and harmonious flow, with careful attention to rhythm, rhyme, and meter. In "Ode to a Grecian Urn," he writes:

"Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness, Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,"

The alliteration and soft, melodic sounds create a musical cadence that enhances the reading experience. Keats' lyrical quality allows the words to resonate and linger in the reader's mind, adding to the emotional impact of his poetry.

4. Contemplation of Transience and Mortality:

A recurring theme in Keats' poetry is the contemplation of transience and the fleeting nature of life. In "Ode on Melancholy," he explores the bittersweet nature of human experience:

"She dwells with Beauty—Beauty that must die; And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips Bidding adieu; and aching Pleasure nigh, Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips."

Keats acknowledges the inevitable passage of time and the ephemeral nature of beauty and joy, urging readers to embrace life's transient moments and find meaning within them.

5. Romantic Idealism and Escape:

Keats was deeply influenced by the Romantic ideals of the era, seeking to transcend the limitations of the human condition through his poetry. In "Ode to a Nightingale," he writes:

"Away! away! for I will fly to thee, Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards, But on the viewless wings of Poesy,"

Keats uses poetic language to escape the confines of reality, seeking solace and inspiration in the realm of imagination and art. His writing invites readers to join him on this journey of exploration and transcendence.

Conclusion:

John Keats' writing style continues to fascinate and inspire readers across generations. Through his sensuousness, vivid imagery, and contemplation of life's fleeting nature, he creates a unique and enduring literary experience. Keats' ability to transport readers to realms of beauty and introspection through his poetry remains a testament to his mastery of the written word.

How to Improve Your Critical Thinking

 Are you looking for ways to sharpen your critical thinking skills? Critical thinking is an incredibly important skill in today’s fast-paced and complex world, as it allows us to make better decisions more quickly. Here are some tips that can help improve your critical thinking:

1) Develop a skeptical mindset – Being willing to question the status quo is essential when it comes to being able to see problems or potential solutions from different angles. Learning how to take in various points of view so that you come to a well-rounded conclusion will help foster good ideas.

2) Improve knowledge base - Knowledge can play an integral role in improving one's capability to critically think through issues. Reading newspapers, magazines, online blogs and whatever material interests you helps increase general awareness about the world around us and provides insight on current topics relevant to decision-making processes.

3) Dedicate time - Carving out time each day specifically dedicated towards thoughtful consideration over various topics can be most beneficial if done regularly (at least once per week). As thoughtfully working through particular questions or puzzles usually takes longer than coming up with quick answers only based on common sense intuition; this process should occur slowly over months rather than just a few days/weeks

4) Rely on evidence: When forming an opinion or presenting an argument of your own, make sure that each point is backed by reliable information or empirical data whenever possible. This allows others (and yourself!) to evaluate the validity of your claims without bias clouding their judgment.

5) Keep track of assumptions: All points rely on certain assumptions; keep track of these as you go through any discussions so as not to miscommunicate key details or take something out of context later on if necessary. Remember to also challenge any underlying assumptions made by those debating against you - this alone brings great insight into understanding both sides more deeply!

5)Analyze from all angles: Take some time before responding impulsively when presented with an opposing view – quite often there lies within alternate interpretations which were overlooked initially due either our attitude towards the topic itself or lack thereof relevant experience/knowledge about it beforehand! Try brainstorming different perspectives prior jumping headfirst into concluding prematurely from one limited angle only; again here too look after underlying background information present before formulating conclusions based upon half-truths & misunderstandings :)

7)Practice regularly: Put aside worries about perfect results first times round – no critic has ever truly mastered such feat ;) It does however come through regular practice sessions like anything else worthwhile learning eventually resulting worthy experiences even if seemingly little progress appears noticeable during process improve gradually over period spent ‘in field' going along correctly aware prospective paths ahead appear illusive frequent feeling certainty passing across path soon separate unclear confusing moments afterwards…repeat above steps repeatedly until recognizable patterns show themselves amongst chaos experienced early immersion days removed hindsight greatly advantageous since far easier interpret observable events current life perspectives favourably gauged taking account related consequences using accurate knowledge allowed pursue believed goals confidently minimise potential risks occurring especially end reaching chosen journey .

