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Articles in Home | Health & Fitness | Yoga Title|Newest|Oldest Running: A Cure For Old Age Disability  By : Javier Fuller Life must be wonderful not only in terms of its length but also in terms of quality. But seemingly it is yet to dawn upon most of the world. We keep on letting the life pass waiting for something to hurl us into the gurgling river of living. And then one day we find ourselves flowing into the great unknown without having fully lived for most of our lives. Isn't that amazing? Sitting before the computer fiddling with the key board, writing a few words and reading many- that's how our office time goes by. Going home, talking very little to your wife you doze off. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west everyday. And the life flows by. Yoga And Meditation: A Healthy Combo For Healthy Life  By : Javier Fuller Yoga for most of the people happens to be a great source of keeping themselves fit with its incredible body postures called asana. However these asanas are only a small part of the yoga. This ancient practice of yoga boasts of its origin from ancient Vedic testaments. We tend to limit the scope of yoga by considering it a mere collection of exercises. But Vedic testaments say that it was originally meant to serve much greater purpose of unifying human souls with eternal power or God. And yoga meditation happens to be the only way of elevating your spirit so that you could unify yourself with Almighty. Your soul's unification with Almighty brings eternal peace and tranquility to you. If you are not performing meditation instructions of yoga along with your daily asana practice, you are likely to not get much of the yoga benefits. Different yoga practices don't offer you separate solutions instead yoga works well when all its integral parts are practiced simultaneously in an orderly manner. This is the way yoga offers holistic health improvement. That's why meditation must be incorporated in your yoga routine, it works as a stress buster and brings in mental rejuvenation. Beginner's Yoga Guide: Take Asana Step By Step  By : Javier Fuller Yoga is gaining popularity globally. If you are the one who is keen to take up yoga exercises you are going the right way. Yoga has been found helpful not only in keeping you in good shape but also in preventing various complications. It's not only you but thousand others who take refuge in yoga every day in America to attain physical as well as mental rejuvenation. In order to practice yoga you may enroll yourself in Yoga classes being run in your locality. A beginner is first taught basics of yoga including basic postures and mudras. If you are willing to learn yoga by yourself, you better go for beginner's yoga videos. You can practice yoga while watching these videos. But while learning yoga on your own you must not take plunge into complex yoga practices at first. As your exercise tolerance increases gradually so you should first take up simpler forms of asana and other yoga exercises. Beginner's Yoga Guide: Take Asana Step By Step  By : Javier Fuller Yoga is gaining popularity globally. If you are the one who is keen to take up yoga exercises you are going the right way. Yoga has been found helpful not only in keeping you in good shape but also in preventing various complications. It's not only you but thousand others who take refuge in yoga every day in America to attain physical as well as mental rejuvenation. In order to practice yoga you may enroll yourself in Yoga classes being run in your locality. A beginner is first taught basics of yoga including basic postures and mudras. If you are willing to learn yoga by yourself, you better go for beginner's yoga videos. You can practice yoga while watching these videos. But while learning yoga on your own you must not take plunge into complex yoga practices at first. As your exercise tolerance increases gradually so you should first take up simpler forms of asana and other yoga exercises. A Beginner’s Guide To Yoga Asanas  By : Javier Fuller By asana we mean various Yoga postures. There are good number of asanas offering different exercises to body as well as mind. If you are the one who has just made a tryst with Yoga, you would be first of all made to do basic yoga asana. These basic asanas are only meant to make your body accustomed to Yoga practices. You get accustomed to yoga practice by gaining increased flexibility through basic asanas. Asanas are very helpful in bringing rejuvenation to your body and mind. Asana happens to be one of the limbs of yoga practices. You learn tolerance, balance, patience and perseverance through yoga asana. Things To Know About Yoga  By : Javier Fuller Yoga in true sense is described as a system that is scientific in nature. It has a spiritual touch and was a practice that originated in India. Yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word, Yoke. Yoga provides you with physical and mental peace. Yoga is a pure form of exercising. It requires obedience to its certain rules and principles from your side. Like any other procedure, if these rules are not followed then more harm than good can be caused to you. So if you really want to take benefits from this impeccable exercising type, it is advisable for you to follow its proper methodology. There are certain things that you should keep in mind: Yoga For Cancer Afflicted Folks  By : Javier Fuller There is no direct correlation between yoga as remedial measure and cancer. However Yoga has proved its efficacy in easing the stress and trauma that a cancer patient undergoes. Yoga could be even adopted as a preventive measure against cancer. Since Yoga happens to be a natural healer of damaged cells and tissues, it is considered to prevent cells from getting cancerous. Regular Yoga practices tend to increase tissues capacity to overcome inner damages. Once you get this increased ability of resilience through yoga, you are less likely to fall prey to cancer. By enhancing your body's overall capacity to fight diseases, it furthermore lessens possibility of severe maladies like cancer. Yoga has also been proved to be a direct combatant against cancer as it restricts growth of cancerous cells. By doing so, yoga happens to increase longevity of patients. The World Goes Gaga Over Yoga As A Stress Reducer  By : Javier Fuller Yoga has intruded into almost all spheres of healthcare. A good number of health organizations in America have come up with strong advocation for Yoga practices. And they are no fool in doing so as they are well aware of yoga's efficacy in holistic health improvement. Furthermore yoga has also proven its worth in shooting out stress and anxiety that are widely prevalent. In fact, if you keep practicing Yoga on a regular basis, you are very likely to remain stress free for the whole life. There could not be a better natural stress reducer than yoga. A good number of workaholic folks have been found falling prey to stress and anxiety and usage of medications seem to worsen the situation. That's why people are rather keen to follow natural ways to control stress. It's just because of that millions of Americans have taken refuge in Yoga to fight their stress and anxiety. Not only in America but in Europe and other continents as well, Yoga is increasingly becoming popular as stress reducer. Yoga Exercises For Weight Loss: The Best Way To Healthy & Fit Life  By : Javier Fuller Losing weight is not an easy task. Shedding those extra pounds of flesh requires you to be consistent in your approach towards weight shedding. You should chalk out a weight loss strategy and stick to it till you get desired level of reduction in your weight. If you keep shuffling from one line of action to another, you would be simply delaying attainment of physical fitness. And it may prove disastrous. Exercises happen to be best remedial option for obesity or weight gain. Seeing excessive weight gain problems of Americans, the government is advocating efficacy of constant exercise routine in keeping body fit. And among various forms of exercises what's currently topping the charts is Yoga exercises. Yoga has become a rage in America because of its incredible efficacy in weight shedding. Yoga Invigorates Your Sex Life  By : Javier Fuller Yoga has proved it's efficacy in almost all aspects of health. Sexual health also happens to be an essential aspect of being healthy. And Yoga has not bared sex from its holistic health planning. In fact yoga practices have laid great emphasis on healthy sexual life. A good number of yoga asana and exercises are specifically meant to enhance your sexual energy. Yoga's sexual philosophy says that for getting sexual pleasure your mind and body should remain in a rejuvenated state and this rejuvenation could be only brought about by various yoga practices. These yoga practices include all forms of yoga- be it asana, pranyama or dhyana. Yoga And Sex: Kundalini Yoga Favors Sexual Energy For Mental Strength  By : Javier Fuller Kundalini Yoga-- This age old yoga practice is quite wary of other ancient religious practices for gaining elevated spiritual state. While most of the religious practices prefer ascetism and sexual abstinence as a way to uplift soul, Kundalini yoga considers carnal indulgence as a medium to increase self exploration. This practice of yoga lays great emphasis on leading a healthy sexual life. Kundalini yoga suggests to “feel sex” instead of “merely performing sex.” According to this Yogic philosophy there could no better way to mutual exploration process than act of copulation. This yoga vehemently condemns the widespread connotation that sex is an impediment in attaining higher state of being. Yoga Guide For Pregnant Women: Efficacy Of Prenatal Yoga  By : Javier Fuller Pregnancy is an all together different physiological as well as psychological experience for women and for particularly those who happen to be on the family way for the first time. If you are pregnant, you are very likely to suffer from occasional depression. You will be in a state of subtle excitement almost all the time. It is really difficult for you to keep yourself normal physically as well as mentally. That's when Prenatal Yoga comes handy to you. It adds to your physical as well psychological strength for a rather comfortable delivery. In addition to that if you keep practicing yoga through out your pregnancy period, post delivery you are very likely to resume your normal activities at the earliest. Nudist Yoga: A Sheer Pleasure For A Couple Wanting To Enhance Sexual Combatability  By : Javier Fuller For the last two decades various yoga practices have been brought into the mainstream. These decades could be better termed as renaissance decades for yoga. Among age old yoga practices most objectionable practice of naked yoga or nudist yoga has been also revived. In America a good number of men and women find nudist yoga as a source of great relaxation and peace of mind. Every year, a reasonable increase in nudist yoga practitioners or seekers has resulted in a good number of nudist yoga classes. Therein you are needed to shed your clothes in order to perform yoga. Teaching Is A Great Responsibility.  By : Javier Fuller Teaching is a great responsibility. And teaching yoga is still greater a responsibility! The ordinary teaching is to sharpen your intellectual abilities. In yoga, your efforts are to break the mind-barrier, transcend and seek entry to the zone of silence. So, very high skills are required to equip one’s self to become a yoga teacher. Yoga Poses Are Therapeutic!  By : Javier Fuller The entire subject of yoga in relation to health is about various postures. For every disease, it can be wildly claimed that there is a posture prescribed. Ask any yoga enthusiast/teacher and he will not only vouchsafe for it, he will promise cure and give you proofs of cures! And many a times, he is not wrong and his stories are believable. Yoga Helps A Great Deal In Lowering Cholesterol  By : Javier Fuller Are you worried for having some extra cholesterol in your blood? Well, many people are fighting hard battle against the increased cholesterol levels. For, they are much vulnerable to heart diseases much like the heart patients. But I have got a very easy and natural remedy to control your high cholesterol. Some time back, I had a cholesterol level above the normal range and I used this alternative technique to reduce my extra cholesterols. Well, the technique being discussed here is none other the age old technique of keeping fit. That is YOGA. Identify The Pain In Your Back And Leg  By : Javier Fuller Sometimes, it is quite difficult to understand whether the pain in your back is due to leg pain or due to back pain! Human body is such an integrated mechanism that most of the times it is not an easy task to estimate what is wrong with it. If it is a direct injury from an accident or fall, you still know the underlying cause and suffering involved with the pain. But injuries like back pain or leg pain, occurring due to your accumulated sins of negligence is really hard to cure. Yoga helps you lower blood pressure  By : Grojan Fabiola Hypertension is a common disease nowadays, which, if it’s not treated corectly 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. Raja Yoga – Gaining Complete Control Of Mind For Deep Meditation  By : sachatarkovskywritername Raja Yoga involves exact meditation techniques which lead to experiences of the truth and finally achieve liberation. The basic breathing techniques of Raja yoga to gain control over the mind and experience deep meditation are outlined below. Karma Yoga - Part 2 For Life & Spirtual Liberation  By : sachatarkovskywritername There is a story in the Ramayana, one of the great kings, Janaka, who besides being a Rishi, was also a perfect Karma Yogi. The Ramayana is one of the sacred epics of Hindu tradition and religion. This is a story of spiritual liberation for everyone. Karma Yoga - An Introduction  By : sachatarkovskywritername Karma Yoga, or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita, the holiest of Hindu scriptures. As one of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga requires the adherence to one’s duty (swadarma) while remaining detached from the reward. Simply, It is the yoga of performance of “right action”. What is right action? Yoga - Breathing Correctly A Simple Exercise To Help You Feel Better Instantly!  By : sachatarkovskywritername Breathing is one of our basic non-voluntary bodily functions, and is our connection to life itself and we also have control over it, so if we learn to breathe correctly we can actually maximize our health and energy levels. The correct breathing exercise can be done by anyone you don’t need to know anything about yoga and it is a quick an easy way to look and feel better instantly. Lower Your Blood Pressure By Practicing Yoga  By : Groshan Fabiola (Author) If you didn’t know by now, yoga asanas can help you in the treatment of high blood pressure, and help you lower blood pressure. Yoga asanas make stable your blood pressure, so lower blood pressure when it’s abnormaly high. Asanas have favorable effects on the nervous system. By practicing certain yoga asanas you can not only lower your blood pressure, but also reduce the effects of hypertension on the other organs of the body. There are a few categories of asanas which are recommended to lower blood pressure: forward bends, sitting, supine and inversions group. Sun Salutation  By : Kirsten Hawkins The Sun Salutation yoga pose is recommended for practitioners of all ages and especially for the ones who cannot dedicate a lot of time to their yoga routine. The reason why this pose is so highly appreciated has to do with the fact that it involves most of the muscle groups, as well as the respiratory system. In fact, the Sun Salutation is a sequence of twelve yoga positions, linked together by a flowing motion and accompanied by five deep special breaths. Each of the twelve positions contributes to stretching a different part of the body and different muscle groups. Moreover, it helps expanding and contracting the chest in order to regulate breathing. Yoga Meditation  By : Kirsten Hawkins As it is generally admitted by yoga practitioners and yoga trainers, yoga sessions are very much about self equilibrium, peacefulness and meditation. By practicing meditation we can all reach the sublime state of learning the purpose of our existence and maximizing our will to reach it. Studies have proven that meditation highly contributes to both physical and psychological well-being, which is why yoga routines consider the practice of meditation as one of its main principles. Yoga Diet  By : Kirsten Hawkins One of the essential things about yoga, together with the positive attitude, is the diet. It is highly recommended to perform your yoga session after about 2 hours from a main meal. Many specialists agree that what we eat is reflected both in our appearance, as well as in our health state. In other words, it is important to mind the things we consume, in order to prevent illnesses and discomforts. However, the question related to what does healthy food mean, remains a constant reason of inquiry for many people. According to reliable studies, a very diversified diet represents the ideal food for any human organism. However, fruits and vegetables, containing fibers and vitamins should be a permanent component of your daily meals. Furthermore, everything that can be defined as natural food is recommended, when it comes to preserving your state of well being. Learning Yoga Techniques  By : Michelle Bery - Yoga is an ancient form of exercise wherein participants use certain postures in combination with dedicated breathing techniques to improve physical and emotional health. Unlike many other forms of exercise, yoga connects mind and body in a journey towards overall health. There are many forms of yoga techniques in practice today. Deciding what technique works best for you is a very personal choice. The differences between yoga techniques usually lie in the yoga positions – or asanas. A professional yoga instructor can guide you through different yoga techniques and ensure that you are doing them correctly and safely. This can be enormously beneficial to you when determining what yoga technique works for you. Discovering Yoga Retreats  By : Michelle Bery - With more and more people practicing the ancient art of yoga, there exists a large community of people who share a passion for its benefits. The consistent practice of yoga has been shown to decrease stress, improve physical health, and increase mental and emotional well being. And for those who have experienced its benefits, they are often eager to share the experience with others. Yoga retreats offer those who are committed to yoga a place of relaxed community and focused learning where they can practice yoga within a social setting. Yoga retreats can last any length of time; the only requirement is to have a passion for yoga. Learning Yoga Postures For Increased Health And Vitality  By : Michelle Bery - In today’s chaotic world, more and more people are turning to the practice of yoga to improve their physical wellness as well as increasing mental sharpness and emotional well being. Yoga – an exercise practice that establishes a strong mind/body connection – includes a variety of yoga postures to be learned. Practicing and eventually mastering these yoga postures can mean the acquirement of a lifetime tool for maintaining flexibility, strength, and overall health. There are literally hundreds of yoga postures in existence; each yoga posture benefits a particular part of the body – strengthening abdominal muscles, the muscles surrounding the spinal column, and much more. Yoga Positions – Positioning Yourself For Health  By : Michelle Bery - Yoga – the ancient art of breathing and stretching – has long been favored as a natural way to achieve optimal fitness and ward off stress. Today, more and more people are turning to yoga to help them achieve what traditional exercise has not – a mind/body connection that offers a greater level of health and inner peace. Yoga positions consist of holding certain postures of the body while performing deep and precise breathing techniques. There are many types of yoga practice to which different people prescribe but there is a common thread that unites all sects of yoga. They all have various postures or positions that are common to yoga in general. Namaste Yoga - What's It All About?  