yoga

What Is Bikram Yoga And What Are Its Benefits?

August 20, 2017 by Ava Rogers

Bikram Yoga is a special form of Yoga which was founded by the Indian Yoga guru Bikram Choudhury. It subsequently gained quite a bit of popularity. This yoga regime consists of sessions of a duration of about 90 minutes. In this duration the Yogi needs to go through 26 poses in succession. The special characteristic is that this form of Yoga needs to be performed in rooms where high temperature is maintained. The temperature typically goes as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Also the humidity is kept high at around 40 percent.

In recent times, different form of hot Yoga has become prevalent. But it must be remembered that Yoga performed in hot temperature is not necessarily Bikram Yoga. There has been lack of understanding among many people as to what is and what is not Bikram Yoga. A sizeable percentage of people doing hot Yoga erroneously think they are performing Bikram Yoga. In reality they might actually be performing Vinayasa Yoga inside a hot room.

Bikram Yoga and Its Creator

Bikram Choudhury was a seasoned Yoga practitioner and guru for many years in India. He created this form of Yoga and all the poses within, from his long experience and deep knowledge. Bikram had proven his mettle, time and again, in this ancient art and actually was able to develop this special branch which proved to be quite an effective one.

No matter what his life incidents suggests, Bikram Yoga no doubt has created buzz all around. Numerous Yoga studios throughout the world has embraced Bikram Yoga and has found celebrity fans like Robin Williams, Demi Moore and George Clooney

Bikram Yoga needs to be performed in special chambers where hot temperature is maintained. It has been claimed that this heat improves flexibility of the body. A common question is whether this extremely high temperature detrimental to the body or not. In many parts of India, during hot summer days, temperatures sore to this level. People have been living in these areas for years.

So, no, this temperature is not necessarily anything bad for the human body.

On the contrary performing Yoga in heat will make the body sweat heavily. Which is known to be an effective way of the body cleansing toxins.

Bikram Yoga Poses and Benefits

Now let’s talk about the 26 poses of the Bikram Yoga. The series of poses increases muscle strength, improves body flexibility and overall energy. As a result the practitioner feels holistically good. Although it may be the case that right at the beginning this form of Yoga may seem physically demanding. Also the high temperature may prove to be an extra deterrent.

But that should not discourage you to continue. As time passes your body will slowly adapt to the regime of Bikram Yoga. And the poses will eventually become easier to perform.

There are many poses which are included in Bikram Yoga sessions. Few of them and their good effects are mentioned below.

Hands To Feet Pose: Improves tone for joint ligaments and muscles for back and the upper portion of the body. Also proven to make the spinal cord more flexible.

Awkward Pose: This pose is particularly good for bones and joints. Known to be good for arthritis patients. It improves body balance and is good for people suffering from slipped discs. Also facilitates better blood circulation.

Half-Moon Pose: This one helps to increase core muscles strength thus making the body holistically strong. Also it has a good effect on proper kidney function and vertebral flexibility.

Standing Bow Pose: This particular pose may be a bit difficult to master. But if done correctly it can be excellent for the strengthening the spinal cord in the long run.

Balancing Stick Pose: The balancing stick pose is particularly good for the heart. In addition it helps to achieve improved concentration and good body posture.

Eagle Pose: This pose consisting of intricate body posture helps to open up the entire skeletal framework of the body. Not only that, it helps in improved blood circulation to the kidneys and the sex organs.

Standing Head to Knee: This can surely be said to be one of the challenging Yoga poses which both needs balance and flexibility. It is extremely good for the hamstrings and helps to make the body immensely flexible.

Out of the 26 we have talked about only 7 and you can already see the tremendous health benefits of Bikram yoga As Bikram Choudhury claims, if all 26 poses are done correctly and regularly, Bikram Yoga can surely provide a workout for every part of the body ranging from head to toe. There is a book authored by Bikram Choudhury himself. That can be an authentic source of information for this form of Yoga.

So before getting started with a Bikram yoga regime do your research either by reading relevant books or by searching the internet. And if you decide to join any institute, ensure that they offer authentic Bikram Yoga before enrolling. It is beyond any scope of doubt, the Bikram Yoga, if done correctly can yield tremendous health benefits. So if you feel motivated enough, there is no harm to give it a try.

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How Is Yoga Beneficial For Those Suffering From Diabetes

August 17, 2017 by Ava Rogers

As the world advances more and more people are coming into the grips of different diseases and conditions. Diabetes is another health condition which is day by day affecting millions across the globe. And it is showing no signs of slowing down.

As Yoga becomes increasingly popular throughout the globe, more knowledge is surfacing about it’s good effects on all aspects of health. Yoga mainly targets to abolish the sedentary lifestyle that we have become so much habituated in. But it must also be remembered that diet needs to be proper for any diabetes reversal.

Diabetes can be kept in check by maintaining a low blood cholesterol level and stabilizing the blood sugar. Yoga can help you achieve that if you are consistent and regular with practice.

