.
YOGA IS INDIAN BLESSING FOR
THE WORLD. IT IS MOST RELEVENT IN TODAYS WORLD FILLED WITH STRESS FOR ALL-
RIGHT FROM AN UNBORN CHILD TO THE PERSON BREATHING LAST BREATH. NOBODY CAN ESCAPE IT. SO WE MIGHT AS WELL
FACE IT WITH THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE- YoGA . KNOW HOW TO DO IT. FACE THE STRESS, DEPRESSION, EATING DISORDERS, LOW BLOOD PRESSURE, MIDLIFE
BULGE, BACK PAIN, INSOMNIA, ARTHTRITIES IN YOGIC WAYS. SET OUT TO ACHIEVE WHAT
WE ALL WANT TO ACHIEVE- HAPPINESS, STRESSFREE LIFE, PEACE AND FINALLY ENLIGHTENMENT.
1 Yoga Promotes A Healthier Life
What goes on in the body when you are doing your asanas?
Most of us realize that yoga increases and maintains flexibility, strengthens
muscles and increases one's stamina. All forms of yoga invite the participant
to attend to their breath and notice the inward quieting. Most individuals who
participate sense a uniqueness in this movement form.
Many of us are satisfied with just sensing this, leaving an explanation of how
it affects our bodies and spirit to the realm of the mystical.
Those who seek to understand how things work ask: What effect does yoga have on
one's physicality?
When one assumes and holds a yoga posture, this act of stretching and bending
at the joints facilitates feedback to the central nervous system. This is done
by means of beds of proprioceptive nerve endings
located within the joints and muscles. Proprioceptors
provide information about position, direction and rate of movement as well as
the amount of muscle tension in a locality.Yoga
causes the central nervous system to respond with appropriate self-regulatory
measures by promoting proper bio- mechanical use.
Self-regulation and self-healing are the physiological responses of the living
body. The central nervous system takes the input from the proprioceptive
nerve endings and by relaxing and tightening muscles in an organized fashion
allows one to hold that posture. Changing balance of any one portion of the
spine requires compensatory adjustments throughout it. Muscles respond
automatically to stimuli from the nervous system which controls and integrates
the activity of the whole body.
Flexibility means
proper and full range of motion within the joints of the body.
This is brought about by the coordination of muscle tension and muscle
relaxation via the nervous system.
Slowly moving into a proper postural stance and holding it provides for proprioceptive feedback that allows the nervous system to
coordinate muscle action. Stretching slowly protects muscle fibers and their
tendons from strain while resistance set up by holding the posture increases
muscle strength. Improved muscle strength and stretch provides stability,
flexibility and protection to the joints.
Stimulating the proprioceptive
system or massaging the nervous system is but one of yoga's benefits. The
encouragement and development of proper structural alignment reduces strain on
muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Proper alignment allows for better functioning
of the organ systems.
Structure determines function. If body cavities are
distorted, so too are the contents within. Distortion caused by poor
posture changes the relationship of tissues within organs, leading to the
malfunctioning of the system. Stress, a product of the distortion, reduces
circulation throughout the area.
By improving posture, yoga supports the proper functioning of internal organs
by maintaining structural integrity of these systems. Proper position and
relaxation of tension improves circulation. Nutrition to the whole system is
encouraged by the fluctuating internal pressures generated by the different asanas. This fluctuation in pressure enhances cellular diffusion
and osmosis.
Simply, motion is life! By moving us through bio-mechanically sound postures,
yoga promotes a healthier life. To say that yoga only affects us physically
would be denying the larger reality of our existence. However, it is the profound
effect that it has on our physicality which frees us to experience the depths
of our existence.
About the Author: Visit http://www.yogasmile.com
with your host, Sintilia Miecevole
and explore the world of yoga and related subjects such as breathing and
meditation. You'll find information from beginner, certification, equipment,
instruction, techniques and weight loss to pilates, apparel, postures, exercise, poses and much
more. Visit http://www.yogasmile.com
2 The Healing Powers of Yoga
There are several medical conditions that can be improved by practicing yoga.
It can be used to lessen the negative effects of infertility, lung disease,
Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, cancer, high blood pressure,
and joint pain. The beneficial effects of yoga practices are well recognized not
only by the yoga community but also by medical doctors.
One of the main elements that lead to an illness is stress. Being responsible
for a huge number of sicknesses, this item, which we develop in our minds, can
be reduced through a good usage of yoga techniques. Here are just some of the
problems that are related to an over active stress response: depression,
anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, some types of diabetes mellitus,
cardio-vascular disease, several autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome,
colitis, reproductive problems, and an aggravated suppression of the immune
system.
The response of the sympathetic nervous system can trigger stress in our
metabolism. The reaction to various outside stimuli is also known as the “fight
or flight” response – the mind and body, faced with an endangering or
disturbing element, prepare for one of the two options. Physically, this is
manifested through an instantaneous heart rate increase, together with a high
ascent of blood pressure. Breathing gets shallow and the muscles tense in
anticipation to the following action. Internally, this response reduces the
blood flow to internal organs and processes that are not essential in that
particular moment (such as digestion and elimination) are shut down. This state
of increased awareness and readiness is beneficial on a short term, preparing
our body to react to the outside interventions and stimuli. Both in a “fight”
and in a “flight” situation, the body is physically and mentally prepared to
act. The problem arises when long-term exposure to similar stress takes place.
This “fight or flight” response is only meant to help on short periods of time
– the longer it is activated the less resources will the body have to function normally.
There is a natural countermeasure for the “fight or flight” response. It is
called the parasympathetic nervous system or the “relaxation response.” It is
automatically activated when the elements that caused the stress are gone but
it is also possible to increase its effects by breathing deeply and relaxing
your muscles. By increasing the length of this process we allow our body to
recover faster, enabling it to eliminate the harmful effects of stress in a
prompt and efficient manner.
Yoga highlights the idea that by using breathing and relaxation techniques you
can reduce the harmful effects of stress factors on your body. A lessened
“fight or flight” response can also be achieved by looking at adverse factors
as challenges rather than threats. This approach allows your mind to focus on
finding a solution, rather than creating an abrupt response. Another concept
employed by this technique is that of acting versus reacting, of taking
initiative versus responding to outside factors.
The positive effects of yoga during a healing process are undeniable. However,
these techniques should only be used as a form of support and the healing
shouldn’t rely solely on them. The best results are achieved by combining yoga
with traditional and modern medicine and by addressing a problem both from a
mental and physical point of view.
To learn more how to improve yourself visit the http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com
site.
Help Yourself While Helping Others In Need. 10% Of All Proceeds Are Donated To Help Support The National Children’s Cancer Society.
About the Author
Willie Krut is
the core provider of a selection of self help products that truly help people
to improve their life, health and career. Subscribe to the free Willie's
Newsletter, visit the http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com
site.
3 Yoga For
The Beginner
One of the amazing things about yoga is that despite the great benefits that it
produces, it requires no costs. There is not specific yoga training equipment
that one has to use in order to obtain the desired results and there is no such
thing as the perfect environment required for practicing yoga.
All this is a direct consequence of the fact that yoga is, more than a
practice, a state of mind and a life style. That is why your will, as well as
your believes and attitudes towards this philosophical path are all that
actually matter. Moreover, a balanced and healthy diet, based on natural food,
is a key issue for preparing yourself for your first yoga session. What we eat
can strongly affect both our mind and our soul, so it is crucial to mind what
we eat.
Even though you do not need a specially designed place for performing your yoga
class, make sure, when electing the room where you will be holding the class,
to choose a place as far away from distractions - such as radio, street noise,
TV - as possible. The place also needs to be clean and quite and, if possible,
ventilated. A blanket is the accessory that you absolutely need in order to
gain comfort when carrying out the exercises and the meditation, as they are performed
in either sitting or lying positions, but, however, a towel or a mat, could
work, as well.
In what concerns the clothes you are supposed to wear, try to select something
very comfortable and loose, such as training suits, sweat pants and a t-shirt,
shorts or loose pajamas. Some people would rather wear no clothes at all, but,
nevertheless, most practitioners put something on, especially if the yoga
session is not private.
It is also highly recommended to have an empty stomach, before starting your
yoga exercises. As a general rule, one or two hours after a main meal is the ideal time for practicing yoga. As breathing is a key
element in yoga training, do not forget to also clean your nostrils and your
throat.
