Yoga Retreat – A Place Of Relaxed Community

Yoga retreat is generally a place occupied by the people who are committed to the art of yoga. It is considered as the place of relaxed community where the people can enjoy the fun of practicing yoga within a social setting. This is the only place which acts as a platform for the people to share their passion for yoga and its benefits.

The retreats generally occupy the beautiful and peaceful locales in order to proffer the higher levels of relaxation to the participants. These retreats are lead by the experienced yoga instructors so as to offer guidance to the people practicing yoga.

Not only this, there is an exclusive arrangement of food and accommodation during a yoga vacation. They proffer you a wondering opportunity to free up yourself from insaneness of the world and to concentrate only on the goal of relaxation and to achieve peace of mind and body.

- Why to attend yoga retreats?

a) A yoga retreat proffers you an excellent opportunity to liberate yourself from the various perplexities of day-to-day life. You can get plenty of space for yourself where you can tranquilize your body and soul.

b) One of the most fascinating features of the retreats is that they serve you with an extensive range of nutritious vegetarian meals so as to deliver you the healthier lifestyle during your stay. This will further inspire you to make few healthier improvements in your daily routine diet.

c) They will permit you an ample of time to be dedicated in practicing various yoga asanas. Not only this, under the supervision of trained yoga instructors, you can enjoy the fun of learning many more new yoga exercises which will enable you to unwind your body from various stresses and to achieve the state of physical and mental peace.

d) A yoga retreat acts as a platform to meet enlightened and intelligent people with whom you can tie up long lasting friendly relations.

e) The centers are generally located at the beautiful locales where you can feel the closeness to the nature proffering fresh sigh of relief.

f) Moreover, these retreats dedicate some portion of their practice to pranayama or breathe practice so as to deliver calmness to the mind and also to supply oxygen to the various parts of the body more efficiently which will further enhance the rate of metabolism.

g) There is also a provision of enjoying the thrill of slow and quiet walking meditation which is practices early in the morning so as to connect your body and mind with the beauty of nature.

h) A weekend yoga vacation will take you to the path of spiritual growth where you can again reconnect your spirits and truth within you. Not only this, you will begin to listen to the desires of your heart and become courageous to live in the spirits.

i) According to our medical science, it has been found that we all need 8-9 hours of sleep to work optimally in our daily routine. But, due to today’s hectic lifestyle, it has become bit difficult to go for such a long sleep. Therefore, by practicing yoga at yoga retreat, you can prepare your body for an early night’s rest.

By: Bertil Hjert

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Meditation, Yoga And Occidental Medicine

The Yoga discipline - centuries old - is nowadays more valid than ever, she provides the means to combat the lack of inner equilibrium, that the actual rhythm of life so frequently inducts.

For a great number of illnesses are the psychosomatic origins already mostly accepted, especially in the psychological and psychiatrically practice.

Often has been asserted a very close relation between psychic components and the symptoms of illnesses in the gynecology, and most times is it sufficient to affront the relations between the psychic components and the symptoms to resolve the accused disturbs. To do so is it frequently sufficient to deal out with the problems that arise in course of a dialogue.

Insuring the person, that her ills does not reckons from an organic alteration but from a modification of the functionality of the organs, induced likelihood from his life-style, opens already afresh possibility for her to relate to his own body.
Evidently is the equation "realizing - recovery" not always that immediately and most importantly, if such disturbs are of an older date, is a long work of unblocking involved before the person can refind his lost equilibrium.

The advantage of Hatha Yoga and its exercise is to allow us to retrieve possess of our whole body, which is a result that goes widely over dissolving only illnesses.

As son of the western science, I tried to find a justification for the therapeutic results received from Yoga; for this I examined the "Chakra's" (centers of energy) for every yoga position, looking for the nervous points that are involved and stimulated through the particularly yoga posture which the body assumes in such asana's.

Sure that's not a scientifically research but I hope that it induces the skeptically to a major reflection of the possibility of "self-cure" what resides inside our bodies, acknowledged since thousands of years and neglected and disregarded or ignored in western hemisphere since too much time.

For to understand how a Yoga posture acts, we have first to know the Chakra (center of energy), which it stimulates. The Chakra's- literal meaning "wheel"- are the psychophysically centers of our body. We have very much of them thoroughly our body crossed from little conveyer channels of energy (Nadi), and some of them we have in our astral body.

The principal Chakra's are six, of which the spinal colon is the central axle (Sushumma), and two are the secondary ones.

On the base of our sacrum resides the Chakra "Muladhara", which in relation with the plexus sacralis and the ganglion coccygeal regularizes the feet's, the function of excretions and childbirth, stimulates the speech communication and regulates the olfactory modality.
On the level of the vulva (the penis base) resides the Chakra
"Svadhisthana"; it commands in relation with the plexus uterus ovary (spermatic) the ovary, the loins, the suprarenal glands and the lower abdominal area, the legs and the gustatory modality.

The Chakra "Manipura" resides nearby our umbilicus; it controls in relation with the solar plexus the stomach and the intestine; manages the digestion and assimilation, and is connected with the menstrual cycles and influences the visual sense.

To the right of "Manipura" we find the "Surya" Chakra (small center of the sun), commanding the functions of the liver; on the left side of "Manipura" is situated the "Chandra" Chakra (small center of the moon), which act's onto the pancreas and spleen.

In the thoracic region, located right behind the heart is the Chakra "Anahata". It regulates and controls in relation with the plexus cardiacus the functions of the thymus gland, the tactile sense, the penis and the blood circulation, the respiration as the deglutination and the locomotors system.

Situated on the base of the neck is the "Vishuddha" Chakra that in relation with the plexus pharyngeal is connected with the thyroid gland and controls the auditory modality, the skin, the mouth and the respiration.

In the head (in the centre between the eyes brown), is situated the "Ajna" Chakra connected with the hypophysis (pituitary gland).

By exercising Hatha Yoga, one or more of those Chakras becomes stimulated, in base of the different postures (the asana's), and creates so the necessary energy for the correct function of the organs that correspond to those centers.

By: bwerner

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Kids Yoga Teacher Training: Bringing Yoga Into The Classroom

For teachers looking for a way to make their students feel more focused and relaxed in school, why not try incorporating a few minutes of yoga into daily classroom activities? Not only does yoga for children help with physical fitness and stress relief, it also integrates movement into the learning process. Yoga is a wholesome, exciting way for kids to explore their own creativity while seeing that there are other dimensions to learning--making them feel like they're a part of their learning environment and their world.

