Yoga

Menstruation is a problem which has to face by every woman in every month. Menstruation means ovaries contain eggs and when these eggs ready to release than bleeding comes out from the vagina. It starts when a girl get matured or in puberty time. There are many disorder related to menstrual cycle like lack of periods, heavy periods, painful and gaps in menstruation. It remains for 3 to 7 days. There are many causes of these disorders like illness, stress, hormonal changes, over weight and anemia. Sometimes women feel very weak in these days. Women have to be very careful and take care of themselves. 

There are many pills available to stop the menstruation cycle. But these antibiotics can harm your body and not guarantee to stop bleeding. Pills like contraceptive pills. But there are no as such pills to stop menstruation. Many women have excess bleeding during menstrual cycle there are many ways to slow down the bleeding like make use of water. Consume water as much as you can. It helps you to clean infection in your body through urine.  Exercises and yoga are very good method to slow down the heavy bleeding. It is also good for over all circulation of your body and give energy. Try to learn some postures of yoga like paraynams.

Have a nutritious diet avoid intake of spicy food. Avoid fast food and bakery products. Also decreases the usage of sugar and sweet products. It helps you in slow down the menstruation. Consume raw fruits and fresh vegetables to get rid from excess bleeding during menstrual cycle. Consume coriander seeds it helps in lessen the bleeding. And you can use coriander seeds in your tea. During consume foods which are highly rich in calcium this will work to lessen t he heavy bleeding. In these days try to consume less starchy foods and less greasy. Consume healthy diet.

Avoid medicines. During menstruation your abdomen wants heat. So avoid consuming cold foods and taking bathe in warm water. You may recommend sun bath or air bath. During menstruation you need to be take care of personal hygiene. If you are discomfort try to deviate yourself by reading books or watching movies.

Some home remedies to stop menstruation. Many women suffered from heavy bleeding during menstruation. There are many ways to avoid bleeding like reduces intake of sugar and sweets during period. This will definitely helps you to get rid of heavy bleeding. Other way is to stop menstruation is practice yoga. Yoga is good exercise for stops heavy bleeding during menstruation.

Parsley are very good herbal treatment in stopping heavy bleeding during menstrual cycle. Consume parsley juice once in a day. A fruit like papaya and safflower seeds is good to consume in menstruation time. It helps you in lessen the heavy bleeding.

Drink more water during periods it will helps you a lot and it helps you to reduce pain during periods

Coriander seeds are very good remedy to reduce heavy bleeding during periods and it will helps you to stop menstruation

These are some natural and other ways to stop menstruation and these solutions will definitely help you.

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So Fine Fashions Unveils New Trendy New Yoga Workout Wear, Accessories and Original Paintings by Jaquin McCausland.

Laurel, MD (PRWEB) February 26, 2008 – So Fine Fashions and Accessories a new fashion Web site owned and operated by Colombian native Myrna Sandnes” introduces high-quality, affordable fitness and yoga clothing for women of all shapes and sizes.

You’re happier about working out when you’re putting on brightly colored clothes that make you feel good and look great. You get more motivated to exercise and develop that mind-body connection of feeling healthy and being happy with how you look.

So Fine Fashions and Accessories launched in late 2007 with the mission to make fashion and gift-giving fun and a value added experience for all customers. Sandnes recently returned from a trip Colombia where she was meeting with her design team and manufacture to finalize the new Yoga product line. Which is planned to be launched late in the early second quarter of 2008. So Fine Fashions will introduce a new collection line Yoga fashions that will be constructed of organic materials fibers and innovative recycled materials.

The idea for Yoga fitness clothing that suits women of all sizes after experiencing first hand that workout clothes available for everyday women were poorly constructed, unflattering and made from low-quality fabrics. The cloths took out all the fun of enjoyment of relaxing and exercising.

When you’re working out, you want to look good and feel great and even feel relaxed and be comfortable and noticed. I decided to create long-lasting products that would make women feel great when they wore them. Says Sandnes. Here, you can challenge your body and nourish your spirit — feeling a sense of relief as you come home to your true self. Get inspired Yoga has been very popular in the South America market that is why I chose Colombia to design and manufacture my products and they have had strong comment to quality using high color fashion designs with an erotic fashion flare.

Sandnes’ fitness fashions can be used for aerobics, cycling, yoga, dance classes and more. The clothing is made in Colombia from the stretchy materials used in Brazilian bathing suits: Lycra, cotton and even bamboo are used to create the products.

When I’m designing the fitness clothing, I’m choosing bright, abundance of vibrant colors, materials and energy says Sandnes. You’re happier about working out when you’re putting on brightly colored clothes that make you feel good and look great. You get more motivated to exercise and develop that mind-body connection of feeling healthy and being happy with how you look.

So Fine’s coordinating sets are extremely affordable, ranging from $34 to $60. They can be purchased online, over the phone or through a catalog.

Sofine Fashions announced that it also carries select paintings on its web site from McCausland Gallery by Jaquin McCausland creates with a feeling of passion for modern, abstract and contemporary original paintings for the South America and North America markets for over 25 years. Sandnes stated that we to select only the finest paintings from the Gallery of original art collection for customer home office and can be seen.

Myrna Sandnes commented that she has always been intrigued with abstract art and how it adds a tone of happiness, harmony and joy with brightness of light and refreshes the home and office promulgating for good luck and fortune.

Joaquin Mc’Causland, artist feels that he is influenced by his passion of excellence for his work and the perspective for the style of fusion with colors of yellow, red and blue for asymmetrical abstract, modern, contemporary art. McCausland’s art has been exhibited in many South America and North America countries in cities like New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

So Fine also offers handcrafted jewelry, handbags, and accessories made in Brazil, Colombia and Honduras. We preview such designers as Nancy Dunitz jewelry collections and Diana Bahmon handcrafted design collections from for South America. These one-of-a-kind jewelry products are embroidered, crocheted, beaded and made from a variety of materials, including tiger’s eye, onyx, quartz, coral, silver, leather, crystal Czech beads and other exotic materials. Rounding out the So Fine line are stylish belts, scarves, and hats.

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Ayurvedic physicians have always regarded involuntary loss of semen (spermatorrhea, nocturnal emission and premature ejaculation) as one of the gravest threats to male health and longevity, and many ayurvedic herbs and formulas are used exclusively to correct this debilitating condition, can be caused by excessive mental preoccupation with sex (including dreams and fantasies), habitual masturbation, and / or inflammation of the uric-genital tract and prostate.

Premature ejaculations can be controlled very easily by adopting a discipline and simple exercises. These exercises require understanding and patience from your partner. You should discuss the goal with your partner before doing it. Most likely your partner will understand and be willing to help in playing longer.

You can also use something called penis ring and this will help you to make it longer. It is like an elastic band and it is used to prevent the blood in your penis from leaving. And this will certainly help to prolong your sex activity. You can also try to train yourself to make it longer. You can train yourself while masturbation. You masturbate as normal. When you feel that you are going to have orgasm, you stop and wait for a while. You will repeat this process for a few times. And you will find that you can control the time a lot easier.

In herbal therapy, one of the best solutions for this condition is Kundalini yoga a traditional sexual yoga, which trains men to engage in sexual intercourse without ejaculation, a practice that naturally controls involuntary ejaculations. Confido is an excellent herbal formula, which can also be used to cultivate ejaculation control and also control ejaculation when performing Kundalini- sexual yoga.

Premature ejaculation or early ejaculation is a common sexual dysfunction which affects as many as one out of every three men in the world. It has been linked to a many factors. Early sexual experiences, bad habits in teenage, over excitement and sometimes present conflicts or concerns within current relationship can all be possible factors for premature ejaculation. This condition may create feeling of frustration and shame. It causes stress for the partners involved and will create a strain on the relationship.

Pre-mature ejaculation: – For treat it some breathing exercises and accompanied with meditation and naturopathy shall be helpful.

Pranayam (Breathing exercises): –

1. 3 step breathing (6 times each step)- 6 min
2. Alternate breathing technique – 9 min

Meditation – Focus your attention on your breathing, feel its temperature, and keep your breathing thoroughly equalized (i.e. inhale for 3 sec and exhale for 3 secs).

For optimum benefits do these yogic techniques twice a day. Also take 8-10 glasses of water in a day. Put towel soaked in cold water (temp. approx.15-25 degree Celsius) folded under spine, at least twice day for about 20 min sessions. At night apply blue oil (sun charged) from the top to the end of the tailbone to 2-4 inches upward on the spine itself.

Also, Yoga, Pranayama and healthy lifestyle may help increase in sperm count. One has to give up tobacco, alcohol and over masturbation that may all result in decreased male libido and sperm volume. The human beings differ from other living species in different ways. Others just enjoy the sex to satisfy their physical hunger whereas humans or being the only species and that enjoy sex to fulfill their physical requirement as well as to produce a progeny that would run the family and would be useful in their old age.

Yoga, exercises, medications, psychological counseling, delay creams and treated condoms are the preventing methods of premature ejaculation. There are stop premature ejaculation programs with exercises and techniques that give the ability to naturally with hold ejaculating until you are ready to do so. This program is very effective and producing success rates of more than 90%.

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The untapped energy or Prana within a human being can be awoken by awakening each of the seven chakras (Muladhara Chakra, Svadhishthana Chakra, Manipuraka Chakra, Anahata Chakra, Visuddha Chakra, Ajna Chakra and Sahasrara Chakra) through postures, movement, specialized breathing, hand gestures, body locks, chanting and sound. Full enlightenment of an individual is attained when the Kundalini energy reaches the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara Chakra). Kundalini Yoga strengthens and tones the nerves, glands and organs of the body and finally draws the mind and senses to an inward experience of deeper state of consciousness. Kundalini Yoga helps an individual to attain a feeling of bliss and awakens his dormant spiritual force.

Spirit Voyage not only offers an innumerous yoga music Cds and Yoga DVDs but also guides you to the way of attaining healthy and blissful life with its collection of yoga books. The collection of yoga books include books on Kundalini Yoga, general yoga books, yoga books for children and health and wellness books. Different yoga accessories like yoga mats, yoga rugs, yoga cushions offered by Spirit Voyage serves the basic purposes of all yoga practitioners.

Since, ancient ages, Music and Yoga practice goes hand in hand. When these two collaborates, they pave the way for an individual to realize the greatest truth of life. The mind reaches the pinnacle of spirituality and nullifies material value of things. The ultimate realization of eternal truth is acquired as the human body and mind discover the greatest potential. The mind, body and the soul are relaxed, free from grasps of thoughts that leads to anxiety and stress. Negative thoughts like lust, greed, anger, hatred are also effaced and the mind and soul is cleansed, thus illuminating the inner self with the divine glow.

More and more people are being diagnosed with stress or stress related issues. Ideally the best form of stress management is to identify the cause of the stress and remove it. But this does not always seem to be possible. Sometimes it is difficult to identify the causes of stress as the symptoms of stress are merely the end result of many different causes which have quite simply built up over time. It then becomes such an elaborate and interwoven web of cause and effect that it is almost impossible to unravel. Life can feel as if you are living in a huge stress ball, and no matter which way you turn your stress ball of reality seems to just spin around and around and around.

The effects of stress on the body is a very powerful and impactful enemy. We must try our best to enforce stress reduction techniques, stress management techniques and do some stress relief exercise to manage stress effectively. Personally speaking, stress cannot be cured or totally eliminated. Stress is a part and parcel of life and we must learn to deal with stress properly.Meditation is used as a relaxation and stress-reduction technique. Anyone can learn. It’s easy, inexpensive and doesn’t require the purchase of any fancy gym equipment. You can meditate anywhere, even if you are out walking, taking the bus to work, waiting in the dentist’s office: anywhere you need to relax.

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India is the mother of spiritual practices, meditation, meditation retreats, and meditation technique. The first written book, Rig Veda, comes from India and it is all about the deepest spiritual practices. Most religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc. had their birth in India. They are still flourishing here and have produced some of the greatest spiritual leaders in this country.

Meditation in India can be divided into four broad categories — depending upon the propensities of the practitioners, they can choose the path that is best suited to their needs:

a. Jnana Yoga: Path of Knowledge is most suitable for those who have a deep urge to understand before they can accept anything. They want clear rational and experiential proofs before having faith in any knowledge. The meditation practice in this discipline consists of Truth based mantras and analytical inquiry. The inquiry helps dig out all wrong notions and the mantras make one experience the true Self which is absolute awareness and bliss.

b. Bhakti Yoga: Path of devotion is suitable for those whose minds are more love and faith based. They would like to follow a meditation method that would help them develop in their love for God. The devotee believes more in surrendering that in understanding. He will first have faith and then this faith will take him to the sublime experience of the Truth. Surrender to the divine will and deep longing to meet God are the main traits of Bhakti Yoga.

c. Raja Yoga: Path of concentration and awareness is suitable for those who like to practice a witnessing attitude. The witness is free from desires and reactions. The practice is based on certain moral principles without following which, the witnessing cannot shine.

d. Karma Yoga: Path of selfless work helps in making the mind pure and stable and gives immense joy to the practitioner. One who is compassionate at heart and feels that the highest practice consists in helping the needy will be following this path.

For practicing Meditation in India, there are many retreats available in all parts of the country. Wherever you go, you can find true seekers and true masters who will help you find your path and walk on it. These places are called ashramas where seekers create a sort of a sangha and practice together.

Z Meditation Center is the abode of deep spiritual practice for thousands of sincere seekers from all over the globe. The path followed here is that of Jnana Yoga, the path of Knowledge in which Deep Deconditioning Inquiry is practiced alongwith Radiant Mantras in order to realize one’s true Self. The other three paths are used as complimentary aids that help deepen the practice.

Ajay and Suruchi, the founders of Z Meditation, are ever grateful to the Cosmos for giving them this opportunity to serve the suffering humanity through this most sublime and pure work. If you feel ready to let go of your false stories, they will be very happy to help you do the same. This work requires sincerity, objectivity and openness to growing.

Come forward and join this greatest inner revolution. You are going to find many hidden gems in your heart!

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Kaal Sarp Dosh has become a favorite of many Astrologers and is catching up very fast with the others. Almost every third or fourth person is being told that there is Kaal Sarp Dosh in his Horoscope. And all the failures, setbacks, delays, mental agony and so many other things are happening due to the presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh in the Horoscope. Which is absolutely not the case because if everything is to be decided only by two planets namely Rahu and Ketu, then what are the other Seven planets doing in your Horoscope. So don’t be afraid at all if someone tells you that there is Kaal Sarp Dosh in your Horoscope. It does not mean the end of the world. And before we go any further let’s see what is the general definition of Kaal Sarp Dosh.

First of all let me tell you that Kaal Sarp Yoga and Kaal Sarp Dosh are one and the same thing. When in a Horoscope, all the seven planets namely Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury and Saturn are placed between Rahu-Ketu Axis i.e North and South nodes of Moon, then Kaal Sarp Dosh or Kaal Sarp Yoga is said to be formed in that horoscope. Depending upon the placement of Rahu and Ketu in the Horoscope, the effects of Kaal Sarp Dosh may differ and the persons having Kaal Sarp Dosh in their horoscope may suffer accordingly. For example, a person may suffer with delayed marriage or disturbance in married life due to the presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh in his horoscope, whereas some other person may feel obstacles in his professional life due to the presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh in his horoscope, someone else may get some serious disease or diseases due to presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh in his horoscope and someone may not be having a child due to the presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh in his horoscope. So the effect of Kaal Sarp Dosh will be different for every horoscope depending upon the placement and strength of Rahu and Ketu among some other factors in a horoscope.

However the most important thing to notice is that in some cases all the planets come between Rahu and Ketu Axis, But still there is no Kaal Sarp Dosh formed in the Horoscope. There are some other aspects in a Horoscope which must be confirmed for the formation of Kaal Sarp Dosh. This Dosh can not be confirmed by the mere placement of planets between Rahu and Ketu in a Horoscope. On the other hand, in some cases, some of the seven planets may be placed outside Rahu-Ketu axis in a Horoscope but still Kaal Sarp Dosh may be present in the horoscope. Therefore all the signs for the presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh must be confirmed before predicting the presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh in a Horoscope. And once the presence of Kaal Sarp Dosh in a horoscope is confirmed, the first thing to consider is, what aspects of the person’s life having Kaal Sarp Dosh in his horoscope are going to be affected, because even if Kaal Sarp Dosh is present in someone’s horoscope, it would only affect some aspects of the life of that person and it does not affect every aspect of his life as there are many other planets also which are to be considered before predicting all the aspects of someone’s life. After that the timing of Kaal Sarp Dosh is calculated, which would tell, at what time of his life this Dosh would gain its complete strength. And then the strength of Kaal Sarp Dosh is checked to predict the quantum of damages done by this Dosh. Any good or bad Yoga in a Horoscope does not give its proper results if it is not strong enough or lacks strength. So the strength of a Yoga has to be seen before predicting good or bad results of that Yoga. For example, let’s assume that Kaal Sarp Dosh is present in someone’s horoscope but it is only 20-30% in strength and then the time by which this Dosh will gain its full strength which can not be more than 30% in this case is calculated which is let assume 32nd year of this person’s life. Let’s further assume that in this case Kaal Sarp Dosh is mainly affecting the marriage or married life of this person. Based on the above suppositions, Kaal Sarp Dosh will only show its bad effect for that person after the age of 32 and with a strength not more than 30% of its full strength. So in this case it is expected that the person will suddenly start feeling problems in his married life after the age of 32. But as the strength of Kaal Sarp Dosh is not very much, so in this case it is likely that the marriage would remain disturbed but is likely to continue as the Kaal Sarp Dosh present in this person’s horoscope is not very strong. And if the same Kaal Sarp Dosh is having a strength of more than 80% but the time of activation and it’s field of application remain the same as above, then it is very likely that this person would at least get a divorce after 32 years of his age and in the worst case his wife or wives may keep on dying. But such a powerful Kaal Sarp Dosh is not seen in every third or fourth horoscope and it comparatively rare.

To have an approximate idea, Kaal Sarp Dosh of a strength which is more than 70% is seen only in about 1 out of 30 horoscopes. And even if a strong Kaal Sarp Dosh is found in a horoscope, its field of impact and its timing of impact is to be calculated before making any predictions. Sometimes a very strong Kaal Sarp Dosh is present in a person’s horoscope which is affecting his professional life, but which is sleeping till the person reaches the age of 51. In this case, the affected person would keep on leading his routine life and can be very successful depending upon the presence of some good Yogas in his horoscope. But as he enters his 52nd year, Kaal Sarp Dosh is activated and the person is supposed to face sudden financial losses and then remain financially ruined for the rest of his life and is not likely to get any major relief until some external forces are applied to reduce the effect of Kaal Sarp Dosh. These external forces are called astrological remedies and they can reduce the quantum of the damage done by Kaal Sarp Dosh. But it is very important to note that a Kaal Sarp Dosh of a strength more than 70% can not be completely cured with any astrological remedy in most of the cases. Only its strength can be reduced so that the affected person may feel some relief from very bad effects of Kaal Sarp Dosh.

By

Himanshu Shangari

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Pregnant women can definitely benefit from doing yoga. The experience is one in which you can focus on what is happening within your body, relieve the stresses from worry and anxiety as well as keep your body in shape during this time. Pregnancy is a time of great risk though, so any and all exercises performed during this time need to be done with great care.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy encourage suppleness in the joints and muscles. Pregnant women experience more strain to the muscles and ligaments because their bodies are making them more “flexible”. Be sure not to exceed your limit. A number of moderate pregnant pilates exercises can be designed for you.

Pregnant women have special health and nutrition needs. They are eating for two people, for themselves and for the new baby that is growing inside their womb. So they want to be sure they are eating healthy foods. It is important for pregnant women to watch what they eat and drink. For example, doctors advise the strict avoidance of all alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.