In case you have not decided which could represent the best moment of the day
for carrying out your yoga session, you have to know that both morning and
evening practices can result very beneficial to your body and mind. Thus,
performing the exercises in the morning can contribute to your good shape for
the whole day, as it improves your vitality level. On the other hand, evening
yoga practices helps inducing a restful and peaceful sleep.
Your yoga session should not exhaust you. Do not hesitate to take a break, when
you feel tired. Actually, short breaks are common, between difficult exercises.
Keep in mind that as little as 15 minutes of correct yoga practice can produce
marvelous results on your body and mind.
As a final idea, try to remember that the most important thing, when practicing
yoga, is your attitude and your desire to discover the incredible sensations
and experiences this ancient philosophy can provide.
About the Author: Sandra is a
certified Yoga instructor who teaches 6 classes in the greater
4 Yoga Meditation For Pain Relief
The purpose
of this article is to provide information on methods and techniques on how to
cope with pain, or in some instances, possibly even overcoming pain with the
use of techniques derived from Yoga meditation.
Chronic pain sufferers spend millions of dollars to find ways of relieving
their pain. This article hopes to share a process that is natural, and free.
Meditation: The Most Popular Alternative Pain Relief Therapy
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association,
mind-body medicine is the most popular alternative approach for people in pain.
And at the heart of mind-body medicine lies the age-old practice of meditation;
a quiet, simple technique that belies an extraordinary power that has
scientifically been proven to boost disease resistance and maintain overall
health.
For many people who suffer from chronic pain, spending quiet time in meditation
has proven to be the first step in learning how to cope with their pain. Over
the years, thousands of individuals have sought help at stress reduction
clinics that teach meditation techniques to people with pain. Their symptoms
vary -from headaches, arthritis, and back pain to anxiety, eczema, and many
other conditions- but their stories are remarkably similar: For
those seeking help in coping with their problems, meditation works.
How Pain Relief Is Attained Thru Meditation (Why Meditation Decreases Pain)
The human body can produce its own natural chemical self-stimulants called
endorphins. Among other things, this group of molecules alleviates stress,
reduces pain, and gives a feeling of pleasure.
During meditation, when the brain is in a highly synchronous and coherent state
(as measured by EEG brainwave biofeedback machines), it produces large
quantities of these pleasure-causing neuro-chemicals,
i.e., endorphins, making the whole experience pleasurable, giving an overall
feeling of well-being. Many report a feeling of peace, happiness,
connectedness, and a sense of wholeness when meditating.
Scientists have found that when the brain is stimulated by a pleasurable
experience, it is capable of overwhelming or inhibiting other stimuli. Thus,
pleasure can overcome depression or pain.
Yoga Meditation Methods For Coping With Or
Overcoming Pain
There are many meditation methods and techniques but they can generally be
divided into several categories listed below. You may experiment with each one,
and maybe even combine them to suit your needs. It all depends on what works
best for you. Meditation is a very flexible tool.
Category 1: Breathing
One of the first steps in meditation is being
aware of your breath. This method involves the use of specific breathing
patterns to bring about relaxation. Essentially, as you slow your breathing
rate, the body relaxes, and the mind calms down, as well. Based on my own
personal experience, the more relaxed you are, the less pain you will feel.
Category 2: Transformational Life View
Meditation does not only involve breathing awareness. Many meditation
traditions ask you to ponder on life-changing concepts such as what
reality is and who you really are. Understanding
your True Self, and experiencing your True Self directly thru meditation causes
practitioners to undergo a profound transformation of view. This
transformation of view leads them to a different way of looking at themselves,
namely from a perspective of wholeness. With this change of perspective, a new
and profound coming to terms with their problems and their suffering begins to
take place. From feeling out of control, helpless, and beyond help,
they develop a sense of inner peace and acceptance, and even a sense of the
possible, a feeling of calm confidence, and control. This attitudinal and
emotional transformation plays a major role towards better health and often
causes a reduction in physical symptoms and improvement in a person's physical
condition.
This transformational life view brings about an ability to act with greater
balance and inner security in the world, especially when encountering stress,
pain, or illness. This category includes the popular mindfulness
meditation which is used extensively by stress reduction clinics that have
helped thousands of chronic pain sufferers and people with illnesses.
Category 3: Visualization/ Imagery
Visualization or imagery is a commonly used technique to relieve anxiety and
pain. It involves imagining a pleasant and relaxing, or even exciting, place or
activity that has brought you happiness in the past or is appealing to you.
Mentally exploring this place or activity in great detail can help induce a
sense of calm.
Category 4: Prana/ Chi / Life Force
It is said that a life force flows through our bodies, invariably known as prana or chi, and that this energy flows through the body
within a psychic nervous system composed of subtle channels. There is an
intimate relationship between our mind and this subtle nervous system and we
can control or direct this energy for improved well-being, such as for pain
relief.
You can also visualize blue, white, or pink healing light having a positive effect
on the painful area.
Conclusion
These Yoga meditation techniques have been used for centuries for spiritual
purposes. However, they can also be used as natural pain relief
methods. By applying the meditation techniques specifically for pain control,
practitioners are able to have a positive effect on such severe kinds of pain.I hope these methods help those of you with chronic
pain so that you can use meditation to lead better lives.
***** Copyright (C), 2005 Raj Kenshin
Norbu *****
You are free to distribute or publish this article
provided you do not change any of the content, and/or delete my name and URL
from the article. Thank you!
About the Author
Raj K. Norbu is founder of a site that shows you how to experience your True Self thru Yoga meditation, enabling you to increase pain threshold and perform amazing feats. Ebooks available include The Yogic Method For Developing Supernormal Powers and The Ultimate Yoga Meditation Course. To know more, visit: http://www.PainRelief-Meditation-Yoga.com
5 Yoga Therapy for Eating Disorders
Over 10
million women and a million men are affected by different forms of eating
disorders in the
A calm and focused mind has a better chance of reducing the harmful effects of
eating disorders. Yoga has been proven to reduce depression and recreate a
state of balance and well being. Different yoga practices encourage heightened
levels of self esteem and promote a positive view of your own body. This is a
crucial factor in eating disorders and has been shown to significantly increase
recuperation and healing. By eliminating self judgment, yoga establishes a
strong connection between mind and body, allowing the two elements to work
together in decreasing any negative effects. Anorexia affects your body’s
energy levels and reduces the bone density, creating unwanted negative effects
at a physical level. Regular yoga practice also increase the overall fitness
level of the body, giving it a good chance of fighting against illnesses.
The yogic system identifies eating disorders as a problem related to the first
chakra and different poses are used to balance it: crab, full wind, pigeon,
locust, staff etc. Strengths and courage can be increased by using grounding
postures such as mountain, goddess, standing squat and prayer squat. The
postures reestablish the strong mind-body connections and help overcome most
physical obstacles. Most back bending poses help reduce depression and forward
bends usually calm the spirit and reduce the effects of anorexia.
As the mental
component plays an important role in eating disorders, meditation can reduce
harmful thoughts and feelings. An active, specifically targeted meditation
practice will prove to be very effective. Less obvious results can also be obtain by using a general mediation technique. The yoga
poses work best when the exterior elements are left aside and concentration
focuses on inner aspects of yourself. Paying special
attention to breathing and inner sensations will take you to a state of
calmness and increased awareness. This new state will allow you to go further an explore new concepts that will enable you to achieve
goals that proved problematic in the past.
Being aware
of the problem and showing a constant and strong desire to change that is a
great method to reduce the effects of bulimia and anorexia. An early adoption
of yoga practices would make the patient more aware of the problem, thus
contributing to an early cure. However, these yoga techniques are usually used
in the recuperative stages of the illness. Most people suffering from anorexia
or bulimia go through a strong denial stage, which aggravates their condition
even more. As with all illnesses, yoga works best in the prevention stage of
the problem, when the negative effects are still low and easier to eliminate.
To learn more how to improve yourself visit the http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com
site.
Help Yourself While Helping Others In Need. 10% Of All Proceeds Are Donated To Help Support The National Children’s Cancer Society.
About the Author
Willie Krut is the core provider of a selection of self help
products that truly help people to improve their life, health and career.
Subscribe to the free Willie's Newsletter, visit the http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com
site.
6 Yoga is a Safe Solution to Weight
Control
One more study tells the
world, that Yoga can help with weight control and weight loss. The latest study
was held by the
The study involved 15,500
healthy, middle-aged, men and women. This is a group that typically has
difficulty with weight loss, since the number of calories needed declines, and
the energy levels needed to burn calories, is not what it used to be.
