Yoga

One of the great advantages of persuing yoga is that it doesn’t require much in the way of gear. In fact, most folks can get by with nothing more than a comfortable pair of sweats and a litte open floor space. But if you’re ready to get more serious about your yoga, there are some items that you might want to add to your routines. Here are just a few for your consideration:

Mats

Sticky yoga mats can provide a safe and comfortable non-slip surface for your yoga routine. Believe it or not, there are mats that are specifically designed for yoga, as opposed to Pilates mats or other exercise mats. A good yoga mat will tend to be thinner and easy to roll up to place in your gym bag for easy transportation and storage. By the way, most places selling yoga equipment can offer you a variety of mat styles and colors, so you’ll be able to express your individuality in the gear you choose.

Yoga Straps

Yoga straps are less common that some of the other forms of gear listed here. In fact, if you’ve been doing yoga for awhile, you still may not be familiar with them. A yoga strap is a simple nylon strap with a plastic or metal buckle. Usually light-weight, you can find them in a number of different colors. How are they used? Most commonly the yoga strap is used as an aid for those people who just can’t quite reach a specific goal in a pose. For example, they can help you with such challenging poses as the Seated Forward Bend (or Paschimottanasana) where you sit with both legs in front of you and attempt to lay your torso flat over your thighs. If your hamstrings are particularly tight, a yoga strap can be looped around your feet to pull your torso gently forward until you feel that distinctive sensation where you know you want to be.

Blocks

Yoga blocks and bricks are used by many yogis to modify poses in their workouts. These blocks can help you to deepen your stretches, reduce the strain on a particular muscle group when you’re beginning to learn a new pose, and provide a better foundation for proper body alignment. Most yoga stores will sell a variety of blocks in sizes that can help you with both simple and advanced poses.

Videos

Not technically gear, yoga workouts on DVD and video have become incredibly popular today, particularly for those who are too busy to attend a regular class, or who no longer feel the need for the guidance of a yoga instructor. You can find DVD yoga workouts for all levels, from beginner to master, including titles such as Crunch – The Perfect Yoga Workout, The Total Body Yoga Workout DVD, QuickFix – Power Yoga Workout, and ZenMama Prenatal Yoga Workout DVD. There’s something for everyone interested in yoga on DVD.

If you have a yoga store near you (or if you poke around the Interent a bit), you’ll also find that there are a variety of yoga “kits” available as well. These packages typically include all the basic yoga gear: one or two blocks, straps, a mat and sometimes even a video or flash cards of different poses. Yoga kits are a wonderful starting point for the yoga enthusiast, especially if you aren’t quite sure where to begin.

Yoga is said to be the oldest practice of self-development known. It started in India which dates back about 500 years ago. By exercising Yoga, one can gain information and benefits on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Moreover, it encourages the individual to focus on his or her capabilities as well as self-awareness.

There are several methods of Yoga. This includes physical postures, breathing control as well as meditation. But most of the time, people engage in Yoga to shape up and to improve one’s health and well-being. Only a few are really into pure mediation and reflection without doing or performing the Yoga asanas.

It is said that Yoga is not a series of steps to be followed but an evolving process. Through time, one who practices it is cleansed and aware of his being. As a result, he perceives life as good and does well on many aspects.

Through Yoga, one can practice or improve his body. Furthermore, he can practice controlling his breath and knows self-control. He or she also attains or has the capability to direct his mind and to interact with the object of his concentration. However, one must be dedicated enough in order to achieve these goals and have its corresponding benefits.

Yoga has become a common practice nowadays and has influenced millions around the world. Different classes and groups are found in various cities and regions. The most common form of Yoga is Hatha yoga. This kind of yoga involves breath and body coordinated. Through physical exercise and harmonized breathing, a certain relief and blood circulation is improved.

This can increase one’s vitality, strength and flexibility. Hatha yoga is only one form of Yoga. There are still many other kinds aside from that. Some are fast aerobic Yoga workouts while some are strong precise styles for the fitness conscious people. There are also styles for those who prefer gentle and focuses more on healing.

Yoga is open to all people of different ages, faiths and lifestyles. One need not pay for a personal tutor or attend a prestige Yoga class. There are books and references which you can use if you want to learn Yoga self-taught.

