By Rebecca Prescott
Yoga is not a 'remedy' for menopause - not least because menopause represents a stage of life, rather than an illness. A woman's experience during menopause is completely individual, and yoga is not specific like the drugs of modern medicine. There is no one set series of postures that thus make up a 'remedy' for the symptoms of perimenopause.
Yoga is, instead, an adaptive discipline that can support the body through the myriad of biological changes it is making. Importantly, it can also support our minds and emotions, and allow us to come to a perspective on the inner processes that are happening. Many perimenopausal women have found both the physical and less tangible benefits of yoga helpful at this time.
If you haven't done any yoga before, it would be best to go to a class to learn. No DVD or book can quite replace watching a teacher demonstrate a posture, taking you through the different breathing practices, and offering insight into how your body is coping with the poses. It also helps to have a practical grounding like this if you're reading yoga books, where they will present a number of different poses and variations. Learning yoga first by practicing it in class, gives you the experience to adapt what you read in books to your own needs.
There are some general points about asanas (poses), however. Back bends can be great for improving one's mood and lifting energy levels, and forward bends are good for anxiety and stress.
There are a huge number of forward and back bends in yoga however! And different asanas require different preparatory poses, and what are called counter postures. Counter postures are an important follow-up to doing certain asanas. They can help prevent injury, just as the preparatory postures do.
There is somewhat contradictory advice given to women going through menopause who want to practice yoga. Many books encourage gentle, nurturing poses - restorative poses. But some female yoga teachers who used yoga for themselves when going through menopause found that an over-reliance on restorative postures made some menopausal symptoms worse. This included mood swings and weight gain. They found that sometimes, more activity was better.
Given that quite active physical exercise had been found to help with menopause, this observation is no real surprise. Ultimately, it depends on what is going on for each woman, and this can vary over time anyway. If you're feeling really tired all the time, restorative poses may be best for that period. However, if you've got more energy, there are a number of other asanas that can really help.
For example, inversion yoga poses can be great for the hormonal systems of the body. Inversions include headstand, shoulder stand, standing forward bends, and others. With inversion poses, especially shoulder stand and headstand, it's important to do the preparatory and counter postures. And if you have a particularly tense neck, it may be better to do a standing forward bend than downward dog (and certainly not shoulder stand or headstand), as the angle of the shoulders, combined with the weight on them, can cause tension in the neck.
Other good postures for menopause can be the standing postures - including triangle pose, half moon, and the extended side angle pose. These open up the front of the body, and the hips - which can be an area of stiffness for many women anyway!
Whatever poses you incorporate into your daily life during menopause, remember to be flexible. The needs of our bodies change, areas of stiffness change, symptoms change. Learning to respond to this, like the challenges that life can send our way, is the best way to tailor a practice to suit your needs.
References:
1. Australian Yoga Life, Nov 2006 - Mar 2007
2. A Mohan, Yoga For Body, Breath, and Mind
Rebecca writes on both yoga and menopause at these information sites
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Useful Information About Tantra Yoga
By Elizabeth Morgan
Tantra yoga is a holistic approach to the study of the universe from the point of view of the individual and it is one of several different types of yoga. It is designed to promote rapid growth towards enlightenment as a living system.
Tantric Yoga includes many sciences including astronomy, astrology, numerology, physiognomy, physics, chemistry, alchemy, Ayurveda, psychology, mathematics, geometry and more. Providing for a more practical means of realizing the highest ideals of philosophy in your daily life is the primary purpose of Tantra yoga.
The Basics of Trantra Yoga
Tantra literally means expansion and it is a form of yoga that concentrates on expanding an individuals level of consciousness in order to unveil and realize the full supreme reality of their being. Tantra yoga is often considered a true pathway in life and is not overly concerned with sexuality, but instead the creative force and the transmuting of energy into higher channels Yoga for Beginners.
You sit calmly and purify your mind and heart of any wayward thoughts and feelings as the basics of Tantra yoga and then slowly being to sense the life force that is within your being. It is then that you should direct this love and all the devotion you can towards your dynamic body of light which represents your soul. You should feel an amazing renewal and acceleration of spiritual awakening through the practice of this form of yoga.
An essential part of Tantra yoga is the overcoming of bad habits including such things as smoking, excessive drinking and overeating. As a way of helping you to give up these sorts of self-destructive habits, Tantra helps to expand your consciousness and believes that all of these habits have one thing in common even though they are different. In one way or another they all cause harm to your body.
