The Many Forms Of Yoga
By
Aazdak AlisimoMention yoga and many people assume it is a uniform practice. In truth, there many different forms of yoga that can be practiced and each has a different approach.
What are the many different forms of yoga? To grasp them, you will first have to understand that some forms of yoga are more popular than others. For the sake of this article, we will be discussing the most popular forms of yoga, so that you may find these types at a local fitness club in your area. Those yoga classes that you are likely to come across include: Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Bikram.
Let's start with the one that is gaining a lot of attention lately: Bikram. Bikram yoga is also known as "hot yoga," and since its inception people have been yearning to learn these exercises. This movement was first begun by Bikram Choudhury many years ago with the intent that it would become an intense form of yoga. Bikram is done in an extremely hot room (usually 95 to 100 degrees), which helps to loosen tight muscles. In addition, the high heat will cause a person to sweat profusely (sweating cleanses the body). Usually, this class will contain around 10 poses, though some contain all 26 poses. Another popular form of yoga is Hatha, and you are sure to find this one near you as well.
Hatha is really quite a generalized term. Hatha encompasses many different forms of yoga, though a Hatha course will usually move at a slow pace. In many ways, Hatha is the best introductory yoga course. Also, you will find that Vinyasa is another form of yoga that beginners will enjoy due to the breath-synchronized movements and slow poses. In great contract to Hatha and Vinyasa is Iyengar ... though this type of yoga is closer to its true roots. What are the different types of yoga poses involved in Iyengar?
Iyengar is really based upon bodily alignment. Those that practice this form of yoga do so in order to hold various poses for long periods of time. There are also many props that will be used in an Iyengar course (blankets, blocks, straps), and these courses are highly addictive. As you can see, there are many sorts of yoga that you can easily take part in.
What are the different types of yoga not mentioned here? Well, there are many. The fact is that yoga is an ancient practice with many different schools and teachings. Although your local health club may offer a few of the aforementioned courses, it is better to find a true yoga center near you. Find the type that works for you (using the above information as a guide), and begin your healthy yoga filled life today.
Aazdak Alisimo writes about
yoga equipment for YogaEquipmentSupplies.com
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The Digestive System and Yoga
By
Robin BrainThe organs constituting this system are: the mouth, the pharynx, the gullet (foodpipe), the stomach, the duodenum, and the small and large intestines. From the point of view of the science of diet, the food we eat should contain five constituents, namely, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, mineral salts, and vitamins. The first three constituents in this list are supposed to yield energy that is required for the life activity of an individual. One gram of carbohydrate or protein gives 4.1 calories of energy, while one gram of fat is found to give 9.2 caloriesof energy. We get large amount of carbohydrates from cereals, potatoes, sugar, etc. The proteins, in addition to supplying energy, perform another important function, that of building the muscles of the body.
They are of two types, namely, plant proteins, which are contained in large quantities in pulses, and dried nuts, and animal proteins, which may be received from animal sources, like eggs, meat, fish, poultry, milk, and so on. The animal proteins are more valuable, and hence vegetarians must include sufficient quantity of milk in their diet, so as to fulfil the requirements of animal proteins. The fats can also be had from two sources, namely, plants and animals. Both these are found to have equal energy value. But the animal fats, which are contained in butter, meat, egg, fish and poultry, are more valuable in as much as they are rich in vitamins A and D.
Many minerals, like Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Iodine, Sulphur, etc., are found in the human body. They play an important role in controlling the biochemical activity going on in the body.Calcium and Phosphorous are largely required for the proper development of bones and teeth. Many disorders are caused due to deficiencies of various minerals, and hence, it is necessary to have them in sufficient amounts in one's diet.
The vitamins, although needed in very minute amounts, are often found to be lacking in diets. They are obtained from fruits, vegetables, milk, etc., and are very intimately concerned with the maintenance of health and vigour of the body. Along with these nutrients, water is also needed in large amounts, because nearly 65% of the weight of our body is made by water. The body fluids, like saliva, the blood, the digestive juices, and endocrine secretions contain large amounts of water. Water helps in maintaining the body temperature within the normal range.
The mouth is the receiving organ for food. The food is cut into pieces with the teeth, and is ground into finer forms, and is moistened with saliva, so that it can be easily passed down the throat. The pharynx is a part next to the mouth, where seven paths come and meet: two from the nose, one from the mouth, two from the ears, one going down to the lungs, and one to the stomach. The food masticated and moistened in the mouth passes through the pharynx, down this last path, made by the gullet or oesophagus, which leads ultimately to the stomach. The food remains in the stomach for about two hours, and gets mixed with the Hydrochloric Acid and digestive juices secreted by the stomach wall. It then passes to the duodenum which has the shape of an inverted horse-shoe. Three digestive juices get mixed with it here, namely, the pancreatic juice (secreted by the glands called pancreas), the bile (produced in the liver), and the juice of the duodenum itself. As a result of the action of various digestive juices, the constituents of food, especially the fats, proteins and carbohydrates are broken down to simpler substances which can be assimilated in the body. The small intestines which are over twenty feet long, are responsible for absorption of the digested constituents of food. The remaining part goes to the large intestines (nearly five feet long), and is ultimately eliminated through the anus after absorbing water from it in the large intestines. The assimilated constituents of food are largely stored in the liver, and are supplied to the tissues, muscles, and all the parts of the body, through the agency of blood.
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Relax! Five Easy Yoga Stretches to Release Tension and Stress at Work.
By
Ntathu AllenAre you a busy executive? Do you spend a lot of time at work in meetings, reading reports, writing documents, and inputting data into your computer? Do you ever feel under so much pressure to complete projects, that you end up feeling overwhelmed, stressed out and exhausted? Maybe your shoulders ache, your neck feels sore, your mind cluttered and confused.
During these moments, it can be difficult to think clearly. You lack creativity; you may even feel demoralised and doubt your ability to complete your project in time.
The following five easy to follow yoga exercises, which you can do in a chair at your desk, are guaranteed to help release tension and fatigue from your body and quieten your mind.
Before you begin these simple stretches, sit comfortably on your chair. Feet flat on the floor, arms hanging loosely at your side. Smile and relax your shoulders. Lengthen your spine, and breathe slowly and deeply.
One. Raise both arms above your head. Place your left hand on your right wrist. Gently stretch to the right. Keep your body strong and straight. Breathe into the stretch. Switch sides and repeat.
Two. Still sitting, cross your left leg over your right knee. Place your right hand on the crossed knee. Gently turn your body to the left and look behind you. Allow your shoulders to be relaxed as you relax and breathe into the pose. Inhale. Release your arms and legs; return to centre. Exhale. Switch legs and slowly twist to the other side.
Three. Rest your hands on your thighs. Exhale. Slowly fold forward from your hips Allow your hands to drop towards the floor and hang loosely. When you have stretched as far forward as you comfortably can, gently lower your head towards the floor and allow your back to round. Hold this position for 4- 7 deep breaths. Inhale as you lift your head a little and slowly come back up.
Four. Place your palms on your thighs, fingers pointing forward, elbows bent. Arch your back, expand your chest, extend your neck, and allow your head to tip back slightly. Look up at the ceiling. Slowly come back to the upright position.