However, you must choose a kind or form of Yoga that is apt for you and your lifestyle. It is also important to know your own qualities so that your learning is guided. It is because each kind of Yoga has its own unique form of meditation.New forms of Yoga are also developed nowadays.

In addition, there are videos and dvd’s available in the market to guide you as a beginner. There are also supplies sold and available when you are already applying or performing the physical activities involved in Yoga. There are videos like Yoga for athletes, yoga for couples, yoga with grace and strength and yoga workout for beginners.

There are various supplies and equipment that can be used while you are into a Yoga session. Equipments like yoga mats, yoga belts, yoga straps and blocks. There are mats that provide support when you are already into the exercise.

hese mats protect and serve as a cushion for you when you are performing on hard floors. They are accompanied with Yoga straps as well as blocks that aid you in your Yoga workout.

In addition, it is advised that you pick clothing that will not prevent you from moving freely. In this way, you can stretch and optimize your flexibility skills.

Yoga is currently taking its final exam. Even though this science dates back many thousands of years, it has only recently come to the West. This is where Yoga is being empirically tested.

The Western mind demands results and evidence, if none are produced, the system does not survive. This is a valuable approach and Yoga is currently being put though the rigors of this process. So far Yoga is passing with flying colors. Don’t get me wrong, its not that the East did not expect that, its just that this approach filters out the fraudulent and frivolous methodologies, which might otherwise survive simply because of superstition and fear, and the East is just as happy that this is being done as the West. This scrutinizing process results in separating the stones from the diamonds and the diamond that is Yoga is starting to shine though bright and clear.

Over the last three to four decades a great deal of research has been done by the medical community and they now, more and more, recognize the health benefits of Yoga. Below, I will highlight the top 10 health benefits that Yoga bestows and I hope it will inspire all of you to take up this wonderful practice is some capacity and reap the rich rewards as well.

The health benefits have been divided into 3 categories. The Physical Health Benefits of Yoga, Emotional Health Benefits of Yoga and the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga. A short explanation is given along with each benefit to help you understand better the mechanisms that Yoga employs to bestow it.

Physical Health Benefits of Yoga:

1. Energy: Yoga exercises, breath control training (pranayama) and use of yoga body locks (bandhas) all work to activate and balance your energy pathways, giving you the vitality and power you need to maximize your potential.

2. Strength: By strength here we don’t just mean physical muscular strength, although that will benefit greatly as well due to the steady holding of yoga poses and the exercises that yoga incorporates, but also the strength of your internal physiological systems. Strength of your immune system, nervous system, digestive system, respiratory system, circulatory system, reproductive system, etc.

3. Healing: The power of Yoga to heal ailments and cure diseases is becoming more and more an integral part of mainstream medical practice and treatment methods. This ability of Yoga to heal also promotes longevity.

4. Flexibility: Yoga postures (asanas) are perhaps the best type of exercises you can do to improve flexibility. Flexibility is essential for avoiding injuries as well as for the health of the joints, tendons and muscles.

Emotional Health Benefits of Yoga:

5. Peace: Yoga meditations and practice methodology promotes a greater awareness and appreciation of the present moment, which calms the mind and allows the peace deep within to surface.

6. Joy: With the maturing of a Yoga practice, the beauty and depth of life become more apparent and the spontaneous joy of existence emerges.

7. Compassion: Yoga values and philosophy, along with the practice of yoga meditations, dissolves one’s ego-centric reality, thus developing other mindedness, thoughtfulness, generosity and compassion.

Mental Health Benefits of Yoga:

8. Brain Development: Yoga breathing exercises and yoga meditations develop parts of the brain that are normally dormant. Once these parts are activated the power of intuition, as well as other latent powers are unleashed. In addition as the brain develops so does your intelligence and clarity of thoughts.

9. Concentration: The requirement of many Yoga meditations to keep the mind focused on a single object or mantra (sound vibrations), helps to dramatically increase your power of concentration and focused attention.

10. Awareness: Yoga can simply be called the Science of Awareness. This is its primary purpose. To refine and increase awareness so that you can penetrate the veil of the ordinary dualistic mind and encounter your Divine Nature within.

