The benefits of exercise are well known especially the positive affect that it has on the health of your heart. Through exercise you will lower your weight, your cholesterol, and your blood pressure. This will all result in less work on your heart and if you already are having heart problems, exercise can help keep your heart beat regulated and expand your blood vessels.
According to physicians a regular exercise regimen is one of the best things that you can do to ensure that your heart stays healthy. If you have not been active, don’t rush into it. Just start out walking a few minutes and increase it gradually, you will be surprised at how quickly you will gain strength and endurance. Don’t overdo it when you first get started. Starting out slow will help condition your heart and give you the encouragement to increase the amount and intensity of your exercise.
A great form of exercise for baby boomers to consider is the practice of Yoga. Yoga is very low impact and focuses on breathing and relaxation methods. One of the great things about yoga is that any one of any size or age can start doing Yoga and make an impact on their health. When you add in the relaxation methods used in yoga practice you can bring down your blood pressure and relieve stress that is harmful to your heart.
The practice of Yoga has long been proven to be effective in relieving stress, calming nerves, and promoting heart health. This is why many fitness clubs now have begun to offer yoga classes with certified trainers that will help beginners learn to practice yoga safely. Yoga practice urges you to listen to your body and build up to working to your full capacity. Special needs can be discussed with the trainer and routines custom-made to fit your body.
If there are no classes available in your area, Look online for yoga tapes and other low impact tapes that will guide your new exercise routine or got to your local library and see what information and media products they may have on the subject.
It doesn’t matter which exercise you start with, what’s important is to make it a regular part of your daily routine. Walking is possibly the easiest and least expensive way to start exercising and just about anyone can do it. Be sure to buy a good pair of walking shoes to protect you feet and you’re all set.
Before starting any physical exercise routine, contact your doctor. He may also recommend the right exercise just for you.
Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about exercise and weight loss at http://www.shop4betterhealth.com
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
March 5, 2009
Lose Weight: How to Exercise and Burn Fat on a Busy Schedule
In my fitness consulting business, I get the opportunity to talk with people from all walks of life about their health, fitness, and weight loss goals. Whether their goal is to lose weight, gain muscle, stick to a diet plan or program, improve their cardiovascular health, or simply to maintain their current fitness level they all have one common enemy—TIME.
For most of us, the #1 challenge in the quest to stay in shape
and/or lose weight is not exercising itself but being able to actually
fit an exercise program into our busy schedules.
So how do you do it? How do you balance the demands of family,
career, important errands, relationships, organizational responsibilities,
and working out? I have found that there are five keys that will
help you to be able to fit a consistent workout plan into your already
hectic life.
1. Commit to a specific schedule
When you fail to plan you plan to fail. Don’t try to haphazardly fit your
workouts into your schedule without any rhyme or reason. Don’t think you’re
guilty? If you’ve ever told yourself “I’ll workout as soon as I get some time”,
you were in direct violation of this key principle.
In order to set yourself up for success, you will need to take the time
to literally write your workouts into your weekly schedule. In order to be effective,
you will want to be following your exercise program at least 3 days per week.
Anything less would be kidding yourself.
Therefore, right in the midst of all of your appointments, “to-do” lists,
etc., should be a written plan for your weekly workout routine, so that
you will never be in the dark as to when you committed to yourself to go.
2. Utilize the weekend
Take advantage of the fact that it only takes 3-5 days per week to put
together an effective, results-producing workout. One trick to help you
pull it all off is to workout on the weekends. One of the benefits to this
course of action is that your schedule is more flexible and under your
control during this time.
What is also means is that when the hectic weekdays roll back around,
you will only be responsible for working out 1-3 days during the work week.
3. Keep your workouts as a high priority
One of the biggest mistakes that even many people who have scheduled
a workout program into their schedule make is allowing it to be bumped
off of their schedule to easily.
Although things will occassionally come up that will cause you to
have to reschedule the workout you had planned, you must be vigilant
in making sure that only the most important emergencies are allowed
to temporarily take you off of your plan.
In the event that one of those important emergencies does happen
and you can’t make it to your workout, reschedule with yourself to make
it up on the next possible day that you are available to do so. If your
own health, fitness, and efforts to lose weight are not a priority to
you, they certainly won’t be so to anyone else.
4. Enroll others in your goals
Don’t go at this alone. Let the important people in your life
know what you are up to. Your spouse or love interest, parents, children,
co-workers, and close friends will often pitch in and help you to meet
your fitness or weight loss commitment to yourself if you make them aware
and ask for their support.
Leverage these relationships to delegate some of your normal responsibilities
or even allow you to shift appointments that you have with them as you restructure
your schedule for your workout. If any of them are into exercise or trying
to lose weight themselves, don’t hesitate to form a buddy system with them
as you move forward with your program.
5. Don’t beat yourself up
No matter who you are, there will be times in your workout program
that you just aren’t able to keep it up as you would like due to outside
demands. Don’t be too tough on yourself when that happens.
Remember that it is what you do consistently over a long period
of time, not what you do in spurts, that truly counts. Just make sure that
you get back on the horse full force as soon as you can and continue to
press forward, doing your best to avoid slacking off again.
No matter what goals you have for health, fitness, or weight loss, you
CAN fit an effective exercise program into that hectic schedule of yours
and be amazingly successful at getting the exact results that you want!
To Your Best Body,
Lawrence Cole
Your Lifestyle and Fitness Coach
YourbestbodyNOW.com
Lawrence Cole is a Lifestyle and Fitness Consultant based
out of Los Angeles, CA. He has over 10 years of health and
fitness experience and designing simple, effective nutritional
strategies to help individuals achieve their personal best
internal health and physical conditioning.
See this Weight Loss article on YourBestBodyNOW.com
For most of us, the #1 challenge in the quest to stay in shape
and/or lose weight is not exercising itself but being able to actually
fit an exercise program into our busy schedules.
So how do you do it? How do you balance the demands of family,
career, important errands, relationships, organizational responsibilities,
and working out? I have found that there are five keys that will
help you to be able to fit a consistent workout plan into your already
hectic life.
1. Commit to a specific schedule
When you fail to plan you plan to fail. Don’t try to haphazardly fit your
workouts into your schedule without any rhyme or reason. Don’t think you’re
guilty? If you’ve ever told yourself “I’ll workout as soon as I get some time”,
you were in direct violation of this key principle.
In order to set yourself up for success, you will need to take the time
to literally write your workouts into your weekly schedule. In order to be effective,
you will want to be following your exercise program at least 3 days per week.
Anything less would be kidding yourself.
Therefore, right in the midst of all of your appointments, “to-do” lists,
etc., should be a written plan for your weekly workout routine, so that
you will never be in the dark as to when you committed to yourself to go.
2. Utilize the weekend
Take advantage of the fact that it only takes 3-5 days per week to put
together an effective, results-producing workout. One trick to help you
pull it all off is to workout on the weekends. One of the benefits to this
course of action is that your schedule is more flexible and under your
control during this time.
What is also means is that when the hectic weekdays roll back around,
you will only be responsible for working out 1-3 days during the work week.
3. Keep your workouts as a high priority
One of the biggest mistakes that even many people who have scheduled
a workout program into their schedule make is allowing it to be bumped
off of their schedule to easily.
Although things will occassionally come up that will cause you to
have to reschedule the workout you had planned, you must be vigilant
in making sure that only the most important emergencies are allowed
to temporarily take you off of your plan.
In the event that one of those important emergencies does happen
and you can’t make it to your workout, reschedule with yourself to make
it up on the next possible day that you are available to do so. If your
own health, fitness, and efforts to lose weight are not a priority to
you, they certainly won’t be so to anyone else.
4. Enroll others in your goals
Don’t go at this alone. Let the important people in your life
know what you are up to. Your spouse or love interest, parents, children,
co-workers, and close friends will often pitch in and help you to meet
your fitness or weight loss commitment to yourself if you make them aware
and ask for their support.
Leverage these relationships to delegate some of your normal responsibilities
or even allow you to shift appointments that you have with them as you restructure
your schedule for your workout. If any of them are into exercise or trying
to lose weight themselves, don’t hesitate to form a buddy system with them
as you move forward with your program.
5. Don’t beat yourself up
No matter who you are, there will be times in your workout program
that you just aren’t able to keep it up as you would like due to outside
demands. Don’t be too tough on yourself when that happens.
Remember that it is what you do consistently over a long period
of time, not what you do in spurts, that truly counts. Just make sure that
you get back on the horse full force as soon as you can and continue to
press forward, doing your best to avoid slacking off again.
No matter what goals you have for health, fitness, or weight loss, you
CAN fit an effective exercise program into that hectic schedule of yours
and be amazingly successful at getting the exact results that you want!
To Your Best Body,
Lawrence Cole
Your Lifestyle and Fitness Coach
YourbestbodyNOW.com
Lawrence Cole is a Lifestyle and Fitness Consultant based
out of Los Angeles, CA. He has over 10 years of health and
fitness experience and designing simple, effective nutritional
strategies to help individuals achieve their personal best
internal health and physical conditioning.
See this Weight Loss article on YourBestBodyNOW.com
The Top 5 Pilates Exercises to Get You Started!
Breathing:
Although simple - If you breath correctly, you will find it easy to relax and provide adequete oxygene to your muscles. You will notice the difference when you breathe correctly as it will enhance your overall experience. Breathing is a major part of all pilates exercises. You simply breathe in through your nose for a count of five, and out through your mouth for a count of 5, with a shushing sound. Make the breaths into short, rhythmic bursts - in,in,in,in,in and shush,shush,shush,shush,shush. Never rush your breathing and don’t go overboard to the point that you feel light headed and fall over.
Toe Lifts:
This will help you with core balance. Core balance works in harmony with the alignment of your feet supporting your whole body. You will be amazed at how much strength your toes possess to balance your body. This movement strengthens the muscles on the top of your feet and increases the blood flow into your toes. Poor circulation to your feet can lead to stiff muscles and problems that affect the rest of your body.
This is a very simple exercise designed to improve circulation and enhance your awareness of balance.
Start standing with your feet together inlign with your body. Hold your head straight and keep your arms rested at your sides. Start simply by raising your right foot toes slowly up as far as they will go and then back down again. Do this a couple of times alternating feet.
Then lift up the toes of both feet at the same time pressing the metatarsal bones at the base of your toes strongly and evenly into the floor.
** Remember - Do not roll your feet inward or outward while performing the exercise. And do not lean back as you lift **
You should be breathing in as you lift, and breathing out as you lower your toes. Try closing your eyes as you exhale and lower your toes. Keep your eyes closed for five repetitions and you will notice an improvement in your sense of balance.
Finger Flicks:
This exercise improves the circulation in your arms and hands. The increased blood flow into the fingertips helps to flush out toxins and reduce arthritis or stiffness in the joints. It’s also a good forearm workout and is excellent for relieving aching elbows.
Start standing with your feet together inlign with your body. Hold your hands down in front of you below your waist and make loose fists by rolling up your fingers with your thumb on top. In this exercise your arms should always be fully extended as they move in a circular motion into six main positions.
1. Down and in front. Hands facing inwards.
2. Raised to shoulder height and in front. Hands facing inward
3. Stretched straight up. Hands facing inward.
4. Stretched out to the sides. Hands facing upwards.
5. Lowered to 45 degrees. Hands facing down.
6. Lowered to sides. Hands facing inward.
The idea is to strongly flick your fingers open continually throughout all the positions. Do eight flicks while you stand in position 1 and four flicks as you move to position 2. Do eight flicks while standing in position 2 and four flicks as you move into position 3. Continue this pattern.
** Remember - Keep your wrists still and your arms straight **
The Hundred:
This is a classic pilates exercise so named because it takes a count of 100 to complete. This exercise strengthens core abdominal muscles and expands the chest and ribcage.
This is a floor or mat exercise. It involves raising your legs to vertical and waving or pulsing your arms up and down in small motions.
1. Start by lying on the floor with knees bent as if you were doing sit-ups and have your arms resting palm down at your side.
2. Squeeze your abdominal muscles so that your head, neck, and shoulders raise off the floor. Keep your abdominals squeezed tight throughout the whole exercise. Stretch your arms forward toward your toes and start pulsing them up and down a distance of about 15cm. Stay is this position for a count of 20.
3. Slowly lift your legs to a 90 degree angle with your body. Continue the pumping for a further count of 20.
4. Slowly extend your legs straight up to the ceiling and keep pumping for 20 counts.
5. Begin to lower your legs at a 45 degree diagonal to your torso and keep pumping for 20 counts.
6. Keep your legs straight and lower them as close to the ground as possible without lifting your spine off the floor and keep pumping for 20 counts.
7. Lower your head to the floor. Release your arms, bend your knees, and place your feet back on the floor.
Roll-up to Diamond:
This exercise works your abdominals and improves flexibility of your spine. This is a floor or mat exercise and involves rolling up your upper body while extending your arms.
1. Lie with your legs in the diamond position. Keep your back flat on the floor and rest your arms on the floor above your head. The diamond position is when you point your toes and bring your legs into a diamond shape with your knees out to the sides.
2. Lift your arms toward the ceiling and slowly start rolling or peeling your upper body off the floor from your head down.
3. Keep peeling and extend your legs forward while keeping your toes pointed.
4. Stretch your arms and torso forward over your legs creating a C shape with your body. Keep your abdominal muscles tight and hold your arms directly around your ears.
5. Begin to roll back down to the floor pulling your legs back into the diamond position. Your arms should start to point to the ceiling again.
6. Finish in the starting position with your spine flat on the floor, your hands resting above your head and your legs in the diamond position.
