Yoga Breathing

Laughteryoga: A Yogic Exercise

2010-01-08T04:31:00.000-08:00

Health Benefits of Laughter

Laughter is the easiest form of meditation and brings instant relaxation in a pleasant way. Dr. Lee Berk of California labels laughter as a state of eustress, which in psychological terms, is the opposite of distress.

The act of laughter instantly lowers blood pressure for hypertensive persons, stimulates the brain, expands and enriches the blood vessels with oxygen, and sends more blood racing to the extremities.

Laughter vastly reduces levels of the stress hormones epinephrine & cortisol in the body and instantly relieves stress, tension and depression.

The stress hormone cortisol is reduced during laughter, and conversely the happiness hormone oxytocin level is enhanced which triggers a spike in immune-boosting antibodies

Laughter raises the antibodies immunoglobulin A in the respiratory passages which strengthens the immune system of the body and protects from infections, allergies and cancers.

Sustained laughter gradually increases the levels of cytokine in the blood – a white blood cell enhancer which builds antibodies and helps prevent illnesses.

Laughter causes the endothelium - the inner lining of blood vessels - to dilate, increasing blood flow. The endothelium is the first sign of hardening of the arteries and laughter therefore reduces the risk of heart disease.

Laughter is a form of stationery jogging and provides the same health benefits as vigorous aerobic exercise by stimulating the heart and blood circulation. 20 seconds of heavy laughter is equal to 3 minutes of hard rowing and will burn upto 400 calories per hour!

Laughter increases lung capacity and therefore promotes the body’s ability to store oxygen, the life-force that helps us stay young and disease-free. This is good news for asthma and bronchitis patients. A daily dose of laughter is anti-ageing and beats any anti-oxidant pill on the market!

Laughter increases the levels of endorphins in the body – these are natural pain killers and greatly help in coping with the suffering from arthritis, spondylitis, migraine and muscular spasms, and all aches & pains.

A new study demonstrates that laughing causes the tissue of blood vessels - endothelium - to expand and therefore increase blood flow - exactly what aerobic exercise does.

When we laugh, we exercise 15 muscles facial muscles which turn our faces pink with a happier glow – beats any cosmetic in replacing wrinkles and worry lines with the laugh lines of youth!

A recent study at Stanford concludes that laughter stimulates the parts of our brain that use the “feel good” chemical messenger dopamine. This puts laughter into the “necessary” category of activities that are pleasurably addictive, and more so in the myriads of health benefits that accrue.

One of the best ways to lighten up is to laugh and release yourself from fear’s grip. Laughter instantly raises your energy, heals you and clears away negativity, confusion and mind chatter. Literally, it chases the devil away which is illusion, distortion and confusion and instead re-energises you to lose your ego and merge with the divine.

Above all, laughter is “the shortest distance between two people” and improves interpersonal relationships. It removes your inhibitions, develops your personality and enhances your leadership qualities.

Yoga for Weight Loss

2009-10-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to loose some extra weight?

Many people out there have extra weight that they would like to shed, whether it is just a few extra pounds or several extra pounds. There is nothing out there that is quite like being able to lose some extra weight, planning to do so, and being successful at it and people are always on the lookout for newfangled ways to lose some pounds. Here is one thing to consider for weight loss that you might not have yet considered: yoga for weight loss.

It is important to keep in mind that yoga alone is not going to help a person lose weight. It does not raise the heart rate enough to be able to do that on its own, but with the strength that can be derived from yoga it can be combined with an effective cardio workout as a way of losing weight. Read on for a few tips on how to utilize yoga to aid in your weight loss endeavors.

Combine Yoga with Healthy Eating

Healthy eating is a part of any successful diet, and just because you are practicing yoga does not give you an excuse to slack off in that department. A well rounded diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables gives you enough energy to burn off the fat, practice yoga, and do the other things that are required of a person who is looking to burn off some extra weight.

Combine Yoga with a Good Cardio Workout

Strength training and a good cardio workout is critical to effective weight loss. Yoga serves as a great method of strength training but it is important for the heart rate to be raised for thirty minutes or more in order for the fat burning to begin. This can be anything from a quick jog or walk to a treadmill, elliptical, jump rope, or anything else that gets that heart muscle pumping.

Remain Dedicated

Nothing works for weight loss if you don’t stick to it. Yoga will not help you lose weight over night; it is about developing good habits and taking the right route to gradual weight loss that will stick around rather than a quick route to weight loss that won’t last.

Check around your community for a yoga class that you can get started in. Who knows? You may find something that you can really get into in the ancient art of yoga.
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Yoga will not help you lose weight over night, needs determination and dedication..

