The New Thinking The adage goes that when you poop once/day, you're alright. But with the new science, the paradigm is, if you eat 3x/day, you have to poop 3x/day. Otherwise, you're constipated. Yogis contend that all diseases stem from the gut. If you take care of the gut, nearly all diseases cannot afflict you.
Constipation and Bad Skin People who are usually constipated have bad skin. Why? Toxins that need to be eliminated by the body cannot come out. They seep through the digestive lining through osmosis and end up within the body. Now, the body has to find a way to get rid of them. The toxins are pushed out of the body through the skin. Lesson? If you are constipated and have bad skin, try the routine on this webpage.
Morning Water Therapy Doctors say that if people are well-hydrated, half of the world's illness will be eliminated. When we drink a lot of water first thing in the morning (1.5 liters), we flush the toxins inside our tummy in the last 24 hours. There is pressure within our system to flush out all that water, and with it, all the toxins that have been accumulated. Analogy: a river whose waterway is already clogged by garbage. If there is torrential rains in the mountains, water gushes through the waterways and flushes out everything in its path - garbage and all. The river is cleansed and water flows again. Imagine water doing this to your body.
Structured Water + Sea Salt + Lime Drinking water is good. But drinking structured water is even better. What is structured water? Water is actually a liquid crystal. If you look at its molecular clustering, it resembles that of any crystal. But when water is polluted or mishandled, it loses its potency. Structured water is said to increase energy, promote digestion and prevent constipation. Water can be structured in many ways - running it through stones (resembling river water), exposure to specific frequencies like 432 hertz, creating a vortex (like stirring it), exposing it to copper, etc. We are what we eat. So following that logic, we are also what we drink. Does it work? There are instruments that measure the energy output of water. Structured water is more energized. Besides, what do we have to lose if it doesn't?
In addition to structuring the water, lime and sea salt are added. The claimed benefits are many.
increased metabolism
enhanced digestion
clear skin
enhanced immune system
prevents leaching of calcium from bones, etc.
Nauli Bloated with all that water in the tummy, churn the stomach to dislodge digestive residues, clean the intestinal lining and flush the digestive track clean. This allows increased absorption of nutrients from the food we eat.
tummy tuck on Uddiyana Bandha while on breath-hold
tummy tuck and release while on breath-hold
tummy tuck then push the Abdominus Rectus while on breath-hold
side-to-side stomach-churning while on breath-hold
HEALTHY TIPS
Hydro colon Therapy - as preventive maintenance on the digestive system, do a hydro colon therapy once a year. Do not overdo this. This process practically reboots the digestive system. Best to get this in a hospital or ayurvedic center with good facilities.
Fasting - the digestive system gets a reprieve when we fast. Not only that, fasting conserves energy. Digestion uses up a lot of energy. It is even said that when the body needs energy but there is no food to get it from, it uses prana.
Vegetables - there are many compelling reasons for being a vegetarian ranging from moral to spiritual issues. Casting all that aside, eating vegetables is just so much easier to digest than meat. It's an easy process and you feel it most especially when you poop - feels like your digestive lining is coated with Teflon.
Chewing - you can get the most nutritious food out there but if you don't chew your food well, it doesn't get digested enough and you don't get full extraction from this healthy food. Chew your food mindfully.
Squat on the Toilet - one of the main causes of colon cancer is the Western use of the seated toilet seat. While in Thailand, try using the squat toilet when you poop and you'll see the big difference - more comes out and it comes out with ease. Just try it.
Ruffage - food rich in fiber acts like a broom inside your gut, sweeping your intestinal lining clean, allowing for more absorption. Good examples would be pineapple and wheat germ.
Mayurasana / Hamsasana - one of the most detoxifying asanas in yoga is the Mayurasana. Legend has it that it can even neutralize the venom of a snake bite. In Mayurasana, all the bodyweight is pressed again the tummy. Blood flow is restricted and starves the organ of oxygenated blood. The organs complain to the brain. The brain instructs the heart to pump more blood. With more blood pumped, that cannot flow, pressure is increased. The longer you hold Mayurasana, the more the pressure builds up. The moment you release the pressure, all that oxygenated blood gushes through the digestive system, again flushing out all digestive residues, dilating collapsed capillaries (contraindication for people with high blood) and moves stagnated blood.