Five. Rest your palms on your thighs. Close your eyes, relax your face, relax your shoulders. Breathe slowly in for a count of four. Exhale slowly for a count of four. Repeat this breathing practice 4-7 times and then return to normal breathing. Have a Go! Practice these simple stretches and see how great you feel. You will feel mentally calmer, more alert and, physically better.
Ntathu Allen, Yoga Teacher, teaches professionals simple yoga stretches and meditation to manage stress at work , improve creativity and strengthen relationships at work and at home.
Contact Ntathu for your free monthly Yoga and Polarity Enewsletter - Healing for the Soul.
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ntathu@yogainspires.co.ukhttp://www.yogainspires.co.uk/phone: 07973 777 882
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5 Important Yoga Tips For Everyone
By
Raj S. GuptaTip #1: Why are you practicing Yoga?The first step is to figure out why you want to practice Yoga. What are your goals? Do you want to practice Yoga daily, weekly or bi-weekly? Does your schedule allow for a few minutes everyday, or you can take a 2 hour class once a week? Are you completely clear about your purpose for doing Yoga? Answers to these questions will help you determine what style of Yoga would best fulfill your goals. There are many styles to choose from and many types of teachers to learn from. Yoga studios and fitness gyms offer a variety of classes to fit your unique needs.
Tip #2: Talk to your doctor or other competent medical professionalThis is probably, the most important step for you to take before starting any Yoga program. As with any exercise program, including Yoga, the advice of a professional is important for your safety. Yoga can be enjoyed by the vast majority of people provided they are aware of the limits of their capabilities. Many postures many not be suitable or even dangerous in certain circumstances. A pregnant woman doing an inverted body pose for example, could expose herself to significant risk. The advice of your doctor cannot be stressed enough depending on your unique condition. If you have a specific condition, find out from your doctor if Yoga may worsen your current condition. You may want discuss the program an organization offers with your doctor, and determine your suitability with it. You could also bring a book with the postures and show it to your doctor and discuss whether they are appropriate for your condition. A DVD or video would also be good to show your doctor.
Tip #3: The correct Yoga styleNowadays there are so many styles of Yoga to choose from, and this could be a good thing. Everyone has a different taste and goal for practicing Yoga. Some may want a style that focuses on heavy physical activities, and others may want to enjoy a style that incorporate a particular philosophy that resonates with them. You can educate yourself on several Yoga styles, or even try a few, then pick one that you like and that you feel you can stick to for the long term. The whole idea here is that the style should be enjoyable to you so you can continue to invest your time practicing and keep reaping the benefits of your practice.
Tip #4: Don't compare yourself to anyoneYoga is a personal journey, based on your current level and capabilities. You don't have to compare yourself to anyone. Your teacher may be an advanced practitioner, and many students would like to be like him or her. They may try to overstretch and force themselves into a posture which may be beyond their capability at the moment. This is not advisable as it can lead to serious injuries. Regardless of how far you are comfortably in your posture, you will gain the benefit of the posture. By continued practice you may reach the perfection in the posture depending on your physical condition. Always follow the advice of your instructor and the steps involved in the posture. Remember never to imitate other students or your teacher and force yourself beyond your capacity into a posture.
Tip #5: Be patient and be persistentPatience is a great virtue. Don't be discouraged if you are not getting the benefits you expected right away. You need to maintain your practice and make it a part of your life as a normal routine such as brushing your teeth. Almost everyone doing Yoga would agree that they enjoyed benefits after their first day of practice. If you are new to Yoga, you will also enjoy these benefits. There are however, some postures that require a little more work to get them right, and you may not be happy with your results. Don't worry, in time you will get there. Every time you practice Yoga, you get better and better. Being consistent is the key to progress in Yoga. For many people time is a big factor, preventing them from being consistent. Find a regular schedule and stick to it.
About The AuthorRaj S. Gupta teaches how to eliminate daily stress through a highly effective Yoga Program that is completed in only 7 Minutes. He has also written a FREE Ebook titled "27 Important Yoga Tips For Maximum Benefits" To download your FREE copy visit
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Physical And Mental Benefits Of Yoga
By
Kenneth KohYoga is known for being one of the most beneficial exercises in the world, and also incredibly fun and enjoyable as it can be practiced by people of all walk of life and ages. Maybe you have even tried yoga and discovered that it makes you a different and better person. But what are the types of health benefits can you expect to enjoy from doing yoga regularly?
It is very important to know all the benefits of yoga before you start practicing it, so that you will understand that much more just how respected and positive an exercise form it really is.
There are so many different benefits that are offered from the exercise of yoga, and while each different form of yoga does offer its own separate benefits and results, there are some fundamental benefits that you will receive, regardless of which specific form of yoga you practice.
Physical Benefits
Flexibility: Yoga is very effective in increasing flexibility, as it has positions that act upon the various joints of the body, even including those which are never really worked out with other exercises. Stretching your tight body in new ways will encourage it to become more flexible, bringing greater range of motion to muscles and joints. You can expect to gain flexibility in your hamstrings, back, shoulders, and hips over time
Strength: Many yoga poses need you to support the weight of your own body in new ways, including balancing on one leg (such as in Tree Pose) or supporting yourself with your arms (such as in Downward Facing Dog).Some exercises will need you to move slowly in and out of poses, which also increases strength.
Muscle tone: As a by-product of getting stronger, you can expect to see Your muscles get incredibly toned and fit. Especially muscles that have become flaccid or weak, are stimulated repeatedly in order to help you shed flab and flaccidity. Therefore, Yoga helps toned and shaped long, lean muscles.
Pain and Disease Prevention: Increased flexibility and strength can help prevent the causes of some types of back pain. Many people who experienced back pain spend a major portion of their time sitting in front computer or driving a car. That can cause muscle tightness and spinal compression, which you can address these with yoga. It works to massage all of the organs in your body, and it is said as being perhaps the only activity that is able to massage all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough way. Yoga also improves your alignment, both in and out of classrooms, which helps prevent many other types of pain.
It is able to act in a wholesome manner on the various body parts, and this stimulation results in keeping disease away and alerting the body earlier when there is something wrong.
Better Breathing: Most of us breathe very shallowly into the lungs and take breathing for granted and without much thought. Yoga breathing exercises, called Pranayama, direct the attention on the breath and teach us how to better use our lungs, which benefits the entire body. Certain types of breath can also help unblock the nasal passages and even calm the central nervous system, which has both physical and mental benefits.
Total body detoxification: By gently exercising and stretching the muscles and joints through yoga, your body's blood supply starts working better and quicker, and this aids in the flushing out of toxins as well as providing nourishment up to the last point.
Mental BenefitsMental Calmness: Yoga asana practice is very physical. Concentrating so intently on what your body is doing, has the effect of calming the mind. Yoga also brings along meditation techniques, such as watching how you breathe and disengagement from your thoughts, which help calm the mind. It is also actually one of its main purposes.
Stress Reduction: Physical activity is good for destress, and this is particularly true of yoga. Because of the concentration need, your daily troubles, both large and small, seem to melt away during the time you are doing yoga. This provides a much-needed break from your stressors and helping put things into perspective. The emphasis yoga places on being in the moment, can also aid in relieving stress, as you learn not to dwell on past events or anticipate the future. You will leave a yoga class with lesser stressed than when you started.
