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Posts Tagged ‘Yoga Poses’

Prenatal Yoga Classes And You

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

Great benefits can come from joining in prenatal yoga classes once you find out your are expecting. It helps keeps your joints and muscles strong and limber as well as your body healthy and ready for labor once the time arrives. Let your body talk to you and tell you what limitations it has. Always listen to your body and do not over do it. Make sure your poses are perfectly aligned and balanced correctly to keep from injury’s happening.

Keep a slow pace not a fast one. This lessens your risk of injury and possible problems with your pregnancy. Heart rates of pregnant women should never go above the 140 BPM mark.

Dangerous stretches and yoga poses to never attempt while expecting include the full frontal and the belly down. Yoga instructors who are trained in prenatal classes should know which ones are safe.

Usually it is safe to take prenatal yoga classes about two to three times each week as long as no problems arise. No type of inversions should be attempted as they are dangerous to your health.

You should also avoid any poses which require you to lie completely on your back. This can be hazardous to your pregnancy. A true prenatal class will always omit any poses like these. If you need too you can always use a wall to lean against or a chair for support doing some moves. You should also take out any poses that use your muscles in your abdomen as well.

If you start to feel any form of pain, dizziness, nausea or stomach discomfort then stop immediately and take a break. While your are exercising be sure to take in more calories to ensure you and your baby’s health.

Be sure to drink 10 glasses of water each and every day especially when your doing yoga. Take it easy and watch yourself. Overdoing it can cause undue stress on you and the baby. Cooling down afterwards is a priority as is warming up before you start.

Doing the Ujjayi breathing technique in yoga will also come in handy when you go into labor too. It will help calm you and focus on your breathing instead of your nerves.This technique lets you slowly breathe in air in your nose, letting your lungs completely fill up. Then you simply exhale the entire breath.

Yoga clothing can be found in maternity sizes and is great layered as you will want to peel a few of these off once you have done the warm up before the class starts. Investing in a supportive and cushioned pair of yoga shoes or sneakers is also a priority as these will be the most comfortable on your feet.

You should also invest in a great fitting maternity bra which will give you much needed support and will be able to change with you as your body does through your pregnancy.

Enjoying prenatal yoga classes keeps your body happy and healthy and helps to ensure the happiness and health of your unborn baby also. Be sure to keep your doctor informed of all the exercises you are participating in.

Providing London Ontario prenatal yoga, we support those looking start a family. Our experts will walk you through Prenatal classes London Ontario with care and support.

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A Way To Cure Troubles With Yoga

Monday, April 25th, 2011

The youngsters are out of management. Your task is a headache and to top it all off, you have almost no time for yourself. In the event anyone told you that you might reach a state of physical and emotional enjoyment, you’d say they were nuts. However, recognize it or not, you may conquer the blues with yoga!

Yoga is an excellent mood booster that demands absolutely no drugs or medications. Like all types of exercise, yoga emits hormones that help relieve feelings of tension that often lead to the blahs, blues, or outright depressive disorders. Becoming energetic preserves your mind away from bad thoughts, and permits you to gain a greater and clearer viewpoint on the difficulties you are facing. Individuals that are stressed out, or simply feeling “down”, often lack the inspiration to exercise. That is why yoga can be such an excellent option. It requires far much less effort to finished yoga routine as it takes to out to a video or drive to the gym.

A word of caution; if you endure from better than just the periodic bout of the blues, and feel down for more than two weeks at a time, you should seek professional advice. A doctor or therapist may feel that you need a combination of medication or therapy with exercise.

When you are feeling depressed, it’s hard to think favorably. Those who are frustrated to often lack the focus to detach themselves from their feelings. Yoga is a “moving meditation”, so it is less difficult to take your mind out from harmful thoughts. Our important inner nature can be blocked by negative thoughts. Apathy, despair, doubt, hopelessness and sleeping too much/little are all signs of depressive disorders that must be resolved. Yoga is created to enable you to get closer to your inner truth, normally helping with some of the signs and symptoms of depression. With a concentration on balance, yoga will help to restore mental stability.

On the other hand, bear in mind that there is a particular connection between mind, body and spirit that signifies people can beat the blues with yoga. No other form of exercise alone can achieve these same benefits. Particular Asana yoga postures can effect your mood and help to relieve depression, even though Asana can cure depression symptoms altogether. Asana postures can help improve low energy levels and relieve sleepiness. They are also useful in opening lung capacity to permit more oxygen to succeed in all parts of your body, and even your mood. Ask your yoga teacher to assist you discover the postures which will balance your moods.