Many Yoga poses are known which are conducive to the proper working of the vital body organs. In fact Yoga is such a form of exercise which helps regulate almost all portions of the body. And that too without being overtly physically demanding.

In long run Yoga will help burn calories and get rid of the excess body weight. So, Yoga with a good diet can be surely used to mitigate the reasons for diabetes.

We have always heard prevention is the best cure. So measures should be taken by every middle aged man and woman so that they do not develop diabetes at the first place. Its highly recommended to embrace Yoga as early as possible. Since it is a low impact form of exercise, it can be done on a daily basis without much stress.

It will help stabilizing the digestion process ensuring proper absorption of necessary nutrients. Also blood circulation is improved, thus assisting in reduction of body toxins and elimination of wastes.

Numerous Diabetes Mellitus patients have known to report the excellent effect of Yoga on their overall physical condition. It helped reduce their daily stress level and improved flexibility in addition to reduction of inflammations. If you think for a moment, you will understand that achieving all these through natural means, without gulping down medicines is way better. It definitely is a step forward to control the diabetic condition with less difficulty and stress.

With Yoga what you must do is to find out the poses which will be particularly beneficial to your specific physical condition. Likewise, some poses are known to be beneficial for those having diabetes. Few specific well known poses that can be mentioned are – the downward facing dog pose, the western intense pose, the big toe pose, the hero pose, the fish pose, the half lord of fishes pose etc.

There are many others. It is important that you get authentic and proper guidance before starting out. So there is nothing more safe than seeking professional advice from a qualified instructor. All poses of Yoga might not be suitable for you depending on your requirements. The instructor will be able to help in a much better way and recommend you poses.

If getting an instructor seems to be too expensive, at the least, you must research thoroughly before starting on any pose regularly. This will make you aware of its actual benefits. YouTube is an excellent resource to actually see demo videos of how different Yoga poses are performed. In this page itself few are added for your reference.

So, to stress again, if you are on a tight budget, yet determined to continue with Yoga, do engage in proper research before starting out with anything. You can read on the different Yoga forms.

Always remember that consistency is the key. If regular practice is not performed, then results will be minimal. If consistent result is desirable, then regularity is must. Within a short time, any person performing regular Yoga will be able to fill the difference. It will calm their mind and reduce stress levels. Which will in turn assist in regulating the blood sugar and pressure level. And it is no secret that controlled blood sugar level is extremely important to reduce possibility of any heart condition.

It is also vital that the breathing techniques for every Yoga pose are properly followed. It has a meditative effect. This particular characteristic of Yoga is known to reduce cortisol levels which is known to affect the blood glucose levels. And regulating the blood glucose levels is the single most important aspect of reversing any form of diabetes.

Yoga is a very ancient form of exercise that has its origin many thousands years ago in India. Although it has earned immense popularity, and obviously not without valid reasons, yet medically it is not approved as any way to reverse diabetes.

But that is quite normal. Any form of exercise, no matter how beneficial, cannot really be projected as a treatment to any medical condition.

But that does not change the fact that Yoga is an excellent way to regulate certain body conditions which are primary causes of diabetes. Yet, do not forget to consult a registered medical practitioner, before starting out. It is important to ensure that performing physical exercise like Yoga is not detrimental to your health.

If your doctor gives go ahead, then nothing else should stop you from getting started with a Yoga regime as soon as possible. Do your research, take proper guidance and practice everyday. And soon enough, you will notice the benefits of Yoga to reduce your diabetic condition and improve your holistic well being.

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Why Should You Practice Yoga If You Have Lower Back Pain

August 15, 2017 by Ava Rogers

People who are physically active due to their nature of work are generally much better of in terms of health. But most are affected by a sedentary lifestyle. Due to office based job they need to sit at one place for a long time. Physical activity is almost nil throughout the day. Exercise is also mostly out of question due to hectic schedule.

Sounds familiar, right? Well, cost of progress, it seems. And health hazards are not unnatural in such a situation.

Let’s talk about a typical day for a typical corporate office professional.

She gets up in the morning, gets ready and jump in her car. Then drives for a considerable time.

She then walks a few paces from car park to building. Stands in the lift to go to the designated floor. Then again walks a few paces to her seat. And then sit there in that same place for the better part of the day.

At the end of the day, she drives back home. After arriving home, stressed and tired she hits the couch with smartphone in hand supposedly to “de-stress”

Sitting For Long Hours:

Well, the major reason for back pain is sitting for long hours. For better understanding a basic idea of the spinal chord structure is necessary.

The vertebra or the spinal chord is one of the most vital part of the body. It consists of small bones which lay separated by soft and spongy disc like structure. The discs between the bones are gel like, and acts as a lubricant. Mainly acting as cushion between the hard bones thus preventing them to rub against one another.

