A2Z of Yoga

Yoga Studio – Yoga Exercises for All Your Health Problems

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:05:19 +0000

Though originated and first started being practiced in India, Yoga has gained a lot of popularity in Western world today. After recognizing its benefits, many people have started practicing it. This is mainly because of the fact that not only do yoga exercises help you relax and stretch every muscle of your body, they also make you stress free.
Also, a paradigm shift from the liking of chemical products to organic inputs has also influenced this ancient Indian exercise art.

So you are planning to start practicing yoga, but don’t know where to start it from. Yoga studio can provide you with an answer to all your queries for a place to learn yoga. When looking for yoga classes, look for the address of the closest yoga studio near your home. Next, look at the details of the type of yoga sessions these yoga studios provide.

Also, paramount importance should be given to doing a research on the quality of teaching that the yoga studio you wish to join provides. Don’t forget to consult your friends, acquaintances, or others around you who are already a member of that yoga studio. This also includes the people living in close vicinity of the yoga studio as the word-of mouth reputation of these places matter a lot.

Finding out the reputation of the yoga instructor conducting the training is as important as the reputation of yoga center. This includes checking out the credentials of the yoga instructor along with his certifications and the reputation of the place where he has got his training from. If all these research gets a good rating then the yoga center is bound to be good too.

Once you are sure about the reputation of the yoga center, next check the terms and conditions of the yoga course you wish to join. The factors that need to be considered n this respect include price of the course (including any hidden costs), time sloths when the course is conducted, number of people in one batch, training methods applied and so on. Researching these factors carefully will help you avoid any inconvenience that may arise once you join the yoga studio.

However, if there is no yoga center in the near vicinity of the place of your residence, buying a yoga video or DVD is a good choice. Ensure that you buy a popular DVD and practice the different yoga postures in accordance with the instructions provided in the DVD. A word of caution for people doing yoga for the first time, it is always better to practice yoga in the guidance of the yoga instructor to start with. They will also explain you the principles and methods of the yoga exercises to start with and the n contue practicing the same concepts at home.

The Benefits of the Natural Rubber Yoga Mats

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:53:06 +0000

Many a times people practicing yoga have seen advertisements to purchase the Natural rubber yoga mats. However, not all of us are aware of what the natural rubber yoga mats are and what are they made of. Do you also know the benefits provided by these natural rubber yoga mats.

All rubber yoga mats, whether natural or synthetic, should provide traction and cushion to its users. Most of the yoga mats are made up of synthetic materials such as polyvinyl chloride or PVC. However, the natural rubber yoga mats are made of natural materials such as only 100% rubber and do not contain either PVC or other synthetic materials. These natural yoga mats contain an internal mesh or a compression set providing a lot of cushion when you shift from one pose to another.

These natural yoga mats are free from any after effects that can be experienced with yoga mats made of PVC or synthetic materials , and are therefore getting widely popular. Not only this, the mats are machine washable and can be either hung or laid flat to dry in shade. However, it is not advisable to practice yoga or dry these natural mats in direct sunlight. This is because the natural ingredients used in these mats is sensitive and can react in direct sunlight.

Now you must be wondering which brands yoga mats are the most popular. Well the yoga mats by Harmony II are one of the most popular natural rubber yoga mats that can be purchased either from a store or online. The harmony II natural rubber yoga mat provides excellent grip, has optimum thickness that is required for any kind of yoga, and is totally PVC free.

However, the Harmony II yoga mats are not totally odor free and can contain some smell of rubber. Also, these mats are thicker and hence heavier than other yoga mats. If you don’t get affected by these two factors then this mat is an excellent buy for you.

The next question that arises is that where can you purchase these yoga mats from. Well, you can buy the natural rubber yoga mats from many sports stores. But be careful as many of these yoga mats can be synthetic. However, a local store in your area would definitely store the natural variety.

Also, as mentioned above you can also purchase the natural rubber yoga mat online.. In fact this option is particularly lucrative for people who are short of time and cant visit a store to find the mat. Also, these online bargains many a times offer discounts that would not be always available otherwise. But, in this case you need to pay the postage, shipping,, and handling charges., which amounts to the same amount as the cost of the natural rubber yoga mat purchased from the store.

Practicing Prenatal Yoga and Its Benefits

admin — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:10:52 +0000

Childbirth is a divine experience in itself that can be experienced by only mothers to be. However, all would be mothers are weary and a little fearful of this phenomenon right from the time they conceive their child. This fear can be a result of the tales that you hear or see on the TV screen or the experiences narrated by your friends.

