Rejuvenate Yourself With Yoga...

by Neha Sharma

All of us want to remain fit and healthy. But is it a simple task to remain fit?

In an era of mechanization, when we are becoming more and more dependent on the machines, from the car to Internet, our body is getting lesser time for exercise. We can say this as a lop-sided development.

Rapid industrialization also vitiates our environment. Our heart cries for a whiff of fresh air.

However, there is an end to this long tunnel. There seems to be some ray of hope. And this hope lies in Ancient Indian practice of yoga. Yoga is vital for the well-being of our health. It helps in rejuvenating our body and reinvigorates us. Apart from its religious aspect, yoga has wider ramifications in our life.

Modern scholars attach much importance to the efficacy of yogas. According to Terri Guillemets, for those wounded by civilization, yoga is the most healing salve.
Our ancient sages used to practice rigorous yoga to remain fit and healthy. They could undergo rigorous penances thanks to practicing asanas. They could easily tolerate extreme conditions such as severe heat or cold. Regular practice of Yogas makes our body immune to many ailments and yogas work as invigorating tonic for our body.

According to Bob Harper, the personal trainer, Yoga is the fountain of youth. You're only as young as your spine is flexible.

Carol Krucoff, the Yoga Therapist, says, mountain pose teaches us, literally, how to stand on our own two feet .... teaching us to root ourselves into the earth. Our bodies become a connection between heaven and earth.

Melanie Haiken says about about yoga and anxiety, concentrating on poses clears the mind, while focusing on the breath helps the body shift out of fight-or-flight mode. ("Worry Thwarts," Yoga Journal, March 2006)

According to Ymber Delecto, yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self control. Energy within and energy without.
BKS Iyengar say Astadala Yogamala Talks About Yoga, "Yoga, An ancient BUT Perfect Science, Deals With the evolution of Humanity. This evolution Includes all Aspects of One's Being, from Bodily health submit self-Realization. Yoga Means Union - the Union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul. Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions. "

According to Carol Krucoff, sun salutations (Surya Pranam) can energize and warm you, even on the darkest, coldest winter day.

Nowadays, yogas are becoming extremely popular among the all sections of people in society. Even business and management circles are resting to yogas to ease tension and stress-related diseases. In the western countries also, yogas have found many takers.

Aim of Yoga
The main aim of Yoga is liberation (Mukti or Moksha), liberation from the wheel of Samsara ie, from the cycle of birth and death is the goal monist schools of Advita.

According to Patanjali, an Asana is an aid to advanced practices of Yoga. Body is the foundation for all spiritual practices. It should help one in doing meditations for long time. Patanjali gives a broad outlines for doing yogasana. In the next sutra Patanjali says that success in Asana comes by minimizing the effort.

He says Asanas should not be done forcibly. According to Patanjali, persistent and minimized effort will lead to success in Asanas. Patanjali advocates a smoother and body-friendly method of doing Yogasana.

He further says after the Asana is achieved, the practitioner will not be affected by the vagaries of cold or heat. When practitioner is stabilized in Asana, he will not experience cold or heat. He could easily tolerate extreme conditions.

Pranayama:

There are eight important Pranayamas according to Hathayoga Pradipike. They are:

* Surya bhedha pranayama
* Ujjayi pranayama
* Sitkari pranayama
* Shitali pranayama
* Bhastrika pranayama
* Bhramari pranayama
* Murcha pranayama
* Plavini pranayama

I salute the three-eyed Divine Mother Narayani, who brings auspiciousness and who fulfills all the desires of the Devotee (both spiritual and material).
So regular practice of yoga is good for our health and it rejuvenates our mind and soul. It is key for leading a healthy life. It gives us energy and helps retains vitality.

About the Author

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Yogic Self-Analysis for Phobias...