Staying in a sitting posture for too long wears the discs over time. Also frequent leaning front or back, for extended period can also result in the discs to be displaced. And that in turn can result in serious misalignment of this protective layer of tissue. When this happens, the normal functioning of the discs are hampered. They also tend to get inflamed and swollen. At that point pain sensations start occurring.

Now, if the swelling is serious enough to press against a nerve, then the pain aggravates much more.

Loss of Flexibility:

Another issue is of body flexibility. Due to lack of sufficient body movements, the ligaments and tendons tend to shorten and make muscles stiff. If the hamstring muscles get tightened over time, that plays a role in back pain as well.

The lower back muscles have to then bear extra strain for keeping the vertebra straight to support the body weight. This extra load on the lower back muscles will eventually wear them and pain will start.

Yoga can be a real good way to counter this issue of sedentary routine. The various poses of Yoga flexes and exercises your muscles thus keeping them flexible. It also helps to keep the bones and tissues well aligned.

But it needs to be ensured that the choice of Yoga poses is balanced enough to cater to the specific situation. If you are suffering from back pain then you need to avoid practicing those poses which have a lot of forward bending. It can hurt the back muscles more. Always listen to your body before continuing with your regime.

It’s really very important to get correct and authentic guidance or else the pain might necessarily not be gain for you. A good idea is to get a qualified Yoga instructor or join a Yoga institute.

Any qualified instructor will be able to recommend poses which will be beneficial to the lower back muscles and help you to alleviate the pain. It is vital that your core muscles and joints are strong and flexible to support your body weight. This way the back muscle will not be under constant pressure trying to keep your posture intact.

Excess Weight Gain:

With regular and religious practice of Yoga, with time, excess weight loss is highly probable. As mentioned earlier, your spinal chord is responsible to support major portion of the body weight. So excess weight is never a good news for your spinal bones and discs.

So, shedding extra weight will eventually decrease the possibility of the disc misalignments. Remember that when these small discs are in good order, susceptibility to back bone injury will be much less.

The breathing techniques of Yoga with each pose is another great characteristic. it improves the blood circulation of the body and helps cleanse toxins. Nutrient rich blood always needs to those parts which needs them the most like discs and ligaments of the joints. Yoga will help you achieve just that. Thus it is always stressed that Yoga has multidimensional benefits for holistic well being.

Now there may be reservations in mind of those who are actually suffering from back pain. But rest assured, that Yoga can be done slowly and in a controlled way without affecting the pain sensation. No other form of exercise can provide this convenience. Be it resistance training or cardio, they are in general physically quite demanding.

So shed your inhibitions once and for all. Yoga can be life changing choice to bid your back pain good bye for ever.

3 Ways Yoga Can Improve Mental Health And Bring Happiness

August 14, 2017 by Ava Rogers

There is no dearth of fitness programs in today’s world. It has become a billion dollar industry selling dreams to common folks.

What is the reason behind this? Well, everyone wants to achieve that great body. The slim and toned bodies flaunted by celebrities in huge billboards at every direction.

Yoga is no different. Mostly it is being advertised these days as an effective way to get back into shape. And of course that is 100% true. Yoga aids in the improvement of body strength and muscle flexibility. And not only that, Yoga will ensure gradual weight loss as well. And most importantly, it can be practiced by anyone regardless of fitness level.

But most people tend to overlook one vital fact about Yoga. Apart from physical benefits, Yoga is also responsible for mental and spiritual well being. The importance of this, cannot be undermined in any way. So for a change, also do consider your mental health and read on to find out how Yoga can have a profound effect on the same.

Live In The Present

It is known, that people either tend to clutch on to their past good times or keep hoping for a prosperous future. This just reaps off the opportunity to live in the present times. But it is of paramount importance that the mind is allowed to live in the present. It helps it to attain clarity and satisfaction. With constant being unhappy about what was good or what can be better, is no way to live a happy life.

In today’s world it can be actually quite difficult to focus in the moment right now. Because we are always thinking about the office meeting next week for which you need preparation. Or the credit card bill that should have been paid 2 days ago.

Yoga helps greatly to deal with this issue. Yoga is all about attaining and holding particular physical poses for a small time period. During this period the breathing needs to be calm and controlled. This entire exercise has a meditative effect. The mind becomes immune to the external disturbances and learns to focus internally.

During performing Yoga, the Yogi becomes fully aware of his/her own being. The thoughts and worries drift away and mind thrives in the present moment. This is huge. With regular practice, the overall mental health improves greatly. Which will help you attain clarity of your thoughts, focus on your strengths and feel much more positive about yourself.

Relieve Stress

What do people generally do for reducing stress? Watch TV, play video games or idly lie down on sofa and go through social media. Or worse even, indulge in 1 or 2 drinks.

But are these practices really conducive to de-stressing? Maybe, but these can also be detrimental to overall physical well being in the long run.

Yoga, as mentioned earlier, constitutes of focused breathing. It has been observed in scientific studies, that stress hormone or cortisol level goes down through controlled breathing. Also it helps regularizing and lowering blood pressure.

