Can You Benefit From Basic Yoga Poses? Or is Yoga Really Just Stretching?

many people practice yoga postures just for the exercise of it. And it is good exercise. Flexibility and strength increases with the practice of the physical postures.....

Can You Benefit From Basic Yoga Poses?
Or is Yoga Really Just Stretching?

If you can focus on your breath while you are in a stretch you can actually direct the breath into the muscles. This brings awareness to that part of your body. With the same idea, if you bring awareness to your breath you can focus on filling your lungs to capacity with energy reviving, fresh oxygen. This oxygen moves through your veins with your blood and goes into your muscles. We use our breath to warm, to relax, and even to release tension from our bodies.

Yoga is the practice of connecting the mind and the body either in yoga postures or in a meditative state. We use the breath as a tool to connect the mind to the body.

We can implement the mind and body connection by breathing into basic yoga poses. Focus is the key. If we are trying to stretch and thinking about doing the laundry or going shopping, stress at work, or the stress of the economy, our focus is not inside our body. When we are stressed our muscles tighten. We want to give our stress a break; bring awareness inside our bodies. Breathe for a little while and just be aware of what you are thinking (or stressing) about. Be aware of shallow breathing as opposed to re-energizing deep breathing. Be aware of tightness in the neck and shoulders from stress.

This awareness lets us take a step back and look at what we are thinking about from an outsider's perspective. Do we really need to hold onto that anger? That stress? Will it make it better if we worry about it? Yoga lets us tune in to our thoughts and our bodies and notice what kinds of tension we hold onto. Then we can let go of any unnecessary burdens. Let those tight muscles relax and release.
Basic yoga poses can erase some of the tension we hold onto in our muscles due to stress. By simply breathing into some poses we can give our brain a rest from stress and give our muscles a little stretch so they can let go of tension. It is physical and mental at the same time.

Don't get me wrong; many, many people practice yoga postures just for the exercise of it. And it is good exercise. Flexibility and strength increases with the practice of the physical postures. But when you practice the focus, the breathing and the postures you really gain more benefit from yoga. The mind calming, stress relief is a key aspect.

Meditation is another fantastic form of calming the mind. Once you can bring your awareness inside your body, you can start to slow your thoughts down and really give your brain a rest. Meditation can be practiced by simply focusing on your natural breathing. Whenever a thought comes in to your mind you simply refocus on the breath. Those thoughts keep coming and you just keep bringing your focus back to your breath. Eventually you will be able to stop the thoughts, simply rest your brain, and find your inner peace.

Try a local yoga class with a certified Instructor. Many YMCA's and local Community Centers have yoga classes or there might be a yoga studio near you. As a certified Instructor I teach classes that are mixed levels all the time. Don't worry about not knowing what to do. Let the instructor know that you are new to yoga and he or she can offer you some modified poses throughout the class.

The one thing you need to remember is to listen to your body. Keep your focus on how it feels in each pose and make sure that every pose feels good. If you can get a gentle stretch in a pose, stay there and breathe into it.

Use your breathing as your guide in each pose also. If you are gasping for breath then you are too far into the pose and you need to back out to a point where you feel a gentle stretch - but you can still breathe deeply and slowly. Don't worry about how anyone else looks in a pose. Make your yoga about you. Every body has its own unique flexibility. You are looking for your stretch just as the person next to you is looking for theirs. Yoga is not a competition - it is very personal.

Can you benefit from basic yoga poses? Of course you can. You can benefit from anything from chair yoga to power yoga to a deep meditation. Basic yoga poses build awareness; awareness allows us to use our breath to alleviate stress. Too much stress can lead us into risks of many diseases including heart disease. We all need to let the stress out.

Do something good for your body - take some time for some gentle yoga poses. You will feel calmer, stand taller, feel stronger and have more confidence.

Breathe your stress away, practice yoga.

By Kathi Duquette
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Yoga For Beginners - Ten Practice Guidelines and Safety Tips

Yoga For Beginners***Yoga is a safe form of exercise.,Treat your body with respect,If you have a medical condition,Wear comfortable clothing,Never practice on a full stomach. Allow at least 90 minutes after eating before you start your class.....

Yoga For Beginners -
Ten Practice Guidelines and Safety Tips

Anyone can practice yoga. It is a safe form of exercise to help you relax, strengthen and nurture your body and calm your mind.

