“We have very little command of our minds. Therefore, to bring that command about, to get that control over body and mind, we must take certain physical helps. When the body is sufficiently controlled, we can attempt the manipulation of the mind. By manipulating the mind, we shall be able to bring it under our control, make it work as we like, and compel it to concentrate its powers as we desire.”
— Swami Vivekananda
Your mobile phone, laptop, and car last longer if you use them less.
But your body is the opposite – this machine wears out from lack of use. Notice how the sedentary life has affected us today. We’re not just more prone to mental and physical ailments, we also struggle to control our emotions and attention.
“Action is movement with intelligence,” yoga teacher B.K.S. Iyengar had said. The rock climber, the yogi, and the gymnast, by gaining control over their bodies, also gain control over their minds. They rarely lose their composure and can focus for almost superhuman lengths of time.
Control over your body increases the flow of Prāna (vital energy) inside you and helps you control your mind. Make good health your first priority, something you pursue during your “me-time.” Turn it into a lifelong, goalless journey.