Author: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

What is Yogic self-analysis? Whether we teach Yoga, or come to classes as a student, all of us learn more about ourselves in the process. All forms of Yoga enable a practitioner to engage in introspection. Self-observation is a part of Yoga practice - at the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

If a student has not learned to contemplate his or her desires, behavior, and thoughts, there may have been no guidance in this area of Yogic studies. To learn about one's self, requires time to reflect and examine, without judging. It is easy to point out all of our past mistakes, but this is not the purpose of this mental exercise.

Self-analysis, or self-reflection, is a soul-searching quest for penetrating below the surface layer of our personality, and making a habit of improving situations that occur in the present. Some people find Yogic self-analysis to be a daunting task. They may require counseling from a qualified counselor, instead of trying to learn how to develop self-awareness.

There is nothing wrong with seeking professional guidance, for developing the skill of self-analysis. The point being: Each of us should strive to independently manage his or her life. This is not possible for all of us; but with proper guidance, many of us can learn to look directly at a problem and develop a plan for a logical solution.

Self-reflection is sometimes referred to as a form of meditation. To focus one's thought process on introspection is, in fact, a form of meditation. The reasons why Yoga and meditation teachers shy away from guiding students toward self-analysis are because students may focus on negative experiences, or the teacher does not know much about this particular technique.

To come face-to-face with our weaknesses, or strengths, can be an intense experience. Our point of view may not be objective. In the case of phobias, our self-created fear causes anxiety, and a cycle of confusion follows flare-ups.

Many people ask: "How can self-analysis help me with my phobias?" Knowing our own strengths and weaknesses gives us an honest measurement, based upon reality; but we must practice non-judgment while we search for a way to solve, or improve, the situation. To some degree, phobias are caused by irrationally intense fear.

Yoga's approach to self-analysis allows a student the ability to cope with internal fears, while a logical solution is sought. Ultimately, anyone who learns to fully overcome a phobia has learned a valuable lesson on the quest toward self-mastery. To find the master within is one of the greatest benefits of Yoga practice.

About the Author:

Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

Two Easy Therapeutic Yoga Techniques for Back Pain Prevention...

Author: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

There are a number of Hatha Yoga styles that we can label as "therapeutic." Among these styles are: Iyengar, Viniyoga, Restorative, Sivananda, and others. Each of these Yoga styles addresses skeletal and spinal health in a variety of ways.

When you consider the number of people who are coping with back pain, every Yoga teacher training should include a segment on back care, pain management, maintenance, and prevention.

Let's look at a couple of methods, anyone can incorporate into their day, in order to prevent back pain.

1. Strengthen the core muscles. This is an area of the body we would like to ignore, but when we do, it continues to blossom in size. A big stomach is not useful for supporting the lower spine. Asana, alone, will not make a big belly shrink. We all know that eating moderately will help us control the size of our waistline.

That said - any asana or pranayama technique should be performed with balance in mind. If one performs hundreds of crunches, one must devote an equal amount of time to performing back-bending asanas. Crunches, alone, will tighten the abdominal muscles, but will stretch the back forward and out of balance.

This is why Bidalasana (Cat pose) and Bitilasana (Cow pose) are so beneficial for balancing the abdominal muscles with the back muscles. There are other methods, but these two simple postures, practiced as Cat and Cow, help us contract and stretch core muscles with ease.

2. Sleep with good posture. Many Yoga teachers know this, but few students are made aware of this concept. Most people find that the morning is filled with stiffness. Many chalk it up to simply "sleeping wrong." The mattress, pillows, and foam mattress pads, we choose, should be of good quality. Much like the quality we expect from good Yoga props, these "bedtime props" are very important for back pain prevention.

When we sleep, we are, in fact, practicing Yoga asanas for many hours. Your spine will thank you for sleeping on your sides. Sleeping on the stomach is not recommended, and you should avoid sleeping on your back for long periods of time. Pillows, of different sizes, will gently lock you into a side-relaxation asana. If you wake up during the night, re-adjust your pillows and shift to the opposite side.

You should flip, or rotate, your mattress position every month. When a mattress is concave, you need to replace it. You can ignore it, but your back will let you know. Pillows and foam mattress pads should be replaced every 1 - 2 years. This will enable you to have better neck and spinal alignment.

