Yoga for Depression & Anxiety
The practice of yoga postures and breathing techniques has many health benefits especially when using a specific programme designed by experts to pinpoint certain conditions. For example, a class focusing on recuperative postures and inversions is very useful for insomnia or sleep disorders. Energetic classes with lots of standing postures and sun salutations are good for increasing energy levels, promoting healthy circulation and all general aspects of mobilising the joints and muscles. Standings and twists are an excellent way to improve back pain and digestive disorders.
For this article, we are focusing on postures and programmes that help with Depression and Anxiety. If we look at the aspects of these two conditions, we can see that they have a physical impact as well as a more obvious mental one. People who are clinically depressed for example, tend to have a slumped posture, collapsed chest, head dropping forward and melancholy look. They also tend to be lethargic and normal everyday activities are difficult to cope with. Depression can be a condition that lasts for a long time and is often not traceable to one particular event although bereavement or tragedy can instigate a depressive period. Doctors will often prescribe anti-depressants to help patients cope with the ordinary day-to-day. Those who suffer from anxiety on the other hand can often be more hyper-active. It can cause in sufferers breathing problems, digestive disorders, heart palpitations and even nausea. They may be susceptible to recurring bouts of anxiety unless they can change the way they approach future stressful situations. Depression and anxiety are also conditions that are linked and very often the one can lead to or be accompanied by the other.
Both conditions can benefit and even be prevented through the use of a regular and focussed yoga practice. But be warned; those suffering from any serious depressive or anxiety disorder should first of all consult their medical practitioner before embarking on any yoga practice and second of all should ensure their teacher is qualified and experienced enough to provide a suitable programme for them. And of course, whatever you choose to do to help with your symptoms, it should be supportive and not something which adds to your already stressful situation.
Depression and anxiety needs to be looked at slightly differently. For example, a typical programme of yoga for depression would include gentle chest opening postures, postures to mobilise the upper body and shoulders, energising postures such as sun salutations, standing postures, inversions, back-bends and twists. Anything to enhance good posture, to lift the heart and gently open and stretch the body is beneficial. This will create optimism and enthusiasm and the student will walk away from the class with renewed energy and vigour to copy with their life. For anxiety, more focus should be centred on calming postures such as recuperative and forward bends and breathing techniques (pranayama). For certain conditions, back bends and inversions are also a good way to dispel fear and promote courage and mental strength.
Whatever class you choose, listen to your body and anything that enhances your mood or makes you feel good – go with it! Anything that makes you feel worse, talk to your teacher as often feelings and emotions can rise to the surface to be released, or it may be that the particular programme you are following is not for you at that time. And of course, simply getting out and meeting other people, practising together and enjoying people’s company is a very positive and nurturing action in itself.
For more information on qualified yoga teachers please visit www.bwy.org.uk or www.iyengaryoga.org.uk.
Secrets to get the Most out of Your Yoga Teacher Training Course
Yoga training for interns and teachers can differ, but so can the mindset of the participants. For some Yoga instructors, the initial training is a “spring board” toward future achievement.
There are Yoga teacher graduates who get more out of the same Yoga teacher certification program than others. So, what are the secrets to their success? The following are useful tips for interns seeking a Level 1 Yoga teacher’s diploma, but they will also be of value to existing Yoga teachers, who seek continuing education credits for re-certification.
Set realistic learning goals and deadlines. How much time do you really have? What are your other obligations, which take most of your time? It is difficult to manage a job, family, housework, evening classes at college, and studying to become a Yoga teacher. You need to assess your obligations and determine your free time. Knowing this will help you plan how many pages to read per night, how much time to practice, or how to plan your next assignment.
Never cram your studies. Be honest with yourself and get the most out of your Yoga certification course. If you study at the last second, your long-term memory will store very little of what you learned. Many students who cram cannot remember much of what they learned over the long haul. Permanently remembering facts is much different from learning facts for an exam – especially if last second learning is the method used.
