As many of you know, Yoga is something you can practice any time. You can be mindful of others, show loving kindness, forgive, give to charity, keep good posture, eat right, and practice Yogic breathing techniques during your day, without much problem.
Those who practice physical forms of Yoga will have to set aside time during the day for Asanas. Meditation is practiced without any distractions, therefore, you will have to budget your time. It may be more convenient to practice meditation after your Asanas are finished. So far, everything seems easy enough for the average Yoga practitioner to fit into his or her lifestyle.
Alternately, self analysis is a part of Yoga that many practitioners do not have time for. You cannot practice self analysis when you are ?in the heat of battle.? This preoccupation will cause self doubt if you are in a pressurized situation. You must react to life as it is right now, and be in the moment to find solutions.
This seems to be a paradox: We think of self analysis and Yoga as empowering practices. We do not associate self analysis with temporary mental paralysis.
However, in order for you to make significant discoveries about yourself, and consider how to apply your skills to life, there is a certain amount of time needed to envision the fruits of your labor. You will then have to put your visions, plans, and goals into action.
So, how, and when, do you make the time for a self analysis session? Much like Yogic meditation, you need a quiet time and place. Try to allow one hour per week; and if you come up with a blank, at a certain point, finish your session with meditation. You can meditate on a related point, or practice, any familiar Yogic form of meditation.
Self analysis sessions require a pen and paper. Although some of you may opt for a PDA, or a laptop, some will still prefer the experience of putting an idea down on paper. This will also give you something to reflect on during the week and in the following sessions.
Just like Yoga practice, self analysis can be practiced with others, with a coach, or with a teacher. The big difference is the direction your session will go in.
Anyone you choose to share thoughts with must be trustworthy or there will be no benefit. Therefore, much like your meditation sessions this is very much a rewarding form of self discovery. If you have any difficulty, this skill can be improved by practicing with a competent Yoga teacher.
? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Showing posts with label Good Posture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good Posture. Show all posts
March 2, 2009
March 1, 2009
Yoga and Your Heart
The leading cause of death for both men and women in United States according to American Heart Association is Coronary Heart Disease, which causes approximately 1.5 million heart attacks each year. Recently, research has shown that yoga and meditation have been known to reduce blood pressure, regulate heart rhythm, improve the elasticity of the arteries, lower pulse rate and increases the heart’s stroke volume. In short, practicing this ancient art of body/mind wellness is good for the heart.
The factor that contributes heavily to heart disease is stress. Situations which are highly stressful, increase the heart rate and blood pressure. The stress hormones get released during a stressful situation; extended or recurrent exposure of these hormones can injure the heart and the blood vessels. Yoga promotes a relaxed state of mind and body and is also widely known for playing a vital role in reduction of stress hormones, decreasing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
The way a person breathes strongly influences the heart rhythm through the inner connections in the central nervous system. Pranayama, which is the yogic name for breathing exercises, encourages taking slow, deep breaths and reciting yogic mantras verbally. Due to this method of taking slow, deep breaths the heart rate slows down and more oxygen enters the blood. This in turn induces a calm and well being throughout the mind and body. The chances of having a heart attacks and strokes gets greatly reduced because of this slow steady breath rhythm.
Heart Disease can be controlled and prevented by using specific types of Yogic Asanas (Postures). The Chest can be opened up to improve respiration and functioning of the heart by using the upper back- bending postures. The side bending yogic postures has been shown to help remove the physical and energetic blockages in the heart and chest. In order to promote the functioning of the heart, compression of the heart and lungs a good posture is required and spine lengthening yogic poses provides just that.
The preferred yogic asana for relaxation is called the Savasana (Corpse Pose). In order to perform this asana a person lies down quietly on a flat surface on his/her back with the arms by his/her side for 10 to 15 minutes. The concentration is placed on the flow of the breath. This practice promotes tranquility and rest, which is healing to the heart. This yogic posture has been known to reduce the blood pressure within a matter of weeks. Using inversions can increase the blood circulation.
Research has shown that a person performing yoga and meditation at least three times a week has been shown to reduce their blood pressure, pulse and their overall risk of heart disease. Meditation is well known for its ability to provide tranquility to the mind and decrease the level of stress. Meditation also reduces emotions like anxiety, hostility and depression, which are harmful to the heart. The practice of daily meditation has been shown in the studies to reduce the blood pressure and also the amount of fatty deposits in the arteries.
