Tuesday 30 December 2008

Thick Yoga Mat - What You Need to Know

In my experience Yoga is one of the most enriching and invigorating forms of exercise you can do. It can compliment the workout regime of the most active health enthusiast as well as enable simple and easy physical activity for those who are quite sedentary during the day. This includes 9-5 office workers who are at a desk all day. The importance of a good Yoga workout though is not just knowing how to do it but also setting up an area where you can perform Yoga in the most comfortable way.

One of the most crucial factors that attribute to the comfort level of any Yoga session is your Yoga mat. Now some people can make do without a mat, and that's fine. However, most people, and that includes me, can't sit on a hard floor for too long without getting sores so I need a good thick yoga mat to cushion the floor. I have noticed from personal experience that when I do Yoga with no mat or with a mat that is too thin I come off much worse that before I started the session. This includes sore feet and ankles. However, after using a thick or extra thick yoga mat not only can I have a Yoga session that is extremely comfortable but I can have it for a lot longer. This makes me look forward to my Yoga every morning because I know how amazing I will feel after and that the rest of my day will be energised.

There are a few things you need to consider before getting a Yoga mat that suits you. Different people will feel different on different types of mat:

  • Standard mat - this can be fine for some people as some people prefer having a session on a solid, firm ground
  • Cotton mat - these can be quite comfortable, but may not provide enough cushioning on a hard floor
  • Eco mat - These mats prioritize the eco-friendliness of the materials used to make the mat rather than the comfort, although some eco mats are of a really good quality.
  • Thick or extra thick yoga mat - these are my favourite as the provide a good level of cushioning on a hard floor. Some people worry about balance being effected but my balance has been the same on these mats and even better in some positions.

So how do you go about finding a mat for you? The best way is to try them out first, if possible in order to check the comfort level of each one. I personally bought all of mine until I found the one that was perfect for you. At the end of the day all I want is a good Yoga session and my thick yoga mat always ensures I have one.

K. Patel, Yoga enthusiast, Visit my blog at http://www.thickyogamatblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ketan_M_Patel

Sunday 28 December 2008

How Dahn Yoga Can Change Your Life

Dahn yoga is a form of yoga that involves training the mind and the body and combines deep stretching, meditative breathing and other techniques that include energy awareness training. The objective is to help those who practice yoga to achieve a high level of potential for their personal selves. Dahn yoga was created by Ilchi Lee and is considered to be a highly effective method of exercise for those individuals who are enamored of its effect and its ability to create harmony in the practitioner.
Dahn Hak is the established term for Dahn yoga. When translated, it signifies the study of energy. In the Korean language, Hak signifies the study of a specific theory or philosophy, whereas Dahn signifies the essential, ancient energy which is intrinsic in all life forms. Combined, the term signifies the study of the energy and the system of energy for the goal of individual self development and well-being. The literal translation is a very clear-cut indication of what the ritual is all about, as people are looking to enhance their capacity to control the power of the body and the Spirit.
Through the discipline of the training, people learn to impart the energy with their bodies. The capacity for vigorous activity that exerts from the body stimulates the ability to heal activating the natural power one already has. Staying persistent with the exercise creates the best result in health enjoying the healing power that Dahn yoga embodies. Becoming a master over the body by using a medium of energy called ki, control is gained over the body, making it possible to improve the life and health of the individual with repeated intense exercise over a period of time.
Although physical health isn't the only benefit of this sort of intesense training, the idea behind it is encompassing in the learning of Dahn yoga. Ideally health goes past just simply staying fit and being able to function. It also touches on balance and harmony in the areas of your life that aren't governed by just simple fitness. Certain people who train repeatedly, say that through their efforts their lives improve in many different areas. These areas include: greater confidence in their job, a lot of burdensome emotions released, and a stronger family life. It's not surprising that a lot of people have taken up yoga in the past few years with all of these great benefits that yoga brings. It continues to be extraordinarily popular with people who are interested in improving their health.
Practicing Dahn yoga has a lot of advantages. It helps the individual to be in a harmonious relationship with friends and family. It also give him the ability to extend this relationship to his community and to the rest of the world. Thus he becomes a creator of harmony wherever he is. The conscious effort of a person to become a better individual will create a happier and peaceful world around him. Taking into account all its positive aspects the practice of yoga will soon take the world to a new stride.

By: Rex Freiberger

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Friday 26 December 2008

Top Yoga Cures For Winter Blues

Just in case all the rain and cold are getting to you - fear not. Yoga still works even if you're having to battle with torrential rain, gales and storms. Believe me - all of us at the Dru Yoga centre in Snowdonia have been practising in the last few weeks! We've come up with our top 10 things which keep us happy even when it's raining. We hope you like them too.

1. Warm pyjamas. On a cold winter's night there's really nothing like putting your nightwear on a radiator before you slip into bed with your hot water bottle. Some luxuries are quite simple!

2. A favourite here is Dru Meditation. Just a few minutes of silent sitting daily, using Dru meditation techniques, makes us feel glad to be alive. Take a meditation retreat, or create one in your home. Clear a space, light a candle and gaze at the flame without blinking for as long as possible. Then close your eyes and focus on your breathing for five minutes. Stretch gently and open to eyes to a brighter day!

3. Visualise being Australian. Out in Aus, rain is seen in quite a different way than it is here. That's pretty understandable as they hardly get any! When I was out there teaching Dru Meditation holidays last spring, much of the country was in severe drought, and any drops of rain were greeting with celebration. I've found that just changing my attitude to the wet stuff can make life a little brighter.

4. Surya namaskar. The ancient yogis really knew a thing or two about winter. We find that a good flowing Dru yoga sun sequence blows away all those winter cobwebs, brings a wonderful sense of energy and positivity to even the darkest morning. If you don't know all the movements, get to a Dru Yoga class near you! And fast!

5. Do a Cleopatra. Nourish your skin and your soul with a warm milky bath. Add 1 tablespoon runny honey and a cup of milk to a running bath then lie back and listen to some relaxing music. Simple, cheap and just so effective!

6. Laughter. Get the endorphins flowing with our favourite funny movies - here at Dru we're still debating the best list, but it must include The Man Who Knew Too Little, Groundhog Day, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Airplane. And it tones up the abdominal muscles better than sit-ups!

7. Barley grass smoothie. Sometimes a boost of nutrients can really help our mood - try our favourite: blend one banana, 3 tablespoons organic bio yogurt, ½ glass fruit juice, 1 teaspoon dru barley grass powder, 1 teaspoon omega oils. This also is great for the skin, fantastic for improving mood and contains nearly 3 portions of fruit and vegetables!

8. Plan an uplifting retreat. In the dark, cold winter months, somehow just planning such a holiday can be an uplifting experience. Make a list of what's important to you in your perfect yoga or meditation break - and affirm that you'll find the perfect environment for you. Then get googling!

9. Have a good breakfast. It might sound like something your Mum might say, but having a substantial meal first thing really does make life seem much better. Our favourite is millet or oat porridge with tahini and honey. Put one handfulls of porridge oats to soak with a cup of water the night before and it'll cook really quickly in the morning. Sultanas and honey are optional!

10. Buy yourself flowers. I've got a small bunch of tulips in my living room and the whole atmosphere feels so much brighter. If you want an added feel-good factor - give some flowers to a friend - for no good reason. The inner glow you'll get will warm the cockles of your heart.

http://www.druworldwide.com/ is the website where you'll find Dru meditation tips, retreats and holidays. Jane Clapham is a Dru Meditation teacher, and trains people to become meditation teachers in the glorious surroundings of Snowdonia, in North Wales, UK. She also leads meditation retreats and holidays in the celtic mountains of Wales and worldwide. Contact her at hello@druworldwide.com to be included in the weekly newsletter from Dru worldwide, which includes yoga and stress-busting tips. For more information about Dru Yoga, which is the perfect preparation for meditation, visit http://www.druworldwide.com/ You'll find yoga classes, yoga holidays and yoga training courses which are taught in the UK, North America, Netherlands and Australia. Have a stress-free day!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Clapham

Wednesday 24 December 2008

Yoga As An Alternative Health Practice

Alternative health practices have been realized as effective methods to eliminate toxins which we accumulate from the unpreventable rise of different toxic substances which are mostly dominant in the environment. They are likewise invasive in nature so they easily get inside the body. Getting rid of these toxins can relatively increase the progression of our well- being. All aspects of life are involved when doing alternative health practices. Aspects such as the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual must be possessed by alternative health practices. Yoga is the foremost method in alternative health.

This comes in a form of physical exercise, meditation, concentration and spiritual healing. Yoga opens an avenue to improve the way we look at life in general. There are numerous benefits of yoga as an alternative health practice. As time passes by, there are many modified and developed techniques in performing yoga sessions. Sourced out from different approaches, yoga is becoming the most effective alternative health practice. More and amore people believe in the power of yoga in releasing mind power and spirituality.