Storytelling, music, and creative/expressive arts all blend seamlessly with yoga for children. Traditional "adult" yoga is reinvented in a way that suits the playful spirits of the youth that practice it. Kid's yoga practice uses the Multiple Intelligences Theory, developed by Harvard educator Howard Garder, to create a framework for yoga activities that become fully integrated into the core educational curriculum.

Today's children experience a great deal of stress that stems from school, their peers, their living environment, and expectations from the media. This pressure only increases as kids get older. Stress, in whatever form it may take, affects the way children absorb knowledge and interact with their surroundings. It also affects their physical health and self-esteem. Yoga for children brings an element of adventure into learning while helping kids relax, focus and stay stress-free.

Now teachers and parents can take kids yoga teacher training and certification programs so they can effectively bring yoga into the home or classroom. Focused parents and educational professionals who want to integrate these methods into their practice or community can help facilitate healthy lifestyle development, better test scores, improved knowledge retention and a more harmonious learning environment. By bringing yoga into pre-kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms, teachers and students alike are adopting a learning motto of "less stress, greater success."

Imagine walking into a classroom full of third graders. Everyone is fidgety, bored and unfocused. You then tell them to take a few minutes to stand by their desks and do the "tree pose." Simultaneously, the children stand up beside their desks, take deep breaths, focus straight ahead, then lift one leg and both arms into the pose. The kids already know this pose, but you--the teacher--guides them through it with a yoga pose card. When the students return to their seats, they are calmer, more alert and ready to learn.

By: David Tang

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Great Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a practice of performing different postures or a spiritual activity of getting free from worldly worries and sufferings. Yoga sees mind body and soul as one and creates a connection between them. It is practice of making you aware of your own body and it's not just an exercise but a journey to find peace within yourself and a process of self-realization. Many of its benefits are:

Yoga is a form of exercise which incorporates the use of your mind and soul and body. Through yoga a person remains calm and improves his inner self. Yoga is a form of meditation too which helps a person in the development of his concentration skills. Many types require you to empty your mind of all thoughts and let your mind get free of all emotions and sentiments.

It is a practice of learning selflessness, which teaches compassion towards other beings and will make you a righteous person. In many types you are required to concentrate on the power of love and devotion, which help you develop your inner self.

The skill of concentrating learnt during yoga will help you focus in your daily routine, and not let your brain entangle in petty matters. Yoga is the practice of finding yourself. It is a way to bring out your strengths polish them and negate all the negativity within. It is to find contention in what you are blessed with It helps you develop self-control and discipline and manipulate your emotions.

Yoga is a means to calm yourself and concentrate on the Higher Being. It is a way to develop a connection between you and God and enhance your spiritual skills.

Yoga is a practice of performing different postures, which help in getting rid of many ailments like headaches. It helps you control blood pressure and temperature, respiratory problems, heart rate and improves your metabolic and immune system. It improves your nervous system and helps in reducing stress.

It increases your muscle strength and physical fitness. The practice increases your flexibility, balance and tones your muscles. Yoga massages all the parts of your body and organs and glands. The stretching of spine builds your vigilance and improves the health of your heart. The deep breathing helps in the strengthening of lower back parts of your body.

The exercise lubricates your joints and makes use of even those muscles which you might not regularly use in your daily routine. The good circulation due to the light exercise helps in diminishing of toxins from the body. This helps in delayed aging and fills a person with energy and vigor.

It increases your energy levels and develops equilibrium between your mind and body.

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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.

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Yoga Equipments for Practicing Yoga Poses | Yoga Mats | Yoga Clothing

Yoga Equipments for Your Yoga Practice

Yoga equipments can be a great help for the people who want to practice yoga as they help the yoga practitioner get deeper into the yoga poses. Yoga is the way to unite the body, mind, and the spirit.

In these days, yoga practice is becoming popular and lots of people are practicing yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation. Yoga helps the people to maintain their body in shape and makes them feel better and healthy. And it is one of the reasons of practicing yoga by most people.

There are different yoga poses and yoga postures that make your body fit and well. The best way to relax the body and mind is to practice the yoga routine. Yoga practice helps you to keep your body in shape and this might be the best exercise for you.

Whenever you are starting yoga practice, you have to know the basic yoga equipments for a yoga class. Yoga can be practiced by people of all ages and if you have an idea about the basic yoga equipments that are required for practicing yoga then it can be possible to do anywhere.

Basic Yoga Equipments - Yoga Clothing

For yoga practice, the most essential yoga equipment would be comfortable clothing. You should wear comfortable clothes that will make an ease to breathe. Your clothes should be loose enough, not to interrupt you in your yoga sessions.

It is better to wear a more formfitting top because it will make you feel comfort and you will not have the problem of sliding down your top. A regular pair of exercise shorts or pants will do fine. Not to wear anything slick as some of the yoga poses could make you slip.

Shoes

Shoes are not compulsory for yoga classes. It will be the best whenever you are going to yoga class after work, as there will be no necessity for you to carry heavy athletic shoes. It is an optional thing to use socks or soft shoes for practicing yoga because traditionally it is practiced barefoot. In most classes, the yoga instructor may allow you to practice yoga with out wearing shoes.

Yoga Mats

Another one of the yoga equipments is yoga mats. They are useful both in gyms and in yoga classes. Using a mat for yoga practice is very common but when you are just starting, you may have to wait to buy your own.

Most classes will provide mats or will rent mats. The only disadvantage is that you can get smelly between the washes as many people can use the mats.

Some of the yoga equipments are optional. It also depends upon the type of yoga you are practicing. If you are following Iyengar style of yoga, then the props are generally used in order to keep the correct pose. They assist you to keep your body in alignment and also help you obtain the most out of your exercises.

Yoga Equipments - Yoga Blankets

Yoga Blankets are often used in certain poses and are useful when practicing the sitting positions or poses. They are also useful when you are in the cool down, relaxation period at the end of your practice.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga Blocks are similar to blankets and used as supports in order to improve your position and also makes it more comfortable for your body. They are great when practicing the standing poses where your hands or fingers are supposed to touch the floor and they do not fairly make it. Yoga blocks help you get the best results out of your yoga practice.

Yoga Straps

Yoga Straps, different yoga equipment, are useful for yoga poses where your hands have to meet, and also for postures that you need to hold on to your feet.