Benefits of Yoga for Kids

2009-10-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

Yoga is a form of exercise, meditation, and breathing practices with Indian roots designed to bring unity to the mind, body, and spirit. Adults have vouched for yoga for years, saying it makes them feel better physically, enhances their ability to concentrate, and brings tranquility to their lives. Now parents and yoga instructors are looking at the possible benefits of yoga for kids.

First, children experience many of the same physical benefits adults do from practicing yoga. Yoga strengthens them and helps them become more flexible and coordinated.

Second, yoga for kids also enhances self-awareness. Children who practice yoga learn early on to tune into their bodies. Self esteem is bolstered as the children gain control over their bodies and minds.

Third, yoga for kids enhances imagination and empathy. Children are asked to strike poses from nature. They might assume the pose of a snake, or a tree, or a dog. Then they are asked to imagine what it would be like to be those life forms. In this way, children learn early on to connect with all the life on the planet and realize that similarities far outweigh differences.

Fourth, yoga teaches children to have fun and move their bodies in a con-competitive environment. Yoga isn't about being right or wrong, or being best or worst. It is about bringing unity to one's own life. Children can work together to help each other reach this goal.

Fifth, yoga for kids teaches self-discipline. As part of the practice of yoga, kids need to slow down, hold certain postures, breathe or think in a certain way. Yoga encourages children to master themselves rather than wait for an adult to control them.

Sixth, yoga for kids can also be a way to strengthen families. Yoga is an exercise that parents and children and even grandparents can practice and talk about together. As children participate in yoga with their families, they feel closer to their loved ones.

Seventh, through practicing yoga, children can learn ways to relax and get control of stress in their lives. A child worried about a test, for instance, might use the meditation or breathing techniques of yoga to help her calm down and focus.

Additional Benefits of yoga for kids

* Yoga helps improve strength and flexibility.
* Yoga increases concentration, focus, and attention.
* Kid’s yoga increases self-esteem.
* Yoga decreases anxiety and increases ability to relax
* Yoga increased trust, compassion, teamwork and leadership skills of your beloved children
* Yoga improved digestion and ease in gas pains for children
* Yoga helps to release stress and breathe well
* Yoga strengthens the immune system of kids

By teaching self awareness, self control, and concentration, yoga can also help to manage children who have been diagnosed with ADHD - attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Yoga has also been used with some success to help children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. Yoga for kids has also been used to help kids with cancer cope with their diagnosis and with scary medical procedures.
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i am so thankful with yoga, and now yoga for kids are a great help, concentration and self control are of the most basic..let us introduce yoga now with our/your kids

Prenatal Yoga Workout

2009-10-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Healthy Sitting Position on Floor

The following three poses are recommended ways to sit so that you can reduce lower back strain, discomfort, and pressure. Seated on the floor: To help keep the spine straight in any seated position, sit with your entire back -- from shoulders to tailbone -- resting against a wall for support. You may also wish to sit on a firm cushion or folded blanket to help keep the spine straight.

Healthy Sitting In Chair

Rest feet on a cushion or low stool so knees and thighs are at hip level or higher to help prevent slouching and strain on the lower back.

Healthy Sitting: Firm Pose Sitting Position

1. Kneel on a mat with a cushion or folded blanket between your legs. You may need to lean forward slightly to avoid losing your balance. Tops of feet are flat against the floor, pointing straight back.

2. Supporting yourself with your hands, slowly and carefully lower your buttocks between your heels onto the cushion.

3. If you feel any discomfort, adjust the position of the feet or add more height to the cushion.

4. Hands may be placed behind you for support or may rest on thighs. Chest is lifted. *Do not sit in Firm Pose if you have symptomatic (i.e., painful, throbbing) varicose veins.

Modified Bellows Breath Arms Together

The following three slides will show you how to do this tension-relieving breathing. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms held in front of you, palms together at chest height. Shoulders are down and away from the ears. Benefits: - Opens the chest and lungs - Relieves tension in the spine - Promotes a sense of well-being and fulfillment

Modified Bellows Breath

Open mouth and inhale as you stretch your arms to a T position. Lift your chin.

Modified Bellows Breath

Exhale completely as you tuck chin and tailbone, round your back, and bend at the waist and knees. Hands rest on thighs. Repeat 2 or 3 times. Meditation: With every breath, my baby and I become stronger.

Warm Up: Knee Rocking

1. Sit in a cross-legged position with your left leg on top. If necessary, lean against a wall to support your back.

2. Cradling the left leg with both arms, lift it toward your chest and abdomen as far you comfortably can.

3. Keeping your back straight, hold the leg as high and close to you as possible without straining.

4. Moving from the hip joint, gently rock the leg back and forth as though rocking a baby.

5. After rocking one leg several times, switch leg position and repeat with other leg.
Benefits:- Helps alleviate discomfort in the hip joints caused by your growing baby's pressure on the nerves and joints in the hip area, buttocks, and thighs. - Improves flexibility in the hip, pelvic, and groin areas. Note: Do this warm-up whenever you feel discomfort in the hips and pelvic area.

