All about Yoga

Yoga is “preventative medicine” for children and adults. Yet the world does not often embrace preventative action. Just look at hunger, global warming, health care, and poverty. Now you see that some people do take action, but many do not.

Educating the public about the many benefits, which children experience from Yoga practice, is a full-time job for some Yoga teachers. Although most of the public thinks of Yoga postures as a “mild” form of exercise; there are many more different aspects to Yoga practice.

Yoga is a complete holistic approach to health. Yoga teaches proper breathing, dieting, exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, and many more natural solutions to health problems.

Yoga and Ayurvedic medicine have dieting practices based upon a person’s constitution or dosha. This same classification can be made for exercise routines. An Ayurvedic doctor will, most likely, recommend specific exercises based upon a patient’s dosha.

The entire approach of Yoga and Ayurveda is based upon preventative measures. There are also solutions for “damage control,” when a person has an existing ailment, but any doctor can agree that many of today’s health problems are preventable.

Let’s look at global obesity. The public is very tired of hearing about obesity. Your spam filters are working overtime to pull all of the “Instant weight loss” methods out of your Email box. If you read through the spam, you will notice that spammers want to sell you pills, not permanent solutions to obesity. The spammer’s approach is to make quick money off the public.

When the majority of our population refuses to exercise, the easy money is in selling pills, instant weight loss, and “snake oil.” There is a solution, but most of us will not like it. Yogic diets are full of fruit, vegetables, and natural food. Even in India, it can be observed that diabetes is on the rise, when people eat “junk food.”

As the Indian economy has improved, so has the “middle class appetite” for processed food. This runs parallel to western social and economic patterns.

What does this have to do with Yoga for kids? Yoga is a lifestyle and the earlier you expose children to good health habits, the better your child’s health will be.

As parents, we have many choices, but establishing good health habits, within our children, is an obligation. We also have to eat properly, and exercise, with our children. If you cannot go to a Yoga class, you can always take your child out for a walk. Parents are role models, and any child will copy the image, which you create for him or her.

Yoga classes for children are a parent’s gift of good health. Yoga gives kids a better chance to develop good habits, handle stress, find natural solutions to good health, and live a quality life.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

You hear so much about Yoga these days, and there are so many Yoga styles to choose from, that it is advisable to research a particular Yoga style which suits your needs. Some Yoga classes are gentle, athletic, cerebral, religious, meditative, or hot.

Therefore, research the style of Yoga which attracts you most. Then visit a local Yoga studio, or wellness center, for further information. If you have any concerns, you could set up an appointment with a potential Yoga teacher, and share your thoughts about your specific needs.

There are many benefits you can expect from regularly attending Yoga classes, but the five of the most common benefits of Yoga are listed below. Choose a Yoga teacher who fits your needs and do not be pressured into taking a Yoga class that does not suit your lifestyle.

Reduce Stress through the practice of Yoga. This is a universal benefit of all styles of Yoga. If you have stress, when you walk into a Yoga class, you will have much less when you leave.

Some Yoga schools use a variety of methods to purge stress from the body, but the most common are Pranayama (breath techniques), Asana (posture), Mantra (sound), Meditation, and Relaxation Techniques. After a few classes, you will know what works and what does not.

Positive Thinking is a by product of every Yoga class and style, with the rare exception of a dogmatic Yoga teacher. If you discover you are in the midst of a “drill sergeant,” disguised as a Yoga teacher, you have to make a decision based on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Consider this: If you feel negative after listening to your Yoga teacher, you should leave. You may find another Yoga teacher in the same facility, or at another Yoga center, but do not put up with abuse.

Sleeping Better is a result of the first two, above-mentioned, Yoga benefits. For the most part, the physical styles of Yoga release muscle tension through Asana and Pranayama. The less physical styles may focus on Mantra, Meditation, and Relaxation Techniques.

Relief from Back Pain is a by product of the physical styles, but choose carefully. The more gentle Hatha Yoga sub-styles such as Restorative, Gentle, and Therapeutic Yoga, cater to students with a variety of ailments, including back pain.

Increased Muscle Tone is also a result of the physical styles of Yoga. If you are searching for a Hatha Yoga teacher, studio, or style, choose one that caters to your physical condition. Do not jump into a physically vigorous Yoga class, unless you are physically active. Most injuries, in the physical forms of Yoga occur, when students push themselves too far.