What is Yoga; It's Kinds, Types, and Techniques.

 

Yoga is a discipline that involves both the mind and the body. Yoga approaches vary in how they combine physical postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and relaxation.

Yoga is a centuries-old discipline that may have originated in India. Movement, meditation, and breathing techniques are used to promote mental and physical well-being.

There are several styles of yoga as well as numerous disciplines within the practice.

This article looks at the history, philosophy, health and wellness advantages, and many types of yoga.

What is yoga?

What exactly is yoga?

Yoga is a centuries-old discipline that includes physical postures, meditation, and deep breathing.

Regular yoga practice can improve endurance, strength, tranquilly, flexibility, and overall well-being.

Yoga is now a popular form of exercise around the world. One in every seven persons in the United States performed yoga in the previous 12 months, according to a 2017 nationwide surveyTrusted Source.

History

The term "yoga" first appears in the Rig Veda, a compilation of ancient scriptures. Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit term "yuj," which means "unity" or "joining."

Yoga may be dated back over 5,000 years to northern India.

During the late 1890s, Indian monks transmitted their knowledge of yoga across the West. By the 1970s, modern yoga teachings had become increasingly popular in Western nations.

Philosophy

Yoga's main idea is about uniting the mind, body, and spirit.

Yoga is divided into six branches. Each branch has a distinct focus and set of features.

The six branches are as follows

Hatha yoga is a physical and mental form of yoga that strives to prepare the body and mind.

Raja yoga: This branch entails meditation and rigorous obedience to the eight limbs of yoga, which are a sequence of disciplinary measures.

Karma yoga is a service path that aims to create a future free of negativity and selfishness.

 

Bhakti yoga strives to build a devotional path, a healthy method to channel emotions and cultivate acceptance and tolerance.

Jnana yoga: This form of yoga focuses on wisdom, the path of the scholar, and intellectual development via study.

Tantra yoga: This is the route of ritual, ceremony, or relationship culmination.

 

Chakras

 

The word "chakra" means "spinning wheel" in Sanskrit.

 

According to yoga, chakras are energy, cognition, feeling, and physical body centres. Chakras, according to yogic teachings, influence how people see reality through emotional reactions, wants or aversions, levels of confidence or fear, and even bodily symptoms and repercussions.

When the energy in a chakra becomes blocked, it causes physical, mental, or emotional imbalances that emerge as symptoms like anxiety, tiredness, or poor digestion.

Asanas are the many physical positions found in Hatha yoga. Yoga practitioners employ asanas to release energy and activate an unbalanced chakra.

Each of the seven primary chakras has its own focus:

Sahasrara: The crown chakra, located at the top of the head, represents spiritual connection.

Ajna: The third eye chakra, located between the brows, is associated with intuition.

The throat chakra is associated with immunity and spoken communication.

Anahata: The heart chakra, located in the centre of the chest, has an impact on both professional and personal relationships. Any abnormalities in this chakra will disrupt the regulation of oxygen, hormones, tissue, and organs.

Manipura: The solar plexus chakra is located in the stomach. It represents self-assurance, wisdom, and self-discipline.

Svadhishthana: The sacral chakra combines pleasure, well-being, and energy. It is located beneath the belly button.

Muladhara: At the base of the spine, the root chakra connects the mind and body to the soil, keeping a person grounded. It is in charge of the sciatic nerves as well as the parasympathetic nervous system.

 

Types

Modern yoga emphasises fitness, strength, agility, and breathing. It can aid in the improvement of physical and mental health.

Yoga comes in a variety of styles. A style should be chosen depending on a person's goals and fitness level.

Yoga techniques and types include:

Ashtanga Yoga

This yoga practice incorporates ancient yoga concepts. However, it gained popularity in the 1970s.

Ashtanga uses the same postures and sequences to quickly connect every action to the breath.

Bikram Yoga

 

Bikram yoga, commonly known as hot yoga, is practiced in artificially heated rooms with temperatures nearing 105oF and 40% humidity. It includes 26 postures and a two-breathing-exercise routine.

Hatha Yoga

This is a catch-all phrase for any style of yoga that teaches physical postures. Hatha sessions are often used to provide a gentle introduction to the fundamental positions of yoga.

