Archive for December, 2009

By Richard John Anderson

The life of a modern person is quite a stressful one there are always so much we need to get done in a day plus all the other life pressures like finances, family, etc. So it would take pretty good reasons to convince a person to add something else to already busy schedule, so why would we even think about regular Yoga training sessions. Here I will try and examine the main benefits of Yoga and what it can add to our life.

Point One: Physical Health

One of the reasons why we keep this busy lifestyle is to create wealth for ourselves and our families. But have you ever heard a saying “health is your wealth”? Well trust me it is true. It does not matter how much money you have you will not be able to use them if you are dead and neglecting your health is one of the quick ways to get there. The question we have to ask ourselves is not whether we can afford the time for exercise but it is whether we can afford not to. Health is a sliding scale and it is important to remember how much health affects our everyday life and work. The healthier you are the better you can concentrate on your work you also have more energy to get more things done in a shorter time frame, which means the healthier you are the more productive you become.

Yoga is one of the easiest and best ways for us to look after our physical wellbeing. The reason for this is that yoga exercises are so incredibly simple that they can be performed by even the most out of shape person and the more regularly you exercise the healthier you become. Yoga is also an efficient way of releasing stress and tension. During our normal workdays certain blockages develop around the body and that’s results in a number of vital organs not getting enough oxygen and other nutrients they need to function efficiently. Yoga designed to stretch different muscle groups in a particular ways that will remove these blockages from the body and the blood flow will bring all the oxygen and other nutrients to all body organs.

The benefits from yoga are both immediate and also long term. In a short term you will get an improvement in a blood flow extra energy and generally your body will function better as blood can deliver oxygen and other nutrients to all body organs. Another immediate benefit is the release of tension from muscles and reduction of stress. The long term benefits will be ongoing benefits and your digestive system will also function more efficiently, which has innumerable health benefits. You general flexibility and coordination will also improve.

Point Two: Mental Health

Have you ever thought about the importance of breath? We all aware that when someone stops breathing they will die, just thinking about this simplistic understanding tells us how important it is to breath. But proper breathed are often ignored. It is quite important not only for multiple health benefits but also for strong mental advantages it provides us.

Yoga exercises will normally begin with the breathing exercises. This simple exercise of taking a deep breath and then slowly releasing it, it is incredibly calming and relaxing, and the breathing exercises are a vital backbone of Yoga. The key to this is that it concentrates all our attention to one simple action of breathing. We become quite aware of the life giving benefit of a controlled and deep breathing cycle and we are able to achieve a level of calmness that we often don’t find in our everyday lives. That calmness itself is a major stepping-stone to achieving focus.

For us the ability to focus is possibly the single most important skill in a work environment. There are always so many things happening around us so much that we need to do that is quite difficult to focus your mind on a single task we are in process of doing because of all other things which we have in the back of our minds. Yoga teaches you the technique of how to quickly clear your mind and then focus on a single current task. It is also a good provider of personal discipline. The self discipline that is learned from focusing on the body and becoming a master of oneself is one of the major benefits of Yoga.

Point Three: Happiness

Happiness is something which is quite often sacrificed in the short term in exchange for some mystical hope that everything will come together in a future and everything will be ok. Yoga will not move you closer to that point in future, but it will help you to develop a strong sense of self and a connection with yourself so you can become more content with your current situation. The more you practice yoga you will find yourself more comfortable spending quality time alone and with other people. Your sense of self worth will increase and you will perform better in social situations. This is probably the most important skill that yoga can teach you.

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Benefits of Yoga

By Madan G Singh

Yoga is an art that is entirely Indian in origin and practice. The origins of Yoga are buried in antiquity, but most famous saints and rishis have practiced this art. Yoga has two dimensions which are physical as well as spiritual. This is peculiar to the exercise systems that originate from the orient. The western world cannot fathom how an exercise system can have spiritual overtones as well.

The science of Yoga is an ancient science that has been practiced in India since time immemorial. The Vedas allude to this and many men even after decades of study have not been able to unravel the mysteries of this system.

The physical side of yoga concerns a set of poses that are to be retained for some length of time for their beneficial effects to take place. Western physical exercise systems like weight training require repetitive sets, but yoga has nothing like this and consists of retaining a pose for some time. These poses are called asanas.

