Every Breath You Take - A Guide to Yogic Breathing
By
Jennifer BeckmanIt goes without saying that a large percentage of us take breathing for granted. It is one of those things that just happens without us noticing, like blinking, or swallowing. Even while we sleep, this simple act of life quietly continues, day in and day out, throughout our lives. We are never taught how to breathe properly, it just happens instinctively. A new born baby for example takes deep belly breaths, expanding their little abdomens fully as they inhale and as they exhale they pull their abdomens in to release the stale air. This is yogic breathing. Most babies will breathe through their noses and not their mouths, unless congested. This is also the correct way to breathe. Our noses filter and warm the air before it enters the delicate lungs.
So, if we all knew how to breathe properly when we were babies, how come we messed it up?
Well, in today's modern world it has to be our every day living. As babies we don't have a care in the world, we grow and start to interact with family and friends, then school and the pressure that brings with it. Trying to fit in and be liked and wanted and needed and loved brings a tremendous amount of stress into our lives, and stress affects our breathing. Your breathing directly reflects the level of tension you carry in your body. Under tension, your breathing usually becomes shallow and rapid, and occurs high in the chest. When relaxed, you breathe more fully, more deeply, and from your abdomen. It's difficult to be tense and to breathe from your abdomen at the same time. So vital is proper breathing to physical, mental, and emotional health, that it is a primary component to many yoga practices. Pran means "life force"and yama means "control". Pranayama then is "control of breath". The ancient yogis noticed that when the breath is slowed down, then the agitated mind begins to calm down also.
Breath not only provides the oxygen so necessary to life, it enhances heart, lung, and brain function. Oxygen flow is also necessary for cell reproduction. Natural, healthy breathing is essential to good health, it connects our body to our mind and emotions. Taking the time to learn to breathe properly makes us conscious of our breath, calling us to be present in the moment.
Simple breathing techniques can relieve stress and help us work through anger and even depression.
Some of the benefits of abdominal yogic breathing include:
* The brain requires much more oxygen, relatively speaking, than any other organ in the body. Proper breathing improves concentration, gives greater clarity of thought and increases you ability to deal with complex situations without suffering from stress.
* It brings better emotional control and balance and improves physical control and co-ordination.
* Yogic breathing also helps to keep a balance between the two sides of the brain, which deal with different aspects of our lives. The right side of the brain is associated with intuition, emotions and feminine attributes. The left side of the brain is concerned with logic, objectivity and masculine attributes. By developing the ability to calm and control breathing, you can learn to focus and balance your mind and manage your emotions.
* Yogic breathing exercises are a vital tool to help with meditation, simply because of the way they sharpen mental focus.
* Increased oxygen supply to the brain and muscular system.
* Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Your autonomic nervous system promotes a state of calmness and well-being. Exactly opposite to the sympathetic branch of your nervous system, which stimulates a state of emotional stimulas (fight or flight) and the very physiological reactions underlying a panic attack.
* Helps to improve mental focus and so enables us to free ourselves from the obstacles of negative thoughts and a wandering mind.
* Greater feelings of connectedness between mind and body. Anxiety and worry tend to keep your head spinning. A few minutes of deep abdominal breathing will help ground you.
* More efficient excretion of bodily toxins. Many toxic substances in the body are excreted through the lungs.
* Improved concentration. If your mind is racing, it's difficult to focus your attention. Abdominal breathing will help to quiet your mind.
* Abdominal breathing by itself can trigger a relaxation response.
Shallow, Chest-Level Breathing
Many people suffer from phobias, panic or other anxiety disorders, if you do, check your breath. If you are breathing too high in your chest or too shallow this could be your problem. Shallow, chest-level breathing, when rapid, can lead to hyperventilation. Hyperventilation, in turn, can cause physical symptoms very similar to those associated with panic attacks.
Studies have found differences in the breathing patterns of anxious and shy people as opposed to those who are more relaxed and outgoing. People who are fearful and shy tend to breathe in a shallow fashion from their chest, while those who are more extroverted and relaxed breathe more slowly, deeply and from their abdomen.
Before reading on, take a minute to notice how you are breathing right now. Is your breath slow or rapid? Deep or shallow? Does it center around a point high in your chest or down in your abdomen? You might also notice changes in your breathing pattern under stress versus when you are more relaxed.
If you find that your breathing is shallow and high in your chest, do not despair. It is possible to retrain yourself to breathe more deeply and from your abdomen. Practicing abdominal breathing on a regular basis will gradually help you to shift the center of your breath downward from your chest. Regular practice of full abdominal breathing will also increase your lung capacity, helping you to breathe more deeply. If you would like help, join a yoga class that includes breathing techniques. You will find them very supportive and the additional exercise will be good.
Abdominal Breathing Exercise
These breathing exercises have been taken from the ancient art of yoga and can be done virtually anywhere; before a meeting, exam, presentation or just after a stressful day.
Yogic breathing exercises are divided into three phases - inhalation, breath retention and exhalation. Yoga places great emphasis on concentrating on performing these exercises slowly and accurately to ensure optimum results.
1. Sit in a chair with you back straight. Place one hand on your abdomen right beneath your rib cage. Make a mental note of the level of tension you're feeling.
2. Slowly inhale deeply through your nose into the "bottom" of your lungs, or as far down as you can. If you're breathing from your abdomen, your hand should actually rise. Your chest should move only slightly while your abdomen expands.
3. When you've taken in a full breath, pause for a moment and then exhale slowly through your nose. Try to keep your mouth closed. Be sure to exhale fully. At this time allow your whole body to just let go and relax.
4. Do ten slow, full abdominal breaths. Try to keep your breathing smooth and regular, without gulping in a big breath or letting your breath out all at once. Try and listen to the flow of the in-out rhythm. Remember to pause briefly at the end of each inhalation. Count to ten, progressing with each exhalation. The process should go like this:
Slow inhale ... Pause ... Slow exhale (count "one") Slow inhale ... Pause ... Slow exhale (count "two") Slow inhale ... Pause ... Slow exhale (count "three") and so on up to ten. If you start to feel light-headed while practicing abdominal breathing, stop for thirty seconds, and then start up again.
5. Extend the exercise if you wish by doing two or three "sets" of abdominal breaths, remembering to count up to ten for each set (each exhalation counts as one number). Five full minutes of abdominal breathing will have a pronounced effect in reducing anxiety or early symptoms of panic. Some people prefer to count backwards from ten down to one on each breath.
Calming Breath Exercise
The Calming Breathing Exercise is a very efficient technique for achieving a deep state of relaxation quickly.
1. Breathing from your abdomen, inhale slowly to a count of five.
2. Pause and hold your breath to a count of five.
3. Exhale slowly to a count of five, through your nose or mouth. Be sure to exhale fully.
4. When you've exhaled completely, go back to your normal rhythm and take two breaths, then repeat steps l - 3 in the cycle above.
5. Keep up the exercise for at least three to five minutes. This should involve going through at least ten cycles of in-five, hold-five, out-five. Remember to take two normal breaths between each cycle. If you start to feel light-headed while practicing this exercise, stop for thirty seconds and then start again.
6. Throughout the exercise, keep your breathing in a regular flowing action, without gulping in breaths or breathing out suddenly.
7. Optional: Each time you exhale, you may wish to say "relax," "calm," "let go," or any other relaxing word or phrase silently to yourself. Allow your whole body to let go as you do this.
The calming breath exercise can be a potent technique for halting the momentum of a panic reaction when the first signs of anxiety come on. It is also useful in reducing symptoms of hyperventilation.
Practice
Practice the Abdominal Breathing or Calming Breath Exercise for five minutes every day for at least two weeks. With practice you can learn in a short period of time to "damp down" the physiological reactions underlying anxiety and panic.
