Archive for February, 2010

By Rick A. Lee

Not every child is good at sports and it’s sometimes difficult to know how to get your children to exercise, when you know they don’t enjoy competing. Forcing children into competitive situations can be damaging to their self-confidence and reinforce their dislike of exercise of any kind. When your child isn’t getting enough exercise, it can be quite a problem thinking of ways to get them away from the computer or T.V. Well, I want to tell you a little about the benefits of yoga for children and how it can help them to stay physically and mentally active.

Yoga differs from sports, the usual school activities or regular children’s play principally because it is a non-competitive activity. There are no winners and losers in yoga and this can make it more appealing to a child who doesn’t do very well in ball games and other sporting activities.

Children of school age sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of school work they have to do and by the variety of computer games they play, some of which cause over-stimulation and behavioral problems. Yoga is an excellent preparation for studying because it acts of the mind, as well as the body, to produce a calming and relaxing effect.

Yoga classes for children permit them to improve their sense of well-being through physical, mental and emotional balance which helps to develop their sense of spontaneity, creativity and communication.

In a yoga class children learn to understand and respect their body and to move with agility through the co-ordination of slow movements. This exercise strengthens the muscles and trains children into developing a good posture, as well as developing their attention span, concentration and memory. Yoga teaches good breathing habits and is useful in helping children with asthma to know how to control their breathing and anxiety during an attack.

Yoga classes for children differ from adult classes, because the child is in the moment of learning to be part of the world and how to deal with its highs and lows. In a children’s class they are taught breathing exercises, physical postures known as Asanas, concentration exercises, visualization and relaxation, using games and stories as the way of teaching and learning.

In this way, whilst the children are enjoying the activities, they are also learning about co-operation, paying attention, body movement and ultimately the pleasure that can be gained from doing the right type of exercise for them.

If you’re finding it hard to get your child to exercise, why not try to find a yoga class in your area and help your child to discover the many benefits it can bring?

Rick A. Lee has been a dedicated writer for many years. He mainly focuses on health and fitness articles, but also regularly writes over a variety of niches. You can check out his latest site on cool air mist humidifier which also reviews the best evaporative cool mist humidifier.

By Ama Singh

Recently I’ve been going through a serious health phase. It’s something that I do occasionally, alongside raw-food weeks and long distance running. It’s alright though, as these phases are short-lived and in-dispersed with bouts of home-cooking and an over indulgence in cream teas. Most recently, a friend and I have tried our hand (and legs) at Bikram yoga. Being a regular yogi, I thought I’d take to the sweatiness easily. I’ve been stuck in a car in hot weather before, so surely yoga in a heated room wouldn’t be a challenge. Not so. What I thought would be my next health fad – transpired to be something very different.

I started preparing for the classes a few weeks before hand. It being sweaty yoga, I knew it would probably involve getting down to the undies. With this in mind, I aimed to be as toned and groomed as possible, although on arriving most people were of various different shapes and sizes – so it didn’t really matter. I thought it may be awkward with my friend Christine, but it really wasn’t; we gave each a once over and then just got used to it. We’d registered and mingled with the other class-members, most of whom seemed like regulars. Then we went inside the heated room and started the trademark twenty-six postures. Initially the heat was calming. Then it was cranked up – and the dripping began. The postures seemed to start of fairly easy, but had their own Bikram twist. I thought, being a regular practitioner of Yoga, I’d find this reasonably tolerable; however it soon got tougher and tougher.

As the instructor rolled through the poses, I was astonished at the speed at which the class was progressing. Barely had I moved into a pose, when we were asked to move on to the next. This was unlike the philosophy that I’d gotten used to. I thought you were supposed to ease your way into the poses through breathing. What I felt with the Bikram class was something far removed – something a lot more entwined with boot-camp than the serenity of yoga. Shortly, I began to feel incredibly drained, light headed and like I was going to pass out. Apparently this is normal. I can understand why some people might argue that pushing your body to such extremes helps attain a level of single mindedness and physical endurance which is like no other; but at the time, all I could think about was whether or not I’d ever be able to do this again. One hour seemed like four.