The above things are just props and there is no need of buying these yoga equipments unless you find that there is a need of them for your yoga practice at-home. Most of the yoga classes will provide these props.

Starting yoga and practicing it can be done on a little budget, whether you go to a yoga class or you practice yoga with the help of a video at your home. Just remember, the only things that you need for a regular yoga practice would be comfortable, breathable clothes, a top that is formfitting, regular exercise shorts, and no shoes.

Apart from these, you need to empty your stomach and make your nostrils dirt free and clean your throat before you start your yoga practice. It is better to start yoga practice with an empty stomach and also drink warm water 15 minutes before you start the yoga practice.

It will be fine if you try your yoga routine with just a folded blanket instead of a mat whenever you are practicing your routine at home.

Basically you don’t require all the above things for yoga practice. All you need is the desire and the attitude towards yoga and expanding your self-awareness. However this will not entirely eliminate the need for different yoga equipments.

The yoga equipments that you make use for yoga practice will assist you in doing your postures correctly. They support your muscles from getting any injury when performing some difficult yoga poses.

Most of the yoga equipments are prepared to relax your body and mind and also helps you to concentrate on the pose or practice the pose in a proper way

Tags: Yoga,Yoga Poses,Yoga Mats,Yoga Clothing

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Purchasing Cotton Yoga Mats - Do's and Don'ts

According to an old Sanskrit saying, if you get your posture right, chances are you'll get your chore done right too. No matter how sincere your intent and dedication in learning and practicing yoga, its your posture which matters. And the best way to ensure a correct posture is to fetch yourself a good yoga mat.

A good cotton yoga mat goes a long way in helping you obtain the maximum results for the amount of efforts put in. This not only makes a mat imperative, it also means you pick out the right kind of mat for you. If it's a cotton yoga mat you are looking out for, make sure it is level and evened out. A mat with a lumpy and inconsistent spread of cotton would not only pinch, but could also increase chances of you being thrown off balance, while you are midway into an asana.

It would also be advisable to thoroughly feel the cotton yoga mat with your palms before purchasing the mat. This is done to see if the cotton used, has developed knots due to longer periods of storage. These knots have a tendency to dig into your skin, when a part of your body presses on it.

Another thing to be kept in mind while picking up a cotton yoga mat is making sure it fits your size right. That is, if you are a generously propositioned buyer, make sure you do not purchase a smaller cotton yoga mat to save some money. Choose a comparatively bigger mat, both in length and in breadth. Yoga is meant to be performed with you at ease. There is no point you performing yoga asanas, when you are struggling to fit into the small mat you've bought to save some dough.

Remember, yoga is a form of exercise. So you will end up roughing both sides of your cotton yoga mat. So when you are thinking of purchasing a cotton yoga mat for yourself, choose one that looks sturdy. A flimsy mat would not go the distance.

While purchasing a cotton yoga mat, consider which branch of yoga you wish to follow. If its astanga you are looking at, then you had best opt for a much thicker cotton yoga mat as compared to the ordinary ones. The thickness would help cushioning your limbs, while performing the more demanding astanga exercises. But if you are switching to asthanga yoga midway through your schedule and you already own a cotton yoga mat with a regular thickness, fret not. Just lay down a thick cotton blanket or towel below the mat to enhance the cushioning.

If you are into traveling, it would be much simpler if you could purchase a bag in which you could carry your cotton yoga mat, preferably a bag with a sling, so that you could slip it over your shoulders. A bulky cotton yoga mat would be tough to lug around otherwise.

Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences. One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.cottonyogamat.org

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6 Steps to Make a Yoga Routine of Your Own

Yoga brings peace to mind and relaxation to your body. Yoga has been practiced by many people for hundred of years now. Its one of those activities that will keep you busy for a very long time and it will keep you in a good physical and mental shape. The most popular types of yoga are kundalini and hatha. There are different exercises called sets in these yoga's. Here are some guidelines that will help you make a yoga routine of your own.

1. Never try to develop a yoga set if you are a beginner. Take some beginners classes first and practice some exercises. This will help you in selecting the right exercises; you don't want to cause any injury to yourself if you are beginner.

2. Make sure that your set is well balanced. By balancing one mean that exercises which stretches or twists your body in one direction should be balanced by stretches and twists in other direction. You should select exercises that will stretch your legs and arms equally. Also try to find exercises that will twist your body in both directions.

3. If you are planning to have Chakra exercises then better to move on the lower Chakra first and then move towards the upper Chakra.

4. Keep a good check on your breath. There are different breathing techniques for beginners and for experts. Always follow them as this will help to perform the yoga much better.

5. You should always have a small amount of rest between your yoga sets. This will help you to relax and help you to control the energy produced during your yoga.

6. If you are familiar to the yoga exercises and know that they are a bit difficult than it is best recommend to do some warm ups before starting the set. Always try to make a set that has easy exercises at the beginning and then it moves toward the difficult ones.

This will help you to warm you body muscles and will come useful when you are going to do the difficult sets. These warm ups and simple workouts will help in preventing any injury that may occur to you. If you body muscles are not completely warmed up then even a pro can have an injury.

There are a number of centers that offer yoga sets and training courses. You can always join them to learn more posture and it will also help you to perform different sets with more ease.

Finding the perfect Workout Routines takes time and effort. These best workout routines is a great place to start if a person is interested in flat abs. The P90X workout routines is also another workout that will help develop flat abs.

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Yoga - Basics For New Practitioners

New to yoga? Start here! Yoga means union, and hatha is a combination of words meaning sun and moon. So, hatha yoga, which is the practice we are most familiar with in the West has a meaning stemming from the uniting of opposites. Yoga is an ancient Indian philosophy described by Patanjali in his famous Yoga Sutras as the spiritual discipline or practice with the intent of uniting the individual soul with the World soul.

Before the deep thinking involved discourages you, you can rest assured that in the West, and indeed for many Indian people, the modern practice of yoga encompasses only one or two of the original eight branches that Patanjali described. When you look for a yoga class, or an instructional book or video, you are selecting a system of postures to learn, which yoga practitioners as asanas know. You may be familiar with the most popular systems: Kripalu, Iyengar, Ashtanga or Power Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Bikram or Hot Yoga.

There are a number of systems because there in no one single central authority in yoga. Every master teacher, or guru, perfects his own practice and passes it on to his or her students. In practice, when you choose a style, you should consider a few factors. First, what classes are offered in a convenient location to your home, school or workplace? You will find that similarities outweigh the differences, and attending a class more frequently will allow you to more fully enjoy and experience what the discipline has to offer you.