Yogic asans can be divided into elementary, intermediate and difficult. But bear in mind that all these asans need to be done in the correct way for the benefits to accrue, otherwise there is a chance that you could in the extreme case even harm yourself.

Out of all the yogic poses the sirsha asana or head stand is the king of all asans (poses). It is also the most advanced and difficult. Ancient seers laid great stress on this asana as it was also supposed to lead to nirvana -eternal bliss. But I will caution a beginner who wishes to perfect this pose. Firstly a degree of physical fitness is essential to do this pose. I will recommend that to learn this pose it is best to consult an instructor or join a Yoga school. In the 21st century the western world has realized the benefits of Yoga and a lot many teachers and schools are available to teach Yoga.

The Sirsha asan consists of a basic pose of standing upright on your head. It is also called the inverted pose as the human body is inverted with feet up and head resting on a floor or mat. For this pose it is desirable that you have a mat. I will not advise doing this pose on a concrete floor. You could also do this pose in the garden with the soft grass acting as a cushion for your head.

I will also caution people to attempt this pose only if you are fit and have no serious problems like low or high blood pressure. In such cases the Sirsha asan is to be avoided at all costs. The benefits of the asan are many and have stood the test of time. Basically this pose strengthens the back bone and neck as well as acts as tonic to the brain and other systems of the body. Regular practice of this asan can also act as a rejuvenator of your sex life as well as.

The sirsha asan is done in a simple way. Invert your body and put your hands under your head. Stretch your legs and give an upward push so that your body rises up with the head resting on your palms as the base. The best way to describe this is to practice half a somersault and raise your feet up instead of rolling over. The pose itself can be mastered by doing it repeatedly. The trick in this pose is to retain it for some length of time. I recommend that initially you try and keep the pose for 15 seconds and then gradually increase the timing to 2 minutes.

The sirsha asan has another peculiarity. In case you are celibate and you do the head stand for some time regularly then the as per the learned Yogis the sperms of your body are supposed to go slowly up the spine and form a Lotus flower at the base of the brain. This is supposed to give the person ESP sensations. But nobody has verified this scientifically.

Forgetting the spiritual part a yogic head stand has many beneficial properties that will certainly invigorate your body, strengthen the spine and make the brain sharper. But some external guidance or a guru must be contacted to master this pose. Sirsha asana can also be safely done by women, though some experts do not recommend it during menstruation.

By Denise Loubert

A centuries-old tradition can help relieve chronic back pain with a modest investment of time or money. Millions of Americans have turned to Yoga practice and its easy yoga accessories to cure one of the most incapacitating problems of modern life – chronic back pain.

Yoga History – It is estimated yoga began in India in prehistoric times, more than 5,000 years ago. Although Yoga probably arrived in the United States in the early 1900s, it did not become fashionable with it’s use of various yoga accessories to aid the practice until the 1960s.

Growth of Yoga in America – Yoga’s enormous growth is a reflection of how hot this solution has become for chronic pain. A 2008 study by the Harris Interactive Service Bureau indicates that 15.8 million people practice yoga, with almost half (49.4%) of current practitioners using yoga accessories such as blocks or straps in concurrence with their practice to improve their health overall. Numerous people state that a doctor or therapist recommended yoga as beneficial if they were undergoing treatment for chronic pain.

With the comparatively low cost of yoga accessories such as videos for private practice, it is no wonder that this economical and proven relief for chronic back pain has grown. “Yoga is no longer simply a singular pursuit but a lifestyle choice and an established part of our health and cultural landscape,” says Bill Harper, publisher of Yoga Journal.

Scientific Research – In 2005 researchers at Group Health Cooperative and the University of Washington looked at patients suffering from back pain and concluded that yoga used in combination with simple yoga accessories was the most effective relief method resulting in the most mobility and the least pain. A similar study by West Virginia University found that participants who completed a yoga program reported appreciably lower levels of back pain. In addition Harvard Medical School reported that mind-body medicine including yoga is the most widely used and effective alternative therapy for such chronic pain as back pain.

