The Plough ? (Halasana)
Yoga is a life of self-discipline. Yoga is a way of life. Yoga is a system.
We can see our life as a triangle. From the moment we are born to the age of around 18 we are in the zone of growth where the anabolic process takes place (rate of cells rejuvenation exceeds rate of cell decay). Then we enter the youth and equilibrium zone where the anabolic and catabolic process is in perfect balance. This zone will last to the age of around 35 and then we find ourselves in an aging zone, called the old age zone where the catabolic process (rate of cell decaying exceeds rate of cell rejuvenating) starts, resulting in suffering, pain and disease.
To retard the catabolic process the system of yoga was developed giving people the opportunity to live healthier and happier life.
The system of yoga involves five main principles: exercise (asana), breathing (pranayama), relaxation (shavasana), diet and meditation. To slow down the aging process one principle cannot exist without another. This is the holistic approach towards life.
The Plough is a very dynamic and extreme forward bending posture promoting strength and flexibility in the back and the neck. When practiced it gives the resemblance of a plough cutting through the soil, hence the name.
Whether you are flexible or not the gravity aids The Plough so be careful that your body weight does not pull you too far into the asana, out of your safe zone.
The Plough is a preparatory pose to the Sitting Forward Bend. If you can improve Halasana (Plough) the resulting mobility of your back will enable you to perform Paschimottanasana (Sitting Forward Bend) well.
As a counter pose practice the Fish (Matsyasana) or the Camel (Ushtrasana). If possible practice the Plough after Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana).
The Plough strengthens and massages the abdominal muscles relieving constipation and indigestion. It releases tension from the shoulders and upper back. It tones the spinal nerves and increases blood circulation to the whole area. It helps to develop inner balance and mental relaxation. It also calms the brain.
Three important reasons (out of many) not to do Plough:
1) A person with hernia should avoid this asana.
2) Anyone with slipped disc, sciatica or serious back pain should never attempt to practice this asana.
3) If you have neck injury, please do not do this posture.
Issued in the interest of people practicing Hatha Yoga by Subodh Gupta, Yoga Expert based in London.
Mr. Subodh Gupta, a Corporate Yoga Trainer has conducted more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management. He has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London.
For reaching to Subodh Gupta Yoga website http://www.subodhgupta.com/ and for Subodh Gupta Corporate yoga webpage http://www.subodhgupta.com/corporateyoga.html
Showing posts with label Aging Process. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aging Process. Show all posts
March 2, 2009
March 1, 2009
Yoga as an Aid to Bust Stress
Stress is a physical and psychological condition that demands more from the body. Under these conditions a variety of changes happen in the body the increases the hormonal reactions to meet that demanding situation. A stress busting therapy should be able to cope up with the physical and the psychological needs of our body.
Yoga is the best remedy for beating stress in your daily life. Yoga has a lot of postures, breathing exercises and meditation that helps you to beat stress from your daily life. Lot of asanas are available in yoga for reducing stress. You can use these asanas to deal with stress. Yoga promotes self-awareness and during the process it helps you to deal with stress in your day to day life.
It was practiced traditionally in the eastern countries and now it is picking up in the western countries. Understanding the benefits of yoga, now many companies are sponsoring yoga courses for their employees. The workers who are practicing yoga are more relaxed and hence their productivity is increased. Moreover they are more healthy and creative. This has driven more and more companies to go after yoga for their employees.
The techniques in yoga that are used to relieve stress include controlled breathing, physical movement, stretching, mental imagery, and meditation. Combining all these in the yoga practices enables the person who is practicing it to beat stress. With regular practice of yoga you can unite your mind, body, and spirit. Although it is used in the earlier days for spiritual transformation, now you can use it to beat stress and have a good physical being.
There are many benefits of practicing yoga. Some of the benefits are reduced stress, cure from diseases, lowering the blood pressure, spiritual growth, sense of well being, reduced anxiety, increased flexibility & strength, relieved asthma and allergy symptoms, slowed aging process and sound sleep. It is sure that you get more benefit than the effort that you put in practicing yoga.