Next, you should consider the style itself. Keep in mind that there is no one "brand name" in yoga practice that is better than any others are. Many recommend starting out with an Iyengar beginner's class, since his famous style places an emphasis on learning precise movements, and also using props like straps and blocks to help less flexible individuals assume the necessary postures. Ask friends and colleagues for teacher recommendations, and go with someone well regarded and close by. You can always change your mind; the main thing is to get started with the learning process.

If you do not have a teacher nearby, you should pick up Yoga the Iyengar Way by Silva, Mira, and Shyam Mehta. This is probably the single best book in print for starting a new practice without a teacher. Even if you have a good school in your local area, consider getting this one as a reference, to reinforce what you learn in class. It has great pictures and descriptions of basic and intermediate asanas (poses), and the book has been thoughtfully arranged to teach several complete sequences of exercise.

Do not worry about the spiritual aspects of practice at first. Some schools, like the Sivananda program, emphasize vegetarianism, proper breathing and relaxation techniques and even meditation along with the beginner class. This can be too soon for people trying out yoga for some extra exercise or to lose weight. If you are curious about yoga, get started with the classes, and maybe the spiritual aspects will begin to appeal more at some point. It does not matter; many are content to go on for decades becoming excellent practitioners and get great benefits in terms of health or wellbeing, with minimal exploration of the spiritual side of yoga. Union of opposites, the body and mind, the self and others, the will and desires, are what this practice is about. How that manifests is different for every individual.

J.M. Smith is an avid yoga practitioner and teacher, and maintains a resource called Yoga for Weight Loss - where you will learn more about getting started, or getting that so-called "yoga body".

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The Differences Between Cotton Yoga Mats and Other Contemporary Yoga Mats

Yoga has been practised all around the world for thousands of years. Its regular practice rewards us with greater health and vitality and a perfect balance between mind, body and spirit. It brings true happiness, and makes you feel better from within. The breathing exercise and meditation helps you tune in, shape up and feel great all at the same time.

Yoga is a cure to many ailments but it needs to be performed with care to avoid injuring oneself. Many times accidents occur while doing yoga exercises. Yoga mats should be used to avoid such circumstances as they provide cushioning and traction. These days' markets are flooded with a variety of yoga mats. You find them in different colours, shapes and sizes. They are available in different materials also.

Some of the commonly available yoga mats are:

• Cotton yoga mats - these are mats made of cotton. They are thick, and soft and give excellent support to your body while doing yoga. They are completely natural and have beautiful colour and texture.

• Eco friendly mats - These eco friendly yoga mats are made of PER i.e. Polymer Environmental Raisin. They are non-toxic, latex free, ecological and healthy. They are available in a wide range of colours.

• Tapas mats -these are stable and provide a non-slip surface. They give insulation from the cool floors.

• Rubber mats - these mats are made of natural rubber and are thin and easily movable. They provide good cushioning and resilience.

• Jute mats - these are latex free mats made of jute. They are made by meshing jute fibre with PER plastic.

• PVC mats - as the name suggests they are made of Poly Vinyl Chloride. They have a non-slip surface and are easy to maintain.

• Woven fabric mat - these are mats made of woven fabric which is thickly textured.

• Yoga towel mats - they are made of soft towel material, are easily washable and soak your sweat when you are doing yoga exercises.

Among all the mats available in the market, cotton mats are the most popular ones. Before buying yoga mats we should keep few things in mind. Are the mats serving the purpose for which they are bought? Are they easy to maintain? What is the life span of these mats? etc. Cotton mats have many advantages over the others. They are extra soft and thick. They provide a perfect non-slip surface, which helps in doing yoga without the fear of getting hurt. These provide a nice padding around the knees and ankles for the yoga exercises. These are durable, portable, easy to maintain, washable and very light in weight. They can be folded or rolled and stored conveniently in any corner of your house. Beautiful mat bags are also available to carry them to where ever you go. They are comparatively inexpensive, so easy on your pocket. These are available in different shapes and sizes and in a wide range of bright colours and pastel shades. It soaks sweat so your grip remains same on the mat so it keeps you from slipping even when you perspire. They are non-toxic and eco friendly. What more you can even enjoy a nap on it!!

To practise yoga in a safe and convenient way one should think of all the advantages and disadvantages of different types of mats available and then buy what is most suitable. With the long list of advantages, the cotton mats definitely have an edge above the others.

Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.

One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.cottonyogamat.org

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Yoga 5 Vital Steps to Have a Smooth Pregnancy

A smooth pregnancy is all woman dreams of. They don't want to experience hard labor when in childbirth, morning sickness and other things. With the help of Yoga Practice, they could have a smooth pregnancy. There are Yoga 5 Vital Steps for Pregnancy - if you practice it daily, it will greatly help you during and after pregnancy.

1. Yoga Exercises - When we are pregnant, we still need to exercise our body. Yoga is the best exercise for women that are pregnant. By doing Yoga Asanas, it will effect your pelvis and other reproductive organs to ensure you to have a smooth pregnancy. It can also help in childbirth, so you wont be having a hard labor.

2. Breathing / Pranayama - Yoga breathing techniques are essential in your yoga practice. This breathing will make sure that your body and your child will be receiving the oxygen supply needed.

3. Meditation - Meditation is one of the step for doing Yoga. So it is important to do this when you are pregnant. This will help you to ease your mind, and also help you to relief from fears, conflicts and neuroses. Because those are commonly happening during pregnancy. And although this seems impossible to be said, a lot of people says that, it also increase your incredible awareness, it says it could help you to connect yourself to your child.

4. Mudras and Bandhas - This is the practice of doing a hand gestures. There are a lot types of mudras in Yoga. It has a lot of effect on the reproductive organs.

5. Deep Relaxation - This deep relaxation is also called Yoga Nidra / Yogic Sleep. This relaxation will help you a lot to make your physical and mental to be relaxed. It also help you with the preparation for the childbirth.

Above are the steps that you need to have a smooth pregnancy. You must do those steps routinely to receive the benefits of Yoga.

Now, You see that Yoga is helpful to pregnant woman. Pregnancy Yoga is advised to pregnant woman. It is good to do Yoga for pregnancy, as long as you have the right guidance.

