Tell us what your lifestyle is like?
Our lifestyle is centered around our powerful and mindful routine, which begins early in the morning, usually around 5 a.m. We follow the “Three M’s” as the foundation of our morning: Movement, Focus, and Mastery.
First of all, activity is physical activity that energizes the body. For me, this usually includes yoga and boxing, while Harsh prefers yoga as well as strength training. We spend at least an hour outside in the fresh air and sunshine, and focus on activity. We believe activity should never be seen as an obligation, a punishment, or simply a way to burn calories. Rather, it is a celebration of the liveliness of our bodies. We believe activity, also known as exercise, should be a joyful expression of being alive, celebrating our fully functioning bodies.
The second M is meditation, which connects us spiritually and prepares us for the day ahead. Our meditation practice often includes mantra meditation, where we chant sacred mantras to connect with a higher power. I also practice kirtan, chanting the holy names of God, which gives me a deep sense of peace every morning, and helps me reconnect with God.
Finally, achieving mastery means developing yourself intellectually by constantly learning and refining your skills. As a health educator, I dedicate one to two hours every morning to study and master my subject further. This helps me to constantly expand my store of knowledge.
By taking care of the first few hours of your day with these practices, the rest of the day naturally takes care of itself. That’s why we say that waking up early is the mother of all habits, and a core component of our lifestyle.
We usually start work at 9:30am and relax until 7pm by spending time with family.
Our diet is another pillar of our lifestyle. We follow a completely plant-based, sattvic diet, rich in life-giving foods like vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses, nuts and seeds.
Share some tips for parents on how they can include healthy foods in their children’s diet?
Be a role model, not a critic. Children see more than they hear. If you are constantly eating chips, namkeen, chocolates or ice cream, your children will imitate you.
However, if they see you enjoying fruity, nutritious, delicious food, they will naturally gravitate toward those options. You don’t even have to tell them – just show them how it’s done. The biggest impact comes from leading by example, not preaching to them! When you model the behavior, your kids will follow without much effort.
Replace, don’t eliminate. Taking away their favorite things won’t make them happy. It will make them angry. Instead, give them healthier, cleaner versions of their favorite foods. If they love chocolate, make a great chocolate smoothie bowl by mixing cocoa powder with dates and frozen bananas.
For those who like laddus, prepare laddus made of dry fruits and seeds, which will not only be wonderful in taste but will also be full of nutrients.
If they love cake, make a healthier version of it at home. The trick is to make them feel like they are not missing out while also ensuring that the meal is nutritious.
Throw away the junk food. If junk food is readily available in your pantry, it’s nearly impossible for kids to refuse to eat it. Remove all packaged snacks, chips, candies, and anything else that isn’t good for their health. Out of sight, out of mind. It’s that simple. When unhealthy foods aren’t an option, your kids – and you – will be more inclined to choose the healthier options available. By simply changing their environment, you’re helping your child develop habits that will last a lifetime.
What do you think is the path of spirituality?
In my opinion, there is not just one path to spirituality – there are many. However, the path I enjoy most is Bhakti Yoga, which is the path of connecting with God through loving devotional service. The most profound way to practice Bhakti Yoga is Japa, which I personally engage in by chanting the Divine Names.
There are different methods within chanting, but the one that appeals to me the most is chanting with melodious rhythms, called kirtan or mantra chanting. When I chant God’s name out loud – knowing that God’s name and God are one – I feel the deepest connection.
For me, this is the essence of spirituality. It is in those moments of chanting that I experience the highest level of union with God.
Any tips on how to make delicious and healthy meals?
When it comes to making healthy food taste delicious, the secret lies in maintaining the right balance of flavors and textures. There’s a simple formula that chefs often use, and it’s something I learned during culinary school: using all five essential flavors in a dish – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and pungent (SSSBP). This combination makes the food truly satisfying and finger-licking-worthy.
Let us understand this with an example like coconut curry.
The sweetness comes naturally from the coconut milk, which balances out the other flavors.
You can also add lemon, tamarind or tomato for sourness.
The salty element usually comes from sea salt, but vegetables like spinach can also add a natural saltiness.
Bitterness doesn’t mean you have to use something overwhelming like bitter gourd; instead, spices like cumin provide that mild bitterness that balances out the dish.
Finally, the spiciness comes from fresh green chilies, ginger or black pepper, which adds a tang that brings everything together.
It is important to maintain a balance between flavours to make the dish complete and balanced.
How can food negatively affect mood?
All foods have a direct impact on our mood and energy levels. There is an old saying, “Jaisa Anna, Vaisa Man”, which means “As is your food, so is your mind.”
For example, rajasic food – which means highly stimulating, extremely spicy, hot, dry or pungent – will make you feel restless or anxious. After eating a very spicy meal, you may feel thirsty or even a bit queasy. This is because such foods stimulate the nervous system, making you feel overly agitated rather than calm.
On the other hand, tamasic food, which is heavy and too oily, will make you feel lethargic and tired. Think about eating a delicious dish like chole bhature. After eating it, you are likely to feel sleepy and lazy. You will feel like taking a nap instead of being active. These foods slow down your digestion, resulting in your mind and body becoming sluggish.
In contrast, sattvic foods – those rich in life energy such as fresh fruits and vegetables – have the opposite effect. Eating a big plate of fresh fruits makes you feel light and energetic. These foods hydrate the body. They make your mind feel crystal clear and your body as light as a feather.
An example that many people can relate to is coffee. Initially, coffee gives you a burst of energy, making you feel alert and awake. However, after a few hours, a “crash” sets in, leaving you tired and low on energy, and then, you need another cup, and then another. This constant fluctuation, ultimately causes mood swings. This destabilizes both your energy levels and emotional state.
Any tips for women’s health?
Women don’t really need to do anything special or different than men for their health. The key to good health regardless of gender lies in adopting a Sattvic lifestyle, which we talk about in our videos, books and workshops. The Sattvic lifestyle is based on the principles of simple food, waking up early, yoga, loving relationships, service and living in harmony with nature. These practices are universal and when followed consistently, they naturally lead to top health. It is important to understand that this lifestyle does not differentiate between men and women. It is designed to nourish the body, mind and spirit equally for everyone.