Join Yoga teacher associations, Yoga instructor networks, and Yoga teacher forums. Some people wait until they become Yoga instructors to join any “clubs.” Do not put this off. You can always upgrade to a teacher’s membership at a later date. Use every learning resource possible, without causing “information overload.”
Do your own homework. This sounds simple and honest enough, but students of all vocations have been known to take “short cuts.” There is nothing wrong with getting help from a Yoga teacher, your tutor, a Yoga friend, or getting ideas from dependable Yoga sites.
However, if you turn an assignment over to someone else, you have short changed your own foundation of knowledge. The result is that your students will suffer from your lack of knowledge. It is true that we cannot learn 5,000 years of knowledge and scripture, in one lifetime, but we should learn what we can.
Yoga is constantly evolving, and we all need to keep our education up-to-date. Keeping current with safe methods is one of the biggest dividends of continuing education for Yoga teachers. Ultimately, Yoga students would be the ones to suffer the most, if Yoga was a “dead system.”
Patanjali, and Yogis of the past, recognized Yoga as an infinite system. Yoga teachers of the present will build on the foundations of past knowledge. The study of Yoga is a lifetime journey and cannot be learned in a single weekend intensive. The longer you study Yoga, the more there is to know.
© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Jerard
http://EzineArticles.com/?Secrets-to-get-the-Most-out-of-Your-Yoga-Teacher-Training-Course&id=609507
Which Yoga is Right For You?
It seems like yoga is everywhere these days. There are yoga classes in gyms, high schools, senior citizen centers, and strip malls, each with a different spin: gentle yoga, hot yoga, restorative yoga, pre- and post-natal yoga, power yoga, and mommy and me yoga, just to name a few.
Why is yoga experiencing such popularity? It might be because of the health benefits yoga practitioners say they experience, and the fact that yoga can be tailored to their specific needs.
I am a firm believer that anyone can benefit from a dedicated yoga practice. Yoga can improve your health and bring clarity to your mind. Your muscles become stronger, and you will gain more flexibility in your joints, something that doesn’t happen from working out at the gym.
In fact, many students have come to me with injuries sustained from working with weights or from years of running. You have to be careful if you have injuries, but that shouldn’t prevent you from beginning a yoga practice. You should never feel pain in a posture. There are always modifications to protect an injured area.
Students Report Benefits
Dedicated yogis report all kinds of benefits from practicing yoga, from improved health to reduced pain.
“I began yoga to become flexible and strengthen my body for running, especially my upper body,” says Suzanne Gentry of Eaton’s Neck. “The benefits I have gained are numerous. I have a lot of flexibility, tighter abs, stronger legs and upper body. I am more relaxed and sleep well. I am able to run like I did ten years ago. My hamstrings no longer hurt and my quads are stronger.”
Susan Noddle of Manhattan reports that yoga has reduced her pain from two herniated discs in her back that lie on the L5 nerve root and cause discomfort in her foot.
“I have practiced with this injury and while at times I have to modify or take it slow, it has not prevented me from practicing for any sustained amount of time,” says Susan. “I have had to take a week or a few days off when it flares up, but I am always able to return. I also have had surgeries on both of my knees. My surgeon recommends yoga for my knees.”
Monica Diamond-Caravella of Huntington tells of the positive effects of yoga on her chronic neck pain. “I suffer from chronic neck pain related to a motor vehicle accident. I’ve been through physical therapy twice, for at least nine months each, with traction. Yoga keeps my neck supple and flexible and the majority of the time I have no pain. If I don’t keep up my practice, my neck pain comes back.”
Yoga For Any Age, Any Level of Ability
People of any age can practice yoga. My students are all ages: from teenagers to 70-year-olds. Not only is practicing yoga possible at any age, you don’t have to be able to touch your toes or bend like a pretzel to do it. Flexibility is a byproduct of practicing yoga. It’s one of the benefits.
