Want to go to some Long Island yoga classes, but you don’t even know what it entails? Read on about Yoga’s rich history and see if what’s worked for thousands of years and millions of people will work for you.

Yoga is so ancient that it was developed well before even the written word. Stone carvings depicting figures in Yoga positions have been found in archeological sites in the Indus Valley dating back 5,000 years or more. There is a common misconception that Yoga is rooted in Hinduism; on the contrary, Hinduism’s religious structures evolved much later and incorporated some of the practices of Yoga.

While you can find books that teach Yoga, the traditional means for learning Yoga is to have a teacher pass his knowledge onto his students through oral lectures and practical demonstration. The many techniques that encompass Yoga are based on the collective knowledge and experience of many, many teachers over the course of several thousand years.

One of the earliest texts having to do with Yoga was compiled by a scholar named Patanjali, who set down the most prevalent Yoga theories and practices of his time in a book he called Yoga Sutras (“Yoga Aphorisms”) as early as the 1st or 2nd century B.C. or as late as the 5th century A.D. He wrote about a system known as “Asthanga Yoga”, which means “the eight limbs of Yoga”.  This is what we refer to when we speak of Classical Yoga today. Most practitioners of Yoga today use some form of the system Patanjali recorded.

There are eight steps to Classical Yoga.  These are:

1. yama, the showing of restraint in engaging in such activities as violence, casual sex, the hoarding of possessions, lying, and stealing.

2. niyama, meaning “observance” — purity, contentment, tolerance, study, and remembrance.

3. asana, which means the physical exercises you should routinely do.

4. pranayama, meaning “breathing techniques”.

5. pratyahara, which refers to preparing the mind for meditation.

6. dharana, the ability to concentrate and focus the mind on a specific object for a set amount of time.

7. dhyana, the supreme meditation.  This is focusing your mind on one thing indefinitely.

8. samadhi, which means to absorb into one’s self.  This is the focus on the inner self.

Modern western Yoga classes generally focus on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th steps.

Yoga has been in the United States since the late 1800s, but it did not gain in popularity until the 1960s. Yoga eventually gained acceptance as a great means of reducing stress and improving health as its beneficial effects became widely known.

Ready to find out what Yoga has in store for you? Get to your local Yoga studio and get involved! Love to sweat?  Give Long Island hot yoga a try, and you won’t be disappointed!

Sole Pilates and Yoga is the hottest Long Island yoga studio on Huntington. Visit their website and come to one of their Long Island yoga classes soon!

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For many women, becoming pregnant means they can finally change gears and let their bodies take over the phenomenal process of creating a baby. A stressful work life, fitness regime and other commitments which once seemed all important can now take a back seat. The months of pregnancy also provide a chance to gradually mentally prepare for the massive life change of having a child.

To make the most of this time it is important to switch to a gentler lifestyle. Unfortunately it can seem like everything from cheese to alcohol to aerobics is off limits, which can make a pregnant woman feel like she has to sit around twiddling her thumbs for 9 months! In reality it does not have to be this way. The best way to keep healthy is to keep the body moving. Gentle walking is a great low impact exercise, swimming is excellent for soothing and supporting the body as it expands. All things considered, Yoga is possibly the perfect all round activity for pregnant women because it is one of the few purely non-competitive forms of exercise, as well as providing all the excellent benefits which yoga is well known for.

The benefits especially relevant during pregnancy include proper alignment, relaxation and breathing. Most antenatal advisors will talk ad nauseum about the importance of breathing during labour. It sounds obvious and somewhat patronising, yet during the intensity of a contraction, your breath can seem like the only thing you can focus on and control. By practicing yoga-style breathing in the lead up to labour, you are more likely to remember it when it counts, it can help level you out when you are excited, scared or tired. Don’t worry if it takes some time to master some of the breathing exercises – just remembering deep slow belly breathing will work wonders.

