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Posts Tagged ‘Health Benefits’

5 Yoga Positions Every Beginner Should Know

Monday, September 27th, 2010

Yoga can help you achieve peacefulness and a harmonious balance between your mind and body. It has a lot of health benefits such as improving your posture, relieving stress and stretching your tight muscles. However, if you are only a beginner in this art and science of yoga, you might get that natural feeling of uneasiness when you see the different yoga positions. Add to that the fact that each position has a strange and sometimes intimidating name to it.

These beginner yoga poses will help anyone to get easily acquainted with yoga. This will get them started on the right foot, allowing for the gradual move to more intricate yoga positions. Nevertheless, easy or hard, every yoga pose has a corresponding health benefit to give to you.

1. Balasana

Also known as the Balasana, this yoga position aims to relieve mild back pains. For you to do this you must first drop your body on the mat in a kneeling position. Lunge your upper body forward with your arms stretched out forward with the palms resting on the mat. Then your belly should be relaxing on top of your knees. Hold this position for a minute or two.

2. Mountain Pose

This is known as the Tadasana and it will help improve your posture. You stand straight with your big toes touching each other. If you are uncomfortable with your knees touching each other, you can spread them out a little bit just to ease off the pressure. Move your quadriceps upward, causing your knee caps to rise. Next, tone the belly and draw it in. Your collar bones should be parallel to the pelvis. Keep your neck straight the whole time.

3. Cat Stretch

This yoga position will help improve your abdominal strength while stretching the spine. To achieve this, you must drop on all fours just like a cat, hence the name. Now imagine that there is a line drawn on your back. It should be straight, starting from your head all the way down to your spine. Keep this imaginary line straight. Hold this position for a few seconds or a couple of minutes.

4. Standing Forward Bend

Also known as the Standing Forward Bend yoga pose. It is one of the many beginner positions that will stretch out your hamstrings. Stretching your hamstrings is important because you make it more flexible and therefore less prone to injuries. You do this position by first standing straight. You then bend forward with both arms falling down the sides of your legs. Your palms should then be resting flat on the floor or your mat. Put your weight on the balls of your feet.

5. Raised Hands Pose

It is also called the Raised Hands Pose, it helps straighten your back which improves your posture while at the same time strengthening your thigh muscles. To achieve this pose you must stand straight on the mat. Next, stretch out your arms upward into the air with both palms touching together. Always be mindful to keep your back straight all the time.

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5 Yoga Positions Every Beginner Should Know

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Yoga can help you achieve peacefulness and a harmonious balance between your mind and body. It has a lot of health benefits such as improving your posture, relieving stress and stretching your tight muscles. However, if you are only a beginner in this art and science of yoga, you might get that natural feeling of uneasiness when you see the different yoga positions. Add to that the fact that each position has a strange and sometimes intimidating name to it.

These beginner yoga poses will help anyone to get easily acquainted with yoga. This will get them started on the right foot, allowing for the gradual move to more intricate yoga positions. Nevertheless, easy or hard, every yoga pose has a corresponding health benefit to give to you.

1. Balasana

Also known as the Balasana, this yoga position aims to relieve mild back pains. For you to do this you must first drop your body on the mat in a kneeling position. Lunge your upper body forward with your arms stretched out forward with the palms resting on the mat. Then your belly should be relaxing on top of your knees. Hold this position for a minute or two.

2. Mountain Pose

This is known as the Tadasana and it will help improve your posture. You stand straight with your big toes touching each other. If you are uncomfortable with your knees touching each other, you can spread them out a little bit just to ease off the pressure. Move your quadriceps upward, causing your knee caps to rise. Next, tone the belly and draw it in. Your collar bones should be parallel to the pelvis. Keep your neck straight the whole time.

3. Cat Stretch

This yoga position will help improve your abdominal strength while stretching the spine. To achieve this, you must drop on all fours just like a cat, hence the name. Now imagine that there is a line drawn on your back. It should be straight, starting from your head all the way down to your spine. Keep this imaginary line straight. Hold this position for a few seconds or a couple of minutes.