I got to thinking, I’m sure this isn’t what it’s all about. What about the relationship of working closely with an instructor to understand the movement and control of your body. What about learning to breathe before learning to move? All of these things were quickly brushed upon in Bikram and never fully investigated. I wondered whether that was because the class was heavily full and stringently scheduled. The venue that I’d gone to was obviously very busy, and would clearly continue to operate like a business than a place of discovery. For me, the battle between enterprise and methodology seemed to undermine the purpose of the class. Could these have been better classes with smaller numbers and more time? Eventually, this got me thinking about Bikram Choudhury himself. He’s clearly thought long and hard about the technique. Did he believe it would really kick-off the way it did? As a millionaire, is he still involved with the quality control of classes around the world?

I know that I will always appreciate the benefits of yoga, and I know its practice will be experienced differently by each practitioner; but for now, I think I’ll stick to the kind that I’m used to. On considering recent career choices, I was speaking with my yoga teacher about the prospect of learning to teach it. She asked me how much I expected to earn, and then went to say, it won’t really be much, ‘not unless you’re on TV or have a DVD of course’. Maybe Bikram’s got something going for him, I just wonder what the exact philosophy behind it is.

The Non Resident Indian

http://www.the-nri.com/index.php/2009/10/bikram-yoga-a-load-of-hot-air/

By Ntathu Allen

Congratulations!!! You have rang your local Yoga Studio and signed up for your first ever Yoga lesson. After the initial “yeah, feel-good-vibes”, you sit down and wonder what to expect.

As a Yoga Teacher, I receive many enquiries from potential students, anxious about what to expect when they join a class.

Here, in no particular order are the seven most popular questions I am asked by new yogis prior to starting their first yoga lesson.

Seven Most Popular Questions Asked By New Yogis

1. What Do I Wear ?

When you practice yoga it is essential you wear loose comfortable clothing. Clothes that enable you to move your body freely without restrictions and in which you feel at ease in, for example, yoga pants and a cotton tee-shirt. Some schools of yoga prefer students to wear tee-shirts which cover your shoulders and preserve your modesty.

Other schools, for example Iygenar prefer students to wear shorts, so that the teacher can accurately see your body and make appropriate adjustments.

Some ladies prefer to wear leotards and leggings when they practice yoga. Again, it is a personal choice.

2. Can I Eat Before My Class?

Generally speaking, it is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach. If it is a heavy meal, try to eat at least 60 – 90 minutes before your class.

3. I Am Over 40 Years Old, Am I Too Old To Start Yoga?

Absolutely not! Regardless of age yoga can be started at any age. In fact, in my experience, mature students approach yoga with a quiet determination to use their practice to let go of past hurts and regain their flexibility and strength. If you have not practiced any form of exercise for a while, then yoga, with its emphasis on gentle stretching and relaxation techniques, offers you a gentle introduction into living a more active lifestyle.

4. I Am Pregnant And Have Heard That Yoga Is Good Preparation For Childbirth. Is This True?

Yes, yoga exercises and relaxation techniques are perfect preparation and exercise for pregnant women. Breathing practices and relaxation techniques help your body adapt to the physical and emotional changes your body undergoes. Whilst meditation exercises encourage you to turn your mind inwards and connect with your inner strength – all necessary preparation for labour.

If you are pregnant and this is your first experience of yoga, it is advisable to attend a Pre-Natal/Yoga For Pregnancy Class where the teacher will be able to adapt yoga poses to your particular stage of pregnancy.

5. I Am Really Stiff And Suffer From Back Pain – Can Yoga Help Me Relieve My Back Pain?

If you suffer from back pain, it is essential that you seek advise from your Doctor before starting any form of exercise. Yoga postures, such as the cobra, half spinal twist can help to strengthen weak back muscles and improve the flexibility of your spine. With regular practice, yoga will help to ease back pain.

6. How Long Does A Yoga Session Last?

Classes usually last 60 – 90 minutes. Generally, your yoga class will consist of an initial relaxation, a few rounds of the Sun Salutation, breathing exercises, yoga postures and a final relaxation. Some classes include a period of guided meditation as part of the lesson.

