Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga Exercise for Flat Abs | Flat Abs Workout

2010-02-16T03:53:00.000-08:00

How to get Flat Abs?

Though abs (abdominal) exercises are important for getting flat abs, the truth is that there are a lot of other things that are required in order to get a hard and flat abdomen. A lot of people focus solely on abdominal exercises or crunches and then end up bewildered and frustrated over the seeming futility of the routine. The truth I that while such exercises are essential to achieve the goal, they are inadequate if not backed with other measures. It is hard to get a six pack abdomen and it will also take a lot of time to get what you want from any exercise routine.

It is important to recognize that even to tone down the fat from any one part of your body, you have to exercise the entire length of your body. If you are planning to exercise and lose body fat from just one part of your body, it may not be entirely possible.

A flat abs workout requires you to lose the flab on your body first. For this, you need to do regular cardio exercises and strength training, not just for one part of your body but for the whole body. A low calorie and healthy diet is required in addition to the cardio workout. If you want to know how to get flat abs fast, the answer is: getting flat abs fast is not possible. You need to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet for a long period of time before you actually see any change.

Yoga for Flat Abs

A full body workout can be provided with yoga poses for flat abs. There are several sets of cleansing kriyas, physical postures and exercises, and finally, breathing exercises which help you get a full body workout. When performed together on a regular basis, these exercises can help you fight body fat and keep your abs flat.

One of the best flat abs exercises is the Surya Namaskar. Though there are many other poses for flat abs, the Surya Namaskar is an amalgamation of both physical and spiritual practices. This flat abs exercise offers a complete body workout. Other poses like dhanurasana, padhastasana, mayurasana, eka pada baka dhyanasana, and the kakasana are all poses which help decrease belly fat, strengthen the core, and tone the muscles of the abdomen.

The shoulder stand, plough pose, and the wheel pose are some of the other poses which are considered excellent for flattening the abdominal region. You can also practice cleansing kriyas like Vaman Dhauti and the Shanka Prakashalana regularly to observe changes in your abdominal region. These cleansing kriyas help remove toxins from the body.

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Golden Lotus Yoga School-Golden Lotus Yoga School was founded in 1998 by Michele Hendarwin (Rakinanandaa). Her teaching is founded in Classical Hatha Yoga and focuses on the development of inner well being through breathwork, postures (Asana), and relaxation/mediation techniques. Michele trained with Friends in Yoga (FinY) and went on to become Coordinator of Teacher Training with FinY for 10 years. She is currently a guest presenter on the FinY Teacher Training Course, and teaches a variety of classes in Perth, Western Australia. Michele also conducts regular Yoga & Cultural Retreats in Bali. For more information on upcoming Retreats or Yoga classes contact Michele at rakini@goldenlotusyogaschool.com

How many Calories Burned during Yoga?

2010-02-16T03:41:00.000-08:00

If you are watching your weight, calorie counting becomes an integral part of your daily activities. The principle behind fat loss is ingesting less calories than you can burn. If you want to maintain your weight, you need to consume just the amount of calories that you can burn. Though theoretically this seems like a sound calculation, in practice it can become a little difficult to keep track of the calories that you are burning.

Yoga Calories

Yoga calories counting is especially different, because different forms of yoga result in different amounts of calories getting burned. You may wonder how many calories actually get burned during a yoga session. Yoga can help you burn as many calories as you burn during a cardio workout. Though the calories burned in yoga depend a lot on the poses, postures, and the type of yoga you are practicing, on an average, you can burn about 200 calories per hour. You can raise this number by intensifying the yoga routine. If you can challenge yourself in an hour long session, you can, in fact, even increase the amount of calories you burn.

Calories Burned in Yoga

Here are the different types of yoga you can perform and a yoga calorie counter for each of the types of yoga:

Hatha yoga, though a gentle form of yoga, is most commonly practiced. Hatha yoga focuses on breathing techniques. The way the basic postures flow in and out of each other also follow specific techniques of breathing. The calories burned in yoga are the same as in a slow walk. You can burn about 175 calories per hour while practicing the poses of Hatha yoga.

The right limbs of yoga come alive in Ashtanga yoga. There are six sets of yoga practices in Ashtanga yoga. The series of practices that are included are progressively difficult. Since the difficulty level is higher in Ashtanga yoga than in Hatha yoga, the calories burned during yoga are also more. You can burn 300 calories during yoga when you practice this form.

Power yoga is a more intensified and Americanized version of Ashtanga yoga. The transition from one pose to another is rapid. Since this style of yoga is extremely power packed, a single session of power yoga is shorter than that of the other yoga styles. Since the pace of the poses and transitions is quicker than in the other forms, a power yoga class lasts about 45 minutes. The benefits, however, are the same. A single session of Power yoga can help you lose 300 calories, which is equal to one hour of brisk walking.

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Yoga exercise for Anxiety & Memory related Problems

2010-02-16T03:12:00.000-08:00

Exercises for Anxiety

There are several different benefits of yoga that affect both physical and mental health. Yoga has been popular as a holistic technique for promoting health for a long time. Mental problems like tension, stress, anxiety, depression, and memory loss can be treated with the regular and effective use of yoga. Yoga poses are considered one of the best exercises for anxiety. The different techniques employed in the practice of yoga encourage a healthy lifestyle, which in turn promotes mental health.

A person’s social, spiritual, physical, and emotional aspects of life can be brought together to strike a harmonious balance with the regular practice of yoga. In today’s fast paced world, the mental state of well being is severely compromised. The practice of yoga can however help establish a strong sense of purpose, positivity in relationships, self acceptance, and a positive self image. All these factors are influenced by our environment as well.

Anxiety and Yoga

Anxiety and memory are interrelated. Anxiety and yoga also go a long way back. Essentially, practicing yoga on a regular basis can help you get rid of anxiety. When you are not anxious and your mind is not always preoccupied, you will see vast improvements in your short term memory as well as in your long term memory.

The various yoga kriyas help cleanse your system and flush out toxins from the body. The breathing techniques of yoga help recharge the life force inside you. ‘Prana’ or the life force is all around us and when we take in more of the prana using the pranayama technique, not only does it affect our physical well being, it also improves our emotional and mental well being.

Yoga for Anxiety

It has been proved that yoga can help treat anxiety and memory problems. The breathing exercises for anxiety can help you get rid of stress. Yoga for memory stresses on the practice of meditation and other techniques that help improve concentration. Chanting of the omkara is another way to improve concentration and focus. When you are emotionally healthy, you do not experience as much mental fatigue as you otherwise would. When your concentration levels increase, you are also able to sleep better.

With the help of yoga, you can also help treat long term depression and dysthymia. Other mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can also be improved using yoga in your daily life. Adopting yoga into your daily routine can help improve mental and emotional health on many levels. A lifestyle following yoga can indeed help promote and maintain mental health.

Hot Yoga to Burn Calories | Bikram's Hot Yoga

2010-02-08T23:27:00.000-08:00

Hot Yoga Benefits

Bikram yoga is a discipline that is named after its founder, Bikram Choudhury. The discipline, which has recently gained a lot of popularity because of the different styles of yoga incorporated into it, has also been in the news for its copyright issues.

Bikram hot yoga, however, is one form of yoga that is extremely popular, especially with those who are looking to lose weight quickly. After a typical hot yoga session, you will come out of the studio red-faced and completely drenched in sweat. This is because the entire premise of hot yoga is heat.

Bikram Yoga Poses

In a hot yoga session, the studio in which this exercise is performed is heated to a temperature of 100-105 degrees. The humidity is therefore high, with an index of around 40%. The entire session is made up of a sequence of 26 bikram yoga poses. Since the entire discipline is copyrighted, a hot yoga session is exactly the same all over the world. These positions are designed to increase the kinetic energy of the body, and the high heat allows the body to sweat and lose weight.

Calories Burned in Hot Yoga

A hot yoga session, though usually not stressful, can be a little tiring. A session lasts for about ninety minutes, during which, you have stay inside the heated facility. In some studios, there may be a break in the session after the first forty-five minutes. There are twelve standing postures after which the exercise breaks into 14 floor exercises. These exercises are a little more challenging than your normal yoga routine. This is because the discipline is aimed at burning calories and losing weight.

Bikram Yoga Benefits

The exercises require a lot of strength, stamina, flexibility, and balance. The basic philosophy of the discipline is that the spine needs to be strengthened in order to lead a healthy and happy life. Though not scientifically proven, it is believed that hot yoga benefits include improved digestive functioning of the body, increased strength and flexibility of the spine, improved circulation, especially in the flow of blood to the brain, and finally, burning of a lot of calories. If you consider the calories burned, hot yoga is the best alternative.

The calories you burn in a Bikram’s hot yoga session depend on your body weight and your sex. Roughly calculated, in a ninety-minute hot yoga session, you would lose as many calories as you would by jogging nine miles. Since jogging can be rather strenuous, a lot of people prefer to attend a hot yoga session than jog such a long distance.

Virabhadrasana - Warrior Pose for Full Body Stretch

2010-02-08T23:21:00.000-08:00

How to stretch Body?

If you are wondering how to stretch your body to work on the flexibility of the entire body, virabhadrasana is for you. Virabhadrasana or the warrior yoga pose is a posture which closely resembles one taken up by a warrior. There are three different stages of performing this full body pose, each of which symbolizes physical power and vigor. Among one the best body stretching exercises, this asana is basically performed to increase the core strength and endurance of the body. It is also believed that practicing this pose regularly can help improve confidence and increase courage.

Virabhadrasana - Warrior Yoga Pose

There is immense balance required to execute this pose, and since it requires several full body stretches, the body needs to be flexible. This pose is essentially performed in the advanced stage of learning and is usually not recommended for beginners.

To execute this pose, start by standing straight and balancing the weight of your body on both legs. Now, come into the mountain pose, bringing your feet close together and placing the hands at your sides. After this, widen your feet, allowing a gap of at least 4 feet between the two. Slightly turn your right foot so that it is at a 45 degree angle from your body, while rotating your left foot to a 90 degree angle. Bend the left knee, allowing the thigh to come parallel to the ground. Your left knee should be completely behind the ankle or directly over it. Raise your arms over your head in an outstretched manner, slowly lower the left arm and set it pointing ahead, parallel to the ears. Meanwhile, your right hand should be pointed backwards. Focus and breathe deeply.

Though the pose may not be very difficult to perform, the key is to balance your body throughout while stretching it. It is also important that you do not over exert yourself. When performing the pose, make sure that you finish one position completely before you move on to the next. Try not to slant your body at any unusual angled. You should also be completely in control of your breathing.

Virabhadrasana is one of the best full body stretching exercises that helps bring flexibility to the entire body. The coordination between different parts of the body is also improved when the body is thus balanced. This pose is extremely beneficial for those suffering from the carpal tunnel syndrome or flat feet. Other ailments that can be treated using this pose are sciatica, infertility, and osteoporosis.

Yoga for Stomach Ailments and Digestive Problems

2010-02-08T22:54:00.000-08:00

Digestive System Problem

Due to our levels of stress and our sedentary lifestyles, we get many digestive ailments. Stomach problems like acid refluxes, gas, pain in the stomach, bad breath, and constipation can all be treated by practicing yoga.

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Our lifestyles have a huge effect on our digestive systems. Lack of physical activity and exercise, and improper eating habits and bad diet leads to worsening the health of the digestive system. Yoga, however, can help treat almost all stomach ailments to an extent. If you suffer from any digestion problems, specific yoga poses can help you overcome them.

There are many natural remedies for stomach ailments and digestive system problems. However, out of all these, yoga is considered the best. Practicing yoga asanas every day can help you increase the absorption of food while improving the gastrointestinal circulation. The yoga asanas also help reduce the amount of acid in the digestive enzymes. A high number of digestive system ailments are caused due to the accumulation of mucous in the cavities of the body. If you practice yoga regularly, not only will you get rid of common stomach ailments, but also the mucous which causes many a digestive system problem.

To cure stomach ailments, start off with pranayama and follow it with yoga poses. Before you begin, take a glass of water. This helps the mucous to become soft inside. Take your time to perform each of the poses, as directed by your instructor.

Yoga Poses for Stomach Ailments

Start off with pranayama. First do the bhastrika, then the kapalbhati and then follow it up with the agnisar kriya and the nadi sodhana. Once you are finished with the breathing exercises, start with the asanas. The mandukasana or the frog pose should be practiced first. Next, come into the bhujangasana or the cobra pose. The sequence will then comprise the salabhasana or the locust pose, the abdominal lock, the sarvangasana or the shoulder stand, dhanurasana or the bow pose, and the savasana or the corpse pose. This completes the full cycle of poses required to strengthen your digestive system.

While you are practicing yoga regularly, also start consuming healthier food. Try and eat more white meat than red meat. Fresh vegetables and fruits should also be included in your diet. Lower the intake of tea, coffee, and other beverages that contain caffeine. Junk food, processed fruit juices, and food that has a high content of both salt and sugar should be avoided as much as possible.

Simple Yoga Exercise and Poses for Child

2010-01-31T22:36:00.000-08:00

Exercise for Child

When it comes to weight loss and fitness, every new year brings with it various different fitness fads and trends. Each of these trends has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, the frequency at which these new fads emerge and fade away has made people a little skeptical about adopting any. Yoga, an ancient and well-established holistic technique for fitness is therefore the most viable of all fitness regimes and is greatly preferred by adults and children alike.

As more and more people turn to yoga for keeping themselves fit, the popularity of yoga as a fitness regime soars. Not only do adults practice yoga themselves, they also see it as an apt exercise regime for their children.

Yoga for Child

Since yoga is seen to have both physical and mental benefits, children can really benefit from even the simplest of poses and postures. Lately, children, just like adults, have not been getting enough exercise. Child obesity and the diseases related to lifestyle and obesity are on the rise. Due to this, parents have started giving extra attention to the children’s physical activities. Children also have increasing pressure of competition from their peers in terms of education and other extra curricular activities. This can cause a lot of stress and depression.

Yoga has been known for its many health benefits, both physical and mental. Yoga is a relatively simple physical technique that is easy to practice and is not very demanding on the child. Yoga is not religious, and therefore, you do not even need to fear about the likelihood of your child getting influenced by any religious beliefs. However, yoga is spiritual, and if all you are looking for is an exercise routine for your child, it is best to check how spiritual the yoga class is, before getting your child enrolled.

Beginner’s yoga for child can be very simple to follow. Yoga has many an exercise for child, relating to the physical abilities and flexibility of the child. Some of the simple yoga poses can in fact be taught to your child at home using yoga cards and DVDs. There are many international organizations today that promote yoga for children and educate adults about the benefits of yoga for their children. Just like adults, children too can find peace of mind and balance by practicing yoga regularly. In the long term, yoga will not only prove a great workout for children, but will also help improve self image, concentration, and confidence.

Sutra Neti for Nasal Cleansing | Yoga Cleanse

2010-01-31T22:24:00.000-08:00

Sutra Neti - Nasal Cleansing

Sutra neti is a cleansing technique of yoga, which is performed by using a sutra, or a thread. This thread is made of a special cotton or rubber material. The cotton thread is twisted and waxed to prove gentler on the nose. This technique is used for nasal cleansing in which the thread is inserted into one nostril and comes out of the mouth.

Sutra neti is an extremely effective method for nasal cleaning. This method allows the nasal passages to be opened to their full capacity. If you often have nasal blockages or excessive phlegm in your sinus cavities, sutra neti can help you get rid of it. Usually, for conditions like sinusitis, a surgery is the only alternative. However, this yoga nasal cleansing technique allows you to forego surgery.

Sutra Neti Instructions

Sutra neti instructions should be carefully followed as it is a very difficult art to practice. The technique is simple; however, utmost care needs to be taken to ensure precision in the technique. To begin with this yoga nasal congestion solution, get yourself a rubber catheter that is about 1 mm in thickness. Pass this catheter through one nostril and keep pushing it inside. Since the nose and the throat are connected, you will soon feel the catheter in your throat. Keep pushing till it reaches your mouth and you can hold it. Once you are able to hold the catheter, gently draw it out of your mouth. Now one end of the catheter is in your nostril and the other end is in your mouth. With a gentle tugging motion, move the catheter to and fro 5 to 6 times. Finally, draw it out completely.

Those who practice this technique regularly are even able to pass the catheter from one nostril to the other nostril. However, this can come only after certain proficiency has been achieved. This is no difference in the benefits however. It is recommended that before every use, the catheter should be cleaned thoroughly using warm water. You can even boil the catheter in medicated oil. This is done to disinfect the catheter in case there were any bacteria present in the nasal passages.

Ideally, you should not experience any pain in the entire process. However, if you do experience pain, remove the catheter immediately. It is an indication that you have not done the technique properly. Initially, Sutra neti and Jal Neti is always better to perform this technique in presence of an experienced yoga practitioner or trainer.

Yoga for Ovarian Cysts | Causes and Treatment

2010-01-31T22:04:00.000-08:00

What is an Ovarian Cyst?

Ovarian cysts are small sacs that are filed with fluid, and they affect women in their reproductive ages. There are several different types of ovarian cysts, some of which can be cured using medication and surgery, and others that can be cured by using alternative treatment for ovarian cysts, like yoga.

Here are some of the different types of ovarian cysts:

Functional cysts: These are small cysts that keep reducing in size after each menstrual cycle and generally disappear on their own. These cysts happen only in women who are still in their reproductive age and are rarely seen in women who have experienced menopause.
Dermoid cysts: These are made up of different tissue and may contain skin and hair.
Endometrioma cysts: In this kind of a condition, cysts made up of material from the endometrial layer attach themselves to the ovaries. These have to be removed by an ablation surgery.
Cystadenoma cysts: These cysts are formed from the tissues of the outer lining of the ovaries themselves.

Some women experience a condition known as polycystic ovaries. This is caused when there are several follicular cysts that make the ovaries thicker. These are a painful ovarian cyst type and can cause problems in ovulation.

What causes Ovarian Cysts?

Though ovarian cysts can develop due to many reasons, irregular menstrual cycles are the topmost reason why these cysts develop. If a woman has had a history of ovarian cysts, she may develop them again at a later stage in life. Some of the other causes of ovarian cysts are increased distribution of fat in the upper body, onset of menstruation at a very young age, hormonal imbalances, and medications for cancers.

Yoga for Ovarian Cysts

Though women with ovarian cysts should avoid all inverted poses, there are other sitting and standing poses that a woman can practice. Postures in which you have to lie on your back are also great for curing ovarian cysts. The Corpse Pose or Shavasana is a great pose that can help you cure these painful cysts. You can also try pranayama, which consists of various breathing techniques. These techniques help improve lung capacity and therefore, blood circulation throughout the body. Along with the yoga postures and pranayama, it is also important to have a sattvik diet. This means that during the time of your treatment, try to have a simple, vegetarian diet. This can aid the body in curing itself.

Breast Massage and Yoga to Reduce Breast Size

2010-01-22T03:07:00.000-08:00

It is not uncommon to find women who want to get rid of the weight that they have put on in the bust region. The problem is that getting rid of this fat is not always easy. There are several breast reduction exercises, but out of all of those, yoga is the most effective.

Exercises to Reduce Breast Size

Yoga offers an excellent solution to those who are looking for exercises to reduce breast size. Though there is no single pose that would help a woman decrease the size of her breasts, several poses, when practiced in a particular sequence, can help tone down breasts. Most of the yoga asanas that you practice help you to reduce weight and tone the muscles. However, a good exercise to reduce breast size will ideally have to be complemented with a good diet and an active lifestyle.

For reducing breast size, you should adopt a schedule that includes several yoga postures, breathing techniques known as pranayama, and a healthy and balanced diet. There are many different yoga poses that you can try. However, the frequency at which you perform these poses should be based on your age and your health conditions.

Yoga Poses for Breast Reduction

Some of the effective standing poses that you can try are the half moon pose, forehead to knee pose, triangle pose, and palm tree pose. Apart from these, there are also some sitting poses of yoga to reduce breast size. The forehead to knee pose (single knee and both knees), half lord of the fish pose, camel pose, lion pose, and cow face pose are all effective in reducing breast size.

There are some supine poses that help you tone muscles in both the bust region and the abdomen. Leg raises, using a single leg or both the legs, are excellent for reducing fat from any portion of your torso. The incline plane pose, boat pose, plough pose, wheel pose, fish pose, bridge formation pose, and the wind relieving pose are other supine poses that help tone up the breasts.

Breast Massage Technique

A breast massage therapy can also help tone up the tissues and the muscles of the breasts. Since the breasts are made up primarily of adipose tissue, breast massaging can help improve the flow of blood the breasts. The massaging action helps tone the muscles of the region. You can use any good moisturizer to help you in the massage. The best thing is that you can do this massage yourself, at your own convenience.

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Yoga Exercise for Healthy Glowing Skin

2010-01-22T02:48:00.000-08:00

Yoga is one of the most ancient forms of physical fitness and discipline that not only helps your body get in shape but also takes care of overall health and well being. Yoga is an extremely effective workout routine that will help you stay in shape, while taking care of specific ailments.

Exercise for Glowing Skin

Yoga can also work for you if you want healthy and glowing skin. Our skin often gets ignored because of our busy schedules and the chemicals we use on our skin. If our diet is insufficient, then also the skin suffers. The skin is the largest organ of the body and therefore needs a lot of attention. It requires proper nutrition in order to remain healthy. Skin health is closely associated with digestive health. In case of constipation or other gastrointestinal problems, the skin is not able to get proper nutrition, becoming poor in quality.