Yoga Heals Back Pain Quickly – “Yoga works on stretching and strengthening, and the key to long-term healing is strength,” says Liz Owen, who studied with B.K.S. Iyengar, founder of the Iyengar yoga discipline. “Since the emotional effects of chronic pain are often devastating, the calming, grounding benefits of yoga can be very therapeutic.” Viniyoga is an modified form of yoga that focuses on slow stretches and deep breathing and the use of several yoga accessories such as blocks. It is used in many medical institutions such as UCLA’s Pediatric Pain Program which features yoga, and the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center which offers yoga classes along with acupuncture and nutritional counseling.

Get Relief Now – For many people who suffer chronic pain, yoga has proven to be a simple and economical first step in becoming knowledgeable about how to cope with their pain. By using a few yoga accessories to help them achieve the poses, even a beginner can find relief quickly. Their symptoms vary-from headaches and arthritis to chronic back pain and anxiety – but their stories are astonishingly similar: For those looking for help in coping with their pain problems, yoga works.

Deni Loubert is a twenty year practitioner of yoga and a published author. She became a big supporter of yoga when she found profound relief from chronic back pain from a car accident a few years ago. If you suffer from this kind of pain – you don’t need to any longer. Her website http://my-yoga-accessories.com is a portal to a number of both public and private sites she has used for years to help her overcome chronic pain and to stay on the path with her practice.

By Tamara Tangney

We are living an era that is obsessed in “quick fixes” instead of making us responsible for our own health. For example: If we are depressed, take a pill instead of resolving the issue that is making us depressed is the more accepted way to go. There are many factors that weaken the immune system that flu shots and other vaccines can not resolve.

• Toxins in the environment and/or food (cars and processed foods mainly)

• SAD (Standard American Diet, which is a poor diet rich in processed foods)

• Excessive alcohol intake (Which is promoted by our society)

• Lack of exercise (Excessive screen time and our love for our cars)

• Stress (Our current economic situation is not helping with this!)

There is good news. We can take charge of our lives by strengthening our immune system. A strong immune system not only leads to less occurrences of illness, but also helps prevent more extreme manifestations of illness. A few of the ways that yoga positively impacts the immune system include:

• Stimulating the Lymph Nodes

• Improving circulation

• Improving oxygen flow, thus aiding the transfer of energy from nutrients to cells

• Improving the flow of the sinuses and flushing out mucous from the lungs

• Increasing lung capacity and mobility

• Massaging the internal organs

• Relaxing the nervous system

Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakopatasana) and Eagle Pose (Garudasana) are both effective in charging up the Lymph System.

In Pigeon Pose, the pressure of the heel of the foot on the groin stimulates the lymph nodes to “release their juices”, thus cleansing them out and making them work more efficiently. Eagle Pose stimulates the lymph in the armpits and the groin as the arms and legs are crossed at the elbows and knees respectively.

Ujjayi Breathing promotes cleansing of the upper respiratory tract, increases lung capacity, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).

Sun Salute A & B (Surya Namaskara A & B)

These two sequences create “heat” in your body by, increasing blood flow, oxygen flow, heart rate and muscle strength. They are energizing sequences that produce similar cardiovascular results as running with out the injuries. If you are new to yoga, try practicing Sun Salute A every day for one month. Once that is mastered, add Sun Salute B to receive the full immunological benefits of these sequences.

Cows Face Pose (Gomukasana) Stimulates the lymph nodes in the groin and armpits, increases lung capacity and mobility, massages internal organs and calms the nervous system (when bent forward). Bonus: Your body looks like a cow’s face when in the full pose!

Bow Pose is a backbend with extra benefits! Your upper and lower back muscles and chest is opened by grabbing your ankles and “pushing away” from your hands with your feet and legs. Your internal organs are massaged by rocking back and forth in the full posture.

Corpse Pose (Shavasana) is the most important pose in yoga. Honor your self by quieting your mind. Freeing your self from tension and stress for even a few minutes every day will increase your sense of self and give you power to fight off illnesses.

