All about yoga

By Dan Levy

Many people are crazy about yoga. The reason most people practice yoga is that it makes them feel better and feel more in shape. The different poses and postures make their body flexible and healthy. Yoga for most is the best natural way to relax and unwind. If you are interested in keeping your body in shape, this might be the best exercise for you.

Did you know that yoga could help fight certain illness that may come your way? There has been research that proved yoga helps you to control anxiety, reduces asthma, arthritis, blood pressure, back pain, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, epilepsy, diabetes, headaches, stress, and more.

Yoga has a lot of benefits and advantages. All in a day's work, it can reduce tension and stress. Of course, after a heavy day, you will feel that your muscles have been stuck up and you will feel wasted.

If you do practice yoga, you may see an increase in your self-esteem. It is important to gain confidence so that you may face people without worry.

Yoga is good for the body in increasing your muscle tone, strength, stamina, and flexibility. If you are too heavy, or conscious about your body shape, yoga can help you lower your body fat and help you stay in shape. Yoga exercises can burn excess fat and give you the desired figure that you want.

If you need time to relax and forget your responsibilities, then yoga will be good for improving your concentration and can enhance your creativity. Yoga helps you to think positively because it can help keep you free of your anxieties. If you have a fresh mind, you can easily think good thoughts.

Your body needs to relax often. Sometimes, at the end of the workday, you can feel exhausted. After some of the hardest days, we may not find time to unwind because troubles at work are still on our mind. Yoga helps you to clear your mind and create a sense of calmness and well-being.

Yoga exercises help you improve your blood circulation. Your organs and veins need to be exercised for them to function properly. Yoga can help stimulate your immune system, which can help keep you free from diseases.

Some people practice yoga to get enlightened. They believe that yoga will help them lift their spirit and keep them relieved. Yoga works differently for people, be it spiritual, emotional, psychological, mental, or physical.

Many people think that yoga is only for spiritual, or religious, people. But that myth is wrong. Even if you are not religious, you can do yoga. You will see and feel the difference, and at the same time find out how it works for you.

Due to the pressure and demands of life, we are stressed out and forget the essences of our lives. We tend to lose touch with the ones we used to spend time with, even ourselves.

We find ourselves rushing most of the time with deadlines and hassles at our jobs. This leaves us little time for our minds to wander and have that physical awareness.

These are a few things that yoga can provide. Occasionally, dedicate some time to relax and unwind, which only yoga can do.

Visit Dan Levy's website, A Beginner's Guide To Yoga. This will teach you the basics about yoga & beyond, including the different types & great resources. Visit today at: http://www.den-tex.com/beginners-yoga/

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Staying Well Mentally with Yoga

By Mike Cosentino

Yoga is one of the most complete disciplines there is for both physical and mental health. With a history stretching back for centuries, yoga combines mental and physical well-being with its wide-ranging practices involving exercises for the body, improvements in digestion and the elimination of waste and toxic substances, deep breathing and meditation.

One of the key things that yoga practice does for you is to increase the oxygen content in your blood stream. The yoga breathing techniques with deep, controlled inhalation and respiration bring fresh, oxygen-containing air into your lungs where the exchange occurs and the oxygen passes into your system, a nutrient for all of your vital organs, including your brain. Yoga puts such importance on breathing that it even specifies breathing exercises specifically for the left and the right nostrils. By breathing in through the left nostril for example, you direct oxygen-enriched blood to the opposite side of your brain, that is to say the right side, where you typically do your creative and intuitive thinking. If you want to develop your logical thought processes, then yoga suggests that you breathe through your right nostril to get your left half of the brain into action. Incidentally, either exercise will also develop the cross-brain communication as well as you work towards overall brain fitness.

Yoga for thinking as well as doing

Yoga also extends into the realms of philosophy with its concepts such as mindfulness, a technique designed to develop calmness and relaxation. This technique is built on the notion of putting mentally interfering concerns and stresses at a distance to prevent the polluting effect that these things can have on mental well-being. Mindfulness also positively enhances other faculties such as the ability to focus constructively, to take better decisions more quickly and to do this in a relaxed mental state. If you think back to the last time that you had to take a decision under pressure, you’ll see what a valuable tool this can be.

These benefits extend into more energy and a more positive outlook. Yoga practitioners often speak of mental stability and performance that they never knew before starting yoga, with the reduction in the number of mood swings that often reduce a person’s capability to function effectively. When you consider that the number of mood changes per day can attain 200 on a regular basis, you can see that this can represent a wasteful and unnecessary distraction. This positive spiral of mood stabilization, positive thoughts and focus then brings yet more advantages, such as the easier memorization of information.

No artificial additives

In common with a number of other activities shown to enhance mental health, brain fitness well-being and self-esteem improvement, it is the better quality blood arriving in the different areas of the brain that results from the practice of yoga and that stimulates the production of the natural and positive chemicals in the brain. Because yoga relies solely on the natural functions of the human organism, and is automatically in tune with its subtleties and complexities, no artificial medication can hope to compete in terms of healthiness, suitability and lack of any undesirable side effects.

Mike Cosentino is a professional development expert, entrepreneur, and a top sales trainer read more of his topics or subscribe to his free newsletter at www.mikecosentino.net

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Teaching Hatha Yoga - Essentials For Beginners

By Paul Jerard

The beginning of September is a busy time for Yoga teachers and Yoga studios in North America. This is the time of year when children go back to school and parents make decisions about activities for the next nine months. Whether there are more resolutions, made during September or January, is a subject for debate.

Bearing this in mind, many Yoga studios design advertisements, flyers, brochures, mailers, and web sites for prospective students' needs. In this time of plenty, after the "long lonely summer," some Yoga teachers scramble to accommodate every perceived student need.

Some studios tie up crucial funds in Yoga mats and equipment. While it is true that you should have props available, there is no logic in buying Yoga mats for more money than your students will pay at the local retail store. Letting Yoga supplies sit in a closet, unused for five years, is a waste of space, time, and funds.

About new Yoga classes: Do design classes and workshops to meet needs that are in demand within your local community. If you live in a predominantly retired community, there may not be a large demand for Power Yoga, Kids Yoga, and Prenatal Yoga. On the other hand, if you live in the heart of a college neighborhood, there may be a limited demand for Senior Yoga classes.

This may sound like common sense, but sometimes we lack the information needed to understand the niche markets within our specific communities. If you receive numerous requests for a specific type of Yoga, you should have a workshop, which meets one to three times, to see if there is a real demand for it.

We often confuse ourselves by thinking our studios should be structured like a general store. There is nothing wrong with having a variety of Yoga styles to choose from, but there is no need for every program, if some classes do not attract students.

In some cases, the classes are in direct competition with each other. For example: If you have beginners, gentle, restorative, and rehabilitative on the list, you must give an in-depth explanation as to how they are different from each other. How will they help a student who knows nothing about Yoga?

It is important to listen to the opinion of someone who knows nothing about Yoga. We often forget how we originally perceived Yoga. It must be remembered that the term "beginner," is a reflection of a lack of knowledge. Therefore, we must design our brochures and classes for beginners.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

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

Yoga - What Exactly Is It?

By Kevin Sinclair

The practice of yoga was developed by an Indian Hindu by the name of Patanjali way back in the year 300. The word itself means discipline and the whole purpose of yoga is to stretch the muscles, increase the levels of concentration and to strengthen the body in general. It is also a great way to relax and de-stress your body.

There is little wonder that such an ancient form of discipline has turned out to be so popular amongst athletes and modern day entertainers. However, yoga can be practiced by anyone as an occasional simple exercise routine or on a regular basis as a total way of life.

The people who take part in yoga are known as yogis and many of them use this form of discipline to reach a high level of consciousness. They respect the fact that there are certain things they should not be or do such as being greedy, hurting others, lying and stealing and they adhere to things they should do like being clean, feeling content each day, having self control, and leading a studious and devoted lifestyle.

Yogis train themselves how to have physical control over their bodies by taking full and deep breaths. This is considered by them to be a life force and they count their lifespan in the amount of breaths taken and not in the years of their age.

Yoga is different from other exercises as it assists the body to become more flexible as well as improving ones strength. Due to this, some of the yoga exercises and positions known as asanas can look a little strange. You may feel at first that you need to be some kind of contortionist to perform the exercises, but this is not case - you just need to completely relax. Yoga allows you to ease into the stretches gently and you are not required to force yourself into any position. The regularly used expression no pain no gain simply does not apply when practicing yoga. You simply do the best you can at the time and at some point in the future you will find yourself doing more.

