Yoga Articles

The Power of SpeechnSwami Radhananda - From ascent magazine Issue 14 summer 2002nnThe other day in yoga class, Johanna, a student, discovered that she had based her idea of her intelligence on negative remarks she heard when she was seven years old. We have all taken in opinions of others about our beauty, our creativity, our body shapes, our abilities and have realized the power of speech to stick in the mind and influence who we are and what we do. We see how in a few secon

Zen Yoga can be a wonderful addition to Massage Therapy. It is a means of preparing each client to better understand the function of his or her own body, mind and spirit, and how to find a peaceful balance between all three. Zen Yoga blends Tai Chi, Qigong, Shanti Yoga, and Mindful Meditation together to create a graceful combination of breathing, moving and stretching. It is both a spiritual art and a practical guide to relaxation and stress management. In Zen Yoga, as happens within any great teaching process, no one is left unchanged.

Most of us understand that a healthy diet and exercise are vitally important to effective weight loss. As trainers this is something we preach to our clients daily. However, it is possible that despite the best efforts in dieting and exercise, high levels of stress may be preventing weight loss. This may come as a surprise to find out that, in addition to all the other problems stress brings, it may also be preventing the bodily systems from working properly and not allowing the metabolism to burn fat..

Options for learning yoga at home were pretty scarce way back when I first started yoga. There were a few videos and books available, but nothing that could really teach you step by step what yoga was all about. The internet was still a long way away … I learned much of what I know about yoga from the source … India. I spent years travelling that magical place, and had several great yoga experiences along the way.

Yoga relaxation method can also break technique known as yoga. It will bring enormous benefits the body will enable the brain, heart, autonomic nervous system and limb to be the depth of the rest, so that the body be "charged" and revitalized. Formal relaxation should be an active, alert, focused mind to relax, can there be the feeling of relaxation. * Relaxation method for different purposes, time and environment have different practice methods, such as day exercise aimed at

from the desk of swami radhanandanHolding A Posen(carrying the essence of asana into your life)nAscent Magazine, issue 17, winter 2003nnThe body is a good place to start a spiritual practice because of its potential to change and show us concrete results. By exploring the physical practice of Hatha Yoga, you begin to recognize the balance, strength and firmness of your body. From this foundation you can develop a trust in yourself to discover new possibilities not only in you

Om annapurnayai namaha; Om sadapurnayai namaha O Mother, you love to feed your children with the healthy, nourishing food that flows constantly from your abundance When I decided to start a blog about spiritual lifestyle, I knew that one of the topics I wanted to focus on was that of diet and nutrition. The truth is, our food choices have a tremendous effect on our physical and mental health, the quality of our subtle energy, our meditation practice, our karmic balance, the e

Laughter Yoga or Hasya (“Hasya” in Sanskrit means laughter) is an alternate technique in healing which involves some exercises patterned to make human beings laugh for no apparent reason at all, blended with some simple and basic breathing methods in Yoga. Each day, new researches are being made and published on the countless psychological and physiological benefits that laughing can bring, and Laughter Yoga could aid people to participate and indulge in these benefits. T

Reveal your hidden energy to sort out your mind-body or physical-spiritual fitness problems. Our daily life is full of worries. The modern man is surrounded by uncountable problems. Surveys say that every one out of four men is the victim of depression. Understanding energy flow in your body can be a solution to all of your worries. You can use all your hidden powers to resolve all your problems. The seven Chakras can be a best answer to retrieve your mental fitness needs. B

Yoga has long been known to increase flexibility and reduce stress while uniting your body, mind, and spirit. But does all that “OM”-ing and bending have a significant impact on weight loss? Losing weight is simple in theory, but much more challenging in practice. To lose weight, a person must burn more calories than they consume, in other words, eat less and exercise more. Practicing yoga certainly qualifies as the exercise component of this strategy, as yoga challenges

Stay fit with Pranayama Yoganfor twenty minutes a dayn (A package of seven amazing breathing techniques)nnV.N.Mittaln--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------n nINTRODUCTIONnWhen I started learning the package of seven yogic pranayama techniques of Yogiraj Swamy Ram Dev in India about two years back, I did not realize that it would turn out to be the greatest healer for me and would become a part of my regular practice,

The Transition From Fitness to Yoga and Why I Stayed with Yoga After 10 yrs of no yoga I started to practice again. Deciding yoga was the missing ingredient to the hard-core cardio and weight training I was into. Unfortunately 10yrs of workouts had tightened up my muscles and joints and all of the yoga poses that came so easily 10 yrs ago now seemed out of reach. Determined to get back to where I was, though nagged by the thought "you get stiff and then you get old’, I persisted.