Yoga is a safe form of exercise. To ensure your safety and maximise your enjoyment of your yoga class, you need to pay attention to the following practice guidelines and safety tips.

1. Treat your body with respect, care and love.

2. If you have a medical condition, always check with your doctor to make sure yoga is suitable for you.

3. Wear comfortable clothing, that won't restrict your movement or get in the way when you practice the postures.

4. Never practice on a full stomach. Allow at least 90 minutes after eating before you start your class.

5. Listen to your body and move into each position slowly and carefully. Yoga encourages self-awareness, which is enhanced as you move gracefully thorough the poses.

6. Yoga is best practiced bare foot. This enhances your sensitivity of being in a pose.

7. Do not compare and compete with anyone, even yourself, in the class.

8. Focus on your breathing as you move in and out of your poses.

9. Breathe smoothly and gently in and out through your nose. Do not hold your breath in postures.

10. Exhale as you stretch into a pose.

In practice, yoga is an ideal form of exercise to promote strength, balance and inner peace. To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable yoga session, take your time and follow the above practice guidelines and safety tips.

If you have any other safety tips, please feel free to share them with me.

Ntathu Allen, Hatha Yoga Teacher designs personal yoga exercise programmes for beginners. She helps you learn easy yoga postures which improve your flexibility, breathing practices to release stress and meditation techniques to soothe and calm your mind. To find out more go to:> http://www.yogainspires.co.uk and sign up for your free monthly yoga and health newsletter, "Healing for the Soul," full of wellbeing and holistic healing tips and; yoga exercises to energise and nurture your soul.
By Ntathu Allen
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Back Pain and Crystals Part 3

Back Pain and Crystals Part 3

Once a crystal has been chosen, cleared, cleansed and charged, it is time to activate the crystal. According to Randall Baer, formerly a recognized authority of crystals, most crystals have yet to be activated into their full energetic potential, and are presently in a state of relative dormancy. When a crystal becomes more highly activated it is able to work with a more encompassing degree of the universal energy spectrum than before.

Therefore, the range and intensity of energies that flow through the crystal are correspondingly increased. Some of the methods recommended for activating crystals are to take them into a blizzard or a lightning storm. It seems that the hazards of activating a crystal might outweigh whatever dubious benefits the crystal might provide!

If you want to do Crystal Healing then take a licensed course and become a crystal healer. Crystals are powerful things and the wrong crystal can cause discomfort to say the least.

Build your programmed crystals into a Star of David mandala, with the points of the crystals facing inwards. Activate the Star then place any crystals that you wish to charge inside the mandala. Leave them in the mandala for twelve hours, and the crystals inside will become highly charged, and have far more energy for you to utilise in your crystal healing work.

You may feel guided to move the crystal over other parts of the body allowing an exchange of energy to take place, or you may just want to hold it in your hands and allow the energy to channel in through the palms. If you feel at all spaced out or ungrounded while working with the crystal energy, try placing a hematite stone in the ground close to you.

A crystal healing therapy session will normally take place on a massage table and you will be fully clothed. After determining the client's healing need the therapist will place carefully chosen crystals on or around the body in particular patterns, each layout and position designed to optimise the healing potential of the crystals and how they work in harmony together. Crystal wands may also be used on specific parts of the body. Upon the completion of a treatment the therapist may offer a crystal to the client which they can carry in a pocket or wear as jewellery to aid in the continuation of the healing process.

You can do this as part of your meditation, or separately. You'll need loose clothing and a comfortable place to lie down. As you'll probably do this alone, you'll need to select your crystals before you lie down. Concentrate on each of your seven bodily chakra points and as you ask your guidance which stones you need for each chakra. Choose them with intuition, pendulum or out of a bag.

Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert who loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder or back pain with yoga. He is dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.

To help you further with your back, neck and shoulder pain you need to sign up for your FREE "Yoga and You" report at http://www.YogaTeachingwithGlen.com
By Glen Wood
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Does Yoga Offer Any Health Benefits?

People who undergo regular yoga training can expect to see health improvements in the following areas: balance, back pain, bowel function, lung capacity, weight loss, psychological health, cholesterol levels, bone strength, and menopausal symptoms.....

Does Yoga Offer Any Health Benefits?

