Yoga Exercises Tips

Decorating Kitchen Designs To Suit Your Tastes

2009-10-19T21:50:00.001-07:00

itchen designs are so varied that decorating or simply doing just a home improvement project in your kitchen can make a great difference to even the tiniest and simplest type of kitchen that suits your requirements and does not burn a hole in your pocket. The important first step when you are considering a kitchen decorating or redesign project is to plan everything carefully so that the entire process can run as smoothly as possible. In the end, this could help avoid expensive mistakes, save you needed money, and give you a kitchen that is both practical and attractive. However, you are not restricted by style. You can opt for designs ranging from retro to classic, other era designs, the ultra modern look, and so much more. You may be considering a nineteen fifties diner appearance, a traditional country-style kitchen, or a stylish, modern bistro.

Improving kitchens has developed into a very popular form of home improvement because it helps improve this vital room, and most importantly it increases the value of peoples home, should they ever choose to sell. The comfort factor and practicality of your kitchen can be easily increased for your enjoyment by simple just re-designing it yourself. Kitchen size really makes no difference because even the tiniest kitchens can benefit from all the varied designs, and the added advantage to you is that you choose what you want to improve the space. Home improvement no longer has to cost an arm and a leg, especially in the kitchen, and everyone can enjoy the beneficial value for their money in regards to every piece of kitchen furnishing, cabinetry, doors and accessories.

A great difference can be made to the appearance and feel of a kitchen when the correct design is chosen. Most of us spend a great deal of time in our kitchens, whether cooking, working, or just relaxing and eating our meals. As a result of kitchen re-designing and decorating you can enjoy the perfect atmosphere as well as the look that suits you. You would be wise to select a type of design that complements your current homes theme, or completely go for a radical change that incorporates a different design or theme for your kitchen. You may also plan a kitchen that takes into account how you use it and the number of people that use it. For example, families with young children may have different requirements than those of a couple or single person. However, whatever you are planning for, you can include all the special features you desire when you are creating your design because you are aiming for your dream kitchen that results in functionality, comfortability, and stylishness.

By: Peter J. Mason

North Carolina Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in North Carolina

2009-04-25T02:04:00.001-07:00

Maybe you?re buying your first home in North Carolina, or perhaps you?re relocating to North Carolina from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on North Carolina home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in North Carolina:

The median price of a home in North Carolina is $108,300. The price of homes in North Carolina varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Outer Banks, North Carolina, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $375,000; however, in Raleigh, North Carolina, the median price of a home was $197,000, and in Charlotte, North Carolina, it was $168,000. Average interest rates in North Carolina are above the national average, and job growth rates just below the national average. Homes in North Carolina appreciate at a rate less than half of that of the national average.

In 1999, North Carolina was the first state to enact anti-predatory lending laws. These laws place limitations on high-cost home loans and require that would-be borrowers of high-cost home loans receive financial counseling before entering into the transaction.

North Carolina state law prohibits prepayment penalties on home loans less than $150,000, and it does not allow balloon loans. It also prohibits flipping -- the practice of lending in which a lender repeatedly refinances an existing home with no obvious benefit to the borrower. North Carolina law also prohibits the financing of upfront single premium insurance. However, monthly payment insurance is allowed.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about North Carolina Mortgage Rates and Loans .

NICK'S BACKPACK CAREPAK MISSION/Darryl E. Owens

2009-04-09T14:44:00.001-07:00

Saturday, September 22, 2001

`LUCKY' TEEN KNOWS THE DESPAIR OF CHILDREN
IN ROMANIA, TRIES TO HELP
by Darryl E. Owens THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
Used with permission

The castoff child escaped 11 years ago, rescued from a hell called Orphanage No. 4.

An Orlando woman moved by a television report and a hole in her soul plucked him from a Romanian orphanage brimming with garbage and apathy.

He had a shaven head, piercing brown eyes, and white spots streaking across his thighs where injections of sedatives had scarred him.

Soon he was thousands of miles from the smoldering reality of revolution, living in a safe, sun-drenched city where people only have to step through theme-park gates to experience lands of make-believe.

Day by day, the waif grew into Nick Simon, a suntanned Florida boy eager to catch up on years of missed chocolate bars and loving hugs.

In June, more than a decade after he left the orphanage, Nick stumbled upon a 20/20 TV special that captured his interest. ABC correspondent Tom Jarriel had returned to Romania to see if anything had changed for the orphans since his eye-opening 1990 report. It had: Thousands, now in their late teens and early 20s, were living in the sewers. Waves of haunting memories washed over Nick.

He searched the despairing faces of children -- once warehoused, now turned out on the streets -- staring, knowing. Knowing among the faces might be children with whom he shared a crib and a cry.

Knowing among those faces were children certain to barter their bodies to survive, sniff glue as an escape, die lonely deaths from AIDS. Knowing his face could have been among those flashed in a blur across a 32-inch television screen.

But he knew, most of all, something must be done. And so it was that a grass-roots campaign, Backpack Carepak, a drive to collect and send winterwear and hygiene products in gently-used or new backpacks to street urchins in Bucharest was born in the heart of a 16-year-old native son.

What really struck me, he says, was, like, `Whoa! Hold up a second. They're living in the streets now? I was lucky to get out of there at the time that I did. I could have been one of these kids living in the streets. Not enough people are speaking out for the kids out there that need help.

Nick slides into a cramped booth at Panera Bread near Lake Eola on a recent afternoon and regards his lunch: tuna on honey wheat, Greek salad, a Pepsi.

With his nut-brown mop, bushy eyebrows, and an elongated face that narrows to a rounded V at the chin, Nick could pass for the shy, boyish cog in a boy band -- if he were shy. Truth be told, Hollywood is where his head is. Already he has appeared as an extra in films and starred as Jesus in a Godspell production.

He likes his girls cute and speaks the lingo. As Nick puts it, he is, out there, which is, apparently, something desirable, in the way that bad means good.

By all appearances, Nick is your average red-blooded, American teenager. Nothing like the 51/2-year-old who came to America unacquainted with Santa Claus. He stabs at his feta, looks up glassy-eyed.

I still have dreams of Romania, he volunteers.

Sometimes when he sleeps, he says, his mind paints Jackson Pollocks, scored by Rambo. Flashes of white, blue, red.
Dogs barking.
Guns rat-a-tat-tatting.
Sirens screeching across his mind.

It was only later, when the woman he would come to call Mama told him the story behind his coming to Orlando, that Nick would tie his dreams to the revolution in 1989 that swirled around Orphanage No. 4.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1992: They look like a typical family; Mom, Dad, kids and the family dog. But Connie & Paul Simon, with a young Nick and Liana, paint their own special portrait of that theme.

The brush, however, is the same: the need to love and be loved.

A SILENCE THAT SCREAMS

It began in the summer of 1990, when Connie Simon, then a teacher at Howard Middle School in Orlando, traveled to Romania to distribute 14 boxes filled with toys, clothes, and medical supplies gathered by students, staff and others moved by a 20/20 segment on Romanian orphans.

The report pried the lid off a secret shame, born of the tyrannical 25-year reign of Nicolae Ceausescu. In an effort to swell the Romanian population, he banned birth control and abortions and heavily fined couples that produced fewer than four children.

Unable to care for the offspring, many parents handed them over to the state. According to estimates, about 100,000 children languished in Romanian institutions.

When the government fell in December 1989, Ceausescu was overthrown and executed.

The misery didn't die with him.

Even braced for conditions she had heard were common at the orphanages, Simon had to steady herself at the odor blasting into her nostrils. The heat concentrated the stench of diapers, changed -- if at all -- once a day. It happened like this: children with sticky legs sat stacked on trays like loaves of bread, changed in one fell swoop.

More than the smell, what struck her about this particular orphanage was the silence. Wards of tiny creatures stared blankly through bars in cribs, or rocked, rocked, rocked on filthy bare pads. Children with bloated bellies and babies crawling with lice had learned not to cry. Rarely would their screams move a caretaker to dab at their tears.

Simon delivered the care packages to the Spitalul Children's Hospital and several orphanages. At the orphanages, children buzzed about her as if she were the queen bee. One child swooped down on a pink bunny, wetting its fur with kisses.

Simon returned home to Orlando, changed. She knew what she had to do.

HUG MELTS AWAY BLEAKNESS

In late October 1990, Simon again was bound for Romania.

She and her husband, Paul, in their early 40s at the time, had tried and failed to adopt children in the states. Five times, the same thing. It was as if the children were ice -- when the Simons believed they were grasping something solid, the children slipped like water through their fingers.

On her first trip to Romania, Simon became smitten with a 2-year-old named Ana and started the adoption paperwork.

But soon her optimism faded like the black-and-white snapshot of the brown-haired little girl.

Simon found the red tape virtually impenetrable. Each court appearance brought disappointment and more frustration. Each judge she appeared before had his own rules for signing off on the adoption. That she spoke little Romanian didn't help.

Complicating matters, Simon was under a deadline: She had been in Romania for several weeks and with an airlines strike looming, she was booked on the last flight out of Bucharest before Christmas.

At least she had tried, she thought.

As one door seemed to slam shut, another opened. An interpreter, aware of her dead-ends with Ana, told her about a slight boy at Orphanage No. 4.

Simon visited the place. The building was old, frigid. Inside there were no toys. Outside packs of wild dogs roamed. The children slept in military cots. They shared a bathroom with rusty showers and two sinks.

After a while, Simon and the boy she came to meet were brought together, two strangers in the strangest of places. His father was dead and his mother was poor. His aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in a commune outside of Bucharest.

The child, in a sweater, long stockings, and knitted pants, reacted the only way he could: he ran as fast as he could over to Simon, snaked his arms around just under her waist and squeezed.

Within the week, the boy she called Nick was gorging on chocolates on a flight bound for Orlando.

Nick was miles away from speaking English, save for the words, chocolate and Mickey. And this: Her son could say mama.

DISCOVERING TIRE TREADS

After a while, when the newness rubbed away, the Simons confronted some unpleasant realities.

An institutionalized child -- one who had been warehoused virtually all his life without an encouraging word, without love -- was going to bear scars.

The first night he spent in his room, Nick stripped the sheets and ignored the pillow -- luxuries he had never had. He spent nights haunting the hallway, snacking on bowls of sugar.

Precious few things came naturally to him. He knew how to march and salute -- the orphans were groomed to be crack soldiers -- and when placed in a bathtub, Nick would grab a cloth and buff the chrome.