Sideways Swing (Parighasana)

1. Sit on a mat with legs bent to the right of the body. If necessary, lean against a wall to support the back (see Healthy Sitting).

2. Inhale and raise arms up; interlace fingers over your head. Upper arms are alongside the ears.

3. Gently curve your body to the right as you exhale slowly.

4. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and breathe deeply.

5. Inhale and return to an upright position. Lower arms, rest, and breathe normally.

6. Move legs to the left side and repeat by curving to the left.

7. Repeat once more on each side. Meditation: I move and stretch to the rhythm of life.
Benefits: - Tones and strengthens muscles along the sides of the body - Aids digestion - Increases flexibility of the spin.

Dog Pose

Kneel in "table position," with knees under hips and arms beneath shoulders. Back is straight, head faces forward. Inhale and raise head and tailbone, letting your belly drop toward the floor. Curve your back in a swayback position. Eyes gaze upward. Take care not to overextend the neck or overarch the back.

Meditation: I stretch and move with grace and fluidity. Alternate between dog and the following cat pose several times, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

Cat Pose

Kneel in "table position," with knees under hips and arms beneath shoulders. Back is straight, head faces forward. Exhale and drop head and tailbone. Arch your back, exhaling further. Tighten buttocks and abdominal muscles. Alternate between dog and cat several times, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

Benefits: - Strengthens and relaxes the lower back - Increases suppleness along the spine - Improves circulation - Stretches muscles along the back, neck, and arms. Note: You support a lot of weight in your uterus during pregnancy. Do this every morning and evening. It's a great way to release tension and stress in the lower back.

Hands-to-Wall Pose: Part One

Benefits: This two-part pose tones and strengthens the muscles of the upper chest to better support enlarging breasts. It also strengthens the arms and wrists.

1. Stand erect with arms extended in front of you, palms against a wall. Place the body so you are at arm's length from the wall, leaning at a slight angle.

2. Fingers of both hands point toward each other, touching but not overlapping.

3. Shoulders are relaxed, feet flat on the floor. Buttocks are tucked to prevent lower back from arching. Meditation: I am the essence of strength, health, and happiness.

Hands-to-Wall Pose: Part Two

1. Slowly bend the elbows so that gradually and with control, your upper body moves toward the wall as you slowly exhale.

2. Bring your face as close to the wall as you comfortably can. The body remains straight. Do not bend at the waist or knees.

3. Hold for a few moments, breathing normally.

4. Inhale and slowly push away from the wall until your arms are straight and your body is erect. Lower your arms. Relax and breathe normally. Repeat 2 to 3 times.

Easy Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)

1. Lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor and close to your buttocks.

2. Arms are by your sides.

3. Start by pressing your lower back into the floor so that the tailbone lifts up and away from the floor. Gradually lift the lower back from the floor, one vertebra at a time, until you are resting on your middle or upper back. Buttocks should be lifted a few inches from the floor. Weight should not be on your shoulders and neck.

4. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and begin to slowly lower the back from the upper portion one vertebra at a time. Visualize the spine unrolling. Relax with the legs outstretched or hug the knees gently to the body. Repeat once more. Meditation: I see my body growing stronger and more beautiful each day.

Benefits: - Increases flexibility in the back and shoulders - Stretches and releases tension in the neck - Strengthens leg muscles

*As long as comfort allows, women in the second trimester may also do this pose.
Note: When getting up from a back-lying position, turn to your left or right side first and gradually work up to a sitting or kneeling position. This avoids any straining or dizziness.

Easy Pose Meditation (Sukhasana)

Sit in any comfortable position (see Healthy Sitting).
1. Arms are by your sides or folded in lap, shoulders down and away from ears. Close your eyes, breathe deeply.

2. Inhale and exhale deeply as you repeat: Meditation: I become aware of the muscles that support me as I sit.

3. Exhale and scan your body, acknowledging those muscles and the good work they do.

4. Inhale and repeat silently: Meditation: I release all the parts of my body that I do not need to use now.

5. Exhale, allowing those muscles to relax completely. Breathe deeply several times as you continue to relax and let go. Benefits: - Relaxes the muscles - Brings you back to the present moment - Slows the mind - Reduces blood pressure and heart rate - Calms the entire being, promoting peace and serenity

*An important part of birth preparation and labor is learning how to relax muscles not being used.
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i have never known of this prenatal yoga, thanks to Ms. Plinky Recto, i have given the time then to watch her in one of her appearance in television, she is i think if not mistaken was already 8 months pregnant..and still stretching her yoga way.. for all the mothers to be, here are some useful exercises for you and your baby.. what i have notice she is pregnant but her curves is still visible and attaractive.. i will do this as soon as i got pregnant..