Endorphins released in the process of physical exercise helps improve stress levels and mood. It is beyond doubt that Yoga is an awesome way for stress reduction in day to day life.

Balance Emotions

In this super fast paced age of competition and fragile relationships, emotional turmoil is a natural occurrence.

Professionals struggle to maintain work and personal life balances.

Teens struggle to maintain balances between their actual desires at one hand and pressure of expectations on the ot.

Each and every person goes through some form of emotional imbalance. In the developing years it has a more profound effect. Teens often have to fight with constant depression, sense of insecurity and anger.

A study conducted by a Harvard professor with 11th and 12th standard students showed something interesting. It was found, that those teens who enrolled for Yoga are in much better and balanced emotional state than those who took traditional physical education classes.

This proves without question that Yoga does have an immensely powerful effect on the mind and spirit due to its meditative roots. Thus you should embrace this approach of facing issues of life with a clear head and confident self. And Yoga will no doubt help you achieve this while retaining your mental happiness and satisfaction.

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3 Common Issues Which Should Not Prevent You To Practice Yoga

August 13, 2017 by Ava Rogers

If you are one of those people who think Yoga is physically not suitable for you – well, think again. No matter what “condition” you are physically, there is always scope. Yoga is such a fantastic art that it can be pretty much suitable for anyone. Hence its rising popularity all over the world.

The reasons for negativity can be various. While some may be true; but, some may just be preconceived notion of the mind. One particular person may have an idea that his/her weight is not ideal. Some one else may imagine that his/her body flexibility is not good enough.

But, what we tend to forget, is that people practice Yoga, to get rid of their “issues” and not the other way round. So irrespective of what your idea about your own self is, worry not. Read on to find the most prevalent 3 reasons why people may think Yoga is not for them. Yet, it might be far from truth.

Am I Flexible Enough?

Pretty common one huh? Yes, it surely is. In this age of smartphones, life has become sedentary. For most people, the mode of entertainment is social networking these days. Which naturally results in extremely limited use of body muscles in general. This causes in shortening of tendons and ligaments thus limiting the flexibility of various joints.

Tried touching your toes, keeping your legs straight, lately?

It’s seems to be a heck of a difficult job isn’t it?

No wonders! But there is nothing to despair because the damage is definitely not beyond repair. And this is the most lame excuse possible, not to try Yoga.

On the contrary, Yoga will actually help to reverse this situation. Yoga is hugely known to help polishing the joint rusts with regular practice. But of course it needs to be kept in mind that the results cannot be expected in a week. It will come, but with a bit of resilience and patience and of course everyday practice.

Maybe, at the beginning a bit of assistance will be necessary. Like keeping two boxes on the ground and touching those instead. Then trying to hold the ankles. Likewise, with time, the end result can surely be achieved. So, have no doubt about the fact that if you are less flexible, then Yoga can actually be the best choice you have ever made.

Am I Overweight?

The truth of modern day is, there is a conspiracy going on. The conspiracy of consumerism. Food serving sizes have increased. Choices of junk food have increased, Streaming video, social media and video games have made out lives movement less.

So the obvious problem? Obesity.

More and more percentage of the general population are becoming obese as time advances. Well being overweight is another popular excuse to not try Yoga. Because the popular belief is that, Yoga poses are too difficult for people with excess weight. Nothing can be further from truth

The actual truth is that if you are holding those extra pounds, you might have to make some modifications to the poses. But that hardly matters because most beginners need to modify poses due to various reasons. Not any reason to worry at all. On the other hand, Yoga will eventually help you lose weight, increase your muscular strength and gift you a holistically satisfying life.

What If I am Sick?

Unfortunately there are several people who refrain from practicing Yoga due to some medical conditions. Some examples may have chronic conditions like respiratory problems, arthritis, constant fatigue etc. Well, it must be kept in mind that, there are many medical conditions which can benefit from Yoga. Regular practice will help alleviate the chronic symptoms.

For example it has been often seen that the painful symptoms of arthritis have been considerably reduced through practice of some specific Yoga poses. Another condition which is known to benefit from Yoga is chronic fatigue. Yoga assists in improvement of blood circulation, which in turn help to release of healthy hormones. This will result in a more positive feeling and improved vitality.

Even those undergoing chemotherapy are known to benefit from the good effects of Yoga. Of course the choice of the form of Yoga and routine will completely depend upon the health conditions and fitness levels. Professional medical advice should also be taken before starting with any Yoga regime.

Beginning with a very gentle routine will always be recommended which will be easy to learn and continue. It is also important to find a suitable and qualified Yoga instructor for authentic guidance.

So, keep away your laptops and smart phones for a while, shed your doubts and inhibitions and get started with Yoga today.

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The Different Types Of Yoga And Their Classifications Explained

August 10, 2017 by Ava Rogers

Yoga can be classified in various different types each having a distinct name derived from their particular features. It has been seen that the beginners who are new to Yoga tends to get confused by all the terminologies and unable to decide which type of Yoga to choose. But it should always be kept in mind that irrespective of the type, all forms of Yoga are based upon few core principles which remains same.