Since he had never seen a toy, he had to learn how to play.

Since he was rarely allowed to venture beyond the crib, he had to learn to explore. Once at school, teachers found Nick under a school bus, weaving his fingers through the tire treads. News story THE ORLANDO SENTINEL and may not be republished without permission.

Darryl E. Owens
Features Writer
The Orlando Sentinel
633 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 420-5095
Fax: (407) 420-5457

COME FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP, TOO. :)

http://joanbramsch.com/teens/backpack.shtml

JOAN BRAMSCH is a family person, educator, writer and E-publisher. Her articles appear internationally in print and online. Six of her best-selling adult novels - near one million copies - have worldwide distribution. Her
Empowered Parenting Ezine serves 1000 parents around the globe. http://www.JoanBramsch.com mailto:hijoan@joanbramsch.com

Abortion and the Right to Life - Part ISam Vaknin

I. The Right to Life

It is a fundamental principle of most moral theories that all human beings have a right to life. The existence of a right implies obligations or duties of third parties towards the right-holder. One has a right AGAINST other people. The fact that one possesses a certain right - prescribes to others certain obligatory behaviours and proscribes certain acts or omissions. This Janus-like nature of rights and duties as two sides of the same ethical coin - creates great confusion. People often and easily confuse rights and their attendant duties or obligations with the morally decent, or even with the morally permissible. What one MUST do as a result of another's right - should never be confused with one SHOULD or OUGHT to do morally (in the absence of a right).

The right to life has six distinct strains:

IA. The right to be brought to life

IB. The right to be born

IC. The right to be maintained

ID. The right not to be killed

IE. The right to have one's life saved

IF. The right to save one's life (erroneously limited to the right to self-defence)

IG. The Right to terminate one's life

IH. The right to have one's life terminated
IA. The Right to be Brought to Life

Only living people have rights. There is a debate whether a fetus is a living person - but there can be no doubt that it exists. Its rights - whatever they are - derive from the fact that it exists. The right to be brought to life (the right to become or to be) pertains to a yet non-existent entity and, therefore, is null and void. Had this right existed, it would have implied an obligation or duty to give life to the unborn and the not yet conceived. No such duty or obligation exist.

IB. The Right to be Born

The right to be born crystallizes at the moment of voluntary and intentional fertilization. If a woman knowingly engages in sexual intercourse for the explicit and express purpose of having a child - then the resulting fertilized egg has a right to mature and be born. Furthermore, the born child has all the rights a child has against his parents: food, shelter, emotional nourishment, education, and so on.

It is debatable whether such rights of the fetus and, later, of the child, exist if the fertilization was either involuntary (rape) or unintentional (accidental pregnancies). It would seem that the fetus has a right to be kept alive outside the mother's womb, if possible. But it is not clear whether it has a right to go on using the mother's body, or resources, or to burden her in any way in order to sustain its own life (see IC below).

IC. The Right to be Maintained

Does one have the right to maintain one's life and prolong them at other people's expense? Does one have the right to use other people's bodies, their property, their time, their resources and to deprive them of pleasure, comfort, material possessions, income, or any other thing?

The answer is yes and no.

No one has a right to sustain his or her life, maintain, or prolong them at another INDIVIDUAL's expense (no matter how minimal and insignificant the sacrifice required is). Still, if a contract has been signed - implicitly or explicitly - between the parties, then such a right may crystallize in the contract and create corresponding duties and obligations, moral, as well as legal.

Example:

No fetus has a right to sustain its life, maintain, or prolong them at his mother's expense (no matter how minimal and insignificant the sacrifice required of her is). Still, if she signed a contract with the fetus - by knowingly and willingly and intentionally conceiving it - such a right has crystallized and has created corresponding duties and obligations of the mother towards her fetus.

On the other hand, everyone has a right to sustain his or her life, maintain, or prolong them at SOCIETY's expense (no matter how major and significant the resources required are). Still, if a contract has been signed - implicitly or explicitly - between the parties, then the abrogation of such a right may crystallize in the contract and create corresponding duties and obligations, moral, as well as legal.

Example:

Everyone has a right to sustain his or her life, maintain, or prolong them at society's expense. Public hospitals, state pension schemes, and police forces may be required to fulfill society's obligations - but fulfill them it must, no matter how major and significant the resources are. Still, if a person volunteered to join the army and a contract has been signed between the parties, then this right has been thus abrogated and the individual assumed certain duties and obligations, including the duty or obligation to give up his or her life to society.

ID. The Right not to be Killed

Every person has the right not to be killed unjustly. What constitutes just killing is a matter for an ethical calculus in the framework of a social contract.

But does A's right not to be killed include the right against third parties that they refrain from enforcing the rights of other people against A? Does A's right not to be killed preclude the righting of wrongs committed by A against others - even if the righting of such wrongs means the killing of A?

Not so. There is a moral obligation to right wrongs (to restore the rights of other people). If A maintains or prolongs his life ONLY by violating the rights of others and these other people object to it - then A must be killed if that is the only way to right the wrong and re-assert their rights.

IE. The Right to have One's Life Saved

There is no such right as there is no corresponding moral obligation or duty to save a life. This ight is a demonstration of the aforementioned muddle between the morally commendable, desirable and decent (ought, should) and the morally obligatory, the result of other people's rights (must).

In some countries, the obligation to save life is legally codified. But while the law of the land may create a LEGAL right and corresponding LEGAL obligations - it does not always or necessarily create a moral or an ethical right and corresponding moral duties and obligations.

IF. The Right to Save One's Own Life

The right to self-defence is a subset of the more general and all-pervasive right to save one's own life. One has the right to take certain actions or avoid taking certain actions in order to save his or her own life.

It is generally accepted that one has the right to kill a pursuer who knowingly and intentionally intends to take one's life. It is debatable, though, whether one has the right to kill an innocent person who unknowingly and unintentionally threatens to take one's life.

IG. The Right to Terminate One's Life

See The Murder of Oneself.

IH. The Right to Have One's Life Terminated

The right to euthanasia, to have one's life terminated at will, is restricted by numerous social, ethical, and legal rules, principles, and considerations. In a nutshell - in many countries in the West one is thought to has a right to have one's life terminated with the help of third parties if one is going to die shortly anyway and if one is going to be tormented and humiliated by great and debilitating agony for the rest of one's remaining life if not helped to die. Of course, for one's wish to be helped to die to be accommodated, one has to be in sound mind and to will one's death knowingly, intentionally, and forcefully.

II. Issues in the Calculus of Rights

IIA. The Hierarchy of Rights

All human cultures have hierarchies of rights. These hierarchies reflect cultural mores and lores and there cannot, therefore, be a universal, or eternal hierarchy.

In Western moral systems, the Right to Life supersedes all other rights (including the right to one's body, to comfort, to the avoidance of pain, to property, etc.).

Yet, this hierarchical arrangement does not help us to resolve cases in which there is a clash of EQUAL rights (for instance, the conflicting rights to life of two people). One way to decide among equally potent claims is randomly (by flipping a coin, or casting dice). Alternatively, we could add and subtract rights in a somewhat macabre arithmetic. If a mother's life is endangered by the continued existence of a fetus and assuming both of them have a right to life we can decide to kill the fetus by adding to the mother's right to life her right to her own body and thus outweighing the fetus' right to life.

IIB. The Difference between Killing and Letting Die

There is an assumed difference between killing (taking life) and letting die (not saving a life). This is supported by IE above. While there is a right not to be killed - there is no right to have one's own life saved. Thus, while there is an obligation not to kill - there is no obligation to save a life.

IIC. Killing the Innocent

Often the continued existence of an innocent person (IP) threatens to take the life of a victim (V). By innocent we mean ot guilty - not responsible for killing V, not intending to kill V, and not knowing that V will be killed due to IP's actions or continued existence.

It is simple to decide to kill IP to save V if IP is going to die anyway shortly, and the remaining life of V, if saved, will be much longer than the remaining life of IP, if not killed. All other variants require a calculus of hierarchically weighted rights.

One form of calculus is the utilitarian theory. It calls for the maximization of utility (life, happiness, pleasure). In other words, the life, happiness, or pleasure of the many outweigh the life, happiness, or pleasure of the few. It is morally permissible to kill IP if the lives of two or more people will be saved as a result and there is no other way to save their lives. Despite strong philosophical objections to some of the premises of utilitarian theory - I agree with its practical prescriptions.

In this context - the dilemma of killing the innocent - one can also call upon the right to self defence. Does V have a right to kill IP regardless of any moral calculus of rights? Probably not. One is rarely justified in taking another's life to save one's own. But such behaviour cannot be condemned. Here we have the flip side of the confusion - understandable and perhaps inevitable behaviour (self defence) is mistaken for a MORAL RIGHT. That most V's would kill IP and that we would all sympathize with V and understand its behaviour does not mean that V had a RIGHT to kill IP. V may have had a right to kill IP - but this right is not automatic, nor is it all-encompassing.

(continued)

Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is a columnist for Central Europe Review, United Press International (UPI) and eBookWeb and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com.

Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com

Abortion and the Right to Life - Part IISam Vaknin

III. Abortion and the Social Contract

The issue of abortion is emotionally loaded and this often makes for poor, not thoroughly thought out arguments. The questions: Is abortion immoral and Is abortion a murder are often confused. The pregnancy (and the resulting fetus) are discussed in terms normally reserved to natural catastrophes (force majeure). At times, the embryo is compared to cancer, a thief, or an invader: after all, they are both growths, clusters of cells. The difference, of course, is that no one contracts cancer willingly (except, to some extent, smokers -but, then they gamble, not contract).

When a woman engages in voluntary sex, does not use contraceptives and gets pregnant one can say that she signed a contract with her fetus. A contract entails the demonstrated existence of a reasonably (and reasonable) free will. If the fulfillment of the obligations in a contract between individuals could be life-threatening it is fair and safe to assume that no rational free will was involved. No reasonable person would sign or enter such a contract with another person (though most people would sign such contracts with society).

Judith Jarvis Thomson argued convincingly (A Defence of Abortion) that pregnancies that are the result of forced sex (rape being a special case) or which are life threatening should or could, morally, be terminated. Using the transactional language: the contract was not entered to willingly or reasonably and, therefore, is null and void. Any actions which are intended to terminate it and to annul its consequences should be legally and morally permissible.