But the women practicing prenatal yoga right from the beginning to the later stages of the pregnancy have different experiences to share. Prenatal yoga not only relieves delivery pain, but also helps in smooth delivery of your dream child. It also helps to reduce stress, pain, and discomfort arising as a result of child birth.

You should practice yoga poses in the care and guidance of a medical expert. The prenatal yoga postures help your body with some basic child birth principles. However, these principles do not negate the need for medicine and doctors. The aim of both the science is the same, to help you experience a joyous and pain free child birth. The yoga and medicine both work on different principles. The age old principles and yoga techniques help you gain maximum benefits of the tried and tested child birth pain relieving principles. The medicines, on the other hand, especially the folic acid and calcium recommended during pregnancy along with the fetus-friendly painkillers help you sail through a painless child birth process.

However, both prenatal yoga and medicine complement each other. You can practice yoga in the care of your yoga instructor helping you to sit in postures where you can relive yourself of the pain. However, your doctor should always be present to provide you the necessary medical aid and the reassurance required largely at such times. Some other benefits of prenatal yoga are listed as under:

* Register yourself for the prenatal yoga at the yoga center nearest to your home as early as possible. However, in case such a yoga center is not in closer proximity don’t worry. Practicing yoga through a DVD or video on this subject can also be equally beneficial.

* Take the help of all props such as cushions and pillows to keep you comfortable when performing different yoga postures. When practicing prenatal yoga, you will feel more and more comfortable with the passage of each day.

* Never overstretch yourself or it may be harmful for both you and your baby.

* Use a lot of props available in and around your house to practice different yoga exercises. Some props that are commonly used are beanbags, cushions, pillows, blankets, and so on.

* Be in close touch of your doctor and yoga instructor when practicing prenatal yoga.

* Your yoga instructor can also help you relieve your terrible back pain by making you perform some exercises that strengthen your back.

* Practice aqua yoga in the swimming pools wherever possible. Even otherwise ensure that the water is at least waist deep and is also lukewarm.

* When practicing prenatal yoga, be in close touch with your doctor. This will ensure that you are in proper medical care even if the baby arrives prematurely.

Nassau – A Divine Place for Practicing Yoga

admin — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:35:22 +0000

Nassau yoga, contrary to the popular belief, is not a place of yoga. Instead it refers to the place where a yoga ashram or series of yoga centers are located. These yoga centers offer yoga trainings to many people in the United States.

The yoga centers or ashrams as they are popularly known as follow a fixed routine. In these Nassau yoga centers, courses are offered that follow a fix regimen of 2 yoga sessions, 2 meditation sessions, and 2 fixed vegetarian meals per day. Not only this, most of these Nassau yoga centers are open throughout the year.

The Nassau ashrams took its name from the yoga school at Nassau, located on the Brahmas on the Paradise Island. The yoga school mainly concentrates on the yoga teacher training certification courses. These courses are mainly suitable for yoga teachers who can learn yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Retreat in Nassau and then practice teaching yoga at whichever place they like. Such courses are mainly organized in the first half of the year. You don’t need any special precondition to do these courses. Rather, you just need to pay the fees, complete the course, and earn your yoga certification.

The course curriculum at Nassau is quiet extensive covering both the spiritual and the physical aspects of yoga. Located in the midst of gorgeous sceneries, the yoga school will not only provide in-depth yoga knowledge of yoga, but also will refresh your aesthetic senses. You would always remember the time you spend in this yoga retreat.

Now let’s look at some other Nassau yoga centers in the New York. These centers are sparsely located and many of them offer regular yoga sessions held in regular yoga classes. The Nassau yoga centers also provide you with personal trainers, in case you don’t have the time and inclination to join a regular yoga class.

Another place where you can find Nassau yoga is at Florida’s Nassau Country club. With the ever-increasing popularity of yoga, this club also offers trainings of both the kinds to people of all age groups. Not only this, you can also locate a centre or two at the southern part of the ocean where you can meditate in the midst of the ocean waves. At such places, you can reap the benefits of yoga I n the natural surroundings, contrary to sitting in a closed room and practicing yoga.

To conclude, it would be an experience worth trying to locate a yoga centre nearby and go there for a decent yoga retreat.

What makes Kriya Yoga Different than Other Types of Yoga?