** Remember - Keep the movement fluid and constant. Work with your abdominal muscles. Don’t straighten your spine while rolling. If you feel any stress or discomfort, hold on to your thighs until you are stronger. **
For more pilates exercises check out http://www.pilates-class.com
You can find more great Pilates information at Pilates - Women
Although simple - If you breath correctly, you will find it easy to relax and provide adequete oxygene to your muscles. You will notice the difference when you breathe correctly as it will enhance your overall experience. Breathing is a major part of all pilates exercises. You simply breathe in through your nose for a count of five, and out through your mouth for a count of 5, with a shushing sound. Make the breaths into short, rhythmic bursts - in,in,in,in,in and shush,shush,shush,shush,shush. Never rush your breathing and don’t go overboard to the point that you feel light headed and fall over.
Toe Lifts:
This will help you with core balance. Core balance works in harmony with the alignment of your feet supporting your whole body. You will be amazed at how much strength your toes possess to balance your body. This movement strengthens the muscles on the top of your feet and increases the blood flow into your toes. Poor circulation to your feet can lead to stiff muscles and problems that affect the rest of your body.
This is a very simple exercise designed to improve circulation and enhance your awareness of balance.
Start standing with your feet together inlign with your body. Hold your head straight and keep your arms rested at your sides. Start simply by raising your right foot toes slowly up as far as they will go and then back down again. Do this a couple of times alternating feet.
Then lift up the toes of both feet at the same time pressing the metatarsal bones at the base of your toes strongly and evenly into the floor.
** Remember - Do not roll your feet inward or outward while performing the exercise. And do not lean back as you lift **
You should be breathing in as you lift, and breathing out as you lower your toes. Try closing your eyes as you exhale and lower your toes. Keep your eyes closed for five repetitions and you will notice an improvement in your sense of balance.
Finger Flicks:
This exercise improves the circulation in your arms and hands. The increased blood flow into the fingertips helps to flush out toxins and reduce arthritis or stiffness in the joints. It’s also a good forearm workout and is excellent for relieving aching elbows.
Start standing with your feet together inlign with your body. Hold your hands down in front of you below your waist and make loose fists by rolling up your fingers with your thumb on top. In this exercise your arms should always be fully extended as they move in a circular motion into six main positions.
1. Down and in front. Hands facing inwards.
2. Raised to shoulder height and in front. Hands facing inward
3. Stretched straight up. Hands facing inward.
4. Stretched out to the sides. Hands facing upwards.
5. Lowered to 45 degrees. Hands facing down.
6. Lowered to sides. Hands facing inward.
The idea is to strongly flick your fingers open continually throughout all the positions. Do eight flicks while you stand in position 1 and four flicks as you move to position 2. Do eight flicks while standing in position 2 and four flicks as you move into position 3. Continue this pattern.
** Remember - Keep your wrists still and your arms straight **
The Hundred:
This is a classic pilates exercise so named because it takes a count of 100 to complete. This exercise strengthens core abdominal muscles and expands the chest and ribcage.
This is a floor or mat exercise. It involves raising your legs to vertical and waving or pulsing your arms up and down in small motions.
1. Start by lying on the floor with knees bent as if you were doing sit-ups and have your arms resting palm down at your side.
2. Squeeze your abdominal muscles so that your head, neck, and shoulders raise off the floor. Keep your abdominals squeezed tight throughout the whole exercise. Stretch your arms forward toward your toes and start pulsing them up and down a distance of about 15cm. Stay is this position for a count of 20.
3. Slowly lift your legs to a 90 degree angle with your body. Continue the pumping for a further count of 20.
4. Slowly extend your legs straight up to the ceiling and keep pumping for 20 counts.
5. Begin to lower your legs at a 45 degree diagonal to your torso and keep pumping for 20 counts.
6. Keep your legs straight and lower them as close to the ground as possible without lifting your spine off the floor and keep pumping for 20 counts.
7. Lower your head to the floor. Release your arms, bend your knees, and place your feet back on the floor.
Roll-up to Diamond:
This exercise works your abdominals and improves flexibility of your spine. This is a floor or mat exercise and involves rolling up your upper body while extending your arms.
1. Lie with your legs in the diamond position. Keep your back flat on the floor and rest your arms on the floor above your head. The diamond position is when you point your toes and bring your legs into a diamond shape with your knees out to the sides.
2. Lift your arms toward the ceiling and slowly start rolling or peeling your upper body off the floor from your head down.
3. Keep peeling and extend your legs forward while keeping your toes pointed.
4. Stretch your arms and torso forward over your legs creating a C shape with your body. Keep your abdominal muscles tight and hold your arms directly around your ears.
5. Begin to roll back down to the floor pulling your legs back into the diamond position. Your arms should start to point to the ceiling again.
6. Finish in the starting position with your spine flat on the floor, your hands resting above your head and your legs in the diamond position.
** Remember - Keep the movement fluid and constant. Work with your abdominal muscles. Don’t straighten your spine while rolling. If you feel any stress or discomfort, hold on to your thighs until you are stronger. **
For more pilates exercises check out http://www.pilates-class.com
You can find more great Pilates information at Pilates - Women
Five Tips for Easy Weight Loss!
Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially considering the fact that more than half of us are overweight. As we get older we often get busier, and before we know it, find ourselves in the prime of our lives and packing a few extra pounds. With so little extra time in our lives it is impractical to join the latest diet fad or commit to sweating in the gym for hours at a time. Are we all destined to grow outward with each passing year, or is there a simple way for us to reclaim our healthy figures? If you struggle with your own battle of the bulge read on for five sure-fire ways to drop a few of those unwanted pounds, and more importantly learn how you can prevent packing them in the first place!
TIP #1: Burn it in the AM.
What is the first thing you do when you wake each morning? Hit the snooze button for an extra ten minutes of sleep? What if I told you that taking those ten minutes to strap on your sneakers and walk briskly around the block would result in weight loss? It has been proven that aerobic activity done on an empty stomach forces your body to recruit energy from storage. This energy is stored in the form of fat on various parts of your body. Starting tomorrow take ten minutes out of your morning to walk briskly around the block before breakfast. Do not sprint or try to walk as quickly as possible, simply walk at a pace that you could comfortably hold a conversation. This seemingly small activity, when done consistently, will produce surprising weight loss results!
TIP #2 Forget Your Late Night Snack.
I know I am not the only one who enjoys eating a snack after dinner! Although comfort food seems to taste better right before bed, it is also more prone to stick with us when eaten late at night. It has been proven that not eating three hours before bed reduces fat storage throughout the night. If you go to bed at 10pm, finish eating for the day no later than 7pm. Once you have made this a habit you will be ecstatic over the long term weight loss!
TIP #3 Kiss that Frappuccino Goodbye.
What tastes better than a frothy, venti frappuccino smothered in whip cream and chocolate syrup? While blended coffee beverages have rapidly gained popularity with the masses, their caloric tallies have been all but ignored. Whether you are an avid Starbucker, or only wander in for an occasional treat, it is important to know the truth about what you are drinking. The average Venti sized frappuccino weighs in at 530 calories. This staggering number equals 2.5 bagels, or one third of the recommended daily calories for an average woman. Not only is this an extreme amount of calories to be consumed in a beverage but the calories come purely from sugar, which is easily stored as fat. Next time you are in line at the coffee shop and find yourself eyeing a sugary beverage, redirect your attention to the tea selection, or stick with an old fashioned cup of coffee.
TIP #4 Fuel Your Fire.
Have you ever tended a campfire? You probably remember continuously adding sticks and branches to keep the fire from running out of fuel. Your body?s metabolism is similar in its need for constant fuel. Eating a small meal every three hours is a great way to keep your metabolism high all day long. When your metabolism is high you burn more calories throughout the day and are less likely to store fat. Rather than eating 2 or 3 large meals a day, and allowing your ?fire? to go out, giving way to hunger pains, try eating a small meal every three hours and be amazed at your weight loss results.
TIP #5 Curb Your Carbs
I?m sure sometime in the past year you have found yourself subjected to the testimony of a converted ?low-carb? enthusiast. While these people may look great it is definitely not the right diet for everyone. Extreme fatigue, crankiness and downright impracticality are what make this diet a tough cookie to swallow. Cutting one or two carb-filled items out of your daily diet can make a huge difference in meeting weight loss goals. While I wouldn?t recommend throwing out your bread basket entirely, consciously cutting carb-filled items out of your daily food intake is a great idea. If you normally have a sandwich for lunch make it open-faced, thus cutting out half of the bread. If you enjoy eating pasta for dinner reduce your pasta portion and add extra vegetables. These minor changes to your daily diet will prove themselves priceless when you step onto the scale!
It is you against the bulge, and now that you are armed with these 5 tips for easy weight loss, I am confident that you are going to win! Keep in mind that consistency is the key. The more effort that you put into implementing these 5 tips into your daily lifestyle, the quicker the unwanted pounds will disappear!
Diana Keuilian, author, ACE certified Personal Trainer, and co-founder of HitechTrainer.com offers online personal training and nutrition programs that fit your budget and schedule. Whether your goal is to lose weight, firm and tone, or to build muscle, HitechTrainer.com will build a custom designed program just for you.
Visit: http://www.hitechtrainer.com/ and begin meeting your fitness goals today!
TIP #1: Burn it in the AM.
What is the first thing you do when you wake each morning? Hit the snooze button for an extra ten minutes of sleep? What if I told you that taking those ten minutes to strap on your sneakers and walk briskly around the block would result in weight loss? It has been proven that aerobic activity done on an empty stomach forces your body to recruit energy from storage. This energy is stored in the form of fat on various parts of your body. Starting tomorrow take ten minutes out of your morning to walk briskly around the block before breakfast. Do not sprint or try to walk as quickly as possible, simply walk at a pace that you could comfortably hold a conversation. This seemingly small activity, when done consistently, will produce surprising weight loss results!
TIP #2 Forget Your Late Night Snack.
I know I am not the only one who enjoys eating a snack after dinner! Although comfort food seems to taste better right before bed, it is also more prone to stick with us when eaten late at night. It has been proven that not eating three hours before bed reduces fat storage throughout the night. If you go to bed at 10pm, finish eating for the day no later than 7pm. Once you have made this a habit you will be ecstatic over the long term weight loss!
TIP #3 Kiss that Frappuccino Goodbye.
What tastes better than a frothy, venti frappuccino smothered in whip cream and chocolate syrup? While blended coffee beverages have rapidly gained popularity with the masses, their caloric tallies have been all but ignored. Whether you are an avid Starbucker, or only wander in for an occasional treat, it is important to know the truth about what you are drinking. The average Venti sized frappuccino weighs in at 530 calories. This staggering number equals 2.5 bagels, or one third of the recommended daily calories for an average woman. Not only is this an extreme amount of calories to be consumed in a beverage but the calories come purely from sugar, which is easily stored as fat. Next time you are in line at the coffee shop and find yourself eyeing a sugary beverage, redirect your attention to the tea selection, or stick with an old fashioned cup of coffee.
TIP #4 Fuel Your Fire.
Have you ever tended a campfire? You probably remember continuously adding sticks and branches to keep the fire from running out of fuel. Your body?s metabolism is similar in its need for constant fuel. Eating a small meal every three hours is a great way to keep your metabolism high all day long. When your metabolism is high you burn more calories throughout the day and are less likely to store fat. Rather than eating 2 or 3 large meals a day, and allowing your ?fire? to go out, giving way to hunger pains, try eating a small meal every three hours and be amazed at your weight loss results.
TIP #5 Curb Your Carbs
I?m sure sometime in the past year you have found yourself subjected to the testimony of a converted ?low-carb? enthusiast. While these people may look great it is definitely not the right diet for everyone. Extreme fatigue, crankiness and downright impracticality are what make this diet a tough cookie to swallow. Cutting one or two carb-filled items out of your daily diet can make a huge difference in meeting weight loss goals. While I wouldn?t recommend throwing out your bread basket entirely, consciously cutting carb-filled items out of your daily food intake is a great idea. If you normally have a sandwich for lunch make it open-faced, thus cutting out half of the bread. If you enjoy eating pasta for dinner reduce your pasta portion and add extra vegetables. These minor changes to your daily diet will prove themselves priceless when you step onto the scale!
It is you against the bulge, and now that you are armed with these 5 tips for easy weight loss, I am confident that you are going to win! Keep in mind that consistency is the key. The more effort that you put into implementing these 5 tips into your daily lifestyle, the quicker the unwanted pounds will disappear!
Diana Keuilian, author, ACE certified Personal Trainer, and co-founder of HitechTrainer.com offers online personal training and nutrition programs that fit your budget and schedule. Whether your goal is to lose weight, firm and tone, or to build muscle, HitechTrainer.com will build a custom designed program just for you.
Visit: http://www.hitechtrainer.com/ and begin meeting your fitness goals today!
March 4, 2009
Weight Loss Motivation: Mastering the Motivation to Stay Fit
Have you ever just felt like you were doing everything you
were supposed to in order to lose weight and STILL weren’t dropping
the pounds?
During her journey to lose 40lbs in 16 weeks, my good friend Kim
faced some pretty serious challenges with regards to her level
of motivation.
Another friend of mine, Antonio Goodwin, who lost 4 inches from
his waistline in 9 weeks with my program, faced the same frustration.
The problem was that at several times during their weight loss,
they both felt as if they were not losing much weight and were not
seeing results.
Now, a look at either of their before and after photos on
my web sites shows that each of them made quite a substantial improvement
in their bodies.
So what would make someone who’s losing weight each week feel as if they
were not?
I’ll tell you exactly what. Its referred to as the emotional roller
coaster.
This is how it usually goes:
You start a new diet or weight loss program. You’re all excited to be
doing something great for your health and the way you look, and you’re sticking
to the program, step by step.
Consistent action pays off and after a short while you start getting
compliments about the pounds you’re losing week by week.
Then all of a sudden, it all seems to stop. You can no longer see the
physical changes in your body, and maybe you even have a moment of weakness
and cheat a bit on your diet plan. So now you’re frustrated and mildly
depressed. You feel as if true weight loss may NEVER happen for you, no matter
what you do.
TIME OUT.