If you’ve “tried yoga and didn’t like it,” I would encourage you to take a class with a different teacher or try a different style. Yoga is so beneficial on many levels, no matter what your age. Don’t give up because you didn’t like the teacher, or you felt the class was too difficult, or too easy. There’s a yoga class for everybody!
A Guide to the Types of Yoga
Not sure where to begin? Here are brief descriptions of some of the different types of yoga available in our area:
VINYASA FLOW – “Vinyasa” means “to move with the breath.” In some vinyasa-style yoga classes you will flow in and out of postures without having to hold one pose for very long. In others, the teacher may instruct you to stay in the posture longer, which may be more challenging. Anusara, Ashtanga, Jivamukti and Power Yoga are all vinyasa style practices.
ANUSARA – Founded in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara is a vinyasa-style practice that emphasizes heart-opening through backbending and alignment and includes the use of props. Anusara means “flowing with Grace” and the practice aims to look for the good in all things. This class is good for students of all levels.
ASHTANGA – This system, passed on by Pattabhi Jois, involves linking movement to breath in a series of postures designed to detoxify, align and strengthen the body. In this type of yoga, the room in usually heated to 85 degrees. Many people find this a challenging practice.
JIVAMUKTI – Jivamukti means “liberation while living.” This type of yoga was founded by David Life and Sharon Gannon and incorporates chanting, yoga philosophy and meditation along with postures and breath.
POWER YOGA – Similar to Ashtanga, power yoga synchronizes breath and movement. These classes are designed to build strength and flexibility and can be quite challenging.
BIKRAM YOGA (or HOT YOGA) – Named after its founder, Bikram Choudhury, this type of yoga is practiced in a room heated to 100 degrees or more. Prepare to sweat. A lot! This method consists of a set series of 26 postures with each posture repeated twice in 90 minutes. Wear light clothing, bring a water bottle and a very big towel.
HATHA – A hatha yoga class is a good place for beginners to learn the basic standing, seated and balancing postures of yoga. These classes generally move at a slower pace.
KUNDALINI – Kundalini yoga is designed to free energy in the lower body, allowing it to move upwards, awakening the seven charkas. This class consists of rapid, repetitive movements done with breath or holding a pose while breathing in a particular way. Classes include chanting and can be physically intense.
IYENGAR – This style is named after its originator, BKS Iyengar, and is characterized by precise attention to alignment in each posture. You will more than likely hear the teacher direct your attention to your feet, knees, hips, spine, sternum, neck, head, and other body parts in just about every pose. The use of props such as blocks, straps, bolsters, and blankets is encouraged.
RESTORATIVE – These classes focus on relaxing the body in postures that are comfortable, usually using props such as bolsters and blankets.
One way to make sure your instructor has been properly trained is to see if they are registered with Yoga Alliance, a national registry for yoga teachers. This indicates that the teacher has completed a standard course of study. A poorly trained instructor may inadvertently cause injury by forcing a pose or allowing a student to try something the student isn’t ready for. Yoga Alliance’s national registry is available online at www.yogaalliance.org.
Yvonne Suzuki Licopoli, Registered Yoga Teacher
Northport, New York
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_Suzuki_Licopoli
http://EzineArticles.com/?Which-Yoga-is-Right-For-You?&id=2280518
Secrets of Successful Yoga Studios
What will happen if you are a competent, talented, and compassionate Yoga teacher, without enough dedicated students? Here is a simple answer: Don’t quit your “day job” and don’t open a Yoga studio of your own. Sorry to be so blunt, but you need time to grow your following.
When, or if, you develop a following as an independent contractor, then and only then, think about opening a Yoga center. This is not meant to be harsh, but there are enough Yoga centers with poor business skills to go around, and you don’t need to lose every penny you saved without developing sound business plans.
Therefore, please take time to develop a Yoga business plan with goals and estimated time frames. Unfortunately, I have seen too many Yoga studios open with a “one month plan.” Can you imagine opening an ashram without a telephone, getting caught up in zoning board complications, or just hoping for the best? One poorly organized Yoga studio makes all Yoga teachers look bad, and leaves the public thinking every Yoga studio is like that.