Once you feel you've gained some mastery in the use of either technique, apply it when you feel stressed, anxious, or when you experience the onset of panic symptoms. By extending your practice of either breathing exercise to a month or longer, you will begin to retrain yourself to breathe from your abdomen. The more you can shift the center of your breathing from your chest to your abdomen, the more consistently you will feel relaxed on an ongoing basis, with every breath you take...
Jennifer Beckman (Yogamaya) is a director of the Vedic Cultural Fellowship and Pecos Valley Yoga and Ayurveda Center. She was born in North Africa, and raised in the UK, where at a very young age was introduced to yoga asana and pranayama by her aunt. During the 1990's she studied homeopathy, massage, reflexology, nutrition and became a certified instructor by the British Wheel of Yoga. Inevitably, with her knowledge of yoga, she was drawn to the sister science of Ayurveda and has studied under Doctors Vasant Lad and David Frawley. In 1998 she returned to the US with her husband Howard Beckman, to establish the Vedic Cultural Fellowship and in 1999 they moved to their present location, New Rishikesh, in Pecos, New Mexico. In 2003, she was certified as a Planetary Gem Advisor, by the Planetary Gemologist Association in Bangkok Thailand due to her advanced working knowledge of using gemstones in accordance with Vedic astrological principles. Today she and her husband, together with Dr. David Frawley, are developing the VCF's New Rishikesh as a major teaching and retreat center.
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Yoga Is An Aid, Not A Cure - For Panic Attacks
By
James CassaMany alternative therapies, and people that practice them, offer cures for various maladies. I believe this to be a wrong approach. After all dealing with effects, not the cause , is a sure way to failure. I prefer a more wholistic approach. Focus on health. Yoga has been the pathway to vibrant health and energy for me. Oh yes, it helped with my panic attacks too. Here is an overview of how it worked for me.
The ease of the environmentYoga alters your stress levels towards the environment. It works like this. Place yourself in a stressful place and observe yourself. You may notice the following physical and emotional states.
- Increase in heart rate.
- Breath becomes shallow and rapid. Holding the breath is common when shocked or in a fearful emotional state.
- Body becomes tense. Check for tension in the jaw, shoulders and neck. Cutting down circulation.
- Posture drops. An erect spine turns into curved spine.
-Head and eyes tend to look down self confidence leaves.
What's happening here is the body tunes into and mimics the environment. It's as if the body wants to match the environment. Match it in emotion and physical rigidity. Now let's do one more. Imagine your body in a peaceful environment. For example on a beautiful sandy beach on a warm sunny day. Not too many people around. This is a positive, peaceful and healthy environment. Take a moment and mentally observe yourself on the beach. You may notice the following.
+ Heart rate slows down.
+ Breath becomes deep and exhalation is a little longer then inhalation.
+ Body feels relaxed. Facial muscles at ease. Shoulders totally relaxed. Circulation to all body parts flows easily.
+ Posture is straight. Creates a feeling of self confidence.
The environment impacts the mind and body. In turn our health is influenced. Is it making sense so far?
My 3 health pillarsThis is a Health program that I use. It works for me. I have separated my health program into 3 parts to make comprehension easier. Each part complements the other.
Body movement, internal and external
Body movement is essential to health. Sometimes getting some movement into our busy day, others may call it exercise , can be challenging. Lifestyle in the 21st century does not encourage our body to move. We can design our own movement program to overcome this. This , in a nutshell, is where yoga worked for me.
The fundamentals of movement are of two types. Internal and external. External muscles such as the arms, legs and back for example. Internal muscles such as the lungs, heart, and digestion. The best movement programs place emphasis on both the internal and external muscles. When was the last time you thought about how well your digestion was working? What about how efficiently your lungs are taking oxygen into the bloodstream? This is done automatically of course. Without our conscious participation. This is a major reason why we neglect our health. Our automatic body systems work, usually, so well in the beginning we take them for granted. This can lead to neglect. In some cases even abuse. I strongly believe our bodies cannot handle the stress of the 21st century. When a person undergoes continuous ongoing stress the body starts to break down.
Panic attacks are common in modern society. They were all too common for me. It for this reason I turned to yoga. It helped my health in general and with the dreaded panic attacks I experienced.
Deep restful relaxation
Did you know there is a machine that measures brain activity? It is called an EEG machine. EEG stands for electroencephalograph. Our brains have a tendency to produce brain waves of various states. One common state is called the 'alpha' brain wave state. As we close our eyes and relax brain activity slows down. Alpha brain wave frequency when measured is from 8 to 13 Hertz. When alpha waves become dominant throughout the brain the sensations of calm and pleasantness result. People who are healthy and stress free produce a lot of alpha activity.
There is a way to get into the alpha state consciously. It can be done through a technique called progressive restful relaxation. Progressive restful relaxation takes the body to a deep level of ease and calmness. It produces an alpha state. Dr Herbert Benson explains this well in his book 'The Relaxation Response'. Some major benefits with progressive relaxation are less wear and tear on the body, increased circulation, and a sense of inner calm.
Healthy breathingAn automatic activity like breathing is too often taken for granted. Think of the following health factors and how intertwined breathing is with them.
- Poor posture. Weak muscles of the chest 'cave-on'. This results in shallow breathing.-Shallow , rapid , uneven breathing limits the possibility of an expansive , relaxed nature. It's hard to be relaxed and calm when you find breathing difficult.
A major reason why many of us are unaware of basic health building principles is because we had no one to sit down and take the time to explain it to us. Understanding increases our awareness. Greater awareness leads to greater choice. It can also lead to greater energy levels. I found out the hard way it is not how much I know but how much energy I have that makes a difference.
For most of us Fantastic vibrant health is more of a dream than a reality. Imagine having lots of energy to do what you want to do. So I wind up this article by wishing you the best of health.
Yoga is an aid, not a cure, for panic attacks. A powerful system that will help you create the health that you're after. The health that you deserve. The health that you can have.
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Yoga for Fitness
By
Daniel WalchHatha Yoga is the physical expression of Yoga discipline. There are other forms which focus on breathwork, meditation and other disciplines, but for our discussion we will focus on Hatha Yoga. As you may have noticed, there are many forms of hatha Yoga. For the newcomer, the sheer number of types of yoga training may be a bit confusing. There is Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Power Yoga and many others.
If you are feeling a little intimidated, don't be. Yoga was meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
Usually a community recreation center or local studio will offer discount beginner classes in Ashtanga Yoga, which is a very mild form. You will learn the basics, including proper form, basic poses, meditation and relaxation. Ashtanga is popular, but it is not challenging. Once you have developed your regular practice, you will want to advance to other forms of Yoga.
Two very popular forms of Yoga are Bikram and Power Yoga. Both of these forms are taught widely and are considered challenging forms. Becoming adept at these forms will bring more flexibility and muscle tone, as well as strength and focus. Remember that any form of Yoga is good for the body, aiding in circulation and digestion. However, remember to stay alert during your foray into the field of Yoga. Many people you meet will be very flexible and advanced in their practice and may encourage you to do things your body isn't quite ready to do.
Take things slowly. Start with a beginners class and do not advance to more challenging forms until your body is ready for the change. Like most things, Yoga is a practice that evolves with you and it will become a very enjoyable part of your life. The health and strength benefits will amaze you as your body becomes more efficient and attractive.
Daniel Walch publishes articles on business and psychology. See his blog at
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Learning Yoga - Great Reasons to Get Involved
By
Christopher JYou have heard all the benefits of practicing yoga. You know that anyone can do it. It doesn't matter how old or young you are, how fit you are or how flexible you are. Any yoga position can be altered for your fitness and flexibility level. You want to enjoy the benefits of yoga starting today. Now you need to know how to learn yoga. There are a couple options that you have, the one you choose will really depend on your learning style and comfort level.