Avoid exercise in hot, humid environments and drink plenty of water: I encourage each of my clients to drink six ounces of water every 10-15 minutes during exercise, especially during the first trimester when increases in maternal temperature can put the fetus at risk for neural tube defects.

Some exercise during pregnancy can be continued for the whole duration. For example, moderate walking can be continued almost until you are ready to deliver. There are some exercises designed to actually help pregnant women. For example, there are special yoga routines that can be done during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a natural process involving changes in the women’s body and also in their behaviour and lifestyle. Even though pregnancy is not a disease, it requires a special attention. For instance, pregnant women should follow a healthy diet and not in the last place they should maintain their health and a nice body shape by doing physical exercises.

Adequate blood supply is a very important aspect of keeping fit. During pregnancy, it is vital to ensure a normal blood supply to all the organs of the body. The pumping of heart is responsible for this. You can maintain adequate blood supply with the help of cardiovascular exercises. Pregnant women should do this exercise with extreme caution.

Pregnant women naturally increase in size due to high appetite and the presence of another life inside the womb. Call it a blessing because you are about to deliver an amazing replica of your greatness and your better-half’s. On the other side of the coin, being pregnant is gift in disguise because you are limited with your movements.
Pelvic Tilt Exercise

This is also known as the cat stretch. Whilst on your hands and knees drop your abdominals so that your back arches downwards, then tighten your abdominals upwards so that your back arches upwards slightly as a cat would do. Repeat 10 times in a controlled fashion, always remembering to breath slowly and fully to get the full benefit. This exercise for pregnant women will work your lower back and abdominals.

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Yoga postures and positions all these activities greatly reduce down the fat of areas that further need to be most worked upon. These yoga asanas may although include forward bends, backward bends, and then twisting of hips. Therefore some following yogic asanas are when regularly performed so that they bring about the reduction in stomach size and as well as fat:

* Sun Salutation or Surya Namskara this is the most basic popular technique for obesity management. This comprises around a series of 12 different postures practiced in a sequence so. This vastly improves the oxygen supply to the body. Thus further helping in the strengthening the internal muscles and also the toning of muscles.
* Pranayama measure to greatly enhance the vital energy or the life force in your body.
* Kapalbhatiin the toning up of the tummy muscles since it increase the respiration rate thus causing the burning of fats and toxins that have accumulated further into the body and that to be to be dissolved. Apply pressures on stomach inwards to breathe out that all the air inside your stomach. Now relax and bring back the muscles to the normal position. Then again apply pressure on the stomach so to clear out the air.
* Anulom Vilomis also a breathing exercise suited for whole of the body right along with the stomach.
* Sukhasana or the Butterfly is really useful to provide strengthening to the spine lengthening of leg muscles making them strong as well as vastly providing them with the strength to bear on the weight of the whole body.
* Also there are few various asanas which were when performed they bring about the reduction of accumulated fat while enacting on the specific areas that are though very prone to accumulation of fat. As Mandukasana, Marktasana, pawan mukutasana, makrasana, Bhujangasana etc.

Home remedies for Overweight:

1. Green Tea: In order to loose your body fat start drinking green tea right instead of drinking your regular tea. You can although drink green tea at least two to three times in a day. Green tea is much more highly effective in reducing weight fast as a result it helps the digestive tract to digest the food fast.

2. Lemon water: Start your morning with having one glass of warm lemon water. For preparing the lemon water just take one glass of drinkable warm water and then add limejuice in it and add some honey for taste. You should drink this with an empty stomach or else the results will take long time to be visible. This is one of the very effective home remedies for overweight.

3. Diet: There is no need to skip any part of the meals. Instead just modify your meals. Instead of eating three bigger meals have five to six small meals. For three months just have vegetable soup for dinner and see how fast you loose your body weight.

4. Papaya: You can also eat only papaya for your dinner rather than further having vegetable soups for three months. You will loose the weight without loosing the glow on your face.

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Body shapers are the most effective way to take out all those extra inches accumulated in your specific body areas. Body shapers can transform and reshape the body in a matter of seconds. Body Shapers helps in shaping, redefining and supporting your body by flattening the tummy and shaping the figure. Body Shapers help in to boosting up your muscles, secreting out retained liquids from your body and in energizing you. Body Shapers are used to either reduce or increase body shape and size from the trouble spots.

Yoga is not a short cut by any means, but this much I promise you. Once you have slimmed the Yoga way, you will be able to eat as you please and not gain an ounce. Yoga, in affecting the glands, establishes a rhythm in the body so that you do not feel a desire for food that you do not need. You want to eat only enough to keep superbly fit. Your new calmness of mind will make it unnecessary for you to turn to food for comfort or as a means of relieving tension or boredom.

You should also avoid fad diets and diet pills. Take a look at your lifestyle to see if there is anything in particular that you feel can help improve your fitness and body shape. Getting a good amount of sleep, drinking and eating healthily, and improving the quality of air that you breathe are a few suggestions.

Stress hormones have also been found to speed up the production of plaques and tangles in your brain. Studies have found that people prone to stress were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as their lower stressed counterparts.

It is important to employ stress management techniques in your life. Some of the most effective techniques include mind-body exercises, meditation, hypnosis, deep breathing, massage, and yoga.

Not all calories are equal. You want to eat the right balance of foods that will allow you to eat more and that will rapidly accelerate your weigh loss. There is no need to feel unsatisfied or hungry if you eat the right balance of foods.

Protein

Getting the right amounts of protein is very important. Protein will help build and repair your muscles. Muscle burns fat.

Maintain Proper Body Posture – Body Shapers imparts you a lean body structure by hiding all you unwanted fats, curves as well as your least appealing features. You will not experience such a great ease and such instant slimming effects as you get to experience with these body shaping undergarments.

If your consumption is bigger than your energy wishes the body stores this surplus energy in the shape of fat. So to put it in layman’s terms, if you eat more than your body actually wishes you’ll gain some fat. Now as any fool would be ready to let us know, the way to reduce this stored energy is definitely to use it up. In reality , starving yourself isn’t the way to try this. There are 2 ways to reach this, reduce the amount of calories consumed to stop building up of more fat ; and hike up your levels of daily activity and frequently use your stores of energy.

The fastest way to build muscle weight is coming abbreviated programs that consist mainly of compound movements with free-weights. In laymen terms, you only need to weight train for two to three days a week, for an hour a day tops, doing the a good number of basic exercises with a focus on getting stronger.

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A woman’s menstrual cycle is both a sign of one’s complete womanhood and an indicator of the onset of various problems. Menstruation signifies complete womanhood because it is a testament to a woman’s ability to bear children and give life. However, menstruation is also a time when a woman experiences numerous unpleasant feelings that are both exacting and demanding to one’s tolerance. Some of these problems that women experience during menstruation are vaginal dryness, hot flashes, changes in one’s sexual desire, sleep disturbances, menstrual cramps, dysmenorrhea, palpitations, and even backaches.

The most common treatment that women use in combating difficulties experienced during menstruation is to take medications. However, it has been found through various researches that yoga is also beneficial in treating menstrual problems of all sorts. This is because yoga allows a person to make the body physically fit by enhancing one’s breathing and by helping one better control her mood. Moreover, doing yoga affords women a form of diversion should menstrual problems become too much for them to bear.

How Yoga Counters Menstrual Problems

1)Yoga teaches a person various breathing techniques. The goal of these breathing techniques is to find a breathing process that provides the greatest relief to the body. Such breathing techniques relax the body, which is helpful especially if one is under stress such as during menstruation.

2)Yoga promotes body flexibility. This flexibility is due to performing the various positions that form part of the yoga routine. With it the muscles become supple. Thus eliminating pain due to menstrual cramps and other causes.

3)Yoga provides a different approach to assessing one’s well-being. The exercise is a great way for women to realize the importance and significance of the menstrual stage including the problems they frequently experience. For one, yoga teaches women not to focus too much on the problem, rather it teaches them to learn to accept the inevitable changes in life.

4)Yoga, being a physical breathing exercise, promotes good blood circulation. As a result, one’s menstrual cycle will not be a problem anymore, thus minimizing pain.

How Often Should Yoga Be Done

Unlike other physical exercises, yoga is not too exacting on one’s health. One may do yoga as often as she wishes. However, the key factor to consider here is to perform yoga regularly. This will allow the body to reap the maximum benefits of yoga.

A woman may practice yoga by herself or in the company of friends. Either way, one must consider the place where yoga exercises will be held. It is important to do yoga in areas where there is sufficient fresh air or in places where one will not be easily disturbed. This makes yoga even more beneficial because it will allow one to relax easily, free from the disturbances from the outside. Likewise, one must make sure to be sitting on a comfortable mat to ensure better yoga performance and to achieve better results.

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Youth is a time of life when one is looking for entertainment. As a youngster, you may not realize but each day you are creating the steps for your future. Someone said that youth is wasted in passion and wisdom comes too late. It is such a true statement as youth has the energy to change the world, but it cannot as it has no wisdom. And in old age one may have wisdom but there is no energy left in the body or mind.

Most youngsters do not know themselves. And this is the biggest challenge for a youngster as this simple statement affects all parts of a person’s life – education, career, relationships, and marriage. Unless you know yourself, you can never find success in this world. This applies to people of all ages but as the youth have energy it is easy for them to transform. Man is a creature of habits and as he gets older, his habits get engraved into his mind and he becomes a slave of them.

For example, your father might want you to become a software engineer, but until you know yourself you will not be able to look into his eyes and convince him that you want to do something else. This is nothing but clarity of heart and mind which will come only when one does Yogic practices. I know the youth will take Yoga casually. This is the tragedy- One discovers Yoga when it is too late and thinks to him self- “I wish I had started Yoga when I was younger.

I would have been happier, healthier, fitter and more beautiful.” This is what most film stars say to me all the time! Just 20 min a day is enough to make a difference to your life. The as an as and pranayama taught in Yoga may look boring, but as you practice them you will see the following benefits.

1. Your eyes will be brighter. They will sparkle.

2. Your skin will glow.

3. Your body will slim down.

4. Your concentration and focus will go up.

5. You will need less sleep in a day and you will be fresh every morning.

6. Just a twenty minutes of studies a day will be good enough for you to absorb the same information that you take one hour to learn. How does all this happen? The answer is simple – Yoga makes your body healthy and also clears your mind. Making your body fit can be done in the gym but clarity of mind is something only Yoga can do. Yoga removes your stress and your tension. Once you have clarity of mind, everything falls into place. Your career. Your relationships. Your life.

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“During these challenging times…” How often have you heard this phrase recently?

Planetary eco-meltdown, world-wide economic recession, global inequity, war, social injustice, poverty…the list goes on. Reflect for a moment, though, on the big picture. Now is also our chance to step up. A wise perspective might see the human species being called on to sow seeds of change, hope and optimism in time for the fruits to make a difference. As our perspectives, like our information, become more global, reality reminds us that solutions are inevitably local and personal.

Now more than ever we need places where we can build our capacity to be better global citizens. These places are rare. For more than 25 years, Hollyhock on Cortes Island in British Columbia has offered guests an experience that sends them home transformed and inspired to engage in making the world better. Hollyhock is a non-profit centre offering cutting-edge programs with world-class instructors, a gathering place for pursuit of advanced knowledge and deep insights. New learning for new times. And all of it happening amidst the kind of breathtaking island beauty that makes you remember why it’s good to be alive.

Glance through their catalogue, and you’ll find an impressive array of programs and enticing unstructured ways to enjoy what Hollyhock has to offer. In a world where loss of biodiversity is precipitating a crisis of epic proportions, Hollyhock aims to nurture the biodiversity of the human organism, enabling people to feed their diverse skills and passions and grow new ones. Workshops in arts, health, relationship, yoga, and wisdom practices mix unapologetically with business, leadership and social change programs. Part of Hollyhock’s charm is that it’s hard to define – an alchemical mix of part university and conference facility, part spiritual centre, part sweet holiday getaway.

While they take their mission very seriously, the staff and the whole property are imbued with realness, a culture of fun, healthy irreverence, and an un-contrived, hip joie de vivre. And they’re attracting a more diverse crowd than ever before. Gatherings of web, media, and environmental activists return to the campus for strategy and network-building conferences because the setting helps catalyse new visions. Hollyhock is also proud of having expanded their scholarship program over the years, which in 2008 granted over $97,000 to 116 people.

Something else they take seriously is the issue of sustainability. Part of their strategy is to make the Hollyhock experience count and go for ripple effect. “We’re going for maximum impact. Yes people are travelling, but they’re learning, connecting with new people, having meaningful experiences and returning home to spread seeds of change, like guerrilla gardeners”, says CEO Dana Bass Solomon. While laying no claim to perfection, the facility is an impressive model of sustainable practice. The kitchen, organic garden and dining room are a cozy, closed loop system—compost nourishes the garden that provides for the kitchen, feeds the guests, whose scraps go directly to the compost heap.

Hollyhock is a place where the ecology of human well-being is naturally nourished. Set and setting are ideal for germination, growth and infusion of perspective and purpose. The stunning, abundant organic garden at the heart of the centre is a potent symbol for what happens to those who make the worthwhile journey to this west-coast paradise. Imagine waking to the aroma of your early morning coffee mingling with the low-tide scents wafting from the water’s edge. Beginning your day with yoga, or a dip in the briny blue. Vibrant organic feasts prepared by gifted hands and smiling hearts. Sublime bodywork in a forest sanctuary. Maybe you attend a provocative evening lecture, or kayak off into the sunset in search of bioluminescent plankton that only reveal themselves in the dark. Moon rise viewed from a hot tub. Starlit walk on a hushed path to your comfy bed.

If we want a more sane, just and peaceful world, Hollyhock is a place that can kick-start us to do our part. This one of a kind campus is an institution the planet can’t afford to lose.

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If you are suffering from migraine then you have come to the right place. Here today we are discussing different things which can help you deal with migraine problems. Usually this is only a guide and you should always consult your doctor before trying any of this tips or medicines.  There are many medicines available in the market today and very few are useful. There are many cases coming up among people who are complaining about migraine problems these days. However, in this article we will try to guide you how you can ease that severe pain in your head.

First thing you should consider for treating migraine is using medicines. However, there are many medicines available for curing migraine problem but the migraine problem differs from person to person. Some doctors prescribe Beta Blockers to cure migraines for making adequate dilation of blood vessels. Some time doctors prescribe antidepressants for migraines.  Some other drugs are triptans which usually comes as nasal spray.  This type of drug works well and works to terminate transmission of migraine pain.  But we advise you not to try any of these medicines prescribed in this article rather you should consult your doctor for getting the prescription which is right for you.

The treatment for migraine can also be done with surgery.  Nerve stimulator will be used to cure migraine pain and it has been successfully tried upon many. A tiny battery generator were used before that used for terminating the pain signal. However, chronic migraine will cause many physical disabilities and they also cause psychological fear.  You can also use many relaxation techniques available. There are many guides available which you use to ease pain caused by migraine. One of them is stress management techniques. In the stress management techniques you will be provided with some tips on how to manage your work and other things. This way you will reduced your stress level and because of this the changes of getting the migraine pain will be reduced.  You can also practice yoga daily for half an hours or one hour. Yoga greatly reduces the pain as it will positively manipulate body responses like the pain caused by migraine.

Some people also face severe head aches and the major reason for this is stress. But when you practice Yoga you can get relaxed easily. There are many other ways or you can say techniques which might help you reduce pain caused by migraine. You can find out more information on the internet as well as you can get information from experts available in the area. The first most important step if you are suffering from migraine is to consult doctor. Because seeking professional help is very important. 

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Kal-Sarpa Yoga/ Dosha
Kal-sarpa Yoga or Kal-sarpa Dosha is formed when all the planets are between Rahu and Ketu axis in a chart. This is among the most fearsome dosha in astrology similar to Sade-sati and people are scared just by hearing the name of this yoga. ‘Kaal’ means death and Sarpa means snake and the name itself is good enough to scare people. It is said that the person born under Kaal Sarp Yog passes through death like agonies throughout the life.

I also share the astrologer K.N.Rao’s view that the Kal-Sarpa Dosha is one of the biggest frauds in astrology. First of all nobody knows from where this kal-sarpa yoga has originated. No reference can be found in any of the classical texts like Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra, Brihat Jatak, Saravali etc. Secondly and most importantly, I always mentioned that the birth chart should be analysed in totality. Every horoscope has hundreds of good and bad yogas and all these yogas should be synthesized before drawing any conclusion. A single Rajyoga can not make anybody king, similarly a kal-sarpa yoga alone can not create death like situation.

Here is what Dr. B.V. Raman, the most respected Vedic astrologer of the last century, has to say about Kala-sarpa yoga:

“Kala-sarpa Yoga has its bright shades. It [is said to] makes one industrious, hardworking, aware of one’s own ability- despite mental restlessness. It raises the natives to top positions in their respective fields provided of course other Raja Yogas are present. Rahu-Ketu axis favors rise in mundane life while Ketu-Rahu axis indicates elevation in spiritual matters. It is also found that Kala-sarpa Yoga natives get betrayed by trusted friends and even relatives. Suffering due to developments in life strengthens the mind and mellows one’s outlook. This is a blessing of Kala-sarpa Yoga.”

“It occurs to me that undue importance need not be given to Kala-sarpa Yoga. The view held by some astrologers that Kala-sarpa Yoga affects longevity and adversely affects the operation of other yogas favoring a rise in life, achievement, and accomplishment is not tenable. The overall assessment of the horoscope is important. No single yoga, including Kala-sarpa Yoga, is capable of marring or making a horoscope. In our view, Kala-sarpa Yoga plays an important role in mundane astrology [assessment of world events] and is not of much importance in individual charts.”

It is what eminent astrologer K.N. Rao has to say about Kal Sarpa Yoga –

Here the astrologer, ever ready with a remedy, is in demand. This astrologer must first create fright in the minds of his clients and it is done most easily by pointing out Kala-sarpa Yoga or even half Kala-sarpa Yoga. Here he promises to perform a yagna at a cost of some thousands of rupees for shantis. This is the prerogative of the Brahmins.

So Kala-sarpa Yoga is a big and newly discovered source of income of Brahmins which is pitiable. Brahmins were meant to be the beacon lights of dharma and spirituality if they themselves reached higher stage of sadhana. But so many of them have become KAAL SARPA YOGIS .

I am sure that all astrology scholoers will agree to Shri K.N.Rao. Just to conclude, I would say that there is dispute about the existence of Kal-sarpa yoga. For the sake of argument if we accpet that there is somethign called “Kal-sarpa Dosha” exists, still there is no need to fear about it as all good and bad yogas should be combined to give any predictions.

Remedies for Kal-sarpa Yoga:

As you can clearly make out from the above that there is no remedy required for Kal-sarpa yoga. The birth chart should be analyzed with all good and bad yoga, balas, aspects, placements etc. and then only any remedy should be prescibed. If an astrologer finds any planet malefic, appropriate remedy for that planet(s) should be performed. There is no need to go to Traymbkeshwar, Nasik or Ujjain to perform the remedy and spend thousands of rupees. Astrologers use Traymbkeshwar, Nasik or Ujjain just to make you spend the maximum amount of money possible and also to justify the fear factor of Kal-sarpa Yoga.

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Wellness is a two fold objective that has to be achieved by mental and physical relaxation. Mental and physical fitness is necessary and interdependent. One can feel physically relaxed but stress and depression can cause fatigue. A new trend and a new lifestyle evolved lately with this discovery. Yoga may be the solution to physical and spiritual relaxation. This new trend has seized many places including Puerto Vallarta. Zen and a variety of other meditation organizations are becoming more and more popular lately. With the busy lives most of us are spending, we advise that meditation should become a daily activity to remain healthy. You can visit Taheima which is located in Nuevo Vallarta. It is a project of Latin America, and the first Wellness Condo. Coaching programs and center models have been devised for the members of this club.