What is Pilates?

2009-10-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

What is Pilates? It is an innovative system of mind-body exercise evolved from the principles of Joseph Pilates.

Pilates dramatically transforms the way your body looks, feels and performs. It builds strength without excess bulk, creating a sleek, toned body with slender thighs and a flat abdomen.

It teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement. Pilates improves flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain.
Professional dancers have known the benefits of Pilates for decades. Top athletes use it for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention. Hollywood celebrities and supermodels use it to maintain beautiful physiques.

A miracle? Not really. Developed from the rehabilitation techniques of Joseph Pilates, Pilates is a safe, sensible exercise system using a floor mat or equipment, that will help you look and feel your very best. No matter what your age or condition, it will work for you.

Pilates gets your mind in tune with your body. By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and complete concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become acutely aware of how your body feels, where it is in space, and how to control its movement. The quality of movement is valued over quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential, and helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency. Last but not least, learning to breathe properly can reduce stress.
Build strength without "bulking up" - gain long, lean muscles and flexibility

Conventional workouts tend to build short, bulky muscles - the type most prone to injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured.
Develop a strong core - flat abdominals and a strong back

Building on the principles of Joseph Pilates, Pilates exercises develop a strong "core," or center of the body. The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine. Control of the core is achieved by integrating the trunk, pelvis and shoulder girdle.
Create an evenly conditioned body and prevent sports injuries

In conventional workouts, weak muscles tend to get weaker and strong muscles tend to get stronger. The result is muscular imbalance - a primary cause of injury and chronic back pain. Pilates conditions the whole body, even the ankles and feet. No muscle group is over trained or under trained. Your entire musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily activities and sports with greater ease and less chance of injury.
Learn efficient patterns of motion

Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at once in smooth, continuous movements. By developing proper technique, you can actually re-train your body to move in safer, more efficient patterns of motion - invaluable for injury recovery, sports performance, good posture and optimal health.
Be confident and safe

No other exercise system is so gentle to your body while giving it a challenging workout. Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and most are low impact and partially weight bearing. Pilates is so safe, it is used in physical therapy facilities to rehabilitate injuries.

Pilates is also an extremely flexible exercise system. Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty ranging from beginning to advanced. Get the workout that best suits you now, and increase the intensity as your body conditioning improves.

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it is very much true that pilates is extremely flexible exercise system, because i am not just a yoga lover and a pilates lover too, true enough after months of doing pilates in only 5-10 mins a day, my muscles are toned and my back pain relieves.

What is Bikram Yoga? What is Hot Yoga?

2009-10-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

What is Hot Yoga?

Hot Yoga is a series of yoga poses done in a heated room. The room is usually maintained at a temperature of 95-100 degrees. As you can imagine, a vigorous yoga session at this temperature promotes profuse sweating which rids the body of toxins. It also makes the body very warm, and therefore more flexible.

What is Bikram Yoga?

Living yoga master Bikram Choudhury is a Hot Yoga innovator. His method of Hot Yoga is a set series of 26 yoga poses, including two pranayama exercises, each of which is performed twice in a single 90 minute class. Choudhury, who was born in Calcutta, India in 1946, founded the Yoga College of India in Beverly Hills in 1974. He and his wife Rajashree were both yoga champions in India. Recently, Choudhury was involved in a lawsuit over his attempt to copyright his series of 26 poses done in a hot room. At the heart of the controversy is Choudhury's desire to prevent anyone teaching yoga in a heated room from calling their class "Bikram Yoga." He would like to reserve this title only for those teachers who are certified by his Yoga College of India and who stick to his prescribed method exactly (including not only the temperature of the room and order of poses, but also the carpet and mirrors in the room, and his approved text). The lawsuit was resolved with an out-of-court settlement in which Choudhury agreed not to sue the members of a San Francisco-based collective of Hot Yoga teachers and they agreed not to use the Bikram name. Bikram remains a very controversial figure in the yoga world.

Hot Yoga Tips and Cautions

It is essential to have your own yoga mat and towel when doing Hot Yoga since you will be sweating so much. Students tend to wear very little clothing for the same reason.

Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after class so you don't get dehydrated. It is not advisable to eat during the two hours before class.

If you want to try Bikram's method, make sure the Hot Yoga studio you choose has been certified to teach Bikram Yoga.