Yoga Poses for a Healthy and Happy Feet

Most of the people generally pay attention towards the way their feet appear or just consider that they are absolutely ugly because foot is a wonderful, yet a complicated part of the body. A regular practice of yoga poses will help keep the feet healthy, as these are the foundation of the body and the tools of our mobility.

Generally, people only think about their feet after walking around with a pair of shoes that don’t fit them. However, it is true that when your feet hurt you, it also affects the whole body. Yoga poses works with the body from the ground up. It means that every standing pose includes working with toes and feet.

Considerations while Practicing Yoga for a Healthy Feet

A regular practice of yoga poses, working with the feet and being good to them will definitely add a new aspect to your life. On the other hand, correct alignment of the feet in all yoga poses is an important factor in retaining good foot healthy with energetically grounding to the earth.

Correct position of the feet comprises of grounding through the four corners of the feet, lifting the bends, and equally allocating the weight between each foot. One of the very essential factors of yoga poses is to determine the shape of your feet.

Standing in the Mountain Asana is the best way to find out the shape of your feet. Try to observe your feet and concentrate on them. You may find that your weight is distributed equally between both feet.

Do you favor one foot over the other since you have pain in one of your feet?

Your arches need to be lifted, toes spread out wide with spaces in between. Your toes should be able to move separately of one another. Lifting the arches and spreading toes while standing helps you to activate the foot muscles.

If you have bunions, calluses or hammertoes then you may have been misusing your feet for years. However, it is possible with yoga poses to start right now and make a difference in your feet as well as provide more relief to your body on the whole.

If you are having serious problems with the feet, then better go to a podiatrist. If your feet are only stiff and neglected, but yoga for feet will definitely work and relieve some of the stiffness. So, begin with a gentle massage. Move ahead, pamper yourself, but remember not to rub them instinctively.

Explore your feet and toes. Truly, consider them and take some time to feel the 26 bones that each foot has. Pull your toes backward and forward and from side to side. Try to find out whether they are stiff and it is possible for you to separate them.

Be gentle, but strive to separate them. Better spend most of the time staring at your toes and realizing the way your toes feel. Identify whether your big toe is numb and can you connect your fingers through your toes.

If you find your toes are stiff and hard to bend, then it is better to work with them. Carefully move them around, spreading them distant gently. If your big toe is numb, rub it smoothly until you feel that some life return to it.

By rubbing and working with your feet and toes on a regular basis, you will achieve a better feet that is healthy and makes it easier for you to practice yoga poses.

Observe your foot, you will find that each foot contains 26 bones. Compress the sides of your feet and feel the way these bones are connected to each other. Rub your thumb firmly by the side of your arch; feel your heel and identify whether you have any pain.

If there is any pain in the center of your heel, then it is a bone spur and yoga for feet is best in treating this pain.

Yoga poses increase muscle tone and stretch foot muscles and connective tissue. Generating and maintaining muscle tone in the feet will improve overall foot health. Increasing the flexibility and strength to the feet, toes can direct to overall better health and alignment for the body.

Any yoga pose that reinforces the lower leg muscles and feet will help recover foot problems as well as blood circulation to the feet. There are a number of yoga poses that benefit the feet such as Virasana, Vajrasana, Baddha Konasana, Squat with Toe Stretch, and Adho Mukha Svanasana etc.

However, it is essential to concentrate on the foot alignment and muscle tone while practicing all yoga poses, particularly standing poses.

Your whole body can feel better with a gentle foot massage and your yoga routine will give you more relief and enjoyment. Remember that your body reflects the health of your feet and as a result maintain a happy, healthy feet for a happy, healthy body. So, regularly treat your feet well and your body will appreciate you.

For many people in the west, yoga can seem like a very strange practice. Doing yoga has many benefits and as you read this article, you will learn more about yoga and the benefits of beginning yoga.

Points I cover in this article:
* History of yoga
* Benefits of yoga
* Beginning yoga

History of Yoga
The history of yoga dates back to the Upanishads. The Upanishads a part of the Vedas and form part of the Hindu scriptures was written before the 7th century BCE, which makes it one of the oldest texts known to man!