Unfortunately, this is a
fact that I have become painfully aware of during the past few years, and
cutting back on food was my unwanted last option. Although, I cross train
almost daily, it took me one year to lose 16 pounds of extra weight.
Back to the study: Yoga
practice was defined as practicing at least 30 minutes once a week for four or
more years. Comparatively speaking, this is truly “bare minimum,” and many Yoga
teachers used to say that this amount of Yoga will do nothing.
How times change; Yoga has
been keeping people fit for approximately 5,000 years, and its many health
benefits are still a mystery worthy of more studies.
Alan R. Kristal,
Dr.P.H.,
the study's lead author at
Until all the studies are
in, it would be safe to say that adding Yoga practice to your weekly routine,
and eating wisely, will contribute to weight control or weight loss.
When seeking a Yoga
teacher, find one who is compassionate, yet will encourage you to practice more
frequently. The results you will gain from regular practice, of three to four
Yoga classes per week, will be extraordinary, especially, if you practice Yoga
for years.
Yoga is very low impact - in comparison to many aerobic exercise routines,
and can be practiced for longevity. Your knees, spine, hips, and shoulders,
will thank you for the condition Yoga will keep them in. Many of today’s
“standard” forms of exercise do not have the same “bragging rights,” as Yoga.
With respect to eating,
take the time to identify hunger and cravings. You will notice that they are
not the same thing. Being a chocolate lover, it is much better to eat a piece
of chocolate, now and then, than to buy a dozen chocolate donuts. This is not
to justify, or surrender, to chocolate, but to eat it in moderation, and not
every day.
Based upon what I have said
so far, it is all about identification, control, and moderation. We have to
stop “mindless eating” habits.
Recently, researchers found
that women who received a 1200 mg. calcium supplement, on a daily basis,
reduced their number of premenstrual food cravings by 54%.
On another note: When you
have anxiety, your body produces more of the hormone cortisol,
which may increase the volume of carbohydrates you eat. Carbohydrates
temporarily increase our levels of serotonin, making us feel relaxed for the
short term.
Learn the art of
substituting foods for more nutritionally dense variations. I cover this, in
detail, in my eBook, “14 Days to Change Your Life,”
which will be released in August 2005.
Being in the best shape you
can be is also connected to positive thinking. Therefore, use self-improvement
sources to keep you on the right track toward optimum health.
About The Author
Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and
the director of Yoga teacher training at:
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
7 Yoga helps you lower blood pressure
Hypertension
is a common disease nowadays, which, if it's not treated correctly can cause
many damages to the other organs of the body. People who suffer from high blood
pressure need to lower blood pressure in order to neutralize the effects of
hypertension on their body.
Changing their life style and sometimes taking medicines is recommended for the
people who need to lower blood pressure.
It is very helpful in the treatment of hypertension the yoga lifestyle, which
can really help you lower blood pressure. Yoga exercises, called asanas, involve stretching and moving the body into various
positions. During these exercises any tightness or tension observed in the body
should be consciously relaxed. Yoga practice offers stress management
techniques, which are essential to lower blood pressure. There are many yoga asanas, maybe hundreds or even thousands, but only certain asanas can help you lower blood pressure.
The most efficient for lowering blood pressure are the forward bends, which
have a pacifying effect on the brain, the nervous system, the blood circulation
to the brain, and they also help you reduce the stress. All these lower blood
pressure. Furthermore, these asanas slow down the
pulse rate, so they lower blood pressure.
Sitting asanas, such as Upavista
Konasana, which remove the tension from the ribs and
the intercostals muscles, and also help you breathe easily.
Many people suffering from hypertension have difficulties in breathing and
these asanas help them in this matter and they also
lower blood pressure.
Other helpful asanas are the supine poses, like Supta Baddhakonasana, which relax
the abdominal region and have a calming effect on the nerves, facts that lower
blood pressure.
There are also recommended for those who need to lower blood pressure, the inversions,
such as Halasana and Setubandha
Sarvangasana, which have a refreshing effect on the
nerves and reduce the sympathetic tone very fast. Usual practice of these asanas regularizes blood pressure, so lower blood pressure
when it's abnormally high.
To these
previous asanas you can add the pranayama
and the Svanasana, which relax the mind and senses,
and stabilize the blood pressure, so lower blood pressure in case of
hypertension.
About the author:
This medical article is written by Grojan Fabiola during one research session on lowering blood
pressure in a natural way, that will be using yoga. So, if you want to find out
more about how to control lower
blood pressure, especially in a natural way, please click this link.
8 Yoga Helps Fight Mid-Life Bulge
Copyright
2005 Daily News Central
Yoga practice helps middle-aged people lose weight and keep it off, suggest new
studies published in the online journal Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine.
Researchers at the
For purposes of the study, regular yoga practice was defined as practicing at
least 30 minutes once a week for four or more years.
20-Pound Gap
Statistics showed that the subjects who were of normal weight at the age of 45
and did not practice yoga consistently gained about 10 pounds, while those who
performed regular yoga routines lost 3 pounds during that same 10-year period
-- a difference of 13 pounds.
There was a wider gap between people who were overweight at the age of 45. The
non-yoga group gained about 14 pounds, while the yoga group lost 5 pounds -- a
difference of almost 20 pounds.
It is not likely that yoga's fat-fighting potential is due to the physical
activity itself, according to the study's lead author, Alan R. Kristal, DrPH.
"During a very vigorous yoga practice you can burn enough calories to lose
weight, but most people don't practice that kind of yoga," he notes.
Body Awareness a Factor
"From my experience, I think it has to do with the way that yoga makes you
more aware of your body. So when you've eaten enough food, you're sensitive to
the feeling of being full, and this makes it much easier to stop eating before
you've eaten too much," Kristal explains.
"Most people practice yoga in a way that's not aerobic enough to burn a
lot of calories, so it has to be some other reason," adds study co-author
Denise Benitez, owner of Seattle Yoga Arts.
"People who regularly practice yoga develop the inner resources to stay
with a little bit of discomfort," she says, hypothesizing that those inner
resources help people to stay with the discomfort that is caused when they deny
themselves junk food.
In order to accurately measure the effects of yoga on weight maintenance and
loss, these preliminary findings will need to be replicated, Kristal cautions.
Yoga Tips
The following tips for enhancing one's yoga practice, offers Benitez, may be
particularly helpful for those who wish to maintain or lose weight:
1. Practice in a room without mirrors and pay more attention to your internal
experience than to your outer performance.
2. Learn to feel sensations more and more subtly, so that you become deeply
involved in and curious about small movements -- sometimes called
micro-movements.
3. In your poses, find an edge for yourself where you are challenged but not
overwhelmed. At this edge, practice maintaining a clear, open and accepting
mental state.
4. Give yourself permission to rest when you feel overworked.
5. Pay close attention to what you are saying to yourself as you practice, and
make an intentional effort to appreciate your own efforts and innate goodness.
6. Go to class faithfully, arrive early, and talk to a few people before class
begins.
7. Buy your own yoga mat and bring it to class.
8. Realize that the development of qualities like patience, discipline, wisdom,
right effort, kindness, gratitude and many others will arise from your yoga
practice. These qualities create a steady and soft mind.
9. Find a teacher who offers a balance of gentleness and firmness and whose
teaching inspires you to practice from your highest self.
10. Recognize that simply attending class is a major statement of courage,
self-care, and positive momentum. Realize that you are inspiring others as you
become more true to your deepest desires.
Rita
Jenkins is a health journalist for Daily News Central, an online publication
that delivers breaking news and reliable health information to consumers
9 Yoga For Relaxation
People
practice yoga for a variety of reasons. Many yoga practitioners are interested
in the health benefits that come from regularly performing the routines. Others
want a state of harmony between inner and outer self. Still others practice
yoga primarily to relax.
A State of
The profound relaxation available through yoga includes a state of clarity of
mind, and of harmony with and understanding of the world. If such a state of
relaxation is your goal, you will need to use most of the yoga techniques
available. Pay special attention to breathing, diet, correctly performing the
exercises, and meditating.
The deep, prolonged breath one learns through yoga helps the brain stay
oxygenated, which contributes to mental clarity. Diet influences the structure
of our body as well as our brain. The exercises (called asanas
and pranayamas) were developed thousands of years ago
to produce beneficial results.
To have the desired effects, yoga routines must be carried out correctly. Poor
yoga practices will likely produce disappointing results.