By : annmarier (author) Yoga is a wonderful exercise, and Namaste yoga is just one of the many different types of yoga that you can choose to participate in. Just remember that regardless of which actual type of yoga you end up choosing, you are still going to be reaping at least some form of benefits. About Namaste Yoga Kundalini Yoga: The Be All And End All Of All Yoga Forms  By : annmarier (author) If you have life energy within, then it is possible for you to get maximum benefit and well as meditation. It is the power of the Divine as embodied in the Mother. Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga that requires a lot of care and you should ensure that you practice it under the tutelage of a teacher; otherwise it could be problematic. Concentrate On the Heart Center Hatha Yoga Provides Gentle Exercise To Stimulate Your Imune System  By : annmarier (author) The most common form of yoga practiced in the United States is hatha yoga. Hatha yoga differs from other disciplines of yoga as it is more exercise than mental preparation for meditation. All yoga stretches are designed to relax the body on the path of spiritual enlightenment including meditation; however most Americans practice the poses for the fitness benefits. Hatha yoga is a gentle exercise which strengthens the existing muscles without adding unwanted muscle bulk. People who practice hatha yoga claim all kinds of homeopathic benefits from illness relief to increased concentration while meditating. The Concept Of Beginners Yoga Starts In Your Mind  By : annmarier (author) Yoga is an absolutely wonderful exercise, and it is actually one of the only exercises that you can do which works you out mentally, physically and spiritually, all at once. However if you are a newcomer to yoga and you are not sure where to start, then you are definitely going to want to go with the beginners yoga before you advance any further. About Beginners Yoga The Correct Yoga Position Is Key To Reaping The Benefit Of Yoga Exercise  By : annmarier (author) Marjari-asana means a cat stretch yoga position. To do this yoga exercise kneel and lean forward to place hands on floor below your shoulders, fingers facing forward, hands in line with knees. Arms and thighs should be at right angles to the floor with your knees slightly separated. Inhale deeply, raise head and drop spine so your back is concave. Fill your lungs and hold for three seconds. As you exhale, lower your head and stretch your spine upwards. At the end of the breath, pull in your buttocks, contract stomach muscles and place your head between your arms. It is recommended that you repeat this yoga exercise five times. Parvatasana means mountain yoga position which helps to Strengthen nerves and muscles in your arms and legs, and stimulates the circulation in the upper spine. For this yoga exercise kneel on raised heels and stretch your arms forward so your forehead is on the floor. Breathe deeply and relax for a few seconds. Raise yourself on to your hands and knees, keeping your toes tucked under and your back flat.Inhale and push up onto your toes. Raise your buttocks and lower your head between your arms. Your back and legs should form two sides of a triangle. Exhale, rest your feet on the floor and try to touch the floor with the top of your head. Hold the position for 10 seconds and then relax. Introducing Hatha Yoga  By : annmarier (author) Hatha yoga is an ancient hindu system of working with the human nervous system. Because it releases tension and endows one with renewed energy, far too many 20th century people, yoga teachers included, have come to look upon the venerable Indian physical science as solely an exercise for health and vitality of mind and body. It is that, but it is also much more. Hatha yoga practices are more spiritual than physical, more subtle than gross, more a means of understanding than an exotic way to relieve stress or limber up the body. The sages who developed hatha yoga designed it as a way to gain conscious control of our life energies, a way to go within, to harmonize the external so the innermost Self could be encountered. To them, it was about states of consciousness, about living a divine life, and it was a preparation for meditation. Using A Learn Yoga Cd-rom Is Ideal For Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) In today's modern world of computers it is quite easy to look for information about yoga exercise to enable you to decide exactly which yoga posture and yoga exercise you want to practice. You have no need to find a yoga class just pop in a cd-rom and follow the instructions. Two excellent yoga exercise cd-roms are Wellness Yoga and Shiatsu Relaxation. Lithe young women demonstrate these ancient Eastern techniques while mellow-voiced narrators speak over somnambulant music, the better to relax you and make you all well. Most of us are familiar at least with the concepts of yoga, its slow stretching exercises and its often almost unattainable physical positions. Wellness Yoga is a nicely designed program that packages 74 asanas, or positions, into several packages such as the Quick and Easy Course, the Beauty Course and the Health Course. Yoga Exercise Improves Blood Glucose Control  By : annmarier (author) Yoga exercises strengthen your body and make it more flexible. Yoga also calms your mind and gives you energy. In active sports or strenuous exercises, you use up energy. In yoga classes, students report that they feel tranquil after a class, yet have more energy. Slow and steady motion is the key to going into or coming out of the postures. You hold a yoga pose for several seconds or even minutes and give attention to full, quiet breath. Your yoga instructor will always encourage you to relax as the exercises are being done. You gently place your body into a yoga posture. Done correctly, there's very little chance of injury or muscle stress. A particular asana is not repeated dozens of times, nor are you ever encouraged to push yourself too much. Can Yoga Improve Or Even Cure Diabetes For Some People  By : annmarier (author) Diabetes in various forms affects up to 5percent of the world population with 12 million diabetics in Western Europe alone. Of the different ways in which diabetes presents, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is probably the most commonly encountered genetic disease. NIDDM or Type II diabetes is multifactorial, depending also on environmental factors including obesity, sedentary lifestyles and nutritional imbalances. Yoga has shown some beneficial results in curing diabetes. The yoga exercises that are prescribed for curing diabetes is different from hatha yoga exercise because it involves positions tailored to treat certain conditions, as well as meditation, relaxation and stretching exercises. Beginners Yoga Can Be A Challenge  By : annmarier (author) Yoga is a challenging discipline for the beginning to the advanced person. The asanas, or postures are slow and steady and are not meant to be painful, but this does not mean that they are not challenging. Never extend yourself too much to cause discomfort. With practice, you should see yourself relaxing into the stretches with ease. Nevertheless, for beginners there are a few tips when practicing yoga. Release all thoughts, good or bad before you begin. Turn off your phone and don’t answer the door, you need peace and quiet. Make sure you take a warm, relaxing shower and that you wear comfortable clothes that will allow you to stretch easily. You can use aromatherapy that will relax and help to clear you thoughts. You will want to purchase a yoga mat so you can rest on the pad and not slip and slide on the floor. Introducing Yoga With A Success Story  By : annmarier (author) Ina Mirx is 68, looks 35, and can do things with her body that a 16-year-old farm hand can't do, but she wasn't always fit-as-a-fiddle. At the age of 30, while pregnant, she was forced to jump from the third story of a burning hotel. She landed on concrete, fractured her spine and pelvis, broke several ribs -- and lost her child. Over Hauling Your Complete Self With Yoga  By : annmarier (author) I have heard a lot about yoga lately, and there are two reasons people seem to like it. It is a great form of exercise, and it is also supposed to be great for clearing your mind and learning how to relax. I have thought about getting into yoga quite a few times but I haven’t quite gotten there yet. I’m still dreaming of it though, and I do hope to start soon, and I hope to make it something that I can do with my daughter. She may not understand what it is, but I am hoping it will help her in the same way that I hope it helps me. What I have learned about yoga so far is that there is more to it then just bending, stretching, and holding poses. If you do want to start a program, you should search the Internet for information about yoga. If you want to get your children involved, you do have to keep certain safety issues in mind. As I was learning about yoga for my daughter, I wrote an article on it because I found a lot of information that perhaps not a lot of people know. Introducing Yoga Beliefs  By : annmarier (author) It has been rightly said: "Pleasure is a sense of moreness." Every time you feel pleasure, you will find the word "moreness" covers the case. It will cover the lowest condition of pleasure, the pleasure of eating. You are becoming more by appropriating to yourself a part of the Not-Self, food. You will find it true of the highest condition of bliss, union with the Supreme. You become more by expanding yourself to His infinity. Learning All About Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) All raga must be entirely put aside. We must separate ourselves from it. We must acquire the opposite condition, where every passion is stilled, where no attraction for the objects of desire remains, where all the bonds that unite the man to surrounding objects are broken. "When the bonds of the heart are broken, then the man becomes immortal." How shall this dispassion be brought about? There is only one right way of doing it. By slowly and gradually drawing ourselves away from outer objects through the more potent attraction of the Self. Sorting Out Yoga Mats For Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) We are all overweight these days. Probably something to do with the types of lives we live. Even with the multitude of diets and exercise routines out there we, as a nation, are still fat and something needs to change. I think that it has a lot do to with stress. Stress causes all kinds of health problems and I believe it makes some people gain weight or hold on to the weight that they already have and are trying to get rid of. If we are truly going to become a healthier country, I believe that we need to focus more on the importance of stress relief. Choosing Yoga Clothes For Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) America is fat. Fat, fat, fat. Are we doing anything about it? Well yes, we are. We are doing a lot. It is just not enough. Even with the multitude of diets and exercise routines out there we, as a nation, are still fat and something needs to change. We all want to become healthier, happier, fitter, and more spiritual people. This is, after all,the 21st century, and I think I can safely say that the practitioners of yoga are on the forefront of leading the new spiritual revolution. However, do you really want to be spiritual at the expense of being cute? It's all right to try to be Buddha, but do we really want to look like him? Do you really want to learn beginners yoga without having the chance to wear cute yoga clothes? Yoga Teacher Training  By : annmarier (author) In the pursuit of finding a great job that can help people stay in great shape, many individuals are looking into yoga teacher training. This training can be the stepping stone to a lucrative career that can really help you maintain good health and balance. While some like to go to classes in person, others opt to take yoga teacher training courses online instead. There are many benefits to taking the classes online. You can pretty much set your own schedule. The yoga teacher training courses available through Internet instruction can be completed in a year or less. Basically, certification through some of these organizations is measured by hours. Walking For Exercise Is The Natural Way To Stay Slim And Healthy  By : annmarier (author) With today's sedentary culture, many of us sit behind a desk or use our spare time as a couch potato exercise, watching a sitcom or listening to music. Video games and surfing the net can fill in a lot of hours and before you know it, the day is done. All of these activities may serve to stimulate the mind, but they don't offer a lot in the way of keeping fit. Striking a balance between stimulating our minds and maintaining our health can be tricky, but necessary to a healthy lifestyle. An all around fitness program may be as simple as a consistent walking for exercise program. The fast pace of life that we all endure invites a lack of exercise and slowly going to pot physically. The temptations of the media combined with little available leisure time tends to be a trap for most of us. It's easy to excuse ourselves, with all the mundane obligations that life imposes. It's true that we have little time for leisure and we want to spend that time in pleasurable pursuits. Nonetheless, we can't ignore the fact that the sedentary lifestyle takes its toll on the general health and fitness we might otherwise enjoy. Frequently Asked Yoga Questions  By : James C Yoga is a great exercise to take up if you are looking to get in shape and deal with stress. It is an exercise that anyone can do for the rest of their life. If you are considering taking up yoga, keep reading and learn the answers to some frequently asked questions. Can I still do yoga if I am not very flexible? Yes you can, yoga is not just about flexibility. It is about relaxation and holding poses. Through yoga you will find that you also will become more flexible just do not push yourself too hard. It takes time. The Founder of Pilates  By : James C Pilates is an incredible exercise that has become extremely popular. It is an exercise that anyone can do no matter what your level of physical conditioning is. It is designed to stretch, strengthen and balance your body. It is a great exercise but do you know how Pilates got its start? Read this article and find out. Pilates was started by the man who gave it its name, Joseph Pilates. Joseph Pilates began to teach his own exercise program during World War I in England. Forced into an internment camp he taught his exercise program, which combined Yoga and ancient Roman techniques, to fellow internees. At the time he called the program Controlology. Later Pilates' wife, a nurse, would modify his exercise program so that injured patients would be able to use it. She helped make it what it is today. A well designed exercise program that anyone can do regardless of physical conditioning. Joseph Pilates past away in 1967 but he is far from forgotten. The Health Benefits Of Yoga  By : James C Would you like to find an exercise that is easy to do? Would you like to find an exercise that will strengthen your body and your soul? Would you like to find an exercise that anyone can do or that heals your body? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then yoga is for you. Read along and discover the numerous wonderful benefits of yoga. One of the benefits of yoga is its power to lower your tension level. It has the ability to make you relax, lowering your stress level and regulating your heart rhythm. Perfect for those worried about the health of their heart. Through its meditative properties, it will also improve your mental wellbeing, relieving anxiety and easing depression. Yoga Improves Strength  By : Kadence Buchanan - A number of people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness and strength levels. While they recognize that yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility and overall health, when it comes to increasing muscle fitness people think it might the most appropriate exercise to do the job. But, according to experts, yoga can definitely make you stronger. If you would like to really put your daily fitness routine in overdrive and get better results than you ever have in the past, you really should consider adding yoga exercises into your home fitness workouts. Unlike traditional weight building exercises, in yoga, your body provides the resistance. While you are not likely going to produce the bulked up muscles of some weight lifters, you will certainly increase your muscle strength. In addition, some balance postures require enormous muscle control in order to prevent you from falling over. This helps to build and strengthen your muscles. Aerobic exercise is great for burning calories, and strength training works very well for strengthening your muscle groups, but yoga goes far beyond either of those forms of exercise and can benefit you both physically and mentally. Baddha Konasana – A Great Asana For Hip And Groin  By : Sharon Hopkins - Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) is also known as the Cobbler's Pose because of the similarity to a cobblers sitting position. It is an excellent asana which helps your groin and hip position. It is a forward bending asana which starts off from Staff Pose or Dandasana. You have to bend your knees by bringing the soles of the feet together. This forward bending asana is very different to the other forward bending asanas. The focus area in this asana is to open the hip and help the pelvic area. This help to the pelvic area stimulates the reproductive organs which are of great help to women as well as men. The performance of this asana also helps in alleviating the menstrual pain problems. It is very useful to have a comfortable child birth, if practiced regularly during the period of pregnancy. Also clears menopause related problems. Baddha Konasana stimulates the abdominal organs as well as the ovaries, prostate gland, bladder and kidneys. It energizes your heart which improves the blood circulation and provides the all needed help to your body. This asana stretches the inner thigh, groin and knees which gives your body an agile and toned look. If you have problems like depression or anxiety this asana can help you overcome that problem. People with sciatica problem can also be treated by performing this asana regularly. It is a great asana because of its tremendous benefits for our aching and paining body. Known to be a therapeutic treatment for flat feet and similar other problems to be dealt by this asana. The practice of Baddha Konasana prevents the attack of many other diseases. Simhasana - The Lion Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga has used nature and wildlife as it reference point due to which there are so many asanas related to it. Simhasana is one of those asanas which adds glory to your face and you can easily see the difference. Yoga is an age-old process which has been quite a favorite amount all the age-old-yogis. Even though Simhasana mean lion pose if taken the literal meaning, in Sanskrit ‘simha’ means 'the powerful one'. It emits lot of force when you perform this asana. Similar to the roar of the lion this asana is performed in the exact fashion to draw as much usefulness as possible. The asana depicts the fierceness of the lion which benefits those parts of the body where it is stretched and pulled. This asana is very different to other asanas as it benefits your face which many of the asanas are not able to do it. It benefits your face, jaw, mouth, throat and tongue. If you have sore throat problems this asana proves to be very useful. Problems like tightness of the jaw like teeth grinding, clenched jaws can get some relief by performing this asana regularly. This asana involves the stretching of the tongue as you are required to mimic the roaring lion. It can be treated as a very good asana which can remove your wrinkles and can be stated as an anti-ageing yoga asana. We pay lot of attention to the other parts of our body and hardly take care of our face while performing the yoga asana. This asana shows that we are in right direction and this asana could prove to be very much essential of our lives. Anuloma-viloma - Yogic Breathing For Better Health  By : Sharon Hopkins - Swami Kuvalyanand once said: “Yoga has a message for the human body, for the human mind and the human spirit.” This is a truism as a healthy body is the prime requisite for success and happiness in life. People are increasingly being convinced that yoga makes for good health, contentment and happiness in present day stressful life and is not