In practicing yoga there are poses that serve in the form of exercises and there are poses that are done for purely spiritual purposes. The poses can be done faster in some exercises, while in some they are done slowly with a breathing process in them. Both the types have their own benefits. Among the numerous benefits that you get out of yoga stress relief is just one.
You need to spend some time daily or on alternate days to practice yoga. You have to do them properly and for that it is better to learn yoga from a master who is good in yoga. Although it can be practiced on your own, we may not be sure about the correctness of the poses that we do. Hence initially it is better to learn from a master and then practice it at home when you find some time. Some people may have physical limitations to do some poses. Regular practice of yoga gives you an psychological edge over others who are not practicing it.
There are pill and herbs available in the market that are used for stress reduction in a person. Although you can go for this option, yoga is the best method as it gives you other benefits when you do stretching exercises, breathing exercises, meditation and guided imagery. Moreover practicing yoga requires commitment and effort to do it regularly and to get the benefits out of it.
You can do yoga after a hectic day at office or after a busy weekend. This would relax you and relieve you off your pain. There are different kinds of poses in yoga that can be used to relax you. You can perform a simple search in the internet to locate the websites that give you information on the different poses that are used for stress reduction.
Books and videos for reducing stress through yoga are also available in the market. You can make use of these and practice yoga postures that are given in it. It is always better to find a teacher who can teach you the poses properly. You can find out a yoga studio in your locality using the internet. There are many sites that lists down the courses offered at different locations. You can use these websites to find out one that is near your locality.
To learn more about various yoga exercises and to stay fit visit simple yoga exercises to stay fit. Signup now at yoga beginners guide and get your free copy of the best selling ebook titled “A Beginner’s Guide to Yoga”.
Yoga is the best remedy for beating stress in your daily life. Yoga has a lot of postures, breathing exercises and meditation that helps you to beat stress from your daily life. Lot of asanas are available in yoga for reducing stress. You can use these asanas to deal with stress. Yoga promotes self-awareness and during the process it helps you to deal with stress in your day to day life.
It was practiced traditionally in the eastern countries and now it is picking up in the western countries. Understanding the benefits of yoga, now many companies are sponsoring yoga courses for their employees. The workers who are practicing yoga are more relaxed and hence their productivity is increased. Moreover they are more healthy and creative. This has driven more and more companies to go after yoga for their employees.
The techniques in yoga that are used to relieve stress include controlled breathing, physical movement, stretching, mental imagery, and meditation. Combining all these in the yoga practices enables the person who is practicing it to beat stress. With regular practice of yoga you can unite your mind, body, and spirit. Although it is used in the earlier days for spiritual transformation, now you can use it to beat stress and have a good physical being.
There are many benefits of practicing yoga. Some of the benefits are reduced stress, cure from diseases, lowering the blood pressure, spiritual growth, sense of well being, reduced anxiety, increased flexibility & strength, relieved asthma and allergy symptoms, slowed aging process and sound sleep. It is sure that you get more benefit than the effort that you put in practicing yoga.
In practicing yoga there are poses that serve in the form of exercises and there are poses that are done for purely spiritual purposes. The poses can be done faster in some exercises, while in some they are done slowly with a breathing process in them. Both the types have their own benefits. Among the numerous benefits that you get out of yoga stress relief is just one.
You need to spend some time daily or on alternate days to practice yoga. You have to do them properly and for that it is better to learn yoga from a master who is good in yoga. Although it can be practiced on your own, we may not be sure about the correctness of the poses that we do. Hence initially it is better to learn from a master and then practice it at home when you find some time. Some people may have physical limitations to do some poses. Regular practice of yoga gives you an psychological edge over others who are not practicing it.