Balance is demanded by all yoga positions and as you are unlikely to be able to get this right when thinking about whatever it was you watched on TV last night, you need to learn how to concentrate on what you are doing. Once you have perfected this art, you will discover that you can concentrate on other things much better too.

You will find yoga exercises copy nature and many yoga poses outline the shape of creatures such as the cat, cobra, crab, dog, eagle and tortoise.

For instance, in the cobra pose, you would ask yourself just what it would feel like to actually be a cobra. You lie on flat on your stomach with your forehead resting on the floor and as you breathe in, slowly roll your head backwards whilst supporting your body with your hands. Keep that position and then come back down slowly, all the time moving as a snake would do.

All yoga exercises have been carefully thought out to encourage serenity and strength and every move affects a gland, a muscle or a nerve center.

With yoga you can choose to perform particular exercises to get rid of certain types of back pain or leg pain experienced from jogging. You can also use yoga as preparation for a skiing trip or even to help you overcome your feelings of fear or depression.

The many asanas of yoga, how to do them and the way in which they can work for you can be found in any good yoga book. Do you remember doing handstands and cartwheels in the past? There you go - you may well have already done some yoga without ever even knowing it!

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of My-Personal-Growth.com, a site that provides information and articles for self improvement and personal growth and development.

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

Yoga Stretching For Great Abs

By Chris Dean

If you really want some fabulous and flat abs, stretching exercises will help you get there. Stretching exercises will also aid in weight loss. In addition to these exercises helping you spine and your hips, they are also great in giving your abs that flat look you've been yearning for. These exercises will also help strengthen your abdominal muscles.

Did you know that poor posture, along with not having a flexible body, can cause your abdominal muscles not to work properly? When you do stretching exercises, they can help your legs, hips and spine get into shape. This will help strengthen your abdominal muscles and will also help your body to become flexible again.

Exactly what kinds of exercises are beneficial to improve your abdominal area? Well, how about yoga? Yes, yoga is good for your abdominal muscles because it involved stretching, which will help tone and firm your abdominal muscles. The middle part of your abdominal area will become leaner and thus, the flattening of your abs will come into place.

As you do these yoga stretches, keep in mind that you're not just stretching for your abdominal area, but you are also stretching for weight loss. Eventually, as you stretch and the extra belly fat comes off, the weight will come off as well.

Let's start by describing some of the yoga stretches that you can do:

Torso Stretch

Start by lying on your stomach. Your hands should be on the floor, flat. While in this position, make sure your hands are close to your chest. Using the tops of both feet, proceed to move the upper body part upward. Make sure your shins are on the floor as you're doing this. As you press your hands into the floor, your arms should be straight. Take a breath and hold it in for 40 seconds.

Yoga Crunch

Start by lying on your back. Pull your knees to your chest area. Your hands should be placed over your head. Make sure your hands are on the floor behind you. As you raise your legs, flex your feet upward toward the ceiling. As you bring your legs down, use your abdominal muscles to do it. When your back starts to arch, stop. Bring your legs back to your chest area. Do the entire process over. You can start out slow, but the goal is to get up to at least 10 repetitions.

There are some suggestions that you should take into consideration:

When you're doing these stretching exercises, it's important to go slow and control your movements. This will help your abdominal muscles a lot. In yoga, it's important to breathe properly. When you inhale and exhale, it helps your muscles and helps you to further your stretches. It's also important to have a connection, with your mind, body and soul.

The more you do these stretches, the better you will feel. You will start to see a change in your body, including flat abs and toned body. Stretching exercises help to fulfill to goal of weight loss as well great abs.

Want a 6 pack? My new free report reveals insider's secrets to getting a lean body with 6 pack abs. To get this report (a $27 value) for free visit: http://www.getabsofsteel.com <==== HOT!

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

How Big A Part Does Concentration Play In Yoga Practice?

By Michael J Mckay

One of the most important aspects of yoga practice, rated even more highly than yoga moves themselves, is the ability to concentrate. Concentration is placed so highly because it in itself promotes relaxation by preventing our ever wandering minds from 'flitting' onto subjects/matters that have been affecting us throughout the day. These jumbled thought-processes disallow us from focusing.

By concentrating on focusing our thoughts and actions on our breathing, we can purge these chaotic influences that are constantly present which by definition cause an increase in our stress levels. The majority of people don't understand how powerful concentration is in bringing about a state of total relaxation. We need to attain this state to effectively practise our yoga techniques.

We are not talking about forced concentration here, as this would deviate from that which we wish to achieve in our yoga quest. We seek relaxed concentration, whereby our thoughts are returned to a clear mind, unburdened with the usual worry or concerns in our lives. We must cast these aside and allow our mind time to relax and recover.

As with all things the more we practice our yoga techniques, the ever lessening amount of time in concentration is required to bring about the required relaxed state. During these times our mind becomes increasingly relaxed, to the extent that even when we are not performing yoga our minds and bodies are relaxed. This is the physical and mental state which we should be in, and for which we essentially practice yoga.

There are varying yoga techniques, whose teachers apply methods to help you concentrate and attain that state which releases the damaging things in our lives. Their techniques may be superficially different but there aim is identical.

It is common knowledge that damaging effects on our emotions will without doubt have similar negative effects on our physical bodies. It follows that whatever you believe is what you will receive, and having a chaotically unfocused mind will without doubt have detrimental effects on our overall health. It will also prevent us from practicing yoga effectively!

Initially, new yoga devotees will find it very difficult to maintain the required level of concentration for any prolonged period of time; our minds are week and unfocused; this is expected. As mentioned earlier, practice makes the process a lot easier thus the more we practise yoga the quicker we will be able to enter that essential relaxed state of mind. It will eventually become so easy to achieve the desired state that you will not even feel as though you need to concentrate to achieve this state.

That is the natural state of mind that you should be aiming for. It will improve your yoga experience and shape your life for the better.

Start your yoga training today and see the great, long-term health benefits you will receive.
Take action now by clicking here to discover the most effective way to dramatically improve your physical and mental well-being forever.

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

Yoga Practice For Teens To Reduce Anxiety And Boost Self-Esteem

By Thaddeus Johnson

Doing yoga for teens would be a great way to help them in dealing with anxiety and boosting self-esteem. The yoga poses can be effective in relaxation and enhance their physical abilities. Recently, yoga has been introduced to young children and teenagers as a form of therapy and physical exercise. There are a number of yoga websites offering articles, techniques, classes, and testimonials on the benefits of the children that participate.

The teenage years

One of the most important and difficult times in a child's life is the teenage years. In school, it is the period of wanting to "fit in" accompanied with peer pressure. They will usually have lots of homework and if they are into extracurricular activities such as sports, band, or drama, a significant amount of time is required for that. For some, this can be too much of a challenge. Life at home may also have its challenges with parents and siblings.

The question to be asked is, "what activity/activities are available to help teens through difficult situations they may encounter?" For the most part, teens have support from friends, school activities and family. But where do they turn when the support is not readily available to them when they need it most?

Yoga benefits

Doing a low impact style of yoga, such as Iyengar, would be the best way for kids to experience calmness and empowerment. Each pose is performed gently and consciously with much attention given to breathing, expansion, and balance. In this process, it will enable the teen to focus on self that will help release tension, frustration or even anger and transform those energies into a more relaxed state.

The poses are excellent for boosting self-esteem in that it challenges the individual's ability to stay in balance, both in mind and body. Significant results may be attained through each session. Yoga exercises are not easy to do as some individuals may realize but with continued commitment, teens will be taking great strides towards self-fulfillment. With that level of confidence, teens will be able to handle trying situations differently and effectively.

Place of comfort

Yoga is not a cure-all by any means but it is a safe and alternative way for teenagers to find a place of comfort. Finding that place is far more intriguing and beneficial than doing drugs or being caught in unfavorable situations. Yoga is not for everyone but for those who embrace its importance, it will improve their quality of life in the days and years to come.

Where to find yoga classes

Parents, you might be able to find classes in your neighborhood or in your local newspaper. Keep in mind that not all yoga studios will have programs specific to teens. Probably the best avenue to do a search would be online. The age of the world wide web has made accessing information on any topic quick and easy.

From the web you will be able to narrow your search specific to your needs without even leaving your home. Though, if a studio were found, it would be wise to visit and observe the practice. Take the time to get as much information that you will need from the class instructor to insure it will be a match for your child.

About the author: Thaddeus W Johnson is a writer who enjoys providing online shoppers with valuable information for purchasing and the benefits of shopping online. Discover great savings on products such as yoga t-shirts, affordable clothing and much more.