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:04:17 +0000

Originating from India, Yoga, including the karma Yoga is centuries old practice that benefits both mind and body. Yoga helps you to exercise your mind and body simultaneously. It suits people from all age group and with different ailments and medical conditions. Yoga helps control your senses and body and results in the overall well being of the people practicing it.

Kriya Yoga, one of the ancient Yoga systems was revived and became popular in the modern India in the year 1827. The Kriya yoga consists of many levels of Pranayama or deep breathing based techniques intended to accelerate or speed up the spirtual development process.

Based on the esoteric principles of yoga, the Kriya yoga uses a technique of deep meditation giving a sense of peace and acceptance to the practitioner. The Kriya yoga is primarily based on the other three yoga principles namely the Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jnana yoga.

* The Karma yoga primarily lays emphasis on recognizing the soul both from inside and outside the mind.

* The Bhakti yoga makes you more tolerant along with teaching you the fundamental principles of loving and accepting everything surrounding you

* The jnana yoga lays major emphasis on the power of thought process and mind and the results achieved by it.

An essential requirement for practicing Kriya yoga is that the practitioner needs to prepare both his mind and soul. Now this being a lengthy process cannot be achieved in any single yoga session and requires you to attend regular yoga classes. When practicing Kriya yoga not only do you need to be regular, but also it requires you to exhibit determination and practice the taught techniques regularly. Thjis caanot be achieved easily and requires you to practice a lot.

Now the next question that arises is which is the best place to learn Kriya yoga? Well Kriya yoga can be learned from a reputed yoga center which is taught by qualified yoga trainers and instructors. The Kriya yoga, just like any other form of yoga when practiced in a group provides a number of benefits, such as the meditation exercises. Not only this, you can also learn the techniques of Kriya yoga by going through the various DVDs and books and literature available on this subject. However, this requires the practitioner to pay closer attention to instructors and details as the instructor is available offline and cannot be contacted directly.

Remember to dress comfortable when practicing any form of yoga as it requires you to stretch, inhale, exhale and sit in different positions. If you are dressed in tight clothes on the other hand, it would make you uncomfortable..

Similarly, it is advisable to wear no shoes at all when practicing yoga. However, you can wear socks if you feel comfortable like that. Similarly, invest in a good yoga mat when practicing Kriya yoga just like other forms of yoga.

Yoga Pilates and Its Benefits

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:45:48 +0000

The yoga pilates was derived form the ancient yoga postures or asanas that first originated in India. However, the founder of pilates as we know today is Jospeh Pilates. This set of exercises is very useful, mainly for strengthening your back and abes. However, you cannot call it a complete and balanced set of exercises.

The yoga pilates concentrate on building the body’s core strength and helps to increasing the length of your spine. It is most often practiced by dancers. This set of exercises provides a sculpting effect in the bodies of its practitioners. It can be used to enhance your body strength, and help maintain a good body posture.

Just like yoga, the yoga pilates mainly help you practice exercises that make you flow your body gracefully from one position to another. However, the main difference between the yoga pilates and yoga is that the former mainly increase the body strength and length of spine, it just does not concentrate on meditation , which is one of the key characters between yoga.

Because of the tremendous benefits that both yoga and yoga pilates provide, it has gained a lot of popularity worldwide, especially in the USA. And as a result, this form of fitness regimen has also been endorsed by a number of celebrities including Kim Catrell, Cindy Crawford, Jamie Lee Curtis and Sharon Stone.

Not only this yoga pilates is also practiced by Gwenyeth Paltrow, Nicholas Cage, Madonna, Cameron Diaz, and Jerry Seinfeld for making them fir and for toning their physiques. It helps in enhancing the physical results attained by yoga. This physical result is catalyzed into your emotional well being once you experience its good results.

Now yoga pilates is being practiced by both common man and celebrities alike to help them reap the maximum benefits of mental and physical fitness.

Sahaja Yoga – How Different Is It?

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:21:08 +0000

The main aim of yoga is to provide self realization, peace, and calmness to the inner soul. These goals can be achieved by practicing a given set of guided principles, set beliefs and exercises for a long period of time. However, not everyone who trends on this path reaches the end goal of self realization.

Sahaja yoga leads to spontaneous or immediate union with yourself. This is different than many other yoga practices. Do you know how the term Sahaja yoga came into being? The term was a union of the word Sahaja meaning spontaneous and the yoga meaning union with yourself.