Mayurasana
The 90-Minute Class
Introduction - explain the role of water, disease stemming from the gut, asanas, shatkriya
Structuring Water + lime + salt - do the actual structuring and drinking
Ending Thoughts The above is the latest incarnation of my practice. It continues to evolve as I stumble upon new information that I can incorporate into my routine. With the above, I go through my everyday life with no diet restriction, I can eat anything I want, no medication of any kind, no supplements, I shit 3x/day if I have 3 meals/day, I don't get sick and I remain strong.
(Jul 30, 2020) Yoga was never designed to build muscles. But if you already practice yoga and want to build strength and muscles at the same time, then why not combine the best of both worlds? Building muscles while practicing yoga does not necessarily mean compromising the goal of yoga.....more »»
Chiang Mai INFORMATION
Chiang Mai Map
Chiang Mai, Thailand
IMPORTANT PLACES
Bus Station Train Station Chiang Mai International Airport Nong Buak Hard Park - free yoga classes daily
HOTEL
Arun Dara Villa - 7 exclusive rooms, 1 swimming pool for every room, grand opening
Nawa Sheeva Hotel - big rooms, high ceiling, salt-water pool, restaurant, cafe
Nawa Saraan Hotel - low density (4 spacious rooms), stone garden setting, Koi fish pond, Old City location
Arun Suite - 3 bedrooms in a 3-storie guesthouse within Old City, ideal for families
MOTORBIKE RENTAL
Tawan Bike - motorcycle rental | +66 91 635 2863 | Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
Chiang Mai FYI / Tips
crop-burning season in Chiang Mai is between late Feb to early April. But laws change everytime. This year, 2019, there is a 61-day ban on burning so the farmers started burning early. When my plane was approaching Chiang Mai on Jan 24, 2019, there was already a thick blanket of smog covering the entire city (and beyond). But within the city itself, you won't feel it (but that doesn't mean the air is healthy). To monitor air conditions in real time, refer to site: Chiang Mai Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI)
hot season begins March and lasts until June
wet season begins July and lasts until September
best time to visit Chiang Mai is mid-September to mid-February - after the monsoon and before the burning
you have to try Khao Soi, this is north Thailand's culinary staple
the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located in the Old City
to exchange your dollars to Thai Baht, the Super Rich Money Exchange give the best rates. There are many branches scattered around Chiang Mai
get a red cab (songthao) outside the train station for Baht 50 (instead of paying B100 if inside the train station) to Old City - if you haggle nicely enough...I did!
shared red taxi (songthao) - B30 standard fare plying all over Old City
for only B50/day, best to rent a bike to go around the Old City - it's a 2.5km2 with lots to discover
FREE daily yoga classes from 9:00am to 10:15am at Nong Buak Hard Park (southwest corner of Old City). Resident and passing-through teachers take turns conducting yoga classes.
