Posts Tagged ‘yoga can help’

Learning to Calm and Center Yourself With Yoga

Friday, October 7th, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins 

Learning to calm and center yourself with Yoga is literally a lifesaver. People die from stress, anxiety, and depression every day; so learning to center one’s self is really a matter of life, misery, or death.

Our lives are often increasingly busy. Many of us have numerous responsibilities placed on our shoulders by employers and families. Sometimes we say yes to added projects at work, even if we don’t really have the time. We might become irritated more easily or find ourselves feeling tired and generally run-down. Although staying busy isn’t necessarily a negative thing, it can often cause added stress. Learning to calm and center yourself with Yoga can be the first step on the road to a more positive outlook on life.

Yoga is a very accessible form of exercise. It allows the body and the mind to stretch and grow as you move through the poses while concentrating on your breathing. Focusing on the movement of the body through the various asanas and calming the mind with meditation can help to relieve stress. As with many other types of exercise, practicing Yoga can help to release endorphins that will also help with relaxation and a better overall sense of well being.

Busy lives often go hand in hand with busy minds. The result of that can lead to a number of unhealthy conditions, including insomnia, high blood pressure and changes in appetite. Using Yoga is a natural way to reverse unhealthy habits and increase positive changes. There are a number of different schools of thought in regards to finding the best Yoga practice. Some people enjoy the gentle flow and meditation of Hatha Yoga. Others may appreciate the physicality of Power Yoga. The beauty of the Yoga is that there is something for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level or experience.

Learning to calm and center yourself with Yoga can help to ease tension and build more awareness of what it means to be healthy, mentally and physically. It can often help people who might be floundering with the burden of too much stress. Take the time to listen to your body and pay attention to the signals it sends. Reducing tension can help to alleviate emotional, mental and physical issues before they start causing too much damage. Your body needs to stay balanced in order to operate in a consistent manner and Yoga can help to achieve and maintain that balance.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in yoga for depression, yoga for stress | No Comments »

Yoga – A Nonreligious Spirituality

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

By Johnson Joseph

Yoga can help generate a non-religious spiritual society that promotes simplicity, self-control and a rich social consciousness. When one limits yoga only as a practice of Asanas or postures, it ceases to be the catalyst of social good but remains a means for body health.

The Yogi learns that the mind itself has a higher state of existence, beyond reason, a super conscious state. When the mind gets to that higher state, then this knowledge, beyond reasoning comes to man.

Once a true Indian viewed a socio-economic and political problem in a different angle that of a spiritual problem. He fought against the seven deadly sins of the society based on this non-religious spirituality (politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity and worship/religion without sacrifice). In him, we find the true dignity of man of spiritual consciousness without the hues of material success.

There is a danger in stumbling upon the ‘super conscious state’ without understanding it. They are not ‘trained’ yogis. Inspired but stumbled up on the inspiration! Such men open themselves to hallucinations, brain being deranged, and promoting quaint superstitions along with their knowledge. They lead their followers to great evil of fanaticism, as it is evident in the political and religious history).

Yoga, if accepted and practiced in its original spirit, can invoke the dignified nature of man, against all forms of religious fanaticism, eradicating the inherent evil in individuals, thus help build a new generation in accordance with the yogic practices based on the principles of spiritual consciousness. Modern world at large is in a great need of such a social rejuvenation. In this growing market economy of greed and lust, which we blindly believe and portray as progress, it is high time to think differently, learning lessons from history and accepting Vedic wisdom as an example to the rest of the world. Yoga is a means to that end.

Dr.V.K.Subramanian transmits the message of the line of gurus to us, especially Parama Poojya Parama hamsa Parivrajakacarya Swami Sadananda Saraswathi in the following lines. “Yoga leads to spirituality and it controls the mind to the maximum extent. While aiming at spiritualization, we do not mean to neglect the utility of material life nor to underestimate it’s importance, but to adopt the means through which material life can be sublimated into spiritual life.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in About Yoga, yoga for spiritual beauty | No Comments »

Yoga for Mental Health: Mental and Physical Benefits of Yoga

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

By Cathy H. Jones

Living in today’s fast-paced world can be very stressful. People go through their lives without having time for rest and relaxation. One would think that after all the advancements in technology life would be so much simpler and relaxed. However, life has actually become busier with the advent of all these new technologies. Even if you are always piled up with work at the office or you find yourself always having to travel from one place to another not for leisure but for business, it is still important to take some time for yourself. A good way to make your free time more relaxing is by doing some yoga. The primary focus of yoga is on the general well being of the individual. Yoga is good for your mental health and stress reduction, as it encourages the mind to focus and relax.