Tamara Tangney is a yogi, ice hockey player, health enthusiast and mother and frequently writes about new ways to incorporate yoga and healthful eating into one’s life. For more information about yoga and fitness, visit http://www.chickswithkick.com

By Gaylene Thoeny

The New Year is a natural time to think about detoxing but any time of the year is great. Yoga in general is detoxifying. Yoga gets more blood & oxygen to flow through the body, cleaning stale air out of our lungs, loosening our muscles and creating positive thoughts. There are numerous ways to detox the body, by breath, by nutrition, drinking more water, brushing the skin, fasting and many, many more.

Once basic way to detoxify through yoga is twists. Twists oxygenate and feed the internal organs in the abdomen and pelvis delivering fresh blood to the spinal nerves, blood vessels and tissues. Twists loosen muscles freeing toxins that may be stuck in knotted muscles and increasing the circulation through the whole body. Twists stretch and contract the muscles in the back, feeding the vertebrae and creating a healthy back.

Mentally and physically twists makes things flower better through the body. Once things are flowing freely through the body and body is able to rid itself of toxins faster & easier. There are many twists in yoga but one very simple and gentle twist is a reclined twist (this pose also works wonders on a hangover).

Reclined Spinal Twist:

Getting Into the Pose: Lying on your back, with your arms at your sides, bringing the soles of the feet to the floor the width of the mat (or hip width apart), knees pointing towards the ceiling.

Holding the Pose: Exhale and let the knees fall down to one side, inhale the knees up to center, exhale the knees down to the other side. Repeat for a minimum of 6 breaths. Or until you feel you are done.

Benefits: Improved digestion & circulation, reduce backache and sciatica, relieves menstrual discomfort, stimulates the lymphatic system, relieves stress & anxiety, massages the internal organs, feeds the vertebrae in the spinal cord, loosens muscles in the back and surrounding the spine.

Happy Twisting & Detoxing to you all!

This article by Gaylene Thoeny, a 500hr Registered Yoga Teacher, yogi and mom. Go to http://www.groundingfitness.ca for more information. Gaylene specializes in yoga and lifestyle management. Creating a grounded life on and off the mat.

By Sally Janssen

It is important for the human psyche to have a concept or perceptions of our origin and our ultimate life destination. This motivates the study of psychology.

What is missing in the more material purposes of western psychology, are the components of the soul and spirit of a human being. Yet the spiritual life purpose is as important as a material one. It is a Truth to be sought and remains one of the main focal points for Vedic scholars and philosophers as for the genuine seeker for understanding of human being.

Although Indian scholars of Vedic lore will be capable of more profound discussions of psychology and analyses of human nature, most of us wish to use the tenets of Raja Yoga philosophy and teachings to help us towards the spiritual goal by relying upon the three simplest definitions of the psyche as an adjunct to what is already known to us through western psychology.

Consideration of these components serves to guide us through the labyrinth of information about the human mind and personality to illumine a clear path towards a higher destination. This spiritual path or Marga is known and highly regarded as that of kingly purpose in discovering life’s truth, hence its name Raja Yoga. However, it is a royal status that must be earned.

There are many successful exponents of Hatha Yoga who have achieved good health and balanced nature through the practices concentrating upon the body. Those who by nature have directed a strong stream of emotional development towards devotion rather than self satisfaction have succeeded in the spirit of Bhakti no matter what religious ideas they use to channel their full devotional energy – or if they follow no formal spiritual system at all. Those who explore the realities of human nature and are motivated by a search for truth are practising Raja Yoga and will find much to discover.

The simple tenets of Raja Yoga direct us to learn all we can of the three clear spheres and functions of human intelligence. They have been similarly identified by wise philosophers and leaders of mankind throughout the ages. Recognition followed by study of these three aspects of ourselves allows us in time, to integrate them.

Personality – consisting of the body and brain, emotions, and thoughts

Soul – the inhabiting intelligence, wisdom or sum-total of life experience

Spirit – the spark of life that links us with the Divine light, power and energy that has created and animates all living forms – and has entrusted us with the gift of life and free will.