To learn yoga you can take a class, go on a yoga retreat, learn yoga from a book or pop in a beginners guide to yoga DVD or video tape. They all have their benefits and again it will really depend on you. Try one and if you are unhappy with the results or instruction try another.
Deciding on how to learn yoga is as important as figuring out which type of yoga you would like to learn. Here is a small list of the types of yoga:
• Hatha yoga - with Hatha there is a lot of importance places on the perfect physical form. This is because those that practice Hatha believe that the perfect form is what helps them attain spiritual perfection. They employ breath control exercises and hand gestures to reach self realization.
• Kundalini Yoga - this is the potential form of life force that is lying dormant in our bodies. It is seen as a coiled up serpent that lays in the base of our spine and it can spring awake when it is activated by spiritual disciplines. The practice of kundalini yoga focus on the psyhic centers in the body to generate a spiritual power.
• Bhakti Yoga - this type of yoga is all about getting in touch with the Divine Being and is then followed by an outpouring of ones' heart. This type of yoga advocates love and devotion as the path to being liberated.
• Tantra Yoga - with its roots in the ancient fertility practices of India, tantra yoga is the merging of the Ultimate by arousing and channeling sexual energy.
Remember that this is only a small list of the types of yoga, you will find that some are more spiritual and some are more physical but they all are based on the same poses the variance is in the instruction.
Once you have decided on your learning style and the type of yoga you would like to learn you need to get prepared. You will need a mat or some sort so that you are not just on the hard floor and you will need to be dressed in comfortable clothes. You don't need to run out and by "special yoga clothes" just wear clothes that are not restrictive and are comfortable.
Make sure that you have a quiet place set up at home where you can practice your yoga poses.
It is advisable that you do not begin to practice yoga if you have any physical injuries, talk to your doctor first. Yoga is meant to help you, not cause you more pain. Also do not underestimate the energy that is required to perform the yoga poses. They may look simple, but practicing yoga will require strength and stamina.
Christopher Jay has supplied much more information on
Yoga Therapy at Yoga Health Benefits.com. Let us help you keep your health and well being. Find some answers at
Yoga Health Benefits.com today.
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Yoga Benefits Each And Everyone Of Us
By
Christopher JYoga is an ancient practice that anyone at any age can do. There are some that believe we are natural born yogis, remember when the practice of pulling our toes up to our ears was fun and we would laugh about it. Then we all grow up and instead of enjoying our flexibility and balance we begin to carry stress. That stress is carried in our shoulders and our backs and our necks.
Basically we lost our balance, our inner and outer balance.
Yoga helps us restore that balance. Yoga is meant to create a sense of unity in our minds, body and spirit. You do not need to be an expert to do yoga or enjoy the benefits of yoga. The joyous part of yoga is that you can feel the benefits of practicing yoga after the very first session.
Along with not needing to be an expert, you also do not need to be incredibly flexible. Yoga positions and movements can be adapted to fit any flexibility level. The more you perform yoga the more flexible you will become. Increased flexibility is one of the benefits of dong yoga.
Have a sense of relaxation in the mind and the body. Relaxation is something that everyone including children can benefit from. Relaxation of the mind and the body will revitalize the nervous system and promote feelings of peace and stability from the inside out. This will give you more zest for life and you will feel younger and taller.
Yoga will help you keep good posture because you will become acquainted with muscles that you didn't know you had. I do not mean bulking up with muscles, but tightening those little muscles in our bodies that don't get the attention or care they need. By strengthening and tightening these muscles or bodies will become stronger.
Those are only the beginning of the benefits of yoga. If you stay with it and practice daily over time you will notice that you have more self discipline, more self control and an increase in your determination and these three traits will flow into every aspect of your life. You will notice that you do not get stressed out and when stressful situations present themselves you deal with them with ease.
Practicing yoga will help you improve your ability to concentrate. This is important because we currently live in a world where thousands of things are being thrown at us all at once. This makes it difficult for most people to concentrate, and as we age it becomes more and more difficult. Think about the fact that you can improve your concentration without having to pop a ginkgo biloba pill, simply do yoga. Loose the frustration associated with decreased concentration.
Learn about yoga and practice it daily. These benefits that have been listed really on skin the surface of what yoga has to offer you. What do you have to loose, a few aches and pains... take back the control of your life.
Christopher Jay has supplied much more information on
Yoga Therapy at Yoga Health Benefits.com. Let us help you keep your health and well being. Find some answers at
Yoga Health Benefits.com today.
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Weight Loss through Yoga - Loose Weight Effectively!
By
Tania HacknerYoga has long been touted as a relaxation technique that tunes the body, mind, and spirit into working in harmony. But many fitness experts and yoga teachers now say that yoga also leads to effective and lasting weight loss where other techniques have either failed or shown minimal results.
Any weight loss program includes regular exercise and a healthy diet. But what's even more important is sticking to the program. This is hard for most people as hectic schedules hinder exercise time, and day-to-day stress brings on emotional eating. Here's where yoga can help you.
Yoga is first and foremost a very effective form of deep relaxation. Even the most basic breathing exercises and poses (asanas) which define your first yoga session will help you clear your mind and better deal with stress. This positively affects your state of mind toward yourself and your life. As you are more relaxed, you will find it easier to control and eventually eliminate emotional binges and snacking between meals. The deep breathing exercises (pranayama) enhance concentration and inner strength, which help you stick to a diet or an alternative exercise routine.
Yoga tones and strengthens every muscle in your body. It also stimulates glands that secrete hormones which increase metabolism and alleviate depression. As you reach more advanced levels of yoga, you get more nimble and find it easier to work off excess fat. The pranayamas increase oxygen intake, thus facilitating smoother functioning of every organ in your body. An hour of yoga leaves you feeling rejuvenated, which means that you feel better throughout the day and tackle even mundane household chores more energetically, thus burning more calories.
If you are obese or excessively overweight, yoga is only an indirect way of getting in shape. It preps your mind and body for weight loss. So, if you initiate the other required steps in addition to your yoga sessions, you will soon be on your way to a lighter you and much healthier lifestyle.
Good health is not a struggle, nor it is an extraordinary feat. Healthy living is about understanding what your body needs and what is good for it. Re-discover good health in a simple way with Tania Hackner and make good health a way of living!.For more information and advice on
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Can Children Do Yoga?
By
Scott HughesMany adults practice yoga to improve both their physical and mental health. Yoga not only improves flexibility, but also improves strength, stamina, concentration, blood circulation, balance, and more. If you do not already practice yoga, you may want to consider it. Whether you already practice yoga or not, you may consider letting your children practice yoga.
You may wonder if children can practice yoga safely. Of course they can! In fact, in many ways children may be more suitable for yoga than many adults. Children are often more flexible and physically active than adults. Additionally, children learn new things very easily, as learning is a natural part of growing up.
Yoga is generally safe for children, but before starting any new exercise program, you want to check with a doctor. Doctors can examine you and your children and make sure you do not have any special physical needs. Luckily, yoga is a relatively accessible exercise program, and has much less physical requirements than other more intense exercise routines. In fact, yoga is often used as physical therapy and a way to help treat various injuries.
When practicing yoga with children, there are some special issues you want to keep in mind.
For one, children like to have fun and sometimes have shorter attention spans than adults, so their yoga routines may benefit from a more upbeat and fast-paced workout. Additionally, you want to work games into their workouts and exercises if you can.
Children are also not as experienced or educated as adults, and are still learning. For that reason, they may not be able to comprehend complex spiritual teachings, and they may not be as interested as adults in trying to understand complex ideas. It may be wiser to offer children a simplified introduction to yoga, as opposed to the more advanced approaches that would be offered to experienced adults.