The same goes for a contract which was entered into against the express will of one of the parties and despite all the reasonable measures that the unwilling party adopted to prevent it. If a mother uses contraceptives in a manner intended to prevent pregnancy, it is as good as saying: I do not want to sign this contract, I am doing my reasonable best not to sign it, if it is signed it is contrary to my express will. There is little legal (or moral) doubt that such a contract should be voided.

Much more serious problems arise when we study the other party to these implicit agreements: the embryo. To start with, it lacks consciousness (in the sense that is needed for signing an enforceable and valid contract). Can a contract be valid even if one of the signatories lacks this sine qua non trait? In the absence of consciousness, there is little point in talking about free will (or rights which depend on sentience). So, is the contract not a contract at all? Does it not reflect the intentions of the parties?

The answer is in the negative. The contract between a mother and her fetus is derived from the larger Social Contract. Society through its apparatuses stands for the embryo the same way that it represents minors, the mentally retarded, and the insane. Society steps in and has the recognized right and moral obligation to do so whenever the powers of the parties to a contract (implicit or explicit) are not balanced. It protects small citizens from big monopolies, the physically weak from the thug, the tiny opposition from the mighty administration, the barely surviving radio station from the claws of the devouring state mechanism. It also has the right and obligation to intervene, intercede and represent the unconscious: this is why euthanasia is absolutely forbidden without the consent of the dying person. There is not much difference between the embryo and the comatose.

A typical contract states the rights of the parties. It assumes the existence of parties which are moral personhoods or morally significant persons in other words, persons who are holders of rights and can demand from us to respect these rights. Contracts explicitly elaborate some of these rights and leaves others unmentioned because of the presumed existence of the Social Contract. The typical contract assumes that there is a social contract which applies to the parties to the contract and which is universally known and, therefore, implicitly incorporated in every contract. Thus, an explicit contract can deal with the property rights of a certain person, while neglecting to mention that persons rights to life, to free speech, to the enjoyment the fruits of his lawful property and, in general to a happy life.

There is little debate that the Mother is a morally significant person and that she is a rights-holder. All born humans are and, more so, all adults above a certain age. But what about the unborn fetus?

One approach is that the embryo has no rights until certain conditions are met and only upon their fulfillment is he transformed into a morally significant person (moral agent). Opinions differ as to what are the conditions. Rationality, or a morally meaningful and valued life are some of the oft cited criteria. The fallaciousness of this argument is easy to demonstrate: children are irrational is this a licence to commit infanticide?

A second approach says that a person has the right to life because it desires it.

But then what about chronic depressives who wish to die do we have the right to terminate their miserable lives? The good part of life (and, therefore, the differential and meaningful test) is in the experience itself not in the desire to experience.

Another variant says that a person has the right to life because once his life is terminated his experiences cease. So, how should we judge the right to life of someone who constantly endures bad experiences (and, as a result, harbors a death wish)? Should he better be erminated?

Having reviewed the above arguments and counter-arguments, Don Marquis goes on (in Why Abortion is Immoral, 1989) to offer a sharper and more comprehensive criterion: terminating a life is morally wrong because a person has a future filled with value and meaning, similar to ours.

But the whole debate is unnecessary. There is no conflict between the rights of the mother and those of her fetus because there is never a conflict between parties to an agreement. By signing an agreement, the mother gave up some of her rights and limited the others. This is normal practice in contracts: they represent compromises, the optimization (and not the maximization) of the parties' rights and wishes. The rights of the fetus are an inseparable part of the contract which the mother signed voluntarily and reasonably. They are derived from the mothers behaviour. Getting willingly pregnant (or assuming the risk of getting pregnant by not using contraceptives reasonably) is the behaviour which validates and ratifies a contract between her and the fetus. Many contracts are by behaviour, rather than by a signed piece of paper. Numerous contracts are verbal or behavioural. These contracts, though implicit, are as binding as any of their written, more explicit, brethren. Legally (and morally) the situation is crystal clear: the mother signed some of her rights away in this contract. Even if she regrets it she cannot claim her rights back by annulling the contract unilaterally. No contract can be annulled this way the consent of both parties is required. Many times we realize that we have entered a bad contract, but there is nothing much that we can do about it. These are the rules of the game.

Thus the two remaining questions: (a) can this specific contract (pregnancy) be annulled and, if so (b) in which circumstances can be easily settled using modern contract law. Yes, a contract can be annulled and voided if signed under duress, involuntarily, by incompetent persons (e.g., the insane), or if one of the parties made a reasonable and full scale attempt to prevent its signature, thus expressing its clear will not to sign the contract. It is also terminated or voided if it would be unreasonable to expect one of the parties to see it through. Rape, contraception failure, life threatening situations are all such cases.

This could be argued against by saying that, in the case of economic hardship, f or instance, the damage to the mothers future is certain. True, her value- filled, meaningful future is granted but so is the detrimental effect that the fetus will have on it, once born. This certainty cannot be balanced by the UNCERTAIN value-filled future life of the embryo. Always, preferring an uncertain good to a certain evil is morally wrong. But surely this is a quantitative matter not a qualitative one. Certain, limited aspects of the rest of the mothers life will be adversely effected (and can be ameliorated by societys helping hand and intervention) if she does have the baby. The decision not to have it is both qualitatively and qualitatively different. It is to deprive the unborn of all the aspects of all his future life in which he might well have experienced happiness, values, and meaning.

The questions whether the fetus is a Being or a growth of cells, conscious in any manner, or utterly unconscious, able to value his life and to want them are all but irrelevant. He has the potential to lead a happy, meaningful, value-filled life, similar to ours, very much as a one minute old baby does. The contract between him and his mother is a service provision contract. She provides him with goods and services that he requires in order to materialize his potential. It sounds very much like many other human contracts. And this contract continue well after pregnancy has ended and birth given.

Consider education: children do not appreciate its importance or value its potential still, it is enforced upon them because we, who are capable of those feats, want them to have the tools that they will need in order to develop their potential. In this and many other respects, the human pregnancy continues well into the fourth year of life (physiologically it continues in to the second year of life - see Born Alien). Should the location of the pregnancy (in uterus, in vivo) determine its future? If a mother has the right to abort at will, why should the mother be denied her right to terminate the pregnancy AFTER the fetus emerges and the pregnancy continues OUTSIDE her womb? Even after birth, the womans body is the main source of food to the baby and, in any case, she has to endure physical hardship to raise the child. Why not extend the womans ownership of her body and right to it further in time and space to the post-natal period?

Contracts to provide goods and services (always at a personal cost to the provider) are the commonest of contracts. We open a business. We sell a software application, we publish a book we engage in helping others to materialize their potential. We should always do so willingly and reasonably otherwise the contracts that we sign will be null and void. But to deny anyone his capacity to materialize his potential and the goods and services that he needs to do so after a valid contract was entered into - is immoral. To refuse to provide a service or to condition it provision (Mother: I will provide the goods and services that I agreed to provide to this fetus under this contract only if and when I benefit from such provision) is a violation of the contract and should be penalized. Admittedly, at times we have a right to choose to do the immoral (because it has not been codified as illegal) but that does not turn it into moral.

Still, not every immoral act involving the termination of life can be classified as murder. Phenomenology is deceiving: the acts look the same (cessation of life functions, the prevention of a future). But murder is the intentional termination of the life of a human who possesses, at the moment of death, a consciousness (and, in most cases, a free will, especially the will not to die). Abortion is the intentional termination of a life which has the potential to develop into a person with consciousness and free will. Philosophically, no identity can be established between potential and actuality. The destruction of paints and cloth is not tantamount (not to say identical) to the destruction of a painting by Van Gogh, made up of these very elements. Paints and cloth are converted to a painting through the intermediacy and agency of the Painter. A cluster of cells a human makes only through the agency of Nature. Surely, the destruction of the painting materials constitutes an offence against the Painter. In the same way, the destruction of the fetus constitutes an offence against Nature. But there is no denying that in both cases, no finished product was eliminated. Naturally, this becomes less and less so (the severity of the terminating act increases) as the process of creation advances.

Classifying an abortion as murder poses numerous and insurmountable philosophical problems.

(continued)

Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com

Abortion and the Right to Life - Part IIISam Vaknin

No one disputes the now common view that the main crime committed in aborting a pregnancy is a crime against potentialities. If so, what is the philosophical difference between aborting a fetus and destroying a sperm and an egg? These two contain all the information (=all the potential) and their destruction is philosophically no less grave than the destruction of a fetus. The destruction of an egg and a sperm is even more serious philosophically: the creation of a fetus limits the set of all potentials embedded in the genetic material to the one fetus created. The egg and sperm can be compared to the famous wave function (state vector) in quantum mechanics the represent millions of potential final states (=millions of potential embryos and lives). The fetus is the collapse of the wave function: it represents a much more limited set of potentials. If killing an embryo is murder because of the elimination of potentials how should we consider the intentional elimination of many more potentials through masturbation and contraception?

The argument that it is difficult to say which sperm cell will impregnate the egg is not serious. Biologically, it does not matter they all carry the same genetic content. Moreover, would this counter-argument still hold if, in future, we were be able to identify the chosen one and eliminate only it? In many religions (Catholicism) contraception is murder. In Judaism, masturbation is the corruption of the seed and such a serious offence that it is punishable by the strongest religious penalty: eternal ex-communication (Karet).

If abortion is indeed murder how should we resolve the following moral dilemmas and questions (some of them patently absurd):

Is a natural abortion the equivalent of manslaughter (through negligence)?

Do habits like smoking, drug addiction, vegetarianism infringe upon the right to life of the embryo? Do they constitute a violation of the contract?

Reductio ad absurdum: if, in the far future, research will unequivocally prove that listening to a certain kind of music or entertaining certain thoughts seriously hampers the embryonic development should we apply censorship to the Mother?

Should force majeure clauses be introduced to the Mother-Embryo pregnancy contract? Will they give the mother the right to cancel the contract? Will the embryo have a right to terminate the contract? Should the asymmetry persist: the Mother will have no right to terminate but the embryo will, or vice versa?

Being a rights holder, can the embryo (=the State) litigate against his Mother or Third Parties (the doctor that aborted him, someone who hit his mother and brought about a natural abortion) even after he died?

Should anyone who knows about an abortion be considered an accomplice to murder?

If abortion is murder why punish it so mildly? Why is there a debate regarding this question? Thou shalt not kill is a natural law, it appears in virtually every legal system. It is easily and immediately identifiable. The fact that abortion does not enjoy the same legal and moral treatment says a lot.

Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com

Types Of Beer

2009-04-08T08:32:00.001-07:00

The word eer is often used as a generic noun used to describe a cold refreshing beverage. For example, Hiya Mike, let's go for a beer. However, beer lovers around the world will heartily agree that there's nothing generic about beer.

When it comes to types of beer, there are many, many options to choose from. It's impossible to say which type is best, because they all have very different characteristics. You'd be surprised at how a pilsner can differ from a porter, or how a stout stands out from a cider.

The names given to different styles of beer generally reflect individual characteristics of the product, such as where it originated. Most beers, particularly those sold commercially, are processed using traditional methods.

Different types of beer have unique qualities like appearance, taste, origin and aroma. There are several styles that make up the world' most common types of beer:

Styles of beer have a lot to do with how they taste, what they look like, how they smell and of course where they are made. Some common choices include these:

* Lager: Some of the most popular types of beer are lagers. These include American styles including basic lager, all-malt lager, light lager, double pilsner, malt liquor and low-alcohol or light beers. Popular international choices include Czech, European, Japanese and German lagers.

* Ale: American amber, brown ale, porter, strong, sour and wild ales are also common American beers. Also falling under the category of Ales are Chile Beer, Pumpkin Ale, Belgian and French ales, English, German, Irish, Finnish, Scottish and Russian ales.

* Cider: While not an official beer, cider is still enjoyed by many beer drinkers. Favorites include standard cider, New England cider and many specialty ciders.

* Hybrids: combining different beer styles or ingredients create this experimental beer. Berbed, smoked, fruit and vegetable beer and spiced beer are all types of hybrids.

* Mead: Mead is not a beer, rather a honey wine that has been adapted from centuries-old recipes. Melomel is a type of mead blended with fruit or vegetables. Braggot is concoction of beer and mead, while Metheglin is mead blended with spices.

Variety is the spice of life. If you're a beer drinker, you're likely loyal to a tried and true brand. But remember that variety is the spice of life. There is a world of options available to you, so try something new next time you're ready to crack open a cold one.

About the Author:

James Williams writes for several well-known web sites, on hobbies and recreation and travel and recreation issues.

How to Create Flower Arrangements

2009-04-05T18:08:00.001-07:00

Cut flowers are a wonderful way to bring the beauty indoors. As well as making nice bouquets of flowers, they smell good too. There are several flower bulbs that make very nice vases of flowers. Some examples include but are not limited to irises, gladiola, lilies, and daffodils. Flower arrangements make delightful bouquets for the office or for special occasions, such as baby showers or dinner parties. People love to treat their eyes to the sight of beautiful flowers, and anybody can create a nice flower arrangement.

To start you will need a vase half full with water and a pair of scissors. Then head out to the flower patch. When cutting the stems on flower bulbs, be sure to cut the stem at an angle. Also, the longer the stems are, the longer the blooms will last. One other thing to keep in mind while making cut flower arrangements is the colors of the flowers. Some colors can drastically change the affect of a flower arrangement.
For an arrangement that will be placed in front of a wall and viewed from three sides follow these easy steps.

1. Cut any leaves off that will be in the water if left. This will help keep the water from getting scummy.

2. Start by placing the tallest cut flowers in the vase first, facing the blooms toward you in a fan like position. They will be to the back of the bouquet.

3. Then in front and to the sides of the tallest flowers begin to place the next tallest flowers in the vase. The blooms in the center of the flower arrangement should be facing towards you. The blooms to the right side should be turned slightly to the right. Likewise, the blooms to the left side should be turned slightly to the left.

4. Continue in this fashion until you finish placing all but the shortest flowers in the arrangement.

5. Personally, I always place the shortest flowers close to the top rim or slightly above the vase rim. It seems to fill in and finish the flower arrangement.

If you find that flower arrangement is top heavy, just get a larger vase that holds enough water to support the weight of the flowers. To create a vase of flowers that will be a viewed from all sides is a little different from the above procedure. It works much better if the stems are about the same size. Also it will help if the vase opening is only slightly larger than all of the stems put together.

1. Start by placing the tallest cut flowers in the vase first, facing the blooms outward in all directions. They will be in the center of the flower arrangement.

2. Then all the way around the vase place the next tallest flowers until completed.

If the cut flowers that you have selected lack leaves and the flower arrangement looks a bit stemy, just add some. Just about any leafy plant will work. For example, you can easily add a couple leafy cutting from a bush. Just trim the leaves that will be in the water off.

Making a flower arrangement is that simple. Have fun, be creative, and enjoy the wonderful aroma.

By Kathy Case

Home Sales Likely To Level Out

2009-04-03T13:05:00.001-07:00

According to the National Association of Realtors, home sales are likely to level out during the next few months.

The Pending Home Sales Index indicates sales that sill be finalized within the next couple of months. Based on the contracts signed in July, the PHSI is down 7.0% for the month. On a year-to-year basis, the index is down 16%.

An index of 100 is the average level of contract activity during 2001 -- the first year of the index. July's index was 105.6.

"In looking at year-to-year comparisons, the pending home sales index has been very close in predicting the actual pace of home sales," NAR chief economist David Lereah said.

"Based on recent changes from a year ago, the index shows existing-home sales should continue to ease after a stronger-than-expected decline in July, but are likely to flatten in the months ahead."

Lereah continued to say that psychological factors could be attributing to slowing July home sales.

"We've never seen a general decline in the housing market against a healthy economic backdrop where jobs are being created, the economy is growing and interest rates are favorable," he explained.

"Pyschological factors are causing some buyers to remain on the sidelines, waiting for prices to stabilize or for more favorable news about the market and the economy. Contributing to this hesitency is a lot of negative news stories, but in the end we believe that underlying market fundamentals will prevail."

The PHSI for the West saw a decrease of 5.5% for the month and 20.3% for the year. The South experienced a decline of 6.4% for the month and 11.3% for the year. The Northeast PHSI dropped 7.7% for the month and 15.5% for th year. The Midwest index fell by 9.0% for the month and 20.1% for the year.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

New Hampshire Real Estate

2009-03-30T20:33:00.001-07:00

The natural beauty of the state of New Hampshire and consequent serene and calm atmosphere has made it one of the most coveted places, for people dealing in real estate. There are private houses, condos, land, businesses, lakefront homes, ski homes and vacation homes for people to invest in.

The real estate agent or broker assists both the buyers and the sellers. There are experienced agents to represent the customers, in the market. There are the different kinds of properties listed on their websites. This enables the customers to go through the displayed properties and select the one that suits their requirements. The information includes new lists of properties, any change in the real estate value, including the potential change in the future and if the properties are under contract.

The real estate agents help their clients in making the right assessment of their properties, if they are interested in selling it. They make a comparative analysis of the market value of the property, within a specified period of time and guide their clients in fixing the price.

Similarly, in case of the buyers, the real estate agents keep them updated on the latest properties on sale and make arrangements for the buyers to inspect the properties short-listed. The real estate agents also guide the buyers through the entire process of transferring the property.

The real estate business in New Hampshire is booming. There are a number of people dealing in real estate, but their demand has not dwindled. There are many people migrating to the state. This has lead to an increase in the population, resulting in the growth of real estate. The services rendered by the estate agents, has helped in the successful management of real estate deals in New Hampshire. The properties are easy to identify and access through the agents.

New Hampshire provides detailed information on New Hampshire, New Hampshire Real Estate, New Hampshire Mortgages, Map Of New Hampshire and more. New Hampshire is affiliated with Vermont Vacations.

Uses Of Used Dining Room Furniture

2009-03-30T20:30:00.001-07:00

Dining room furniture is required everywhere whether in hotels, restaurants, offices and in homes. Good dining furniture enhances the look of dining area and is used for different purposes like seating, eating, and serving. They together include a broad range of storage cabinets, side tables, serving trolleys, chairs and dining tables. They are found in different material like wood, metal and with different combinations of glass. A buyer needs to evaluate his/her utility of dining room furniture before finalizing the decision of buying furniture for their dining areas.

Now days, everybody has a separate dining area or room in his/her home which led increase the demands for dining room furniture. People are even going for second hand or used furniture for their dining area. This furniture are often polished thoroughly and restored to give them new look before putting them up on resale. As a consequence, this used furniture become as good as new furniture and cost much lesser. Since people can not do away with their need of owing dining room furniture, therefore, it has really become an essential purchase. Unlike other used commodities or household items that are generally malfunction or breakdown, these used furniture remains in proper functioning condition for a very long time period if bought from an authentic and reliable source.

They sometime require polishing, sanding, and varnish to maintain the look and beauty after its purchase. Used dining room furniture is only meant for poor consumers; this perception has totally been proven wrong and is no longer a truth. To get used desks is a low cost effective option for the purposes like a redone set up of hotel, small hotels or in home based restaurants where need is considered more important rather than its attractive appearance. Trading of used desk is more profitable for sellers as well as for buyers.

There are a number of specialized brands that are more specialized into selling used products like used dining room furniture. They provide the services of up keeping, repairing and maintenance of this second hand furniture until they sold for the second time. People should well affirm with all the after sales terms and conditions regarding selling and buying of dining room furniture. All information can be obtained by local retailers as well as Internet retailers providing enough information regarding all the procedures before and after sale of dining room furniture. You can face a major shortcoming for purchasing used desks because they often offer limited choice to a consumer.

The reason for socializing, over a tranquil meal with our friends, relatives and loved ones has gaining much importance in todays world; the dining room furniture plays a major part in every bodys home because it is only a place where we gather together with all friends and guests to enjoy a good conversation and good food. For most of us, this room is used more for entertaining guests, relaxing and enjoying with friends and cooperating family meals. Therefore, it is understood that we need to decorate our most used dining room with exclusive, unique and stylish dining room furniture and to get nice-looking and comfortable one which our budget allows us to buy.

By: William I. Neil

Why Eat Vegetarian?

2009-03-03T00:37:00.001-08:00

This is a good question, why would anyone want to eat just vegetables?

Your body is your motor so to speak, your life source, and what we put into it is clearly visible through your measure of health, well being and longevity. We all strive to live a quality life and age gracefully, so why not feed it foods that will aid us on our journey.

So why is it that In our Western society, a common nutritional belief is that meat and animal products must be consumed in order to maintain a well-balanced, muscle-building healthy diet.

As more and more studies are coming up about the detrimental aspects of non vegetarian food, many people are anxious to know how they can stay healthy without giving up their favorite non vegetarian delicacies.

One reason why eating a vegetarian diet is considered healthy is? to keep up a healthy level of Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C, it is important to eat fruits and vegetables in adequate quantities to prevent any deficiency from coming up.