The trick here is to not get stuck in your own frustration.
Now this is a tough one, because everyone and I do mean EVERYONE goes through
this stage. Whenever I need to trim down for a photo shoot, I go through it
as well.
One of the things that you must understand about the body is that for
as long as you are doing the right things on a consistent basis it WILL
respond with results.
The Jedi Mind Trick is that oftentimes the progress is subtle, or may
be primarily taking place in an area that you cannot see as well.
For instance, my friend Kim loses weight in her back the fastest.
Her frustration came because she did not see the fat loss on her stomach
the way she would have liked to. Little did she know that from behind
she looked like a completely different person.
Listen, the emotional roller coaster is an inevitable aspect of any
worthy undertaking that we take on in life. Remember getting through
college? Or maybe waiting for puberty to set in? How about paying
off your debts? The mental battle while attempting to diet and/or
achieve weight loss is no different.
So make a conscious decision to stick to your guns. Let it play out.
Victory lies in having the strength to make it through the rough spots
without cracking under the pressure and losing all that you’ve worked for.
If you can just master getting past the point of frustration, before you
know it you’ll be seeing results again and getting more compliments.
Lawrence Cole
Your Lifestyle and Fitness Coach
YourBestBodyNOW.com
See this Weight Loss article on YourBestBodyNOW.com
Lawrence Cole is a Lifestyle and Fitness Consultant based
out of Los Angeles, CA. He has over 10 years of health and
fitness experience and designing simple, effective nutritional
strategies to help individuals achieve their personal best
internal health and physical conditioning.
were supposed to in order to lose weight and STILL weren’t dropping
the pounds?
During her journey to lose 40lbs in 16 weeks, my good friend Kim
faced some pretty serious challenges with regards to her level
of motivation.
Another friend of mine, Antonio Goodwin, who lost 4 inches from
his waistline in 9 weeks with my program, faced the same frustration.
The problem was that at several times during their weight loss,
they both felt as if they were not losing much weight and were not
seeing results.
Now, a look at either of their before and after photos on
my web sites shows that each of them made quite a substantial improvement
in their bodies.
So what would make someone who’s losing weight each week feel as if they
were not?
I’ll tell you exactly what. Its referred to as the emotional roller
coaster.
This is how it usually goes:
You start a new diet or weight loss program. You’re all excited to be
doing something great for your health and the way you look, and you’re sticking
to the program, step by step.
Consistent action pays off and after a short while you start getting
compliments about the pounds you’re losing week by week.
Then all of a sudden, it all seems to stop. You can no longer see the
physical changes in your body, and maybe you even have a moment of weakness
and cheat a bit on your diet plan. So now you’re frustrated and mildly
depressed. You feel as if true weight loss may NEVER happen for you, no matter
what you do.
TIME OUT.
The trick here is to not get stuck in your own frustration.
Now this is a tough one, because everyone and I do mean EVERYONE goes through
this stage. Whenever I need to trim down for a photo shoot, I go through it
as well.
One of the things that you must understand about the body is that for
as long as you are doing the right things on a consistent basis it WILL
respond with results.
The Jedi Mind Trick is that oftentimes the progress is subtle, or may
be primarily taking place in an area that you cannot see as well.
For instance, my friend Kim loses weight in her back the fastest.
Her frustration came because she did not see the fat loss on her stomach
the way she would have liked to. Little did she know that from behind
she looked like a completely different person.
Listen, the emotional roller coaster is an inevitable aspect of any
worthy undertaking that we take on in life. Remember getting through
college? Or maybe waiting for puberty to set in? How about paying
off your debts? The mental battle while attempting to diet and/or
achieve weight loss is no different.
So make a conscious decision to stick to your guns. Let it play out.
Victory lies in having the strength to make it through the rough spots
without cracking under the pressure and losing all that you’ve worked for.
If you can just master getting past the point of frustration, before you
know it you’ll be seeing results again and getting more compliments.
Lawrence Cole
Your Lifestyle and Fitness Coach
YourBestBodyNOW.com
See this Weight Loss article on YourBestBodyNOW.com
Lawrence Cole is a Lifestyle and Fitness Consultant based
out of Los Angeles, CA. He has over 10 years of health and
fitness experience and designing simple, effective nutritional
strategies to help individuals achieve their personal best
internal health and physical conditioning.
Hatha Yoga
The form of Yoga most people are familiar with is Hatha Yoga or Hatha Vidya. Hatha Yoga is the Yoga of postures. The picture that comes to mind whenever you see the word Yoga is of someone sitting or standing in some form of Yoga posture.
Hatha Yoga uses physical poses called Asana and breathing techniques called Pranayama. Hatha Yoga teaches that the body is the vehicle for your soul. It also teaches that meditation can bring the body into perfect health and allow the spiritual part of your brain to come forward freely.
Many believe that your mind typically ignores or suppresses the part of the brain that is spiritual and that our focus is on earthly things. In order to release this spirituality you need meditation and Yoga exercise.
Hatha Yoga utilizes all of these techniques to bind the body and soul as one. To create a union between the body and the mind takes practice. The purpose of Hatha Yoga is to perfect the body so it can be filled with your life?s force or soul.
The way it works is to use opposing energies somewhat similar to Yin and Yang to achieve the binding of body, mind, and soul. Opposing energy examples are hot and cold, positive and negative, and male and female.
The Asanas in Hatha Yoga tech you poise, strength, and most of all, balance. This improves your physical health and helps you clear your mind. Without this preparation, meditation is not as effective. The exercise portion of Hatha Yoga is all part of preparing yourself so you can meditate and become enlightened, allowing your spiritual thoughts to flow freely.
Although most people in Europe or the US use Yoga as a physical exercise primarily, the intent of Yoga is to combine all of your life forces to achieve spirituality and happiness. The following are the different aspects to Hatha Yoga;
Yama: Yama is social ethics. It teaches you nonviolence, compassion, non-deception or truthfulness, honesty, conscious and non-abusive sexuality, security, and how to eliminate greed.
Niyama: Niyama is about personal practices. It teaches purity, discipline, contentment, self-examination, and spiritual attunement with GOD.
Asana: Asanas are the physical exercises in Hatha Yoga. There are many asanas and are of varying difficulty. There are some that are less difficult for beginners that can help you work up to the more difficult asanas. This not only helps you perfect your body, but helps you clear your mind for the more meditative aspects of Hatha Yoga.
Pranayama: Pranayama are breathing practices. Deep breathing exercises help clear your mind in preparation for meditation to free your spirit.
Pratyahara: Pratyahara is withdrawing the senses to facilitate Dharana (concentration or focus)
Dharana: Dharana is meant to help you focus or concentrate better also allowing you to use chants to free your spiritual mind.
Dhyana: Dhyana is an enhanced form of meditation where the concentration is focused on a single point.
Samadhi: Samadhi teaches you how to attain the essential state of joy. The definition of Samadhi literally means transcendental bliss. The exercises in Samadhi Yoga are more vigorous than with other forms.
?Trancendental Bliss or Samadhi is a state in which the individual mind, freed for a time from all material limits takes the form of supreme, omnipotent and omnipresent mind and gains enlightenment.”
?Shri Brahmananda Saraswati (A great yogi, doctor and founder of the Ananda Ashram)
When unaffected by culture, place, time, or circumstance, these principles are universal. They constitute the Great Vow.” -Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, 2.31
The Self cannot be gained by one devoid of strength. Mundaka Upanishad iii :2:3
Robin Darch, of PRT Specialised Services Limited has a website, Yoga Tips to help you find all the information you need about Yoga and the benefits of Yoga.
Yoga Tips
Hatha Yoga uses physical poses called Asana and breathing techniques called Pranayama. Hatha Yoga teaches that the body is the vehicle for your soul. It also teaches that meditation can bring the body into perfect health and allow the spiritual part of your brain to come forward freely.
Many believe that your mind typically ignores or suppresses the part of the brain that is spiritual and that our focus is on earthly things. In order to release this spirituality you need meditation and Yoga exercise.
Hatha Yoga utilizes all of these techniques to bind the body and soul as one. To create a union between the body and the mind takes practice. The purpose of Hatha Yoga is to perfect the body so it can be filled with your life?s force or soul.
The way it works is to use opposing energies somewhat similar to Yin and Yang to achieve the binding of body, mind, and soul. Opposing energy examples are hot and cold, positive and negative, and male and female.
The Asanas in Hatha Yoga tech you poise, strength, and most of all, balance. This improves your physical health and helps you clear your mind. Without this preparation, meditation is not as effective. The exercise portion of Hatha Yoga is all part of preparing yourself so you can meditate and become enlightened, allowing your spiritual thoughts to flow freely.
Although most people in Europe or the US use Yoga as a physical exercise primarily, the intent of Yoga is to combine all of your life forces to achieve spirituality and happiness. The following are the different aspects to Hatha Yoga;
Yama: Yama is social ethics. It teaches you nonviolence, compassion, non-deception or truthfulness, honesty, conscious and non-abusive sexuality, security, and how to eliminate greed.
Niyama: Niyama is about personal practices. It teaches purity, discipline, contentment, self-examination, and spiritual attunement with GOD.
Asana: Asanas are the physical exercises in Hatha Yoga. There are many asanas and are of varying difficulty. There are some that are less difficult for beginners that can help you work up to the more difficult asanas. This not only helps you perfect your body, but helps you clear your mind for the more meditative aspects of Hatha Yoga.
Pranayama: Pranayama are breathing practices. Deep breathing exercises help clear your mind in preparation for meditation to free your spirit.
Pratyahara: Pratyahara is withdrawing the senses to facilitate Dharana (concentration or focus)
Dharana: Dharana is meant to help you focus or concentrate better also allowing you to use chants to free your spiritual mind.
Dhyana: Dhyana is an enhanced form of meditation where the concentration is focused on a single point.
Samadhi: Samadhi teaches you how to attain the essential state of joy. The definition of Samadhi literally means transcendental bliss. The exercises in Samadhi Yoga are more vigorous than with other forms.
?Trancendental Bliss or Samadhi is a state in which the individual mind, freed for a time from all material limits takes the form of supreme, omnipotent and omnipresent mind and gains enlightenment.”
?Shri Brahmananda Saraswati (A great yogi, doctor and founder of the Ananda Ashram)
When unaffected by culture, place, time, or circumstance, these principles are universal. They constitute the Great Vow.” -Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, 2.31
The Self cannot be gained by one devoid of strength. Mundaka Upanishad iii :2:3
Robin Darch, of PRT Specialised Services Limited has a website, Yoga Tips to help you find all the information you need about Yoga and the benefits of Yoga.
Yoga Tips
Using Yogic Posture Exercises as Workout Routine
The word 'YOGA' is derived from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. The literal meaning of Yoga is addition, or joining or combining. The practice of Yoga involves a set of routines and carefully controlled lifestyle which help in realizing inner potential, attaining higher consciousness level and aligning or becoming one with the all pervading consciousness or energy level. While attempting to reach the goal, there is tremendous improvement in physical, mental and emotional health.
Yogic postures, called Yogasanas, form one component of Yogic practices. By themselves these postures can bring about awesome benefits in overall fitness. There are prescribed methods of doing these exercises. Basically one has to form the body in a particular posture, hold the body in that posture for sometime and then slowly come back to what we can call the posture of rest. These exercises are characterized by absence of jerks and slow body movements.
To understand these exercises better let us compare them with dynamic exercises with which we are more familiar, such as acrobatics, gymnastics, jogging etc. These exercises are effective on muscular, circulatory and respiratory systems. There are dynamic Yogic exercises (different from Yogic posture exercises) which also stimulate nervous and glandular system. All these exercises involve speed and dynamic body movements resulting in expenditure of energy and perspiration.
In Yogic posture exercises there is deep relaxation and energy conservation resulting in freshness. This is basically a nerve culture as it relaxes the nerves. The exercise starts from the posture of rest. First lie down in this posture, calm down your breathing, calm down your nerves and calm down your thoughts. Then form the posture you have in mind with slow body movement without jerk of any kind. Posture exercises are accompanied by prescribed breathing pattern. This posture is maintained for prescribed length of time which may be several seconds to few minutes. Then come back slowly to the posture of rest. After remaining in rest for 30 seconds to few minutes, the next posture exercise is done. This pattern is repeated for as long as you wish to do the exercise. Normally exercise workout routine for 30 minutes in a day is good enough for an average person.
Doing these exercises regularly gives remarkable benefits. Generally circulation of body fluids improves and metabolic activities become more efficient. Better blood circulation ensures more thorough distribution of oxygen in the body and more complete removal of toxins. Additionally each posture benefits particular set of organs and muscles. Depending upon the need and condition of health, tailor-made set of exercises can be designed.
Many people believe that life-force flows in our nerves. When the flow of life-force is unregulated and uncoordinated it provides conditions for development of body disorders or ailments from within the body. Yogic posture exercises work very well in this area and prevent ailments. The overall body vigour and freshness are maintained. There is a balance of metabolic activities and unnecessary growths in the body are avoided.
If you are looking for general well being, life free from diseases and lifetime fitness regular Yogic posture exercises can help you. Though these exercises can be combined with other work-outs, they can by themselves provide all the workout routine you need for maintaining a good health.
Sanjay Johari regularly contributes articles to various ezines. See his site for more information on health and workout routine:
http://sanjay-j.com/workoutroutine/
Yogic postures, called Yogasanas, form one component of Yogic practices. By themselves these postures can bring about awesome benefits in overall fitness. There are prescribed methods of doing these exercises. Basically one has to form the body in a particular posture, hold the body in that posture for sometime and then slowly come back to what we can call the posture of rest. These exercises are characterized by absence of jerks and slow body movements.
To understand these exercises better let us compare them with dynamic exercises with which we are more familiar, such as acrobatics, gymnastics, jogging etc. These exercises are effective on muscular, circulatory and respiratory systems. There are dynamic Yogic exercises (different from Yogic posture exercises) which also stimulate nervous and glandular system. All these exercises involve speed and dynamic body movements resulting in expenditure of energy and perspiration.