7. I Am Stiff And Not Used To Sitting Cross- Legged On the Floor – How Will I Cope?

Generally speaking, most people are not used to sitting cross-legged. If you have problems with your knees, stiff hips, lower back pain you will find it easier to sit on a cushion with your legs stretched out in front of you. Alternatively, you can always practice yoga seated on a chair. If you are nervous about sitting on the floor, have a quiet word with your Yoga teacher before the class and she can advise you on different easy seated postures.

There you have it. Seven popular concerns new yogis have when they start yoga. Let me know if your concern isn’t covered and I will be happy to offer you support to ensure you enjoy your first yoga class.

Ntathu Allen, Hatha Yoga Teacher works with women who want a richer, more fulfilling life for themselves and their families. She inspires and supports you to take time-out from your busy schedule to care for and nurture your mind, body and soul. To find out more go to: http://www.yogainspires.co.uk and sign up for your FREE weekly copy of Ntathu’s Yoga Guide To Better Health, Inner Peace And monthly Yoga Inspires newsletter

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Email: ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk

http://www.yogainspires.co.uk

By Dave Teitler

How to understand the real purpose of practicing yoga:

After practicing and teaching karate and tai chi for many years, I was drawn to yoga in my quest for a spiritual connection. First it was from books, then from videos and finally I started visiting local yoga studios in search of a teacher. In the beginning of my practice I was concentrating on the physical practice, and was not sure where I was going with it. I just loved the feeling of stretching and twisting my body into various postures. Soon I was addicted to the quest for perfect postures. At that point I found my teacher Alan Finger and my emphasis began to change. I realized that the physical practice was primarily meant for developing the strength of mind and body necessary to sit in meditation for at least 20 minutes and that the side effects of the physical practice like discipline, flexibility calmness and strength were secondary.

Ancient civilizations realized this and developed the Eighth Fold Path of yoga consisting of Yamas, (rules to live your life by) Niyamas, (methods of purifying the body) Pranayamas (breathing exercises for energy cultivation) Asana (physical postures) Pratyhara (withdrawal of the senses) and the three stages of meditation consisting of concentration, merging of the meditator with the object of concentration and Samadhi (realization of the true self). Real yoga was the practice of all eight paths. Just paying attention to the asana wont give you a clear picture of where your practice is going. The true test of your whole development takes place in your daily activities. Yoga aims at achieving a human beings highest state of development.

It is said by a Taoist that upon birth ones soul splits apart. Half going to the heart chakra and half going to heaven. Our lives, if we are in touch with ourselves, are based on our innate desire to bring the two halves of the soul together. In order to do that we need a modality such as yoga to open us up to our possibilities. Our lives begin to change and we slowly change the way we navigate our daily activities. This is purpose of yoga. Anyone who has natural flexibility can do yoga postures, however it takes someone who feels the calling of the soul to transcend the limited world we live in and live a life of ethics, morality, love and compassion, being thankful of each new day.

http://www.realyoga.org/

By Patresia Adams

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated from India. There are several branches and types of exercises that are performed under yoga. Kundalini yoga is a well-known branch of yoga that brings enormous health benefits. Kundalini is a Sanskrit word that means ‘uncoiled’. There is an instinctive force or energy that lies dormant as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of our spine. A set of advanced yoga exercises under the Kundalini yoga discipline, awakens or uncoils our latent creative energy.

Kundalini is a spiritual type of yoga. It is more than the mere physical performance of poses. It contains rigorous practice of breath controlling techniques; physical exercises, meditation, and chanting “shlokas”. By doing so, we release the coiled force and draw it up through the body awakening each of the seven vital points (also known as chakras) in a body. Complete illumination occurs when this energy reaches the Crown Chakra. Complete illumination brings inner knowledge, a deeper awareness of our creative abilities and hidden potential. We become conscious of about infinite truths of the universe and our body attains maturation.

Kundalini yoga can be practiced by people of al ages. It helps you meet the challenges presented by the hectic schedule of daily life. Its practice harmonizes the glandular system, strengthens the nervous system, purifies bloodstream, expands the capacity of the lungs and maintains balance between the mind, body and spirit. In this way you become your own masters and not influenced by your feelings and thoughts. You develop a better comprehension and have the choice and the wisdom to act.