Lastly, have fun trying different Yoga classes, until you find the right one for you, and never force yourself into a Yoga posture. Your best Yoga teachers are your body and mind. Listen to them, avoid pain, be safe, and you will be enjoying the benefits of Yoga for years to come.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

are not little adults. They have different needs, respond to different stimuli, and learn in different ways. Children can relax with relaxation techniques and calming visualization but it des need to be presented in a way that they will identify with. Children’s yoga at its best is particularly designed to inculcate the importance of yoga and meditation in everyone’s lives and the actual training is chosen to bring the maximum range of benefits to kids.

Children should receive certificates at the end of each course to show which yoga postures they know.

They are natural-born yogis. Their spontaneity, flexibility and energy are inspirational and sometimes challenging for parents. Children will incur increased flexibility, awareness of their bodies, knowledge of health and nutrition, and much more. In the short term however, Yoga can still be used to educate children socially and make them aware of what their bodies can do, and above all – have fun!

Children with special needs are included into mainstream classes wherever possible. All classes are offered at concession rates. In one course which is available the children are always the heroes of their Yoga-Bugs adventure and love using their imagination in the stories. We tend to find that children are such natural yogis that they surprise their teachers with their skills. Yoga means union of mind and body, and anyone who has seen a child run, play, laugh, bend and stretch has seen how beautifully unified they are.

Postures take on new life, becoming magical tools to keep the children\’s attention through shorter classes based on play and creativity. Postures are described and clearly illustrated in stages of progress into the final pose.

Often these stages have their own descriptive name, so there are lots more Sanskrit terms for us all to learn. Postures are normally held for 10 breaths with an emphasis placed on correct alignment. Detailed verbal instructions are given by the teacher along with very gentle hands on adjustments.

Classes bring together a combination of stretches, back arches, twists and balances which help to support and strengthen children mentally as well as physically by building confidence in themselves, improving their concentration and helping them to sleep better.

Classes are typically 45 to 60 minutes long, and are tailored to suit the needs of the children. Classes with small numbers work best and also we like it best when they are seen working slowly with the breath and gravity to undo tension and encourage effortless asanas from deep within the body.

Breathing is important in yoga and one course recognizes this in the name they give to the whole course which is named Breathing Yoga. This is one yoga school which runs regular hatha yoga classes for men women and children of all abilities. The aim of this trainer, as for so many others, is to offer small tailored yoga classes that allow students to develop their practice in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Breathing should not be learned from your Yoga teacher and forgotten.

You and your children should practice proper breathing every moment you think of it. Breathing and relaxation techniques will allow you to enjoy deep rest to compensate for lack of sleep. The classes you attend will help bring a sense of well being, alleviate aches and pains, combat fatigue and re-tone the muscles.

Practice Yoga regularly and it will strip away the obstacles that separate you from your source. Yoga practice can be invaluable in this process, as it can alleviate tension from and clear energy blocks in the body and mind. Practical study features aid individuals in understanding and retaining relevant information. Practiced for thousands of years now in India, its birth home, yoga has become a refuge and a great cure in the western world.

If in the Far East, yoga is a spiritual path to be followed towards superior enlightenment, for the very practical mind of the modern westerner, the health benefits of yoga are the ones that matter the most.

The Different Types of Yoga

There are many different styles of yoga being taught and practiced today. Although all of the styles are based on the same physical postures (called Asana’s), each has a particular emphasis or path. Here is a quick guide to the most popular types of yoga that can help you decide which style is right for you.

However, I am strongly advising that you try as many different styles, classes and teachers as possible.  It is crucial for your development, that you have a rich and varied experience of Yoga. 

Hatha Yoga

Hatha is a very general term that can encompass many of the physical types of yoga. If a class is described as Hatha style, it is probably going to be slow-paced and gentle and provide a good introduction to the basic yoga postures.  Highly recommended as a standard experience in the basics of yoga. This is a good place to learn basic poses, relaxation techniques, and become comfortable with yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga

Like Hatha, Vinyasa is a general term that is used to describe many different types of classes. Vinyasa, which means breath-synchronized movement, tends to be a more vigorous style based on the performance of a series of postures called Sun Salutations, in which movement is matched to the breath. A Vinyasa class will typically start with a number of Sun Salutations to warm up the body for more intense stretching that’s done at the end of class. 

