All about Yoga

Yoga has been in the world since more than 5000 years. Every year more and more people are discovering its advantage and have started practicing to enjoy health benefits. We can say that the world today is swept by the true fitness mantra yoga. With changing times more advanced and fusion type of yoga has evolved which makes use of asana and meditation and breathing techniques. One can benefit from these forms and enjoy good health. Here are discussed some of the yoga health benefits:-

Benefits of yoga for flexibility-

Age is nor bar when it comes to yoga. Elderly people and arthritis patients are extremely worried about flexibility. But the fact is that even people with such condition can make use of yoga in everyday life and can benefit good health. The muscles can be safely worked out by various yoga poses and the range of motion can be increased. Yoga increases the natural lubrication of body and softens all the body tissues. Thus, Yoga health benefits can be observed and enjoyed in very short period of time. 

Benefits of yoga for strength-

Some fusion forms of yoga like the power yoga and asthanga yoga offer more health benefits and they are vigorous. They tone the muscles. The iyengar yoga lays less stress on movements with precision in poses. These are good to give strength and stamina benefits.

Benefits of yoga for posture-

With flex and strength the posture improves. Further the core strength gets developed with standing and sitting postures. Another important benefit of yoga comes with increase in alertness. 

Benefits of yoga for better breathing-

All the yoga asana and the yoga postures are well structured with breathing techniques. This is important to improve the lung capacity and increase the blood flow in the body. With improvement in endurance the performance also perks. Yoga lays stress on deepened and lengthened breathing technique. 

Benefits of yoga for reducing stress and increasing calmness-

Even a beginner can feel the difference in his/her first yoga class. Numerous yoga styles make particular meditation technique to calm the mind. Some other yoga forms focus on breath. Yoga is popular on account of its anti-stress benefits.

 Benefits of yoga for concentration-

 It’s true that with absorption of yoga in life the concentration improves and the mood swings arrested. Yoga has tremendous effect on depression and anxiety. Yoga is said to ease some of the obsessive compulsive disorder. 

Benefits of yoga for heart-

Even studies support that yoga is capable in alleviating cardiovascular diseases. It reduces heart rate and control blood pressure. People can get benefited with yoga and they can control hypertension, stroke, cholesterol etc. some studies even show the anti-oxidant effect of yoga for better health. 

Benefits of yoga for other ailments-

In the west the researchers has found the benefits of yoga on account of its therapeutic effects. Yoga benefits arthritis, asthmas, back pain, insomnia and even in sclerosis too. 

Other health Benefits of yoga -

Yoga builds memory. It also slows down the aging process and boosts energy level. On a spiritual level too the awareness increases. Yoga practitioners opine that even on personal front yoga works miraculously.

With practice of these yoga practices one can witness and benefit all the good health. It infuses entirely in one’s individual’s life.

Once you have decided to follow a healthy regime through yoga, the next step is to pick the type of yoga that you want and be acquainted about yoga basics. You can choose a yoga class near by for easy conveyance. Yoga doesn’t need any kind of costly equipment except for loose comfortable clothes and a yoga mat.

Some easy positions of yoga, for beginners-

We all do simple positions in everyday life, like lying down, sitting, standing, prone inverted etc. But with proper practice of the aforementioned yoga postures the beginners can be benefited to great extent. These simple activities are arranged and worked out so that a yoga beginner also gains from them. Medical practitioners find yoga to be therapeutic. They even suggest to make yoga a part of their every day life. With gradual introduction of yoga and its method health benefits can be gained.

As a yoga beginner you can choose moderate style like the viniyoga, kripalu yoga or iyengar yoga. You can choose vigorous forms like the power yoga, asthanga yoga in late stages. The later one will be too dynamic for the yoga beginners.

See that you start yoga gently with 10-15 mins warm up session, as it increases blood circulation and lubrication in joints. The body flexes and it becomes easier to do the yoga asana. Maintain correct erect posture throughout.

Breathing techniques of yoga, for beginners-

Yoga is synonymous with breathing technique. With simple breathing exercises in yoga like the pranayama, kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma, one can improve breathing pattern and lung capacity. This kind of yoga relaxes and eases stress.