In Yogic posture exercises there is deep relaxation and energy conservation resulting in freshness. This is basically a nerve culture as it relaxes the nerves. The exercise starts from the posture of rest. First lie down in this posture, calm down your breathing, calm down your nerves and calm down your thoughts. Then form the posture you have in mind with slow body movement without jerk of any kind. Posture exercises are accompanied by prescribed breathing pattern. This posture is maintained for prescribed length of time which may be several seconds to few minutes. Then come back slowly to the posture of rest. After remaining in rest for 30 seconds to few minutes, the next posture exercise is done. This pattern is repeated for as long as you wish to do the exercise. Normally exercise workout routine for 30 minutes in a day is good enough for an average person.
Doing these exercises regularly gives remarkable benefits. Generally circulation of body fluids improves and metabolic activities become more efficient. Better blood circulation ensures more thorough distribution of oxygen in the body and more complete removal of toxins. Additionally each posture benefits particular set of organs and muscles. Depending upon the need and condition of health, tailor-made set of exercises can be designed.
Many people believe that life-force flows in our nerves. When the flow of life-force is unregulated and uncoordinated it provides conditions for development of body disorders or ailments from within the body. Yogic posture exercises work very well in this area and prevent ailments. The overall body vigour and freshness are maintained. There is a balance of metabolic activities and unnecessary growths in the body are avoided.
If you are looking for general well being, life free from diseases and lifetime fitness regular Yogic posture exercises can help you. Though these exercises can be combined with other work-outs, they can by themselves provide all the workout routine you need for maintaining a good health.
Sanjay Johari regularly contributes articles to various ezines. See his site for more information on health and workout routine:
http://sanjay-j.com/workoutroutine/
Fake Weight Loss Claims: Identify Them
Its crowded..really crowded..every other site offers Weight Loss Programs and guarantees loss of weight quickly and effectively. But do they really live upto it? Does Loss of Weight remains with time or the individual regains the weight after some time? The answer to these question differentiates between genuine Weight Loss Programs and fake Weight Loss Programs.
Things to Watch out for:
1) One product cant serve the needs of all people. Programs which claim to work for all types of masses is BIG NO.
Tip: Look out for programs which reads your body needs and body structure and how your Metabolism works.
2) Programs which assures permanent Weight Loss, even after you don’t use the product. Mark it Fake.
Tip: You have to follow the Diet Plan and exercise on daily basis. Walking or Jogging daily helps a lot.
3) Programs which allows you to eat anything you want. Believe me this is fake also. How can you on this earth remain fit by eating anything or everything you want.
Tip: You need to take a BALANCED DIET with proper amount of calories , fat and other nutrients.
4) Be careful with programs that claim to reduce more than two pounds a week.Such programs will disturb your Metabolism and digestive system to great extent.
Tip: Loose upto 1 or 2 Pound Per week.
5) Programs which have products that are to be applied on body or something like that will NEVER NEVER work for you.
Tip: The best and the most successful way to loose weight is to follow a Diet Plan and Exercise daily. Get a free Diet Plan for your body right here at http://www.weightloss-health.com
About the Author: Ashley Green for http://weightloss-health.com/
Also get free tips and advice on weight loss and diet related issues at Weight Loss Programs, Tips and Advice
If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website
Things to Watch out for:
1) One product cant serve the needs of all people. Programs which claim to work for all types of masses is BIG NO.
Tip: Look out for programs which reads your body needs and body structure and how your Metabolism works.
2) Programs which assures permanent Weight Loss, even after you don’t use the product. Mark it Fake.
Tip: You have to follow the Diet Plan and exercise on daily basis. Walking or Jogging daily helps a lot.
3) Programs which allows you to eat anything you want. Believe me this is fake also. How can you on this earth remain fit by eating anything or everything you want.
Tip: You need to take a BALANCED DIET with proper amount of calories , fat and other nutrients.
4) Be careful with programs that claim to reduce more than two pounds a week.Such programs will disturb your Metabolism and digestive system to great extent.
Tip: Loose upto 1 or 2 Pound Per week.
5) Programs which have products that are to be applied on body or something like that will NEVER NEVER work for you.
Tip: The best and the most successful way to loose weight is to follow a Diet Plan and Exercise daily. Get a free Diet Plan for your body right here at http://www.weightloss-health.com
About the Author: Ashley Green for http://weightloss-health.com/
Also get free tips and advice on weight loss and diet related issues at Weight Loss Programs, Tips and Advice
If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website
March 1, 2009
Book Review: Yoga For Regular Guys
Like most men, I was skeptical of even the though of trying out yoga, thinking it was something that would be most likely painful, and a little out of the testoserone element. Also like most men, I experience back pain from time to time, in my case thanks to protruding L4 and and L5 discs stemming from a car accident years ago. As time goes on, and your family pulls you home, getting to the gym can be hard. Home equipment isn’t necessarily practical or cost effective, so what can a man do?
Former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page is the man behind the concept. Wrestling fans may remember the performer as a former champion in the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling, and who later wrestled in World Wrestling Entertainment, in addition to writing his biography and branching out into acting. He is a man who started wrestling later in life at age 35, so Page was always looking for help to keep himself in the best physical condition compared to his younger colleagues. A couple of years ago, his wife suggested yoga to help him deal with the harsh pain of Page’s profession.
Now that Page is retired, he has devoted his full time to developing this concept, starting with the book, which is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers. The book is easy to follow, with 20, 30 and 40 minute routines. The text will tell you how to breathe (and it is important) and the pictures are numbered for the correct sequence. Page has put in people with all kinds of bodies, young and old, but also some eye candy for the men. Yoga For Regular Guys has a forward from Rob Zombie, and some chapters devoted to nutrition and holistic health with massage therapy an chiropractic care. After running through the 20 minute program, I can say I was sweating like a stuck pig at a luau, which was surprising. Normally for that kind of sweat I would have to hit an elliptical machine or treadmill for an hour.
After viewing Page’s website, Diamond Dallas Page.com, my main critical point is that I think he could expand on the case studies that are listed on his site. People who have tried the program have listed why they have turned to yoga, and have listed their success with how many pounds they have lost, inches lost, and other body measurements like blood pressure and body fat, complete with photographs on the website, but not so much in the book. I like to read these stories, and hope that I can count myself among success stories 3 months down the road. The nutritional information is helpful, but I have a hard time seeing most people down carrot juice on a regular basis. Perhaps some nutritional information for people who do not want to hit the extreme end of the nutrition bandwagon?
Overall, this book is excellent, and a good way for people to exercise if they are limited by traditional weight training and aerobics. You feel refreshed and that you have accomplished something at the end of a 20 minute session. Check it out today.
GL Hamilton has a BA in Recreation Management from Eastern Washington University. He publishes the blog Find A Sport http://www.findasport.blogspot.com/ to help people find a recreational activity that they can enjoy for health and fitness. Movement is an overlooked key to a healthy life.
Former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page is the man behind the concept. Wrestling fans may remember the performer as a former champion in the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling, and who later wrestled in World Wrestling Entertainment, in addition to writing his biography and branching out into acting. He is a man who started wrestling later in life at age 35, so Page was always looking for help to keep himself in the best physical condition compared to his younger colleagues. A couple of years ago, his wife suggested yoga to help him deal with the harsh pain of Page’s profession.
Now that Page is retired, he has devoted his full time to developing this concept, starting with the book, which is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers. The book is easy to follow, with 20, 30 and 40 minute routines. The text will tell you how to breathe (and it is important) and the pictures are numbered for the correct sequence. Page has put in people with all kinds of bodies, young and old, but also some eye candy for the men. Yoga For Regular Guys has a forward from Rob Zombie, and some chapters devoted to nutrition and holistic health with massage therapy an chiropractic care. After running through the 20 minute program, I can say I was sweating like a stuck pig at a luau, which was surprising. Normally for that kind of sweat I would have to hit an elliptical machine or treadmill for an hour.
After viewing Page’s website, Diamond Dallas Page.com, my main critical point is that I think he could expand on the case studies that are listed on his site. People who have tried the program have listed why they have turned to yoga, and have listed their success with how many pounds they have lost, inches lost, and other body measurements like blood pressure and body fat, complete with photographs on the website, but not so much in the book. I like to read these stories, and hope that I can count myself among success stories 3 months down the road. The nutritional information is helpful, but I have a hard time seeing most people down carrot juice on a regular basis. Perhaps some nutritional information for people who do not want to hit the extreme end of the nutrition bandwagon?
Overall, this book is excellent, and a good way for people to exercise if they are limited by traditional weight training and aerobics. You feel refreshed and that you have accomplished something at the end of a 20 minute session. Check it out today.
GL Hamilton has a BA in Recreation Management from Eastern Washington University. He publishes the blog Find A Sport http://www.findasport.blogspot.com/ to help people find a recreational activity that they can enjoy for health and fitness. Movement is an overlooked key to a healthy life.
Getting Healthy with Yoga
People have always believed that yoga can do more for your body than just keeping it fit and flexible. Research now shows it can help weight control, lower back pain, insomnia and even heart disease. Studies indicate yoga helps with weight loss and maintenance. In a study of 15,000 adults, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that those who did not practice yoga gained approximately 18.5 pounds more over a 10-year period than those who practiced for at least four years. There was also a study done at the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California. This study found people who regularly practiced yoga and meditation, exercised and watched their diet lost more weight than those who exercised, and ate a balanced diet, but did not practice yoga.
Additionally Yoga can improve your range of motion in your hips, reducing lower back pain. A study done at The American College of Sport?s Medicine, suggest that yoga increases lower back flexibility and decreases pain. It was a small study conducted on older women age 44-62. Persistent back pain however should always be professional diagnosed before embracing on any exercise program including yoga. Yoga?s back bends and forward bends may exacerbate some back conditions.
Yoga can also calm your body and your mind, which can help people who suffer from insomnia. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD., an instructor of medicine, division of Sleep Medicine at the Harvard Medical School recently published a study. He found a half hour to 45 minutes of daily yoga practice with a focus on meditation and breathing, helped chronic insomniacs sleep through the night. The subjects increased their overall sleep by 12%.
Yoga breathing can help lower your heart rate and calm your nervous system. The breathing techniques can help alleviate serious anxiety and depression and reduce stress. Practicing yoga for an hour and a half three times a week can make your heart healthier in just six weeks. A recent study out of Yale University School of Medicine had 33 men and women who practiced yoga at that rate. This lowered their blood pressure and improved their blood vessels? ability to expand and contract by 17%. Researchers believe the improvements are based on the stress-reducing benefits of yoga.
? Copyright Diet-Newsroom.com, All Rights Reserved.
This article was written by Kim Black of http://www.diet-newsroom.com which specializes in diet, health, fitness and exercise topics.
Additionally Yoga can improve your range of motion in your hips, reducing lower back pain. A study done at The American College of Sport?s Medicine, suggest that yoga increases lower back flexibility and decreases pain. It was a small study conducted on older women age 44-62. Persistent back pain however should always be professional diagnosed before embracing on any exercise program including yoga. Yoga?s back bends and forward bends may exacerbate some back conditions.
Yoga can also calm your body and your mind, which can help people who suffer from insomnia. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD., an instructor of medicine, division of Sleep Medicine at the Harvard Medical School recently published a study. He found a half hour to 45 minutes of daily yoga practice with a focus on meditation and breathing, helped chronic insomniacs sleep through the night. The subjects increased their overall sleep by 12%.
Yoga breathing can help lower your heart rate and calm your nervous system. The breathing techniques can help alleviate serious anxiety and depression and reduce stress. Practicing yoga for an hour and a half three times a week can make your heart healthier in just six weeks. A recent study out of Yale University School of Medicine had 33 men and women who practiced yoga at that rate. This lowered their blood pressure and improved their blood vessels? ability to expand and contract by 17%. Researchers believe the improvements are based on the stress-reducing benefits of yoga.
? Copyright Diet-Newsroom.com, All Rights Reserved.
This article was written by Kim Black of http://www.diet-newsroom.com which specializes in diet, health, fitness and exercise topics.
History of Yoga
Yoga is a union of body, mind, and spirit. The history of yoga is long and steeped in tradition. Yoga is an ancient system of health and fitness which originated in India. The word yoga has its first mention in the Rig Veda, the oldest of the sacred texts. Those that study Yoga estimate it’s age to be four thousand year.
The history of Yoga can be divided into four main periods which are the pre-classical period, classical period, post-classical period and modern period. In the history of yoga, the book is called the yoga sutras. The history of yoga would not have been completed in the classical stage of yoga.
The word Yoga literally meant the Yolk that joins something together, such as an ox to a cart. The idea is that yoga unites all aspects of being into one.
What most people envision to be Yoga, those contortionist postures, is really only one small aspect of a much larger field of practices. The methods of yoga includes ethical disciplines, physical postures, breathing control and as well as meditation.
The 20th century witnessed a renaissance of yoga that caused a globalization of this ancient tradition. Modern approaches to yoga have created a clear delineation between the Hindu religion and the practice of yoga. Through the practice of yoga, an individual can gain information about physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being.
Over the long history of yoga, different schools have emerged, and there are numerous examples branches and philosophies that have spawned. Ultimately, all agree on one common element the fundamental purpose of yoga is to foster harmony in the body, mind, and environment.
Today yoga is accepted as a comprehensive exercise to promote control of the body and mind. More than just a means of being fit and trim, yoga can help you live a healthy, whole, and empowered life. In recent decades, yoga has greatly and swiftly evolved. Yoga is the most diversified spiritual practice in the world. The living tradition of yoga now recognizes no borders as it continues to spread globally.
Rob Daniels is a long term practitioner of Yoga and Pilates additional articles available at Pilates Shop http://www.pilates-shop.net and Yoga Store http://www.yoga-store.net.