Ashtanga or Power Yoga

Ashtanga, which means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, is a fast-paced, intense style of yoga. A set series of postures are performed, always in the same order. Ashtanga Yoga is very physically demanding because of the constant movement from one pose to the next. In yoga terminology, this movement is called flow. Ashtanga is also the inspiration for what is often called Power Yoga.  If a class is described as Power Yoga, it will be based on the flowing style of Ashtanga, but not necessarily keep strictly to the set Ashtanga series of poses.

Iyengar Yoga

Based on the teachings of the yogi B.K.S Iyengar, this style of practice is most concerned with bodily alignment. In yoga, the word alignment is used to describe the precise way in which your body should be positioned in each pose in order to obtain the maximum benefits and avoid injury. Iyengar Yoga usually emphasises holding poses over long periods versus moving quickly from one pose to the next (flow). Also, Iyengar practice encourages the use of props, such as yoga blankets, blocks and straps, in order to bring the body into the most perfect alignment.

Kundalini Yoga

Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini Yoga to the US in 1969.  Now the practice is world wide and growing. The emphasis in Kundalini Yoga is on the breath, internal concentration, mantra (words or sounds) in conjunction with physical movement, with the purpose of freeing energy within the body and allowing it to move upwards. All asana practices make use of controlling the breath. But in Kundalini, the exploration of the effects of the breath (also called prana, meaning life force energy) on the postures is essential. Kundalini uses rapid, repetitive movements rather than poses held for a long time.

Bikram or Hot Yoga

Pioneered by Bikram Choudhury, this style is more generally referred to as Hot Yoga. It is practiced in a 95 to 100 degree room, which allows for a loosening of tight muscles and profuse sweating, which is thought to be cleansing. The Bikram method is a set series of 26 poses, but not all hot classes make use of this series.

Anusara Yoga

Founded in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara combines a strong emphasis on physical alignment with a positive philosophy derived from Tantra. The philosophy’s premise is belief in the intrinsic goodness of all beings. Anusara classes are usually light-hearted and accessible to students of differing abilities. Poses are taught in a way that opens the heart, both physically and mentally, and props are often used.

Jivamukti Yoga

This style of yoga emerged from one of New York’s best-known yoga studios. Jivamukti founders David Life and Sharon Gannon take inspiration from Ashtanga yoga and emphasise chanting, meditation, and spiritual teachings. They have trained many teachers who have brought this style of yoga to studios and gyms, predominantly in the U.S. These classes are physically intense and often include some chanting.

Forrest Yoga

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and gaining popularity around the U.S., Forrest Yoga is the method taught by Ana Forrest. The performance of vigorous asana sequences is intended to strengthen and purify the body and release pent-up emotions and pain so that healing can begin. Expect an intense workout with an emphasis on abdominal strengthening and deep breathing.

Kripalu Yoga

The name Kripalu is associated both with a style of hatha yoga and a yoga and wellness centre in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Both were founded by yoga guru Amrit Desai, who came to the United States from India in 1960. Kripalu is a yoga practice with a compassionate approach and emphasis on meditation, physical healing and spiritual transformation that overflows into daily life. Kripalu also focuses on looking inward and moving at your own pace.

Integral Yoga

Integral yoga follows the teachings of Sri Swami Sachidananda, who came to the U.S. in the 1960s and eventually founded many Integral Yoga Institutes and the famed Yogaville Ashram in Virginia. Integral is a gentle hatha practice, and classes often also include breathing exercises, chanting, kriyas, and meditation.

Sivananda Yoga

Swami Vishnu-devananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda, founded the first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in 1957. There are now close to 80 locations worldwide, including several ashram retreats. Sivananda yoga is based upon five principles:

1. Proper exercise (Asana, focusing on 12 poses in particular)

2. Proper breathing (Pranayama)

3. Proper relaxation (Savasana)

4. Proper diet (Vegetarian)

5. Positive thinking and meditation (Dhyana)

ything you read, watch, or listen to about yoga will tell you to practice often, but one of the yoga tips that sometimes get skipped is that you must practice it right. Meditation can be helpful in establishing a calm and peaceful state of mind. But if discomfort exists the chances are that meditation and relaxation state will suffer. A good meditation yoga mat along with a pillow enables you to sit comfortably in meditation postures, plus some other factors need taking care of.