Body Awareness: Practising yoga will give you an increased awareness of your own body. You are usually called upon to make small, subtle movements to improve your alignment. This will increase your level of comfort in your own body over time, thus leading to improved posture and greater self-confidence.
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Yoga - One Woman's Silver Lining to Cancer
By
Karen Wheeler HallIn 1996 Kerrie Hamner was shocked to learn that a harmless-looking mole on her left thigh was actually melanoma. After surgery to remove a large area around the melanoma, the doctor assured Kerrie that she was now cancer-free. But two years later, when she was just 25 years old, Kerrie learned that the cancer was back and had probably spread throughout her entire body. For the next three months, Kerrie underwent intensive bio-chemotherapy treatment that ultimately wiped out the cancer, but also left her physically debilitated.
But sometimes adversity brings with it the most incredible revelations. During the treatment Kerrie watched her body deteriorate, but inside her heart, mind and soul were growing and opening in leaps and bounds. Kerrie was being prepared to make what would be a life-changing discovery for her - yoga.
After her treatment ended, Kerrie took a yoga class and began practicing yoga at home. Still incredibly weak, Kerrie was only able to practice yoga for five minutes a day. But she stuck with it and gradually got stronger. Soon Kerrie was strong enough to take an Ashtanga class at Yoga Yoga in Austin, Texas, where she especially relished the after-class inspirational readings about the eternal nature of our souls. Kerrie continued her rapid progress and became an instructor at Yoga Yoga.
Kerrie credits yoga with bringing numerous benefits into her life, such as awareness and control of the breath, which helped her to control her state of mind and stay in the present moment. Yoga brought out Kerrie's innate strength and self-discipline, both mentally and physically, and helped to make her whole again. Yoga has been a tremendous healing light in Kerrie's life, one that she would never have found had it not been for the cancer.
Kerrie recently passed an important milestone - cancer-free for five years! She willingly shares her experiences with other cancer patients, offering healing words of hope and encouraging them to stay positive. Kerrie's inspiring story reminds us that devastating circumstances can actually be the catalyst for profound and positive changes in our lives.
© Karen Wheeler Hall - All Rights Reserved
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Pilates and Pilates Equipment
By
Kevin PhoenixThe Pilates exercise and Pilates equipment as we understand it was created by Joseph Pilates.
Pilates was a character and a pugilist who lived in England at the beginning of the 20th century. At the onset of World War 1, he was placed under forced internment along with various German nationals in Lancaster, England. There he taught fellow inmates the concepts and exercises that he had developed during 20 years of self-study and practice in yoga, Zen, and old Greek and Roman bodily regimens.
The exercises are a methodical routine which is intended to develop your body's constitution with balancing, stretching, strengthening and breathing. Devotees testify it can dramatically reshape hips, thighs and backside, improve upon abdominal strength and muscle length and benefit vertebral alignment.
Pilates exercise can not only dramatically alter the way your body looks, but also the way it feels and performs. The exercises set free natural hormones called endorphins in your body which fight pain, stress and relieve depression.
YogaPilates based his teachings on other exercise methods from all round the world, amongst them the mind-body formats of yoga and Chinese martial arts. Resolved to overcome his own ailments, he began to investigate anatomy as well as Eastern and Western forms of exercise, together with Yoga, weight training, gymnastics and acrobatics.
In many regards the conditioning is comparable with yoga, although some declare it is superior to yoga overall since it strengthens the body naturally, improving posture tone and resilience through stretching. The core difference is that whilst yoga requires moving from one static pose to the next without repetitions, Pilates exercise flows via a succession of movements that are more dynamic, systematic and anatomically-based. It's a well-choreographed yoga workout that moves gracefully between static poses and more flexible moves, that are both challenging and relaxing.
EquipmentAfter a few years, Joseph Pilates was transferred to a different camp where he worked as a nurse/caretaker. It was here that he started developing equipment that would permit his patients to exercise whilst in a prone or sitting position; thereby avoiding heavy strain on the heart and lungs.
This early equipment was made by using springs from beds and rigging them, using timber, so as to allow the confined patients to benefit from movement and resistance.
Although there are more than 500 different exercises described in the Pilates routine, the basic exercises can be performed on a simple floor mat. The exercises can also be performed in your home using ordinary fitness equipment.
Nevertheless there are many pieces of equipment that may be used to advance the benefits of the exercises. Some exercises are performed on specialized Pilates equipment including the Reformer, Cadillac and Ladder Barrel.
Some Pilates equipment, like the classic Pilates Circles, proffer spring resistance, others like the Spine Supporter, offer support, and a diversity of unique exercises for the entire body can be performed on each piece. Often, a purely mat-based practice is a genuine and successful workout by itself, but if you have the occasion to explore some Pilates equipment under the tutelage of a qualified professional, do so.
The most common piece of equipment in any Pilates studio is the Reformer (a movable carriage for pushing and pulling). However a fully equipped specialist gym would have other spring and gravity based resistance equipment, e.g. Reformers Circles, Cadillac/Trap Table, Wunda Chair, Pedipull Barrels and Ladder Barrel
Attire
Unlike other forms of exercise, you are unlikely to get too hot when practicing, so clothing should be light and stretchable. Most people practice in bare feet as you are unlikely to slide on the floor mat.
Fitness
Although you should always follow advice from your doctor before starting any fitness routine, a Pilates workout is measured and controlled with no sudden jarring actions and, unlike many fitness programs, Pilates exercises are not based on the principle "more is better". The moves are very simple and slow, perfect for any fitness level and very likely to be appealing to beginners.
How quickly you get fit depends on several intrinsic factors: your existing degree of fitness, how quickly you understand the concepts, how often you do the workout routine and even how committed you are to continuing.
Pilates exercise is also said to ward off varicose veins, haemorrhoids and low back pain and helps to boost self esteem, maintain fitness levels and prepare the body for the physical demands of motherhood.
You'll probably find that many fitness centres and YMCA's offer Pilates classes, mostly in mat work. Fitness balls are available anywhere exercise equipment is sold, from all the big discount stores, to fitness stores, gyms and studios, and of course, online.
One of the advantages of going to a studio is that you will find it hosts a big family of health-minded people supporting each other in losing weight and improving fitness levels. Professional athletes and dancers, pre- and post-natal women, senior citizens, weekend warriors, and couch potatoes alike are enjoying his unique method of attaining physical fitness.
ConclusionPilates exercises improve the body's core, which includes the muscles in the abdomen, back, and buttocks. Pilates exercises can be performed on a mat, with literally hundreds of beginner to advanced moves available in the repertoire for a well-rounded workout on the floor. Pilates exercise does not jar the joints and is particularly useful for those having a history of joint problems.
Pilates exercises also improve the mind's ability to concentrate.
It is not necessary to join a gym or studio to benefit from the exercise, but if you do you will find a wealth of equipment and advice to assist you.
Learn more about Pilates and see demonstration videos at
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Yoga For Better Female Sex Satisfaction
By
Dr Rajesh NairA sexual problem is that prevents a female from experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity. Yoga asana and breathing exercises help in obtaining the optimum health state.
Lack of desire, painful intercourse, inability to get aroused and sexual climax are some problems that can keep a woman from experiencing satisfaction during sexual activity.