The difference mainly is based upon which aspect the emphasis is being given in any particular Yoga type.

The basic principles of Yoga revolves around alignment of body parts in various poses, following a particular breathing pattern and focusing the mind away from external distractions. Some of the broad classifications of Yoga has been explained in the later part of this article.

With the emerging popularity of Yoga, numerous fitness organizations all over the world has started promoting and marketing their Yoga programs putting some of their own marketing twists in it. This makes it all more confusing and difficult to understand and choose. Especially when they tend to market new methods and new benefits in exchange of boat load of money.

But be aware of the fact that most of these companies are selling you hypes. So if you feel your finances are limited, there is absolutely nothing to worry. There is no dire necessity of courses and classes. You just need to gather information on various poses and internet is a classic source of this information. Remember, Yoga is an ancient art and has always been performed with simplicity through ages.

Although if we start discussing about the various forms of Yoga in details, it can potentially become a huge document. Which is far beyond the scope of this small article. So let’s touch upon the main characteristics of the various types which will help understand the classification.

Ashtanga Yoga:

The word Ashtanga or Astanga means “having eight limbs” in Sansrit. The ancient Yogic sage Patanjali first developed Ashtanga Yoga.

In modern days, it has become a very popular choice.This Yoga is based on the principle of executing a series of successive poses, and synchronising the breathing pattern with it. Ashtanga Yoga does involve quite a high level of physical activity and thus can take some time to master.

But if you practice this form of Yoga, beyond doubt it will help you shade extra weight and become slim and strong at the same time.

Ananda Yoga:

Ananda Yoga is actually a form of Yoga which has been sub branched from Hatha Yoga by Yogi Kriyananda, who is a direct disciple of Indian spiritual guru Paramahansa Yogananda.

There is less emphasis on physically demanding postures in this form of Yoga. Principle focus is to relax the body and mind through gentler poses combined controlled breathing. An initiation to deeper meditation is a greater objective of Ananda Yoga.

Hatha Yoga:

In Sanskrit the word Hath means “force” and it is most prevalent form of Yoga all over the world.

Hatha Yoga lies high emphasis on physical exercises along with controlling the mind to shield it from distractions. Chances are that you have seen Hatha Yoga images at multiple places including Yoga related TV programs and DVD covers. The principle is to perform a continuous series of movements to attain different poses in succession along with controlled breathing. The entire needs to be done in a relaxing manner with always taking care of the slow breathing pattern. It is not allowed to hasten through the sequence of moves and follow the process.

If you practice Hatha Yoga religiously, it will be help you gain clarity and self awareness.

Bikram Yoga:

This form of Yoga, as the name suggests have been synthesized from Hatha Yoga sequences by an Indian Yoga expert Bikram Choudhury.

Bikram Yoga needs to be done in heated up atmosphere. The room where the practice will take place need to have a temperature ranging from 95 -105 degree Fahrenheit. The heat is said to make the body more tolerant to injuries and give the muscles a level of flexibility. Also it has been claimed that it helps in detoxification.

How true is that? Well, no clear answers, because, that claim is yet to be proved scientifically.

But nonetheless, this form of Yoga has gained popularity among masses. But Bikram Yoga can be a costly affair due to its commercialized nature since special rooms and arrangements are needed in addition to professional supervision. So make an informed decision if you want to opt to opt for Bikram Yoga.

Yoga has branched out to multiple other types like Vinayasa Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Iyengar Yoga and many others. But the most popular and vastly followed were mentioned above. Do not forget to research appropriately depending upon your own unique needs before starting with a particular form of Yoga. As mentioned above Internet is an unending repository of knowledge.

The bottom line is still that the basic principles are more or less same irrespective of the forms of Yoga. What is important is to get started and be regular and persistent in the practice. So, do not overthink, get started with your choice of Yoga poses and be assured that you will soon be able to reap several health benefits from it.

How Can Yoga Help You Overcome Depression

August 9, 2017 by Ava Rogers

There is no denying of the fact that depression is taking a toll on the lives of thousands of people in this modern age. The numbers have drastically gone up in the last decade or so. And there is no reason to believe that it will go down any time soon. With the modern age becoming more and more tumultuous and challenging, depression often overpower individuals when they fail to live up to unreal expectations.

It may sound unbelievable but more than 120 million people are thought to be suffering from some form of depression all over the globe. So, no. You are not alone. Not even remotely.

Most of the depression cases are being treated with antidepressant medication, also known as “uppers” within the common masses. But is it really helping to control the worsening situation?

It definitely does not seem so.

So, we should all stop and think for a while as to what are we doing wrong. Is our approach incorrect?

Should we not consider a much more holistic approach to alleviate this condition? After all this is a mental condition and treatment should not be mere superficial. Just calming the mind and achieving a clarity of thought can have a much better and lasting effect than gulping down tons of pills.