C 2008 Thaddeus W Johnson

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

Back To Nature With Naked Yoga

By Bernard Matthews

The practice of yoga is not usually associated with practicing in the all-together but naked yoga is now becoming surprisingly popular. There are regular classes springing up across America although it still seems to be a fairly well-kept secret.

Those who attend are matter of fact about the whole process and essentially naked yoga probably isn’t anything new, many people may have practiced at home without wearing the usual yoga garb, but it’s the concept of a class full of naked people practicing yoga, which seems to be causing a stir.

If the thought of naked yoga is appealing and you are tempted to search for a local class, take a moment first to consider some of the benefits that you might experience:

• Feeling of freedom for those participating

• Feeling of being less inhibited.

• Being more in touch and comfortable with their own bodies

• Connecting on a more intimate level with other students

Classes can be any size and groups are often mixed. Whilst on paper this may seem to have some sexual connotations, this is not the aim of many of those who attend. Naked yoga provides a freedom of movement and increases the ability to be able to focus on the postures and the correct lines without being hampered by restrictive clothes and in addition, it enables the practitioner to be able to view their actual positions in the mirrors and so they can self-correct if the pose is not as it should be. Naked or not, yoga poses are important and it is vital that the postures are accurate.

Teachers also are able to see much more clearly if a final position is not quite right and can help the student to realign their position thus increasing the benefits of the posture.

Whilst initially there may be some embarrassment whilst removing clothes, once the practice sessions start, and the students focus on the task at hand, the embarrassment begins to fade. As yoga is non-competitive, there is little use trying to focus on others, attention is turned inward, students reconnect with their inner feelings and what their bodies are trying to tell them.

Many of those who study naked yoga feel that they are somehow reconnecting with nature, even if much of their practice is done indoors and away from scrutiny.

Practicing yoga outside whilst not wearing any clothes takes the practice a step further, but again practitioners feel that it enhances their individual session allowing them to reconnect with their body in a way that they would not be able to if wearing any sort of clothes.

Of course, naked yoga is not for everyone, and it is unlikely that the craze will see the demise of more traditional yoga groups, providing those who attend benefit and feel relaxed and comfortable in their environment, maybe there is something to be said for the back to nature theme.

Back to Nature with Naked Yoga From Bernard Matthews.

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

Practice Yoga as a Lifestyle and Enjoy Every Day

By Paul Jerard

Starting your day off with a short Yoga session, can change your outlook for the entire day. Yet, there are some people who manage an eternally optimistic view of life and have never consciously practiced Yoga. If, or when, they visit a class, they will find themselves surrounded by like-minded positive energy.

How many people do you know who really enjoy life? Take the time to observe their common qualities. You will notice how they look forward to each day. They wake up each morning, anticipating the best possible day. Passion for life fuels positive energy and creates a long-term state of enthusiasm.

In Yoga, positive visualization, and positive affirmations, are taught in order to create a healthy frame of mind. One could naturally be an optimist, but it is nice to have the formula for optimism so close at hand. A Yoga class can also help on those occasions when we feel less motivated.

Once the mind is positively charged, we can look forward to each opportunity the day presents to us. This is in stark contrast to those who see life as an endless trail of tasks, with problems around every corner.

Unfortunately, the negatively-charged mind will drain itself of energy and naturally, work toward draining the energy out of anything surrounding it. You can recommend Yoga, but a pessimist is very uncomfortable when surrounded by enthusiasm, optimism, and self-improvement.

If it is possible for a pessimist to continually practice Yoga over the course of months, you will begin to see a change in him or her. It will not happen instantly, but he, or she, will begin to anticipate opportunities in life. You may even notice that goal-setting skills will follow this person's new found positive outlook on life.

Yogic breathing techniques, (Pranayama), are unconsciously practiced by everyone. Have you observed people sigh, yawn, or huff for natural reasons? Some people, who have never heard of Pranayama, take a deep natural breath every time they feel stressed.

In Yoga classes, we practice Pranayama to link the mind and body. Pranayama helps us be more present in our practice, but it can be a life saver, and a mood changer, in daily life. Try to focus exclusively, and purposely, on drawing out a natural breath, if you are near a conflict.

Once you have managed to breathe slow, steady, and smooth, during a crisis, you will notice that you are not swallowed up into the conflict. Your opinions should be even-handed, and constructive, as a result of Pranayama.

In Yoga, this is a form of breath awareness, which is nice to learn in a classroom setting, but much more valuable, when applied toward daily life situations.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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

The Many Forms Of Yoga

By Aazdak Alisimo

Mention yoga and many people assume it is a uniform practice. In truth, there many different forms of yoga that can be practiced and each has a different approach.

What are the many different forms of yoga? To grasp them, you will first have to understand that some forms of yoga are more popular than others. For the sake of this article, we will be discussing the most popular forms of yoga, so that you may find these types at a local fitness club in your area. Those yoga classes that you are likely to come across include: Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Bikram.

Let's start with the one that is gaining a lot of attention lately: Bikram. Bikram yoga is also known as "hot yoga," and since its inception people have been yearning to learn these exercises. This movement was first begun by Bikram Choudhury many years ago with the intent that it would become an intense form of yoga. Bikram is done in an extremely hot room (usually 95 to 100 degrees), which helps to loosen tight muscles. In addition, the high heat will cause a person to sweat profusely (sweating cleanses the body). Usually, this class will contain around 10 poses, though some contain all 26 poses. Another popular form of yoga is Hatha, and you are sure to find this one near you as well.

Hatha is really quite a generalized term. Hatha encompasses many different forms of yoga, though a Hatha course will usually move at a slow pace. In many ways, Hatha is the best introductory yoga course. Also, you will find that Vinyasa is another form of yoga that beginners will enjoy due to the breath-synchronized movements and slow poses. In great contract to Hatha and Vinyasa is Iyengar ... though this type of yoga is closer to its true roots. What are the different types of yoga poses involved in Iyengar?

Iyengar is really based upon bodily alignment. Those that practice this form of yoga do so in order to hold various poses for long periods of time. There are also many props that will be used in an Iyengar course (blankets, blocks, straps), and these courses are highly addictive. As you can see, there are many sorts of yoga that you can easily take part in.

What are the different types of yoga not mentioned here? Well, there are many. The fact is that yoga is an ancient practice with many different schools and teachings. Although your local health club may offer a few of the aforementioned courses, it is better to find a true yoga center near you. Find the type that works for you (using the above information as a guide), and begin your healthy yoga filled life today.

Aazdak Alisimo writes about yoga equipment for YogaEquipmentSupplies.com

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

Stretching & Yoga

By Kirsten Hawkins

Stretching and yoga aren’t just for swamis who can fold themselves up like pretzels, or movie stars who have nothing better to do with their days! It can be a beneficial practice to all who use it, and one doesn’t have to adopt the worldview of the swamis in order to reap benefits from it. The pace of our lives these days is crazy—some would argue destructive.

Yoga proponents say that learning the art form will not make you dull, but more magnetic, and show you the importance of slowing down. Yoga’s ‘inactivity’ can insert a moment to breathe in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, can clear your mind, and re-energize you with just a few simple techniques.

The first lesson in any Yogic theory is how to relax. This doesn’t mean you flop on the sofa and become a couch potato; instead it is defined as ‘a conscious transfer of energy from one department of nature to another….’ Even if you do this for 5 minutes at a time over a beverage, you’re on your way to relaxing. It will increase your efficiency—try it and see!

Stretching involved in yoga can be very simple: lie on the floor without pillows. Remove your shoes and wear whatever is loose fitting and comfortable to you. Stretch your arms over your head while stretching your legs and feet. Close your eyes and let your head roll to one side.

Now release each part of your body and consciously permit each limb, each ‘section’ of your body, to meld in to the floor. Permit yourself to feel as if you are sinking and think of a peaceful scene. This will likely feel very odd to you the first time you do it, but the relaxation that you bring each part of your body will be refreshing!

Now we’ll work on stretching! Lie on the floor as you did for your full-body relaxation, only this time, interweave your fingers above your head. If you turn your palms upward, you’ll feel a bigger stretch along your ribs and spine. Stretch your arms as far above your head as possible, pointing your toes and pushing them towards the floor so you can feel every muscle between your head and feet.

Once you have stretched every part of your body, release! Now go back in to your full-body relaxation mode, remembering to start at the head and relax your way down to your toes.

Now work on the ‘complete breath’ that yoga teaches. Lying flat on the floor without pillows, place your hands gently on your diaphragm. Slowly exhale as much as you can. Very slowly begin to inhale through the mouth, evenly and without sudden stops. You will feel your diaphragm expand at this point—keep going. Now exhale through your mouth, using a slight force, expelling as much air as possible.