There is also another reason for getting rid of old pillows and foam mattresses - this will help reduce allergies, dust, dust mites, dust mite remains, pet dander, hair, and body oils, that have worked their way into a pillow's fabric. Some studies indicate that the weight of a pillow can double in three years.

About the Author:

Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

Using Yoga to Fix Back and Joint Issues

Author: Ronald Pedactor

When you suffer from chronic back or joint pain, it is hard to find any type of exercise that does not put you through stress. Even cardiovascular workouts can aggravate these physical issues.

Things like running and weight training can only increase the pain you feel in your joints and back or spine. However, there are options for you to stay in fit and get exercise without damaging your body or causing anguish.

If you are unsure about how to get cardio without running, you could try other options. Running is a great choice for anyone worried about pain.

The weightlessness that you feel in the water will help your body to avoid strain or pressure. You could also try making use of biking, if you happen to have troublesome areas in your legs.

Back pain can be caused by a number of different things. If you have pulled or strained the muscles in this region, it is important to follow a treatment plan; usually the best way to heal is to mix resting and relaxation with strengthening.

If this is a problem area for you, you may be noticing issues with your sacrum. This is a triangular grouping of bone at the base of the spine that sits between the hip bones.

Inflammation or discomfort in this region can be cause by too much sitting, overarching the lower back, working it too much, or simply from stress. In order to reduce the inflammation, you must find ways to relax the sacrum and stabilize it.

Joints are another thing that can get in the way of your ability to run, lift weights, or take part in aerobic activity. When these are worn down, your limbs do not move as quickly and easily as they may have before.

Find workouts that do not put stress or strain on your body. You can also make use of supplements, like glucosamine chondroitin, that repair these areas and make them more mobile.

One of the best workout options for an individual that experiences pressure or discomfort in the lower back is yoga. This is a very calm and static type of exercise.

The main focus is on relaxation and stretching your limbs and muscles. Yoga is performed by holding specific poses and breathing regularly.

The stretches make muscles more elastic and make the body looser. This method of exercise has been around for thousands of years, and began in India as a way to relax and free the mind spiritually.

It has since been adapted into a soothing and rejuvenating fitness regime. A typical yoga class or workout consists of a series of stretches and poses being held to optimize flexibility of the limbs, joints, and muscles and to calm the body.

Most gyms, especially ones that specialize in yoga, offer different classes for different levels of experience and health. Try to find one that is for individuals who are recovering from injuries or have chronic inflammation in areas of the body.

Not only will this workout give you more flexibility and strength, it will definitely assist you in losing calories. Very often, lower back issues are caused because someone is overweight.

If you are carrying extra pounds, you may need to lose the weight in order to feel better. The stretching aspect of yoga also assists the muscles in healing and regenerating.

Stress relief is one major draw of the exercise; its main focus is to make the body work with the mind is calm and unfocused. If you are hoping to find a way to lose weight and workout without harming yourself more, this is a great option to look into.

Of course, it is wise to consult your chiropractor, personal trainer, or physical therapist before you begin any type of constant regimen. They may be more aware of your ability level and will be able to tell you what you can and cannot do.

Medical professionals and those that specialize in spinal and back issues will be able to offer you advice on how to properly care for these injuries. If you are feeling lost and do not know how to stay fit and healthy without damaging your back, find new and interesting ways to get a workout; the more creative you are with your body and resources, the easier it will be to stay in shape.

About the Author:

Ronald Pedactor has been involved with medicine for over 20 years. He specializes in spinal recovery medicine and recommends (http://www.utahspineanddisc.com) for your back needs.

Pranayama With Kids

The other morning in yoga class, my teacher Louie had us work on our bumble bee-making capabilities with the pranayama breathing practice of Bhramari. We sat still and let the sound bubble and vibrate with unclenched jaws and closed but loose lips.

Bbbzzzzz.


After working with the vibrations in various ways and for some time, a calm came over the room... More>>>