Iyengar Yoga

This style of yoga focuses on finding the proper alignment in each pose using a variety of props such as blocks, blankets, straps, chairs, and bolsters.

 Kripalu Yoga

This type teaches practitioners how to understand, accept, and learn from their bodies. A Kripalu yoga student learns to identify their own level of practice by going inside.

Breathing exercises and moderate stretches are frequently followed by a series of individual positions and a final relaxation.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga is a meditation practice that tries to unleash pent-up energy.

Typically, a Kundalini yoga session begins with chanting and finishes with singing. In between, it includes asana, pranayama, and meditation, all of which attempt to achieve a certain result.

Yoga for strength

Practitioners created this aggressive and athletic style of yoga based on the conventional Ashtanga method in the late 1980s.

Sivananda

The core of this method is a five-point concept.

This philosophy maintains that proper breathing, relaxation, diet, exercise, and positive thinking work together to create a healthy yogic lifestyle.

Sivananda practitioners do 12 basic asanas, which are preceded by Sun Salutations and followed by Savasana.

Viniyoga is a kind of yoga that emphasizes form over function, breath and adaptability, repetition and holding, and the art and science of sequencing.

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga focuses on keeping passive positions for extended periods of time. This yoga technique focuses on deep tissues, ligaments, joints, bones, and fascia.

Yoga for pregnant women

Prenatal yoga incorporates poses designed specifically for pregnant women. This yoga technique may assist people to get back in shape after having a baby, as well as promote their health throughout pregnancy.

Yoga for relaxation

This is a calming yoga technique. A restorative yoga class consists of four or five simple poses held with props such as blankets and bolsters to sink into deep relaxation without exerting any effort.

Benefits of Yoga

According to a 2012 Trusted Source poll, 94% of individuals who practice yoga do so for the sake of their health.

Yoga offers several physical and mental advantages, including

·         enhancing muscular strength

 

·         increasing adaptability

 

·         promoting better breathing

 

·         promoting heart health

 

·         assisting in addiction treatment

 

·         reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain

 

·         improving sleep

 

·         enhancing overall well-being and quality of life

 

It is advisable to consult a medical professional, if possible, before starting a yoga practice.

Risks and side effects

Many styles of yoga are quite gentle and hence safe for people when guided by a well-trained instructor.

It is uncommon to have a significant injury when doing yoga. Sprains and strains are the most prevalent injuries among yoga practitioners.

However, before beginning a yoga practice, people should consider a few dangerous factorsTrusted Source.

If you are pregnant or have an ongoing medical issue, such as bone loss, glaucoma, or sciatica, you should visit a healthcare expert before beginning yoga.

Some people may need to modify or avoid certain yoga poses because of their medical condition.

Beginners should avoid advanced poses and difficult techniques, such as a Headstand, Lotus Pose, and forceful breathing.

When managing a condition, people should not replace conventional medical care with yoga or postpone seeing a healthcare professional about pain or any other medical problem.

Summary

Yoga is an old discipline that has evolved over time

Modern yoga focuses on poses designed to stimulate inner peace and physical energy. Fitness was not as important in ancient yoga. Instead, it centered on increasing mental attention and spiritual vitality.

There are several styles of yoga accessible. The style chosen by a person will be determined by their expectations and level of physical agility.

People with certain health conditions, such as sciatica, should approach yoga slowly and with caution.

Yoga can help support a balanced, active lifestyle.

Mental and Physical Benifits of Yoga; Psychological Benifits of Yoga

   Maintaining a regular yoga practice can provide physical and mental health benefits

Physical and Mental Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has been practiced for around 5,000 years. While yoga was initially a spiritual discipline, the practice of yoga today, like it has always done, focuses on creating a balance between mind and body. Yoga is practiced by 55 million Americans on a daily basis, with millions more picking it up during the epidemic.

 

Yoga can be practiced in a variety of ways, including alone, in group courses, or digitally, but all incorporate physical positions, regulated breathing, and meditation or relaxation. Those who practice the warrior pose or downward-facing dog on a daily basis will attest to the numerous advantages of yoga.