Yoga is going to help you do just that.

Yoga is a very ancient art and has its root in India more than 500 years ago. This ancient discipline has gained immense popularity throughout the world. And this is definitely not without reasons. There is hardly any other form of exercise, which can simultaneously improve the well being of the body, mind and spirit holistically.

Yoga uses unique combination of posture, breathing and meditation techniques to develop strength of muscles, calmness of the mind and rejuvenation of the spirit, all at the same time.

Aware of Your Senses?

How many of us actually pays any attention to our deeper senses while doing any kind of activity?

Hardly any one.

Take a simple example. While you are taking a morning walk, are you being aware about the other sensations like your pulse rate or breathing pattern? Most probably not. But in Yoga, that’s exactly what you need to do. Pay attention to the way you are breathing in and out while holding a pose. This has a calming effect on your mind because your mind is no longer allowed to drift away to external distractions.

A vast majority of those people who suffer from chronic depression face a major difficulty in getting out of their “mental hell”. These makes them highly vulnerable to many challenges of life, betrayals by their loved ones, failures at work place and many other day to day disappointments. All these negative emotions needs to be released for the mind to retain it’s clarity. When that does not happen depression strikes.

The Magic Of Pranayama:

There is a meditative discipline of Yoga known as Pranayama which primarily focuses on various breathing techniques. As previously mentioned it depends on the attention given to other senses of the body. The sensations need to be monitored from the perspective of an external observer.

In other words, you will focus on your breathing as if you are observing as a third person. This will make you play the roles of both an observer and a participant. This helps your mind to be focused on your own senses rather than outside influences.

We all know very well how easy it is to get distracted in these modern world of smart phone and iPad. The mind tend to drift away whenever we try to focus on anything singular. Pranayama will concentrate your mental focus on your breathing pattern and worldly influences will no longer make you react. More and more regular practice will increase your objectivity and a time will come when the mind can rise above the emotion to observe any particular event in life.

Small disruptions will stop mattering in a big way to you. You will learn to acknowledge how trivial it is. Life’s daily challenges and demands will stop being a big reason of stress for you. With time, your mind will attain a serenity which will also enable you to see the futility of the day to day rat race. After all its meaningless to be a rat even if you win thousand races.

Yoga is a real answer to this over increasing epidemic called depression. And bundles with that comes a ton of other long lasting benefits for both physical and mental health.

The meditative techniques of Yoga is the aspect that makes it most suitable for people suffering from depression. No amount of medicine can ever replace the good effects of Yoga. Neither is any other form of sport or exercise is known to have the similar holistic effects on body, mind and spirit.

So it is highly recommended that if you are affected by depression, you should get started with Yoga right away. Yoga is the only discipline which irrespective of your age, body type, work schedule and social status, can be your true way to mental and spiritual salvation.

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6 Reasons Why You Should Practice Yoga Daily

August 9, 2017 by Ava Rogers

Several thousands of years ago, Yoga came into existence in India, taught by ancient sages. But instead of dying down as an ancient practice, it persisted through the ages and eventually became immensely popular in today’s modern world. And this is definitely not without reason. Since, Yoga not only has several important physical benefits, overall mental and spiritual well being can also be associated with it.

Read on to find out the main 6 reasons why you should start doing Yoga on a regular basis. If every day Yoga seems to be a rather tough routine, practicing it for just 3-4 times a week can also be super beneficial.

Better Sleep:

Yoga is known to facilitate a better sleeping habit. Due to extreme stressful life in today’s modern world, numerous people around the world suffers from sleeplessness.

More than the physical stress, insomnia is often caused by extreme mental stress, work related tensions and lack of proper relaxation of the mind.

Regular Yoga helps to alleviate both physical stress and sooth the mental restlessness. Thus it will help anyone de-stress and fall sleep within minutes of going to bed.

Holistic Well Being:

It is extremely vital for anyone’s complete well being is that s/he possess both a fit body and healthy and stable mind. We live in such a fast paced and competitive world, it is hardly possible for anyone to take the attention away from constant media flashes on various smart screens and let the mind calm down.

But no one realizes the truth, that this constant bombardment of fleeting images can be really harmful for the mental sanity of any human being. Believe it or not, Yoga is just the right solution for this unavoidable problem.

Every Yoga pose comes bundled with its own breathing technique. These breathing techniques are superbly effective in relieving the mind from external distractions and calm down. So practice Yoga every day to ensure a sane and clear mind along with a fit and strong body simultaneously.

Fit And Flexible Body:

The numerous Yoga poses help maintain a better body posture with strong limbs and flexible joints. With increasing age, muscles and bone joints tend to get rusted and stiff. Also gravity plays a more and more harmful role on our spinal chord and the vertebrae starts wearing out with time.