Importance of sequence for yoga beginner-

Ideal yoga sequences should not be taxing, especially for beginners. As a yoga beginner you can start with standing pose, followed with sitting posture, Supine postures, twist poses, prone postures, inverted and balance postures, back bends and finishing asana.

Some do’s for yoga beginners-

As a beginner it’s better to inform the yoga instructor that you are new to yoga fitness regime. You can even ask the teacher to help you out in case of need. You can seek the help of other advanced students to demonstrate poses. It’s better to know about basic yoga etiquette and learn some basic yoga poses, this you can do searching online or from books and DVD’s. Start fresh with refreshing bath prior to yoga practice. Always end the yoga session with shavasana.

Some don’ts for yoga beginners-

Avoid taking large heavy meals before any yoga class. Ensure that you have eaten 3-4 hrs before the class. You can have some water before and after the yoga class. Avoid tight fitted clothes, shoes and socks while doing yoga.

The best yoga mat for you will depend on what types of yoga you practise. Different types of yoga have different requirements and this is reflected in the type of mat to use.

The Best Yoga Mat For Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga practitioners generally prefer using sticky yoga mats. The sticky mats will help with the more difficult postures and forms, giving you traction to the mat.

Sticky yoga mats are available in many different patterns and colors. As these are fairly standard mats, you can find them in most yoga studios, sporting goods store or various stores online – from normal online stores to auction sites like Ebay. However, don’t always buy the cheapest one you can find – remember, you get what you paid for.

The Best Yoga Mat For Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga yoga (sometimes called power yoga) is a vigorous form of yoga, so you will want to buy a mat with good padding and durability, much more than the mats for Hatha yoga. If you are a serious practitioner, then you might want to spend a bit of extra money and get one of the best yoga mats, like the Manduka black yoga mat.

If you don’t want to pay extra, look for a standard yoga mat with a thickness of at least 4mm. Some Ashtanga yoga practitioners prefer to use a rug instead of a mat, as the rug absorbs perspiration better than the mat. This is quite important for a more active type of yoga, as it will reduce the chances of you slipping.

The Best Yoga Mat For Senior Citizens

Generally senior citizens prefer thicker yoga mats to help cushion their joints or spine and prevent injury. This is especially important if you have joint problems. A good thickness will be 6mm or above, which are widely available at sporting goods stores and online.

The Best Yoga Mat For Children

Luckily mats for children will not break the bank, as they can use regular sticky yoga mats. However, most children will want a mat with a certain motif on it. These more colorful yoga mats are a little more expensive, but will certainly get children more excited about yoga.

There are various stores selling yoga mats with children themes on them, but your best bet is to search online for the motif your child wants.

The Best Yoga Mat For Environmentalists

Normal yoga mats use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the mats, which has been linked to different types of cancer and also cannot be recycled. Therefore worn out mats need to go to a landfill, where it will take years to break down.

If you are worried about polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in your mat, there are various other more environmentally friendly options. You can, for instance, go for an eco-Yoga mat or an Earth Elements mat. There are a lot of natural fibre mats on the market, so all you need to do is choose one.

One popular type of fitness routines today is yoga. Although it is the current rage, it is certainly not new. Yoga is one of the oldest forms of fitness. People who practice yoga generally attend classes and work with yoga instructors to perfect their mental and physical skills. Let’s take a look at what yoga class entails.

Yoga has been in the world for over 8000 years. But recently it has gained momentum as a choice fitness program. There are several different types of yoga to choose from; Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Bekram Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Iyengar Yoga. It is a good idea to observe some of these classes to determine which yoga is right for you. Once you make your choice, you can attend classes at fitness centers or the YMCA. You can join a group session or participate in a private session.

Classes are usually sixty to ninety minutes long. The beginning of the class will consist of relaxation, breathing and warm-up stretches. This may also include some chanting, such as ‘OMS’ to help relax your body. Then there will be a series of asanas, or poses. The teacher will walk around, watch your movements and offer advice on how to improve your form. The end of the class will be a total relaxation period, which will help calm the body and clear the mind.