Recently in the United States, Tantra yoga has become popular. The primary theory is that there is a great vein running from the lowest part of the spine when the serpent power of Kundalini rests. This is considered to be the greatest source of energy in the entire universe in Tantra and that it is of regular and important sexual and ritualized intercourse, and that for instance an orgasm is considered as being an extraordinary, cosmic and divine experience How can Using Yoga for Weight Loss Helpful.
Elizabeth Morgan is an expert on The Purpose Behind Tantra Yoga,Yoga for Beginners and How can Using Yoga for Weight Loss Helpful.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=ElizabethG_Morgan
Tantra yoga is a holistic approach to the study of the universe from the point of view of the individual and it is one of several different types of yoga. It is designed to promote rapid growth towards enlightenment as a living system.
Tantric Yoga includes many sciences including astronomy, astrology, numerology, physiognomy, physics, chemistry, alchemy, Ayurveda, psychology, mathematics, geometry and more. Providing for a more practical means of realizing the highest ideals of philosophy in your daily life is the primary purpose of Tantra yoga.
The Basics of Trantra Yoga
Tantra literally means expansion and it is a form of yoga that concentrates on expanding an individuals level of consciousness in order to unveil and realize the full supreme reality of their being. Tantra yoga is often considered a true pathway in life and is not overly concerned with sexuality, but instead the creative force and the transmuting of energy into higher channels Yoga for Beginners.
You sit calmly and purify your mind and heart of any wayward thoughts and feelings as the basics of Tantra yoga and then slowly being to sense the life force that is within your being. It is then that you should direct this love and all the devotion you can towards your dynamic body of light which represents your soul. You should feel an amazing renewal and acceleration of spiritual awakening through the practice of this form of yoga.
An essential part of Tantra yoga is the overcoming of bad habits including such things as smoking, excessive drinking and overeating. As a way of helping you to give up these sorts of self-destructive habits, Tantra helps to expand your consciousness and believes that all of these habits have one thing in common even though they are different. In one way or another they all cause harm to your body.
Recently in the United States, Tantra yoga has become popular. The primary theory is that there is a great vein running from the lowest part of the spine when the serpent power of Kundalini rests. This is considered to be the greatest source of energy in the entire universe in Tantra and that it is of regular and important sexual and ritualized intercourse, and that for instance an orgasm is considered as being an extraordinary, cosmic and divine experience How can Using Yoga for Weight Loss Helpful.
Elizabeth Morgan is an expert on The Purpose Behind Tantra Yoga,Yoga for Beginners and How can Using Yoga for Weight Loss Helpful.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=ElizabethG_Morgan
Monday, December 25, 2006
A Beginner's Guide To Yoga Asanas
By Joann Grant
By asana we mean various Yoga postures. There are good number of asanas offering different exercises to body as well as mind. If you are the one who has just made a tryst with Yoga, you would be first of all made to do basic yoga asana. These basic asanas are only meant to make your body accustomed to Yoga practices. You get accustomed to yoga practice by gaining increased flexibility through basic asanas.
Asanas are very helpful in bringing rejuvenation to your body and mind. Asana happens to be one of the limbs of yoga practices. You learn tolerance, balance, patience and perseverance through yoga asana.
Asanas could be done in a seated position, standing position, turning and twisting posture, supine and balancing posture. Each posture comprises of not less than twenty asanas that could be further classified into three levels, beginner’s asanas, middle level asanas and complex yoga asanas.
Standing asanas are of great help in strengthening legs and lower muscles of your body. Sitting asanas are focused on making your hips and lower portion of back stronger. Balance yoga postures are exceptionally helpful in improving your mental condition. It also strengthens muscles. Twisting and turning asanas contribute greatly to your enhanced flexibility. And relaxation postures bring required tranquility and peace to your mind thus resulting in total mental rejuvenation.
Some popular asanas are as follows-
Shvasana: It is known as corpse pose. The asana requires you to lie on back in a completely rested state.
Utkatasna: This yoga asana happens to be awkward for many as the pose needs to be in a sitting position without chair. While keeping this pseudo sitting pose you are instructed to raise your hands towards sky or ceiling.
Padmasana: It is a sitting posture with erected back. You are also made to place your legs on opposite thighs. This asana tests your tolerance level.