A scheduled practice of Kundalini yoga enhances vitality, prevent back aches, decrease stress and maintain youthfulness by improving spine suppleness. You feel joy, knowledge and love in their purest form. Allow Kundalini yoga, the yoga of awareness help you realize your full potential and carve a healthy future for yourself.

Divine Wellness is an interactive and leading health portal that provides instructions and advice related to Kundalini yoga, Ayurveda and alternative medicine treatment.

Visit our website for more information on Kundalini Yoga and Yoga.

Patresia Adams is a healthcare consultant working with Divine Wellness. This interactive health and wellness portal offers Live online yoga classes through high-definition video conferencing.

By Michelle Marie Chant

All you need is a comfortable space to place your yoga mat…preferably just over an inch thick to protect the median nerve in the wrist joint.

Sit down in a crossed leg position with the sit bones rooting to the floor…As you push down through your sit bones, lift up, through the entire torso….Visualize the top of the head reaching toward the ceiling. Draw your shoulder blades into your back. Broaden your collar bones, spreading the chest muscles without pushing your front ribs forward. Pull your belly up and in toward the spine… With each inhalation expand through your front ribs as if you had a balloon in the belly. With each exhalation contract your belly, working the abdominal muscles to keep your lower back lifting out of the hips as you sit. Hold this for 5 to 10 minutes or until you feel like you are struggling to stay lifted. Avoid any compression through the low back and use a blanket or pillow to sit up on if the exercise alone is challenging for you. You would also benefit from the aid of a prop if your knees are not able to drop toward the floor, which is an indication of extremely tight hips and/ or hamstrings. Lifting yourself up onto a prop will help you to feel much more at ease in the pose.

The beauty of yoga is that we do what we can, when we can. It is your time with you…Listen to your body and adjust accordingly. We all have good days and bad days and part of yoga is heightening the internal awareness so that we embrace exactly where we are today.

Staying seated in this position, drop the head toward the floor gently and roll the neck side to side… Do this for a few breathes or until your feel like your ready for the next pose..Let each breathe initiate each movement and not the reverse. Stay connected with the breathe. If you lose the breathe, stop, and reconnect.

Next inhale the arms up over your head, interlace them with the palm of the hands toward the ceiling. Hold this for 5-15 breaths. Release the fingers and reach the torso forward, folding out front until you feel a stretch in the hips and lower back. Hold for 5-15 breaths. Reach to the left, hold for 5 breaths, and reach to the right, hold for 5 breaths. Bring the arms back to the center, begin to flatten the back and bring the arms back in toward the shins until your back to a seated, upright position.

Come to the hands and knees on your mat. Bring the wrists directly under the shoulders, and the knees directly below the hips. Begin to round the back, seperating the shoulder blades, and then reverse the motion, drawing the shoulder blades down the back, lifting the tail bone and then top of the head simultaneously. Do this for 2 minutes or until the muscles that house the spine begin to feel warm and more elastic.

With the spine neutral and back to the hands and the knees, curl the toes, lift the hips and move into downward facing dog. Allow the knees to be slightly bent and shift the weight back into the legs. Move the shoulder blades down the back, and squeeze the arms into the ears. Continue to lengthen the spine and gentle start to work the top of the thighs, dropping the heels toward the floor, without forcing… Hold for 5- 10 breaths and come down to the floor, resting into “child’s pose”… (knees to the floor, hips drop back into the heels, arms rest along your sides). Continue this until you feel like you need rest and try again…

You are on your way to a yoga practice! Each day you will feel like you can hold each pose a little bit longer. Stay present with the breath. The breathe is the single most important component to the practice.

There are several books and videos to help ease you into your practice.

Michelle Marie Chant is an Exercise physiologist B.S., that has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 10 yrs. She has been in the fitness industry for two decades and feels yoga has been extremely instrumental in encompassing the intensity of her favorite workouts yet focusing equally on creating balance in the body and peace in the mind. And… as we get older, we learn to appreciate this concept! Feel free to contact Michelle at michellemariedesigns@verizon.net  with any questions.