While Practicing yoga a person is automatically led to choose a healthier lifestyle, which involves reducing or avoiding alcohol, foods rich in cholesterol and fat, refined sugar and caffeine. While heart disease can be averted or controlled by above-mentioned yogic postures, if all of them are performed together a potent therapeutic synergy is created on the heart. It has been shown by the famous Dr. Dean Ornish’s heart-healthy lifestyle studies that not only can heart disease be prevented or controlled but also it can reversed through a healthier diet, meditation and yoga.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Yoga
The factor that contributes heavily to heart disease is stress. Situations which are highly stressful, increase the heart rate and blood pressure. The stress hormones get released during a stressful situation; extended or recurrent exposure of these hormones can injure the heart and the blood vessels. Yoga promotes a relaxed state of mind and body and is also widely known for playing a vital role in reduction of stress hormones, decreasing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
The way a person breathes strongly influences the heart rhythm through the inner connections in the central nervous system. Pranayama, which is the yogic name for breathing exercises, encourages taking slow, deep breaths and reciting yogic mantras verbally. Due to this method of taking slow, deep breaths the heart rate slows down and more oxygen enters the blood. This in turn induces a calm and well being throughout the mind and body. The chances of having a heart attacks and strokes gets greatly reduced because of this slow steady breath rhythm.
Heart Disease can be controlled and prevented by using specific types of Yogic Asanas (Postures). The Chest can be opened up to improve respiration and functioning of the heart by using the upper back- bending postures. The side bending yogic postures has been shown to help remove the physical and energetic blockages in the heart and chest. In order to promote the functioning of the heart, compression of the heart and lungs a good posture is required and spine lengthening yogic poses provides just that.
The preferred yogic asana for relaxation is called the Savasana (Corpse Pose). In order to perform this asana a person lies down quietly on a flat surface on his/her back with the arms by his/her side for 10 to 15 minutes. The concentration is placed on the flow of the breath. This practice promotes tranquility and rest, which is healing to the heart. This yogic posture has been known to reduce the blood pressure within a matter of weeks. Using inversions can increase the blood circulation.
Research has shown that a person performing yoga and meditation at least three times a week has been shown to reduce their blood pressure, pulse and their overall risk of heart disease. Meditation is well known for its ability to provide tranquility to the mind and decrease the level of stress. Meditation also reduces emotions like anxiety, hostility and depression, which are harmful to the heart. The practice of daily meditation has been shown in the studies to reduce the blood pressure and also the amount of fatty deposits in the arteries.
While Practicing yoga a person is automatically led to choose a healthier lifestyle, which involves reducing or avoiding alcohol, foods rich in cholesterol and fat, refined sugar and caffeine. While heart disease can be averted or controlled by above-mentioned yogic postures, if all of them are performed together a potent therapeutic synergy is created on the heart. It has been shown by the famous Dr. Dean Ornish’s heart-healthy lifestyle studies that not only can heart disease be prevented or controlled but also it can reversed through a healthier diet, meditation and yoga.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Yoga
February 23, 2009
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga has numerous benefits however, the benefits of yoga depends on how regularly you are practicing and also how you are practicing (example are you practicing only yogasana or also along with yogasana, you are combining it with pranayama,
Scientific Relaxation and meditation. The benefit increases when you combine yogasana (physical exercise) with meditation, relaxation and Pranayama.
Laboratory studies show that Yogic meditation produces the ‘relaxation response’. In physiological terms the Relaxation Response shows as a marked decrease in the breathing rate and in oxygen consumption, a lowering of the heart rate ,a decrease in blood pressure in meditators whose levels had been higher than normal, and the production during meditation of
Alpha waves in the brain which are associated with mental relaxation.”
Following are the benefits of yoga when practices regularly:
Flexibility and strength
Yoga postures stretch and strengthen muscles and ligaments and put joints through their full range of movement.
Good posture and better look
You develop the postures which are beautiful to look at. Firm muscle tone, bright eyes and clear complexion contribute to the
radiant appearance of the person. This, combined with good posture and grace of movement, makes for a pleasing outward
appearance.
Breathe smoothly and efficiently
Yogic breathing strengthens the diaphragm and encourages deeper, freer breathing.
Sleep well
Scientific relaxation helps in sound sleep and refreshing the body and mind.