You have just completed your ‘complete breath’ in yogic teaching! If you build up the number of complete breaths per day, you’ll notice less tension, better rest, and a more relaxed you. Release the stress of your day and become who you were designed to be!

Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

5 Important Yoga Tips For Everyone

By Raj S. Gupta

Tip #1: Why are you practicing Yoga?

The first step is to figure out why you want to practice Yoga. What are your goals? Do you want to practice Yoga daily, weekly or bi-weekly? Does your schedule allow for a few minutes everyday, or you can take a 2 hour class once a week? Are you completely clear about your purpose for doing Yoga? Answers to these questions will help you determine what style of Yoga would best fulfill your goals. There are many styles to choose from and many types of teachers to learn from. Yoga studios and fitness gyms offer a variety of classes to fit your unique needs.

Tip #2: Talk to your doctor or other competent medical professional

This is probably, the most important step for you to take before starting any Yoga program. As with any exercise program, including Yoga, the advice of a professional is important for your safety. Yoga can be enjoyed by the vast majority of people provided they are aware of the limits of their capabilities. Many postures many not be suitable or even dangerous in certain circumstances. A pregnant woman doing an inverted body pose for example, could expose herself to significant risk. The advice of your doctor cannot be stressed enough depending on your unique condition. If you have a specific condition, find out from your doctor if Yoga may worsen your current condition. You may want discuss the program an organization offers with your doctor, and determine your suitability with it. You could also bring a book with the postures and show it to your doctor and discuss whether they are appropriate for your condition. A DVD or video would also be good to show your doctor.

Tip #3: The correct Yoga style

Nowadays there are so many styles of Yoga to choose from, and this could be a good thing. Everyone has a different taste and goal for practicing Yoga. Some may want a style that focuses on heavy physical activities, and others may want to enjoy a style that incorporate a particular philosophy that resonates with them. You can educate yourself on several Yoga styles, or even try a few, then pick one that you like and that you feel you can stick to for the long term. The whole idea here is that the style should be enjoyable to you so you can continue to invest your time practicing and keep reaping the benefits of your practice.

Tip #4: Don't compare yourself to anyone

Yoga is a personal journey, based on your current level and capabilities. You don't have to compare yourself to anyone. Your teacher may be an advanced practitioner, and many students would like to be like him or her. They may try to overstretch and force themselves into a posture which may be beyond their capability at the moment. This is not advisable as it can lead to serious injuries. Regardless of how far you are comfortably in your posture, you will gain the benefit of the posture. By continued practice you may reach the perfection in the posture depending on your physical condition. Always follow the advice of your instructor and the steps involved in the posture. Remember never to imitate other students or your teacher and force yourself beyond your capacity into a posture.

Tip #5: Be patient and be persistent

Patience is a great virtue. Don't be discouraged if you are not getting the benefits you expected right away. You need to maintain your practice and make it a part of your life as a normal routine such as brushing your teeth. Almost everyone doing Yoga would agree that they enjoyed benefits after their first day of practice. If you are new to Yoga, you will also enjoy these benefits. There are however, some postures that require a little more work to get them right, and you may not be happy with your results. Don't worry, in time you will get there. Every time you practice Yoga, you get better and better. Being consistent is the key to progress in Yoga. For many people time is a big factor, preventing them from being consistent. Find a regular schedule and stick to it.

About The Author: Raj S. Gupta teaches how to eliminate daily stress through a highly effective Yoga Program that is completed in only 7 Minutes. He has also written a FREE Ebook titled "27 Important Yoga Tips For Maximum Benefits" To download your FREE copy visit http://www.7MinuteYogaProgram.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raj_S._Gupta

Teaching Yoga as Therapy

By Paul Jerard

Yoga, in itself, has always been therapy - in every shape and form. If you look at a promising athletic child, or a student in a wheel chair, you will clearly see healthy results, which are mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual, in nature.

After observing martial artists, gymnasts, dancers, and competitive athletes closely, Yoga practice is much more than a form of cross training. Many of them learned to work around pre-existing injuries and ailments, as a result of practicing Yoga on a therapeutic level.

In the case of children learning proper breathing techniques (pranayama), postures (asanas), proper diet, meditation, and deep relaxation - Yogic methods become a natural form of therapy, and give them valuable life skills. Children need to have the skills to deal with stress, peer pressure, and finding their way throughout life.

The most common form of contemporary Yogic therapy has been relief from an existing ailment. The list of potential ailments seems to be endless. We may naturally think of using a combination of standard medical practices and Yoga therapy for neurological disorders, such as: Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Ataxia, and Parkinson's disease. Yet, there are many more neurological disorders, diseases, and ailments.

Students and clients are seeing good results and improvements in their lives. Yogic therapy and medicine can work in harmony to treat any ailment. In the case of postures (asanas): They can be modified for anyone, even if the student is in a hospital bed.

There are so many breathing techniques (pranayama) to choose from; they can also be modified for the particular student. Pranayama and asana are just two aspects of a huge and evolving therapeutic field.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA - http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com - He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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

Yoga and Diabetes

By Paul Jerard

Yoga instructors need to work closely with diabetic students in order to maximize the health advantages from yoga. Recent findings reveal the many positive effects that yoga has on diabetes.

Yoga cannot "cure" diabetes, but there are several ways yoga can be beneficial in controlling diabetes. If medically prescribed regimens are followed by diabetic students, they can safely add yoga to their treatment. Due to the potential impact on their glucose levels, and overall body function, great strides can be made through regular committed yoga practice.

The benefits of yoga on circulation are tremendous. This is one of the reasons yoga is so healthy for people suffering from a variety of ailments. Circulatory problems, in diabetics, are the primary cause of many devastating side effects. Yoga's focus on breathing, stretching and rotational movements, by nature, improves circulation.

Yoga also helps maintain the elasticity of blood vessels. This further assists in good circulation. In turn, increased oxygen is supplied to internal organs and the important glands of the endocrine system. When the blood vessels remain elastic, this means better heart health and decreased risk of stroke.

Back bends are especially good for the cardiovascular system. Yoga teachers should encourage diabetic students to incorporate back bends into their postures. If a student has mobility problems, because of age or obesity, consider assisted back bends with props to support his, or her, body, neck, and head.

Digestion is improved through movements and breath control of yoga (pranayama). Pancreas and liver operation is also enhanced. The rotations of certain postures also massage the glands of the endocrine system, encouraging hormone production.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/ He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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

Yoga for Stress Relief - Learn Some Simple Techniques

By Caroline Selfe

Doing yoga for stress relief doesn't have to be an involved routine. If you don't have time to do a full yoga routine, use the separate parts of yoga to relax and rejuvenate.

Deep breathing, meditation and poses can go a long way toward conquering stress. Simple yoga techniques take minutes to do and can be incorporated into your exercise routine. You can also do them whenever stress takes its toll to regain your balance.

Try doing yoga for stress relief by doing parts of a full routine. If you are pressed for time, these techniques will fit into your life well.

· Deep Breathing - If you want to instantly unwind and revive, do deep breathing. Most people most of the time breathe through the chest. This shallow breathing is caused by tension and stress. Breathing deeply through the belly oxygenates the muscles thereby relieving tension. Fill up your lower abdomen by breathing in. Contract the same area by breathing out. Do the breathing through your nose. This is the easiest part of doing yoga for stress relief.

· Meditation - Spend a few minutes a day quieting your mind. It sounds difficult with a hectic schedule. Take a few minutes to sit in a quiet place. You can close your office door at work or go in your bathroom at home and lock the door. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Breathe deeply and focus on the area between and just above the bridge of your nose. This is the third eye (eye of the soul). When a thought comes to your mind, envision it with wings and let it fly away. Do this until you are relaxed and centered.

· Poses - Yoga poses are a sort of meditation since focus on the movements is key. Try these two simple poses to relax your body and mind.

1) Baby Pose - Sit on the floor with your knees bent. Make sure you are sitting on your heels. Hang your arms at your sides. Slowly lean forward at the waist until your forehead touches the floor. Rest your arms at your sides on the floor. Keep your neck relaxed and straight and breathe normally. Hold the pose for however long it feels comfortable - a few minutes, perhaps.

2) Butterfly Pose - Sit on the floor with your knees out and soles of the feet touching - like a butterfly. Keeping your back straight and holding your feet, slowly raise and lower your knees several times. Then, lean forward from your hips. Hold this pose for a few minutes while breathing normally.

If you don't have time for a full routine of yoga for stress relief, try deep breathing, meditation or poses instead. They are ideal for quick relaxation and regaining balance.