Always practice only the right age and developmentally appropriate yoga poses, breathing exercises, chanting, mantra meditation, and relaxation techniques. Many recently have been talking a great deal about child yoga, and we will say here that if you take your children to lessons, do make sure that the trainer offers a truly child-friendly relationship to the physical and philosophical traditions of yoga. In the right environment your children will grow and experience creativity, self-acceptance, interpersonal skill development, positive thinking, non-attachment, and environmental awareness, but as a parent we must stress that there are good facilities and sometimes bad, as in all walks of life.

As we grow older yoga can be especially beneficial. Aging normally brings along several chronic ailments and diseases for most of us. Staying active is the key factor to staying young and slowing the aging process and yoga most definitely will help with that. However, to get it right you must take the advice of your yogi and not push your body to achieve the next stage in the poses by stretching too hard or too fast.

Again, in line with yogic practices, many yogis believe that in addition to the physical body, there is a second body comprised of many energy lines. They use the theory to avoid problems as you progress. Listen to the guidance given, and observe it!

Get your yoga practice right and many cures have been suggested achievable through yoga.

Yoga cures different incurable diseases by achieving balance. Yoga is most important for our body and mind . Yoga cures an individual of a lot of illnesses. One has to practice the postures, breathing techniques, and dietary regulations and incorporate yoga in their lives to attain the benefits.

Asana, or posture, is only a small part of the overall system. Asanas help achieve relaxation and control of the muscle groups. When the body relaxes, it becomes comfortable posture and one can maintain it for longer duration, which is the purpose of Yoga.

Good sleep is important for the body to replenish itself and for the greatest productivity and enjoyment of the day time. Sleep means total relaxation of body and mind, no activity of mind, no movement in mind. It is the state of unconsciousness as for as outwards moving consciousness is concerned. Many people say that as soon as you start yoga you will find that your sleep improves.

This is a remarkable achievement which helps many people. Sleep problems are some of the most common problems that parents face with their kids. Some children may have chronic sleep difficulties, and many children are actually going through their days sleep-deprived.

Acne can be helped by yoga. Yogic treatment of acne begins with taking extra care to wash your hands properly with a mild soap many times a day. This will effectively prevent bacteria from entering into the body system.

The yogic lifestyle can help prevent and cure cardiovascular heart diseases. Proper life-style and diet play a key role in managing and avoiding heart disease.

Asthma can be eased by yoga in some cases. Asthma is thought to be very often caused by a combination of factors, most are physical from the environment around us, but genetic factors feature too. Whatever the cause, asthma is a breathing problem that results due to the sudden constriction of the airways that channel the air to and from the lungs.

Although there are many triggers that can set off an asthma attack, those thought most common are those such as dust and other air borne fragments allergies, cold, humidity, animal hair and so on. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). However, that healthy living and other more specific yogic actions will help, is a theory held by many.

Anyone involved in yoga will tell you that yoga cures the person as using the principles of nature, but yoga has to face many obstacles, which if avoided and if you get it right it quite possibly can give almost instant results. So, put simply; Yoga cures impossibilities by some of these simple methodologies connected with postures not known to many. Once you have been trained in these methods and postures, they become very easy and simple, but highly effective.

Pain Management

Yoga reduces pain by helping the brain’s pain centre regulate the gate-controlling mechanism that is located in the spinal cord, including the secretion of natural painkillers in the body. Breathing exercises that are the main feature of yoga also help to reduce the pain. One can induce the body to relax and free itself from tension by lengthening one’s exhalation time, since muscles tend to relax when we exhale. Awareness of breathing and controlling one’s inhalations and exhalations are useful in calming down and slowing respiration, even as this procedure helps one relax and successfully manage pain.

Incorporating relaxation and meditation techniques in Yoga also goes a long way in reducing pain. And, the effectiveness of yoga in reducing pain is due to its strong focus on self-awareness, which not only has a protective effect, but allows for early preventive action, as well.