By Suza Francina

When I began learning yoga in 1970, I was working as a home health care provider for convalescents and the elderly, something I had done since my teens. I befriended and cared for many of the same people until they died. This gave me the opportunity to observe firsthand the mental and physical changes that often occur in the later years. The contrast between the elderly people I cared for and the seemingly ageless yoga practitioners I met was striking. I realized that yoga’s preventive and rehabilitative gifts and underlying philosophy could help an aging population and bring balance to our culture’s obsession with the superficial trappings of youth.

My years of caring for older people, many of them in wheel chairs, gave me a deeper appreciation of the benefits of yoga and therapeutic exercise. I saw that as with any age group, older people come into a yoga class with various levels of ability and medical histories. Both the frail elderly and late-life yoga students with severe balance problems may initially benefit and gain confidence by practicing modified yoga postures sitting in a chair. However, practicing in this way can be counterproductive to the goal of keeping older students independent and out of a wheelchair. In almost forty years of teaching yoga to older beginners, I’ve learned that most can practice the same vital weight-bearing postures that are taught in my regular classes. Older students with medical problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, arthritis, and other health concerns common in the later years can practice gentle variations of basic poses at a slower pace and with the support of yoga props.

A Peek into My Yoga Over Sixty Class

It’s Monday morning and I’m observing the students in my “Over Fifty” class warming up.

I enjoy watching my long time student, Barbara, age ninety-two, practicing Half Moon Pose with her back against the wall, her bottom hand on the seat of a chair. She recently had a private lesson where we reviewed how to practice Standing Poses with support of a kitchen counter and chair, to help conserve her energy and to allow her to stay in the poses longer. It is empowering for Barbara to practice the same vital weight bearing poses that younger students are practicing in the middle of the room.

The newest person in the class is Bob, a man in his mid sxties with typically tight hamstrings. He is lying down on the floor stretching his legs with a strap around his foot. Bob had a private lesson with me in which he showed me his twenty-minute exercise routine. I explained to him that the exercises he has been doing for the past sixteen years are not removing the stiffness that is settling into his body as he ages. His upper back is rounded from years of desk work and driving, and I place a folded blanket under his head to keep it level while he stretches his legs.

Karen, in her early seventies, has been coming faithfully two or three times a week for ten years. She attends both my classes for older students who need a gentler, slower pace, and my classes for more experienced students of all ages. After warming up with a cycle of Downward and Upward Facing Dog Pose and Handstands at the wall, she relaxes on the backbender, a wooden, whale-shaped piece of furniture. Her fingers easily touch the floor when she stretches her arms overhead. For her the backbender is a nice way to warm up before practicing pushing up from the floor into Upward Facing Bow Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana), a pose we often practice when she attends the more advanced classes.

Susan, also in her mid sixties, began studying with me about three years ago. She has just started kicking up into Handstands on her own. When she first came to yoga she practiced Dog Pose with her hands on a chair, and she laughed when I told her that Handstands were within her reach. For about a year I stood between Susan and the wall when she kicked up, helping her to build strength and confidence. This morning she places a firm yoga bolster upright against the wall to help support her shoulders. Placing her hands near the edge of the bolster, she stretches briefly in Downward Facing Dog, and then kicks up lightly with the same spunk and grace as my seven-year-old niece.

Vivian, age seventy-five, is sitting on the floor with her legs loosely crossed, gently stretching her hips. She has practiced yoga for many years and has used yoga to cope with various health challenges, including cancer. At this time last year her head was bald from chemotherapy treatments and her practice was focused mainly on Restorative Poses to support her immune system and replenish her energy reserves.

Tom is hanging in the lower wall ropes in Downward Facing Dog pose. He is a runner in his sixties, and says he “hates” yoga but his wife makes him come. He admits, with a sly smile, however, that he loves Hanging Dog Pose.