just an exercise regimen. Marjaraasana - For Sound Physical And Mental Health  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga today is all the rage. It is a subject that excites people’s curiosity and enjoys much popularity. This is especially so since the asanas (exercises) and pranayamas (breathing techniques) that owe their origins to ancient Indian wisdom have proved beneficial in promoting holistic health and mental peace as also in developing personality. In this article we will discuss Marjaraasana - the cat pose. Process: Sit on your haunches with the knees and toes on the ground. Keep the palms on the floor in such a way that the distance between them is about the same as that between the shoulders, i.e. equal to the width of the back. Keep the distance between the palms and the knees about the same as that between the shoulders and the hips, i.e. equal to the length of the torso. The distance between the knees should be the same as the width of the waist. Turn the toes back so that the soles face upward. The distance between the soles should be the same as that between the knees. Relax the muscles in the trunk region and let the trunk descend under gravity. At the same time, let the neck and head curve backward as far as possible. Relax the stomach and close the eyes. Direct your attention to the entire body and practise conscious differential relaxation. Keep the mind engaged in pranadharana (consciousness of breath). This is the final posture of marjaraasana –maintain it according to capacity. Benefits Of Performing - Standing Head To Knee Yoga Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Dandayamana Janushirasana is also known as Standing Head to Knee Pose. The core need for this asana is to maintain balance. With the sense of balance you tend to be a determined person from within. Your level of patience is also kept in check by doing this asana. It is a mind and body unison which creates greater impact. A state of balance is brought in your life. A cool and calm mind is always valuable for a quick decision and Dandayamana Janushirasana lets you do that. Calmness prevails when nervousness try to take over your mind. It makes you a positive and forthcoming individual. A need to learn and achieve is required to make it an attainable asana. Degree of agility and flexibility increases by regularly performing the asana. The digestive and reproductive systems are at a full go due to the massaging done during the asana. It clears many of your stomach and digestion related problems. With a strong reproductive system your sexual life can take a turn, for good. Pancreas function better by steady execution of this asana. Thus, maintains the sugar levels and brings a breath of fresh air to all diabetic patients. You remember things better as it enhances your memory. Blood circulation improves the functioning of your body. Kapalabhati - A Breathing Exercise  By : Sharon Hopkins - Kapalabhati is a very important asana and it should be part of your daily practice. This pose is also known as the Fire Breathing Pose, due to intake and outlet of air, with force. The exercise purifies your lungs and nasal passage. It is one of the powerful breathing exercises which help the entire body. It is one of a kind of the breathing exercises in Pranayama. Kapalabhati helps to make the motions of diaphragm very easy and controlled. This helps it to discard the muscle cramps present in bronchial tubes. Lot of force is used to do this asana. While exhaling the process is very strong and while inhaling it is done very calmly. It is a very energizing technique to re-boot all your muscles. It is a cleansing technique which emphasizes on cleaning your air passages and blockages in your chest. This technique helps to remove the toxic air and takes in the fresh air. The breathing mainly takes place from the abdomen rather than chest which helps to remove the toxic air. Kapala means 'the skull' and bhati means 'brings lightness'. It lightens your skull by extracting problems like sinusitis. It is an invigorating and an energizing asana as it clears your stuffy skull with fresh air. It is one of the great exercises for asthma patients and people suffering from respiratory problems. It is useful in removing impurities from the blood. It is a very stimulating asana which can do wonders to every single tissue of your body. This asana invigorates your spine due to the breathing technique. Ardha Kurmasana - Half Tortoise Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Ardha Kurmasana is also known as Half Tortoise Yoga Asana. Due to its resemblance to a tortoise it is known as the tortoise pose. This yoga asana can prove to be very beneficial to your body in every possible way. By performing this asana regularly and properly our bodies can be rejuvenated. The organs get stretched to its maximum with every movement of this asana. The shoulder movement gets improved and so does the muscles in the corresponding areas. The abdominal muscles gets toned and become more flexible. The asana stretches the lower part of the lungs which is good for your breathing. It also increases the lung capacity which proves to be crucial if you have breathing problems like asthma. The pressure put on your neck and head improves migraine problems. It can be stated as a stress buster due to its stress relieving capacity. Spine Twisting Pose - Ardha Matsyendrasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Ardha Matsyendrasana asana is also known as the Spine Twisting Asana. It is one of the essential poses which make the body healthy and fine. It is a basic pose which should be done by everyone, if their body is capable to do it. If done correctly it becomes a value addition in your day-to-day life. It may seem hard at the first attempt but you can do it in stages. By doing it in stages the asana proves to be very easy and simple. The twist in the asana is a blessing for the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver and spleen. It is also very beneficial for people who suffer from asthma, indigestion, constipation and obesity. If you are a person with good height but stooping shoulders, this asana can correct it. It also improves the back and corrects a faulty posture. The twist stretches every muscle and ligament of your back. Pavanamuktasana - Wind Removing Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Pavan means wind, mukta means relieve or free and asana means pose. This asana is similar to many other yoga poses based on nature. It is being used to foretell the strength and power of the wind from within. It helps in removing the toxic gas present in your body. It creates space for fresh air in the body to create maximum utilization of the bodily resources. This yoga pose would improve the digestive system very well. It would do real wonders to your stomach as the excess gas is being removed from the abdomen. The intestines also function better due to the removal of the gas. You can get rid of constipation by initiating this exercise in your life. The use of legs, hands and hips strengthens the hip muscles. Yoga For Asthma Cure  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga has helped in curing and preventing many diseases. The poses and asanas stimulate the required organs and help you with your ailments. Asthma is a very common problem. It is basically shortness of breath due to the chronic lung condition. Even kids are not spared by this disease. You suffer wheezing, coughing, heaviness in the chest causing blockage in your lungs. During asthma attack lack of oxygen can lead to death too. By doing the required asanas you can fight back. Yoga betters your asthma condition due to the free flow of air. By continuously practicing yoga you can leave your medications at bay. Asthma attacks would lessen with the increase of yoga practice. The breathing exercises are very useful to open up your lungs for fresh air. Benefits And Usefulness Of Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimottanasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - This asana is also known as the Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose. This asana similar to its name stretching your legs and arms. It is one of those enduring asanas that helps your heart and other parts of your body. Stretching is always good for your body. It helps in creating the right balance for your body. Doing this asana is a step forward towards better health. It helps in creating unison between the mind and soul. By doing this pose your heart rate becomes normal. This asana is very useful for most parts of your body. It may be difficult at first. This hitch can be defeated by doing this asana regularly. A stiff body becomes very flexible by doing this asana. It helps in improving your basic movements. There is fresh supply of blood to the brain which helps it to stimulate the brain for better functioning. The posture helps in toning your abdominal organs which helps to create a flexible body. A flexible body helps you do this posture in a much better manner. If done properly the benefits you reap will remain with you life long. Benefits And Usefulness Of Trikanasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Trikanasana is also known as the Triangle Pose. As and when you look at the asana you can easily notice why this name has been given to this asana. It works out every muscle of your body from the arms to the legs. It is a great way to shed some of the excess weight you have been carrying all along. This asana helps all those have been struggling with weight problem. If you are looking for a good figure and a curved waist line, this is the pose to do. It helps in curing rheumatism and lumbago, a problem with your lower spine region. It is a good asana to make your shoulders and arms more flexible. A stiff body can achieve a state of flexibility by doing this asana. It has direct impact on your muscles as you start doing it. Benefits And Importance Of Ashtanga Namaskar - Part Iii  By : Sharon Hopkins - We have known the importance and benefits of the first six Ashtanga Namaskar Poses. We will conclude the Ashtanga Namaskar Yoga Asana series with the remaining six asanas. 7. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) Inhale - Om Hiranayagarbhaaya Namah Benefits And Importance Of Ashtanga Namaskar - Part I  By : Sharon Hopkins - This asana is also known as Surya Namaskar Asana or Sun Salutation Asana. It is a combination of 12 postures and each posture provides its unique benefits. The essence of this asana is salutation of the Sun god, which is power source of all the energy in this world. So in process to salute the sun god it also helps our body. This asana becomes very important due to the valuable part it plays with our lives. The composition of these poses in its own different way helps in creating a fit and fine body for you. In a gym, a cardio would include aerobics, skipping, and running, jogging and cycling. By doing Ashtanga Namaskar you will be able to derive all the benefits you try to obtain by going to the gym. When you look at the flipside gym would turn out to be more expensive in comparison to your yoga pose. Importance And Benefits Of Ardha Chandrasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Life teaches us lot of things and yoga learns lot from life. It derives its inspiration from the basic nature of life which is in various forms such as human, animals, plants, tress, earth, sun and moon. For instance this asanas other name is derived from the Moon. In English this asana would mean Half Moon Pose. The Moon from which the name is derived is an important part of our life. It touches each individual it in its own manner. Apparently Hatha yoga talks about sun and moon which are two extreme power houses of human body. So by doing this asana it makes it more important to raise those energies and use it for the benefit of your body. This energy might be in useful for our tired bodies. The solar and lunar energy force works together for benefiting your body. Benefits Of Pincha Mayurasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - The meaning of this asana is peacock feather pose. Before displaying the beautiful feathers, the peacock happens to lift its tail upright. This upright pose before dancing is known as Pincha Mayurasana. This represents the peacock in all its grandeur. The fierceness that is described in the peacock has to be imbibed in our day to day lives. You can also call it as the elbow stand or the forearm stand pose too. As the entire weight falls on your shoulders, it has tremendous strength to withhold that balance for a specific period of time. As the shoulders are not joined together but kept at a distance distributing your weight on both the shoulders. Benefits And Importance Of Adho Mukha Svanasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - When we take each word of this asana and look for the meaning it comes out to be a very simple word. “Adho Mukh” means facing downwards and “Svana” means a dog. This would mean facing downwards dog pose. This pose matches to a dog that stretches himself with its front and back legs. Therefore this name has been attached to this asana. Many asanas has its importance and this asana can be termed as one of the most commonly done asanas. As we all know that every yoga asana has its benefits for specific or hidden problems we face. Most of the inverted poses which have been shown to us has good benefits which done regularly can boost your health tremendously. Benefits And Importance Of Adho Mukha Vrksasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Vrksasana is a tree pose which means you are standing with your hand raised towards the sky. Adho Mukha Vrksasana can be termed as a tilted tree pose where in your hands are supporting the entire body weight. This asana when done by beginners has to be done very carefully as balancing yourself on your hand cannot be that easy. To make it easier it would be better for you to take support of a wall, helping you to overcome your fear of falling while doing this asana. There are many benefits for doing this asana as this helps in strengthening every part of your body helping you to create a more stable and calm body. Your shoulders and arms get stretched and in that process all the bones in your body also gets a good massage. Practicing this asana along with some teacher or friend would help you to do this asana without much hassle. Benefits And Importance Of Bhujangasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Bhujangasana is known as the snake or cobras pose because it reflects the look of a raised hood. As you raise your head along with your chest it represents a snake hood. The rest of the body lies down representing the body of the snake. This asana can be one of the best asanas for your back as well as your spine. Inhaling and exhaling plays a very important part in this or any other asanas. Bending and stretching of your back may differ between individuals. As some has their youth to help whereas some manage even without that. It all depends on how flexible your body is and how much can you bend, to make the utmost use from your asana. Benefits Of Matsyasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - The name given to every asana derives its inspiration from nature. As this pose happens to look like a fish it is known as matsyasna - fish pose. The popular feeling is that Matsyasana is known as the destroyer of many diseases. This asana has to be done in padmasana which may not be that easy for beginner. To make it easy you can do this by stretching your legs and then lie on your back. Knees bent and hands by your side. It is one of the back bend poses which done in correct manner would be very fruitful and useful for you. For many who are doing this for the first time can use support for your neck to avoid any strain. The use of a thick blanket may just be the thing you may need. Do this asana on a blanket to avoid any damage to your back. It can be made difficult with many variations depending upon the person who is doing it. While doing this asana hold it for 15 to 30 seconds to get the full benefit. Benefits Of Shavasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - For many it is considered to be one of the easiest asanas, but that is not the case. Even though it may look very simple and non-beneficial but it is the other way round. After doing all your yoga poses this is one of the most essential and important pose to complete your yoga practice with. It is the asana which gives the opportunity to relax. Shavasana means Corpse pose due to the look of the asana. As you lie down it makes you aware about your body and how each part of your body plays a very important role in your life. As you go along meditating it relaxes each nerve of your body and improves your respiration which creates the areas for energy and vitality. It benefits mentally as well as physically, which helps in focusing your positive energy for a greater good. Mind and body should not waiver while doing this asana. Full concentration is required and it may prove to be very handy in times when you need the most. A motionless mind and body helps you reach the level of optimum relaxation. Listening to soothing voice or some chants may just help you reach that meditated level. Benefits Of Salamba Sirasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Salamba Sirasana is known as the king of asanas. As in any story the king and queen play different role, in the same manner the asanas also play a different role. The Queen of poses, the shoulder stand helps in the development of the right brain which comprises of stability and patience. Whereas, left brain triggers the brain by pushing through the walls of obscurity towards clear vision. You cannot master this asana in the first attempt. You have to learn it slowly and steadily without straining your neck and back. The presence of a yoga instructor would be the best thing to start off this asana. After many attempts and by the use of props like the wall you can be a maestro of this asana. Reaping Benefits From Viparita Karni Asana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Every yoga asana has been made with the intention of being useful to the different parts of your body. All the yoga asanas you would learn or must have heard about would be useful one way or the other. Viparita - would mean inverted, opposite karani would mean - in action, an act of doing. It is also known as the leg-up-the-wall-pose. Most of the yoga positions keeps your feet on ground but this position does the opposite, helping you ease up your muscles by the flow of blood from the leg to your head. This inverted position leads to increase in blood flow to your upper body as well as to your brain which is very useful to maintain your blood pressure. The longer you be in this position it will be more beneficial to you. Your day long or week long fatigue would go away and gets you refreshed. It can be termed as one of the best medicines to revive you from the feeling of exhaustion and fatigue. Benefits Of Garudasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - 'Garuda' means eagle and 'asana' means pose. Garuda known as king birds also happen to be the vehicle of Vishnu. Even though most of the yoga poses aims towards balance and tranquility, by the look of the asana it will be more visible. This asana would help in loosening up your joints. Stretching your muscles would help in making all the parts of your body more fit. While doing the asana sense of balance would be achieved as you are standing on one foot. It would look similar to you being wrapped by yourself. As this is a standing pose many beginners do not happen to find the right balance, for this they can use the wall to support the back. This can be done with different variations and can be very challenging. You should consult your doctor before doing any of the yoga poses. Even though these are very beneficial it would depend upon your body whether you can manage these asanas. Benefits Of Padangusthasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - This is one of the basic yoga asanas which we learn initially while learning yoga. All the yoga poses help in improving your flexibility which becomes very useful in our daily life. The asana is also known as head to foot pose. Your desire to regulate your blood pressure can be done by this asana. The pressure on your head and the stretching of the muscles relaxes your brain, making you work out things more easily and calmly. The stretching and pulling tones your body and relaxes you by making you feel at ease. The bending helps