Physical health, psychological health, stress, depression, fatigue, menopause, over weight and lifestyle are some of the contributing factors to the above-mentioned problems.
How Yoga Helps:
1. It breeds confidence by clearing your mind and focusing on breath helping in being more aware of yourself.
2. It eases pain for some women, especially sportswomen, hip and thigh tightness can make sex tough, but yoga can ease any pain by releasing that tension and relaxing your hips. It tones your pelvic floor and strengthens your entire core.
3. According to Yoga, the sexual secretions contain the seeds of life, concentrated life force and nutrients and once depletion in life force takes place, the vitality level and resistance to diseases tends to diminish. A complete branch called Kundalini Yoga, deals with harnessing the sexual power.
4. Mula Bandha (Sanskrit name) an asana can even be done at your work desk. Do it seated or standing, contract and then release the muscle located between the pubic bone and the tailbone, as if you wanted to stop the flow of urine.
5. Pushups and putting up legs up the wall in yoga style really helps, emphasis being on bringing awareness to your breath and focusing on it for few minutes. This position allows more oxygen-rich blood to flow from your lower body back up to the heart and the brain, so you'll get up reenergized and refocused.
Yoga as a system combines postures, breathing exercises, and meditation since remaining relaxed is perhaps one of the most essential preconditions for a harmonious sex life. Irritation, improper lifestyle, stress may prove a stumbling block in a healthy sexual life and relationship. It has been found that many wives admit to their sexual life and marital relationship improving after taking up yoga.
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Choose Yoga Exercises For Relieving Stress And Staying In Shape
By
Thaddeus JohnsonTry doing yoga exercises for stress relief and keeping the body in shape. Have you been searching for a program or practice to help make a healthier and better you? Yoga has been practiced for many years and found to be very effective in stress reduction as well as keeping the body fit. This is a wonderful and fulfilling way to build a foundation of inner peace when experiencing difficult times and at the same time transform the body to have more range of movement and strength.
Find a yoga instructor and class that will work best for you
Being a newbie to yoga, it will not be a quick cure for any difficult situations you may be experiencing. Yes, it does amazing things to the mind and body but it takes time to embrace its importance. Simply put, yoga is a way of life. You become part of yoga as yoga becomes a part of you.
It is very important in selecting the right style/class and instructor to help guide you on your path of well-being. There are different styles being taught, so it would be wise to do some research. You can find information online, advice and referrals from family and friends, or go to the studios and observe a class. Take the time to get information from the instructors if time permits. Check to see if the instructors are certified. A good certified instructor might be able to help with certain range of movements in the event of past injuries or surgeries and to prevent undue injuries in class.
Inner peace and flexibility
Yoga is not a competitive exercise. You might find other students quite flexible way beyond what you can perform but that is their level of skill. Your attention should be focused on what your capabilities are and how you can create more expansion both mentally and physically. Yoga gives you the opportunity to become "one" with yourself through relaxation, meditation, breathing and stretching, making it possible for the mind and body to be in balance and harmony.
The exercises will make it easier to let go of the "mind chatter" that can clutter much thought and will allow space for higher consciousness and flexibility in the body. As this unfolds, you may experience calmness and clarity. This can be quite beneficial in that it may give you greater insight in managing difficult situations effectively. As you become relaxed when doing the exercises or poses, you will find that the body is able to transcend limits of movement. Yoga is important because it helps lengthen, strengthen and creates room for the body to move freely.
Find your balance
Though there are other ways to combat stress and tone the body, yoga has been instrumental in improving the lives of many individuals. Let yoga be the gateway to finding your balance and a healthier life.
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Yoga And Stress? Yoga Teaches About Stress
By
Dustin BartholomayYoga and stress are two opposite sides of life. A little stress is necessary to function and too much is be exhausting. On the other side a yoga practitioner sleeps less and has more energy.
How is this possible? Yoga is concerned with relaxing the nervous system. One of the originators of yoga stated, "Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind". When stress is happens the mind hammers a thought over and over. Yoga allows us to become aware of our own inner functions. In this way change happens from deep within our selves.
Here are four ways yoga helps manage stress.
1. One of the first things yoga says is to come back to your body and get out of your head. This by its self is enough to come out of stress. How a mind reacts to its surroundings determines how much stress the body takes on. By redirecting our attention to the body we avoid focusing on the things that are making us stressed out. To practice this start feeling any part of your body. Don't worry if it's not what you want it to feel like. At first it might be hard to redirect your attention towards your body sensations. This is resistance is partial habit and the stress it self. If you drift back into thoughts just recognize your thoughts and move your attention back to the body.
2. Watch your breath when you are stressed do you hold it? When we get stressed out it's because we are hung up. This hung up transfers into the body as holding the breath. Yoga helps us to be aware of our breathing pattern. There are many yoga poses that stretch the breathing muscles that have become perpetually locked.
3. Yoga helps us find balance in or body and mind. Being stressed out is a imbalance of the direction our mind moves. Yoga draws or attention to the other parts of our selves that balance out stress. When we are stressed every thing else falls away and only the stress is in our stream of awareness. With time yoga can broaden our experience. With a broad view on things we can bring equanimity into day-to-day experience.
4. If you want to deal with your stress then spend time with your self not being stressed out. A daily yoga practice is a perfect chance to spend some alone time with your self. Use your practice time to pay attention to the subtler feelings that are arises from with. This way every day you get a mini vacation. Use your practice to spend time with your self with out all of the pressures of life.
It's ok to be stressed out. Just remember don't sacrifice your health other it. There is nothing on this planet that is that serious. Are you being serious all the time? This is no fun; your inner child is probably suffering because of it. So laugh, dance and free your mind.
Dustin B. was born and raised in Mount Shasta CA. He has practiced yoga for over seven years and is a certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher.
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Yoga And Depression? Yoga Teaches About Depression
By
Dustin BartholomayYoga helps depression in many ways. There is no doubt that yoga helps depression. Because of the somatic relationship between the body and mind yoga is perfect for addressing depression.
The attitude of depression affects the overall structure of the entire body. When the body takes on the minds depression it takes the posture of depression. Yoga is effective in treating depression because it takes the whole being into consideration rather then only one part.
Typically western medicine treats the symptoms of depression instead of going to the root of the problem. Depression starts with a thought. The mind takes on the attitude of this pattern and then body soon follows repeating the pattern of the mind into the structure of the body.
Four ways that yoga helps with depression:
1. One of the main ideas of yoga is to bring balance into our lives. Yoga creates balance in the structure of the body that leads to balance of the mind. Depression is like leaning to far of to one side, it only becomes easier to fall into it the closer you get. Being depressed causes the mind to become obsessed with a particular thought pattern. So in yoga we stand evenly on both feet.
This balances our body that leads the mind to balance and out of depression.
2. Practicing asanas makes us strong, flexible and resilient. As these qualities move into our body the mind takes on the similar patterns. With time yoga helps us develop strength to push through depression, flexibility to accept changes in how we believe things should be and resilience to get up every day and carry on.
3. All body fluids and tissues are oxygenated through yoga practices. Watch your breath and notice if it is shallow. Because depression is shutting down our ability to absorb life it is closely related to our breathing pattern. The more depressed you are the shallower breaths you will take. Just try to take a few deep breaths while you are depressed. You will notice instantly you feel better. As you breath deeper can you feel the weight of depression wanting to shut down the breath? Don't let it continue to breath deep.