For many people in the west, the meditation aspects of yoga is known, however, there is more to yoga. Doing yoga for many people practicing yoga, is also a way to spiritual growth, and spiritual enlightenment.

Benefits of Yoga
When you start to do yoga, you will find many benefits, not just spiritual or physiological, but also psychological, and biochemical, not to mention the many more benefits of you doing yoga.

Some of the benefits of yoga, you may be able to get are your mood improves and subjective well-being increases, your level of Anxiety and Depression decreases, sleep improves, pulse rate decreases, and your weight normalizes. This is only a very small handful of the benefits of doing yoga.

For people who may be looking for the health benefits which can help heal certain ailments, you may be glad to know glucose and sodium levels in the body go down because of doing yoga. So the steps you are taking now can greatly benefit your health in a positive way.

As always, remember to get these health benefits from yoga, you will need to remember to keep to practicing yoga regularly. If you have old health issues, then also make sure you speak to your doctor before embarking on any new healthy health exercise regimen, such as yoga.

Beginning Yoga
Beginning yoga is much easier today, thanks to the major interest in yoga over the last few years, more and more yoga classes are being started. The first step in beginning yoga, is to decide to start! At this point, most people may wonder if they have what it takes to start yoga, what will be involved etc. Relax, yoga classes can teach you from beginning, even if you do not know the first thing about yoga.

Whether you want the spiritual benefits of yoga or the physiological benefits of yoga, you can get them by doing yoga at a yoga class. It is best to go to a yoga class to learn how to correctly do yoga. There are many great books and videos about yoga, and they can be beneficial. However, a yoga class can help you get the right yoga postures, and get the full benefit of yoga.

Finding a yoga class can be as easy doing a search online to find local classes. Perhaps speak to someone who you know who has an interest in yoga, check local adult education institutions. As more and more yoga classes are available, you can find a local yoga class.

Learning yoga has many heath benefits apart from increasing your flexibility. Yoga is a lot of fun and its healthy and very calming of the mind. Just a little practice will bring you freedom and peace of mind. Yoga has been handed down over several thousands of years and has a very long tradition.

Most beginner yoga poses are easy to learn and you can get audio or video tapes that teach yoga along with the breathing instruction and teach yoga relaxation techniques at health food stores, bookstores, online and by mail order. It’s probably fine to learn basic yoga poses and the yoga relaxation from a tape or booklet, but don’t try the advanced yoga exercises without a skilled teacher. He or she can make corrections to your mistakes and caution you when necessary, and help you to adapt poses, if you are dong them unsafely.

It will be worth it to you to spend a little time finding an instructor who is right for you. Your doctor or other health care professional may be able to recommend a yoga instructor. Get referrals for a yoga instructor as you would for any professional you might wish to consult. Word of mouth is the best advice to find a good yoga teacher.

Yoga instructors aren’t required to be certified at this date, but many now are, through many different yoga teaching programs available in the USA now. Ask prospective teachers if they are certified. A certified teacher isn’t necessarily better than someone who isn’t certified, but it’s something to look at.

Take a class with a few different instructors as their are many ways to teach yoga. Hot yoga is a new fad, and this involves you dong yoga poses in a heated room. This allows the body to become more flexible and also the sweating purifies the body.

Although most people can exercise safely and start a yoga program, any exercise can involve some risk. If you are totally out of shape and have had no yoga experience then is is good to take precautions.

It is a really good idea to obtain a medical test before you begin your yoga program if you have any areas of concern. Discuss this with your doctor and this could include an exercise test with ekg monitoring, especially if you have cardiovascular disease, you are over 35, you have high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels, you smoke, or you have a family history of heart disease.

Discuss with your doctor any unusual symptoms that you experience during or after yoga or any exercise such as discomfort in your chest, neck, jaw, or arms; nausea, dizziness, fainting, or excessive shortness of breath; or short-term changes in vision.

Always warm up and cool down after a yoga session. It’s good to not to exercise outdoors when the weather is too hot and humid, or too cold.

Follow these simple tips and start your yoga practice for the great benefits today.