To receive a valuable free report and newsletter click here: Free Report
Learn more simple yoga techniques at: Yoga for Stress Relief
Learn more about healing music here: Stress Relief Music
Caroline Selfe has been a passionate seeker of natural and holistic stress relief methods for the past 25 years.

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

Get a New Lease on Life and Create Peace

By Hema Murty

Are you looking for a way to get lean with an easy, indoor routine? Are you looking to get some stretching in after shovelling a lot of snow? Yoga and meditation should be your answer to solve all that ails you in today's world. The meaning of yoga has been lost to mean exercise. In fact, exercise is only one part of yoga. The word yoga means integration. We integrate the body, mind and spirit of our personality into an integrated whole. We present this whole being to the world and operate at a more efficient level.

Imagine performing better at work with very little effort. Yoga can accomplish that. There are many techniques to obtain this integrated sense of self. One of them is to keep the mind with you during your stretches. Don't let your mind drift as you move. Keep your mind always with you. Practicing this process is yoga.

Meditation is also a misused word. It means understanding or measuring the mind's contents. How do we do this? Closing your eyes is one way. However, most of us would probably fall asleep. A better way is to simply sit in a comfortable position and practice a short minute of breathing. Then, take pen to paper and write down all the thoughts you had. This gives you a snapshot of the mind's activities. Stuff you are wasting energy on. Every thought you have is an energy drain if it is not a positive thought. These thoughts deplete your energy source. You have less left over to do constructive work. This is why you don't shine in the workplace. Your mind is always busy pointing fingers and trying to tell you what is wrong with the rest of the world. Instead, tell your mind to stop it and focus on your own activities. Focussing on yourself enables you to shine at the workplace. Your mind is more in tune with productivity.

Writing is one easy way of practicing meditation. In fact, if you are angry at someone, best to vent on paper and then come back to the real world. After you have vented, you can think more clearly. You can address your issues in a more constructive fashion.

In today's hectic, fast-paced world, it is a good idea to see what your mind is up to everyday. Make a habit of getting up and doing the minute breathing followed by a data dump on paper. It doesn't have to be long; it just has to get done. This is a great way to start your day. You will feel more focussed on constructive things. You will feel more passionate about the things that matter to you.

Live life a little more fully as you practice meditation. This week do things a little differently. Live it like you can throw your whole heart and soul into it. Don't accept anything less than a perfect effort from you. Remember the key word here is effort. Just put your whole soul into it. Ace it. See how you feel. You should feel a little more energetic than doing things in a routine fashion or entertaining a feeling of "good enough".

Don't accept that from yourself. You can be way better. You know it. Don't create frustration. Just do it. Do it right and do it with passion. This is real yoga and real meditation. Understand that and use it.

For the past 20 years Hema has worked with many individuals, including executives at large corporations, to reduce stress, improve general health and workplace productivity. A variety of personal interests and professional paths have led Hema to her current role as a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor and nutrition and wellness specialist. Hema is listed in Who's Who in the World and is an author, lecturer and Can-Fit-Pro certified personal trainer who specializes in body-mind-spirit consulting and training women.

Hema offers keynote speeches, group workshops, and sees clients one-on-one in the Ottawa/Toronto area. Sign up for her free newsletter at http://www.getshanti.com

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

Feel Great with Bikram Yoga

By Thomas T

Hot Yoga or what is also known as Bikram Yoga is getting more and more popular. So what are the benefits of this form of Yoga?

Some of the many benefits of Bikram Yoga include, body strengthening, building endurance and emotional balance as well as improving your health. Some of these benefits can be contributed to the use of heat while performing the posture series.

With the help of a heated room, you are able to get into your postures better, and your muscles stretch more readily. In a heated room you will also find that you will lose weight more rapidly if this is your goal. Another advantage is that your metabolism speeds up and this helps to breakdown glucose and fatty acids.

The heat also helps to move oxygen to your body tissue and organs, which promotes healing as well as aids in removing harmful toxins. Another great benefit of Bikram Yoga is unlike many other forms of Yoga; it will raise your heart rate and promote cardiovascular health. Beyond the obvious benefits of Yoga, this form has been known to actually help repair damaged tissue and ligaments as well as helping to cure those who are plagued with chronic ailments.

The health benefits alone may be a good reason to try Bikram Yoga, but this is by far not the only benefit to this form of Yoga. There are many others, including a means in which we can find balance in our lives.

Additional areas in which Bikram Yoga may be helpful include, relieving stress. This is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Stress can be a killer and the better we learn to manage our stress, the better our health can be.

The endurance required in Bikram Yoga helps you to learn how to focus your energies. This is undoubtedly a good trait to master. The better we can focus in our everyday lives, the more we can accomplish and the better we will feel about ourselves.

Though Bikram Yoga is not necessarily a highly spiritual form of Yoga, it can help in spiritual transformation. When we feel better about ourselves, it is easier to reach to a higher spiritual self.

Bikram Yoga is a wonderful form of Yoga, but it may not be for everyone. Essentially, the postures can be performed by most anyone of any age, though you may find it difficult at first unless you are in good shape and have a high tolerance for heat. It might be a good idea to begin with Hatha Yoga first and then move on to Bikram Yoga. Once you have mastered Hatha Yoga, you can be fairly certain you are ready for Bikram Yoga.

Once you reach the point that you feel you are ready to begin Bikram Yoga, you may be truly astounded by how good you begin to feel.

Thomas T is the owner of http://www.yoga-instruction.net/ Lots of free info about Bikram Yoga, and more about Yoga Instruction

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

Improve Your Life With Yoga Instruction

By Thomas T

Yoga instruction can be the first step in changing and improving your life and creating a whole new you. When one comes to the decision that they are in need of a real life change, there are many ways to accomplish this, but few will be as beneficial as Yoga. Yoga is a means in which you can improve yourself mentally, emotionally, spiritually as well as improving your physical body. The benefits of Yoga are immense; you will become stronger, healthier and feel better about yourself when you commit yourself to Yoga instruction.

The health benefits alone are enough to get many people started with yoga instruction, but there are many reasons why yoga can help you to change your life for the better. Yoga is a type of all in one approach to life change, though alone it cannot work miracles to help better your life, it can be a great foundation for a start.

Aside from health, there are other ways in which yoga instruction can help to improve your life. It could help you to earn more money. Yoga can provide you with the ability to manage stress, and this alone can assist you in the workplace, but it can also aid you in your concentration skills. The better you can concentrate, the more you can get accomplished. Another advantage of learning Yoga is increased energy. Many people claim that they begin to feel more refreshed and energized after they begin practicing Yoga. This translates into more energy to devote to your interests, as well as family and friends. There is little doubt that our loved ones and those things that absorb our interest is what really make life worth living. Imagine a life in which only a small portion of your energy and thoughts are used for work, and the rest is saved for what is most important to us. This alone could help change your life for the better.

Coping with depression is another area in which Yoga can be of use. Yoga postures are designed to stretch, compress and massage your internal organs and glands. This stimulation is thought to help balance hormone levels in the body, which can help to attain a more balanced emotional condition.

Maybe you would like to stop smoking, or conquer some other habit that may be harming you. Yoga will increase your motivation, energy and focus, which will aid you in changing whatever habit you set out to change.

Yoga instruction can truly be beneficial for those who are looking to make some meaningful life changes.

Thomas T is the owner of http://www.Yoga-Instruction.NET Lots of free info about Yoga Instruction at http://www.Yoga-Instruction.NET

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

Nude Yoga - Would You Try It?

By Colette Halberstadt

Nude yoga is not a mainstream yoga form. It ignites great contradiction and controversy by way of challenging individual's ideas and customary ways of thinking. Although naked yoga is not suited to everyone, those practicing the art find their naked yoga classes an approach that aids in further developing and advancing their experience and unity of mind, body and soul.

So why substitute nude yoga as an alternative to the 'normal' everyday yoga class, and what really is the difference? In fact, the yoga poses are not any different to what you would find at your more common Hatha yoga or Bikram yoga classes, but you would be performing the usual poses completely naked. Although this may make many of us almost have a heart attack at the very thought, naked yoga is naked for a number of reasons. Firstly, not only does it strip away competition and superficiality allowing you to focus more on your yoga than on what people around you are wearing, it also aids in developing self esteem for those individuals aspiring to become more comfortable with their body image. Performing yoga positions naked can also provide you with greater motion and flexibility as well as allowing you to achieve proper alignment during poses.