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Yoga - Reap The Benefits Of Yoga Asanas By Performing Various Yoga Positions

As we all know, yoga is a group of ancient spiritual practices, which has shown a tremendous growth in generating awareness among the people all across the globe, regarding their physical fitness since last few decades.

Yoga is not only confined to the various aspects of physical fitness, rather it also enables to achieve the state of mental balance as well as enlightenment which will further lead to the betterment of the life.

The various types of yoga positions are the simple movements which are capable of being performed by the normal individual simply. But in order to obtain the best outcomes, the mind and body should work in accordance to each other. Therefore, all the movements should be performed gradually, amiably, and with an ease.

A) Yoga Positions (Asanas)

It has been found after undergoing various researches that the yoga positions are considered as the best practices for the toning up of muscles, lubrication of the joints, and massaging of the body as compared to other exercises.

Not only this, these positions enable each nerve inside the body, glands, ligaments, and muscles to exercise. Therefore, it is apt to say that the performing yoga asanas is the most outstanding method of self care.

B) Various types of yoga positions

Standing Yoga Asanas; One of the most effective standing yoga position is Tadasana, which deliver flexibility and pliableness to the joints and muscles in case of physical and mental stress.

a) Forward Bending

Paschimotanasana is one of the forward bending asanas, which is accompanied by the gradual stretching of the body for the extension of back portion of the spine so as to deliver elasticity which will further impart flexibility to the limbs.

b) Back Bending

Bhujangasana is a type of back bending asana, which extends the front portion of the spine. Therefore, the combination of Bhujangasana and the Paschimotanasana results in obtaining nimbleness for the body.

c) Matsyendrasana

The combination of Matsyendrasana with the Paschimotanasana and Bhujangasana delivers buoyancy to the spirit as well as a whole arrange of new bodily movements.

d) Adho Mukhavasana

Adho Mukhavasana is an inverted position which strives against the stresses of day-to-day life.

e) Padmasana, Vajrasana, & Simhasana

These three asanas are the sitting yoga positions, which enable the body to maintain upright position by correcting the defective posture as well as to help in toning up of the muscles.

f) Marichyasana

Marichyasana focuses over the abdominal and lumbar regions due to which it maintains the good functional state of various abdominal organs and results in the massaging and toning up of the pelvic and lumbar areas.

g) Sirsasana & Sarvangasana

These two positions play a significant role in making the forelimbs strong.

Therefore, it has been found that by going through various types of yoga positions, you can easily keep yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually fit. But, it is always recommended to avoid performing all the yoga asanas at one go, as this may lead to various severe outcomes instead of benefits. Therefore, you should always practice different types of positions each day for a variety.

By: Bertil Hjert

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Significance Of Yoga Clothes

Likewise other programs of physical fitness, yoga do require special type of clothing which should meet its physical demands. It has been found that wearing of proper type of yoga clothes has always come up with best results, as it enables the person to concentrate more on his asanas (positions) instead of his apparels.

The most important factor which plays a significant role while looking for the yoga clothes is their comfort. As, this very factor enables the performer to make free movements of all the parts of his body while performing various types of yoga asanas.

Yoga has gained tremendous popularity since last few decades, therefore an extensive range of yoga clothes has come up in the markets of sporting goods.

A) Tips to be considered while choosing yoga clothes

The followings are the main tips which should always be kept into consideration while choosing the yoga clothes:

a) It is always recommended to opt for the yoga clothes that are composed of the fibers of cotton as well as of spandex. This is so because such types of clothes deliver an excellent flexibility in order to enable you to make various movements of the different types of asanas with an ease.

b) You should always go for the lightweight yoga clothes which should be sweat absorbent so that they should enable you to stay cool and fresh in the case of profuse sweating instead of making you to feel sticky and moist while performing your asanas.

c) It is also advisable to opt for the right fit yoga clothes according to the frame of your body instead of choosing the tight or loose apparels, as they will not deliver you comfort while practicing yoga.

B) Different types of yoga clothing

With the increased demand of yoga clothing due to a tremendous hiking up of the interest of yoga among the people, the markets of sporting goods have come up with an exclusive range of yoga clothing to meet the requirements of every individual.

a) Yoga Shirts

The yoga shirts are available in a wide variety of materials including cotton, fleece, lycra, and wool. Therefore, you can opt for any of them depending upon your comfortability and flexibility.

b) Yoga Pants

Yoga pants are one of the best apparels for yoga, as they are extremely comfortable for not only practicing yoga but also for other activities like the martial arts, Pilates, aerobic, or dance. They are available in different types of materials including cotton, fleece, lycra, and wool and that too in a wide range of colors to meet your taste.

c) Unitard

Unitard is a one-piece garment which proffers proper coverage, support and comfort while practicing various yoga asanas. It is one of the most lightweight apparels, which is composed of organic fibers of cotton/spandex. It comprises of double-layered panels at its front and back along with single-layer arms and legs. The most fascinating thing about the Unitards is that they are available in an extensive range of colors and sizes.

Therefore, the comfort and functionality of your yoga apparels play a vital role in enhancing the experience of your yoga practice.

By: Bertil Hjert

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Office Yoga - An Easy Way to Keep Fatigue at Bay

Office yoga is the latest craze among people who spend 8 -12 hours every day in front of a PC. It is nothing but a simplified form of a few yogic postures. Working on a PC takes its toll on your health. Apart from constant strain on your eyes, you also get neck pain and numbness in fingers.

Office yoga is just a way to avoid some of modern lifestyle diseases like stiffness in back and neck. Simply exercising your wrist and fingers at regular intervals may keep numbness in fingers at bay. The simple techniques involves standing on your feet and stretching your arms in front of your chest at shoulder lever horizontal to the floor and move your wrist upwards and downward . Try to touch your forearms though it is not possible it stretches the upper wrist therefore keeps them fit .This exercise can be done either with clenched fist or loose fingers.

Second most important part to be effected by the PC screen is your eyes. Do not keep looking at the monitor continuously. At regular intervals move your eyes from the screen and try to focus on something at a distance. Rotating your eyes in clockwise and anticlockwise direction is a good exercise for your eyes. Care should be taken to let the eyes relax for a minute before resuming work. Office yoga can be performed easily if you have enough space behind your seat. Simply stretch your back as much as possible to keep your spine flexible. The more flexible is your back the healthier you feel.

No matter what your desk set up is, you can always perform office yoga if you take it seriously. If your desk has no space you can always take a few minutes break or use some yoga kits and accessories which are available at throwaway prices.