If teaching children who are not your own, it is often a good idea to avoid mixing strong religious messages or opinions with the yoga lessons. The children's parents may have different religious views than you, and thus may not want you teaching their children your views. Religion can be a very sensitive subject for some people. For the same reason, if you are sending your children to a yoga class or buying them some sort of yoga media, you may want to review it first and make sure you find its messages suitable.
If you decide to let your children do yoga, there are many ways to start them. You can find classes that offer yoga to kids. You can also find Yoga for kids videos, as well as other media. You can even do the yoga routines on the videos at home with your children. Good luck and have fun!
Scott Hughes owns and operates
OnlineYogaClub.com which is a great website with
free information about yoga. You can also talk about yoga for free at the
Yoga Forums.
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Practice Yoga to Develop Patience
By
Paul JerardWhen you look at the list of virtues that Yoga embraces - patience is one of many. Yet, the development of patience, through the practice of Yoga, could change the quality of your life right away. Traffic jams, delays, extra paperwork, and last-second changes, cause many of us to be irritable - but just how important are they?
Here is an example: You have an appointment with your doctor, but you are running a few minutes late. You fight through traffic, avoiding drivers and pedestrians, while breaking the speed limit. Then you run into office to sit in the "waiting room." After 15 minutes of waiting, you are admitted to an exam room to wait for another 20 minutes.
The end result is that you put your life at risk to wait 35 minutes. If the doctor you went to visit was a surgeon, you might have waited hours - if he or she was called into the hospital for an emergency. So, you have accomplished nothing by raising your blood pressure, putting your life at risk, and driving to endanger others.
Yoga teaches us to enjoy the present moment - regardless of the situation. Plan and prepare for delays by starting earlier or by making good use of time you spend waiting.
An experienced Yoga practitioner would practice Pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques) or mentally perform mantra anywhere. These Yogic methods do not require you to carry anything with you.
Yet, you could also practice Jnana Yoga (Union though knowledge) by carrying audio books, a lap top computer, or a book. Any of these methods would make delays much more bearable, and you would learn to practice or cultivate patience, while you wait.
© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.
http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.
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Benefits of Yoga
By
Singh VineetNumber of people practicing yoga is increasing everyday as the transformation is inevitable and self driving, you feel the instant changes that help you relax and energize.
India is the motherland of 'Yoga', spiritual practices. Indians coined the term Yoga that refers to technologies or disciplines of asceticism and meditation. Yoga has been attached to Hinduism and its religious practices. Yoga originated from a Sanskrit word 'yuj' which has several meanings in different context (means union, control, to yoke etc.). Yoga practice aims to make you free of worldly desires and materialistic world, and feel the power of eternal supreme. People have also practiced yoga as form of exercise and postures. 'Shakti from Bhakti' is the enchanting mantra.
Starting with few facts and figures related to yoga - eight limbs of yoga practices are: Asana (postures); Dharana (Concentration); Dhyana (Meditation); Niyama (5 observances); Pranamaya (Lengthening); Pratyahara (Abstraction); Samadhi (Liberation); Yama (5 abstentions).
In this over consuming world the stressed mind state needs relaxation and yoga practice is a best natural remedy that lets you control yourself and you become self-disciplined by concentrating on your core. Tangible benefits of Yoga are on your health, fitness, and wellness:
Complete relaxation of mind and body: Rejuvenate your mind, body and soul with yoga practices.
Lubrication of joints, ligaments, joints and massage of all organs - Get relief of pain and stiffness in different parts of body, yoga practices lets free movement of body parts and joints. It stimulates all your internal organs and parts. Softly realize yoga benefits will dwell upon you, really reliving. Yoga with meditation harmonizes your organs and body parts. Yoga help you energize and keep pace with spirit of day-to-day pressure and fatigue. You can see automatic healing, it is self driving and changes can been seen from the first day of practicing yoga.
Physiological Benefits - Really you will enjoy the real benefits of yoga once you start practicing it, it is difficult to enlist them, I will discuss few of them. If you are perturbed with nervous disorder, practice yoga as you will experience stable automatic nervous system equilibrium. Is you pulse rate fluctuating?? Having blood pressure problem? Over-weight or under weight, suffering from insomnia??? One solution to all problems: musculoskeletal flexibility, endocrine normalization, increase in strength and immunity, find yourself completely balanced.
Psychological benefits of yoga include increase in concentration, decrease in anxiety and depression, somatic awareness increases.
Biochemical benefits ATPas increases, hemoglobin increases, vitamin C increases, cholesterol increases.
Yoga bestows peace of mind because of its therapeutic nature tranquilizing your mind. It guides your mind to control your actions and body functionalities.
In brief, yoga is life, gives the power to lead, it is an art, a set of guidelines and principles, a culture that binds all organs and parts, it is the right path to follow, stimulates your body to attain divinity. Set your self free and practice yoga single minded to attain peace, stability, flexibility................remain ageless, practice Yoga the, awakening lingo.
The author is an aspirant writer on Yoga Ayurveda and Health. To,
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Signs of a Good Yoga Teacher
By
Laurie DesjardinsYoga is an excellent way to combine exercise and meditation, as you're learning to limber up both your body and mind. It also can be beneficial to join a class, so that you can have help with learning the more challenging poses. However, just like anything else, there are just as many bad yoga instructors as there are good ones.
If you want to get the most out of your yoga instruction, then don't just sign up for any old yoga class. Whether you're looking for a yoga instructor or a meditation guide, here are a few signs of a good teacher, one who will help you expand your knowledge of yoga and meditation with patience and compassion.
Signs of a Good Teacher:
1) A good teacher will see and welcome their students before the class, appreciating them for who they are as unique and beautiful people. He or she will have a positive attitude toward the class in general.
2) Yoga can be challenging, so people with injuries, even minor ones, should be careful. Because of this, the teacher should ask at the beginning of every class if there are any injuries, strains, concerns or tensions at all in anyone's body, and what that issue is. This way, the the teacher can keep that in mind as the class goes through the poses.
3) The teacher will choose poses for the class so people with injuries get help and the people without injuries get challenged.
4) A good teacher explains and demonstrates a pose, especially challenging ones, so the students understand it from beginning to end. The teacher should make sure the whole class is on the same page and everyone is aware of the dangers and mistakes.
5) The teacher knows how to explain the poses in a variety of ways so if explaining it one way doesn’t resonate with someone, they have an arsenal of perspectives on the poses.
6) Good teachers will know how to teach. They will see subtle errors and weaknesses and know how to correct them graciously. A positive teacher will assume you are putting your all into the class and gently encourage you, working with whatever energy level you may have. The teacher will use frequent positive reinforcement when he or she checks on students, and will never, ever embarrass or bully a student.
7) At the end of the class, a good teacher asks how the students are feeling. Teachers should want to make sure that the class was helpful and challenging for everybody.
8) They should have a wealth of meditations for Savasana (Dead Man’s Pose) at the end of class. Good meditations really enhance yoga, so good teachers should know of several to help their students get the most out of the class.
9) A good teacher always thanks their students for attending. It's just common courtesy.
10) Most importantly, they practice what they preach. They treat their lives, their students, their emotions and attitudes with the grounding and peace brought forth in good yoga.
Fortunately, there are more good teachers than bad ones in the world, as the very nature of yoga promotes compassion and the pursuit of wisdom. If you're looking for a new class, keep these signs in mind and you'll find a teacher and group that you'll be able to mesh with.
Laurie Desjardins is a meditation expert and creator of the Zen Stick relaxation tool. If you want to get more out of your yoga and meditation, consider adding the Zen Stick to your relaxation repertoire. For more information about meditation, yoga and Zen Sticks, visit
http://www.sleepingtiger.org.