Yoga does not only benefit us with mostly emotional and spiritual healing. It can also define and improve your physical strength and flexibility. Also, yoga can increasingly improve your physique and the build- up of muscles. Stretching your muscles can significantly improve blood circulation, thus releasing the hazardous toxins deposited in the body. Strengthening your joints and muscles can also provide extra agility and tolerance to muscle and joint pains and removes toxins accumulated in the skin.

Also, yoga as an alternative health method helps us to get better night sleeps. Insomnia is one of the conditions which can trigger the production of toxins. With meditation through yoga sessions, your cardiovascular functions relatively improve affecting the way you sleep. Yoga can also take effect in the stabilization of blood pressure levels. Your breathing will swiftly improve with meditation.

Yoga teaches us to use our mind power to protect ourselves from harmful toxins. More so, yoga serves as a spiritual practice which can enhance our general perception on our health and moreover on life overall. With yoga as an alternative health practice, you will learn to manage your frequent mood swings and substitute them with more worthwhile reactions. It also improves our capability to focus and decreases much confusion brought about by stressful activities at work. Diseases will be slightly decreased once enrolled in yoga classes. Also, your tolerance level, especially your temoerance will improve on a positive basis.

Yoga is simply a method that generates a more appropriate attitude in us on how we perceive the treasures of life.

By: Tim Tropical

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Tuesday 23 December 2008

How to Choose the Perfect Yoga Class For Your Type

With seemingly endless choices available - how will you know which yoga class suits you best? Here are a few general principles which will help.

What's the right style for you? You need to be honest about your fitness level, commitment and intentions in starting a yoga class. Is it to reduce stress? Get super-fit? Reduce your back pain? Calm your thoughts? Get in touch with your inner wisdom? Each yoga school has a different focus - some are more physically demanding, others focus more on meditation and chanting. See our guide to the some of the most popular styles available in the UK today.

Yoga style guide

Astanga vinyasa yoga

This is potentially very energetic and physically strong. It involves a lot of movement, a fair amount of upper body work and you will get hot and sweaty!

Ideal - if you are fit and want to be physically challenged

Sweat rating - 5

Peace of mind rating - 3

Bikram

Created by Bikram Choudhury in Los Angeles, this style is performed in a heated room to allow the muscles to relax. A bikram class usually consists of twenty six asanas (yoga postures) and two breathing exercises, which maximises oxygenation and detoxification of the entire body.

Ideal - if you are very fit and want a vigorous workout

Sweat rating - 5

Peace of mind rating - 2

Dru Yoga

Dru Yoga, one of the largest yoga training schools in the UK, offers a graceful yet potent form of therapeutic yoga. Based on soft flowing movements, the emphasis is upon creating a supple spine, to free the energy within the body.

Ideal - for all levels of fitness, if you want a deeper approach to health and happiness

Sweat rating - 2

Peace of mind rating - 5

Dru Yoga Dance

This is a more upbeat and physically demanding form of Dru Yoga. It takes flowing Dru Yoga sequences and puts them to great music creating a great sense of wellbeing, and a good physical workout.

Ideal - if you like Dru's heart based flow but want to be more challenged physically

Sweat rating - 4

Peace of mind rating - 4

Hatha

Hatha yoga is the generic term for any sort of yoga practise which involves a combination of postures, controlled breathing, and some kind of concentration and relaxation.

Ideal - if you want a safe local yoga class

Sweat rating - 2

Peace of mind rating - 5

Iyengar

Iyengar yoga originates from B.K.S. Iyengar. 3 elements distinguish Iyengar from other styles, namely technique (getting the alignment right), sequence (varying the order in which asanas are performed) and timing (holding the postures).

Ideal - if you want to strengthen your body and mind and love attention to detail

Sweat rating - 3

Peace of mind rating - 3

Kundalini

Kundalini Yoga includes a series of classic poses done repeatedly, kriyas, meditation and chanting. Spiritual transformation is the main aim of practice.

Ideal - if you want spiritual development and love singing

Sweat rating - 2

Peace of mind rating - 5

Sivananda

Sivananda Yoga is a style of traditional yoga practice formulated by yoga masters Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnu-Devananda. Sivananda classes use a set sequence of exercises, always in the same pattern.

Ideal - if you're interested in learning about a disciplined, yogic lifestyle

Sweat rating - 2

Peace of mind rating - 5

The four questions you must ask your yoga teacher

Are you qualified? Make sure that your teacher has a current qualification, and is registered with the Yoga Alliance, Independent Yoga Network or the British Wheel of Yoga. This may seem obvious, but some teachers out there have bogus qualifications. Also ask if they do regular training to keep their yoga education up to date. Good yoga teachers will do a couple of continued training courses a year to keep their knowledge current.

Is there an emphasis on safety? Safety is crucial - many people get injured every year from over stretching when they haven't adequately prepared. Does your teacher offer modifications and contra-indications to each posture? Do they do enough warm-ups and cool-downs? Is there an adequate period of relaxation at the end of the class?

Does your teacher walk their talk? Yoga is more than an occasional hobby. It's a way to unite body, mind and soul. To be a good yoga teacher, daily practice is crucial - your teacher should enjoy what they teach - or else you won't! They should also be approachable and get on well with their students. In the ancient tradition of yoga, the relationship between teacher and student was one of the most important - and it's true today as well.

Is the class conveniently located? If you're going to get to your class, rain or shine, then choose a location that's realistic. I've seen so many students attending classes enthusiastically at the beginning of September, only to decide that it's just too far when the cold, dark nights set in.

To conclude, I suggest that you try different styles of yoga until you find one that suits you. The benefits of attending a regular class are enormous - for example:

'I've lost over a stone in the last 6 weeks through doing Dru Yoga. I do the flowing, graceful Sun Sequence at a Dru Yoga class and at home, and it seems to balance my body and take away the edge of my hunger. When I do Dru Yoga I can feel my body's natural intelligence kicking in.' Helena Davey, Lecturer, North Wales.

http://www.druworldwide.com/ is the website where you'll find Dru yoga tips, retreats and holidays. If you're looking for a Dru Yoga DVD, yoga book or CD, then visit http://shop.druworldwide.com/

Jane Clapham is a Dru Yoga teacher, and trains people to become yoga teachers in the glorious surroundings of Snowdonia, in North Wales, UK. She also leads yoga retreats and holidays in the celtic mountains of Wales and in sunny places worldwide. Contact her at hello@druworldwide.com to be included in the weekly newsletter from Dru worldwide, which includes yoga and stress-busting tips. For more information about Dru Yoga, visit druworldwide.com. You'll find yoga classes, yoga holidays and yoga training courses which are taught in the UK, North America, Netherlands and Australia. Have a stress-free day!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Clapham

Sunday 21 December 2008

Yoga Classes As Motivation

Naturally, the only way that you'll get good at yoga is to attend yoga classes. If you've never tried yoga before and would like to find out how to get started, yoga classes are a great way to motivate you to learn. You don't need experience before you start yoga classes. All you need is the desire to learn and the motivation to continue. No special equipment is required neither do you need to be an athlete or exceptionally flexible. A person of any age can enroll in yoga classes and successfully complete them. With proper instruction from an expert, you'll become adept at yoga in no time.

Choose Between Home And Attending Classes

If you're brand new to yoga, it's better for you to take yoga classes so that you can learn how to do the basic poses correctly. Once you know the basics, you can try to do the poses at home. But before you do this, you need to be sure you know all the proper techniques. You need to be sure that you'll be able to perform the exercises on your own the same way they were taught in yoga class. Once you've internalized this knowledge, you can explore the option of doing your practices at home.

If you would prefer to do yoga at home instead of continuing with yoga classes, you need to make the decision of the type of yoga you'd like to practice very carefully. The yoga form you practice should meet your individual needs and skills. Don't be afraid to be aware of your limitations. Scheduling also has a big affect on yoga home practices. Decide a time that works best for you and stick with it, just as you would if you went to any out-of-home yoga classes.

Those who prefer to take yoga classes should choose a class that best suits their needs and aptitude. It helps if you enjoy working with the instructor as well. You never want to end up in a yoga class you can't perform or one where you detest the instructor. If you have any health issues or concerns, it's important to let your yoga instructor know this. He or she may be able to cater to your needs and guide you in the poses that are best for you.

Do not do anything that hurts you when you attend yoga classes. It's important not to push yourself beyond your capabilities or acceptable limits for your body. Yoga classes are not always meant to be seen as a challenge, but should be a way for you to work with what your body will allow you to do. Do not overstep your limits otherwise you will hurt yourself. It's not necessary to do what everyone else is doing.

When you attend any yoga classes, dress comfortably. Stretchable clothes are important. Also be sure to remove your shoes and stockings. At home, dim the lights to create a peaceful atmosphere to help you relax.

More interesting and valuable information on the most important yoga types and yoga classes can be found on my website yogaexpertise.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Forchet

Saturday 20 December 2008

Yoga For Kids - Teach Them Young!

Life can be stressful and as adults we are quite aware of that, but most of us are not aware that our children can also feel quite stressed in their lives. As time progresses, life seems to travel at a much faster speed and as a result of this both adults and children seem to be under a great deal of pressure.