Sally Janssen is a writer, and Yoga teacher well known both in Australia and abroad for her skill in demonstration of the Hatha Yoga practices and her wisdom in applying the principles of Raja Yoga -the study of the mind and consciousness. More details at http://www.essence-of-yoga.net

Her book “Mental Fitness: A Complete Self-help Guide” explains the principles of mental fitness that can be applied by us all. The book may be found here: http://www.mentalhealthandfitness.com/blog

By Elizabeth Henshall

Ashtanga Yoga or Restorative Yoga – how to make the choice

Ashtanga Yoga is very different to the gentle practice of Restorative Yoga. In fact Ashtanga Yoga is a lovely choice for people who are strong and healthy but it would not be a good choice for anyone who has been recently ill, is suffering from burnout or quite chronic stress related conditions such as high blood pressure, severe headaches or chronic fatigue syndrome. The more active forms of yoga such as Ashtanga, with its emphasis on building towards physical strength as well as flexibility, tend to move quickly with the breath of the person doing the practice and form very beautiful flows of movement which are followed carefully by the Ashtanga practitioner. At its best the student can mediate as they do the flow but they have to have good health and a strong body to do this. For those who know a little about yoga sequences like ‘The Salute to the Sun’ is a good example of an Ashtanga flow.

For the person who has been ill and wants to start on a self-help route to recovery and wellbeing this form of Yoga is not advisable. That person’s body needs to rest, refresh and restore itself quietly and gently while it heals. Restorative Yoga helps that happen by emphasising the unique needs of a body whose nervous system has been overloaded and whose immune system has started to break down under ongoing stress – or which is in pain following distress in their muscular or skeletal systems. A restorative yoga session will involve only 4 or 5 postures which will each be held for some minutes but there will never be any strain placed on the body because each pose is TOTALLY supported by soft props. The careful placing of these props means that the body is free to relax and release its own powerful healing system while the person is taken through the most essential postures for their needs. Bodies are clever and know very well when they find their very own balance point as all the systems find themselves supported enough to come down off ‘high alert’. As soon as your body experiences that degree of support it knows it can switch out of overdrive and it heaves a sigh of relief! Experienced Restorative Yoga teachers will take time to help students work out their own Restorative Body Map and show them how to constantly bring their bodies back to balance point and so to healing. A session would typically include a posture to help to gently open the chest and aid breathing, a quiet supported forward bend to ease the spine, a very gentle twist of the torso to ease the digestion and a very beautiful relaxation to help the body fully switch channels from the Sympathetic High-Alert Nervous System to the ParaSympathetic Calm-and-Centred Nervous System.

There is a great contrast in the two styles but underlying them both are age old principles of body care and the use of postures to work through all parts of the body so that health and wellbeing are promoted along with a calm, controlled mind. We just have to find the yoga approach that is right for us at any point in time.

Restorative Yoga Workshops and more information about how to use this form of self healing can be found on Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga. The Fifty, Fit and Fabulous programme provides a step by step approach to wellbeing through holistic care and is outlined on these sites.

By Emily Glow

Your physical world changes drastically when you’re pregnant. Not only is your center of gravity off, but you may have aches and pains in places you didn’t even know you had muscles. At the same time, your ligaments soften and your flexibility improves. Follow these 5 easy tips to continue a safe practice and get the most out of your precious remaining alone time:)

1) Stay away from the edge:

You usually push yourself right to the edge, and then a breath or two over. But with those softened ligaments, you may want to ease up a bit. Get the most out of your workout by listening to your body and knowing your limit. As you get bigger, use yoga blocks and yoga straps to stay balanced or help with releases.

2) Get comfortable and take time to rest:

After a certain point, you will lay on your side or in a safe restorative pose instead of savasana. Use a yoga bolster between your legs and one propped against your back.

3) Use a thick yoga mat for comfort and knee support.

4) Understand your body is changing and you’re having energy highs and lows. Work with how you feel in the moment, now how you usually expect yourself to perform.

5) Try to do some relaxing poses at home every day if you can’t make it to class. Find a quiet place you can focus and breath. If you aren’t feeling physical, sit on the edge of a couple yoga blankets and connect with your breath.

By Helena Lucas

Yoga practice aims for internal balance. Fundamentally this involves optimisation of your endocrine system. Yoga postures and breathing techniques, in conjunction with meditation practices and chanting, stimulate your endocrine glands to enhance their functioning. This is achieved by internal massage on muscles and spine, by internal massage through sounds, by improving circulation, by stimulation of body areas which have connections to specific organs as demonstrated through reflexology techniques, focusing on chakras, and exercising the triple warmer muscles of your thorax.