4. Yoga changes our body's alignment. Notice when you are depressed that it's hard to sit up straight. This downward pull is depression. In fact if you could just sit up straight for a while your depression would gradually ease. It's impossible to have a upright posture and be depressed at the same time. If you really want to be depressed hunch over and drop your head forward, this is depression. Body is not separate from the mind. With yoga practice you don't only understand this concept you put it into action.
Depression is a serious condition that is capable of worsening over time. Get help and surround yourself with friends and family. You can do it! Remember you are not alone we are all here together. We are the same and what one of us goes through we all experience on some level.
Remember breath deep, take a yoga class, go for a jog or go dancing. Take one step at a time you will make it through your depression.
Dustin B. was born and raised in Mount Shasta CA. He has practiced yoga for over seven years and is a certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher.
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Yoga and Diabetes
By
Paul JerardYoga instructors need to work closely with diabetic students in order to maximize the health advantages from yoga. Recent findings reveal the many positive effects that yoga has on diabetes.
Yoga cannot "cure" diabetes, but there are several ways yoga can be beneficial in controlling diabetes. If medically prescribed regimens are followed by diabetic students, they can safely add yoga to their treatment. Due to the potential impact on their glucose levels, and overall body function, great strides can be made through regular committed yoga practice.
The benefits of yoga on circulation are tremendous. This is one of the reasons yoga is so healthy for people suffering from a variety of ailments. Circulatory problems, in diabetics, are the primary cause of many devastating side effects. Yoga's focus on breathing, stretching and rotational movements, by nature, improves circulation.
Yoga also helps maintain the elasticity of blood vessels. This further assists in good circulation. In turn, increased oxygen is supplied to internal organs and the important glands of the endocrine system. When the blood vessels remain elastic, this means better heart health and decreased risk of stroke.
Back bends are especially good for the cardiovascular system. Yoga teachers should encourage diabetic students to incorporate back bends into their postures. If a student has mobility problems, because of age or obesity, consider assisted back bends with props to support his, or her, body, neck, and head.
Digestion is improved through movements and breath control of yoga (pranayama). Pancreas and liver operation is also enhanced. The rotations of certain postures also massage the glands of the endocrine system, encouraging hormone production.
© Copyright 2008 - 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.aurawellnesscenter.com/ He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit:
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Won't You Join The Dance?
By
Ambily GopinathNature... An infinite treasure of beauties and joys. Flowers and pebbles, sunlight and starlight, bird song and butterflies... and you and me.
And behind the marvels and mysteries of nature, beyond the mirage of molecules and the maya or illusion of physicality, is the inherently invisible consciousness. The consciousness that silently orchestrates, guides, governs and compels nature to express itself with infinite creativity, abundance and exactitude. Playing the celestial melody of the cosmos.
The spring that calls the buds to break and swallows to return, the ebb and flow of earth's seas, the breathing of all beings living, the rhythm of our hearts beats.... All play to the same melody.
Health and disease, happiness and misery.... are all variations on the same melody. Just that disease and misery are wrong variations. Distortions of the theme...
When we tune in to the cosmic theme, when our biorhythm is in harmony with the biorhythm of nature, our being is in a state of dance to the celestial melody of the cosmos. And when this happens, the inner energies and hidden potentials wake and work miracles for us, effortlessly, naturally....
Yoga is an ancient science that preaches the means to tune in to the whole. Yoga means union. A union that encompass many levels of our existence. It brings about union of different splintered aspects of our self and the union of ourselves with the whole. It also brings about union of movement and breathing, union of mind and body, union of thought and action, union of desire and intent....
It's the result of thousands of years of experimentation and observation by omniscient sages, enlightened gurus and ordinary people like you and me. There is vigour, objectivity and revelation in its method. There is harmony, beauty and inspiration in its expression. Yoga is existential, experiential and experimental.
From the very first session of yoga practice we will experience greater relaxation and calmness, increased freedom of movement, improved balance, enhanced concentration and alertness, increased self confidence, determination and contentment. And as we go deeper into the practice, the profoundness of human potential is realized more and more, making available, powers that lie beneath the patterns of restriction that limit and define us.
So now, stop what you are doing, for a moment. Stand up, take a deep breath and have a really good stretch. Stand on tiptoes, make yourself as tall as possible with your hands reaching up to the sky and your fingers spread. Breathe out slowly and slowly resume your standing posture. Doesn't that feel good? Do the muscles in your arms and legs feel relaxed and yet energized? Does your mind seem to have taken a breather from its daily round of thoughts and worries, for a moment? If your answer is yes, then you are feeling the benefits of a simple yoga stretch, already.
Yoga is a journey unto oneself. One to divide that which is not you and that which is you, to come to a clear cut division so that you can see yourself in pristine clarity. Once you have a glimpse of your nature, who you are, the whole world changes. Then you can live in the world, and the world will not distract you. Then you can move anywhere you like and you remain unmoving, because you have reached and touched the eternal, which never moves, which is unchanging...
Ayurmana yoga studio
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Nude Yoga - Would You Try It?
By
Colette HalberstadtNude yoga is not a mainstream yoga form. It ignites great contradiction and controversy by way of challenging individual's ideas and customary ways of thinking. Although naked yoga is not suited to everyone, those practicing the art find their naked yoga classes an approach that aids in further developing and advancing their experience and unity of mind, body and soul.
So why substitute nude yoga as an alternative to the 'normal' everyday yoga class, and what really is the difference? In fact, the yoga poses are not any different to what you would find at your more common Hatha yoga or Bikram yoga classes, but you would be performing the usual poses completely naked. Although this may make many of us almost have a heart attack at the very thought, naked yoga is naked for a number of reasons. Firstly, not only does it strip away competition and superficiality allowing you to focus more on your yoga than on what people around you are wearing, it also aids in developing self esteem for those individuals aspiring to become more comfortable with their body image. Performing yoga positions naked can also provide you with greater motion and flexibility as well as allowing you to achieve proper alignment during poses.
So how do you know if you are suited to this form of yoga and what should you be aware of prior to seeking out a naked yoga class? Generally speaking, the people that benefit from and enjoy nude yoga are individuals that enjoy trying out new things, aspire to improve their body image, want to learn more about yoga and most importantly understand that nudity in yoga has a very different meaning to that of sexuality and sexual behavior. It is very important to gather information about nude yoga centers or classes in your area prior to booking a session. Nude yoga should be run by a qualified yoga practitioner that is devoted to creating a safe and non-threatening environment. The atmosphere should be non-sexual in nature and the atmosphere should be a comfortable and relaxed one. In certain nude yoga classes lights are dimmed, clothes are removed as part of a yoga ritual and focus is always kept on the yoga practice and not those practicing around you. There are certain nude yoga classes that do not follow these guidelines and are groups that have changed the art into a sexual experience. If you are seeking yoga with a hint of sexuality, rather seek out information regarding tantric yoga or classes for couples in your area than joining the first group that you stumble on.