To be prepared for your yoga class, you should wear shorts, a t-shirt or tank top. They should be loose or tighter fitted, but not restrictive of movements. Yoga is usually done barefoot. You might want to bring a yoga mat, especially if there are wood floors. Most people prefer sticky mats for their sturdiness. Many yoga classes have mats for rent. Just keep in mind; you will get sweaty during a class and so will the people who have used the mat before you. If you are going to stick with this exercise, most people prefer to buy their own mats. Also, bring water to hydrate yourself after class. And remember do not eat one to two hours before the class.

You will be expected to work at your own ability level. If you need a rest during the workout, you can always resort to the child’s pose. You can continue when you feel you are able, as each individual sets his or her own speed. In your class, everyone will function at his or her own stage; you shouldn’t be concerned others are more advanced. This will only hinder your concentration and rob you of any benefits you may experience.

Yoga is an exercise, which is easy to learn and requires no equipment outside of a yoga mat. It will produce a more relaxed you, and you can expect to feel good after it is over. You may feel inadequate as you start but with practice you will be able to master the yoga poses. So if you want a feel good, get fit, self-awareness exercise program, it may be just an ‘OM’ away.

What would you do if you had to substitute your Yoga class for an Aerobic Step class? What if one of the Step Aerobics students gave you a case of misplaced aggression because he or she was disappointed the Step Aerobics class was canceled?

If you are considering teaching Yoga in a fitness center, or health club; imagine the following situation. A Power Yoga teacher is called, by the fitness center she works for – to substitute her Power Yoga class for the regular Step Aerobics Class; this is her story.

“This morning I substituted for another fitness class and had a woman literally scowl, once she found out that Yoga was filling in the time slot for the Step Aerobics class. She looked at me, and said, that it wasn’t against me, but she just didn’t see the point in stretching. “I can’t loose weight by stretching. I need cardio.”

I told her that she might be surprised and she might see Yoga in a different light. She replied “Not likely,” and walked away from me. Though she said it wasn’t personal, I took it so.

I really thought hard about all the things I wanted to say, but found that everything I wanted to say had a negative tone. I told this person, as she walked away that I was not going to argue with her because I saw no point in it.

I felt hurt by her attitude, what can be said to people like this? What can I do to let it “roll off of me?” Can you respond in love and still get the point across?”

Let’s find some realistic solutions for this Yoga teacher.

In a nutshell: This particular health club member is full of negative energy. You are doing your job by substituting for the Step Aerobics class. She decides to take it out on you, but it is all misplaced aggression. She would have acted the same way toward anyone teaching anything, except a cardio based fitness class.

Fitness centers are doing the best they can to serve their clients, on tight budgets. This particular fitness center wants to make sure there is a class for its members, because the Step Aerobics instructor is out. This is obvious, but, this person decides to attack what you do – just to lash out at somebody.

What you did is the best thing by avoiding an argument. Showing loving kindness was wise for many reasons. Management will usually back the members, no matter how obnoxious they are.

Many Yoga instructors currently teach Yoga in, or have taught Yoga at, fitness centers, in the past. When a racquetball court is in full swing, a fitness center is not always an ideal place to teach meditation.

My advice: Design a prepared handout, which highlights the researched benefits of Power Yoga. Some fitness center clientele don’t understand what Yoga is or what it can do for them.

Pass them out with a smile. If the class wants to work hard, give them their money’s worth (a serious challenge). They will believe Power Yoga can get them fit, when they can see and feel it.

Those scenarios are the reasons why some Yoga teachers do not teach in fitness centers anymore. When I teach Yoga to anyone, I want to make sure the students want to be there for Yoga.

In a health club, Yoga is just part of a big fitness menu – Like ice cream on an apple pie in a restaurant. So, very few of the members see it as something special.

Lastly, you are a Yoga teacher, but you are human too. Negative people do not think much before talking, but they do upset everyone all day and every day.

You did the right thing by displaying self-restraint. Remember the saying: “You cannot please everyone all the time.”

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Around the world Yoga is considered an enjoyable way to keep fit and healthy. And, though it has been around for ages, only recently has Yoga caught the American fancy. It is a well-rounded workout designed to tone up and strengthen muscles; at the same time it increases flexibility. Yoga is also an excellent way to shed weight and boost energy and vitality. As you start to practise Yoga or Pilates, for that matter you will notice the need for some basic Yoga or Pilates equipment and accessories.

