Yoga

Yoga – the ancient art of breathing and stretching – has long been favored as a natural way to achieve optimal fitness and ward off stress. Today, more and more people are turning to yoga to help them achieve what traditional exercise has not – a mind/body connection that offers a greater level of health and inner peace.

Yoga positions consist of holding certain postures of the body while performing deep and precise breathing techniques. There are many types of yoga practice to which different people prescribe but there is a common thread that unites all sects of yoga. They all have various postures or positions that are common to yoga in general.

Some common yoga positions include:

Seated Yoga Position – Seated yoga positions often focus on learning disciplined breathing techniques. Participants sit cross legged in an erect position and learn to control their diaphragm and let their breathing work for them.

Standing Yoga Position – Standing yoga positions concentrates on improving flexibility and spinal alignment while still utilizing breathing techniques.

Supine Yoga Position – Supine yoga positions lengthen and strengthen the spinal column thus benefiting parts of the back.

Belly Down Yoga Position – Belly down yoga positions concentrate on abs and upper body strength. Participants are asked to lift themselves from the ground and perform a series of stretch positions in a fluid motion.

Balancing Yoga Position – Balancing yoga positions improve flexibility and strengthen back and abdominal muscles. Holding a particular position for an extended period of time while balancing body weight uses muscles much more then you would think.

Twisting Yoga Position – Twisting yoga positions stretch the body – most significantly the spinal column.

Yoga can be a wonderful way to tone your body, increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular function, and lower stress. Research yoga online or turn to professionals who practice and teach yoga. A local class can be just the thing to turn you on to the benefits of yoga positions.

One of the philosophies of Yoga is called Patanjali and comes from the Sanskrit for its definition of Ashtanga Yoga. Ashta means 8 and Anga means limbs and these 8 limbs are intended to help the Ashtange Yoga devotee to live a healthy life. The practice of this form of Yoga is intended to help us minimize stress in our lives, which if course is a good thing, or at least minimize its effect. It also strengthens our endurance.

Ashtanga Yoga was made popular by the Yoga guru Shri K Pattabhi Jois.
There is a different term in western Yoga to describe what is in effect a form of Ashtanga Yoga. This term is Power Yoga. Power Yoga is modeled on Ashtanga yoga.

The 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are as follows:

Asana is the discipline of performing Yoga exercises for the betterment of your body and spirit.

Niyama is for taking control of your life. Control comes from personal restraint. Niyama is the combination of joy (santosh), patience (tapa), self study (swadhyaya), purity (shoucha) and love of god (esgwar pranidhan).

Yama is to enable us to dwell on the good and honorable of human behavior. This is comprised of non violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), celibacy (brahmacharay), and the ability to stay clear of envy, jealousy and other possessive and destructive behaviours (aparigraha). Stealing is also resisted (asteya).

As with many other branches of Yoga the breathing is controlled and this is Pranayma.

Dharna is to help us concentrate on personal learning to improve our understanding of our place in the overall scheme of life, and to form long term goals or a firm mission for our life.

Pratyahara is to help us isolate ourselves from the hustle and bustle and background noise of the world to allow our minds to focus within and become a haven for positivity.

Dhyana is to help us concentrate on our mission and long terms goals from the pursuit of meditation

Samadhi is the attainment of a state of bliss and peace, the ability to find and focus on our life mission and to continually strive to reach the final goal of personal enlightenment.

As can be seen Ashtanga Yoga has some lofty ends. It is practiced in a series of stages where the student of progresses at their own pace to achieve their goal.

This starts with the Yoga Chikitsa which is a form of Yoga therapy which is intended to detox the body and to build strength and stamina. It takes around 2 hours to complete the 75 poses involved. The start of the exercises is the surya namaskar (the sun salutation) and then the student moves on to a series of standing exercises and sitting exercise followed by inversions and relaxation exercises.