Wrapping up, Nude Yoga is not for everyone but for some it can aid in allowing one to accept one's body in a natural state and improve the body, mind and soul unity experience desired from yoga practice. I know that for many, even with understanding the benefits of Naked Yoga, the only time they may come close to a 90 minute class of naked yoga would be in the form of an embarrassing and shocking nightmare. The idea here is that you should choose a yoga class that suits you best and allows you to benefit from the art in a setting that makes you the most comfortable, whether it be naked or not.
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The Benefits of Yoga
By
Conrad RawYoga is a discipline for self-development that is more than 5000 years old. There are many types of Yoga, but most include physical postures, breathing control and meditation. Stress reduction techniques include mental imagery, stretching, controlled breathing and physical movement in the form of postures. The goal of any Yoga discipline is to improve flexibility and obtain peacefulness in the body and the mind. This will have the over all effect of leaving you with the ability to deal with everyday stress in a more productive way.
Understand that Yoga is not a cure-all. It can help with certain medical problems such as depression and combined with a healthful diet, aerobic exercises and medication, has benefits in a reduction in some cardiovascular disease and blood pressure levels. Yoga is an important part of the Hindu religion and is a way of life for them, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you would need to change your life style in order to reap the benefits of Yoga.
One of the most popular Yoga discipline in the U.S. is Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is designed to increase flexibility and to calm the mind. It focuses on poses or postures along with controlled breathing. In a Hatha Yoga class, you will probably learn a number of poses that induce stretching and twisting. Some poses are meant for calming the mind as well as increasing flexibility like the Viparita Karani pose or the legs up the wall pose. The Cat Cow stretch will have you on all fours on the floor with your wrists underneath your shoulders with the knees underneath the hips. This pose will increase spinal flexibility and strengthen the stomach muscles.
Hatha Yoga is called the Yoga of postures and includes relaxation exercises designed to open the nadis or energy channels which will allow the energy to flow freely through the body. Other poses are designed to relax internal organs, which can prevent diseases such as hypertension or high blood pressure and diabetes. Hatha Yoga requires concentration on postures, called asanas and pranayama or controlling the breath.
In Hatha Yoga, mastering a comfortable pose where you will be able to keep that pose for a certain length of time is important in the practice of real meditation. The more poses you can master, the better you are able to develop inner meditation techniques. Also mastering the breath is important because controlled breathing will eventually allow the balancing of the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
Conrad Raw is an expert in practical techniques for personal and spiritual development. He is the author of "Forbidden Secrets Of Personal And Energetic Development." He travels the world to learn and teach and is the founder of
Greater Human Potential, a website devoted to bringing you easy to learn techniques to increase your human evolution. Visit his website for a free newsletter filled with tons of great tips and advice.
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The Art Of Yoga Breathing
By
Kenneth KohIt is very beneficial to pay careful attention to the breath and to learn to control it in various ways. It is beneficial in the areas of physical health and in your practice of yoga. Apparently, the breath, the mind and the body are intricately link, that whatever you do to one will affect the other.
In yoga, it is vital to learn how to use the correct patterns of breath in order to get the most out of your yogic endeavours. Correct breath patterns must be practiced and observed before meditation and asanas. Correct breathing alone, can unwind your whole body, rid your body of unwanted toxins and rid your mind of anger, stress, tension and worry.
Do not risk harm by attempting to perform these exercises without consulting a trained yoga teacher or without seeking medical advice from a doctor. A yoga teacher can teach an appropriate breathing pattern to cater to your needs and your condition. To perform the pranayama and gain the most out of them, it is best to integrate it with the two of the three holistic approaches, asanas and meditation.
Helpful Notes
- Breathe in and out through your nose.
- Clear any blocked nostril. If your left nostril is blocked, lie on your right side for a few minutes and vice versa
- Never perform pranayam after asanas.
- If pranayam is to precede your asanas routine, set aside a time when you won't be interrupted.
- The idea is to lead yourself to a relaxed state so do not force your breathing and never do it in haste.
Long Deep breathing
The most basic and natural of all breathing techniques is the long and deep breathing as it relieves stress and tension. It brings down toxic buildup in the mucus linings of the alveoli of the lungs, cleanses the blood and as a result of increased oxygen flow to your brain and body, your health improves in many ways.
Technique
Do sit in a comfortable manner. Relax your shoulders and chest. Breathe in, relaxing the abdomen, pushing your belly forward, expanding it. Then, as you breathe out, allow the abdomen to shrink back in, tightening your belly muscles and pushing the air out. Do this and not straining yourself. Open up and release the breath. You may put one hand on your belly to feel the abdomen expanding and contracting as you inhale and exhale. Perform in even lengths. Exhale for the same length of time as you inhale.
When To Do This:
- Before meditation
- Before going to bed
- Before a meeting, presentation or a big decision
- Before studying, before an exam, or an interview
- And whenever you can think of --- in the car, at work, or while waiting in line
Alternate-nostril breathing
Alternate-nostril breathing encourages mind to heighten levels of discrimination, concentration and thoughts. It also boostmore energy and oxygen to the physical body and helps calm your nerves and improve circulation.
Before You Begin
For a more advanced technique, seek advice from a yoga teacher or an acarya (spiritual teacher). Your acarya will coach the pranayama technique that will be most beneficial to your mental and physical health and prepare you to complement the pranayama with mantra and meditation. No one should risk harm by practicing these techniques without seeking advice from a trained yoga teacher.
Technique
Sit in either Padmasana or Siddhasana. Close your eyes. Press and close the right nostril with your right hand thumb. Inhale a deep breath through the left nostril. After taking a full breath, close the left nostril with the middle, taking the thumb away from the right nostril and slowly releasing the air out, expelling the breath fully and inhale through your right nostril. After a full inhalation, close your right nostril with the thumb and release the fingers from your left nostril and exhale through your left nostril. This finishes one round. Start off with three rounds each time and gradually step up the rounds as you progress through the weeks.
When To Do This
- Do this in a well-ventilated, clean, smoke-free, dust-free, odor-free room.
- Do not perform this technique after asanas (yoga exercises).
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Get a New Lease on Life and Create Peace
By
Hema MurtyAre you looking for a way to get lean with an easy, indoor routine? Are you looking to get some stretching in after shovelling a lot of snow? Yoga and meditation should be your answer to solve all that ails you in today's world. The meaning of yoga has been lost to mean exercise. In fact, exercise is only one part of yoga. The word yoga means integration. We integrate the body, mind and spirit of our personality into an integrated whole. We present this whole being to the world and operate at a more efficient level.
Imagine performing better at work with very little effort. Yoga can accomplish that. There are many techniques to obtain this integrated sense of self. One of them is to keep the mind with you during your stretches. Don't let your mind drift as you move. Keep your mind always with you.
Practicing this process is yoga.
Meditation is also a misused word. It means understanding or measuring the mind's contents. How do we do this? Closing your eyes is one way. However, most of us would probably fall asleep. A better way is to simply sit in a comfortable position and practice a short minute of breathing. Then, take pen to paper and write down all the thoughts you had. This gives you a snapshot of the mind's activities. Stuff you are wasting energy on. Every thought you have is an energy drain if it is not a positive thought. These thoughts deplete your energy source. You have less left over to do constructive work. This is why you don't shine in the workplace. Your mind is always busy pointing fingers and trying to tell you what is wrong with the rest of the world.