Yoga is a great way to relieve stress and to teach your children how to use yoga for stress relief can help them do deal with the pressures that they will face in life. Teaching your child at a young age will give them the stepping stones to cope with stress throughout their life as they grow and become adults.

Yoga can also help your child to develop high self esteem and also teach them how to relax so that they will not feel so overwhelmed when life throws something stressful their way. These skills will help them throughout their life and they will also learn to develop compassion and cooperation.

Yoga will help your child to improve their strength, coordination and flexibility. This will also help them to improve their concentration levels helping them to perform better at school and in sports. They will improve their sense of calmness which will enable them to deal with any situation in a more effective and efficient way.

As we get older we tend to lose our flexibility that we have as a child, and by teaching your children yoga it will help them to keep that flexibility which will benefit their health as they mature.

There are many benefits that yoga will offer your child and as well as the benefits it is also fun for them to do. Yoga instructors will often teach children the different yoga poses by playing and imitating different animals and plants. This also help to nourish the child's natural talents and it makes yoga classes fun and also very effective.

Many kids find it hard to sit still for long, they love to be on the move and love to chat rather than sit and listen. Instructors that can encourage children to have fun and make yoga exciting by allowing them to move and imitate animals are very successful at teaching children the art of yoga. The children can roar like a tiger and bark like a dog which is great fun for them and also helps to improve their self esteem and at the same time keeps them interesting and excited about attending their yoga class.

Yoga really is one of the most beneficial exercise programs for anyone, both young and old, and by teaching your children yoga from a young age they will enjoy the life long healthy benefits that yoga has to offer them.

By: Sheryl Polomka

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Friday 19 December 2008

Find a Yoga Retreat and Have Healthy Fun

Yoga retreats are offered throughout the year offering classically-based practice, or creatively-explored approaches to all forms of yoga, meditation, self-inquiry, nature and deep silence. This creates an environment for deepening your practice, personal renewal and spiritual reflection. Yoga Retreats to beautiful outdoor locations can give you time to explore beaches, mountains or other landscapes, have massages or just exploring the local culture. Yoga retreats are offered all over the world. Yoga vacations and retreats are an uplifting journey into self.

Fun Retreats

These are also casual, fun yoga retreats where all ages and levels can participate. Some Retreats are dedicated to promoting the authentic spiritual tradition of Yoga in a spectacular environment. There are a huge number of yoga retreats available in a number of wonderful and powerful locations. I highly recommend a retreat for spiritual seekers of all levels, or for people just looking for a time of inner peace in a beautiful outdoor setting for a few days. Caribbean retreats are even available. Most will offer you itineraries with two yoga classes daily, some time for meditation, guided and even let you choose personal hiking and lots of free time to explore and connect with nature. They also usually feature sumptuous organic foods. Unique yoga retreats provide a wide array of yoga experiences in combination with just about any type of diverse and complimentary activity you would want.

Teacher Retreats

I believe that attending a yoga retreat is essential if you are to grow as a teacher and become a teacher who can communicate with all levels of students. They will let you touch base with your inner self, practice daily meditation and yoga, and find excellent treatments. You can learn all about yoga retreats from your yoga teacher, magazines, friends and by looking up retreats that may interest you online. Many people are drawn to yoga retreats like this because they offer the chance to combine a great vacation with another activity that they love: yoga.

Yoga Retreat

Retreats are a wonderful way to give yourself a well deserved vacation, meet new friends and try something new. The retreats and the fantastic people met are special and there are opportunities to connect and create long lasting friendships. When you attend a Yoga Retreat it's an opportunity to reflect and re-evaluate your entire life from a much different different perspective. A lot more than a pamper or health holiday, the retreat offers a potentially life-changing experience. At times the retreat is a journey to the heart, and yet at other times it's an experience of freedom and inner joy, or a sense of connectedness. The effects can often be felt for weeks after the retreat is over and this can create a great opportunity for one huge life changing experience.

Yoga Retreat Activities

Yoga and meditation is usually offered daily (for example from 7am-9am), pranayama, chanting, relaxation and pilates and various activities and other rituals throughout the day, of course this all varies based on which retreat you choose, so make sure that you find one with a good balance of activities that interest you. The outcome is usually an incredible amount of time for you to relax and rejuvenate. Some even offer a chance to nurture the body and release unwanted tension including excellent on site massage, or an opportunity to cleanse the entire body of toxins which may build up from a poor diet, or lack of exercise.

Advantages of Yoga Retreats

A retreat is often a time to disconnect from the entire outer world, and to re-connect with your own inner soul. It's an excellent chance to have a yoga experience and to immerse yourself in practice in a supportive and healing environment all at the same time. Yoga holidays are also available: giving you an ability to take a vacation and experience a yoga retreat during busy holiday times - this is especially helpful for singles or others who may not have a close family to enjoy the holidays with. Many times a retreat is designed for you to find rest, relaxation, and a place for reflection and growth in a natural environment. Some companies even offer customized personal retreats that will let you fit it to your own schedule. A yoga vacation, holiday, getaway or retreat offers the ultimate opportunity for a healthy, fun and fantastic adventure to exotic places, or interesting places close to home.

Brett Simpson has practiced yoga for many years. For more useful articles, videos and a free eBook: Easing Your Stress With Yoga, visit his ~Dream Yoga~ website.

~Dream Yoga~
Your Yoga Resource
http://www.dreampublishers.com/healing/yoga

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Monday 15 December 2008

Popular Yoga

Yoga, the ancient practice of postures, breathing and meditation, is gaining rising popularity of yoga nowadays. Exercising yoga has many psychological and spiritual effects.

Some measure the soaring popularity of yoga by the skyrocketing sales of yoga books, classes and equipment. Others note that yoga classes are overtaking traditional aerobics classes in popularity in health clubs throughout the nation. Yoga has grown in popularity likely because people have realized the benefit of low-impact activities and the need to keep an active lifestyle.

Yoga strives to increase self-awareness on both a physical and psychological level. When you achieve the yogic spirit, you can begin knowing yourself at peace.

Yoga helps you to move better and feel better. It stretches muscles and joints and can result in improved posture, energy levels and overall health. The regular practice of yoga can promote body wellness by gradually increasing overall flexibility. By easing muscles and joints into various postures, tension is released and the body becomes less rigid. The key to gaining real benefit from yoga is consistency of practice and maintaining just the right level of difficulty.

Yoga has positive effect on outlook and energy level. Yogic stretching and breathing exercises have been seen to result in an invigorating effect on both mental and physical energy and improved mood.

The yoga practice has certainly gained some popularity during recent years. This interest in yoga has also been fuelled by the advantages that are associated with the practice of yoga. Indeed, Yoga is an excellent means to achieve total body conditioning.

By: kate001

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Wednesday 10 December 2008

Yoga - Better Remedy For Stress Relief

Yoga is a very old routine which dates as far back as 4000yrs, and is said to have originated from India. This act was said to have been formed from the act the various acts, stance and movements of animals. The main goal/aim of yoga is to bring about unity of the mind, body and spirit, which is the center of one's existence and oneness.

Yoga is considered to be a very reliable method when one is trying to relieve themselves from stress. Though not many people are in tune with this method for the fact that to them it involves very difficult routines and positions to get in, hence they try to stay away and opt for an easier way out. But yoga involves various routines and the harder routines are major for advanced practioners, while there are simpler and easier routines for those who want to ease off all the stress and tension for the day or right before the beginning of daily activities.

There are various simple yoga routines which one can engage in right before the start of the day. For example, an exercise which is used and widely recommended for every start of the day to ease off the stress and tension of the body is the thirteen routine, it involves a gentle forward bend, backward bend, and a little routine that looks like pushups.

The act of yoga involves is divided into eight parts, the first two are based on our general attitude and perspective towards life which is for us to live in peace, harmony, oneness and in unity with one another. Also for us to live a hygienic life, have a good feeding regiment plan and to always study. The next two focus on the various exercises and carrying them out. . While some are focused on the improving the totality of the physical being, others are concerned with rejuvenating and bringing about the peace of mind of man. The last four involves the merging of one's mind with the growth of his spirituality. The final goal is the knowledge the trainee has acquired in the deep insight of the things of the world.

In yoga patience and persistence cannot be over emphasized, this is because yoga involves a lot of techniques and a lot of patience and practice is required to reach your set goal. There are various ways of learning yoga, you could learn through books, tapes, or sign up for yoga classes. If interested in the classes, it's always advice able you pick a place that has a friendly, peaceful and welcoming ambiance. Yoga therapy is fast on the rise, therefore there are qualified yoga masters out there who are available to meet to your needs and requirements. Also in a fast growing society where yoga thrives, yoga tutors are usually recommended by physicians in dealing with stress.

In as much as yoga is important in bringing about a balance in the peace of mind and body of a person, yoga is not for everyone.

Persons with certain health conditions shouldn't go through with yoga without the permission of a doctor, the same with aged persons and pregnant women, but the bottom line is that when going through with yoga, make sure you do so with your doctors approval.