The second set in the series of 6 is called the nadi shodana and it helps with strengthening the nervous system. These exercises follow the same sequence as the first set of exercises but with the inclusion of some extra exercises.

The final set of 4 from the series is called sthira bhaga meaning divine permanence. This the final and advanced form of the practice and is only for students who have finally mastered the intitial exercises.

The pursuit of Yoga, including Ashtanga Yoga, is a lifetime passion. It isnt easy and requires discipline, but the discipline is worth it.

Planets placed in certain particular positions which have remarkable effects on the natives are called ‘Yoga.’

Some of the special Yogas are described as follows:
1.Raja Yoga: When the lords of the ninth and the tenth house are situated in one another’s house or are in conjunction with each other in either on the houses produce the ‘Raja Yoga‘- a good luck in all the undertakings.

2.Kesari Yoga: When the cool planet i.e. the Moon is in the center i.e. ‘Kendra’ position to the Jupiter, the effects produce ‘Kesari Yoga‘. Under this yoga, the individual is blessed with a superb intellect and also acquires the capacity to speak to masses in general. He will occupy high position and fame.

3.Lakshmi Yoga: When the Venus and the lord of the ninth house remain in the fifth, ninth or in the central/ ‘Kendra’ position and at the same time in his own place, ‘Lakshmi Yoga‘ is created. As the name itself implies, with the effects of this yoga, the native is blessed with a luxurious life, happy family, health, wealth and all other comforts of life.

4.Ruchaka Yoga: When Mars occupies his own place, the native will enjoy the effects of Ruchaka Yoga and he will be blessed with wealth, fame and victory.

5.Saraswathi Yoga: With Venus, Jupiter and Mercury in the 2nd house while Jupiter in his own house, the effects of Saraswathi Yoga is produced. In this case the native will be blessed with wisdom and intellect.

6.Hamsa Yoga: When Jupiter is placed in his own house, the effect is Hamsa Yoga. Blessed with this effect, the native will enjoy great prominence in society, admiration and a commandeering position. He will also possess a beautiful body and a charitable mind.

7.Bhadra Yoga: With Mercury placed in his own house, the effect of Bhadra Yoga is produced and in this case the native will enjoy long life, keen intellect, wealth and prominence in society. He will be a good speaker in assemblies too.

8.Malava Yoga: When Venus is placed in his own house, effect is Malava Yoga. Here, the native is blessed with wealth, enormous property, posh vehicles, large family and keen intellect.

9.Vallaki Yoga: All the seven planets occupying one house each, produces the Vallaki Yoga where the native will be very talented in music, dancing and fine arts.

10.Sasaka Yoga: When Jupiter is in his own house, Sasaka Yoga is produced. The native will be blessed with great wealth and all comforts in life. But he will be a person of easy virtue.

11.Dhama Yoga: When all the seven planets occupy signs consecutively from the Lagna, the effects of Dhama Yoga of produced. The native will be a very philanthropic minded person.

12.Chamara Yoga: When a beneficial planet occupies lagna, the Charma Yoga is created. This is a highly desirable Yoga. The native will be blessed with great wealth, fame and long life.

13.Chakata Yoga: When the moon is placed in the sixth, eighth or twelfth house form the Jupiter, Chakata Yoga is produced where the native will experience misfortunes and various disappointments in life.

14.Rajju Yoga: When all the planets in a horoscope occupy the movable signs, Rajju Yoga is created. The native will be famous and will enjoy interrupted fortunes.

People start yoga for many reasons. They may want to increase their levels of health, fitness, and flexibility. Or improve their muscle tone. Reducing levels of stress and anxiety are also high on the list, as is personal development, and the desire to follow a more spiritual path. Some may have a particular medical condition or health problem they want to address.

One’s reason for starting yoga may have a bearing on both the type of yoga that makes a ‘best fit’, as well as the particular teacher chosen within a yoga discipline. Whilst the different types of yoga obviously suit some aims better than others, the teacher you practice with will also make a difference to achieving what you want with yoga. Or not.