Instead, tell your mind to stop it and focus on your own activities. Focussing on yourself enables you to shine at the workplace. Your mind is more in tune with productivity.
Writing is one easy way of practicing meditation. In fact, if you are angry at someone, best to vent on paper and then come back to the real world. After you have vented, you can think more clearly. You can address your issues in a more constructive fashion.
In today's hectic, fast-paced world, it is a good idea to see what your mind is up to everyday. Make a habit of getting up and doing the minute breathing followed by a data dump on paper. It doesn't have to be long; it just has to get done. This is a great way to start your day. You will feel more focussed on constructive things. You will feel more passionate about the things that matter to you.
Live life a little more fully as you practice meditation. This week do things a little differently. Live it like you can throw your whole heart and soul into it. Don't accept anything less than a perfect effort from you. Remember the key word here is effort. Just put your whole soul into it. Ace it. See how you feel. You should feel a little more energetic than doing things in a routine fashion or entertaining a feeling of "good enough".
Don't accept that from yourself. You can be way better. You know it. Don't create frustration. Just do it. Do it right and do it with passion. This is real yoga and real meditation. Understand that and use it.
For the past 20 years Hema has worked with many individuals, including executives at large corporations, to reduce stress, improve general health and workplace productivity. A variety of personal interests and professional paths have led Hema to her current role as a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor and nutrition and wellness specialist. Hema is listed in Who's Who in the World and is an author, lecturer and Can-Fit-Pro certified personal trainer who specializes in body-mind-spirit consulting and training women.
Hema offers keynote speeches, group workshops, and sees clients one-on-one in the Ottawa/Toronto area. Sign up for her free newsletter at
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Yoga for Stress Relief - Learn Some Simple Techniques
By
Caroline SelfeDoing yoga for stress relief doesn't have to be an involved routine. If you don't have time to do a full yoga routine, use the separate parts of yoga to relax and rejuvenate.
Deep breathing, meditation and poses can go a long way toward conquering stress. Simple yoga techniques take minutes to do and can be incorporated into your exercise routine. You can also do them whenever stress takes its toll to regain your balance.
Try doing yoga for stress relief by doing parts of a full routine. If you are pressed for time, these techniques will fit into your life well.
· Deep Breathing - If you want to instantly unwind and revive, do deep breathing. Most people most of the time breathe through the chest. This shallow breathing is caused by tension and stress. Breathing deeply through the belly oxygenates the muscles thereby relieving tension. Fill up your lower abdomen by breathing in. Contract the same area by breathing out. Do the breathing through your nose. This is the easiest part of doing yoga for stress relief.
· Meditation - Spend a few minutes a day quieting your mind. It sounds difficult with a hectic schedule. Take a few minutes to sit in a quiet place. You can close your office door at work or go in your bathroom at home and lock the door. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Breathe deeply and focus on the area between and just above the bridge of your nose. This is the third eye (eye of the soul). When a thought comes to your mind, envision it with wings and let it fly away. Do this until you are relaxed and centered.
· Poses - Yoga poses are a sort of meditation since focus on the movements is key. Try these two simple poses to relax your body and mind.
1) Baby Pose - Sit on the floor with your knees bent. Make sure you are sitting on your heels.
Hang your arms at your sides. Slowly lean forward at the waist until your forehead touches the floor. Rest your arms at your sides on the floor. Keep your neck relaxed and straight and breathe normally. Hold the pose for however long it feels comfortable - a few minutes, perhaps.
2) Butterfly Pose - Sit on the floor with your knees out and soles of the feet touching - like a butterfly. Keeping your back straight and holding your feet, slowly raise and lower your knees several times. Then, lean forward from your hips. Hold this pose for a few minutes while breathing normally.
If you don't have time for a full routine of yoga for stress relief, try deep breathing, meditation or poses instead. They are ideal for quick relaxation and regaining balance.
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Yoga - The Facts
By
Victoria WoollastonWhat is Yoga?
Yoga is a gentle workout made up of poses, stretches and breathing techniques designed to strengthen your bum, tum, thighs, back and pelvic muscles, improve flexibility and help you relax.
Who is Yoga good for?
Yoga is good for people of all ages, mobility and fitness levels because it's a slow and gentle practice with low risk of injury. The health benefits are endless and can help the following:
Stress, high blood pressure, headaches, insomnia: Yoga is especially good for people suffering from stress and stress-related illnesses because of the way it brings the body and mind into deep relaxation, causing the heart rate to drop and breathing to slow down.
Asthma: The breathing techniques and stretching open up the lungs and improve breathing.
Joint pain, back pain: Yoga eases joint pain by improving flexibility, mobility and building strength in muscles around the joints.
Depression: Yoga promotes self-confidence and lifts your mood to help combat depression.
Indigestion, constipation: Twisting poses massage internal organs helping digestion.
Memory and concentration: Yoga can improve concentration so it's great if you want to keep your brain young.
Detox: Breathing techniques, stretching and sweating all help to detox the body.
Types of Yoga
Finding the right one for you can be tricky. It's important to know your limits and to start off with something easy, working your way up once your flexibility and strength improves with experience.
The main forms of Yoga are:
Easy:Hatha: The most common form of Yoga focuses on your posture and breathing and is great for beginners.
Bikram: Also known as Hot Yoga and takes place in a heated studio. Gets rid of toxins in the body and is excellent for beginners as the heat makes it easier to stretch into the positions.
Medium:Ashtanga: A fast-paced style of Hatha Yoga and good if you want to lose weight, improve flexibility and strength.
Vinyasa: Similar to Ashtanga, this style has lots of movement and a variety of poses and stretching. Great if you want a bit more of a workout.
Hard:
Iyengar: Another form of Hatha Yoga. It encourages the use of Yoga props to perfect poses. It's harder than other forms and is best for people who are more experienced in Yoga although it's safe for beginners to try.
How long does it take?Classes only last for an hour to an hour-and-a-half so it's easy to fit one into your day and you'll feel so relaxed afterwards!
Where can I do it?
Find your local class at
www.yoga.co.uk.
You can find more information about
easy exercise at
goodtoknow - for all your health, diet, food and family needs
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The Yoga Way to Health and Well Being
By
Colette HalberstadtYoga is not a recent practice. It is a practice which through time, has developed and increased in significance and appeal worldwide. The rationale behind the appeal is greatly to do with the physical and psychological benefits experienced when integrating yoga into one's daily schedule. Yoga can be viewed as a breath of fresh air in this fast paced lifestyle that we live in.
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit language and means "to integrate". Yoga promotes a harmonious working together of the body's components leading to both physical and mental training. Despite the fact that there are numerous forms of yoga; Hatha Yoga is still presently seen as one of the more commonly practiced yoga styles. Hatha Yoga consists of non strenuous physical exercise which aids in strengthening, stretching and balancing the body's joints. Regular breathing is performed at the same time which aids in providing oxygen to the muscles, and in turn positively affects bodily structures and organs. The awareness required during yoga practice, ensures that mind and body have to work together to create a mind-body harmony which in turn promotes healing.