Dhanurasana: It is a bit complex asana which is also known as bow position. You are made to lie with the help of your stomach and thighs with raised legs and hands taking hold of legs by raising upper portion of body. Resultant postures happen to be bow shaped.
Vajrasana: This posture demands you to bend on your knees in such a way that your hips could be placed on corresponding foots or ankles. You are also directed to rest your hands on knees.
Navasana: In this asana you are required to lift both of your legs while being in a sitting posture. Legs should make an angle of forty five degree from the surface of floor.
All these asanas are a great mixed bunch of easy and complex asanas. If you happen to be a beginner you should only opt for asanas for beginners. And practice them for your holistic health improvement.
By asana we mean various Yoga postures. There are good number of asanas offering different exercises to body as well as mind. If you are the one who has just made a tryst with Yoga, you would be first of all made to do basic yoga asana. These basic asanas are only meant to make your body accustomed to Yoga practices. You get accustomed to yoga practice by gaining increased flexibility through basic asanas.
Asanas are very helpful in bringing rejuvenation to your body and mind. Asana happens to be one of the limbs of yoga practices. You learn tolerance, balance, patience and perseverance through yoga asana.
Asanas could be done in a seated position, standing position, turning and twisting posture, supine and balancing posture. Each posture comprises of not less than twenty asanas that could be further classified into three levels, beginner’s asanas, middle level asanas and complex yoga asanas.
Standing asanas are of great help in strengthening legs and lower muscles of your body. Sitting asanas are focused on making your hips and lower portion of back stronger. Balance yoga postures are exceptionally helpful in improving your mental condition. It also strengthens muscles. Twisting and turning asanas contribute greatly to your enhanced flexibility. And relaxation postures bring required tranquility and peace to your mind thus resulting in total mental rejuvenation.
Some popular asanas are as follows-
Shvasana: It is known as corpse pose. The asana requires you to lie on back in a completely rested state.
Utkatasna: This yoga asana happens to be awkward for many as the pose needs to be in a sitting position without chair. While keeping this pseudo sitting pose you are instructed to raise your hands towards sky or ceiling.
Padmasana: It is a sitting posture with erected back. You are also made to place your legs on opposite thighs. This asana tests your tolerance level.
Dhanurasana: It is a bit complex asana which is also known as bow position. You are made to lie with the help of your stomach and thighs with raised legs and hands taking hold of legs by raising upper portion of body. Resultant postures happen to be bow shaped.
Vajrasana: This posture demands you to bend on your knees in such a way that your hips could be placed on corresponding foots or ankles. You are also directed to rest your hands on knees.
Navasana: In this asana you are required to lift both of your legs while being in a sitting posture. Legs should make an angle of forty five degree from the surface of floor.
All these asanas are a great mixed bunch of easy and complex asanas. If you happen to be a beginner you should only opt for asanas for beginners. And practice them for your holistic health improvement.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
The Essence of Karma Yoga
By Richard Pettinger
Karma Yoga is the yoga of dedicated action. In the path of Karma yoga a seeker takes an active part in the world, not for earthly fame or gain, but to bring about a more divine life on earth.
The secret of Karma Yoga is detachment. This means an aspirant is not attached to the result of his actions. He takes both failure and success with the same equanimity. This means he is not bloated with pride at success; nor does he despair when outwardly things appear to be a failure. In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter II: 47) Sri Krishna advises his dear disciple Arjuna about the nature of Karma Yoga.
“Your only duty is to act and not to hanker after the fruits (or the results) thereof.' Be not the purpose of your actions. Let not the work bind and blind you. Work with total non-attachment and selfless attitude.”
In Karma Yoga the seeker is working with the hope and aspiration of serving God. In Karma yoga the seeker’s only desire is to fulfil the will of God. In the eyes of the world an action can be judged on how significant it is. However to a Karma Yogin even the smallest of actions becomes of the utmost importance, if it is performed with the correct attitude.
A Karmin yogi does not see eye to eye with the jnani yogi who believes that the world should be renounced. A Karma yoga aspires to serve God through serving God in humanity. Sri Chinmoy says of Karma Yoga.
“Karma Yoga is desireless action undertaken for the sake of the Supreme. Karma Yoga is man's genuine acceptance of his earthly existence. Karma Yoga is man's dauntless march across the battlefield of life.”