Concentrate well
Yoga Posture, yogic breathing, relaxation and meditation all help to calm and still the mind. When your mind is calm and still you develop higher concentration for your work.
Cope well with stress
The improvements to your health and the ability to relax deeply that come with yoga make you more resilient. Even in times of crisis you can learn to cope well without getting much stressed.Massaging of all organs of the body ? It massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner.
Benefits of yoga for sports professionals
? Gentle hatha yoga can be used to lubricate joints and relax muscle tensions.
? It can help in correcting muscle imbalances resulting from high impact training, strengthening the spine to prevent pain
and injury.
? Yoga can help to balance your lower body strength. Healthy movement requires less expenditure of energy, so you will
have greater reserves to take longer, faster strides.
? Standing yoga postures correctly align the knee.
? Dynamic yoga develops stamina and upper body strength without tightness in the shoulders also prepares the
cardiovascular system and muscles for peak performance.
? Yoga and breath work can benefit the mind in competition to improve confidence and concentration.
Yoga therapy is also used in treating following ailments in our body system.
Bronchial Asthma
Nasal Allergy
High and low BP and
Heart Diseases
Anxiety and Depressive Neurosis
Long and short sight, astigmatism, and squint, initial stages of cataract and glaucoma
Diabetes
Obesity
Migraine, Tension Headache
Rheumatism and Arthritis
Low Back pain. . Cancer and many more.
Mr Subodh Gupta,is consultant with NIE The Times of India group (India’s largest Media Group).He has been Interviewed by various TV channel channels in India and London. Mr Gupta has organized more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management.
Please click here for reaching to Subodh Gupta website Subodh Gupta webSite
and for blog Subodh Gupta blog
Scientific Relaxation and meditation. The benefit increases when you combine yogasana (physical exercise) with meditation, relaxation and Pranayama.
Laboratory studies show that Yogic meditation produces the ‘relaxation response’. In physiological terms the Relaxation Response shows as a marked decrease in the breathing rate and in oxygen consumption, a lowering of the heart rate ,a decrease in blood pressure in meditators whose levels had been higher than normal, and the production during meditation of
Alpha waves in the brain which are associated with mental relaxation.”
Following are the benefits of yoga when practices regularly:
Flexibility and strength
Yoga postures stretch and strengthen muscles and ligaments and put joints through their full range of movement.
Good posture and better look
You develop the postures which are beautiful to look at. Firm muscle tone, bright eyes and clear complexion contribute to the
radiant appearance of the person. This, combined with good posture and grace of movement, makes for a pleasing outward
appearance.
Breathe smoothly and efficiently
Yogic breathing strengthens the diaphragm and encourages deeper, freer breathing.
Sleep well
Scientific relaxation helps in sound sleep and refreshing the body and mind.
Concentrate well
Yoga Posture, yogic breathing, relaxation and meditation all help to calm and still the mind. When your mind is calm and still you develop higher concentration for your work.
Cope well with stress
The improvements to your health and the ability to relax deeply that come with yoga make you more resilient. Even in times of crisis you can learn to cope well without getting much stressed.Massaging of all organs of the body ? It massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner.
Benefits of yoga for sports professionals
? Gentle hatha yoga can be used to lubricate joints and relax muscle tensions.
? It can help in correcting muscle imbalances resulting from high impact training, strengthening the spine to prevent pain
and injury.
? Yoga can help to balance your lower body strength. Healthy movement requires less expenditure of energy, so you will
have greater reserves to take longer, faster strides.
? Standing yoga postures correctly align the knee.
? Dynamic yoga develops stamina and upper body strength without tightness in the shoulders also prepares the
cardiovascular system and muscles for peak performance.
? Yoga and breath work can benefit the mind in competition to improve confidence and concentration.
Yoga therapy is also used in treating following ailments in our body system.
Bronchial Asthma
Nasal Allergy
High and low BP and
Heart Diseases
Anxiety and Depressive Neurosis
Long and short sight, astigmatism, and squint, initial stages of cataract and glaucoma
Diabetes
Obesity
Migraine, Tension Headache
Rheumatism and Arthritis
Low Back pain. . Cancer and many more.
Mr Subodh Gupta,is consultant with NIE The Times of India group (India’s largest Media Group).He has been Interviewed by various TV channel channels in India and London. Mr Gupta has organized more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management.
Please click here for reaching to Subodh Gupta website Subodh Gupta webSite
and for blog Subodh Gupta blog
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