Back Pain

There are many people who suffer from back pain, which is the most common reason for which medical attention is sought. However, consistent practice of Yoga Asanas not only cures but also prevents back pain by enhancing its strength and flexibility. Since, both acute and long-term stress lead to muscle tension, thereby exacerbating back problems, Yoga’s relaxation techniques are useful in combating stress.

If, you are not convinced, why not browse online yoga books, including Yoga books on meditation and spirituality. And in the practical sense, equip yourself with some yoga accessories e.g. yoga straps, yoga blocks, yoga mats, etc. for some beneficial yoga sessions!

Yoga is a philosophy of life as well as a system of exercises that encourages the union of mind, body, and spirit. Yoga dates back as far as 4000 BC, and was developed first in India. It is a classical science and philosophy that was developed by the Indian sage Patanjali. Yoga comes from the original Sanskrit word, ‘joga,’ which means ‘to join. It has been around for a long time, yet its teachings are still applicable today. Yoga is geared towards self-development and is an important element in personal growth. It is an ancient set of teachings and practices, yet it is truly very simple to do.

   In the past decade, the yoga craze has been sweeping the western world. Yoga as it is practiced in the West is often simply the asanas, or yoga postures. These postures are named after mammals, fish or reptiles. Poses range from the easier corpse pose, which involves lying on the floor while completely relaxed, to the most difficult poses that take years of practice to master. Hatha yoga, the style most commonly taught in the West, includes stretching and breathing exercises, poses, meditation or relaxation techniques. Yoga has many styles, forms and intensities. It is a system of techniques that can be used for: learning to relax, managing stress and increasing limberness all the way to becoming more self-aware. Yoga is all about going back to nature, back to the basics. It is a way of maintaining a balanced attitude in your day-to-day life. Yoga, has precise movements that draw your focus away from your busy day and more on the calming moments as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration. It is a program that involves stretching, movements, controlled breathing and relaxation exercises.

   Yoga is more than a set of exercises to increase flexibility, however. Yoga can help you meditate, reduce stress, and even build strength. It is said to be a complete medical science and an enlightening spiritual art. Yoga is more than mastering postures and increasing your flexibility and strength. It has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of depression and anxiety which often accompanies pain problems. Yoga poses are also useful in curing disorders such as eating, bipolar disorders, asthma, seizures, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels and is said to also encourage weight loss. It has been known to balance hormones and the endocrine system. It can also be helpful when combined with other treatments for heart disease and high blood pressure. Yoga is often used for helping to rehabilitate  people who want to improve and increase back strength after spinal injury.  It can strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and help you sleep better. Yoga, when combined with a vegetarian diet, aerobic exercise and medication has reduced cardiovascular disease and blood pressure levels. Yoga is an effective method to reduce anxiety. It’s controlled breathing exercises has become a popular means of stress management and teaches that by controlling your breathing you can gain control over your body and mind. Yoga also helps build stamina and strength which can help you cope better with the physical aspects of stress. Yoga is also a good tool for relaxation. Yoga slows down the aging process by giving elasticity to the spine, firming the skin, removing tension from the body, strengthening the abdominal muscles, improving the tone of muscles, and correcting poor posture.Yoga produces a healthy strong body with increased immunity against disease. It not only cures diseases and improves physical health but also changes mind sets.  Yoga is a wonderful form of exercise, it relaxes the mind and exercises the body. It combines breath and movement into one, it also directs oxygen to flow into our muscle tissue which allows for better blood movement throughout our body. 

   Yoga is one of the fastest growing exercises that everyone can do. You can start doing it right away and you do not need to buy anything special or learn a lot to start, there is also no age limitation for practicing yoga. Yoga is perfect for every fitness level. You can take classes to help you understand the concepts of yoga, having someone help you in the beginning is always a great idea, you might think about taking a class. Classes generally start with a series of poses and typically end with a relaxation period to calm the body and clear the mind. Classes are designed to help you build strength and to develop a deep sense of  your body, mind and spirit. Some classes can be modified to fit individual needs and for older adults, can help them stay steady on their feet and avoid falls. Yoga teachers are not certified, so make sure you go to a reputable studio. Yoga, overall, is generally considered very safe. Yoga is a gentle way to heighten your awareness, empower the body and invigorate the soul.