Showing posts with label yoga asanas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga asanas. Show all posts

Yoga Clothes Has Made Some Interesting Changes

Yoga is a practice of Eastern origin that has survived for centuries, and recently made the trip to Western culture. This is a series of stretches and exercises to stimulate and strengthen different muscle groups of your body. Practice is inexpensive to make. All you really need is a set of comfortable clothes and a yoga mat.

Yoga clothing today is very different from the traditional dress worn by the monks who developed the practice in Asia.

The first practitioners were the ascetics who have avoided a lot of common pleasures world to try to become spiritually pure. Their clothes were simple, their meals were bland and did not include alcohol and other temptations of this world. As such, it was the first yoga clothes are simply designed to deflect and tame. He simply gave the monks the coverage and protection against the elements needed without attracting undue attention to them.

Where the practice of yoga to the West, it has been secularized to a great extent. The original developers to yoga as a way to further along the path to enlightenment. It has roots in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and while the two religions have the same view of information and life, as yoga as a productive way to refine your body and mind. The life of the West had little interest in such things, and religious and philosophical foundations to exercises are taught the exercises themselves.

No religious prohibition of extravagance, the style of yoga clothes has changed. The cultural aspect is only part of the change, though. Technology has also played an important role in the evolution of sportswear in general. With the advent of polyester and other synthetic fibers, cotton sweat suit with a simple tissue was not a better option. Now, as technology suits flexible installation with a porous wick sweat so you can do anything to keep the muscles from freezing to keep you dry during a workout.

There was a bad experiment with color in the 80's still haunt those who were captured in live camera. For the most part in the development of sport in general and to wear yoga clothing are specifically positive in the last century.
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Bhoo Namana Vajrasana


This is one of the variations of Vajrasana. This is to be performed in the direction opposite to that of Supta Vajrasana. Some consider this asana to be one kind of Yoga-Mudra.

Technique: Attain Vajrasana. Slowly and cautiously bend the trunk forward. Take the arms to the back. Hold the right forearm with the left hand and the left forearm with the right hand. Fill the air in the lungs. Slowly exhale and stretch the neck downward so that the nose touches the ground. Gradually,increase the time to the limit of ten seconds.

Advantages:

1. This asana eliminates the weakness of the intestines the stomach. It also removes disorders of the liver and laxity of the pancreas.

2. It increases the elasticity of the spine and also strengthens the muscles of the abdomen and the chest.

3. It cures constipation.

4. It cures diseases such as diabetes,abdominal disorders, cold, gas-trouble, loss of appetite, nocturnal discharge, insomnia, asthma, dysentery and indigestion.

5. It stimulates gastric fire.

Special Asanas for Spine (Backache etc.)

The asanas which are going to be described here are mainly beneficial to cure diseases related to the backache,cervical,spondylitis,slip,disc,sciatica and all the other such spine related ailments. By grace of god we have helped thousands of patients to cure their slip disc and other such spinal cord ailments,with the help of these asanas. With the aim of benefiting the mankind with the scientific and harmless asanas recommended by the sage,these asanas are being prescribed here after practical experience. All these asanas are also specially beneficial for asthma patients,because the lungs are filled by inHaling air while performing all these asanas. This contraction-expansion of the lungs circulates air and the toxins are exhaled. The dead cells of the lungs get reactivated. In this way these asanas keep the lungs healthy and help getting rid of breathing problems. The glands located in the stomach region also become healthy with these asanas. Kidney problems are eliminated. In this manner these asanas will cure a number of diseases and make a person healthy and an already healthy person will not fall sick due to the diseases,with the practice of these asanas.

Precautions: The asanas which exert a lot of pressure on the stomach,should not be practiced by patients suffering from ulcer, T.B of the intestine,hernia,liver and spleen enlargement.

Special Asanas for Spine (Backache etc.):
  • Chakrasana
  • Setubandh-asana
  • Markatasana
  • Kati-uttanasana
  • Makarasana
  • Bhujangasana
  • Dhanurasana
  • Purna Dhanurasana
  • Salabhasana
  • Viparita Naukasana(Nabhi-asana)
  • Ustrasana
  • Ardhchandrasana
  • Trikonasana
  • Surya-Namaskara

Yoga Can Help Fight Depression

There are a variety of relaxation techniques that are recommended for those who suffer from depression. They may not be a cure, but they should help to relax a person, depending on the type of exercises.