Sansad C. Jha tries to give you some tips to use office environment for good health. read more forplease visit: http://views4all.info/category/health-and-fitness/ for more articles on yoga

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Derive The Most Out Of Various Yoga Asanas With The Help Of Yoga Accessories

The markets of sporting goods are equipped with a comprehensive range of yoga accessories, which enable you to practice your yoga asanas in a more comfortable manner which will further lead to derive maximum out of them.

But it is not necessary to purchase all of the accessories, rather it is recommended to opt for the necessary ones. Unlike other sports, yoga does not require different types of expensive accessories rather the only major equipment required by it is your “BODY”.

The yoga accessories play a significant role in making you to perform various yoga asanas safely, as they may prevent you from unexpected slips and slides while practicing them.

- Different types of yoga accessories:

The followings are the different types of yoga accessories, which will enable you to perform yoga in a more comfortable manner, but as discussed earlier, it is not necessary to have all of them.

a) Yoga Books

b) There is a wide range of yoga books which are considered as the perfect yoga accessories in guiding the practitioners while performing yoga.

c) Yoga Apparels

One of the most common yoga accessories is the yoga clothing which plays a significant role in the world of yoga. It is always recommended to opt for the comfortable pair of yoga apparels so as to enable free movements of your body while performing different types of yoga asanas. The various types of yoga apparels include yoga pants, T-shirts, yoga shorts, etc.

d) Blankets

There are different types of blankets available in the market which can be placed on the floor to proffer comfortability to every part of the body.

e) Benches

There are various benches available along with the cushions on their back in order to deliver comfort and relaxation while meditating. Not only this, they also proffer an excellent support to the body while performing any stretching or deep breathing asanas.

f) Straps

These yoga straps are used for yoga stretches so as to enable the performers to maintain a particular position for longer hours in order to obtain the best results.

g) Sandbags

The sandbags are generally used during the yoga asanas in order to enable the toning up of the muscles at a faster rate.

h) Yoga Balls

The yoga balls are used for various yoga exercise programs.

i) Yoga Bag

The yoga bags are especially equipped with an adequate amount of space so as to carry the various types of yoga accessories to the yoga class.

j) Yoga Mats

The yoga mats act as the center stage for all types of yoga exercises and meditations. They also enable the body to perform various asanas at an ease. They also prevent unexpected slipping and sliding of the performer while practicing.

k) Yoga DVD’s

There are different types of Yoga DVD’s available in the market, which generally guide you while practicing yoga exercises when you want to perform yoga at your own place. Basically, they act as the yoga teachers.

Though, the purchase of all these accessories is not necessary, but they are considered as the useful items in order to perform the yoga asanas at an ease and with comfortability.

By: Bertil Hjert

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Guidance Towards Better Living With The Help Of Yoga Videos

As we all know that in today’s scenario of busy and fast lifestyle, everyone wants to pacify himself in order as to attain peace and comfort. Also, yoga is one of the best ways to achieve relaxation, but in today’s hectic lifestyle, people hardly get any time to attend the yoga classes on daily basis.

To overcome such a problem, they can purchase the yoga video or DVDs which will guide them step-by-step to perform different types of yoga asanas (positions).

There are different types of these including yoga structure to have good health, yoga for the beginners, basic yoga, yoga to cure various disease, etc. which can be used for different purposes depending upon the requirements of the different people.

The yoga videos and DVDs are considered as the easiest ways of learning and performing yoga at one’s own place so as to remain fit and healthy even in today’s hodgepodge lifestyle.

A) How The Use Is Advantageous:

They have been proved to be advantageous in the following manner:

1) They proffer an extensive range of variety so as to make you to enjoy the fun of performing different types of yoga asanas every time you begin your practice.

2) The most fascinating features is that they are time efficient, as they help in saving the time up to hours, which generally gets consumed on visiting the yoga centers.

3) They are more convenient as compared to other ways, because they are always ready to fit according to your schedule so as to guide you anytime whenever you want to begin the practice.

4) Another most interesting thing about these video is that you can enjoy the thrill of learning various yoga exercises with the renowned teachers.

5) From the wide range you can choose any of the videos meeting your requirements. For e.g. you can choose the video proffering yoga exercises on stress reduction, to build your upper body, etc.

6) There is also a provision of modifying various yoga postures so as to meet the physical requirements of the body in case of any injury or any such physical challenge.

Therefore, the different types enable you to enjoy the fun of practicing various yoga positions in a very comfortable manner and also add breadth to your practice.

B) Tips to be considered

The followings are the few tips which should always be taken into consideration while practicing yoga asanas at your own place under the guidance of yoga videos and DVDs and to extract maximum benefits out of them.

a) The very first thing requires to observe the entire video thoroughly so as to get an idea of how to perform it in a more appropriate manner. Also you will get an idea of various types of accessories including mats, pillows, lifts, straps, chairs, etc that are required while practicing yoga.

b) Before beginning your yoga practice, it is recommended to clear a plenty of space in front of your television so as to allow free movements of your body.

c) It is also advisable to keep the remote of your video player in your hands so that you can easily pause or stop it in between while trying the different yoga postures. This will enable you understand each asana gradually and properly.

By: Bertil Hjert

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Enjoy The Thrill Of Different Poses Of Yoga Workout

As we all know, yoga has gained tremendous popularity since last few decades. The different types of postures of yoga have helped many people to promote healthy mind, body, and soul. It has been proved as an excellent means of relaxation, which proffers a sense of inner peace and balance.

As per the various studies, it has been found that yoga has been proved fruitful in controlling various disorders including anxiety, asthma, arthritis pain, low blood pressure, back pain, chronic fatigue, stresses, diabetes, headaches, etc.

Not only this, yoga enhances the flexibility, stamina, and strength of the body by toning up the muscles. Therefore, yoga has blessed the humankind with endless benefits.