If you have children, you may be wondering if a vegetarian diet is a sustainable, healthy choice for your child.

Well you could consider this, Vitamin B-12, which exists in meat, dairy, eggs, and poultry and is essential in the development of red blood cells and a healthy central nervous system. A major benefit of the vegetarian diet is that it tends to involve a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains.

Then?.

There?s this, nutritional research ha shown that a vegetarian diet can provide all the nutrients necessary for the development of a healthy child.

Here?s another interesting thought, animal foods are so high in protein that non-vegetarians can easily exceed the upper limit recommended for protein intake, which is 4. Obesity, one of the major health concerns in this country, can be addressed with a vegetarian diet, one that eliminates excess protein and animal fat consumption, and increases fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

And some animal rights movement fanatics, who are dedicated vegetarians won't even eat in restaurants that serve animal products. As you can see, some people take it to the extreme.

Here?s another interesting point on teens and vegetarian diets, Nutrients that are usually supplied by meat, dairy, and egg products must be worked back into a teen?s diet to meet the recommended dietary allowance for protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. Therefore, it is important to limit the quantity of non vegetarian food products which may contain preservatives.

And what about the theory about our planet, in addition to doing good for our planet, you'll enjoy great health benefits by including more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fruits and vegetables should be well mashed or pur?ed. Guacamole, a Relish plate of sliced vegetables (Crudit?s) and White wine.

Here?s a little story, one vegan reports that she was assured before the cruise that her diet would be no trouble; however, all she could actually eat was bread, lettuce, and an occasional baked potato. PETA along with the fervent efforts made by many organizations has raised the awareness of the public and interestingly encouraged them to tread on the path of trendy vegetarianism or prompted them to go all vegan, despite

What about the other family members?

Don?t change everything?your new vegetarian still needs to come to family meals and take the responsibility for the time it takes to eat and plan vegetarian meals. When you know how, it doesn?t take any longer to whip up a meal of vegtables, of some very tasty main course.

About the Author:

Len Cecchetto likes to eat healthy and loves his veggies, the topic of the vegetarian fascinates himthat?s why he researches it so much. You can findout more at: Vegetarian Diets And Recipes

Yoga Exercise For Health

2008-12-17T18:27:00.001-08:00

Yoga Exercise is an excellent way to improve your health. Many people think of yoga as a great way to improve their flexibility and loosen up their joints. Other people use yoga to increase their body strength and balance. And still other people use yoga to cleanse their mind and improve their mental health. It is amazing that yoga can be used to improve so many different areas of their life. Thousands of people use yoga for their health every day.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, and has been used to balance the mind, body and spirit. Yoga users believe that when these areas of your life are in balance, the mental and physical health will improve. When you use yoga for health, it will bring harmony and healing into your life.

For years, there has been a lot of skepticism that yoga was good for your health, but now the mainstream medical community has conducted scientific study of the health benefits of yoga and has proven that yoga exercise does improve your health. It has been shown that the body, mind and spirit do work together and when each is improved through yoga, your mental and physical health improved.

Yoga is a great exercise for almost everyone. It doesnt matter what your age, both young and old can practice yoga. It doesnt matter what type of physical shape you are in, both beginners and seasoned pros get benefits from yoga exercise. It also doesnt matter if you are overweight, yoga will help you trim off the excess pounds without stressing out the rest of your body.

Yoga exercise is a great way to get stress relief while you are at it. Any exercise will help with stress relief by helping you relax. But it seems that yoga helps you relax faster and more completely than any other type of exercise.

Part of the stress relieve is the result of getting additional oxygen into your bloodstream from the breathing exercises. The oxygen helps the body get rid of toxins.

Yoga is also a great exercise if you have joint injuries. The easy stretches help to limber up the joints and will increase your flexibility. The stretches also help to build your muscle strength when you maintain your balance during the various yoga poses.

Keep in mind, when you first start using yoga exercises, you need to start off slow and easy. Remember, the teacher has been practicing yoga for years and has much more flexibility than you do. Just do what you can, and the next day stretch a little more, eventually, you will get to where you have a lot more flexibility than when you started. Remember, if you overdo it and hurt yourself, you will never get the health benefits that yoga will provide for you.

By Sydney Heiden

Yoga For Inner and Outer Beauty

2008-12-11T22:23:00.000-08:00

Sometime back I read an anecdote concerning Bill and Hillary Clinton. It seems that one time, many years ago, Hillary dragged Bill to a yoga class. Bill remarked that he was the only man in the class. In many countries, that is the way it is, with women being the primary enthusiasts at yoga classes. One of the main reasons for this may be that yoga is seen as a way to lose weight and become more beautiful. Let's take a look at this and see what role yoga has to play in making someone look beautiful.

No doubt yoga can help a person to become healthy, and fit. If someone practices the postures, does meditation, and follows the yogic prescriptions for eating, sleeping, hygiene and exercise it is almost certain that he or she will end up in great shape and look better.

In fact, our concept of beauty is in large part biological and part of the evolutionary process. Clear skin complexion, for example, is an indicator of good health and for our ancient ancestors it made good sense to choose partners who were healthy and could pass on their genes to future generations.

However the beauty of a person is not just based on physical factors alone. Just as internal physical factors, such as digestion and the proper functioning of physical organs, are reflected in the outer look of a person, there are internal psychic and spiritual factors that play a big role in how we feel and how others see us.

Although the physical practices of yoga, such as yoga postures (asanas) are the best known part of yoga, at the heart of yoga is a moral code which defines a way of life in which a person can live in harmony with herself and with society. This set of lifestyle instructions is know as Yama and Niyama.

Yama which means hat which controls has five parts and the main function of these five practices is to help an individual achieve harmony with his or her external environment. One of the most important parts of Yama is a practice known as Satya.

Satya is loosely defined as ruth but in fact there is no exact English equivalent for this term. In his book A Guide to Human Conduct, my guru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti defines satya as action of mind and right use of words in the spirit of welfare. That is, we should do whatever we can to promote the welfare of others, by keeping good thoughts in mind and by speaking in the spirit of helping others.

Someone who practices satya and always keeps positive thoughts in mind develops will power and straightforwardness. This practice is actually going on in the subconscious mind, and results in an internal effulgence or glaze known as Ojas. This inner effulgence is expressed outwardly as a vigor that definitely contributes to the attractiveness of a person. If you practice satya you will achieve a glow that cannot be duplicated or achieved with any kind of makeup!

When you are twenty years old you are helped out by Mother Nature, as the hormones of your body are helping you to blossom and enter your years of peak physical well-being. However, this help from Nature is not indefinite and also must be supported by a proper way of life.

If you practice the outer aspects of yoga (postures, diet, fasting, hygiene) then you will be able to make the most of what God has given to you in the way of a physical body. If you practice the inner aspect of yoga (meditation and balanced conduct) you will bring forth an inner effulgence and beauty that will remain with you long after you physical body begins to wind-down.'

By Dada Vedaprajinananda

Yoga Poses For Easy Weight Loss

2008-12-08T18:38:00.001-08:00

Want to lose weight the easy way? Yoga is a perfect solution for weight loss, and no, you don't need to tie yourself up like a pretzel to do it.

Many yoga studios offer special classes for people who want to shed a few pounds. If no special Weight Loss Yoga classes are available in your area, any beginners class will be suitable, in forms like Hatha and Bikram Yoga.

As with any exercise routine, see your doctor first. Yoga is perfectly safe, but your instructor will want to know if you have challenges like high blood pressure, arthritis, or weak knees.

When you go to a yoga studio for the first time, tell the instructor what your health challenges are, and she or he will offer modified poses for you during class.

How Yoga Helps You to Lose Weight

Unlike other forms of exercise, yoga isn't primarily an exercise routine; it's a way of achieving balance by uniting your mind and body with your spirit. The word yoga comes from a Sanskrit word meaning, o tie, unite, balance.

So while the goal of any yoga practice isn't explicitly to lose weight, this is one of the effects. Overweight is a sign that your system is out of balance, yoga brings it back into balance.

If you suspect that you're overweight because you have emotional issues, yoga will help you resolve them. You don't have to do anything special. As you practice, the poses releases deep emotions buried in your body's tissues.

Many yoga practitioners find themselves spontaneously laughing, or weeping - this is just blocked energy releasing. Yoga is a great way to release stress.

Yoga Poses for Weight Loss

You can turn any of your favorite poses into a weight loss routine.

Here's an example:

After a Sun Salutations warmup, go on to:

* A standing pose, like Warrior Pose; then

* A sitting pose, like Forward Bend; then

* A complementary pose like the Camel; and

* A Twist; and

* End with Corpse Post

Create your own routines, according to the time you have to spare. Just ten minutes twice a day will set you on the path to harmonious weight loss with yoga.

By Julia Denham

Tantric Yoga Combines The Elements Of Mind Body And Spirit

2008-12-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

Most of the different types of yoga will combine the physical, mental and spiritual elements of the body in one way or another, with the ultimate goal being a renewed awareness of the body and an overall greater health and fitness level.

Tantric yoga takes this process to a whole new level, by focusing on the spiritual health of the body through additional meditation and lifestyle choices. Tantric yoga can include a number of different sciences, including astrology, physics, chemistry, psychology and mathematics to bring about a greater enlightenment to enhance your everyday life.

Increased Consciousness on Many Levels

Tantric yoga will focus on consciousness at many different levels to realize a persons being in a whole new, supreme way. It begins with a session of meditation to purify the mind, and will include the visualization of love and devotion being directed to a central body of light, which is your soul. The ultimate goal of tantric yoga is to renew your mind and spirit through a profound spiritual awakening that comes through these meditation sessions. It is thought to be the transferring of energy to higher levels, for maximum spiritual growth and whole body wellness.

One of the elements of tantric yoga that is extremely important is the cessation of bad habits like overeating, smoking and excessive drinking. All of these behaviors are damaging and destructive to your physical body, making it important for you to stop them as you are striving for ultimate spiritual and physical renewal. There are methods involved in tantric yoga that will allow you to increase your consciousness and give up some of these bad habits that you have hung onto up to this point.

Increased Popularity in the United States

While tantric yoga has been quite popular in eastern cultures, it has grown in popularity within the United States as well. For those that are hungry for a spiritual workout as well as a physical one, tantric yoga can offer many far-reaching benefits. In addition to many of the other physical benefits of other types of yoga, tantric yoga can increase sexual function and stamina.

