Monday, July 5, 2010

10 Health Benefits of Yoga

10 Health Benefits of Yoga


Yoga is traditionally associated with exercise and meditation, but it also has a philosophic, spiritual and historical background in India. But did you know practicing yoga has health benefits for the body and mind? Read on to learn more.



Strength: Practicing yoga helps to build your body's strength. Many yoga exercises are based upon balancing on one leg, or other such situations, and this builds muscular strength. If you're interested in building strength, check out some local yoga classes in your region.
Organ massage: This might sound odd to many, especially Westerners, but many of the physical challenges of yoga actually work to massage all the organs of the body. This can help you become more aware and in tune with your internal organs, helping to alert you to any signs of illness. As with most forms of exercise, this also helps to tone the body and keep your organs in better health.
Flexibility: There's stretching in yoga. Lots and lots of stretching. And in some forms of yoga there are feats bordering upon the acrobatic. But don't worry, you won't have to start doing such difficult tasks. You'll work your way up to them if you stick with yoga long enough. What all this stretching does is to strengthen and firm the muscles of your body, as well as many of the tendons. After a while your body and its limbs will become more flexible, allowing you to be able to physically accomplish feats you once would have thought impossible.
Blood pressure: Regular practitioners of yoga have been shown in numerous studies to have lower blood pressure levels than of those who don't practice yoga. So, to keep that blood pressure low, talk to your doctor about yoga; perhaps he or she will tell you to seek out a yoga instructor.
Posture: Remember all that flexibility and strength building mentioned above? They can lead to a straighter, stronger posture. Why is posture so important? Proper posture tires one less when working and can help keep the body, especially the joints and bones, in better health.
Reducing stress: Exercise generally helps to reduce stress on the mind and body, thus the exercise capacities of yoga accomplish the same thing. But beyond the physical factors, the meditative qualities of yoga can help to induce a less troubled, stronger state of mind. Talk to a yoga instructor if you would like to know more.
Pain tolerance: Believe it or not, studies have shown those who regularly practice yoga have a higher pain threshold than others. For one thing, yoga aids its practitioners in becoming more aware of the body, so minor aches and pains are caught before they can become a serious illness. For another thing, being physically fit also helps to build pain tolerance.
Losing weight: Yoga is physical exercise, so it's obvious yoga can help you to lose weight. But did you also know yoga helps your body's metabolism? With a stronger metabolism, your body can digest and process foods more adequately, thus burning more calories from what you eat. You can't ask for much better than that! Exercise and burning calories?
Carpal tunnel syndrome: Been using the mouse and keyboard too much, causing your fingers to cramp and pain in your joints? If so, you might be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Check with your doctor. If the doctor says you've got carpal tunnel syndrome, he or she might suggest you wear a splint. That's fine, but also talk to your doctor about yoga. Researchers have found that yoga helps, possibly even more than wearing a splint or medication, in reducing or eliminating the pains caused by carpal tunnel syndrome.
Allergies: Yoga often also includes breathing exercises, which builds your respiratory abilities and can actually help you cope with your allergies better. Want stronger lungs, try yoga!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

How Yoga and Naturpathy Handles Mental Health

How Yoga and Naturpathy Handles Mental Health

In Yoga and Naturopathy, it is advised that our glands can increase secretions and we can balance body and mind, many other mental health problems are also related with increasing pineal glad secretions. It is the very reason that in Yoga and Naturopathy, the emotions (which indicate glandular system - the word Mann or Heart is used to indicate it) are given more importance.

Meditation focus is for regulating the glandular system and slowing down (the time duration of inhaling and exhaling of breathe increases) the breathing system that controls the heart and lung functioning and lot more. Thus, the entire body and mind systems are synchronized to get rid of many diseases.

The Asans also support it and then is the food and herbs that promote all of it. However, even then it can not cure all diseases without help of chemicals (the medicines) and counseling.