We do not have to be a Hindu or even believe in God to practise Karma Yoga. If we feel we are working not for ourselves but for the cause of the divine then we are bringing the ideals of Karma yoga into the heart of humanity. By serving a higher causes with an attitude of detachment we learn to conquer the ego. The Karmin yoga makes progress by growing in to a more illumined consciousness. We no longer feel to be only our individual ego. We come to identify ourselves with the rest of humanity.
Karma Yoga is the yoga of dedicated action. In the path of Karma yoga a seeker takes an active part in the world, not for earthly fame or gain, but to bring about a more divine life on earth.
The secret of Karma Yoga is detachment. This means an aspirant is not attached to the result of his actions. He takes both failure and success with the same equanimity. This means he is not bloated with pride at success; nor does he despair when outwardly things appear to be a failure. In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter II: 47) Sri Krishna advises his dear disciple Arjuna about the nature of Karma Yoga.
“Your only duty is to act and not to hanker after the fruits (or the results) thereof.' Be not the purpose of your actions. Let not the work bind and blind you. Work with total non-attachment and selfless attitude.”
In Karma Yoga the seeker is working with the hope and aspiration of serving God. In Karma yoga the seeker’s only desire is to fulfil the will of God. In the eyes of the world an action can be judged on how significant it is. However to a Karma Yogin even the smallest of actions becomes of the utmost importance, if it is performed with the correct attitude.
A Karmin yogi does not see eye to eye with the jnani yogi who believes that the world should be renounced. A Karma yoga aspires to serve God through serving God in humanity. Sri Chinmoy says of Karma Yoga.
“Karma Yoga is desireless action undertaken for the sake of the Supreme. Karma Yoga is man's genuine acceptance of his earthly existence. Karma Yoga is man's dauntless march across the battlefield of life.”
We do not have to be a Hindu or even believe in God to practise Karma Yoga. If we feel we are working not for ourselves but for the cause of the divine then we are bringing the ideals of Karma yoga into the heart of humanity. By serving a higher causes with an attitude of detachment we learn to conquer the ego. The Karmin yoga makes progress by growing in to a more illumined consciousness. We no longer feel to be only our individual ego. We come to identify ourselves with the rest of humanity.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Important Information About Sahaja Yoga
By Elizabeth Morgan
A unique method of mediation is used for sahaja yoga which is a type of yoga that claims to be based on an experience called self-realization. It works partly with Tantra Yoga and every human being should find that is works for them.
Sahaja yoga combines several processes so an inner transformation can take place, during which the devotee can become united, integrated and balanced overall. Over hundreds of thousands of people in over ninety countries worldwide have ultimately proved and experienced the practice of sahaja yoga.
Sahaja yoga is practiced by people who pride and prioritize themselves on respecting all major religions as well as their founders, they in fact consider themselves a part of the one tree of life. When practicing sahaja yoga you will notice immediate benefits including stress relief and a feeling of peace and contentment Getting Started.
Besides mental benefits you will also receive physical benefits such as the alleviation, prevention and even the cure of illnesses. It also helps a person to attain balance and the absolute highest level of enlightenment. Giving up the self-destructive habits in life such as smoking, drinking, drugs and overeating are a major part of the practice of sahaja yoga which ends up leaving an individual incredibly healthy, normal, balance and moral.
Providing people with a true and authentic means of personal and spiritual growth is the basic aim of the sahaja yoga practice and it tries to help each individual to become more peace loving and it is considered to be a type of yoga that will benefit society and the world as a whole.
This form of yoga has no negative aspects or expectations and the only premise is the end result of making people feel better. For sahaja yoga meditation programs there have never been a charge since their doors are open to everyone at all time regardless of a persons financial situation.
In addition, no sort of funding is given from charitable sources or governmental agencies to help conduct any of these programs. Those who practice this form of yoga have never been forced to give any sort of money to support and they are not frowned upon in any way for not giving Yoga for Beginners.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Raja Yoga, The Royal Road to Enlightenment
By Michael Russell
Raja Yoga, known as the king of yogas, is one of the six branches of the overall system of yoga. The other branches are Karma Yoga, the yoga of action, Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of faith in and love of the Divine, Jnana Yoga, the yoga of knowledge, Tantra Yoga, the yoga of ceremony and Hatha Yoga, perhaps the best known of all in the West, the yoga of exercise. All are means of achieving spiritual enlightenment, but each caters for different temperaments in the aspirants.