Foe example, if you have a specific medical condition, it would be better to informally interview prospective yoga teachers beforehand. First, to find out which classes might be suitable, and to see whether that teacher has a real grasp of what the condition or problem implies for a yoga practice. Some people, whether they are yoga teachers or not, have a more rigid outlook, and may not be able to appreciate that a flexible approach in such circumstances is important. Or, they may not have sufficient training or experience. Perhaps they are even too busy to be available in a more personal way.

When choosing a yoga teacher, it’s important to use your intuition. And to understand that we, as individuals, may not find our needs met by a class even if others do. Some teachers are more nurturing than others, some are more focused on the spiritual aspects of yoga (which may or may not align with our own spiritual outlook). Some perform adjustments – which is where a teacher will use their bodyweight to help you go further into a position – without really finding out whether a person has any injuries. And some simply do it too overzealously. A student in that situation may feel that the ‘teacher knows best’. But it’s important to listen to your own body, and understand that not all yoga training is equal. And, not all teachers are equal, in all areas, either.

Some other things to consider when choosing a yoga teacher are:

• Are they dogmatic? Do they push a certain philosophical or spiritual viewpoint? Is there a subtle (or not so subtle) manipulation that implies that without their ‘guru’, your spiritual evolution is on shaky ground. In fact, do they suggest that you ‘need’ a guru (their guru) as a ‘guide’ in matters of spirituality because your own connection to Source-God isn’t good enough. In other words, are they suggesting you place your power outside of yourself, or do they reiterate that you in fact are your own guide, and can get their quite well under your own steam.

• Are they (or the prominent representatives of their yoga discipline) overly concerned with money, fame, power, the size of their organization, or their degree of influence? If they (the organization) certify yoga teachers, how long do the teachers have to train for? What are they trained in and what aren’t they taught about?

• How well does the teacher embody the basic spiritual qualities of compassion, kindness, peace, joy, and equanimity? Whilst we are all beings at various stages of the journey, it helps to look at a teacher’s character, and ethics. No-one needs to be perfect, but what qualities, of themselves, are they bringing to class.

The practice of yoga is ancient, but it could have an incredible effect for those living in the 21st century as a high blood pressure treatment. However, many people are uncertain of how (or even whether) to attempt this exercise. Here, we’ll explore some of the common myths and questions surrounding yoga, and why you should definitely pursue it if you suffer high blood pressure symptoms.

“Isn’t yoga just for young, flexible people?”

Answer: Absolutely not! Yoga can be performed by persons of all ages and abilities. Even if you are wheelchair bound, you can still practice some of the yoga positions from the waist up. And because yoga has a mental component, you can even do some meditating in bed to lower high blood pressure(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Blood-Pressure.html) symptoms. All that you really need is an open mind and the willingness to try an alternative or complimentary high blood pressure treatment(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Blood-Pressure.html).
“I like extreme exercises. Isn’t yoga kind of dull?”

Answer: Many people assume that yoga is just sitting on the floor cross-legged and meditating. However, there are differing forms of yoga, and some require some intense physicality. Therefore, if you’re looking to use yoga as a high blood pressure treatment, you can usually find a type of yoga practice to fit your general physical fitness level.

“I’ve heard that yoga is a religion. I’m happy with my current religion, so maybe yoga isn’t for me.”

Answer: Though yoga can be performed as a way to attain a religious state, when practiced as an exercise, it has no religious connections. Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, agnostic, or even atheist, you can use yoga as a high blood pressure treatment. Because it “centers” your body and spirit, it provides you with the means to naturally start to reduce your high blood pressure symptoms(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Blood-Pressure.html).

“My doctor didn’t recommend yoga, so I’m hesitant to try it.”