The Keys
Your attitude and your focus are the keys to making your yoga experience deeply
satisfying. Entering the profound stage of relaxation and synchronization
between your inner and your outer self can occur only with appropriate action.
Relaxation is actually a necessary part of every yoga routine. The body needs
to relax after practicing the exercises, especially the more demanding ones.
Certain asanas require an unusual positioning of the
body, which can result in discomfort if the relaxation stage is omitted.
Bridging Worlds
Yoga connects the spiritual and material worlds, and relaxation is the bridge
that brings the practitioner back fully to the present reality.
As a general rule, during relaxation exercises, you will lie down comfortably
and meditate. Your yoga trainer will suggest ways for you to gradually move and
position your feet and arms. Yoga routines may have different relaxation
exercises, but they all have the purpose of cushioning the shock of contact
with the surrounding reality. Relaxation also helps to maintain a certain
degree of peacefulness created by the routine.
But talk is never enough. The only way to be sure of the relaxation benefits of
yoga is to try it yourself. The only thing you would lose is your tension.
About the Author: Visit http://www.yoga4u-now.com
to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer.
Copyright 2005 Ron King.
Source: www.isnare.com
10
Yoga for Every BODY
We all want
to feel loved, open, free and peaceful. We all desire to let go of the ideals
and expectations of the “world” and be simply still. What if you had permission
to be anything your heart wanted you to be? What if there was no right or wrong
way of doing yoga poses, just simply YOUR way. The way that feels good for your
body, mind and spirit. That is yoga to me.
There’s a smorgasbord of yoga labels all around us. Each having its own fancy
term or cool yoga gear. It’s a bummer to see yoga magazines or videos with the
same types of bodies representing yoga. This sends a message to the world that
yoga is about looking a specific way. Instead of getting lost in the confusion,
I chose to start really looking at my responsibility in this. Most of my
clients share with me that they don’t feel comfortable going to a yoga studio.
One, they don’t look like a yogi, two they might not do the poses “perfectly”,
and finally, they don’t know where to even start. So many labels to choose
from, so little time!
This is a very common experience with the people I teach or know. It is
extremely challenging to go to a studio and relax when immediately you have to
get your legs in lotus position. How uncomfortable is that? Yikes. Or you are
so busy doing power yoga that you forgot to breathe or relax, feeling sore as
you walk out the studio. Since I have experienced both being uncomfortable as a
student and teacher I feel it is my duty to spread some of my truth around.
There is no label or box to fit yoga in. When I first began teaching yoga, I
felt as if I had to “be” a certain way.
Speak in a particular soft tone, and know all the right terminology. I’ve
realized it’s the total opposite. The more authentic I am, which means, giving
myself permission to be Jenny, giggling, hugging, singing, sharing, being as
transparent as possible, gives the student permission to choose to do the same.
Yes, poses are a part of yoga, and they do wonders for your body! But yoga is
not about the poses or how long we can balance. The body listens when its given an opportunity to connect with your true self, and
not edit what comes out.
Releasing the need to force your body into poses that hurt and allow yourself
to explore what DOES feel good. To make your yoga practice, like life, all
about you.
Instead of wishing for the world to change their box on what yoga should be, I
decided to create and be the difference. Teach yoga from my heart, and allow it
to guide each class. Whenever I share with my students that it’s perfect to be exactly
the way they are, my eyes well up. It feels good to share what I have yearned
for in a yoga class.
If you feel uncomfortable going to a yoga studio, you are not alone. Listen to
your heart, and listen to what your body is sharing with you. Start investigating
and asking around for
guidance on what form works for you. You are worth it. Give yourself permission
to BE yourself no matter what. That is yoga.
About the Author
Owner/President of PLAYWARD. Playward's mission is to
celebrate the magnificence of being ALIVE. Jenny is an Author, Speaker, and has
appeared on Television and Broadway shows. She has a MFA from
11
Yoga
For Back Pain Relief
A good, regular yoga
practice will go far in relieving the stress and tension that sometimes cause
mild back pain, and in fact, studies have shown that yoga is the number one
most effective exercise for relieving back pain. However, not all yoga poses
relieve back pain, and some can in fact aggravate existing pain, so it is
important to know which poses will be most helpful in relieving back pain. It
is best to do these exercises under the supervision of a certified yoga
instructor, and if you encounter any problems with these poses, you should
consult an expert. Even just one or two sessions with a yoga instructor can help, an instructor will help you with your form and posture
during poses. Here are some of the best yoga poses for relieving back pain.
Each pose should be held from five to ten seconds, depending upon your level of
comfort, and should be done on a mat or other soft, supportive surface.
Corpse: Lie flat on your
back in a relaxed position, arms resting at your sides, palms down, and legs
lying naturally, with knees turned out slightly. If it hurts your back to have
your knees turned outward, do this pose with knees bent, feet flat on the
floor. Breathe in and out for a few seconds while allowing any tension to leave
the body.
Cat Stretch: Start out on
your hands and knees with a flat back. Your hands should be directly under your
shoulders with fingers spread. Knees should be directly under the hips. Head is
held loosely so that you are looking at the floor between your hands. Inhale,
and as you exhale, arch your back toward the ceiling, tuck your chin in to your
chest so that you are looking at your navel, and tuck your tailbone underneath.
Hold, then release back into your original position.
Wind Releasing Pole: Lie
flat on your back as in Corpse pose. As you inhale, bend your knee, place your
hands right below the knee, and draw your leg towards your chest. Your left leg
should remain flat on the floor. Exhale and bring your forehead up to touch
your knee. Inhale, and then as you exhale, return to your original position. Repeat with the other leg.
Sage Twist: Warning for this pose—it involves twisting your back, so you
should take particular care not to twist too far or you risk aggravating any
existing back pain. This should be a gentle stretch; twist just as far as is
comfortable. Sit on the floor with both legs out in front of you. Bend your
right knee, lift your right leg over your left, and place your right foot on
the floor next to your left knee. Sitting with spine straight, place your left
elbow on the right side of your right knee. Bend your left arm so that your
left fingertips are touching your right hip, while at the same time, twisting
to look over your right shoulder. This is where you need to be careful not to
twist too far. Hold for a few seconds, release, and repeat on the opposite
side.
Palm Tree: Stand with feet
facing forward, arms at your sides, weight distributed evenly on both feet.
Raise both arms over your head, interlock your fingers, and turn your hands so that
your palms are facing upward. Next, place your palms on your head and turn your
head so that you are looking slightly upward. Stretch your arms upwards, and at
the same time, come up onto your toes if you can do so without pain. Stretch
your entire body upward and hold, if you can. Some people have difficulty
balancing during this pose, so just do the stretching
parts if you need to.
Fish Pose: Lie on your back
with knees bent and arms at your side. Arch your back as far as you comfortably
can and raise it off the ground by pushing the floor with your elbows. If you
can, tilt your head backwards and rest the crown of your head on the floor.
Breathe deeply from the diaphragm and hold pose for one minute if you can.
LOCUST: Lie face down with
arms at the side, palms down, and elbows slightly bent with fingers pointing
towards the feet. Raise your legs and thighs as high off the ground as possible
without causing your back any pain. Hold for one second and repeat up to twelve
times. This can be a vigorous exercise so you must take care to strain already
injured muscles.
Bending
Forward Pose: Stand up straight with feet together and arms hanging loosely
along your sides.
Breathe in deeply and raise your arms straight above your head. While breathing
out, bend forward and touch your toes if you can. If you can’t reach your toes,
grab hold of your ankles or calves. To complete the pose, you should touch your
head to your knees, but this may be too difficult for many who suffer from
lower back pain. Your movements during this pose should be smooth, not jerky.
About The Author
Dave
Wooding provides health related information and heart rate monitor review at http://www.heart-rate-monitor-review.com
for your reading pleasure
12
Yoga
and Meditation - that leads to gaining Enlightenment in this life?
What kind of Yoga and
Meditation leads to gaining Enlightenment in this life?
Every process of Yoga...
neigh meditation that frees us from the clutches of attachment... bondage or Moha, whatever we may call it... Is the right process on
the path of gaining Enlightenment.
Are Yoga and Meditation two
different words with different meanings? No, the truth is not so... we need to
understand that it is the path of yoga which shall lead us to gaining
Enlightenment within this life. And what does yoga itself mean? The word yoga
has been derived from the Hindi root yog and which in
Hindi means synthesizing two things. In Hindi two plus two equal four... and
the effort of our soul (the atman within) to merge with the super soul (the Parmatman, the Almighty God) is known as yoga.