So how do you know if you are suited to this form of yoga and what should you be aware of prior to seeking out a naked yoga class? Generally speaking, the people that benefit from and enjoy nude yoga are individuals that enjoy trying out new things, aspire to improve their body image, want to learn more about yoga and most importantly understand that nudity in yoga has a very different meaning to that of sexuality and sexual behavior. It is very important to gather information about nude yoga centers or classes in your area prior to booking a session. Nude yoga should be run by a qualified yoga practitioner that is devoted to creating a safe and non-threatening environment. The atmosphere should be non-sexual in nature and the atmosphere should be a comfortable and relaxed one. In certain nude yoga classes lights are dimmed, clothes are removed as part of a yoga ritual and focus is always kept on the yoga practice and not those practicing around you. There are certain nude yoga classes that do not follow these guidelines and are groups that have changed the art into a sexual experience. If you are seeking yoga with a hint of sexuality, rather seek out information regarding tantric yoga or classes for couples in your area than joining the first group that you stumble on.

Wrapping up, Nude Yoga is not for everyone but for some it can aid in allowing one to accept one's body in a natural state and improve the body, mind and soul unity experience desired from yoga practice. I know that for many, even with understanding the benefits of Naked Yoga, the only time they may come close to a 90 minute class of naked yoga would be in the form of an embarrassing and shocking nightmare. The idea here is that you should choose a yoga class that suits you best and allows you to benefit from the art in a setting that makes you the most comfortable, whether it be naked or not.

Find health spas and more articles on Health and Wellness at: http://healthspaguru.com

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

The Art Of Yoga Breathing

By Kenneth Koh

It is very beneficial to pay careful attention to the breath and to learn to control it in various ways. It is beneficial in the areas of physical health and in your practice of yoga. Apparently, the breath, the mind and the body are intricately link, that whatever you do to one will affect the other.

In yoga, it is vital to learn how to use the correct patterns of breath in order to get the most out of your yogic endeavours. Correct breath patterns must be practiced and observed before meditation and asanas. Correct breathing alone, can unwind your whole body, rid your body of unwanted toxins and rid your mind of anger, stress, tension and worry.

Do not risk harm by attempting to perform these exercises without consulting a trained yoga teacher or without seeking medical advice from a doctor. A yoga teacher can teach an appropriate breathing pattern to cater to your needs and your condition. To perform the pranayama and gain the most out of them, it is best to integrate it with the two of the three holistic approaches, asanas and meditation.

Helpful Notes

- Breathe in and out through your nose.

- Clear any blocked nostril. If your left nostril is blocked, lie on your right side for a few minutes and vice versa

- Never perform pranayam after asanas.

- If pranayam is to precede your asanas routine, set aside a time when you won't be interrupted.

- The idea is to lead yourself to a relaxed state so do not force your breathing and never do it in haste.

Long Deep breathing

The most basic and natural of all breathing techniques is the long and deep breathing as it relieves stress and tension. It brings down toxic buildup in the mucus linings of the alveoli of the lungs, cleanses the blood and as a result of increased oxygen flow to your brain and body, your health improves in many ways.

Technique

Do sit in a comfortable manner. Relax your shoulders and chest. Breathe in, relaxing the abdomen, pushing your belly forward, expanding it. Then, as you breathe out, allow the abdomen to shrink back in, tightening your belly muscles and pushing the air out. Do this and not straining yourself. Open up and release the breath. You may put one hand on your belly to feel the abdomen expanding and contracting as you inhale and exhale. Perform in even lengths. Exhale for the same length of time as you inhale.

When To Do This:

- Before meditation

- Before going to bed

- Before a meeting, presentation or a big decision

- Before studying, before an exam, or an interview

- And whenever you can think of --- in the car, at work, or while waiting in line
Alternate-nostril breathing

Alternate-nostril breathing encourages mind to heighten levels of discrimination, concentration and thoughts. It also boostmore energy and oxygen to the physical body and helps calm your nerves and improve circulation.

Before You Begin

For a more advanced technique, seek advice from a yoga teacher or an acarya (spiritual teacher). Your acarya will coach the pranayama technique that will be most beneficial to your mental and physical health and prepare you to complement the pranayama with mantra and meditation. No one should risk harm by practicing these techniques without seeking advice from a trained yoga teacher.

Technique

Sit in either Padmasana or Siddhasana. Close your eyes. Press and close the right nostril with your right hand thumb. Inhale a deep breath through the left nostril. After taking a full breath, close the left nostril with the middle, taking the thumb away from the right nostril and slowly releasing the air out, expelling the breath fully and inhale through your right nostril. After a full inhalation, close your right nostril with the thumb and release the fingers from your left nostril and exhale through your left nostril. This finishes one round. Start off with three rounds each time and gradually step up the rounds as you progress through the weeks.

When To Do This

- Do this in a well-ventilated, clean, smoke-free, dust-free, odor-free room.

- Do not perform this technique after asanas (yoga exercises).

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

The Benefits of Yoga

By Conrad Raw

Yoga is a discipline for self-development that is more than 5000 years old. There are many types of Yoga, but most include physical postures, breathing control and meditation. Stress reduction techniques include mental imagery, stretching, controlled breathing and physical movement in the form of postures. The goal of any Yoga discipline is to improve flexibility and obtain peacefulness in the body and the mind. This will have the over all effect of leaving you with the ability to deal with everyday stress in a more productive way.

Understand that Yoga is not a cure-all. It can help with certain medical problems such as depression and combined with a healthful diet, aerobic exercises and medication, has benefits in a reduction in some cardiovascular disease and blood pressure levels. Yoga is an important part of the Hindu religion and is a way of life for them, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you would need to change your life style in order to reap the benefits of Yoga.

One of the most popular Yoga discipline in the U.S. is Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is designed to increase flexibility and to calm the mind. It focuses on poses or postures along with controlled breathing. In a Hatha Yoga class, you will probably learn a number of poses that induce stretching and twisting. Some poses are meant for calming the mind as well as increasing flexibility like the Viparita Karani pose or the legs up the wall pose. The Cat Cow stretch will have you on all fours on the floor with your wrists underneath your shoulders with the knees underneath the hips. This pose will increase spinal flexibility and strengthen the stomach muscles.

Hatha Yoga is called the Yoga of postures and includes relaxation exercises designed to open the nadis or energy channels which will allow the energy to flow freely through the body. Other poses are designed to relax internal organs, which can prevent diseases such as hypertension or high blood pressure and diabetes. Hatha Yoga requires concentration on postures, called asanas and pranayama or controlling the breath.

In Hatha Yoga, mastering a comfortable pose where you will be able to keep that pose for a certain length of time is important in the practice of real meditation. The more poses you can master, the better you are able to develop inner meditation techniques. Also mastering the breath is important because controlled breathing will eventually allow the balancing of the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Conrad Raw is an expert in practical techniques for personal and spiritual development. He is the author of "Forbidden Secrets Of Personal And Energetic Development." He travels the world to learn and teach and is the founder of Greater Human Potential, a website devoted to bringing you easy to learn techniques to increase your human evolution. Visit his website for a free newsletter filled with tons of great tips and advice.

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

The Yoga Way to Health and Well Being

By Colette Halberstadt

Yoga is not a recent practice. It is a practice which through time, has developed and increased in significance and appeal worldwide. The rationale behind the appeal is greatly to do with the physical and psychological benefits experienced when integrating yoga into one's daily schedule. Yoga can be viewed as a breath of fresh air in this fast paced lifestyle that we live in.

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit language and means "to integrate". Yoga promotes a harmonious working together of the body's components leading to both physical and mental training. Despite the fact that there are numerous forms of yoga; Hatha Yoga is still presently seen as one of the more commonly practiced yoga styles. Hatha Yoga consists of non strenuous physical exercise which aids in strengthening, stretching and balancing the body's joints. Regular breathing is performed at the same time which aids in providing oxygen to the muscles, and in turn positively affects bodily structures and organs. The awareness required during yoga practice, ensures that mind and body have to work together to create a mind-body harmony which in turn promotes healing.

Yoga will not be a quick fix for all your aches, worries and pains. However, with regular yoga practice your body will rebalance slowly and steadily, leaving you discovering the results for yourself. Physical benefits which you can anticipate are improved efficiency of the lungs, better use of your respiratory muscles, improved flexibility of the joints, improved coordination and muscle tone, maintenance of bone density, reduced risk of injury as well as the prevention of weight gain. Psychological benefits can also include an increase in self-confidence, decreased cravings for tobacco and food, better sleep, an increased ability to relax, improved concentration as well as a reduced likelihood of depression. Yoga differentiates itself from other exercises as it draws on the entire person as a whole.