Learn more about my recommended Stress Relief Product


Monday 8 December 2008

Yoga & Stress Relief

Yoga is an ancient practice of exercise come into light from the rishis and maharishis. Yoga is the holistic name that includes exercise, meditation and ultimately moksha – meaning relief from the material world.

Now why are we talking about yoga? In today’s fast paced world where one does not have time to sleep and eat, stress is inevitable. Everyone wants a shortcut to success and make more greens, but in the bargain they compromise on their health, relations and life on the whole gets into a dump.

Yoga can help you. Firstly understand that when you get tensed your muscles get tightened, your breathing is fastened making your blood flow recede. This leads to more palpitation, high blood pressure, headaches, body aches and ultimately leading to sickness.

When you practice simple yoga for breathing known as pranayam, you let air in and out at a steady pace. Nadi shodhanam is one yogic breathing posture where you sit cross legged on the floor with an upright back.

Take left hand palm and curl your fingers to the centre leaving your thumb and little finger straightened out. Press the thumb to your left nostril and breathe in from your right nostril, then hold your right nostril with the little finger and release the air through your left nostril. This simple alternating breathing exercise allows air to pass through your nerve channels releasing all your tensed muscles.

When you breathe normally, you think normally and when you breathe well your body is happy and so is your mind. Enroll yourself to many of the yoga classes if you are a beginner as you need to know the right posture and style of exercise.

Sometimes when you get stressed some of your body organs too get tightened and do not function as required due to the pressure you are putting on it leading to sickness and pain. Hence yoga practiced everyday for atleast half an hour helps in regulating your body metabolism and breathing. Your concentration increases and the focus. You will be able to deliver more and be more productive than you ever think and even multi-task which is the need of today’s world.

Once you master the breathing exercises get to the next step of asanas, there are pure exercises that help functioning of your organs. These exercises if practiced everyday go a long way in helping you enjoy the good life as it lasts for years and years. There are no side effects if you leave it and you will see your weight and body size stabilize for years together. Slowly but surely.

By: Jennie Gandhi

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Thursday 4 December 2008

Ten Quick Yoga Tips to Beat Stress

Feeling stressed? Tired? Overwhelmed by all the demands made on your time?

Choose one of these easy-to-do yoga stress busting tips to relax, unwind and regain control.

1. Sit down, close your eyes and relax your shoulders. Breathe in through your nose for a count of 4 and slowly breathe out through your nose. Repeat 3 -5 times.

2. Shake and flap your hands for 1 -3 minutes. Rest them on your lap. Stroke down the left arm with your right hand. Repeat on the other arm.

3. Pretend to chew a large piece of gum, loudly smacking your lips as you chew.

4. Thump your chest and roar like Tarzan for 10 - 20 seconds.

5. Smile, laugh and share a joke with someone.

6. Grab a pen and a piece of paper - write the number 8 out at least 80 times.

7. Sitting on the edge of your chair, slowly bend forward and let your head hang down, grab hold of your ankles and stay like this as your take 5 - 7 rounds of deep breathing. Slowly come up.

8. Sit or stand comfortably, scrunch your face up, like a dried prune. Open your eyes look upwards; open your mouth, stretch out your tongue and Roarrrrrr like a lion. Repeat until you feel powerful, calm and in control.

9. Stand up and tap your whole body with your cupped hands. Keep cupping and tapping over your whole body and gently tap your head.

10. Stand straight/sit comfortable with a straight spine. Inhale and raise your arms out to either side and upward. Place your palms together over your head. Exhale. Keep your palms together and lower your hands to your heart. Close your eyes and quietly smile to your self as you Give Thanks for your health, your life and the magic of your soul.

That's it. Choose any one of these Quick Yoga Tips to reduce stress and see what difference it makes to your mood. I am sure who will feel calm, refocused and energised.

Ntathu Allen, Yoga and Meditation Teacher works with women who want a richer, more fulfilling life for themselves and their families. She teaches you easy yoga postures, meditation practices and relaxation techniques to help you live a healthier, wealthier and happier stress-free life. To find out more go to:> http://www.yogainspires.co.uk and sign up for your copy of Ntathu's free monthly yoga Inspires enewsletter. The newsletter contains a goldmine of tips, techniques and strategies you can use to become healthier, wealthier and happier.

Email:> ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk

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Wednesday 3 December 2008

The Many Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has been practiced for centuries for health, exercise and meditation. Beginners should be taught by a trained expert to reduce risks of injury or torn muscles. Yoga classes can be found locally at YMCAs, gyms, and exercise classes. The benefits of Yoga are extraordinary, and many classes are being offered in communities all over. There are numerous physical, emotional and also mental benefits to these exercises.

Increased flexibility and range of motion is one benefit you will notice from Yoga. Your joints and ligaments receive increased lubrication through this increased motion and flexibility. Research has found the non-strenuous positions benefit other parts of the body as well

Muscle tone improves and is stimulated with strengthening moves and repeated motion. Strengthening and stretching increases Blood supply to the body's organs and muscles. Toxins are flushed out through this process and nourishment is provided to the cells.

An Added bonus is the autonomic nervous system and pulse rate are stabilized through meditation; also decreased respiratory rate, blood pressure is also decreased, and improved cardiovascular function as well as improved dexterity and reaction time. Better sleep, an increase in endurance and energy and altogether better body parts function are what people notice as a result.

A better frame of mind and less mood swings are also reported by individuals who begin to practice yoga. They also noticed better social adjustment as well as an improvement in concentration, better memory and a greater attention span. Many have noticed that there was a decrease in hostility and their learning ability and depth perception also improved.

A calmer attitude and mind that lasted all day was one of the benefit reported. This also leads to less stress and anxiety, which ultimately reduced weight gain. Practicing Yoga has many benefits for the body and mind. This translates into health improvement, a calmer mind and spirit, and a more flexible body. Practicing yoga helps to maintain normal weight and have fewer arthritic and joint problems.

The author, Troy Broussard, believes in healthy lifestyle and natural botanical supplements such as Kiiera Viv. For a Free Sample of Kiiera Viv or to buy Kiiera Viv stop by the authors online website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Troy_Broussard

Monday 1 December 2008

10 Great Reasons to Go on a Yoga Retreat

1- Recharge your Batteries: Sometimes we just need to relax and recharge our batteries. Get away and just lounge around by pool, relax and do nothing. The result is that you will feel better when you return and probably more efficient.

2- Relax from daily routine: Break the routine, get out ! Do something new, see places, take a yoga class. It will make you appreciate life better when you break out of that boring day to day routine. A change of ideas brings new ideas.

3- Do Yoga: A little yoga can not hurt, especially if you are always sitting on a desk. This will help your flexibility and breathing, and it is a great mental healer too. Most Retreats have Yoga and daily meditation classes that are somewhat easy and for all levels.

4- Re-focus on your future: Notice how motivated you are after a vacation with fresh new ideas? It helps you focus on what is important to you and your life and assess your strategies better if you got off track along the way.

5- Be happy, change of Attitude: A change of attitude is always good. If you are happy the people around you will probably be happy too.

6- Eat well (organic): Most retreat centers offer organic and healthy meals which are just very good for you, overall. Your body will de-stress and heal better with the healthy, good foods you give it.

7- Tranquility : Get some mental Peace and Quiet. Finally, the only thing you need to hear is nature, beautiful ocean or rivers, trees, AH !!!! Reconnect with the essence of you, the spiritual.

8- Connect with Nature: It is beautiful to connect with nature because you connect with yourself, and your soul. It is truly rewarding when you take time to breathe and relax with nature

9- Get to Know Yourself Better: A retreat is the perfect time to get to feel your true self and get to realize what is important to you, and how you have changed throughout the years. Things that mattered to you before will probably not matter anymore. It is good to realize the change within us and celebrate this.

10- Plan your next retreat: By the end of your retreat week, you will want to plan your next yoga retreat because you enjoyed it so much. You will feel refreshed and youthful.

Lea Longo is a full time mother, an award winning singer/songwriter, and the co-producer of Zen Voyage.

For more on mantra music, please visit http://www.lealongo.com You can also e-mail Lea at: media@lealongo.com

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Friday 28 November 2008

Yoga: Yoga For Modern City Life - Yoga Helps Ease Modern Stress

For Gail Stuart, who is finishing a beginner's series, yoga is an antidote to the stress of her job at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she works with psychiatric research. You just walk through the whole process, and you feel yourself slipping away. It's a different workout, she says, a welcome alternative to aerobics or exercise machines, which remind her of a torture chamber.

Yoga is the most prominent form of the burgeoning mind-body health movement, which includes tai chi, qigong and other meditative forms of exercise.

The practice of yoga should integrate every aspect of human existence. While many of modern Western practitioners focus on the physical asanas, for others, yoga is an all-encompassing way of life and a path to bliss.

Considering yoga's lofty goals, it's delightfully simple and can be done anywhere, anytime. Taken to its extreme, yoga encompasses everything from a moral code and dietary practices to deep meditation. Most commonly, though, it's a combination of asanas, pranayama (breathing exercises) and some meditation.