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Yoga Is Good For Anyone!
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Tania HacknerAny discussion today about health and fitness is incomplete without touching upon Yoga. And not without good reason. Initially thought to be just a good way of handling stress, almost all yoga veterans today will tell you that yoga has kept them fit and healthy and possibly prevented the onset of disease. That fact is supported by medical and fitness professionals around the world.
Different yoga poses act on different parts of the body. Yoga is the only form of exercise that works on even those internal organs that are normally not stimulated throughout the course of your life. Below are just some of the ways in which yoga can help you.
• Improves blood circulation; increase in hemoglobin levels; decrease in white blood cell count, thus increasing immunity.
• Better respiratory functioning. This prevents asthma and can even reduce the severity of asthma attacks. Asthma patients who practice yoga regularly have fewer attacks and require less medication.
• Increases efficiency in functioning of cardiovascular system, thus preventing heart disease. Patients with heart conditions who practice yoga are able to recover better and faster from heart attack or stroke.
• Better functioning of digestive system, thus improving bowel movements and increasing metabolism.
• Stimulates various organs and glands.
• Strengthens joints, tendons and ligaments. This lessens arthritis pain.
• Increases strength, endurance, and daily energy levels, thus increasing productivity and preventing sleep disorders.
• Facilitates weight loss or weight gain. Studies have shown that people who lose weight through yoga are able to keep it off better than those who lose weight through traditional methods, even after they stop practicing yoga.
• Enhances flexibility, thus reducing pain caused by illness.
Over time, yoga strengthens your body and prevents or reduces the severity of several diseases like diabetes, asthma, thyroid problems, blood pressure, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, and certain heart conditions.
So whether you’re 16 or 60; have knee problems or a severe heart condition; yoga is the answer to health and fitness for life.
Good health is not a struggle, nor it is an extraordinary feat. Healthy living is about understanding what your body needs and what is good for it. Re-discover good health in a simple way with Tania Hackner and make good health a way of living! For more information and advice on
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Equal Standing
By
Jonathan FitzgordonStanding at the front of the mat in Tadasana, which translates from Sanskrit as mountain pose, is the foundation of the asana yoga practice. Tadasana is also called Samasthiti, which translates as equal standing. For me, all yoga poses are a reflection of and a search for tadasana and Samasthiti
What is equal standing? Standing correctly, which might be our most difficult physical act, balances all of the energetic forces of the body; front, back, side-to-side, and top and bottom.
There is skeletal alignment and muscular alignment; disharmony in one creates disharmony in the other. Most people stand and move in a way that forces the muscles to do way to much work and the bones to be pulled out of alignment. Finding alignment helps us to find samashtiti in yoga and our lives.
Here is an easy example of what muscular and skeletal balance is in the body. Hold up your hand and take a side view of your palm. Let your hand go limp. You can see and feel the quality of both the muscles and the bones. Everything is relaxed and soft. Now open your hand as much as you can. Feel the difference. Here you are probably hyper-extending the bones of the fingers.
Hyperextension, movement that goes beyond the normal healthy boundaries of the joint, is a classic misalignment of the knee that occurs in both standing and walking. The muscles of the hands are also probably imbalanced with the front of the palm and fingers working overtime.
Now find the middle ground. Straighten your fingers evenly and feel what happens. There should be an even balance between the muscles of the front of the palm and fingers and the back of the palm and fingers. Looking sideways at the bones, everything should look stacked atop one another evenly. This is a microcosm of our body's posture. We want to find this sense of equal standing everywhere we go.
Stand up and feel how your body aligns in space. Do you have to work to hold your self up? If your bones are aligned your muscles will have very little work to do. The bones should stack one on top of the other allowing energy and weight to transfer through them. Where are your thighs, under the pelvis or forward of it? How about the shins, do they create a right angle with the floor or do they seem opened to 100°? What about the head? Are all the bones below lined up to support the rather large and heavy head?
It can be helpful to feel what you do sometimes before you begin to fix things. Spend some time doing your asana practice and even check in with the body as you walk around. Start to try and feel your imbalances and patterns. Next month we will look at specific techniques for feeling and finding Samasthiti or equal standing.
Jonathan FitzGordon is the creator of the FitzGordon Method Core Walking Program. You can find more information at
http://www.fitzgordonmethod.com or visit his blog at
http://www.fitzgordonmethod.blogspot.com Jonathan has been practicing yoga since 1995 and has been teaching since 2000, having studied with some of the yoga community's leading teachers. In addition he is a Level II Reiki (healing art) practitioner. The FitzGordon Method is uniquely influenced by the Universal Principles of Alignment as created by John Friend of Anusara Yoga. The program synthesizes years of inquiry and practice and was born out of FitzGordon's personal and professional experience with changing neuromuscular patterning through self-awareness and repetition. The program's philosophy rests on the rock solid belief in our ability to change and evolve as we age.
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Yoga Solutions for Anger Management - Asana Practice for Energy Channeling
By
Paul JerardAmong its diverse methods, Yoga has many viable solutions for anger, and anger management. If you look at anger as a form of energy, and Yoga as a method for channeling uncontrolled energy, you can see a new horizon, which is the beginning of the solution to anger management.
Throughout history, and in many societies - young, angry people have often been “channeled” into military service. This is a good thing, when young people have constructive leadership, as they can give back to society and to those less fortunate.
On the other hand, under a destructive leadership, military service can be devastating, and scar one for life. This happens when young people are motivated by propaganda, conquest, intolerance, hate, and greed. The universal moral codes of Yoga are based upon truth, tolerance, loving kindness, giving, and forgiving.
Let’s look at how Yoga can take angry energy and channel it down a constructive path. The rewards are self-control, purpose, and a completely healthy lifestyle. We know that you cannot bury negative emotions, but this energy we know as anger, or rage, can be reconfigured.
Asana (Yoga posture) practice is a good place to start putting energy to use. Whether you hold an Asana for a few minutes, or flow from one posture to the next, you will still release negative emotions, while making your body healthy, strong, and flexible.
Nervous, and angry energy, can literally be squeezed out of the body through the practice of Asanas. Very often, students, who are emotionally upset, before a Yoga class, leave the class feeling balanced. Remember that asana practice is only one component of Yoga.
Raja Yoga (Ashtanga), and Hatha Yoga, have diverse sub-styles for channeling energy - by posturing. A few of the many more popularly known Hatha sub-styles are Iyengar Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Kripalu Yoga, and Hot Yoga. Raja Yoga, also known as Ashtanga Yoga, has popular sub-styles (which we know as Vinyasa Yoga and Power Yoga).
Yogic methods vary, and there is some mixing going on in contemporary styles; therefore, you may want to try a “walk-in” Yoga class before making a commitment. If you search, you will find the right school, and Yoga teacher, for you.
© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.
http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.
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Yoga's Formula For Happiness - Living Life to Maximum Potential
By
Paul JerardHow many times have you heard someone say, “If I lose 20 pounds, then I will join a Yoga class?” What does 20 pounds have to do with starting your first Yoga class? Absolutely nothing! People practice this self-destructive method of restraint all the time, and not just in the case of Yoga.
People will think, “After I earn a million dollars, then I will be happy.” They see themselves enjoying life after going through an ordeal. The sad truth is - we unconsciously create our obstacles to sow the seeds of failure.
Whether you want to paint, write, sing, dance, or practice Yoga - Just do it as soon as you can.
Do not wait, procrastinate, or make excuses. We have to take responsibility for our own happiness. Happiness clearly starts from within, so do not stop yourself from enjoying life.
If today was your last day on earth, would you place an obstacle in the path of happiness?
Hopefully, you see my point. The path to happiness does not have to be a long and winding road.