A) Different poses of yoga workout

The following are the few poses of yoga workout, which have always benefited in achieving the state of physical and mental balance.

a) Mountain Tilt

While performing Mountain Tilt, you have to stand with your arms on your sides and feet hip-width apart. Make sure to have the toes facing forward. Now slightly raise your arms up above your head with the finger pointing upwards. Then, start bending sideways at the waist on your left. Hold your body in this position for few seconds and restore the original position. Now repeat the same for the right hand side. Perform it for 3-5 times for better results.

b) Torso Stretch

In Torso Stretch, you have to lie on your belly with the hands lying flat on the floor close to your chest. Now, slowly lift the upper portion of your body by pressing the tops of your feet and shins over the floor. Then, start pressing your hands into the floor followed by the straightening of your arms. Hold this position for 40 seconds.

c) Bending Forward Pose

Stretch your legs straight in front while sitting and point your toes. Now, breathe in and start stretching your toes and finger tips slowly while maintaining your body in a long and extended position. Then, try to hold this position for 30 seconds and start breathing normally. Restore the original position and repeat it for 3-5 times.

d) Locust Pose

It involves the lying of your stomach and chin on the floor with your arms extended in front. Now slowly, start lifting your arms, chest, head, legs, and feet off the floor along with inhalation. Hold this position for 3 seconds and restore the original position gradually. Repeat it for 5 times to obtain best results.

B) Tips to be considered while practicing yoga

The following are the certain tips which should always be considered while practicing yoga exercises.

a) It is always recommended to perform the actions in a slow and controlled manner while practicing yoga, as this will always result in more effective outcomes.

b) The process of breathing plays a significant role in practicing yoga exercises. Therefore, it is always advisable to go for deep inhalations and exhalations which will further enable your muscles to be stretched deeply. Not only this, breathing also stabilizes and strengthens your body for other bodily movements.

c) Last but not the least tip is to concentrate on maintaining the mind-body connection while performing yoga asanas.

By: Bertil Hjert

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Stressed and Tired? Five Easy Exercises You Can Do to Handle Stress and Boost Your Energy at Work

Are you experiencing stress at work? Do you work long demanding hours in an effort to try and keep up with the constant demands on your time? How often do you arrive early at work to try and catch-up from the previous day's work, yet still struggle to find the time to meet deadlines and finish reports on time? Have you ever skipped lunch at work in an attempt to complete projects with over- tight deadlines?

As a Yoga Teacher, I see many students suffer from the physical effects of stress, for example, high blood pressure, tense shoulders, sore neck, low back pain, and poor posture and migraine headaches. Many students find relief from these stress-related aches and pains when they practice yoga.

On an emotional level, constant exposure to stress at work affects your personal relationships. When you come home from work, you may be short-tempered and ratty with your partner or children. You want to spend time listening to their day yet you are pre-occupied with thoughts about unfinished work matters and demands. If this continues, you may start to drift apart from your partner and lose touch with what is going on in your children's day to day life. All of this adds to your stress!

Learning how to relax, let-go of stress and regain your perspective is vital to help you manage your home-work life successfully.

Many of the students I teach yoga say that practicing yoga has given them "inner strength", a "sense of balance" and "inner peace." This helps to enhance the quality of their personal relationships and stay focused and productive at work.

Five Easy Exercises You Can Do To Handle Stress And Boost Your Energy At Work

The practice of yoga, with its wider emphasis on correct breathing, body awareness and alignment techniques, positive thinking and relaxation techniques offer you easy ways to manage stress and boost your energy at work.

One: Sit comfortably on a chair, rest your hands on your thighs, uncross your ankles, place your feet apart flat on the floor and close your eyes. Breathe in slowly and deeply, through your nose, for a count of three and slowly breathe out for a count of three. As you breathe in and out be aware of the rise and fall of your abdomen. Repeat 5 -7 times. Slowly open your eyes and take time to re-engage with your day.

Two: 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.

Three: Sitting in your chair, lower your head to your chest, breath in as you lift your head to look forward, and then breathe out as you lower your head backwards. Repeat 3 - 7 times.

Four: Keeping your head erect, turn your head to look to the right, back to the centre, then all the way to the left. Repeat 3-7 times each direction. Taking time to breathe slowly and deeply with each movement

Five: Finally, link your fingers together and stretch your arms high above your head. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply for 3 - 5 times. Lower arms. Repeat 3 - 5 times.

Next time you feel stressed, demoralized and tired at work, try these five easy stress relaxation techniques to calm your mind and release tension from your body. You will feel energized, re-focused and stress-free.

Ntathu Allen, Yoga Teacher, teaches professionals simple yga stretches and meditation to manage stress at work , improve creativity and strengthen relationships at work and at home. Contact Ntathu for your free monthly Yoga and Polarity Enewsletter - Healing for the Soul. Email :ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk: http://www.yogainspires.co.uk phone: 07973 777 882

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Cotton Yoga Mats - Towards a Fitter You, Towards a Safer World

Life is best led naturally. Yoga is certainly no different. Finally yoga is the art, which teaches you to connect you with your innate most natural self. It's not for nothing, that for generations now, yoga practitioners have preferred to choose the organic cotton mat to perform yogasanas over the artificial options.

But over the last few years the humble cotton mattress has seen competition heat up from other varieties of yoga mats. Mats have evolved over the years, in the same way yoga has over the years. Yoga mats are now made with specific materials suited for a particular brand of yoga. But despite such competition, the cotton Yoga mat has held itself in good stead.

You simply cannot ignore the fact that it's organic. Over a period of time mattresses made of foam or other artificial substances like plastic are known to have resulted in allergies afflicted by the yoga practitioners due to the exposure of naked skin to the mats for long durations. Cotton poses no such problem vis a vis irritations or allergies as it is blessed with a much larger quotient of body tolerance.

Cotton yoga mats have also been a favourite with yoga practitioners because it tends to retain a lot of sweat and arrests any possibilities of slipping. Chances of mishaps during a particularly strenuous asana performed on an artificial mat are slightly enhanced, because the sweat tends to stick to the surface resulting in lubrication. Unlike foam, which is likely to slip on smooth surface, a cotton mat on the other hand rather clings to it. In fact if you sprinkle some water onto the cotton yoga mat before you start your yoga session it would do wonders to the grip too.

There is yet another practical reason why a simple cotton mat wins our vote. Cotton yoga mats are cheaper to purchase or order as compared to artificial mats. Its nothing fancy, just a pack of compact cotton layers, evenly packed and covered in a sewn cotton jacket.
Sure you'd say so what do you do with all the sweat trapped in the cotton yoga mat? Sweat runs right off plastic, foam yoga mats, aren't there chances of catching some kind of an infection with all that sweat trapped inside the cotton?

But here's what makes a cotton yoga mat special. All you have got to do is wash it. If you have a washing machine just rinse it in tepid water, because hot water would shirk the cotton fiber and make your mattress look lumpy. If you don't have a washing machine, just dip it in a tub filled with tepid water and wash it, as simple as it comes.

