Have you ever been troubled by a persistent health ailment that doesn’t seem to resolve itself despite medication, exercise, or changes to your diet and lifestyle? “It may have to do with the design of your home,” says Shilpa Khurana, a Delhi-based Vastukar. “We didn’t have electronic smart devices when the Vastu Shastras were written, but keep your electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to a bare minimum by being mindful with how you engage with smart technology and switch off your wi-fi router when not in use,” she adds. Khurana offers a walkthrough of the key areas in your home or office which can flare up ailments, in this week’s Vastu for health.

The Heart of your Home

The central square on the nine-cube Vastu grid is called the Bramhasthan and is associated with space. This is why Vedic architecture reserved this zone for the courtyard. “If this area of the house is cluttered or loaded with heavy objects, or has a bathroom or kitchen here, the people living here may suffer from stomach or health relative issues,” Khurana says. In the apartment setting, if you are unable to create an open space in the heart of your home, at least hang a wind chime to cleanse the vicinity with healing sound energy.

Also read: Vastu for stress and depression: How certain spaces can make you feel good

Sleeping Directions

Needless to say, a bedroom’s Vastu is important because it is here that one unwinds after a long day at work. Bedrooms located in the ESE (east of south east), SE (south east), SSW (south of south west) and WNW (west of north west) may cause short tempers, result in aggression, depression and anxiety, according to Khurana. All these psychosomatic emotions can manifest in the body as blood pressure, diabetes, and heart trouble.

When you lie in bed, let your head point towards the south or east and feet towards the north. This position aligns your body’s magnetic field with that of the earth.

A Downward Spiral

In a standalone bungalow or villa, never build a spiral staircase next to the front door. “A spiral staircase acts like a screw that burrows down into the house affecting the hearts of all the members that reside in the house,” Khurana says.