So, we can adopt this lifestyle so that there are no chance of any diseases as we cannot treat the acute cases or emergency problems that result from modern lifestyle that usually do not support nature, but our mind and emotions (wishes and desires) creating the conflicts among thought, action and feelings. So, the modern medical treatments are right if we never follow natural lifestyle, we must take medicines without trying to experiment the home remedies that are not for emergency cases, but for lifestyle, yes the natural lifestyle.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

What are the Health Benefits of Yoga?

Yoga has been in the world since more than 5000 years. Every year more and more people are discovering its advantage and have started practicing to enjoy health benefits. We can say that the world today is swept by the true fitness mantra yoga. With changing times more advanced and fusion type of yoga has evolved which makes use of asana and meditation and breathing techniques. One can benefit from these forms and enjoy good health. Here are discussed some of the yoga health benefits:- Benefits of yoga for flexibility-Age is nor bar when it comes to yoga. Elderly people and arthritis patients are extremely worried about flexibility. But the fact is that even people with such condition can make use of yoga in everyday life and can benefit good health. The muscles can be safely worked out by various yoga poses and the range of motion can be increased. Yoga increases the natural lubrication of body and softens all the body tissues. Thus, Yoga health benefits can be observed and enjoyed in very short period of time. Benefits of yoga for strength-Some fusion forms of yoga like the power yoga and asthanga yoga offer more health benefits and they are vigorous. They tone the muscles. The iyengar yoga lays less stress on movements with precision in poses. These are good to give strength and stamina benefits. Benefits of yoga for posture-With flex and strength the posture improves. Further the core strength gets developed with standing and sitting postures. Another important benefit of yoga comes with increase in alertness. Benefits of yoga for better breathing-All the yoga asana and the yoga postures are well structured with breathing techniques. This is important to improve the lung capacity and increase the blood flow in the body. With improvement in endurance the performance also perks. Yoga lays stress on deepened and lengthened breathing technique. Benefits of yoga for reducing stress and increasing calmness-Even a beginner can feel the difference in his/her first yoga class. Numerous yoga styles make particular meditation technique to calm the mind. Some other yoga forms focus on breath. Yoga is popular on account of its anti-stress benefits. Benefits of yoga for concentration- It’s true that with absorption of yoga in life the concentration improves and the mood swings arrested. Yoga has tremendous effect on depression and anxiety. Yoga is said to ease some of the obsessive compulsive disorder. Benefits of yoga for heart-Even studies support that yoga is capable in alleviating cardiovascular diseases. It reduces heart rate and control blood pressure. People can get benefited with yoga and they can control hypertension, stroke, cholesterol etc. some studies even show the anti-oxidant effect of yoga for better health. Benefits of yoga for other ailments-In the west the researchers has found the benefits of yoga on account of its therapeutic effects. Yoga benefits arthritis, asthmas, back pain, insomnia and even in sclerosis too. Other health Benefits of yoga -Yoga builds memory. It also slows down the aging process and boosts energy level. On a spiritual level too the awareness increases. Yoga practitioners opine that even on personal front yoga works miraculously. With practice of these yoga practices one can witness and benefit all the good health. It infuses entirely in one’s individual’s life.