The history of Yoga can be divided into four main periods which are the pre-classical period, classical period, post-classical period and modern period. In the history of yoga, the book is called the yoga sutras. The history of yoga would not have been completed in the classical stage of yoga.
The word Yoga literally meant the Yolk that joins something together, such as an ox to a cart. The idea is that yoga unites all aspects of being into one.
What most people envision to be Yoga, those contortionist postures, is really only one small aspect of a much larger field of practices. The methods of yoga includes ethical disciplines, physical postures, breathing control and as well as meditation.
The 20th century witnessed a renaissance of yoga that caused a globalization of this ancient tradition. Modern approaches to yoga have created a clear delineation between the Hindu religion and the practice of yoga. Through the practice of yoga, an individual can gain information about physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being.
Over the long history of yoga, different schools have emerged, and there are numerous examples branches and philosophies that have spawned. Ultimately, all agree on one common element the fundamental purpose of yoga is to foster harmony in the body, mind, and environment.
Today yoga is accepted as a comprehensive exercise to promote control of the body and mind. More than just a means of being fit and trim, yoga can help you live a healthy, whole, and empowered life. In recent decades, yoga has greatly and swiftly evolved. Yoga is the most diversified spiritual practice in the world. The living tradition of yoga now recognizes no borders as it continues to spread globally.
Rob Daniels is a long term practitioner of Yoga and Pilates additional articles available at Pilates Shop http://www.pilates-shop.net and Yoga Store http://www.yoga-store.net.
Yoga - One Size Doesn’t Need To Fit All
Although there are a lot of great reasons to try Yoga, most people won’t even take a shot at it. I think I know why. Stay with me for a couple of minutes and I’ll get there.
Years ago, I read one of the most truth filled statements I have ever encountered. Although I usually try to avoid generalities, I believe that most of them DO have a portion of truth to them. Unfortunately, many people either don’t realize that these statements are not ultimate truths or they assume that since there are times that these old adages and generalities are NOT true, not only are they false, but completely without merit.
Most generalities, as I have stated, DO contain some truth, enough truth that we can often at least glean guiding principles from them even if we cannot live our lives exactly by them.
Now, the statement I made mention of was, “The only job where you start at the top is digging a hole!”
I normally would not actually say that to someone who expected to get to the top of the heap by tomorrow, but the idea behind the statement would be understood by most of us. Those people who have made it to the top of their profession, art, or even their hobby, usually put in a lot of practice time and made a lot of mistakes on their way to achieving the level of skill or competence that they have reached.
Which brings me (finally, you say) to Yoga.
Yoga has the potential to be one of the best physical fitness programs that anybody can practice, but many people won’t even give it a chance.
Yoga requires no special clothing, not special skill, no special equipment. It doesn’t need a gym, because it can be practiced on the floor beside your bed, in the living room, or even in a large enough bathroom. Once you learn a few basic poses (asanas), you can do your yoga routine at home or on the road. You can even do some of your Yoga while riding in a car or bus. It doesn’t even require a personal trainer. You actually CAN learn Yoga from a book!
So what stops a lot of people from trying Yoga?
To tell the truth, I think they are intimidated.
Obviously, Yoga is not something we read about or hear about every day, so there is already a lot of misunderstanding and uncertainty about the practice anyway. On top of that, take a look at the pictures in any Yoga book and what do you see? Pencil-thin people twisting their bodies into impossible (to you and me…and I DO Yoga) positions. No way!
Let’s go back to the statement I mentioned. To get to the level where they are selected to pose for pictures for a book, they usually have had to practice for several years. When they started, some of them were as out-of-shape as you think you are now. You can bet they made a lot of mistakes along the way and some of them often thought of giving up because they weren’t able to perform the asanas the way their teachers did…or the way it was done in a picture in some book. Nobody is going to begin Yoga today and be able to do the positions that way right away.
Also, not everyone is going to be able to achieve the level of skill that they have achieved. Some of us just aren’t going to realize that potential for a long time and maybe never.
So why bother to learn Yoga?
After all, if you can’t do what the books and instructors say to do, then you have failed, right?
Wrong.
First of all, simply moving into your best imitation of the perfect position can begin to produce the health benefits associated with Yoga. Second, learning yoga breathing techniques and practicing this as you perform the movements and asanas (not to mention you daily activities) can also produce benefits in both your mental and physical health. Finally, continued practice of the asanas, breathing, and movements will, over time, move you closer to being able to do what the person in the picture was doing.
Remember, nobody said you had to be able to touch your toes, you just have to reach for them, breathe properly, and do it again tomorrow.
Yoga is actually simple and easy to learn, and can produce some startling affects in both mental and physical health.
Why not give it a try?
The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in the ’70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s “Aerobics”. This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years, and to pursue course work on health and fitness, including yoga, which he practices regularly. Learn more about Yoga. Articles on Diet and Weight Loss.
Years ago, I read one of the most truth filled statements I have ever encountered. Although I usually try to avoid generalities, I believe that most of them DO have a portion of truth to them. Unfortunately, many people either don’t realize that these statements are not ultimate truths or they assume that since there are times that these old adages and generalities are NOT true, not only are they false, but completely without merit.
Most generalities, as I have stated, DO contain some truth, enough truth that we can often at least glean guiding principles from them even if we cannot live our lives exactly by them.
Now, the statement I made mention of was, “The only job where you start at the top is digging a hole!”
I normally would not actually say that to someone who expected to get to the top of the heap by tomorrow, but the idea behind the statement would be understood by most of us. Those people who have made it to the top of their profession, art, or even their hobby, usually put in a lot of practice time and made a lot of mistakes on their way to achieving the level of skill or competence that they have reached.
Which brings me (finally, you say) to Yoga.
Yoga has the potential to be one of the best physical fitness programs that anybody can practice, but many people won’t even give it a chance.
Yoga requires no special clothing, not special skill, no special equipment. It doesn’t need a gym, because it can be practiced on the floor beside your bed, in the living room, or even in a large enough bathroom. Once you learn a few basic poses (asanas), you can do your yoga routine at home or on the road. You can even do some of your Yoga while riding in a car or bus. It doesn’t even require a personal trainer. You actually CAN learn Yoga from a book!
So what stops a lot of people from trying Yoga?
To tell the truth, I think they are intimidated.
Obviously, Yoga is not something we read about or hear about every day, so there is already a lot of misunderstanding and uncertainty about the practice anyway. On top of that, take a look at the pictures in any Yoga book and what do you see? Pencil-thin people twisting their bodies into impossible (to you and me…and I DO Yoga) positions. No way!
Let’s go back to the statement I mentioned. To get to the level where they are selected to pose for pictures for a book, they usually have had to practice for several years. When they started, some of them were as out-of-shape as you think you are now. You can bet they made a lot of mistakes along the way and some of them often thought of giving up because they weren’t able to perform the asanas the way their teachers did…or the way it was done in a picture in some book. Nobody is going to begin Yoga today and be able to do the positions that way right away.
Also, not everyone is going to be able to achieve the level of skill that they have achieved. Some of us just aren’t going to realize that potential for a long time and maybe never.
So why bother to learn Yoga?
After all, if you can’t do what the books and instructors say to do, then you have failed, right?
Wrong.
First of all, simply moving into your best imitation of the perfect position can begin to produce the health benefits associated with Yoga. Second, learning yoga breathing techniques and practicing this as you perform the movements and asanas (not to mention you daily activities) can also produce benefits in both your mental and physical health. Finally, continued practice of the asanas, breathing, and movements will, over time, move you closer to being able to do what the person in the picture was doing.
Remember, nobody said you had to be able to touch your toes, you just have to reach for them, breathe properly, and do it again tomorrow.
Yoga is actually simple and easy to learn, and can produce some startling affects in both mental and physical health.
Why not give it a try?
The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in the ’70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s “Aerobics”. This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years, and to pursue course work on health and fitness, including yoga, which he practices regularly. Learn more about Yoga. Articles on Diet and Weight Loss.
10 Yoga Tips for Everyday Living
1. Check your posture. Observe how you stand, sit and walk at all times.
Being aware of yourself is a reminder of who you are.
2. Use your pelvic floor and stomach muscles at all times. Not only will this strengthen the spine and tone the abdominals but you will feel up lifted all day long. You will also reduce any need to do stomach exercises as the transverse stomach muscles will be working all day long.
3. Pelvic floor muscles this needs repeating, no-one wants to be an incontinent old lady - that’s enough to make everyone lift them high. It?s said in classical yoga that those who have control over the pelvic floor (Mulha Bandha) will regain the vitality of a youth of 16!
4. Moderation. Eat, drink, play, work in moderation. Do not do things to excess.
5. Blessed are those who live without expectation.
Learn to let go of what your trying to control. You?ll be surprised by the outcome.
6. Breathe well. learn to let go of your breath. Do not hold on to it. Be aware of your breathing rate and how it changes in different situations, especially when under stress.
7. Take time to be still and quiet. Next time when sitting in traffic observe your breathing whist waiting for the traffic lights to change. If you relax your face muscles and take long out-breaths you will arrive at your destination relaxed and happy.
8. Learn to relax. 20mins of relaxation is as beneficial as 5 hours deep sleep.
Lie on the floor in a quiet warm space. Give your mind a rest.
9. Look at everything in a positive way. Work out your profit and loss in all situations.
10. Don?t be afraid to stop. It?s only when we are still that we can really move.
Lisa Askem, Yoga Teacher http://www.Benditlikelisa.co.uk Member of http://www.WomenWorking4Women.co.uk
Being aware of yourself is a reminder of who you are.
2. Use your pelvic floor and stomach muscles at all times. Not only will this strengthen the spine and tone the abdominals but you will feel up lifted all day long. You will also reduce any need to do stomach exercises as the transverse stomach muscles will be working all day long.
3. Pelvic floor muscles this needs repeating, no-one wants to be an incontinent old lady - that’s enough to make everyone lift them high. It?s said in classical yoga that those who have control over the pelvic floor (Mulha Bandha) will regain the vitality of a youth of 16!
4. Moderation. Eat, drink, play, work in moderation. Do not do things to excess.
5. Blessed are those who live without expectation.
Learn to let go of what your trying to control. You?ll be surprised by the outcome.
6. Breathe well. learn to let go of your breath. Do not hold on to it. Be aware of your breathing rate and how it changes in different situations, especially when under stress.
7. Take time to be still and quiet. Next time when sitting in traffic observe your breathing whist waiting for the traffic lights to change. If you relax your face muscles and take long out-breaths you will arrive at your destination relaxed and happy.
8. Learn to relax. 20mins of relaxation is as beneficial as 5 hours deep sleep.
Lie on the floor in a quiet warm space. Give your mind a rest.
9. Look at everything in a positive way. Work out your profit and loss in all situations.
10. Don?t be afraid to stop. It?s only when we are still that we can really move.
Lisa Askem, Yoga Teacher http://www.Benditlikelisa.co.uk Member of http://www.WomenWorking4Women.co.uk
February 27, 2009
Dahn Yoga - Yoga for the Soul
Nowadays, yoga is widespread and is new forms are continuously being developed today. Millions of people around the world enjoy yoga every day or week, depending on circumstances into this activity.
Of the so many forms of Yoga, Hatha yoga is by far the most common form, which involves both breathing control, physical exercise and postures combined. These exercises allow optimized blood circulation and improves flexibility, stamina, strength and vitality.
It is also a form of peaceful mediation that contributes to self-awareness and gives an extra energy that creates general wellbeing.
It should be easy to locate somewhere to practice your yoga as there are centers in most cities in the Western world.
If you prefer, there are plenty of ways to enjoy yoga at home. With books, DVDs or videos to suit your need.
Aside from Hatha Yoga, there exists another kind of Yoga. it is known as Dahn Yoga.
It is also referred to as Dahn Hak or Dahnak. It started as an early form of Korean instruction program that aimed to teach the participants on how to expand and widen both the body and mind. For hundreds of years it vanished only becoming resurrected in the 80?s in Seoul, finally arriving in the US in 1991.
Dahn yoga also educates participants on the principles and concepts on how the energy acts or moves in the body. It also teaches that ageing and weakening of the body is caused by stress. And removing stress will, without doubt, improve health and prolong life.
Dahn yoga works by encouraging those taking part to communicate fully with their body, thus enriching their lives to the full.
Allied with the body?s natural healing ability, this is enhanced through stimulating energies that connect the physical body to the conscious mind.
Through deep stretching, breathing methods and meditation, Dahn Yoga promotes physical, mental, and spiritual healing and to connect us into our spiritual selves. It promotes body relaxation and the discovery of inner consciousness.
It gives a life away and free from stress and anxiety and a life which has self-control and enhanced concentration.
Through meditation and breath work, energy is accumulated in the body and as a result, functioning of the internal organs and systems in the body is enhanced.
With the integration of the body and mind, latent abilities are realized and goals set are more easily achieved. In addition, Dahn Yoga practitioners sometimes volunteer to teach and train without payment, promoting individual and community health, well-being, happiness and peace.
? 2006 Martin Haworth has a useful website with lots of information for those new to yoga as well as extended information for experts. Check it out at http://www.makethemostofyouryoga.com.
Of the so many forms of Yoga, Hatha yoga is by far the most common form, which involves both breathing control, physical exercise and postures combined. These exercises allow optimized blood circulation and improves flexibility, stamina, strength and vitality.
It is also a form of peaceful mediation that contributes to self-awareness and gives an extra energy that creates general wellbeing.
It should be easy to locate somewhere to practice your yoga as there are centers in most cities in the Western world.
If you prefer, there are plenty of ways to enjoy yoga at home. With books, DVDs or videos to suit your need.
Aside from Hatha Yoga, there exists another kind of Yoga. it is known as Dahn Yoga.