It has also been shown to improve the function of the prostate in many men who practice this type of yoga regularly. If you are considering a type of yoga, and are looking for more than simply your basic workout, tantric yoga might offer just what you are searching for. Not only will you receive physical and mental benefits as you would with other types of yoga, you may enjoy a spiritual awakening as well.

By: Ann Marier

Asana Yoga Poses Or Something Else Find Out!

2008-12-08T02:45:00.001-08:00

FIRM AND PLEASANT CORPORAL TECHNIQUE

Asana is any position that is firm and pleasant (sthira sukham asanam). This is the broad and laconic definition from the Y?ga S?tra, chapter II, 46. According to this definition, the number of asanas is infinite.

Another definition, this one attributed to Shiva, confirms that of P?ta?jali: there are as many Asanas as there are human beings on the face of the Earth.

Others, however, limit the number of Asanas to 84,000, of which 840 are the most important and, of these, only 84 are considered fundamental. In the current book, we present 2,000 asanas. It is the largest compilation yet achieved in the history of Y?ga in the world.

But, what is an asana after all? Asana is the corporal technique that, for many people, is the most prevalent stereotype of Yoga. This is due to the fact that, among all the techniques of Y?ga, the only one which is photographable, filmable and able to be demonstrated in public is ?sana. It is possible to photograph yoganidra, film pranayama or demonstrate mudra but it is of little. As a result of these facts, this anga has ended up being the one which is most well-known.

?sana is corporal technique, yes, but it is not exclusively corporal. It has nothing to do with gymnastics or physical education. Its origins are different, its purposes are different and the methods of executing it are different. This is why, in Y?ga, we do not need many things that are fundamental in Physical Education like, for example, muscular warm ups. In Ancient Y?ga, we do not use this before executing ?sanas. For those who are interested in a comparative study of Yoga and Physical Education and their distinctions, we will recommend one of our books (Everything About Y?ga) so as not to repeat an explanation that has already been published elsewhere.

In order to economize on words, people tend to refer to asanas exclusively through a corporal prism. Yet, any technique does not deserve the name asana unless it incorporates other elements.

If it is physical exercise, it is not Y?ga. In order for a technique to be considered an ?sana, it must have the following three elements:

1.Position;
2.Coordinated breathing; and
3.Interior attitude.

The position needs to be:
a)stable;
b)comfortable; and
c)aesthetic.

The breathing needs to be:
a)conscious;
b)profound (abdominal and complete); and
c)with rhythm.

The interior attitude needs to have:
a)localization of consciousness throughout the body;
b)mentalization of images, colors and sounds; and
c)bh?va (deep sentiments or reverence).

by Marcello Oliveira

Yoga Exercise Improves Blood Glucose Control

2008-12-04T19:46:00.000-08:00

Yoga exercises strengthen your body and make it more flexible. Yoga also calms your mind and gives you energy. In active sports or strenuous exercises, you use up energy. In yoga classes, students report that they feel tranquil after a class, yet have more energy. Slow and steady motion is the key to going into or coming out of the postures. You hold a yoga pose for several seconds or even minutes and give attention to full, quiet breath. Your yoga instructor will always encourage you to relax as the exercises are being done.

You gently place your body into a yoga posture. Done correctly, there's very little chance of injury or muscle stress. A particular asana is not repeated dozens of times, nor are you ever encouraged to push yourself too much.

A yoga session is designed for balance. You stretch to the right and then to the left. You bend back and then forward. You learn to recognize when one side is stronger or more flexible than the other. Thus harmony and balance are achieved with yoga practice.

People of all ages can practice yoga exercises. They are easily modified to meet your needs and physical condition. Don't be put off by the difficult looking postures you may see in a yoga book. A skilled teacher can adapt most asanas by using chairs, cushions, even a wall or other props. A yoga practice can be tailor-made just for you. If something is really impossible for you to do, just forget it. Never compete with yourself or others. Yoga is a stress-free but powerful way to exercise.

Yoga is good for increasing your flexibility and relieving stress, but it doesn't take the place of aerobic exercise. You should still do regular, aerobic exercise, which increases your cardiovascular fitness, helps you lose weight, and, for people with non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes at least, improves blood glucose control.

Proponents of yoga exercise argue that it has a multiplicity of techniques to counter that cause and, unlike drug therapy, attack the cause, not just the symptoms. It offers, they say, a holistic approach to health and fitness. Many professional athletes, looking for the edge have turned to yoga as a supplementary form of training. They have found that yoga aids their state of mental and physical relaxation between training sessions, and their crucial build-up to big meets, where a competition is usually won or lost in the mind.

By: Ann Marier

Yoga An Exercise For Everyone

2008-12-03T19:09:00.001-08:00

Many adults enjoy and are aware of the rewards of yoga. 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.

Yoga may not look like other forms of exercise to most people, but they are amazed at how the seemingly simple poses can work out so many different areas of their body.

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. Yogas 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 todays fast paced world. Yoga often becomes an outlet for working out peoples 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.

By: Michael Gray

Yoga Exercises Healthy Lifeline With The Yoga Experience

2008-12-02T20:33:00.001-08:00

Yoga Exercises - Healthy Lifeline With The Yoga Experience

No debate can arise from Yoga Exercises or is questionable on just how powerful yoga can be. Yoga has proven to give beneficial rewards to millions of people in helping them to keep in shape while at the same time assisting them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Your health and yoga is a match made in heaven. Yoga Exercises and the people who practice regular routines are finding it easier to cope with stress on top of easing body aches and pains.

Times have changed dramatically from the days of yesterday - in the days gone by life was a struggle for families - but some how they coped with the illnesses that plagued and terrorised their well being. In those days you never seen a jogger a treadmill or come to think of it any form of exercise like yoga. The only thing that the modern world has in common from the days of the notorious Jack the ripper is the plague. Citizens today are plagued by stress brought on by pressure from work commitments to running the home and much more. Why do we put up with the torment of coping like the people of yesterday who were a lot less fortunate than ourselves - where their options to help reduce any health risks were zilch?

Yes changes have dramatically altered but in our best interest where health matters is a major concern.

Yoga Exercises do go back to ancient times but why did so many poor unfortunate urchins die from cholera etc while trying to pick a pocket or two. The answer to that is there was no awareness programme administered on how to stay healthy and fit. (Which may have helped save lives?) Could this be the reason why so many children have been introduced to Yoga Exercises by their parents in the 21st century?

Yoga exercises for children start with simple and easy moves - yoga moves and poses for kids are normally named after animals to make it more fun as well as interesting. For example the butterfly pose is very popular among the children - this exercise includes where the child will sit with their knees bent leaning down towards the floor and the soles of the feet slightly touching. Parents are becoming more involved with health maintenance procedures in keeping their children fit and healthy.

By enlisting your kiddies to join local yoga classes you have just thrown them a lifeline where they will learn more on body awareness. One of the main reasons for introducing a child to the world of yoga is - obesity.

Some children take to yoga exercises like a duck to water and pick up quickly on the understanding as to why they are performing such exercises. But then you have those who struggle to come to terms with their exercise and have no idea to what rewards can be gained. What really matters is - as long as the kiddies are enjoying themselves then that is one rewarding result in itself.

Later in life when the child is fit and healthy - it is then that you will find the child`s perception of the whole yoga experience will answer their question as to why mummy and daddy did what they did and that was to send them to practice yoga exercises.

By: Kacy Carr

Beginner Yoga Poses

2008-11-30T23:15:00.000-08:00

Starting yoga may be confusing to you at first with all the different positions that is taught. When you start yoga class the instructor can go over the different names with you to help you learn the beginner yoga poses. Yoga is a great way to stretch your muscles safely and it is useful to everyone, even women who are pregnant. If you have had a sports injury or work injury yoga may be a great form of exercise to get you back on track and help you heal faster.

Yoga Poses

Your instructor will go over some beginner poses with you if you are just starting yoga. Here are the names of these poses.The Rabbit Pose teaches you techniques to relieve neck and head pain as well as back pain.

Birds Wing pose is great for beginners, intermediate or advance. Other poses you will hear are Happy Baby pose, Standing Yoga Mudra, Downward Facing Dog Plank, Cat Cow Pointer Sequence, Cobra pushup with Roll, Saw, Reclined Twist, Twisted Root, Teaser Prep, The Curl, Prone Gluteals, Swimming, Warrior I, Warrior II, Bridge with Roll, Cross Legged Sit and Stretch, and Chair.

The yoga poses you will learn are going to teach you many things, including how to reduce and handle stress, understand life and be in touch with your inner feelings, help your body to be balanced. This doesn't happen after one session. You should be prepared to continue yoga on a regular basis in order to get the full result of yoga and what it is intended to do. Each pose will show you a different way to handle your life and balance your body. In order to use yoga to its full potential make sure you practice it regularly and without stopping. If you cannot join a class there are CD's and DVD's available that will teach you all about beginner poses.

By Karlise Amerson

Finding Yourself Through Yoga Classes

2008-11-30T22:28:00.001-08:00

There are a variety of vedic books on yoga that inform the reader how to recognize their own destiny in life, but when an individual joins a yoga class, then they are able to get a much better understanding of what yoga really represents. Yoga is self realization of finding your own self and getting it all together basically.

Sometimes an individual may be in the middle of an environment that is completely full of negative energy, which may be caused by their spouse, room mate, co-worker, parent, or friend. For the individuals' very own health they should remove themselves from this type of situation, but often times they are drawn to this person simply because they care for them. For a situation such a this the true source of negative energy within this personal needs to be located, then it needs to be addressed.

One of the many benefits of the practice of yoga is empowerment and in the Bhakti Yoga empowerment is a type of ritual that a guru gives bestows an enlightened presence to bless the mind and soul of a student that has been devoted. There are times when a student has been so devoted throughout life that a deity is called upon to bless and nurture the student, then as a result of this blessing the student is able to help and teach others. In some parts of the world today, this type of empowerment is still practiced today.

Students to learn how to overcome their obstacles that get in their way each day instead of becoming overwhelmed with them. They need to learn how they can draw on the source of power within themselves when they feel alone and learn that the most powerful tool to empowerment is through power. The constant pursuit of knowledge, especially with the many sources available with modern technology is a source of empowerment. Finally, building your own natural talent to the best of their ability will build your self esteem and become a source of empowerment as well.

Yoga classes are devised to teach students how to survive mental, emotional, and physical hardships when faced with them. While these students are prepared for these types of situations, they become role models for others who would become overwhelmed when faced with the same obstacles. These students are capable to keep a positive attitude due to the fact that they have had the motivation in the past to change themselves.

