Yoga
Companies have now started to realize that their human work force needs something extra to keep them at their optimal capacity. Work stress and deadlines can have a negative impact on health. Studies have shown a steady decline in performance and poor quality of work if the health of the professional is affected due to working conditions.
A study by Cahl´ıkova, Cingl and Levely talks about how stress and competitive work environment across gender affects performances at work. Since work performance affect career trajectories and promotions, it was concluded that men and women are affected by stress at work more or less equally based on various categories and it affects their overall health.
Organizations are now hiring Yoga professionals or Wellness consultants to provide breaks and ergonomic relaxation techniques to keep their workforce performing to their best capacity. A 10 Minute Yoga session between work hours has proven to relieve stress and provide a sense of calmness during and after work.
When you think of yoga, you might be apprehensive of the intimidating poses and stretches you may have seen on tv or videos. But Yoga is as simple as it can be when you are guided by the right professional. Calming the mind during work hours can be a challenge. Here are some things you can do to incorporate a relaxing session in your workday:
Let the calendar take care of you:
- A 10-minute break to yourself may seem impossible at first, but try to schedule it in your calendar to let yourself relax and also let others know to not disturb you during the session.
Make HR your Yoga Buddy:
- Talk to your superior or HR about the benefits of adding a Yoga break at work. With them on board and by communicating with your colleagues, a group session will work as a motivation for you to get some tranquility in your busy day.
- Discuss with your HR to hire a wellness professional or Yoga Instructor. This will provide a professional consultant to make sure there are no injuries or issues during the sessions. If some Yoga positions are difficult for some people based on their health and limitation, a professional will help your group customize an exercise plan and optimize the time your company allots for these activities.
Know your team better with Yoga:
- Yoga at work can be a team building activity. Many people struggle with health ailments and may find some peace with knowing that their employer cares about them and will be able to find a common ground with health discussions.
As a working professional, I have realized that giving yourself a break in the day will not only make you calm and provide better health benefits, but it can also inspire and help others around you. Yoga has variety of benefits when added to your life, weather its at work or home. In a stressful work environment, try these above tips and make your professional space a better place to be.
References:
Blog, Yoga
Yoga is not just about twisting your body into difficult postures, it is much more than that. It helps to expand your awareness, sharpen your intellect, & enhance your intuitive abilities. It teaches you to live in perfect harmony with the nature. That’s exactly the logo of International Day of Yoga explains. The IDY logo has a beautiful meaning & message for the humanity.
- The Folding of both hands in the logo Symbolize Yoga, the union, which reflects the union of individual Consciousness with that of universal Consciousness, a perfect harmony between mind & body, man & nature; a holistic approach to health & well being.
- The brown leaves symbolize the Earth element, the green leaves symbolize the Nature, blue symbolizes the Water element, brightness symbolizes the Fire element and the Sun symbolize the source of energy and inspiration.
- The globe symbolize Oneness – वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). The world is one village, we are all one.
- The logo reflects harmony and peace for humanity, which is the essence of Yoga.
If you are living in Vancouver and looking for events organized to celebrate International Day of Yoga, please visit https://www.YogaDayVancouver.ca. Since most events are online now, anyone living in Pacific time zone can join the session
Blog, Community Buzz
Happy Baisakhi to everyone who celebrates it!