Finally, if you are into yoga to get yourself as fit as a fiddle. Go organic, use a cotton yoga mat, which is biodegradable. Help the world get fitter too.

Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.

One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.cottonyogamat.org

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Yoga Made Easy - Using Body Toning Exercises to Reduce Stress

When people think of yoga they often think of a form of meditation that is used to relieve stress and lessen anxiety. The slow movement of the exercises and the deep breathing used are relaxing and meditative. The practice of yoga is often used as physical and mental therapy because of the benefits in both of these areas of life. It can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or health.

However, practicing yoga isn't just a way to reduce stress. The postures are body toning exercises that have the added benefit of helping reduce stress.

The postures of yoga exercises are what create the physical change in you. By practicing yoga you can increase your strength and flexibility, improve your stamina, and boost your energy. And by practicing yoga regularly, just as any body toning exercise, you lose weight and gain muscle tone. Some yoga poses even help improve metabolism, making it easier to burn calories. Some additional physical benefits of yoga include cardiovascular efficiency, improved balance, improved dexterity, and increased breath-holding time.

"Yoga" means "union," and the practice of yoga seeks to strengthen the union between mind, body, and spirit. This union is achieved through postures (the yoga positions), proper breathing, and meditation. These three aspects combine to bring your mind, body, and spirit into balance, which improves overall health.

To many, the emotional benefits of yoga are just as important as the physical benefits. In fact, the emotional and mental benefits of the body toning exercises are the reason many begin practicing yoga in the first place. In the body toning exercises of yoga breathing and meditation are important, which have a calming effect on the mind, bringing a sense of mental and emotional balance. The meditation allows you to mentally work through sources of stress to be able to overcome the feeling, or to put it out of your mind during the exercises to feel relief during the yoga.

The body toning exercises used in the practice of yoga are beneficial not only for the physical body by improving muscle tone, increasing flexibility, and helping you lose weight, but yoga is also beneficial to your mental and emotional well being. The deep breathing and meditation used in yoga relieve stress, and improve overall mental and emotional health. So whether you practice yoga for the body toning exercises or for the mental and emotional benefits, it is a form of exercise that can appeal to anyone.

Brian Jenkins is a nutrition expert and writer and assists clients with healthy weight loss regiments, including body toning exercises.

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

The Many Benefits Of Yoga For Children In Schools

Most school teachers these days may not even be aware of the proven benefits of yoga in the classroom. Yoga for children in schools has been a godsend for some teachers who have decided they need a new way to help kids get calm, focused, and ready to learn--not to mention teach them the importance of proper breathing and physical exercise. As a public school teacher myself, I have taught grades 3-6, and all four of these grade levels absolutely love the times set aside for yoga in the classroom. We don't get too involved in in-depth routines and poses, but rather, just some simple breathing techniques and energizing movements and stances.

Yoga helps me to guide my students in a number of ways--it decreases hyperactivity, lowers test-time anxiety, helps students regain focus, supports a healthy lifestyle, builds character and confidence, and last but not least, supports a readiness and willingness to learn. I have no doubt in my mind that many teachers would welcome all of these things in their classrooms, not only to facilitate the learning process, but to aid in the teaching process as well. I don't just do yoga in the classroom for my kids--I do it for me, as well. In my personal yoga practice, I've experienced a calmness of mind and spirit, a sense of harmony with my universe, and of course, an increase in flexibility and endurance. Knowing that I am passing these things along to my kids is gratifying in so many ways.

Each day, when the time is right at school, I ask the students to stand up by their desks, straighten their spines, and bring one leg up so that their foot is resting on their other thigh. "This is your graceful tree pose," I tell them. "Now raise your arms high into the air--these are your branches swaying in the breeze." After a few moments, I have then repeat the pose using their other leg. Usually after we've done this a couple of times, they are calm, focused, and poised for learning. This particular activity is perfect for those times after lunch and recess when it's most difficult to get students calmed down and regain their attention.

It is so important for me and for my students that we do a little yoga in the classroom every single day, which is why, when I know I'm going to be out, I leave a kids yoga dvd for the sub, so the students aren't missing out. It's unfortunate that, for many kids, the only physical activity they get is at school. Many parents let their kids rot in front of the television or computer, without even encouraging them to get outside to run around and play. I feel like it's my job to allow time for yoga for children--that way, in addition to their PE classes and recess time, they're getting the opportunity to learn about different styles of exercise. My only hope is that they will love these practices enough to continue to cultivate them as they grow older.

By: David Tang

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Read Yoga Books For Wellness

Books have been considered as one of the best sources of knowledge in every possible field. Books can be a man's best friend, when there are no mentors or teachers showing the right path. There are different types of books available in the market on topics like cookery, fashion, general knowledge and even yoga. Yoga, a scientifically proven method for controlling the heart, mind, and body, has become very popular. It is like a practical science, which not only treats various ailments in the human body, but also prepares it for leading a healthy life. Since it is difficult to have a trained yoga teacher's supervision all the time, yoga books can be of great help due to their value and content.

Whether you do the simple pranayam practice or raja and hath yoga, authors of yoga books try to provide as much practical and relevant information as possible. Yoga being a practical science, it requires a lot of research before the constituents are compiled into a book. One feature that is very essential in any yoga book is relevance. The author's ability for conveying the essence of yoga in the book is also one of the main pre-requisites.

Aasans, different body postures having different impact on general health, are the most important part of yoga. Every book must cover this part and this is the reason why you will find a lot of diagrams, illustrations and pictures along with simple interpretations. Pranayam, distinct breathing exercises are also essential in yoga. Also, make sure that the author of the yoga book has put the impact and significance of respiratory exercises in detail.

You must be aware of the fact that yoga is an ancient medical practical science and this is why the important chronicles were written in the Sanskrit language. This is a complicated and tough language to understand and in today's yoga books you will find few concepts and theories mentioned in Sanskrit. A good yoga book author will elaborate every concept in detail, so that the readers benefit from it. You can determine the success of a book on the basis of communicability of the content. Even the practicability of the theories is very important.

Yoga books basically consist of content that an interested person would like to know. From different body postures to ways of treating particular ailments, yoga books can teach you a lot. They also describe how a particular posture can help you solve a problem and tone up your body. Yoga has been considered an effective method for achieving nirvana too. It is like a cord between cosmic consciousness and individuals.

By: Victor Epand

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