Yoga would be an effective and relatively cheap substitute for many anxious and stressed patients, although they would probably also need to be motivated to become physically fit.

By: Nicholas Tan

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Thursday 27 November 2008

Yoga: Yoga For Modern City Life - Most Urbanites Start With A Class

The best place to start is with a class, where a teacher can show you how to adapt poses using props and help you learn proper technique for the postures.

The good news is that yoga classes have never been more widely available. You'll find them at small studios, health clubs and gyms. The hard part is finding a class that's just right for you. Studios that are dedicated to yoga also foster a more dedicated practice. The same students return to class week after week, and instructors usually follow a particular discipline of yoga. Some classes are aimed at beginners.

Whether you consider a studio or health club classes, here are some tips to find qualified instructors and classes that suit your needs:

Define your goals. Do you have chronic back pain or other physical limitations. An Iyengar-based class, with its emphasis on proper form and use of props, would be ideal. Looking to improve concentration and reduce stress. Consider a class that incorporates meditation. Seeking a challenging workout. Try an ashtanga class.

Ask about the instructor's background. There is no national certification program for yoga yet, although some disciplines have their own rigorous teaching certification programs. You want an instructor who has been practicing and teaching for a long time.

Check out the space. Look for rooms that are spacious and well ventilated. Plenty of props sticky mats, straps, foam bricks, blankets and bolsters are a good sign, too. Ideally, yoga rooms are quiet, but that may not be the case in a gym setting where students have to contend with loud music and clanking weight machines.

By: Nicholas Tan

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Sunday 23 November 2008

The Human Mind and the Yoga

The human mind, in his evolutionary trial, she has been illuminated by the light of the awareness producing systems whose end is the improvement of the human condition. They are the circumstances that, they sometimes determine the geographical position, where, such systems, are manifested more clearly to the world.

This way, the Yoga finds in India the historical position of his birth remaining, subsequently also imprisoned in the religious culture of this country.

This becomes conclusive to the goals of the researcher which, today it owes for strength to pass through the Indian culture to be able to understand the goal, and to use the techniques that go to form the system of "Liberation" denominated Yoga. And when it is said "liberation" he intends to tell liberation it represents, besides, the street to indissolubly free themselves from the cycle of the Samsara or the tied up rebirths to the distorted vision of the senses that prevents the dissolution of the union with the suffering and the logging the knowledge of the Itself indefeasible.

The Yoga word, belongs therefore to the spiritual world, and, sometimes, utopian Indian, even if the Yoga more ancient, some sustain, he didn't introduce any connotation type cultural or religious.
The ancient origin of the Yoga one is surely pre-air as they testify the archaeological findings of Harrappa and I will Mohenjodaro belonging city to the civilization of the valley of the Indo that precedes the development of Vedic India.

The Yoga one held classical, sees instead the light in the first centuries of ours, it was and one are considered of the six Darsanas or viewpoints, of the philosophical-religious thought Hindù whose codification, as all know, Patanjali is attributed to, compiler of the Yoga-sutra or Aphorisms of the Yoga of dating, happen as always when he is to contact with the Indian history, a great deal shaky.

As you is already said so many times, Yoga it is a word sanscrita that deriving from the radix of the verb Yuj points out the meeting record to yoke. Example: to yoke the oxen to the wagon. Its meaning grants to this system the role of discipline whereas you are thought about yoking the present instinctual personality in the human nature, to direct her and to finalize toward well taller purposes represented by other meanings, that we will see subsequently, attributable to the verb Yuj. The promoters of this discipline, initially train him, in circle psico-somatic, to yoke mind and body to get a perfect drive, working to depths levels toward a single idea.

They passes so to experiment a first feeling of harmonic aggregation that corresponds to a pleasant stadium in which the mind partly results reorganized. To return to the verb sanscrito Yuj, finds almost always suitable, as I told you, other meanings over the most intrinsic "to yoke" that I hold can represent steps precise and relative experiences of conscience as that above described tied up to the verb to unite or union if reported to the Yoga word.

A third interpretative proposal, note, is recognized in the word "amalgamation" that for the Yoga one it relatively represents the level of coscience of experience more advanced than, it usually follows the complete realization of the union psico-physics. In this stadium the subject after having taken meeting record of the existing dynamic interrelation among itself and what surrounds him, it also realizes strongly her as feeling. This is worth to make to fall the last resistances and contrariety toward aspects of the demonstration, naturally also toward the mens, feeling himself in amalgamation and to them legacy from something of commune.

It changes at this point her vision of the world. The words friend, hostile or indifferent they are replaced from favorable, unfavorable or neutral and, consequently introduces in him yourself more evident emotional stability. The memories, above all through the practice of the meditation, they also comes reorganize and stripped by the emotional aspect.

The heavy burden, that constitutes the depressing past in many cases, is loosened and the is often noticed to disappear some senses of guilt. The individual can start this way him toward a fourth stadium of realization that will bring him to seek the lasting joy and what is over the ordinary one or the transcendent one.

Along the street he could experiment the supreme peace, to know and to rest in the true essence of his being. Through a continuous meditation on the truth itself, that is pure eternal conscience and beyond of the psico-somatic complex and of the worldly oppressions he could reach the liberty.

In the full success of this phase the subject should return to integrate himself, or it would be reinstated better in the collectivity, he is thought I deprive of resistances, and with a clear vision of the reality.

To conclude this first party I have moreover to assert that the science of the Yoga one demands to teach a method that allows to achieve the complete union of the Itself, that is of the present spiritual reality in each of us with that general purpose whose constitution would be, according to a hypothesis of the ancient literature, reality, conscience, beatitude (Satchidananda).

This union would be the only true Yoga. The point from where he departs for this experience. A state of conscience in which the mystical ones propose him to meet and to know God. A route, perhaps to bashful, through which the produced one, for so to say, would return in the womb of the generated, rather surely melting himself in the same nature of this last losing his individual identity.

You can change your life starting Yoga, now: eBook of Basic Yoga.

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Friday 21 November 2008

Health Benefits Of Yoga - Both For Body And Mind

Yoga has been practiced by ancient mystics and philosophers for thousands of years. Most people who hear the word yoga immediately think that this particular activity is simply a way to increase flexibility. In reality however, yoga offers so many more health benefits. Aside from its weight loss properties, yoga is also known to offer certain preventative medicine properties.

There are different kinds of health benefits of yoga. Usually, the benefits received from a type of yoga depend on the kind of yoga a person is practicing. One of the kinds of yoga that is gaining in popularity thanks to its health benefits is laughter yoga.

Yoga is often credited with physical benefits such as better flexibility, stable heart rate, toned muscle and increased stamina. In yoga sessions and class, people are taught to stretch their muscles so that they can be agile and flexible. But for new observers, the benefits of yoga only seem to be physical. Yoga offers more than the benefits to the body. Studies have shown that Yoga also provides key benefits to the mind.

Yoga is the coming together and oneness of body and mind. It is the consolidation of the movement (positions) and the breathing that makes the body tense and relax leading to the calmness of mind and spirit. Effectively done, it makes your whole being refreshed and rejuvenated. Yoga also gives you the ability to shut the noises of the world and get yourself into a trance of silence and solitude.

One of the most profound benefits of yoga is stress management. Imagine a stressful day at work or at home. The fast-paced environment requires you to be constantly worrying about the next thing. With yoga, you can benefit from relaxed breathing with a reasonable degree of control. Such activity allows your body and muscles to relax and think about peaceful thoughts, diverting your focus on stress. Even flexing activities could help a stressed person by loosening the tight muscles. Often when someone is stressed, the muscles are as well.

Many people feel that practicing yoga on a continual basis helps not only physical well-being, but also mental and psychological well-being. Yoga helps to calm the mind, allowing practitioners to feel a sense of inner peace and balance.

Another benefit of yoga is its power to ease muscle and joint pains. Through performing the various poses, you will increase circulation to all of the parts of your body. You will also stretch out tendons and muscles. The combined effect is a decrease in soreness and reduced joint pain. This is especially good for arthritis sufferers and those who suffer from back aches.

One of the most profound benefits of yoga that happens is the capability of putting your internal mind as well as your body into a state of harmony, mainly through the use of meditation. Meditation gives you the ability to clear your inner mind and provides much needed inner peace. The meditation aspect of yoga can assist in taking away stress that is unhealthy from both your body and your mind. There are negative aspects of stress that effects your endocrinal, emotional as well as physical systems.

By: Hutch Peter

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Wednesday 19 November 2008

Enhancing Bhaki Yoga With Kiiera Viv

Yoga is the combined practice of stretching, meditation and strengthening exercises. There are many benefits of practicing yoga and that includes mental, psychological, physical and emotional. Bhakti yoga is also called devotional yoga, it is the path for those seeking emotional fulfillment. Focus and additional energy can be provided by adding a new health product called Kiiera Viv. This is all natural, healthy and improves both mental and physical function. Viv comes in powder form that is just added to your water and is delicious as well as healthy.