It is also referred to as Dahn Hak or Dahnak. It started as an early form of Korean instruction program that aimed to teach the participants on how to expand and widen both the body and mind. For hundreds of years it vanished only becoming resurrected in the 80?s in Seoul, finally arriving in the US in 1991.
Dahn yoga also educates participants on the principles and concepts on how the energy acts or moves in the body. It also teaches that ageing and weakening of the body is caused by stress. And removing stress will, without doubt, improve health and prolong life.
Dahn yoga works by encouraging those taking part to communicate fully with their body, thus enriching their lives to the full.
Allied with the body?s natural healing ability, this is enhanced through stimulating energies that connect the physical body to the conscious mind.
Through deep stretching, breathing methods and meditation, Dahn Yoga promotes physical, mental, and spiritual healing and to connect us into our spiritual selves. It promotes body relaxation and the discovery of inner consciousness.
It gives a life away and free from stress and anxiety and a life which has self-control and enhanced concentration.
Through meditation and breath work, energy is accumulated in the body and as a result, functioning of the internal organs and systems in the body is enhanced.
With the integration of the body and mind, latent abilities are realized and goals set are more easily achieved. In addition, Dahn Yoga practitioners sometimes volunteer to teach and train without payment, promoting individual and community health, well-being, happiness and peace.
? 2006 Martin Haworth has a useful website with lots of information for those new to yoga as well as extended information for experts. Check it out at http://www.makethemostofyouryoga.com.
February 26, 2009
Health Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is an ancient way, practiced for thousands of years, steeped in tradition and, to most people, a mysterious enigma. When practitioners would speak of the many benefits they had experienced in both mental and physical health, yoga would seem to be both a perfect practice, or one whose claims were impossible to believe.
practitioners of yoga, or yogis/yogins (yogini for the ladies) would speak of the unification of mind, spirit, and body. The belief was that when these were brought into balance the persons mental and physical health would improve. The word “harmony” would be heard a lot, as would be “healing”, again, applied both to the body and the mind.
Until recently, you could only go by what someone who had personal experience could tell you. There was a reasonable amount of skepticism that yoga could actually be as beneficial to your mental and physical health as its proponents claimed.
However, in the last few years, scientific study, observation, and measurement have proven that yoga can indeed have specific observable affects on your health. It has been shown that body, mind, and spirit do work together and when the effective level of each is raised, the person experiences a much better life in terms of health, happiness, and harmony within himself or herself and with the world in general.
An article published by Johns Hopkins states:
“Over 75 scientific trials have been published on yoga in major medical journals. These studies have shown that yoga is a safe and effective way to increase physical activity that also has important psychological benefits due to its meditative nature.”
In our modern society, we are likely to look at yoga first as an “exercise program”. As with any good exercise program, yoga can increase muscle strength and respiratory endurance, improve flexibility, and promote balance. It also tends to lessen pain in those afflicted with arthritis and helps to increase energy levels in those who practice it.
Yogis and yogins also have long reported increases in what might be called positive mental states, along with decreases in negative mental states. They tend to report a greater level of optimism, a renewed or improved enthusiasm for life, and a higher sense of alertness and awareness of themselves and the world and people around them. They have also reported decreased levels of aggressiveness, anxiety, and excitability, as well as lowered levels of physical complaints and illnesses.
Scientific observation and testing is now bearing out what practitioners have been saying for years. Studies on the biological, psychological, and biochemical aspects of yoga have shown a wide range of positive results for most who take up the practice of yoga.
When practiced over time, yoga tends to level pulse rate, stabilize the nervous system, normalize stomach and digestive activity, level hormones, and increase joint range of motion. It increases energy, endurance, immunity, and cardiovascular efficiency. It improves eye-hand coordination, reaction time, dexterity, and helps the person to get more restful and restorative sleep.
Yoga also seems to have psychological benefits as well. practitioners and those who study them report that it helps you become more aware of your body, accept yourself more readily, improve your concentration, memory, learning and mood.
Additional benefits of yoga as compared to other exercise programs is that it massages internal organs in a way that other programs do not, and produces a detoxifying effect. Some speculate that this may lead to delaying aging.
Finally, yoga can be practiced almost anywhere, anytime, by anyone, and requires no special equipment. It does not even require special training! While having an expert teach you personally would be best, a careful reading of books on the subject and a DVD or two can get you started. However, our modern citizens tend to throw themselves headfirst into new projects. Not only is this completely opposite from the philosophy and aims of yoga, but it can invite injury and strain. The people in the books and DVD’s have been doing yoga for years. It is highly unlikely that you will immediately be able to duplicate their ability to achieve the positions they demonstrate. Just do the best you can, and then do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day…
As always, before beginning any physical fitness program, check with your doctor first to make sure it is okay for you to start. Once started, however, be aware that there are people in their 70s, 80s and 90s doing yoga. You will not be alone.
The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in the ’70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s “Aerobics”. This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years, and to pursue course work on health and fitness, including yoga, which he practices regularly. Learn more about Yoga. Articles on Diet and Weight Loss.
practitioners of yoga, or yogis/yogins (yogini for the ladies) would speak of the unification of mind, spirit, and body. The belief was that when these were brought into balance the persons mental and physical health would improve. The word “harmony” would be heard a lot, as would be “healing”, again, applied both to the body and the mind.
Until recently, you could only go by what someone who had personal experience could tell you. There was a reasonable amount of skepticism that yoga could actually be as beneficial to your mental and physical health as its proponents claimed.
However, in the last few years, scientific study, observation, and measurement have proven that yoga can indeed have specific observable affects on your health. It has been shown that body, mind, and spirit do work together and when the effective level of each is raised, the person experiences a much better life in terms of health, happiness, and harmony within himself or herself and with the world in general.
An article published by Johns Hopkins states:
“Over 75 scientific trials have been published on yoga in major medical journals. These studies have shown that yoga is a safe and effective way to increase physical activity that also has important psychological benefits due to its meditative nature.”
In our modern society, we are likely to look at yoga first as an “exercise program”. As with any good exercise program, yoga can increase muscle strength and respiratory endurance, improve flexibility, and promote balance. It also tends to lessen pain in those afflicted with arthritis and helps to increase energy levels in those who practice it.
Yogis and yogins also have long reported increases in what might be called positive mental states, along with decreases in negative mental states. They tend to report a greater level of optimism, a renewed or improved enthusiasm for life, and a higher sense of alertness and awareness of themselves and the world and people around them. They have also reported decreased levels of aggressiveness, anxiety, and excitability, as well as lowered levels of physical complaints and illnesses.
Scientific observation and testing is now bearing out what practitioners have been saying for years. Studies on the biological, psychological, and biochemical aspects of yoga have shown a wide range of positive results for most who take up the practice of yoga.
When practiced over time, yoga tends to level pulse rate, stabilize the nervous system, normalize stomach and digestive activity, level hormones, and increase joint range of motion. It increases energy, endurance, immunity, and cardiovascular efficiency. It improves eye-hand coordination, reaction time, dexterity, and helps the person to get more restful and restorative sleep.
Yoga also seems to have psychological benefits as well. practitioners and those who study them report that it helps you become more aware of your body, accept yourself more readily, improve your concentration, memory, learning and mood.
Additional benefits of yoga as compared to other exercise programs is that it massages internal organs in a way that other programs do not, and produces a detoxifying effect. Some speculate that this may lead to delaying aging.
Finally, yoga can be practiced almost anywhere, anytime, by anyone, and requires no special equipment. It does not even require special training! While having an expert teach you personally would be best, a careful reading of books on the subject and a DVD or two can get you started. However, our modern citizens tend to throw themselves headfirst into new projects. Not only is this completely opposite from the philosophy and aims of yoga, but it can invite injury and strain. The people in the books and DVD’s have been doing yoga for years. It is highly unlikely that you will immediately be able to duplicate their ability to achieve the positions they demonstrate. Just do the best you can, and then do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day…
As always, before beginning any physical fitness program, check with your doctor first to make sure it is okay for you to start. Once started, however, be aware that there are people in their 70s, 80s and 90s doing yoga. You will not be alone.
The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in the ’70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s “Aerobics”. This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years, and to pursue course work on health and fitness, including yoga, which he practices regularly. Learn more about Yoga. Articles on Diet and Weight Loss.
Yoga Improves Fitness: One Trial and You’ll See
Interest in Yoga for fitness is increasing across the country and it is a widely accepted fact that Yoga is great for the body. What was once ridiculed as a bizarre fad is today recognized as a basic skill that many people have embraced as a way of life and a first-rate choice for physical and mental fitness.
Yoga is so popular these days that many celebrities like Madonna, Sting, Russell Simmons and Ricky Martin to name a few have become informal advocates for this form of exercise. From increased flexibility, strength, endurance to delayed aging and massaging of the internal organs of the body, the benefits of Yoga seem limitless.
I stumbled upon it personally after telling a friend in the gym several years back that ?Hey man, look at apes and all, we are so similar, they don?t lift these boring weights and they are so much stronger, in fact Bruce Lee was known to NOT lift any weights but to perform several Hindu Push-ups, so there?s got to be another kind of exercise to do for fitness on the inside and out?? Well, he passed on a book on Yoga to me the next day and lo and behold, I?ve been hooked ever since.
From my own studies, research and practice, I?ve come to realize that Yoga is more than just stretching, is not only an exercise for women: (I challenge the most hard-core body-builder to hold a peacock pose for 2 minutes!!) and is quite simply great.
Many people practice Yoga exclusively and at times for days on end, that is the only exercise I perform with as much emphasis on the unique ?Sun salutations? as possible. I single these core warm-up routines of Yoga out as they restore flexibility to the spine and believe it when I say they miraculously endow you with strength to hold challenging poses such as the Wheel, Peacock and Crow poses for several minutes on end. I mention these poses, because being a guy, these are the main ones that enhance the muscle groups us guys are so concerned about: Arms, Chest and Abs.
I?ve also found that when combining these poses with other body-weight exercises like Hindu Squats and Push-ups, regular push-ups, reverse push-ups, pull ups and aerobic exercises, you really may not (re-phrase will not) need a gym or cumbersome equipment to get a total body workout.
Another great benefit of Yoga lies in its unique Abdominal and Breathing exercises.
These ones work. Being a former asthmatic and lethargic person, they have been an integral reason why my breathing (and singing mind you) has improved so drastically.
Moreover, they have spiritual benefits such as clearer thinking, clairvoyance and increased focus.
It is important, however, when practicing Yoga to adhere to a healthy diet, most books on the subject advocate a Vegan/vegetarian diet (which is fine by me being as I have been a vegan for several years, and this is arguably the main reason I believe I was able to cure over a decade of marring acne as well.) This simple, yet very effective discipline or sacrifice will aid you in gaining the most from Yoga as some poses do speed up detoxification and cleansing.
Now for fitness, since most Yoga poses are Isometric in nature, you may choose to combine them with conventional exercises as while the latter builds the muscles up, Yoga definitely will relax them and add tonality much quicker. This simple principle is why Basketball coach Phil Jackson brought his Yoga philosophy to the Los Angeles Lakers and in June of 2000 led the team to their first championship in 12 years; needless to say, similar methods were used in the coaching of the Chicago Bulls during their successful tenure as NBA champions under his guidance.
In addition to the points above, Jackson?s philosophy on Yoga embraces the facts that
1. Yoga strengthens and streamlines your muscles, giving you a leaner yet stronger body, with longer and toned muscles instead of short bulkier ones common to body-builders. This gives everyone from athletes to housewives, increased ability to perform their duties better.
2. Yoga calms and clears the mind for more focused thinking.
3. Yoga energizes the average practitioner while simultaneously increasing one?s flexibility.
4. Yoga offers psychological benefits in that it increases self-confidence, esteem and self-acceptance as no other exercise can.
5. Yoga tones and normalizes internal organs like the endocrine, digestive, excretory, reproductive and respiratory systems through the gentle, yet very effective poses it?s associated with.
Here are two last reasons I set aside based on their uniqueness: Sexual fitness & animal magnetism? Well, yoga gives you that?just try its breathing and abdominal exercises and inverted poses, namely the shoulder-stand and you will see for yourself what I am talking about.
So there you have it, a few of the many reasons why Yoga is so popular and with good cause. Now to improve your fitness levels beyond your imagination, why not incorporate a little bit (or heck a whole lot) of Yoga. Trust me, your body will be glad you did.
Discover proven ways of attaining improved health with the all-natural methods of a proper diet, Yoga and positive thinking. For additional information on yoga for fitness and healthy living go to: http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com
Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com. For more Yoga tips and information on Yoga for beginners, feel free to stop by his website today.
Yoga is so popular these days that many celebrities like Madonna, Sting, Russell Simmons and Ricky Martin to name a few have become informal advocates for this form of exercise. From increased flexibility, strength, endurance to delayed aging and massaging of the internal organs of the body, the benefits of Yoga seem limitless.
I stumbled upon it personally after telling a friend in the gym several years back that ?Hey man, look at apes and all, we are so similar, they don?t lift these boring weights and they are so much stronger, in fact Bruce Lee was known to NOT lift any weights but to perform several Hindu Push-ups, so there?s got to be another kind of exercise to do for fitness on the inside and out?? Well, he passed on a book on Yoga to me the next day and lo and behold, I?ve been hooked ever since.
From my own studies, research and practice, I?ve come to realize that Yoga is more than just stretching, is not only an exercise for women: (I challenge the most hard-core body-builder to hold a peacock pose for 2 minutes!!) and is quite simply great.
Many people practice Yoga exclusively and at times for days on end, that is the only exercise I perform with as much emphasis on the unique ?Sun salutations? as possible. I single these core warm-up routines of Yoga out as they restore flexibility to the spine and believe it when I say they miraculously endow you with strength to hold challenging poses such as the Wheel, Peacock and Crow poses for several minutes on end. I mention these poses, because being a guy, these are the main ones that enhance the muscle groups us guys are so concerned about: Arms, Chest and Abs.