As we walk the tightrope between modern life and our animal instincts, the human race strives to find balance. In our bodies, our minds, our environment, in our lives. With our brains over-stimulated and our bodies more sedentary than ever, many of us suffer from the fatigue and imbalance that comes from chronic stress without sufficient recovery. A yoga practice is an excellent way to soothe nerves that are in a constant state of overdrive. Yoga can help give us the ability to live healthy amidst hectic schedules and bustling environments. Why does it seem that as technology evolves at such epic pace we have less and less time at our disposal? Now more than ever we need to slow down, quiet our minds, take a deep breath….

Stress has become a chronic aspect of life for many of us; and it takes its toll. The nervous system senses continued pressure and remains slightly activated, producing extra stress hormones over an extended period of time. This can wear out the body’s reserves, leaving us feeling depleted or overwhelmed. Over time the immune system weakens causing illness and fatigue, mood swings, lack of focus, and irritability. Stress is implicated in many health problems from migraines and insomnia to lupus, MS, eczema, poor digestion, weight gain, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. In milder situations a little stress can keep us on our toes and help us to rise to a challenge. However, in today’s world chronic, unreleased stress has become prevalent and is taking a tremendous toll on our bodies as it diminishes our enjoyment of life.

In city living the constant noise, electricity, radiation, radiowaves, electromagnetic rays, and infra-red which surround us, create an ever-present stimuli that haggars the central nervous system. We do not yet know long term effects of this “white noise.” We may not consciously be aware of it, but our bodies register all that is going on around us. In our jobs and lifestyles we are often engaged in many tasks at once and feeling that we are constantly on the go, and that even when we do have a moment to spare we can’t seem to truly relax.

What is Stress?

In a challenging situation the human brain responds to stressors by activating the nervous system and specific hormones. The hypothalamus (located in the center of the brain) signals the adrenal glands to produce more of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, and release them into the bloodstream. Heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism increase, blood vessels open wider to allow more blood flow into large muscles groups, making our muscles tense and putting the brain on high alert. Pupils dilate to improve vision. The liver releases a dose of stored glucose to increase the body’s energy. Sweat is produced to cool the body. This chain reaction of physical effects happens to prepare the human being to react quickly and effectively, enabling them to handle the pressure of the moment. Cortisol is a natural steroid that raises your blood sugar level (so the muscles have plenty of fuel) and suppresses inflammation, but it also suppresses the immune system. The adrenal hormones are catabolic, which means they foster biological processes that burn energy and break down cellular structures. If you activate the adrenal glands over and over again without sufficient recovery in between, your body becomes depleted and exhausted.

Stress is necessary for the human to remain self-sufficient; to survive. In the jungle, ancient man conjured stress hormones when needed to fight a bear or a tiger, or to survive extreme weather conditions. With a concrete defensive action stress hormones in the blood get used up entailing reduced stress effects and symptoms of anxiety. In modern life some stress situations sharpen us; clear the cobwebs from our thinking, and stimulate faculties to attain our true potential. Each stage of human evolution happened by adapting in order to survive extreme conditions and stressors in our environment, as at this time the body is prepared to act with increased strength and speed while the mind is sharp and focused. Stress and a human response to stress is necessary.

However, what we need now is to learn to adapt to our new world, to handle the increase in milder but consistent stress in a better way and to learn to release before it affects us in a negative manner. When we fail to counter a stress situation these chemicals and hormones remain unreleased in the body and bloodstream for a long period of time. This leads to a long list of symptoms such as tense muscles, unfocused anxiety, dizziness and rapid heartbeat, and compels the mind-body to in an almost constant alarm state in preparation to fight or run away (known as the fight or flight response).

Accumulated stress can increase the risk of both acute and chronic psychosomatic illnesses, and cause everything from headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, frequent cold and fatigue, to diseases such as hypertension, asthma, diabetes, heart ailments and even cancer. Many medical doctors and psychologists go as far as to say that 70 – 90 % of visits by adults to primary care physicians are for stress related problems.**

How Yoga Affects Stress

Enhance the body’s natural functions:

To recover from the exhaustion associated with chronic stress, we need to do things that turn off the adrenal hormones and promote secretion of anabolic hormones. Certain yoga poses, such as inversions help to stimulate glands in the brain (Pituitary, Pineal). Moving into the ALPHA state is very important. The alpha state is considered the ideal waking state, where we reach the pinnacle of our creative thought process while the body is in a healing cycle. Alpha state is often attained during savasana; final resting pose in yoga practice.