Bhakti practitioners use meditation that includes visualization, feeling the presence of their god before them. Spending their time in meditation and sharing their deepest thoughts and concerns, they believe that this communing with their god and it brings about a deep state of awareness.

Practitioners believe that this connection transforms their being and improves their character. This communion with their god brings frequent periods of high consciousness. Greater practice brings greater reward, which brings the practitioner into a permanent relationship with their god.

The people who practice Bhakti believe this relationship is not static, that once they have attained this higher consciousness they must continue to work for more dimensions of love. This is an ever changing relationship and a delight to the bhakti yogi.

The yogi finds nothing else as attractive in life to him. They will go without food, sex, sleep, relationships, attachments and responsibilities. They feel all normal life experiences are now meaningless as they attempt to gain a glimpse of their god. They are searching for pure devotion and love of their god.

Bhakti is actually a religion of love for a divine being. This is a system of devotion and love with specific traditions and ways of meditation. This type of yoga stresses a balance between love and understanding, and devotion with reason.

Bhakti yoga is actually a religion of love for a divine being. This is a system of love and devotion that has specific traditions and methods of meditation. The practice of this type of yoga stresses balance between understanding and love, and devotion with reason.

Bhakti practitioners point to other people who have singled out love as the highest expression of their deity. They recognize the daily attitude of practitioners in dealings with others. Are they fair, loving and compassionate?

Practitioners look to others who have singled out love as the highest expression of their deity. They recognize the daily attitude of practitioners in dealings with others. Are they compassionate, fair and loving?

Other forms of bhakti relate to the desired outcome. In other words, if an individual desires material gain they would practice Sakamya bhakti. Or if he was seeking freedom from disease there is another type of meditation, and the ministry would require a different type. Bhakti yoga practice is not only complex but also simple at the same time. On the outside it appears their only goal is the oneness with their god and a loving experience as a result of a higher consciousness. On a different level they are able to request certain desires or goals that are not really the purest form. These individuals focus more on the human desires.

By: Kiiera Success Group

Monday 17 November 2008

Yoga In India - Road to All-Round Health Benefits

Yoga is way of exercising your body and mind. It is now a world famous and extremely popular technique but its origin makes a humble story. It was practiced by Indian sages thousands of years ago. Archaeological evidence suggests that it is at least as old as the Indus valley civilization. It was the ancient Indian sage Patanjali who proposed this method of wholesome exercise. The word "yog" means union; usually, "yoga" means union God or the divine being. The objective of a yogic exercise is to unite the individual with the divine through a series of body postures meant to control the body and the mind. Yoga in India is now a part of the everyday routine of most Indians.

Yoga in India has many benefits. It helps in cleansing the body of numerous toxins, toning the muscles, strengthening the digestive system and improving the circulation of blood. It also helps in correcting body postures. But unlike other forms of exercise like aerobics and workouts at the gym, it also promotes mental peace, freeing the practitioner from stress connected with day-to-day life. There are also those who undergo yoga purely to attain moksha or salvation.

There are eight stages that yoga consists of
1) Yamas - where one learns abstinence and restraint
2) Niyamas - where one learns to live in contentment
3) Asanas - where one learns the exercises
4) Pranayama - exercises related to breathing
5) Partyahar - exercise connected with the withdrawing of senses
6) Dhrana - where absolute concentration is achieved
7) Dhyana - the satge of meditation
8) Samadhi - achieving moksha or salvation.

Yoga is not only endorsed by its practitioners; even modern science agrees that it is a form of exercise that can help you attain all-round health benefits. As such, Yoga in India is now a vital theme of her tours and travels. There are various centers in all corners of the country- Chennai, Rishikesh, Hardwar, Shivpuri and Uttarkashi are well-known centers. Apart from these places, there are many professional instructors who have been specially trained in the field and they have their private practices. They can be easily located by searching online.

Sonal Arya is offering advice for quite some time. Having completed her Ph.d in Archeology from The Jawaharlal Nehru University. She provide useful advice through her articles that have been found very useful. To find Yoga in India, famous in India, cities in India, temples in India visit http://www.famousinindia.com/

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Thursday 13 November 2008

Relax! Twelve Essential Yoga Tips to Help Working Mums Manage Stress

How many times during the day do you hear the words "... "Mum, can I have ...." "Mum, it's not fair" "mum, have you seen my .... Or the classic, "mum, I'm hungry"

It's tough being a working mum. You need super human skills to manage the varied and complex demands of parenting as well as coping with the fast-moving pressures of your job.
Some days, you wake up tried and exhausted from caring for your sick children, other days you go to bed tired and exhausted from rushing home from work to be on time to attend your daughter's Parent-Teacher's Meeting.

In the midst of all this responsibility, caring and sharing, it is very easy to run out of energy and feel emotionally drained and physically shattered.

Twelve Essential Yoga Stress-Management Techniques

In the long-run, to fully care for your family and fulfill your responsibilities at work, it is vital you make time during your day to boost your energy and care for yourself. Failure to do so means you run on "empty" and have little to give to yourself, your family and meet your work commitments. To keep your energy levels up, practice the following yoga exercises, massage tips and breathing practices throughout your day.

1. Hum. Humming in high or low pitch is an excellent way to achieve inner calm and clarity. Find a quiet place, sit comfortably. Breathe in and out, through your nose. If you wish, close your eyes. Place your little fingers in your ears. Take a steady deep breath in through your nose. As you breathe out gently "hum." You can hum in either a high pitch or low pitch. Breathe in and repeat this humming pattern for 3 - 5 more rounds. Release your fingers and sit quietly for a few moments.

2. Pretend to chew a large piece of gum, really chew this piece of gum, stretching your mouth and smacking your lips together. Chew for at least 30 seconds.

3. Massage your cheekbones, forehead and temples with your fingers and thumbs. Be aware of the texture of your skin as your gently massage your eyebrows, bridge of your nose and then walk your fingers around your ears and massage your ears.

4. Take deep breaths regularly through out the day. This will help to nourish and revive your spirit

5. Sit on chair, bend forward and hold your ankles or shins. Arch your back, relax and repeat 3 - 5 times

6. 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.

7. Sitting on a chair, 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 repeat on the opposite side.

8. Have a loving bath. Add four to six drops of bergamot, lavender, ylang ylang, or rose essential oil to your bathwater. These aromatic oils are uplifting and help to refresh your mind.

9. Massage your shoulders. Squeeze the upper back and shoulders between your thumb and forefingers. Massage slowly and rhythmically.

10. Stand or sit in a comfortable position. Breathe in through your nose and shrug your shoulders up to your ears, slowly breathe out as you lower your shoulders. Repeat 5 - 7 times.

11. Smile and laugh often. Share happy thoughts and jokes with others. Laughter instantly elevates your mood and makes your eyes sparkle. You will feel more at ease in yourself and not worry so much about trying to fit in.

12. Sit or stand comfortably, scrunch your face up, like a dried prune. Open your eyes look upwards; open your mouth, stretch out your tongue and Roarrrrrr like a lion. Repeat until you feel powerful, calm and in control.

To help you manage your stress and give your best to your family and others, it is vital you make time to rest and recharge and care and nourish yourself. Make it a habit to regularly do these easy yoga exercises, massage tips and breathing techniques through out your day. You will feel energized, relaxed and raring to go.

Ntathu Allen, Hatha Yoga Teacher designs personal yoga exercise programmes for beginners. She helps you learn easy yoga postures which improve your flexibility, breathing practices to release stress and meditation techniques to soothe and calm your mind. To find out more go to:> http://www.yogainspires.co.uk and sign up for your free monthly yoga and health newsletter, "Healing for the Soul," full of wellbeing and holistic healing tips and; yoga exercises to energise and nurture your soul.

Email:> ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk

http://www.yogainspires.co.uk

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Tuesday 11 November 2008

Yoga In America?

Yoga does not seem to command the same form of respect from modern day society as it once did in the past. The real meaning of this ancient concept has been inundated by the quick-fix approach mentality of the modern day globalization. The ancient art of yoga has been represented as a simple concept to help people gain a better understanding of the overall philosophy. Yoga in its true form may be a little complicated for the western world to understand. It is a very dangerous and unethical to merely dabble on the surface and then talks about this subject as an expert! Yoga is often viewed as a physical journey, instead of a spiritual one in the western part of the world. It is represented as a physical activity that is directed towards the achievement of inner balance and meditative states of mind.

It originates from the Hindu religion and it is actually a part of the Hindu philosophy. In India, yoga is considered a very spiritual experience that has a physical aspect to it. But the western world prefers to refer yoga as a mere physical practice. Yoga with its strange looking symbols may seem mystical to the average Joe, is often enough to perk up a considerable level of interest in the hidden aspects of this ancient practice, but sadly, they are often misunderstood. Operating from the wrong paradigm, yoga became a form of sports in the western world. It also does a good job attracting those who wish to obtain inner peace and balance in the midst of the hectic modern lifestyle.