Half an hour of yoga a day, or 15 minutes of yoga twice a day, can easily be incorporated into any daily schedule. Some breathing techniques can even be practiced while working or driving home after a long day. A short routine for those of you spending hours staring at a computer screen is to take a few moments every day to glance at a distant object. This allows your eyes a moments rest from glare and a change of focus. Look left and right, up and down at least 5 times, blink at least 8 times to moisten your eyes and if it is at all possible, rest your elbows on a comfortable surface and close your eyes whilst covering them with the palm of your hands. If you can incorporate this with or without some breathing exercises, you will already be on the way to a healthier and possibly more focused lifestyle.

Baby steps everyone ... no one expects you to transform overnight.

For more information on health related topics please visit: http://healthspaguru.com

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

Yoga - The Facts

By Victoria Woollaston

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a gentle workout made up of poses, stretches and breathing techniques designed to strengthen your bum, tum, thighs, back and pelvic muscles, improve flexibility and help you relax.

Who is Yoga good for?

Yoga is good for people of all ages, mobility and fitness levels because it's a slow and gentle practice with low risk of injury. The health benefits are endless and can help the following:

Stress, high blood pressure, headaches, insomnia: Yoga is especially good for people suffering from stress and stress-related illnesses because of the way it brings the body and mind into deep relaxation, causing the heart rate to drop and breathing to slow down.

Asthma: The breathing techniques and stretching open up the lungs and improve breathing.

Joint pain, back pain: Yoga eases joint pain by improving flexibility, mobility and building strength in muscles around the joints.

Depression: Yoga promotes self-confidence and lifts your mood to help combat depression.

Indigestion, constipation: Twisting poses massage internal organs helping digestion.

Memory and concentration: Yoga can improve concentration so it's great if you want to keep your brain young.

Detox: Breathing techniques, stretching and sweating all help to detox the body.

Types of Yoga

Finding the right one for you can be tricky. It's important to know your limits and to start off with something easy, working your way up once your flexibility and strength improves with experience.

The main forms of Yoga are:

Easy:

Hatha: The most common form of Yoga focuses on your posture and breathing and is great for beginners.

Bikram: Also known as Hot Yoga and takes place in a heated studio. Gets rid of toxins in the body and is excellent for beginners as the heat makes it easier to stretch into the positions.

Medium:

Ashtanga: A fast-paced style of Hatha Yoga and good if you want to lose weight, improve flexibility and strength.

Vinyasa: Similar to Ashtanga, this style has lots of movement and a variety of poses and stretching. Great if you want a bit more of a workout.

Hard:

Iyengar: Another form of Hatha Yoga. It encourages the use of Yoga props to perfect poses. It's harder than other forms and is best for people who are more experienced in Yoga although it's safe for beginners to try.

How long does it take?

Classes only last for an hour to an hour-and-a-half so it's easy to fit one into your day and you'll feel so relaxed afterwards!

Where can I do it?

Find your local class at www.yoga.co.uk.

You can find more information about easy exercise at goodtoknow - for all your health, diet, food and family needs

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

Yoga Instructor Training - Your Classroom Communication Skills

By Paul Jerard

For Yoga teachers, there are many advantages to fine tuning the art of spoken communication. When compared to writing, speaking is much more personal. The interaction with one student, or an entire class, establishes a rapport.

Working face-to-face, with a class, allows you to use voice inflection, body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Through this, you have created a form of unconscious human interaction, which results in trust.

Some Yoga instructors manage to make each student feel important during class time. A Yoga instructor gives physical assists, when needed, and addresses each student's needs. This is much different from being a public speaker because of the student / teacher relationship.

Yet, a public speaker must also establish a bond, develop trust, and create an open atmosphere. In any type of classroom setting, the student should never be afraid to ask a question. The open environment enables the collective group to make progress, and prevents misunderstandings.

Once open communication is established, there are no limits as to what students can learn in your Yoga classes. Information is exchanged rapidly, clearly, and without confusion. Many times, sincere students, who ask in-depth questions, stimulate the interest of the entire group.

Some Yoga teachers have a firm policy of not answering questions during class time. The concern, among these teachers, is how to handle a disruptive, or ego-driven, student. If you have a person who you feel is purposely disrupting the class, keep your answer short and offer to discuss the question after class.

Yoga instructors can misunderstand the motives behind a student's questions or actions too. Take the time to see the big picture and resist judgments. The student, who is curious, has sought you out for the answers to his or her questions. Students, who ask a lot of questions, cause us to research an old topic again. There is no harm in this because curious students make their teachers better.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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

Yoga Instructor Training - Your Classroom Communication Skills

By Paul Jerard

For Yoga teachers, there are many advantages to fine tuning the art of spoken communication. When compared to writing, speaking is much more personal. The interaction with one student, or an entire class, establishes a rapport.

Working face-to-face, with a class, allows you to use voice inflection, body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Through this, you have created a form of unconscious human interaction, which results in trust.

Some Yoga instructors manage to make each student feel important during class time. A Yoga instructor gives physical assists, when needed, and addresses each student's needs. This is much different from being a public speaker because of the student / teacher relationship.

Yet, a public speaker must also establish a bond, develop trust, and create an open atmosphere. In any type of classroom setting, the student should never be afraid to ask a question. The open environment enables the collective group to make progress, and prevents misunderstandings.

Once open communication is established, there are no limits as to what students can learn in your Yoga classes. Information is exchanged rapidly, clearly, and without confusion. Many times, sincere students, who ask in-depth questions, stimulate the interest of the entire group.

Some Yoga teachers have a firm policy of not answering questions during class time. The concern, among these teachers, is how to handle a disruptive, or ego-driven, student. If you have a person who you feel is purposely disrupting the class, keep your answer short and offer to discuss the question after class.

Yoga instructors can misunderstand the motives behind a student's questions or actions too. Take the time to see the big picture and resist judgments. The student, who is curious, has sought you out for the answers to his or her questions. Students, who ask a lot of questions, cause us to research an old topic again. There is no harm in this because curious students make their teachers better.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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

Learning the Popular Styles of Yoga - Ashtanga, Bikram, and Kundalini

By Paul Jerard

Ashtanga yoga can also be an athletic style of yoga. It is based on a demanding series of pose changes, sometimes connected by jumps. Designed for flexible, and usually young, bodies, Ashtanga has gained popularity in the Western world because of its intensity. Some popular students of this style are Madonna and Sting. An advantage of this style is that it can be self-led. Usually the yoga instructor will teach students a series of poses and lead them in the routine. After mastering the poses and changes, the students can go through the routine at their own pace. Since this is done in the company of the yoga instructor, and other students, progress can be monitored and mistakes corrected.

For a completely different experience, there is Bikram yoga. Also known as Hot yoga, Bikram is a modern style, focusing on a set series of poses performed in a heated room. The creator of the style, Bikram Choudhury, designated twenty-six poses that constitute the Bikram style. The temperature of the room is ideally set to 105 degrees. By keeping the room at a high temperature, the muscles of the body are more flexible. This is a controversial style because of an intellectual property lawsuit by Choudhury. Only those yoga instructors, certified in his method, are permitted to teach Bikram yoga.

On the other end of the timeline is Kundalini yoga. An ancient form, that is relatively new to the West, Kundalini focuses on the spiritual aspects of yoga. The yoga instructor leads students through a series of poses, making sure that movement is linked with breath. The idea behind this discipline is to cause dormant energy in the lower body to become free and move upwards. For students seeking an athletic workout, Kundalini is not the place to look; but it is still an important style for a yoga instructor to understand.

From the purely physical yoga, to the more spiritual forms, a yoga instructor must be well versed. If you want to be a great yoga instructor, you should understand the basics of each major style, even while you focus on your favorite style. In this way, you'll be ready to answer any student's question and guide them to the right style.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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

Exploring Free Online Yoga Classes

By Nikki Davila

So many people seem to be interested in free online yoga classes. Some may just be curious while others may not be able to afford full yoga classes yet. If you are in search of free classes, there are a couple of things that you should have in mind first.

The Benefits of Yoga

First of all, it is important to understand why yoga is worth your time and effort. Yoga has a great many benefits. It improves your physical strength and flexibility and keeps your organs and systems functioning properly. It also calms and relaxes you and relieves pain and stress. In the end, yoga ultimately leads people to physical, mental and spiritual harmony. In other words, yoga can help you achieve overall health and change the way you respond to life situations and conditions.