Raja Yoga is the yoga of meditation, in which the aspirant strives for enlightenment primarily through the practice of meditation. It is best for those of a contemplative nature. Meditation is a means of stilling the mind and so opening it to cosmic or divine energy. It consists of the repetition of a mantra, which is a sound or a series of sounds, which have spiritual power. This article will be examining the purpose of Raja Yoga and the states of mind involved. It should consequently show the great benefits, both in the material and in the spiritual worlds, of Raja Yoga.
Purpose of Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga, formed into a definite system by Patanjali 5,000 years ago, concerns itself primarily with the stilling of the mind to allow for Cosmic openness. This is achieved by sitting in a cross-legged position repeating a mantra, a word or words having spiritual power. This can be as simple as the word "Om", through the more complex "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare" to the Guyatri mantra, which is several lines long. At first, one is aware of many thoughts in the mind, but if one does not become attached to them, does not concentrate on them, but, instead concentrates on the mantra, gradually one will find that the thoughts become less and less forceful until it is the mantra which occupies the mind. At this point, the practitioner achieves detachment and can watch any more thoughts, which bubble up in the mind but not become attached to them. After a while, the thoughts are stilled and the yogi can begin to feel the first glimmerings of being at one with the Creator.
States of The Mind
Raja Yoga deals primarily with the modification and control of the mind. It posits that there are 5 states of mind, ranging from the primarily material to the primarily spiritual state. These are:
- the Kshipta state, in which the mind is chasing all over the place. That is the state in which most people live their lives and one in which the mind isn't centered in the present, but is continually dealing with past and future situations as well.
- the Mudha state, in which the mind is less unsettled, but is still forgetful and foolish in a spiritual sense.
- the Vikshipta state, in which the mind often gets distracted when concentration of the mind in meditation is attempted
- the Ekagra state, stemming from the Sanskrit word "ek" meaning "one', which is when the mind becomes one-pointed as a result of the repeated practice of concentration
- the Niruddha state in which the mind is fully controlled and in which spiritual enlightenment, called "Samadhi", is reached and one is fully conscious of one's unity with the Creator.
Reaching the Niruddha state is the primary purpose of Raja Yoga, but it has practical benefits in the material world as well. Practitioners experience much greater mind control and can work more efficiently because they can better concentrate on the task at hand. In addition, everyday life becomes more pleasant, because they are much more aware of the here and now and much less distracted by thoughts of the future or of the past.
Raja Yoga, known as the king of yogas, is one of the six branches of the overall system of yoga. The other branches are Karma Yoga, the yoga of action, Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of faith in and love of the Divine, Jnana Yoga, the yoga of knowledge, Tantra Yoga, the yoga of ceremony and Hatha Yoga, perhaps the best known of all in the West, the yoga of exercise. All are means of achieving spiritual enlightenment, but each caters for different temperaments in the aspirants.
Raja Yoga is the yoga of meditation, in which the aspirant strives for enlightenment primarily through the practice of meditation. It is best for those of a contemplative nature. Meditation is a means of stilling the mind and so opening it to cosmic or divine energy. It consists of the repetition of a mantra, which is a sound or a series of sounds, which have spiritual power. This article will be examining the purpose of Raja Yoga and the states of mind involved. It should consequently show the great benefits, both in the material and in the spiritual worlds, of Raja Yoga.
Purpose of Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga, formed into a definite system by Patanjali 5,000 years ago, concerns itself primarily with the stilling of the mind to allow for Cosmic openness. This is achieved by sitting in a cross-legged position repeating a mantra, a word or words having spiritual power. This can be as simple as the word "Om", through the more complex "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare" to the Guyatri mantra, which is several lines long. At first, one is aware of many thoughts in the mind, but if one does not become attached to them, does not concentrate on them, but, instead concentrates on the mantra, gradually one will find that the thoughts become less and less forceful until it is the mantra which occupies the mind. At this point, the practitioner achieves detachment and can watch any more thoughts, which bubble up in the mind but not become attached to them. After a while, the thoughts are stilled and the yogi can begin to feel the first glimmerings of being at one with the Creator.
States of The Mind
Raja Yoga deals primarily with the modification and control of the mind. It posits that there are 5 states of mind, ranging from the primarily material to the primarily spiritual state. These are:
- the Kshipta state, in which the mind is chasing all over the place. That is the state in which most people live their lives and one in which the mind isn't centered in the present, but is continually dealing with past and future situations as well.