I?ve also found that when combining these poses with other body-weight exercises like Hindu Squats and Push-ups, regular push-ups, reverse push-ups, pull ups and aerobic exercises, you really may not (re-phrase will not) need a gym or cumbersome equipment to get a total body workout.
Another great benefit of Yoga lies in its unique Abdominal and Breathing exercises.
These ones work. Being a former asthmatic and lethargic person, they have been an integral reason why my breathing (and singing mind you) has improved so drastically.
Moreover, they have spiritual benefits such as clearer thinking, clairvoyance and increased focus.
It is important, however, when practicing Yoga to adhere to a healthy diet, most books on the subject advocate a Vegan/vegetarian diet (which is fine by me being as I have been a vegan for several years, and this is arguably the main reason I believe I was able to cure over a decade of marring acne as well.) This simple, yet very effective discipline or sacrifice will aid you in gaining the most from Yoga as some poses do speed up detoxification and cleansing.
Now for fitness, since most Yoga poses are Isometric in nature, you may choose to combine them with conventional exercises as while the latter builds the muscles up, Yoga definitely will relax them and add tonality much quicker. This simple principle is why Basketball coach Phil Jackson brought his Yoga philosophy to the Los Angeles Lakers and in June of 2000 led the team to their first championship in 12 years; needless to say, similar methods were used in the coaching of the Chicago Bulls during their successful tenure as NBA champions under his guidance.
In addition to the points above, Jackson?s philosophy on Yoga embraces the facts that
1. Yoga strengthens and streamlines your muscles, giving you a leaner yet stronger body, with longer and toned muscles instead of short bulkier ones common to body-builders. This gives everyone from athletes to housewives, increased ability to perform their duties better.
2. Yoga calms and clears the mind for more focused thinking.
3. Yoga energizes the average practitioner while simultaneously increasing one?s flexibility.
4. Yoga offers psychological benefits in that it increases self-confidence, esteem and self-acceptance as no other exercise can.
5. Yoga tones and normalizes internal organs like the endocrine, digestive, excretory, reproductive and respiratory systems through the gentle, yet very effective poses it?s associated with.
Here are two last reasons I set aside based on their uniqueness: Sexual fitness & animal magnetism? Well, yoga gives you that?just try its breathing and abdominal exercises and inverted poses, namely the shoulder-stand and you will see for yourself what I am talking about.
So there you have it, a few of the many reasons why Yoga is so popular and with good cause. Now to improve your fitness levels beyond your imagination, why not incorporate a little bit (or heck a whole lot) of Yoga. Trust me, your body will be glad you did.
Discover proven ways of attaining improved health with the all-natural methods of a proper diet, Yoga and positive thinking. For additional information on yoga for fitness and healthy living go to: http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com
Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com. For more Yoga tips and information on Yoga for beginners, feel free to stop by his website today.
How to Practice Yoga Exercises Correctly
If you have decided to improve your mental and physical health with yoga, you need to practice your yoga exercises correctly to get the most benefit and to prevent injury. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind.
* Before you begin, be sure that you are in good enough physical shape to be able to handle this new exercise routine. If you have any questions at all about that, consult your doctor and follow his directions as you get started.
* Be sure that you learn the yoga techniques from a well-qualified, capable instructor. A good instructor will be very patient with you and will help you learn not only the exercises themselves but also the proper body position and breathing techniques necessary to make them effective. It’s very important that you learn how to practice yoga correctly from the beginning if you want to get real results.
* If you attend a yoga class at a studio or gym, be sure that the surroundings are comfortable and promote relaxation. The environment in which you practice your poses and positions can have a great impact on the effectiveness of each session.
* The specific time of day that you choose for your yoga exercises is not important. Whatever fits into your schedule best will work just fine. But try to avoid exercising shortly after a full meal. Your stomach should not be full when you begin your yoga session.
* Regularity is very important if you want to get the best results. That does not mean that you cannot possibly miss a session or two along the way, but you certainly do not want to make it a habit.
* Your clothing should be light and very comfortable, although try to avoid very loose clothing like large T-shirts that can actually interfere with some poses. The material for your clothing should be breathable and wick moisture away from the skin as you perspire.
* It’s a very good idea to have a yoga mat to use as you exercise. These can help you avoid slipping as you go into and out of each yoga position, and also keep you from having to exercise on the bare floor.
* Generally speaking, very young children should not practice yoga, especially before 7-8 years of age. Pregnant women should also avoid certain poses and positions that put pressure on their abdomen.
Yoga is not hard to practice and it yields a lot of very fine benefits for young and old alike. If you approach yoga exercises with an open mind and make it a deeply personal experience, it may become one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including fitness. You can find free yoga exercises and free yoga poses by visiting our Home Fitness website.
* Before you begin, be sure that you are in good enough physical shape to be able to handle this new exercise routine. If you have any questions at all about that, consult your doctor and follow his directions as you get started.
* Be sure that you learn the yoga techniques from a well-qualified, capable instructor. A good instructor will be very patient with you and will help you learn not only the exercises themselves but also the proper body position and breathing techniques necessary to make them effective. It’s very important that you learn how to practice yoga correctly from the beginning if you want to get real results.
* If you attend a yoga class at a studio or gym, be sure that the surroundings are comfortable and promote relaxation. The environment in which you practice your poses and positions can have a great impact on the effectiveness of each session.
* The specific time of day that you choose for your yoga exercises is not important. Whatever fits into your schedule best will work just fine. But try to avoid exercising shortly after a full meal. Your stomach should not be full when you begin your yoga session.
* Regularity is very important if you want to get the best results. That does not mean that you cannot possibly miss a session or two along the way, but you certainly do not want to make it a habit.
* Your clothing should be light and very comfortable, although try to avoid very loose clothing like large T-shirts that can actually interfere with some poses. The material for your clothing should be breathable and wick moisture away from the skin as you perspire.
* It’s a very good idea to have a yoga mat to use as you exercise. These can help you avoid slipping as you go into and out of each yoga position, and also keep you from having to exercise on the bare floor.
* Generally speaking, very young children should not practice yoga, especially before 7-8 years of age. Pregnant women should also avoid certain poses and positions that put pressure on their abdomen.
Yoga is not hard to practice and it yields a lot of very fine benefits for young and old alike. If you approach yoga exercises with an open mind and make it a deeply personal experience, it may become one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including fitness. You can find free yoga exercises and free yoga poses by visiting our Home Fitness website.
Yoga an Exercise for Everyone
Many adults enjoy and are aware of the rewards of yoga. While it may not look like other forms of exercise to most people, they are amazed at how the seemingly simple poses can work out so many different areas of their body. Yoga stretches tight muscles, builds body awareness, improves endurance, and calms the mind and body. But yoga is now attracting a younger audience who is finding out that yoga can be a fun way to exercise and relax.
Why Yoga is Different
For people lacking in confidence about their body image, some group activities can backfire causing people to further disconnect from their bodies and actively resist taking care of themselves. Yoga?s emphasis is on self-acceptance which makes it more appealing, a less intimidating way to get active. Yoga stresses a nonjudgmental emphasis on body awareness.
Yoga is not a competitive sport- there are no winners or losers. Yoga can give less confident people that much-needed support from their peers. If someone in a class has difficulty with a particular pose, often others in the room help them out. Yoga offers many people an opportunity to just relax. Just getting to be ?without having to achieve anything in particular- is a huge relief to many people.
The Added Benefits of Yoga
Traditional sports tend to emphasize strength and speed over flexibility. Many adults overlook the importance of stretching. Additionally others use weight training to develop major muscles while ignoring the supportive and opposing muscles which are equally as important. Yoga can help correct these imbalances. It helps build endurance and flexibility, thereby improving athletic performance. Yoga can also enhance your ability to concentrate and focus, and improve your posture. Chest-opening postures and inverted poses strengthen arms, shoulders and back muscles, which teach you how to carry yourself with more self confidence.
Yoga can also teach you how to stay calm centered and focused in the midst of distraction and to let your body relax. This is an important skill for anyone who is experiencing transitions- physical, emotional, intellectual in today?s fast paced world. Yoga often becomes an outlet for working out people?s emotions. It can help you take control of you frustration and find alternative ways to deal with it rather than reacting right away.
? Copyright.Fitness-web.com, All Rights Reserved
Allison Preston is the author of this article runs http://www.Fitness-Web.com which compares and reviews fitness videos, exercise equipment and other health and fitness related products.
Why Yoga is Different
For people lacking in confidence about their body image, some group activities can backfire causing people to further disconnect from their bodies and actively resist taking care of themselves. Yoga?s emphasis is on self-acceptance which makes it more appealing, a less intimidating way to get active. Yoga stresses a nonjudgmental emphasis on body awareness.
Yoga is not a competitive sport- there are no winners or losers. Yoga can give less confident people that much-needed support from their peers. If someone in a class has difficulty with a particular pose, often others in the room help them out. Yoga offers many people an opportunity to just relax. Just getting to be ?without having to achieve anything in particular- is a huge relief to many people.
The Added Benefits of Yoga
Traditional sports tend to emphasize strength and speed over flexibility. Many adults overlook the importance of stretching. Additionally others use weight training to develop major muscles while ignoring the supportive and opposing muscles which are equally as important. Yoga can help correct these imbalances. It helps build endurance and flexibility, thereby improving athletic performance. Yoga can also enhance your ability to concentrate and focus, and improve your posture. Chest-opening postures and inverted poses strengthen arms, shoulders and back muscles, which teach you how to carry yourself with more self confidence.
Yoga can also teach you how to stay calm centered and focused in the midst of distraction and to let your body relax. This is an important skill for anyone who is experiencing transitions- physical, emotional, intellectual in today?s fast paced world. Yoga often becomes an outlet for working out people?s emotions. It can help you take control of you frustration and find alternative ways to deal with it rather than reacting right away.
? Copyright.Fitness-web.com, All Rights Reserved
Allison Preston is the author of this article runs http://www.Fitness-Web.com which compares and reviews fitness videos, exercise equipment and other health and fitness related products.
My Beginning Yoga Experience
As I walked out of the Bikram Yoga studio toward my car after my first class, I found myself declaring, “If I can actually do this yoga, it will totally change my whole life.” I had only been able to attempt half the postures, with the rest of the time lying down, just dealing with the heated, humid room. But it was a revelation as to the sorry state of my body’s condition, and the pathetic condition of my mind-body connection.
I had already made the firm decision to do yoga class every day for two months, after reading Bikram Choudhury’s introductory yoga book. He says, “Give us two months. We will change you.” After living with years of back pain due to compressed lumbar discs and a sedentary lifestyle, I was ready for that change–so ready, in fact, I was willing to subject my de-conditioned body to 90 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity in 105? heat and 60% humidity (making the “apparent temperature” somewhere around 145?). But the prospective discipline of it appealed to me, and soon I was actually enjoying the gentle torture of it, as I began to move muscles, bones and cartilage that hadn’t been moved in years.
Beyond the rewards of seeing my body stretch and reach new ranges of motion in class, it was after and between classes where the payoffs truly lay. Bending over to pick up something no longer hurt, standing up after sitting for a while no longer involved pain and stiffness, and I began noticing how good I felt instead of how bad.
Of course, getting to these improvements took a while; and although I had committed to two months of daily practice, it has now been nearly eight months, and I can now say yoga is an indispensable part of my life. This path has blatantly announced to me how I had incrementally reduced my own range of motion with each tiny discomfort, each injury, each bout of stiffness, in an attempt to protect myself from future pain. It is a common life strategy, but a very wrongheaded one. The body needs to increase its range of motion over time, and each discomfort or injury points the way. As the World’s Stiffest Person at 50, I was on the fast track to being a crippled old man by 60.
I drew a valuable conclusion from this, that all the little aches and pains and microconditions we had as twentysomethings, if not dealt with in a broad and holistic way, are the exact pains and conditions that amplify over time leading us to our ultimate demise. From this perspective, what is commonly referred to as “aging,” is actually more like an excuse for not answering the body’s calls for help early on. I’m just not buying the “I’m just getting too old for this” refrain I hear from my friends. Time, friction, and gravity will take their respective tolls, but only with permission from you. If I end up dying at 94, I would rather have gotten there vital, active and pain-free, instead of feeble, crippled, and tormented.
The main thing I’ve learned from my beginning yoga experience is that it takes MUCH MORE WORK than I thought to reverse my past slothfulness, and much more diligence on the day-to-day to maintain what gains I have acheived. Bikram refers to the “body’s bank account.” You invest into the account with yoga, and then spend the account when not doing yoga. Of course, I found I was sorely and deplorably in DEBT, and am only now seeing the light at the end of that tunnel, striving for the day I can touch my forehead to my toes, rest my leg on my shoulder, and nap on my back with my head on my feet.
SEVEN MORE THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN BIKRAM YOGA
# 1. If yoga turns it on, yoga will turn it off. I’ve had many classes where a muscle or joint will “release” (I used to wrongly identify it as “strain”), causing pain and stiffness or soreness after class. By the end of the next class, invariably, that soreness and pain disappears.
# 2. Your body is stronger than you think it is, and you have more energy than you think you do. One day in class I decided to completely ignore my thoughts as to what I could or couldn’t do in class, and was surprised to find a whole new range of motion, and a whole new area of energy and strength. The body obeys the limitations imposed upon it by the mind. Because Bikram Yoga is one of the most strenuous forms of hatha yoga, it is easy to claim to myself that I MUST be tired after all that exertion. Letting myself engage in this way, certainly obtained the result. The REALITY of yoga class is that it CREATES energy. Although it is natural to feel weakness or exhaustion, that feeling is actually RECOVERY, and in a few minutes, I claim to myself that I am refreshed and energetically ready for life. And, magically, I am.