How do you feel when you go to a deli for the 20th time and the counter help tries to avoid you? Do you feel like going back again, when, half the time, they get your order wrong? Where am I going with this?
Every Yoga studio should have an appointed person for customer service and public relations. Yoga teachers should know all of their students’ names “by heart.” If you ignore your Yoga students, there is no reason for them to stay. They will feel unwelcome and unworthy. One of the worst ways to handle a student / teacher relationship is to ignore a Yoga student.
Be careful of perceptions that make you feel like you are better than your Yoga students. Remember that your students pay you to teach Yoga. You should treat them like your best friends. How many of your friends are paying for your meals, car, mortgage, or your vacations? Your Yoga students are “number one.”
Doing the “little extras,” keeps Yoga students. When a student has a question, it is your job to give an informed answer; and if you do not have one, consult with a senior or master Yoga teacher. If you are not a “people person,” do not become a Yoga teacher.
Make sure that the person who answers your phone loves people. You can’t keep a Yoga studio open with a grumpy receptionist. The receptionist is the initial “gate keeper” of a Yoga studio, and for Yoga students, that gate should be held open with a wide smile.
Each Yoga studio should be a haven for students to find what they seek, without putting up with inferior service. They face far too much of it, outside the Yoga class. You should know the needs of your students and promise only what you can deliver.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Jerard
http://EzineArticles.com/?Secrets-of-Successful-Yoga-Studios&id=106492
Yoga for Men
All social categories and age groups can appreciate yoga as a relaxation method or even as a life style choice. Yoga practitioners investigated the physical and mental differences between men and women for a protracted time. In general, men are known to be less emotional than women and they frequently suppress their emotions. This can lead to stress and, eventually, to an increased hazard of heart problems.
A man’s greater level of physical strength is accepted by most committed yoga practices. This is why several of the poses recommended for men require additional muscle strength and endurance. Numerous male yoga practitioners have discovered that a mixture of yoga and weight training can equip them with the required levels of energy and positive thinking. In many cases, the balance between mind and body is broken by various harmful exterior factors such as stress, pressure, social problems and so on. The tight link between body and soul can be regularly seen in such cases: if the spirit is defeated, the body will often get ill and debilitated.
This is why the more physical aspects of yoga are greatly recommended for men. Society imposes certain standards – and keeping fit and looking good are just two of them. In order to possess self-confidence and respect for your own self you need to take care of your body correctly. Some of the yoga poses you will read about further on in this article are fabulous for keeping the body in perfect physical condition, particularly when a balanced and healthy diet is adhered to. Needless to say physical yoga training greatly reduces the likelihood of several illnesses such as lowered blood pressure, heart attacks and osteoporosis.
Yoga also favors meditation and relaxation as some of its most effective shields against stress. Half an hour of stretching your muscles and deep breathing can take any yoga practitioner into a condition of serenity and relaxation that gives both mind and body the opportunity to renew their vitality. Particular yoga poses such as the head stand are superb for assisting circulation and allowing the heart rate to drop. This type of position also “forces” you to breathe deeply, thereby improving brain oxygenation. Another comparable pose would be the shoulder stand, which enhances the positive effects of breathing by improving the lung’s capacity to process oxygen. Both these poses are beneficial to the spine as well, as they allow it to stretch and relax at the exact same time. The plough pose may also be tried in order to strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles. Savasana, also known as the corpse pose, is excellent for relaxing the body between asanas.
The above-mentioned poses have to be accompanied by some specific breathing techniques. The Anuloma Viloma technique balances the prana levels in the organism and is recommended for use while doing physical exercises. The Ujjayi breathing method clears the nasal passages and throat of phlegm and allows for a superior air circulation. This technique also works well for improving the responses of the nervous system.