Yoga for Skin

Yoga for skin basically focuses on improving both the digestion and the circulation in the body. The best exercises for skin are the ones that help boost the metabolism. Other yoga skin care exercises include stretching poses and postures that allow the muscles to relax and get toned. Reducing stress is also vital to improve the health of the skin. Therefore, yoga for glowing skin also often uses exercises that help reduce stress. With the help of yoga, you can maintain the health of collagen, a substance that gives the skin its elasticity. Some of the yoga poses, like the simple corpse pose, can help both the mind and muscles relax. This pose also helps the mind to relax and release both stress and anxiety.

Yoga and skin health are more connected than most realize. Those who practice yoga are not only able to remain fit but also appear younger. Some of the poses which make for great exercises for skin are the wheel pose, inverted head stands, lion pose, fish pose, pranayama, corpse pose, lotus pose, and all inverted poses. There are all simple yoga poses that can be practiced even by beginners.

The breathing exercises of pranayama help you increase lung capacity, increasing the amount of oxygen available to the skin. They also help improve circulation. Headstands and inverted poses also help improve the circulation and the balance in the body. With these exercises, if you also follow a yogic diet, it can help you flush out toxins from your body, allowing your skin to breathe easily and appear softer, brighter and younger.

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How to Choose a Yoga Mat? Be Careful!

2010-01-22T02:36:00.000-08:00

Getting yourself in shape is an extremely important decision. Once you have decided that you want to become fit, the next big challenge is to determine the kind of fitness activity that you want to indulge in. There are a variety of fitness routines, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. However, if you choose to stay fit while attempting to also rediscover and reconnect with yourself, Yoga can be an excellent fitness alternative.

Yoga Exercise Mats

Yoga is based on a series of poses, postures, meditative techniques, and breathing techniques. Almost all of the yoga poses and postures that you will practice will have to be practiced on a hard surface, which brings us to another important decision that you will have to take: buying yoga exercise mats.

Ever since yoga has risen in popularity, there has been mass commercialization of the accessories used for practicing yoga. Yoga mats are one such accessory that will be easy to obtain, owing to the wide variety of choices that you have today. However, choosing a yoga mat is not that easy. Since you are to perform all yoga postures on a hard surface, it is imperative that you remain comfortable to be able to perform the exercises and concentrate. In such a case, buying a flimsy or an inappropriate yoga mat will only disrupt your practice and cause unnecessary discomfort.

A comfortable yoga mat is necessary in order to make your practice successful. If you can’t decide how to choose a yoga mat, here are some tips for you:

A good yoga mat should enable you to comfortably perform a varied range of positions in yoga. It should be soft enough to provide you relaxation when you are meditating or doing relaxation poses, helping you complete your session comfortably. Try to avoid cheap yoga mats as they may appear comfortable in the beginning but may bother you later.

Your yoga mat should also help you realize the full intended potential of each of the poses and postures that you practice. You can go in for extra thick yoga mats, which keep you warm and comfortable, without cushioning your body too much.

Sticky yoga mats are definitely worth a pass. If your skin keeps sticking to the mat, you will not be able to do your poses properly. Also avoid using slippery mats, which tend to slip from under you when you move on it. Such mats can cause injuries. The grip of the mat should be just sufficient.

The mat should be sufficiently large for you to be able to comfortably do all the poses that you intend to do. The edges should be soft and not prickly and the mat should be able to absorb sweat. If you want, you can go in for a mat that you can wash at home.

Yoga Exercises for Increasing Height

2010-01-15T04:34:00.000-08:00

A lot of people prefer to practice yoga in order to stay fit. There are many benefits of yoga - some physical, some emotional, and some spiritual. The fact is that yoga can help you become healthier and improve your quality of life.

Yoga is composed of poses, postures, breathing techniques and meditation. Together, these have different effects on different parts of the body. Yoga has been widely accepted as one of the best alternative healing techniques due to its many benefits and its ability to provide relief in many chronic and acute conditions.

Exercises to Increase Height

There are also many who choose yoga over other exercises for losing weight and toning the body. While yoga is in itself a complete fitness regime, there is something about yoga that not many know. Yoga has many exercises to increase height.

Exercises to Get Taller

It is commonly known that height cannot increase after the onset of puberty; however, if your muscles and joints get the right kind of stretch, it is possible to increase height even after puberty. Yoga helps you correct your posture so that your spine is always straight and therefore, is able to grow. There are many exercises to get taller within yoga. These height increasing exercises focus on stretching the muscles along the spinal column so that they become flexible and can elongate easily.

There stretching exercises to increase height require you to stretch your body to a point where you can feel the muscles expanding. If you are still in the phase where you are experiencing a growth spurt, practicing height increasing yoga can help you gain 3-4 inches and in some cases, even more. Instead of painful height increasing surgery, it is better to practice yoga which is both painless and free of side effects.

Height Increasing Yoga

You can practice core power yoga. This not only helps you increase your stamina but also enables you to stretch and lengthen the muscles of your body. Some of the other effective yoga exercises to increase height are the Ardha Kurmasana or the half tortoise pose, Bhujangasana or the snake pose, Dandayamana Janushirasana or the Standing Head to Knee Pose and the Ardha Matsyendrasana or the half spinal twist pose.

You can also use an exercise ball to help you stretch the muscles in your back. If you want to increase your height through exercise, another great way is to mix together yoga and Pilates. You can perform Pilates on one day and follow it up with yoga on the next.

Benefits of Sitting Exercises | Sitting Yoga Poses

2010-01-15T04:12:00.000-08:00

Exercises While Sitting

If you practice yoga regularly, you will realize that a lot of the poses performed in yoga are sitting poses. There are many different sitting poses in yoga and each of these sitting exercises has its own benefits. It is not wise to assume that more calories will be burnt in poses that are performed while standing.

Sitting Yoga Poses

Here are some of the vital benefits of practicing sitting poses:

No matter which sitting position you choose, it is important to keep the spine straight. When you strengthen the spine in this manner, you allow the spinal column and the adjacent muscles to stretch. This helps release tension from the spinal column. If you experience pain in the lower and upper back, sitting exercises can help in pain relief. The straight position of the spin is also considered optimum for the flow of Kundalini energy. This is a neutral position that can help you increase concentration and meditate.

Sitting yoga positions can help make your spin become more flexible. In some of the poses that involve forward or backward bending and twisting, the structural defects of the spine get corrected. Since the spine essentially protects the nervous system, it is beneficial to have a strong and flexible spine.

Sitting poses help in massaging the internal organs. Most of the movements of the sitting poses are intended to stretch the muscles and increase flexibility. These movements also help in enhancing the blood circulation throughout the body.

Sitting yoga exercises help the body to become relaxed. When you practice a sitting pose, your body is in the correct alignment. This allows the internal organs to function optimally. Breathing and meditation exercises performed while in a sitting pose can help both your mind and body to relax.

When you exercise while sitting, you perform slow movements. This helps in improving the coordination between the various neuromuscular movements. In fact, most yoga practitioners who perform exercises while sitting enhance their consciousness of their neuromuscular actions, therefore being able to control these actions in a better manner.

Some of the sitting chair exercises or chair yoga help strengthen the core of your body, enabling you to maintain better immunity and strength to recuperate from injuries and illnesses. These sitting exercises can also help you firm and tone your abdominal muscles, obliques, and leg muscles. In fact, when a series of sitting yoga poses are performed in the correct manner, you will get a perfect all-body work out, without getting too tired.

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Yoga Cure for Hydrocele | Causes & Treatment

2010-01-15T03:50:00.000-08:00

What is Hydrocele?

A hydrocele is an ailment which occurs in the scrotum due to the collection of serous fluid in it. This accumulation of the serous fluid is caused due to any defects in the scrotum. An irritation in the tunica vaginalis may also cause this problem.

Hydrocele Causes

This can be a painful condition and makes movement extremely difficult. This is a congenital defect and is usually present right from the birth. However, if the condition occurs after infancy, it could be caused due to malignancy, problems in circulation, and infections. Apart from these, other hydrocele causes include tumors and external traumas.

While there is a treatment for hydrocele available, yoga has proven to be the easiest and cheapest alternative methods of treatment for this disorder. Yoga is simple to perform and doesn’t cause any side effects. It also doesn’t require any special equipment. Though if you are new to yoga, you may require some guidance, it is possible to perform most yogic techniques with minimum instruction.

Hydrocele Cure

There haven’t been any studies which claim that yoga can cure hydrocele. However, along with other treatments for hydrocele, yoga should also be tried.

One of the most effective yoga asanas (postures) to provide relief from hydrocele is the Vajrasana or the Thunderbolt pose. This pose can help benefit many ailments. However, this pose is especially beneficial for those who are suffering from ailments that originate from the pelvic region. There are other variations of this pose that can also help reduce inflammation in the testicular region.

If you are able to perform this pose regularly, you will be able to realize its potential benefits. In fact, not only can the Vajrasana help relieve pain in the testicular area, but it also helps you improve your digestion. Vajrasana can also help in the treatment of other disorders like peptic ulcers, piles, hernia, hyperacidity, and other disorders of the digestive system.

The best way to do this posture is to first take a sitz bath for about half an hour and then perform the Vajrasana. You can also draw a sitz bath and sit in the Vajrasana position in the bathtub. If you are unable to sit in a cross legged position due to the pain, practicing the Vajrasana position can help ease the pain so that you can sit more comfortably. This pose will also help you strengthen your spine and the muscles in your legs.

Yoga for Hip Pain Relief | Chronic Hip Pain

2010-01-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

Yoga has proved to be one of the most effective therapies for physically debilitating diseases like arthritis. While there is a need for administering pain relievers in such physically painful diseases, yoga can help reduce the symptoms and slow down the degeneration process.

Hip Pain Causes

Hip pain, usually associated with old age, is one such condition where yoga can be beneficial. The hip joint is one of the most roughly used joints in the body. It is this joint that attaches the leg to the torso. The femur or the head of the thigh bone fits snugly in a socket which is made up of pelvic bones. One of the main hip pain causes is the problem in this socket. However, there are many other causes of pain in hips. There are many other structures which surround the hip joint and a malfunction, injury or trauma to any of these structures may cause displacement of the joint and pain.

Diseases like arthritis can cause inflammation of the hip joint. There is intense pain and inflammation accompanied with redness or swelling. These are all signals of a problem with the joint and therefore treatment should be sight immediately.

Hip Pain Exercises

In case of mild arthritis, yoga, when practiced along with the conventional medicine, can help treat the pain. Yoga can help you get hip pain relief with its poses and postures that are specifically designed to strengthen the hip and the pelvic region. If you are in a lot of pain, seeking the help of a professional yoga instructor is the best idea. The instructor can take you through different poses with varying levels of difficulty. Each of these poses will have a specific effect on your pelvic region, causing alleviation of pain.

To begin with, you can try poses that do not require a lot of physical effort. These poses will help you regain your alignment and balance the body while strengthening the muscles and structures around the joints. These poses will also help increase the lubrication of the joints. These hip pain exercises can help you get relief from chronic hip pain as well as delay further complications.

The poses that you can perform to start with are the Sukhasana or the Easy pose, Parighasana or the Gate pose, Utkatasana or the Powerful pose and the Baddha konasana or the Cobbler pose.

Other useful poses in yoga for hip pain are Eka Pada Rajakapotasana or the Seated Forward Pigeon Pose and the Padmasana or the Lotus pose.

Yoga Diet and Yoga Lifestyle for Longevity

2010-01-08T03:52:00.000-08:00

Over the centuries, yoga, an ancient Indian art of achieving well being and inner peace, has been perfected and enriched. Yoga, a Sanskrit term, literally means union. Yoga, as a technique for uniting the mind, body and souls, was first developed by sages and mystics but it is believed that the knowledge of yoga was first passed on from Lord Siva.

Yoga Lifestyle

The aim of Yoga is to unify mind body and soul, attempting to achieve a higher consciousness and self awareness. The ultimate aim in yoga is to achieve enlightenment. Though yoga can be practiced in many ways in your daily life, there are some basic principles which can be followed in order to achieve the desired effect. Asanas, mediation, yogic philosophy, Pranayama, diet and relaxation are some of the techniques with which yoga can be incorporated into our lifestyle.

The various poses and postures in yoga, also known as Asanas, have been developed in order to stretch and exercise each part of the body. Each of these exercises has benefits for specific parts of the body.

Longevity Fitness

Yoga lifestyle also involves gaining control over your breathing by using breathing techniques and Pranayama. You are also required to meditate using mantras in order to soothe the chaos within yourself. Meditation and breathing in a rhythm can help improve circulation of blood and oxygen, improving mental abilities, memory and sharpness.

Unlike many other forms of exercising, yoga doesn’t require elaborate equipment. You can join a yoga class in the beginning to loosen up and understand the yogic perspective and then go independent when you feel that the time is right.

Yoga has been studied a lot in an attempt to find its exact benefits. It turns out, that yoga is a single technique that not only liberates you from diseases physically, but also has a positive effect on your thinking, therefore improving wellness and keeping you in a state of wellbeing. In fact, yoga has a certain longevity factor to it. Proponents of yoga claim that with a proper diet and practicing yoga, people can keep themselves away from the harmful effects of our lifestyles. Yoga is a longevity fitness regime in which there is a specific longevity diet that helps remove toxins from the body, enhances the metabolism and provides all nutrition required by the body. It also consists of longevity exercises which are helpful in keeping the body and the organs healthy.

Exercise and longevity go a long way. The mystics and saints in India who practiced yoga as a lifestyle, are said to have lived on for hundreds of years. Apart from gaining the many benefits associated with yoga, many people practice yoga for longevity and a healthy life at that.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia Pain Management

2010-01-08T03:35:00.000-08:00

Cures for Fibromyalgia

The term fibromyalgia literally means pain of the connective tissues and muscles. This is a chronic pain disorder that affects the joints and muscles in all of the body. This is one of the chronic conditions of which the causes still remain unknown. While scientists are still trying to find a cure for this disorder, fibromyalgia pain relief still largely remains elusive in the world of conventional medicine.

Fibromyalgia chronic pain can be quite debilitating. Unfortunately, the incidence of this disorder is on the increase and as more and more people suffer from this strange disease, it has become important to try to find an alternative pain management therapy which can help reduce and manage the pain.

Exercise for Firbromyalgia

In a disease like fibromyalgia, the body’s alignment is altered from what is normal and expected. The body needs realigning and rhythmic movements that help create a balance in the body. Exercise for fibromyalgia should therefore concentrate on rhythmic poses which are followed by restorative ones. One can start with the simple sun salutation which helps provide rhythm to the body and follow it up with the open butterfly pose which is a resting pose.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia

If you plan out a twenty minute routine for yourself, you can repeat these poses several times. After each cycle of these two poses, break it up with a five minute inclined rest. This will help your body come into a restive state and allow the muscles to relax. If you are using yoga for fibromyalgia as your primary therapy, do remember to avoid downward bends. Though these downward bends are otherwise healing, in fibromyalgia, these can cause complications. Instead, go for backward bends like the Cobra Pose, Camel Pose, and Upward Facing Dog Pose. These can help generate heat in the body, allowing the muscles to relax. When in your restive position, you can also add a passive backbend which is far gentler.

The stress management function of yoga is one of the most crucial aspects in the management of symptoms of fibromyalgia. The Fibromyalgia symptoms can be aggravated by stress and therefore stress has to be eliminated from the daily routine. Since the pain is chronic, the sufferers are not able to rest properly, getting only a few hours of sleep. Sleep is especially crucial because the patients of fibromyalgia require relaxation and rest. The restive poses in yoga help the patient rest to a large extent. Some other specific benefits for fibromyalgia are increased strength, stamina and endurance.

Yoga for Slimming | Slimming Exercises

2009-12-31T01:40:00.000-08:00

Obesity Problems

Obesity is the biggest lifestyle challenge that faces modern civilization today. Apart from increasing the risk of developing many different and often untreatable lifestyle diseases, obesity also reduces the scope of movement of the body. Obesity doesn’t occur overnight. It is a slow process which presents itself so slowly that sometimes the person is not aware of the increasing weight and the problems that it brings with it.

A graver problem that faces us today is that of child obesity. While there was a time when children were active and never faced the problem of obesity, unless it was hereditary, today the change in the lifestyle of parents has led to problems of obesity even in children. The first sign of obesity is weight gain. Slowly the body begins to lose its shape. There is a gradual decline in the ability to move freely. In fact, you may even experience a fall in the rate of overall activity. This is because when you weigh more, more energy is expended for the simplest of movements, as a result of which tire more readily.

Slimming Yoga

There are many slimming exercises which can help you shed off the extra pounds that you have piled up. However, slimming yoga presents one of the most effective exercise techniques when you are looking for weight loss and slimming. Though there are no specific exercises for slimming in yoga, most of the poses and postures improve the digestive system and increase the metabolism. The poses of yoga also help tone and firm muscles, improving postures, realigning the body to eliminate structural flaws, and increase aerobic capacity to improve both blood circulation and energy reserves.

Yoga for Obesity

There are different yoga poses and postures which help you to reduce fat from specific areas of your body. These poses also make your body more flexible so that the scope of movements is improved.

Pranayama or the breathing exercises, though not specifically designed for slimming, help improve the capacity of the lungs, increasing the amount of oxygen in the body. This in turn allows for better oxidation of food and improves core strength, immunity, and energy levels. One of the best slimming exercises in yoga which involves the use of both poses and pranayama is the Sun salutation. This is basically a series of poses that benefit various parts of the body in different ways. The sun salutation should ideally be performed every morning.

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Brahmari Pranayama | Deep Breathing Exercise

2009-12-31T01:22:00.000-08:00

Brahmari Pranayama - Bee Buzzing Sound

Yoga is composed of many different exercise techniques. One of the important techniques in yoga is pranayama or breathing exercises. There are several breathing exercises that one can practice. Each of these exercises has several benefits. One such deep breathing exercise is Brahmari pranayama. Brahmari when literally translated means buzzing bee. This is one of the many relaxation breathing exercises that help the body release tension and increase aerobic capacity.

Brahmari pranayama is considered excellent for making the breathing process smooth. It can also quiet your mind and ease out anxiety and tension. In brahmari pranayama, a humming sound is made from the throat. This sound is made gently and smoothly, allowing the throat to open up. As the vibrations move from the face and jaws to the throat, it improves concentration, confidence and memory.

Breathing Relaxation Techniques

This is one of the few relaxation breathing techniques that can be practiced by anyone without the supervision of a qualified instructor. This is a simple and straight forward practice that doesn’t require any specific posture or rhythm. The exhalation is extended and is considered especially beneficial for women who are pregnant. Those women who are preparing for labor also find this technique to be very beneficial.

The humming breath clears the throat and benefits those who sing. This is particularly good for singers because it stimulates the vocal chords rendering a sweetness to the voice of the practitioner.

Unlike other relaxation breathing exercises, in this exercise, a bee buzzing sound is made only for two to three minutes. To practice this technique, first inhale through both nostrils partially allowing your glottis to close. Make a snoring sound while inhaling and then exhale slowly while emitting a bumbling sound. Aim for a long exhalation, extending your breath as much as you possibly can. Repeat this a few times.

Like other pranayama techniques, brahmari pranayama also helps you to build a deep connection with the life force that flows through your body. Brahmari pranayama also helps reduce stress and anxiety both from the body and the mind, helping to improve the overall wellbeing. The inhalation and the exhalation techniques help to relax and soothe the vocal chords. It also clears the throat and helps to invigorate the thyroid gland. When the thyroid gland is thus stimulated, the metabolism of the body improves. The brahmari technique also improves the balance in the hormonal secretions and blood sugar.

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Benefits of Sarvangasana | Shoulder Stand Yoga

2009-12-31T01:08:00.000-08:00

Yoga is one of the most ancient of all physical practices across the world. This ancient Indian tradition is useful for striking a harmonious balance between the body, mind and the soul. This is achieved with the help of a series of poses and postures, breathing techniques, and meditation.

There are several different poses and postures in yoga which have specific benefits for different parts of the body. Sarvangasana is one such posture which has several benefits. This is one of the most revered shoulder stand yoga poses and is often also known as the queen of poses.

Sarvangasana literally means ‘full body asana’ in Sanskrit. This means that the pose is beneficial for all of the body. This is an inverted yoga posture which includes several poses which are beneficial for different parts of the body. Some of the variations that are included in this posture are salamba sarvangasana which is a supported shoulder stand and allows an increase in the flow of blood to the brain.

Since this is an inverted stand, the major benefit that the body gets from this pose is that of reversing the effect of gravity of the body. Some of the other sarvangasana benefits are:

Improvement of the overall health: Since the posture targets the entire body, almost all the muscles of the body are involved in it. This helps in toning and strengthening the entire body. The posture also helps stimulate the different organs, improves circulation of blood throughout the body, increases core strength, and improves the health of the nervous system.
Improvement of blood circulation: Since the effect of gravity on the body is reversed when this exercise is performed, blood circulation receives a boost. Due to the inversion of the body, the brain temporarily receives more blood and therefore more oxygen, enabling it to function better.
Improvement in respiratory functioning: Of all the shoulder stretching exercises, sarvangasana is one exercise that helps improve respiration. Since the blood circulation improves in the body, the aerobic capacity is also improved. This shoulder stretch improves the capacity of both the lower and the upper portion of the respiratory system. Respiratory disorders like bronchitis and asthma can also be eased by doing this pose.
Improvement of digestion: With the improvement in overall health, the digestive system also benefits from this pose. Since the exercise helps stimulate the thyroid gland, the metabolism also receives a boost.