Yoga has been practiced by ancient mystics and philosophers for thousands of years. Most people who hear the word yoga immediately think that this particular activity is simply a way to increase flexibility. In reality however, yoga offers so many more health benefits. Aside from its weight loss properties, yoga is also known to offer certain preventative medicine properties.
People who undergo regular yoga training can expect to see health improvements in the following areas: balance, back pain, bowel function, lung capacity, weight loss, psychological health, cholesterol levels, bone strength, and menopausal symptoms. A yogi, which is a reference to someone who does yoga, can also experience reduced joint pain, increased stamina, and greater overall strength. Certain other studies have shown that people who are involved in this particular physical activity can benefit from improved sleep. So as you can see yoga offers medicinal benefits far beyond flexibility. Therefore, the next questions we may ask are "how can I get involved" and "what do I need to get started?"

Well, there are different ways that you can become a part of the yoga community. You can either try it on your own or with a group of people. When trying yoga on your own you will need to purchase a rubber mat and an instructional video. Once you have purchased the necessary equipment, the beginner's video will lead you step by step through the process. However, if you would rather make yoga a more social event, the gym might be the place for you. Almost all gyms currently offer yoga classes for beginners as well for the experienced individuals. In this case you may not have to purchase the rubber mat; all you are responsible for is the monthly gym membership. So if you ever wanted to improve your overall health or simply lose weight and increase flexibility, yoga is the activity for you!

Lyla Feldman writes about health and fitness. Some of her favorite passions include writing about energy drinks and natural sleep aids.
By Lyla Feldman
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Yoga In India - Road to All-Round Health Benefits

Yoga in India has many benefits. It helps in cleansing the body of numerous toxins, toning the muscles, strengthening the digestive system and improving the circulation of blood....

Yoga In India - Road to All-Round Health Benefits

Yoga is way of exercising your body and mind. It is now a world famous and extremely popular technique but its origin makes a humble story. It was practiced by Indian sages thousands of years ago. Archaeological evidence suggests that it is at least as old as the Indus valley civilization. It was the ancient Indian sage Patanjali who proposed this method of wholesome exercise. The word "yog" means union; usually, "yoga" means union God or the divine being. The objective of a yogic exercise is to unite the individual with the divine through a series of body postures meant to control the body and the mind. Yoga in India is now a part of the everyday routine of most Indians.

Yoga in India has many benefits. It helps in cleansing the body of numerous toxins, toning the muscles, strengthening the digestive system and improving the circulation of blood. It also helps in correcting body postures. But unlike other forms of exercise like aerobics and workouts at the gym, it also promotes mental peace, freeing the practitioner from stress connected with day-to-day life. There are also those who undergo yoga purely to attain moksha or salvation.

There are eight stages that yoga consists of

1) Yamas - where one learns abstinence and restraint

2) Niyamas - where one learns to live in contentment

3) Asanas - where one learns the exercises

4) Pranayama - exercises related to breathing

5) Partyahar - exercise connected with the withdrawing of senses

6) Dhrana - where absolute concentration is achieved

7) Dhyana - the satge of meditation

8) Samadhi - achieving moksha or salvation.

Yoga is not only endorsed by its practitioners; even modern science agrees that it is a form of exercise that can help you attain all-round health benefits. As such, Yoga in India is now a vital theme of her tours and travels. There are various centers in all corners of the country- Chennai, Rishikesh, Hardwar, Shivpuri and Uttarkashi are well-known centers. Apart from these places, there are many professional instructors who have been specially trained in the field and they have their private practices. They can be easily located by searching online.

Sonal Arya is offering advice for quite some time. Having completed her Ph.d in Archeology from The Jawaharlal Nehru University. She provide useful advice through her articles that have been found very useful. To find Yoga in India, famous in India, cities in India, temples in India visit http://www.famousinindia.com/
By Sonal Arya
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Discover Some Different Types of Yoga

Types of yoga which involves various postures and rules,Anusara Yoga,Ashtanga Yoga,Bikram Yoga,Hatha Yoga,These are few of the yoga styles and there are many more which are equally effective and good for health...

Discover Some Different Types of Yoga

Yoga has become on of the most popular methods of losing weight and keeping fit in all parts of the world. Now there are different types of yoga which involves various postures and rules. But all of them aid in the well being of the humans and keep them fit both mentally and physically.