To find out how yoga can be beneficial for you, check out http://www.infoaboutyoga.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Felicity_Walker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Yoga-for-Men&id=183452
How Yoga Positions For Fertility Can Help Couples Conceive
With more and more women delaying having children until later in life, there are a growing number of couples having difficulties conceiving. From their mid thirties onwards, women’s chances of getting pregnant drop dramatically and many are turning to medical intervention to assist them in having a baby.
Trying to conceive can be a very stressful and emotional experience, particularly when it involves undergoing fertility treatment or IVF. Many doctors are now recommending women use yoga in conjunction with their medical treatment, both to assist them in de-stressing and to enhance their possibilities of becoming pregnant.
A Harvard based study found that women who were trying for a baby were three times more likely to conceive if they took fertility focussed yoga courses than those who did not. But what is it about yoga that prepares the body so well for conception and pregnancy?
As we have already mentioned, stress can be a major problems when a couple are having trouble conceiving. Stress can interfere with a woman’s menstrual cycle and delay ovulation, as well as reducing sperm production in men. The emotional release of yoga can ease stress and anxiety, enhancing a couples chances of conceiving.
This is most effective if both the male and female participate, and a couple might consider partner yoga in this situation. As well as deepening and strengthening their relationship, partner yoga can teach them how to cope together with the strain of trying for a baby.
There are numerous other ways that a fertility focussed yoga course can help a woman to conceive. In yoga the body is seen as an energy system, with a number of different areas or chakras. Certain yoga positions focus on increasing the energy flow in the second chakra, known as the seat of creation, which is where the reproductive organs can be found.
There are many yoga positions that increase energy in the second chakra. Certain restorative poses are perfect to prepare the body for conception. They can help to soften the abdominal region and remove any tension from the area of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. Reclining poses are used to elongate the abdominal region, allowing more blood flow to the reproductive organs.
There are also specific yoga positions that a woman can use after sex to increase her chances of conception. One of the most popular is a legs up the wall pose, known as Viprarita Kirani. This ensures that the sperm remain in the optimum position for fertilisation for as long as possible.
A final way that yoga can assist conception is by correcting irregular hormone levels that may be limiting fertility. Certain yoga positions can improve glandular function, which helps to normalize hormone levels.
Although nobody would claim that yoga alone can make you pregnant, following a course of fertility focussed yoga can significantly reduce the stress and emotion of trying to conceive. Used in conjunction with medical treatment, it can prepare your body and mind for pregnancy and greatly increase your chances of creating that longed for baby.
For more information on the best prenatal yoga exercises, click here. Rebecca has an online yoga site suitable for beginners here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Prescott
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Yoga-Positions-For-Fertility-Can-Help-Couples-Conceive&id=514582
How To Do A Pyramid Yoga Pose
Yoga and Its Effects to Your State of Mind
The mind is the window of the thoughts. The mind is there to think hence it is said to control the body. But who controls the minds? No one has access to the mind and the thought but the owner. Therefore, we are the still the masters and our minds only the servants. We are the ones who dictate our thoughts and our minds.
A good state of mind is achieved when one is able to use his mind to be able to meet the demands of everyday life. To be able to be in command of our minds is what we don’t have control of. And to do this, we must be able to concentrate and focus.
Yoga is the way to control our minds. Its ultimate goal is to train our minds to achieve oneness with our being. To set our minds free from their cages of disappointments, sufferings and all kinds of grief, and to transform unpleasant thought patterns into better manners of thinking and being. To achieve this is to cleanse our minds first of sickening thoughts in order to purify and strengthen it.
Because our minds are easily subjected by weaknesses, we must find ways of empowering it. Weaknesses such as hate, attachment to material things, and even obsession to love are some of the defects of the mind. Yoga is the way to eradicate these flaws that we occasionally have and to intensify our minds to attain perfection, perfection and liberation from all sufferings.
The easiest method of achieving perfection and state of tranquility is to be able to be in a very deep concentration without letting it reflect on anything else especially evil thoughts. A good deal of concentration may sometimes require regulated breathing. Because yoga entails breathing exercises, too, it is also beneficial particularly for people who have cardiovascular, pulmonary and back problems.
