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Yoga and Healthy Living – Five Yogic Secrets to Healthy Living

March 16, 2010 By 3 Comments
yogaBy Ntathu AllenAre you interested in looking after your health? Do you read healthy living magazines and dream of living the sort of life where you always eat well, have enough sleep, and work-out three times a week? But in reality, you drive everywhere, have fast-food takeaways and burn the candle at both ends?

Like most people you probably strive to lead a healthy balanced lifestyle. You aspire to prepare freshly cooked meals, make time for friends and family and have a lean-toned body.

Given the fast pace of modern day living, it can be very difficult to fit everything in. It takes time to go to the gym, time to go shopping and buy fresh fruit and vegetables and even longer to cook a healthy meal for your family.

In view of this, what can you do to carry out your good intentions? What can you do to live a healthier lifestyle? Is it possible to be healthy and still fit in all your every day activities.

Yoga may well be the secret ingredient in your quest to live a healthier lifestyle. The teachings’ and practice of yoga are based on the five following points; put together these points help you to live a healthier more balanced lifestyle.

Five Yogic Secrets to Healthier Living

1. Yoga Exercises. Yoga exercises or Asanas, help to strengthen and tone the physical body. Regular yoga practice promotes flexibility in the joints and stimulates circulation. If you can fit 10 – 20 minutes of gentle yoga stretches into your daily schedule you will feel healthier and stronger.

2. Yoga Breathing Exercises. Yoga breathing exercises help to cleanse, strengthen and purify your mind and body. There is a close link between your state of mind and the way you breathe. Correct breathing forms an essential part of yoga and meditation and helps to bring mental and emotional balance to your body and mind. Again, a few minutes of yoga breathing exercises practiced throughout your day will help you to feel calmer and more in control of the situations in your life.

3. Yoga Relaxation Exercises. Learning to relax is an art. The pace of life today can often prevent you from taking time out to rest and relax. Through yoga relaxation techniques you are able to relieve stress symptoms and develop resistance to deal with life’s stressful conditions.

4. Healthy Eating. As you know there is a direct link between what you eat and what you are. Yoga advocates eating a simple, wholesome and natural diet; one that helps to keep your body in optimum health. In addition, a yogic diet principle is to eat foods which create the least harm to other living beings and the environment.

5. Positive Thinking and Meditation. Through the practice of meditation it is possible to achieve a state of inner peace, calm and balance. These are essential qualities to ensure you do not allow negative thoughts to spoil your day. By being aware of your self-talk, and thoughts about yourself and others, it is possible to reduce the harm you cause to others.

As you can see, the practice of yoga offers you a range of tools and principles which you can use in your search to live a healthier lifestyle. Yoga is about achieving balance and harmony in your inner life and outer world. Rather than beat yourself up, just try to include one of the above yoga points into your daily life and with time, you will achieve your desire to feel healthier and live a healthier lifestyle.

Ntathu Allen, Hatha Yoga Teacher works with women who want a richer, more fulfilling life for themselves and their families. She inspires and supports you to take time-out from your busy schedule to release stress and nurture your mind body and soul. To find out more visit http://www.yogainspires.co.uk and receive your FREE Special Report – Ten Yoga Postures To Jump-Start Your Day when you sign up for Ntathu’s Free weekly Yoga Newsletter on http://www.yogainspires.co.uk

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Yoga For Beginners

October 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

yoga1By Darvin J. Hooey –

My article “Yoga For Beginners” is drafted to people like yourself who are interested in yoga, but not sure as to how to get started. I will take you by the hand and guide you through: 1) How yoga is defined, 2) Identifying the most best style for you, 3) Initial “tools” you might want, and 4) Getting Started. Navigating the world of yoga is actually not as hard as it might seem, if you have a map!

Yoga Defined

According to Wikipedia, Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The practice is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Yoga for beginners is much simpler. Yoga is a sequence of positions and postures, coordinated with your breathing, designed to elevate your mind, body and soul. ultimately, as you go through the various stages, the result will be a sharper mind, improved fitness and, if you are a spiritual person, a stronger connection with the universe!

Yoga Styles

Yoga has 10 “popular” styles. However, the differences among the styles reside in the individual emphasis of the styles versus the poses or postures:

1) Hatha (Ananda): This style is characterized by a slower pace, personal affirmations, and self-control, versus an true workout. This is the best style of yoga for beginners.

2) Ashtanga (Power Yoga): As the nickname “Power Yoga” suggests, this is a more intense, faster pace form of yoga. This is not for beginners.

3) Anusara: This style is describes as “heart-oriented” and makes good use of yoga equipment. These classes are somewhat intense but still appropriate for all skill levels.

4) Iyengar: This style is characterized by a great attention to detail and a concentration on bodily alignment. Much more stamina is required for this style, as poses are often maintained for an extended period…not the smartest place for you to begin.