The practitioners of Sahaja yoga first attain self realization and then they maintain and further enhance this attribute by meditation and practicing the different pre guided skills everyday.

In Sahaja yoga, you first attain self awareness or self realization on your own by practicing spirituality and meditation yourself. You are your own spiritual guru in this yoga and do not require the assistance or dependence on ay qualified or certified yoga guru or teacher to practice it. The Sahaja yoga is practiced throughout your life by meditating and self realizing every stage of your self-awakening process.

There is no need to practice Sahaja yoga in tranquility and peace being all alone or left out. You can very well practice this form of yoga when living your normal life amongst your friends and family. However, there would be a marked difference in your personality as your spirituality and tranquility grow abundantly without getting into the helms of different religions.

The Sahaja yoga does not require much effort on the part of the practitioner to achieve the form of self awareness. You only need to be dedicated and require an honest desire to achieve inner peace. You can achieve the ultimate goal of Sahaja yoga technique by following these steps:

* You should have a desire to achieve it
* Next you need to meditate and practice the technique of self realization
* After you achieve this stage, you need to practice it regularly to maintain it for years to come.

However, as mentioned above, maintaining the self realization that can be achieved through Sahaja Yoga is not easy. You can lose track of this path as easily as other paths, if it is not practiced properly.

But do you know how is this self-realization achieved. It can be achieved by almost anyone. All you need is to meditate well so that your inner spiritual energy that is dormant and is trapped at the base of our spine in the sacrum bone is activated. This dormant energy is known as Kundalani. The Kundalani energy helps you get free from all the worries of the material world. It also helps you achieve self realization and cure you of different ailments.

Once you achieve self-realization, the Kundalani energy is realized. This energy travels from your nervous system and spine also known as center of the body, pierces itself through each of the six energy chakras and finally emerges and stays at the top of your head. The practitioners of sahaja yoga confirm that you can feel if the Kundalani energy is realized by feeling on the top of your head. You can feel a soft cool breeze is flowing on the top of your head.

Basic Parameters of a Yoga Certification Course

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Want to take up yoga as a career option. Well you need to be duly certified for the same. So what are the basic parameters that you must check before enrolling for a yoga certification class?

Well a yoga certification class includes:

* Asanas
* Mudras
* Philosphy of Yoga
* Chakras
* Meditation
* Pranayama

Let’s go over each of these things one by one:

* Asanas: Also, known as yogasanas, the asanas mainly concentrate on the smooth flow of energy throughout your body. Asanas can also focus on a specific part of body and mind too. Therefore, when getting a yoga certification, the knowledge of asanas is a must.

* Mudras: The English meaning of the word mudras is gestures. In any yoga certification course, you at least need to learn a few hasta mudras or hand gestures. These mudras help you redirect the flow of energy throughout your body.

* Yoga Philosophy: As a yoga instructor, it is almost mandatory for you to have some knowledge about the yoga philosophy. Some of the basic principles or philosphoies on which yoga is based are:

o Ahimsa or non violence
o Satya or truthfulness
o Brahmacharya or continence
o Asteya or non stealing
o Karma or your acts

* Chakras: As you already know, chakras means energy centers that are placed around your spine and end at the crown of your head. It is a basic parameter that almost all the yoga certifications cover as a lot of time the yoga philosophy is based on the seven chakras. You can then pass this information about your body’s hot spots to your students.

* Meditation: This is the central or the most important part of the yoga course. Meditation is the calmness or peace one experiences by sitting, lying, or reading quietly at one place for a certain period of time. When practicing meditation, it is important that you remove all your thoughts and clear you mind as much as possible. It is therefore important that your yoga certification teaches you all the basic traits of meditation as well.

* Pranayama: This important subject covered by an yoga certification course concentrates on the ways and techniques of controlling your prana or the life energy within you. You need to control and regulate your breathing to practice pranayama properly, which is known to help rejuvenate your mind and body. It can also at times increase the longevity too. In this subject therefore, you are taught to recognize the connection between you mind, body, and soul. This subject should be covered in a manner that it can be integrated with other yoga techniques.

These are only some of the basic parameters covered by most yoga classes. Though there would be additional things that would be covered as well. Therefore, it is important to look for a yoga certification class that fits your basic insight on yoga.

Discovering Yoga – The World’s Oldest Form of Exercise

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:40:52 +0000

Close your eyes and think about the word ‘Yoga’. Note down your feelings on a piece of paper. So what did you think? Did you also think of humming or chanting of mantras, a serene atmosphere, fragrance and aroma of candles, different positions and postures, special yoga apparel, the list is endless.