Realizing a good state of mind also requires a healthy body, for the mind and the body is interconnected. And yoga is the access to the perfection of the state of the mind through awareness of the tiniest details of the body. It encourages the mind to become attentive, alert and sharp. Through proper breathing techniques, the body’s energy flows without obstruction thereby leading the mind to become quiet and receptive for meditation, thus yoga.
Yoga is also the liberation of the mind of wrong notions and ill-fated misidentification of ourselves which leads us to suffering again and again. Who we are in reality is only achieved when we attain that yogic perspective and we become one with our selves. This is one of the fundamental truths that yoga makes us realize. A rightful state of mind.
And once we achieve that divine intervention within ourselves, we become one and we free our minds and body of temporal sufferings. We truly become the masters and no longer the servants of the unfortunate and miserable notions we come to believe as truths. And yoga is the way to beat them.
Tischenko Irina is one of the top rated Copywriter and Search Engine Optimization expert on most of outsourcing portals. She is ready to write for you on any topics under this holy sun. Please visit http://www.bluebirdwritingservices.com for all your outsourcing needs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Tischenko
http://EzineArticles.com/?Yoga-and-Its-Effects-to-Your-State-of-Mind&id=2315901
You and Yoga
You and Yoga
By Irina Tischenko
So you’ve heard all the hype of Yoga and you are definitely sold. However, between your full day of work and your quality time with the family at night, how are you going to fit your planned Yoga sessions in? Furthermore, you have been spending the last ten years of your life behind a desk, behind a wheel or in front of the TV. How are you going to be able to do those seemingly body breaking Yoga routines when you can’t even pick up your fallen car keys without a grunt?
Fortunately Yoga is not an exercise regimen but a meditation technique. There is no minimum amount of repetitions for you to do for it to be effective nor do you need to strictly setup your regimen for maximum results. Simply put, Yoga does not require a lot of time from you. It also does not need for you to become ultra-flexible to be able to perform Yoga movements.
However, before you begin with your Yoga session, remember that some aspects of Yoga require a bit of body flexibility. It is a good idea to check with your physician first before you do Yoga especially if you have orthopedic problems or other special health concerns.
Yoga can actually be performed in as gentle or as vigorous as you want it. This means that anyone, even you can do it.
With a hectic schedule, you can still find a way to work your Yoga sessions in. Here’s how:
• Yoga sessions need take up a lot of your time. Try breaking them into manageable sessions. If you are planning on taking up thirty minutes of Yoga a day, break it up to 15 minute sessions. Try 15 minutes of Yoga in the morning, after waking up and another 15 minutes of Yoga before you go to bed.
• Consider what Yoga session schedule will be best for you. People have different preferences. Some enjoy Yoga in the morning, just before a vigorous day of work. Others, on the other hand, prefer to wind down the day with a Yoga session in the evening, just before they get to bed.
• Be consistent with your workout. The benefits of Yoga will only be attained by those practicing it if they are consistent with their Yoga practices. Short sessions of Yoga can already have immediate benefits but, for maximum effect, consistency is key.
• In order to be consistent, try to keep interested in your Yoga sessions. A good way is to find a Yoga buddy so that you can both keep yourselves motivated in continuing with your Yoga program. Another way is to set goals for yourself and to reward yourself whenever you achieve your goals.
Yoga is a great way to relieve yourself of the stresses of your life and to make shape your body into a healthier form. Unlike other exercise routines, Yoga also has the benefit of being a less aggressive form of exercise and can easily be attuned to the specific needs of the Yoga practitioner.