It is possible to conquer the blues with yoga because of the relaxing effects yoga has on the nervous system. Appropriate breathing techniques are crucial elements to training yoga, since these can help curb your anxiety and quiet your thoughts, permitting you to concentrate on positive rather than negative energies. As you understand more about yoga, you will definitely come to appreciate the connection between your mind and your emotions, and you are going to find that they can help each other.

When you think you could be enduring with severe depression, seek out professional advice. Yoga is a drug-free choice that can be securely practiced in combination with any medication or treatments your doctor orders. Some yoga routines are especially designed to minimize depression and tutored by trainers who have been substantially trained to grasp the most therapeutic poses.

Even executing the most basic yoga exercises can help elevate your spirits. Although it is not physically stressful like many other forms of exercise, yoga will make you feel significantly better at the end of a session. Test it and you are going to find that you can conquer the blues with yoga!

Yoga trainers recommend a balanced diet (sattwik). One must follow the graded steps of Yoga. Borrow or buy a yoga book (or even better a DVD or video) that’s aimed at beginners. Pilates

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yGuide Yoga Software with Ashtanga Yoga & Great Poses I

Monday, November 22nd, 2010
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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 POSES: MOON SALUTATIONS

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

If you’re a yoga student, you’ve probably heard of sun salutations. They are a key part of yoga that all yogis are aware of and most practice as well.

Chandra Namaskara, or moon salutes, is another sequence of asanas that are practiced in certain traditions as well. This sequence consists of a series of ten different poses starting with mountain pose and leading the practitioner through a series of postures to complete a salutation. There are a few variations of the Chandra Namaskara series, but most of them focus on the different phases of the moon for inspiration of the cycle.

These vinyasa style yoga sessions are intended to counteract the impact of the Surya Namaskara.

ASANAS FOR CHANDRA NAMASKARA: Moon Salute Practice

The most commonly practiced moon salutation sequence consists of a string of the following postures:

*Mountain Pose

*Standing Forward bend

*Lunge Pose

*Downward facing Dog Pose

*Plank Pose

You can think of Moon Salutes as a combination of Ashtanga Vinyasa and traditional Hatha Yoga practices with an emphasis on forward bends and passive cobra practice.

HOW TO PRACTICE:

*Repeat the first five Asanas in reverse order beginning with Downward Facing Dog and ending with Mountain Pose.

NOTE: There are a number of other variations that have evolved based on the gurus that teach them. Each is designed to cater to the different needs of the yogi who practices it.

WHY MOON SALUTES?

Yoga as a whole leads to numerous benefits for the avid practitioner. If you break it down in terms of asana or series advantages, then it becomes apparent that EVERY posture has its own unique benefits including health as well as fitness gains.

COMMON BENEFITS:

* It is very helpful in channeling the lunar energy and inducing relaxing and creative traits

* It stretches and relaxes the spine, pelvic area, hips, knees, ankles and the abdominal muscles

* The root chakra is opened with these exercises

* toxins are removed and blood circulation is improved along with maximizing the oxygen intake for better blood flow

* Improved circulation provides a sense of well being and promotes a healthier self

* Relaxes the mind and body and allows centering of the focus on the inner self

One of its most important advantages is that Moon Salutes are a great relaxer and sleep inducer. People suffering from insomnia in particular can reap the benefits of Chandra Namaskara, as it removes the stress and soothes the mind and body for a long night of peace and rest.

Despite all the benefits, new students should be cautious. Since the series mostly involves a combination of standing and back bending postures, it is not suitable for people suffering from asthma or other breathing and lung problems.

Similarly, patients of heart problems should consult their medical practitioners before starting these salutations, or streamline them according to their health limitations. The Chandra Namaskara should entail comfortable and relaxing postures and not in any way be the cause of stress or strain.

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Safe Yoga For Seniors

Monday, July 19th, 2010

` Yoga has become a popular means of exercise for older adults. And no wonder. It makes their bodies fitter and their minds calmer. Seniors benefit from improvements in balance, stronger muscles, reduced joint pain and more energy.

Modifications should be made to the various yoga poses for seniors with ostoporosis and joint problems. Instructors should be knowledgable about these necessary modifications.

Here are some pointers for older adults to consider when participating in yoga:

* Keep proper spinal alignment with each pose.

* Avoid poses that require forward flexion (bending forward at the waist).

* Move slowly and gently from one pose to the next.

* Poses should feel comfortable and steady.

* Rest when needed.