You can choose to surround yourself with happy people. You can choose to avoid the company of negative people.
This is not a complicated method for enjoying life. You will notice when you often think happy thoughts, positive and happy people are magnetized to you. Take the time to absorb the positive energy and laughter around you. In turn, your outlook on life will become an optimistic one.
You can create this positive cycle every day - through acts of loving kindness. Thank, love, forgive, and give to others. Notice that it always comes back to you, even if you do not seek a reward. With the prospect of happiness, "just around the corner;" why would anyone wait to take a Yoga class?
© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard/Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.
http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.
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Yoga, The Path To Happiness
By
Moses MaimonWe all hear about Yoga, meditation and other similar disciplines or philosophies. Some of us think it's good exercise and some that it's good for dealing with stress. Well, actually it is much more.
Yoga is something that can quite literally change your life. It starts by showing you what is really going on with your life, you see truly how your body functions, how your energy flows, how your emotions can be out of control and most importantly how your mind really works. And then you understand yourself much more. You can suddenly see clearly why you behave as you do and how blind we are most of the time.
Actually Yoga can do much more for you. It is a system so ancient and magical, it will touch your soul and transform your perception of reality; you will be one of the few who can truly see. (as said in Zen: Satori, which simply means direct vision).
Of course, at this point the biggest question most of you will ask is: so which Yoga is the real Yoga? I mean, there are so many styles of Yoga out there, which should I choose?
There is no one answer to this question. Most Yogis (adepts of Yoga) will obviously vouch for their style. But the question you need to ask yourself is not which Yoga path is right for you, but actually to look inside and try to feel your own heart and soul and simply answer this question:
What do I want from my life?
When you ask Why? you will discover that the answer is not as clear as you thought all along.
Because if you are sincere with yourself, you will realize that most of life's so-called objectives are actually just cravings of your ego and what you really want in life is something else. Not a firm sexy body, not a lot of energy, not to be rich and famous etc. but actually one simple thing:
To be truly happy.
That should be the first step. So how does that relate to Yoga? Well, it does very much. You see, when you truly understand what it is that we all need and ask for, to be happy, then you can make your choices in life much easier and with much more clarity. So which Yoga style is good for you? It is that style of Yoga that when you try it gives you an inner feeling of touching the heart. That you are finally home. (for more insight look at.
Agama Yoga is, in my opinion, exactly that kind of Yoga school. I have seen countless people coming to Agama Yoga school confused, troubled, angry, pleading for help and after just 1 month of Yoga course turning into centered and clear minded human beings. It is a little bit like waking up from a dream (or a nightmare in some cases) and realizing for the first time what the true purpose of life is. (if you are interested to learn more check out:
Much more about Yoga, Tantra and spirituality coming soon.
For more information about Yoga, Meditation and Tantra check out:
http://agamayoga.blogspot.com/ and for revealing the mysteries of the yogic mental powers check out:
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Yoga's Formula for Happiness - Self Worth and Purpose
By
Paul JerardAmong its many other valuable treasures, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras mention the principles of Santosha, which can be defined as contentment, happiness, or peace. Sometimes, this seems to be an over simplification of a common pursuit, which humans have sought since the beginning of their existence.
After all, happiness is the goal of all people. Who does not desire to be happy? Most people, who are full of negativity, desire a state of for joy and happiness, even if they do not see how to find it. Where do we find happiness? Should we travel to a distant retreat, shrine, church, mosque, temple, ashram, holy place, or an exotic island, to find happiness?
Yoga teaches us, that a perfect state of balance comes from within. Happiness can be created on the outside, but it will not last. A trophy spouse, big house, fancy car, and electronic toys, seem to bring happiness, but how long will a state of contentment last from the acquisition of possessions?
One of the first steps, toward genuine happiness, is self-worth. To feel worthy of good luck, love of others, and love of God, is a major step toward contentment. Many people feel that they do not deserve to be loved. They have made mistakes, and they do not forgive themselves for the past.
Now, I ask you to consider this: We try our best, but we are not perfect. Do you think our creator does not realize humans are imperfect? Humankind’s imperfection is not a big secret.
With that said, our mission is to wake up every morning, with anticipation, to do our personal best each day. You cannot help anyone if you feel unworthy, inferior, and a lack of purpose.
Lack of purpose is often a result of negative self-image. If you are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, in a state of balance, you have healthy self-worth, and you will establish a worthy purpose in life. Purpose gives you a positive sense of direction, which leads to happiness.
© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.
http://www.riyoga.com/ He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.
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Yoga's Formula for Happiness - Wanting
By
Paul JerardWe may be familiar with the Yogic principle of Santosha (contentment), but it is very human to want more from life. How many times have we heard that we should be content with what we have? Now, just take one look around you, and you will notice that people will naturally hoard anything - even during the worst of times.
During a snow storm, it is not uncommon to see someone buy a season’s supply of bread. Logical thought tells us that we will not be “snowed in” for the winter, when the forecast indicates two inches of snow. Is this panic buying, impulse buying, or the power of wanting, that drives a person to buy so much and waste it later?
Apparently, squirrels hoard acorns, nuts, fruit, and dried fruit all day, but they are exposed to the elements much more than humans. Squirrels cannot keep track of all the food they hide, so some of it must be lost, or discovered by another squirrel.
We can make the case that a squirrel does not have a complex mind or brain, but when humans copy the same behavior, we must realize that wanting is a powerful and primal driving force. It is true that wanting is much more powerful than having.
Unfortunately, squirrels do not practice Yoga, but we can. We can count our blessings for our friends and loved ones. We can also realize that wanting is a tremendous waste of energy; especially, if we want something to the point of hurting someone else for it. As the saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for.”
© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.
http://www.riyoga.com/ He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.
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Some Different Types of Yoga Poses
By
Darren WilligerThe most important part of yoga is the different poses and positions that you can place your body into. True yoga followers understand that this is an important step in their training. Through these different poses your body can promote its healing qualities and improve the energy flow within.
If you slowly execute these yoga poses with some amount of concentration, you’ll be succeeding in not only training your body but your mind too. A slow start and daily practice is the way to build up your body as well as the number of poses that you can master. Poses include different things such as warm-up, standing, seated, twist yoga, supreme, inverted postures, balance, backbends and finishing poses.
One of the most basic standing poses in yoga is known as the triangular pose or the trikonasana.
In order to execute this pose you should be standing and position your legs somewhat farther apart than your shoulders while keeping your feet straight. Your arms should also be raised up to shoulder level. Next you should lower your right arm and stretch it as far down the right leg as you feel comfortable. You should also raise your left arm over your head too. After this you can straighten your body to the initial position you started from and repeat this for the other side of your body. What this pose will do for you is to tone your legs as well as abdominal muscles and promote your lower back health too.
One of the most popular yoga poses is the lotus pose otherwise known as the padmasana. The lotus pose is a seated pose and it requires flexibility too. You should start off by placing your right foot on your left thigh and keep this foot facing up. The next thing you should do is place your left foot on your right thigh and facing up too. The other thing you should do is place the palms your hand on their corresponding thighs facing up. Then place your left foot on your right thigh and keep that foot facing up too. You should then proceed with laying the palms of your hands facing upwards as well. Carrying this pose during meditation will strengthen your legs and ankles and increase your flexibility. It also helps in relaxation and promotion of good posture.
Another pose that functions by rotating the spine is known as the half spinal twist otherwise called the Ardha Matsyendrasana. To start you kneel down on your heels and place your legs together. You should also sit to the right of this pose and place your left leg over your right foot with your foot on the outer side of your right knee. Next you should try to keep your spine straight and bring your right heel much closer to your buttocks and stretch your arms out to your shoulder level. Next you bring your right arm over the left knee and hold your left foot close. After this you place your left hand on the floor right behind you. Twists as far to the left as you can, this pose ends up toning your spinal muscle and ligaments as well.