And this is more true for those living a primarily sedentary lifestyle. Yoga is very beneficial for all these people and help stretch the muscles and tissues and improve overall blood circulation. And an improved blood circulation is always a good news because it helps wash out the body toxins and keep many diseases at bay.

For every core and crucial muscle of the body, there is a suitable Yoga pose performing which will make it stronger with time.

Weight Loss:

Speculation has always been high about the effectiveness of Yoga for weight loss. But it is 100% true that Yoga can be a good obesity deterrent if it can be done with calorie deficit diet. Due to accumulation of excess weight many people find it difficult to perform strenuous exercises.

Yoga is a perfect solution for them because of it’s relatively easier nature. Without being discouraged by the physical stress that comes with the high impact cardio routines, Yoga is a much convenient way to burn calories without extreme rigor. But it must also be remembered, the results obtained through Yoga will be slower in comparison to endurance or strength training or cardio.

That being said, it is beyond doubt that the weight loss through Yoga will be slow but steady, consistent and completely safe if Yoga regime is continued regularly.

Improved Muscle Tone:

Yoga will help gradually increase the internal body strength and improve the muscle tone. But faster results like resistance training should not be expected from Yoga. The effects with Yoga is slow and gradual but inevitable at the same time.

The main philosophy behind the Yoga poses is that most of them needs to be held for some time thus acting against gravity. Which is nothing but a form of resistance training through natural means.

This will slowly improve your strength and muscle tone and with time will also help you gain muscle mass.

Suitable For All Ages

No matter in which age bracket you fall, there is no barrier in practicing Yoga. If you have started late, no problem at all. You can continue it to your senior years without any risk of health hazard.

Unlike other forms of rigorous sports or fitness regimes, Yoga is low impact and suitable for all ages and body types.

Thus reaching at an age where other sports seem too tiring, Yoga can always be your true friend.

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The Quintessential Question – Does Yoga Help With Weight Loss?

August 9, 2017 by Ava Rogers

Why do I call this a quintessential question? Well, in a huge majority of the cases where people are looking for an exercise or workout regime, the main reason behind it is Weight Loss. Yes, that’s absolutely true.

Although it does seem a bit ironic that most person will consider themselves “reasonably fit” if they are not hugely overweight, but statistically it has been seen that the primary reason behind a workout routine is well, you guessed it, shading those extra flab around the waist 🙂

And Yoga is no different. Although a very comprehensive list of various awesome health benefits of Yoga can be compiled quite easily, but it does seem it’s effectiveness in losing weight ultimately helps decide its worthiness to many prospective beginner Yogis.

The plain and simple answer to this question is – Yes, Yoga will most definitely help you lose weight, but that being said, few points need to be kept in mind always.

1. There is no weight loss if you are not maintaining a caloric deficit.

To lose weight you need to take less calorie than you are spending. Always. Period.

So ask yourself first – Am I caloric deficit?

What is the answer that you are getting from within? A Yes? Great.

Then you have nothing to worry. Yoga is definitely going to help you lose weight and not only that, it will also help you to lead a holistically healthy and stress free life.

2. Yoga is not something which can help you with fast weight loss.

Since the Yoga poses can no way be compared to be rigorous calorie burning exercises like cardio and resistance training. So please understand that the weight loss that you will see will be slow but consistent, provided the routine is followed diligently.

So if you are looking for some fast results then it is better to either adjust your expectations or change your choice of workout.

3. Yoga will help you attain not only a healthy body but also a healthy mind.

Yoga is all about holistic well being of an individual. Not only it has profound physical effects, but from very old and prehistoric ages it has always been used to gain deep spiritual insights.

So please do not limit yourself in the thought that the only way to attain a truly “fulfilling” life is to attain a slim body. A peaceful, stress free and balanced mind is also an equally important requirement in today’s fast paced and competitive world where your tenacity and perseverance is tested every single day.

All these being said, I still think that Yoga is by far one of the best choice of exercise for long term and consistent result given the fact that it is flexible in nature and it is equally possible from total beginners to seasoned experts to gain immense health benefits from it.

Yoga is especially a great choice for those person who may have joint and muscle pains. It has been seen in many cases of obesity, that the person is suffering from painful joints and muscles for a long time due to excess weight causing stress on the joints or improper and unhealthy diets causing internal muscle inflammations.

If you can identify with the situation described above, then beyond any scope of doubt, Yoga is the best bet for you, because it can be excellent deterrent for muscle and joint pains. Watch this very famous case of Arthur in YouTube who transformed his life with the help of Yoga.

By now your doubts should have been eradicated about the efficacy and usefulness of Yoga.

If not, even then start with a Yoga regime anyway, and in few days you will soon realize that it is one of the best choice you have made to gift yourself a healthy life. Since Yoga is reasonably low impact, you can do it for a short time every day without any necessity of recovery days, given the fact that you are resting sufficiently.

As time progresses, you will become more comfortable with the various poses and the flexibility of your body will improve. Then slowly more challenging poses can be incorporated in your routine, for enhanced results. If religiously practiced it is not impossible to improve your muscle tone and gain some muscle mass as well.