Yoga’s smooth, deep, symmetrical breathing, twists, stretches and balancing postures help to enhance the body’s natural functions, keeping the spine, house of the nervous system supple, enhancing flow of fluids in the spine and stimulating glands and circulation of blood and lymph throughout the rest of the body. Muscles are lengthened and toxins are released. Pranayam (breath exercises) and poses such as cat where we roll along the spine with breath can help to flush and clear the lung tissue.

Yoga innately helps us to create balance; to know our bodies, to recognize when we are not balanced both on and off of the mat. On a purely physical level hatha yoga creates strength, flexibility, grace. Part of Yoga’s philosophy is to take the approach of strengthening and healing the body in the process of healing and cleansing the mind. Yoga views the body as having many layers. Asana (physical yoga postures) affect the body but also these deeper layers, en route to creating a whole, balanced self. Hatha yoga practice creates unobstructed energy flow.

Release Tension:

Stressed out individuals tend to carry a great deal of physical tension in their bodies. Yoga helps to unlock and release these tensions before they can accumulate over time and become chronic physical and psychological conditions. As we release physical blockages, toxins, and limitations from the body we also do so in mind, spirit, and emotions. The benefits of yoga postures (asana), breathing (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) include increased body awareness, release of muscular tension and increased coordination between mind-and body which leads to better management of stress and cultivates an overall feeling of well being

During the resting poses in yoga such as child’s pose, abdominal tension is released. This allows internal organs to unwind promoting deep breathing and enhancing digestive and reproductive functions. This deep rest affords the central nervous system much needed time in ‘para-sympathetic’ mode (relaxed calm state, free of the “flight or flight” stress response) in order to recover and rejuvenate. Creating focus through a series of specific bodily poses also helps us to truly take our mind off of work and other stressors.

The Breath:

In normal conditions the body follows a natural breath pattern that is slow and fairly regulated. Under stress when the body shows symptoms such as tightening of muscles, distractions, anxiety, hyperactivity and angry reactions, breathing becomes quick and shallow. One tends to hold one’s breath frequently. With restricted breathing inflow of oxygen is diminished. Lungs are unable to exhale the stale airs and residual toxins build up inside the body. Stiff muscles restrict the circulation of blood that so even less oxygen comes in and fewer toxins are removed. This in turn affects the healthy regeneration of cells and can accelerate aging and disease. Medical studies show that the oxygen-starved cells are the major contributing factors in cancer, immunity deficiency, heart disease and strokes. Breathing also affects our state of mind and consequently makes our thinking either confused or clear. Lengthening and deepening breath in yoga creates a more balanced state of being. A change in breath pattern creates a change in the metabolic process, emotions, endorphins, internal chemical reactions, and the release of specific hormones. Mind affects body; body affects mind.

Mind Body Connection:

The sensitivity that comes through a yoga practice helps to develop a level of skill in cultivating, observing and choosing one’s posture, breath, emotions, and diet more wisely. As we practice we learn to listen with our bodies. Whenever we experience an emotion, our bodies register this emotion and mirror it. The next time you get angry, stressed, or afraid, stop and notice exactly what is happening in your own body in that moment. Which muscles got tense? How has your breath been affected? How did your posture change? Is your heart beating faster? What affects you and why? Are you able to notice it as it happens?

Over time yoga helps us to let go of unwanted emotional and physical patterns. Yoga practice is great for providing recovery and can also help you deal with stressful circumstances without having such a strong negative reaction. The mindfulness – mind-body awareness cultivated with yoga practice allows us to realize emotions as they arise; sensing what is the cause of the emotion and how that emotion affects the body/mind. As Patanjali says in his Yoga Sutras**, “Yoga quells the fluctuations of the mind.” It slows down the mental loops and patterns of frustration, regret, anger, fear, and desire that can cause stress. No matter what age, we can release past traumas, feelings of guilt or inadequacy, denial, patterns of feeling unable to communicate or connect, patterns of addiction, (all of which lead to more guilt and denial). We need to clear out these patterns in order to stay freshly alive or else there is an accumulation, a blockage, both physical and mental. We need to continually release these psycho/somatic holding patterns. As we release blockages, toxins, and tightness physically, we also do so in mind, spirit, emotions.