Beta Sigma Phi’s “One Great Photo Contest” is now open for everyone. Many tourists and even residents keeps searching for the right T- shirt that features the beauty of Bucerias and other beautiful places in Puerto Vallarta. You have a chance to make classic T- shirts that people would be interested in buying. Earlier this year Beta Sigma Phi sold T- shirts at many events, which became very popular and there was a huge demand for it. The winning work will be displayed and kept for sale next season at Beta Sigma Phi’s booth at Bucerias Art Walk. Each person can submit only 3 pieces, preferable electronic submissions. The deadline for the contest is July 31st, 2009. The winner will receive a T- shirt. There is plenty of time to unleash the artistic abilities and prove your capabilities.

El Arrayan continues to be Puerto Vallarta’s favorite restaurant and has proved itself by achieving the AAA3 Diamond award. If you still haven’t visited Puerto Vallarta’s most popular restaurant El Arrayan, then its time for you to make a visit to this fun and friendly restaurant so that you may know what the hype is all about. The restaurant has become even more passionate about doing well as they are thrilled to receive this recognition.

Did you know about Las Alamandas? It is a luxury boutique hotel and of one the most private resorts in Mexico. This place offers the best romantic getaway on the Pacific Coast. It is located between Puerto Vallarta and Mazanillo. Guests here are treated with the highest standards of hospitality. The beachfront is exclusively for the guests and the hotel is situated over an area of 1,500 acres of tropical beach. This sanctuary has a total number of six villas and can accommodate 30 guests. The accommodations here are reserved for $1,800 per night. World’s elitist travelers and celebrities prefer staying at this secluded beach. Now the hotel has announced that this paradise will be open to residents of Puerto Vallarta as well, at a very low rate of $370 per night. This offer remains open till August, 2009. So plan your luxury getaway at a reasonable rate as soon as possible and contact the hotel for reservations.

For more information on rental properties in Puerto Vallarta, also abbreviated as PV, contact Pvrpv dot com at the following numbers. Their Mexican office number is 322.222.0638. If you are calling from the USA or Canada you can call on their local Vonage number 206.388.3703. Pvrpv dot com has been successfully servicing the tourists & local community for the past four years. They have a very well-informed and pleasant staff that knows about leasing properties in Puerto Vallarta.

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There are many benefits of yoga training. Yoga training is one of the most popular forms of exercise and staying fit techniques practiced all over the world today. The benefits of yoga are endless. What is so great about yoga training is that can benefit your life not only physically but also mentally and spiritually. The benefits of yoga on each of these three areas add and enrich your life in many ways. Yoga training is a great way to get adds balance to your life, physically, mentally and spiritually.

The benefits of yoga training in the physical aspect are first it improves your balance. Yoga training, depending on the type you are practicing, is a series of different poses and postures. Utilizing and practicing these poses and postures during your yoga training allow you to increase your level of balance. Balance it said to be a good indicator of health. Some of the other physical benefits of yoga are that it helps you to keep a balanced metabolism as well as a strong, toned and flexible body. Yoga training deeply enhances your flexibility. You may walk into a yoga class not being able to touch your toes, and after attending a series of classes you will see a noticeable difference in your level of flexibility. Some other benefits of yoga in the physical aspect are it helps increase your circulation and cardio health. Yoga training also helps you to feel and look younger.

There are also many mental benefits of yoga training. One of the most important mental benefits of yoga is that it helps you to relax. Many individuals have high stress levels and find it hard to relax because of the stress in their lives. Yoga training, can seriously deplete the level of stress you experience because of the nature yoga training is practiced. Yoga training is all about focusing your energy on the present and where ever else you want it to go. Which is another of the mental benefits of yoga? Yoga training focuses on breathing; the focus on breathing allows you to put aside any feelings of stress and anxiety. In fact you can even use the breathing techniques you have learned in yoga training in other areas of your life. For example if you are having a stressful day at the office utilize your yoga breathing techniques to release some of the tension you are experiencing. One of the most vital benefits of yoga on a mental level is that it helps with self acceptance.

There are many spiritual benefits of yoga as well. On a spiritual level yoga training allows you to become one with yourself. Through out life we can become detached from certain areas of ourselves; yoga training allows you to reconnect with yourself. Being able to do this is perhaps the greatest of the spiritual benefits of yoga. Another of spiritual benefits of yoga is that helps you to gain awareness of your body and your feelings. Theses and so much more are the benefits of yoga training.

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Depending on the level of yoga you are practicing will depend on the type of yoga positions you will be utilizing in your workout. Yoga poses, also known as asanas in the yoga world, are based on levels of difficulty. The higher level of proficiency the harder the poses or asanas will become. There are many yoga poses or asanas that are known by both skilled yoga experts and those who have never practiced yoga. Some yoga poses and asanas have become popular because of their depiction in books, TV and movies. Today we will be discussing some of the most common yoga poses or asanas and what they entail.

There are a few yoga poses or asanas that are practiced in every beginnerâ??s class. The first of these yoga poses in the child’s pose. This is known as a resting pose. It is one of many yoga poses or asanas that can be used outside of a yoga class to help release any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing. Another of the common beginning yoga poses or asanas is the cobra pose. This pose is simply a basic backbend. It is one of the many yoga poses or asanas used at a basic level to exhibit the level of strength and flexibility any one person may have.

The mountain pose is one of the most important yoga poses or asanas. This is because it is the foundation of every standing pose in any form of yoga being practiced. The downward facing dog is perhaps the most recognized of the yoga poses or asanas by both those who practice yoga and those who don’t. This yoga pose is done multiple times through a yoga session. It is classified as both a transitional and resting position. One of the yoga poses or asanas that promotes rest and rejuvenation is the cobra pose. The cobra pose is almost always done at the end of a yoga session.

One of the more common advanced yoga poses or asanas is the boat pose. This pose requires a great deal of core strength, which is why it is best utilized at an advanced level. The boat pose is one of many yoga poses or asanas that helps with digestion, and reduction of stress. Of all the yoga poses or asanas that are recognized by everybody, the mountain pose is by far the most recognizable. This pose is most commonly used in between poses to regain your center and breathing. It helps in tightening your abdomen and building a strong lower back.

Another of the common yoga poses or asanas used when transitioning poses is the staff pose. The staff pose is a sitting pose that is used when moving from a sitting pose to a standing pose. The staff pose is known to improve posture, strengthen back and should muscles and helps in expanding your chest. These are just a few of the most common yoga poses or asanas.

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Truthfully, there are no reasons why any of us cannot be, or do, what we want, as long as you are not hurting anyone. You should always strive to be the best you can be. However, you may find that many people create obstacles, in front of themselves, to avoid success.

This is truly ironic that we hold ourselves back from
making achievements, and teaching Yoga is just one of many goals that are not fully realized. Below is a list of common reasons why many good Yoga practitioners do not pursue their goal of becoming a Yoga instructor.

“I am too old to teach Yoga.”

Actually, age is not a factor. There are many styles of Yoga; and the most common, outside of India, is Hatha Yoga and its many sub-styles. Although Hatha Yoga is the Union of physical mastery, it has many gentle and vigorous styles.

There is a need for mature, passionate, safety conscious, and gentle Yoga teachers. The world’s population is aging and Yoga students are living longer. Who would have thought that hospitals and religious centers would seek out Yoga teachers ten or twenty years ago?

Therefore, Yoga is becoming readily accepted by mainstream society and does not have to apply to any one particular religious group. Some of the old barriers that prevented the masses from being exposed to Yoga are gone.

“Dancers, Martial Artists, and Gymnasts perform better Yoga asanas than I can.”

Yoga is not dance, martial arts, or gymnastics. This is not to take away the importance of any of the above-mentioned arts. After all, I am a martial artist, and I was originally introduced to Yoga in a martial arts setting.

Being a little more flexible than the average person is a gift. However, it doesn’t serve as a top priority for teaching Yoga. The best Yoga teachers are those who can communicate, and those teachers usually have to struggle to excel at Yoga.

Yoga teachers who are naturally flexible think that
everyone else should be, as well. This is not always the case, as there are skeletal limitations within some Yoga students. This is not to say that they cannot increase, or improve, their flexibility, but each person’s body is unique.

“Teaching Yoga costs too much money.”

This is true in some cases; however, you can shop around for the best course at the most affordable price. Some onsite Yoga training facilities have Seva Programs, where you can work for partial tuition. This is much like a college, where there are scholarships for students who perform tasks around the campus. There are also a variety of Yoga correspondence courses, which allow flexible study hours, little or no travel, and no extra expenses. My wellness center offers such a Yoga course, and we have interns and graduates worldwide.

“I only want to teach Yoga to a few students and I don’t want to go into the Yoga business.”

Many Yoga practitioners feel this way and that’s fine. This is not a problem because if you are teaching a few friends, as a hobby, it is not necessary to go through the certification process.

If your circle of friends starts to expand, it would be wise to get some type of liability coverage. There are a number of liability insurance programs to choose. You could purchase a sports, Yoga, or home liability policy to cover your specific needs.

You should also learn as much as you can about safety,
anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. The reason I mention this is so that you do not hurt your Yoga students. The compassion and knowledge to become a safe Yoga instructor is very important.

“I have a good paying job and teaching Yoga may not support my family.”

Like all start up small businesses Yoga cannot
offer “instant bundles of cash.” You would want to build your business as an independent contractor first. In our Yoga teacher course, you will find 16 ways to grow your business, with little or no overhead. When you build up enough accounts, the decision, as to whether or not to open your own independent Yoga studio, will be clear.

This has been a radical job change for all of us, who go into teaching Yoga full time, but you do not have to take any sudden or financial risks. Growing your own Yoga business can start on a part time basis and later develop into full time, if you get the right guidance and take the proper steps.

Bear in mind that the business and marketing information in our Yoga course is current and “field tested.” This information is specific to Yoga instructors and contains successful methods used, with regard to return on investment.

Right now, there are a lot of Yoga studios that “flounder” economically, because the owners have insufficient business or marketing skills. Within this kind of climate, it is not hard to get your market share of Yoga students within your geographic area.

Lastly, there are so many reasons to avoid progress, you could create a book of excuses, but the reason to succeed at anything is your passion. If you are passionate, safe, and knowledgeable about Yoga, this is an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to become a Yoga teacher.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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The Fourfold Yoga – Part VI


Yoga Therapy


“Excellence in action is Yoga ” declares the Song Celestial ( Geetha ), an authentic treatise on Yoga & the quintessence of the Upanishads. Yoga, as the science of Holistic living, is a way of life. Yoga does not mean physical exercises even though such exercises have been prescribed for improving the skill of our body. Yoga comprises techniques that transform our intellect, mind and emotions & provides a comprehensive philosophy for Integral Life.


In order to live an integral life, we must develop skill in life. Aurobindo defined Yoga as the Art of Conscious Self Finding. The first & fundamental thing we should do if we are to expand the limits of our Consciousness, is to gain mastery of the mind. This is not easy.


The incidence of most of the physical diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries have been reduced by glorious advances in medical sciences. The eradication of most infectious diseases and the control of many metabolic disorders have been effectuated by better drugs and surgical techniques. Soon, even routine genetic minterventions may be possible. But new and ever more common causes of illhealth haunt us today. They are psychosomatic ailments & chronic stress. Allopathy is less than effective when dealing with these complaints.


The cause of these are found to be attitudes & lifestyle and not physiological anomalies. Allopathy by concentrating on a physical and mechanistic approach to healing, can do little to relieve conditions such as these. The frenetic pace of modern life exposes many people to continous high mental tension & unrelieved stress. And if we are largely sedentary in our habits & overindulge in health damaging substances & foods, as we are fond of doing, our well- being & fitness will be furthur compromised. Eventually stress may manifest itself in the form of physical disease or mental breakdown. Allopathy is symptomatic, and has countered with symptom- suppressing treatments, instead of tackling the root cause of the problem. Lack of disease has been regarded as health, rather

than as a dynamic growth process in which we feel truly well on physical, mental level and spiritual levels.


The Evolution of Medicine & the Three Eras of Medicine


Allopathic Medicine or ” Physical Medicine” belongs to the first era. It is Cartesian and creates a dichotomy between mind & body. Treating a disease is like fixing a part of the machine.


The second era of medicine refers to ‘Mind-Body medicine.” It became popular in the 1960s with the advent of Meditation, imagery, hypnosis & bio-feedback. Mind and body are interconnected by messenger molecules and these molecules are invoked to accomplish the healing process.


The third era of Medicine refers to ” Transpersonal Medicine “. It became popular in 1990s with the advent of group support and spirituality to heal.


Yoga therapy supplements the second and the third eras of medicine.


Yoga therapy complements medical technology with a holistic system of health care that addresses the triune problems – physical, mental & spiritual. The author of Yoga Sutras, Patanjal, defined it as the Science of the Mind. Mind is the root cause of bondage and in order to redeem us from the thraldom of the mind, we have to annilhilate the mind. Extirpation of thought waves is Yoga. And it is through teaching us to control our mind, our desires, and our reactions to stress, that yoga can fundamentally help us. It is based on the tripod of Life – Body, Mind & Self & the three levels of Being- Doing, Thinking & pure Being.


Mastery of the mind involves 2 aspects;


1) Concentration – The ability to concentrate our attention on any given subject or object


2) Meditation – The ability to quieten our mind at will.


Though the first has been mastered partially by most people, the second is very difficult. It is difficult indeed to lapse into a state of inner peace, let alone at will. As an intellectual, skillful means for quietening the mind, Yoga is unparalleled. A still mind is pure Spirit.


All aspects of the Fourfold Yoga work toward this in some way and if we practice this master Science, we reach closer to our goal. Yoga generates that inner mental peace perpetually, in all our actions, and thereby we achieve physical and mental health. This calmness in action is the secret to attaining the skill , according to Yoga Philosophy. This is known as the strength of Superconscient stillness !


Stillness itself is inertia

Action itself is discord

When stillness and action equalise

Then is the Highest Cosmic Union ( Yoga )


Lo! steadfast a lamp burns sheltered from the wind

Such is the likeness of the Yogi’s mind

Freed from sense storms and burning bright to Heaven

When mind broods placid, soothed with holy wont

When Self contemplates Self and in itself

Hath comfort ! ( The Song Celestial )


Health & Yoga Therapy


The World Health Organisation defines health as a state of complete physical, mental & social well-being & not merely an absence of

disease and infirmity. WHO also suggests a fourth dimension – spiritual well-being. It is clear from this definition that health should

be conceived as a continous function indicating the state of well-being and not a lack of ill health.


The approach of Yoga Therapy is based on the holistic concept of human being; the five ” sheaths ” of existence of which the physical sheath ( Annamaya Kosha ) is only the first. The second is the Vital Sheath ( Pranamaya Kosha ), that is made up of the Vital Energy called Prana which flows through invisible channels called Nadis. The third is the Mental Sheath ( Manomaya Kosha ) The fourth is the Intellectual Sheath ( Vijnanamaya Kosha ) and the final sheath is the Bliss Sheath ( Ananda Maya Kosha ). The Bliss Sheath is found to consist of the positive energy associated with the Divine Self. It is from this sheath that the inner peace

characteristic of true Bliss emanates.


More information about Transcendental Philosophy & Yoga can be had from http://www.astrologiavedica.com/html/yogamain.htm


Disease is defined as any imbalance in any of the three lower sheaths of existence. Ego Consciousness, which is centered around the Self, predominates in the physical, vital & mind sheaths. Harmony in these sheaths can be easily disturbed as the ego is up in arms against the world most of the time. The fourth & the fifth sheaths are permeated by a larger, Cosmic Consciousness and cannot be disturbed as they are closer to the Self. When we are truly healthy, the positive energy in the higher sheath percolates freely through the lower ones and brings total harmony & balance to all our faculties. But the imbalances in the lower sheaths block the free movement of Bliss despite the harmony of the higher sheaths being constant.


A great treatise on Yoga, the Yoga Vasishta, declares that there are two types of physical illness, & each requires a different approach. The first are the illnesses with a strong physical element, such as contagious diseases & accidental injuries. These are most effectively dealt with by conventional medicine, though Yoga can play a substantial supportive role. Yoga is prophylactic & also helps prevent the occurrence of such ailments by improving our general health & making us less accident-prone.


The other types of illness arises through disturbances in the mind sheath and includes all the psychosomatic & degenerative ailments. In these disorders, psychological factors play a much greater role, & conventional treatment alone cannot effectuate healing. According to Yogic Psychology, such ailments are thought to be caused by mental diseases called Adhis. ( Adhi creates Vyadhi , disease ). These arise when excessively strong feelings of like or dislike ( Raga & Dvesha ) becomes amplified & established acting to distort personality & to obstruct the flow of positive energy to the lower sheaths. This causes imbalances that result in physical ailments and also makes us feel restless &discontented.


The positive energy from the bliss sheath is responsible for our natural state which is Peace . While the flow of this energy is interrupted by Adhis ( mental blocks), our sense of well-being is diminished, & in our attempt to regain it, we may be furthur aggravating the problem by behaving inappropriately.


We may eat the wrong type of foods, lapse into negative states of mind, drive ourselves too hard, overwork ourselves, live in unhealthy surroundings and add more tension and stress. These methods, however will give only momentary relief & may be actually damaging to our health.


Y T provides that all-important element that conventional therapies lack while dealing with psychosomatic illnesses, as it acts directly on the mental imbalances that underlie them. While Meditation & emotion- culturing makes us conscious of the fact that thoughts and emotions are tyrants, Happiness-analysis teaches how to look within ourselves to find beatific peace and contentment. This effectively complements allopathic techniques which improve the situation physically but are unable to eliminate the root cause of the problem.


The root Cause of all Disease – Bhoga or Sensory enjoyments


Bhoga ( enjoyments of the senses ) is Roga ( Disease). It can only be cured by Yoga ( Divine Alchemy ).


All food that is tasty is detrimental to the body, declares Prakriti Therapy The food which cometh from Nature, fruits and vegetables,

are alkaline by nature. Maximum health is in an alkaline body. We can only be healthy if we keep a 80%- 20% ratio. ( 80% alkalinity & 20% acidity). This means we have to eat more natural foods & less processed foods ( which are more or less acidic ). Truly speaking, processed foods,even though they taste well, are robbers as they rob us of our natural, vibrant health.


Happiness Analysis for Lifestyle Change


Happiness Analysis is a technique for analysing the cause of happiness, what constitutes Bliss, the inner beatific peace that

characterises the fifth level of Being. It basically embodies the realization that happiness comes from within and is not

dependent on material possessions or physical enjoyment.


When we achieve desires, we are happy temporarily because of the satisfaction involved and happiness is often associated with

jubilation and excitement. But such feelings of euphoria are often followed by negative feelings such as tiredness & disillusionment.

The Beatific Peace, which is the aim of Yoga, involves no great effort and engenders no fatigue. The authoritatie texts of Yoga

postulate that the Ultimate State of Bliss is a state of eternal silence, wherein we are not troubled by tormenting thoughts &

fears and where we are freed from all sorrows.


Though Yoga practices lay the foundation needed for us to achieve this, we must also make determined efforts to sustain a state of

perfect happiness by analysing our feelings of pleasure. The basic hypothesis of Yoga is that actions bring pleasure when they briefly evoke the inner silence that defines true happiness. When our desire is fulfilled or when a goal is won, at the very instance of

success our thoughts vanish & our mind dips momentarily into the Bliss sheath. Actually what we do is to open up temporary channels to the higher sheath, hence evoking positive sensations. This is merely a temporary feeling and cannot be perpetuated.