Tischenko Irina is one of the top rated Copywriter and Search Engine Optimization expert on most of outsourcing portals. She is ready to write for you on any topics under this holy sun. Please visit http://www.bluebirdwritingservices.com for all your outsourcing needs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Tischenko
http://EzineArticles.com/?You-and-Yoga&id=2315907
Specific Yoga Exercises To Lose Weight – 3 Yoga Postures To Do At Home
Specific Yoga Exercises To Lose Weight – 3 Yoga Postures To Do At Home
By Ntathu Allen
From a yogic perspective, life is all about creating and maintaining balance and harmony within your life. It is a fine art and your body is constantly making minor adjustments throughout your day to retain some sort of balance and ease in your body.
The more time you spend practicing yoga/meditation, the easier it becomes for your body to make these adjustments. Yoga encourages a sense of body awareness and body alignment. For instance, have you ever eaten just for the sake of eating or eaten something because you believe it wasteful to throw food away? The more in-tune you become with your body, the easier it is for you to know when to stop eating and, how much food to put on your plate.
Being overweight can be attributed by physiological factors or reaction to medical treatment. However, in a lot of cases, being overweight is due to psychological rather than physical causes. You eat foods out of habit, have poor eating habits or comfort eat.
Inner beauty and self-love form the basis of all yoga weight lose programmes.
The greater your sense of inner beauty and appreciation of your uniqueness, the easier it becomes for you to be in tune with what foods to eat which strengthen and heal your body and; what exercise programmes to follow regularly which make you feel better and help to tone up your body and reduce body fat.
The three yoga exercises are simple to do. They are given purely to support, guide and kick-start you into feeling the benefits of yoga. Hopefully you will be inspired you to join a regular yoga class…yeah!!!
Try and include the following three yoga exercises into your daily routine. The poses will:
*stretch the posterior muscles which support the abdomen, hips and waist, thus increasing the tone of the abdominal and pelvic organs.
* loosen and reduce unhealthy and unnessary fatty tissue.
* help to reduce constipation and induce natural, regular elimination.
1. Gentle Spinal Twist
* Sit on the floor with your legs crossed. Or sit on a chair, with both feet resting on the floor.
* Place your left hand on your right knee.
* Extend your right arm out to the side, shoulder height.
* Inhale.
* As you exhale, twist to the right bringing your right arm around behind your back and resting your right hand on your left inner thigh, if you can reach that far.
* Look over your right shoulder. Take 3 – 5 rounds of deep yogic breathing, breathing deep into the stretch. Keep your shoulders relax and chin parallel to the floor.
* Exhale and slowly come out of the pose.
* Repeat the pose on the opposite side -by twisting to the left.
2. Wind Relieving Pose
* Lie on your back.
* Hug your knees in towards your chest.
* Keep your chin slightly tucked in so your neck is lengthened on the floor.
* Hold the position and breathe slowly and deeply. Feel your spine lengthen and breathe into the stretch. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Take 3 – 5 rounds of deep yogic breathing.
* Let go of your legs and arms and rest on the floor. Repeat the sequence 3 -5 times.
3. Inner Thigh Stretch
* Sit on the floor with your legs spread out into a V position, as wide as is comfortable.
* Inhale and sit up straight.
* Exhale and lean forward as you slowly walk your hands out away from you and gradually lower your chest towards the floor.
* Take 3 -5 rounds of deep yogic breathing, enjoy the stretch, try and keep your legs flat on the floor, toes pointing up. relax your jaw and smile.
* Slowly walk your hands back up. Relax and repeat the practice 3 – 5 more times.
Take your time, eat well and practice these 3 yoga postures. Over a period of, say, 3 months pf regular practice and healthy eating, you will gradually tone up and start to lose weight.
“And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report “Yoga Exercises and Breathing Exercises to Ease You Into Your Day” when you visit http://www.yogainspires.co.uk/pages/ntathusfreeyogaandmeditationtips.php – Start your day with a smile, a relaxed body and a more peaceful mind.”
From Ntathu Allen – Sivananda Yoga Teacher and Registered Polarity Therapist.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ntathu_Allen
http://EzineArticles.com/?Specific-Yoga-Exercises-To-Lose-Weight—3-Yoga-Postures-To-Do-At-Home&id=2413531