- the Mudha state, in which the mind is less unsettled, but is still forgetful and foolish in a spiritual sense.
- the Vikshipta state, in which the mind often gets distracted when concentration of the mind in meditation is attempted
- the Ekagra state, stemming from the Sanskrit word "ek" meaning "one', which is when the mind becomes one-pointed as a result of the repeated practice of concentration
- the Niruddha state in which the mind is fully controlled and in which spiritual enlightenment, called "Samadhi", is reached and one is fully conscious of one's unity with the Creator.
Reaching the Niruddha state is the primary purpose of Raja Yoga, but it has practical benefits in the material world as well. Practitioners experience much greater mind control and can work more efficiently because they can better concentrate on the task at hand. In addition, everyday life becomes more pleasant, because they are much more aware of the here and now and much less distracted by thoughts of the future or of the past.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
The Benefits Of Hatha Yoga Examined
By Rebecca Prescott
Hatha yoga is more commonly known as simply 'yoga'. It's a system of exercise originating from India. There are many branches of hatha yoga - you may have heard of Iyengar yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, Vini yoga and Bikram yoga. They all involve postures or 'asanas'. Some asanas are gentle stretching exercises which can improve flexibility, and others help to develop and improve strength and balance.
Hatha yoga was born in traditional Hindu spiritual practice, so it's no surprise that it may also involve meditation and chanting, as well as philosophical and religious considerations. For those who purely wish to use it as a form of physical exercise, there are many completely secular versions available!
Why Is Hatha Yoga Such A Good Form Of Exercise
The first benefit is that it's a fitness routine that can be used by people of all ages and levels of fitness. It can get you into shape and keep you that way if used regularly. Yoga differs from other forms of exercise in that it involves motions that don't cause strain on the body. When performed correctly, the asanas have no negative effects on the body or mind.
It isn't an aerobic exercise but it uses almost every muscle. It can help to develop and improve balance, coordination and a feeling of being centered. The limbs are used like free weights and the body's center of gravity is moved to create resistance. Over time, the limbs become stronger and the focus then shifts to endurance as the asanas are held for increasing periods of time.
The aim is quality of movement rather than quantity. Regular practice of hatha yoga can bring peace and happiness to the mind and improved health and relaxation to the body.
How Hatha Yoga Can Help At Any Age
Yoga is great fun for children and teenagers and it's easy for them to do, as they are already flexible. Yoga can help them retain that flexibility. It can also help to develop their self-discipline. Practicing asanas is good for developing coordination and can help to improve concentration – which many children and teens find difficult.
Yoga is the ideal exercise during pregnancy. Asanas can improve backache and help to lift depression. Many women who practice yoga have said that it helped to make their labor easier and shorter. Be careful to only do asanas that have been approved for pregnant women. The meditation side of yoga is also calming and centering during pregnancy.
Older people use yoga to improve and/or maintain flexibility, correct poor posture, strengthen the spine, and ease back pain. It can also improve digestion and elimination, facilitate circulation, improve breathing disorders, and lift mood.
Yoga Can Help You To Cope
Many of the problems suffered in modern life may be eased by following a regular yoga routine.
Asanas can release the tense muscles caused by hours of sitting at a desk. Breathing deeply can improve vitality by increasing the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain. Meditation can enhance the power of concentration and calm the mind. Yoga teaches full relaxation and encourages good sleep. It also helps digestion and improves circulation.
Used regularly, it can improve physical and mental health and is also known to enhance creativity. Give it a try!
Find out what classes are available in your area - a properly qualified instructor can ensure that you are doing the asanas correctly and safely. If you'd rather try it at home, get a DVD (again, with a qualified instructor). There are lots to choose from!
Hatha yoga is more commonly known as simply 'yoga'. It's a system of exercise originating from India. There are many branches of hatha yoga - you may have heard of Iyengar yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, Vini yoga and Bikram yoga. They all involve postures or 'asanas'. Some asanas are gentle stretching exercises which can improve flexibility, and others help to develop and improve strength and balance.
Hatha yoga was born in traditional Hindu spiritual practice, so it's no surprise that it may also involve meditation and chanting, as well as philosophical and religious considerations. For those who purely wish to use it as a form of physical exercise, there are many completely secular versions available!