Awareness from the inside out and from the outside in are necessary. They are one in the same. Through a regular yoga practice we develop a balanced state on a consistent basis and this translates into our lives off the mat. We become better equipped to handle everything that comes our way in life; to handle life with more grace, ease, and presence, from a more objective point of view. By staying open we keep on top of the game, in the moment, able to truly enjoy each day to the fullest. The way we deal with coworkers and friends or family will innately be transformed. The very way we perceive things around us and who we are as a person from moment to moment will be transformed. Our sense of self-perception is the root of our own life. From here the world around us takes shape. As we become more aware of ourselves we are able to be less judgmental, more open, more honest, and take things less personally. True wisdom comes from within, from self knowledge and a clear eye.If you learn to quiet your mind, you’ll be likely to live longer, and fuller, with better health. Yoga and meditation offer some of the same benefits as antidepressants-without the side effects.

It is no wonder yoga has soared to such heights of popularity. Through yoga practice we begin to find a sense of wholeness. We become more aware. We create balance in our bodies, in our minds, in our lives. As we evolve individually and come closer to an open, authentic state of being, we also evolve as a species, creating a better world for us all.

Michelle Trantina is a certified Hatha Yoga Teacher. She is the co-founder of My Yoga Online and My Yoga Music. She can also be seen in the national Yoga television series Namaste on HDTV and CityTV. To learn more about Michelle Trantina and My Yoga Online, visit http://www.myyogaonline.com and http://www.myyogamusic.com

Yoga was Developed in India, it is a psycho-physical discipline with roots going back to more than 5,000 years…The word “Yoga” means union.

Yoga has four paths according to the Shastras or the Knowledge books…JNANA (knowledge or wisdom), Bhakti ( Devotion)

Karma ( Action) , and Raja ( Self control)…

ABOUT THE DVD – A GREAT INTRODUCTION TO YOGA

If one is interested and serious about taking up Yoga then this is the right DVD to get one started..The video demonstrates the basic postures or asanas clearly and gives tips on getting them right….

This DVD is perfect for Beginners and especially for those over 40, as many of the other ‘ASANAS or Postures, mentioned in most other DVDs are meant for younger and fitter people…whereas the Aasanas shown here are easy to follow for anyone regardless of age…

The instructions by the Yoga Master is very helpful..the background music is really soothing ,i feel it is just right..

I started following the ‘Aasanas’ mentioned on the DVD and within a matter of days , started feeling lighter, more flexible and much more energetic…Gives a lot of mental strength too, when practiced over a long period of time..

There are certain norms that one should follow before practicing yoga, this is true of any kind of strenuous exercise..

One is advised to practice Yoga every day for at least 30-35 minutes..or at leat for 15-20 minutes if one is really pressed for time…

It is best to do Yoga 3-4 hours after taking a meal, the stomach should be light while doing yoga…

One needs a lot of space for hand and body movements while practicing Yogic asanas , so it is better to sit in a open place or a spacious room with enough room for body movements..

One should wear loose comfortable clothes so that one’s movements are not restricted..

Yoga is normally practiced sitting on the floor, with either a carpet or a mat spread on the floor..

Different Yogic Asanas help to increase the flexibility and stamina of all parts of the body…

Some of the Asanas shown on this DVD include HASTA SANCHALANA, which concenterates on the hand movements..

PADA SANCHALANA which means movements of the legs, JANUSANCHALANA, which concenterates on the Knee movements and Knee strengthening..KANTASANCHALANA ( Movement of the neck), …

Deep Breathing or PRANAYAMA which is the most essential part of yoga is to be practiced right at the beginning of any Yoga practice,and it is generally advised that one can go on doing this whenever one finds

The best yoga outfits

You had probably decided to start your yoga classes, and made up your mind to choose the right yoga posture to get rid of your extra weight. The yoga instructor had advised you to continue yoga classes every morning and evenings, if possible. Now you are ready to spread out the yoga mat that you had purchased, to carry along to your balcony, to start your yoga exercises. But what about the yoga outfit, did you figure out the need of a proper yoga outfit, or you intend to proceed without putting on a best yoga outfit?