Yoga to cure psychosomatic disorders

2009-12-24T03:09:00.000-08:00

What are Psychosomatic Disorders?

When mental factors such as anxiety or stress bring about a physical disease, or make an existing one even worse, it is referred to as a psychosomatic disorder. Sometimes extreme psychological, emotional or mental stress may have a physiological effect on the body, leading to a psychosomatic illness.

Such disorders include gastro-intestinal disturbances, respiratory ailments, cardio-vascular disorders, hypertension, genito-urinary disorders, endocrine disorders, migraine and tension headaches, skin problems and sexual dysfunction.

For example, a person undergoing severe stress may have chest pains when there is no evidence of any actual physical problem. Or another person may suffer from breathlessness brought on by anxiety or a stressful situation.

Psychosomatic disorder treatment: Medical experts often treat such psychosomatic problems with a combination of psychotherapy and drug therapy. Yoga however, has been found to be particularly useful in relieving and curing such ailments.

Health Benefits of Yoga in Treating Psychosomatic Illness

Psychosomatic disorders arise from high levels of stress and anxiety. Yoga is especially helpful because the yoga poses are scientifically designed in such a way as to relieve stress and bring about physical as well as mental and emotional balance.

Yoga helps to strengthen and tone the muscles, internal organs and glands. This makes them stronger, improves their function, and promotes good health. This cures many chronic diseases, which in turn helps mental and emotional well-being, thus enabling an individual to handle stress better.
Most psychosomatic illnesses are caused by strain, stress, anxiety, frustration, anger and other emotional imbalances. These can be tackled through the yoga postures which require concentration and meditation. The stretching and breathing techniques relax the muscles, leading to a release of stress from the body and mind.
The stretching provided by the yoga exercises also helps to improve the circulation of blood, and the muscle tone of the blood vessels. This aids removal of toxins from the body, which in turn promotes a healthy state of mind.
The deep breathing exercises of pranayama also contribute to better health because they increase the levels of oxygen in the blood and help remove carbon dioxide. Respiratory diseases like tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis and cough can also be relieved.
Many of the yoga poses strengthen the nervous system, making the nerves stronger and improving willpower and powers of concentration, which in turn helps better mental and emotional health.
Since yoga therapy strengthens the body as well as the mind, an individual is better equipped to tackle emotional stress and thus find a cure for psychosomatic problems.

Yoga exercise to cure obesity

2009-12-24T02:39:00.000-08:00

What is Obesity?

Obesity refers to weight gain caused by a build up of fats in all parts of the body.

Medical experts have worked out a standard chart taking into account age, weight and height. People who weigh more than 10% of their normal weight are usually termed obese.

Symptoms of obesity:

The body looks shapeless
Balance is affected
Extreme obesity can even make it difficult for people to move about.
Reduced physical movement increases lethargy and reduces overall efficiency.
Obesity sometimes results in blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes.
Obesity can also create obstruction to the breathing process.

Causes of obesity: While obesity is usually caused by wrong dietary and lifestyle patterns, it can also be caused by endocrine problems.

Wrong food habits would include excessive eating, consuming too many calories, eating refined, fried and greasy foods, and not eating sufficient fresh foods and foods rich in dietary fiber.
A sedentary lifestyle with no exercise or physical activity can also lead to obesity.
Sometimes, faulty digestion, emotional stress or mal-function of the endocrine glands especially the thyroid gland can also result in weight gain.

Yoga for Obesity

Yoga has been bound to be very beneficial for obese people, by helping them to lose weight effectively.
The exercises of yoga require movements such as stretching, twisting, bending and balancing. All this helps to lose extra calories.
The physical movements stimulate the abdominal organs such as the stomach, liver, spleen and pancreas, thus improving digestion. Better digestion can help reduction of weight.
Yoga also stimulates the heart and lungs, increasing intake of oxygen, which is circulated by the heart to all organs of the body. The increased oxygen leads to enhanced energy for physical activity, which in turn can lead to greater weight loss.
With more oxygen being supplied to all the internal organs, they are able to flush out harmful toxins, leading to weight loss.
Yoga also helps to strengthen and tone muscles, leading to greater physical activity.

Yoga poses suitable for obese people are:

Westward Facing Forward Bend (Paschimottasana)
Shoulder stand (Sarvangasana)
Plough Pose (Halasana)
Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
Hero Pose (Veerasana)
Half Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)

Remedies for obesity:

Practice the yoga exercises for obesity daily.
Include more fiber source such as fresh fruits and vegetables in your meals.
Reduce intake of sweet foods, fried foods and foods with too many calories.
Stick to meals at regular timings.
Do not overeat.

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Yoga for Thyroid Problems

2009-12-24T02:07:00.000-08:00

What is the Thyroid Gland and What are its Functions?

The thyroid gland is a small gland in your throat. This butterfly-shaped gland is situated just behind the Adam’s apple.

The thyroid gland produces hormones which affect your metabolism and energy levels. This hormone regulates utilization of oxygen, modulation of carbohydrates, utilization of vitamins and metabolism of fats and protein. It also controls nerve and muscle activity, flow of blood, and sexual and reproductive health.

Any imbalance in the levels of thyroid in our body thus adversely affects many systems in our body.

Cause and Types of Thyroid Problems

Thyroid problems can be caused due to stress, certain auto-immune diseases, nutritional deficiencies or environmental toxins. They are of two types:

Hyperthyroidism – in this, the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid, leading to a higher pulse rate, intolerance of heat, increased body temperature and flushed skin. The affected person has a very high metabolic rate, is usually full of a ‘nervous energy’ and tends to lose weight. The eyes may also protrude. Sometimes, the gland gets enlarged and causes a visible bulge, leading to a condition called ‘goiter’.
Hypothyroidism – in this condition the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient amounts of thyroid leading to a condition called myxedema. The affected person has a slower heart rate, body temperatures may be lower and the person feels generally lethargic and sluggish.

Thyroid problem treatment

Thyroid problems are treated in various ways such as with supplements of vitamins and minerals, following a certain diet pattern with foods rich in iodine. They are also treated with medicines, surgery or radio-iodine.

However, Yoga has proved to be very effective in treating thyroid problems.

Yoga for thyroid: Yoga is an ancient form of exercise which has a firm scientific basis, directed towards developing and maintaining the perfect balance between the body and mind. Many of the yoga postures help to massage and stimulate the thyroid glands, thereby correcting any disorders, improving their function, and helping them work at their optimal levels.

Yoga poses for thyroid problems are:

Shoulder Stand, Boat Pose, Fish Pose, Uttanpadasana and Yashtikasana.
Along with these you can also do breathing exercises (Pranayama) such as Alternate Nostril Breathing and Cleaning Breath.

Thyroid problems natural remedies:

Follow a diet which is rich in iodine, vitamin A, zinc, copper and amino acids. These would be found in sprouts, yellow vegetables such as carrots, tomato and pumpkin, dark green vegetables such as spinach, celery, zucchini and wheat grass, alfalfa, nuts, legumes, raisins, dried beans, oatmeal, eggs, chicken, fish and seaweeds.
A vitamin and mineral therapy with plenty of Vitamins A, B-complex, C, along with Calcium, magnesium, selenium and manganese also proves effective.
Herbal therapy, using a combination of Irish moss, kelp, black walnuts or ginseng also helps to restore the balance of the thyroid glands.

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Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy

2009-12-21T05:04:00.000-08:00

Ayurveda and Yoga

For long now, Ayurveda and yoga have both been used for the treatment of various ailments and conditions. In fact, Yoga and Ayurveda are probably the most popular alternative therapies available in India. Over the years, the two sciences have become extremely popular in the Western world as well. Yoga & Ayurveda when used in combination are extremely beneficial to health and overall well being.

Derived from Sanskrit, Ayurveda means the “science of life.” The origin of Ayurveda lies in Vedic culture and understanding. Ayurveda has survived in the form of manuals or instructions written in Sanskrit and passed down through generations. These books are related to all aspects of life, and they provide instructions related to disease and treatment as well as general well being. In simple terms, Ayurveda is the science of healing using natural ingredients such as herbs and essential oils. Ayurveda involves the application of these natural ingredients through massage techniques as well as the ingestion of herbs.

First of all, yoga is not a form of exercise. It is a lifestyle that involves a combination of breathing techniques, meditation, and postures. Yoga aims to create a kind of synthesis between the mind, body, and soul. It is on this premise that yoga has been regarded as one of the most holistic alternative therapies. Yoga involves many different components, or in other words, there are many different types of yoga. The most popular type of yoga, which is the physical component, is known as Hatha yoga.

While Ayurveda does not involve any complicated postures (asanas), it has been practiced alongside Yoga to further its benefits. However, Ayurveda does require modification in diet and lifestyle.

According to Ayurveda, each body is governed by a predominant dosha, or element (space, air, fire, water, and earth). Ayurvedic yoga involves practicing yoga based on your dosha. For instance, the vata dosha is most affected by sitting poses or asanas. Similarly, since the seat of pitta is the stomach and small intestine (or abdominal region), poses involving the bending of the back and twisting of body will be most effective. Kapha dosha is most affected by poses such as the bridge (setubandh asana) and shoulder stand (sarvanga asana).

Ayurvedic Yoga

An Ayurvedic yoga massage involves a lot of stretching. However, the stretches are not performed by the individual alone. Instead, a masseur or masseuse will help the individual, directing him or her as the body moves into different positions. These stretches are interspersed with different massage techniques.

Thus, both Ayurveda and yoga are ancient alternative therapies that can be practiced alone or in combination in order to achieve a healthy body and mind.

Yoga for Abs and Abdominal Exercises

2009-12-21T04:46:00.000-08:00

Before we talk about yoga for abs, let’s get a couple of facts straight. First of all, yoga is an ancient Indian art, which aims to bring together mind, body and consciousness. It doesn’t look at the human body in the same way as we do in the West, and yogis don’t think much about our obsession for ‘six-packs’. So, while yoga will help you reduce fat around your centre and get slimmer, if you’re looking for a six-pack, look somewhere else.

Secondly, Yoga, like other eastern philosophies, looks upon the abdomen as a center of energy - prana. Yoga will help strengthen your core from inside, including your organs, and do much more for you than any abdominal exercises.

Abdominal Exercises

There are plenty of abdominal yoga exercises which will help you get slimmer. To learn these, it is recommended that you find a good yoga teacher, or guru, who will guide you along your path. Yoga needs supervision, and should not be done by yourself until you are proficient, but we can tell you about some of the asanas and kriyas that you can ask your teacher about.

The simple Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation will help you tone up your muscles and reduce belly fat. You can do these first thing in the morning, as many times as you can. Other asanas (or poses) that will help are Paschimottasana or seated bends, Urdhva Dhanurasna or Bow Pose and Sarvanganasana or Bridge pose. There are many other asanas that will help your abdomen, and different teachers teach it differently. Unlike abdominal muscle exercises like crunches, these abs yoga exercises (asanas) strengthen the whole torso, including the back and side, meaning that you will not suffer from the imbalance that an obsession with crunches brings.

The ancient yogis understood that breath is life, and that it should come from the bottom of the abdomen. Therefore, yoga also has a number of breathing techniques. Learning these will help make you stronger, livelier and healthier, and a slimmer stomach will be the most superficial of your achievements. Ask your teacher to teach you Anulom-Vilom pranayama, or cleansing kriyas that will help you get rid of toxins in your abdomen.

Even a simple yogic meditative pose like Savasana will help. When done properly, it will help you get in touch with your centre, and feel, first hand what is wrong, rather than relying on someone else to tell you.

If you want, you can supplement your yoga with abdominal muscle exercises and abdominal stretches, but remember that you will also need to strengthen your back, or it will be detrimental for you.

Yoga for Muscle Endurance and Strength

2009-12-21T04:28:00.000-08:00

What is the best exercise for building muscle endurance and strength?

Some people will say weight training. Others will point to cardiovascular training. Yet others will say it’s a combination of both. Then of course, there are the more esoteric forms of exercise such as kickboxing, Tae-Bo, and Capoeira, all of which help you to build your muscle endurance and strength.

However, what is lesser known is that there is another form of exercise that is equally effective when it comes to building muscle endurance and strength. This exercise is actually one of the oldest forms of exercise known to mankind. It was developed by sages and mystics in the forests of ancient India more than 5000 years ago. This muscle endurance exercise is known as yoga.

Most people who are not familiar with yoga will be very surprised by this statement. This is because the general perception of yoga is that it is a series of stretching poses that is okay for ancient Indian mystics and bored housewives - hardly the kind of exercise that will help build muscle endurance and strength. This is wrong.

Muscle Endurance Exercises

The dynamic and static stretching movements that are such an integral part of yoga are also one of the best ways of building flexibility and muscular strength. The deep breathing techniques that are practiced along with these poses also help to increase your stamina and improve endurance. In fact, the faster paced variants of yoga, such as Bikram Yoga and Power Yoga, can give any of the popular forms of cardiovascular exercise a run for their money.

The benefits of performing yoga extend far beyond building muscular endurance and strength. With regular and proper practice you will come to realize that yoga has a beneficial effect on almost all aspects of your life, not just the physical. You will not only become stronger and fitter, your concentration will improve and you will become calmer and more in tune with your surrounding environment. Such is the power of yoga.

Yes, you won’t build bulging muscles with yoga. Those can only be achieved through weight training and proper nutrition. However, if you are looking to become stronger and fitter and improve your stamina, you should seriously consider adding yoga to your muscle endurance training routine. Yoga is also one of the best ways to get that lean and ripped look and to discover the elusive six pack abs in you.

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Standing Yoga for poor blood circulation in Legs

2009-12-11T06:19:00.000-08:00

Our body has a very complex mechanism of maintaining its health. The normal functioning of the human body depends on the supply of life forces like oxygen and nutrition. Several systems work together to make the body function efficiently. The digestive system breaks down food to release glucose and energy. The respiratory system takes in oxygen, converts it into carbon dioxide and expels it from the body. The blood carries oxygen as well as the energy to various organs so that they can keep functioning well. The renal system filters the blood to rid it of any undesirable substances and toxins.

Together, all these systems help maintain our health. If even a small failure takes place in any of the systems, the entire body may experience functioning problems.

Blood Circulation in Legs

Blood circulation is the one system that helps bind all the organs together. Blood circulation problem can cause complications in the other systems of the body. The heart pumps blood so that it can reach all of the body. However, there are many factors that may affect blood circulation. The lower limbs of the body are especially prone to poor circulation of blood. Blood circulation in the legs may suffer several setbacks because of the gravitational pull of the earth and the wear and tear of the venous valves.

How to Improve Blood Circulation in Legs?

Since the functioning of all organs depends on blood circulation, poor blood circulation in legs can cause a lot of problems. Standing yoga poses and postures can help improve circulation of blood, especially in the legs. Here’s how to improve blood circulation in the legs.

Yoga has been known to have positive effects on both the health of the heart and blood circulation. Yoga has also been often used for normalizing blood pressure. Some of the popular poses for improving blood circulation in the legs are the warrior pose and the triangle pose. Both these poses help improve the efficiency of the blood circulation and muscle action. These help strengthen the muscles in the lower limbs, allowing them to contract and expand better. The muscle valves in the lower extremities are also strengthened and their overall functioning is improved.

The pump effect of the valves, that allows the blood vessels in the legs to push the blood back towards the heart, is also improved by these poses. Other standing yoga postures like the mountain pose and the tree pose can also help prevent buildup of cholesterol which can cause potential circulation problems.

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Yoga for Varicose Veins | Varicose Veins Treatments

2009-12-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

What Causes Varicose Veins?

The blood circulation network in the body is extremely complex. The veins and the arteries have a difficult task of ferrying blood to and fro for the entire duration of our lives. This function may take a toll on the blood vessels, especially those that are situated in the lower extremities of the body.

The veins of the lower limbs have to work extra hard in order to send the blood to the heart. This process is facilitated by valves in the blood vessels which prevent the blood from flowing in the wrong direction. This is difficult because the blood and the veins are also subjected to the forces of gravity. This continuous gravitational pull can cause the blood to get clotted in the veins. When the blood gets clogged in this manner, the valves get damaged and the blood vessels get misshapen.

The veins may puff up because of the change in the volume of blood flow. These puffed up veins start showing through the skin and this condition is termed as varicose veins.

Once the veins become this misshapen, it is not possible to reverse this change. In a severe case, where the varicose veins cause a lot of pain and discomfort, there may be a need to perform a surgery to remove the veins. Some other effective varicose veins treatments are also available.

Yoga for Varicose Veins

In cases of varicose veins that are not too severe, yoga for varicose vein can help improve the condition, proving to be one of the best varicose veins remedies. Some of the inverted poses can benefit you significantly. These inverted poses cause the inversion of the circulation of blood, causing a temporary relief in the pressure on the veins. A shoulder stand, also known as Sarvangasana has been found to be one of the most beneficial treatments for varicose veins. In this pose, the blood drains from the legs to reach to the heart, with relative ease.

This pose is easy to perform and doesn’t require elaborate practice or experience of yoga. In this pose, the legs are raised perpendicular to the ground, keeping the torso and the shoulders resting flat on the surface. When you raise your legs up like this, the pressure on the blood vessels eases. It is recommended that the shoulder stand be done at least once every day. Once you are in the pose, hold the pose for at least three to five minutes.

Once you come out of the pose and stand up, you will experience much relief from the pain caused by varicose veins. Though this pose will not remove the veins, it brings in relief from the symptoms. Some other asanas that you can perform are Sirshasana or Head Stand, Tadasana or Mountain Pose, Gomukhasana or Cow Face Pose, Pawanmuktasana or the Easy Gas Release Pose, and Viparita Karani or the Legs up the Wall Pose.

Yoga cure for dizziness

2009-12-11T05:49:00.000-08:00

Dizziness, also known as vertigo, is characterized by a spinning sensation. Vertigo is usually experienced at high altitudes. However, sometimes vertigo may also be caused due to some other reasons.

What can cause Dizziness?

Here are some of the common causes of dizziness or vertigo:

Circulation: The brain, like every other organ, requires a constant flow of blood in order to function optimally. If there is an inadequate supply of blood to the brain, you may begin to feel lightheaded. Blood carries oxygen and a lack of blood causes a lack of oxygen in the brain which hampers its functioning. If you consume excessive amounts of salt in your diet, it could cause poor circulation. Those who suffer from problems of the heart or anemia may also experience dizziness and circulation problems.
Physical injury: A fracture to the skull or damage to the inner ear may cause a loss of balance. Profound and irreversible vertigo results from such an injury. Eventually, the balance may be restored, but the person might experience dizziness now and then.
Infectious attacks: Certain viruses, like those that cause flu and the common cold, may cause infections in the inner ear. The inner ear is responsible for maintaining the sense of balance and if it does not working efficiently, it can result in severe vertigo.
Other neurological problems: Some other neurological problems like disease of the nerves may also cause dizziness. Diseases like tumors, multiple sclerosis and syphilis are other causes of dizziness.

Cure for Dizziness

Yoga is believed to be an effective cure for dizziness. Though there have not been any conclusive studies linking the two, proponents of yoga feel that yoga for dizziness or yoga for vertigo can help you get rid of the condition. Since yoga is also effective in controlling blood pressure and hyper tension, it can be effectively used to cure hypertension dizziness.

One of the most effective poses for dizziness is the Malasana or the garland pose. In this pose, you begin with squatting on your haunches, with your soles and the heels resting on the floor completely. Slowly rise from the floor on your toes and maintain your balance. Now, widening the thighs and putting distance between your knees, move your torso forward, extending your armpits beyond the knees. Now bending forward, hold the back of your ankles, exhale and slowly move your head down so that your forehead rests on your toes. Stay in the position for a few seconds and then inhaling, return to the initial position.

Some other effective poses for dizziness are the Halasana or Plough Pose, Nadi Sodhana Pranayama or alternative nostril breathing, Salamba Sirsasana or the Headstand Pose, and Sanmukhi Mudra or Six Faced Gesture.

Yoga for eating disorders - Anorexia nervosa

2009-12-08T04:12:00.000-08:00

Eating disorders are a physical manifestation of a psychological problem. Eating disorders are extremely harmful in the long term and can be a potential danger to physical health. Anorexia nervosa, one of the most common eating disorders, has a high incidence among youth and therefore, it is important that the disorder be addressed immediately before it can cause an upheaval in the human body.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a skewed body image. Even though these people are extremely low in body weight, they are obsessed with the fear of gaining weight. People who suffer from this disorder are exceedingly malnourished and underweight. They may even starve themselves in order to avoid even a slight amount of weight gain.

Treatment for Eating Disorder

Though yoga has never been considered an eating disorder therapy, the truth is that yoga can help calm your mind and therefore, have a direct effect on disorders that stem from there. Yoga can be of great help if you are looking to calm down your mind and drive negative thoughts and feelings away. While the treatment for any eating disorder typically involves sessions with a psychiatrist or a psychologist, practicing yoga along with attending these sessions can be extremely helpful.

Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

The treatment of anorexia nervosa specifically involves improving the self image of a person through suggestions, and reinforcement by the psychologist. Meditation along with this therapy can help calm your mind and indulge in introspection. Yoga is known to be able to reduce depression by triggering specific mood enhancing and calming hormones. The balance of mind can be restored by practicing yoga regularly. Moreover it builds self confidence and self esteem, reducing the risks of such disorders as it makes you more comfortable with yourself and your body.