Can we generate that moment from within and free ourselves from dependency on external aids? Yes, we can, if we try enough. Practice makes one perfect and at first we may not be able to maintain inner peace for long, but gradually we will become less vulnerable to negative influences. The likes & dislikes ( Raga & Dvesha ) that can lead to mental diseases ( Adhis ) will become less important and our growing awareness of Cosmic Consciousness will give meaning & coherence to every aspect of our life.


The Basis Of Yoga Therapy


Yoga therapy is fundamentally different from allopathic practice in its approach to health care. Instead of trying to reduce the cause

of disease to a single factor and to correct it using a specific cure, Yoga aims to treat illness by improving health on all the five levels of Being – physical, vital, mental, intellectual & spiritual – simultaneously & restoring inner harmony.


Ill-health occurs when the total balance of perfect health is disturbed. And although the original disrupting influence may only affect one level at first, viz the physical level, the disturbance soon spreads to the other four levels. All the five sheaths of existence interact, thus something that primarily affects the mind can soon spread to the body & the subtler sheaths. A bad day at work may make us irritable & it also increases stress reaction, makes our muscles tense and often depletes our energy level leading to chronic fatigue.


While emotion culturing generates equanimity, Relaxation & Meditation can calm our mind. Positive action produces harmony, just as as negative influences spread disruption. The different types of yoga practice augment each other & are more effective when done together. All wisdom is given in the one word ” Relax”.


Physical relaxation can be effectuated when we do the prescribed Asanas & stretch our muscles as muscular tension is released.


Mental relaxation is effected when we relax our mind during Meditation and release suppressed emotions.


This is the essence of Yoga Therapy, both prophylactic & therapeutic. Daily practice of a complete Yoga session can restore our natural balance and harmony, bringing positive good health to the three levels of Being – physical, mental and spiritual.


The Therapeutic Potential of Yoga


Yoga, holistic science and integral life, has become popular because it promotes positive health and is also useful in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Its therapeutic potential has largely been investigated for stress-related pyshco-somatic ailments. But with

the recent interest in ” Psycho-neuro- immunology” ( the effect of psyche on the immune system ), there is also a possibility that Yoga therapy can modify the course of infectious diseases.


One of the stress conditions which can definitely be controlled through yoga therapy is bronchial asthma. Beneficial effects of specific yoga practices, such as pranayamas, or kriyas can alleviate asthma. Patients with type II daibetes mellitus were also shown to improve significantly following yoga practice. Systematic studies on the effects of Yoga therapy for essential hypertension has shown that Y T compares favourably with bio-feedback. A study conducted in the UK on patients with rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated that Y T reduced symptoms and need for medicine.


Scientific studies also show that if pathological Angst ( anxiety ) patients practice Yogic techniques such as Pranayamas ( which

means the control of the Vital Force, Prana ), they show significant improvement.


Yoga therapy has also been used in the rehabilitation of the mentally handicapped. Ten months of yoga practice significantly improved the IQ, eye-hand coordination and social adaptation of 45 children with varying degress of mental retardation.


Psycho-neuro-immunology has given rise to interest in the idea that Y T can be used for the management of infectious diseases such

as pulmonary tuberculosis.Studies indicate two months of Y T along with short term chemotherapy caused tremendous change for the better. This beneficial effect of Yoga on the immune system has delighted the alternate medical community. Holistic health practitioners how talk about the the effect of Y T in cancer and even in AIDS patients. It has been shown that the practice of Yoga reduces the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix. It is also interesting to study

scientifically investigated reports on cancer regression following meditation. It is encouraging to note that there has been a scientific

study which showed that AIDS patients benefited ( clinically, psychologically, immunologically ) from Y T.


Ayurveda, Tai Chi, Y T, Kai-Igaku, Pranic Healing, Reflexology, Reiki, Acupuncture are all included amongst the 70 systems of Alternative Medicine which are prevalent today. All these come under Holistic Medicine which highlights the greatness of the Whole more than the parts. ( ” The Whole is greater than the sum of its parts ” )


A good site where you can get quality information about Holistic Medicine is www.holistic-alt.com


Yogic Diet & Prevention of Cancer


Modern reasearch shows that diets such as smoked fish/ meat or other foods known to contain carcinogenic chemicals should be

avoided at all costs. Because of the Western fast food type diet, colon cancer in men, promoted by high meat ( beef ) and fat

consumption is on the increase in the West. There is no doubt that a high fibre, low-fat diet reduces the risk of colon cancer.


Many compounds which are potent carcinogens are contained in cigarette smoking as well as smoked or barbecued meat or fish

products. They include benzenes ( in the tar component of cigarette smoke), heterocyclic amines & polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( in smoked / barbecued meat or fish ). That explains why lung cancer is on the rise in the Western male population during the last century. Colon cancer has reached endemic proportions in the West ( because of higher consumption of barbequed meat and beef fat ) & stomach cancer occurs at an alarming rate in Japan because of the Japanese habit of consuming fish.


Claims which need furthur research


While spices such as ( black or green) or spices such as fresh ginger, garlic & turmeric have been reported to reduce the risk of colon

cancer, onion is claimed to lower the risk of stomach cancer. Soyabean products reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Skin

cancer is reduced, it is claimed, by topical application of some constituents of ginger oil and ginger extract. It is true that more

research is needed on natural compounds. One breakthrough is the discovery of taxol, a plant product which is of tremendous

benefit in certain cancers. There are many such waiting for their discovery, particularly from indigenous plants in India, with proper

scientific research tools & testing.


Hygiea’s Commandment that “Thou shalt eat unprocessed, living natural food ” merits consideration here. Naturopathy

asks us to consume 100 grams fruits & 300 grams vegetables ( organically grown ) daily. Yoga with its emphasis on a naturopathic

diet of fruits & vegetables can show us the path to perfect health & Wisdom. Naturopathy is a branch of Ayurveda, the Science of Life, which is allied to Yoga.


More info about Ayurveda can be had from http://www.chakrapaniayurveda.com


The Healing Centre in us


Yogic philosophy averrs that true healing comes from within, the Self, the divine component in man.


His great transparent mirror, Self !


Within each of us is the source of Life and health, the Divine Centre. We have to learn to turn to that source and return to it again and again. When we breathe it in, the freshness engages us. Yoga frees us from the thraldom of both mind and matter & we become

more whole.


Article by G Kumar, astrologer, writer and programmer of http://www.eastrovedica.com. . Highly experienced with many correct predictions to his credit, he does professional natal charts http://www.astrologiavedica.com/html/vedichoroscope.htm To subscribe to his Free highly informative ezine, Z Files,click here.mailto:info@eastrovedica.com?subject=subscribeZF An integrator of East & West, his Astro blog is up at http://zodiacastrology.blogspot.com & his Philosophy blog at http://transcendentalphilosophy.blogspot.com

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Ancient practitioners have likened yoga to a living tree with six branches coming from the trunk, with each branch having its own unique function relating to a particular lifestyle. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is one of the six darshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools and, alongside the Bhagvada Gita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, is a milestone in the history of Yoga. Though brief, the Yoga Sutras are an enormously influential work, just as relevant for yoga philosophy and practice today, as when written many thousands of years ago.

The six branches of Yoga tend to have some aspects in common and familiarizing oneself with all six will certainly help in the selection of your own yoga programme that incorporates routines that appeal from any of the six branches. Asanas or postures, Pranayama or breath control, these two disciplines along with meditation and a strict moral code are the fundamentals of the practice of yoga.

Hatha Yoga

Introduced in the 15th century by an Indian sage as a preparatory stage of physical purification to enable the body to be fit for the practice of higher meditation as in Raja Yoga, Ha means sun and tha means moon, a reference to the energy channels of the body. Fully opened energy channels allow the body to become supple enough to attain the mental disciplines of Raja Yoga. In practice, both Hatha and Raja Yoga are inter-related and dependant upon each other. Western practitioners associate yoga with the hatha branch to attain mental and physical wellbeing.

Raja Yoga

Raja translates as ‘royal’ and meditation is central to this branch of yoga, which has eight side branches or limbs in an order that must be strictly followed. We start with Yama meaning ethical standards, Niyama – self discipline, asana – posture, pranayama – breathing control, pratyahara – sensory withdrawal, dharana – meditation, samadhi – ecstasy or final liberation. Those inclined to introspection or meditation are best suited to Raja yoga.

Though members of religious orders and spiritual communities devote themselves to this yoga branch, one does not have to embrace a monastic lifestyle to gain from the benefits of practicing Raja Yoga.

Karma Yoga

The fundamental principle of Karma Yoga is that what we experience now is created by our past actions, whether in this life or a previous one. Once we understand this principal, then we can ensure all our present actions help create a future free of negativity and selfishness. To practice Karma Yoga is to lead a life of selfless service to others.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga is yoga of the heart, a branch of devotion Bhakti is the Sanskrit term for selfless love of God and mankind. Bhakti principles are universal and common to many world religions. By following the path of bhakti we learn to channel our emotions, accept and have tolerance for all those that cross our path.

Jnana Yoga

This is the branch of knowledge, the yoga of the mind and is both the most difficult and the most direct of the six branches. It is yoga of the mind, of wisdom, the path of the sage or scholar. The practitioners of Jnana Yoga develop their intellects by intensive study, particularly but not confined to, the yoga tradition and other spiritual teachings. This is the path that most appeals to the intellectuals pursuing the practice of yoga. Within the context of our Western religious traditions, Kabalistic scholars, Jesuit priests, and Benedictine monks epitomise Jnana Yogis.

Tantra Yoga

Tantra, from the Sanskrit ‘to weave’ or ‘loom’, is the branch of yoga that practices ritual as a means of experiencing the divine in all our activities. Probably, the most misunderstood or misinterpreted of all the yogas, tantra, the sixth branch, is the pathway of ritual, an in tantric practice; we experience the Divine in everything we do. A reverential attitude is, therefore cultivated, encouraging a ritualistic approach to life. In essence, tantra is the most esoteric of the six major branches and appeals to those yogis who enjoy ceremony and relate to the feminine principle of the cosmos, which they call Shakti.

In the West, the tantric path of yoga has become associated almost entirely with sexual activity. It is because of this emphasis on only one aspect of this branch that it has become misinterpreted and misunderstood by so many. It is amusing to note that, although tantra has become associated exclusively with sexual ritual, most tantric schools actually recommend a celibate lifestyle. The ‘Kama Sutra’ an ancient Hindu book of sexual techniques is the best known example of the lack of understanding of the true objectives of tantra yoga.

A discipline that leads to a reverential attitude to even the most every day celebrations of giving and receiving, of birth and death, of achievements and of failure, and of relationships and understanding, this is a path that will appeal to westerners who enjoy being actively involved in celebrations, church going, clubs and associations and other types of ceremonies.

Combining the Paths

You do not have to limit yourself to one expression, but can practice hatha yoga, taking care of your physical body, while simultaneously cultivating the lifestyle of a Bhakti Yogi, expressing compassion for everyone you meet. Whichever, avenue of yogic expression draws your interest; it will probably be the right yoga path for you.

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The image of yoga has changed during the past years. If once, the first picture that popped your mind was of a group of white wearing weirdoes standing on their heads and breathing loudly, now you are probably thinking about Madonna’s well shaped arms. Currently, yoga is one of the most popular fitness activities worldwide. One of its appeal is that it can be practiced by elders and it can improve the overall physical fitness of athletes.

If you want to start practicing yoga, here is a quick guide to the basic types of yoga. While most of them are based on the same ancient postures, each yoga style has a different focus. Some of the yoga styles focus on strengthening the body while others focus on flexibility. Other types of yoga focus mainly on breathing, relaxation, and meditation.

Most of the yoga styles that were adopted in the west, were derived from the Hatha Yoga, which is a general term that refers to the physical branches of the ancient Indian philosophy. The purpose of the traditional Hatha Yoga was to achieve balance between mind and body through moral discipline and physical exercises, which are expressed by a series of asana: postures, panorama: breathing and meditation.

Western culture adopted mainly the physical aspects of the Hatha Yoga and ignored the moral aspects, usually even the breathing and meditations aspects. All the yoga styles that were derived from the Hatha Yoga share the same basic principle that mental balance can be achieved through practice of physical exercises and postures. Each yoga style chooses to focus on different aspect.

Ashtanga Yoga:

This focuses on the flow of postures in order to improve strength, stamina and flexibility of the body. During a Asthanga Yoga class, the participants jump from one posture to another. Therefore, this type of yoga is not the ideal for beginners. People who are not well fit may find it too difficult and demanding. However, if you are interested in improving your strength, flexibility and stamina and you are fit enough to deal with an hour of jumping from one posture to another, Asthanga Yoga can suit you.

Power Yoga:

This is an American development of the Asthanga Yoga that also adopted several elements from other types of yoga styles. You can find Power Yoga classes mainly in fitness and health clubs. Power Yoga focuses on strengthening the body by performing Hatha Yoga postures for a longer time to improve both physical flexibility and mental focus. Power Yoga can be a good exercise for athletes, people who practice types of fitness activities and people who want to tone their body.

Bikram Yoga:

A Bikram Yoga class features a series of 26 Hatha Yoga postures practiced in a heated room. It is also known as Hot Yoga. The purpose of the heat is to allow the participants to get into each of the yoga poses in a deeper and safer manner. The heat also helps clean the body from toxins promoting sweating. Bikram Yoga focuses more on the workout of the entire body, including the internal organs and less on flexibility. Bikram Yoga is not recommended to pregnant women and people who suffer from high blood pressure and heart conditions, but it can improve the physical fitness of people who recover from injuries.

Iyengar Yoga:

This focuses on the physical alignment of the body and the accurate performance of each posture. Some of the Iyengar Yoga postures are practiced with the assistance of props such as blocks and belts that are designed to help the participants achieve the most accurate posture and to protect their bodies from injuries. Since the flows between postures are not practiced, Iyengar Yoga classes are less intense and therefore more suitable for people who are less fit. Iyengar Yoga improves body strength and flexibility and can fit people of any age and every physical condition.

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It does not matter whether you are a yoga newbie or have been doing yoga so long you’ve memorized your instructor’s routine, asana-by-asana – sooner or later you’ll be in the market for a new yoga mat. I used to think every yoga mat was created equally until I bought a jute yoga mat and discovered that it didn’t smell like chemicals. Of course, it fell apart within two months…

That’s when I decided to write an article about the different types of yoga mats out there, how to choose one that’s best for you, and how to choose one that isn’t terrible for the environment either.

The Standard Cheap Yoga Mat

Many people get a cheapo mat the first time. This is fine, especially if you’re not sure whether you are going to be a yoga fanatic yet. You can usually find these from between $5 and $10 at any mega-store like Target or Kmart.

There are several problems with a standard yoga mat. First, they are often very thin and do not provide much cushioning. Most importantly, however, they stink like chemicals and are made using a very environmentally hazardous process. Furthermore, the chemicals used may be bad for your health. They are made using Phthalates, which turn hard plastics into soft plastics. Studies on rodents involving large amounts of phthalates have shown damage to the liver, the kidneys, the lungs and the developing testes.

I know a lot of people who use standard yoga mats and they’re not dead or dying (that I know of). Just don’t leave them in the trunk of your car because they tend to release a chemical smell when they get hot.

Jute and Cork Yoga Mats

Jute and cork yoga mats are an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to the standard yoga mat, but they have some drawbacks of their own. Cork and jute mats both come from very porous plants. As the material absorbs your sweat during yoga classes, it becomes A: a bit stinky and B: a little weak. While it is not going to fall apart in your hands like wet paper, don’t expect one of these to last a long time if you do yoga more than once a month.

Rubber Yoga Mats

Rubber yoga mats are my favorite. They are durable, affordable and – best of all – they are made from rubber, which is a fairly sustainable material that comes from the rubber tree. Just make sure that you are buying a “natural” rubber mat because the material can be produced synthetically as well – although synthetic rubber isn’t nearly as bad for the environment and your health as phthalates.

Natural rubber yoga mats should be avoided if you are allergic to latex. Instead, try one of the phthalate-free, latex free mats from this page http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/95-1041_OLIV . They are a little more expensive, but if you are allergic to latex, don’t want to work out on chemicals, and need something that isn’t going to fall apart on you – this type of mat is definitely the way to go.

Using a Pilates Mat for Yoga

Pilates mats are much thicker than yoga mats. This is required because you are spending more time on the floor, often with pressure points like hips, knees, shoulders and elbows supporting some or all of your weight. It is also very important for cushioning to keep your spine from getting injured when doing rolls while lying on your back. Can you use a pilates mat for yoga? Sure, but they are more expensive, bulkier, and you will need to make sure they have a non-slip surface. Yoga mats do tend to be “stickier” which is needed when doing most asanas. But if you do yoga and pilates, try buying just the pilates mat and see if you like it for yoga as well. I do not, however, advise using a yoga mat for pilates, as it can cause injury.

Places to find yoga mats online:

http://www.gaiam.com/yoga/ – Gaiam Yoga Products are well known for their quality and for including many eco-conscious options like jute and rubber. The can be a little pricey, but if you look for items on sale there are deals to be found.

http://www.ecomall.com/biz/fitness.htm – Eco Mall’s yoga and fitness section has a huge list of online resources, most of which have a “green” outlook on business.

http://www.firstpagefitness.com/directory/ – First Page Fitness has a directory of businesses in the fitness industry, many of which sell yoga mats online.

http://www.target.com – Target has a lot of inexpensive yoga products, including a few different types of standard yoga and pilates mats. If your goal is to just buy something cheap to get started with, I’d advise skipping all of the expensive shops and just going to Target.

Using the Class Yoga Mats

I strongly discourage using the communal yoga mats found in most fitness centers and studios. These are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. You can buy yoga mat wipes if you must use a communal mat. Most of these wipes are just expensively packaged alcohol pads, so you can save a lot of money by getting a box of wipes from Walgreens.

Going Without a Yoga Mat

People have been practicing yoga for thousands of years without modern mats. The reason why most people these days use a yoga mat is because they wear socks, which cause their feet to slip during poses. Even if they do their yoga routine without socks (which can be very unhygienic in most fitness centers and yoga studios) today’s yoga routine typically takes place on a tile or hard-wood floor, which becomes slippery as the feet sweat. Thus, a sticky yoga mat provides the necessary foundation on which to perform the asanas. However, if you regularly practice yoga in an environment that does not have a slippery surface – such as outdoors or on carpet – there really is no need for a yoga mat at all. I have also found that a pair of yoga socks like these – http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/95-9196_MSTR – works just as well as a mat without all of the hassle and a fraction of the cost.

Whether you go with a standard mat, a Pilates mat, socks, or one of the many “green” options available these days, there is a yoga mat made just for you! I hope the above information helps you decide.

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Maybe your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or best friend told you Yoga would be good for you. You have heard so much about Yoga; it seems that Yoga is a “cure” for almost anything. The more you hear, the more confusing it is to understand what Yoga is all about.


Should you go out and buy a Yoga book? What would be the best Yoga book to buy? If you visit the local book store, you see hundreds of Yoga books, CD’s, DVD’s, card decks, and kits. Should you buy a copy of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali or buy one of the “for dummies” Yoga books?


Below is an overview of Yoga, which may help you decide your path of Yogic study. There is no right or wrong path of Yoga study, but be selective when you choose a Yoga teacher, Yoga book, or Yoga class.


You should first realize that there are many styles of Yoga. There are nine major styles of Yoga; many more styles exist, as well as many sub-styles. The nine major styles of Yoga are Bhakti, Hatha, Jnana, Karma, Kundalini, Mantra, Raja, Tantra, and Yantra Yoga. Each style emphasizes unity of body, mind, and spirit.


The literal meaning of Yoga is “union” or “unity.” If we can unify the body, mind, and spirit in harmony, we can achieve tranquility. One of the main purposes of Yoga is tranquility through improved health due to a holistic approach to life.