Physical benefits of Yoga

You don't have to take a yogi's word for it; a growing corpus of medical evidence reveals that yoga has a variety of physical advantages, including: 

• ·         Strength and flexibility have improved. 
• ·         improved posture and balance  
• ·         Reduced back pain
• ·          Reduced symptoms of arthritis  
• ·         Improved heart health and reduced inflammation
• ·         improved breathing and lung function
• ·         Relaxation and sleep improvement

Mental benefits of Yoga

Aside from its physical advantages, one of the most visible characteristics of yoga is its capacity to aid people with their mental health.

Researchers have been examining the influence of yoga on various facets of mental health since the 1970s, notably as a therapy for anxiety and depression. The Harvard Mental Health Letter gives solid evidence that regular yoga practice will:

·         Reduce the negative effects of stress 

·         Anxiety and depression relief

·         Be a self-soothing method in the same way that meditation, relaxation, and exercise are.

·         Increase your energy.

One of the research examines a group of women who identify as 'emotionally troubled.' For 12 weeks, they attended two 90-minute yoga courses per week. At the end of the trial, depression ratings improved by 50%, anxiety levels improved by 30%, and overall well-being scores increased by 65% when compared to the control group that did not engage in the lessons.

Yoga and hormones

Out with the bad chemicals—According to one research, yoga decreases two of your body's stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline, lowering stress and even acting as an antidepressant. By engaging our parasympathetic nerve system, yoga can help reduce our fight, flight, or freeze reaction. This reduces chronic stress patterns, calms the mind, focuses attention, and improves concentration.

As one works through the postures and positions of yoga, the brain increases the amounts of feel-good chemicals such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphin, which are responsible for feelings of relaxation and contentment.

Physiological response

Because yoga lowers the body's stress response system, it also soothes physiological responses, lowering heart rate, and blood pressure, and easing breathing. Yoga has also been shown to enhance heart rate variability, which is a measure of the body's capacity to adapt to stress more flexibly.

Yoga for quality of life

Why do individuals do yoga? More than 90% of yoga practitioners practice for flexibility, stress alleviation, health, and physical fitness. Yoga encourages self-reflection, kindness and self-compassion, and ongoing growth and self-awareness.

Yoga provides a disciplined technique to relax, cleanse the mind, and become quiet for individuals who suffer from anxiety or despair. It also helps in the improvement of mental health and quality of life.

Yoga, like it has been for thousands of years, maybe a powerful tool for establishing harmony between mind and body. 

Learn about the many styles of yoga and how they may be utilized to help you stay fit.

The osteopathic approach to wellness, like yoga, emphasizes your body's inherent drive toward health and self-healing.

"The goal of yoga is to cultivate strength, awareness, and harmony in both the mind and the body," Natalie Nevins, DO, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood, California, says.

While there are over 100 distinct styles of yoga or schools, most sessions incorporate breathing exercises, meditation, and taking postures (also known as asana or poses) that stretch and flex specific muscle groups.

Learn about the many styles of yoga and how they may be utilized to help you stay fit.

The osteopathic approach to wellness, like yoga, emphasizes your body's inherent drive toward health and self-healing.

“The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness, and harmony in both the mind and body,” explains Natalie Nevins, DO, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood, California.

While there are over 100 distinct styles of yoga or schools, most sessions incorporate breathing exercises, meditation, and taking postures (also known as asana or poses) that stretch and flex specific muscle groups.

Physical benefits

"Yoga's relaxation methods can help with chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome," notes Dr Nevins. "Yoga can also help with blood pressure and sleeplessness."

Yoga also has the following physical advantages:

• enhanced adaptability
• improved muscle tone and strength
• better breathing, energy, and vitality
• maintaining a healthy metabolism
• slimming down
• Cardiovascular and circulatory health
• enhanced athletic performance
• protection from injury

mental benefits

Aside from the physical advantages, one of the most important aspects of yoga is how it helps people manage stress, which has been shown to have negative consequences on the body and mind. "Stress can manifest itself in a variety of ways," adds Dr. Nevins, "including back or neck discomfort, sleeping issues, migraines, drug misuse, and an inability to focus." “Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.”