Hot Yoga is not advised for pregnant women, since it can raise the core body temperature.
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i am preparing myself for this hot yoga, and need energized myself a bit and get used with this new hot yoga and bikram yoga too

2009-09-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

Intermediate/Advanced
Free Yoga Exercises
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED YOGA POSES

Here are more free yoga exercises that you can work on, however, beginners should not attempt headstand inverted postures or any other advanced poses without supervision of a qualified yoga teacher. Inverted and advanced poses should not be done by anyone with high or low blood pressure, neck, back or eye problems, or any limiting physical condition, without the approval of your medical care professional.

The following free yoga exercises are some of the more intermediate/advanced poses that take time, practice, and personal guidance for the best results.

Please practice these free yoga exercises with care and assistance from a partner, if needed, and always honor and listen to your body.

Salamba Sirsasana - Headstand

Headstand is known as the "King of Asanas" for good reason. Once mastered, it provides many benefits including increased blood flow to the head. It promotes poise, balance, physical strength and mental clarity.

Start by kneeling and placing a folded blanket in front of you for a little cushioning of the head while in the pose. Clasp your fingers and place the elbows down in front of you, no wider than shoulder distance apart on the blanketed floor, then place the very top (crown) of the head down, making sure that the cupped hands are behind the head for support. Lift off the knees and straighten the legs as you inch the feet closer to the head. As you do that, the spine will start to straighten. Bend the knees into the chest. The straighter the back, the easier it will be to bend the knees close to the body. Once you are in a folded position with the knees close to the chest and feet off the floor, try slowly raising the legs straight up. This is where you may need assistance. You can also try this against a corner of the room, leaving two or three inches between your head and either side of the corners of the walls. Hold for as long as you can, up to five minutes. At first, you may not be able to hold very long, but with practice your hold time will increase.

When coming down, bend the knees close to the chest as in going up, and gently bring the toes to touch the floor.

Bend the knees and rest in Extended Child's Pose, Balasana, for a few minutes, to allow the blood flow to return to normal and the body to stabilize.

Bakasana - Crow or Crane Pose

Crow, also known as Crane Pose is an arm balance that needs an equal amount of strength and leveraging of your body weight.

Beginner Level:

Begin by crouching down in a squat position with the arms inside the legs. Press bent elbows inside the bent knees where there is a fold in the legs. This position of the elbows pressing into the bent part of the knees acts like a shelf until you gain more strength to go into the level shown. Pressing the elbows outward into the folded part of the inner knees, start to raise your tailbone with the strength of the legs. Slowly, as the elbows are pressing out and the knees are pressing in, start to lean forward and lift off the toes until you are balancing.

Intermediate/Advanced Level (shown):

This time instead of pressing the elbows into the inner knees, squat down and start by bringing the knees into the arm pits. Begin to shift the weight and try to keep the knees on the upper arms (shown on left).

This pose can also be done from a full lotus position (shown on right).

Hold for as long as you can, a few seconds at first, then as long as you feel comfortable.

Parsva Bakasana - Side Crow or Crane Pose

Side Crow is similar to the above move, only this time you will crouch down and turn the knees to the side. Compact your body close to the arms and bend the elbows. Climb up high on the arms and slowly start to shift the weight forward. You will be resting on the upper arms. Make sure the knees are pulled in tight, legs together and parallel to the floor. Hold for as long as you feel comfortable.

Salamba Sarvangasana - Supported Shoulder Stand

Shoulder Stand is a great inversion that provides many benefits. However, like the Headstand, beginners should not attempt inverted postures or any other advanced pose without supervision of a qualified yoga teacher. Inverted and advanced poses should not be done by anyone with high or low blood pressure, neck, back or eye problems, or any limiting physical condition, without the approval of your medical care professional.

To begin, start in a lying down position. Bring the knees into the chest and slowly start to raise the hips off the floor, supporting your hips with your hands. Come up as hight as possible and bring the legs straight up, continuing to support the low back.

The pose below shows one leg down to the floor as a variation.

Halasana - Plough Pose

Plough pose is an intense posterior stretch and should not be performed unless the body is completely warmed up, preferably towards the end of a fairly vigorous yoga practice.

Plough can be moved into from Shoulderstand, shown above, by dropping the knees first towards the head, then slowly extending the legs straight out, touching the floor with the feet. Hold the pose as long as you feel comfortable. When coming out of the pose, hold the legs while slowly lowering the back down to the floor or support the hips while coming down carefully.

Navasana - Boat Pose

This pose takes a little balance and flexibility. Start by sitting in an upright position with the knees bent and feet flat on the floor close to the body. Hold the ankles and bring the feet off the floor with knees close to the body. Slowly raise the toes to the sky as you hold the ankles. Try to let go of the ankles and bring the arms straight out, parallel to the floor (not shown).

Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana - Upward Facing Plough or Intense Posterior Stretch

This pose is the same as Halasana, but instead of lying on your back, you are balancing on the tailbone in an upright position. You can start in Navasana - Boat Pose, shown above. Gently start to bring the legs closer to the chest, keeping the legs as straight as possible. Hold for as long as you feel comfortable. When through, bend the knees into the chest and relax.

Eka Pada Sirsasana - Foot to Head Pose

This pose requires lots of flexibility. At first, just bend the knee and take the foot to the chest, then bring it up higher and higher. Eventually, you may be able to bring it behind the head and bring the palms in prayer position (not shown.)

Astavakrasana - Eight Angle Pose

This pose takes a little time and practice. Start in the above position, Eka Pada Sirsasana, to increase the flexibility of the legs. Keep the right leg high up on the right arm, place palms on the floor beside hips, and extend the left leg to reach straight in front, as in the picture directly below. Start to press off the floor with the palms using your arms and core strength. Keep the left leg straight ahead, toes pointed. Hold in the lifted position for a few seconds, then bend the left leg so that you can hook the left foot over the right, keeping feet flexed at this point. Start to bend the elbows further, lean forward, and balance on the upper arms as you extend fully out to the right. Hold the pose for as long as you can. Come down gently. Rest, then repeat on the other side.

.....Try these free yoga exercises and see which ones work the best for you! Use the ancient wisdom of yoga to keep you in a healthy and comfortable lifestyle......

Try these free yoga exercises now!

Yoga Positions

2009-09-06T23:54:00.000-07:00

Yoga Positions For Beginners Explained In Detail

These yoga positions for beginners are simple but you should still take care when performing them.

If you choose to do yoga positions for beginners or any yoga exercises for that matter, before retiring at night, make certain you are not over-tired, but fully enough awake to relax and concentrate on what you are doing with these yoga basic positions.

Obviously little benefit would be derived from either asanas (yoga exercises) or mudras performed while the mind is in such a state of fatigue that it cannot address itself to the task at hand.

Without the proper mental mood the yoga positions for beginners become so many physical exercises, an exotic but ineffectual substitute for calisthenics.

Remember that all yoga positions for beginners should be performed on the hard floor, using a rug or mat for protection. A mattress or soft bed is inadvisable since you would not derive the maximum muscular benefits from performing yoga exercises on a "giving" surface.

One quick point before we continue. Yoga is all about health so in addition to using the following yoga positions for beginners you should check out this. It's really worth a few moments of your time.

Yoga positions # 1: SAVASANA, or the Death Pose; this is the pose of complete relaxation.

Method: Let yourself lie flat and heavy on the mat. Breathe rhythmically but naturally. Try to feel the weight of your body as though it were digging into the ground. Consciously relax every muscle, starting with the head, neck, shoulders, chest, arms and hands and fingers, down the torso and abdomen, down the back, hips, thighs, knees, legs, feet and toes.

Relax the muscles of your face-forehead, eyes, cheeks, mouth, chin. Pretend you are an old piece of rope lying on the ground. When you have relaxed completely, repeat the process.

You will discover a residue of tension here and there which must be gotten rid of. Do not let your mind wander and free-associate, but concentrate on some soothing image, such as clouds floating in the sky. Hold the image.

Do not let yourself relax into sleep. After a few moments reverse the process by deliberately tensing the relaxed muscles one by one. Stretch hard. In time you should be able to hold most yoga positions for ten or fifteen minutes without either day-dreaming or falling asleep. You will find such relaxation more beneficial than an hour's nap.

Yoga positions #2: UDHITTA PADASANA, or Raised-Legs Posture, is a simple asana which may be done by anyone, regardless of age, weight or infirmities, and is therefore excellent to be included in the list of yoga positions for beginners.

Method: Lie flat on your back, arms along the sides as for SAVASANA yoga positions for beginners. Inhaling slowly, slowly raise your right leg without bending the knee, until it is at right angles to your body, keeping your other leg flat on the floor.

Hold this position for a few seconds, then lower the leg while exhaling in the same slow rhythm. Reverse, repeating with the left leg. Now raise both legs at once. Hold this position for a slow count of three times three (counting to three in waltz time approximates one second) and lower the legs again. Rest. Gradually increase the count to ten or twelve seconds.

At first you may find that doing the three parts of yoga exercises such as this just once is enough to produce slight fatigue. But after a few days you will be able to increase the number of repetitions to three, then four or five.

Eventually you should be able to raise both legs at once half a dozen times in smooth rhythm without stopping. Be sure however, as with all yoga positions for beginners, to always to go through all motions slowly: the tendency is to lower the legs fast, since this is by far the easier way.

You will probably experience slight soreness of the abdominal muscles at the start, but this will not last beyond the first few days.

Therapeutic Value: yoga positions for beginners like this will give the abdomen an internal massage, strengthening all the muscles and breaking down surplus fat.