Free Online Yoga Instructions

Many sites now offer yoga instruction for free, and there are many ways you can get instructions. Some sites offer step by step e-mail instruction while others provide free newsletters. The more advanced sites will let you download whole yoga class videos or view the videos online. The perfect choice of mode of instruction will depend on your learning style and preference. Regardless of your mode choice, you should always pick a free offer that provides clear and easy to understand instructions to avoid possible injury.

Different Kinds of Yoga

Before you go for any free online yoga program, you should know that there are different kinds of yoga. Yoga techniques can fall under Kundalini, Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram and others. You need to find out first what kind of yoga you would like to learn and practice.

Free yoga videos can be for either beginners or more advanced students. Check the level before downloading the material. Otherwise, you might get into techniques that are not good for you to handle on your own. In some cases, a free yoga program may only teach you yoga techniques up to a certain point, and you need to find out for yourself whether free program is fully geared or will leave you hanging.

Yoga Instructors

Just as there are different yoga disciplines, there are also a great number of yoga masters. This is especially true online. Since authenticity is a little difficult to check on the internet, some scam artists may even pose as yoga masters. Do a little research on where exactly your free material comes from. This can protect you from injury and help you achieve the goal of yoga better.

Self-Monitoring

Since you are on a free program, you have to understand that your pace of improvement relies heavily on you. Without an actual instructor staying with you to check on your performance, you have to watch out for yourself. Even if you have a very good free material, you may not fully enjoy the benefits of yoga if you do not follow the instructions seriously or correctly.

Some free online yoga materials can be just as good as the paid ones and can truly change your life. You need to be sure though that you have the right materials and the commitment to practice yoga techniques on your own.

If you are truly interested in taking free online yoga class, you may like to get started with our free yoga videos. While you are on our site, you can even narrow your video search with your own specific queries. You can also get a complete guide on yoga class, yoga teacher, and different types of yoga from our main site.

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

Yoga Teacher Training - Explaining Attachment to Outcome

By Paul Jerard

What is the method used by veteran Yoga instructors to reach their highest potential? Some teachers joke about it by saying, "Practice, practice, study, and practice again." While this is partially true, there is also a step-by-step process to reaching your full potential as a Yoga teacher; but some people claim we should never be attached to outcome. Otherwise, we will never reach the highest states of meditative absorption (Samadhi). Let's be honest: If you were never attached to outcome, what contribution would you make to your family, friends, co-workers, the world around you, or this life?

To some degree, everyone is attached to an outcome. Every enlightened soul, saint, and prophet, was attached to outcome. Every noble cause is fueled by an objective outcome. Karma Yoga (selfless service) is influenced by attachment to outcome. Everyone is attached to outcome, when performing Karma Yoga. Why else would they do it? For example: Mahatma Gandhi must have been attached to an outcome, which was India's independence. He was one of the most enlightened souls of the 20th century.

Let's get a reality check. If we do nothing, we will accomplish nothing, and if we find a state of meditative absorption, with this kind of a mindset, we are guaranteed to do nothing with it. What a shame it would be if every enlightened soul, saint, and prophet, throughout history, worried about being attached to outcome. Can you imagine if every inventor, explorer, and statesman, in our history, refused to take action, because he or she might be too attached to an outcome? Nobody would ever take action to prepare for anything and we might not exist.

The first person to say the words, "Detach oneself from outcome," had an intention, took action, and was attached to the outcome of saying those words. This is a pure paradox. In fact, this is a complete misinterpretation of the concept of non-attachment.

So, what should we be detached from? Anything which causes emotions, such as: Greed, lust, and envy, should be a consideration. Attachment to worldly possessions, and relationships, should be moderate. When objects and relationships become an unhealthy obsession, or a compulsive preoccupation, immoral or criminal behavior becomes possible. Detachment is noble, and it prevents crime, but we cannot be detached from everything.

Therefore, you can live a spiritual life, help others, show loving kindness, and forgive, without fear of being attached to the outcome. Once again, moderation is a key element in Yoga practice.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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

Confirming The Grand Claims About Yoga

By Sheryl Walters

Everyone seems to be raving about yoga. From celebrities such as sting, to office workers, councilors, and housewives, yoga is one of the most popular forms of exercise as well as way to relax and de-stress.

So why are so many people claiming that yoga has helped them chill out like no other form of exercise? For thousands of years, people have used yoga as a path towards ultimate health and wellbeing.

A recent scientific study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has validated the benefits that people have been talking about for years.

Nineteen individuals were assigned to either an hour yoga session of postures and conscious breathing, or a 1 hour reading session. It was important to the creators of the study to compare two activities that have been known to be calming and pleasurable in order to ascertain the true power of yoga. Most people have used reading at some point in their lives as a way of relaxing.

The level of GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) was tested before and after the session. All subjects were then assessed for brain levels of GABA both before and after the session. GABA is a brain chemical that has a generally calming, anti-anxiety effect within the brain.

Individuals who completed the yoga session had a 27 percent increase in GABA levels on average. However, those who read saw no change in the levels of this brain chemical.

This scientific study reinforces what Yogis, celebrities and your average Joe have been raving about all these years.

http://www.defyagenaturally.com

Combining the world's most up to date scientific research on how to stay young naturally in both mind and body with a heartfelt, personal touch. When we have the right information and take some dedicated action, we can be in charge of our health and our aging process.

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

Become a Certified Yoga Instructor - Training Options

By Paul Jerard

Alyssa began dealing with chronic back problems after the birth of her daughter. Her pain was so intense, she was unable to embark on a post-baby weight loss program as she'd planned.

Subsequently, she was unable to return to her pre-pregnancy weight. Within months, Alyssa had gained five more pounds. More weight put more stress on her back. Her worsening back problems prevented her from exercising. Alyssa began to feel depressed and anxious. In desperation, she visited a chiropractor who began treatments to alleviate her pain. He also suggested that Alyssa would benefit from doing regular yoga.

To her delight, Alyssa's health improved dramatically after she began yoga classes. Not only did her physical symptoms diminish, her mental health experienced a tremendous boost. Within a year, Alyssa had not only returned to her normal weight, her back pain was gone.

Alyssa was excited about the changes in her life brought about by yoga. So much so that she began to contemplate becoming a certified yoga instructor. Before having her daughter, Alyssa had felt that her current career had reached a dead end.

After returning from maternity leave, she felt more than ever that a change was in order. She had gained so much from her yoga classes that she wanted to share that experience with others. However, since she'd only been back at work a few months, Alyssa knew that taking time off to take a yoga instructor's course would be impossible. But unwilling to give up on her new dream, she began to investigate alternative plans.

She soon discovered that she could become a certified yoga instructor through a home-study course. Though studying yoga at home sounded unusual at first, she knew that was her only alternative. She wondered if she would be able to get the same quality of instruction in a home study as she would in a classroom. She worried that not having a live teacher to demonstrate things like the yoga positions would make it harder to learn the material.

However, Alyssa was still determined not to give up on her dream. So she began comparing home study courses for yoga instructors. She realized that there were more home study training options than she had expected. In fact, the number of courses available was almost overwhelming. How would she choose the right one? She asked herself what was most important to her in an instructor training course. Once she developed her criteria, she hoped it would be easier to narrow down her choices. Alyssa looked for qualities such as:

* Comprehensive written material that is easy to understand. It should include the principles of yoga, as well as anatomy and kinesiology training.

* DVDs with clear, simple to follow demonstrations of positions and techniques.

* Information on how to teach yoga, not just how to do yoga.

* Affordability. Having a baby meant more expenses than ever before, and her money had to stretch as far as possible.

* Flexibility in completing assignments. With a new baby and a job, she would need it!
She knew that it was important to find a program with access to an instructor. After all, there would be times when she would need to clarify things that she didn't understand. She also knew that having an instructor would help motivate her to complete the course. She was baffled to find that many home study courses did not include access to an instructor at all. Others offered only limited access. Feeling that support was critical to her success, Alyssa decided she wouldn't settle on a course unless it offered unhindered access to an instructor.

Her determination paid off. She was able to find a distance learning course that met all of her criteria. In fact, it offered more than she'd been seeking. The home study course that she settled on covered business training, something that most others she'd looked into did not. Not only would Alyssa become a certified yoga instructor, she would have the ability to run her own yoga business.

One year later, Alyssa had quit her old job and was teaching yoga at a local fitness center. She was working closer to home and able to spend more time with her daughter. Instead of coming home from work tired and stressed out, Alyssa came home calm and relaxed. Her new job was better than she'd ever dreamed. Plus, she knew she was a better mother because of it. She even hoped to start her own fitness business one day. Grateful that she had been choosy when searching for a home study course, she knew she had made the right decision in becoming a certified yoga instructor.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard, CG / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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