Discovering The History And Concepts Of Different Branches of Yoga

History of Hatha Yoga: The history of hatha yoga goes back in the fifteenth century India when Yogi Swatmarama, a sage during those times, introduced it as a form of "a stairway to the heights" of Raja Yoga which is the preparatory stage of physical purification that makes the body fit for the practice of higher form of meditation. Hatha yoga is also known to be called as "hatha vidya" and the word "hatha" is a combination of the words, "ha" which means sun "tha" that means moon and they are said to refer to the prinicipal "nadis" or the energy channels of the body and must be fully operational to attain the state of "dhyana" or a certain aspect of meditation. Some people may link that the origins of hatha yoga which dates back in the tenth or eleventh century with Goraknath, a yogin during those times. However, the oldest surviving text about hatha yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by yogin, Yogi Swatmarama. The text is said to be taken from old Sanskrit writings and personal yogin experiences of the yogin himself. The text relates about shatkarma, asana, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras among others.Concept of Hatha yoga: The total concept of the traditional hatha yoga is a holistic yogic path comprising of moral disciplines, physical exercises, breath control, and meditation. The hatha yoga that is widely practiced and popular in the western countries mainly composed of the "asanas" or postures and other exercises. Hatha yoga is only one of the two concepts of yoga that concentrates on the physical culture and the other yoga is the Raja yoga but both of these are referred to as Ashtanga yoga. The main difference is that the Raja yoga concentrates more on the "asanas" or postures to get the body ready for a prolonged meditation that concentrates mainly on the meditative "asana" poses. The hatha yoga on the other hand concentrates on balancing the mind and body through physical exercises, controlled breathing, and calming the mind through meditation and sheer relaxation.Different positions or postures are recommended by practitioners to help lessen or avoid health problems ranging from constipation through cancer. It was said that it helps to reduce stress, pressure, and other mental worries that people today are frequently exposed to.History of Karma YogaKarma yoga also known as Buddhi Yoga or the "discipline of action" is centered on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga concentrates on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) or love of God (bhakti) by performing their duties in a selfless manner for the pleasure of the Supreme. Karma Yoga is an inherent part of many derivative types of yoga, such as Natya Yoga.Concept Of Karma YogaThe word Karma is mentioned from the Sanskrit Kri, meaning 'to do', in its most basic sense karma simply means action, and yoga translates to union. Therefore, Karma yoga literally translates to the path of union through action. It is described as a way of acting, thinking and willing by which one acts in accordance with one's duty (dharma) with no consideration of personal selfish desires, likes or dislikes, i.e. acting without being emotionally involved to the fruits of one's deeds.In the case of Arjuna in the Gita, this translated to his fighting in the oncoming war to uphold the righteous cause in accordance with his duty as a warrior; even if out of compassion, he did not want to battle with his relatives and teachers on the other side.Krishna then goes on to tell how Arjuna should surrender the fruits of his actions (good or bad) to himself (as the Supreme Person or avatara) :Krishna describes that allocated work done without expectations, motives, or anticipation of its outcome purifies one's mind and slowly makes an individual fit to see the value of reason. He states that it is not necessary to remain in external solitude, or actionless, in order to practice a spiritual life, with the state of action or inaction is solely determined in the mind.In order to attain the perfection of life, Krishna describes it is important to control all mental desires and tendencies to enjoy pleasures of the senses. The practice of Karma Yoga in everyday life makes an individual fit through action, meditation and devotion to sharpen his reasoning, develop intuitive power of acquiring knowledge and to transcend the mind itself.History Of Raja YogaRaja Yoga also known as Classical Yoga or simply Yoga is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hindu philosophy, being described Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. It is also occasionally referred to as A??anga (eight-limbed) yoga because there are eight aspects to the path to which one must attend. Raja yoga is concerned primarily with the cultivation of the mind using meditation (dhyana) to further one's acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.The term Raja Yoga is a retronym, introduced in the 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika to differentiate the school based on the Yoga Sutras from the new current of Hatha Yoga.Concept of Raja YogaRaja-Yoga is principally concerned with the mind. The mind is traditionally perceived as the 'king' of the psycho-physical structure which does its bidding (whether or not one has realized this). Because of the relationship between the mind and the body, the body must be 'tamed' first through self-discipline and purified by various means (see Hatha Yoga). A good level of overall health and psychological integration must be achieved before the deeper aspects of yoga can be pursued. Humans have all sorts of addictions and temptations and these preclude the attainment of tranquil abiding (meditation). Through restraint (yama) such as celibacy, abstaining from drugs and alcohol and careful attention to one's actions of body, speech and mind, the human being becomes well to practise meditation. This yoke that one puts upon oneself is the alternate meaning of the word yoga. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras start with the statement yogas citta-vtti-nirodha (1.2), "yoga limits the oscillations of the mind". They proceed on to detailing the ways in which mind can create false ideations and advocate meditation on real objects, which process, it is said, will lead to a spontaneous state of quiet mind, the "Nirbija" or "seedless state", in which there is no mental object of focus. Practices that serve to maintain for the individual the ability to check this state may be considered Raja Yoga practices. Thus Raja Yoga encompasses and differentiates itself from other forms of Yoga by encouraging the mind to avoid the sort of absorption in obsessional practice (including other traditional yogic practices) that can generate false mental objects. In this angle, Raja Yoga is "king of yogas": all yogic practices are seen as potential tools for obtaining the seedless state, itself considered to be the first point in the quest to cleanse Karma and obtain Moksha or Nirvana. Traditionally, schools of yoga that label themselves "Raja" offer students a mix of yogic practices and (hopefully) this philosophical viewpoint.