Doing some yoga, whether in a class or at home by yourself can have a lot of positive benefits for your overall mental health. Yoga can help your mind relax and by constantly engaging in both the physical and mental practices of this discipline, you will find that it is much easier to deal with stressful situations. Yoga for mental health offers so many benefits. Yoga can teach you to learn how to quiet your mind so that you can focus your energy into being at peace. While work and other worldly endeavors are an important part of your life, it is important to feel from time to time that work is not all there is in the world. By doing yoga, you can focus on positive thoughts and you can let go of all the bad energy and focus on things that make you happy.

Doing yoga for fitness is beneficial for your body as well as your mind. Yoga will keep you physically fit, as it improves you body’s flexibility and your overall health. Yoga significantly improves energy, vitality and respiration. By doing yoga, you can lose a lot of weight, as it helps improve metabolism. When you feel good about the way you look physically and when you constantly think of positive thoughts, you will be much more satisfied with your life. Yoga for mental health may just be one of the best things you can do for yourself. Go for a session or two of yoga over the weekend and you will find that you are much more alert and energetic when you go back to work. Yoga for mental health will also help you become much more alert and mental alertness can help a lot as you go about you daily activities.

Cathy enjoys fitness and camping with her family. She loves to have family parties at her home and her rolling kitchen cart helps her prepare and serve with ease. Cathy enjoys the convenience her stainless steel kitchen island to give her more space as she cooks!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in About Yoga, Yoga for Mental Health | No Comments »

How Yoga Can Help You Get in Shape

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

By Ntathu Allen

When was the last time you looked in the mirror and felt good, real good about yourself? When you looked did you take time to smile and admire your figure, your womanly curves and lustrous lips? Or did you tug the spare tire round your waist and suck in your cheeks in the vain hope of looking “thinner”?

How about your thighs? Or your ankles? Are you happy with the shape of your legs? Do you wear clothes which flatter and enhance your figure? Or do you think you are too fat, too unfit, too old or even too ugly to wear stylish, colorful clothes?

Like most of you, I am aware of the effect stereotypical images of women have on our minds and bodies. Every where you look there are images of women, who look young, youthful and dazzling. Success is equated with being young, slim and beautiful. If you don’t shape up then you are considered out of the race.

How does that make you feel? How can you possible feel good about yourself if you think you do not match up to the “typical view of women-hood?” How can you stand tall, be proud and happy if your body shape, race or religion is not represented in mainstream society – do you feel ashamed and embarrassed or are you able to hold your own and be happy with the way you look?

Sometimes life sucks and no matter how much you diet, change your hairstyle or even stay at home and hide yourself away, there comes a time in your life when you want to shine, feel happy and glad to be recognized for who you are.

How Yoga Can Help You Get In Shape

Yoga is coming to be considered as a modern day remedy for many of society’s ailments.

It is my belief that the practice of yoga offers you a set of tools – yoga asanas, meditation techniques, breathing exercises and a healthy attitude to eating – which enables you to get in shape from the inside out.

Learning to love and accept yourself – as you are- not as you think you should look like – is one of the most important life lessons you can learn. It is good to “look good” on the outside. For some people, ‘looking good and in good shape’ means looking radiant and healthy, for others, this means being a size 8 and wearing designer clothes.

Yoga is about balance – to feel good and look good on the inside and outside. To be in shape, means to be happy and contented with yourself on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. As a holistic health care system, yoga equips you with all the tools and mindset needed to achieve this state of being.

Yoga Inspires You To See Your Inner Beauty

Meditation helps you to see through the illusion portrayed by the media and amplified through your mind to the ideal view of women. Regular practice of meditation supports your desire to accept your present body shape whilst working to improve your health and well- being.