Another basic yoga pose is known as the king of the asanas (Sushasana), this is also known as the headstand. When performing this pose you start in a kneeling position and your hands and elbows placed on the floor before you. You then interlock your fingers and place your head in between your hands. After this you should push up on your toes and bring your legs to an extended yet upright position. Try to focus on a point that is in front of you and make sure your body remains straight and balanced. This pose strengthens the neck and back and reduces stress and fatigue too.
Darren Williger writes for
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Practice Yoga and Remain Young
By
Singh VineetYoga has distinctively proved itself as a natural tool to maintain juvenility. Juvenility does not mean that an individual would become immortal and totally resistant to disease but could acquire immunity to several harmful toxins which leads to aging.
Almost all individuals whether men or women has the desire to remain young but in today’s world where there are toxins (harmful agent) in our foods, drinks etc. It’s not possible to maintain the health in such a hazardous environment. Today people are more prone to diseases as earlier because of extreme pollution and usage of unwanted materials. As a result the frequent diseases degrade the health of an individual and he or she show the sign of aging even in their 20’s.
A brief summary explaining why there are so much of healths hazards are mentioned below:
• Insufficient food intake (Balanced diet is missing)
• Exposure to hazardous or polluted environment
• Depression due to work pressure
• Anxiety due to work pressure
• Stress due to work pressure
• Intake of alcohols and drugs
• Excessive smoking etc.
It is almost clear that in one way or the other we are victims to the aforesaid pinpoints. So what’s solution – Thorough medical treatment, physiotherapy etc. There might be several remedies for this problem but a remedy though ancient but has proved itself to the best weapon to cope with such sorts of deformities is “YOGA”. Yoga in itself is a system which involves the maintaining the coordination between mind and body.
By practicing yoga regularly an individual could maintain his / her health at the most perfect level. Yoga helps in stabilizing the immunity of the body thereby helpful in fighting against the diseases.
Tips and techniques used in Yoga –
Body postures (Asanas – it involves the movement of body in several postures to relax the body nerves etc.)Breathing (Pranayama – it involves the special breathing techniques to calm down the mental nerves and coordinate the nervous system)Meditation (Dhyana – it involves the positioning of mind over one point thereby increasing the concentration and resistance to the surroundings)
Above said techniques if followed and practiced regularly in supervision of a trained Yoga personnel will lead to more healthier body and sound mind which will ultimately retards aging and the youth is maintained throughout. Also the resistance towards certain diseases will increase and a person may develop immunity to several diseases even while working in hazardous environment.
So the main mantra of today’s world is “YOGA” which is the best weapon to cope aging without any side effects.
The author is a contributor writer for Health. To get the latest
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Yoga And Your Health
By
Mitchell C. AdamsIt is an acknowledged truth that health and Yoga are closely interwoven. Regular Yoga practice has been credited with bringing about improvements in physical health as well as mental and physiological well-being. More and more people are now taking up yoga in order to increase their flexibility, ease stress, reduce pain in the muscles and the joints and also as a way of dealing with several health problems.
Yoga is a highly therapeutic art form that is aimed at uniting the body, the mind and the spirit.
Regular Yoga practice enhances your awareness of your body’s patterns of movement, posture and alignment. It increases your body’s flexibility, helps you stay relaxed in the most stressful situations and helps you feel fitter, happier and more energetic and peaceful.
Yoga provides a holistic approach that benefits every system in the body without the danger of adverse side-effects.
Nervous System: The practice of Yoga is immensely beneficial for the smooth working of the nervous system, which is responsible for essential mind and body functions. It also helps you deal with migraine headaches and also recognize factors that can trigger them.
Musculoskeletal System: Regular Yoga practice helps improve strength and flexibility of the muscles and joints especially around the neck, upper back and knees. It helps prevent spinal injuries through proper posture and exercise.
Circulatory System: Yoga helps you deal with existing circulatory ailments and disorders including coronary artery disease and hypertension. Certain Yoga postures help strengthen the heart muscles and improve circulation.
Endocrine System: Yoga helps improve the functioning of the endocrine system that regulates metabolism and growth. Regular Yoga practice can be of immense in dealing with various health problems including diabetes and obesity.
Respiratory System: Yoga helps manage respiratory ailments as well as the various physical and emotional factors that aggravate or trigger the problem.
Digestive System: Yoga helps you deal more effectively with various digestive disorders including heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome.
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Yoga in Thailand
By
Edward JonesFor many years I have had an aching back and neck, I tried various therapies but no avail the problem continued. I started to try Yoga and after a few years slowly my pain dissolved, I tried for 1 hour a week which seemed sufficient for a while until I went to live in Thailand I noticed that the island I had moved on had so much Yoga going on and the people that I were meeting were quite dedicated to yoga, some of them practicing every day, Truthfully I thought it to be a little extreme.. Anyway I was influenced to step up my once a week practice to 2 or 3 times per week and after 1 month of practicing 3 times per week I felt considerably more energy flowing through my body and I found that I could actually sit up straight for longer than 5 minutes without having pain in my lower back.
Additional to Yoga a big help was stepping up to a more healthy diet, again I was surrounded by health freaks in the town which made it easy for me to adjust which made a change from being around pot smokers all the time.
I went for an iridology exam and also a blood reading and both came out with similar results, they were saying that I have been eating the wrong foods for my blood type, which is A+, so0 I started adjusting my diet to the foods and drinks that resonate with my blood type and now I can say that I generally have more energy and awareness. It is amazing how a few adjustments can make a difference, but you will actually find yourself craving the very things that are not good for you, so when people advise you to eat what you like and transmute it I don’t believe that’s beneficial, when you do this you are succumbing to your cravings.
The most amazing practice I have come across is Sun Yoga, which was taught to us in a workshop in Thailand by an amazing Yogi named Uma Sankar, you can check his site at
www.sunyoga.infoHe practices meditation by staring into the sun each day and claims that this fully nourishes oneself, he has not eaten or drank anything since 10 years, neither does he need sleep! When I have the chance I spend 30 minutes before sunset or after sunrise which is actually more beneficial as it is the fresh rising prana that you ingest.
Moving on from there another amazing practice is living on prana only, not even needing the sun, this practice was taught to us in Thailand to many of the Yoga students here by a lovely woman named Jasmuheen. This involves slowly adjusting your diet to a raw food diet, then liquids only eventually moving onto prana. There are various meditations that are needed to re program the mind/body so that it does not have the need for food or drink anymore, such as visualizi8ng the kidneys being hydrated etc..
Yoga can be used for physical fitness or it can be used as a spiritual practice which aim is to unify all levels of being and connect with the divine.
Give it a try! And who knows you may move on to Sun Yoga or you may be inclined to live on prana and save the washing up!
My name is Edward Jones, I have been studying Yoga and Meditation for more than 7 years whilst traveling around the world being inspired by amazing teachers..
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Agama Yoga ClassesFor info on becoming a teacher visit -
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My Yoga Story
By
James HosmerI began practicing Yoga a couple of years ago. At the time I was getting zero exercise. My musical gig, which was one of the best gigs I have ever had, was great, but not physically demanding of me.
So one day my wife Maria and I were driving around town doing some errands, when a woman and her young son appeared on the side of the road with a broken down car. Maria quickly yelled to me "Stop! Let's help them!" So along with another man who had also stopped to help, I pushed this woman's car a small distance up the street to the nearest parking lot. Well, I literally thought that I was having a heart attack! My heart began pounding faster than I ever thought possible, my legs were about to give out, all from pushing this car a few feet! For the next hour, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. This was my wake up call.