Yoga in other words is the
effort of every soul to merge with the Almighty God at the earliest. And for
this to be achieved we need to follow a routine of yogic exercises and also
meditate (perform yoga) on the Almighty God. This process of meditation can be
best understood once we are able to understand the meaning of Meditation.
Meditation in Hindi means yoga. Never otherwise or vice versa!
To be able to rightly
perform Yoga (Meditation) we need to concentrate on the basic belief of life
and that is... the basic building block of the total Cosmos is an atom. A
cluster of atoms grouped together are called as molecules and a cluster of
molecules is what the whole complex Cosmos comprises of. Truly speaking... the
whole Cosmos is built up of clusters of atoms and molecules and there is
nothing solid in the whole Cosmos. Everything in the Cosmos has a gaseous
formation... a form of energy. As we have seen in the Star Trek serial during
the deportation of human beings from one place to another... they get
transformed into pure energy for a temporal phase.
This is the only vital
truth of life we cannot get away with... seeing from the senses point of
view... things appear to be gaseous and also solids but in the cosmic domain it
is only the gaseous formation which holds good. Once we are clear with this
issue in respect of every human being and every living being (Jiva as we call it in Hinduism) living on mother earth
being gaseous formations... we need to understand that it is only after having
gained control of the senses and the mind shall we be able to transcend the
earthly plane and be able to truly visualize whatever was pictured in the telly serial Star Trek.
Performing Yoga
(Meditation) is the process which enables us to cut across the shackles of the
senses and the mind and to be able to come free of the senses and the mind...
one needs to perform yoga (meditation) in a manner that the dross within our
soul (atman) reduces at a faster pace. The complete dross having removed... one
would have gained absolute control over the senses and the mind! This is the
stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi as we know it in
Hinduism. The stage of Nothingness... it is when the senses and the mind have
lost their entity and the purified soul engages itself in one to one dialogue
with the Almighty God, the super soul.
Now... the question arises is how-to perform the Meditation (Yoga as we call
it in Hinduism). And the meditation can best be performed by lying in Shavasana pose (the death pose) and following the path of Neti (not this... not this). And by doing this what are we
trying to achieve? Is it possible to gain Enlightenment by this process? Yes!
It is a foolproof
process which shall gain us Enlightenment in the end.
What is the Shavasana pose? In yogic exercises the Shavasana
pose carries the most importance for one on the path of gaining Enlightenment.
It is this process of Shavasana in which one can lie
down in the death pose and concentrate on the process of breathing. While lying
down in the Shavasana pose as we gradually realize
the ultimate truth of life that it is not the body which is inhaling the
requisite essentiality (the pure air) but it is our soul (the real self within)
the body which needs the pure oxygen... the body tends to lose its meaning.
We become more and more
aware of the real truth within us and that truth is our soul (atman) which
resides within our body. Slowly one more fundamental of life shall dawn upon us
and that it... it is not the body which has taken the soul but it is vice versa
which is the absolute truth. As we realize that our existence as a body is
merely a covering... a garment for our real self... our Soul (Atman) within
us... we would ultimately come to the conclusion that why not retain our true
real self alone. What of the body then? Is it to be discarded? And if the body
is discarded... the manifest self of us... our existence in this world would
die!
Proceeding on the path of
spirituality through logical conclusions as in the dialogues of Plato...
cutting one untruth after another leads us towards higher planes of
spirituality. Becoming freer from the clutches of the senses... we find a
gradual change within our personality. The ultimate truth having dawned upon us
that the present body is merely a garment for the inner real self of us... our
desire of gaining Enlightenment within this life becomes stronger.
What is Neti?
The path of Neti as practiced and followed by Maharishi Ramana! While lying
down in the Shavasana pose is it not worthwhile to
concentrate on the existence of God. We have come to a conclusion earlier that
everything is gaseous in nature and what then? We would slowly realize that the
only existence in this gaseous formation is of different souls and the Karta, Parmatman (as we call it
in Hinduism) the Almighty God himself. There is nothing else apart from the
souls, the Almighty God, the ether which comprises of the vast Cosmos.
Now if we desire to gain
Enlightenment in this life... then we have to negate the existence of
everything in our physical manifested world. The process of Neti
(not this... Not this) is the process of negation as practiced and advocated by
Maharishi Ramana... the one
and the only path to cut across the shackles of the senses and the mind. It is
only following the path of Neti while lying down in Shavasana pose that I realized God one-day. Having
traversed the path... I can with hundred percent certainties say that the Shavasana pose and the process of Neti
is the best form of Meditation one can ever imagine of.
Summarizing all... I can
only quote of whatever I have personally experienced... I have nothing more to
say!
May God bless all those on
the path of Enlightenment!
About The Author
Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains role Yoga and Meditation
play on path to Enlightenment. subscribe free
Newsletter "Spiritual Secrets Unveiled" - Explore hidden cosmic
truths- more here http://www.godrealized.com.
13
Yoga
- The Solution for Insomnia
At one time, or another,
all of us have experienced insomnia for any type of reason. There are times when
lack of sleep just can’t be helped, such as: the loss a loved one, going
through a divorce, and losing your job.
These are some of life’s
serious crisis situations, where we have to let time heal, and try not to fall
apart in the process. Some of the solutions below will help insomnia, but they
will not heal grief.
However, if you are
continually staying awake over trivial matters, these solutions will aid you to
get a good night’s rest. Remember - not every solution will work for everyone,
so try the easiest ideas and make them fit into your lifestyle.
Do you have one or more
problems, on your mind, that are troubling you at bedtime? If so, write it down
and leave it on the kitchen table where you sit in the morning. This is a form
of compartmentalization, where your subconscious mind works on a solution, and
you and your conscious mind get some needed rest.
You will be surprised what
happens the following morning. The problem is much less important or your
subconscious found the solution. This technique is so powerful that many
successful people use it, even when they don’t really have a problem. This
keeps you organized, on a daily basis, and you will get more accomplished in
life.
That leads into the next
idea, which is establishing a daily routine. Your body has a natural cycle, and
most of us ignore it. Modern humans are more out of tune with their bodies than
ever before, so we have to get back to basics and design a schedule for all
tasks - including sleep.
You should exercise every
day, but your exercise routine should end two hours before bedtime, at the
latest. This allows your body and mind “cool down” time. If you can exercise
earlier in the day, feel free to do so.
Exercise will give you extra energy during
the day, and help you get a good night’s sleep, when you need it. If you don’t
exercise, don’t feel alone, but do take action. Gentle Yoga postures are a
great way to start.
If you find the right Yoga
teacher, you will learn controlled breathing (pranayama),
stage-by-stage relaxation, and meditation. Each is a powerful technique for
winding down before bedtime. You always practice controlled breathing with
either, stage-by-stage relaxation, or meditation. Some people practice
stage-by-stage relaxation in bed and fall asleep in the process. This is not a
bad thing, if your ultimate goal is to fall asleep.
Now let’s look at a few
other ideas, such as alcohol and hidden caffeine. Alcohol has a way of getting
you to sleep, but sleep is often interrupted during the night. One suggestion,
if you enjoy drinking: Have one small drink; preferably wine, with your meal.
Caffeine is in coffee, many
teas, many sodas, and a variety of other drinks. Drink water later in the day,
and give your body a rest from caffeine.
Here are a few actions to
take before bedtime: Eat very light, read a book about something peaceful, and
take a shower or a bath. You don’t have to do everything, but one of the
above-mentioned ideas will work for you.
Sweet Dreams.
About The Author
Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the
director of Yoga teacher training at:
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
14 YOGA AND ARTHRITIS: A REVIEW
Yoga is an
ancient Indian science and way of life, which influences the functioning of the
brain and the rest of the body. Several studies have shown that the practice of
yoga has a definite role in the promotion of positive health, including mental
health, characterized by improved cardio-respiratory efficiency, autonomic
responses to stressors, sleep, muscular endurance, and `higher’ brain
functions. With an increase in the incidence of stress-related ailments,
related to the rapid pace of life today, yoga has been evaluated as a treatment
for such disorders in several controlled trials. The disorders, which were most
likely to respond to yoga, with reduced symptoms and need for medication, were
bronchial asthma, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, anxiety neurosis,
and rheumatoid arthritis.
THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the state of health is defined
as a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well being and
not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. It is clear from this definition
that health and ill-health are not two discrete entities as commonly understood
but health should be conceived as a continuous function indicating the state of
well being.