Many individuals find that contentment is unreal or that it is simply a fantasy, but for individuals that practice yoga know that everything that brings them true contentment is right in front of them such as their family, friends, health, and what ever is close at hand. The true purpose in life must be felt within ones heart and our natural talents are our own destiny. If an individual purchases something at the store, then they will not be happy with it, but if the individual makes something with their own skills and talents, then they will truly be happy and content.

By Victor Epand

Laughter Yoga Exercise for the Funny Bone as Well as the Body

2008-11-26T18:14:00.001-08:00

Yoga has been practiced in the United States for more than 100 years. Americans liked its original form not only for the exercise component, but also because it helped relieve the stress that seemed to be an integral part of the modernization of this country.

Being Americans, they also adapted the original form to suit their lifestyles and different needs. Now they are embracing a new kind of yoga - one that was developed in its birthplace, India, but which is proving to be very appropriate for the American way of life. This new form is called Laughter Yoga.

Origins of Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga was developed by Dr. Madan Kataria, who became excited about research showing a connection between laughter and healing. In 1995 he started a laughter club, where people met to tell jokes to get each other to laugh. It didn't take long, though, for the jokes to evolve into sexist comments that offended some of the participants. Dr. Kataria did more research and discovered that the human mind can't tell the difference between real and faked laughter, so he came up with the idea of laughing for no reason.

Dr. Kataria's wife, Madhuri, a yoga teacher, suggested adding yogic stretching and breathing exercises to the sessions. And Laughter Yoga was born.

Laughter Yoga in the United States
Currently there are about 60 Laughter Yoga instructors scattered around the U.S. (with about a third in California). Their sessions involve traditional yoga stretches and breathing, but also include a lot of activities that are just plain silly, like imitating animals and telling jokes in gibberish. Using a fake language instead of a real one eliminates the chance of offending someone, and the use of gibberish helps people relax and start laughing.

In the beginning people may feel self-conscious and the laughter is usually forced, but it doesn't stay that way for long. Eventually everyone loosens up. It does seem that, when it comes to laughing, fake it until you make it works well.

Benefits of Laughter Yoga
According to the American School of Laughter Yoga, this kind of yoga is being used for a lot more than stress relief and improved flexibility. People like it because it can help them manage their anger and deal with depression. And unlike many other forms of yoga, which tend to appeal to introverts and loners, this one encourages people to interact with each other, which can help improve their social skills and self-confidence. It's also recommended for those who are dealing with physical challenges; the exercises are gentle, and the laughter helps people take things less seriously.

Laughter Yoga teachers emphasize that having a sense of humor is not a prerequisite to enjoying their style of yoga. You don't have to be a normally happy person, or even arrive at the sessions in a good mood - although you'll probably leave that way. Laughter Yoga is designed to be useful for a wide range of personality and body types.

Where to find classes
Laughter Yoga classes are being taught in many states. The American School of Laughter Yoga has a directory of locations, and if you can't find a group (called a Laughter Club) in your area, they offer online training, books, CDs, and DVDs. There's also a certification program for Laughter Yoga instructors.

Laughter Yoga is fairly new to the United States, so how popular it will eventually become remains to be seen. But there's no denying the fact that laughter can help us loosen up, handle stress better, and in some cases even heal our illnesses. If Laughter Yoga can contribute to some of those benefits - and it seems that it already has - it may have a bright future here.

By Peggy Adamik

Yoga Poses are Therapeutic!

2008-11-25T18:40:00.001-08:00

The entire subject of yoga in relation to health is about various postures. For every disease, it can be wildly claimed that there is a posture prescribed. Ask any yoga enthusiast/teacher and he will not only vouchsafe for it, he will promise cure and give you proofs of cures!

And many a times, he is not wrong and his stories are believable.

Many postures in yoga are tricky and difficult at least in the initial practicing stage. When it is done effortlessly, that means you are perfect in that posture. And over a period of time, it is possible. The result of practice of any yoga posture on the first day is certainly joint pain. Keep up the practice and be regular. Good results are assured.

Slowly and steadily your body will also increase its capacity of resistance. Mentally you will become more stronger. Don't be in a hurry- after all, it is your body and your precious bones are at stake.

It is well known that yoga postures not only relate to body fitness, they give path to spirituality as well. It tones up muscles and many internal glands. You will feel the flow of the vital energy and the importance of correct breathing! Any yoga exercise session starts with warm up exercises and poses like eye exercises and neck exercises, shoulder shifts and shoulder exercises.

Every Yoga pose, for example delivers concrete benefits. It is not possible to give the names of all the postures and related benefits on this web page but let us examine some asanas and their benefits, with anatomical focus on their therapeutic applications.

Tree Pose, for example, strengthens thighs, calves, ankles and spine; stretches the groins and inner thighs, chest and shoulders; improves sense of balance; relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet.

A mention may be made about some more important poses. Cat-Bidalasana, Mountain-Tadasana, and standing poses like Triangle-Trikonasana, Hands to Feet Pose-Pada Hasstana, Mountain-Tadasana, Standing Stretch-Ardha Chandrasana, sitting poses like Easy pose-Sukhasana, Lotus-Padmasana and many Inverted Postures and Balance Poses!

All these postures prove what meticulous care the ancient masters of yoga took to formulate these poses. Yoga postures take in to care of every part of the body and its movement in all possible directions. And every pose is related to the spiritual aspects as well. All these achievements were possible only because they had perfect understanding of the body in relation to the Spirit!

To read more articles on yoga, yoga postures and yoga tips visit http://www.therealyoga.com/

About the Author

The author writes articles on different topics. To get more yoga articles visit http://www.therealyoga.com/

Standing Yoga Poses

2008-11-24T18:33:00.001-08:00

Several of the most effective poses are the standing positions. They provide superior stretching of the muscles and they have recognizable effects on the speed and efficiency of the nervous system. Most standing poses manage to enhance the asanas and they offer you an increased opportunity of mastering equilibrium, both physical and mental. In the following paragraphs we will take a look at two of the most significant standing poses, the Mountain pose and the Triangle pose.

The mountain pose (known as the Tadasana) got its name from a number of defining properties that share the symbols of the mountain. The pose benefits from a high level of relaxed strength and a sense of invulnerability. Very like a mountain, the person practicing this pose will be surrounded by tranquillity and will feel a heightened impression of balance. The clarity and profound vision offered by this pose permit you to go deeper in your inner emotions and unite with your inner self on a very deep level. The mountain pose is achieved by placing the heels slightly apart, so that toes are parallel. Carry out a back and forth rocking movement on your toes and slowly come to a complete stop. Raise the ankles in order to consolidate the pose while also tightening the leg muscles. Thrust your tailbone towards the floor while lifting your pelvic area towards the navel. Your arms should be resting near your body while you are pushing your shoulder blades backwards.

The clear-cut positive effects of the mountain pose made it the basis of many other poses. Tadasana implies that the practicing yogi has to discover the meaning of balance and stillness before progressing further. For this reason, the mountain pose is one of the best ways to connect with your inner emotions while uncovering the subtle ways of yoga. The energy channels of the mountain pose traverse your whole body, following the spine, from the back of the neck and on towards the legs.

The next significant standing pose is the Triangle pose, or the Trikonasana. This comparatively easy pose has a satisfactory stretching effect on the spine, giving it a good lateral motion that complements the stretching of alternate forward poses. The straightness of the knees is essential while performing this pose, as this will allow your movements to be fluent and to stretch all the targeted muscles and organs. Bending to the left and right needs to be done gradually and fluently. This is one of the yoga poses that is good for providing the foundation for the next levels of postures, which are more advanced and harder to perform. The stimulation of the spinal nerves is also useful and it improves complete body flexibility.

In order to enjoy the full advantage of the triangle pose you have to position your body properly. Your feet have to be spread apart while you are pointing to your toes. Try to alternate the pointing motion from your left foot to your right one while keeping a constant rhythm and perfect balance. After you extend your arms parallel to the floor you should breathe in deeply, allowing the energy to reinforce your movements. While exhaling aim to execute a slight bend to either left or right while sliding your hand down your foot. This motion requires a lot of flexibility in the lower back muscles area, so a good warm up session is completely essential before attempting the triangle. Yogis who try this pose often notice the sensation of a lighter body, joined with a feeling of mild warmth in the stretched muscles.

About the Author

To find out how yoga can be beneficial for you, check out http://www.infoaboutyoga.com

Trying Yoga for Back Pain Then Pick the RIGHT Poses 2

2008-11-23T18:33:00.001-08:00

I went over in detail the use of the shoulder stand sequence as ?the? Yoga exercise for back pain in part one of this article. Now let?s go over the rest of the applicable poses shall we.

FORWARD STRETCHES:

Wind Relieving Pose (Vatayanasan):

Lie down flat. Now take a deep breath and hold it. Now fold your right leg at the knee and press the folded leg against the abdomen. Make sure to keep the alternate leg straight while doing this. Now, switch legs and to conclude this use both legs at the same time. 5-15 Seconds

Plough Pose (Halasana):

Lie flat on your back on your blanket. Keep the hands, palms down near the thighs. Without bending the knees, slowly raise the hips and the lumbar part of the back and bring down the legs till they touch the floor or go as far as you can. The key here is to get as deep a stretch for the lower back as possible. 5-15 Seconds

Forward Bend (Paschimothanasana):

Lie flat on your back on the blanket, with arms overhead on the floor. Keep the legs and thighs firmly on the floor. Stiffen your body. Slowly raise the head and the chest and assume a sitting position. Now exhale till you are able to catch you toes, ankles or heels. You may even bury your face in between your knees. 5-15 Seconds

BACKWARD STRETCHES:

Inclined Plane Pose (Purvottanasana):

Rest on your hands on heels, keeping the body straight. 5-15 Seconds

Bow Pose (Dhanurasana):

This pose is hailed as the best backward bending exercise. Lie Prone on the blanket. Relax the muscles. Now bend the legs over the thighs. Catch hold of the right ankle with the right hand and the left ankle with the left hand firmly. Raise the head, body and knees by tugging at the legs with the hands so the whole body rests on the abdomen.

Wheel Pose (Chakrasana):

Lie down. Bend the arms and legs. Raise the body and rest on the hands and feet. Tuck your head firmly in between your shoulders. 5-15 Seconds

Spinal Twist: (Ardha Matsendrasana):

-Sit on the floor with both legs out in front of you.