your abdominal organs as it massages the liver and spleen making it useful to the optimum level. If done properly this asana would benefit not only body but would teach you be calm and patient. It has to be done slowly and not in a haste, if you want to receive its full benefits. The tiring muscles would be elevated and rejuvenated by this pose. The stretching of the muscles helps your hips, thighs, hamstrings, groin and calves. When these muscles are stretched they make your body more agile and fit. It helps to strengthen the other muscles which would help in recuperating your tired body. The less stress you give to your important organs it would work in a better fashion and helping your health. The Benefits And Importance Of Sarvangasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - It is known as the queen of asanas which works out to be very beneficial for your mind, body and soul. Sarvangasana is a combination of three parts such as "sarva" "anga" and "asana" which means "all body posture". It is one the asana which is very important and helpful for your entire body including the pressure massages for your thyroid glands. The other benefit from this asana is the projection of stability emotionally and otherwise. Every muscle that is pushed and pulled benefits the organs inside, which in turn shows on your body and face. It soothes the nervous system which otherwise seems to be overloaded with unwanted work. By doing this asana properly it could help you in curing your ailments related to bronchitis, asthma, heavy breathing and shortness in breath. Digestion is one of the major problems which many people face, due to fast food and other junk we fill in our stomachs. Your digestion would come in terms with your food by this asana as well as your body would be a place of better health. If you happen to be anemic your conditions could improve by simply doing this asana as well as have daily routine in dietary and exercise habits. How To Practice Meditation  By : Sharon Hopkins - Meditation is the most important practice for calming the mind. A calm mind can lead to a healthy, happy and successful life. It can cure diseases and speed up healing processes. We describe the simple technique below called prana-dharana. Prana in Sanskrit stands for the air that we breathe. It is the most basic act of life which starts from birth and goes on till death. But generally, we are not aware of the breath till our attention is drawn close to it. Dharana means its awareness. Prana-dharana means applying the mind to the flow of air when we breathe. The method is as described below: Sit in a posture suitable for meditation. The common postures are Siddhasana, Padmasana and Swastikasana. But if you cannot do this, just sit cross-legged. Your back should be straight and eyes closed. Your knees should be placed well on the ground. Do not stoop your shoulders back. The whole body should be relaxed and the whole frame steady without exerting any pull or pressure on the thighs, feet, knees, spine or neck. There should be no stretch on tension along the abdominal wall. Let the abdominal wall sway gently back and forth very smoothly and effortlessly with each respiration. Facial muscles should be relaxed and mouth closed with a small gap between the two jaws such that the upper and lower teeth do not exert pressure on each other. Your tongue should touch the palate with tip touching the back of the upper front teeth. Ensure that the lips, tongue or the lower jaws do not move. Your eyeballs and eyelids should be steady and the muscles of the forehead relaxed. Improve Your Eyesight With Trataka  By : Sharon Hopkins - Eyes are the windows of the soul and you can see what a person is up to by looking into his eyes. Hence, it is important to have clean eyesight. In yoga, trataka is a technique devised by the ancient sages to improve eyesight. It is a shuddhikriya or a purification process to cleanse the eyesight and help in the silencing of the mind in concentration. Sit with your back straight. Keep your eyes fixed on an object without winking till tears start streaming down your face. The small object can be the flame of an oil lamp, or an image or a picture or the letter ‘AUM”. This object should be placed in the line of sight at a distance of about four to six feet. You can also do this kriya without any object in front of you. Having an object is not necessary. Just stare in front of you at the wall without moving the eyeballs or eyelids. Ensure that you stare at a certain point on the wall. Dhyana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Almost everyone has experienced the fact that when one starts concentrating his mind on any immediate object or an idea, the mind starts wandering. It is very difficult to keep the mind busy with a single thought. The ancient sages too encountered the same problems. Arjuna, in Gita had mentioned that controlling the mind is an impossible thing on earth. Hence, he was advised by Krishna that though mind control is difficult, it can be made silent and steady by regular practice of vairagya and abhyasa. However, he has warned that yoga is very difficult for people whose minds are not steady and controlled. Pantanjali, in Yoga Sutra has emphasized these two qualities to achieve mind control. Hence ,these are the very qualities that make the essence of yoga. Mind is like a disturbed pond with many impurities. First you need to stop the inflow of fresh impurities and then remove the existing impurities to clean the mind. Abhyasa is one of the practices for purifying the mind. Dhyana is one of the sub practices of abhyasa. This is a stage that a person reaches after practicing concentration for some time. At the start of dhyana, the mind is steadier and only a single thought about an object arises in the mind. Now it is safe to say that the state of dhyana is reached. Here, the mind becomes very stable like the flame of a lamp in a calm atmosphere and its contact with the object of experience becomes intense and complete. Bhakti Yoga – The Science Of Devotion  By : Sharon Hopkins - Bhakti means devotion to the Almighty. Bhakti yoga deals with devotion to God and achieving the union with Him. This is the easiest of all yoga types. This branch of yoga teaches the relation between the devotee and the divine. It does not involve any technical or complicated procedures. There is no need of any intellectual capacity to master this yoga. It has appealed to the common man because it gives him a feeling security and develops a kind of reliance and dependence on the object of his devotion. Bhakti yoga assumes that there is a higher power that has created the universe and is all-powerful. This power has the capacity to confer grace and mercy on him and thus protecting him from all the harms and evils. The devotee or bhakta is expected to make himself fit for receiving this divine grace. For this, he has to practice devotion and virtue. His ultimate goal should be to unite with this divine power and rest eternally in happiness and peace. The devotee surrenders all his motives and acts to the Divine Power. He renounces all responsibilities towards the good or bad consequences of all his actions and ascribes it to the will of the Supreme. Pranayama – The Silence Of Breathing  By : Sharon Hopkins - Pranayama, also known as yogic breathing is the method of silencing the breath. Prana has been defined as the air which flows through the body. Pranayama is made up of three parts: controlled inhalations, controlled exhalations and holding of the breath. When you do all three parts, it is called sahita, while doing only the holding breath without the other two is called kevala. You should start with sahita till kevala comes into being. This is a technique that controls all that is associated with prana. Our breathing is made of two acts of inhalations and exhalations. These acts are followed in cycles where inhalations and exhalations succeed each other, where you take in air into the lungs and then release some of it back from the lungs. In between the inhalation and exhalation, there is a short gap which usually escapes our attention. This act is called respiration and is usually completed in four seconds in the resting phase. We usually respire nearly fifteen times a minute. You can take in about 400 cubic centimeters or 0.4 liters in a minute. When you do deep inhalations, you take in additional 1.6 liters of air and 2 liters in all. At the time of deep exhalations, you throw out all these 2 liters of air but still your lungs contain another 1.5 to 2 liters of air. Jnana Yoga – Yoga For The Intelligent  By : Sharon Hopkins - Jnana means the knowledge. This yoga is the yoga for the intelligent and selected people. This yoga is the ultimate goal of all the other varieties of yoga. This yoga teaches you to look at the world as it is without any ignorance and bias. You can achieve this state by practicing rigorous mental discipline and virtue. This yoga is also called Raja Yoga or the king of all the yogas, since it is of the highest variety and rules over all the other varieties. This is the Yoga that Patanjali has described in his Yoga Sutras. This yoga is made up of eight parts of which five are external and the other three are internal. Two of its parts, viz yama and niyama deal with types of behaviour that the student of yoga should avoid like lying, cheating, stealing etc. and those behaviours that he should cultivate like cleanliness, non-collection etc. Asanas and Pranayama are the next two parts of this yoga. Asanas are the physical movements that help in developing the suppleness of the body and thus cure any diseases. You can control your breath by using pranayama which increases the capacity of the lungs to take in air and thus increases the vitality of the body. The next part Pratyahara denotes the withdrawal of the sense organs from objects of enjoyment. The remaining three parts deal with intense mental concentration. Nauli – Clean The Body Of Impurities  By : Sharon Hopkins - Nauli is a purificatory process of eliminating the impurities that have gathered in the body. You can practice this process only if you have impurities collected in the body, otherwise there is no need to practice it everyday. This process should be performed in the standing position. Stoop forward slightly and turn the belly swiftly from left to right. Rotate the belly swiftly from left to right and vice versa. When the abdominal wall becomes concave, the front abdominal walls are contracted and the other muscles of the abdominal walls are relaxed. The abdominal wall consists of three sets of abdominal muscles called abdominal recti which are vertical and run from below the navel till the chest bone, the transverse abdominal muscles running across the abdominal wall and the internal and external oblique muscles. Of these, only the central vertical muscles are to be contracted. This contraction isolates them from the other muscles of the abdominal wall. They stand out like the column in the midst of the concavity of the abdomen. This is caused by making a thrust from behind at the lower end, located at about two inches from the navel. Regular practice makes this task easier Mudras For Good Health  By : Sharon Hopkins - We present some brilliant, very effective and simple mudras, which you can practice anytime and anywhere: • GYAN MUDRA – This is one of the most important mudras. It is widely used in all yogic meditation practices. Join the tip of forefinger to the tip of the thumb. Hold together gently for at least 15-30 minutes. Importance Of Controlling Your Mind  By : Sharon Hopkins - Since ancient times, the human philosophers have realized the importance of the mind in governing the human affairs. They knew that a person’s external circumstances were the result of his internal thoughts. They were aware that if the person thinks of riches, he would have riches, while if the thoughts are of poverty, success and failure would produce the corresponding effects in the person’s circumstances. Today, modern science has acknowledged the truth of these findings. Hence, it becomes crucial for a person to control his mind. Yoga has specific techniques which deal with the science of mind control. We will study the nature of the mind as is recognized by yoga in this chapter. Shankaracharya has defined the mind in four different ways as per its functions: manas for the job of resolving and doubting; buddhi for the decision and judgment; asmita for the consciousness of its individual existence and chita for remembering the previous experiences. The Mind is a vast collection of thoughts and traces of past experiences. When you are born, your mind is the collection of samskaras collected over the previous births. Those samskaras, whose fruits have already been enjoyed have been wiped out. But as you grow up, new samskaras are being added continuously due to various acts performed by you from birth to death. This translates into the law of karma which states that the events one faces in his life are the results of the activities done by him in the past and his mind at birth contains the samskaras from his previous births. Karma Yoga – The Art Of Living  By : Sharon Hopkins - The ancient book of Gita, which is the treatise on the living has led a great stress on the karma. Karma is defined as the action and its fruits. Ancient Hindu saints have believed that a man’s life is the direct result of his karma. Good thoughts, words and deeds lead to good and happy life while bad thoughts, words and deeds lead a person to disaster. This has been postulated in the 18th century by Isaac Newton, who gave his law as “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The branch of yoga that deals with karma is called as the karma yoga. Usually you are bound by the cravings and desires associated with your act but you can free yourself by doing the act but dissociating yourself from its consequences. This is the basic concept behind karma yoga and the person who follows this path is known as karma yogi. His behaviour is of indifference and while the world may think he is not interested, in reality he has mastered his desires and has developed awareness of the real significance of the events that occur around him. Tenets Of Yoga Philosophy  By : Sharon Hopkins - In the ancient India, philosophy has been traditionally divided into two main groups. These groups are called as the orthodox group and heretic group. The orthodox group believes in the authority of Vedas in all the philosophical matters. These orthodox systems are six in all. One of the most popular systems of philosophy is yoga. It shares the following common beliefs with the other orthodox systems: Points To Be Followed Before Learning Yoga  By : Sharon Hopkins - Once you have decided to practice yoga for better living and spiritual health, you need to take care of the following points so as to prevent injuries to your physical self: • Physical condition of the individual: usually, it is recommended that people with normal health do yoga practice. But if you are suffering from some physical problems and are using yoga to cure it, you need to follow certain precautions since performing yoga practices without proper precautions may lead to harmful effects on the body. This is because the internal organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys etc. are involved and may get harmed if you do not practice yoga properly. Hence it is recommended that you follow the yoga techniques under expert guidance. Yama And Niyama In Yoga  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga defines yama and niyama as the positive and negative aspects of behaviour respectively. Traditional texts mention ten yamas and ten niyamas but Patanjali’s Yogasutra, which is considered the original treatise on yoga, defines five yamas and five niyamas. It has been mentioned that in Manusmirti that it is more important to follow yamas than niyamas. Here we give a brief description on the yamas and niyamas to be followed: • Ahimsa (Non-violence): this is one of foremost yamas. It means the lack of intention to hurt others. This intention need not be just physical but includes mental and emotional cruelty. Here the attitude is more important than the actual act of killing. You should not even have the intention of offending others. Fitness - Mantra To Live Long  By : Sharon Hopkins - Demanding careers, raising a family coupled with pressures of daily life is daunting task for man and woman alike. Exercising or daily workout of 30 minute is the last thing on the mind, though we find time to watch TV or hang out with friends. We can come up with hordes of reason for not hitting the gym. Being fit should be a part and priority in everyone’s life. Being physically fit helps you to live a longer life. It means more than looking your best on the beach and finishing first in the marathon. By keeping yourself physically fit, your body learns to deal with the stress of daily life. Incorporate going to the gym as a daily habit like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Devote good 30 minutes to an hour for exercises or any other kind of workout for making you feel fit and look good. Okay, Explain Bikram Yoga To Me Again?  By : Foras Aje As varied as the poses associated with yoga are, it should not be a surprise that there are various styles of yoga. Now, though the poses may more or less be quite similar in execution, each style/technique does have their own unique stand outs. One of such is the critically acclaimed Bikram Yoga. I Need To Lose Weight, Can I Use Yoga?  By : Foras Aje The caption above was the question that a fellow rider on the sub-way asked me on the way home as I was looking through the recent copy of the Yoga journal. I sort of had to pause to regain my composure as she had just suggested to me that “look , I’m overweight and I need you to tell me how to lose some pounds…and yes, I’m a female!” Again, Here Are Some Of The Benefits Of Doing Yoga  By : Foras Aje The other day, soon as she found out that I did yoga, a co-worker asked me; “Besides being all flexible, what are the other benefits of doing this yoga-thing?, It looks like stretching to me anyway…” Well, I told her that's asking (and saying) a lot really, the health benefits of yoga are so much that it may be hard to see which exact one is the most important. Are Yoga Balls Helpful For Doing Poses?  By : Foras Aje I’ve been doing yoga for years and never actually had the need for or even used props such as blocks, belts or even the common yoga balls. However that changed when I recently attempted some yoga poses using the big ball nestled in the corner of my girlfriend’s apartment. How To Get A Yoga Trainer License  By : Foras Aje Okay, I just finished 4 games of basket ball with the guys at the gym and before that had done sets of pull-ups, dips and the ab-wheel. While the rest started winding down to get showered and changed, I all of a sudden got into the 8-limb staff yoga poses to loosen up my whole body, the way only this pose seems to. “Say man; you do yoga?” one of the guys called out I said yes. How To Get Certified To Teach Yoga For Kids.  By : Foras Aje Ask Angela Bassett, Madonna and perhaps your next door neighbor carrying her yoga mat out of the trunk with the groceries, most stay-home moms have picked Yoga up as their method of keeping fit and maintaining physical, mental and emotional balance. Needless to say, when the see the apparent results most naturally wonder how their children might be able to benefit from using Yoga. Let’s Assess Doing Yoga Without Clothing Shall We?  By : Foras Aje If one looks at the other articles I may have written on this site, you will see that I recently wrote about chair yoga. Well, another form of this ancient exercise is one that apparently is gaining a lot of popularity, it’s known as Nude Yoga. Not that I’m much of a guru to pass judgment, but if I were to be asked what I thought about doing yoga poses without clothing I would say, I think the concept is...okay, especially if privacy is involved. Like Yoga Diagrams, Pictures Say A Thousand Words.  By : Foras Aje Okay, almost everyone is hip to the benefit and use of Yoga these days. I mean considering that the main purpose is “To kindle the divine fire within yourself." (as stated by B.K.S. Iyengar) , but when it comes to yoga be it simply beginner yoga exercises or how to learn yoga postures online, it goes without saying that a home practice is one sure way to gain from this wonderful exercise. Hence the need for yoga diagrams right there in your reach. [1] [2] [3]