There are pill and herbs available in the market that are used for stress reduction in a person. Although you can go for this option, yoga is the best method as it gives you other benefits when you do stretching exercises, breathing exercises, meditation and guided imagery. Moreover practicing yoga requires commitment and effort to do it regularly and to get the benefits out of it.
You can do yoga after a hectic day at office or after a busy weekend. This would relax you and relieve you off your pain. There are different kinds of poses in yoga that can be used to relax you. You can perform a simple search in the internet to locate the websites that give you information on the different poses that are used for stress reduction.
Books and videos for reducing stress through yoga are also available in the market. You can make use of these and practice yoga postures that are given in it. It is always better to find a teacher who can teach you the poses properly. You can find out a yoga studio in your locality using the internet. There are many sites that lists down the courses offered at different locations. You can use these websites to find out one that is near your locality.
To learn more about various yoga exercises and to stay fit visit simple yoga exercises to stay fit. Signup now at yoga beginners guide and get your free copy of the best selling ebook titled “A Beginner’s Guide to Yoga”.
February 23, 2009
Yoga for Seniors - Using Yoga to Reverse Aging
Yoga has become quite a popular exercise for people of all ages, but especially
for the seniors. Yoga exercise for elderly people can help reverse the aging process
and provide a wide range of positive benefits even if practiced on a moderate
basis. There are many styles of yoga ranging in degree of difficulty. However,
the basic moves and positions can be utilized by any age group. It is all about
how you approach your exercise program that makes the difference. Since everyone
is unique, it is always advisable to see your doctor before beginning any type
of exercise program.
The Benefits of Yoga Yoga can provide positive health benefits for anyone
but can be especially helpful for those more mature adults. The three main areas
of development would be balance, stretching, and strength. Balancing exercises
strengthen leg muscles and help to prevent falling. Every year in the U.S. there
are tens of thousands of patients admitted for broken hips and usually some type
of fall is the reason for the bone fractures. Balancing exercises can also help
you avoid disabilities that may result from falling.
Beginning Yoga Exercises
Stretching exercises can increase your range of motion and allow you to do more
of the things you need and want to do. Stretching by itself is not designed to
enhance strength or endurance, however keeping one?s muscles more flexible
can also reduce strains and may improve circulation as well. Flexibility exercises,
such as stretching, might help keep your body and joints limbered up, which could
help prevent injuries and falling. It sometimes can speed up a recovery from an
injury. Exercises for strength help build muscle as well as increasing your metabolic
rate. This stabilizes blood sugar which and helps you maintain a healthier weight.
By having stronger muscles, you will be less likely to need frequent assistance
in doing your normal routines.
The Mental Benefits of Yoga
Besides the physical attributes of yoga, there are several mental benefits seniors
can enjoy. By definition, yoga means union; therefore it is no surprise that one
of the main underlying concepts is to achieve greater peace and harmony by better
uniting the body and spirit. Perspectives on life and ourselves tend to change
as we advance in age. The spiritual side of the world receives more importance
as we grow older - this forms an excellent foundation for elderly people to start
practicing yoga.
Proper Warm-ups for Seniors
It is recommended for seniors to begin their yoga exercise with slow, controlled
motions. This phase can last for several weeks or longer depending on the individual.
It is especially important in the earlier stages to avoid muscle sprains and strains.
That will make the experience more enjoyable and safer while reducing the chances
for injury. Even while using this slow gradual approach, many retirees can still
benefit from improved circulation, range of motion and vitality.
Improve Your Circulation
Another benefit of yoga that most seniors can experience is improved circulation.
This helps to better utilize the oxygen in their blood vessels resulting in improved
memory and concentration. Many elderly people experience losses in these areas
as the age increases and yoga can help reduce or reverse some of these effects.
Seniors have many options for keeping fit through various forms of light exercise.
One of the most important and often overlooked keys to staying healthy is proper
breathing. That happens to be one of the foundations of yoga. Air feeds our bodies
just as much as food and water does. Slow, deep breathing through the nose helps
to cleanse the body on many different levels.