Yoga's combination of meditation and breathing can aid in mental well-being. According to Dr Nevins, "regular yoga practice develops mental clarity and tranquillity; enhances bodily awareness; reduces chronic stress patterns; calms the mind; concentrates attention; and sharpens concentration." She adds that body and self-awareness are especially important "since they can aid with early diagnosis of physical disorders and enable for early preventive intervention."

Yoga helps in developing a Better Body Image

Yoga cultivates inner consciousness. It directs your attention to your body's current capabilities. It aids in the development of breath and mental and physical power. It has nothing to do with physical appearance.

Mirrors are not usually found in yoga studios. This allows people to focus their attention within rather than on how a stance or the people around them appear. According to surveys, persons who practiced yoga were more conscious of their bodies than those who did not. They were also more satisfied with and less critical of their bodies. Yoga has become an essential component in the treatment of eating disorders and programs that promote healthy body image and self-esteem for these reasons.

Yoga helps in becoming a mindful eater

Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to what you are feeling in the current moment without passing judgment on yourself. 

Yoga has been demonstrated to promote awareness not only in class but also in other aspects of a person's life.  

Mindful eating is defined by researchers as a nonjudgmental awareness of the physical and emotional feelings connected with eating. They developed a questionnaire to measure mindful eating using these behaviors: 

Consuming even when full

·         Being aware of how food looks, tastes, and smells

·         Eating in response to environmental cues, such as the sight or smell of food

·         Eating when sad or stressed (emotional eating)

·         Eating when distracted by other things

 

According to their ratings, the researchers discovered that persons who practiced yoga were more aware eaters. Better mindful eating scores were connected with both years of yoga practice and the number of minutes of practice per week. Yoga practice makes you more conscious of how your body feels. This increased awareness may be carried over to dinner, as you relish each bite or sip, noting how food smells, tastes, and feels in your mouth.

Weight Loss and Maintainance

Yoga practitioners and mindful eaters are more in tune with their bodies. They may be more responsive to hunger and fullness cues.

People who practiced yoga for at least 30 minutes once a week for at least four years gained less weight during middle adulthood, according to the study. Overweight people actually dropped weight. In general, those who practiced yoga had lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than those who did not. This was linked to awareness by the researchers. Mindful eating can help you develop a better connection with food and eating.

Enhancing fitness

Yoga is well-known for its ability to relieve mental and physical strain. However, it can have an effect on a person's ability to exercise.

 

The researchers looked at a small sample of inactive people who had never done yoga before. Participants exhibited improved muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory fitness after eight weeks of practicing yoga at least twice a week for a total of 180 minutes.

Cardiovascular benefits

Several modest studies have revealed that yoga has a favorable effect on cardiovascular risk factors: it helps persons with hypertension reduce their blood pressure. Yoga most likely restores "baroreceptor sensitivity." This helps the body sense imbalances in blood pressure and maintain balance.

Another study discovered that practicing yoga improved lipid profiles in both healthy and coronary heart disease patients. It also decreased the requirement for drugs in persons with non-insulin-dependent diabetes who had high blood sugar levels. Because of its cardiovascular and stress-relieving effects, yoga is increasingly being included in many cardiac rehabilitation programmes.

Improve your IQ with Yoga; Excercise to Boost Your Memory

   Improve your IQ with Yoga

Your IQ is not your birthmark for the rest of your life. There are several ways to boost your IQ if you decide to do so. All you need to do is be sincere and persistent. The drive to adapt, learn, and succeed gives rise to the concept of expanded intellect.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that frequent yoga practice can improve your IQ and memory. Yoga has been shown in studies to improve not just fitness, health, coordination, response time, and memory, but also IQ.

How can yoga help?

Are you aware that low amounts of oxygen might impair your brain function? Your brain, like all essential organs, requires enough oxygen.

Yogic breathing practices (Pranayama), particularly deep breathing techniques, enhance the brain's oxygen supply. This improves your focus and memory.

 

Yoga teaches us how to focus by utilizing tried-and-true body-awareness techniques. When we are more concentrated, we are more efficient and have more energy for the work at hand. People who practice Transcendental Meditation demonstrate the ability to solve problems and acquire and recall information better probably because they're less distracted by their thoughts.