4. Standing Forward Bend

Also known as the Standing Forward Bend yoga pose. It is one of the many beginner positions that will stretch out your hamstrings. Stretching your hamstrings is important because you make it more flexible and therefore less prone to injuries. You do this position by first standing straight. You then bend forward with both arms falling down the sides of your legs. Your palms should then be resting flat on the floor or your mat. Put your weight on the balls of your feet.

5. Raised Hands Pose

It is also called the Raised Hands Pose, it helps straighten your back which improves your posture while at the same time strengthening your thigh muscles. To achieve this pose you must stand straight on the mat. Next, stretch out your arms upward into the air with both palms touching together. Always be mindful to keep your back straight all the time.

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Yoga – Understanding Yoga And Its’ Health Benefits

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Understanding yoga is not easy. In fact, anything that had been in existence for more than about thousands of years is not easy. The origins of this unique form of physical act or exercise are not very clear. However, experts feel that the origins of yoga were found either in ancient Egypt or ancient India.

As we all know, yoga has gained tremendous popularity since last few decades. The different types of postures of yoga have helped many people to promote healthy mind, body, and soul. It has been proved as an excellent means of relaxation, which proffers a sense of inner peace and balance.

These days, the art of yoga has become a never ending rage among youngsters, children and the old. With celebrities like Madonna embracing yoga for health benefits, the craze for this unique form of exercise is here to stay.

A) What is yoga?

Yoga involves a series of different postures in conjunction with stretches. This is practiced within a holistic mindset and deep concentration that results in emotional, spiritual mental, physical and health benefits.

Most people who have been practicing yoga for a long time have understood yoga as a form of meditation. The more one tends to practice this art, the more one feels enlightened and experience transforming effects. Yoga works towards gifting and developing an individual’s inner as well as outer personality. It also helps in transforming one into a good human.

B) Yoga as a way of life

Yoga can be understood as a lifestyle or a way of life. It is an art of righteous living. Experts would like to refer it as an effective system to benefit the body mind and inner spirit. This unique are was originated ancient years back.

You can find some excellent references to yoga in ‘Puranas’ and ‘Upanishads’. These were beautifully composed by Indian Aryans in the later vedic and post vedic period.

The principles of yoga were described in full fledged eight fold yogic discipline. This is explained by Patanjali in his ‘yoga sutra’. It was composed almost two thousand years ago! The eight important stages of yoga recommended by Patanjali are as follows:

These are the stages of yoga discipline:

a) Yamas – Restrains and abstentions

b) Asanas – Physical exercises or postures.

c) Pranayama – Total control over vital energy or breathing pattern.

d) Niyamas – Observances such as contentment, study, austerities, purity and surrender of the ego.

e) Dhyana – Meditation

f) Partyahara – Withdrawal of the senses.

g) Samadhi – Attainment of the super conscious state

h) Dharana – Contemplation or concentration of the mind.

C) Superb health benefits of yoga

There are several health benefits of practicing yoga.

a) Weight loss and Weight control

b) Enhances immune system and blood circulation in the body

c) Control over anxiety

d) Relief from asthma, multiple sclerosis, headaches, blood pressure and carpal tunnel syndrome.

e) Reduces arthritis pain, depression, stress, heart disease, chronic fatigue and back pain.

f) Helps in removing toxins from the body.

g) Heals several diseases and body ailments

h) Enhances concentration power and creativity; Reduces stress and tension

i) Allows better thinking, enhances flexibility and balance.

j) Leads to spiritual fulfillment.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about YOGA and MEDITATION please visit YOGA TIPS and MEDITATIONBUZZ

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Benefits Of Meditation

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Are you looking for a certain health benefit, such as decreased anxiety or lower blood pressure? Though proponents of most self meditation practices claim health benefits, frequently these claims of benefit cite scientific research that was actually conducted on other forms of meditation, and not on the practice being promoted. Yet research has clearly shown that not all meditations give the same results. If you’re selecting a meditation for a specific health benefit, check the research being used and verify that a particular benefit was actually done on that specific meditation technique and not on some other practice. While you are looking into the research, make sure that the study was peer-reviewed and published in a reputable scientific or academic journal. If a study showing a specific benefit-such as deep relaxation or reduced anxiety-was replicated by several other research studies on that same practice, then the science is more compelling.