Your endocrine system consists of glands that release chemical messages called ‘hormones’ to regulate your organism’s functions. Hormones are involved in growth and development, tissue function, metabolism (affecting weight regulation and hunger), and in your mood. They play a role in your experiencing relaxation or stress, pleasure or frustration, and fear or joy. Scientific experiments prove the relationship between our moods as reaction to external stimuli or circumstances, as with film themes, and hormone secretion. We know that hormonal imbalances affect our mood, and thus our decision-making, in undesirable ways. Consequences of our day-to-day choices will inevitably amount to change the direction of our lives. In this light, Yoga’s beneficial effect on our endocrine system is of paramount importance to all regardless of age or gender.

Your body ‘chakras’ or energy foci keep close relation with your internal glands that constitute your endocrine system. Yogis understand that when the pineal gland and the pituitary gland (or hypophysis) receive sufficient energy, they will channel impulses from the other endocrine glands in synchronicity to optimise rhythms for good health. Your pineal gland corresponds to your ‘third eye’ and is linked to your developing transcendental wisdom. Yoga meditation techniques powerfully stimulate this gland. Your pituitary gland, at the base of your brain, relates to inspiration and intuition. Its functioning is enhanced by The Archway yoga posture. A very pleasant practice to promote emotional balance through your endocrine system is the Kundalini Yoga Sat Nam (True Self) meditation exercise using breathing and chanting techniques.

Your thyroid gland, found below your larynx, or below Adam’s apple in men, is responsible for your body’s energy burning rate, and for your body’s sensitivity to other hormones. It produces the thyroid hormones Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3), involved in regulating your metabolism, and in the growth and rate of function of other bodily systems. It is controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. In Yoga, it is connected to your chakra visshudda, which relates to your communication skills. Your thyroid’s functions are directly linked to your mood. When this gland becomes overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism) we experience undesirable effects. Excessive thyroid hormonal secretion produces nervousness, irritability, excessive hunger, palpitations, laboured breathing and an abnormally fast digestion. An underactive thyroid results in our apathy and tiredness. The inverted yoga posture Head Stand greatly enhances the functioning of your thyroid gland by bringing an increased amount of blood to your throat area, resulting especially helpful in execution with the Breath of Fire in Kundalini Yoga. The Throat Lotus Kriya combines exercises with powerful yoga breathing techniques to work your thyroid and parathyroid glands.

The thymus gland, also part of your endocrine system and located under your breastbone, has a central role in keeping a strong immune system. In Yoga, it is connected to your anahata chakra, relating to your capacity for loving and opening up to others. The Throat Lotus Kriya also stimulates this gland.

Your adrenal glands, sitting above your kidneys, release hormones in conjunction to stress due to our fear or frustration, and also when hipoglucemia occurs. This results in the hyperactive state of ‘fight or flight’. If we don’t respond to this state through movement as intended by its bodily mechanism then we enter a state of stress. These glands of your endocrine system are connected to your manipura chakra relating to power-seeking, perseverance and will-power. The Camel yoga posture enhances blood flow through your suprarenal glands.

Your gonads secrete sex hormones and affect your vitality.They connect with your svadisthana chakra in relation to pleasure, creativity and joy of life. Yoga exercises and meditation are of help to men and women experiencing changes in hormonal levels due to aging. Women dealing with the perimenopause or menopause find relief from stress, and production of stress hormones by their bodies is reduced. Yoga’s inverted postures, as the Downward Facing Dog, direct blood towards our pineal, pituitary, thyroid and hypothalamus glands. This can help stabilise severe hormonal fluctuations. It is important here to note contraindications to yoga’s inverted postures for people with high blood pressure, hyperactive thyroid, Graves disease, glaucoma, and detached retina. If this includes you, please be sure to consult with a professional for evaluation and advice.