Everyone gets a stiff neck sometimes. Often yoga can help. Of course, before you do anything, it’s important to know if your neck pain is the sign of something more serious. Make sure to see your doctor if:n• Your neck pain persists for more than three days or keeps coming back. n• You suffer from neck pain after a fall or accident. n• Pain radiates from your neck down your arms or legs.n• Neck pain is associated with nausea or dizziness.nnnYoga Exercises for Neck P

The more I study history, the more I see that religion has been the source and the cause for most of the conflicts in the world; most of the wars and atrocities In the world were in the name of religion. That makes one wonder what is the real purpose of religion. Religion creates so much hatred ...

Anulom Vilom Pranayama is also known as “Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique”. It is considered as the best technique to handle stress, anxiety, and other mental pressures. It relieves from every tension. The benefits of anulom vilom pranayama are infinite as they have healing power of many serious health conditions improves heart health, and helps in curing other diseases such as asthma, depression, migraine, high blood pressure, arthritis, and many other.rnEveryday wo

Magnetism is the power by which you draw things to you: the right husband or wife, the right business, the right friends, and so on. Magnetism of every kind originates in the Infinite Spirit. A bundle of magnets Each human being is a medium through which God's magnetism flows. All parts of the ...

Although the practice of yoga has become widespread during the last 30 years, there are still quite a few misconceptions about this ancient method of self-transformation. Here is a brief survey of the most common myths about yoga, and a look at what yoga is really all about. 1. Yoga is a sport: One of the important components of yoga is the practice of physical postures, known as asanas in Sanskrit. Due to this physical aspect of yoga, some people think of yoga as a sport or

1) DATE OF BIRTH : 21/9/1911 A.D.nSAMVAT : AASO VAD 13 /1968nn2) PLACE OF BIRTH : ANVALKHEDA (AGRA, U.P., INDIA)nn3) FATHER : PANDIT ROOPRAMKISHORE SHARMAnn4) MOTHER : DHANKUNVARI ALIAS TAEEJEEnn5) YOUNGEST AMONG 4 BROTHERSnCOMMUNITY – SANNADAY BRAHMINnn6) FATHER’S DEATH : 1924 A.D.nn7) MOTHER’S DEATH : 12/2/1971 (at the age of 90 years) nWIFE – REVERED MOTHER BHAGWATI DEVI SHARMAn2 SONS – OMPRAKASH SHARMAn MRITYUNJAY SHARMAn2 DAUGHTERS – JAYAn SHAILBALAnn8) EDUCA

Sirsasana meaning headstand is considered to be one of the most important yoga poses. Sirsasana is known as "the queen of poses", and the reason relates to the effect it has on the brain and mind. The inversion of this pose causes increased and unrestricted blood flow to the brain. This brings increased oxygen, nutrient and vitality providing energy to the mind, clarity of thought and ease of concentration. nnThe increased blood flow to the head stimulates the pituitary gland

YOGA for STRESSnnHeadaches, stiff neck, tight shoulders, poor posture, shortness of breath, clenched teeth, fatigue. What do all these things have in common? They are all symptoms of stress and tension. How can we eliminate them? YOGA! YOGA! YOGA!nnYOGA is for every body, mind and spirit. It does not differentiate between male or female, young or old, fit or inactive. It does not ask of you what you cannot give. Yoga, from the Sanskrit word YUG, means to join or unite. A unio

There has been a bootleg recording circulating now for decades in yoga and meditation communities rumored to be of the Dalai Lama chanting for a dying friend. It came into my possession the way it comes to most people -- a yoga friend gave me a burned CD with the following written on it by ...

Yoga done wrong can be dangerous and can cause adverse effects on your overall health. Some of these side effects as are follows:nn Painful Yoga Stretches nnIf your body is not flexible, some yoga poses can adversely harm your muscles and nncause heavy pain and internal bleeding. Some yoga poses can even lead to fracture or ruptures of delicate bones. This case is nnespecially true if you have delicate or brittle bones. Ruptures like these can take months to heal and might so

Yama and Niyama, the misunderstood yogannI think nothing about yoga could be more sadly misunderstood than the principles of Yama and Niyama. As you may already know, according to an ancient and widely accepted system set down by the yogi Pantanjali, there are 8 "limbs" (astanga) of yoga, which are arranged in an order suggesting that they might be steps towards the ultimate goal of union with God. Considering that the translation of the sanskrit word "yoga" is "union", that