Exercise can help to relax a person and so potentially lessen stress, which can then lessen the feeling of depression. Some people like to do meditative exercises because they appear to help some feel more in control of their lives. Meditation helps depressives feel more like they are not being left behind by the world.

Some of the best of these meditative practices are yoga exercises. Yoga teachers will tell you that meditation highly benefits a person's nervous system, while at the same time benefiting your circulation and energizing the body and mind. It is this energy that gives the depressive the feeling that they are finally able to manage the demands in their lives, especially those things that they feel get the better of them all too often.

It is recommended that someone suffering depression spend up to twenty minutes twice a day meditating and at least the same amount of time doing the exercises. The extra energy generated may be the first feeling to get up and go the depressive has had in a long time.

The expectation is that meditation will help to calm and heal the depressive and so allow for the depressed mood to diminish or disappear. If a regular routine of exercise can improve the life of the depressive even to a small degree then perhaps hand in hand with some natural supplement this may be a route worth examining closer.

Like the ancient art of acupuncture and its history with the Chinese, yoga stems from Hindu beliefs that began over five thousand years ago. It is a philosophy that aims to bring the person together within themselves into peace and happiness both on a physical and emotional level.

These ancient forms of repairing yourself seem to be things that in recent years are getting a more serious appraisal from researchers and health care providers. The breathing exercises are said to be some of the best for those suffering from depression, as they are both calming and energizing.

The feeling among those who use these techniques is that the breathing exercises cause the body to take in the oxygen better and to get rid of the carbon monoxide more completely. They believe that this improves the brain's activities including the releasing of natural feel good chemicals. These include oxytocin and endorphins.

Evaluating Benefits Of Yoga - American Council On Exercise (ACE) First

Today more than 11 million Americans pack fitness studios around the country seeking the mind-body benefits of yoga, including increased flexibility, strength, balance and muscle tone. But is yoga also a good calorie-burning workout? In an exclusive study, the American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's nonprofit fitness advocate, examined the aerobic benefits and calorie expenditure of Hatha yoga, the most beginner-friendly and widespread practice.

Lead researchers Dawn Boehde and John Porcari, Ph.D., FACSM, from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse recruited 34 healthy but sedentary women (average age of 33) for the study. Before beginning the study, participants were given the same series of tests evaluating their flexibility, balance, aerobic fitness level and muscular strength and endurance.

The subjects where divided into two groups: a yoga group and a non-yoga control group. The yoga group participated in 55-minute Hatha yoga classes three times a week during the eight-week study period while the non-yoga group was barred from any form of exercise.

The study concluded that while the yoga group showed numerous improvements in strength and endurance as well as improved balance and flexibility, they did not burn a significant amount of calories. In fact, one 50-minute session of Hatha yoga burns just 144 calories, similar to a slow walk.

"Yoga is designed to relax the body and help improve musculoskeletal fitness. If you attempt to incorporate calorie-burning elements in a yoga session you may compromise the essential purpose and beneficial effects of the practice," said Dr. Cedric X. Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for ACE. "While the ACE study shows that a Hatha yoga session burns a relatively small amount of calories, yoga is still a valuable addition to any exercise routine offering the essential elements of flexibility, balance and relaxation; factors often neglected in traditional workouts."

Yoga group participants did show the following improvements:

-- Yoga participants' total body flexibility improved by 13 percent, with significant results in shoulder and trunk flexibility

-- Muscular fitness also improved in the yoga group enabling them to do an average of six more push-ups and 14 more curl-ups

-- Yoga participants experienced a 17-second increase in their one-legged stand time

Relax And Refocus With Yoga

The essence of optimal health is a healthy mind in a health body. Yoga, which has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, is a way to achieve both.

The November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource offers an overview of yoga and its health benefits.

Rooted in ancient India, today's yoga is broadly understood as a system of relaxation, postures and breathing. Over the centuries, different forms of yoga have evolved. Some focus more on spirituality, others on mediation and mastering the conscious mind. Some are more physically challenging than others.

A number of research studies have been conducted on the potential health benefits of yoga. Some commonly acknowledged benefits include:

Relaxation and stress relief. Yoga's quiet precise movements focus your mind less on your busy day and more on movement as you breathe deeply and progress through a series of poses.