Yoga will not be a quick fix for all your aches, worries and pains. However, with regular yoga practice your body will rebalance slowly and steadily, leaving you discovering the results for yourself. Physical benefits which you can anticipate are improved efficiency of the lungs, better use of your respiratory muscles, improved flexibility of the joints, improved coordination and muscle tone, maintenance of bone density, reduced risk of injury as well as the prevention of weight gain. Psychological benefits can also include an increase in self-confidence, decreased cravings for tobacco and food, better sleep, an increased ability to relax, improved concentration as well as a reduced likelihood of depression. Yoga differentiates itself from other exercises as it draws on the entire person as a whole.
Half an hour of yoga a day, or 15 minutes of yoga twice a day, can easily be incorporated into any daily schedule. Some breathing techniques can even be practiced while working or driving home after a long day. A short routine for those of you spending hours staring at a computer screen is to take a few moments every day to glance at a distant object. This allows your eyes a moments rest from glare and a change of focus. Look left and right, up and down at least 5 times, blink at least 8 times to moisten your eyes and if it is at all possible, rest your elbows on a comfortable surface and close your eyes whilst covering them with the palm of your hands. If you can incorporate this with or without some breathing exercises, you will already be on the way to a healthier and possibly more focused lifestyle.
Baby steps everyone ... no one expects you to transform overnight.
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Yoga Your Way to Weight Loss
By
Diana LarsonYes, yoga magazines demonstrate poses using skinny, astonishingly limber women. But if you have 40 or 50 or 70 extra pounds on you, don't be scared away from the best thing that could ever happen to your frame and your self-esteem.
Despite the magazines and the teachers who, after years of practice resemble sylphs, yoga doesn't care what you look like or what you weigh. In fact, it changes what you look like, and often what you weigh as well. How? Because it makes you acutely aware of your body in a way that makes you actually want to take care of it, sing to it, bring it presents and treat it right.
So yoga practice is not about being skinny or svelte or reedy. It's about leaving your ego at the door and moving your body in the present moment.
Yoga is about balance. Balance in eating, balance in drinking, balance in exercise, balance in purporting yourself. Yes, too fat is out of balance, as is too thin, but neither is a crime punishable by not being able to stretch.
Buy yoga clothes that fit. Don't be afraid of the clothes' form fitting stretchiness. Just get the right size. With regular practice yoga clothing will permit you to watch your body change in what can only be referred to as astonishing ways.
Another point is that your relative flexibility should not dissuade you, either. No one begins yoga able to handle all the postures. More quickly than you think, you will begin to extend your arms, legs, torso, and neck far beyond your expectations. Every time you perform a pose, you'll be closer to the ideal.
Your balance will improve greatly and the peace and satisfaction you feel at the end of each
session puts you precisely in the mood for a deep meditation. In fact, look for classes that end with meditation. You won't ever want to get out and you can take that practice home with you as well.
Yoga is for men, too. Don't be kept away by the women or the way you look in a sweat suit. And do wear a sweat suit to begin, anyway, because leotards on guys only work on Baryshnikov.
There are many many places to take yoga classes, but like other workout sites, it had better be close to home or you might not want to go.
You can watch yoga on television or get a book, but the best way to learn you know that is in person. Signing up for a series of classes is also the best way to keep you on track, since you can pay in advance.
For more information about the
benefits of yoga, try visiting
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Yoga For Good Digestion
By
Rohit TomarGas, acidity, indigestion and constipation are so common today mainly because we take food when the body is not prepared to process it, as is when the breath is passing from the left nostril. This indicates that the right hemisphere of the brain, which controls mental activities such as planning and calculating, is active and not the left hemisphere that is responsible for physical activities such as digestion and elimination.
Food taken at that time is bound to be digested poorly. So check the flow of breath before a meal. If the left is flowing, wait for it to change naturally, (which normally takes about an hour) or do a simple yogic practice to change it. Kneel down and sit on your feet, placing the hands under the opposite armpits. Maintain the posture for 2/3 minutes.
Remove the left hand from the right armpit and check the flow. Continue the asana if it has not changed. Some people can't breathe well through the right nostril due to either sinusitis or some problems. Such people have low digestive heat. The inner temperature can be raised through pranayama.
Visualizing a cracking fire in the pit of the stomach while eating is also helpful. Stress, too is responsible for improper digestion. Therefore it is essential to relax before a meal, which can be achieved quickly through the following practices:
1 Oum chanting. It has been seen that when oum is pronounced, the brain produces alpha waves indicating a relaxed state. If chanting aloud is not possible, thinking of the sound also helps.
2 Abdominal breathing(10 times). First breathe deep to fill up the abdomen i. e the lower part of
the lungs;breathe more to fill up the chest and then deeper still to lift the shoulder up. To exhale, release air from the top, then the middle and lastly from the lowest part.
3 Mental anuloma-viloma(a minute or two). For this you only need to imagine that you are breathing in from the left nostril and breathing out from the right and then breathing in from the right and breathing out from the left.
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Exploring Free Online Yoga Classes
By
Nikki DavilaSo many people seem to be interested in free online yoga classes. Some may just be curious while others may not be able to afford full yoga classes yet. If you are in search of free classes, there are a couple of things that you should have in mind first.
The Benefits of Yoga
First of all, it is important to understand why yoga is worth your time and effort. Yoga has a great many benefits. It improves your physical strength and flexibility and keeps your organs and systems functioning properly. It also calms and relaxes you and relieves pain and stress. In the end, yoga ultimately leads people to physical, mental and spiritual harmony. In other words, yoga can help you achieve overall health and change the way you respond to life situations and conditions.
Free Online Yoga InstructionsMany sites now offer yoga instruction for free, and there are many ways you can get instructions. Some sites offer step by step e-mail instruction while others provide free newsletters. The more advanced sites will let you download whole yoga class videos or view the videos online. The perfect choice of mode of instruction will depend on your learning style and preference. Regardless of your mode choice, you should always pick a free offer that provides clear and easy to understand instructions to avoid possible injury.
Different Kinds of Yoga
Before you go for any free online yoga program, you should know that there are different kinds of yoga. Yoga techniques can fall under Kundalini, Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram and others. You need to find out first what kind of yoga you would like to learn and practice.
Free yoga videos can be for either beginners or more advanced students. Check the level before downloading the material. Otherwise, you might get into techniques that are not good for you to handle on your own. In some cases, a free yoga program may only teach you yoga techniques up to a certain point, and you need to find out for yourself whether free program is fully geared or will leave you hanging.
Yoga InstructorsJust as there are different yoga disciplines, there are also a great number of yoga masters. This is especially true online. Since authenticity is a little difficult to check on the internet, some scam artists may even pose as yoga masters. Do a little research on where exactly your free material comes from. This can protect you from injury and help you achieve the goal of yoga better.
Self-MonitoringSince you are on a free program, you have to understand that your pace of improvement relies heavily on you. Without an actual instructor staying with you to check on your performance, you have to watch out for yourself. Even if you have a very good free material, you may not fully enjoy the benefits of yoga if you do not follow the instructions seriously or correctly.
Some free online yoga materials can be just as good as the paid ones and can truly change your life. You need to be sure though that you have the right materials and the commitment to practice yoga techniques on your own.
If you are truly interested in taking free online yoga class, you may like to get started with our free
yoga videos. While you are on our site, you can even narrow your video search with your own specific queries. You can also get a complete guide on
yoga class, yoga teacher, and different types of yoga from our main site.
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