I had done nothing for too long. I needed to get into shape or I was going to DIE. I was only 34 years old at the time.
So a friend of mine -who I was telling this pathetic story of myself to- suggested that I come with him to a Bikram Yoga class. Reluctantly I said, "Yoga, I don't think so". But I eventually agreed, knowing that something had to be done. So I went. And I got hooked. This form of Hatha Yoga awakened something in me that had been dormant for too long. The physical benefits were obvious, as Bikram Yoga is a full and total body workout. But the mental benefits actually outweigh the physical ones. I quickly began to realize that there was a focus and calm pervading my existence, one that I could apply to every part of my life. It has now become part of who I am. I have more energy, more focus, more peace, more happiness.
Bikram Yoga has, in fact, changed my life. I would highly recommend trying it out. You can find a local studio where the instructor has been trained by Bikram himself and this staff under class finder. It is a series of 26 postures (asanas) and 2 breathing exercises performed in a room heated to at least 105 degrees. The heat does a few things: It allows for the release of toxins throughout the body, while at the same time alows the body to be more flexible, reducing the risk of injury. And believe me, at first the heat seems unbearable, but after a while you will LOVE the heat. After taking a Bikram yoga class you will have worked every muscle, joint, tendon, organ and ligament in your body, and realeased damaging toxins. It's amazing stuff! I encourage everyone to give it a try- All you need is yourself, a yoga mat, a towel and water! Go get healthy!!
Health and Wellness,
Jamie
Jamie Hosmer is a proponent of health conscious eating and living, including proper nutrition, diet and exercise. Jamie's mission is to help educate people on how they can become healthier and happier, as well as protecting our environment by utilizing renewable energy sources and conservation practices.
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Yoga, The Path To Happiness
By
Moses MaimonWe all hear about Yoga, meditation and other similar disciplines or philosophies. Some of us think it's good exercise and some that it's good for dealing with stress. Well, actually it is much more.
Yoga is something that can quite literally change your life. It starts by showing you what is really going on with your life, you see truly how your body functions, how your energy flows, how your emotions can be out of control and most importantly how your mind really works. And then you understand yourself much more. You can suddenly see clearly why you behave as you do and how blind we are most of the time.
Actually Yoga can do much more for you. It is a system so ancient and magical, it will touch your soul and transform your perception of reality; you will be one of the few who can truly see. (as said in Zen: Satori, which simply means direct vision).
Of course, at this point the biggest question most of you will ask is: so which Yoga is the real Yoga? I mean, there are so many styles of Yoga out there, which should I choose?
There is no one answer to this question. Most Yogis (adepts of Yoga) will obviously vouch for their style. But the question you need to ask yourself is not which Yoga path is right for you, but actually to look inside and try to feel your own heart and soul and simply answer this question:
What do I want from my life?
When you ask Why? you will discover that the answer is not as clear as you thought all along.
Because if you are sincere with yourself, you will realize that most of life's so-called objectives are actually just cravings of your ego and what you really want in life is something else. Not a firm sexy body, not a lot of energy, not to be rich and famous etc. but actually one simple thing:
To be truly happy.
That should be the first step. So how does that relate to Yoga? Well, it does very much. You see, when you truly understand what it is that we all need and ask for, to be happy, then you can make your choices in life much easier and with much more clarity. So which Yoga style is good for you? It is that style of Yoga that when you try it gives you an inner feeling of touching the heart. That you are finally home. (for more insight look at.
Agama Yoga is, in my opinion, exactly that kind of Yoga school. I have seen countless people coming to Agama Yoga school confused, troubled, angry, pleading for help and after just 1 month of Yoga course turning into centered and clear minded human beings. It is a little bit like waking up from a dream (or a nightmare in some cases) and realizing for the first time what the true purpose of life is. (if you are interested to learn more check out:
Much more about Yoga, Tantra and spirituality coming soon.
For more information about Yoga, Meditation and Tantra check out:
http://agamayoga.blogspot.com/ and for revealing the mysteries of the yogic mental powers check out:
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What Yoga Class Should I Begin With? - Description of Yoga Styles for Beginners
By
Logan McKnightYoga is gaining popularity in the western world, which raises the question to those who want to begin practicing… What yoga class should I start with?
Iyengar yoga is a really good style for beginners because it uses props, such as blocks and a belt, as aids in the different postures. It is extremely structured and focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body through development of postures (asanas).
Every style is based on asanas but each has a different emphasis. Below is a summary of other popular yoga styles that are good to begin with.
IyengarThe focus of Iyengar yoga is on body alignment. Props such as blocks and straps allow beginners to flow in asanas more easily. As oppose to moving quickly from pose to pose, Iyengar focuses on holding poses over long periods.
HathaHatha is a general term that embodies all forms of yoga. Courses defined as Hatha Yoga are generally slower and more gentle, making it another great course for beginners.
VinyasaA term that means breath-synchronized movement, Vinyasa is based on a series of poses called Sun Salutations. The focus is on the breath during the salutations, connecting it with the muscles that are being challenged and stretched.
BikramBikram yoga is practiced in a heated room (95-100 degrees), which allows for every muscle to relax and deepen into the series of 26 poses. With the room hot and humid, sweat pours from every pore, cleansing the body of impurities.
KundaliniOne of the purposes of Kundalini yoga is to free energy in the lower body by moving it up. Kundalini uses fast, repetitive movements and the breath to move deeper into each pose.
Read more on
styles of yoga and see
pictures of different poses. Anyone can practice
yoga and benefit from it.
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Yoga For Kid
By
Ellen ParryYou may not be aware yet, children too suffer from stress. They get this stress from their parents at home and even from school through their peers and teachers. Whatever the cause of stress, it must be controlled. If you know if a Yoga For Kid program, try introducing it to help keep kids healthy and stress-free. (Please note that the Yoga For Kid program is not a program we are promoting here, it is simply a program you can design for your own children based on yoga principles.)
Yoga has proven to be very effective in stress-relief and has also shown to help with hyperactive and attention-deficit issues that many children go through every day. Children crave movement and they also crave mental activities to help them learn more. Yoga can provide children with both of these things through simple exercises. Here's how you can start a Yoga For Kid program for your child or for the community you live in.
Determine The Problem
First you need to find out if a child has a problem or not. Not all kids suffer from stress and a lot of them just crave attention. Before you waste time trying to de-stress kids, find out if they actually are stressed out first and see if it has anything to do with the home or school environment.
Introduce Your Idea
People are afraid of things they do not understand. So if you are planning to start this program, first talk about it with people like the children and their parents. It's important to explain the Yoga For Kid program and that it can help children become better and stress less. Keep in mind that a child needs to know this just as much as a parent does in order for him or her to cooperate.
Explain The Theory
Here's the part that will involve the most preparation in your Yoga For Kid program. Make a program that includes different steps so that it will work. A good piece of advice is to first teach how this will help children understand themselves physically, how it will help them take control of stress, how flexible it will make them and how it will help them coordinate their physical and mental abilities.
Scheduling The Children
At this time, you may have everybody interested so you have to make time for them. You can suggest to do this program in the morning before school or at school if you work in one; or you can opt for an after school schedule. This depends on what kind of schedule you have as well. Remember that it is important that your schedule is also not affected.
Define The Routine
Two things about yoga: it's physical and mental. Balance the activities that deal with these aspects. If you have to, separate the activities. You can do the physical ones in the morning and do all the mental activities at night or after school.
Implementing the Yoga For Kid program in your home, school or as a community activity will definitely bring results. You will not only have healthier kids, but your community will have children that are more alert. They will also be more in control of their learning abilities while knowing how to deal with their own stress through the yoga activities you have introduced to them.
Follow the new secret to wellness. Know more about
Ashtanga Yoga and
Kundalini Yoga.
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