Jan

Quantum Wellness

quantum-wellness Quantum Wellness
is a book by best selling author Kathy Freston. There is quantum in the title but it has nothing to do with quantum physic, according to the Kathy Freston Quantum Wellness is about tiny little things that people invest their energy every day and making changes in those areas for a better life. Her book discusses 8 pillars to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Which are :
1. Meditation
2. Conscious eating
3. Exercise
4. Visualization
5. Spiritual Practice
6. Self-work
7. Service
8. Fun Activities

The author seems to have been influenced by the yoga philosophy because she does talk a lot about yoga techniques in her book such as pranayama and because her 8 pillars looks like the 8 pillars of Raja Yoga

1. Yamas – The Yamas or restraints (Don’ts)
2. Niyamas – The Niyamas or observances (Do’s)
3. Asanas – Postures
4. Pranayama – regulation or control of the breath.
5. Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses in order to still the mind.
6. Dharana – concentration.
7. Dhyana – meditation
8. Samadhi – the superconscious state

Notice the similarities between the two system, Kathy pillar of spiritual practice are like “Niyamas practices of Swadhyaya or study of the sacred texts and Ishwara Pranidhana which is constantly living with an awareness of the divine Presence (surrender to God’s Will)”

Kathy Freston program is just a westernised version of Raja Yoga ? Often, in the Western world when we say yoga we only refer to asanas (the postures) and we exclude the rest in this book she ties all together many times in the book she encourages her readers to take up yoga (asanas) and tai chi (energy work).
If you combine the teaching of that book and the asanas, you have the whole Raja Yoga in a Western form.(Can we live without fun activities over here ?)

The book contains a 21 days cleanse plan to get started. Superstar Oprah Winfrey did the plan, you can read it on her blog. Like many yogis, Kathy Freston recommends to not eat meats, a vegan diet is part of the program. The basis of yogic diet is Sattva (purity) , according to the Bhagavad Gota, Sattvic foods increase life, purity and joy.
The Kathy Freston’s program doesn’t seem to be for everyone as this blog post suggests at dooce.com, the blogger there started the program to later give up. I think that becoming a vegan by force is very difficult, it should be gradual because the body has its habits for someone like me it can be easier I can live without chocolate, cheese, milks, eggs and I do not like coffee, so there isn’t much sacrifice involved from my standpoint but for a vast majority of people it will be a lot easier to implement a vegan diet in a gradual manner.
Below is a video of Kathy Freston explaining how she puts this book together.