Increased flexibility and balance. As you learn and practice new poses, you'll find that each time you can reach a little farther.

Although evidence isn't definitive, studies have also shown that yoga may help manage certain chronic health conditions, such as:

Depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders
Asthma
Cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Chronic pain
Diabetes

If you'd like to try yoga, look for classes in your area. You also can learn from books and videos, but an instructor can help you adjust poses to your needs. Ask about the instructor's training and experience in working with your particular needs or health concerns.

At the end of the yoga class, you should feel invigorated yet calm. If that's not the case, talk to the instructor for suggestions. Otherwise, anotheryoga class may be better suited to your needs.

Mudras Yoga For Your Hands And Fingers

Mudras are my new found love. They are now part of my daily life and the mudra I have chosen for this month promises to offer me calm, inner core strength and improved focus (yeah, no more distractions for me) plus a healthier flow of energy throughout my entire body giving me more vitality. My clever hands, thumbs andfingers have quickly got my mind into shape and the body has eagerly followed.


The ancient Indian wisdom of Mudras are definitely my new well being energy tool.

Mudras are simple and I love simple. They are gentle and gracious in their actions and can literally be done while you are standing, sitting or in meditation. All you need is five minutes.

The ancient Indian texts explain how they can support the healing of many illnesses along with balancing all your chakras and bringing harmony back into your body, mind and soul. Used as a remedy for disease they are generally practiced for 30 - 45 minutes.

What are mudras?:

Mudras are healing hand postures and are a powerful aspect of yoga. There are Indian texts which explain how mudras are an ancient science that have been used for thousands of years to restore health. Mudras are literally health in your hand. Our thumbs,fingers and the palms of our hands are constantly emitting electromagnetic currents of energy and by creating certain postures with your hands,fingers and thumbs you opening up energy channels to encourage flow and healing.

The most familiar mudra’s:

If you practice yoga or meditation you will definitely be familiar with the Gyan Mudra. This is when the thumb and index finger connect whilst the other three fingers are left open and spread. The benefit of holding this mudra while in meditation is that it increases the flow of energy to your astral self. On a physical level it improves concentration, focus and memory. This mudra I have used for many years to support my meditations

Another mudra which I have used often in certain yoga postures is to hold the hands in prayer pose over the heart chakra. For me personally this is a very nurturing and calming hand posture and tends to bring the energy of peace into my body.

My chosen mudra for this month is the Prana Mudra:

I have chosen just one mudra this month to practice and absorb myself into. The prana mudra or life mudra seemed the obvious choice for me as I can get easily distracted and felt I needed more internal stability.

When doing this pose I sit on my meditation cushion in a peaceful environment (the kids are at school) calm my breathing, focus on my breath and place my subtle awareness on the energy currents being created with this pose. I'll observe the sensations, the blocks and the lightness flowing to different parts of my body. I'll do my best to just let thoughts float by and stay calm and centred. My intention is to repeat this pose twice a day for five minutes at a time. I’ll keep you posted with my progress and share my experiences before I move onto another mudra next month . All mudras will be filed under healing mudras.

The benefits of the prana mudra:

This particular mudra is said to benefit and increase the life force energy within you. Strengthen immunity, muscles, eyes and remove nervousness.

Nervousness or anxiousness can be an indication of weakness and reveals itself by being easily distracted due to lack of internal stability. This mudra strengthens the base chakra which will in turn strengthen and calm your inner core. The finger positions stimulates the nourishing energy in the pelvic flow and gently increases vitality and assists in reducing fatigue.

Keen to learn more about mudra’s:

My research, reading and study of mudra’s is in full swing. I’ll be featuring once a month a specific healing mudra that I am personally working with.

In the meantime I’ve ordered a book, DVD and a card set from amazon which I must say looks absolutely fabulous by Sabrina Mesko. She was taught sacred mudra techniques by a Master of White tantricyoga ; Yogi Bhajan who then gave her the responsibility to share it with the western world. She is also an executive member of the worldyoga council in India so I figured her books and DVD was a great place to start.

I’ve also enquired about her practitioner training program which looks like being held in 2008 in America. Now that is something I would definitely be keen to put on my schedule for 2008.