Developing Your Skills as a Yoga TeachernnNo matter what style of yoga you teach or intend to teach, there are many things you can do to ensure a wonderful class for both you and your students.nnThe following tips are just a few techniques that will help bring out the best in your class:nn1) Orient your students to the class. Tell your students what to expect before the class begins. nn2) Explain the benefits of specific yoga postures and breathing exercises. Studies have sho

Yoga and Tai Chi have become popular worldwide. They appear in commercials and are taught in many fitness and community centers. Seniors and the sedentary are persuaded that Yoga and Tai Chi are ideal for their health. In addition, Tai Chi is described as being very easy to learn and practice. Not as many people are familiar with Qigong, a mind, body, breathing discipline which originated in China thousands of years ago. These arts have become westernized, commercialized and

With many different forms and endless possibilities, astral projection has existed since Ancient times. It can occur voluntarily or spontaneously (involuntarily) and has been used to achieve a variety of goals. No matter what encourages you to seek out astral travel, the entire practice is tied closely to energy levels and Chakras, as well as the ability to overcome fear throughout the experience. Through patience and practice, it is possible to eventually be able to induce a

Sanskrit Mantras are sound formulas that echo the language of Creation, ranging from single-syllable “seed sounds” to more extensive, lengthy compilations of sounds designed to have specific effects. We have been told that “In the beginning there was The Word…” and the scriptures from many world religions testify that sound was the originating manifestation of the Universe as we know it. y world religions testify that sound was the originating manifestation of the Universe as

There is no any other discipline more helpful in achieving knowledge of inner- self, and harmony with the world than Yoga. Bio-energy knowledge of methods of mind and body healing cannot be completed without studying Yoga. Basic Hatha-Yoga is a practical and complex method of developing a ...rnThere is no any other discipline more helpful in achieving knowledge of inner- self, and harmony with the world than Yoga. Bio-energy knowledge of methods of mind and body healing canno

It may be surprising to know that the types of foods eaten can affect the chakra balance. Just because chakras are energy vortexes does not mean they only react to spiritual things. On the contrary, the physical body must be nourished properly in order to support and fuel the chakras. Eating proper food may be what is needed to restore chakras that are misaligned. Planning meals that have the proper amount of the correct foods can actually bring balance into the chakra system

Yoga offers tremendous health and wellness benefits for everyone. As a means of therapy, Yoga is becoming increasingly popular among athletes and sports enthusiasts. Here are 5 key reasons why Yoga can be beneficial for those involved in sports and athletic training programs.

Have you ever faced a big decision and felt paralyzed with fear and torn about what to do? l have worked with many clients who have been faced with wonderful new opportunities and yet they felt overwhelmed by the task of determining how to make the best decision. Big decisions are challenging when there are many factors to consider and when all the choices have positive potential. When faced with a big complex decision, it is important to break your decision making process i

Reflexology is an excellent tool which is based on the principle that the entire body is mapped onto the feet and hands. There are specific areas of the feet and hands which correspond to different parts, organs and glands of the body. Working these reflexes by the application of pressure ...

How Things Used to Be – Only a Few Short Decades Ago (Only 4 Short Decades Ago!) When I was young, my father used to joke around with us children and say “When your mother was pregnant, she must have been startled by a kangaroo because you children never stop bouncing around!” All the children in my neighbourhood were active. We ran endlessly around the neighbourhood playing Hide & Seek, the older boys played Football on the street in the summer and Hockey in the winter. Th

Reflexology can help relieve knee pain that is often caused by arthritis. Knee pain can be caused by different conditions including osteoarthritis. According to Arthritis Symptoms, by working the affected areas on the feet that are associated with the knee, a reflexologist can help to apply pressure and use massage techniques to release the calcium deposits and reduce knee pain.

nAs we become more familiar with yoga and the Indian tradition of the 8 limbs of Hatha yoga, we are likely to hear of Pranayama or yoga breathing and practice some of the techniques in this limb of yoga. While some styles of yoga encourage the combination of asana and Pranayama (primarily ujjayi breathing), Pranayama is a separate limb of yoga and is usually practiced separately to yoga asana.nnPranayama is comprised of the root words "Prana" meaning breath or life force, "ya

There are various issues with your feet and heels, including plantar fasciitis, that can be painful, and reflexology may be a treatment option you want to consider. A trained reflexologist works the points on the feet and applies pressure using massage techniques to help ease pain. Reflexology is not a medical treatment. If you are on medication or receiving medical treatment, be sure to continue. You might also want to consult your physician before undergoing reflexology.