Why Is Hatha Yoga Such A Good Form Of Exercise
The first benefit is that it's a fitness routine that can be used by people of all ages and levels of fitness. It can get you into shape and keep you that way if used regularly. Yoga differs from other forms of exercise in that it involves motions that don't cause strain on the body. When performed correctly, the asanas have no negative effects on the body or mind.
It isn't an aerobic exercise but it uses almost every muscle. It can help to develop and improve balance, coordination and a feeling of being centered. The limbs are used like free weights and the body's center of gravity is moved to create resistance. Over time, the limbs become stronger and the focus then shifts to endurance as the asanas are held for increasing periods of time.
The aim is quality of movement rather than quantity. Regular practice of hatha yoga can bring peace and happiness to the mind and improved health and relaxation to the body.
How Hatha Yoga Can Help At Any Age
Yoga is great fun for children and teenagers and it's easy for them to do, as they are already flexible. Yoga can help them retain that flexibility. It can also help to develop their self-discipline. Practicing asanas is good for developing coordination and can help to improve concentration – which many children and teens find difficult.
Yoga is the ideal exercise during pregnancy. Asanas can improve backache and help to lift depression. Many women who practice yoga have said that it helped to make their labor easier and shorter. Be careful to only do asanas that have been approved for pregnant women. The meditation side of yoga is also calming and centering during pregnancy.
Older people use yoga to improve and/or maintain flexibility, correct poor posture, strengthen the spine, and ease back pain. It can also improve digestion and elimination, facilitate circulation, improve breathing disorders, and lift mood.
Yoga Can Help You To Cope
Many of the problems suffered in modern life may be eased by following a regular yoga routine.
Asanas can release the tense muscles caused by hours of sitting at a desk. Breathing deeply can improve vitality by increasing the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain. Meditation can enhance the power of concentration and calm the mind. Yoga teaches full relaxation and encourages good sleep. It also helps digestion and improves circulation.
Used regularly, it can improve physical and mental health and is also known to enhance creativity. Give it a try!
Find out what classes are available in your area - a properly qualified instructor can ensure that you are doing the asanas correctly and safely. If you'd rather try it at home, get a DVD (again, with a qualified instructor). There are lots to choose from!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Yoga for Beginners: A Stress Management Program that Really Works
By paul Jerard
Every time of year, there is an occasion for stress with work, holidays, family obligations, education, moving, and weddings. There is no shortage of reasons to be stressed out over something. Here is a Yogic method, which can help you handle stress all year long.
Learn from a Yoga teacher who remains calm “under fire.” It is easy to have the appearance of being calm and quite another matter to actually put it into practice daily. In life, you will see stressful situations and hectic moments, but the person, who remains calm, during a naturally stressful time, is a person you can learn from.
Now, what if the calmest person you know is not a Yoga teacher? You should learn by watching him or her, in action, and enhance your own powers of observation. Later, you could visualize yourself being calm in a similar chaotic situation.
Does this sound unrealistic? No, but the Sanskrit word “Grahana” comes to mind. This is a complex word, but one of the ways it can be defined is, as a perception, or the process of seeing things as they are. Grahana is a meditative state where your mind focuses on observing without judgment.
Some people scoff at the idea of Yogis, who practice positive visualization and observe life, with mindfulness. You may hear people say, “That will never work,” or “Meditation is a waste of time.” The truth is the person who is negative in life, does practice his or her own negative brand of Grahana. In fact, some Yoga teachers would say negativity is the opposite of Grahana because it is non-acceptance.
On the other hand, if we constantly look at the world with a pessimistic viewpoint, is this a truthful perception of life? To the pessimist, a negative perception of life is reality. A negative perception creates the “cloud of doom,” which follows this person around in life. Self-pity and negative thoughts are created, envisioned, and become a constant daily cycle, within the life of a pessimist.
Remember the saying: “Be careful what you wish for.” You could also say, “Be mindful of what you visualize.” A mindful and positive perception of life is “light baggage,” in comparison to the burden of negative thought.
Look at stress as a tool, which you can use for good. When you come to a Yoga class, you will notice that some of your problems seem to evaporate. What happened? You filtered thoughts, concentrated, meditated, and prioritized all of the day’s problems.
If you took part in a Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, or Kundalini Yoga class, the muscles in your body feel much less tense - due to the physical techniques you learned and practiced. When you finish your Yoga class, you are ready to put the daily stress of life to good use. This is a form of “Yoga off the mat.”
Yoga is not a “magic stress killer,” but Yoga does have many techniques for effective stress management.
© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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