India is the birth place of Yoga. There are many written works about Yoga, but the origin of Yoga dates back thousands of years. Yoga is the “mother” of most of the world’s health maintenance systems. Asian martial arts, with an origin from the Shaolin temple, and Pilates, can trace their ancestry back to Yoga.


The “higher forms of Yoga” are said to be Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, and Raja Yoga. Each of these four styles is a complex subject, within themselves, and I cannot do them justice by a summarization.


Hatha Yoga sub-styles are the most prolific outside of India. Most new Yoga practitioners will learn a Hatha Yoga sub-style first. Hatha Yoga, and its many sub-styles, primarily emphasize physical health, which will likely result in improved mental health. Most Hatha Yoga classes, outside of India, do not approach spiritual health.


Nevertheless, Hatha Yoga is seen by fundamentalists as an “export of Hinduism.” In some rare instances, this may be true, but most Hatha Yoga teachers are content to teach improved health for body and mind.


Therefore, when you choose a book, or local Yoga teacher, be aware that the Yoga teacher or Guru is a guide – but you have a right to know which direction you are being guided to. The Yoga practitioner learns to expand his or her mind and make independent decisions “along the way.”


Yoga is non-threatening to religion. If a Yoga instructor teaches intolerance, of any kind, that is not Yoga. Unity is not sectarianism. We have to learn to appreciate diversity, and we should never tolerate prejudice. Prejudice and intolerance are often the cause of crime and wars.


On the “Grand Scale,” the goals of Yoga are the end of suffering, tranquility, and world peace through unity.


Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga is a system of physical and mental practices that originates in India more than 5000 years ago. What is the purpose of yoga? The purpose of yoga is to help yourself and other people to achieve your highest potential and to experience a healthy and happy life. By using the practice of yoga you can extends your healthy and happy life for far beyond the accepted known. And more importantly improve the quality of your life.


There are different kinds yoga. The main focus of yoga is to benefit your physical and mental health. Yoga is a practice that will focus on the harmony between mind and body. Even though the philosophy of yoga comes from India, now it is practiced all the over the world.


The actual word yoga is a Sanskrit word. That means union or merger and the ultimate goal of the practice of yoga is to strike a balance between the mind and body. In order to achieve this balance between the mind and the body the practice of yoga will use movement, breath, posture, relaxation and meditation in order to establish this balance. This in order to live a healthy, lively and balanced life.


There are many types of yoga, one of the most popular forms of yoga is called Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga deals mainly with physical postures and breathing exercises. Another form of yoga is Karma Yoga which emphasizes the spiritual practices to help you unify your body mind and daily life through certain practices. The other form of yoga is called Bhakthi Yoga. Bhakti Yoga is a devotional form of yoga and generally includes chanting, reading scriptures and doing worship.


Most people have heard of the word yoga as yoga is a very popular practice that is practiced all over the world. The ancient yogis had the believe that in order for somebody to be in harmony with themselves and his environment he have to find a balance between the mind that the body and the spirit with in. Yoga was used to find a balance between those three. The yogis formulated the way to achieve this balance. And this is done through breathing techniques and meditation.


Lets look at the 5 different kinds of yoga.


Hatha yoga

Hatha yoga is a yoga of postures. Probably when you think of yoga you will be thinking of Hatha yoga. Hatha Yoga is the most popular form of yoga in the west. Hatha yoga uses physical postures or Asana and different breathing techniques and meditation. All of this is combined to achieve a better health as well as in understanding of spirituality.


Bhakthi Yoga

Bhakthi yoga is the yoga of devotion. It is yoga for the heart and devotion of the people. The practice over Bhakthi Yoga teaches a person to have devotion for his spiritual being or God and to develop this love and acceptance for all living things.


Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga is the yoga of self control. The word Raja actually means Royal. By using the practice of Raja Yoga one sees oneself as central. It means to respect oneself. To achieve this kind of self respect one has to gain control over oneself and the senses.


Jnana Yoga.

Jnana Yoga is the yoga of the mind. Jana yoga is a kind of yoga that will deal with the mind. It will focus on the persons wisdom and intellect with the aim to unify these two to surpasses limitations in life.


Karma Yoga

Karma yoga is the yoga of service. Karma yoga mainly uses the Law of Karma meaning that the present situation is based on your past actions. So by doing selfless service now you are choosing a future that is free from negativity.

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Yoga pertains to an entire group of spiritual and physical practices that date back as far as 3300 BC in India, an era in which anthropologists have uncovered statues depicting figures in yoga-like postures. As you can imagine, yoga’s influence on the Western world in general and here in the United States in particular, has taken place in a veritable blink-of-an-eye when you look at the whole history of yoga.

Nevertheless, there are a number of people from the past and present who have had a profound influence on the spread of yoga in the West, and probably few of greater significance than the five people listed below…

#1 Rodney Yee

Rodney’s Yoga: http://www.gaiam.com/category/yoga-studio/yoga-instructors/rodney-yee.do

Rodney Yee was once a gymnast, a ballet dancer, and a philosophy major. What do all of these things have in common? The helped him satisfy a deep hunger for knowledge and understanding of the human mind and body. This curiosity is what led him to begin learning, and eventually teaching, his own form of yoga. Rodney has appeared on several national morning shows, and daytime television talk shows like Oprah. He owns a major yoga studio in LA, and is probably THE most well known yoga personality in America, next to Bikram.

#2 Bikram Choudhury

Bikram’s Yoga: http://www.bikramyoga.com

Although he was born in India, Bikram began teaching his “hot yoga” classes in the California during the 1970s. This form of yoga, in which students perform mostly Hatha yoga poses in a heated room, may be the most popular type of yoga in the United States today.

#3 Shiva Rea

Shiva Rea’s Yoga: http://www.shivarea.com/about

Her name sounds Indian, but Shiva is actually an American-born yoga instructor, daughter of an artist/surfer. Shiva has released several award-winning yoga videos, and has traveled the world to appear at yoga retreats and international studios. Now a regular contributor for the Yoga Journal, Shiva has built a name for herself as one of the best yoga teachers in the Western world. She is widely known for her cultivation of Vinyasa yoga techniques into her own style called Prana Flow.

#4 Patricia Walden

Patricia’s Yoga: http://www.gaiam.com/category/yoga-studio/yoga-instructors/patricia-walden.do

While many Western yoga teachers are drawn to the temptation of creating their own, unique style of yoga, branding it and watching it flourish, Patricia has remained dedicated to her Iyengar yoga roots for over 25 years. She has co-authored The Women’s Book of Yoga and Health and starred in several award-winning yoga DVDs, including the best-selling Yoga for Beginners series.

#5 Seane Corn

Seane’s Yoga: http://www.gaiam.com/category/yoga-studio/yoga-instructors/seane-corn.do

The extremely beautiful, talented and charismatic Seane Corn teaches Vinyasa yoga, and is the star of the hugely popular Vinyasa Flow Yoga DVD series. She has been featured on the cover of the Yoga Journal three times, and has also appeared on the covers of Natural Health, Fit yoga, Yoga Life and Healing Retreat and Spa Magazine. Many are drawn to Seane Corn’s charisma and authentic messages of change and progress. She has worked with several political and social programs to bring changes to local and global communities, including a shelter that houses and educates adolescent prostitutes, and YouthAIDS. Born in New Jersey, Seane had her first yoga experience at the Life Cafe in the East Village area of New York.

Have we left out your favorite yoga teacher? Opinions differ widely as to who has had the most influence over modern yoga. But there is no denying that the five yoga instructors above, whether you agree with their teachings or not, are have had a major impact on the way yoga is practiced and taught here in the U.S. and around the western world.

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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.

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Yoga, the extreme heights of peacefulness attained through the silencing of the soul.

Yoga, the oldest way of spiritual practice is one of the six schools in Hindu philosophy. Towards the end of twentieth century, yoga teachers moved to the West and travelers from the West to India led to the flourishing of Yoga in western countries. In the West, yoga gives stress on different postures associated with it. The Bhagavad Geetha, The Upanishads, The Yoga Sutras of Patajali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Yoga Rahasya and many other Hindu texts holds writings based on Yoga.

Classification:

Karma yoga- Yoga of action

Jnana Yoga- Yoga of wisdom

Bhakti Yoga-Yoga of devotion

Raja Yoga- Yoga of meditation

Yoga, the science of liberation helps its disciples to reach the extreme point of liberation. Since Yoga has a basic therapeutic healing power, is practiced together with other medications. Ashtanga Yoga and Ayurveda is simply mixed in the practice of Yoga.

Yoga lay emphasis on the body, mind and the emotional area of a person. At the final stage the Yogi (one who practice Yoga) reaches the ‘moksha’ stage where there is no interruption of thoughts occurs. Concentration and meditation are indivisible parts of Yoga that infills the meditator with the extreme pleasures of peace and joy.

According to Hinduism, yoga is practiced to attain the union with the God and Buddhism says Yoga as a practice that deepens wisdom, thought and insight. Western countries give emphasis on individualism. Yoga is a practice to spiritual awareness and insight for a normal person.

Yoga Therapy:

Yoga Therapy is an extensive healer that promotes positive health. Anxiety, hypertension, heart problems, asthma, diabetes, etc are some of the conditions in which Yoga is applicable. Yoga therapy is approved by the Medical Researchers as it is found to be effective in most of the ailments. Yoga therapy is an effective stress manager. It includes physical postures, breathing techniques and other relaxation methods.

Sri Ramakrishna Parama Hamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sivananda, Parama Hamsa Yoga Nanda, Mira Bhai from Bhakti tradition, Sankaracharya from jnana tradition, etc are some of the celebrated yogis of the ancient India.

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The markets of sporting goods are equipped with a comprehensive range of yoga accessories, which enable you to practice your yoga asanas in a more comfortable manner which will further lead to derive maximum out of them.

But it is not necessary to purchase all of the accessories, rather it is recommended to opt for the necessary ones. Unlike other sports, yoga does not require different types of expensive accessories rather the only major equipment required by it is your “BODY”.

The yoga accessories play a significant role in making you to perform various yoga asanas safely, as they may prevent you from unexpected slips and slides while practicing them.

– Different types of yoga accessories:

The followings are the different types of yoga accessories, which will enable you to perform yoga in a more comfortable manner, but as discussed earlier, it is not necessary to have all of them.

a) Yoga Books

b) There is a wide range of yoga books which are considered as the perfect yoga accessories in guiding the practitioners while performing yoga.

c) Yoga Apparels

One of the most common yoga accessories is the yoga clothing which plays a significant role in the world of yoga. It is always recommended to opt for the comfortable pair of yoga apparels so as to enable free movements of your body while performing different types of yoga asanas. The various types of yoga apparels include yoga pants, T-shirts, yoga shorts, etc.

d) Blankets

There are different types of blankets available in the market which can be placed on the floor to proffer comfortability to every part of the body.

e) Benches

There are various benches available along with the cushions on their back in order to deliver comfort and relaxation while meditating. Not only this, they also proffer an excellent support to the body while performing any stretching or deep breathing asanas.

f) Straps

These yoga straps are used for yoga stretches so as to enable the performers to maintain a particular position for longer hours in order to obtain the best results.

g) Sandbags

The sandbags are generally used during the yoga asanas in order to enable the toning up of the muscles at a faster rate.

h) Yoga Balls

The yoga balls are used for various yoga exercise programs.

i) Yoga Bag

The yoga bags are especially equipped with an adequate amount of space so as to carry the various types of yoga accessories to the yoga class.

j) Yoga Mats

The yoga mats act as the center stage for all types of yoga exercises and meditations. They also enable the body to perform various asanas at an ease. They also prevent unexpected slipping and sliding of the performer while practicing.

k) Yoga DVD’s

There are different types of Yoga DVD’s available in the market, which generally guide you while practicing yoga exercises when you want to perform yoga at your own place. Basically, they act as the yoga teachers.

Though, the purchase of all these accessories is not necessary, but they are considered as the useful items in order to perform the yoga asanas at an ease and with comfortability.

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Yoga provides great stress relief and other health benefits. The Mayo Clinic recommends yoga for stress management and relaxation, and medical journal articles have proven yoga’s effectiveness in treating serious medical conditions such as arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression and multiple sclerosis.

How do you make sure that you get the great stress relief and other benefits of yoga? Easy! Ask any yoga teacher the questions listed below. If the teacher’s answers closely match the ideal answers, you have found a great teacher.

QUESTION 1: DO YOU PRACTICE YOGA NOW?

IDEAL ANSWER 1: YES, I PRACTICE YOGA EVERY DAY.

If you wanted to learn to ride a bicycle, would you take lessons from someone who wrote a book about bicycles but had never actually ridden a bike? Only if you wanted to find the quickest way to fall off the bicycle! No amount of reading or theoretical knowledge will enable you to understand how to ride a bicycle. Sooner or later you have to get on the bike. The same is true of yoga. Only someone who is currently practicing yoga can safely and effectively teach you how to do yoga.

QUESTION 2: ARE YOU CURRENTLY TAKING LESSONS WITH A YOGA TEACHER?

IDEAL ANSWER: YES, I STUDY WITH A QUALIFIED TEACHER IN A RECOGNIZED YOGA TEACHING STYLE.

Even your yoga teacher needs a yoga teacher. Why? Yoga is a process, and there is always more to learn. Everyone learns more about yoga by getting feedback from a great teacher. You want your yoga teacher to be aware of the latest discoveries on how to teach yoga. The best way for your teacher to do this is to take lessons with another yoga teacher.

QUESTION 3: WHAT TYPE OF YOGA DO YOU TEACH, AND HOW DID THAT STYLE OF TEACHING YOGA DEVELOP?

IDEAL ANSWER: I TEACH “Y” STYLE OF YOGA WHICH HAS EXISTED FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS.

If a yoga teaching style has existed for at least 10 years, the teachers in that system know the best ways to teach and the pitfalls to be avoided. In addition, if a situation comes up that your teacher does not know how to handle, your teacher will be able to ask a more experienced teacher in that teaching style for advice.

QUESTION 4: WHAT TYPE OF YOGA TEACHER TRAINING HAVE YOU HAD?

IDEAL ANSWER: I HAVE COMPLETED (OR AM CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN) A 500 HOUR TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES CLASSES, EXAMS, AND APPRENTICE TEACHING.

Suppose a pipe burst in your house and sent a fountain of water gushing through your kitchen. Uh-oh, you need a plumber! There are two plumbers in your neighborhood: Plumber Smith and Plumber Jones. Plumber Smith used to be an electrician but took a one weekend plumber certification course and is now a plumber. Plumber Jones enrolled in a year long plumbing certification course at a special plumber training school, passed the plumbing certification exam, and apprenticed for one year under a master plumber. Which plumber would you choose?

Since yoga can have an enormous impact on your health, shouldn’t you take as much care in choosing a yoga teacher as you would in choosing a plumber? Your yoga teacher should be enrolled in or have completed a yoga teacher training course that lasts at least one year, and includes classes on how to do yoga, classes on how to teach yoga, apprentice teaching under a certified and experienced teacher, and certification exams.

One of the most comprehensive yoga teacher training programs in existence is the Iyengar Yoga Teacher Certification Program. If you are new to yoga, or suffer from a disease or injury, I strongly recommend that you seek out a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher.

QUESTION 5: DOES YOUR YOGA TEACHER HAVE A KIND AND EMPATHETIC HEART?

IDEAL ANSWER: YES.

Only you can determine if the answer to this question is yes.

A kind yoga teacher really cares about his or her students.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that a teacher is quiet or a pushover. A teacher may speak loudly because your attention has wandered off and he or she is trying to get your attention back. A kind yoga teacher will carefully watch what you are doing, and guide you into doing yoga more correctly. Find a great yoga teacher, follow his or her instructions, and the health and stress relief benefits of yoga will be yours!

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What is Kundalini Yoga?

Taken from the book Open your heart with Kundalini Yoga, by Siri Datta

Throughout the ages, in every civilization, there has been a hidden pathway, a secret technology of discovery, which enables the individual to reach the ultimate potential. This is a technique that has the ability to elevate, inspire and awaken the individual to their own greatness. That greatness is within every one of us, and the technology that can do this is Kundalini Yoga.

As an enthusiastic teacher of Kundalini Yoga, I am always asked ‘What is it? Is it like Hatha Yoga, or Ashtanga Yoga? Is it dynamic or static? Are there meditation or breathing techniques?’ My answer is always the same: it is all of those things, and a multitude more.

Yogi Bhajan, the Master of Kundalini Yoga, now living in New Mexico, has explained that there are 22 major forms of yoga, each one expressing a facet of the whole. A good way of understanding this is that each different form of yoga is like the facet of a diamond. The diamond herself is Kundalini Yoga, the mother of all yogas.

Kundalini Yoga is the most inclusive of all yoga practices as it includes all aspects of yoga within its teachings. In this practice there are over 8.4 million kriyas (completed sequences, or sets). These kriyas are made up of asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), mantra (chanting), mudras (hand gestures), bandhs (body locks) and meditation.

The kriyas are a blend of dynamic and static postures that deliver a perfect sequence of energy, tones and feelings played upon the instrument of the body. In the ancient scriptures it is said that Kundalini Yoga is the fastest way to create the transformation that the individual is seeking. There is a certain depth, completeness and timelessness that is inherent in Kundalini Yoga.

Kundalini Yoga is a legacy. It has been practised as an exact science by masters in communication with Infinity, coming directly from the Soul. It is a practice that has been experienced and handed down through enlightened souls for many thousands of years. It is said that Christ, Buddha and Moses practised Kundalini Yoga.

In ancient times it was often taught and passed down through the line of kings. These Kundalini Yoga masters did not specifically or personally pass on the knowledge. Rather it is thought that the teachings were handed down via an authentic lineage of Raj (Royal) Yogis. Kundalini Yoga knowledge was transmitted through meditation and altered states. It was this practice that was kept within the bloodline of royalty. We understand that the very first transmission of Kundalini Yoga was passed to the Hindu god Shiva, who in turn passed the knowledge to his consort Parvarti. From the Bhagavadgita we can understand that Lord Krishna was a keeper of the teachings, which were then passed to King Janaka, who was an early Raj Yogi and master of Kundalini Yoga. This was passed on through that lineage to Guru Ram Das, a Guru of the Sikhs, via the subtle realms. Guru Ram Das was bestowed the High Throne of Raj Yoga, known as the Takhat.  The word takhat literally means ‘high throne’ and is not specific to any exclusive form of yoga; there are many other takhats. This meant that he had to pass the technology on with his blessing to anyone who came along. It was through Guru Ram Das that the teachings were passed on to Yogi Bhajan. In 1969 Yogi Bhajan took Kundalini Yoga to the United States, against the wishes of his peers. Until then, it had always been highly secret and was never practised in public.

Since Kundalini Yoga has become so popular in the United States the Kundalini Research Institute (KRI) has been developed. This was founded to verify, promote, produce and preserve the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, exactly as they had been passed down.

There is much confusion surrounding kundalini and Kundalini Yoga. Some experts say that it is the most potent and powerful way to change consciousness, while others warn against practising it, or veil the entire teaching in secrecy. Yet how can something as essential to consciousness as kundalini be feared? Some people worry about raising the kundalini energy, but teachings from Yogi Bhajan have dispelled many misrepresentations and myths surrounding kundalini and his explicit teachings have given researchers techniques that can be thoroughly tested out. Kundalini Yoga is also known as the ‘yoga of awareness’. Awareness leads to understanding and understanding gives way to acceptance. When you can accept yourself, all your limitations fade away. All your fears, insecurities, and self-belittlement cease to be. In its place are abundance, hope and the wisdom of your true worth. Kundalini Yoga is so much more than a set of physical exercises. If genuinely practised, with respect and reverence, it will change your life.