Importance of Breathing in Yoga

To make your body fit there are many exercise, many equipments, and also medicines. But if want your body fit and fine without any trainer, without ant equipments and medicines. Then there is only way by Yoga. Here I am describing you some features and explanation about yoga.
What is Yoga?
The word “Yoga” comes from Sanskrit. It is a Hindu traditional way of exercise by which we can make control on our body and mind. By doing yoga we can make our body physical and mentally strong. If you do yoga 45 minutes a day after doing that I can surely tell you that your mind and body feel relax. Now there is short information about types of Yoga.
Types of Yoga Position:
Free Spirit
Vinyasa yoga
Gym Rat
Bikram or Hot yoga
Power Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
Gymnast
Ashtanga Yoga
Forrest Yoga
Injured
Iyengar Yoga
Mellow
Hatha Yoga
Integral Yoga
Kripalu Yoga
Self – motivated
Ashtanga Yoga
Singer
Jivamukti Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Spiritual Seeker
Anusara Yoga
Jivamukti Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Traditionalist
Iyengar Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga
Integral Yoga
Kripalu Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Most Popular types of yoga:
Raja Yoga – It is “Royal Yoga” running from the time of king. It is a special Yoga for your mind (dyana) to make it relax. Sit in any position and close your eyes and do meditation. It makes your whole body and mind relax. Do it 45 minutes in one day.
Hatha Yoga – Hatha yoga is widely performed in America. It uses body position (asanas), breathing style (pranayama), and Meditation (dyana). This yoga makes you physically and mentally strong.
Iyengar Yoga – It is a form of Hatha Yoga, is completely giving primacy to the physical alignment of the body.
Bikram or Hot Yoga – Bikram yoga is developed by Bikram choudhury. This Yoga is performing in hot room. This yoga systemically for wellness and restoration. There are 26 different poses in Bikram Yoga.
Pregnancy or Prenatal Yoga – This yoga is performing during the time of women pregnancy to make her body fit and in shape. It also best yoga for your baby. We enjoy performing this yoga in pregnancy period.
Laughter or Hasya Yoga – Hasya Yoga is physical oriented methods that remove your tension, out of this world and place in new world of peace. During this yoga people laugh for 30 to 40 minutes with noise of clapping and Ha Ha……. People perform this yoga to make their mind free from their personal tension.
Ashtanga Yoga – Ashtanga yoga is a yoga therapy, realigns the spine, detoxifies the body, and builds strength, flexibility and stamina.
Following are the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga:
Yama (Restraints or Abstinence)
Niyama (Disciplines or Devotion)
Asanas ( Pose of Yoga)
Pranayama (Breath Control)
Pratyahara (Retraction of the Senses)
Dharana ( Fix of Attention)
Dyana (Meditation)8. Samadhi (Deep Trance)