Research speaks

According to the Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation in Bangalore, India, comparative research of three distinct Yoga modules on Logical Memory in school children found that uni-nostril breathing boosts spatial memory scores without lateralized effects. As a result, the current study examined the impact of an integrated approach to yoga module (IAYM) on schoolchildren's performance in a logical memory test.

 

This study looked at the efficacy of IAY on logical memory in schoolchildren who went through a 10-day residential yoga program. The Wechsler memory scale was used to test logical memory, and all three groups improved significantly after their individual therapies. There was no significant difference between the groups in either males or females.

Yoga can help you strengthen your memory, battle forgetfulness, and raise your IQ.

 

Yoga activities sharpen the brain functions of attention, cognition, sensory information processing, and visual perception. Hatha yoga, which consists of asanas, pranayama, meditation, and Om chanting, increases blood flow to the brain. This helps to relax the mind and improves attention.

 

Memory power is given a boost, while also improving the ability to maintain focus and concentration.

 

US Health Insurance System

 How Does the US Health System Work?

Healthcare in the United States is organized in a complex bureaucracy. While in the rest of the world healthcare facilities are owned mostly by governments or by private sector businesses, in the US a large share of hospitals and clinics are owned by private non-profit organizations.

Yet, the United States is the country that has the highest healthcare expenditures in the world. While these expenditures are covered in a large share by public payers as by Federal institutions, or State and local governments, they can also be covered by private insurance and individual payments.

At the same time, unlike most developed nations, the US health system does not provide health care to its entire population. As there is no single nationwide system of health insurance, the United States primarily relies on employers who voluntarily provide health insurance coverage to their employees and dependents.

In addition, the government has programs that tend to cover healthcare expenses for the fragile parts of society as the elderly, disabled, and the poor. These programs differ from one another, and all have a specific kind of people that are subjects to.

Getting health insurance in the US is not an easy thing. Someone may think that once you have money everything is easy peasy, but in fact, things are a bit more complicated. One must be very careful and look out to pick the right insurance.

Health Insurance in the United States for non-Citizens

The United States government does not provide health insurance for all its people, and health insurance is not obligatory for those living in the US. It is optional but highly recommended and necessary since health services are very costly, more than in any other country anywhere across the globe.

There are two types of health insurance in the US, private and public. Most people use a combination of both. The US public health insurances are Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

·         Travel insurance for visitors in the USA

·         Health insurance for international students in the USA

·         Health insurance for dependents of international students.

·         Health insurance for J-1 visa holders

·         Health insurance for foreign workers on an H-1B visa

·         Health insurance for dependents on an H-4 visa holders

·         Health insurance for Green Card Holders

·         Health insurance for K1 visa holders

·         Health insurance in the USA for Canadian Expats

The US has the most expensive healthcare in the world. That’s why getting adequate health insurance coverage comes highly recommended.

Get a quote at Insubuy

Get GeoBlue Xplorer Quote

Medicare

Medicare is a national health insurance program that dates back to 1966. It provides health insurance for US nationals older than 65 years old, but also for younger people with end-stage renal disease, ALS, and some other disabilities.

Data shows that in 2018, Medicare provided almost 60 million individuals with healthcare in the US, over 51 million of which were older than 65.

The Medicare program is divided into four parts:

·         Part A – which covers hospitals, skilled nursing, and hospice services.

·         Part B – covers outpatient services, including some providers’ services while inpatient at a hospital, outpatient hospital charges

·         Part C – is an alternative called Managed Medicare, which permits patients to select health plans with at least the same service coverage as Part A and B, often the benefits of Part D, and an annual out-of-pocket spend limit which A and B lack. To sign in this part, one must sign in Part A and B first.

·         Part D – covers mostly self-administered prescription drugs.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal and state program that helps people with limited income and resources to cover medical costs while covering benefits normally not covered by Medicare, such as nursing home care and personal care services.

It is the largest source of funding for medical and health-related services for people with low income in the United States. Data shows that the US provided health insurance to 71 million people with low income or disabilities, which is 23% of the total US population.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

Formerly known as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), this is a program that covers health insurance for children of families with a modest income, that is not low enough to qualify for Medicaid.