There is only one way that you can practise Kundalini Yoga. It is very specific, clearly laid out and it is practised as it was given, with no alterations. Its path can take you to many places, whether you wish to achieve enlightenment or to release parts of yourself that are out of date and do not reflect the person you wish to be. Kundalini Yoga can also offer an approach for those who have only limited time to devote to this practice, but who also deserve the rewards of this priceless gift. The practice is easily understood and accessible for complete beginners to yoga who have decided that they need a tool to help them balance out everyday pressures. This is the yoga for modern humankind. This practice is for our present-day dilemma: to feel whole and complete while maintaining our day-to-day responsibilities. Kundalini Yoga is a sacred technology that is greatly needed at the present time. It is direct, powerful and simple.

It is important to understand that Kundalini Yoga is concerned with preparing the body for the kundalini energy to rise up through the Sushmana (the energetic spinal column). The scientific aspect of Kundalini Yoga is designed to provide you with the experience of your highest consciousness through the raising of your kundalini. Kundalini is your latent spiritual potential. Through the practice of Kundalini Yoga, this psychic nerve centre is awakened; its revelation is the release of your true potential. For this energy to awaken safely, body and mind need to be strong and able to deal with this very powerful change in consciousness. The practice of Kundalini Yoga is the powerful cleansing of the whole being. Not only do the body and mind need to be cleansed but also the energetic aspects of ourselves. The chakras (energy centres) and meridians (energy pathways) need to be unblocked and activated to allow this new influx of dynamic energy to flow freely throughout the whole being.

Kundalini and chakra work are closely linked. The kundalini energy can be depicted as a serpent, coiled in three and a half turns, sleeping in the Muladhara (Base, or Root, Chakra), the densest of all the chakras. But please note that Yogi Bhajan does not support the concept of kundalini as the coiled serpent, but rather as the blueprint for the full potential of humankind. Kundalini is known as the spiritual nerve, seated in the base of the spine, waiting to be awakened. With the practice of Kundalini Yoga this nerve can be stimulated and start to become activated as it breaks through the blockage at the Muladhara, travelling upwards through the Sushmana and piercing every chakra along the way, until it reaches the Crown, where full enlightenment is attained.

You do not have to charge in with the intention of raising the kundalini to full enlightenment, although this is the goal of all forms of yoga. There is a more acceptable, more gentle, way of introducing you to the sheer potential that is within you, and showing you how this potential can be released. This method is to gen
tly rouse or stir the kundalini energy in the Ida and Pingala channels, which interweave around the Sushmana, every time you embark on a kundalini kriya. The general pattern of a kundalini kriya is to awaken and build up the Pranic energy. This is then guided to the relevant area that you wish to work on. For example, if your digestive system needs working on, a set to help with decision-making or an emotional state that is upsetting you might be helpful. By directing the energy to a particular chakra, organ, or issue in your life, this blockage will be dissolved and once again you will be back in balance. The negative effects will harm you no more.

There are over 8.4 million kriyas, all designed to deal with the day-to-day challenges we face. There are kriyas for physical issues, such as the digestion, circulation, immune system (disease resistance), lower back problems, glandular malfunctions, menopause and sexuality problems. There are also kriyas for the mind, to clear confusion, addictions, haunting thoughts and creative blocks. Additionally, there are kriyas to balance the emotions, to bring about feelings of ecstasy, to dispel fear and paranoia, to bring about stillness and to attain the empowering ability to accept and forgive all aspects of your life.

Meditation is also a very important part of the practice. This allows the body and mind to process the journey of the kriya. The energy has travelled along a certain pathway, awakening, dispelling and moving your energetic bodies. The meditation process is a lesson in inner awareness. Sometimes the meditation will have a breathing technique to enable the mind to quieten as you turn inwards into the realm of feelings and emotions. When this happens you will be able to observe your thoughts as they come and go. This is the start of the practice known as ‘becoming the watcher’. It is through this method that you become master of the mind.

At other times there will be a mantra to accompany the meditation. A mantra is always equipped with a coded sonic vibration that cuts through the psyche and starts to balance out areas within that need attention. When there is a mantra, you may find yourself immersed in the sound. This is the most powerful part of Kundalini Yoga. The word mantra breaks down into man, which means ‘mind’ and tra, which is ‘to vibrate’. Therefore, mantra means ‘to vibrate the mind’. This miraculous technique shifts many character traits and behavioural patterns that keep us suffering. In the chapter on Mantra (see page 51), I will explain exactly how this sonic science works.

I would like to close this section by saying that you can never predict a kundalini class. It is always full of surprises, since many changes will be going on in all the various people present. There have been times in my classes when there have been outbursts of laughter, which is always good fun and I actively encourage it. Yoga is usually synonymous with seriousness, quiet and solemnity, but this is not always the case. Laughter is common in my classes. It is, after all, an explosion of happiness. This usually happens when a painful emotion or memory has been released. It is also common to find yourself so immersed in the kriya and the breathing that you surface to find tears falling down your cheeks. You may not actually be crying, but tears are falling silently. This is always a very powerful realization of the many changes that are taking place within you.

When you experience this, you will find that harmony and balance are restored to you, and you will feel within an endless supply of energy and happiness. When you experience this, even for a few brief moments, your life will not be the same again. The inner light is now switched on, shining through you, and others will not fail to be drawn towards you. You will become a beacon for humankind, a touchstone for the truth, and the living reality of who we really are.

To everyone who embarks on the path of kundalini, I wish you the greatest journey. May your path show you the many examples of Divinity that are around you at any given moment. May you realize the ultimate truth: that only Love can set you free. Be free, my friend, as it is your birthright.

Be Grateful, BE GREAT and BE FULL Yogi Bhajan

Read more from Siridatta here

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Yoga is synonymous with fitness. This is because yoga is interested in a holistic outlook on the entire body and how fitness should be incorporated into exercise. This is because yoga is about, mind, body and spirit, but yoga is also synonymous with health and fitness.


Anyone who has been taking yoga classes for any amount of time will probably tell you they feel much more fit then they did before taking yoga classes. This is because of the holistic ideals behind yoga and how the holistic side of yoga actually creates a fit body from head to toe.


– Yoga Fitness:


Fitness yoga is the discipline of strength training through core exercises. This can range from focusing on very specific parts of the body or focusing on a more holistic approach that includes the entire mind and body. Either way will get you fit, and it is probably good to have a combination of the two if you are serious about using yoga postures to keep fit.


– Power Yoga:


Power yoga definitely belongs in the fit category of yoga practice. Power yoga is a form of yoga that uses the yoga body postures, but in an accelerated succession of these postures. This will allow the body to strengthen very quickly, and stay very fit, but as you might have guessed, this type of yoga takes time and practice to master. This is because there are many yoga positions that must be mastered so you can do the yoga poses in a smooth succession.


– Staying Fit with Breathing:


One of the key features of yoga, whether it is yoga for meditation, strength or fitness or all three, is that yoga is about breathing. That is to say you need to breath properly while completing the different yoga poses. This is an added benefit to staying fit with yoga, because yoga will actually help you to breath more properly while doing other exercises as well, and will remind you to breath properly throughout the entire day, promoting fitness.


– Some of the Different Types of Yoga Fitness Include:


– Ashtanga Yoga is a type of yoga that means eight limbs. It is a quick paced yoga style, and is one of the more intense types of yoga. It is based on a progressive set of sequences of asanas which are synchronized with proper breathing. This is one of the more physically demanding types of yoga available.


– Power Yoga is seen as a western interpretation of yoga and is based on Ashtanga yoga. It also involves a series of poses in succession of each other.


– Vinyasa Yoga, which means breath synchronized movement is another intense type of yoga that is fast paced with an emphasis on breathing techniques. This type of yoga may begin with sun salutations and then might move to intense stretching exercises.


– Bikram Yoga is also known as hot yoga and is practiced in 105 degree heated rooms. Typically, this yoga session includes 26 different poses and is often practiced with a Bikram Yoga class. The hot temperatures will loosen muscles and there would obviously be profuse sweating as well. Some of the appeal to this type of yoga is the idea that it also cleanses the body due to the intense perspiration in the 105 degree temperature room.


– In Conclusion:


There are a lot of different types of yoga out there, and for fitness, there is no shortage of yoga styles that will suite your needs. We recommend trying them all out, and then deciding which one is best for you. Remember that yoga will provide an overall fitness that is hard to match with other types of fitness exercises.

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It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.


Top 5 Myths About Yoga:


1. Yoga is a Form of Physical Exercise:


This is perhaps the most common view of yoga. That it is a form of physical exercise. This certainly needs to be clarified and I am going to provide some details about true yoga practice in order to do this.


Yoga is actually has 8 parts to it, with the physical aspect being just 1. These 8 parts, include yoga dos, yoga don’ts, physical exercises (asana), breathing exercises, sense control, concentration, meditation and divine union.


So you can see from above that although the physical aspect of yoga, which is called asana, is an important part of yoga, yoga as a whole is certainly more that just a series of postures and movements. Yoga is essentially a spiritual science whose objective is to still the mind of thoughts, so that the truth of Oneness hidden behind the waves of the mind can be clearly seen and embraced.


2. Yoga is a Religion:


The other extreme and incorrect view on yoga is that is it a religion. Commonly yoga is considered part of Hindu religion, but yoga is not a religion. It is a time tested spiritual science with the goal of revealing the true nature of reality. As indicated above, yoga practice is a step by step process with the end goal of calming down the thought waves in our mind and thus prevent them from distorting the truth.


3. To Practice Yoga You Must be Vegetarian:


There is a notion floating around that in order to practice yoga you must not eat meat and be a vegetarian. This is not true. Although there are tremendous benefits to being vegetarian and this is being more and more validated by the mainstream medical community, there is no requirement of vegetarianism in order to practice yoga.


One point I would like to add here is that, vegetarianism is consistent with the non-violence which yoga advocates and it certainly would be to your benefit to reduce meat intake, nevertheless, you don’t have to be vegetarian in order to be a great yogi.


4. You Need to be Initiated by a Guru:


I have also come across this notion that many believe you need to be initiated and have a guru in order to learn and practice yoga. This is not true. According to yoga, the true guru is within and although it would be to your benefit to learn yoga from an accomplished teacher, this is not a requirement.


5. You Have to be Flexible to do Yoga:


Not so. No doubt yoga will improve your flexibility, along with your strength, balance and overall health, but in order to practice yoga you do not have to be flexible. Yoga is designed to be practiced by all.


Different bodies have different degrees of flexibility and in this case one size does not fit all. For most of the complex yoga posture which require great flexibility to do, there are plenty of modifications which allow you to get the same benefits for those who are less flexible. In fact one of the original reasons I took up yoga because I was not flexible and wanted to improve this aspect of my physical dimension.


Summary:


So there you have the top 5 myths about yoga. Essentially, what these myths do is prevent people from taking up this wonderful science. So if you feel you will have to change faiths, find gurus, stop eating meat or are too inflexible to take up yoga practice, you are wrong. Don’t pass up the wonderful opportunity to learn and practice this amazing science, which helps you discover your true divine and eternal nature.

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The Different Types of Yoga

There are many different styles of yoga being taught and practiced today. Although all of the styles are based on the same physical postures (called Asana’s), each has a particular emphasis or path. Here is a quick guide to the most popular types of yoga that can help you decide which style is right for you.

However, I am strongly advising that you try as many different styles, classes and teachers as possible.  It is crucial for your development, that you have a rich and varied experience of Yoga. 

Hatha Yoga

Hatha is a very general term that can encompass many of the physical types of yoga. If a class is described as Hatha style, it is probably going to be slow-paced and gentle and provide a good introduction to the basic yoga postures.  Highly recommended as a standard experience in the basics of yoga. This is a good place to learn basic poses, relaxation techniques, and become comfortable with yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga

Like Hatha, Vinyasa is a general term that is used to describe many different types of classes. Vinyasa, which means breath-synchronized movement, tends to be a more vigorous style based on the performance of a series of postures called Sun Salutations, in which movement is matched to the breath. A Vinyasa class will typically start with a number of Sun Salutations to warm up the body for more intense stretching that’s done at the end of class. 

Ashtanga or Power Yoga

Ashtanga, which means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, is a fast-paced, intense style of yoga. A set series of postures are performed, always in the same order. Ashtanga Yoga is very physically demanding because of the constant movement from one pose to the next. In yoga terminology, this movement is called flow. Ashtanga is also the inspiration for what is often called Power Yoga.  If a class is described as Power Yoga, it will be based on the flowing style of Ashtanga, but not necessarily keep strictly to the set Ashtanga series of poses.

Iyengar Yoga

Based on the teachings of the yogi B.K.S Iyengar, this style of practice is most concerned with bodily alignment. In yoga, the word alignment is used to describe the precise way in which your body should be positioned in each pose in order to obtain the maximum benefits and avoid injury. Iyengar Yoga usually emphasises holding poses over long periods versus moving quickly from one pose to the next (flow). Also, Iyengar practice encourages the use of props, such as yoga blankets, blocks and straps, in order to bring the body into the most perfect alignment.

Kundalini Yoga

Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini Yoga to the US in 1969.  Now the practice is world wide and growing. The emphasis in Kundalini Yoga is on the breath, internal concentration, mantra (words or sounds) in conjunction with physical movement, with the purpose of freeing energy within the body and allowing it to move upwards. All asana practices make use of controlling the breath. But in Kundalini, the exploration of the effects of the breath (also called prana, meaning life force energy) on the postures is essential. Kundalini uses rapid, repetitive movements rather than poses held for a long time.

Bikram or Hot Yoga

Pioneered by Bikram Choudhury, this style is more generally referred to as Hot Yoga. It is practiced in a 95 to 100 degree room, which allows for a loosening of tight muscles and profuse sweating, which is thought to be cleansing. The Bikram method is a set series of 26 poses, but not all hot classes make use of this series.

Anusara Yoga

Founded in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara combines a strong emphasis on physical alignment with a positive philosophy derived from Tantra. The philosophy’s premise is belief in the intrinsic goodness of all beings. Anusara classes are usually light-hearted and accessible to students of differing abilities. Poses are taught in a way that opens the heart, both physically and mentally, and props are often used.

Jivamukti Yoga

This style of yoga emerged from one of New York’s best-known yoga studios. Jivamukti founders David Life and Sharon Gannon take inspiration from Ashtanga yoga and emphasise chanting, meditation, and spiritual teachings. They have trained many teachers who have brought this style of yoga to studios and gyms, predominantly in the U.S. These classes are physically intense and often include some chanting.

Forrest Yoga

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and gaining popularity around the U.S., Forrest Yoga is the method taught by Ana Forrest. The performance of vigorous asana sequences is intended to strengthen and purify the body and release pent-up emotions and pain so that healing can begin. Expect an intense workout with an emphasis on abdominal strengthening and deep breathing.

Kripalu Yoga

The name Kripalu is associated both with a style of hatha yoga and a yoga and wellness centre in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Both were founded by yoga guru Amrit Desai, who came to the United States from India in 1960. Kripalu is a yoga practice with a compassionate approach and emphasis on meditation, physical healing and spiritual transformation that overflows into daily life. Kripalu also focuses on looking inward and moving at your own pace.

Integral Yoga

Integral yoga follows the teachings of Sri Swami Sachidananda, who came to the U.S. in the 1960s and eventually founded many Integral Yoga Institutes and the famed Yogaville Ashram in Virginia. Integral is a gentle hatha practice, and classes often also include breathing exercises, chanting, kriyas, and meditation.

Sivananda Yoga

Swami Vishnu-devananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda, founded the first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in 1957. There are now close to 80 locations worldwide, including several ashram retreats. Sivananda yoga is based upon five principles:

1. Proper exercise (Asana, focusing on 12 poses in particular)
2. Proper breathing (Pranayama)
3. Proper relaxation (Savasana)
4. Proper diet (Vegetarian)
5. Positive thinking and meditation (Dhyana)

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Yoga for Children is a wonderful antidote to the hectic lives that our children lead. Yoga can be relaxing, stimulating, and promotes well being. It provides closely controlled exercise and is enormous fun for children at the same time.

A number of Yoga for Children programmes have been created by Yoga teachers to introduce the benefits of yoga and relaxation at an early age in a playful, simple and fun way. The combination of special yoga moves, breathing exercises and relaxations will energize, strengthen, loosen and balance little bodies, while helping to calm and control and relax little minds.

Kids yoga is a wonderful opportunity for the child to learn life skills that can be implemented into their daily routine. Whether it’s breathing and relaxation techniques that will help them, focus, concentrate or be calm; or postures that will help their endurance, flexibility, balance and coordination these are all very naturally a strong part of yoga.

Yoga for children is most successful if the children are encouraged to use their imagination. A dynamic, creative and stimulating approach grabs the children’s attention.

Yoga for children is practiced in the United Kingdom. It is not new to Britain, with after-school clubs and classes gaining popularity in recent years as parents realize its wide-ranging benefits. What is new to the UK, however, is the method of Research on Yoga in Education (RYE), an international non-profit making organization which blends the standard school curriculum with exercises on concentration, attention and relaxation, drawn mainly from traditional yoga.

What is also claimed is that Yoga for children gives the benefit that the children may be protected from injuries and at the same time they get all the benefits of exercising the system. This is not to suggest that the other exercise including outdoor forms of exercises and sports and games are not beneficial.

Parents have expressed appreciation for the presentation of yoga in a playful manner with its presentation of actively moving exercises balanced with those that require stillness and inner concentration, all in a child-friendly way. Parents may be practicing yoga themselves, and kids are always interested in what their parents are up to.

When assessing yoga trainers for children, parents should also inquire as to the spiritual nature of the classes; some instructors take a strong religious stance, while others offer no particular religious slant, instead focusing simply on the movements and breathing.

In the best classes the kids learn balance with dozens of yoga poses, develop strength, improve coordination and enhance their flexibility all with these children’s yoga exercises. Furthermore, kids develop an overall sense of strength, flexibility and well-being, while they get hold of their active lives and sometimes overactive minds. Kids get to prowl, growl and wiggle through yoga animal poses from Alligator to Zebra! Certified children’s yoga instructors will introduce stretching, breathing, standing poses and simple meditation.

Kids yoga provides an answer to children who we might described as being are little bit harder to reach, although we stand firm with our belief that every child has an angel deep down inside them.

We have said that children’s Yoga allows a child to deal with daily stress. What do we mean by that?

The answer is that each time a child enters a Yoga class for kids, he or she can “close the door” on negative feelings that stress overload brings. They can simply put that behind them throughout the lesson and afterward doing that tend to take a more mature perspective. Kids need a way to manage all of their stress and anxiety. It is not healthy for a child to feel so much anxiety over any given situation.

There you have it! Kids and yoga seem like a natural match. It can be immensely therapeutic for those who need it.

However, yoga can be presented well and insensitively. The best trainers recognize that kids need a practice that suits their physical and emotional needs. Luckily, many yoga schools across the nation are responding to the growing interest in yoga for the younger set in a very well managed and sensitive way.

It is a fact that to provide kids yoga a specialized training might be needed, and is in some places being made available, but patience is a key quality needed for Yoga instructors who want to embark on this path. I teach children myself, and a Kids Yoga class has to be well devised, be fun, and include games.

So, we hope that we have shown you how yoga is such a great way to relax and de-stress equally for the child and the adult.

However, did you know that there are even now some yoga practitioners who are providing training to parents in yoga from soon after birth?

By using yoga with babies, parents confidence grows in handling, playing and having fun with their babies. The classes are fun class in a system which also offers gentle post-natal yoga and tummy toning exercises for mummy!

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Once you have decided to follow a healthy regime through yoga, the next step is to pick the type of yoga that you want and be acquainted about yoga basics. You can choose a yoga class near by for easy conveyance. Yoga doesnâ??t need any kind of costly equipment except for loose comfortable clothes and a yoga mat.