A good yoga teacher should also encourage better ways of sitting, standing and moving during pregnancy as your centre of gravity is altered. You can expect classes to be made up of a mix of traditional yoga poses slightly modified to work around a pregnant belly and a variety of possible labour positions. The notion of “active birthing’ that you hear so much about actually is very in tune with exploring different Yoga postures. This basically means the mother is encouraged to move around as much as she likes during her labour and find positions that instinctively feel right, often making the most of gravity by squatting or leaning forward on hands and knees. This is in direct contrast to the old fashioned delivery wards that would keep women lying on their backs during labour.

Although prenatal yoga is a vary gentle activity, as with all physical exercise, it is possible to overdo it. The main thing to be aware of is that you don’t over stretch during a pose as joints are much looser during pregnancy. This is because a hormone called Relaxin is produced which helps your pelvis soften and open slightly during childbirth. Taking it easy is a simple rule to accommodate and applies to all areas of life during pregnancy. Listening the body which is working hard to create a new life is the best thing you can do for yourself and your unborn child. Excellent practice for the years ahead!

Patrick Attlee is a dedicated Yogi. He has written extensively on the benefits of Yoga over the last five years. You can learn more about pregnancy Yoga at www.pregnancy-yoga-dvd.com/buy-pregnancy-yoga-dvds.html

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

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Yoga is widespread and is continuously being developed today. Millions of people around the world are into this activity. Its influence is vast and is constantly increasing. Of the so many forms of Yoga, hatha yoga is by far the most common form.

It involves both the breathing control mechanism and the physical exercise and postures combined. This exercise allows optimized blood circulation and improves one’s flexibility, stamina, strength and vitality.

Moreover, it is also a form of peaceful mediation that contributes to self-awareness and gives an extra energy that makes you have a warm perspective of life. Various centers are located and established on cities to promote awareness.

However, one may not need a tutor or a teacher in order to learn or perform Yoga. One can simply look for a book or find an appropriate DVD or video to suit your need. Aside from hatha Yoga, there exists another kind of Yoga. it is known as Dhan Yoga.

It is also referred to as Dahn Hak ot Dahnak. It started as an early form of Korean instruction program that aims to teach the people on how to expand and widen both the body and mind. For a certain period of time, it has been discovered that it had vanished but was later on rediscovered and its first center was established on Korea.

It was in 1991 that Dahn Yoga was brought into the United States. There are also existing centers there that have been established as time went by. Dahn Yoga does not only focus on the fitness aspects of Yoga.

It also educates the person on the principles and concepts on how the energy acts or moves in the body. It also teaches that ageing and weakening of the body is caused by stress. And removing stress will definitely improve one’s health and prolong his life. They believe that one should know how to improve and develop that energy flow inside the body.

Through this, health is efficiently monitored and safeguarded. With Dahn Yoga, one must know how to communicate and correspond to his physical body.

They also believe that our body has its natural healing power. And this natural healing ability can only be achieved when one has stimulated that certain energy that connects the body to the conscious mind.

Through deep stretching, breathing methods and meditation, Dhan Yoga promotes physical, mental, and spiritual healing and to connect us into our spiritual selves. It promotes body relaxation and the discovery of inner consciousness.

It gives a life away and free from stress and anxiety and a life which has self-control and enhanced concentration.

Through meditation and breath work, energy is accumulated in the body. As a result, the functioning of the internal organs and systems in the body is enhanced.

Moreover, the toxins and possible threats of disorder is hindered in a way. Then the feeling of better physique and well-being is achieved. This, in turn, boosts self-confidence and positive thinking. A new self is realized and released from addictive behaviors.

By the integration of the body and mind, latent abilities are realized and goals are set. In addition, Dahn Yoga practitioners sometimes volunteer teaching and training without payment. Dahn Yoga is altogether a group that is willing to promote healthy well-being, a happy mind, and a peaceful community.

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

Roger Mitchell has spent lots of years writing informative health articles on yoga like benefits of yoga. Other related subjects can also be found at www.HealthNewsInfo.org/sitemap/index.html. This content may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

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