Disciples of yoga are often fascinated by the claims made by their yoga instructors. Outside of India, that there is a high level of misunderstanding of its true nature, hence the monumental amount of mistakes that can be found in its implementation. Closer observation reveals that the unique culture of each race has dramatically influenced the way yoga is practiced. Apparently, the west is not prepared to spend too much time in meaningful contemplations of this philosophy, hence the resulting fatal error due to a lack of understanding. For instance, meditation is the crux of this philosophy but busy Americans do not possess the time to spend in a few hours of relative sessions every day. The west seems obsessed with the desire to accumulate massive amounts of wealth and gaining power, which is a priority according the principles of Hinduism. Unless these values are changed, it is impossible for westerners to achieve the true wisdom and enlightenment as defined by the parameters of the Hindu religion. Patience and time is crucial for meditation. The westerners do not view investment in such contemplative moments for the attainment of philosophical wisdom to be beneficial.

Here, yoga as been practiced by those who desire to look good and stay in style. There are plenty of materials promoting it as a form of sports; you can practice yoga anywhere and anytime you want. Fans of famous people who later become fake gurus are adamant about supporting their idol and his practice. Obedient disciples of this distorted form of yoga have become agents of growth of this unhealthy philosophy.

By: Sam Nickel

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Saturday 1 November 2008

Health Benefits of Yoga - Reducing Stress and More With Laughter Yoga

There are different kinds of health benefits of yoga. Usually, the benefits received from a type of yoga depend on the kind of yoga a person is practicing. One of the kinds of yoga that is gaining in popularity thanks to its health benefits is laughter yoga.

It is said that children laugh around 400 times each day. Anybody who has been around children know they are typically carefree and full of energy. On the other hand, studies have shown that adults laugh only about 15 times a day on average.

Because adults must deal with more stress, it is understandable that they laugh less. However, one of the key points of laughter yoga is that the more a person laughs, the better they will be able to reduce the stress they feel.

In addition to reducing stress, laughter yoga is also said to be able to boost a person's immune system, strengthen his or her heart and improve overall circulation. A person who wants to try out this kind of yoga to improve his or her health can try the following:

  • Find a class - Laughter yoga is usually most effective when it is done as part of a group, rather than a person doing it on her own. Because laughter yoga includes more than just laughing, an experienced yogi can help a person get the most health benefits.
  • Get ready - Just like any other form of yoga, a person who hopes to truly be able to receive some health benefits of yoga that focuses on laughing must be able to take the time to warm up. When warming up, a person should clap twice, saying "Ho, Ho." Then, he or she should clap three times while saying, "Ha, Ha, Ha."
  • Breathing is important - Breathing is important in any kind of yoga. In laugh yoga, a person can breathe deeply by drawing in a large breath through his or her nose that immerses his or her lungs. Hold the breath for about 10 seconds, and then slowly exhale. Pay attention to the way the air leaves the lungs. This process should be repeated three times.
  • Laugh - This is easier said than done. The fact is that a person who is not comfortable acting "silly" in a group may need some time to get used to this kind of yoga. The best way to get used to doing this yoga is to realize that everybody else looks just as silly. A person should start the laughing by raising his or her arms in the air and laughing heartily as he or she throws his or head back. Use the other people in the group. People can shake hands, nod, wave and laugh at each other.
  • Learn to laugh silently - Laugh yoga does not simply focus on the noises a person makes. Rather, it focuses on the way a body functions as it laughs. Laughing silently can allow a person to get a good abdominal workout, It can also allow a person to work out his or her facial muscles.

If a person has participated in yoga for years, he or she must remember that laughing yoga does not replace all of the health benefits of yoga that has been previously been practiced. A person who is looking to stay flexible will likely want to continue to do other types of yoga.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on yoga and Pilates, please visit Yoga Supplies, home to many useful articles about health and fitness.

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Wednesday 29 October 2008

Yoga For Improving Your Figure

Knowing as you do that Yoga can give you a perfect figure, you have made this your main reason for pursuing the subject. I assure you this is no worse a reason for beginning the study of Yoga than any other. There cannot really be a bad reason for wanting to do something good, and though Yoga offers much in the way of a peaceful and healthy existence, your main concern at this stage, anyway, is how to get that pad of fat off your hips and reduce that bulging tummy. So be it. I will show you the way and as you learn more and more of Yoga perhaps eventually your reason for studying it will be a more spiritual one.

There is little need to explain to you the connection between obesity and your health. Apart from being aesthetically all wrong, it puts a strain on the heart, the internal organs, the legs and feet and in fact the entire body. It is dangerous to be overweight. It is your duty to improve your figure for the sake of your health, your peace of mind and your general well being.

But before I explain how Yoga can help you to regain a slim, supple, and graceful figure I must impress on you right at the beginning that there is no magic formula which will sheer those extra pounds off you while you go on eating four square meals a day with snacks in between and goodness knows how many cups of tea sweetened with sugar. In short, Yoga is not black magic. It is sheer common sense. It will help you if you are prepared to help yourself.

In presenting various Yoga asanas, I must impress on you that these alone will not make you lose weight. Yoga you see is a way of life not just a system of physical culture.

You must study Yoga as a whole and let it pervade every part of your life. Let it gradually alter your way of thinking and in time it will affect your attitude towards food. For many people food is a social occasion or a means of chopping up the day. To very many others, it is a form of sheer solid comfort in times of stress or anxiety. To still others it is a hobby or a release from boredom. They don't know what to do with themselves so they eat-and grow fat.

I do not suggest that you try drastically to alter your eating habits. Let Yoga gently do that for you. Practice Yoga as a complete science and very slowly adjust your eating habits according to your state of mind. By this I mean that, at the moment, maybe food is of major importance to you. It is right that you have this incentive to eat for it is necessary to take food in order to live, but many people, far too many, take far more food than they need. This results in a gradual build up of fat in the body until there you are-two, three, or even more stones overweight.

It is never easy to take off weight and Yoga is not a short cut by any means, but this much I promise you. Once you have slimmed the Yoga way, you will be able to eat as you please and not gain an ounce. Yoga, in affecting the glands, establishes a rhythm in the body so that you do not feel a desire for food that you do not need. You want to eat only enough to keep superbly fit. Your new calmness of mind will make it unnecessary for you to turn to food for comfort or as a means of relieving tension or boredom. As I have said, Yoga will affect your way of life, even against your will; it will alter your attitude towards many things and one of these things is the food you eat.

Having warned you that I have no magic formula dreamed up by the ancient Yogis with regard to recovering a slim, beautiful figure, let me discuss the first step in this 'battle of the bulge'. Here is a Yoga asana which will help you on your way. It is called the SIDESLIP and it should not present too much difficulty if you spend the first couple of days limbering up your torso with the following simple movements.

Limbering up Exercises
Stand up straight, feet together, arms raised to shoulder level. Holding your arms steady, swing them as far as possible round to the right. Twist your body to the maximum to bring your right arm as far round as you can and at the same time turn your head to look over your right shoulder so that you twist your neck to the utmost; as you turn slowly, bend your left arm so that when the swing to the right is at its height your left thumb should touch your right shoulder. Hold this position for a few seconds and then repeat the swing to the other side. You can repeat these swings ad lib but at first it is as well to limit yourself to a maximum of six if you have never taken any exercise before.

Two points to remember. These swinging movements from side to side should be performed slowly and rhythmically. Emphasis is on the full sweep of the arms and the twisting of your torso to the utmost rather than on speed. Speed isn't a word used in Yoga, rather substitute the word pressure. At the extreme points of the twisting movement, you can exert a slight pressure to enhance the value of this limbering exercise. And having practiced it for a day or two you should graduate with no difficulty to a more advanced lateral twist called THE SIDESLIP POSTURE.

Sideslip Posture
1. Kneel down on the floor and sit back on your heels. Raise your arms above your head, clasp your hands together and turn them palms upwards. Slide your body off your heels to the right and at the same time gently swing your arms towards the opposite side. You should not bend forward while performing this movement but move from the waist to the side only. Now raise your body off the floor, swing it slowly and gently to the other side and at the same time swing your arms over to the opposite side. Try to keep your knees together throughout the Sideslip Posture, but if you find this difficult or impossible at first, you may hold your knees apart to maintain your balance, but at all times endeavor to bring your knees together.

Many people, while attempting this asana for the first time, have difficulty with stage 3, that is the lifting of the body off the floor and the swinging it to the other side. In fact some people have trouble in getting themselves off the floor at all in this position and others, if they do succeed, land with a great thump on the opposite side and have difficulty getting up from there. Be patient. This exercise is not quite so easy as it looks. Graceful, and a great favorite with women everywhere, it looks simple enough but in actual fact it requires a high degree of muscular control and concentration.

Remember your head while you are doing the SIDESLIP POSTURE. It should bend the same way as your arms which you should, throughout the movement, try to press backwards as far as possible to avoid any possible sagging forward of your body.

This asana is one of the finest in the entire Yoga range for slimming the waist and reducing that pad of fat which often settles on top of the hipbones. You will feel a powerful stretch from your hips to your armpits and if you do this exercise correctly you will feel rather sore in the region of your hip joints the next day. This is normal and it will prove to you that this Yoga exercise has already begun to work for you. While one side of your body is being stretched the other side is being powerfully contracted. You can feel it squeezing the fatty tissue. It also imparts a healthy massage to the organs and muscles of the abdomen and helps the torso towards a new suppleness and grace.