When it comes to reducing stress and anxiety, scientists have again found that all meditation practices are not equally effective. Practices that employ concentration have been discovered to actually increase anxiety, and the same meta-study found that most meditation techniques are no more effective than a placebo at reducing anxiety.

Do you need meditation to lower your blood pressure? The Transcendental Meditation technique is the only mind/body practice that has been shown both in independent clinical trials and meta-analyses to significantly lower high blood pressure in hypertensive patients. To determine if a particular form of meditation has scientific evidence supporting a specific benefit, you can do a search at PubMed or through Google’s academic search engine, Google Scholar. There are over a thousand peer-reviewed studies on the various forms of meditation, with the Transcendental Meditation technique and mindfulness meditation being the most extensively researched practices, respectively. Explore into the fields of self meditation and unlock the beautiful power of your calm mind.

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Top 10 Profound Health Benefits Of Yoga

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Meditation is an art that has been around since the dawn of the age of man. This is not a statement to be brushed over. After all, many many things about mankind have changed over time, but the profound art of meditation is something we have clung on to dearly. This is because there is no substitute for meditation. Nothing else, single handedly, bestows the many wonderful blessings that meditation brings… in fact nothing else even comes close. In this article I will outline the top 10 benefits that meditation brings and hopefully it will inspire all to learn and practice this timeless art.

1. Enlightenment: This is the one ultimate purpose of meditation. To help you discover the True Non-Dual Nature of Reality. To make you realize that your True Self is Divine and One with God.

2. Peace & Tranquility: The mind of one who meditates is like the easy, leisurely flow of the Ganges River, as compared to the ordinary mind, which is like Niagara Falls. In other words your mind is at peace, deeply silent and so you are at peace.

3. Wisdom: Meditation opens up the channels of communication between all levels of your being. What this means is that you have access now to the guidance that is coming directly from your Divine Self. This link gives rise to the flow of intuition and wisdom.

4. Joy & Happiness: Meditation strips away the layers of false identity that mask your True Self from shinning through. Once you eliminate these false egos and stop catering to their nonsense you can reside in your True Nature. This brings forth joy and happiness as it allows you to be at ease with life, existence and yourself.

5. Love & Compassion: As meditation reveals to you the interconnectedness of all humanity a great sense of compassion and love will spontaneously emerge. Knowing that deep within we are all divine in nature will change the way you view the apparent differences you see in others. This will also dramatically improve your relationships both intimate and casual.

6. Stress Reduction & Good Health: This goes hand in hand. As meditation teaches you the art of living in the present moment, anxiety and worry fade more and more into the background. This state of relaxed awareness is most beneficial, to not only helping the body heal itself, but also for preventing illness and disease by eliminating the poison of stress.

7. Improved Brain Function: All serious meditators know how much their brain function has been enhanced by meditation. Now, empirical studies every day are indicating this link. Meditation will undoubtedly increase your awareness and will significantly increase your intelligence.

8. Discover Your Purpose & Gifts: As you start to drop those aspects of you that are artificial and pretentious you will get a chance to see the real you. The parts that are not put on but are natural. This will give you insight into who you really are and what you really love in life. That is the secret of mastering the art of living and discovering your true talents, gifts and purpose. That which you love, you do for its own sake without the need for reward of accolades. Once this is discovered, life can be lived with passion, zeal and independence.

9. Yogic and Psychic Powers: We currently use only about 10% of our brain capacity. The practice of Yoga and Meditation awakens those regions of the Brain that normally lie dormant. When these areas of the brain are activated the powers they hold are unleashed. Such powers, used wisely, can be of benefit to others and of help to you in making progress on the spiritual path.