Some easy positions of yoga, for beginners-
We all do simple positions in everyday life, like lying down, sitting, standing, prone inverted etc. But with proper practice of the aforementioned yoga postures the beginners can be benefited to great extent. These simple activities are arranged and worked out so that a yoga beginner also gains from them. Medical practitioners find yoga to be therapeutic. They even suggest to make yoga a part of their every day life. With gradual introduction of yoga and its method health benefits can be gained.

As a yoga beginner you can choose moderate style like the viniyoga, kripalu yoga or iyengar yoga. You can choose vigorous forms like the power yoga, asthanga yoga in late stages. The later one will be too dynamic for the yoga beginners.

See that you start yoga gently with 10-15 mins warm up session, as it increases blood circulation and lubrication in joints. The body flexes and it becomes easier to do the yoga asana. Maintain correct erect posture throughout.

Breathing techniques of yoga, for beginners-
Yoga is synonymous with breathing technique. With simple breathing exercises in yoga like the pranayama, kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma, one can improve breathing pattern and lung capacity. This kind of yoga relaxes and eases stress.

Importance of sequence for yoga beginner-
Ideal yoga sequences should not be taxing, especially for beginners. As a yoga beginner you can start with standing pose, followed with sitting posture, Supine postures, twist poses, prone postures, inverted and balance postures, back bends and finishing asana.

Some doâ??s for yoga beginners-
As a beginner itâ??s better to inform the yoga instructor that you are new to yoga fitness regime. You can even ask the teacher to help you out in case of need. You can seek the help of other advanced students to demonstrate poses. Itâ??s better to know about basic yoga etiquette and learn some basic yoga poses, this you can do searching online or from books and DVDâ??s. Start fresh with refreshing bath prior to yoga practice. Always end the yoga session with shavasana.

Some donâ??ts for yoga beginners-
Avoid taking large heavy meals before any yoga class. Ensure that you have eaten 3-4 hrs before the class. You can have some water before and after the yoga class. Avoid tight fitted clothes, shoes and socks while doing yoga.

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Yoga has been in the world since more than 5000 years. Every year more and more people are discovering its advantage and have started practicing to enjoy health benefits. We can say that the world today is swept by the true fitness mantra yoga. With changing times more advanced and fusion type of yoga has evolved which makes use of asana and meditation and breathing techniques. One can benefit from these forms and enjoy good health. Here are discussed some of the yoga health benefits:-
 
Benefits of yoga for flexibility-
Age is nor bar when it comes to yoga. Elderly people and arthritis patients are extremely worried about flexibility. But the fact is that even people with such condition can make use of yoga in everyday life and can benefit good health. The muscles can be safely worked out by various yoga poses and the range of motion can be increased. Yoga increases the natural lubrication of body and softens all the body tissues. Thus, Yoga health benefits can be observed and enjoyed in very short period of time. 
 
Benefits of yoga for strength-
Some fusion forms of yoga like the power yoga and asthanga yoga offer more health benefits and they are vigorous. They tone the muscles. The iyengar yoga lays less stress on movements with precision in poses. These are good to give strength and stamina benefits.
 
Benefits of yoga for posture-
With flex and strength the posture improves. Further the core strength gets developed with standing and sitting postures. Another important benefit of yoga comes with increase in alertness. 
 
Benefits of yoga for better breathing-
All the yoga asana and the yoga postures are well structured with breathing techniques. This is important to improve the lung capacity and increase the blood flow in the body. With improvement in endurance the performance also perks. Yoga lays stress on deepened and lengthened breathing technique. 
 
Benefits of yoga for reducing stress and increasing calmness-
Even a beginner can feel the difference in his/her first yoga class. Numerous yoga styles make particular meditation technique to calm the mind. Some other yoga forms focus on breath. Yoga is popular on account of its anti-stress benefits.
 
 Benefits of yoga for concentration-
 It’s true that with absorption of yoga in life the concentration improves and the mood swings arrested. Yoga has tremendous effect on depression and anxiety. Yoga is said to ease some of the obsessive compulsive disorder. 
 
Benefits of yoga for heart-
Even studies support that yoga is capable in alleviating cardiovascular diseases. It reduces heart rate and control blood pressure. People can get benefited with yoga and they can control hypertension, stroke, cholesterol etc. some studies even show the anti-oxidant effect of yoga for better health. 
 
Benefits of yoga for other ailments-
In the west the researchers has found the benefits of yoga on account of its therapeutic effects. Yoga benefits arthritis, asthmas, back pain, insomnia and even in sclerosis too. 
 
Other health Benefits of yoga –
Yoga builds memory. It also slows down the aging process and boosts energy level. On a spiritual level too the awareness increases. Yoga practitioners opine that even on personal front yoga works miraculously.
 
With practice of these yoga practices one can witness and benefit all the good health. It infuses entirely in one’s individual’s life.

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Many people practicing yoga techniques had reached to the point where they are seeking more advanced yoga exercises. Most yoga sessions focus on the meditation and breathing exercises. These basic yoga techniques give emphasis on providing relaxation and flexibility to the body in order to attain beneficial health effects. There are other yoga techniques which exceeds the norm of the commonly used yoga postures namely Ashtanga yoga, Bikram Yoga and Kundalini yoga. The asana poses involved in these yoga practices require proper concentration and dedication to achieve mastery of the involved yoga techniques.

Ashtanga Yoga – Muscle Building Yoga Technique

This yoga technique is much different from other forms of yoga exercises. The asana postures to be performed in this yoga exercise focuses on enhancing the strength and endurance of the practitioner’s body. The Ashtanga yoga technique is often restricted to those with proficient body status, due to the intensity involved in performing the difficult poses on this exercise. The yoga sessions for this yoga technique are often subjected to a fast pace of exercise procedures which would perfectly suit those people who are into building up their body’s strength and stamina.

The level of difficulty offered by the Ashtanga yoga asana postures gave it the name “athlete’s yoga”. The yoga techniques to be performed in this type of exercise require hard work, constant practice and great concentration. This is a good choice for people who are physically fit.

Bikram Yoga – Heating while Bending Yoga Technique

This 90-minute yoga session involves flexing your body while inside a sweltering room. The training room for this yoga technique is preheated to at most 105 degree Fahrenheit and 40 percent humidity. For those people who are interested on this extraordinary yoga experience, preparation is very crucial to survive this yoga technique. Students of Bikram yoga sessions should follow important reminders before starting the yoga exercises. Due to the heated environment, this yoga technique regulates breathing and releases the body’s fluids at faster rate compared to other yoga techniques. The extreme temperature applied with the constricting movements benefits the body’s blood flow. This yoga technique is advisable to those who can endure heat while performing the asana postures.

Kundalini Yoga – Releasing Inner Body’s Potential Yoga Technique

The postures involved in this yoga technique excite the endocrine and nervous system of the body. This is a very interesting type of yoga exercise since it gives serenity and ecstasy to the body if mastered. Kundalini yoga techniques compose of unique poses, meditation and chanting. The chanting is considered as the most crucial part of this yoga exercise. The chanting provides the practitioner to experience inner peace and at the same time enhancing the body’s senses. Most Kundalini yoga sessions require the assistance of a professional guru. This yoga technique is an excellent choice for those who want to experience the soothing effect of concentrated meditation.

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What is Yoga? The word ‘Yoga’ means combination. Yoga is a type of workout based on the faith that the body and breath are intimately connected with the mind. By controlling the breath and holding the body in stable poses or ‘asanas’, yoga creates harmony. Yoga practice consists of five main fundamentals: correct inhaling, correct workout, correct relaxation, proper diet and good thoughts and meditation. The exercises or the asanas are formed to sooth tensed muscles, to firm up the internal organs and to improve the flexibility of the joints and ligaments. With a huge number of advantages one gets by frequent practice of Yoga, it is earning huge amount of importance now-a-days. Your body is cured internally and externally due to perfect blood circulation all through your body. In order to get highest benefits from Yoga, you must pay keen attention on the five main fundamentals and to improve your performance while doing yoga you must be comfortable. While doing yoga you should wear comfy clothes so that you can do it perfectly well. Comfortable clothes doesn’t mean loose clothes, it means you must wear correct yoga clothes. On the contrary loose clothes hinder your performance level and you are unable to do yoga exercises correctly. Yoga needs a lot of stretching and the twisting poses, thus one must take good care while doing this. Yoga must be done according to the directions given or else you may even sprain your muscle. This perfection can be achieved by wearing yoga clothes only and not shabby and loose clothes that limit your motion. Even while doing inhaling exercises, relaxation and meditation, your clothes should be such that you feel comfortable. Your clothes must be capable to breathe while doing yoga; this is the essence of yoga clothing. Yoga is beneficial to everybody, let it be men, women and kids also as it is a normal method to prevent and cure health hazards. Well with the rising craze for yoga due to its enormous advantages, there are number of apparel companies that have focused in designing and manufacturing Yoga clothes meant for females, males and kids too. You will truly find a good variety available in yoga clothing meant for all genres. There are a number of online clothing companies particularly meant for yoga clothing and the huge range available on these stores are men’s yoga clothing, women’s yoga clothing, yoga pants, yoga tops, hardtail pants, yoga mats, manduka mats and much more. These stores are entirely meant for yoga clothing and yoga products with variety of sizes, colors and fabric to suit all. Yoga clothing is offered in different brands and that too at astonishingly reasonable rates. You will be amazed to see the enormous collection available in these stores. You simply need to pick the best yoga clothes and yoga products for yourself and make payments online, within a few days your chosen yoga products will reach your home. You get the fastest delivery of your items along with 5% off on your first order. It is not only the comfort sensed in wearing Yoga clothes but you look fantastic and feel great. It’s a guarantee, your friends will feel jealous on seeing you with perfect yoga clothes and most of them may even think where you got your yoga clothes from!

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History of Hatha Yoga: The history of hatha yoga goes back in the fifteenth century India when Yogi Swatmarama, a sage during those times, introduced it as a form of “a stairway to the heights” of Raja Yoga which is the preparatory stage of physical purification that makes the body fit for the practice of higher form of meditation. Hatha yoga is also known to be called as “hatha vidya” and the word “hatha” is a combination of the words, “ha” which means sun “tha” that means moon and they are said to refer to the prinicipal “nadis” or the energy channels of the body and must be fully operational to attain the state of “dhyana” or a certain aspect of meditation.


Some people may link that the origins of hatha yoga which dates back in the tenth or eleventh century with Goraknath, a yogin during those times. However, the oldest surviving text about hatha yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by yogin, Yogi Swatmarama. The text is said to be taken from old Sanskrit writings and personal yogin experiences of the yogin himself. The text relates about shatkarma, asana, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras among others.


Concept of Hatha yoga: The total concept of the traditional hatha yoga is a holistic yogic path comprising of moral disciplines, physical exercises, breath control, and meditation. The hatha yoga that is widely practiced and popular in the western countries mainly composed of the “asanas” or postures and other exercises.


Hatha yoga is only one of the two concepts of yoga that concentrates on the physical culture and the other yoga is the Raja yoga but both of these are referred to as Ashtanga yoga. The main difference is that the Raja yoga concentrates more on the “asanas” or postures to get the body ready for a prolonged meditation that concentrates mainly on the meditative “asana” poses. The hatha yoga on the other hand concentrates on balancing the mind and body through physical exercises, controlled breathing, and calming the mind through meditation and sheer relaxation.


Different positions or postures are recommended by practitioners to help lessen or avoid health problems ranging from constipation through cancer. It was said that it helps to reduce stress, pressure, and other mental worries that people today are frequently exposed to.


History of Karma Yoga


Karma yoga also known as Buddhi Yoga or the “discipline of action” is centered on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga concentrates on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) or love of God (bhakti) by performing their duties in a selfless manner for the pleasure of the Supreme. Karma Yoga is an inherent part of many derivative types of yoga, such as Natya Yoga.


Concept Of Karma Yoga


The word Karma is mentioned from the Sanskrit Kri, meaning ‘to do’, in its most basic sense karma simply means action, and yoga translates to union. Therefore, Karma yoga literally translates to the path of union through action. It is described as a way of acting, thinking and willing by which one acts in accordance with one’s duty (dharma) with no consideration of personal selfish desires, likes or dislikes, i.e. acting without being emotionally involved to the fruits of one’s deeds.


In the case of Arjuna in the Gita, this translated to his fighting in the oncoming war to uphold the righteous cause in accordance with his duty as a warrior; even if out of compassion, he did not want to battle with his relatives and teachers on the other side.


Krishna then goes on to tell how Arjuna should surrender the fruits of his actions (good or bad) to himself (as the Supreme Person or avatara) :


Krishna describes that allocated work done without expectations, motives, or anticipation of its outcome purifies one’s mind and slowly makes an individual fit to see the value of reason. He states that it is not necessary to remain in external solitude, or actionless, in order to practice a spiritual life, with the state of action or inaction is solely determined in the mind.


In order to attain the perfection of life, Krishna describes it is important to control all mental desires and tendencies to enjoy pleasures of the senses. The practice of Karma Yoga in everyday life makes an individual fit through action, meditation and devotion to sharpen his reasoning, develop intuitive power of acquiring knowledge and to transcend the mind itself.


History Of Raja Yoga


Raja Yoga also known as Classical Yoga or simply Yoga is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hindu philosophy, being described Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. It is also occasionally referred to as A??anga (eight-limbed) yoga because there are eight aspects to the path to which one must attend. Raja yoga is concerned primarily with the cultivation of the mind using meditation (dhyana) to further one’s acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.


The term Raja Yoga is a retronym, introduced in the 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika to differentiate the school based on the Yoga Sutras from the new current of Hatha Yoga.


Concept of Raja Yoga


Raja-Yoga is principally concerned with the mind. The mind is traditionally perceived as the ‘king’ of the psycho-physical structure which does its bidding (whether or not one has realized this). Because of the relationship between the mind and the body, the body must be ‘tamed’ first through self-discipline and purified by various means (see Hatha Yoga). A good level of overall health and psychological integration must be achieved before the deeper aspects of yoga can be pursued. Humans have all sorts of addictions and temptations and these preclude the attainment of tranquil abiding (meditation). Through restraint (yama) such as celibacy, abstaining from drugs and alcohol and careful attention to one’s actions of body, speech and mind, the human being becomes well to practise meditation. This yoke that one puts upon oneself is the alternate meaning of the word yoga.


Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras start with the statement yogas citta-vtti-nirodha (1.2), “yoga limits the oscillations of the mind”. They proceed on to detailing the ways in which mind can create false ideations and advocate meditation on real objects, which process, it is said, will lead to a spontaneous state of quiet mind, the “Nirbija” or “seedless state”, in which there is no mental object of focus. Practices that serve to maintain for the individual the ability to check this state may be considered Raja Yoga practices. Thus Raja Yoga encompasses and differentiates itself from other forms of Yoga by encouraging the mind to avoid the sort of absorption in obsessional practice (including other traditional yogic practices) that can generate false mental objects. In this angle, Raja Yoga is “king of yogas”: all yogic practices are seen as potential tools for obtaining the seedless state, itself considered to be the first point in the quest to cleanse Karma and obtain Moksha or Nirvana. Traditionally, schools of yoga that label themselves “Raja” offer students a mix of yogic practices and (hopefully) this philosophical viewpoint.

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History of Hatha Yoga: The history of hatha yoga goes back in the fifteenth century India when Yogi Swatmarama, a sage during those times, introduced it as a form of “a stairway to the heights” of Raja Yoga which is the preparatory stage of physical purification that makes the body fit for the practice of higher form of meditation. Hatha yoga is also known to be called as “hatha vidya” and the word “hatha” is a combination of the words, “ha” which means sun “tha” that means moon and they are said to refer to the prinicipal “nadis” or the energy channels of the body and must be fully operational to attain the state of “dhyana” or a certain aspect of meditation.


Some people may link that the origins of hatha yoga which dates back in the tenth or eleventh century with Goraknath, a yogin during those times. However, the oldest surviving text about hatha yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by yogin, Yogi Swatmarama. The text is said to be taken from old Sanskrit writings and personal yogin experiences of the yogin himself. The text relates about shatkarma, asana, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras among others.


Concept of Hatha yoga: The total concept of the traditional hatha yoga is a holistic yogic path comprising of moral disciplines, physical exercises, breath control, and meditation. The hatha yoga that is widely practiced and popular in the western countries mainly composed of the “asanas” or postures and other exercises.


Hatha yoga is only one of the two concepts of yoga that concentrates on the physical culture and the other yoga is the Raja yoga but both of these are referred to as Ashtanga yoga. The main difference is that the Raja yoga concentrates more on the “asanas” or postures to get the body ready for a prolonged meditation that concentrates mainly on the meditative “asana” poses. The hatha yoga on the other hand concentrates on balancing the mind and body through physical exercises, controlled breathing, and calming the mind through meditation and sheer relaxation.


Different positions or postures are recommended by practitioners to help lessen or avoid health problems ranging from constipation through cancer. It was said that it helps to reduce stress, pressure, and other mental worries that people today are frequently exposed to.


History of Karma Yoga


Karma yoga also known as Buddhi Yoga or the “discipline of action” is centered on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga concentrates on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) or love of God (bhakti) by performing their duties in a selfless manner for the pleasure of the Supreme. Karma Yoga is an inherent part of many derivative types of yoga, such as Natya Yoga.


Concept Of Karma Yoga


The word Karma is mentioned from the Sanskrit Kri, meaning ‘to do’, in its most basic sense karma simply means action, and yoga translates to union. Therefore, Karma yoga literally translates to the path of union through action. It is described as a way of acting, thinking and willing by which one acts in accordance with one’s duty (dharma) with no consideration of personal selfish desires, likes or dislikes, i.e. acting without being emotionally involved to the fruits of one’s deeds.


In the case of Arjuna in the Gita, this translated to his fighting in the oncoming war to uphold the righteous cause in accordance with his duty as a warrior; even if out of compassion, he did not want to battle with his relatives and teachers on the other side.


Krishna then goes on to tell how Arjuna should surrender the fruits of his actions (good or bad) to himself (as the Supreme Person or avatara) :


Krishna describes that allocated work done without expectations, motives, or anticipation of its outcome purifies one’s mind and slowly makes an individual fit to see the value of reason. He states that it is not necessary to remain in external solitude, or actionless, in order to practice a spiritual life, with the state of action or inaction is solely determined in the mind.


In order to attain the perfection of life, Krishna describes it is important to control all mental desires and tendencies to enjoy pleasures of the senses. The practice of Karma Yoga in everyday life makes an individual fit through action, meditation and devotion to sharpen his reasoning, develop intuitive power of acquiring knowledge and to transcend the mind itself.


History Of Raja Yoga


Raja Yoga also known as Classical Yoga or simply Yoga is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hindu philosophy, being described Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. It is also occasionally referred to as A??anga (eight-limbed) yoga because there are eight aspects to the path to which one must attend. Raja yoga is concerned primarily with the cultivation of the mind using meditation (dhyana) to further one’s acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.


The term Raja Yoga is a retronym, introduced in the 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika to differentiate the school based on the Yoga Sutras from the new current of Hatha Yoga.


Concept of Raja Yoga


Raja-Yoga is principally concerned with the mind. The mind is traditionally perceived as the ‘king’ of the psycho-physical structure which does its bidding (whether or not one has realized this). Because of the relationship between the mind and the body, the body must be ‘tamed’ first through self-discipline and purified by various means (see Hatha Yoga). A good level of overall health and psychological integration must be achieved before the deeper aspects of yoga can be pursued. Humans have all sorts of addictions and temptations and these preclude the attainment of tranquil abiding (meditation). Through restraint (yama) such as celibacy, abstaining from drugs and alcohol and careful attention to one’s actions of body, speech and mind, the human being becomes well to practise meditation. This yoke that one puts upon oneself is the alternate meaning of the word yoga.


Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras start with the statement yogas citta-vtti-nirodha (1.2), “yoga limits the oscillations of the mind”. They proceed on to detailing the ways in which mind can create false ideations and advocate meditation on real objects, which process, it is said, will lead to a spontaneous state of quiet mind, the “Nirbija” or “seedless state”, in which there is no mental object of focus. Practices that serve to maintain for the individual the ability to check this state may be considered Raja Yoga practices. Thus Raja Yoga encompasses and differentiates itself from other forms of Yoga by encouraging the mind to avoid the sort of absorption in obsessional practice (including other traditional yogic practices) that can generate false mental objects. In this angle, Raja Yoga is “king of yogas”: all yogic practices are seen as potential tools for obtaining the seedless state, itself considered to be the first point in the quest to cleanse Karma and obtain Moksha or Nirvana. Traditionally, schools of yoga that label themselves “Raja” offer students a mix of yogic practices and (hopefully) this philosophical viewpoint.

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Yoga’s primary emphasis is upon general well-being. Although yoga has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific illnesses. Rather, yoga employs a broad holistic approach that focuses on teaching people a new lifestyle, way of thinking, and way of being in the world. In the process, however, it is also found to bring a myriad of healing effects. By attending to practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. We will look at the healing effects of yoga. However, one of the most important benefit of yoga is its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality and its anti-aging properties and its application for relaxation therapy.

According to Swami Sivananda, the benefits of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) include: “The body becomes strong and healthy. Too much fat is reduced. There is luster in the face. Eyes sparkle like diamonds. The practitioner becomes very handsome. Voice becomes sweet and melodious”

Indra Devi, author of many books on yoga suggests that with yoga: “You will be able to enjoy better sleep, a happier disposition, a clearer and calmer mind. You will learn how to build up your health and protect yourself against colds, fevers, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and other troubles. You will know what to do in order to remain youthful, vital and alert, regardless of your calendar-age; how to lose or gain weight; how to get rid of premature wrinkles, and keep a smooth skin and clear complexion.”
Doing yoga regularly offers many benefits, including making you feel better about your body as you become stronger and more flexible, toning your muscles, reducing stress and improving your mental and physical well-being. Will it help you lose weight, though?

Answer: Practicing any type of yoga will build strength, but some types may not raise your heart rate enough to make them the only form of exercise you need to include in your weight loss regime. It depends on the type of yoga you select and how frequently you practice it.
In order to lose weight, you must eat healthily and burn calories by doing exercise that raises your heart rate on a regular basis. Some types of yoga, such as Iyengar, in which yoga poses are held for several minutes with a resting period between each pose, will build muscles and improve your posture, but will not give you the cardiovascular workout you need to lose weight.

If you plan to make yoga your primary form of exercise, you must do a vigorous 90-minute yoga class at least three times a week. Many people also choose to combine yoga with running, walking or other aerobic exercise in order to reach their weight loss goals.
Ashtanga:
Ashtanga Yoga is a very vigorous style of practice with a few distinct advantages for those who want to lose weight. Ashtanga practitioners are among the most dedicated of yogis, and beginners are often encouraged to sign up for a series of classes, which will help with motivation. Another advantage is that once you learn the poses, Ashtanga Yoga is ideal for home practitioners.

Power Yoga:
Power Yoga is extremely popular, because it provides a very vigorous cardiovascular workout.

Hot Yoga:
Vinyasa yoga done in a hot room ups the ante by guaranteeing 

Yoga’s primary emphasis is upon general well-being. Although yoga has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific illnesses. Rather, yoga employs a broad holistic approach that focuses on teaching people a new lifestyle, way of thinking, and way of being in the world. In the process, however, it is also found to bring a myriad of healing effects. By attending to practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. We will look at the healing effects of yoga. However, one of the most important benefit of yoga is its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality and its anti-aging properties and its application for relaxation therapy.

According to Swami Sivananda, the benefits of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) include: “The body becomes strong and healthy. Too much fat is reduced. There is luster in the face. Eyes sparkle like diamonds. The practitioner becomes very handsome. Voice becomes sweet and melodious”

Indra Devi, author of many books on yoga suggests that with yoga: “You will be able to enjoy better sleep, a happier disposition, a clearer and calmer mind. You will learn how to build up your health and protect yourself against colds, fevers, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and other troubles. You will know what to do in order to remain youthful, vital and alert, regardless of your calendar-age; how to lose or gain weight; how to get rid of premature wrinkles, and keep a smooth skin and clear complexion.”
Doing yoga regularly offers many benefits, including making you feel better about your body as you become stronger and more flexible, toning your muscles, reducing stress and improving your mental and physical well-being. Will it help you lose weight, though?

Answer: Practicing any type of yoga will build strength, but some types may not raise your heart rate enough to make them the only form of exercise you need to include in your weight loss regime. It depends on the type of yoga you select and how frequently you practice it.
In order to lose weight, you must eat healthily and burn calories by doing exercise that raises your heart rate on a regular basis. Some types of yoga, such as Iyengar, in which yoga poses are held for several minutes with a resting period between each pose, will build muscles and improve your posture, but will not give you the cardiovascular workout you need to lose weight.

If you plan to make yoga your primary form of exercise, you must do a vigorous 90-minute yoga class at least three times a week. Many people also choose to combine yoga with running, walking or other aerobic exercise in order to reach their weight loss goals.
Ashtanga:
Ashtanga Yoga is a very vigorous style of practice with a few distinct advantages for those who want to lose weight. Ashtanga practitioners are among the most dedicated of yogis, and beginners are often encouraged to sign up for a series of classes, which will help with motivation. Another advantage is that once you learn the poses, Ashtanga Yoga is ideal for home practitioners.

Power Yoga:
Power Yoga is extremely popular, because it provides a very vigorous cardiovascular workout.

Hot Yoga:
Vinyasa yoga done in a hot room ups the ante by guaranteeing 

Yoga’s primary emphasis is upon general well-being. Although yoga has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific illnesses. Rather, yoga employs a broad holistic approach that focuses on teaching people a new lifestyle, way of thinking, and way of being in the world. In the process, however, it is also found to bring a myriad of healing effects. By attending to practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. We will look at the healing effects of yoga. However, one of the most important benefit of yoga is its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality and its anti-aging properties and its application for relaxation therapy.

According to Swami Sivananda, the benefits of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) include: “The body becomes strong and healthy. Too much fat is reduced. There is luster in the face. Eyes sparkle like diamonds. The practitioner becomes very handsome. Voice becomes sweet and melodious”

Indra Devi, author of many books on yoga suggests that with yoga: “You will be able to enjoy better sleep, a happier disposition, a clearer and calmer mind. You will learn how to build up your health and protect yourself against colds, fevers, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and other troubles. You will know what to do in order to remain youthful, vital and alert, regardless of your calendar-age; how to lose or gain weight; how to get rid of premature wrinkles, and keep a smooth skin and clear complexion.”
Doing yoga regularly offers many benefits, including making you feel better about your body as you become stronger and more flexible, toning your muscles, reducing stress and improving your mental and physical well-being. Will it help you lose weight, though?

Answer: Practicing any type of yoga will build strength, but some types may not raise your heart rate enough to make them the only form of exercise you need to include in your weight loss regime. It depends on the type of yoga you select and how frequently you practice it.
In order to lose weight, you must eat healthily and burn calories by doing exercise that raises your heart rate on a regular basis. Some types of yoga, such as Iyengar, in which yoga poses are held for several minutes with a resting period between each pose, will build muscles and improve your posture, but will not give you the cardiovascular workout you need to lose weight.

If you plan to make yoga your primary form of exercise, you must do a vigorous 90-minute yoga class at least three times a week. Many people also choose to combine yoga with running, walking or other aerobic exercise in order to reach their weight loss goals.
Ashtanga:
Ashtanga Yoga is a very vigorous style of practice with a few distinct advantages for those who want to lose weight. Ashtanga practitioners are among the most dedicated of yogis, and beginners are often encouraged to sign up for a series of classes, which will help with motivation. Another advantage is that once you learn the poses, Ashtanga Yoga is ideal for home practitioners.

Power Yoga:
Power Yoga is extremely popular, because it provides a very vigorous cardiovascular workout.

Hot Yoga:
Vinyasa yoga done in a hot room ups the ante by guaranteeing you’ll sweat buckets.

Keep in mind that if you are just starting to do yoga or are quite out of shape, always choose a beginner-level class.

Yoga Workouts at Home
Keep yourself exercising by doing yoga at home on the days you can’t make a class. Follow along with a video or audio recording, if you are new to yoga. When you are ready to plan your own workouts, use these yoga sequencing ideas to help you come up with yoga sessions of varying lengths that suit your needs.

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The history of yoga is believed to be as old as civilization. The prehistoric roots and its gradual evolution and development are testimony to this fact. Ancient yoga derived from Indian asceticism to uniting in the “cosmic one.” Yoga history could be traced in the Upanishads, Vedas and even in Brahmanas. The yoga history was also illustrated in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
 
How yoga derived its name?
The history of yoga is recorded in our scriptures and it’s continuously evolving in recent times. Though yoga has evolved with changes in techniques and methods but the essence and goal remains the same. The word yoga derived from Sanskrit word “Yuj”, meaning to “unite”.
 
History of yoga in Indus valley civilization-
The archeological excavations of ancient civilization shows that even before 3000 BC yoga had evolved. The artifacts and the “Yogi glyptic” are testimony to the fact. The various yoga postured relic’s depicts, some of the noteworthy yoga postures in them. 
 
History of yoga in Vedic period –
With evolution of Vedas the foundation of Hinduism was laid. The Vedas hold the ancient yogic teachings and hence is known as Vedic yoga. While some vague references of history of yoga could be found in the Vedas but practices could be found in the Brahmanas. The Rig Veda mentions yoga’s practice as yoga was essential with Vedic ritual. This dates back to 900 BC.
 
History of yoga in the Upanishads-
This period is also knows as pre-classical yoga period. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad makes the reference of yoga meditation and is clearly reflected in 900 BC to 400 BC. The Mahabharata and the Bhagavad-Gita (oldest Yoga scripture) shows the yoga history in 500 BC and 200 BC resp. Even in Buddhism, the importance of yoga meditation and various yoga postures have been mentioned. 
 
History of yoga in the Patanjali “Yoga Sutra’s”-
This period is also known as the Classical period of yoga. The main attempt of Patanjali was to define and normalize classical yoga form and is known as Patanjali eight fold path of yoga (Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga).
 
Post classical yoga-
Numerous sovereign yoga schools were developed during this period after the Yoga sutra period, hence the name Post classical yoga. The human body became filed of study along with the meditation which was missing is the previous years. A new system with numerous yoga exercises was developed. And thus Hatha yoga, Raj yoga and other branches emerged. 
 
Modern yoga and its history-
The Chicago summit and the famous lecture of Swami Vivekananda became a turning point with the introduction of Yoga to the Western world. Thus various yoga schools emerged and more and more people learnt this yogic form of exercise. 
 
Yoga today in modern world-
Yoga has gained immense popularity in recent years. Yoga has become a health movement. The westerner’s views and spirituality has changed a lot. Yoga’s has become a mandatory fitness regime. Yoga has evolved into more modern form like power yoga or Zen yoga.

Yoga has revealed through its long history. The vast oceans of Yogic literature and the motivation and drive makes all follow the true Yogic path.

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To make your body fit there are many exercise, many equipments, and also medicines. But if want your body fit and fine without any trainer, without ant equipments and medicines. Then there is only way by Yoga. Here I am describing you some features and explanation about yoga.

What is Yoga?

The word “Yoga” comes from Sanskrit. It is a Hindu traditional way of exercise by which we can make control on our body and mind. By doing yoga we can make our body physical and mentally strong. If you do yoga 45 minutes a day after doing that I can surely tell you that your mind and body feel relax. Now there is short information about types of Yoga.

Types of Yoga Position:

Free Spirit

Vinyasa yoga

Gym Rat
Bikram or Hot yoga
Power Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga

Gymnast
Ashtanga Yoga
Forrest Yoga

Injured
Iyengar Yoga

Mellow
Hatha Yoga
Integral Yoga
Kripalu Yoga

Self – motivated
Ashtanga Yoga

Singer
Jivamukti Yoga
Kundalini Yoga

Spiritual Seeker
Anusara Yoga
Jivamukti Yoga
Kundalini Yoga

Traditionalist
Iyengar Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga
Integral Yoga
Kripalu Yoga
Kundalini Yoga

Most Popular types of yoga:

Raja Yoga – It is “Royal Yoga” running from the time of king. It is a special Yoga for your mind (dyana) to make it relax. Sit in any position and close your eyes and do meditation. It makes your whole body and mind relax. Do it 45 minutes in one day.
Hatha Yoga – Hatha yoga is widely performed in America. It uses body position (asanas), breathing style (pranayama), and Meditation (dyana). This yoga makes you physically and mentally strong.
Iyengar Yoga – It is a form of Hatha Yoga, is completely giving primacy to the physical alignment of the body.
Bikram or Hot Yoga – Bikram yoga is developed by Bikram choudhury. This Yoga is performing in hot room. This yoga systemically for wellness and restoration. There are 26 different poses in Bikram Yoga.
Pregnancy or Prenatal Yoga – This yoga is performing during the time of women pregnancy to make her body fit and in shape. It also best yoga for your baby. We enjoy performing this yoga in pregnancy period.
Laughter or Hasya Yoga – Hasya Yoga is physical oriented methods that remove your tension, out of this world and place in new world of peace. During this yoga people laugh for 30 to 40 minutes with noise of clapping and Ha Ha……. People perform this yoga to make their mind free from their personal tension.
Ashtanga Yoga – Ashtanga yoga is a yoga therapy, realigns the spine, detoxifies the body, and builds strength, flexibility and stamina.

Following are the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga:

Yama (Restraints or Abstinence)
Niyama (Disciplines or Devotion)
Asanas ( Pose of Yoga)
Pranayama (Breath Control)
Pratyahara (Retraction of the Senses)
Dharana ( Fix of Attention)
Dyana (Meditation)
8. Samadhi (Deep Trance)

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With yoga being as popular as it is there should be no surprise that there are many different yoga exercise styles. Some of today’s yoga exercise styles have been around for hundreds of years while other yoga exercise styles have been created and based off some of the most common yoga postures and poses. Yoga exercise styles vary in level of difficulty; almost all of the styles are broken down into beginner and advanced levels. The yoga postures used, will depend on the level of the yoga exercise style you are practicing. Each yoga exercise style has a specific purpose and uses different methods and yoga postures.

Hatha yoga is one of the more laid back yoga exercise styles. Most often Hatha yoga is a slow paced yoga class. It is most commonly designated as the best yoga exercise style to take part in when just beginning to practice yoga. These are because of it slow pace and ease into each of the yoga postures used during a session. This yoga exercise style uses many different areas of each style of yoga. It does this by introducing the beginner level yoga postures of each different yoga exercise style.

Vinyasa is another yoga exercise style that encompasses many different styles of yoga. The word vinyasa translates to mean a series of breath synchronized movements. This yoga exercise style is more energetic than Hatha yoga. Vinyasa uses a group of yoga postures called sun salutations. Vinyasa is a yoga exercise that will start off slow with a series of sun salutation yoga postures as a method of warm up and then move into more intense yoga postures and stretches.

One of the more popular forms of yoga exercise used today is Ashtanga yoga. This type of yoga is also commonly referred to as Power yoga. Power yoga is one of the most intense forms of yoga exercise practiced. It involves a series of yoga postures; each of the yoga postures is always performed in the same sequence. This yoga exercise style is very physically demanding because of the pace needed to keep up in the class when switching yoga postures. It is not recommended for beginners. Bikram yoga is another of today’s most popular forms of yoga exercise. Bikram yoga is also known as hot yoga. During a hot yoga session you will complete a series of 26 yoga postures in a room that is 95 to 100 degrees. The idea behind practicing these yoga postures in a room that hot is that is acts as a way of body cleansing because of the profuse sweating one will experience. Also do yoga postures at that temperature will allow for your muscles to loosen fully, meaning you will be better able to do the yoga postures given to you.

It is best to consult with your doctor before deciding which yoga exercise style would be best for you. Some styles may be too strenuous to begin with.

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Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. It focuses upon developing a healthy mind and body, and on attaining self-awareness. The various practices and disciplines of yoga are available to everyone, no matter what their culture or other paths they may follow. Yoga practice also involves developing awareness on a universal and personal level through the yamas and niyamas, a series of ethics and disciplines intended to cultivate living in harmony with others and in oneness with our true selves.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and consists of ancient theories, observations and principles regarding the connection of the mind with the body. The ancient Indian sage systemized yoga philosophy into eight paths or limbs: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. These limbs each express a different aspect of yoga and combined make up the path or yoga practice that unites the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of our being.

Yama – Yama are ethical disciplines that relate to how we can live in a shared world with peace and integrity. Niyama – These disciplines relate to the individual and focus on living a healthy, fulfilled and masterful life. Asana – The word asana means ‘to be’, in the sense of being in a posture. The asanas were developed for the maintenance of a healthy mind and body, with each posture affecting the body, mind and emotions in a unique way and working as a pathway to balance and wellbeing. Pranayama – In the practice of pranayama, we develop breathing techniques that increase oxygen intake and strengthen lung capacity while also increasing the absorption of prana, or life force. In its simplest form, pranayama involves deep, full breathing. Dharana – Following on from pratyahara, dharana is the ability to be completely internally absorbed and focused. This practice of single-pointed concentration stills the mind and leads to profound quietness within. Dhyana – Following on from dharana is dhyana, or meditation – sitting where there is no focus, just stillness; no thoughts, only emptiness. Samadhi – In this state of absolute personal freedom there is union of the individual soul with the universal soul. It is the practice of living at one with all that is.

With regular yoga practice of yoga, you will get strength, flexibility and good health, the benefits of which flow into all aspects of life. Increased energy levels bring a new perspective on life, the increased feelings of self-love and inspiration lead us to discover talents and interests we never knew existed and problems that once seemed overwhelming become more manageable.

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People who practice yoga regularly have a certain glow about them. They’re healthy, happy, and just have a special way about them that infects everything and everyone around them for the better. This is the glow of yoga that we all strive for.

To achieve the yoga glow-like zen, we have to start somewhere. Here are a few tips and products to help you start out small, and end up happy and limber with a glow all your own. Try using a yoga strap Using straps can really help you get into those tougher poses that require the flexibility that you just don’t have yet. The yoga strap will allow you to put the resistance where you need it. For example, you can use straps to connect one arm to the other, extend your reach from your feet, and many other tricks.

Yoga Bolsters for back support

Bolsters are firm long and narrow pillows normally filled with a dense cotton and designed specifically to help support you tummy and back during your yoga practice. Bolsters can really come in handy for poses that require a lot of core strength. Another great use for them is to put them under your knees for support as you rest

Select the right mat
Selecting a mat can be overwhelming. They come in thin, thick, cotton, short, long, and wide. For starters I’d recommend getting a skidless thick and long yoga mat. This will provide the comfort and stability for getting the hang of the traditional poses you’ll learn right away.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks come in all shapes and sizes, and are mostly used to modify a pose or to provide support for your hands and feet for those poses where you can’t quite stretch to the extent you want. Blocks can bring the stretch destination closer to you until you reach your flexibility goals.

These are just a few of the yoga props you can use when starting out, and can even serve you in your yoga practice over the years to come. Just remember that yoga is a very personal exercise, you set your own limits, and you set your own boundaries. You will only improve at the rate to which you push yourself.

Find more helpful posts on the yoga-glow blog, such as 5 yoga tips for pregnant woman

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