What are the best yoga outfits present in the market? Could you make a yoga outfit by wrapping a simple cloth around you, or do shops sell something called as Yoga outfits. You would be amazed to know, there’s nothing called as yoga outfits. I had been through many yoga lessons in the past, I never heard someone uttering the phrase yoga outfits’. You can call a piece of wrapped cloth around you a yoga outfit’; it’s up to you on how comfortable you feel doing yoga by wearing a particular outfit.

Still, yoga gurus had laid down few fundamental guidelines on what cloth should you wear while you do yoga. I had read few yoga books, and I was particularly impressed by what Swami Ramdev tells you about yoga outfits. According to Swami Ramdev, the yoga guru, a very prominent guru, so to say, “clothes should be kept to a minimal while you do yoga“. I had been doing yoga for quite sometime now. As a male, I put on shorts, a small short, or a half pant. It makes me comfortable when I do all those tough bends and make my body suffer.

On the upper half, I put on a vest which completes my outfit. A vest and a half pant is perhaps the best yoga outfit for a man. If you are a woman, you can wear a blouse on the upper part of your body, and shorts. Though, woman can choose to wear a different Yoga outfit, if she resides in Middle East countries. Jogging attire would go well on her, whatever clothes you wear; it needs to be comfortable enough for you to attain maximum advantages out of yoga.

The yoga outfit you choose should help you to attain maximum advantage out of yoga postures you do out there. You need to achieve your goals of why you decided to opt for a yoga session. It doesn’t make sense to put on tight yoga outfits and put hours of strenuous yoga and achieve nothing. The bottom line is to enjoy your yoga with the best yoga outfits that are light and easy to carry on.

If you thought yoga was just for adults, you need to think again. Nowadays, yoga is greatly popular among all ages ‘ especially with kids. Practicing yoga actually enables children to develop a fitness program and a way of healthy living. Yoga can give children these tools at a young age ‘ allowing them to start out the right way.

Why would children need yoga? Consider the obesity problem existing with children today. Weight problems will result in health problems. It’s a great idea to have a physical activity for kids that will exercise and entertain. Also, it will relieve stress or tension in their lives caused by school, peer pressures, competitive sports and busy lives. Yoga is a healthy way for a child to deal with difficult situations and resolve them.

You may not have thought you would see children in yoga classes, but many yoga followers are beginning to see if yoga makes them feel good, then why not let it make their children feel good also. The yoga classes a parent attends might offer a ‘mommy and me’ class, or you can just practice it at home with your children. Children love to mimic and they will love to try to get into the different positions you assume. Children’s yoga may differ from adult yoga in that dogma and spirituality aren’t stressed. Children’s yoga will revolve around storytelling, repetition, counting, problem solving, dancing and movements. It will keep the child’s attention and keep them interested in it.

The physical benefits of yoga for kids are obvious. They will develop greater flexibility, strength, good posture and coordination. The mental benefits would include concentration, relaxation and calmness. But the benefits do not end here. Studies have shown that students taking yoga have fewer disciplinary problems, higher grades and are more physically fit. It is a noncompetitive form of exercise that can and will build confidence.

If these are not enough benefits to convince you, yoga is also very valuable for children with special needs. Many physicians today even recommend yoga for special needs children. It can help children with Downs Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Attention Deficit Disorder and Autism. These children need an outlet for their energy. This is a perfect outlet. They can refine their motor skills, learn to articulate better, develop improved eye contact and social skills, as well as, strengthen and tone their bodies. If the child has physical limitations, poses can be altered to use only certain portions of their bodies.

Yoga is gaining momentum in the world today and rightly so. It is for everyone, even kids. Whether you are young or old, whether you have special needs or physical limitations, it can be tailored for the individual to get the best results possible for them. Kids and yoga seem like a natural match. It can be therapeutic for those who need it. Kids can develop healthy bodies at an early age and also healthy habits. This is something they can keep with them for the rest of their lives.