Learn About Yoga

Did you know that over fifteen million people practiced yoga in 2003, according to a landmark study by Yoga Journal Magazine. And the numbers are expected to increase dramatically in subsequent years. Your own experiences probably confirm this study maybe you practice yoga, know someone who does, or just take a walk along any busy main street – your bound to see someone carrying a yoga mat. In fact you cant even open a magazine or newspaper without finding an article about yoga. So, how does a 5000-year-old spiritual practice become todays hottest mind/body trend?

Perhaps the best way to understand yogas popularity is to go right to the people who practice it. If you ask them why, some of the more common replies you might hear are flexibility, increased energy, improved focus, reduction of the symptoms associated with stress, and an overall good feeling. The fact is that yoga can have a rejuvenating effect on all systems of the body including the circulatory, glandular system, digestive, nervous, skeletal/muscular, reproductive system and respiratory system.

On a physical level according to the U.S. Dept. on Aging there four components to good physical health: Strength, flexibility, balance, aerobic capacity. It is interesting to note that yoga can accomplish all these things and no fancy piece of equipment is needed other than your own body and a yoga mat.

Over the last 100 years our lives have become very fast paced: cell phones, computers, internet, television. This along with a strong work ethic often results in people out of balance people experiencing a lot of stress. Consequently, there is a strong need to de-stress – to quiet our minds and rejuvenate our bodies. And yoga helps achieve this helping us return to a state of balance and health.

Yoga brings us into the moment it is very difficult to practice and be thinking about what happened at work today or the party tomorrow night. Becoming present
in itself is a great release from stress. At its best, yoga meets the student where they are so it is adjusted to the students level and capacity. That doesnt mean it is particularly easy or particularly challenging it can be either or both on any given day.

Then there is the therapeutic component. Yoga can be used successfully with conditions such as insomnia, back problems, digestion problems, asthma, improving circulation, anxiety, weight loss, just to name a few.

Basically yoga is non competitive; it is not about winning or losing you can go at your own rate. Of course people still compete with themselves though and compare their posture to others in class.

In addition many of us are yearning for something more. Many of us have shied away from organized religion yet seek a spiritual practice that connects us to ourselves as well as something larger a spiritual practice that is non-dogmatic, without many rules. While most of the yoga practiced in health clubs is primarily the physical aspects of yoga the philosophical side seeps in. And for those that want to learn more about the philosophy of yoga information and classes are readily available to them. At its simplest level yoga quiets the mind and opens the body setting the stage for withdrawing deeper inside oneself to a place of peace, a place of balance, a place of health. It is here where the divine within us can be more easily discovered.

There are many different styles of yoga and it never needs to be boring – it can be slow and gentle, it can challenge your strength, it can be aerobic or vigorous or it can be very introspective. There is as style to match most personalities. There is yoga for seniors, pre-natal yoga, postnatal yoga, power yoga, gentle yoga, etc. There are classes that focus on back care, yoga done in groups and one-on-one, privately with an instructor. The yogic scriptures say there are some 84,000 postures and variations. The field of yoga is huge and there is always, always something new to learn.

The media has also helped spread the message of yoga and the fact the celebrities like Madonna and Sting practice yoga doesnt hurt either!

About the Author

Howard VanEs, M.A. has been studying and practicing yoga for over thirteen years and is a certified yoga teacher teaching in the East Bay area of San Francisco. He is author of “Beginning Yoga: A Practice Manual”, co-creator of the audio CD “Shavasana / Deep Relaxation”. He is also a former psychotherapist. http://www.letsdoyoga.com email: info@letsdoyoga.com 510-587-3399

Written By: Howard VanEs

There are a many people who are crazy about yoga today. One reason is that it makes them feel better and in good shape. The different poses and postures make their body healthy. So if you want to keep your body in shape, this might be the best exercise for you. But for most of them they find Yoga is the best way to relax and unwind

What might come as a surprise to you is that yoga is good to fight certain illness. There have been researches which proved that yoga helps you to control anxiety, reduces asthma, arthritis, blood pressure, back pain, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, epilepsy, diabetes, headaches, stress and many more.

* If you do yoga, your self esteem will be higher. It is important to gain more confidence inside and out so that you can face people with no worries.

* Yoga is good for the body in increasing your muscle tone, strength, stamina and flexibility.