# 3. Trust your body to know what it needs to do. Patience. As obedient as the body is to the limitations of the mind, it has also retained the awareness of the sequence of how those limitations were imposed, and knows how to undo them. The deeper problem with this is that many times there seem to be opposing limitations and confused commands operating within the body. These were put there by the mind, resulting in the wrong muscles being used to do certain motions. The trick, of course, is to get the mind out of the way, and it WILL resolve.
# 4. How you do yoga is how you do your life. The corollary to this is what happens during yoga practice is a microcosm of what happens to you in life. Paying attention to this is the road to revelation–as well as some inner grins.
# 5. Flexibility and core strength are the keys to health. Nutrition is important, drinking lots of water is important, getting proper amounts of sleep is important–all things I had been doing throughout my life. Unfortunately, I had overlooked the two most important things. Exercise is inadequate (and I dare say useless) without flexibility and core strength training. Again, it has taken much more than I thought to keep my body’s bank account from going into the red, and the quickest way into the black is with flexibility and core strength training. (By “core strength” I mean the deepest core muscles that create movement in the body, such as abdominal and back muscles.) With a high degree of flexibility, all the enzymes, minerals, blood flow, and myriad other rejuvenating substances the body creates to heal and build itself can get to those areas that need it. Without flexibility, there is withering and dying. I also noticed that I didn’t engage my abdominal muscles when I should, such as when bending over, lifting, carrying, walking, standing up. This set up bad habits of motion, and the obvious developing flacidity and inappropriate muscle recruitment.
# 6. Breathe. Combine this command with how you do yoga is how you do your life, and you’ll quickly see where you cut off your life force in daily living. I would stop breathing when I felt weak, for example. Ooops.
# 7. Use your mind to guide and expand. This is a corollary to Number 3 above. I noticed that by setting and visualizing goals on each posture, as well as for the entire class, and by refusing to entertain any other thoughts–such as how hot it is in the room, what hurts, what I’m afraid of, etcetera, etcetera–lo and behold progress gets made. The body wants to feel better. Help it out by concentrating on improving each posture, and when not doing that, concentrating on breathing. I’m saving myself a lot of unnecessary torture by applying this point in my practice, and in my life.
EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL CHANGES
These are life’s small potatoes…The most impressive effect underlying all the physical changes has been my greatly increased ability to confront life in the proper perspective–what I’ll call the “Small Potatoes Effect.” This is where one does something so monumentally difficult that the rest of life’s daily conflicts, conundrums, irritations and niggly stresses seem to all pale in importance. Or, more accurately, they begin to assume the quality of merely the backdrop texture accompanying my personal goals and purposes. They become the tiny, swirling dust devils stirred up by my atmospheric movements of intention. These are no longer “stresses”–they are revealing acknowledgements that life is changing according to my desires.
As the practice advances, I’m wondering if perhaps it is not so much that it is “monumentally difficult” to do this yoga, but that certain firmly embedded toxic conditions residing for decades deep within organs, muscle and bone are at last being purged–and that translates as a monumental achievement on some subliminal cellular or auric level.
Whatever it is, it has restored my sense of humor, allowed me to rediscover my enjoyment of living, and added an aura of leisure in everyday activities, even as I find myself accomplishing more.
And so I continue on with my daily practice of Bikram Yoga with an inner smile, remembering that Bikram says, “You gotta go through hell to get to heaven,” and remembering that the only reason the “hell” is there was my own doing. But with yoga, my days of redemption are at hand.
Boyd Martin is a well-known writer and musician (drummer) in the Portland, Oregon, area, having toured the U.S. and Europe with national-level musical acts. He is an avid, daily Bikram Yoga student, with a keen interest in metaphysics, natural health, and alternative healing methods.
I had already made the firm decision to do yoga class every day for two months, after reading Bikram Choudhury’s introductory yoga book. He says, “Give us two months. We will change you.” After living with years of back pain due to compressed lumbar discs and a sedentary lifestyle, I was ready for that change–so ready, in fact, I was willing to subject my de-conditioned body to 90 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity in 105? heat and 60% humidity (making the “apparent temperature” somewhere around 145?). But the prospective discipline of it appealed to me, and soon I was actually enjoying the gentle torture of it, as I began to move muscles, bones and cartilage that hadn’t been moved in years.
Beyond the rewards of seeing my body stretch and reach new ranges of motion in class, it was after and between classes where the payoffs truly lay. Bending over to pick up something no longer hurt, standing up after sitting for a while no longer involved pain and stiffness, and I began noticing how good I felt instead of how bad.
Of course, getting to these improvements took a while; and although I had committed to two months of daily practice, it has now been nearly eight months, and I can now say yoga is an indispensable part of my life. This path has blatantly announced to me how I had incrementally reduced my own range of motion with each tiny discomfort, each injury, each bout of stiffness, in an attempt to protect myself from future pain. It is a common life strategy, but a very wrongheaded one. The body needs to increase its range of motion over time, and each discomfort or injury points the way. As the World’s Stiffest Person at 50, I was on the fast track to being a crippled old man by 60.
I drew a valuable conclusion from this, that all the little aches and pains and microconditions we had as twentysomethings, if not dealt with in a broad and holistic way, are the exact pains and conditions that amplify over time leading us to our ultimate demise. From this perspective, what is commonly referred to as “aging,” is actually more like an excuse for not answering the body’s calls for help early on. I’m just not buying the “I’m just getting too old for this” refrain I hear from my friends. Time, friction, and gravity will take their respective tolls, but only with permission from you. If I end up dying at 94, I would rather have gotten there vital, active and pain-free, instead of feeble, crippled, and tormented.
The main thing I’ve learned from my beginning yoga experience is that it takes MUCH MORE WORK than I thought to reverse my past slothfulness, and much more diligence on the day-to-day to maintain what gains I have acheived. Bikram refers to the “body’s bank account.” You invest into the account with yoga, and then spend the account when not doing yoga. Of course, I found I was sorely and deplorably in DEBT, and am only now seeing the light at the end of that tunnel, striving for the day I can touch my forehead to my toes, rest my leg on my shoulder, and nap on my back with my head on my feet.
SEVEN MORE THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN BIKRAM YOGA
# 1. If yoga turns it on, yoga will turn it off. I’ve had many classes where a muscle or joint will “release” (I used to wrongly identify it as “strain”), causing pain and stiffness or soreness after class. By the end of the next class, invariably, that soreness and pain disappears.
# 2. Your body is stronger than you think it is, and you have more energy than you think you do. One day in class I decided to completely ignore my thoughts as to what I could or couldn’t do in class, and was surprised to find a whole new range of motion, and a whole new area of energy and strength. The body obeys the limitations imposed upon it by the mind. Because Bikram Yoga is one of the most strenuous forms of hatha yoga, it is easy to claim to myself that I MUST be tired after all that exertion. Letting myself engage in this way, certainly obtained the result. The REALITY of yoga class is that it CREATES energy. Although it is natural to feel weakness or exhaustion, that feeling is actually RECOVERY, and in a few minutes, I claim to myself that I am refreshed and energetically ready for life. And, magically, I am.
# 3. Trust your body to know what it needs to do. Patience. As obedient as the body is to the limitations of the mind, it has also retained the awareness of the sequence of how those limitations were imposed, and knows how to undo them. The deeper problem with this is that many times there seem to be opposing limitations and confused commands operating within the body. These were put there by the mind, resulting in the wrong muscles being used to do certain motions. The trick, of course, is to get the mind out of the way, and it WILL resolve.
# 4. How you do yoga is how you do your life. The corollary to this is what happens during yoga practice is a microcosm of what happens to you in life. Paying attention to this is the road to revelation–as well as some inner grins.
# 5. Flexibility and core strength are the keys to health. Nutrition is important, drinking lots of water is important, getting proper amounts of sleep is important–all things I had been doing throughout my life. Unfortunately, I had overlooked the two most important things. Exercise is inadequate (and I dare say useless) without flexibility and core strength training. Again, it has taken much more than I thought to keep my body’s bank account from going into the red, and the quickest way into the black is with flexibility and core strength training. (By “core strength” I mean the deepest core muscles that create movement in the body, such as abdominal and back muscles.) With a high degree of flexibility, all the enzymes, minerals, blood flow, and myriad other rejuvenating substances the body creates to heal and build itself can get to those areas that need it. Without flexibility, there is withering and dying. I also noticed that I didn’t engage my abdominal muscles when I should, such as when bending over, lifting, carrying, walking, standing up. This set up bad habits of motion, and the obvious developing flacidity and inappropriate muscle recruitment.
# 6. Breathe. Combine this command with how you do yoga is how you do your life, and you’ll quickly see where you cut off your life force in daily living. I would stop breathing when I felt weak, for example. Ooops.
# 7. Use your mind to guide and expand. This is a corollary to Number 3 above. I noticed that by setting and visualizing goals on each posture, as well as for the entire class, and by refusing to entertain any other thoughts–such as how hot it is in the room, what hurts, what I’m afraid of, etcetera, etcetera–lo and behold progress gets made. The body wants to feel better. Help it out by concentrating on improving each posture, and when not doing that, concentrating on breathing. I’m saving myself a lot of unnecessary torture by applying this point in my practice, and in my life.
EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL CHANGES
These are life’s small potatoes…The most impressive effect underlying all the physical changes has been my greatly increased ability to confront life in the proper perspective–what I’ll call the “Small Potatoes Effect.” This is where one does something so monumentally difficult that the rest of life’s daily conflicts, conundrums, irritations and niggly stresses seem to all pale in importance. Or, more accurately, they begin to assume the quality of merely the backdrop texture accompanying my personal goals and purposes. They become the tiny, swirling dust devils stirred up by my atmospheric movements of intention. These are no longer “stresses”–they are revealing acknowledgements that life is changing according to my desires.
As the practice advances, I’m wondering if perhaps it is not so much that it is “monumentally difficult” to do this yoga, but that certain firmly embedded toxic conditions residing for decades deep within organs, muscle and bone are at last being purged–and that translates as a monumental achievement on some subliminal cellular or auric level.
Whatever it is, it has restored my sense of humor, allowed me to rediscover my enjoyment of living, and added an aura of leisure in everyday activities, even as I find myself accomplishing more.
And so I continue on with my daily practice of Bikram Yoga with an inner smile, remembering that Bikram says, “You gotta go through hell to get to heaven,” and remembering that the only reason the “hell” is there was my own doing. But with yoga, my days of redemption are at hand.
Boyd Martin is a well-known writer and musician (drummer) in the Portland, Oregon, area, having toured the U.S. and Europe with national-level musical acts. He is an avid, daily Bikram Yoga student, with a keen interest in metaphysics, natural health, and alternative healing methods.
The Most Important Yoga Pose When You are on the Go
With over 84, 000 poses in yoga to choose from for practice, yoga enthusiasts and practitioners might be left confused on just which ones are the most important.
With our daily demands and commitments, most of us might not have the time to perform so many poses therefore we should focus on the one that is of the most benefit for daily practice and that is the Shoulder-Stand (known in Sanskrit as Savangasana).
It is my recommended favorite of the inverted poses. Its ease and reminder that as a kid, you tried it before, makes it one that I emphasize even more so than the Headstand you might be familiar with as they share almost if not all the same benefits without the fear of standing on your head.
Inverted poses reverse the action of gravity on the body. Instead of everything being pulled towards the feet, the orientation shifts towards the head. On emotional levels the Shoulder Stand turns everything upside down throwing a new light on old patterns of behavior.
It improves health, reduces stress and anxiety and increases mental power and also increases self confidence. In addition, the abdominal organs, liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys and pancreas receive a powerful massage helping them work better.
In Sanskrit, Sarvanga means all parts so as the name suggests, it affects all the bodily organs. It stimulates the thyroid gland, balancing the circulatory, digestive, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems. It is indeed a panacea, a cure all. Obesity and corpulence are alleviated by this pose as well as constipation and enlargement of the liver and the spleen.
It is best practiced with its counter poses in specific durations for maximal efficiency and when planned correctly, the whole sequence could take less than 6 minutes to carry out, depending on your schedule.
Personally, I make the point as a practitioner to incorporate the sequence into my daily regimen with other forms of exercise, but I always place the most emphasis on this one pose for all the benefits above.
So next time when you are unsure of which pose you have to include in your session when you are on the go, make it a point to go for the Shoulder-Stand. Your body will thank you for it.
Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com For more Yoga tips and information on Yoga for beginners, feel free to stop by his website today.
With our daily demands and commitments, most of us might not have the time to perform so many poses therefore we should focus on the one that is of the most benefit for daily practice and that is the Shoulder-Stand (known in Sanskrit as Savangasana).
It is my recommended favorite of the inverted poses. Its ease and reminder that as a kid, you tried it before, makes it one that I emphasize even more so than the Headstand you might be familiar with as they share almost if not all the same benefits without the fear of standing on your head.
Inverted poses reverse the action of gravity on the body. Instead of everything being pulled towards the feet, the orientation shifts towards the head. On emotional levels the Shoulder Stand turns everything upside down throwing a new light on old patterns of behavior.
It improves health, reduces stress and anxiety and increases mental power and also increases self confidence. In addition, the abdominal organs, liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys and pancreas receive a powerful massage helping them work better.
In Sanskrit, Sarvanga means all parts so as the name suggests, it affects all the bodily organs. It stimulates the thyroid gland, balancing the circulatory, digestive, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems. It is indeed a panacea, a cure all. Obesity and corpulence are alleviated by this pose as well as constipation and enlargement of the liver and the spleen.
It is best practiced with its counter poses in specific durations for maximal efficiency and when planned correctly, the whole sequence could take less than 6 minutes to carry out, depending on your schedule.
Personally, I make the point as a practitioner to incorporate the sequence into my daily regimen with other forms of exercise, but I always place the most emphasis on this one pose for all the benefits above.
So next time when you are unsure of which pose you have to include in your session when you are on the go, make it a point to go for the Shoulder-Stand. Your body will thank you for it.
Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com For more Yoga tips and information on Yoga for beginners, feel free to stop by his website today.
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