10. Magnificence: Charisma, Confidence, Courage, Character and Balance are all brought about by meditation. This leads to an individual who is immensely charming and magnetic. Best word I could think of to describe the collective affects of these personality improvements was Magnificent. Meditation will let your magnificence shine through.

Article Source: http://www.lifestyle-information-services.com

Anmol Mehta is a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, Zen Expert and creator of profound meditation and yoga programs. These FREE Online Meditation and Kundalini Yoga Programs are available at Mastery of Meditation, Chakra Yoga and Zen. You will also find a wealth of insightful articles at the Mastery of Meditation, Kundalini Yoga and Zen Blog, all geared to help you achieve your highest potential.

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Meditation Techniques – Learn How To Perform Meditation

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

There are many different types of meditation and the techniques can vary from being very simple to being quite complex. The benefits of meditation can be great as many studies have been done outlining many of the potential health benefits from reduction in stress to less symptoms of disease. Here are a few different techniques to help you learn meditation.

Breathing Exercise:

This is a very simple technique and simply requires that you put your mental attention on your breathing. Simply turn your mental focus to your breathing as you breathe in and then out. Try to only think of your breathing, if you find other thoughts entering your mind then simply return your focus gently back on the breath.

Do this for five to ten minutes a day or whenever you feel you need to get rid of some tension and stress. Over time you will experience fewer distractions and you will be able to slip into that quiet frame of mind quicker and experience the peace and tranquility that it brings.

Guided Meditation:

This kind of meditation is usually accompanied by music usually sounds of nature or other non verbal music that is slow and gentle. It is also best to do this in a quiet room without any other kinds of distractions. You can light an incense that you like to help to relax you further.

Now focus on a pure space inside of your heart and see a light there. Then envision this light spreading slowly throughout your body and then see the light extending outside your body to the space around you. Maintain your focus on this light and avoid external thoughts. The idea is to get to that state of a quiet peaceful mind that is also potentially the least stressful and thus may offer great health benefits.

Chakra Meditation:

Chakra meditation is based on concentrating on the various energies that lie within us and by simply paying attention to different regions of our body we have the potential to get great health benefits in those particular regions. There are seven chakras that you need to learn when performing this type of meditation.

They are the root chakra, feeling chakra, personality chakra, heart chakra, throat chakra, knowledge and crown chakra. There are indeed a few things to learn so be patient and take your time to learn this type of meditation. When performing this type of meditation make sure that your focus is on one chakra at a time and you need to clear your thoughts.

You can also add some relaxing music to the background if you like and make sure that you are in a room that is free of distractions so be sure to turn the television or radio off. The main idea is to feel a connection with everything around you. There are many books and tapes written that can show you in detail how to do this type of meditation as it can get complex.

Zen Meditation:

Zen meditation is also defined as the study of the self. It is best to do this in a seated position called the burmese position. Make sure to keep the back straight as this will make deep breathing occur much more naturally. The deep breathing that occurs during this type of meditation can offer many health benefits as by introducing more oxygen into your system you help to cleanse and energy your body.

One of the things you do in zen meditation is to stay in the same position for fifteen to twenty minutes. This will help you to develop a quieter mind by restricting your physical movements. Often a scattered mind is what causes significant stress in the lives of many so learning to reduce your thoughts can be very stress relieving. Pick a meditation approach you feel comfortable with and learn all you can about it and most importantly do it on a regular basis to reap the benefits.

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

Jitender is an online researcher, author and a regular contributor to a site that shows people how to attain better health and wellness. Be sure to stop by and learn how to lose weight too.

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Yoga Positions For Beginners And Benefits Of Yoga Exercise

Friday, May 28th, 2010

The ancient practice of yoga has recently made a big impact in modern day society even though it has been approximately for centuries. A reduction in weight a toner body and feeling great in general are just a few of the possibilities that open up to those practicing beginner yoga exercises.