* Use a chair or wall for balance exercises as required.

Following is a short list of the vinyasas, or yoga pose sequences suitable for a participant with osteoporosis or joint problems:

* Corpse Pose. Begins breath work and decompresses the spine. Breathing is used for inward focus. Use a pillow or bolster as needed.

* Supine Shoulder Press. Strengthens the shoulder girdle and stretches the front of the shoulder. Coordinate with breathing. Use a pillow under the elbows if needed.

* Rib Lift. Strengthens back muscles and stretches the front muscles. If you are weak in this area use the bolster for support.

* Supine Bridging. Strengthens core muscles and stretches the front thigh muscle. Vary with heel raises or leg raises. Place a yoga block between thighs for support.

* Cobra Pose. Stretches anterior muscles. Move carefully throughout the full range of motion.

* Warrior 2 Pose. Strengthens legs and opens chest. Use chair for support if needed.

* Legs Up The Wall Pose. Decompresses spine, improves circulation and promotes relaxation. Maintain good posture. Use blankets or bolsters as needed.

Yoga has many benefits to offer senior citizens. Some of the regular moves, however, aren’t suitable for older adults, especially those with joint problems or osteoporosis. The modifications are small and don’t take much away from the original move. Making a few safety changes to your yoga program will reduce injury and allow you to reap all the outstanding benefits of yoga practice.

Dr. Lanny Schaffer is an Exercise Physiologist and President of The International Fitness Academy. For more cutting edge fitness ideas go to www.aerobic-exercise-coach.com

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

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Difference Between Easy And Advanced Yoga

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Most westerners usually wince when they the subject of yoga is brought up. All they see is complicated poses done by yoga practitioners. But there is easy yoga and the advanced level, so everyone who is interested can pick it up. Both easy and advanced yoga are formed thousands of years ago in India to assist practitioners achieve balance and harmony in their life. With a balanced and harmonious body, it is easy to be one with the universe.

Yoga is never religious although it was passed down from traditional Hindu sacred document. Easy yoga poses can be obtained from classes, self-help books, self taught videos or DVDs but it is better to begin learning from a qualified yoga teacher. You will then pick up all the proper yoga poses.

Yoga lessons can be tailored for children, pregnant women, senior citizens, etc as easy yoga is not at all difficult to pick up. Exercises keep your body fit and healthy and easy yoga fits the bills as it can be done in relax and joyful approaches.

As your muscles grow suppler, you will experience a growing confidence in addition to rejuvenation, reassurance and relaxation. As a form of meditation, it can help reduce stress and frustrations as well as getting healthy.

Beginners can practice yoga by following few basic steps and from there you can fully understand and garner the many benefits of yoga. Through practicing beginning yoga, you will feel emotionally and physically better.

Initially you will have to pick up the dissimilar features of yoga and the differing types. The philosophy of yoga needs to be learned as well, including the breathing techniques that will assist you in relaxation so as to attain stability to be able to acquire a right frame of mind to do intense meditation.

As you started off with beginning yoga, you will have to experience many levels of yoga and from there build up capability to sense what can be done from one level to another. Altogether there are eight levels and you need to be able to overcome each to achieve insight to a greater life. It is necessary to observe the morals and ethics of yoga in order to lead healthy life.

One of the many benefits of beginning yoga is its curative purposes and it can better your mental and physical well being. Your body will become suppler and you will be able to move about easily and you will also gain muscles and a well toned body. The mental aspects will be a reduction in stress level with increasing consciousness and calmness of mind in addition to concentrating better.

Advanced yoga is taught not to show off but one of the main attribute is humility. Yoga lessons create harmony between mind, body and soul. Although it can be learn from DVDs, books, magazines, etc, do not attempt it if you are not familiar as it is more difficult that envisage. Advanced yoga is for those experienced practitioners and Pilates can be useful too, even though Pilates focus on body and not mind and soul.

Advanced yoga is a gradual build up from easy yoga but there is more than meet the eyes as building up your ethics and morals as well as staying calm and be able to take what life throws at you and follow god’s guidance.

Advanced yoga can muster the mind to walk on broken glasses or through fire and even went without food for days, be clairvoyance and even levitate. But that is not what advanced yoga encourages as it is to be unified with the universe and show you the direction in life.

Another difficult type of yoga is the power yoga and it can be thought of as similar to karate. Even with experience in martial art instructions, you might not be sufficiently prepared to take on power yoga.

Power yoga require total dedication as the training can be intensive but it make little sense as yoga is understood to be relaxing and calming to the mind and body. But power yoga is very physical in nature.