The invaluable benefits to be experienced through our mood and stability by engaging in yoga practice are not to be dismissed by anyone who wishes to enhance their well-being. This holds regardless of your present condition. You will undoubtedly enrich your life through these simple techniques, be it to elevate your wellness to an even higher level, or to mark the start of a rising stage that promotes healing and comfort. Whatever your situation, yoga will lead your way to unprecedented well-being.

Helena Lucas is qualified in psychology and is engaged in the practice of alternative healing techniques and treatments. She has travelled throughout Europe and Africa to care for rescued chimpanzees in primate sanctuaries, always sharing her bed with her two cats Fairy and Aisha on board. Be it in jungle or metropolis, Helena greets each sunrise through Yoga for strength and motivation. To open your life to ancient techniques that will have you shining in no time visit http://yogainyourlife.com.

By Konstantin Tsiryulnikov

The increasing popularity of Yoga, especially during and after the holiday season is attracting a lot of beginners to come to the class. The vast majority of popular Yoga schools offer very little advice to absolute beginners, mostly trying to emerge them into the practice, often overlooking essential points. This short guide is designed to give the beginners a few tips on how to get the most out of their practice, advance quickly and receive maximum enjoyment.

1. Do not eat 1 hr before class

When your stomach is busy digesting food a lot of energy is consumed, making it harder to concentrate on your poses, decreasing your flexibility (because your stomach is full of food), and affecting your breathing pattern. Simply put, practicing on a full stomach is extra work the your body and it will decrease your performance.

2. Do not eat 1 hr after class

Many people get very hungry after class and proceed to the table immediately. This is not a good idea. During Yoga practice a lot of toxins that have been accumulated by your muscle tissue are released into the bloodstream (same thing happens after a good massage) making you feel a bit dizzy and sometimes even hungover – this is your body trying to digest the released impurities, cleansing your system. This process usually takes about an hour, and adding food to your stomach will force your body to switch to food digestion, leaving the toxins to be absorbed back into the tissue. Eating right after class significantly decreases the purifying benefits of your practice.

3. Wear loose clothing

Tight fitness gear, usually perfect for active workouts is not suitable for Yoga. Your muscles should be free, and your movements should be as unconstricted as possible. Try to stay natural. Naked Yoga works best:)

4. Pay attention to your mat

It is important to have a good Yoga mat, especially for beginners. Make sure your mat is not too thin, does not slip (especially when wet) and does not bunch up during practice. Having a skid-free and properly cushioned experience is recommended if you want to maximize your enjoyment.

5. Focus on breathing

While your insructor will definitely tell you this, it is important to note how essential this part is. Proper breathing pattern is a key to everything in Yoga, make sure you follow the rhythm of inhalations and exhalations set by your teacher, this rhythm will soon become natural.

6. Do not try to follow or imitate anybody

Practice at your own pace. People around you may do crazy stuff, and there is absolutely no need to follow them. Yoga is not about attaining certain poses, but about balance and the practice itself.

7. “No pain-no gain” does NOT apply to Yoga

There is no need to push yourself. A perfect pose is the one you can do comfortably. Yoga is not about physical achievement, you must progress at your own natural speed.

8. Dedicate your practice to someone

To practice a little Karma Yoga, try to imagine that you are practicing for someone else’s benefit, picture this person and dedicate the fruits of your labor to them. This simple technique will calm your mind and put all your worries on stand by.

9. Do not skip the meditation

Sometimes you are in a rush, and leave the class before meditation starts. You think that you’ve achieved all the benefits of the physical part and will meditate later. This is a common mistake that should be avoided. Meditation is the most important part of the practice, essentially everything is leading to it. During meditation you are able to utilize the calming effect of the asanas to go deep inside yourself – this is what yoga is about.

10. Do not worry about progress

If you practice regularly, you will succeed. Yoga was designed to work on anyone who dedicates time to it. It does not matter who you are, what your physical abilities are like and where you stand in life – if you practice, you will feel the benefits. I hope this makes it a little easier for beginners to get started and begin enjoying Yoga right away. Once you truly feel the effects, you will never want to go back, guaranteed!

Konstantin Tsiryulnikov is an experienced Yoga enthusiast and practitioner, and an editor of The http://YogaMatReview.org  a ratings and reviews site about Yoga products.