Here you will get to know about different types of yoga.

Anusara Yoga

This is basically the newest form of yoga which was introduced in the year of 1997. The postures of this type of yoga are quite complicated at times but the spirit is playful and joyous. The message that is sent through this yoga is all about opening the heart and endeavor to connect yourself with the divinity.

Ashtanga Yoga

This type of yoga is explained in the book of Patanjali. He was from ancient India and there are two main constituents of this yoga. There are five Yamas and five Niyamas which aid in the spiritual upliftment along with the physical fitness.

The five yamas are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha. The five Niyamas are Shaucha, Santosha, Tapa, Swadhyaya and Ishwar-Pranidhan.

The methods of this yoga focus mainly on the limbs. This improves the flexibility of the body and also increases blood circulation. This is not suggested for the beginners but for the athletes who are looking forward to increasing their stamina.

Bikram Yoga

This is a stream of yoga which involves activities and postures that can work wonders in increasing the muscular strength and flexibility of the cardiovascular system. This is helpful for those who are overweight and wish too loose weight in a method that is devoid of any side effects.

This method was introduced by the great Bikram Choudhury who was a weight lifter and showed his magic in Olympic 1963. The unique fact about this yoga is that it can be practiced even when the temperature of the environment ranges between 95 degrees to 105 degrees.

Regular practice of Bikram yoga will prevent your body from getting injured easily.

Hatha Yoga

This is the easiest form of yoga which has gained immense popularity in the foreign countries like United States. This involves the basics of yoga which can be learned and practiced by everybody. It has asanas, meditations, pranayamas and kundalini. This is a method which will calm the mind and increase the fitness of the body.

It even increases the longevity of a man and helps people to manage the stress. This is extremely helpful for those who lead a life that is overloaded with work stress. It takes few minutes to practice a complete set of Hatha yoga everyday and the effects are wonderful.

These are few of the yoga styles and there are many more which are equally effective and good for health.

Author: April Kerr Author Ranking Silver
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

Finding Yourself Through Yoga Classes

Yoga is self realization of finding your own self and getting it all together basically.,There are a variety of vedic books on yoga that inform the reader how to recognize their own destiny in life,

Finding Yourself Through Yoga Classes

There are a variety of vedic books on yoga that inform the reader how to recognize their own destiny in life, but when an individual joins a yoga class, then they are able to get a much better understanding of what yoga really represents. Yoga is self realization of finding your own self and getting it all together basically.

Sometimes an individual may be in the middle of an environment that is completely full of negative energy, which may be caused by their spouse, room mate, co-worker, parent, or friend. For the individuals' very own health they should remove themselves from this type of situation, but often times they are drawn to this person simply because they care for them. For a situation such a this the true source of negative energy within this personal needs to be located, then it needs to be addressed.

One of the many benefits of the practice of yoga is empowerment and in the Bhakti Yoga empowerment is a type of ritual that a guru gives bestows an enlightened presence to bless the mind and soul of a student that has been devoted. There are times when a student has been so devoted throughout life that a deity is called upon to bless and nurture the student, then as a result of this blessing the student is able to help and teach others. In some parts of the world today, this type of empowerment is still practiced today.

Students to learn how to overcome their obstacles that get in their way each day instead of becoming overwhelmed with them. They need to learn how they can draw on the source of power within themselves when they feel alone and learn that the most powerful tool to empowerment is through power. The constant pursuit of knowledge, especially with the many sources available with modern technology is a source of empowerment. Finally, building your own natural talent to the best of their ability will build your self esteem and become a source of empowerment as well.

Yoga classes are devised to teach students how to survive mental, emotional, and physical hardships when faced with them. While these students are prepared for these types of situations, they become role models for others who would become overwhelmed when faced with the same obstacles. These students are capable to keep a positive attitude due to the fact that they have had the motivation in the past to change themselves.

Many individuals find that contentment is unreal or that it is simply a fantasy, but for individuals that practice yoga know that everything that brings them true contentment is right in front of them such as their family, friends, health, and what ever is close at hand. The true purpose in life must be felt within ones heart and our natural talents are our own destiny. If an individual purchases something at the store, then they will not be happy with it, but if the individual makes something with their own skills and talents, then they will truly be happy and content.

Author: Victor Epand
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/