So the bottom line is the fact that you must accept that weight loss is a gradual process and instant gratification cannot be expected and neither is that healthy, irrespective any form of fitness regime you are in. Yoga might not provide you as quick a result as cardio training would, but if you are for a holistic body and mind with slow and healthy but sure and consistent results, then you are all set for a great future with Yoga.

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4 Annoying Yoga Difficulties Beginners Face And How To Overcome Them

August 9, 2017 by Ava Rogers

Yoga has become a very common household name these days and have gained immense popularity in the Western World over last several years. This is due to its simplicity and super effectiveness. But although mostly Yoga is not too difficult to perform, but nonetheless, many individuals can face some few common difficulties while starting out.

Initial Pain and Discomfort:

The most common difficulty that a large number of beginners face is the stiffness of muscles that cause a considerable amount of discomfort and pain while practicing some of the Yoga poses. This is due to the reason that their body is not yet acquired the flexibility required for those poses.

The matter worsens for those, where the Yogi is supposed to hold the pose for several seconds for it to be truly effective. It is very natural to experience muscle aches during these poses and it does not necessarily indicate any serious issue.

An example will be the Warrior pose or the Virabhadrasana. This particular pose needs the thigh muscles to be stable and strong, so if that of the practitioner is weak, it can turn out to be quite difficult to hold the pose for a longer duration without the legs quivering. But this is quite natural in the onset.

The key is not to get daunted by this issue. Because the muscles need time and regular practice to become flexible and strong. And as time passes, with repeated practice of the same pose, will make the muscles appropriate and the pain and discomfort will go away completely. So hang on there!!

The Cost Factor:

The other most common difficulty is the cost factor associated with regular Yoga practice. It seems in recent times, the general thought process of many Yoga beginners and intermediate practitioners revolves round the merchandise that is needed to “appropriately” practice Yoga.

While some of these costs may be justified but one has to understand what exactly might be necessary and what are not. Since Yoga is a big industry these days, so the availability of numerous Yoga related merchandise is too common everywhere. Thus, if allowed, it can well be a costly affair.

The necessities are endless, starting from simple Yoga mats, to expensive equipment, fitness gears, accessories, headbands, dresses and the list goes on and on. And above all these, Yoga guides, books, DVDs and commercial Yoga classes or private instructors makes it even more confusing and expensive.

But the main question that arises from all this is – how much of all these is actually necessary?

The answer probably varies from person to person but it can be inferred without doubt that for a beginner, it does not need to be expensive at all. Now, Yoga has been practiced in India for thousands of years and costly equipment were not needed at that time.

Only two main things are necessary –

A good Yoga mat and there are tons of places where inexpensive Yoga mats are available
A Yoga guide be it a physical book or a DVD or online instructions. If it is too difficult to lay hands on a book or DVD, then YouTube is an excellent place for a ton of free resources.

Just by researching on the internet, huge amount of free information can be found on Yoga, and its various poses with instructions, which can be sufficient to begin with.

Getting Authentic Guidance:

The third difficulty is somewhat related to the above point. It is regarding unqualified instructors. Many Yoga students do not even realize the fact that their instructors may not be genuine, since it is all too much easy these days to get a false certificate in virtually any field.

Since Yoga instructors do not really need to be certified by a standard or centralized institution, so many of them get away with their limited knowledge which can, at the end, prove to be rather dangerous for the students.

So it is always advisable to only go to reputable workout institutions who are offering any Yoga classes and also to carefully check the credentials of the instructor/s. Also just by referring to a good Yoga book written by well known Yoga expert or by following a practice regime through a DVD or online course from a reputable organization can also be quite effective and sufficient.

Time Management:

Last but not the least comes the most prevalent difficulty of the 21st century. That of time. In today’s super fast digital age most people hardly have time for workout and even if they do manage to get time for Yoga everyday, they end up stressing up their everyday life.

One thing has to be remembered that the practice of Yoga is meant for relaxation and de-stressing the mind, but if this practice itself becomes the reason for stress, then it beats the purpose. So time management is extremely vital, because with Yoga, the importance of sufficient rest is paramount.

Although seemingly difficult, one way to manage time is to cut down a bit on less necessary and unproductive activities like watching TV, drinking with friends, spending hours in social networks over smartphone etc. For good health and mind everyone must be ready for a little bit of sacrifice.

It is also important to set aside a time for Yoga everyday and religiously maintain it. It is of no use to practice Yoga for 1 week and then forget about it for the next two. The time set aside for Yoga does not have to be long right at the beginning. Also during initial days it is fine to go ahead with a regime that involves only 3-4 days a week.

And as time progresses and practitioner becomes more and more comfortable and familiar with the different poses and regular timings, it can be incorporated more frequently in daily life.

As time progresses with diligent practice of Yoga everyday, life, without a scope of doubt, will become much more healthy, fulfilling and stress free.

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