The Affordable Care Act – Obamacare

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a federal statute signed into law by President Obama, which made it mandatory for every citizen to have health insurance or be penalized. The Act subsidizes for low-income families, by taxing healthcare providers and high-income families, as it was designed to lower health care costs while providing better health care for Americans.

The Affordable Care Act allowed parents to ad their children up to the age of 26 to their policies, in a bid to have younger healthy people paying premiums. It also allowed poorer people to get treatment for chronic illnesses instead of using the emergency room.

US Private Health Insurance

There are about a thousand private health insurance providers in the US, with each of them offering different plans at different prices, which largely depend on a person’s medical history. However, while there are individual plans, covering only one person, there are also group plans targeting families in particular.

Usually, there are three types of health insurance in the United States:

·         Traditional fee-for-service health insurance plans which plans are usually the most expensive, that those with an income lower than the average income in the US, have difficulties purchasing. However, these are the best plans as they offer you the most flexibility.

·         Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) offer a limited choice of healthcare providers, yet it also offers lower co-payments and covers the costs of more preventative care. They are evaluated and accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

·         Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) which just like HMOs offer lower co-payments, but they give you more flexibility when selecting a provider, as they give you a list of providers among which you can choose.

How to Choose a Good US Health Insurance Plan?

When looking up a good health insurance plan make sure you ask questions like:

·         Does that plan grant you the right to go to any doctor, hospital, clinic or pharmacy you choose?

·         Are specialists such as eye doctors and dentists covered?

·         Does the plan cover special conditions or treatments such as pregnancy, psychiatric care, and physical therapy?

·         Does the plan cover home care or nursing home care and medications a physician might prescribe?

·         What are the deductibles? Are there any co-payments?

·         What is the most you will have to pay out of your own pocket to cover expenses?

Make sure you also understand how a dispute about a bill or service is handled by your provider, as in some plans, you may be required to have a third party decide how to settle the problem. We recommend the GeoBlue Xplorer plan for foreigners in the United States

Health Insurance Requirements for Foreign Visitors in the US

Though the United States Authorities have not made health insurance mandatory for short-term travelers to the country, as B-1/B-2 visa holders, it is highly recommended for every traveler to get insurance before their trip to the country.

The main reason why you should get insurance is that healthcare in the US is extremely expensive and even a check-up for a simple headache will cost you hundreds of dollars, while a broken limb will cost you thousands.

Health incidents are never foreseen, therefore it is best to be prepared for it and get insurance, so in case of need you save yourself money.

Health Insurance Options for Legal Immigrants

Immigrants that are lawfully present in the United States are eligible to get private health insurance in the US. In addition, lawful immigrants may also be eligible for lower costs on monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs based on their income, as follows:

·         Those with an annual income of 400% of the federal poverty level or below may be eligible for premium tax credits and other savings on Marketplace insurance.

·         Whereas those with annual household income below 100% federal poverty level that is not otherwise eligible for Medicaid are eligible for premium tax credits and other savings on Marketplace insurance, given that they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Most of the time, “qualified non-citizens” are eligible for coverage through Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), given that they meet the income and residency rules of the state where they are based.

“Qualified non-citizens” are considered the following:

·         Lawful permanent residents

·         Asylees, refugees, battered non-citizens & spouses, children, or parents, victims of trafficking and or their spouse, child, sibling, or parent, or individuals with a pending application for a victim of trafficking visa

·         Cuban/Haitian entrants,

·         Those paroled into the US for at least one year

·         Conditional entrant granted before 1980

·         Those granted withholding of deportation and members of a federally recognized Indian Tribe or American Indian born in Canada.

However, most of them will need to wait for 5 years in the US in order to get Medicaid and CHIP coverage in the US, after they get qualified. Refugees and asylees are exempt from the waiting period.

In addition, states have the option to abolish the 5-year waiting period for children and pregnant women so they can be covered by Medicare and CHIP.

You can get a free US health insurance quote here. While you are free to choose the plan that suits you best, we recommend the GeoBlue Xplorer.

Health Insurance Options for Illegal Immigrants

Illegal Immigrants in the US can get health coverage only from private providers, as the US government-funded health insurance does not cover them.

Community centers can provide medical help to undocumented immigrants in the US, which is termed Safety Net Providers if the healthcare seeker can participate in fee-for-service medical assistance.