Answer: By all means, ask your physician about yoga as a possibility if he or she didn’t mention it when you were first diagnosed with high blood pressure. Though most doctors will agree that it’s an excellent way to alleviate high blood pressure symptoms, they might not immediately assume it’s something in which you are interested. So the next time you have an appointment, feel free to bring it up.

“I don’t belong to a health club, and I don’t feel like I want to join. So I guess I’ll never do yoga…”

Answer: Don’t allow your lack of gym membership to stop you from getting the high blood pressure treatment advantages of yoga! There are plenty of books, DVDs, and articles describing the practice; consequently, you can lower your high blood pressure symptoms in the comfort of your living room! Best of all, yoga can be performed anywhere, so if you go on vacation, you can always do it in your hotel room or even on the beach.

It is not always necessary to use yoga supplies to practice yoga. Sometimes, however, people that are very involved in yoga may decide on buying yoga supplies to improve on their routines.Yoga Mats the Most PopularAnother part of yoga supplies is the blanket which is useful to relax in when you finish with the yoga exercises and they also come in handy while providing moderate support in a number of poses that includes the headstand and shoulder-stand. You should opt for light blankets when using them for supporting the neck while performing head and shoulder stands.Other forms of yoga supplies include props which are very useful for beginners as well as for those with a physical handicap. Props can also make a person more aware of the subtle nuances of different poses as they help to align the body properly and can be used to best effect along with belts, bolsters, chairs and other yoga supplies.If you feel the need to spend some money on yoga supplies, you will need to look for specialized props that are used while doing a headstand, or backbend. The advantage of having a good prop for your yoga routine lies in it helping to make yoga more fun, and it also improves your ability to perform different routines better. You may also consider other yoga supplies such as a hatha yoga DVD in order to gain more insight into the different yoga practices.

Basic yoga is incredibly easy to learn. There is not even a need for exercise equipment. You can just spend as little as thirty minutes doing what is necessary. The only thing needed is a yoga mat and a bit of room to move. Then, unless you experience severe mobility problems, you can start straight away. Our human body is highly resilient and it is an amazing piece of machinery. Quite often we can accomplish things that surprise us.

Yoga is a suitable example. Chances are that if you have ever seen pictures of yoga poses or asanas, you would have noticed the yoga practitioners doing things that you might not normally believe to be possible… and yet they do them.

In fact, you could accomplish these moves as well, although not right away. Doing any of the advanced asanas without previous conditioning could result in serious injury. Consistent and correct practice of the techniques of basic yoga are needed in order for these more advanced poses to become achievable.

It is said that there are over 8,400,000 asanas recorded by yoga masters within the span of 5,000 years… the time in which yoga has existed. Of course, there are a lot less moves necessary for the majority of yoga novices in order to start out. The amount of basic yoga asanas advisable by instructors varies. Usually however, there is little more than twelve basic yoga asanas taught to beginners.

Regardless of which school of thought you decide to acknowledge, there are advantages to practicing basic yoga, even if you do not want to be able to partake in the advanced arsana which is definitely more complicated. Simply by practicing basic yoga, you will notice an increase in strength, balance, as well as flexibility. These are the primary, more recognizable benefits.

A benefit of practicing basic yoga that may be less apparent is developing a superior awareness of nature and of oneself. Yoga has additionally been shown to bestow benefits to health, including reduction of many chronic disease symptoms, an increased immune system, better functioning of the internal organs, as well as many more health benefits. All kinds of yoga, not just basic yoga, greatly reduces tension and aids relaxation. This can be achieved without too much exertion or fatigue.

Movements of The Body in Yoga

Basic yoga includes seven styles of body movement throughout practice. These include flexion, circumduction, adduction, abduction, extension, hyperextension, and rotation. Different combinations of the body movements are utilized to produce the yoga positions and stances. The movements are then combined with concentration as well as breathing exercises.

Breathing is additionally used in basic yoga as the guide for entering an asana, holding an asana, and then exiting an asana. The idea is to conduct these movements gracefully.