It is therefore particularly good for persons working at sedentary jobs and for those suffering from or wishing to prevent "middle-aged spread.

It is excellent for preventing prolapse of the stomach and for reconditioning muscles after childbirth. In the latter case, however, it should not be done without first checking with a doctor.

Caution: As with most yoga exercises, yoga positions for beginners or not, it should be avoided by persons with a weak heart and women already suffering from female disorders.

In contrast with the above asanas, which are basically Deep Contraction yoga exercises, the next three yoga positions for beginners are Concentration Poses.

They are listed in the logical order in which you will want to do them, the first being the simplest and the last the most complicated yoga positions for beginners.

But even the first of the yoga positions for beginners will require a bit of patience at first, unless you are naturally very limber.

Yoga positions #3: SUKHASANA, also called the Simple Pose:

Method: For these yoga positions for beginners, sit on the mat with legs stretched out in front. Bend the right leg at the knee and place the foot under the left thigh, using your hands to do it.

Now bend the left leg and place the left foot under the right leg. (You may, if you wish, reverse the order in which the legs are bent. Left-handed persons will generally find themselves naturally doing this in regard to many positions).

Keep the body balanced and easily erect. Extend your arms so that the wrists rest on your knees, palms turned upward. The tips of the thumbs should touch the tips of the index fingers, with other fingers lying straight out.

At first your knees will persist in sticking up into the air, which is only natural, since unlike the Orientals we have no tradition of sitting cross-legged unless our ancestors were tailors! You may find it helpful to start practicing this pose seated on a large book about two inches thick.

Do not force the knees down. Eventually you will be able to achieve this pose with ease and will assume it naturally for meditation.

Therapeutic Value: These yoga positions for beginners help concentration and induces mental and physical stability through calming the nervous system.

Yoga positions #4: SIDDHASANA, the Advanced or Perfect Pose:

Method: Having mastered the Simple Pose yoga positions for beginners, you are now ready to go on to the Advanced Pose, and you will find that your abilities of concentration become much greater.

Superficially there is considerable similarity between the two exercises, and you begin the SIDDHASANA as you do the SUKHASANA.

This time, however, you start sitting upright, tailor fashion, then take the left foot in the right hand and bend it so that the left heel is placed against the perineum (the structure between the genitals and the anus) and the sole of the left foot touches the upper portion of the right thigh.

Be careful not to sit on the heel, which should just feel the two bones of the perineum. Now bend the right leg so that the right heel is against the pubic bone and the toes of the right foot fit snugly into the crevice formed by the calf and thigh or the left leg.

Next, place your left hand, palm upward, on your left knee and the right hand on the right knee. Keep the head erect, pressing your chin well into your neck. Close your eyes and begin to concentrate by focusing your imagination on a spot between your eyebrows. This is not a must; but your mind is likely to wander at first unless you do.

Therapeutic Value: Same as SUKHASANA yoga positions for beginners, with increased powers of concentration.

Yoga positions #5: PADMASANA, the Lotus or Buddha Pose, one of the basic Asana and the one most Westerners will recognize as one the classic yoga positions for beginners. Of the three meditation poses it is the most difficult to achieve.

But since it is also the most beneficial, by all means try eventually to train your body to assume it.

Method: Sit on the mat tailor fashion. With your hands, bring the right foot up to rest on the left thigh, close to the hip joint, with the sole of the foot upturned and the heel near the middle of the abdomen, the ball of the foot almost in line with the thigh.

Now take the left foot, cross it over the right and place it in a similar position on the right thigh. (For left-handed persons, reverse the order). Place the hands on the knees, palms open, the thumb and second finger of each hand forming the letter O.

Because the Lotus Pose, yoga positions, sometimes take months of practice for the Occidental to achieve, many teachers advocate the following preliminary exercise:

Place the sole of your left foot against the right thigh, then begin a bouncing up-and-down movement with your left knee. You will find that the moment you push the knee down to the floor it will bounce up again like rubber-this is true even of the Simple Pose yoga positions for beginners -and the bouncing routine helps stretch and Umber unused tendons and ligaments. Bounce first one knee, then the other.

Therapeutic Value: The Lotus yoga positions, which symbolizes mental purity and a completely developed consciousness, is said to free the mind of temptations and lower physical instincts.

Its perfect symmetry gives the body inner harmony, preserves the equilibrium of our positive and negative currents and increases the effect of our yoga breathing exercises.

Creative energy is said to waken like a great river dammed up so that its rising waters may be harnessed. Its immediate physical benefits are to keep the joints flexible and to promote good posture.

Perhaps you are wondering why such difficult yoga positions for beginners or postures as the last three are recommended for concentration, since it would seem that in order simply to concentrate one might just as well lie down and relax.