Power yoga is all about fitness and complements the usual stretching, balance and focus; it helps in your blood circulation. The reason is more oxygen is propelled to the muscles, thus improving energy level.

Power yoga is the best way to keep fit and with this, it will help you to grow old with poise and not rapidly. Picking the techniques of power yoga is not enough, you need to practice consistently or your fitness level will drop. Sticking to a firm schedule daily is essential even with distractions. This is what discipline is all about.

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

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit free yoga exercises to learn what is yoga and history of yoga.

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What Is The ‘hot’ In Hot Yoga?

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

Hot Yoga

Hot Yoga is a series of yoga poses done in a heated room. Hot Yoga’s mission is to touch as many lives as possible with the power and wisdom of Yoga. Hot Yoga is not advised for pregnant women, since it can raise the core body temperature. It is essential to have your own yoga mat and towel when doing Hot Yoga since you will be sweating so much. People come to Hot Yoga to look beautiful on the outside, but they stay because they are inspired to be the best version of themselves.

Yoga

Yoga is intimately connected to the religious beliefs and practices of the Indian religions. Yoga philosophy is one of the six systems of Hindu philosophy. Yoga is not a religion, but an aid to the practice of the basic spiritual truths in all religions. Yoga can be practiced by a Christian or a Buddhist, a Parsee, a Muslim, a Sufi or an atheist.

Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga emphasizes spiritual practice to help the individual unify body, mind, and heart through certain practices in one’s daily life and work. Karma Yoga is selfless service unto humanity. There is a hidden power in Karma or action termed ‘Adrishta’ which brings in fruits of Karmas for the individual. The practice of Karma Yoga prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge of the Self.

Tantra Yoga

Tantra Yoga is a holistic approach to the study of the universal from the point of view of the individual: the study of the macrocosm through the study of the microcosm. Tantra Yoga believes that as long as the phenomenal world exists, it is the Universal Mother who is the creator, preserver and destroyer. By refining our thoughts and feelings by means of these Tantra Yoga practices, we learn to create peace, harmony, and order within ourselves.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga is pure spiritual devotion, of love for God which is Love. Bhakti Yoga is the most direct method, the shortest way to experience the divine. Bhakti Yoga lets one see the absolute manifested in all experience. There is nothing higher than love and Bhakti Yoga is the religion of love.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a particular system of Yoga described by Yogi Swatmarama, a yogic sage of the 15th century in India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Hot Hatha Yoga is the physical form of yoga designed to bring balance and well-being into your life. Iyengar’s method, a form of hatha yoga, is based on giving primacy to the physical alignment of the body in the poses. Later, with the rise of Hatha yoga, asana came to refer to all the “postures” Pranayama (“Lengthening Prāna”): Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, “āyāma”, to lengthen or extend Pratyahara (“Abstraction”): Withdrawal of the sense organs from external objects.

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

yogainhealth.com is a website for Yoga and Yoga Courses. Hot Yoga, is one type of yoga taught by a Hot Yoga Yoga Teacher

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Yoga Clothing – What To Wear For Yoga?

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

The right yoga clothes will make your exercises a lot more enjoyable. The practice of yoga is a combination of various body poses. The goal is to promote a healthy and fit body. The question still remains – what should I wear?

It would help, if you knowing what you shouldn’t wear. Don’t wear anything that will restrict bodily movements. The obvious items including jeans, dress shirts will not allow the body to relax and breathe freely. As simple as it is, make sure that you take the time to use the proper clothing. Here are some things to look for in good clothing choices for yoga:

Loose-fitting is good- Form fitting clothing restricts the blood flow inhibits the correct breathing techniques. You should be able to able to perform various yoga poses. Try yoga shorts, sweat clothes, leotards or yoga pants.

Sweat absorbent- Lastly, there are some clothing options that are excellent. For example, the materials that they are made of are able to absorb sweat and keep it away from the skin. Look for specific yoga clothing selections for these.

Comfortable- You should be comfortable wearing whatever you choose. Since the objective is to relax you should never be worried about what you look like.

Yoga shoes/socks?- In some studios you are allowed to wear yoga shoes/socks. You should inquire ahead of time to be better prepared.

Just make sure your clothes fit your personal style and you’ll be able to keep your mind on what you were there to do in the first place – Practice Yoga!

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

Mike Singh is the publisher of www.yoga-made-ez.com/ On his website he provides free yoga lessons and more articles about health benefits of yoga .

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