With time and dedicated practice anyone can achieve the many benefits of basic yoga. To find out how to learn basic yoga, you can seek out a certified instructor. If you have no luck with finding a teacher, you can simply find instructional videos that might be helpful to you.

Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. It is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. In India and across the World, Yoga is seen as a means to both physical health and spiritual mastery. Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas or postures of Hatha Yoga.

In the United States the American Fitness Professionals & Associates offers Yoga Certification for intructors.

As with all spiritual practices, Yoga is constantly evolving with new movements and forms.

Developed in the 1930’s by a yogi who wanted to improve his health despite his tuberculosis, malaria, and typhoid, Iyengar yoga gets its name from its creator, B.K.S. Iyengar. B.K.S. Iyengar was born in 1918 and suffered from numerous ailments when he was younger. He now teaches yoga (though over 80 years old) at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Prune, India, which he initiated in honor of his wife. Two fellow world-renowned yoga experts assist him: Geeta, his oldest daughter, and Prashant, his son. B.K.S. Iyengar has taught such notables as the Queen mother of Belgium, as well as having taught special classes for military academies and commandos.

His writings are considered amongst the top yoga texts, especially his work Light on Yoga, first published in 1966 and now translated into 18 languages. This man’s methods are so prevalent that most other forms of yoga will include elements of Iyengar, like a Hatha yoga lesson that lets a beginner use props. Props in general are a modern addition to yoga, from the Iyengar influence.

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Did you know?

Buddha, who is estimated to have lived 563 to 483 BC, is believed to have studied what was known of yoga at that time as part of an extensive education in Hindu philosophy. It is also very likely, given the rapid growth of Buddhism after his death and before the Bhagavad Gita was composed, that Buddhism had some influence on that work. There is a considerable overlap between the Hindu yoga tradition and Buddhism.

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Iyengar as a modern form of Hatha yoga uses a countless number of props to assist the yogi in reaching different poses, lending itself to beginners not used to exercise and to people with back and joint problems, though that doesn’t mean this type of yoga is easy. Progression from pose to pose is slow, making proper alignment critical in each pose. This type of yoga is meticulous, for every detail of bodily position must be correct. Even yoga students advanced with other types will learn Iyengar to correct their incorrect alignment.

Proper alignment is the number one focus of Iyenger yoga, for it declares that there is only one proper way to do each pose, which a student will learn through practice. Props are used as needed to enable a student to reach proper alignment. Iyengar stresses certain classical poses, making it a useful foundation for people who might want to use it as a method to jumpstart into other methods.

Iyengar yoga tones muscles, easing tension and chronic pain in the meantime. Nonetheless, it has no flow from pose to pose. Between each pose, the yogi rests in Corpse or Child’s pose. This lack of flow makes it less of a cardiovascular workout than the other forms of yoga, though its use of props makes it more attainable for a wider population. If you are looking for a program to begin a yoga regimen, try this form to learn correct alignment and start slow, working up to more difficult forms of yoga.

When you feel the twinges of back pain, the last thing you feel like doing is exercise, but yoga exercise for back pain can solve your back problem. Follow a regular regime of gentle yoga exercises designed to stretch out your back and improve your posture and you should find that the pain disappears.

Using yoga exercise for back pain means that you are choosing to fight the pain physically rather than just relying on medication. This is much better for your body. Yoga exercise for back pain problems is a gentle way of learning how to move your body in ways that are natural for it, rather than filling your body with chemicals that dull the pain but don’t do anything about getting to the source of the problem.

Back pain is often caused by the life we lead. We get into the habit of slouching over the table, or car wheel rather than sitting up straight. We don’t walk tall, but rather hunch our shoulders in an attempt to blend in with the crowd. Learning the appropriate yoga exercise for back pain is going to re-educate you into carrying the correct posture techniques out of the yoga class and into your everyday life – and so start to correct the source of many types of back pain.