At the moment, students in my classes for older beginners range in age from forty-five to ninety-three. At my studio I offer a gentle, slower paced class designed specifically for older beginners or those with medical problems and physical limitations that require a less strenuous approach. This class features the same basic poses for beginners that I teach in my regular classes for people of all ages.

A typical class will begin with a simple, safe, centering seated pose such as Bound Angle Pose or sitting with the legs loosely crossed, with the majority of students sitting on a high support of two or three firm folded blankets or a bolster.

Newer students will often sit with their back against a wall (in between wall ropes, if available) to help lengthen their spine and open their posture. Bent knee positions are generally followed by straight leg positions such as sitting with the feet wide apart (Seated Wide Angle Pose) also with most students sitting elevated. This is a very challenging pose for newcomers, especially men, and I am careful to also teach this pose lying down with straps around the feet or with the legs on a wall.

The poses I teach almost every class are Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose) as it builds both strength and flexibility in the upper body, stretches the legs and has many of the benefits of inverted poses. Downward Dog is followed by Upward Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanana). These two poses are often practiced with the hands on a chair seat, yoga blocks, or other support. Then we practice Lying Down Poses such as Supta Padagusthasana (Reclining Big Toe Pose) and all the variations, with bolsters and chairs available when students take their legs out to the side.

Standing Poses are practiced with the support of whatever props are available. Older beginners, especially if they have balance problems, arthritis or osteoporosis, can practice Standing Poses with the whole back of the body near a wall, window sill, counter, a sturdy table or other support, and the bottom hand on a block, chair or other height.

New students also gain confidence practicing with the back foot to the wall, holding onto a wall rope and a chair for extra support. Seated Chair Twists often follow Standing Poses.

The more experienced older students in my general classes practice all the basic inverted poses, including Headstand and Shoulderstand, usually with the help of the wall. I expect my students who start in their fifties and sixties (and in some cases older) to gradually develop the strength to practice Full Arm Balance at the wall. The more beginning classes for older students emphasize safe supported inverted poses such as Supported Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani).

Classes end with deep relaxation in Savasana, the corpse pose. For older practitioners this pose has special meaning, as it is helping them to face death, and teaches the art of letting go.

With Yoga, the Body Remains Open and Flexible

The accepted view of the aging process has been one of stiffening, rigidity and closing down. Without proper exercise, the body contracts and we lose height, strength and flexibility. As a result, our natural free range of motion is restricted so daily activities become difficult and in some cases impossible. Yoga exercises reverse the aging process by moving each joint in the body through its full range of motion–stretching, strengthening and balancing each part. Most popular forms of weight bearing exercise contract muscles and tighten the musculoskeletal system, adding to the stiffness that normally settles into the body with the passage of time. In our youth-oriented culture, obsessed with thinness, we tighten the muscles to make the body look firmer. What is much more important, however, especially as we grow older, is opening and expanding the body so that the aging process is tempered.

Yoga and the Spine

Yoga prevents and can even reverse the most visible and obvious symptom of aging–one which cannot be disguised or transformed cosmetically–the shortening and rounding of the spine. In our culture, where people spend many hours of each day engaged in activities that tend to pull the upper body forward, a rounded back, forward head and collapsed chest are so prevalent that we almost consider it normal. By the time people reach 50, poor posture habits are often deeply ingrained, and the spine has begun to degenerate–resulting in loss of height and back and neck problems.

A rounded back leads to a sunken chest which causes shallow breathing and thus contributes to cardiovascular and other health problems. Yoga counteracts and reverses all of this.

Our posture affects the health and well being of every system of the body–not only the neuromuscular system (joints, ligaments, bones, muscles, and nerves) but also the endocrine, nervous, and respiratory systems. Poor posture and the degeneration of the spinal column are the source of numerous physical problems, contributing to illness and fatigue by restricting our breathing and blood and nerve flow to vital organs and interfering with digestion and elimination. Maintaining the health and integrity of the spine is the central theme of yoga. Yoga develops spinal strength and agility, slowing and even reversing the common degenerative changes often found in people over fifty.