Everyday people are reporting their wonderful experiences on health benefits of Yoga exercise, the change of being taking you beyond the here and now. In one wonderful session of Yoga exercise, people get to practice a number of positions; some Yoga poses (asanas) breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation and chanting. In Yoga position you get to learn basic terms like Mudras, Bandhas and Chakras.

Different Types of Yoga Position:
Pick the type of yoga that fits you best. As yoga positions for beginner you should examine different styles and pick the appropriate one for your personality present health condition and your fitness level. When it comes to considerate what each style offers take into consideration that you need to choose one that you will be able to perform comfortably without straining any muscles.

Contrary to popular or unpopular perception, Benefits yoga positions are not about how far you can reach to touch your toes or how many repetitions you can perform. It is all about paying concentration to how your body feels better how it moves without that excruciating pain or agony! Yoga exercise is all about breathing correctly about integrating that breath into your being. Participants are asked to lift themselves from the ground and perform a series of stretch positions in a fluid motion.

Yoga kriya is a physical action. In Yoga it is referred to as an action which is directed towards a complete being towards attaining a balance. When an imbalance occurs in the body a specific energy is required to bring the body in balance. With the help of a kriya we force a balance in an imbalanced state. We give you here the yoga kriya for the stomach since taking away is one of the most important activities of the body for removing the waste or toxins or the congestion in the body.

Read more on Yoga Positions for Beginners and Benefits of Yoga Exercise

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An Introduction To Yoga And It’s Amazing Health Benefits

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Yoga in Sanskrit stands for union and it denotes a union or balance between the spirit, body and mind so there is a state of harmony. This is a total personal growth program and it is very ancient. This age old science and philosophy treats the person by looking at him as a whole so there is the physical, the mental and the spiritual that comes up for making better and strengthening.

A Yogi is a male Yoga practitioner and Yogini is a female practitioner. Indian philosophy has six orthodox systems, of which this is one and is considered an applied science of the body and the mind. Comprehending the philosophy of it is a lifetime pursuit and it is just not about squatting in lotus position and chanting.

Back problems and others arising from bad posture can be cured by yoga and it also reduces stress. The main reason this complementary therapy is used with cancer patients is the feeling of wellness it bestows. Many feel that the best time to perform the discipline is on an empty stomach, before any food is consumed in the morning.

Overall, there are several different styles of this particular ancient holistic system – a couple of them are listed below: Raja Yoga: The chief component of this style is meditation. Raja yoga which is one of the four main paths of yoga provides aids to control one’s mind, body, energy and senses.

The Kundalini Yoga is a non stressful and safe practice which gives instant results. It is based on a set of special exercises or Kriyas. Hatha Yoga: the main components here are postures (asana) and breath control (pranayama).

The Sahaja yoga is based on the experience of self realization that resides within each individual. This is a unique way of meditating. The precision of therapeutic yoga and the foundations of traditional yoga come together in a heated room under the system of Moksha hot yoga.

These days, yoga has enjoyed some really great popularity among kids and adults because it is excellent for everyone both old and young alike. Its growth and popularity as a form of exercise is due to the fact that here nothing is done to you, it is something you do to yourself. It is a great activity during pregnancy, being moderate but allowing for the buildup of flexibility and endurance.

Among soldiers this practice is fast gaining popularity as they can improve their stamina, mental focus and flexibility. This was reported by Fit Yoga as well as the Associated Press. The practice should not only be taken as an exercise but should also be accepted as a method to develop happiness and harmony from within.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com

In Yoga you can learn meditation which will enhance each other well when it comes to experiencing the full benefits of meditation like improving your health and making you feel great

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Walking Meditation Can Double Your Health Benefits

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

You probably know that walking is a great way to stay healthy physically. It provides cardiovascular benefits, burns calories, and increases blood flow to various parts of your body that need it. However, have you ever thought of combining the time you spend walking with spiritual and mental meditation, so that you can increase the benefits walking can offer you?

Oftentimes, when people take up walking, they do so because it’s an easy way to exercise that is low impact and is easy to learn. You don’t need special equipment or even a lot of time. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other and walk your way toward better health.