When you can perform the SIDESLIP POSTURE at a moderate speed and with some degree of muscular control, then try to slow down the whole process so that it becomes a study in slow and gentle motion. This calls for a much higher degree of muscular control and thus the benefits of the posture are greatly enhanced. When you have perfected your movements in slow motion, regulate your deep breathing so that you lean to one side while inhaling and to the other while exhaling. Rhythm and slow motion are the final keywords in this exercise.

In its perfect form, the Sideslip Posture should be as follows. Lean to the right while inhaling. Remain immobile as you complete your inhalation and hold your breath for as long as possible. When the impulse to exhale appears, do so, as you raise your body off the floor and swing it to the other side. Remain immobile as you complete your exhalation and remain holding your breath for as long as possible before inhaling again. This constitutes one round. Perform up to a dozen rounds a day, starting with four and adding two rounds per week.

Like the Sideslip Posture, this next exercise is not so easy as it looks. It is called AROHANASANA or in English THE RAISED HEAD AND LEGS POSTURE. This asana wages war on that bulging abdomen. Lie flat on your back with your legs outstretched and your feet together. Lace your fingers together and place them at the back of your head just above your neck. Inhale very slowly and deeply and at the same time raise your head, shoulders, and legs off the floor, remembering to keep your knees straight. Hold this position until you have completed your inhalation. After holding your breath for a few seconds, very slowly return to the original position.

Those two words 'very slowly' in connection with the lowering of the legs will catch most of you out at first. You will want to plop your legs down on the floor in a great rush, but try as hard as you can to resist this impulse. It is the easy way out and you will gain nothing from employing it. You want to reduce that abdomen don't you? Then do please remember that there is no hurry at all in this exercise and the slow s-l-o-w lowering of the legs is precisely what strengthens, tones, exercises, and reduces those flabby abdominal muscles and helps to reduce fat in this area.

This is an exercise that requires a lot of patient practice before you can perform it perfectly. As it is a strenuous posture, do not do it more than twice a day for the first few days and after that very gradually increase the number of times you do it up to six.

In addition to toning and strengthening the abdominal muscles and reducing excess fat, this exercise also helps to relieve constipation, so it is doubly beneficial to the would-be-slimmer. The back and shoulders are also strengthened by the slow motion lifting and lowering of the head and shoulders.

A word of warning. This is not an exercise for women during pregnancy or who have any internal disorders, and people with hernia should practice it with extreme caution.

For those readers who find the Arohanasana too strenuous or simply beyond you, here is a similar though much easier exercise which is called UDHITTA PADASANA or THE RAISED LEG POSTURE.

1. Lie on your back with your legs outstretched and feet together. Inhale slowly and deeply and at the same time raise your right leg, keeping the knee straight until it is at right angles to your body.

2. Remain thus as you complete your inhalation, hold your breath for a few seconds while keeping absolutely still, your other leg flat on the floor.

3. When the impulse to exhale appears, do so, and at the same time very slowly lower your leg. Repeat with the other leg.

This simple exercise may be performed once or twice a day until you feel you are ready to try it with both legs at once. This exercise, like the previous one, will help to break up fatty tissue in the abdominal area. I must warn beginners to this and the previous exercise, that they might find their abdominal muscles a little sore the day after starting as you are using muscles which may never have been used in that way before. Do not worry about the discomfort. It means that Yoga is working for you so you should welcome it as a sign that you were performing the exercise properly. Remember always to lower your legs s-1-o-w-l-y.

Let us now try a standing posture for the improvement of the figure. This one will keep your spine healthy and supple, reduce abdominal fat, tone up sluggish bowels, and slim your waist. It is called THE WOODCUTTER Exercise.

Stand erect, feet far apart. Stretch out your arms, lace your fingers together and imagine that you are holding a very heavy axe. Inhale slowly and deeply and at the same time slowly raise the 'axe' above your head until you are leaning back as far as you can without losing your balance. Remain in the backward bend as you complete your inhalation, remain immobile for a few seconds holding your breath. When the impulse to exhale appears, swing the 'axe' down slowly as though there were actually a log in front of you and you were chopping it up. The downward movement should be a very powerful one, but do not stop when you reach the imaginary log, but let your hands follow through your legs.

Repeat this exercise six times, and do watch the following four points. Firstly that your elbows should be straight throughout, secondly that your feet should be firmly planted on the floor without moving, thirdly that you do not move your buttocks whilst you are bending down, and lastly, that all the movement should be done from above the waist. The lower half of the body should remain absolutely still.

A word of warning. This is a rather strenuous exercise and I do not recommend it for women with internal complaints or people with weak hearts. This exercise should not be done during menstruation.

The next posture for reducing abdominal fat is called THE TRIANGLE BEND.

Stand erect with your hands clasped together behind your back. Your feet should be far apart with your knees straight. Inhale slowly and at the same time turn your torso, from the waist upwards, slightly to the right. Continue with your inhalation as you bend your head slowly until your forehead touches your right knee. Your hands should still be clasped behind your back. Remain in this position for as long as you comfortably can without exhaling and, when the impulse to exhale appears, do so, at the same time slowly straightening up. Repeat the movement to the other side, bending your head towards the left knee.

That is the Triangle Bend. Repeat it twice each way at first but when you are limbered up you can perform it up to half a dozen times. Did I hear some of you say 'impossible'. I'll admit that if you are very stiff or very much overweight, the Triangle Bend may well seem so, but again I must ask you to practice it, without straining, and you will soon be pleasantly surprised at how easy this exercise really is. It reduces fat on the abdomen, waist, and thighs.

And now for another posture which has a similar name. This is TRIKONASANA or THE TRIANGLE POSTURE, and you may find it easier than the previous one. It is one of the most effective Yoga asanas for reducing fat round the waistline, the hips, the upper arms, and the thighs, and it should present little difficulty even to the beginner.

Trikonasana
Stand erect, feet far apart, and your arms extended sideways at shoulder level. While keeping your head in the same position (that is not turning it), bend slowly to the right until your right hand touches your right foot. You will have to bend your right knee a little to do this and at the same time your left leg should remain outstretched to maintain balance. Your left arm should be gradually brought up and over your head as far as possible. Remain in this position until you have completed your inhalation. When the impulse to inhale appears, do so and at the same time slowly return to the starting position. Repeat this exercise to the other side.

The most important feature of this exercise is the gradual increase of the stretch of the free arm, which should be brought over farther and farther each time you practice this exercise. It should be performed four times a day at first and, when you become more flexible, it can be performed up to a dozen times a day. The accent is on slow and rhythmical movement, as this exercise is much more beneficial to the health and the figure when performed slowly and gracefully. The breathing should also be carefully timed to coincide with the appropriate movements. Trikonasana is not a very strenuous posture but, all the same, I do not advise it for women with any kind of internal disorders or for people suffering from hernia.

This being the last of the so-called 'slimming' Yoga asanas, I should like to lend a helping hand to those of you who, with the best will in the world to practice Yoga and grow slim, feel that you cannot find the time to practice. I know it isn't always easy especially if you go out to business, as the mornings are filled with rushing about, and breakfasts and bath water, and if something has to be left out-well that's Yoga isn't it? This is one of the main reasons, I find, why would-be devotees of Yoga do not pursue the subject.

In view of the fact that Yoga asanas should be done on an empty stomach, it is usually convenient to perform your practice schedule first thing in the morning when you get out of bed. You may feel you are too sleepy to do them then but you will find that some of the asanas are very bracing owing to their stimulating effect on the nervous system and soon give you a wide-awake feeling. And once you have established the habit of doing Yoga postures first thing in the morning, it should become as much a part of your routine as having your morning bath or cleaning your teeth.

So, starting with one of those bracing exercises, here is a ten-minute practice schedule which is not beyond the means of anyone. All you do is get up ten minutes earlier. Ten short minutes each day-so very little time to devote to Yoga, but how rich will be the rewards, so rich that I feel convinced that many of you will soon want to get up even earlier to devote yet more time to this healthful study.

Ten-Minute Practice Schedule
1. Limbering up for Sideslip -1 minute
2. Sideslip - 3 minutes
3. Raised Head and Legs Posture - four times 2 minutes
4. Leg Raising Posture
5. Woodchopper - six times 1 minute
6. Triangle Bend - four times 1 minutes
7. Triangle - six times 2 minutes

This ten-minute practice schedule can be varied of course, according to your individual needs and the amount of time at your disposal. There may be one exercise which you find you like better than some of the others, in which case, do spend more time on that one. The schedule I have set out is a mere indication of what can be done with a few minutes set aside for Yoga practice. Do not omit the correct breathing as you perform these exercises and if you would slim do please avoid constipation, as this is one of the worst enemies of the body and of the figure. Yoga will do wonders for your health and your appearance and for your figure, but do please give it a helping hand by watching your diet.