SIGN UP FOR FREE   Sign Up for a free account or learn more. Submit Articles Member Login Top Authors Most Popular Articles Submission Guidelines Ezine Notifications Article RSS Feeds About Us Link to Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Service   Most Recent Articles Running: A Cure For Old Age Disability  By : Javier Fuller Life must be wonderful not only in terms of its length but also in terms of quality. But seemingly it is yet to dawn upon most of the world. We keep on letting the life pass waiting for something to hurl us into the gurgling river of living. And then one day we find ourselves flowing into the great unknown without having fully lived for most of our lives. Isn't that amazing? Sitting before the computer fiddling with the key board, writing a few words and reading many- that's how our office time goes by. Going home, talking very little to your wife you doze off. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west everyday. And the life flows by. Yoga And Meditation: A Healthy Combo For Healthy Life  By : Javier Fuller Yoga for most of the people happens to be a great source of keeping themselves fit with its incredible body postures called asana. However these asanas are only a small part of the yoga. This ancient practice of yoga boasts of its origin from ancient Vedic testaments. We tend to limit the scope of yoga by considering it a mere collection of exercises. But Vedic testaments say that it was originally meant to serve much greater purpose of unifying human souls with eternal power or God. And yoga meditation happens to be the only way of elevating your spirit so that you could unify yourself with Almighty. Your soul's unification with Almighty brings eternal peace and tranquility to you. If you are not performing meditation instructions of yoga along with your daily asana practice, you are likely to not get much of the yoga benefits. Different yoga practices don't offer you separate solutions instead yoga works well when all its integral parts are practiced simultaneously in an orderly manner. This is the way yoga offers holistic health improvement. That's why meditation must be incorporated in your yoga routine, it works as a stress buster and brings in mental rejuvenation. Beginner's Yoga Guide: Take Asana Step By Step  By : Javier Fuller Yoga is gaining popularity globally. If you are the one who is keen to take up yoga exercises you are going the right way. Yoga has been found helpful not only in keeping you in good shape but also in preventing various complications. It's not only you but thousand others who take refuge in yoga every day in America to attain physical as well as mental rejuvenation. In order to practice yoga you may enroll yourself in Yoga classes being run in your locality. A beginner is first taught basics of yoga including basic postures and mudras. If you are willing to learn yoga by yourself, you better go for beginner's yoga videos. You can practice yoga while watching these videos. But while learning yoga on your own you must not take plunge into complex yoga practices at first. As your exercise tolerance increases gradually so you should first take up simpler forms of asana and other yoga exercises. Beginner's Yoga Guide: Take Asana Step By Step  By : Javier Fuller Yoga is gaining popularity globally. If you are the one who is keen to take up yoga exercises you are going the right way. Yoga has been found helpful not only in keeping you in good shape but also in preventing various complications. It's not only you but thousand others who take refuge in yoga every day in America to attain physical as well as mental rejuvenation. In order to practice yoga you may enroll yourself in Yoga classes being run in your locality. A beginner is first taught basics of yoga including basic postures and mudras. If you are willing to learn yoga by yourself, you better go for beginner's yoga videos. You can practice yoga while watching these videos. But while learning yoga on your own you must not take plunge into complex yoga practices at first. As your exercise tolerance increases gradually so you should first take up simpler forms of asana and other yoga exercises. A Beginner’s Guide To Yoga Asanas  By : Javier Fuller By asana we mean various Yoga postures. There are good number of asanas offering different exercises to body as well as mind. If you are the one who has just made a tryst with Yoga, you would be first of all made to do basic yoga asana. These basic asanas are only meant to make your body accustomed to Yoga practices. You get accustomed to yoga practice by gaining increased flexibility through basic asanas. Asanas are very helpful in bringing rejuvenation to your body and mind. Asana happens to be one of the limbs of yoga practices. You learn tolerance, balance, patience and perseverance through yoga asana. Things To Know About Yoga  By : Javier Fuller Yoga in true sense is described as a system that is scientific in nature. It has a spiritual touch and was a practice that originated in India. Yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word, Yoke. Yoga provides you with physical and mental peace. Yoga is a pure form of exercising. It requires obedience to its certain rules and principles from your side. Like any other procedure, if these rules are not followed then more harm than good can be caused to you. So if you really want to take benefits from this impeccable exercising type, it is advisable for you to follow its proper methodology. There are certain things that you should keep in mind: Yoga For Cancer Afflicted Folks  By : Javier Fuller There is no direct correlation between yoga as remedial measure and cancer. However Yoga has proved its efficacy in easing the stress and trauma that a cancer patient undergoes. Yoga could be even adopted as a preventive measure against cancer. Since Yoga happens to be a natural healer of damaged cells and tissues, it is considered to prevent cells from getting cancerous. Regular Yoga practices tend to increase tissues capacity to overcome inner damages. Once you get this increased ability of resilience through yoga, you are less likely to fall prey to cancer. By enhancing your body's overall capacity to fight diseases, it furthermore lessens possibility of severe maladies like cancer. Yoga has also been proved to be a direct combatant against cancer as it restricts growth of cancerous cells. By doing so, yoga happens to increase longevity of patients. The World Goes Gaga Over Yoga As A Stress Reducer  By : Javier Fuller Yoga has intruded into almost all spheres of healthcare. A good number of health organizations in America have come up with strong advocation for Yoga practices. And they are no fool in doing so as they are well aware of yoga's efficacy in holistic health improvement. Furthermore yoga has also proven its worth in shooting out stress and anxiety that are widely prevalent. In fact, if you keep practicing Yoga on a regular basis, you are very likely to remain stress free for the whole life. There could not be a better natural stress reducer than yoga. A good number of workaholic folks have been found falling prey to stress and anxiety and usage of medications seem to worsen the situation. That's why people are rather keen to follow natural ways to control stress. It's just because of that millions of Americans have taken refuge in Yoga to fight their stress and anxiety. Not only in America but in Europe and other continents as well, Yoga is increasingly becoming popular as stress reducer. Yoga Exercises For Weight Loss: The Best Way To Healthy & Fit Life  By : Javier Fuller Losing weight is not an easy task. Shedding those extra pounds of flesh requires you to be consistent in your approach towards weight shedding. You should chalk out a weight loss strategy and stick to it till you get desired level of reduction in your weight. If you keep shuffling from one line of action to another, you would be simply delaying attainment of physical fitness. And it may prove disastrous. Exercises happen to be best remedial option for obesity or weight gain. Seeing excessive weight gain problems of Americans, the government is advocating efficacy of constant exercise routine in keeping body fit. And among various forms of exercises what's currently topping the charts is Yoga exercises. Yoga has become a rage in America because of its incredible efficacy in weight shedding. Yoga Invigorates Your Sex Life  By : Javier Fuller Yoga has proved it's efficacy in almost all aspects of health. Sexual health also happens to be an essential aspect of being healthy. And Yoga has not bared sex from its holistic health planning. In fact yoga practices have laid great emphasis on healthy sexual life. A good number of yoga asana and exercises are specifically meant to enhance your sexual energy. Yoga's sexual philosophy says that for getting sexual pleasure your mind and body should remain in a rejuvenated state and this rejuvenation could be only brought about by various yoga practices. These yoga practices include all forms of yoga- be it asana, pranyama or dhyana. Yoga And Sex: Kundalini Yoga Favors Sexual Energy For Mental Strength  By : Javier Fuller Kundalini Yoga-- This age old yoga practice is quite wary of other ancient religious practices for gaining elevated spiritual state. While most of the religious practices prefer ascetism and sexual abstinence as a way to uplift soul, Kundalini yoga considers carnal indulgence as a medium to increase self exploration. This practice of yoga lays great emphasis on leading a healthy sexual life. Kundalini yoga suggests to “feel sex” instead of “merely performing sex.” According to this Yogic philosophy there could no better way to mutual exploration process than act of copulation. This yoga vehemently condemns the widespread connotation that sex is an impediment in attaining higher state of being. Yoga Guide For Pregnant Women: Efficacy Of Prenatal Yoga  By : Javier Fuller Pregnancy is an all together different physiological as well as psychological experience for women and for particularly those who happen to be on the family way for the first time. If you are pregnant, you are very likely to suffer from occasional depression. You will be in a state of subtle excitement almost all the time. It is really difficult for you to keep yourself normal physically as well as mentally. That's when Prenatal Yoga comes handy to you. It adds to your physical as well psychological strength for a rather comfortable delivery. In addition to that if you keep practicing yoga through out your pregnancy period, post delivery you are very likely to resume your normal activities at the earliest. Nudist Yoga: A Sheer Pleasure For A Couple Wanting To Enhance Sexual Combatability  By : Javier Fuller For the last two decades various yoga practices have been brought into the mainstream. These decades could be better termed as renaissance decades for yoga. Among age old yoga practices most objectionable practice of naked yoga or nudist yoga has been also revived. In America a good number of men and women find nudist yoga as a source of great relaxation and peace of mind. Every year, a reasonable increase in nudist yoga practitioners or seekers has resulted in a good number of nudist yoga classes. Therein you are needed to shed your clothes in order to perform yoga. Teaching Is A Great Responsibility.  By : Javier Fuller Teaching is a great responsibility. And teaching yoga is still greater a responsibility! The ordinary teaching is to sharpen your intellectual abilities. In yoga, your efforts are to break the mind-barrier, transcend and seek entry to the zone of silence. So, very high skills are required to equip one’s self to become a yoga teacher. Yoga Poses Are Therapeutic!  By : Javier Fuller The entire subject of yoga in relation to health is about various postures. For every disease, it can be wildly claimed that there is a posture prescribed. Ask any yoga enthusiast/teacher and he will not only vouchsafe for it, he will promise cure and give you proofs of cures! And many a times, he is not wrong and his stories are believable. Yoga Helps A Great Deal In Lowering Cholesterol  By : Javier Fuller Are you worried for having some extra cholesterol in your blood? Well, many people are fighting hard battle against the increased cholesterol levels. For, they are much vulnerable to heart diseases much like the heart patients. But I have got a very easy and natural remedy to control your high cholesterol. Some time back, I had a cholesterol level above the normal range and I used this alternative technique to reduce my extra cholesterols. Well, the technique being discussed here is none other the age old technique of keeping fit. That is YOGA. Identify The Pain In Your Back And Leg  By : Javier Fuller Sometimes, it is quite difficult to understand whether the pain in your back is due to leg pain or due to back pain! Human body is such an integrated mechanism that most of the times it is not an easy task to estimate what is wrong with it. If it is a direct injury from an accident or fall, you still know the underlying cause and suffering involved with the pain. But injuries like back pain or leg pain, occurring due to your accumulated sins of negligence is really hard to cure. Yoga helps you lower blood pressure  By : Grojan Fabiola Hypertension is a common disease nowadays, which, if it’s not treated corectly 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. Raja Yoga – Gaining Complete Control Of Mind For Deep Meditation  By : sachatarkovskywritername Raja Yoga involves exact meditation techniques which lead to experiences of the truth and finally achieve liberation. The basic breathing techniques of Raja yoga to gain control over the mind and experience deep meditation are outlined below. Karma Yoga - Part 2 For Life & Spirtual Liberation  By : sachatarkovskywritername There is a story in the Ramayana, one of the great kings, Janaka, who besides being a Rishi, was also a perfect Karma Yogi. The Ramayana is one of the sacred epics of Hindu tradition and religion. This is a story of spiritual liberation for everyone. Karma Yoga - An Introduction  By : sachatarkovskywritername Karma Yoga, or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita, the holiest of Hindu scriptures. As one of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga requires the adherence to one’s duty (swadarma) while remaining detached from the reward. Simply, It is the yoga of performance of “right action”. What is right action? Yoga - Breathing Correctly A Simple Exercise To Help You Feel Better Instantly!  By : sachatarkovskywritername Breathing is one of our basic non-voluntary bodily functions, and is our connection to life itself and we also have control over it, so if we learn to breathe correctly we can actually maximize our health and energy levels. The correct breathing exercise can be done by anyone you don’t need to know anything about yoga and it is a quick an easy way to look and feel better instantly. Lower Your Blood Pressure By Practicing Yoga  By : Groshan Fabiola (Author) If you didn’t know by now, yoga asanas can help you in the treatment of high blood pressure, and help you lower blood pressure. Yoga asanas make stable your blood pressure, so lower blood pressure when it’s abnormaly high. Asanas have favorable effects on the nervous system. By practicing certain yoga asanas you can not only lower your blood pressure, but also reduce the effects of hypertension on the other organs of the body. There are a few categories of asanas which are recommended to lower blood pressure: forward bends, sitting, supine and inversions group. Sun Salutation  By : Kirsten Hawkins The Sun Salutation yoga pose is recommended for practitioners of all ages and especially for the ones who cannot dedicate a lot of time to their yoga routine. The reason why this pose is so highly appreciated has to do with the fact that it involves most of the muscle groups, as well as the respiratory system. In fact, the Sun Salutation is a sequence of twelve yoga positions, linked together by a flowing motion and accompanied by five deep special breaths. Each of the twelve positions contributes to stretching a different part of the body and different muscle groups. Moreover, it helps expanding and contracting the chest in order to regulate breathing. Yoga Meditation  By : Kirsten Hawkins As it is generally admitted by yoga practitioners and yoga trainers, yoga sessions are very much about self equilibrium, peacefulness and meditation. By practicing meditation we can all reach the sublime state of learning the purpose of our existence and maximizing our will to reach it. Studies have proven that meditation highly contributes to both physical and psychological well-being, which is why yoga routines consider the practice of meditation as one of its main principles. Yoga Diet  By : Kirsten Hawkins One of the essential things about yoga, together with the positive attitude, is the diet. It is highly recommended to perform your yoga session after about 2 hours from a main meal. Many specialists agree that what we eat is reflected both in our appearance, as well as in our health state. In other words, it is important to mind the things we consume, in order to prevent illnesses and discomforts. However, the question related to what does healthy food mean, remains a constant reason of inquiry for many people. According to reliable studies, a very diversified diet represents the ideal food for any human organism. However, fruits and vegetables, containing fibers and vitamins should be a permanent component of your daily meals. Furthermore, everything that can be defined as natural food is recommended, when it comes to preserving your state of well being. Learning Yoga Techniques  By : Michelle Bery - Yoga is an ancient form of exercise wherein participants use certain postures in combination with dedicated breathing techniques to improve physical and emotional health. Unlike many other forms of exercise, yoga connects mind and body in a journey towards overall health. There are many forms of yoga techniques in practice today. Deciding what technique works best for you is a very personal choice. The differences between yoga techniques usually lie in the yoga positions – or asanas. A professional yoga instructor can guide you through different yoga techniques and ensure that you are doing them correctly and safely. This can be enormously beneficial to you when determining what yoga technique works for you. Discovering Yoga Retreats  By : Michelle Bery - With more and more people practicing the ancient art of yoga, there exists a large community of people who share a passion for its benefits. The consistent practice of yoga has been shown to decrease stress, improve physical health, and increase mental and emotional well being. And for those who have experienced its benefits, they are often eager to share the experience with others. Yoga retreats offer those who are committed to yoga a place of relaxed community and focused learning where they can practice yoga within a social setting. Yoga retreats can last any length of time; the only requirement is to have a passion for yoga. Learning Yoga Postures For Increased Health And Vitality  By : Michelle Bery - In today’s chaotic world, more and more people are turning to the practice of yoga to improve their physical wellness as well as increasing mental sharpness and emotional well being. Yoga – an exercise practice that establishes a strong mind/body connection – includes a variety of yoga postures to be learned. Practicing and eventually mastering these yoga postures can mean the acquirement of a lifetime tool for maintaining flexibility, strength, and overall health. There are literally hundreds of yoga postures in existence; each yoga posture benefits a particular part of the body – strengthening abdominal muscles, the muscles surrounding the spinal column, and much more. Yoga Positions – Positioning Yourself For Health  By : Michelle Bery - Yoga – the ancient art of breathing and stretching – has long been favored as a natural way to achieve optimal fitness and ward off stress. Today, more and more people are turning to yoga to help them achieve what traditional exercise has not – a mind/body connection that offers a greater level of health and inner peace. Yoga positions consist of holding certain postures of the body while performing deep and precise breathing techniques. There are many types of yoga practice to which different people prescribe but there is a common thread that unites all sects of yoga. They all have various postures or positions that are common to yoga in general. Namaste Yoga - What's It All About?  