There has been prolific research to understand what causes eating disorders. However, medical professionals are still not sure of the root cause of these disorders. It is largely believed that there may be a chemical imbalance in the brain involved in this. However, there may be several environmental factors like peer pressure involved.

The effects of anorexia nervosa, though not very grave at the initial stage, can be harrowing later on. Since the body image is distorted, the patient could suffer from low self worth and waning self confidence. Refusal to eat or eating only selectively can cause a person to feel depressed and may ultimately lead to malnutrition.

Yoga for eating disorders concentrates on soothing the mind. Hatha yoga and Ashtanga yoga can help you clear your mind and become more spiritually inclined, treat your body with respect and allow it to flourish with the right kind of nutrition.

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Pelvic floor yoga for urology problems

2009-12-08T04:01:00.000-08:00

Yoga is an ancient art which has in recent decades started to gain prominence all over the world. In more recent times, yoga has been recognized as a complementary alternative therapy for many serious disorders. Yoga, though ancient, is useful for many physiological and psychological disorders that the body may suffer from.

Pelvic floor muscle pain is a typical symptom of urological problems. Hatha yoga, a discipline of yoga, can help you deal with such urology problems. Since urological problems often mimic the symptoms of other problems, it is not always easy to diagnose them. Sometimes, the more traditional methods of treatment of these problems are not received well. Those suffering from chronic urologic conditions such as orchalgias, vulvadynia, prostadynia, epididimalgias and interstitial cystitis etc., can be benefited by practicing yoga.

There are many physiological and psychological benefits to those who practice yoga. Apart from increased aerobic capacity, there are also certain pelvic floor muscle exercises which help in strengthening the muscles in the pelvic floor. Yoga is highly adaptable, and even if you find yourself unable to perform a particular pose, you can be benefited by practicing a less complex variation of the pose.

Almost all urological disorders are caused due to poor musculoskeletal function of the pelvis and the back. There may also be certain myofascial and neural problems because of which these conditions could occur. The pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation; therefore, pelvic yoga consists of poses and postures that help strengthen the muscular layers of the pelvic floor as well as the back. These poses help bring awareness of muscles to the practitioner, allowing the body to align itself correctly and self correct the musculoskeletal problems.

Sometimes, a dislocation or a problem in the rotation of the lower back, pelvis and the joints surrounding these areas may cause urological problems like incontinence. There are several yoga poses and postures which are specifically designed to correct the balance between the lower back and the pelvic structure. Some of the joint dysfunctions may aggravate chronic urologic conditions because of which the joints should be given special attention.

With yoga, pelvic floor muscles get toned and strengthened and the musculoskeletal alignment improves. Yoga also helps improve the myofascial function, thus improving the condition and remedying the pain. However, yoga should always be practiced along with the medications prescribed to you by a qualified doctor. Yoga offers a complementary treatment and should not be done in isolation.

Yoga for Alzheimer's disease

2009-12-08T03:48:00.000-08:00

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of the brain. This is a progressive disease characterized by dementia and can eventually be fatal. The disease slowly destroys the cells of the brain, causing several mental problems, especially memory loss and the inability to think. This disease can severely affect the ability of a person to work or socialize. The disorder is considered to be the most common form of dementia, and since it is not curable, it only gets worse with time. Medical professionals all over the world are making concerted efforts to increase awareness about this disease. They are also trying to discover ways in which the onset of this disease can be delayed or completely prevented. Several researchers are trying to find ways to prevent Alzheimer’s or slow down its progression in case it cannot be prevented.

Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Currently, there is no possible treatment for the disease. However, experts are trying to find ways to control the symptoms and slow down progression. So far, those suffering from Alzheimer’s have relied heavily on alternative methods of healing.

How to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?

Since Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects the brain and causes slow decay, the treatment focuses on the health of the brain. It has been suggested through research that those who keep their minds sharp in their old age are not susceptible to Alzheimer’s. Mentally active adults may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Those who read regularly, play musical instruments, watch plays or go to museums, work crossword puzzles, listen to the radio, play card games and other games that may involve the use of memory, may be able to ward off Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Alternative Treatment

Yoga has emerged as one of the most preferred alternative treatments by those who suffer from Alzheimer’s. Yoga is an ancient art that helps bring a balance between the body and the mind. It has been seen that elderly people who practice yoga can keep their minds sharper. People who practice yoga are able to bring balance to their lives. They are also able to keep their minds employed. Practicing disciplines of yoga such as Hatha yoga can help you improve mental acuity and memory. The mind, therefore, remains sharp and is able to perform complex functions perfectly.

Meditative techniques of yoga can help improve concentration as well as the ability to use the mind in the optimum manner. These key features of yoga therefore make it a very viable strategy for coping with and fighting Alzheimer’s.

Holistic yoga for holistic living

2009-11-27T05:05:00.000-08:00

The revelations that different people have when they first start taking yoga sessions are often eye opening. Yoga has the power to make you aware not only of your body but also the state of your mind. When you embark on the journey of yoga, practicing the various poses, you become more aware of your body and its movements. You may realize more closely, how your body moves, how it bends, and how it aligns itself for your comfort.

Your state of mind and the connection that your body makes with it can all be explored using various yogic techniques.

Holistic Yoga

If your body is not used to exercise, its range of motion is limited. However, as you progress further and pick on the more difficult poses, you will realize that your body and the range of movements that you can achieve with it increase manifold. You may initially feel some discomfort and perhaps even sustain minor injuries. However, these discomforts will pave the way for holistic cures that involve both body and mind.

Those who suffer from physical ailments like pain in the various regions of the body, or those who suffer from injuries, and disorders of the joints are most likely to benefit physically from yoga. Those who suffer from arthritis can in fact find a gradual decrease in pain and swelling. In time, their ability to move also increases.

Yoga also brings in a certain amount of discipline to an individual’s daily routine. You are able to increase your endurance and improve flexibility. You are also able to control your immediate impulses, keep stress and anxiety at bay, and also evolve spiritually.

The reason why yoga is considered one of the most effective holistic cures is that it allows you to improve breathing and respiration, increase core strength, flexibility and immunity, improve your self confidence and self worth, and improve your concentration as well as your ability to bring out your talents.

Holistic health yoga involves a healthy mix of the many different yoga techniques. Deep breathing, meditation, and the yogic poses together have many effects on the over all physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health of a person. Yoga, in fact, can be seen as a holistic alternative medicine that slows down the ageing process. You will see your skin glowing, eyes sparkling, and your body will become more flexible and more capable. You will also improve mental acuity and overall immunity.

Yoga for Emotional Stress & Emotional Imbalance

2009-11-27T04:39:00.000-08:00

Yoga is known to have a wide range of benefits for those with physical ailments and also those with mental or emotional disturbances. For both spiritual and mental ailments, yoga offers an interesting and an effective way of attaining peace of mind.

Yoga helps to rejuvenate both the mind and the body. In fact, the holistic effects of yoga are quite well known, because of which yoga has now become much sought after.
Though the physical benefits of yoga have been stressed quite often, the mental, emotional and the spiritual benefits of yoga often are not described in great detail. The truth is that yoga is one of the few techniques which can effectively alleviate all kinds of stress and emotional disturbances. The many different techniques of yoga can help you fight emotional stress and keep it at bay. Yoga takes care of your mental and emotional health, allowing you to deal with stress, depression and any other emotional illness.

Emotions and stress go together a long way. It is not unusual to feel stressed when you are emotionally overwhelmed. People who are emotionally more sensitive are also slightly more predisposed to experiencing stress and emotional imbalance. Yoga, however, with its many different poses, meditative techniques and breathing exercises, is one of the most potent techniques of dealing with such emotional problems.

The biggest advantage of yoga is that it opens your mind to your own needs and desires. This simply means that it allows you to contemplate your own actions and situations, helping you to introspect. In more ways than one, yogic techniques help you to work on your self confidence and self worth, allowing you to have more control over you’re your actions and the direction that your life is taking.

Yoga can also help you deal with specific problems. If you have been in depression for sometime, then yoga, combined with medication, can help you instill positivity inside you. Physically too, yoga can offer you a ‘pick-me-up’. A combination of deep breathing and meditation is excellent in depression. Specific poses like standing forward bend and twisting triangle may also help improve your body’s strength.

The meditative techniques are also helpful in dealing with stress and anxiety. The practice of yoga helps the body to secrete hormones that help decrease anxiety and neutralize stress. Yoga can also reduce stress hormones in the heart and the cardiovascular system. For these, again a combination of physical poses, meditation and breathing techniques are helpful.

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Spiritual Yoga to Improve Mental Health

2009-11-27T04:23:00.000-08:00

Yoga has been practiced in various parts of the world for many years now. This ancient wellness technique was formulated to bring together the physical and the metaphysical, creating a spiritual technique which allows for mental growth and increasing inner peace and tranquility.
Yoga, if practiced regularly, can change the way you look at yourself and the world around you. Though largely treated as an exercise regimen, yoga also has several spiritual benefits. With the help of spiritual meditation, yoga attempts to bring together your mind and soul in a perfect balance.

Spirituality Yoga

As an underlying principle, yoga encourages thought, concentration, and introspection. The many questions that yogic philosophy asks you are meant to propel you in the direction of self contemplation and accession to the higher powers. Allowing yourself to be one with the spiritual forces as well as the natural forces, is one of the biggest achievements that a yoga practitioner can attain.

No matter which faith you belong to, yoga has something for everybody. The texts of yoga, though written many centuries ago, allow for people of all faiths to practice this technique. Contrary to popular belief, yoga doesn’t only serve Hindu interests; in fact its philosophy is purely spiritual and allows for anyone to embrace it not only as a wellness technique, but as a lifestyle.

Yoga is a technique which doesn’t force you into spiritualism. It allows you to have your own view of the world, without offering you any religious mantras or texts. It simply allows you to unlock the spiritualism that you may have inside you. Some of the important spiritual techniques that are widely practiced today are meditation healing.

Practicing spiritual yoga allows you to have spiritual balance. When you practice yoga, you are gently propelled in the direction of feeling compassionate about your fellow human beings and allowing yourself to be trustful of others. Your sense of morality and ethics will also undergo a huge transformation. Apart from the changes that you will see in your own behavior, you will perhaps also realize that respect and gratitude comes more easily to you, and you have begun to respect all living beings with a renewed fervor.

In order to inculcate spirituality, yoga is again a very effective tool. There are many different styles of yoga from which you can choose. You may try one style for some time before moving on to another. Since almost all styles of yoga have the same underlying philosophy, you will not have a tough time identifying the style that best suits you.

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Benefits of Yoga Weight Training Programme

2009-11-19T04:15:00.000-08:00

Yoga has gained immense popularity all over the world because of its multifaceted benefits. In the last few decades, both fitness enthusiasts and medical professionals have accepted yoga as one of the most potent techniques of exercise.

Yoga Weight Training

Yoga is actually an ancient practice which promotes balance between the body and the soul. There are several methods of practicing yoga and each has its own specific benefits. Even those who practice weight training exercise can benefit from yoga. A weight training program when coupled with yoga, can help the person’s body and the mind in several ways. Here are some of the benefits:

Consistent yoga practice can help decrease blood pressure. It also improves the blood circulation.

The various breathing techniques of yoga can help increase the amount of air that we inhale, increasing in turn the amount of oxygen that can be utilized by the body. The increased oxygen in the body allows the organs to function better.

Yoga can help reduce the heart rate and increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. Together, both these conditions help in increasing cardiovascular endurance.

Weight training can frequently lead to sore muscles and limbs. This is caused due to the buildup of lactic acid. Practicing yoga helps to avoid this accumulation of lactic acid, which in turn helps alleviate soreness.

Yoga also helps increase metabolism, helping you to maintain your weight.

Yoga improves your metabolism, as does weight training. When these two forms of exercise are practiced in tandem, they give your metabolism a major boost and this helps your body to burn more fat, giving you that ripped look.

Though yoga and weight training are seldom thought of together, yoga can be effectively used for weight training. The body movements of people who perform yoga are more deliberate and easy, giving a specific poise and balance to the person.

When you incorporate yoga into your fitness routine in addition to weight training, you will experience massive increases in your core strength. A strong core helps you to lift more, train harder, and avoid back injuries that are so common in weight training.

Weight training can reduce flexibility to a certain extent. The dynamic and static stretches in yoga help to ensure that your body remains supple and flexible.

Yoga can be used as a very effective cool down routine at the end of a strenuous weight training programme.

Health Benefits of Vinyasa Flow Yoga

2009-11-19T04:05:00.000-08:00

What is Vinyasa Flow Yoga?

Vinyasa yoga is a form of yoga which is based on ‘breath synchronized movements’. In a yoga session, when you seamlessly move from one pose to another while inhaling and exhaling, it is known as Vinyasa. The literal meaning of the word ‘vinyasa’ is the movement of breath and therefore this technique in yoga is known as vinyasa flow yoga.

There are several vinyasa yoga poses, but in reality, you may practice any pose in this form of yoga. The poses run into each other in a smooth manner in this type of yoga.

The term vinyasa is often used alone as a reference to various different poses. You may go through the technique as a part of a series. For instance, the entire series of poses performed during the Sun Salutation, can be referred to as Vinyasa. You may use the breathing techniques of inhaling and exhaling while performing the poses, to your advantage. You may maintain your own tempo, according to the rhythm of your breathing. Your breathing becomes the basis of your poses and the form and movement are integrated with it.

Poses like the Upward Facing Dog pose, Plank pose, and Four Limbed Staff pose are usually in the spectrum of vinyasa style yoga.

If you follow the poses that you practice carefully, you will find that there are many instances when you effortlessly practice vinyasa yoga, without being conscious of it. Upon practicing vinyasa yoga for some time, you will be able to proceed without any problems. You will also be able to free yourself from any structured sequencing, gaining the maximum vinyasa yoga benefits.

Benefits of Vinyasa Yoga

When you begin with vinyasa yoga, you will begin to feel the build up of strength in your body. The technique of vinyasa yoga helps build strength and flexibility, especially in the legs and the hips.
Vinyasa yoga helps to stretch the spine to its fullest extent, allowing the muscles around the spin to relax and strengthen.
Vinyasa yoga can also help improve your flexibility especially in the areas surrounding the hips, joints, neck, and shoulders.
The coordination that you have to practice between the breathing and the pose can help increase concentration and the ability to focus on a specific thing.
In Vinyasa yoga, you do not have to worry about holding your poses. You can retain one posture for some time or you can explore more postures and can keep transiting from one posture to another.

Yoga for Stress Related Health Problems

2009-11-19T04:02:00.000-08:00

With the kind of hectic lifestyles we have today, it is not unusual to be under a lot of pressure and feel stressed. It is impossible for anyone to not get anxious and stressed when faced with the everyday challenges of life. Sometimes, you may even feel that your day has too few hours or that you need some more time to yourself.

If you are wondering how to reduce stress, yoga is what you should be looking at. Till date, of all remedies, yoga for stress relief is considered the best and most fitting technique to keep both anxiety and stress at bay.

There are many things that you can do in yoga. The breathing, meditative, and physical poses of yoga help in various ways to quiet your mind and bring peace from within. Due to the calming effect that yoga has on people, it is fast becoming a popular relaxation technique, especially in urban settings where the pace of life is really hectic and stressful.

Yoga essentially works on the principle of bringing peace to the body and mind, allowing the body to be in a deep state of relaxation. There are many styles of yoga, but Hatha yoga is considered to be the best amongst them for stress relief. You may also choose any other discipline of your particular choice.

Traditional yoga relies on an amalgamation of diet, exercise and meditation to beat stress. Along with the poses that you practice in yoga, you also have to pay particular attention to your diet. Certain foods increase stress and cause anxiety. However, there are other foods known as ‘sattvik’ foods, which help improve health and help you beat stress.

The poses of yoga can be performed by people from any age group because of which they are highly recommended. Yoga requires coordination between both the mind and the body. Yoga consists of poses of varying complexities. Some can be as simple as lying on the floor and willing your body to completely relax; yet others can be quite difficult and take years to master.

You may not be able to hold a particular pose for as long as it is recommended; however, yoga has a basic rule. In yoga, you should only do as much as your body allows. If you are practicing a pose which your body is not comfortable with, it is best to move to another pose. You should never exceed your own limits that you may have set for yourself.

Breathing is also another important part of yoga. Your vital energies can be controlled using various breathing techniques. You can gain control over both your body and mind using the meditative techniques of yoga along with controlled breathing.

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Yoga for irregular menstrual cycles

2009-11-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

You will seldom find a woman who is comfortable or at ease with her menstruation cycle. However, not having a regular cycle is something that no woman wants. A lot of women experience irregular periods. There are many causes of such a problem. Usually, irregular periods are associated with hormonal imbalances and stress. Women who have increased sexual activity after a long break may also experience temporarily irregular menstrual cycles. In most women, who are nearing the onset of menopause, menstruation problems are a common occurrence.

For each woman, the cause of menstruation cycle problems is different. In fact, it is critical to determine the exact cause of the irregularity because the choice of yoga poses for treating the irregularities will also depend largely on the cause.

If the irregular menstrual cycle causes are hormonal, specific yoga poses are practiced in order to improve the circulation of hormones. Sometimes, stress may be a contributing factor to menstrual problems. Yoga for menstrual problems caused due to stress will include more of breathing and other stress relieving techniques like meditation.

Yoga Practice during Menstruation

Most problems with menstruation can be dealt with proper and guided yoga poses. However, it is equally important to get a medical perspective and take regular medications as prescribed by a doctor.

There are two categories of yoga poses for irregular periods. One category contains poses that are generally beneficial in enhancing the menstrual flow by stretching the pelvic floor and opening up the vagina. The second category is of those poses which are meant for menstrual problems caused by specific reasons.

Some of the general yoga poses which can be practiced to help treat menstrual problems are the Baddha Konasana or the Sitting Cobbler Pose, Supta Baddhakonasana or the Lying Down Cobbler Pose, the Gaumukhasana or the Cow Pose, Supta Virasana or the Lying Down Hero Pose and the Janu Shirasana or the Head To Knee Pose. Of these, the Cow Pose is especially recommended for those who are suffering from irregular menstruation.

In addition to these the Virasana or the Hero Pose, the Lion, Cobra and Half Wheel Pose can also be performed for disorders of the endocrine system that may be causing an irregularity in the menstruation cycle.

All of these poses help in improving muscle strength, regulating hormones, improving spinal flexibility, and restore alignment and balance in the body. These poses, when performed three to five times a day regularly, can help regulate your menstruation.

Yoga for Mental Health and Mental Illness

2009-11-13T04:25:00.000-08:00

The word yoga originates from the ancient Sanskrit script and its literal meaning is ‘union’. Yoga is a physical technique which aims to unify the body, mind and soul. It is a complete workout that helps strengthen the body, calm the mind and purify the soul, bringing you closer to a higher power and allowing you to gain higher consciousness.

Yoga is a complete body workout that helps promote the health of the entire body, strengthening all aspects of the being. There is no particular pose of yoga that can be considered more beneficial than the others. Everything about yoga is scientific (at least in context of the benefits, even if its action or method of working is not yet understood) and each pose benefits specific parts of the body.

If poses are practiced in specific sequences, maximum benefit can be derived from them. Though any kind of physical exercise releases hormones known as endorphins which are natural mood enhancers, yoga in particular allows for increasing mental acuity, concentration and prowess. Mental health has a deep connection with physical health. Good physical health fosters good mental health and the vice versa is also true.

Specific disciplines of yoga like Hasya yoga or laughter yoga are more beneficial for mental health than any other forms of yoga. The studies conducted on the discipline suggest that the deep breathing exercises and stretching exercises allow increased blood flow to the brain, improving mental activity and relieving both stress and anxiety. Regular practice of yoga poses can also treat any specific mental health problem like depression or anxiety related disorders.

Yoga is considered the best alternative mental illness therapy. Yoga and mental health have a lasting relationship. The principles on which the discipline was formed, took into account all aspects of well being.

Meditative techniques of yoga help trigger brain chemicals like the gamma animobutyric acid. Many of these chemicals are beneficial for the body and allow expulsion of stressful thoughts. These chemicals are also beneficial for naturally treat depression. Some of the specific benefits of yoga for treating each and every specific mental illness are:

By increasing the secretion of endorphins, the body naturally feels more energetic.
Mental acuity is improved, therefore increasing concentration and improving focus.
By relieving stress, yoga can help improve the quality of sleep.
Anxiety levels are reduced and depression can be cured.
Regular practice of yoga can help improve self esteem and self worth.
Yoga also helps improve physical health which is again associated with improved mental health.

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Yoga Poses for Stress Relief

2009-11-13T04:02:00.000-08:00

Yoga and Stress Relief

As the amount of stress that we deal with in our everyday lives goes up, yoga for stress relief emerges as a valuable technique. If statistics are to be believed, stress relief yoga is the number one preferred technique for dealing with stress. Regular practice of stress relief yoga poses can help fight many of the stress related disease like high blood pressure and other cardio vascular complaints.

People who are under chronic stress are more susceptible to heart failure or a stroke. An increase in the blood pressure is usually a precursor to other heart troubles and to avoid any major heart disease, it is recommended that you should remain on medication and continue to follow up with your medical checks regularly.

Stress can take a toll on your life and to manage it, a change in lifestyle is an absolute necessity. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and cessation of smoking are some of the vital aspects of a changed lifestyle. Less consumption of fats, red meats and salts can also help you deal with stress.