Well you are right as there is a name given to almost all of your thoughts in this oldest form of exercise. For example, your thought about humming or chanting of mantras is nothing but meditation. Similarly, there are many different postures that you practice when practicing yoga such as putting your foot behind your head.

Yoga one of the most practiced form of exercise, which originated from India doesn’t only concentrate on the physical aspect of exercise. This physical form of exercise can be practiced anywhere even in a gym where you can reduce weight by doing cardio exercises or by weight training. However, yoga not only strengthens your muscles. It also aides in making your mind healthier, making it free from all tensions and worries.

Do you know how many different types of Yogas are there? There are eight main types of yogas. These are:

Bhakti Yoga
Karma Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Raja Yoga
Mantra Yoga
Laya Yoga
Tantra Yoga
Hatha Yoga

Each type of yoga is unique in the way it is practiced. Also, different types of yoga postures offer different benefits ranging from spiritual to physical benefits. Meditation is a form of yoga that helps you gain calmness and relaxation by the breathing techniques practiced therein. The relaxation techniques practiced in yoga help cure a number of ailments such as high blood pressure.

As you already know, Yoga originated in India almost six to seven thousand years ago. In the medieval times people kept themselves fit by practicing the art of meditation and stretching exercises.

Yoga can therefore be considered as the oldest form of exercise that the world knows about. Stories from India’s religion books such as Vedas and Upanishads mention yogis practicing yoga in different postures. Those interested in studying yoga in depth can read the yoga sutra compiled by Guru Patanjali. The yoga sutra is considered as the guidebook of principles and practices of yoga. This yoga sutra also mentions the following eight limbs which are mainly exercised when doing yoga. These limbs are:

Yamas or restraints
Niyamas or observances
Asanas or postures
Pranayama or breathing
Pratyahara or withdrawal of senses
Dharana or concentration
Dhyani or meditation
Samadhi or absorption

A yogi who practices yoga regularly performs each of these limbs presenting a stage of ashtanga or the enlightened path. All these elements when practiced properly can make the practitioner lead a happy life. These ashtangas also help in strengthening your mind, body, and soul. Won’t you then like to practice yoga yourself to experience not only these benefits but much more.

Yoga Ball – Helping You Enhance Your Exercise

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:40:36 +0000

Yoga, the exercise practiced by Indian Civilization since time immemorial, helps train the mind and body to achieve good health and mental peace and serenity. Yoga helps you exercise every part of your body, helps you maintain optimum weight, and strengthens and tones up your muscles.

Yoga when practiced with the help of certain yoga accessories help you to enhance the benefits and the pleasure you experience. As you already know, comfortable clothing is a must when practicing yoga. Yoga helps your body breathe, relax, and contract the muscles. Therefore it is important to wear full length long and loose cotton clothes when practicing yoga.

Some other such accessories that are required are a yoga mat a yoga ball. A yoga mat is required to help you practice the exercises when in a sitting position. Similarly a yoga ball helps you practice many postures efficiently and quickly providing prompt results. Generally made of PVC or vinyl material, a yoga ball is light in weight and therefore, can be carried easily anywhere.

Not only this, a yoga ball is used to move every muscle of your body, even the most stubborn ones. Some such muscles that are difficult to move and strengthen are the muscles of your buttocks, abdomen, calves, hips, and thighs, which can be easily moved with a yoga ball. It also helps avoid the risk of any injury that may take place when practicing exercises on a hard floor.

A yoga ball also helps you practice yoga efficiently and quickly giving you better results. However, remember as every other exercise you need to be regular when practicing yoga. Any yoga session should be at least performed thrice a weak for a minimum duration of 30 minutes or as instructed by your yoga instructor.

Also, it is not enough to perform yoga exercises with yoga accessories. These exercises should be performed under the able guidance of a yoga instructor or practiced by watching instructions given in a DVD or a video. Practicing yoga incorrectly can even strain your muscles, which can result in pain and injury. Also, many a times attending a yoga session in a yoga center proves to be beneficial for all beginners, as the ambience and the right mood set acts as a great catalyst in performing the exercises.

To conclude, we can say that the yoga ball helps you practice difficult exercises by increasing your stability and maintaining your balance. It is important however, to select the correct size of the yoga ball, because certain exercises require you to use a small ball while others require the use of a big yoga ball.