Yoga exercise for back pain won’t work in every instance however. If you suffer from back pain, the first thing you need to do is to consult with your doctor. Your medical provider will be able to have you undertake tests that will enable them to ascertain if your back pain is coming from a more serious type of problem – one that will require surgery to correct. Having consulted your test results and x-rays, they may suggest that all you need is a course of physiotherapy. Ask your medical advisor if yoga will help or exacerbate your particular back problem. As long as it can’t make things worse, then yoga exercise for back pain will be more beneficial to you than a normal course of physiotherapy as it will learn you the correct posture required for your entire body rather than just dealing with the areas where you currently have pain. Alternatively, you could start both and see if you can compare how much better you feel after the yoga session has worked your entire body rather than just a little bit of it.

If your doctor is sympathetic to alternative methods of curing pain, and supports that yoga exercise for back pain is a good idea for in your situation, he may be able to convince your insurance company to pay for your sessions – at least until the current back pain is gone. Not all insurance packages will cover this.

When choosing your yoga class, make sure that you are going to study with someone who is a qualified yoga instructor. Yoga exercise for back pain will greatly benefit your body, but only if your progress is monitored by a trained instructor who knows how to teach yoga without causing more damage in the process.

Yoga Relaxation Techniques for Relaxing Body and Mind

Yoga is the union with the divine. It is a philosophy used to the growth of mind, body, and spirit and also a system of exercises that help to balance your body and mind. It also increases your breathing techniques and focuses the grouping of your body.

Practicing yoga relaxation for a short session of relaxation daily once or twice is a great way of relaxing your body parts and also combating stress. It also helps in supporting a person to unwind.

Various Yoga Relaxation Techniques

Here is a yoga relaxation technique used to achieve deep relaxation to your body and mind

Corpse pose Technique

The Corpse pose, also known as shavasana, is a tremendous yoga posture that can be used among poses, which allows total relaxation. The corpse pose is a standard yoga relaxation pose, which is practiced by all disciples of yoga.

Any one at any time when one requires a few minutes of total rest and relaxation can also practice this yoga relaxation technique.

Method:

It is most important to select a place for practicing yoga relaxation where you will not be disturbed. You need to wear loose comfortable clothing. First, you lie down on your back with feet about 18 inches spaced out with your hands palm upward about 6 inches from your sides. Let your legs and feet to roll outwards.

See that your body feels balanced. Close your eyes and relax centering your consciousness on the rise and fall of your abdomen. Deeply and slowly take breath, feeling a sense of peaceful relaxation come over your whole body. Concentrate on releasing all tensions.

Tense And Relax Routine

Most of the people do not understand the way their bodies have become tensed until they have practiced a yoga relaxation routine. This tense and relax yoga routine is a type of relaxation technique that facilitates you to feel really the difference among tension and full relaxation.

Method:

For practicing this yoga relaxation technique, first of all try to settle down in corpse position and then effectively start working from the feet, first feel tense then relax each part of the body in turn. Begin with the feet, and then go to the legs, buttocks, stomach, back, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, head and finally to the face.

Try to tense every part of your body as tough as you can lift them a handful inches from the floor, if you wish, then drop them down again and relax.

Yoga Relaxation Technique – Progressive Routine

Method:

First lay down your hands on the abdomen and deeply breathe in, filling your belly primarily. Exhale noisily as you let your breath out making sure of all tensions you feel is released out with the breathing process. Repeat this process a few more times letting you to release all the tensions a little bit more with every breath.

Continue the breathing process at it’s own speed and depth and as you breathe out, release any tension that you are feeling first in the feet and then with your next out breath for your ankles, and then your calves until you have completely traveled up your body.

It is necessary, in this yoga relaxation technique, for you to really try connecting each part of the body and release it completely before you go for the other part. The best process of relaxing the body is to feel something like “I have relaxed my feet” etc till you finally complete feel that “My whole body is now relaxed”