Just Get Started
Contrary to popular belief, yoga does not require years of practice to attain many positive results. In fact many elderly people really look forward to their yoga exercise sessions not only for the increased vitality also opportunities or social contacts if done in a group situation. The biggest key to succeeding is just get started.
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or web site, as long as you include the resource box and the active link to my website. Please notify me when it is used.
Barry Craft is the owner and webmaster of http://www.Yoga-Exercise-Help.com.
For more inspiring and useful tips about the benefits
of yoga, please visit our web site.
for the seniors. Yoga exercise for elderly people can help reverse the aging process
and provide a wide range of positive benefits even if practiced on a moderate
basis. There are many styles of yoga ranging in degree of difficulty. However,
the basic moves and positions can be utilized by any age group. It is all about
how you approach your exercise program that makes the difference. Since everyone
is unique, it is always advisable to see your doctor before beginning any type
of exercise program.
The Benefits of Yoga Yoga can provide positive health benefits for anyone
but can be especially helpful for those more mature adults. The three main areas
of development would be balance, stretching, and strength. Balancing exercises
strengthen leg muscles and help to prevent falling. Every year in the U.S. there
are tens of thousands of patients admitted for broken hips and usually some type
of fall is the reason for the bone fractures. Balancing exercises can also help
you avoid disabilities that may result from falling.
Beginning Yoga Exercises
Stretching exercises can increase your range of motion and allow you to do more
of the things you need and want to do. Stretching by itself is not designed to
enhance strength or endurance, however keeping one?s muscles more flexible
can also reduce strains and may improve circulation as well. Flexibility exercises,
such as stretching, might help keep your body and joints limbered up, which could
help prevent injuries and falling. It sometimes can speed up a recovery from an
injury. Exercises for strength help build muscle as well as increasing your metabolic
rate. This stabilizes blood sugar which and helps you maintain a healthier weight.
By having stronger muscles, you will be less likely to need frequent assistance
in doing your normal routines.
The Mental Benefits of Yoga
Besides the physical attributes of yoga, there are several mental benefits seniors
can enjoy. By definition, yoga means union; therefore it is no surprise that one
of the main underlying concepts is to achieve greater peace and harmony by better
uniting the body and spirit. Perspectives on life and ourselves tend to change
as we advance in age. The spiritual side of the world receives more importance
as we grow older - this forms an excellent foundation for elderly people to start
practicing yoga.
Proper Warm-ups for Seniors
It is recommended for seniors to begin their yoga exercise with slow, controlled
motions. This phase can last for several weeks or longer depending on the individual.
It is especially important in the earlier stages to avoid muscle sprains and strains.
That will make the experience more enjoyable and safer while reducing the chances
for injury. Even while using this slow gradual approach, many retirees can still
benefit from improved circulation, range of motion and vitality.
Improve Your Circulation
Another benefit of yoga that most seniors can experience is improved circulation.
This helps to better utilize the oxygen in their blood vessels resulting in improved
memory and concentration. Many elderly people experience losses in these areas
as the age increases and yoga can help reduce or reverse some of these effects.
Seniors have many options for keeping fit through various forms of light exercise.
One of the most important and often overlooked keys to staying healthy is proper
breathing. That happens to be one of the foundations of yoga. Air feeds our bodies
just as much as food and water does. Slow, deep breathing through the nose helps
to cleanse the body on many different levels.
Just Get Started
Contrary to popular belief, yoga does not require years of practice to attain many positive results. In fact many elderly people really look forward to their yoga exercise sessions not only for the increased vitality also opportunities or social contacts if done in a group situation. The biggest key to succeeding is just get started.
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or web site, as long as you include the resource box and the active link to my website. Please notify me when it is used.
Barry Craft is the owner and webmaster of http://www.Yoga-Exercise-Help.com.
For more inspiring and useful tips about the benefits
of yoga, please visit our web site.
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