By : annmarier (author) Yoga is a wonderful exercise, and Namaste yoga is just one of the many different types of yoga that you can choose to participate in. Just remember that regardless of which actual type of yoga you end up choosing, you are still going to be reaping at least some form of benefits. About Namaste Yoga Kundalini Yoga: The Be All And End All Of All Yoga Forms  By : annmarier (author) If you have life energy within, then it is possible for you to get maximum benefit and well as meditation. It is the power of the Divine as embodied in the Mother. Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga that requires a lot of care and you should ensure that you practice it under the tutelage of a teacher; otherwise it could be problematic. Concentrate On the Heart Center Hatha Yoga Provides Gentle Exercise To Stimulate Your Imune System  By : annmarier (author) The most common form of yoga practiced in the United States is hatha yoga. Hatha yoga differs from other disciplines of yoga as it is more exercise than mental preparation for meditation. All yoga stretches are designed to relax the body on the path of spiritual enlightenment including meditation; however most Americans practice the poses for the fitness benefits. Hatha yoga is a gentle exercise which strengthens the existing muscles without adding unwanted muscle bulk. People who practice hatha yoga claim all kinds of homeopathic benefits from illness relief to increased concentration while meditating. The Concept Of Beginners Yoga Starts In Your Mind  By : annmarier (author) Yoga is an absolutely wonderful exercise, and it is actually one of the only exercises that you can do which works you out mentally, physically and spiritually, all at once. However if you are a newcomer to yoga and you are not sure where to start, then you are definitely going to want to go with the beginners yoga before you advance any further. About Beginners Yoga The Correct Yoga Position Is Key To Reaping The Benefit Of Yoga Exercise  By : annmarier (author) Marjari-asana means a cat stretch yoga position. To do this yoga exercise kneel and lean forward to place hands on floor below your shoulders, fingers facing forward, hands in line with knees. Arms and thighs should be at right angles to the floor with your knees slightly separated. Inhale deeply, raise head and drop spine so your back is concave. Fill your lungs and hold for three seconds. As you exhale, lower your head and stretch your spine upwards. At the end of the breath, pull in your buttocks, contract stomach muscles and place your head between your arms. It is recommended that you repeat this yoga exercise five times. Parvatasana means mountain yoga position which helps to Strengthen nerves and muscles in your arms and legs, and stimulates the circulation in the upper spine. For this yoga exercise kneel on raised heels and stretch your arms forward so your forehead is on the floor. Breathe deeply and relax for a few seconds. Raise yourself on to your hands and knees, keeping your toes tucked under and your back flat.Inhale and push up onto your toes. Raise your buttocks and lower your head between your arms. Your back and legs should form two sides of a triangle. Exhale, rest your feet on the floor and try to touch the floor with the top of your head. Hold the position for 10 seconds and then relax. Introducing Hatha Yoga  By : annmarier (author) Hatha yoga is an ancient hindu system of working with the human nervous system. Because it releases tension and endows one with renewed energy, far too many 20th century people, yoga teachers included, have come to look upon the venerable Indian physical science as solely an exercise for health and vitality of mind and body. It is that, but it is also much more. Hatha yoga practices are more spiritual than physical, more subtle than gross, more a means of understanding than an exotic way to relieve stress or limber up the body. The sages who developed hatha yoga designed it as a way to gain conscious control of our life energies, a way to go within, to harmonize the external so the innermost Self could be encountered. To them, it was about states of consciousness, about living a divine life, and it was a preparation for meditation. Using A Learn Yoga Cd-rom Is Ideal For Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) In today's modern world of computers it is quite easy to look for information about yoga exercise to enable you to decide exactly which yoga posture and yoga exercise you want to practice. You have no need to find a yoga class just pop in a cd-rom and follow the instructions. Two excellent yoga exercise cd-roms are Wellness Yoga and Shiatsu Relaxation. Lithe young women demonstrate these ancient Eastern techniques while mellow-voiced narrators speak over somnambulant music, the better to relax you and make you all well. Most of us are familiar at least with the concepts of yoga, its slow stretching exercises and its often almost unattainable physical positions. Wellness Yoga is a nicely designed program that packages 74 asanas, or positions, into several packages such as the Quick and Easy Course, the Beauty Course and the Health Course. Yoga Exercise Improves Blood Glucose Control  By : annmarier (author) Yoga exercises strengthen your body and make it more flexible. Yoga also calms your mind and gives you energy. In active sports or strenuous exercises, you use up energy. In yoga classes, students report that they feel tranquil after a class, yet have more energy. Slow and steady motion is the key to going into or coming out of the postures. You hold a yoga pose for several seconds or even minutes and give attention to full, quiet breath. Your yoga instructor will always encourage you to relax as the exercises are being done. You gently place your body into a yoga posture. Done correctly, there's very little chance of injury or muscle stress. A particular asana is not repeated dozens of times, nor are you ever encouraged to push yourself too much. Can Yoga Improve Or Even Cure Diabetes For Some People  By : annmarier (author) Diabetes in various forms affects up to 5percent of the world population with 12 million diabetics in Western Europe alone. Of the different ways in which diabetes presents, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is probably the most commonly encountered genetic disease. NIDDM or Type II diabetes is multifactorial, depending also on environmental factors including obesity, sedentary lifestyles and nutritional imbalances. Yoga has shown some beneficial results in curing diabetes. The yoga exercises that are prescribed for curing diabetes is different from hatha yoga exercise because it involves positions tailored to treat certain conditions, as well as meditation, relaxation and stretching exercises. Beginners Yoga Can Be A Challenge  By : annmarier (author) Yoga is a challenging discipline for the beginning to the advanced person. The asanas, or postures are slow and steady and are not meant to be painful, but this does not mean that they are not challenging. Never extend yourself too much to cause discomfort. With practice, you should see yourself relaxing into the stretches with ease. Nevertheless, for beginners there are a few tips when practicing yoga. Release all thoughts, good or bad before you begin. Turn off your phone and don’t answer the door, you need peace and quiet. Make sure you take a warm, relaxing shower and that you wear comfortable clothes that will allow you to stretch easily. You can use aromatherapy that will relax and help to clear you thoughts. You will want to purchase a yoga mat so you can rest on the pad and not slip and slide on the floor. Introducing Yoga With A Success Story  By : annmarier (author) Ina Mirx is 68, looks 35, and can do things with her body that a 16-year-old farm hand can't do, but she wasn't always fit-as-a-fiddle. At the age of 30, while pregnant, she was forced to jump from the third story of a burning hotel. She landed on concrete, fractured her spine and pelvis, broke several ribs -- and lost her child. Over Hauling Your Complete Self With Yoga  By : annmarier (author) I have heard a lot about yoga lately, and there are two reasons people seem to like it. It is a great form of exercise, and it is also supposed to be great for clearing your mind and learning how to relax. I have thought about getting into yoga quite a few times but I haven’t quite gotten there yet. I’m still dreaming of it though, and I do hope to start soon, and I hope to make it something that I can do with my daughter. She may not understand what it is, but I am hoping it will help her in the same way that I hope it helps me. What I have learned about yoga so far is that there is more to it then just bending, stretching, and holding poses. If you do want to start a program, you should search the Internet for information about yoga. If you want to get your children involved, you do have to keep certain safety issues in mind. As I was learning about yoga for my daughter, I wrote an article on it because I found a lot of information that perhaps not a lot of people know. Introducing Yoga Beliefs  By : annmarier (author) It has been rightly said: "Pleasure is a sense of moreness." Every time you feel pleasure, you will find the word "moreness" covers the case. It will cover the lowest condition of pleasure, the pleasure of eating. You are becoming more by appropriating to yourself a part of the Not-Self, food. You will find it true of the highest condition of bliss, union with the Supreme. You become more by expanding yourself to His infinity. Learning All About Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) All raga must be entirely put aside. We must separate ourselves from it. We must acquire the opposite condition, where every passion is stilled, where no attraction for the objects of desire remains, where all the bonds that unite the man to surrounding objects are broken. "When the bonds of the heart are broken, then the man becomes immortal." How shall this dispassion be brought about? There is only one right way of doing it. By slowly and gradually drawing ourselves away from outer objects through the more potent attraction of the Self. Sorting Out Yoga Mats For Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) We are all overweight these days. Probably something to do with the types of lives we live. Even with the multitude of diets and exercise routines out there we, as a nation, are still fat and something needs to change. I think that it has a lot do to with stress. Stress causes all kinds of health problems and I believe it makes some people gain weight or hold on to the weight that they already have and are trying to get rid of. If we are truly going to become a healthier country, I believe that we need to focus more on the importance of stress relief. Choosing Yoga Clothes For Beginners Yoga  By : annmarier (author) America is fat. Fat, fat, fat. Are we doing anything about it? Well yes, we are. We are doing a lot. It is just not enough. Even with the multitude of diets and exercise routines out there we, as a nation, are still fat and something needs to change. We all want to become healthier, happier, fitter, and more spiritual people. This is, after all,the 21st century, and I think I can safely say that the practitioners of yoga are on the forefront of leading the new spiritual revolution. However, do you really want to be spiritual at the expense of being cute? It's all right to try to be Buddha, but do we really want to look like him? Do you really want to learn beginners yoga without having the chance to wear cute yoga clothes? Yoga Teacher Training  By : annmarier (author) In the pursuit of finding a great job that can help people stay in great shape, many individuals are looking into yoga teacher training. This training can be the stepping stone to a lucrative career that can really help you maintain good health and balance. While some like to go to classes in person, others opt to take yoga teacher training courses online instead. There are many benefits to taking the classes online. You can pretty much set your own schedule. The yoga teacher training courses available through Internet instruction can be completed in a year or less. Basically, certification through some of these organizations is measured by hours. Walking For Exercise Is The Natural Way To Stay Slim And Healthy  By : annmarier (author) With today's sedentary culture, many of us sit behind a desk or use our spare time as a couch potato exercise, watching a sitcom or listening to music. Video games and surfing the net can fill in a lot of hours and before you know it, the day is done. All of these activities may serve to stimulate the mind, but they don't offer a lot in the way of keeping fit. Striking a balance between stimulating our minds and maintaining our health can be tricky, but necessary to a healthy lifestyle. An all around fitness program may be as simple as a consistent walking for exercise program. The fast pace of life that we all endure invites a lack of exercise and slowly going to pot physically. The temptations of the media combined with little available leisure time tends to be a trap for most of us. It's easy to excuse ourselves, with all the mundane obligations that life imposes. It's true that we have little time for leisure and we want to spend that time in pleasurable pursuits. Nonetheless, we can't ignore the fact that the sedentary lifestyle takes its toll on the general health and fitness we might otherwise enjoy. Frequently Asked Yoga Questions  By : James C Yoga is a great exercise to take up if you are looking to get in shape and deal with stress. It is an exercise that anyone can do for the rest of their life. If you are considering taking up yoga, keep reading and learn the answers to some frequently asked questions. Can I still do yoga if I am not very flexible? Yes you can, yoga is not just about flexibility. It is about relaxation and holding poses. Through yoga you will find that you also will become more flexible just do not push yourself too hard. It takes time. The Founder of Pilates  By : James C Pilates is an incredible exercise that has become extremely popular. It is an exercise that anyone can do no matter what your level of physical conditioning is. It is designed to stretch, strengthen and balance your body. It is a great exercise but do you know how Pilates got its start? Read this article and find out. Pilates was started by the man who gave it its name, Joseph Pilates. Joseph Pilates began to teach his own exercise program during World War I in England. Forced into an internment camp he taught his exercise program, which combined Yoga and ancient Roman techniques, to fellow internees. At the time he called the program Controlology. Later Pilates' wife, a nurse, would modify his exercise program so that injured patients would be able to use it. She helped make it what it is today. A well designed exercise program that anyone can do regardless of physical conditioning. Joseph Pilates past away in 1967 but he is far from forgotten. The Health Benefits Of Yoga  By : James C Would you like to find an exercise that is easy to do? Would you like to find an exercise that will strengthen your body and your soul? Would you like to find an exercise that anyone can do or that heals your body? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then yoga is for you. Read along and discover the numerous wonderful benefits of yoga. One of the benefits of yoga is its power to lower your tension level. It has the ability to make you relax, lowering your stress level and regulating your heart rhythm. Perfect for those worried about the health of their heart. Through its meditative properties, it will also improve your mental wellbeing, relieving anxiety and easing depression. Yoga Improves Strength  By : Kadence Buchanan - A number of people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness and strength levels. While they recognize that yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility and overall health, when it comes to increasing muscle fitness people think it might the most appropriate exercise to do the job. But, according to experts, yoga can definitely make you stronger. If you would like to really put your daily fitness routine in overdrive and get better results than you ever have in the past, you really should consider adding yoga exercises into your home fitness workouts. Unlike traditional weight building exercises, in yoga, your body provides the resistance. While you are not likely going to produce the bulked up muscles of some weight lifters, you will certainly increase your muscle strength. In addition, some balance postures require enormous muscle control in order to prevent you from falling over. This helps to build and strengthen your muscles. Aerobic exercise is great for burning calories, and strength training works very well for strengthening your muscle groups, but yoga goes far beyond either of those forms of exercise and can benefit you both physically and mentally. Baddha Konasana – A Great Asana For Hip And Groin  By : Sharon Hopkins - Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) is also known as the Cobbler's Pose because of the similarity to a cobblers sitting position. It is an excellent asana which helps your groin and hip position. It is a forward bending asana which starts off from Staff Pose or Dandasana. You have to bend your knees by bringing the soles of the feet together. This forward bending asana is very different to the other forward bending asanas. The focus area in this asana is to open the hip and help the pelvic area. This help to the pelvic area stimulates the reproductive organs which are of great help to women as well as men. The performance of this asana also helps in alleviating the menstrual pain problems. It is very useful to have a comfortable child birth, if practiced regularly during the period of pregnancy. Also clears menopause related problems. Baddha Konasana stimulates the abdominal organs as well as the ovaries, prostate gland, bladder and kidneys. It energizes your heart which improves the blood circulation and provides the all needed help to your body. This asana stretches the inner thigh, groin and knees which gives your body an agile and toned look. If you have problems like depression or anxiety this asana can help you overcome that problem. People with sciatica problem can also be treated by performing this asana regularly. It is a great asana because of its tremendous benefits for our aching and paining body. Known to be a therapeutic treatment for flat feet and similar other problems to be dealt by this asana. The practice of Baddha Konasana prevents the attack of many other diseases. Simhasana - The Lion Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga has used nature and wildlife as it reference point due to which there are so many asanas related to it. Simhasana is one of those asanas which adds glory to your face and you can easily see the difference. Yoga is an age-old process which has been quite a favorite amount all the age-old-yogis. Even though Simhasana mean lion pose if taken the literal meaning, in Sanskrit ‘simha’ means 'the powerful one'. It emits lot of force when you perform this asana. Similar to the roar of the lion this asana is performed in the exact fashion to draw as much usefulness as possible. The asana depicts the fierceness of the lion which benefits those parts of the body where it is stretched and pulled. This asana is very different to other asanas as it benefits your face which many of the asanas are not able to do it. It benefits your face, jaw, mouth, throat and tongue. If you have sore throat problems this asana proves to be very useful. Problems like tightness of the jaw like teeth grinding, clenched jaws can get some relief by performing this asana regularly. This asana involves the stretching of the tongue as you are required to mimic the roaring lion. It can be treated as a very good asana which can remove your wrinkles and can be stated as an anti-ageing yoga asana. We pay lot of attention to the other parts of our body and hardly take care of our face while performing the yoga asana. This asana shows that we are in right direction and this asana could prove to be very much essential of our lives. Anuloma-viloma - Yogic Breathing For Better Health  By : Sharon Hopkins - Swami Kuvalyanand once said: “Yoga has a message for the human body, for the human mind and the human spirit.” This is a truism as a healthy body is the prime requisite for success and happiness in life. People are increasingly being