Posts Tagged ‘Yoga’

16
Dec

Educating Yourself About The Numerous Types of Yoga

   Posted by: author1    in Health and Fitness, Yoga

Celebrities swear by yoga and more specifically, pilates yoga, as the ultimate way of putting the finishing touches on an exercise regimen and toning all those difficult areas. If you’d like to get started, you may not know where to begin. There isn’t just one type of yoga, in fact there are many. This article examines some of the different styles so that you can choose which yoga class would best suit you.

Iyengar yoga helps individuals with coordination, balance and circulation by emphasizing concentration and slow, methodical stretching. The breaks between positions and props (like straps, mats and blocks) take some of the strain off the body, making this ideal for older participants and beginners. Practitioners are encouraged to find a sense of oneness and peace through regulated breathing and posture.

Fitness yoga aims to increase flexibility, muscle strength and improve energy and cardiovascular systems. This is a more modern approach to the ancient principles and targets certain areas like the gluteus muscle or abdomen to tone and strengthen. Similarly, Pilates yoga is one of the most popular forms, with over 11 million regular practitioners in the US and over 14,000 instructors. The core postural muscles and spinal cord are emphasized, in addition to utilizing flowing movements to strengthen and define.

Ashtanga Vinyasa (also known as “power yoga” or “Raja yoga”) is derived from an ancient Indian manuscript called “the Yoga Kurunta.” The word “ashtanga” literally translates to mean “eight limbs,” which refers to eight positions: yama (moral codes), niyama (self-purification and study), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sense control), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (contemplation). Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” After warming up with “Sun Salutations,” the different postures are repeated with smooth flowing movements and specific breathing patterns. This advanced style of yoga attracts people who may typically be the cardio types, participating in kickboxing or step classes, and is intended to help extroverted high-stress personalities find their inner quietude.

A couple of forms of yoga are used for therapeutic purposes. Bikram yoga (also known as “hot yoga”) occurs in a sauna-like room maintained at 95-100 degrees to induce sweating, leading to body cleansing and additional weight loss. These twenty-six positions loosen the muscles in a relaxing way. The Forrest style meditation yoga from Santa Monica California is intended to release inner emotional pain, purify the body of toxins and strengthen the abdomen through deep breathing and stretches.

Some styles focus on the spiritual side, with chanting, meditating and contemplating, borrowing inspiration from the eight principles of ashtanga. Jivamukti and Kundalini use chanting and rapid repetitive movements to free trapped energy. Karma yoga is derived from the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient sandskrit Hindu scripture and is based around the idea of “union through action.” It is believed that one can express love for God by giving up selfish desires and participating in “detached, selfless action,” which will eventually result in liberation. The Anusara style is a form of meditation yoga for beginners because teachers believe in positive communication to open the heart and mind. All levels are welcomed and there is a philosophical belief in the intrinsic goodness of humankind. This light-hearted approach to alignment is a good springboard to more intense forms.

Many participants report increased happiness and energy after a yoga class. While you won’t get any major weight loss assistance or a heart workout with yoga, it’s good to add in one class each week to strengthen your spirit and connect mind with body.

Perhaps more than any other form of exercise, Yoga has been around the longest. Originating in India, this popular form of exercise has been practiced around the world. Why? The physical portion of the workout is very low-impact and can be performed by anyone of any age. The same cannot be said of kick boxing classes or Jazzercise. But there is more to Yoga than just working out the body. It is also a lifestyle that can bring clarity to the mind through spiritual exercises of meditation and concentration. Are you ready to begin your path to a healthy body and mind? Click here to find out more: Yoga Posture Techniques and at Yoga Classes also at Yoga Retreat

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5
Nov

Beginner Yoga Positions for Fitness

   Posted by: author1    in Health and Fitness, Yoga

There are many kinds of yoga exercises, all which seem to have derived from the original eight stages of reaching a state of bliss. The most popular kind of yoga is Hatha-Yoga, which focuses on the poses and breathing techniques thereby helping to encourage good health.

No fancy or expensive equipment is needed to practice yoga exercises. A positive attitude is all you need to bring. Clothing does not have to be special either. It best to wear loose fitting and nonrestrictive clothes.

You do not have to join a yoga class as any quiet spot in your house is perfectly fine to practice yoga. Ensure that there are no distractions, it is quiet, clean and has plenty of air flow.  A soft mat may be handy together with a blanket and a pillow which will help give you some form of support and added comfort for the laying or sitting down positions. Yoga is normally practiced barefoot, so you don’t need any expensive shoes though you may wish to wear some socks or soft shoes.

Try not to eat a heavy meal for at least two or three hours before doing any yoga exercises. You do not want to have a full feeling as you are moving through the exercises. You can eat some fruit or an energy bar and drink a glass of juice an hour or so before doing yoga. Drink plenty of water as you perform your yoga exercises as you will tend to get dehydrated.

Many people like to practice yoga first thing in the morning as it helps to revitalise the mind and body using the postures and breathing techniques. Others prefer to exercise at night to help unwind from a busy and stressful day. It is perfectly fine to do both. Yoga can be performed anytime and anywhere, you just have to find best time.

Basic yoga poses always start with easy poses, building up to the more difficult poses. Never strain yourself, and pause when you feel pain or fatigue. Relaxing in between difficult exercises is also considered to be beneficial.

Daily yoga exercises is optimal. You can do as little as 15 minutes of fitness exercise and 15 minutes of breathing and meditation each day and you will start to reap the benefits.

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