* If you are too fat and conscious about your body figure, yoga can help you lower your fat and keep your body in shape.

* Yoga exercises can burn excess fat and give you the desired figure that you want.

* If you need time to relax and forget your responsibilities, yoga will be good to improve your concentration and enhance your creativity.

* Yoga helps you to think more positively away from all anxieties.

* If you have a fresh mind, you can think of good things and apply it easily.

* Yoga exercise helps you improve a good circulation. Your organs and veins need to be exercised for it to function properly.

* Yoga can help stimulate your immune system and keep you away from diseases. If you have a good immune system, you can be sure that you are free from sickness.

Your body needs to relax once in a while. Sometimes, work can leave us wasted and exhausted. During the heavy days, we may not find time to unwind because work is still on our tail. Yoga can help you create a sense of calmness and well being.

Some people do yoga to be enlightened. They believe that yoga will help them bring up their spirit and keep them relieved. Yoga works differently for people, be it spiritual, emotional, psychological, mental and physical.

People think that yoga is only for spiritual people. But that belief is wrong. Even if you are not that religious, you can do yoga. You will see and feel the difference at the same time find out how it works for you.

Due to the pressure and demands of life, we become stressed out and we forget the essence of life. We tend to lose touch with the ones we used to spend time with, even ourselves.

We find ourselves rushing most of the time with the deadlines and hassles we need to keep up with. This leaves us a small time to wander and have that physical awareness.

These are the few things that yoga can provide. Once in a while, find time to dedicate a part of it to yourself to relax and unwind which only yoga can give.

For more information on yoga please refer to my free beginner’s guide to Yoga e-course here http://www.cliveharman.com/yoga/subscribe.html

About the author:

Clive Harman www.Site4information.com/yoga/

Written By: Clive Harman

Yoga has helped in curing and preventing many diseases. The poses and asanas stimulate the required organs and help you with your ailments. Asthma is a very common problem. It is basically shortness of breath due to the chronic lung condition. Even kids are not spared by this disease. You suffer wheezing, coughing, heaviness in the chest causing blockage in your lungs. During asthma attack lack of oxygen can lead to death too. By doing the required asanas you can fight back.

Yoga betters your asthma condition due to the free flow of air. By continuously practicing yoga you can leave your medications at bay. Asthma attacks would lessen with the increase of yoga practice. The breathing exercises are very useful to open up your lungs for fresh air.

Back bending postures are very good to open up your chest to improve your heart and lung condition. Practicing upper back bends and chest opening postures helps, in exhaling during asthma attacks. Forward bends and lower back bending poses help in inhaling, during the attack. Mucus can be removed by inverted postures.

Pranayama is an excellent way to have a controlled breath to avoid any asthma attacks. According to the triggering factors for asthma attacks, one should practice pranayama. Dirga prananyama is a multi-purpose asana and helps in slow and deep breathing exercise. Nadi Sodhana can help you with stress and emotional turmoil.

Asthma triggered by cold can be helped by Ujjayi pranayama. Allergic trigger patterns can be avoided by Sitt Kari or Shitali pranayama. Kapalbhatti pranayama is very good to reduce the mucus congestion.

These breathing exercises are very good to strengthen and relax the muscles of lungs. During the asthma attack this proves to be very useful. It reduces the nerve activity in the airways causing fewer bottlenecks during the attack. It helps cleanse the air passage to breathe easily. It helps in stabilizing the autonomous nervous systems.

Pranayama if practiced regularly can do lot of difference to your health. This would help you to have asthma free life. Props used while doing these asanas may help you better. Breathing helps to soothe the lining of the bronchial tree and helps in preventing the external allergens. It is said that the single and long inhalation is very good for relaxation.

Some Asanas which would relieve Asthma from your life

- Dandasana
- Baddhakonasana
- Upavista Konasana
- Virasana
- Supta Baddhakonasana
- Supta Virasana
- Setubandha Sarvangasana
- Adhomukha Svanasana
- Uttanasana
- Tadasana Samasthithi

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions before following any of the asanas from this article and the site. To avoid any problems while doing the asanas, it is advised that you consult a doctor and a yoga instructor. The responsibility lies solely with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

About the Author:

Sharon Hopkins handles sites related to yoga, which opens a new door of knowledge towards yoga and its health benefits Yoga for Asthma Cure – These yoga asana help you live an asthma free life.

Written By: Sharon Hopkins