convinced that yoga makes for good health, contentment and happiness in present day stressful life and is not just an exercise regimen. Marjaraasana - For Sound Physical And Mental Health  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga today is all the rage. It is a subject that excites people’s curiosity and enjoys much popularity. This is especially so since the asanas (exercises) and pranayamas (breathing techniques) that owe their origins to ancient Indian wisdom have proved beneficial in promoting holistic health and mental peace as also in developing personality. In this article we will discuss Marjaraasana - the cat pose. Process: Sit on your haunches with the knees and toes on the ground. Keep the palms on the floor in such a way that the distance between them is about the same as that between the shoulders, i.e. equal to the width of the back. Keep the distance between the palms and the knees about the same as that between the shoulders and the hips, i.e. equal to the length of the torso. The distance between the knees should be the same as the width of the waist. Turn the toes back so that the soles face upward. The distance between the soles should be the same as that between the knees. Relax the muscles in the trunk region and let the trunk descend under gravity. At the same time, let the neck and head curve backward as far as possible. Relax the stomach and close the eyes. Direct your attention to the entire body and practise conscious differential relaxation. Keep the mind engaged in pranadharana (consciousness of breath). This is the final posture of marjaraasana –maintain it according to capacity. Benefits Of Performing - Standing Head To Knee Yoga Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Dandayamana Janushirasana is also known as Standing Head to Knee Pose. The core need for this asana is to maintain balance. With the sense of balance you tend to be a determined person from within. Your level of patience is also kept in check by doing this asana. It is a mind and body unison which creates greater impact. A state of balance is brought in your life. A cool and calm mind is always valuable for a quick decision and Dandayamana Janushirasana lets you do that. Calmness prevails when nervousness try to take over your mind. It makes you a positive and forthcoming individual. A need to learn and achieve is required to make it an attainable asana. Degree of agility and flexibility increases by regularly performing the asana. The digestive and reproductive systems are at a full go due to the massaging done during the asana. It clears many of your stomach and digestion related problems. With a strong reproductive system your sexual life can take a turn, for good. Pancreas function better by steady execution of this asana. Thus, maintains the sugar levels and brings a breath of fresh air to all diabetic patients. You remember things better as it enhances your memory. Blood circulation improves the functioning of your body. Kapalabhati - A Breathing Exercise  By : Sharon Hopkins - Kapalabhati is a very important asana and it should be part of your daily practice. This pose is also known as the Fire Breathing Pose, due to intake and outlet of air, with force. The exercise purifies your lungs and nasal passage. It is one of the powerful breathing exercises which help the entire body. It is one of a kind of the breathing exercises in Pranayama. Kapalabhati helps to make the motions of diaphragm very easy and controlled. This helps it to discard the muscle cramps present in bronchial tubes. Lot of force is used to do this asana. While exhaling the process is very strong and while inhaling it is done very calmly. It is a very energizing technique to re-boot all your muscles. It is a cleansing technique which emphasizes on cleaning your air passages and blockages in your chest. This technique helps to remove the toxic air and takes in the fresh air. The breathing mainly takes place from the abdomen rather than chest which helps to remove the toxic air. Kapala means 'the skull' and bhati means 'brings lightness'. It lightens your skull by extracting problems like sinusitis. It is an invigorating and an energizing asana as it clears your stuffy skull with fresh air. It is one of the great exercises for asthma patients and people suffering from respiratory problems. It is useful in removing impurities from the blood. It is a very stimulating asana which can do wonders to every single tissue of your body. This asana invigorates your spine due to the breathing technique. Ardha Kurmasana - Half Tortoise Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Ardha Kurmasana is also known as Half Tortoise Yoga Asana. Due to its resemblance to a tortoise it is known as the tortoise pose. This yoga asana can prove to be very beneficial to your body in every possible way. By performing this asana regularly and properly our bodies can be rejuvenated. The organs get stretched to its maximum with every movement of this asana. The shoulder movement gets improved and so does the muscles in the corresponding areas. The abdominal muscles gets toned and become more flexible. The asana stretches the lower part of the lungs which is good for your breathing. It also increases the lung capacity which proves to be crucial if you have breathing problems like asthma. The pressure put on your neck and head improves migraine problems. It can be stated as a stress buster due to its stress relieving capacity. Spine Twisting Pose - Ardha Matsyendrasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Ardha Matsyendrasana asana is also known as the Spine Twisting Asana. It is one of the essential poses which make the body healthy and fine. It is a basic pose which should be done by everyone, if their body is capable to do it. If done correctly it becomes a value addition in your day-to-day life. It may seem hard at the first attempt but you can do it in stages. By doing it in stages the asana proves to be very easy and simple. The twist in the asana is a blessing for the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver and spleen. It is also very beneficial for people who suffer from asthma, indigestion, constipation and obesity. If you are a person with good height but stooping shoulders, this asana can correct it. It also improves the back and corrects a faulty posture. The twist stretches every muscle and ligament of your back. Pavanamuktasana - Wind Removing Pose  By : Sharon Hopkins - Pavan means wind, mukta means relieve or free and asana means pose. This asana is similar to many other yoga poses based on nature. It is being used to foretell the strength and power of the wind from within. It helps in removing the toxic gas present in your body. It creates space for fresh air in the body to create maximum utilization of the bodily resources. This yoga pose would improve the digestive system very well. It would do real wonders to your stomach as the excess gas is being removed from the abdomen. The intestines also function better due to the removal of the gas. You can get rid of constipation by initiating this exercise in your life. The use of legs, hands and hips strengthens the hip muscles. Yoga For Asthma Cure  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga has helped in curing and preventing many diseases. The poses and asanas stimulate the required organs and help you with your ailments. Asthma is a very common problem. It is basically shortness of breath due to the chronic lung condition. Even kids are not spared by this disease. You suffer wheezing, coughing, heaviness in the chest causing blockage in your lungs. During asthma attack lack of oxygen can lead to death too. By doing the required asanas you can fight back. Yoga betters your asthma condition due to the free flow of air. By continuously practicing yoga you can leave your medications at bay. Asthma attacks would lessen with the increase of yoga practice. The breathing exercises are very useful to open up your lungs for fresh air. Benefits And Usefulness Of Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimottanasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - This asana is also known as the Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose. This asana similar to its name stretching your legs and arms. It is one of those enduring asanas that helps your heart and other parts of your body. Stretching is always good for your body. It helps in creating the right balance for your body. Doing this asana is a step forward towards better health. It helps in creating unison between the mind and soul. By doing this pose your heart rate becomes normal. This asana is very useful for most parts of your body. It may be difficult at first. This hitch can be defeated by doing this asana regularly. A stiff body becomes very flexible by doing this asana. It helps in improving your basic movements. There is fresh supply of blood to the brain which helps it to stimulate the brain for better functioning. The posture helps in toning your abdominal organs which helps to create a flexible body. A flexible body helps you do this posture in a much better manner. If done properly the benefits you reap will remain with you life long. Benefits And Usefulness Of Trikanasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Trikanasana is also known as the Triangle Pose. As and when you look at the asana you can easily notice why this name has been given to this asana. It works out every muscle of your body from the arms to the legs. It is a great way to shed some of the excess weight you have been carrying all along. This asana helps all those have been struggling with weight problem. If you are looking for a good figure and a curved waist line, this is the pose to do. It helps in curing rheumatism and lumbago, a problem with your lower spine region. It is a good asana to make your shoulders and arms more flexible. A stiff body can achieve a state of flexibility by doing this asana. It has direct impact on your muscles as you start doing it. Benefits And Importance Of Ashtanga Namaskar - Part Iii  By : Sharon Hopkins - We have known the importance and benefits of the first six Ashtanga Namaskar Poses. We will conclude the Ashtanga Namaskar Yoga Asana series with the remaining six asanas. 7. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) Inhale - Om Hiranayagarbhaaya Namah Benefits And Importance Of Ashtanga Namaskar - Part I  By : Sharon Hopkins - This asana is also known as Surya Namaskar Asana or Sun Salutation Asana. It is a combination of 12 postures and each posture provides its unique benefits. The essence of this asana is salutation of the Sun god, which is power source of all the energy in this world. So in process to salute the sun god it also helps our body. This asana becomes very important due to the valuable part it plays with our lives. The composition of these poses in its own different way helps in creating a fit and fine body for you. In a gym, a cardio would include aerobics, skipping, and running, jogging and cycling. By doing Ashtanga Namaskar you will be able to derive all the benefits you try to obtain by going to the gym. When you look at the flipside gym would turn out to be more expensive in comparison to your yoga pose. Importance And Benefits Of Ardha Chandrasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Life teaches us lot of things and yoga learns lot from life. It derives its inspiration from the basic nature of life which is in various forms such as human, animals, plants, tress, earth, sun and moon. For instance this asanas other name is derived from the Moon. In English this asana would mean Half Moon Pose. The Moon from which the name is derived is an important part of our life. It touches each individual it in its own manner. Apparently Hatha yoga talks about sun and moon which are two extreme power houses of human body. So by doing this asana it makes it more important to raise those energies and use it for the benefit of your body. This energy might be in useful for our tired bodies. The solar and lunar energy force works together for benefiting your body. Benefits Of Pincha Mayurasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - The meaning of this asana is peacock feather pose. Before displaying the beautiful feathers, the peacock happens to lift its tail upright. This upright pose before dancing is known as Pincha Mayurasana. This represents the peacock in all its grandeur. The fierceness that is described in the peacock has to be imbibed in our day to day lives. You can also call it as the elbow stand or the forearm stand pose too. As the entire weight falls on your shoulders, it has tremendous strength to withhold that balance for a specific period of time. As the shoulders are not joined together but kept at a distance distributing your weight on both the shoulders. Benefits And Importance Of Adho Mukha Svanasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - When we take each word of this asana and look for the meaning it comes out to be a very simple word. “Adho Mukh” means facing downwards and “Svana” means a dog. This would mean facing downwards dog pose. This pose matches to a dog that stretches himself with its front and back legs. Therefore this name has been attached to this asana. Many asanas has its importance and this asana can be termed as one of the most commonly done asanas. As we all know that every yoga asana has its benefits for specific or hidden problems we face. Most of the inverted poses which have been shown to us has good benefits which done regularly can boost your health tremendously. Benefits And Importance Of Adho Mukha Vrksasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Vrksasana is a tree pose which means you are standing with your hand raised towards the sky. Adho Mukha Vrksasana can be termed as a tilted tree pose where in your hands are supporting the entire body weight. This asana when done by beginners has to be done very carefully as balancing yourself on your hand cannot be that easy. To make it easier it would be better for you to take support of a wall, helping you to overcome your fear of falling while doing this asana. There are many benefits for doing this asana as this helps in strengthening every part of your body helping you to create a more stable and calm body. Your shoulders and arms get stretched and in that process all the bones in your body also gets a good massage. Practicing this asana along with some teacher or friend would help you to do this asana without much hassle. Benefits And Importance Of Bhujangasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Bhujangasana is known as the snake or cobras pose because it reflects the look of a raised hood. As you raise your head along with your chest it represents a snake hood. The rest of the body lies down representing the body of the snake. This asana can be one of the best asanas for your back as well as your spine. Inhaling and exhaling plays a very important part in this or any other asanas. Bending and stretching of your back may differ between individuals. As some has their youth to help whereas some manage even without that. It all depends on how flexible your body is and how much can you bend, to make the utmost use from your asana. Benefits Of Matsyasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - The name given to every asana derives its inspiration from nature. As this pose happens to look like a fish it is known as matsyasna - fish pose. The popular feeling is that Matsyasana is known as the destroyer of many diseases. This asana has to be done in padmasana which may not be that easy for beginner. To make it easy you can do this by stretching your legs and then lie on your back. Knees bent and hands by your side. It is one of the back bend poses which done in correct manner would be very fruitful and useful for you. For many who are doing this for the first time can use support for your neck to avoid any strain. The use of a thick blanket may just be the thing you may need. Do this asana on a blanket to avoid any damage to your back. It can be made difficult with many variations depending upon the person who is doing it. While doing this asana hold it for 15 to 30 seconds to get the full benefit. Benefits Of Shavasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - For many it is considered to be one of the easiest asanas, but that is not the case. Even though it may look very simple and non-beneficial but it is the other way round. After doing all your yoga poses this is one of the most essential and important pose to complete your yoga practice with. It is the asana which gives the opportunity to relax. Shavasana means Corpse pose due to the look of the asana. As you lie down it makes you aware about your body and how each part of your body plays a very important role in your life. As you go along meditating it relaxes each nerve of your body and improves your respiration which creates the areas for energy and vitality. It benefits mentally as well as physically, which helps in focusing your positive energy for a greater good. Mind and body should not waiver while doing this asana. Full concentration is required and it may prove to be very handy in times when you need the most. A motionless mind and body helps you reach the level of optimum relaxation. Listening to soothing voice or some chants may just help you reach that meditated level. Benefits Of Salamba Sirasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Salamba Sirasana is known as the king of asanas. As in any story the king and queen play different role, in the same manner the asanas also play a different role. The Queen of poses, the shoulder stand helps in the development of the right brain which comprises of stability and patience. Whereas, left brain triggers the brain by pushing through the walls of obscurity towards clear vision. You cannot master this asana in the first attempt. You have to learn it slowly and steadily without straining your neck and back. The presence of a yoga instructor would be the best thing to start off this asana. After many attempts and by the use of props like the wall you can be a maestro of this asana. Reaping Benefits From Viparita Karni Asana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Every yoga asana has been made with the intention of being useful to the different parts of your body. All the yoga asanas you would learn or must have heard about would be useful one way or the other. Viparita - would mean inverted, opposite karani would mean - in action, an act of doing. It is also known as the leg-up-the-wall-pose. Most of the yoga positions keeps your feet on ground but this position does the opposite, helping you ease up your muscles by the flow of blood from the leg to your head. This inverted position leads to increase in blood flow to your upper body as well as to your brain which is very useful to maintain your blood pressure. The longer you be in this position it will be more beneficial to you. Your day long or week long fatigue would go away and gets you refreshed. It can be termed as one of the best medicines to revive you from the feeling of exhaustion and fatigue. Benefits Of Garudasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - 'Garuda' means eagle and 'asana' means pose. Garuda known as king birds also happen to be the vehicle of Vishnu. Even though most of the yoga poses aims towards balance and tranquility, by the look of the asana it will be more visible. This asana would help in loosening up your joints. Stretching your muscles would help in making all the parts of your body more fit. While doing the asana sense of balance would be achieved as you are standing on one foot. It would look similar to you being wrapped by yourself. As this is a standing pose many beginners do not happen to find the right balance, for this they can use the wall to support the back. This can be done with different variations and can be very challenging. You should consult your doctor before doing any of the yoga poses. Even though these are very beneficial it would depend upon your body whether you can manage these asanas. Benefits Of Padangusthasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - This is one of the basic yoga asanas which we learn initially while learning yoga. All the yoga poses help in improving your flexibility which becomes very useful in our daily life. The asana is also known as head to foot pose. Your desire to regulate your blood pressure can be done by this asana. The pressure on your head and the stretching of the muscles relaxes your brain, making you work out things more easily and calmly. The stretching