Yoga Mats

Good Yoga mats help increase balance and coordination. Most folks are not properly aligned. As a result we do a lot of what we do asymmetrically. For those intending to balance and a sense of symmetry a Yoga mat is a must. Then again, we strongly recommend a hand-woven Yoga mat. However, for those into dynamic and vigorous kinds such Power Yoga, Sticky Mats are well worth considering.

Yoga straps

The Yoga strap is highly beneficial for beginners. They are either fabricated from cotton or nylon and let you grasp your limbs, you couldn’t reach. They also help you hold a pose longer. Yoga Straps are especially helpful in bound poses when the hands cannot reach each other or for asanas where you need to hold both feet but cannot reach them.

Yoga blocks

Yoga blocks are also called Yoga bricks and are useful in executing a variety of Yoga poses. Yoga blocks help in execution of poses and offer many other benefits. Some of the benefits of Yoga blocks are that they provide stability and support for proper alignment; they also help reduce the distance between the body and the ground.

Yoga cushions

Yoga cushions help practitioners establish proper spinal alignment so that the posture stays steady, straight, and comfortable. Yoga Cushions are also beneficial to pregnant women and to people recovering from surgery. With Yoga cushions, most poses can be done comfortably as you sit on a chair or using a chair to maintain balance while standing. For added support or cushioning, Yoga Cushions are also used on top of a Yoga Mat or Yoga Chair height.

Yoga balls

Yoga Balls are a versatile prop for many postures. Fabricated from durable vinyl, they help achieve the necessary balance and support for asanas. Yoga Balls effectively increase your flexibility, improve your range of motion and balance, as well as tone up the muscles. Besides, they also help shape the body and relieve of stress.

With yoga being as popular as it is there should be no surprise that there are many different yoga exercise styles. Some of today’s yoga exercise styles have been around for hundreds of years while other yoga exercise styles have been created and based off some of the most common yoga postures and poses. Yoga exercise styles vary in level of difficulty; almost all of the styles are broken down into beginner and advanced levels. The yoga postures used, will depend on the level of the yoga exercise style you are practicing. Each yoga exercise style has a specific purpose and uses different methods and yoga postures.

Hatha yoga is one of the more laid back yoga exercise styles. Most often Hatha yoga is a slow paced yoga class. It is most commonly designated as the best yoga exercise style to take part in when just beginning to practice yoga. These are because of it slow pace and ease into each of the yoga postures used during a session. This yoga exercise style uses many different areas of each style of yoga. It does this by introducing the beginner level yoga postures of each different yoga exercise style.

Vinyasa is another yoga exercise style that encompasses many different styles of yoga. The word vinyasa translates to mean a series of breath synchronized movements. This yoga exercise style is more energetic than Hatha yoga. Vinyasa uses a group of yoga postures called sun salutations. Vinyasa is a yoga exercise that will start off slow with a series of sun salutation yoga postures as a method of warm up and then move into more intense yoga postures and stretches.

One of the more popular forms of yoga exercise used today is Ashtanga yoga. This type of yoga is also commonly referred to as Power yoga. Power yoga is one of the most intense forms of yoga exercise practiced. It involves a series of yoga postures; each of the yoga postures is always performed in the same sequence. This yoga exercise style is very physically demanding because of the pace needed to keep up in the class when switching yoga postures. It is not recommended for beginners. Bikram yoga is another of today’s most popular forms of yoga exercise. Bikram yoga is also known as hot yoga. During a hot yoga session you will complete a series of 26 yoga postures in a room that is 95 to 100 degrees. The idea behind practicing these yoga postures in a room that hot is that is acts as a way of body cleansing because of the profuse sweating one will experience. Also do yoga postures at that temperature will allow for your muscles to loosen fully, meaning you will be better able to do the yoga postures given to you.

It is best to consult with your doctor before deciding which yoga exercise style would be best for you. Some styles may be too strenuous to begin with.

Clips from the Power Yoga Total Body Workout DVD by Gaiam, staring Rodney Yee ( blog.gaiam.com ).

www.myyogaonline.com In this advanced vinyasa yoga practice, Nico Luce flows through long, flowing yoga pose sequences and a series of blissful, heart opening back bends. Distributed by Tubemogul.