Inverted Poses: The Elixir of Life, the Fountain of Youth

Inverted Poses are the backbone of a yoga practice for people over 50. Upside down poses control the metabolism of the body, regulate blood pressure, glucose levels and chemical balance. They bring emotional balance, mental clarity and refresh the entire body. The feeling of increased energy and revitalization in the body and brain that occurs after practicing inversions cannot be overemphasized as we grow older.

Turning the body halfway upside down by bending forward from a standing position increases the circulation to the upper body, including the brain. The revitalizing and relaxing effect of both standing forward bends and Downward Facing Dog Pose (halfway upside down positions) and inverted positions (completely upside down) is related in part to the change in blood flow in the body. Blood circulates around the neck, chest, and head, helping the lungs, throat, and sinuses to become resistant to infection. The endocrine glands in the throat and head (thyroid and parathyroid glands) also benefit from improved circulation.

It is well known among yoga practitioners that the inverted yoga positions slow down and even reverse the common physical changes that come with the passage of time. The gravitational force of Earth is among the most powerful physical influences on human health, and reversing the gravitational pull is probably among the most effective ways of slowing down and even reversing the aging process.

After the age of fifty it becomes increasingly important to reverse the downward pull of gravity on the body. Due to cardiovascular problems (such as arteriosclerosis hardening of the arteries) the blood flow to the brain gradually reduces as one grows older, and by age sixty-five may be a third of what it was at twenty-five years of age. The ravages of senility are apparent in every nursing home in the country. While Western medicine accepts the fact that this is a degenerative disease associated with inadequate circulation to the brain, they have found few effective ways of preventing or treating it. Yoga teaches that the most effective way of increasing blood to the brain is by allowing gravity to do the work for you. Inverted positions, which bring the brain below the level of the heart, permit circulation to the upper body to increase without putting strain on the heart.

When the body is completely inverted, venous blood flows from the legs and abdomen to the heart without strain. According to yoga experts and doctors studying yoga, regular and long-term practice of forward bends, poses like Downward Facing Dog and inversions can reduce arterial blood pressure by helping to reset the pressure-regulating reflexes. (The Headstand helps to increase venous return to the heart, bring the deoxygenated blood toward the heart and relieving pressure in the passive venous system caused by the pooling of blood in the legs during standing.)

During the course of a typical day most people spend sixteen or more hours with the head (brain) above the heart and the legs and pelvic area below the heart. I always advise students who are not yet ready to practice more difficult upside-down positions to practice Supported Legs Up the Wall Pose for at least ten minutes, every day.

SUZA FRANCINA, the former mayor of Ojai, California, is a writer, animal advocate and Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor. She has taught yoga since 1972 and is a pioneer in the field of teaching yoga to seniors. Her first book, Yoga for People Over 50, was published in 1977. She is author of The New Yoga for People Over 50 (Health Communications, Inc., 1997); Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause (HCI, 2003); and The New Yoga for Healthy Aging (HCI 2007). She is currently completing a spiritual memoir, Autobiography of a Yogini. Her writing has appeared in numerous other books, magazines and publications worldwide. Born in Holland in 1949, she emigrated with her family to Ojai, California at the age of seven and has made the Ojai Valley her home ever since. To learn more visit http://www.Suzafrancina.com

By Neena Dayal

Yoga gurus or yoga teachers, as they are frequently called in the Western world are difficult to find. Yoga has great potential for saleability, all over the world. Therefore, many times it is seen that people with just simple knowledge start acting as yoga gurus. Many so-called yoga gurus take undue advantage of keen inclination of the people for learning yoga. They do more harm than good in the process. Hence, it is extremely important to recognize true gurus or yoga teachers and eliminate the false ones.

Some yoga teachers have great credentials and impressive degrees. Even then, learning from them may not be fruitful. Just knowledge of yoga is not sufficient. A person also has to be a good human being. Yoga is most beneficial when it is an exercise in spiritual growth.

Some pointers given below give good foundation to make the right choice.

• True yoga gurus are never boastful. The first and foremost qualification is that they are very humble.

• True ones never have a sense of pride of their knowledge of yoga. In order to become a true guru one must renounce all sense of pride.

• True yoga gurus are never ambitious. They are neither driven by forces of competition, success, and money, nor they are interested in glorifying themselves with false titles.