5) Integral: An appropriate style of yoga for beginners. This style focuses equally on meditation, poses and breathing, Integral is a more general style, like Hatha, that will expose you to the areas of concentration of the remaining styles.

6) Bikram (Hot Yoga): Are you ready to sweat? It’s called Hot Yoga because it’s performed in a room temperature of around 100 degree! This allows cleansing sweat to flow and muscles to loosen. Beginners pass for now.

7) Kundalini: Focuses on the release of energy through breath control and breathe/movement coordination. Sure why not.

8 ) Kripalu: This style concentrates on breathing and progressing at your own individual pace… a perfect style of yoga for beginners.

9) Sivananda: Among the larger schools of yoga, this style uses a more holistic approach, inclusive of diet, relaxation and thinking. Great option for those of you looking for guidance in areas beyond just fitness.

10) Svaroopa: You won’t break a sweat here. This style is more about raising your consciousness. This is absolutely appropriate for beginners, but not if your focus is improved fitness.

Equipment of Yoga

Here are a you might want to pick up for your journey:

1) Mats: You’ll want the extra cushion and support, even if your practicing yoga on carpet! Most classes are taught on hard floors, mats are a must for yoga, for beginners or experts!

2) Blocks and Straps: Are you lacking the flexibility to do the poses and stretches the same as the instructor? These help you to compensate.

3) Proper clothing: relatively loose clothes to allow greater range of motion. Long pants are help to prevent carpet/mat burns.

4) Training Videos; These may be in the form of DVDs or direct downloads from the internet, but they are essential, if you’d prefer to begin your journey at home. I’ve always practiced yoga in the comfort of my own home!

Get Started!

No surprises here… get started! This is what you need to learn yoga for beginners. Now go find a local class, or a good video. Final piece of advice… start with at home workouts and save yourself some embarrassment!

If you truly wish to succeed at being in the best shape of your life, here’s the best at home resource I’ve found. Go to Next Level Yoga immediately, to see how easily it can be done with at home workouts!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darvin_J._Hooey

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Benefits of Yoga – Healthy Body and Mind

August 31, 2009 By 13 Comments

yoga1By Sarah Freeland -

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. The word yoga actually comes from the Sanskirt word yuj which is interpreted to mean union or a method of practice.

Today, yoga is an extremely popular activity for both men and women. Although yoga was once practiced mainly in the East, there are now many Western practitioners. People are attracted to yoga for its health benefits, especially its capacity to create a relaxed mind and body.

Asana yoga is the most widely practiced form of yoga in the west. Asana yoga is designed to cultivate the mind and body in a manner that is conducive to long periods of meditation. Physical strength, flexibility and stamina are key components of asana yoga.

Hatha yoga is the term used to mean a set of physical exercises. The exercises of hatha yoga are meant to align skin, muscles and bones. In addition, hatha seeks to open the channels of the body so that energy can flow freely.

Many people feel that practicing yoga on a continual basis helps not only physical well-being, but also mental and psychological well-being. Yoga helps to calm the mind, allowing practitioners to feel a sense of inner peace and balance.

There are multiple branches of yoga. In Raja yoga the focus is on meditation. Karma yoga states that what we experience today is a result of past actions. Bhakti yoga is focused on channeling emotions in a positive manner. The various branches of yoga offer something for every taste and style.

Yoga is a great way to strengthen your mind and body and get in shape as well as a great way to unwind after a long  day. Whatever your [http://www.universalyoga.com/]male and female yoga wear needs, we have the information and  resources to point you in the right direction. We have yoga music, mats,  clothes, pants,  videos and journals as well as information on the different styles of yoga, postures and the history of yoga. If you are interested in becoming a yoga teacher learn more about yoga instructor certification courses in your city or state.

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Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health Tagged With: , ,

The Sound of Silence

July 16, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Dave Teitler http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dave_Teitler

Have you ever heard of the sound of Om? Many people toss it around, but how many people know what it is? For a long time I was one of those who never knew what it was. Om is the sound of the universe. It permeates everything. I liken it to a giant electric generator somewhere in the south pacific. This generator generates all the electricity necessary to run our universe. When it is running it also makes a sound. That sound is pronounced AUM. You can hear the sound of Om once you are in a state of meditation. The quieter and stiller you become the more the sound becomes apparent. If you just let it happen you can hear it. Once you focus on it you will loose it. It’s like the fabric of the universe weaving its net of energy throughout the world. I remember the first time I heard it. It was the sound in back of the silence I had discovered. This sound vibrated through my entire body. My chakras opened up and filled with energy (prana). It was like my whole body was resonating with this energy. [Read more...]

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Meditation Music – Know About the Importance of Music in Meditation

May 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Bertil Hjert -

Meditation music is a type of music widely used to enhance your session of meditation. This music is made up of gently sounds and rhythm. Meditation music works towards assisting you to obtain a deeper sense of calm, relaxation and peace. It has been proved that sound and rhythm can create emotional environments. [Read more...]

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