But when you team up walking with meditation, also called mindful walking, you multiply the positive results and maximize your investment of time.

Walking meditation comes from the art of Ayatana; Ayatana is a Buddhist concept whereby you stay continually in touch with your senses. You don’t walk mindlessly, but focus on every step and sensation. You don’t have to increase your speed and even may walk a lot more slowly than usual at first until you are fully comfortable with meditating while you walk.

As you concentrate on your steps, focus mentally on the heaviness or lightness of your feet as they leave the pavement and then hit the ground after each stride. As you practice mindful walking, you need to concentrate on the experience and not let your thoughts wander off to other activities and worries. Focus on the process, and take note of the details involved in moving each foot in turn.

Frequently, meditation involves closing your eyes in order to shut out distractions and clear your mind. But meditation while walking necessitates that your eyes stay open, not only so that you can see where you’re going, but also so you can take in your surroundings and incorporate them into your mindfulness.

Do your walking meditation in an area that feels calm and peaceful to you and is inviting. Don’t do it right in the middle of a busy street, or downtown with lots of traffic. Try to do your walk for at least 20 minutes each time.

When you start to walk, use good posture and keep your arms at your sides. Focus on a point about 3 to 6 feet in front of you as you walk.

Of course, walking will help your body and your health in many ways. It provides more serotonin to improve your mood as well. If you add meditation to your walk, your exercise program will become even more powerful and further improve your mind as well as your body.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Keira Adams writes about women’s wellness, including meditation techniques. If you want to know more about this calming practice, visit Meditation-Info.

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Yoga Supplies: What To Look For

Monday, April 26th, 2010

With yoga attaining a lot of fame among millions of people all over the world, many have developed a fetish to learn this art.

There are several reasons for this:

First and foremost, people have understood the importance of this form of art in providing health benefits and keeping their mental health in good condition.

Second, one can easily say goodbye to stress via practicing yoga. Third, yoga helps a lot in making the body flexible. There are several other benefits of yoga one can enjoy when the individual starts practicing it.

Prior to actually start practicing yoga, you need to focus on purchasing good quality yoga supplies. These supplies are extremely important to enhance your performance and provide you the maximum benefits of yoga.

Some of these yoga supplies also provide good support to the body and prevent the individual from encountering with any accidents or injuries. Don’t worry. Yoga does not require expensive equipments as most of the modern exercises and sports do.

One of the most valuable supplies that you need to focus on purchasing is a Yoga mat. These mats are constructed of tacky rubber and also prevent slippage. It is very difficult to maintain a complex pose while performing yoga. With a yoga mat, you don’t require to worry about hazardous flood conditions.

Additionally, you will find a wide variety of designs and colors when purchasing a yoga mat. If you have a tendency to develop allergy from latex products should go for cotton mats. These also serve the same purpose. Make sure that you keep your yoga mat clean.

Another yoga supply you would require is yoga clothes. Keep your yoga apparel simple, durable and comfortable. You may find yoga clothes in hemp spandex and cotton. You may choose to wear pants, shirts or tank tops according to your own comfort.

Yoga music is another important investment you need to make when learning yoga. This helps you to relax your mind and also helps you to get into appropriate mind set for a yoga session.

Yoga is a low impact exercise and performed in a quiet atmosphere. The yoga music will help you to get in to the real mood of yoga. It also works towards enhancing one’s learning performance and experience.

Last but not the least, you should also think of investing in to some yoga DVDs. You can easily learn a lot via watching these DVDs.

Purchasing yoga supplies will do a lot of good to you. You would be able to learn yoga in a better way and without any distraction.

Try to visit some shops prior to actually purchasing the yoga supplies. This will help you a lot in purchasing the best and the most affordable.

You may take help of an experienced person or someone who practices yoga regularly in order to purchase the best. He or she will guide you on purchasing the best and giving you tips on what to buy, how to buy and where to buy these yoga supplies from.

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about YOGA and MEDITATION please visit YOGA TIPS and MEDITATIONBUZZ

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

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