Every few weeks, I like to get my yoga classes to practice the yoga frog pose. In the mixed ability yoga classes this is more of the tadpole pose. So why do the tadpole pose of frog pose? The Frog Pose is considered a mid-level yoga pose, and helps to focus your mind to the benefits of the pose. Its main benefit is to mobilise the hip joints. The pose, when done with understanding, delivers a deep stretch to your hips (ball & socket joints) and also the inner thighs. The inne

Did I mention that I tested positive for Gestational Diabetes at 28 weeks?nnHoo Boy! I had earlier in my pregnancy went to the diabetes nutritionist, so I had an ideanabout the small meals all days long, count the carbs, etc.nnBut, now it was serious! No way did I want the doc to have an excuse to do a C-Section.nnMy fingers sure did get sore for those last weeks in pregnancy. I tested when I got up.nI tested after breakfast, I tested after snack, I tested after lunch, I test

Does wrist strain and pain interfere with your yoga or Pilates practice? If so, the new innovative Wrist Assured Fitness Gloves and Yoga Gloves will provide the pain relief and comfort you need to continue practicing yoga and Pilates without wrist pain. Our Wrist Assured Fitness Gloves improves comfort by relieving wrist strain, joint pain, nerve compression and stress on the soft tissues of the wrist during weight bearing yoga asanas and Pilates exercises.

It seems that these days you can hardly turn on a television without hearing someone mention Pilates or Yoga. Articles on Pilates and Yoga fill numerous magazines and it seems “everyone who is anyone” is doing one or the other. Why all the excitement? What is so special about these techniques? What are the similarities and differences between Pilates and Yoga?nnYoga, as we all know it, is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yogis view that the mind and the

There are times when the simplest and most “low tech” approaches to a problem yield the most profound results. That is often true when it comes to yoga practices. Things as simple as the way we position our bodies and how we breathe can dramatically affect our thoughts and ...

Believed to be the place that holds the records of memories from all souls, the hall of akashic records gives you access to a wealth of information. This mystical library contains all memories and events from throughout the past, present, and future of a soul. This highly sought after information is not easily accessible, but is an exciting place to visit for those with the persistence to do so. Most believe that access to the akashic records is only achieved through a spirit

As Yoga is an ancient practice which helps you to calm down physically, mentally and spiritually. Well, traveling seems a bit difficult to some people as you cannot eat healthy stuff on the road, you have long tours of sitting down in the train or bus so travel-yoga is great way to relax and to restore your energy. So whether you are going to a business trip or on vacation yoga is an amazing way to keep yourself stress-free and at mental peace. If you live in Mexico then you

Most people probably think of physical postures when they hear the word "yoga." The physical practice is important and is one avenue to freedom and unity between the physical body, the mind, the emotions, the breath, and the spirit. I was a very physical kid and practiced yoga postures back then via my mom's Lillias yoga cards. I returned to the practice in1999 to help balance out the physical and mental stresses of life as an occupational therapist in a hospital.

Think of NANO Yoga as taking a bath or a shower for the inside of our body. However often you take a regular bath or shower is how often you do NANO Yoga. Daily would be great; however, that is not always possible. Skipping a day or two does not ruin it. rn'Just as nanotechnology has the potential to send nano particles within the body system to seek out and treat afflicted parts, pranayam in yoga sends oxygen to the remotest parts inside the body which need oxygen for cure,'

Let's begin with what a pendulum is...simply stated, a pendulum is a weight hanging from a fixed point. When pulled and released, the force of gravity and inertia create movement. However, when no force is inflicted on the weight something begins to happen naturally, energy moves the weight with a little help from the unconscious mind. In Chakra Balancing, the pendulum is held over one of the seven major Chakras (wheel or disk) and the energy from this source. The energy level will reveal balance, a block or imbalance by the way the pendulum is moving.

I did a Google Search for “ashtanga yoga pose” today, just to see what will come up. All ten first-page results gave me exactly what I didn’t want … It gave me websites about the wrong ashtanga yoga.

If you are suffering from any form of physical, mental or emotional dis-ease, there is one thing that you can do right now to set your feet firmly on the road toward healing. Breathe like a yogi. Read more to find out why and how. When we are born, we are very efficient breathers. Ever heard the phrase, sleeping like a baby? Ever thought about what it means? Well, take a look at the next sleeping baby you see how peaceful and relaxed they are. Watch their bellies rise and fal

So, you think you are not a good public speaker? But among your own group of people you are a good orator. Perhaps, something you are lacking is self-confidence. Yoga has tremendous meditative ‘asanas’ that can boost your self-confidence. Yoga helps you give a fabulous presentation in front of a large gathering. There is particular Yoga poses that help you improve your presentation skills and make you less hesitant, every time you need to hold public speaking sessions. Fo