Picture Credit: @PeelSchools
Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is celebrated by both Hindus & Sikhs. Baisakhi is an ancient festival of Hindus celebrated on April 13th or 14th, marking the Solar New Year based on the Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar and also celebrating the spring harvest.
Vaisakhi is one of the holiest Sikh festivals. It was on this day that their tenth and last Guru – Sri Guru Gobind Singh – formed the Khalsa panth in 1699.
The festival Baisakhi is termed as different name in different states like Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Pooram Vishu in Kerala.
References:
Blog, Yoga
If you are a beginner and looking for easy and short meditation, try following short meditation for beginners given at the end of this post.
“When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place” — Bhagwad Gita
Some of the benefits of the meditation are:
- Increases your focus & attention span
- Improves functioning of your brain
- Reduces stress
- Relaxes & rejuvenates your body
- Meditation can unfold the powers of mind
Short 5 Minutes Meditation:
15 Minutes Guided Vipasana Meditation:
Blog, Community Buzz
Give Back 2 India is an initiative to raise awareness about some of the great causes in India and motivating Indian Diaspora to Give Back to India. We leave India and become residents and citizens of another country but India never leaves from our hearts and we always look back to pay it back somehow. Give Back 2 India is such an platform to provide opportunities to Indian Diaspora to connect and start giving back to India.
This year team “Give Back to India” is raising funds for 200 Free cataract surgeries which will be organized in Varanasi, India by Friends For Cause Foundation, Canada. Please visit https://giveback2india.org to know more about the initiative.
Blog, Real Estate
Are you planning to buy a home in Vancouver area? Attend the free information session that I organize couple of times in an year & prepare yourselves and get the knowledge you need to understand the process of home buying in BC.
We will try to cover the following in these sessions:
- A to Z of home buying process in British Columbia
- How and when to prepare for your mortgage and financing
- The most common mistakes made by first time home buyers
- Basics of Financing/Mortgage
- Answers to any questions you may have about the home-buying process in BC, Canada
Presenters of the session:
A Licensed REALTOR® & a Mortgage Broker will present this session.
How to join the next session?
Please register via this form https://forms.gle/g57iuwqYVbgZ3HHe9 if you would to get notified when the next session is planned.
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Neeraj Kumar is a Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty who operates in Metro Vancouver. He is a Yoga Enthusiast and a community leader. Visit www.linkedin.com/in/kumar-neeraj to connect with Neeraj on LinkedIn.
Articles, Blog
“Indian Community in Vancouver” is a Facebook group that provides an opportunity to Indian Diaspora to connect with each other. The members of the group share Indian cultural events that are happening around Metro Vancouver. These events help Indian Diaspora to stay connected with their heritage & roots. Join the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/IndianCommunityVancouver/ to connect with the community and stay connected to your roots.

Vancouver Indian Community Group. Click the image or above link to join
This group is created for Indians (Indian Origin or who were Indian citizens earlier) staying in Vancouver Area. Members of this group are allowed to share community events & news.
Other Indian Groups in Vancouver

“Indians in Vancouver Area” – Facebook Group
Check out other Facebook group called Indians in Vancouver Area. This Community Group is created for Indians in Vancouver, Expats from India coming to Vancouver, or People of Indian origin living in Vancouver Area.
Meetup Group

“India in Vancouver” – Meetup group for the Vancouver Indian Community
Join the Indian Community Meetup Group if you are interested in connecting with other Desi Indians living in Metro Vancouver. They regularly organize meetups such as “Chai Pe GupShup” which allows new Indian Immigrants to connect & make new friends in a new city.
Articles, Blog, Real Estate
Connect with Neeraj Kumar if you are wondering how is real estate market is doing in Vancouver. Neeraj can Provide Great Insights of Real Estate in your neighborhood. Call him today at 604-363-2370 or visit his real estate website http://www.nkumar.ca to find your dream home.
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Neeraj Kumar is a Real Estate Business owner who operates in Metro Vancouver. He is a Yoga Enthusiast and a community leader. Visit www.linkedin.com/in/kumar-neeraj to connect with Neeraj on LinkedIn.
Articles, Blog, Real Estate
1. Determine how much you can afford
This should be first thing you should do. Talk to mortgage professional such as Mortgage Broker and check how much you can afford.
2. Prepare a Budget – Do not forget about the closing costs
There are some closing costs involved such as property transfer tax, lawyer’s fees, moving fee etc. The cost would vary and will depend on the purchase price.
3. Tax Credits
Talk to your accountant about tax credits. Fortunately, there are some tax credit available for first time-home buyers. Also talk to your accountant or Financial Advisor about the RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan.
If you have a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) set-up, you can borrow money you have saved in this plan to probably use it for down payment.
4. Prioritize your preference
Based on your affordability, check what you would prefer condo, townhouse, or detached house.
5. Work with great real estate agent
Make sure you work with a trusted & reputable real estate agent. Finding the Right Home starts with choosing the Right Realtor. Once you know the price you can afford & your budget is in place, talk to your trusted Real Estate Advisor to check the prices of the properties in your preferred neighborhood. A Real Estate professional can set up an automatic search for you so that you get a notification as soon as a listing that meets your criteria gets listed.
Enjoy your home buying experience!
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Neeraj Kumar is a Real Estate Business owner who operates in Metro Vancouver. He is a Yoga Enthusiast and a community leader. Visit www.linkedin.com/in/kumar-neeraj to connect with Neeraj on LinkedIn.
Articles, Blog, Real Estate
The Contract of Purchase and Sale (CPS) form in BC is the document that outlines the terms of the offer from a buyer to a seller in a real estate transaction. Watch this video below and understand the process.
The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) has created this video which explains one of the key documents used in a real estate transaction.