Actually, this is not the case.

Experience has shown that if one lies down to concentrate or meditate, it is all too easy to day-dream, drowse or even fall asleep. Standing yoga positions for beginners, on the other hand, make it impossible to relax sufficiently for the mind to be completely free to devote itself to meditation.

Over the centuries those who have perfected yoga positions for beginners have found that the sitting posture is infinitely the superior one, and so have adopted it.

...really feels good when doing yoga, especially when my body is out tune, so thanks to this yoga positions, it is soothing and relaxing...

Includes Illustrations For Yoga Positions For Beginners

Yoga Breathing

2009-09-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

Learn breathing… the yoga way

With the ever-increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases like cardio-vascular and nervous system disorders, the time has come for us to address this ourselves, fair and square WITHOUT external dependence.

Did you know that reprogramming your natural breathing technique would not only help in preventing these problems but also help in the “reversal” of several such harmful conditions? Yes, it’s not only possible but proven too. In fact leading cardiac experts are advocating the benefits of “correct” breathing to their patients.

Surprising as it is, almost none of us use the full capacity of our respiratory organs. This is aggravated by our sedentary lifestyles and leads to several complications popularly called - lifestyle disorders.

The first question that comes to mind is – “How can I alter my natural breathing process?” Well, astonishing as it may seem, it’s true. By training our body to breathe in a particular fashion, we re-program our involuntary system to adopt this new way of breathing.

This breathing technique is called the “Full Yogic breath” or simply Yoga breathing.

Without wasting time, I’ll plunge right away into the technique followed by its overwhelming benefits.

First, lie down on your back, relaxed, with hands and legs outstretched and eyes looking up at the roof. Gently close your eyes and relax.

Step 1: Abdominal breathing

Observe your natural breath. You will notice that as you inhale the abdomen rises and then falls with exhalation. Watch this for a few moments to check this flow. Now begin to deepen, lengthen and extend that movement. That is, while inhaling, let the abdomen rise to its limit and at exhalation let it fall completely. Keep the chest still during this entire process – only move the abdomen. Continue this for 20 breaths and then rest.

Step 2: Thoracic (chest) breathing

Again observe your normal breath, this time focusing your attention on the chest. You will notice the chest moving slightly up at inhalation and down with exhalation. Again observe this pattern for a few moments. Now again, begin to deepen, lengthen and extend that movement. This time, on inhalation expand and lift the rib cage, filling the lungs completely. Then on exhalation, let the lungs collapse fully, sinking to the limits. In this step, keep the abdomen still, moving only the chest. Do this for 20 breath cycles and then stop

Step 3: Full Yogic breathing

This combines the above 2 steps in the following way:
First inhale by filling the abdomen and then CONTINUE inhaling as you expand and fill the chest. Then exhale first from the chest as it empties and falls and then CONTINUE exhaling from the abdomen as it draws inwards completely. This is one round of the full yogic breath. Repeat this for 20 rounds.

Remember the pattern… Inhaling - abdomen then chest; Exhaling – chest then abdomen.

GOLDEN RULE: All of the above steps should be done WITHOUT strain. The natural tendency is to heave with effort. The right way is to make it smooth and effortless. Go slow and easy.

Initially you will experience unevenness or bumps in this breathing process – as if there are 4 separate parts to the full yogic breath. This is natural considering the years we have spent breathing improperly.

Instead, try to picture this breath as a continuous wave like pattern – as if the breath moves up from the navel to the throat with every inhalation and then, down from the throat to the navel with each exhalation. It may take a few weeks of practice to perfect a “SMOOTH flowing pattern with MINIMUM effort and with MAXIMUM capacity.”

This is the desired effect!! Over time, the yoga way of breathing will come naturally to you.

And now for the all-important benefits…

The full yogic breath is the basic building block of the powerful yoga breathing techniques, also called ‘Pranayama’ in Sanskrit, which are known for their multifarious benefits.

But the tangible benefits of the full yogic breath are that it:

*Releases acute and chronic muscular tensions around the heart and digestive organs.

*Helps sufferers of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and emphysema to overcome the fear of shortness of breath. It actually increases lung capacity.

*Encourages proper nervous stimulus to the cardio-vascular system

*Dramatically reduces emotional and nervous anxiety

*Improves detoxification through increased exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen

*Amplifies the auto immune system by increased distribution of energy to the endocrine system

*Calms the mind and integrates the mental / physical balance.

And the real icing is that it contributes to both vitality and relaxation through this single practice.
With such powerful all-round benefits, do you really need to be “motivated” to get going?
Go ahead, and take charge of your life like never before.

...actually i have practice doing yoga, and it sure helped me, i even told it bout my friends and they found out it's a real mind calming...

learn to breath properly the yoga way