Apart from all the precautions that you take from your end, yoga for stress management should be explored as an alternative stress relief technique. The meditative techniques of yoga are a great stress relief exercise. Simple yoga exercises can be performed to stretch the body, improve blood and hormone circulation, and increase lung capacity. While the physical exercise improves the strength, immunity and flexibility of the body, deep breathing techniques improve the lung capacity, allowing for more oxygen to be taken in and utilized in the body.

Stress relief yoga

Meditative techniques in yoga can help calm the mind down, expelling stressful and unwanted thoughts. This is especially beneficial for those who suffer from hypertension and blood pressure. A ten minutes session of meditation can work wonders for you. If you want, you can even chant a prayer while meditating. This will not only help you soothe your mind, but also psychological help you feel closer to god.

Some of the simplest and most effective yoga poses for stress relief are the Balasana or the child pose, Savasana or the corpse pose, and Makarasana or the crocodile pose.

Hatha yoga, one of the prominent disciplines of yoga, is considered to be the best remedy for stress. The conjugation of the poses of Hatha yoga and various breathing techniques can help improve all aspects of a person’s being - physical, mental and spiritual. These postures will help you relieve stress and at the same time promote overall wellness.

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Yoga for coronary heart disease

2009-11-06T03:54:00.000-08:00

One of the most common forms of cardio vascular disease is coronary artery disease. A buildup of cholesterol is the one of the primary coronary heart disease causes. The cholesterol, when it builds up in the arteries, can cause a blockage. The blood flow tends to slow down to quite an extent and the heart has to exert extra pressure to pump blood through the narrower vessels.

The increasing amount of cholesterol also tends to weaken the arteries, leading to blood clots and disfiguring of the arterial walls. Such blood clots could eventually cause a complete blockage of the arteries, ultimately leading to the bursting of the artery.

In a lot of cases, the condition is caused by the natural ageing process. Those who have had someone with the disease in their family are at a greater risk of developing it themselves. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, excessive smoking, obesity and diabetes are some of the other risk factors of coronary artery disease.

Today heart diseases are the biggest health concern all over the world. Though heart diseases were once only associated with the elderly, today even young people are getting susceptible to it. Some of the symptoms of coronary heart disease are chest pains, burning sensations in the chest, pressure in the chest and pain in the arm and neck. This pain is caused because the blood vessels are not able to deliver the required amounts of blood.

Medical science offers expensive and complex surgeries as a coronary heart disease treatment. However, with the treatment, coronary heart disease diet is also very important to lower bad cholesterol.

Yoga for coronary heart disease

Yoga, an ancient Indian discipline helps you improve your body’s strength. With the increase in both strength and flexibility, it becomes easier to control your metabolic rate and blood pressure. Yoga can also help you draw for yourself a coronary heart disease exercise routine. A yogic diet which is completely vegetarian in nature and is free of tobacco and alcohol can help improve health.

The continued practice of yoga can also help a person cope up with stress and anxiety which can aggravate coronary heart diseases. Yoga in fact can easily help you eliminate the risk factors of coronary heart disease. Not only will yoga help you in coping with coronary heart disease but will generally help you improve your health and increase the efficiency of various systems in the body.

Poses like the mountain pose, warrior pose, hands to feet pose, triangle pose, tree pose, lotus yoga pose, standing side stretch pose, double leg raises, child pose, leg reclining lounge, and cobra pose are especially useful for keeping coronary heart disease at bay.

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Yoga for defective vision & vision problems

2009-11-06T03:39:00.000-08:00

Many of the eye problems we know of arise because of problems with the muscles of the eyes. The loss of muscle tone and the rigidity caused due to strain on the eyes can cause problems of vision. This can also happen due to the natural ageing process.

As the muscles of the eyes weaken, the lens is not able to focus properly due to the loss of elasticity. When the lens is unable to focus at varying distances, we experience vision problem at different distances.

When there is great stress in the optic nerves, eyesight suffers even more. The intimate connection that is established between the eyes and the brain by the optic nerve, can also become poor. Fatigue of the eyes from sitting in front of the television or computer for too long or the fatigue experienced due to driving are all caused due to this loss of elasticity of the eye muscles.

Yoga for defective vision

Fortunately, there are many ways for natural vision improvement. Yoga for eyes is an effective way to keep your vision healthy. Yoga is the union of the physical, spiritual and mental energies. Together, these energies help to improve health in many ways. The eyes that are made up of brain tissue that is intimately connected to the brain by the optic nerve. If the brain is restless and does not get adequate rest, then the eyes may also be affected.

Yoga eye exercises are aimed at strengthening the muscles of the eye. These exercises can help the muscles of the eye retain their flexibility so that the lens can focus at objects placed at different distances. These vision improvement exercises can also help calm the nervous mind.

Yoga for our eyes can help counter many of the ill effects that our lifestyle has on our health. To improve visual concentration, there is a need to strengthen the concentration and yoga eye exercises can help. The first step in improving eyesight is to improve concentration. Find yourself a place where you can sit peacefully for some time. Ease your body into a comfortable posture and concentrate on a single object for some time. Gradually increase this time over a period of few days.

You may also gaze constantly at the tip of your nose without blinking. Do this for as long as you can hold your gaze without blinking. Once you are done, close your eyes and keep them closed for some time. When you feel that your eyes are very tired, leave your seat and concentrate on a far away object which is pleasing to your senses. Alternatively, you can also concentrate on the portion between your eyebrows. Don’t do it to a point where it becomes uncomfortable.

Yoga exercise for excessive flatulence

2009-11-06T03:15:00.000-08:00

There is an old saying that all health problems originate from the stomach. It has been proven scientifically that to continue having good health, it is necessary to have a healthy and efficient digestive system.

Digestion is a complex process involving many different organs. Digestion is also a time consuming process and very often, when a person is not able to digest the ingested food, the partially digested food is retained in the stomach and starts to ferment. When the food starts getting fermented, several gases are released. Due to the release of these gases, a person may experience nausea, belching, acid regurgitation and heartburn. Along with that, you may also experience excessive flatulence. These are all symptoms of indigestion.

Flatulence is a condition in which gas accumulates into the colon. This gas is not absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract and therefore either causes the abdomen to bloat or is expelled out of the body through the mouth or the anus.

Excessive flatulence is caused due to eating too much. Some other causes of flatulence are irregular eating, swallowing the food without chewing it, swallowing too much air while chewing and lack of physical exertion. A person under physical duress may also experience excessive flatulence. The muscles of the intestines should also be strong enough to digest the food properly.

Yoga for flatulence

Of all the flatulence remedies, yoga is perhaps the most significant. Though we all know what causes flatulence, a lot of times, we do not know how to treat it. However, to prevent flatulence or to treat it, yoga poses can be effectively used.

To start with, try a head stand known as the Salamba Sirsasana. Once in that pose, bend your legs so that they are behind your back. While coming into this position, do not bend your elbows. Do not disturb the position of your head.

Once your pose is complete, stretch one leg at a time and lift up your torso while shifting all your weight to the heels. Then, tightening the muscles of your anal region, lift up your pelvis. Concentrate on contracting the muscles in your knees, calf thighs. Hold this pose for as long as you can.

Another great pose for releasing flatulence is the Viparita Chakrasana. This pose should be started with the neck, moving to the shoulders. This pose will not only help you to release excessive flatulence, but also help to strengthen your spine while improving overall flexibility of the body.

Yoga Meditation Techniques for Relaxation

2009-10-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

The human body has evolved with an excellent defense system which allows it to naturally remain healthy. The body has a natural relaxation response which tries to counter stress whenever possible. Deep breathing, visualization, meditation, and relaxation are some of yoga’s powerful techniques that can help you relax and fight stress.

Those who begin to practice these relaxation techniques may find it difficult to practice them initially. However, as time progresses, with practice, the body naturally switches into relaxation mode on being put under a lot of duress.

Stress, unfortunately, cannot always be avoided. However, its negative effects can easily be counteracted by using a relaxation technique which helps you elicit a relaxation response from your body. A relaxation response will help you bring your body back into a state of calm. When you deepen your breathing, your stress hormones begin to get reduced and your heart rate also slows down substantially.

Meditation and Relaxation

There are many health benefits of meditation. Regular meditation can help make your body resistant to illnesses. It also helps relieve aches in different parts of the body and can help increase the mind’s problem solving abilities. When the body is relaxed and the brain is functioning well, it will automatically improve your productivity.

The basics of a relaxation technique can be learnt by anyone in a short span of time. However, it takes continuous practice to master a technique and truly harness its powers of relieving stress. It is recommended that all yoga meditation techniques should be practiced for 10 to 20 minutes everyday.

Health benefits of meditation

The best way to start with a meditation technique is to devote half an hour everyday to its practice. The practice can be incorporated into the daily routine in order to make it a habit. It is also important that you do not practice these relaxation and meditation techniques when you are sleepy. If you practice these techniques close to your bedtime, it is possible that you may not be able to get their maximum benefits.

There are a range of techniques available to help you relax but you should always choose one that appeals to you. Each relaxation technique caters to specific needs. Choose a technique which concurs with your fitness level and preferences.

Deep breathing is the simplest way to relax. It does not require an elaborate regimen and can be practiced anywhere and at anytime. You can breathe deeply from your abdomen, taking in as much air as possible. This will help circulate more oxygen to all of your internal organs, eliminating toxins and improving over all health.

Yoga to reduce Stress and Hypertension

2009-10-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

Hypertension is more commonly known as high blood pressure. A disease commonly associated with a high stress lifestyle, hypertension is measured as the diastolic and the systolic pressure.

Causes of hypertension

There are many factors that may affect a person’s blood pressure. However, the major causes of hypertension are an increase in retention of water in the body. An increased consumption of sodium is one of the reasons why water can start to get retained in the body. Problems in the kidneys, cardio vascular system and the nervous system and changes in the production of hormones are other causes of hypertension.

People, who have had family members with hypertension, are at an increased risk of developing hypertension themselves. Obesity and diabetes can also pose a high risk of hypertension.
The effects of hypertension can vary from mild to severe. There may be mild to severe chest pains, often accompanied by confusion and disorientation. You may hear a constant buzzing sound or noise. The heart beat becomes irregular and there may be occasional nose bleeds. Some people may feel tired all the time and also experience frequent vision changes.

Medication and treatment can help reduce hypertension to an extent. However, a medicinal cure for stress and hypertension is yet to be found. Alternative therapies like Yoga have emerged as important alternative treatments for hypertension.

Yoga for hypertension

An effective hypertension remedy, the regular practice of Yoga can help bring down blood pressure to a manageable extent. Yoga can also help tackle obesity, which continues to be one of the major causes of hypertension. Many studies performed on those who have been performing yoga since a long period of time have shown that yoga performers are far less likely to develop lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Yoga is also capable of reducing stress and hypertension over a long period of time.

If you have hypertension and exercise regularly, you will soon see great benefits. Yoga asanas specifically, can help the muscles relax, allowing the body to let go of all the pent up energies and stress. The other techniques of yoga, like Pranayama, a collection of breathing techniques, can also help increase the inflow of oxygen, improving blood circulation and the working of the different organs in the body.

Yogic meditation, even if performed only for about 20 minutes a day, can help relieve stress periodically. Meditation also helps you improve concentration, while improving mental acuity. All these yogic activities together can help bring in a sense of balance in one’s life.

Yoga for painful hip and hip joint problems

2009-10-30T03:46:00.000-07:00

Hip joint pain

For people who are suffering from pain in the joints, exercise is an important aspect to lead a healthy and pain free life. Usually, most joint pains are associated with arthritis. However, hip pain can also be associated with an injury or trauma to the joint. While arthritis is a chronic disorder that takes its toll gradually, trauma to the joint can cause a lot of long term damage.

Regular exercise is an important joint pain remedy. Exercise helps to stretch muscles, allowing pent up stress in the muscles to be released. With regular stretch and light exercise, stiffness in the joints can be remedied. With regular exercise, the joints keep lubricated and therefore function normally. Regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight so that your joints do not have to bear unnecessary weight.

Hip joint pain relief

To treat a painful hip, a cautious approach needs to be taken. If you have been suffering from hip joint problems, it is important to get yourself thoroughly checked by a qualified doctor. Once you have gotten yourself thoroughly checked, the cause of your pain will be clear. If you have any trauma or an injury to your hip joint, the treatment will involve a lot of rest and medications. However, if your hip pain is caused due to the irreversible damage of arthritis, you may need alternative therapies like yoga.

Joint pain yoga has received prominence because of its proven ability to help those who are suffering from debilitating pains in their joints. However, there isn’t any single exercise that can be considered the best. Yoga consists of different stretching exercises called asanas. These different yoga exercises work together to give hip pain joint pain relief and create a gentle movement of the joint which can decrease stiffness in it.

There are many yoga exercises which can help strengthen the muscles of the joint. As the joints become strengthened, their endurance also increases and subsequently pain gets lessened. Some of the commonly performed yoga exercises for hip joints are Tadasana or the mountain pose, Trikonasana or the triangle pose, Parsvakonasana or the extended side angle pose, and Uttanasana or the standing forward bend.

All of these exercises are beneficial for both your back and hip. These enable the muscles to get completely stretched and also help the joints to stay lubricated and healthy. It is best to perform these exercises under the guidance of a qualified yoga instructor.

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Yoga to cure Hernia and to prevent as well

2009-10-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

What is Hernia?

The body is full of various organs interlaced within a complex network of nerves and blood vessels. While for the most part, our body functions normally with all the organs working on their specific functions, in certain circumstances, it becomes difficult for the organs to work normally.

Think of your body in terms of a cardboard box which contains many different trinkets. The box has a limit to its capacity, beyond which, if filled, the box will either collapse or the trinkets will begin to tear out. Similarly, in the body, especially the abdomen, all our organs are packed into a small space. There is the entire digestive system, consisting of organs like the pancreas, kidneys, liver, stomach, spleen, and intestines. At the back of the abdomen, we have the spine which acts as a tough wall, but up front, there is only the flesh, muscle, and fat.

In the event that the pressure inside the abdomen increases, some of these organs may press hard against the lining of the abdomen and begin pushing out. Eventually when the muscles do get weakened, the organs may begin to jut out of the body. This particular disorder is known as a hernia. There are various types of hernia like the ventral or abdominal hernia, incisional hernia, umbilical hernia, epigastrica hernia and the semi lunar hernia.

How to Cure Hernia?

It is said that prevention is always better than cure. The same holds true in the case of hernia too. However, once you have developed it, there are various exercises for hernia that you can try. Some of the postures and poses in yoga are considered beneficial in treating hernia. Yoga for hernia aims to strengthen the abdominal muscles in order to make them resistant to the internal pressure of the organs. If you are overweight, you remain at an elevated risk of developing hernia. However, with the help of yoga, you can reduce your weight and massage the organs internally, relieving the pressure off them.

Considered an effective hernia alternative treatment, yoga cannot be solely relied upon for curing hernia. A medical practitioner should be consulted before resorting to yoga. However, you may continue using yoga in order to decrease some of your risk behavior. Yoga helps to eliminate some of the risks that can cause hernia. Some of these risks are:

Chronic constipation
Chronic cough
Obesity or excess fat in the abdominal area.

Yoga for hernia constitutes of practices in which there is significant movement and contracting of the abdominal muscles. Practices like the Suryanamaskara, Dhanurasana, Navasana, Matsyasana and Kapalbhatti are good for strengthening the abdominal muscles and decreasing the risk factors.

Yoga for migraine headache cure

2009-10-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

A migraine is a vascular headache which is caused when the nerve endings become either inflated or irritated. This may be caused when the blood vessels present on the surface of the brain begin to dilate and expand.

The symptoms of migraine can be quite distressing. Pain, tunnel vision, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sounds, and mood drifts are some of the common symptoms that accompany the often mind numbing pains. Though a migraine is not always considered a dangerous disorder, the truth is that every year, more than 20 million Americans complain of migraines. Out of this number, about 75% are women.

The pain of a migraine is unfortunately not only restricted to the forehead. It emanates into the back of the head, the temples, neck, eyes, sinus cavities and if very severe, the whole of the face.

Though doctors have been working to find a migraine headache cure, an effective one is yet to be found. Meanwhile, to seek relief from this pain and its symptoms, medications which primary consist of pain killers might be prescribed.

For each individual, the triggers of the attack may vary. Though harmless, a sudden change in odors, lighting or sound can trigger the often debilitating migraines. Though these are the common migraine headache causes, there may be other biochemical changes that induce migraine. Women may often experience migraines immediately before or after their menstruation. Other causes of migraine headaches are menopause and other hormonal imbalances.

Migraine headache remedy

Common treatment methods for migraines include medications, exercises and stress relieving techniques. However, yoga, which is a combination of physical exercise, meditation, and stress relieving techniques, has gained popularity as an effective migraine alternative treatment method.

Yoga is considered one of the best migraine headache remedies because the yogic lifestyle includes exercise, stress relieving techniques, and a requisite amount of sleep. All of these together help decrease the risk for developing a migraine. When your mind is relaxed, you can prevent a sensory overload and therefore keep the migraine at bay.

Yoga for migraine headaches consists of several breathing techniques and poses. Along with Kapalbhatti, which is a breathing technique that can help cleanse your airways and detoxify your body, you can also practice poses like the Mountain pose, Crescent moon pose, Standing side stretch pose, Hands to feet pose, Triangle pose, Tree pose, Single leg raises, Spread leg forward fold, Leg raises, Child pose, Seated forward bend, Wind relieving pose, Sage twist pose, and finally the corpse pose.

Yoga can act as an effective remedy for your migraine.

Yoga for irritable bowel syndrome

2009-10-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Also known as functional bowel disorder, this syndrome affects the large intestines by disturbing its motility. Due to this disturbed state, the large intestine is unable to expel its contents appropriately. Though there is no damage sustained by the intestines in this disorder, it could cause a great degree of discomfort to the sufferer.

When we eat food, it passes through the long expanse of the small intestines. It is at this stage the majority of the digestion process takes place. As the food passes into the large intestines, only trace minerals and water are left to be absorbed, after which the remaining matter is expelled from the body in the form of feces.

A normal, healthy person has a set rhythm or pattern of expulsion of the contents of the bowel with a slight deviance from the pattern now and then. However, when this deviance from the normal pattern becomes frequent, the rhythm of the bowel movement is disrupted, which results in either diarrhea or constipation. This is termed as irritable bowel syndrome.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The exact causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome are not known. It is believed that if the colon or the large intestine is sensitive to particular foods and reacts to it, it results in irritable bowel syndrome. It is also believed that stress or the immune system may also be involved.

The use of alcohol, pregnancy, obesity, consumption or excessively fried and fatty foods, caffeinated drinks, chocolates, spicy foods, garlic and onions, tomato based foods, mint and citrus fruits are also common causes of irritable bowel syndrome. Smoking can also induce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Yoga for irritable bowel syndrome

With a combination of yogic postures or asanas, it is possible to deal with irritable bowel syndrome. Yoga is considered an irritable bowel syndrome alternative treatment. It makes you feel relaxed and reduces anxiety. It also helps deal with stress which is considered one of the causes of irritable bowel syndrome. It gives overall health benefits in addition to being an effective cure for irritable bowel syndrome. However, with that, a change in the diet and lifestyle is also important to manage the symptoms and preventing it from occurring again.

Some of the yogic techniques that can be used as irritable bowel syndrome remedies are the easy pose, wind relieving pose, cat pose, corpse pose, half spinal twist, dog pose and finally the relaxation pose.

Yoga as a Preventive Therapy

2009-10-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

Yoga is an ancient discipline which attempts to unite the individual self with the pure life force or a higher consciousness. The sole purpose of this discipline is union - the union of body, mind and soul or the union of the individual and the almighty. In accordance with ancient Hindu literature, yoga stresses on the cyclical concept of karma. Karma is considered cyclical because it has a cause and effect relationship in which your actions invite results and the results lead to further action, paving the road of your life and your destiny.

While this is the inherent philosophy of yoga, it can even be viewed in terms of health. A person, who works in order to improve health naturally, will be full of vigor and good health that will help further his causes. His good health will be instrumental in achieving not only an industrious life but also a happy and peaceful one. Whereas, a person who gets trapped in the cycle of ill health, will only have more ill health to reap.

Yoga and You

Today, it is easy to fall into the trap of ill health because of the often hectic lives that we lead and the constant stress that we expose ourselves to. Yoga and meditation can help us break this cycle of ill health and make conscious efforts in order to remedy our health. Meditation helps to increase concentration while also easing tension out of both the body and mind.

Yoga health benefits are many. It is a healthy form of exercise with which you can cure diseases and make your body strong enough to resist potential health risks. Yoga also helps you control the aging process by keeping both your mind and body stress free, and fresh. Yoga also helps to convert both, your psychological and physical force into spiritual energy.

Yoga as therapy

The postures practiced in yoga help activate accumulated energies or ‘Prana’ in the body. These energies, more commonly known as the life energy, when left accumulating, can cause ailments. The yogic breathing exercise known as Pranayama attempts to clear out blockages in the body which prevent the free flow of this life energy. The toxins that act as blockages can be flushed from the body and mind not only through breathing techniques but also by using various postures and techniques. Physically, yoga acts as a preventive therapy that helps to eliminate free radicals from the body, massage the internal organs, realign the body, relieve stress, rejuvenate and reinvigorate both body and mind, and finally increase stamina and immunity.

Yoga exercise for upper abs

2009-10-16T04:06:00.000-07:00

Upper abs exercise

Yoga emphasizes on bringing a balance between the body, mind and soul. However, this is not all that yoga emphasizes on. Yoga is also about working on the core strength and increasing immunity. Toning and strengthening the upper abdomen is an essential part of increasing the core strength. Abs exercises in yoga can help tone the muscles while increasing their strength. These exercises also help reduce fat and improve digestion. With your upper abs workout, your immunity will also increase.