The ancient Indian science, Yoga, has its origin in the Sankhya
philosophy of Indian culture, which is about 8000 years old (Nagarathna, 2001). Yoga includes a wide range of techniques
(e.g., physical postures, regulated breathing, cleansing techniques,
meditation, philosophical principles, and devotional sessions, surrendering to
the Supreme). These techniques bring about a calm and balanced state of mind,
and are expected to help the spiritual evolution of the individual. However,
yoga has more pragmatic applications in medicine. In order to understand these,
it is important to know the concepts of ‘health’ and ‘disease’ in Yoga texts.
According to yoga, man is in perfect health and homeostasis at his subtle
levels of existence. All diseases are classified as (i)
stress-related (adhija) and (ii) not stress related,
e.g., injuries (anadhija) (Vasudeva, 1937). Yoga has
been considered especially useful in the management of stress related disorders
by getting mastery over the excessive speed of the mind. The technique to
reducing the rate of flow of thoughts with deep internal awareness is yoga.
This review will describe the therapeutic applications of yoga in the
management of arthritis.
Physical activity is an essential part of the effective treatment of
osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to treatment
guidelines published by the
Scientific studies on yoga
Yoga has been used in the management of a wide range of diverse ailments. While
there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence of the benefits of yoga, to date only
a handful of scientific studies have been conducted on persons with OA and RA
(though several more are currently underway). The study conducted in
These above studies have shown promising results with some improvement in joint
health, physical functioning, and mental/emotional well-being. Perhaps most
importantly, yoga has an important positive effect on quality of life. People
with arthritis may also enjoy yoga more than traditional forms of exercise, and
exercise enjoyment is an important predictor of
adherence(Ryan,1997;Trost,2003).This is particularly important considering
that, on average, 50% of sedentary individuals will drop out of exercise within
6 months (Dishman,1990).
In summary, yoga can be a meaningful and enjoyable alternative to traditional
forms of exercise such as aerobics or aquatic exercise with important health
benefits. Yoga can play an important role in reducing stress and frustration
that results from pain and disability, and increasing positive feelings and
wellbeing. Drug treatments for OA and RA have improved markedly in the last few
years. Despite this, arthritis cannot be cured, and even the best medications
and medical care can only help a little. There is a great need for additional
activities patients can do to reduce pain, disability, and take control of the
overall impact arthritis may have on their lives. Thus, the evidence suggests
that, when combined with a program of good medical care, yoga may provide
important additional physical and psychological health benefits for arthritis
patients.
Finally, it has to be emphasized that while yoga has important therapeutic
benefits, the practice of yoga is very important in the promotion of positive
health and human potential in body, mind, and spirit (Scott, 1999)..
About the Author
I am a
Doctor, doing my Ph.D.in Yoga. My topic of interest
is to conduct Yoga Retreat, take class for Yoga Teacher and Medical
professionals for in depth Research findings, and also Interest to conduct
research in various field of yoga, both experimental and theoretical. I have
been Traveling to all EUROPIAN countries.
My contact: yoga4all@india.com
My web page:
http://www.oocities.org/manojrieneke/Research.html
15 Which Type of Yoga is the Right Choice
for You?
You finally
made the decision to practice yoga, but which style of yoga is the best one for
you? There are many types of yoga, and while they usually have common elements,
their focus is often quite different. If you have not been physically active in
a long time, then one of the more gentle, slower
moving styles may be right for you. If you are an athlete or are very
physically fit, you might want to check out some of the more strenuous forms.
The following is a list of the more common yoga classes that you will find.
Hatha Yoga - Almost every style of yoga practiced in
the west is some form of Hatha Yoga. It includes asanas, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation.
Each of the individual forms of yoga has a different emphasis, but classes
usually include some combination of these elements.
Ashtanga - This is a very fast paced, intense style
of yoga. It follows a series of postures, which are always done in the same
order and are connected with the breath. Each posture flows directly into the
next one, so it is a very demanding practice. Ashtanga
can be a good choice for physically fit individuals who like a challenge.
Iyengar - This type of yoga, which was developed by
B.K.S. Iyengar, is focused on proper body alignment.
Poses are held for long periods of time and the movement from one posture to
another is slower than some other styles. Props are often used to help maintain
proper alignment, so Iyengar can be a good choice for
those who have physical limitations. Since it focuses so much on correct body
alignment, it is also a good starting point for beginners before they move into
faster paced styles.
Bikram - This style of yoga was created by Bikram Choudhury and is also
known as ‘hot yoga.’ Classes are held in rooms heated up to 100 degrees in
order to allow your body to stretch without injury and release toxins.
Practitioners move through a series of twenty-six postures, with each one being
held for a period of time. This is a strenuous style and should be avoided by
people with certain health conditions unless they get clearance from their
medical professional.
Power Yoga - This is an intense workout that is a hybrid of Ashtanga,
because the postures do not necessarily follow a particular sequence every
time. Asanas move from one to another and they
require a great deal of strength and stamina. Power yoga is best suited for
athletic, well-conditioned individuals. It is my favorite type of yoga, and
even though I am in excellent physical shape, I find it very challenging.
Kundalini - This type of yoga combines postures with
specific breathing. Its purpose is to release the Kundalini
energy that is housed at the base of the spine and allow it to move upward. Its
ultimate goal is spiritual enlightenment.
Kripalu - This style of yoga is meditation in motion.
Its goal is for the individual to gain a deeper inner awareness and to nurture
a relationship with his or her body. Classes include gentle yoga postures with
coordinated breathing and an emphasis on alignment. They also include an
extended period of meditation and relaxation.
Integral - Created by Sri Swami Satchidananda, this
type of yoga is very gentle. Classes have a greater emphasis on the meditative
rather than the physical aspects of yoga. Integral Yoga is included in Dr. Dean
Ornish’s program, which has been shown to reverse
heart disease.
Viniyoga - This style was created by T.K.V. Desikachar and is a therapeutic approach to yoga. It
focuses on breathing in conjunction with movement. Viniyoga
encourages modified postures to meet an individual’s specific needs and abilities.
It would be a valuable style for someone who is dealing with an injury or other
physical restriction.
Once you’ve chosen a specific type of yoga, it doesn’t mean you have to stay
with it forever. You can choose to focus on another style for a while or mix
several different types depending on how your mind and body feel. Whichever
type you choose, the most important thing is to continue doing it on a regular
basis so you can enjoy the rewards that yoga brings.
About the Author
Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been
involved in fitness for over thirty years. Her website
http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with practical information
about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive part of your life. Visit the
site and get your free meditation e-book
16 Understanding the Yoga Sutras
In the West, there are many who practice Yoga for the physical benefits only.
I'll never forget the first-time experience of teaching Yoga in a commercial
health club setting.
After practicing asanas and pranayama, I mentioned
that we would start a meditation session. To my surprise, two of the students
stood up and left. This natural event in a health club is almost never seen in
an Ashram.
What am I getting at here?
Teaching all aspects of Yoga to everyone is sometimes like force-feeding a
child. As teachers and interns, you should know all the benefits of Yoga.
Unfortunately, your students may not want to know anything except how to
"shape that body."
The philosophy and
"big picture" of Yoga will have to be carried on by you and your most
dedicated students. Keep in mind that each person will interpret the Yoga
Sutras, written by Patanjali, differently. Just like
reading the Magna Carta, the Bible, and the U.S.
Constitution, there is room for different interpretations.
"Sutra" means,
"to thread," and there are 194 Yoga Sutras that make up the
"tapestry" of Yoga. Within these verses are guidelines to
self-discovery and purpose. The first four Sutras, of the first section, are
said to be the foundation of the entire work.
1:1 "And now the
lesson on union begins..." This could also be interpreted as, and now the
instruction of Yoga begins.
1:2 "Yoga is settling
thoughts of the mind into tranquility." This can be interpreted into a number
of ways. Quite simply, it is the settling of mind chatter into silence, which
is the basis for meditation.
1:3
"When the thoughts have settled, the subject dwells in his/her own nature,
which is unlimited consciousness." This would be, when you have calmed your mind, by
restraining the mind chatter, you are ready for meditation.
1:4 "Otherwise, our
nature is overshadowed by mind chatter." In other words, if you do not
calm your mind, you will be overtaken by the endless multitasking, which
happens during the course of a normal day.
1:5 There
are five types of thought and they may, or may not, cause pain.
At first, this seems vague,
but
Patanjali gives a much deeper explanation in the next
seven Sutras. Learning to classify mind chatter will teach us to prioritize,
and therefore, make the most of the present moment.