Blues/Jazz Bars in Chiang Mai
North Gate Jazz Coop - at Chang Phueg Gate, great Tuesday jam session, Blues on Sundays at 11pm by the Chiang Mai Blues band
Boy Blues Bar - at the Night Bazaar. Mondays at 9:30pm is open mic
My Secret Cafe - near Wat Phra Singh. Tuesdays at 7:30pm for the changing front-act and 9:00pm for the Panic Band
Taphae East - 88 Thapae Rd. (just north of Night Bazaar). Fridays at 9:30pm by Chiang Mai Blues Band
Chiang Mai Cost Index
B60 Chiang beer
B250 1 hour drop-in yoga session
B200 one hour Thai body massage at WAYA Massage(highly recommended)
B50 noodle soup with meat
B50 coffee
B40 pad thai
B30/kilo wash-only laundry
B50/kilo wash+iron laundry
B100-150 dorm bed/night
B250 fan room/night
B30 internet cafe/hour
B170-190 Movies Sat-Sun and public holidays
B130-150 Movies weekdays
B100 Movies Wednesdays (movie discount day)
B750 1/2 day Thai cooking lessons
B900-1000 1 full day Thai cooking lessons
B400 Muay Thai boxing ticket
B2500 starting room rate at the luxury hotel, Nawa Sheeva(highly recommended)
Transportation
B450 bus, Chiang Mai to Bangkok
B160-180 bus, Chiang Mai to Pai
B1250 bus, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
B1650 slow boat, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
B210 bus, Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, 3-4 hours
B360 Green VIP bus, Chiang Mai to Mae Sai (Thai border town for visa run to Tachileik, Myanmar)
B50 bicycle rental, 24 hours
B200 motorbike rental, 24 hours
B273 #51 sleeping train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Book Online - direct booking with State Railway of Thailand. Best to register first. If going to BKK from CNX, click "Northern Line".
note -- big difference between booking direct with the State Railway and booking with an online 3rd party agent. 12GO was charging B1330 for the same trip that only cost me B941 with the State Railway.
note -- Oct 2022, I took the #10 Train from CNX to BKK, upper berth, 2nd class, a/c, sleeper, B941. The train was clean, fast, comfortable and modern. If you have heavy luggage that will cost more money in flight checkin, I would suggest this train. Otherwise, the flight now is so much cheaper it doesn't even make sense to take the bus or train.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by Train from Bang Sue Train Station
10:22pm - #51 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 12:10pm, sleeper, 3rd class B270 (non sleeper), 2nd class B438, B728 upper deck, B798 lower deck
Loei to Chiang Mai by Bus
From Loei town center, take a tuk-tuk ride to the bus station, B30. There is only one bus station.
As of June 28, 2020 (still on Covid schedule), there are only 3 night trips: 8:30pm, 9:30pm and 12 midnight. 9 hours, B470.
The bus makes the following stops at the following times from a 9pm Loei departure: Phu Ruea (9:50pm), Phitsanulok (12:40am), Uttradit (2:20am), Lampang (4:35am)
Final bus stop is at the Red Bus Arcade, Chiang Mai, 9 hour-trip, arriving 6am (from 9pm Loei departure).
Take a red songthaew to Old City, B50. They'll try to charge you B100, but they'll take B50 (just assure the driver you won't tell the other passengers).
How to Get a 60-Day Thai Tourist Visa and then Extend by another 30 Days
This process is BEFORE Covid 19. Not sure what it is now.
60-Day Thai Tourist Visa
NOTE: There is no need to go back to your country to get the Thai tourist visa. Any major city with a Thai Embassy will do. Apparently there is also no need to have an invitation from a Thai establishment to justify the visa.
Bring the following to the Thai embassy:
a) proof of money (bank statement will suffice)
b) flight booking to Thailand
c) onward flight back to your country from Thailand
d) filled-in tourist visa form
e) 2 passport pictures
f) hotel booking in Thailand (they didn't ask me for this but better be safe)
g) passport with at least 6 months validity
After handing over all the documents, they will ask you to come pick your passport with the visa the following day from 4 to 5pm. That's it!
NOTE: after 2 successful attempts, I was already questioned the 3rd time.
30-Day Extension
NOTE: When your 60-day visa is close to expiry and you want to extend your stay. No need to leave Thailand.
bring the following to the Immigration Office:
a) passport (make sure your Tourist Visa hasn't expired yet)
b) Baht 1900
c) photocopy of your passport + visa duration date stamp + TM6 card (white immigration card) and sign all the copies
d) completed TM7 visa extension form (available at the Immigration Office)
e) one 4cmx6cm passport picture
submit the above to the Front Desk. They will give you a stub with your number on it. Take a seat and wait for your number to be called
when your number is called, your picture will be taken. Then go back to your seat. They will call you again.
when they call you again, they'll give you your passport with your extended visa. That's it!
when there are no lines, the whole process can take only 10 minutes
arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!