These abs exercises needn’t to be performed everyday. You can simply perform them three to four times a week to get maximum benefit.

How to Tone Upper Abs?

Here are some simple exercises that you can perform in order to exercise the upper abdomen.

Lie on your back on a flat surface, placing your hands under your buttocks in order to support your spine. Stretch both your legs and place them straight in front of you. Now slowly start lifting your right leg until it is at an angle of forty five degrees. While lifting the leg, try to not bend it at the knee. When the leg is raised, start rotating it in a clockwise circle. Rotate the leg about ten times clockwise and then start rotating it counterclockwise ten times. Now repeat with the left leg. Once finished, repeat the same procedure using both the legs together.
Lie down on your stomach and place your hands under your shoulders. Now supporting your shoulders start to lift your upper body off the ground. To achieve this, you will have to use the muscles on your back. Once you have raised your upper body to its full extent, hold the pose for a few seconds before you start to release.
Lie down flat on your back, keeping your body straight in a line and place both your hands under your buttocks to support the body. Slowly begin to lift both your legs in the air keeping your legs straight and your toes pointed forward. When your legs are about twelve to eighteen inches from the floor, move your right ankle over the right ankle and let the legs remain in the position for a few seconds. After this, bring back your legs to the initial position and cross the left ankle over the right ankle. Keep alternating like this till you have performed this exercise twenty or thirty times.

Yoga exercise to Reduce and Tone Buttocks

2009-10-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Exercise for buttocks

The buttocks are one area of the body where the gluteal muscles are densely concentrated. This is especially true in the case of women who even after trying hard may not be able to lose this fat. The gluteal muscles are difficult to tone down and as a result one may feel helpless about what to do with them. However yoga and the holistic workout regime that it presents can be used to tighten, strengthen and tone muscles around the area.

Yoga consists of a series of challenging poses which can help in tightening this especially troublesome area. To workout buttocks, it is important to do certain physically challenging exercises so that the obstinate fat in the area can be loosened and finally lost.

When yoga for buttocks is practiced regularly, one may start to see positive results. However, this is a slow process and it will be unreasonable to expect any immediate results. Therefore if you are not able to see results in a few weeks, it is important to continue working out.

How to Reduce Buttocks?

When you are aiming to lose weight, spot reduction of weight is not always entirely possible. In order to lose weight from one part of the body, a variety of measures have to be undertaken in order to lose the over all fat. Specific asanas or yogic poses can target specific areas of the body however, an overall approach is necessary in order to lose fat.

There are several yogic exercises that can help in toning buttocks. Specific postures like the butterfly pose, sun salute, hero pose - both I and II, triangle pose, wind releasing pose, dog pose, angle pose and celibacy pose. Other poses like the chair pose, cat pose and the plank pose can also help work the specific gluteal muscles, enabling loss of weight from around the specific area.

Apart from the yogic exercises, butt clenches which involve contracting and releasing of the muscles situated around the buttocks, are also considered an effective method to tone the buttocks. The best thing about butt clenches is that these can be performed even when you are seated at your desk at work. While walking or doing other activities too, you can work on reducing your buttocks. However, in addition to all these exercises and techniques, it is also important to exercise control over your diet and pay special attention to nutrition.

Yoga exercises for neck pain

2009-10-09T04:11:00.000-07:00

Yoga, a practice which aims to bring together the body, mind and soul, is a physical discipline that has quickly gained popularity. Yoga is an ancient discipline that was created and performed in ancient India and has been followed ever since.

Yoga is a successful amalgamation of meditation, breathing techniques, and physical poses (asanas), which are designed to enhance the functioning of the body and the relaxation of the mind. Those who practice yoga regularly, find their immunity enhanced, their body strengthened, and their mind at ease.

Our everyday lives are such that we undergo a lot of stress - both physical and mental. When combined with the lifestyle that we lead, this stress can take a huge toll on our physical and emotional health. As lifestyle disorders keep increasing, there is a pressing need to engage in healing activities that help us work towards both physical and emotional well being.

A result of this constant pressure and stress is severe pain and stiffness in the shoulder and neck region. This pain, though physical in nature, is often attributed to mental and emotional stress. For neck pain relief, not only should the posture be corrected, but the mind also needs to be relaxed.

Neck pain exercises

There are a series of neck pain exercises and poses that stretch and relax the muscles to soothe the physical pain. However, there need to be other corrective measures that can help strengthen the neck, spine and shoulders so that further wear and tear can be reduced. Neck pain yoga is an effective method to address all these concerns. It can help you increase the core strength of the body, correct body posture and alignment flaws, and also reduce stress.

Yoga for neck pain

Some of the popular yoga exercises for neck pain are the locust pose, half wind releasing pose, child pose, wind releasing pose, cat/dog pose, cobra pose, upward bow pose, and downward facing dog pose. Yoga for neck pain may also involve meditation and other calming exercises that help you release mental stress and tensions. Since this stress is often manifested as physical pain, managing stress needs to be a long term plan.

Other exercises like neck stretches, half circle rolls, shoulder hunches, deep breathing to expand the chest, and arm lifts can help keep stress away from the shoulder and neck region. Even when you’re at work, you can simply do these exercises at your desk.

Another great neck pain remedy is to sleep straight on your back for a few days and avoid using a pillow.

Yoga remedy for knee pain

2009-10-09T03:55:00.000-07:00

Knees are the joints that are the most used and therefore most susceptible to injury and wear and tear. The knees are located in the middle of the human legs and are vital for both support to the body and locomotion. The knees, composed mainly of bones, tendons, cartilaginous tissue and ligaments, are designed to give ease of movement, as well as stability to the body. They are strong enough to sustain the weight of the body and therefore it is important to keep them healthy.

Strenuous activities such as sports or lifting and carrying heavy weights, can take a toll on the knees. These cause injuries that may not always heal and also make the knees susceptible to further disorders like arthritis. Other common knee problems like tendonitis, bursitis, and sprain can also cause pain and discomfort. When severe, these knee disorders can prove to be debilitating, restricting movement and causing a lot of pain.

Obesity has proven to be one of the highest risk factors of developing knee problems and many times losing weight can keep you away from most knee problems. However, if you have already started to develop discomfort around the knee area, you may need treatment for your knees. A lot of times, simple pain relievers may do the trick. However, in the long run, some disorders may degenerate the knees causing irreversible damage.

Exercise for knee pain

Yoga, of late, has come up as one of the most dependable therapies for knee pain. There are many knee pain exercises in yoga that can alleviate pain and keep the knees healthy. Yoga, in fact, is known as an effective knee pain therapy. Knee pain yoga involves various asanas or postures that help in restoring and increasing the flexibility of the muscles and ligaments around the joint. It also helps in strengthening the joint. The poses of yoga can help you balance the body’s alignment, making the knees stronger and more resistant to injuries.

However, yoga is never practiced when you are in pain or have just sustained an injury. Yoga is practiced once your immediate injury is healed and you are on your way to recovery. To practice knee pain yoga, it is best to first consult your doctor and then practice the therapy under a licensed practitioner who can expertly guide you through the poses. While yoga may prove to be an excellent knee pain remedy, using it incorrectly may aggravate your injury and cause more damage. An amalgamation of exercises for knee pain and increasing overall strength, yoga for knee pain can be seen as a long term remedy for your knee problems.

Yoga poses for knee pain

Some effective poses for knee pain are Parivrtta Janu-Sirsasana (Revolved Head-Knee Pose), Supta Bhekhasana, Gherandasana I & II, Supta Virasana (reclining hero pose), Malasana I & II (Garland Pose), Akarna Dhanurasana (Archer's Pose), Mulabandhasana, Bhekasana (frog pose), Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana (Half-Bound Lotus Seated Forward Bend) and Hanumanasana (monkey pose) among many others.

Yoga for sprained ankle recovery

2009-10-09T03:38:00.000-07:00

The ankle is a joint surrounded by a lot of tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues. The ankle connects the feet with the legs and is therefore vital for movement.

Just like the knee, the ankle is also a critical as well as a tender joint. It also provides mobility and the ability to move freely to the legs and feet. It also supports the knee by taking on some of the body’s weight. It is the ankle which, because of its flexibility, gives us the ability to walk. The ankle is an extremely flexible joint because of which the feet can be twisted and spun.

Unfortunately, it is this flexibility of the ankle that also makes it susceptible to a lot of wear and tear. A twist in the ankle, when coming as a sudden jerk, can in fact cause unwanted pressure on the joint causing a serious injury. This jerk and twist injury is commonly known as a sprain.

A sprain can be very painful and restricts a person’s movements to a large extent. The seriousness of the sprain depends on the extent of damage sustained by the ligaments around the joint. If the ligament is stretched to a large extent it may tear, and this poses a serious problem. Due to the nature of the injury, sprained ankle recovery may need complete rest. This means that you should restrict your movement and avoid putting any weight on the sprained ankle.

A lot of rest is required to let the injured ankle recuperate. However, in a lot of cases, the ankle may keep hurting even after the joint recuperates. This pain though not always obvious, may be experienced while performing certain tasks. If not taken care of, an ankle sprain may turn into chronic ankle pain. Yoga offers some sprained ankle exercises which help in the healing and strengthening process.

Once the sprained ankle pain subsides, which usually takes about 15 to 20 days, you can consult your doctor and begin practicing yoga for strengthening sprained your ankle. If you are wondering what to do for a sprained ankle, you can start with some basic ankle stretching exercises of yoga. Squats and toe pointing exercises are a great way to stretch those muscles. However, you should not push yourself above your limits and if you experience pain, just stop and rest. Sitting in a squatting position can help you strengthen the muscles in the ankle. Normally this should not be painful. However, if you do experience pain, you should stop and show yourself to the doctor. You may need guided physiotherapy for ankle pain relief.

Yoga for disorders of the respiratory system

2009-10-01T05:03:00.000-07:00

Respiration is one of the most important functions of the body. Composed of the nose, bronchial tubes, larynx, pharynx, trachea and the lungs, the respiratory system is not only responsible for the inhalation of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide, but also for the oxidation of food and the release of energy.

Oxygen is known to be the primary life force and it is the respiratory system of the body that helps us utilize this life force. If the respiratory system ceases to function, or becomes diseased, it becomes difficult for a person to survive. The lack of oxygen in the body affects all vital organs of the body—heart, brain, stomach, liver, and kidneys—everything gets affected if oxygen is not supplied regularly.

Due to the increasing exposure to pollution, today we are likely to suffer from several respiratory disorders. Some of the severest disorders that can affect us are asthma, allergies of the respiratory tract, bronchitis, cold and other breathing problems. While sometimes, these breathing problems may be related to stress, most of the time it is the respiratory system disorders that are to be blamed.

Fortunately, yoga offers respiratory exercises which help relax the respiratory tract, eliminating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system. The breathing and meditation routines in yoga have proven very effective in controlling chronic diseases like asthma. Along with treating the respiratory system, it is also possible to increase the immunity of the body so that allergies and minor infections do not cause harm to the throat.

You can easily learn proper the breathing techniques of yoga which help quell respiratory disorders and diseases, while also helping the body to resist them in the future. Yoga offers respiratory cures which help all the various vital systems of the body work in harmony.

One of the simplest breathing techniques in yoga is the Anuloma Viloma (Alternate nostril breathing). In this particular technique, you practice inhaling from one nostril by physically restricting air from passing through the other one by closing it with your fingers. Take in a deep breath, allowing the air to fill your lungs and abdomen. Now release the other nostril and let exhale from it. Repeat this several times.

Another technique called the Kapalbhati (Shining forehead) helps in clearing accumulated phlegm in the respiratory tract. This breathing exercise should be done quickly, where both the inhalation and exhalation are done rapidly. This technique can be very useful, however, it should be performed only under supervision of an expert or a yoga teacher.

Yoga cure for indigestion problems

2009-10-01T04:29:00.000-07:00

For most people, indigestion is a common stomach problem that is short lived and disappears as soon as certain remedial measures are taken. For ages, people have tried to find remedies from their kitchen to cure this problem. Since indigestion is very common, home remedies for it from all over the world have been tried and tested in all kinds of households.

Indigestion problems usually occur because of the consumption of food which upsets the digestive system. If you experience chronic indigestion, there could be several causes for it. The consumption of different kinds of foods, over eating, lack of physical exercise, and improperly cooked food can all contribute to indigestion.

The symptoms of indigestion are heartburn, acidity, gas, stomach ache, and nausea. Constant indigestion can cause constipation or diarrhea too. Though indigestion is usually not considered a problem big enough to be paid specific attention to, overlooking it for long is not a wise idea. Acidity and heartburn can lead to the formation of peptic ulcers. Chronic indigestion is also a precursor to many other ailments in the body.

Fortunately, yoga has an excellent indigestion cure. Over the years, yoga has emerged as an effective indigestion remedy, providing indigestion relief and alleviating symptoms. Along with this, yoga also keeps your digestive system healthy in the long run. With the help of yoga for indigestion you can stabilize your metabolism, which allows you to utilize your food in the best possible manner.

Yogic routines for indigestion consist of several poses, breathing techniques, and a healthy diet, all of which can help you maintain healthy digestion. If you are wondering how to get rid of indigestion using yoga, read on and you will find out.

The breathing techniques of yoga, namely Pranayama, can be practiced to help rejuvenate the muscles in the abdomen. This strengthens the muscles while making them flexible and pliable. The supply of oxygen increases and new cells continue to form so that old, inactive cells can be eliminated.

Poses like the Pawana Mukt Asana (Wind Releiving Pose), Nauka Asana (Boat Pose), Shava Asana (Corpse Pose) and the Hala Asana (Plow Pose) are all useful in curing indigestion. However, these poses and postures should be practiced under the supervision of a trained practitioner so that you do not end up injuring yourself. Along with the breathing techniques and the postures, it is also important to consume a yogic diet which is constituted primarily of fresh fruits and vegetables and a healthy mix of the other important food groups. A yogic diet helps to detoxify your digestive system, while giving you strength and raising your immunity.

Yoga to Reduce Blood Sugar Level

2009-10-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is a chronic condition which requires a lot of work to manage the symptoms. An all pervasive disorder, diabetes can cause symptoms throughout the body, affecting the skin, feet, and joints. Diabetes is unfortunately, an irreversible disease and therefore, the only way to deal with it is to have a multi-pronged approach to maintain your health and alleviate the symptoms.

Diabetes has usually been associated with lifestyle and since it has genetic implications, it becomes all the more important that the disorder be kept in control. With a little planning and effort, blood sugar can be kept in check. Many different medicines and alternative treatments have been used to keep diabetes under control. However, of all these, Yoga for diabetes has emerged as a champion of sorts.

Exercise for Diabetes

There are two main areas of concern when it comes to treating diabetes. The first and foremost is diet control and the second is a change in the overall lifestyle. Both these activities are performed to reduce the blood sugar level in the body.

Yoga has been proven to be effective for many chronic and acute conditions. Diabetes too, is one such condition, where yoga has an important role to play. Yoga and diabetes have been studied closely to understand the therapeutic relationship better. The various poses and postures of yoga benefit the body in many ways. When increased and focused attention is given to the body, it helps to reduce the blood sugar levels to a large extent. Yoga helps treat the entire body, alleviating all the symptoms instead of performing localized action on specific parts of the body. The immune system becomes stronger by practicing yoga regularly. Yoga also helps to keep the energy flowing through the body by eliminating stress.

Yoga is also very beneficial in weight management. For people who are overweight, the complications of diabetes are many. Exercise for diabetics is important and yoga can help in this respect too. If you are wondering how to reduce blood sugar level using yoga, the answer is simple. Yoga includes special exercises for diabetics and a yogic diet. The muscles, when worked upon, are able to absorb more glucose, causing the blood sugar levels to normalize. A yogic diet helps strengthen the pancreas and heal liver problems, encouraging better regulation of the hormone insulin.

The diet prescribed by yogis also helps to give proper nutrition to the body while detoxifying it and strengthening it. Together, the diet and the poses can help reduce many of the symptoms.

Resource :

Living Life with Diabetis

For more information and tips on how to incorporate health promoting foods into your life visit -www.real-and-healthy-food.com

Standing Yoga Poses for Strength and Flexibility

2009-09-30T04:04:00.000-07:00

How can an exercise which requires you to spend most of your time sitting or lying down have any benefits? This is a very common question that is posed by those who are not very familiar with yoga. It’s true that the popular perception of yoga is that it mainly involves static postures that are performed while breathing o lying down; however, this is not always true.

The truth is that yoga involves many standing postures as well. These standing yoga poses help to promote strength and flexibility. In fact you’ll be surprised to know that many of the common standing exercises that are used to warm up the body prior to workouts have been derived from standing yoga poses.

Let us take a look at some of the common standing yoga poses and see how they can help us maintain our strength and flexibility.

Tada Asana

The Tada Asana or Mountain Pose is the most basic standing posture in yoga. It also forms the basis for the more advanced standing yoga poses. In addition to this, the Tada Asana also helps to improve your posture and corrects any imbalances that poor posture may have caused in your body.

Trikona Asana

The Trikona Asana or the Triangle Pose will be very familiar to those who have taken part in any form of exercise in school. It basically involves bending down and rotating your torso to touch your toe with the opposite hand. The only difference between the Trikona Asana and the exercise that is usually taught in gyms is that all yoga exercises are performed at a slow pace and with emphasis on breathing. This slow, deliberate movement not only minimizes the chances of injury, it also ensures that you’re not using inertia to “cheat” your way through the exercise.

The Trikona Asana helps to increase the circulation of blood throughout the body and gently stretches all the muscles. This is why it is such an excellent warm up exercise.

Vriksa Asana

The Vriksha Asana or Tree Pose is one of the most popular standing meditation poses. Since the pose involves standing on one foot, it can seem very difficult at first, but with a little practice, you can soon master this pose and enhance your sense of balance.

Other standing poses

Other popular standing yoga poses that can help to improve your strength and flexibility include the Vira Asana (Hero Pose), Parivritta Parshvakona Asana (Turned Side-Angle Pose), Nataraj Asana (King of Dance Pose), and Ek Pada Asana (One Legged Pose).

Get refreshed with Kapalbhati Pranayama

2009-09-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

What is Pranayama?

The word Pranayama refers to the series of breathing exercises that are taught in yoga. According to yoga, the single most important function necessary for the existence of life is breath. You cannot live if you cannot breathe. Also, when you don’t breathe properly, the cells of your body do not receive sufficient oxygen. This in turn leads to many different ailments in the body.

Sadly most people have become used to taking shallow breaths that only utilize the upper portion of their lungs. This leads to a steady state of oxygen deprivation over a period of time. Pranayama can teach you how to breathe fully once again, so that you are using all your lung power to deliver to your cells the oxygen that they so desperately need.

What is Kapalbhati Pranayama?

There are many different kinds of Pranayama exercises. Kapalbhati Pranayama is one of the yoga breathing exercises. It is commonly translated into English as the “Shining Forehead” because ‘Kapala’ means forehead and ‘Bhati’ means to shine. So why does this yoga breathing exercise have such a strange name? Well the truth of the matter is that Kapalbhati Pranayama can actually make your forehead shine. Regular practice of this yoga breathing exercise stimulates the nerves in your brain and imparts a visible glow to your forehead.

How to do Kapalbhati?

Sit down in a comfortable posture. The Padma Asana (Lotus Pose) or Sukha Asana (Easy pose) are the most common postures adopted when performing Kapalbhati Pranayama. However, this yoga breathing exercise can even be performed while seated on a chair. Just keep in mind that your back should be straight. Concentrate on a point on the tip of your nose.

Inhale gently through the nostrils. Now clench your lower abdominal muscle to force the air out explosively through your nostrils. Your diaphragm should visibly rise up while exhaling. Repeat this process.

Kapalbhati Benefits

Kapalbhati Pranayama offers a number of benefits to your body. The first and most obvious benefit of this breathing exercise is that it gives your abdominal muscles a strenuous workout. If you’re looking for those elusive six-pack abs, Kapalbhati Pranayama is one of the best ways to get them. In addition to this, the forceful exhalations help to get rid of any toxins that have collected in your respiratory system. Kapalbhati also helps to reduce lines and wrinkles from your face, especially those irritating lines that appear on your forehead with age.

Benefits of Anusara Yoga

2009-09-30T03:15:00.000-07:00

What is Anusara Yoga?

Created in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara yoga is a powerful Hatha yoga (most basic style of yoga) practice mixed with Tantrik philosophy. Anusara is a Sanskrit term that means “flowing with grace”. Anusara yoga is fast becoming one of the most practiced forms of yoga in the world. It works on the principle that all beings have an intrinsic goodness present in them. The practice of Anusara yoga poses results in an increase in strength, toning of the muscles, and provides relaxation to the body and mind. There is a strong spiritual component to Anusara yoga like all other yoga styles. The Anusara style of yoga equips you with not just physical strength; it assists in making sure that you are at peace with your mind and your spiritual self as well.

The three A’s of Anusara Yoga

The practice of Anusara Yoga is arranged into three categories - attitude, alignment, and action.

Attitude - Attitude is related to a Tantrik concept described as the power and energy of fullness. This concept is termed as “Iccha Shakti”. Attitude brings to surface the relationship with the heart and the force that is behind every action present in the Anusara yoga poses.
Alignment - is also a Tantrik concept. It is about the power of awareness of how your various parts are integrated and interconnected.
Action - concept of action in Anusara yoga is related to the Tantrik concept that explains the power of action. It is in relation with the natural flow of energy in your body providing stability and freedom.