Keep Fit by Doing Yoga

Yoga’s primary emphasis is upon general well-being. Although yoga has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific illnesses. Rather, yoga employs a broad holistic approach that focuses on teaching people a new lifestyle, way of thinking, and way of being in the world. In the process, however, it is also found to bring a myriad of healing effects. By attending to practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. We will look at the healing effects of yoga. However, one of the most important benefit of yoga is its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality and its anti-aging properties and its application for relaxation therapy.
According to Swami Sivananda, the benefits of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) include: “The body becomes strong and healthy. Too much fat is reduced. There is luster in the face. Eyes sparkle like diamonds. The practitioner becomes very handsome. Voice becomes sweet and melodious”
Indra Devi, author of many books on yoga suggests that with yoga: “You will be able to enjoy better sleep, a happier disposition, a clearer and calmer mind. You will learn how to build up your health and protect yourself against colds, fevers, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and other troubles. You will know what to do in order to remain youthful, vital and alert, regardless of your calendar-age; how to lose or gain weight; how to get rid of premature wrinkles, and keep a smooth skin and clear complexion.”Doing yoga regularly offers many benefits, including making you feel better about your body as you become stronger and more flexible, toning your muscles, reducing stress and improving your mental and physical well-being. Will it help you lose weight, though?
Answer: Practicing any type of yoga will build strength, but some types may not raise your heart rate enough to make them the only form of exercise you need to include in your weight loss regime. It depends on the type of yoga you select and how frequently you practice it.In order to lose weight, you must eat healthily and burn calories by doing exercise that raises your heart rate on a regular basis. Some types of yoga, such as Iyengar, in which yoga poses are held for several minutes with a resting period between each pose, will build muscles and improve your posture, but will not give you the cardiovascular workout you need to lose weight.
If you plan to make yoga your primary form of exercise, you must do a vigorous 90-minute yoga class at least three times a week. Many people also choose to combine yoga with running, walking or other aerobic exercise in order to reach their weight loss goals.Ashtanga:Ashtanga Yoga is a very vigorous style of practice with a few distinct advantages for those who want to lose weight. Ashtanga practitioners are among the most dedicated of yogis, and beginners are often encouraged to sign up for a series of classes, which will help with motivation. Another advantage is that once you learn the poses, Ashtanga Yoga is ideal for home practitioners.
Power Yoga:Power Yoga is extremely popular, because it provides a very vigorous cardiovascular workout.
Hot Yoga:Vinyasa yoga done in a hot room ups the ante by guaranteeing
Yoga’s primary emphasis is upon general well-being. Although yoga has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific illnesses. Rather, yoga employs a broad holistic approach that focuses on teaching people a new lifestyle, way of thinking, and way of being in the world. In the process, however, it is also found to bring a myriad of healing effects. By attending to practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. We will look at the healing effects of yoga. However, one of the most important benefit of yoga is its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality and its anti-aging properties and its application for relaxation therapy.
According to Swami Sivananda, the benefits of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) include: “The body becomes strong and healthy. Too much fat is reduced. There is luster in the face. Eyes sparkle like diamonds. The practitioner becomes very handsome. Voice becomes sweet and melodious”
Indra Devi, author of many books on yoga suggests that with yoga: “You will be able to enjoy better sleep, a happier disposition, a clearer and calmer mind. You will learn how to build up your health and protect yourself against colds, fevers, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and other troubles. You will know what to do in order to remain youthful, vital and alert, regardless of your calendar-age; how to lose or gain weight; how to get rid of premature wrinkles, and keep a smooth skin and clear complexion.”Doing yoga regularly offers many benefits, including making you feel better about your body as you become stronger and more flexible, toning your muscles, reducing stress and improving your mental and physical well-being. Will it help you lose weight, though?