• True yoga gurus do not need to demonstrate their yogic powers in order to win over disciples. They have already mastered all the beneficial aspects of yoga. So, yoga in all its wonder becomes an integral part of their lives and they may not even have to practice it every day.

• Many times, it is seen that the gurus start considering themselves greater than others who do not know about yoga. They actually go against the most basic teachings by doing so. True ones understand perfectly that they are not superior to others. Instead, they develop a deep need to share their knowledge for the betterment of human beings.

• True yoga gurus attain deep stability of mind. They are never disturbed by anything. This does not mean that they are unaffected by their surroundings or things do not hurt them anymore. It simply means that they understand the ephemeral nature of things and so do not worry too much. They have the knowledge that the nature inclines toward stability and sooner or later things change for the better. This knowledge keeps their temperment unwavering.

A good yoga guru can change the outlook of your life. Hence, it is very important to choose the right teacher if you wish to learn yoga and experience the bliss of a great life force unleashed within and all around you.

Copyright: WordPepTM

Author: Neena Dayal

http://www.wordpep.com/

By Clyde Granger

The Yogas other than Hatha are mainly meditative and more directly aimed at Yoga as end-goal and union.

Jnana Yoga: Union by knowledge; this is the path of spiritual wisdom and knowledge, in which the intellect penetrates the veils of ignorance that prevent man from seeing his True Self (Atman). The disciplines of this path are those of study and meditation.  To some degree Vedanta Yoga and Jnana are one in the same.

Bhakti Yoga: Union by love and devotion; the favorite Yoga of Indian masses. This is Yoga of strongly-focused love, devotion and worship, at its finest in love of the One. Its disciplines are those of rites and the singing of songs of praise.

Karma Yoga: Union by action and service; this is the path of selfless action and service, without of the fruits of action.

Mantra Yoga: Union by voice and sound; the practice of Mantra Yoga influences consciousness through repeating certain syllables, words or phrases. A form of Mantra Yoga is the Transcendental Meditation, which is widely practiced in the West. Rhytmic repetition of mantras is called japa. The most highly-regarded mantras are ‘OM’ and ‘OM MANE PADME HUM’.

Yantra Yoga: Union by vision and form; Yantra Yoga employs sight and form. The visualization may be with the inner eye. A yantra is a design with power to influence consciousness; it can be an objective picture, an inner visualization, or the design of a temple.

Laya and Kundalini Yoga: Union by arousal of latent psychic nerve-force. These combine many of the techniques of Hatha Yoga, especially prolonged breath suspension and a stable posture, with intense meditative concentration, so as to awaken the psychic nerve-force latent in the body, symbolized as serpent power (Kundalini), which is coiled below the base of the spine. The force is taken up the spine, passing through several power centers (chakras), until it reaches a chakra in the crown of the head, when intuitive enlightenment (Samadhi) is triggered. The disciplines are severe, best practiced with a teacher.

Tantric Yoga: Union by harnessing sexual energy; ‘tantric’ is applied to distinguish physiological systems. The control of the sexual energies has a prominent part, and the union of male and female has a ritualistic role. Tantric Yoga of all the yogas guards its teachings and techniques most closely.

Hatha Yoga: Union by bodily mastery (principally of breath); central to all Hatha Yoga disciplines is the regulation of breath, the harmonizing of its positive (sun) and negative (moon) or male and female currents. Hatha Yoga is the most widely practiced in the West, and its best-known feature is posturing. Hatha has practical benefits to the health of the nervous system, glands, and vital organs. It’s a purifying preparation for Raja Yoga, which is work upon consciousness itself. Hatha Yoga is the most practical of yogas, works upon the body, purifying it, and through the body upon the mind. It’s the Yoga of physical well-being.

Raja Yoga: Union by mental mastery; Raja Yoga is considered royal because the Yogi who practices this yoga thereby becomes ruler over his mind. Raja Yoga works upon the mind, refining and perfecting it, and through the mind upon the body. It’s the Yoga of consciousness, the highest form of Yoga.

© Copyright 2010 – Clyde Granger / Aura Publications