Benefits of Anusara Yoga

Some of the many benefits of Anusara Yoga are:
Anusara yoga makes you focus not just on your mental faculties but physical health too. Practicing the Anusara yoga poses helps in creating more awareness about your physical and emotional feelings.
It has been proved that you are likely to feel highly energized after an Anusara yoga session. Participants have reported in general that they feel less fatigued, more relaxed and calm after performing the Anusara yoga poses.
Anusara yoga poses are considered to be “heart-oriented” or “heart-opening”. This happens because while practicing Anusara yoga, you have the ability to express your inner self and your feelings, which are otherwise lying suppressed or hidden.
If one is quite regular with the practice of Anusara yoga then he or she will definitively enjoy a very radiant and healthy lifestyle. People who practice the Anusara yoga poses and techniques are less likely to fall prey to various forms of illness and other disorders. The healing effect that Anusara yoga has on people is very powerful.
Anusara yoga ensures great flexibility in the body at all ages. The Anusara yoga poses also stretch out the tendons, ligaments, and muscles and this ends up improving your strength and body posture.
The deep and mindful breathing exercises that you learn in Anusara yoga sessions does wonders. It improves your lung capacity. This control over ones breathing is considered to be one of the best stress-busters known to man.

Benefits of Iyengar yoga poses

2009-09-18T05:43:00.000-07:00

Iyengar yoga, a sub-discipline of the larger discipline of yoga, is named after Shri Belur Krishnamchar Sundararaja Iyengar, a native of southern region of India. Shri Iyengar created this sub-discipline after years of extensive research on various Hindu religious books and the Vedas. Now being practiced for the last sixty years, Iyengar yoga poses are considered to be among the best stress relieving techniques. The books that this form of yoga has been derived from, discusses in detail the practices of many of the powerful Hindu gods and goddesses. Today, this form of yoga is recommended for those who suffer from various spiritual and mental tribulations.

Shri Iyengar has won many various awards for his contribution to this field and has also authored many books on yoga, some of which are also referred to as Yoga’s bible. The technique works on various different levels, starting from the physical to the mental and spiritual route of the body. The Iyengar yoga asanas draw heavily from the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga. These eight limbs of yoga emphasize the building of stamina and development of flexibility, concentration, strength and balance. All these are achieved through deep meditation and various Iyengar yoga postures. With the passage of time, this eight limbed approach imparts wisdom to these sutras.

The first limb, known as Yama denotes physical abstinence from violence. The abstinence when practiced for some time can help people prevent from falling into the trap of stress and negativity. Abstinence also helps the body to be strong against cravings and the allure of material things.

Niyama, the second limb, is based on a feeling of self satisfaction. There is an emphasis on clearing the body and mind of any stress that may be caused due to unfulfilled desires. The practice of this gives greater psychological control over oneself.

The next limb is based on the asana, or postures, which help give the body a control over its flexibility, purpose and strengths. These postures, an integral part of Iyenger yoga, benefit the body in many ways. The Iyengar yoga benefits are especially notable because of the ability of the discipline to help those who suffer from severe physical malaise.

Pranayama, which is the next limb, helps give the body control over breathing or the life force which is inhaled through air. The Pratyahara and Dhyana, other two limbs which are practiced by Iyengar yoga enthusiasts, are used to quiet the mind and become one with the Supreme Being, thus achieving an unsurpassed calm and consciousness.

Benefits of yoga breathing exercises

2009-09-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

Yoga, an ancient Indian healing technique, is made up of many poses and postures. However, often ignored, yogic breathing techniques are sometimes more beneficial for the body and mind than any of the postures.

According to the principles of Yoga, the air around us contains a life-force, also known as ‘Prana’. We may be able to live without food and water, but this life force is essential to our existence and without it, we cannot hope to remain alive. Though there is a lot of this life force in all forms of nourishment, it is most readily assimilated when inhaled. Mixed with the blood, this life force reaches all the various parts of the body and the vital organs, pumping life throughout.

Pranayama is a technique, with which the human body can gain control over this inhaling of the life force, harnessing it and then expelling the waste. With our changing lifestyles and the increasing incidence of various lifestyle diseases, it is imperative that the life force within us be utilized to the maximum.

Due to the prolonged periods of time that we spend sitting behind our desks, we have developed a faulty way of breathing. To take in large quantities of air, we should breathe from the entire chest and the abdominal area. Unfortunately, most of us use only the upper respiratory tract for breathing.

There are many yoga breathing exercises that you can try. These exercises help you to re-programme your natural breathing techniques and clear the airways, allowing the lungs to work at full capacity and increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Yoga breathing techniques offer numerous benefits in addition to de-stressing the body. Here’s what yoga breathing exercises can do for you:

Release tension, either acute or chronic, that may have accumulated due to strenuous work or routine. This not only helps you to get rid of pain and aches in your body, but also gives a gentle internal massage to the internal organs like the heart and the lungs.
If you suffer from any illness of the respiratory system, yogic breathing techniques can help overcome shortness of breath and asthma.
Strengthen the cardio vascular system and stimulate the nervous system.
Reduce anxiety and mental stress, helping an individual achieve calm and inner peace.
Cause detoxification of the body, helping to expel toxins from the body, and increasing the quantity of red blood cells.
Improve stamina and vitality.

Yoga Exercises During Pregnancy

2009-09-18T05:29:00.000-07:00

Yoga, an ancient Indian discipline that allows its practitioners to achieve a spiritual balance between the mind and the body, is also beneficial for expectant mothers. Pregnancy and yoga go well together. Yoga exercises for pregnancy aim to open up a woman’s pelvis so that the birthing process becomes easier. There are a lot of poses in yoga which are specifically designed to have a beneficial effect on a woman’s health. These exercises for pregnancy not only stretch your body in a gentle fashion, but also help you to maintain your ideal weight during and after your pregnancy while keeping you healthy and active.

Since exercises in pregnancy should be gentle, so that you don’t injure yourself or your baby, yoga offers an extremely gentle and useful workout. Pregnancy exercises in yoga are drawn from the various branches and disciplines of Yoga.

Yoga exercises are especially beneficial for reducing the swelling due to water retention, an irritant which is often experienced by pregnant women. Apart from that, cramping, which is another common symptom of pregnancy, can also be prevented by the regular practice of yoga.

Sometimes, when the baby is not able to position itself correctly for birth, pregnancy yoga exercises can help reposition the baby by turning it inside the womb of the mother. This can prevent complications and C-sections at the time of birth.

Yoga has other health benefits like strengthening of the muscles and joints. The abdomen gets massaged with the help yoga. If you practice yoga during pregnancy, you won’t even have to worry about your appetite or your bowel movements. With the help of yoga, you can increase your stamina, raise the general energy levels, and restore your metabolism to pre-pregnancy levels.

Since yoga is a spiritual discipline, the exercises also help you to strike a balance between your body and mind, helping you keep calm and focused. If you are under a lot of stress regarding the impending birth of your baby, you can relieve this stress and tension, expanding the tensed birth canal. Discomfort in other areas of body, especially the lower back which is stressed due to carrying so much weight, can also be eased using yoga.

Keeping in mind its many yoga benefits for women, it is not only recommended during pregnancy but also as an integral part after the delivery. Post natal yoga is a fast catching concept that helps mothers restore the size and strength of their uterus, pelvic floor and abdomen.

Yoga for controlling stress

2009-09-18T05:23:00.000-07:00

Today our lifestyle has become such that we are constantly under pressure and stress. Stress has become an integral of life and affects us in many detrimental ways. As societies and cultures have evolved we have learnt to expect stress in our day to day life, but we have still not learnt the right way to deal with this stress.

The effects of stress are not only manifested as illnesses of our body, but also of our mind. Many of the most pressing health concerns today are directly related to stress. Stress can cause physical discomfort and aches all over the body, especially in the lower back region and the neck and shoulders in addition to lack of sleep and inability to concentrate.

How to control stress?

Fortunately, yoga can come to your rescue. No matter how you may react to stress, yoga makes you feel much more relaxed and de-stressed. Simple yoga techniques like deep breathing and Shavasana (The Corpse Pose) can help you relax and free your mind from nagging thoughts.

There are several other stress reduction techniques, but by far, yoga has proved to be the most effective technique to control stress. Yogis are famous world over for their ability in controlling stress and appearing unperturbed even in times of chaos and confusion. Anyone, no matter at what fitness levels they may be, can practice yoga.

Yoga is a holistic approach for wellness. Apart from giving you the ability to control stress, yoga also helps you bring together the mind and the body, creating a spiritual balance between the two. Here are some of the yoga exercises you can do to beat stress.

Start with the Shavasana. This is also known as the corpse pose. Lie down flat on your back with your eyes closed. Stretch your arms alongside your body with your palms facing up. Stay in this position for a few minutes while envisioning the various parts of your body.
Maintaining the same position, start to turn your head from side to side. Inhale and exhale deeply, allowing fresh air to enter your lungs. In your mind, tell yourself that you are feeling relaxed, while consciously allowing each one of your body parts to distress.
Let your breathing be easy. Do not try to control or alter its rhythm. Concentrate on the inhalation and exhalation and the heaving of your chest with each breath you take.
Think of a calm and serene place and imagine that you are there. Try to ignore any thoughts that may trouble you. Initially, it will be difficult to let your mind be completely devoid of thoughts but as time progresses, you will be able to master your thoughts and eliminate stress while you are practicing these yogic techniques.

Yoga for spondylitis cure

2009-09-18T05:17:00.000-07:00

Spondylitis is a group of chronic disorders in which the vertebra gets inflamed and tender. Though spondylitis may end up affecting other joints of the body too, the spine is the most commonly affected one. Young adults are usually more prone to spondylitis, the incidence of which is the highest around the age of 35.

Even after years of research and studies, no viable spondylitis cure has been found. It is an irreversible condition in which the joints receive irreparable damage. Though the symptoms of spondylitis can be alleviated with the help of medicines, it can never be permanently treated. It is therefore best if proper precautions are taken to avoid spondylitis.

Yoga, one of the oldest disciplines known to man, has had success in alleviating many of the symptoms of the disease. In fact yogic spondylitis exercises can help manage pain to such an extent that the symptoms may become non-existent for long periods of time.

Some of the recommended poses in yoga for spondylitis are:

Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)
Supine Cobbler’s pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)
Eagle pose (Garudasana)
Camel pose (Ushtrasana)
Locust pose (Shalabhasana)
Supine Hero’s pose (Supta Virasana)

Apart from these physical poses, yogic breathing techniques can also be great for spondylitis. Techniques like Kapalabhati can help cleanse your body while strengthening the spine. Another great spondylitis exercise is Anuloma-Viloma in which breathing is carried out through alternating nostrils.

Along with practicing these various yoga exercises, you may also consider correcting your posture. It is poor posture which is usually responsible for the aggravation of spondylitis. People, who tend to slouch while sitting or walking, are more prone to developing spondylitis.
With the help of yoga, you may also be able to correct your posture so that further aggravation of the condition does not occur. Both structural and postural flaws can be corrected by practicing yoga. Yoga can also help strengthen the muscles around the inflamed area.

However, even though there are many benefits of yoga, holding poses for long can make you feel extremely uncomfortable. Another important thing is to practice these poses in the presence of a trained instructor who is able to guide you properly through each of the poses. If you do not perform the poses correctly, you may end up injuring yourself or further aggravating the condition that you were trying to resolve. It is therefore of the utmost importance to practice yoga for spondylitis with care.

Resources

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Yoga Symbols for Spiritual Healing

2009-09-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

Yoga is a traditional fitness program. Originating in India, it has been practiced for well over 5000 years. It incorporates postures, breathing techniques and meditative practices to create a harmonious balance between the mind, body and spirit. Regular practitioners also recognize the importance of yoga symbols that are incorporated in the routines. These spiritual symbols were designed to enhance the practice, enabling you to embrace the tradition and put you on the path for spiritual healing.

Yoga symbols are known to stimulate and harmonize energy within the body. This energy can then be channelized for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual growth. There are a number of yoga symbols that are used in daily yoga practice. You’ve probably walked past a yoga symbol everyday without recognizing it.

Yoga Om Symbols – The most commonly used yoga symbol is the Om symbol. According to ancient Hindu philosophy, Om is the eternal word. You may have seen the Sanskrit symbol of Om. It represents four phases of awareness that one has to experience to reach the higher plane. This includes deep sleep, material consciousness, dreamless sleep state, and the ultimate transcendental state. The yoga Om symbols are one of yoga’s most utilized focus enhancing tools. It is used as a chant, repeated continuously during practice. The image is also commonly used as a visual focus aid to keep the mind from distraction. It induces a state of inner peace and harmony. This makes it one of the most popular meditation symbols.

Yoga Chakras – Yogic philosophy states that the body has seven primary energy centers known as yoga chakras. These chakras can be traced along a linear path that runs from the lower edge of the spine to the centre of the crown. Each yoga chakra is represented by a specific color and motif. These chakras play a significant role in maintaining the body’s health as they are energy pools. Each chakra corresponds with a body functions, managing its maintenance and function. When the body’s chakras are imbalanced or blocked, the body’s physical, mental and emotional functions are also imbalanced. They manifest as illnesses and disorders. Through regular chakra yoga practice, these chakras can be accessed and unblocked. Using these techniques you can tap into the chakras and re-energize and strengthen them. This unlocks the flow of therapeutic energy across the body, resetting the body’s balance and restoring health. The seven primary chakras are: Root, Sensual, Power, Heart, Communication, Perception, and Crown.

Some References: Gwen’s Healing Garden

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Yoga exercises for pelvic floor muscle pain

2009-09-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

Pelvic Floor Muscles

The term pelvic floor muscles is used to describe the muscles that are set from the base of the spine to the pubic bone, this includes the muscles between the legs as well. The pelvic floor muscles hold the bladder and urethra in place. It also lends support in holding the intestines and womb.

Pelvic floor muscles are very important as they dictate and control bladder movements. The pelvic floor muscles tend to weaken with age for both men and women. They also weaken for women during and post pregnancy. They may also weaken due to excessive weight gain.
The most frequent cause of pelvic floor pain is pregnancy and childbirth. The weight of the unborn baby puts great pressure of the body’s pelvic floor muscles. As the baby grows, the muscles get stretch and pulled leading to pelvic floor weakness.

Problems Associated with Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles

Pelvic floor problem lead some embarrassing conditions like urinary incontinence. This means you aren’t able to exercise any control over passing urine. It also causes stress incontinence, which causes small amount of urine to leak through in the middle of regular but sudden movements like laughing, coughing or sneezing. It results in pelvic floor muscle pain and backaches. A weak pelvic floor also causes a loss of sensitivity during intercourse for women.

Fortunately there is a simple way to cure a weak pelvic floor - yoga exercises. Yoga is one of the most effective and stress free routines for pelvic floor strengthening. This is especially true for pregnant women. In fact it is recommended that women trying to conceive adopt the yoga regime and continue it through the pregnancy as this helps with an easier pregnancy and quicker labor.

Yoga for Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles

Yoga provides some excellent pelvic floor muscle exercises. The yoga postures help rehabilitate and strengthen against any weakness; they soothe the pain, increase circulation in these muscles and build endurance. Postures recommended for strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles include Child Pose, Cobra Pose, Fish Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Triangle Pose, Tree Pose, and Shoulder Stand.

It is important to find a good yoga teacher when undertaking yoga for the first time. It is also crucial that you share your physical and medical condition with the trainers. This is so that they can chart a beneficial routine for you, discarding postures that won’t work for rehabilitating ones.

Yoga for chronic lumbar pain

2009-09-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

The spine is one of the most important structural units in the body. It supports and protects information bearing nerves that run from the brain to the rest of the body. It also supports the torso, dictates movements and maintains posture. Given the burden it holds on a daily, it goes through a considerable wear and tear. Add to this poor posture and unhealthy lifestyles, and back pain tends to be a fairly common ailment.

Most back pain is concentrated at the lower region, the lumbar region. This pain may be caused due to herniated disc, muscle strain, scoliosis, sciatica, etc. Chronic lumbar pain can have a debilitating effect on the body. In extreme cases, patients have to resort to surgery. However making some lifestyle changes and adopting a therapeutic regime like yoga can help ease the pain.

Yoga is an ancient healing practice. It incorporates gentle postures which strengthen the muscles through a series of effective stretching and twisting movements which strengthen the spine. Yogic breathing or pranayama, teach you how to breathe properly and to lung capacity. This allows for a fresh flow of oxygen to the body. This eases tension in the muscles, releases stress and anxiety and flushes out the toxins accumulated in the region.

Practice the following lumbar pain exercise to alleviate pain:

Yoga poses are gentle and therapeutic. They are effective in easing lumbar disc pain. Postures like mountain pose, half spine twist, cat pose, the triangle and cobra pose all help nurse and strengthen the spine back to health.

Triangle Pose – This yoga posture incorporates stretching and twisting which helps build strength in the lower back and removes tension. The posture begins in the downward dog position. Move left foot and left hand forward. Keep body weight on the front foot. Make sure the spine is straight as you twist your upper back towards the left. Raise your right arm and follow the movement with your head. Hold this posture for a few minutes. Repeat on the other side.
Child’s Pose – This yoga posture also helps stretch the spine and relieves the back off stress and fatigue. Begin by kneeling down and sitting on your feet. Keeping hands by your side slowly lean forward and rest forehead on the floor. Now stretch your arms forward and place them by your side with palms facing upwards. Hold the pose and repeat.
Cobra Pose – This yoga posture is very effective for backaches. Begin by lying on the stomach with your head resting on your lower arms. Slowly, using your arms, push your body up. As you rise, raise your head too. Push your body as far back as you can without moving the lower body. Hold the pose and repeat.

In case of lower lumbar pain, consult a trained yoga teacher before embarking on any exercise. When done correctly they help to ease back pain, but if done wrongly it can aggravate the injury to the back.

Yoga and meditation for living a healthy life

2009-09-11T03:29:00.000-07:00

Yoga is a holistic ancient tradition. Through a series of gentle exercises, known as asanas, deep breathing techniques and meditative practices it delivers the promise of living a healthy life.

Yoga benefits go much beyond simply the physical strength. Yoga and meditation teach the body the physical and mental discipline it needs to experience and lead a productive and happy life. While the physical aspect of yoga is easy to learn, meditation requires a lot practice and a ton of patience to master.

Meditation is one of the most significant yogic concepts for living healthy life. The mind is a chaotic and noisy place. At any given point of time is it cluttered and crowded with thoughts and noise. Over time the increasing levels of mind noise lowers the mind’s ability to focus and stay in control of a situation.

Meditation teaches you how to focus the mind’s attention on a single point of reference. It teaches you how to hold your mind to that one focal point without wavering. Meditation teaches you how to block out distraction and stay true to the task at hand. Meditation instills a sense of relaxation in the mind which then seeps through to the entire body. It leaves you feeling rejuvenated and flushed with energy.

One of the health benefits of yoga and meditation is that it is very effective in combating stress and anxiety disorders. It is a highly therapy for depression. When you are faced with a stressful situation the body panics. It floods the body with stress hormones and hampers regular breathing. The result is more stress and inability to react in a cool and calm way. By learning how to meditate, you learn how to detach from the stressful situation and handle it with inner poise. On the physical side, meditation incorporated deep breathing exercises. These maintain proper oxygen flow to the brain even during a crisis enabling you to think and act rationally.

Regular practice of yoga and meditation cuts down on stress and anxiety; this in turn reduces the rise of high blood pressure and heart trouble. Meditation thus addresses the root problem to an illness, not just its symptoms, allowing you to heal completely. Meditation also helps individuals suffering from chronic illnesses. For patients undergoing cancer therapy for example, yoga and meditation can provide a little bit of calm and confidence. It can take your mind off the pain and maintain positivity in the face of pain.

Learning how to meditate isn’t easy. It takes dedication to master the practice. However once you do, even a small fifteen minutes of daily meditation will significantly improve quality of life.

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Yoga and Massage: Facial Massage Techniques

2009-09-11T02:57:00.000-07:00

Facial Massage

Massage Therapy has been pursued through the ages as a means for detoxifying, relaxing and de-stressing. It forms an integral part of most beauty and relaxation treatments. Facial massage is one of the more commonly practiced branches of massage therapy. A face massage is designed to work the muscles on your face, neck and scalp. This is an excellent and effective non-surgical method for skin rejuvenation.

Facial Massage Technique

Face massage is the technique of muscle and tissue manipulation on the face, neck and scalp. The massage may also include the shoulders and the upper back. The therapy involves applying pressure on the facial muscles and tissue. This pressure is applied by the hands, fists and fingers. A facial massage is given using a series of movements like rubbing, pulling, rolling, kneading, pinching, pushing, and rotating.

A massage therapist may use a variety of massage creams, essential oils and packs to help enhance the benefits of the massage. Ideally a facial treatment lasts anywhere between twenty minutes for a basic massage to forty five minutes for an elaborate face massage technique (this includes a cooling of period as well).

Facial treatments are an effective natural way of retaining ones youthful features. The most convenient aspect of a face massage is that it can be self administered at home on a regular basis. You can use wholesome natural ingredients like essential oils and fruits and herbs in your massage. Regular face massages make a very visible impact on your skin. Gone are the dark circles and the sagging skin. Instead the face looks fresh and energetic.