1:6 The
five types of thought are: Right Knowledge, Wrong Knowledge, Imagination,
Sleep, and Memory.
1:7 Right
knowledge is the
ability to understand ideas based on correct perception, inference, and genuine
testimony.
Our understanding of
events, people, and philosophy, is founded in the idea that we are receiving
reliable information from outside resources. These resources in the 21st
century are many, but finding the correct information is not always easy.
1:8 Wrong
knowledge is
misunderstanding, illusory, and false.
Talk about profound words.
At this time, it is wise to thoroughly research any subject before deciding
whether it is true or false.
1:9 Imagination is thought
that is founded on word knowledge which has no substance.
True imagination has no
substance, but imagination is very creative and can benefit mankind. It can
also be very destructive in the form of weapons. Lastly, it can be self
destructive in the form of worry.
1:10 Sleep is a state of
mind which is full of the sense of nothingness.
Sleep is as essential as
food. Many books have been written on the subject of sleep and dreams.
Deciphering dreams is not an exact science and you cannot spend all your waking
moments worrying about what might be.On the other
hand - sometimes dreams give us answers to problems and cannot be entirely
ignored. Hopefully, this will be food for thought and you might reflect on the
writings of Patanjali.
About the Author
Paul Jerard,
is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at
17 Understanding the different types of Yoga
Yoga is becoming a more and more popular activity in the Western world today.
The number of places holding Yoga classes is on the increase and there is a
plethora of different types of Yoga. With a choice of Hatha
Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Iyengar
Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa
Yoga and many more it can be easy to get confused
The article will help you to understand the difference
between the most popular types of Yoga so you can choose which type is right
for you.
Hatha Yoga - in Sanskrit (an ancient classical
language of
Ashtanga Yoga - this is the type of Yoga that I
practice on a regular basis and means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit. It's a fast
moving, intense style of Yoga practice and is based on a progressive set
sequence of asanas, synchronized with the breath. Ashtanga Yoga can be quite physically demanding as you
constantly move from one asana in the sequence to the next, so you'll find that
it will improve your stamina as well as your flexibility and strength..
Power Yoga - this is a western interpretation of Yoga and is based on Ashtanga Yoga. A Power Yoga class may not necessarily stick
to the exact sequence of poses like Ashtanga Yoga
does, but it does involve practicing a series of poses without stopping and
starting.
Iyengar Yoga - This type of Yoga is based on
teachings by B.K.S Igengar and concentrates on the
correct alignment and form of the body. Unlike Ashtanga
Yoga, there is an emphasis on holding each pose for a long period of time
rather than moving constantly from one pose to the next. Iyengar
Yoga uses props such as blocks and straps to help align the body into the
different poses.
Vinyasa Yoga - Vinyasa
means breath synchronized movement and is another fast paced type of Yoga, with
an emphasis on breathing. A practice typically starts with sun salutations and
moves on to more intense stretching. Throughout the practice each pose is
balanced with a counter pose.
Bikram Yoga - otherwise known as “Hot Yoga”, is
practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees, with a humidity of around 40%.
Generally a sequence of 26 different poses is practiced during a Bikram Yoga class and the hot temperature helps to loosen
muscles. Due to the high temperature most people sweat a lot during the class
and this helps to cleanse the body of toxins.
If you're just starting out or have never done any Yoga before, I recommend
trying a few different types of yoga to find out what you like best.
Remember, there's no rule that says you have to stick to one type of Yoga. I like
Ashtanga Yoga best, but I also go to occasional Iyengar and Hatha Yoga classes
for a bit of variety.
About the Author To
find out more about the different types of Yoga visit the Free online
Yoga Guide
18 Getting
Slim and Trim with Yoga
Yoga’s power to create a state of mental and physical well being may
also be put to good use for taking off excess weight. Yoga promotes a healthy
and balanced life style and when combined with a calorie burning program may
show exceptional results. Practicing yoga will also increase your metabolism,
increasing the calorie burning process, but you should not see it as an
immediate results method. By following the rigors imposed by yoga you will gain
a holistic, long term solution to balance your life style and keep off any
excessive weight. In addition to loosing weight you will also experience an
increased ability to concentrate and to focus, higher resistance to stress
factors and an all round healthier way of living.
Metabolism is regulated by the thyroid, a component of the endocrine system. It
is responsible for the chemical processes in your body that transform food into
energy. Yoga uses a series of twisting poses that stimulate the work flow of
the internal organs, thus boosting metabolism to burn more calories and reduce
your body weight. Improved local circulation is another direct effect of using
yoga postures and this leads to a healthier, more energetic body. When the
calorie intake is lower than the calorie output your body will start burning
fat cells to acquire the necessary energy. A perfectly healthy and strong
metabolism takes this process even further and you will see better results than
traditional weight loss formulas.
Different back bends, combined with forward bends, are used to stimulate
metabolism. Poses that affect the neck area, where the thyroid gland is
situated, are especially useful is the weight problem is caused by a hormone
imbalance. These poses can be those of the camel, rabbit, plow, bridge and
shoulder stand. Moving quickly between a series of poses can accelerate the
process. For people who are significantly overweight some of the bends may
prove to be a difficult task to accomplish. They should gradually increase the
difficulty of the postures until they are confident enough to go to more
complex exercises.
Muscles can be strengthened by using standing poses, such as the warrior. A
higher endurance and increased caloric output will also result from using
standing poses. Energize the body and increase your metabolism even more by
using Kapalabhati and Ujjayi
Pranayama.
A proper diet should also be followed to support the holistic weight loss
system. Try to consume food rich in fiber, vegetables, whole grains and less
high fat and processed food items. Balance is essential in all maters
concerning your food and no excess should be made. Do not totally eliminate
certain food items from your menu and remember that diversity is the key to an
equilibrated and satisfactory diet.
A gradual approach is essential with all yoga practices. Results may not be
spectacular and immediate, but this is one of the best long term weight loss
methods available. In addition to weight loss you also benefit from an
increased protection against adverse factors as well as a general feeling of
well being and inner peace.
About the author:
Gavin Dye is the author and webmaster at http://www.yoga-supplies-4u.comwhere
you can find out more about the health benefits of Yoga, and information on how
to start practising Yoga
19 Discover How Yoga Will Help You Reach Your
Goals - Part 1
Time is valuable and there are a number of successful methods for goal
realization. Yoga will cross train your mind and body for maximum potential.
Imagine being able to optimize your attitude in one hour, per day, or less.
Every day, people attend Yoga classes for physical or mental health, and walk
away with the tools, to be masters of their own destiny.
How is this possible?
Regular attendance to Yoga classes, will result in a
positive attitude adjustment for the student. Many of us walk around with a
"perceived handicap." We blame everything for our set backs and lack
of opportunities. Society, your boss, and your family, are all easy targets to
blame, for lack of opportunities.
It is true that age,
financial status, gender, and ethnic background, are factors in success.
However, these factors can all be overcome by working toward your goal on a
daily basis, and taking life one-step-at- a-time. Remember, that if you think
you situation is a disability, it will be.
How can Yoga do anything
for you? For one thing, you will appreciate life to it's
fullest. You will stop wasting time, by letting daily opportunities go by. Many
of us have opportunities, but we think it won't work, we don't have what it
takes for success, or we lack the drive to carry a plan through.
Yoga and meditation teach you to supervise your mind. Your mind has been
allowed to work against you. Much like a "back seat driver," the mind
is good at "second guessing," fearing, doubting, and discouraging new
ideas. The mind would prefer to stay in one place, and let the world go by. leaving you in a deeper state of frustration, by worrying
about making a mistake.
You have to cultivate a
positive relationship with your mind, through practicing Yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama),
and meditation. You can find all this, and much more, in your local Yoga class.
All you have to do is make it a regular routine. Yoga classes are everywhere,
from corporate health clubs to senior centers. Whether you practice before, or
after, work is not important, and you will start to feel the mental benefits,
right away.
Many Yoga students walk
away from their first class feeling guilty, that it took so long to start. They
anguish over the fact they procrastinated so long. However, the important part
is to start and continue your Yoga practice. There is also a common feeling of
euphoria during and after Yoga classes. The group support, classroom
atmosphere, and the endorphins, will make your day a much better one.
About the Author
Paul Jerard,
is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at
20 Discover How Yoga Will Help You Reach Your
Goals - Part 2
At this point, let's break down the major components of a typical Hatha Yoga session, and see how each one will enable you to
reach your goals. There are nine main styles of Yoga in
Asanas are the physical postures, but
depending upon the class, the postures may be held for different durations,
such as: A half breath (an exhale or inhale), a few breaths, or a few minutes.