and pulling tones your body and relaxes you by making you feel at ease. The bending helps your abdominal organs as it massages the liver and spleen making it useful to the optimum level. If done properly this asana would benefit not only body but would teach you be calm and patient. It has to be done slowly and not in a haste, if you want to receive its full benefits. The tiring muscles would be elevated and rejuvenated by this pose. The stretching of the muscles helps your hips, thighs, hamstrings, groin and calves. When these muscles are stretched they make your body more agile and fit. It helps to strengthen the other muscles which would help in recuperating your tired body. The less stress you give to your important organs it would work in a better fashion and helping your health. The Benefits And Importance Of Sarvangasana  By : Sharon Hopkins - It is known as the queen of asanas which works out to be very beneficial for your mind, body and soul. Sarvangasana is a combination of three parts such as "sarva" "anga" and "asana" which means "all body posture". It is one the asana which is very important and helpful for your entire body including the pressure massages for your thyroid glands. The other benefit from this asana is the projection of stability emotionally and otherwise. Every muscle that is pushed and pulled benefits the organs inside, which in turn shows on your body and face. It soothes the nervous system which otherwise seems to be overloaded with unwanted work. By doing this asana properly it could help you in curing your ailments related to bronchitis, asthma, heavy breathing and shortness in breath. Digestion is one of the major problems which many people face, due to fast food and other junk we fill in our stomachs. Your digestion would come in terms with your food by this asana as well as your body would be a place of better health. If you happen to be anemic your conditions could improve by simply doing this asana as well as have daily routine in dietary and exercise habits. How To Practice Meditation  By : Sharon Hopkins - Meditation is the most important practice for calming the mind. A calm mind can lead to a healthy, happy and successful life. It can cure diseases and speed up healing processes. We describe the simple technique below called prana-dharana. Prana in Sanskrit stands for the air that we breathe. It is the most basic act of life which starts from birth and goes on till death. But generally, we are not aware of the breath till our attention is drawn close to it. Dharana means its awareness. Prana-dharana means applying the mind to the flow of air when we breathe. The method is as described below: Sit in a posture suitable for meditation. The common postures are Siddhasana, Padmasana and Swastikasana. But if you cannot do this, just sit cross-legged. Your back should be straight and eyes closed. Your knees should be placed well on the ground. Do not stoop your shoulders back. The whole body should be relaxed and the whole frame steady without exerting any pull or pressure on the thighs, feet, knees, spine or neck. There should be no stretch on tension along the abdominal wall. Let the abdominal wall sway gently back and forth very smoothly and effortlessly with each respiration. Facial muscles should be relaxed and mouth closed with a small gap between the two jaws such that the upper and lower teeth do not exert pressure on each other. Your tongue should touch the palate with tip touching the back of the upper front teeth. Ensure that the lips, tongue or the lower jaws do not move. Your eyeballs and eyelids should be steady and the muscles of the forehead relaxed. Improve Your Eyesight With Trataka  By : Sharon Hopkins - Eyes are the windows of the soul and you can see what a person is up to by looking into his eyes. Hence, it is important to have clean eyesight. In yoga, trataka is a technique devised by the ancient sages to improve eyesight. It is a shuddhikriya or a purification process to cleanse the eyesight and help in the silencing of the mind in concentration. Sit with your back straight. Keep your eyes fixed on an object without winking till tears start streaming down your face. The small object can be the flame of an oil lamp, or an image or a picture or the letter ‘AUM”. This object should be placed in the line of sight at a distance of about four to six feet. You can also do this kriya without any object in front of you. Having an object is not necessary. Just stare in front of you at the wall without moving the eyeballs or eyelids. Ensure that you stare at a certain point on the wall. Dhyana  By : Sharon Hopkins - Almost everyone has experienced the fact that when one starts concentrating his mind on any immediate object or an idea, the mind starts wandering. It is very difficult to keep the mind busy with a single thought. The ancient sages too encountered the same problems. Arjuna, in Gita had mentioned that controlling the mind is an impossible thing on earth. Hence, he was advised by Krishna that though mind control is difficult, it can be made silent and steady by regular practice of vairagya and abhyasa. However, he has warned that yoga is very difficult for people whose minds are not steady and controlled. Pantanjali, in Yoga Sutra has emphasized these two qualities to achieve mind control. Hence ,these are the very qualities that make the essence of yoga. Mind is like a disturbed pond with many impurities. First you need to stop the inflow of fresh impurities and then remove the existing impurities to clean the mind. Abhyasa is one of the practices for purifying the mind. Dhyana is one of the sub practices of abhyasa. This is a stage that a person reaches after practicing concentration for some time. At the start of dhyana, the mind is steadier and only a single thought about an object arises in the mind. Now it is safe to say that the state of dhyana is reached. Here, the mind becomes very stable like the flame of a lamp in a calm atmosphere and its contact with the object of experience becomes intense and complete. Bhakti Yoga – The Science Of Devotion  By : Sharon Hopkins - Bhakti means devotion to the Almighty. Bhakti yoga deals with devotion to God and achieving the union with Him. This is the easiest of all yoga types. This branch of yoga teaches the relation between the devotee and the divine. It does not involve any technical or complicated procedures. There is no need of any intellectual capacity to master this yoga. It has appealed to the common man because it gives him a feeling security and develops a kind of reliance and dependence on the object of his devotion. Bhakti yoga assumes that there is a higher power that has created the universe and is all-powerful. This power has the capacity to confer grace and mercy on him and thus protecting him from all the harms and evils. The devotee or bhakta is expected to make himself fit for receiving this divine grace. For this, he has to practice devotion and virtue. His ultimate goal should be to unite with this divine power and rest eternally in happiness and peace. The devotee surrenders all his motives and acts to the Divine Power. He renounces all responsibilities towards the good or bad consequences of all his actions and ascribes it to the will of the Supreme. Pranayama – The Silence Of Breathing  By : Sharon Hopkins - Pranayama, also known as yogic breathing is the method of silencing the breath. Prana has been defined as the air which flows through the body. Pranayama is made up of three parts: controlled inhalations, controlled exhalations and holding of the breath. When you do all three parts, it is called sahita, while doing only the holding breath without the other two is called kevala. You should start with sahita till kevala comes into being. This is a technique that controls all that is associated with prana. Our breathing is made of two acts of inhalations and exhalations. These acts are followed in cycles where inhalations and exhalations succeed each other, where you take in air into the lungs and then release some of it back from the lungs. In between the inhalation and exhalation, there is a short gap which usually escapes our attention. This act is called respiration and is usually completed in four seconds in the resting phase. We usually respire nearly fifteen times a minute. You can take in about 400 cubic centimeters or 0.4 liters in a minute. When you do deep inhalations, you take in additional 1.6 liters of air and 2 liters in all. At the time of deep exhalations, you throw out all these 2 liters of air but still your lungs contain another 1.5 to 2 liters of air. Jnana Yoga – Yoga For The Intelligent  By : Sharon Hopkins - Jnana means the knowledge. This yoga is the yoga for the intelligent and selected people. This yoga is the ultimate goal of all the other varieties of yoga. This yoga teaches you to look at the world as it is without any ignorance and bias. You can achieve this state by practicing rigorous mental discipline and virtue. This yoga is also called Raja Yoga or the king of all the yogas, since it is of the highest variety and rules over all the other varieties. This is the Yoga that Patanjali has described in his Yoga Sutras. This yoga is made up of eight parts of which five are external and the other three are internal. Two of its parts, viz yama and niyama deal with types of behaviour that the student of yoga should avoid like lying, cheating, stealing etc. and those behaviours that he should cultivate like cleanliness, non-collection etc. Asanas and Pranayama are the next two parts of this yoga. Asanas are the physical movements that help in developing the suppleness of the body and thus cure any diseases. You can control your breath by using pranayama which increases the capacity of the lungs to take in air and thus increases the vitality of the body. The next part Pratyahara denotes the withdrawal of the sense organs from objects of enjoyment. The remaining three parts deal with intense mental concentration. Nauli – Clean The Body Of Impurities  By : Sharon Hopkins - Nauli is a purificatory process of eliminating the impurities that have gathered in the body. You can practice this process only if you have impurities collected in the body, otherwise there is no need to practice it everyday. This process should be performed in the standing position. Stoop forward slightly and turn the belly swiftly from left to right. Rotate the belly swiftly from left to right and vice versa. When the abdominal wall becomes concave, the front abdominal walls are contracted and the other muscles of the abdominal walls are relaxed. The abdominal wall consists of three sets of abdominal muscles called abdominal recti which are vertical and run from below the navel till the chest bone, the transverse abdominal muscles running across the abdominal wall and the internal and external oblique muscles. Of these, only the central vertical muscles are to be contracted. This contraction isolates them from the other muscles of the abdominal wall. They stand out like the column in the midst of the concavity of the abdomen. This is caused by making a thrust from behind at the lower end, located at about two inches from the navel. Regular practice makes this task easier Mudras For Good Health  By : Sharon Hopkins - We present some brilliant, very effective and simple mudras, which you can practice anytime and anywhere: • GYAN MUDRA – This is one of the most important mudras. It is widely used in all yogic meditation practices. Join the tip of forefinger to the tip of the thumb. Hold together gently for at least 15-30 minutes. Importance Of Controlling Your Mind  By : Sharon Hopkins - Since ancient times, the human philosophers have realized the importance of the mind in governing the human affairs. They knew that a person’s external circumstances were the result of his internal thoughts. They were aware that if the person thinks of riches, he would have riches, while if the thoughts are of poverty, success and failure would produce the corresponding effects in the person’s circumstances. Today, modern science has acknowledged the truth of these findings. Hence, it becomes crucial for a person to control his mind. Yoga has specific techniques which deal with the science of mind control. We will study the nature of the mind as is recognized by yoga in this chapter. Shankaracharya has defined the mind in four different ways as per its functions: manas for the job of resolving and doubting; buddhi for the decision and judgment; asmita for the consciousness of its individual existence and chita for remembering the previous experiences. The Mind is a vast collection of thoughts and traces of past experiences. When you are born, your mind is the collection of samskaras collected over the previous births. Those samskaras, whose fruits have already been enjoyed have been wiped out. But as you grow up, new samskaras are being added continuously due to various acts performed by you from birth to death. This translates into the law of karma which states that the events one faces in his life are the results of the activities done by him in the past and his mind at birth contains the samskaras from his previous births. Karma Yoga – The Art Of Living  By : Sharon Hopkins - The ancient book of Gita, which is the treatise on the living has led a great stress on the karma. Karma is defined as the action and its fruits. Ancient Hindu saints have believed that a man’s life is the direct result of his karma. Good thoughts, words and deeds lead to good and happy life while bad thoughts, words and deeds lead a person to disaster. This has been postulated in the 18th century by Isaac Newton, who gave his law as “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The branch of yoga that deals with karma is called as the karma yoga. Usually you are bound by the cravings and desires associated with your act but you can free yourself by doing the act but dissociating yourself from its consequences. This is the basic concept behind karma yoga and the person who follows this path is known as karma yogi. His behaviour is of indifference and while the world may think he is not interested, in reality he has mastered his desires and has developed awareness of the real significance of the events that occur around him. Tenets Of Yoga Philosophy  By : Sharon Hopkins - In the ancient India, philosophy has been traditionally divided into two main groups. These groups are called as the orthodox group and heretic group. The orthodox group believes in the authority of Vedas in all the philosophical matters. These orthodox systems are six in all. One of the most popular systems of philosophy is yoga. It shares the following common beliefs with the other orthodox systems: Points To Be Followed Before Learning Yoga  By : Sharon Hopkins - Once you have decided to practice yoga for better living and spiritual health, you need to take care of the following points so as to prevent injuries to your physical self: • Physical condition of the individual: usually, it is recommended that people with normal health do yoga practice. But if you are suffering from some physical problems and are using yoga to cure it, you need to follow certain precautions since performing yoga practices without proper precautions may lead to harmful effects on the body. This is because the internal organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys etc. are involved and may get harmed if you do not practice yoga properly. Hence it is recommended that you follow the yoga techniques under expert guidance. Yama And Niyama In Yoga  By : Sharon Hopkins - Yoga defines yama and niyama as the positive and negative aspects of behaviour respectively. Traditional texts mention ten yamas and ten niyamas but Patanjali’s Yogasutra, which is considered the original treatise on yoga, defines five yamas and five niyamas. It has been mentioned that in Manusmirti that it is more important to follow yamas than niyamas. Here we give a brief description on the yamas and niyamas to be followed: • Ahimsa (Non-violence): this is one of foremost yamas. It means the lack of intention to hurt others. This intention need not be just physical but includes mental and emotional cruelty. Here the attitude is more important than the actual act of killing. You should not even have the intention of offending others. Fitness - Mantra To Live Long  By : Sharon Hopkins - Demanding careers, raising a family coupled with pressures of daily life is daunting task for man and woman alike. Exercising or daily workout of 30 minute is the last thing on the mind, though we find time to watch TV or hang out with friends. We can come up with hordes of reason for not hitting the gym. Being fit should be a part and priority in everyone’s life. Being physically fit helps you to live a longer life. It means more than looking your best on the beach and finishing first in the marathon. By keeping yourself physically fit, your body learns to deal with the stress of daily life. Incorporate going to the gym as a daily habit like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Devote good 30 minutes to an hour for exercises or any other kind of workout for making you feel fit and look good. Okay, Explain Bikram Yoga To Me Again?  By : Foras Aje As varied as the poses associated with yoga are, it should not be a surprise that there are various styles of yoga. Now, though the poses may more or less be quite similar in execution, each style/technique does have their own unique stand outs. One of such is the critically acclaimed Bikram Yoga. I Need To Lose Weight, Can I Use Yoga?  By : Foras Aje The caption above was the question that a fellow rider on the sub-way asked me on the way home as I was looking through the recent copy of the Yoga journal. I sort of had to pause to regain my composure as she had just suggested to me that “look , I’m overweight and I need you to tell me how to lose some pounds…and yes, I’m a female!” Again, Here Are Some Of The Benefits Of Doing Yoga  By : Foras Aje The other day, soon as she found out that I did yoga, a co-worker asked me; “Besides being all flexible, what are the other benefits of doing this yoga-thing?, It looks like stretching to me anyway…” Well, I told her that's asking (and saying) a lot really, the health benefits of yoga are so much that it may be hard to see which exact one is the most important. Are Yoga Balls Helpful For Doing Poses?  By : Foras Aje I’ve been doing yoga for years and never actually had the need for or even used props such as blocks, belts or even the common yoga balls. However that changed when I recently attempted some yoga poses using the big ball nestled in the corner of my girlfriend’s apartment. How To Get A Yoga Trainer License  By : Foras Aje Okay, I just finished 4 games of basket ball with the guys at the gym and before that had done sets of pull-ups, dips and the ab-wheel. While the rest started winding down to get showered and changed, I all of a sudden got into the 8-limb staff yoga poses to loosen up my whole body, the way only this pose seems to. “Say man; you do yoga?” one of the guys called out I said yes. How To Get Certified To Teach Yoga For Kids.  By : Foras Aje Ask Angela Bassett, Madonna and perhaps your next door neighbor carrying her yoga mat out of the trunk with the groceries, most stay-home moms have picked Yoga up as their method of keeping fit and maintaining physical, mental and emotional balance. Needless to say, when the see the apparent results most naturally wonder how their children might be able to benefit from using Yoga. Let’s Assess Doing Yoga Without Clothing Shall We?  By : Foras Aje If one looks at the other articles I may have written on this site, you will see that I recently wrote about chair yoga. Well, another form of this ancient exercise is one that apparently is gaining a lot of popularity, it’s known as Nude Yoga. Not that I’m much of a guru to pass judgment, but if I were to be asked what I thought about doing yoga poses without clothing I would say, I think the concept is...okay, especially if privacy is involved. Like Yoga Diagrams, Pictures Say A Thousand Words.  By : Foras Aje Okay, almost everyone is hip to the benefit and use of Yoga these days. I mean considering that the main purpose is “To kindle the divine fire within yourself." (as stated by B.K.S. Iyengar) , but when it comes to yoga be it simply beginner yoga exercises or how to learn yoga postures online, it goes without saying that a home practice is one sure way to gain from this wonderful exercise. Hence the need for yoga diagrams right there in your reach.

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