Benefits of Facial Massage

Face massages help in the maintenance of healthy skin. Given day to day wear and tear, the skin is exposed to a number of harmful agents. These range from harsh weather, pollution, poor nutrition and stress. These elements cause the skin to become dry and dull. The skin on the face looses its elasticity and begins to sag and wrinkle. Effective facial massage techniques exert an adequate amount of pressure on the skin. The repetitive and therapeutic massaging movements help boost circulation to the face. It also helps flush out toxins in the body and stress. It is an excellent remedy for stress headaches and migraines.

The massage doubles as a facial workout. It tones the muscles and stretches them. This makes the skin firm, filling out the wrinkles and bags that had previously formed on the face. This alone reduces the age on your face considerably.

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Yoga to develop positive attitude

2009-09-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

One of the cornerstones of a successful life lies in having enough confidence and developing a positive attitude. The right attitude can get you through some difficult times that are bound to crop up every now and then. It allows you maintain composure and spirit in the face of a fight. But how does one develop a positive attitude?

Positive Thinking is one of the fundamental concepts of yoga. This traditional fitness form is known for its therapeutic properties. It also plays a vital role in developing greater self awareness, self confidence, and a positive attitude.

Building positive attitude

Yoga incorporates a series of postures, deep breathing, and meditation techniques. Each infuses the body and individual with a positive energy. Yoga supports the thought that negativity has a detrimental effect on the body and mind. It weighs down an individual breaking down his spirit and health. With a regular yoga regime, you can teach your mind to control negative emotions and stay focused.

Developing self confidence and a positive attitude is tied with an individual’s self esteem. Low self esteem, automatically gives rise to doubts and negativity. It is essential to focus on the good rather than weaknesses. This is where yoga proves to be very helpful.

Our thoughts play a vital role in determining our moods and as a result, our confidence levels. Negativity results in a foul or morose mood. This in turn affects breathing, increases production of stress hormones, and clouds our focus. It is based on this thought that yoga encourages undertaking positive affirmations. This sounds very simple but it can be a powerful tool in developing confidence and a positive attitude. By controlling thought, your mind directs your body to action and success.

Exercise is a mood lifter. By undertaking regular yoga exercises, you help to shake lethargy out of the body. The movements tone and strengthen the muscles. They stimulate organ functions and get the blood pumping. A healthy body automatically translates into confidence.

Add yoga’s deep breathing and meditation to this lot and the effect is life changing. Deep breathing allows you to take in more oxygen than you usually do. This infuses the body with positive energy. Similarly, by exhaling fully, you expel the toxins build up in the system. It is a purification process.

Meditation builds awareness and focus. It teaches the mind to calm down, rise above the chaos and concentrate. It allows you to do more for the same effort as before. This in itself builds confidence and confidence in turns helps bring about positivity.

When faced with doubt, remember yogic breathing. Practice a few rounds of deep breathing, clear you head and repeat some simple positive affirmations. It sounds ridiculously simple, but it works wonders!

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Yoga for aging - an anti aging solution

2009-09-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

Aging is a normal phase in the life cycle. Everyone has to experience it. Every individual is plagued with aging issues, and the symptoms it sets off. While many spend thousands of dollars on anti aging solutions in the form of creams, injections and surgery, a far simpler and more effective option exists.

Yoga and aging

Yoga is an excellent fitness program to counter the symptoms of aging. This rich fitness tradition combines gentle exercise with deep breathing techniques and meditative practices to restore full body functions and maintain a harmonious balance between the body, mind and spirit.

By regularly pursuing anti aging yoga, you can maintain your dignity and grace despite the years rolling on. While yoga cannot turn the clock back, it can help you enter this phase of your life with as much joy and strength as possible. Yoga for aging has a number of benefits that senior citizens and those looking to stay fit as they get older can enjoy.

Internal & Physical Fitness - If yoga texts are studied, they state that age is not just a play of numbers but can be studied by the flexibility or rigidity of the human spine. As we grow older, the spine tends to lose its flexibility and stiffen. Regular practice of yoga and allows you to maintain spine elasticity, ensuring the flexibility of a much younger person.

In addition to flexibility, yoga helps maintain and improve body function. It builds immunity which keeps life-threatening conditions at bay. It improves posture, develops the body’s core muscles and stimulates the glands and organs in the body. Using anti aging yoga, you can avoid all the aches and pains and severe limitations that could be caused by aging. Regular practice can help you avoid or at least control joint pains and other symptoms associated with aging; it allows you to be in great shape, despite the growing years.

Youthful Features – Yoga helps you control those very visible aging signs. The exercises involved in a yoga practice help keep the skin firm and well toned. This reduces the chances of sagging skin, excessive wrinkle formation, and dry skin. Deep breathing helps expel toxins and other waste material from the body, keeping it healthy and beautiful. The fresh flush of oxygen injected into the system keeps you looking young and refreshed without even trying.

Mental Integrity – Yoga for aging is an excellent idea. Apart from the physical aspect of yoga, its deep breathing and meditative practices help maintain mental, emotional and spiritual balance. Meditation helps infuse the individual with a positive attitude and optimism. It fights off depression, stress and anxiety. It also helps you maintain mental function, without any loss or compromise.

Yoga for bronchitis - an alternative treatment

2009-09-04T04:04:00.000-07:00

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis refers to a respiratory tract infection wherein the windpipe and the bronchi (both large and small) get inflamed due to infection or other causes. Bronchitis, in short, is the inflammation of the air passage to the lungs.

What are the Symptoms of Bronchitis?

Symptoms of bronchitis may include one or more of the following:

Bronchitis is accompanied by a hacking cough. This cough may persist for at least two weeks or longer. It could be dry or produce yellow-grey phlegm. The presence of phlegm could highlight a lower respiratory tract problem. In this case it is very important to consult your doctor as this could be the first sign of pneumonia.
Wheezing is also a common symptom of bronchitis and is caused by the inflammation of airways, making it harder to breathe freely
Other symptoms include sore throat, blocked nose, tightness in chest, sinus, headaches, slight fever, and stomach and chest soreness (caused by constant coughing).

What are the Causes of Bronchitis?

Bronchitis almost always occurs during the cold and flu season, and is preceded by a cold and is the result of bacterial or viral infection. Bronchitis can also be the result of exposure to harsh chemicals, fumes and dust; this includes tobacco inhaled when smoking. It can also highlight a serious underlying respiratory tract infection like pneumonia.

There are two types of bronchitis – acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. The former is usually preceded by flu and if diagnosed early is fairly simple to treat and control. The latter on the other hand is a more severe condition. It lasts longer than acute bronchitis and needs immediate medical attention. It may not be very easy to treat and causes even greater discomfort.

Doctors recommend a round of conventional allopathic remedies for bronchitis till the infection clears. When this course of medication is combined with bronchitis alternative treatments like yoga, it helps the body heal faster. It also helps the body regain strength and eases discomfort that is usually associated with the condition.

Yoga for bronchitis is a complementary therapy for treating bronchitis. Through a series of very gentle poses and more importantly deep breathing techniques, yoga can help the body beat bronchitis faster and more effectively.

Yoga’s deep breathing techniques help clear the nasal passages and infuses the system with a fresh flow of oxygen. Despite the inflammation, yoga helps you breathe in adequate amounts of oxygen to facilitate efficient lung function. It clears congestion and strengthens the lungs. Deep breathing and gentle postures also help ease the many aches and pains experienced across the body. It flushes the body with energy allowing you to recover faster.

Yoga Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy

2009-09-04T03:39:00.000-07:00

What is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic neuromuscular disorders. These disorders can cause major physical problems as they lead to a weakening of the muscles in the body.

Individuals suffering from muscular dystrophy are affected by progressive weakness and degeneration of muscle use. Even performing routine activities like walking and sitting can prove to be a challenge once the disorder sets in.

There are many different types of muscular dystrophy. The condition affects the individual right at birth, or it may manifest later with age. The most common forms of muscular dystrophy include Duchenne, Facioscapcilohumeral, Myotonic, Becker, and Limb-Gridle.

Muscular dystrophy causes a weakening of the muscles and difficulty in undertaking routine movements. The condition sets off muscle wastage and nerve deterioration. Over time it leads to respiratory discomfort, irregular heartbeats, clumsiness, frequent missteps and falls, and loss of mental sharpness. The condition greatly impairs the quality of life and it limits life expectancy.

Unfortunately, as of today there is no muscular dystrophy cure. Patients are provided muscular dystrophy therapy that aims at easing pain and discomfort. This includes physical therapy, respiratory aids, and orthopedic supports. However, there is way to prevent the condition or the deterioration it causes.

Yoga for Muscular Dystrophy

Incorporating a therapeutic practice like yoga can help ease the conditions of muscular dystrophy and greatly improve the quality of life. Muscular dystrophy yoga uses a series of gentle and easy movements in combination with deep breathing techniques to improve muscle tone and reduce pain.

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that aims at rehabilitating and reinforcing a balance between the body, mind, and spirit. Used as a complementary practice alongside allopathic treatment, it can help individual’s cope and live with muscular dystrophy.

Muscle weakness leaves you weak and exhausted. Undertaking regular exercise is almost impossible. It is draining and causes even more pain. Yoga however doesn’t cost you energy, but provides you with a fresh flow of energy. Through gentle movements, the muscles are moved, worked, and toned. The deep breathing techniques help you breathe more fresh oxygen as compared to regular shallow breathing. As fresh oxygen is infused into the body, a fresh supply of nutrients is supplied to all the organs and tissues in the body. It improves blood circulation and strengthens the weakening muscles. Along with maximum intake of oxygen, the body is also able to expel adequate amounts of toxins using breathing techniques of yoga for muscle dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy yoga also addresses the mental and emotional damage caused by the illness. It helps individuals find the inner strength to fight off depression and anxiety that characterize debilitating illnesses. It enables a person to think positively, and cope with the condition with hope and energy.

Benefits of Yoga Pilates Workout

2009-09-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

What is the Difference between Yoga and Pilates?

Yoga and Pilates are essentially two different forms of exercise. However, over the years, one has been incorporated into the other, and many people are now realizing the benefits of doing yoga and Pilates exercises. While yoga is typically a spiritual practice that was developed about 3,000 years ago, Pilates was designed by Joseph Pilates during the First World War. The primary focus of yoga is to calm the body and mind by using asanas and meditation; breathing also plays an important role. On the other hand, Pilates essentially focuses on core body strengthening, with most Pilates poses targeting the spine and abdominal region.

How to do Yoga Pilates Exercises?

Various yoga poses can be modified by incorporating the principles of Pilates exercises into them. For instance, if you are performing a Seated Forward Bend, you can try sucking in your abdomen (which is a basic principle of Pilates).

Why do Yoga Pilates Workout?

Well, the answer is simple. Both Pilates and yoga have several benefits, and when combined together, they strengthen the body and relax the mind. Some of the benefits of doing a yoga Pilates workout are as follows. Pilates help tone the abdominal region of the body, while yoga helps in improving overall flexibility and endurance. Moreover, the two work well in conjunction. Yoga Pilates poses help in not only improving posture, strengthening the joints, massaging the internal organs, and calming the mind but also in stabilizing the spine and improving core body strength. Remember that yoga will facilitate the movement of blood throughout the body and will exercise internal organs and physiological systems; simultaneously, Pilates will help in sculpting the body from the outside, giving your muscles and joints the much needed exercise. Thus, core yoga Pilates work on the body both internally and externally. Yoga helps to improve strength and flexibility, along with having a calming effect on the mind, and Pilates helps to increase core body strength and help you to look lean, sculpted, and toned.

Recently, a new term, “Yogilates” has been used to describe the many exercises that include elements of both yoga and Pilates. Yogilates is touted to be the most comprehensive and complete workout for the body, improving overall health and the years to one’s life.

A few pointers

If you’re new the this school of exercise, it is best to join a yoga pilates center that will ensure that you do not harm your body while performing modified poses and exercises. Also, it helps if the environment in which you practice yoga pilates exercises is a comfortable and conducive to exercising.

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Yoga Sutras - The Eight Limbs of Yoga Lifestyle

2009-08-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

Yoga Sutra – Yoga is not just a fitness tradition, it is a lifestyle. And the guidelines to this yogic lifestyle are prescribed in the Yoga Sutra, penned by Sage Patanjali, the father of modern yoga.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali highlight eight aspects that encompass a yoga lifestyle. These are known as the eight limbs of yoga. These paths address and develop an individual’s moral, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth, allowing for a more complete life experience and the ultimate quest towards enlightenment.

The eight limbs of yoga

The following eight folds form Patanjali’s yoga sutras:

Universal Morality and Ethics or Yama – The first limb is Yama. It guides ethical behavior and instills a sense of integrity and moral social conduct in the follower. It preaches compassion towards others and inculcates a message of peace and honesty. To do so, one needs to follow the five directives of yama. These are non-violence, honesty, celibacy, non-stealing, and avoiding materialism.

Personal Observance or Niyama – The second limb is Niyama. The word ‘Niyama’ translates as ‘Rules.’ It refers to the rules that guide personal observance. Observing this limb allows and helps us to build self discipline, which in turn allows for greater personal growth. To achieve this, one must follow the directives of niyama. These are purity, contentment, austerity, study, and surrender to God.

Postures or Asanas – The third limb is known as Asanas. This is one of the most well known limbs of the yoga sutras. It refers to the physical aspect of yoga – the holding and practicing of yoga postures. Yoga postures are designed to address the body’s problem, treating them at the root and allowing for a healthier lifestyle, and maintaining the body’s health. In addition to physical fitness, practicing asanas regularly inculcates self discipline as well as focus and concentration.

Breathing Techniques or Pranayama – The fourth limb is Pranayama. Like asanas, pranayama too is a well known yogic concept. It refers to the control of breath. Breathing fully, monitoring breath and controlling it, allows an individual to develop and maintain good health, physical, mental and emotional. It is a source of internal purification, energy and calm.

Control of Senses or Pratyahara – The fifth limb is Pratyahara. It refers to a withdrawal of sense. Pratyahara teaches you how to withdraw from external disturbances and instead tune all that attention and energy inwards. It allows you to commit fully to your practice without being distracted by environmental elements.

Concentration or Dharana – The sixth limb is Dharana. It refers to training the mind to concentrate, to focus on a single point without constant interruption and wavering in the face of distraction. This is a difficult concept to ingrain. It requires patience and the strength to still and clear the mind. It also helps to develop mediation skills, serving as a stepping stone.

Meditation or Dhyana – The seventh limb is Dhyana. It brings the practice of meditation to the fore. Meditation is a process of clearing one’s mind of clutter and chaos and channeling energy and concentration onto a single point of focus. Meditation teaches the mind to regain control. It also helps the mind on to a spiritual path in the search of a higher truth.

Enlightenment or Samadhi – The eighth, and the last, limb is Samadhi. This is the ultimate path in the practice to yoga, a state of complete and absolute bliss. It involves the ability to transcend the material and earthly ways through meditation and touch upon a higher plane. It allows the individual to connect with the universe.

Yoga Techniques - A Spiritual Healing

2009-08-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Yoga is an ancient Indian tradition. It has been practiced for over 5000 years now. Though the practice is considered to be more of a fitness oriented tradition, the truth is that yoga aims for a balance between the body, the mind, and spirit. It addresses not only the physical aspects of fitness, but also meditative and spiritual balance aspects of an individual’s personality.

The soothing and therapeutic techniques of yoga have been used by yogis for hundreds of years. Its spiritual healing techniques help an individual on the path of self actualization and awareness. It is the stepping stone to accessing and achieving a higher state of consciousness.

Yoga comprises gentle exercise, performed through a series of yoga postures, deep breathing techniques, and meditative practices. It also includes following a yogic lifestyle which advocates moderation, meditation, and devotion.

If you are seeking spiritual balance, spiritual healing meditation plays a key role. Spiritual meditation is the yogic practice of teaching your mind to focus on a single point of attention, in an effort to still the mind and rise above the noise and the chaos. This ability to control the mind, the noise and its reaction, helps an individual onto the path of higher consciousness.

The path to spiritual healing involves personal growth. One needs to face and address ones own traits and behavior. The first step in this process is to be honest with yourself and to face your own weakness. Listing you own shortcomings is the first step to fixing your weakness. Once you know what the problem is, it is time to address them.

Through regular practice of spiritual healing meditation, one can develop the strength to accept reality. This includes ones own shortcoming, and then proceed to finding the inner strength to fix these very short comings. It also allows you to make drastic changes in your life. Sometimes you need to let go of long held beliefs and thoughts. It can take a toll on you emotionally; this is where regular meditation comes into play.

Meditation also helps teach an individual how to control the mind. The human mind is full of noise and clutter. This leads to chaos, poor focus and concentration. It is easily distracted and always drifting from one topic to another. This hampers an individual’s ability to reach his full potential. Meditation teaches you how to control your mind from wandering. It teaches how to hold a still mind, which in turn instills a state of calm.

Regular practice of spiritual yoga meditation helps you perfect the art, and sets you on the path of spiritual enlightenment.

Some References: Helene Rothschild, Author - Angel On Call, Best Selling Author of Self-help books.

Yoga for Inner Peace - Control Stress and Negativity

2009-08-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

In today’s fast passed time, stress is the silent killer. It affects millions of people every year, wrecking lives and relationships. Stress limits an individual’s judgment and ability to undertake even routine tasks effectively. Stress and anxiety also affect the individual’s health, resulting in life threatening illnesses including heart failure. Finding inner peace and restoring emotional balance is the only way to address stress and stress triggers.

How to find inner peace?

There is a great shortage of inner peace in the world today. Unfortunately, it isn’t something that can be fixed with a few pills. This is a state of mind; one that you have to accept, master and adopt. And this journey is one that every individual has to undertake alone. But how does one find inner peace? The answer is as simple as it is effective: in yoga.

Yoga is an ancient fitness tradition. Originating in India over 5000 years ago, yoga helps an individual achieve a balance between the body, mind and spirit through a series of postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. Although yoga is considered by many as an alternative fitness routine, it is in fact a lifestyle. Yoga includes physical fitness, it ensures emotional stability, instills inner peace and aids spiritual awakening.

Among the many styles of yoga, some are especially designed to cater to the needs of a troubled mind. Yoga styles like Ananda yoga help the mind cope, heal and strengthen. These practices incorporate gentle postures, breathing techniques and lay an emphasis on meditation.

Inner peace yoga works to get the body and mind fit and strong. The simple postures push the muscles into activity. It shakes off the lethargy set in by the stress. You repossess the energy to follow your interests and to follow other positive pursuits.

Yoga’s deep breathing techniques infuse the body with fresh oxygen. This gives the body a spurt of much needed energy. It also brings with it a sense of positivity. It helps the body exhale all the negativity caused by a buildup of waste and toxins.

Inner peace for meditation, the third plank of yoga helps to control stress and negativity. It teaches the mind to stay still, rise above the clutter and chaos and focus on a single point. Meditation teaches you how to control your mind, and as a result, on your own reactions when confronted with an agitating situation.

Using inner peace yoga you can learn how to stay at peace with yourself and the world no matter how stressful the situation. It helps you maintain balance, find yourself and be happy with your own reality.

If you choose to pursue yoga for inner peace, it best to join a class taught by a certified and licensed professional. This way a trained teacher can monitor and guide you through this journey.

Yoga for endurance - an endurance exercise

2009-08-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

When you think about Yoga, you automatically associate the practice with flexibility, stretching, meditation and developing inner strength. But you’ll be surprised to know that yoga makes for an effective endurance building routine. Yoga provides multiple benefits to the body, and developing physical strength is just one more aspect among the many that yoga helps you harness.

There is a reason why so many professional athletes adopt yoga as part of their training program. Yoga is a complete fitness routine; it creates a balance between the body, mind and spirit. It helps strengthen the mind and mental focus, increases self awareness and confidence, it also improves overall health, allowing you do better.

Exercise for endurance

Conventional endurance exercises are quick in impact compared to yoga. They also make a major physical impact, making the body appear buff. Yoga strength and endurance exercises don’t have the same visual result, but make the body lean, well toned and strong. Pursuing an intense yoga style, like ashtanga yoga or bikram yoga, can help build endurance just as effectively.

Yoga postures and breathing techniques help develop muscle strength, body posture and alignment and improve overall body strength. The frequency of practice, the degree of difficulty, and how long you hold the posture in combination with breathing techniques, will establish endurance and strength.

Exercises to improve endurance include standing poses like mountain pose, and warrior pose, among others. At the same time endurance yoga doesn’t bring with it uncomfortable side-effects that are common with other exercises for endurance.

Conventional endurance definition workouts like lifting weights can cause muscle rigidity. The repetitive motions of these workouts cause muscle fibers to harden. If this is not addresses, muscles tend to get tighter, shorter and rigid. This increases chances of muscle injury. Muscles also lose their flexibility and as a result range of motion is compromised. The rigidity and soreness you feel is caused by the buildup of waste material such as lactic acid that collects in the muscles. By practicing yoga, or complementing your endurance exercises with a session of yoga, you can avoid this muscle tightening. Yoga for endurance stretches and pulls all the muscles in the body. This maintains flexibility and range of motion and at the same time tones the body and builds strength.

Yoga practice incorporates good breathing practices. This aspect of yoga helps enhance endurance training. The body needs oxygen to support exercises to improve endurance; fresh oxygen is a source of energy. Most people use only a fraction of lung capacity. The result is not enough oxygen supply for the working muscles. Yoga breathing techniques ensure the body has adequate amounts of oxygen to the muscles, strengthening them and improving the efficiency of the workout.