Some classes are very active, with flowing movement, heated studios up to 105
degrees Fahrenheit, and others are tranquil at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit,
all year long.
So there is a style of Yoga
for every person, and you should be aware of what you are getting into before
you start. You should also be aware that the doors are not locked, and if 105
degrees is too much heat, it is your call.
This past summer, in
The Yoga postures release
tension throughout your body, regardless of which style you choose. The added
surge of endorphins, as a result of this exercise, is another benefit.
Pranayama, sometimes called the Yogic science of
breathing, is cultivation of air - our most vital resource. Therefore, you can
increase the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream without classic calisthenics,
but when you combine it with the postures; you have a very powerful combination
for stress relief.
Meditation is known for its
stress management, focused concentration, and conscious relaxation benefits. In
fact, there are so many meditation benefits, that after more than 2,000
studies, scientists still research for more.
How will all this help you
achieve your goals? Simple: Once you are armed with the ability to relieve
yourself from the burdens of stress, negative obstacles, and needless worrying,
you then have the ability to prioritize and learn from your mistakes.
If you make a mistake, so
does everyone else. Nobody is keeping track of your mistakes, except you.
Everyone wants to be recognized, so grab every opportunity you can. Make sure
you don't forget to write your goals down and review them often. You will see
them come to pass.
About the Author
Paul Jerard,
is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at
21
Blast Away Your Negative Stress With Yoga
Will you be able to manage
the stress in your life?
It seems that everyday
brings more and more stress. Yoga is a terrific way to counter all the stressors
in today's fast-paced society.
Now it's clear, not all
stress is equal.
All stresses place demands
on your life. Stress turns negative if you perceive that demand to be outside
of your control.
Yoga is a powerful way to
bring control back into your life, allowing you to change the way you perceive
demands reducing negative stress in your life.
Your yoga program will
directly confront the negative stress in your life, making you more prepared to
take on the demands of positive stress - helping you to grow spiritually,
emotionally and intellectually.
The more relaxing Hatha Yoga could easily be used
to wind down from a very stressful day, or you could choose forms of power Yoga
such as Ashtanga where you can loose yourself in yoga
poses that help you build strength and stamina.
Too many people turn to
harmful methods to help overcome the lack of control in their lives.
They turn to alcohol,
cigarettes, overworking, drugs or simply giving up on their dreams and
ambitions in life.
Will you escape the life of
the captive monkey who eventually gives up trying to escape their prison?
Will you open your mind,
heart and schedule to Yoga?
Use relaxation yoga to free
you from life's negative stress, you will be amazed at the results.
About The Author
Will You Improve Your
Mental State By Starting Your Own Yoga Program Today? You'll Find Everything
You Need To Get Started With Yoga Quickly and Easily
Right Here: http://www.yogasuccess.com
22 The Best Benefits of YOGA!
The
BENEFITS OF YOGA
are truly unlimited. Here are a few!
* Increased Flexibility -
yoga has positions used by various joints of the body including those joints
that we are unaware of or haven't been used for other forms of exercise. *
Increasing Lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons - likewise, the
well-researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of
the body.
A body which may have been
quite rigid starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts
which have not been consciously work upon. Through
research using yoga positions, proof is evident. Unrelated simple yoga
positions (asanas) act upon certain parts of the body
in an interrelated manner. When done together, they work in harmony to create a
situation where flexibility is attained relatively easily. * Massaging of ALL
organs of the body - Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages
all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner that hardly
get externally stimulated much during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a
wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the
organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and can provide warnings at
the first possible instance of an onset of a disease or disorder.
* Decrease in Weight by performing simple asanas
and meditation. Once the body is in a constant state of movement (however
slight through your yoga practice), including your breathing techniques,
metabolism is heightened. You will lose minimal weight without changing your
habits, yet the benefits of increased flexibility and decreased stress, you will feel better as a whole.
* Complete Detoxification -
By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various
organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body.
This helps in the flushing out of toxins providing nourishment for the entire
body. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable
zest for life. * Excellent Toning of the Muscles - muscles that have become
weak or slothy are stimulated repeatedly to shed
excess flab & increase tone.
For more benefits, Visit
---------> http://www.YogaSpiritCenter.com
Get the Best Yoga Supplies! On
Necessary Meditation
Supplies! Visit ---------> http://www.yogaspiritcenter.com/meditation.html
About the Author
Carrie
holds a Bachelor's Degree in Yoga Studies & Body-Centered Therapies. Her
education began with ART, continued with Psychology, including Gestalt Therapy.
Carrie has been instructing body sculpting for 2 decades. She is an initiate of
Raja & Isha Yoga (Sadhguru
Jaggi Vasudev). She
considers herself a "creatuitive" who pulls
individuals inner intuitive resources to balance and nurture each soul &
body. http://www.YogaSpiritCenter.com
23 Why Has Yoga Become So Popular?
Did you
know that over fifteen million people practiced yoga in 2003, according
to a landmark study by Yoga Journal Magazine. And the
numbers are expected to increase dramatically in subsequent years. Your own
experiences probably confirm this study – maybe you practice yoga, know someone
who does, or just take a walk along any busy main street - your bound to see
someone carrying a yoga mat. In fact you can't even open a magazine or
newspaper without finding an article about yoga. So, how does a 5000-year-old
spiritual practice become today's hottest mind/body trend?
Perhaps the best way to understand yoga's popularity is to go right to the people
who practice it. If you ask them why, some of the more common replies you might
hear are "flexibility, increased energy, improved focus, reduction of the
symptoms associated with stress, and an overall good feeling." The fact is
that yoga can have a rejuvenating effect on all systems of the body
including the circulatory, glandular system, digestive, nervous,
skeletal/muscular, reproductive system and respiratory system.
On a physical level – according to the U.S. Dept. on Aging
there four components to good physical health: Strength, flexibility, balance,
aerobic capacity. It is interesting to note that yoga can accomplish all
these things and no fancy piece of equipment is needed – other than your own
body and a yoga mat.
Over the last 100 years our lives have become very fast paced: cell
phones, computers, internet, television. This along
with a strong work ethic often results in people out of balance – people
experiencing a lot of stress. Consequently, there is a strong need to de-stress
- to quiet our minds and rejuvenate our boodies. And yoga helps achieve
this – helping us return to a state of balance and health.
Yoga brings us into the moment – it is very difficult to practice and be
thinking about what happened at work today or the party tomorrow night. Being
in the present
itself is a great release from stress.
At its best, yoga meets the student where they are – so it is
adjusted to the student's level and capacity. That doesn't mean it is
particularly easy or particularly challenging – it can be either or both on any
given day.
Then there is the therapeutic component. Yoga can be used successfully with
conditions such as insomnia, back problems, digestion problems, asthma,
improving circulation, anxiety, weight loss, just to name a few.
Basically yoga is non –competitive; it is not about winning or losing –
you can go at your own rate.
In addition many of us are yearning for something more. Many of us have shied
away from organized religion yet seek a spiritual practice that connects us to
ourselves as well as something larger – a spiritual practice that is
non-dogmatic, without many rules. While most of the yoga practiced in health
clubs is primarily the physical aspects of yoga – the philosophical side
seeps in. And for those that want to learn more about the philosophy of yoga
information and classes are readily available to them. At its simplest level yoga
quiets the mind and opens the body – setting the stage for withdrawing deeper
inside oneself – to a place of peace, a place of balance, a place of health. It
is here where the divine within us can be more easily discovered.
There are many different styles of yoga and it never needs to be boring
- it can be slow and gentle, it can challeenge your strength, it can be aerobic
or vigorous or it can be very introspective. There is as style to match most
personalities. There is yoga for seniors, pre-natal yoga, postnatal
yoga, power yoga, gentle yoga, etc. There are classes that focus on back care, yoga
done in groups and one-on-one, privately with an instructor. The yogic
scriptures say there are some 84,000 postures and variations. The field of yoga
is huge and there is always, always something new to learn.
The media has also helped spread the message of yoga and the fact
the celebrities like Madonna and Sting practice yoga doesn't hurt
either!
About The Author:
Howard VanEs, M.A. has been studying and
practicing yoga for over thirteen years and is a certified yoga
teacher teaching in the
Copyright Howard VanEs - http://www.letsdoyoga.com
.