Answer: Practicing any type of yoga will build strength, but some types may not raise your heart rate enough to make them the only form of exercise you need to include in your weight loss regime. It depends on the type of yoga you select and how frequently you practice it.In order to lose weight, you must eat healthily and burn calories by doing exercise that raises your heart rate on a regular basis. Some types of yoga, such as Iyengar, in which yoga poses are held for several minutes with a resting period between each pose, will build muscles and improve your posture, but will not give you the cardiovascular workout you need to lose weight.
If you plan to make yoga your primary form of exercise, you must do a vigorous 90-minute yoga class at least three times a week. Many people also choose to combine yoga with running, walking or other aerobic exercise in order to reach their weight loss goals.Ashtanga:Ashtanga Yoga is a very vigorous style of practice with a few distinct advantages for those who want to lose weight. Ashtanga practitioners are among the most dedicated of yogis, and beginners are often encouraged to sign up for a series of classes, which will help with motivation. Another advantage is that once you learn the poses, Ashtanga Yoga is ideal for home practitioners.
Power Yoga:Power Yoga is extremely popular, because it provides a very vigorous cardiovascular workout.
Hot Yoga:Vinyasa yoga done in a hot room ups the ante by guaranteeing
Yoga’s primary emphasis is upon general well-being. Although yoga has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific illnesses. Rather, yoga employs a broad holistic approach that focuses on teaching people a new lifestyle, way of thinking, and way of being in the world. In the process, however, it is also found to bring a myriad of healing effects. By attending to practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. We will look at the healing effects of yoga. However, one of the most important benefit of yoga is its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality and its anti-aging properties and its application for relaxation therapy.
According to Swami Sivananda, the benefits of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) include: “The body becomes strong and healthy. Too much fat is reduced. There is luster in the face. Eyes sparkle like diamonds. The practitioner becomes very handsome. Voice becomes sweet and melodious”
Indra Devi, author of many books on yoga suggests that with yoga: “You will be able to enjoy better sleep, a happier disposition, a clearer and calmer mind. You will learn how to build up your health and protect yourself against colds, fevers, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and other troubles. You will know what to do in order to remain youthful, vital and alert, regardless of your calendar-age; how to lose or gain weight; how to get rid of premature wrinkles, and keep a smooth skin and clear complexion.”Doing yoga regularly offers many benefits, including making you feel better about your body as you become stronger and more flexible, toning your muscles, reducing stress and improving your mental and physical well-being. Will it help you lose weight, though?
Answer: Practicing any type of yoga will build strength, but some types may not raise your heart rate enough to make them the only form of exercise you need to include in your weight loss regime. It depends on the type of yoga you select and how frequently you practice it.In order to lose weight, you must eat healthily and burn calories by doing exercise that raises your heart rate on a regular basis. Some types of yoga, such as Iyengar, in which yoga poses are held for several minutes with a resting period between each pose, will build muscles and improve your posture, but will not give you the cardiovascular workout you need to lose weight.
If you plan to make yoga your primary form of exercise, you must do a vigorous 90-minute yoga class at least three times a week. Many people also choose to combine yoga with running, walking or other aerobic exercise in order to reach their weight loss goals.Ashtanga:Ashtanga Yoga is a very vigorous style of practice with a few distinct advantages for those who want to lose weight. Ashtanga practitioners are among the most dedicated of yogis, and beginners are often encouraged to sign up for a series of classes, which will help with motivation. Another advantage is that once you learn the poses, Ashtanga Yoga is ideal for home practitioners.
Power Yoga:Power Yoga is extremely popular, because it provides a very vigorous cardiovascular workout.
Hot Yoga:Vinyasa yoga done in a hot room ups the ante by guaranteeing you’ll sweat buckets.
Keep in mind that if you are just starting to do yoga or are quite out of shape, always choose a beginner-level class.
Yoga Workouts at HomeKeep yourself exercising by doing yoga at home on the days you can’t make a class. Follow along with a video or audio recording, if you are new to yoga. When you are ready to plan your own workouts, use these yoga sequencing ideas to help you come up with yoga sessions of varying lengths that suit your needs.