Yoga exercises give your body an internal stretch, helps to realign and rebalance your energy. Yoga postures improve your sense of body awareness. So you feel lighter, your posture is enhanced, you become more flexible and more in tune with what your body needs in the present moment. All necessary life skills to support you feel good and in love with who you are.

Yoga breathing exercises helps to calm and focus your mind. A few rounds of deep yogic breathing shifts your focus and puts you back in the zone, your higher creative way of being. This technique is particular useful if you are having a “bad hair day” or “feel fat and ugly”.

Yogis traditional eat wholesome, natural and animal-free diets. A healthy yogic diet, one that is rich in seeds, nuts, fresh fruits, vegetables and easy digestible foods all help to keep your body nourished and your brain hydrated and healthy.

When you eat well, meditate and exercise regularly, you shine. Your skin glows, people are attracted to you. You radiate positive vibes. You are in good shape and feel good from the inside out.

So rather than trying to conform to societys’ worn-out view of what it is “to be in shape” – practice yoga. The mixture of yoga poses, deep breathing exercises, meditation techniques and emphasis on wholesome healthy eating all help to make you healthier, happier and best of all love the shape you are.

And now I’d like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to “Wake-Up With A Smile – Simple Yoga Stretches To Do In Bed To Get You Fit And Ready For The Day” when you visit http://www.yogainspires.co.uk .

From Ntathu Allen, The Yoga For Stress Management Consultant

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Guest Authors, Yoga for Health, yoga for physical health | No Comments »

Yoga For Your Immunity System

Friday, January 29th, 2010

By Claire Bostock

With the H1N1 virus becoming a global epidemic just after the SARS scare a few years ago, people are starting to find ways to build up their immunity system from taking tablets to drinking herbal tonics and elixirs. However a simple way to help build up one’s immunity system is actually through a practice of yoga.

Stress has been shown to be a great contributor to weaken the immune system greatly. With a combination of asana practice, pranayama, meditation and relaxation, yoga can help to balance and strengthening the immune system as it reduces the stress hormones that compromise the immune system. A daily practice that combines breath with movement will also help strengthen the respiratory & circulatory systems stimulating the lymphatic system to move toxins out of the body and bring more oxygenated blood to the various organs ensuring their healthful function. Yoga also generates a balanced energy which is the key energy required for the immune system.

Looking closer at the immune system, it consists of the thymus glands, the spleen, lymph node and other organs. These organs are involved in generating & circulating immune cells and antibodies. Yoga poses that twist and compress these organs will help to massage & stimulate these organs allowing more immune cells & antibodies to be generated. A few postures that will help stimulate the immune system are the Tortoise pose ( Kurmasana) that helps stimulate the thymus glands, Inversions & forward bends such as Downward Facing Dog ( Adha Mukha Svanasana) help to drain the sinuses, Chest & lung openers such as Camel pose (Ustrasana) and Cobra Pose ( Bhujangasana) which also help to flush out the lungs & Restorative yoga poses such as Corpse Pose (Shavasana) and Shoulder Stand (Shasangasana) which help calm the nervous system down and strengthen the body’s immune response.

The thymus gland also corresponds to the fourth chakra and these postures if combined with fourth chakra sounds such as its mantra sound of “yum” or vowel sound of “ay” will improve the immune response. Yogic breathing practices such as Kapalbahti (breath of fire) or just slow deep Ujjayi breathing done in chest opening postures will not only help to stimulate the thymus gland but also induce a sense of calmness and relaxation that will help boost the immune system further.

Combining a yoga practice with a diet rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin C & E which help protect the body against free radicals, and also antibacterial agents such as finely chopped or grated fresh garlic will go a long way to help strengthen your immunity system. Start taking charge of your health today by doing a little yoga practice to help boost your immunity especially in these times of raging flu pandemics.

http://www.absolutesanctuary.com Claire Bostock a former banker turned yoga instructor & counselor is a Thailand-based writer who is the Executive Director of Absolute Sanctuary, Thailand’s Premier Detox & Yoga resort. http://www.absolutesanctuary.com

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Yoga for Health | No Comments »