-Bend your right knee, lift your right leg over your left, and place your right foot on the floor next to your left knee.

-Sitting with spine straight, place your left elbow on the right side of your right knee.

-Bend your left arm so that your left fingertips are touching your right hip, while at the same time, twisting to look over your right shoulder.

Since this actually involves a twisting of the back, make sure you go only as far as it is comfortable. As a matter of fact, it is advised that depending on the severity of your case, you only go as far as the poses allow you to at any time. 5-15 Seconds

Corpse Pose (Savasana):

This is the relaxation pose. From experience, after the spinal twist above, if you immediately get into this pose, there is an indescribable feeling of relief from tightness in the back. You ought to try it out for yourself.

-Lay motionless on your back with the arms and legs slightly extended.

-Breathe deeply in counts of 5 that being in a ratio of 5:5:5 (inhalation-retention-exhalation)

-Lay as such for as long as you desire and you could mentally send relaxation messages to your body parts such as ?My ?.. is hereby relaxed? (filling in the space with whatever body part. Remember to start from the toes working upwards.)

Other factors to keep in mind when I say try ?yoga for back pain? are that Yoga involves the consumption of a healthy diet. This brings to mind Hippocrates? quote: ?Let your foods be your medicine??

That considered, do make sure your diet is primarily made up of the right stuff, raw and cooked fruits and veggies.

This will relieve constipation and this reminds me of a true experience with my father years back. He had suffered a severe back pain for weeks and an alternative health consultant told him to eat a meal of plain fruit on a given night and 2-3 hours afterwards, he was instructed to drink a laxative tea. After a really good bowel movement the next day, the pain magically subsided. That said you may want to try this tip as well.

It is my hope that all these pointers above will come in handy in your use of yoga for back pain relief-with the right poses. So go on and give it a shot today.

Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com For more Yoga tips and information on Yoga for beginners stop by his website today.

Yoga Exercises What Has Cannabis Got In Common With Yoga

2008-11-23T18:32:00.001-08:00

What has yoga exercises and cannabis got in common - well that is simple they both relate to joints. Cannabis is smoked in a joint and yoga exercises help relax the joints. Let us focus on the how the natural way is the legal way to ease troubled minds, aches and pains.

The Natural way comes with no prison sentence.

Yoga exercises - moves and postures are easily practiced but most importantly should be supervised under the guidance from a master in the field of yoga. Tutorial videos are quite popular among the housebound. People with an illness that prevents them leaving the house can still follow the thousands of Yogis world wide by practising yoga exercises in the comfort of their own home.

One of the top reasons for why yoga exercises are performed on a wide scale is due to stress related concerns. Anxiety and sufferers of depression have seen the difference in themselves after learning yoga. Doctors are now referring their patients to join local yoga classes. Doctors realize that this is a safe natural mental medicinal medication which can ease symptoms of different types of illnesses and disorders. (Depending on the illness)

For beginners who are attending a class for the first time you can expect your yoga exercises to be light movements. This may entail short workouts on twists, balance, sit up poses and different other moves. You may also find that there is a time limit on how much you do in the first few stages of your yoga exercises due to you being a novice.

Once you have become familiar with what ever type of yoga you have chosen to practice - it is then you will begin to notice the change in your whole approach towards practice sessions. Yoga and the people who exercise this exercise become very devoted to an extent that it becomes a passionate piece of their life and why wouldn`t they when it helps them to keep in shape and lead a healthier life

Remember what is on the inside needs as much nurturing like that on the outside - in other words muscles joints and internal organs. There are many types of yoga exercises carefully structured to loosen the bones taking away stiffness or any other discomforts that can cause bouts of stress. By practicing yoga exercises on a regular basis you will notice the flexibility of how the body alters in a very relieving manner.

If you are not sure of the type of yoga that best suits your needs then talk with a yoga master. The Practice of yoga exercises due to health matters should not go ahead until you speak with your doctor - this goes for any exercises you intend on taking up.

Yoga is not a cure and has no magical powers where you regain sight after years of living in darkness nor can it cure the deaf from their world of silence but one thing it can do is work MIRACLES on the mind. This is done by positive thoughts inserted into the mind by your own way of thinking where you take what is rightfully yours and that is contentment.

By: Kacy Carr

Do You Need A Yoga Exercise Mat

2008-11-22T00:54:00.001-08:00

One of things I like best about yoga, you dont need any specialized equipment. If you are exercising on carpet, you dont even need a mat. However, a yoga mat is a great piece of equipment to have, and some people wouldnt even think of trying yoga exercise without using a mat.

Yoga mats come in a variety of types, styles and thicknesses. A typical yoga mat has a sticky surface to help with friction when obtaining your poses. Some yoga mats are thicker than others, and these can really help when you get on your knees.

Yoga mats come in a multitude of colors and patterns, so you can express your personality (and find your mat when its time to pack up and leave the gym). This isnt George Orwells 1984, you arent stuck with the same color and pattern as every other yoga mat. If fact, you can even have your T-shirt match your yoga mat.

If you are just starting out, you really dont need a yoga mat, especially if you are working out at home. Most gyms will lend you a yoga mat or rent one to you. But if you are serious about yoga exercise, you should invest in a good quality yoga exercise mat as soon as you can. After all, do you really want to use a mat that some one else has sweated on?

The great thing about a yoga exercise mat, they are inexpensive. It is possible to buy a pretty good yoga mat for $15 to $20. Of course, you can spend a lot more for a mat, but it really isnt necessary.

The type of yoga mat you purchase depends on several factors, including what type of yoga you practice. If you are using the more active and fast pace exercises, you may want thicker mat. You may also find the thicker yoga exercise mat useful if you are suffering from joint problems.

By Sydney Heiden

Headstand and Inversion Yoga Poses A Primer

2008-11-22T00:49:00.005-08:00

Headstand (salamba shirshasana) is one of the yoga poses that are considered inversion poses. Inversion poses involve any asanas that lift the feet above the head. Other inversion poses that are well known include shoulderstand (salamba sarvangasana) and half shoulder stand (viparita karani). But even lying on the floor with your legs on a chair is an inversion pose.

The concept behind inversion poses is expressed in yoga texts as viparita karani. Viparita karani is translated as meaning 'opposite process'. This simply means facilitating a different perspective. From the purely physical point of view, this different perspective in inversion poses is literal - in terms of looking at the world from a different physical viewpoint - as well as involving the body being supported in a different way.

But as yoga is more than simply physical exercises, there are other processes that are assisted. A lot of yoga is designed to help us change mental habits as well as physical habits. Through increasing our ability to adapt to change, instead of being stuck in old habitual responses, we increase our capacity for growth and transformation. This applies in all areas of our lives.

There is a theoretical concept in yoga about why inversion postures help. Ayurveda considers that many of the body's impurities are in the lower abdomen. When we raise our feet above the head, gravity is assisting us to move these impurities towards what the Ayurvedic system calls agni, or 'fire'. Agni particularly relates to our 'digestive fire', and is thus located above our lower abdomen.

So, by being upside down, and by using the deep and slow breathing typical of yoga, we help 'burn off' the impurities that were previously stuck.

Improved circulation is a more readily apparent and less 'esoteric' benefit of inversion yoga poses.

Whilst inversion postures have many health benefits, the ability of an individual to receive those benefits depends as much on their capacity to comfortably hold these sometimes difficult postures. For example, headstand and shoulder stand should simply not be done if people are pregnant, have neck pain, high or low blood pressure, neck injuries, or are menstruating. And neither of these postures should be attempted without the appropriate preparatory postures. Otherwise the risk is there that an injury, or stiffness, particularly to the neck area, will result.

Likewise, if doing these postures is very uncomfortable and difficult, more benefit will be derived from doing either the modified versions, or simply working on other yoga poses that strengthen these areas.

There are several important prerequisites for getting the most benefit fro inversions. The first one, a strong neck, I've mentioned. The others are a strong back and abdominal muscles, and the capacity to breathe well whilst in the posture. The latter is going to get better with practice, both of yoga itself and the inversions. It is also somewhat tied into having a strong back. Our back and stomach muscles will provide the support to hold the legs straight, which inturn opens up the thoracic cavity, and increases our ability to breathe well whilst upside down!

Tips for Doing the Inverted Postures

For Half Shoulder stand:

* Lengthen the exhale * Don't lock the chin * Keep your weight not on the head but on the wrists and elbows * Don't try to pull your torso (and legs) into the vertical like in full shoulder stand if you have difficulties with your neck. By doing so, you're placing more pressure on your neck. * Make sure you do the appropriate balancing postures afterwards. These include shalabhasana and bhujangasana

For Shoulder stand:

* Don't worry so much about keeping your elbows and arms parallel. This will create more tension in your neck if you're not proficient in this posture. * Do the appropriate balancing postures. These are the same as for half shoulder stand.

For Headstand:

* Don't ever make adjustments whilst in headstand. If you feel your alignment is not quite right, come down and do it again. * Never do this posture first up, or without the prerequisite postures. It will lead to stiffness in the neck at best, and injury at worst. And the negative effects can build up over time. This posture is never done traditionally without preparation, and there is reason for this. * Use a wall for support as a learning stage * Support your head with all of your fingers, including the little fingers and thumbs * Finding the right position for your head will make sure weight is distributed evenly, and ensure you don't have to overly press down with your elbows to compensate * Think of the support for the whole body as being distributed evenly across both elbows and the head * Don't hold your weight too much on the back of your body. It will place too much pressure on your neck. * Don't use props that allow the neck to be free. It will lead to the neck muscles contracting * Use the balancing postures. Shoulder stand is the traditional, but Mohan recommends half shoulder stand instead * Rest your neck before doing the balancing postures, however. Lie down with your legs bent. * Other balancing postures include chakravakasana, dvipada pitham with the arms, and shalabhasana

There may be fears or a sense of limitation about doing inversion poses that will be confronted. Sometimes, it's best to start an asana gradually. Shoulder stand comes with a few variations that you can use to build up strength and flexibility, as well as overcome any fear based feelings about the posture and your ability to do it.

Overcoming the fear, and finally being able to do a difficult pose that you thought you couldn't, can create positive psychological effects. When we prove to ourselves that our fears don't bind us, that we can move beyond our limitations, we are more able to make changes in other areas of our lives where before we thought it just wasn't possible.

References: A.G.Mohan, Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind

How Yoga Exercises Can Help With Weight Loss

2008-11-22T00:49:00.003-08:00

Yoga Exercises for Ideal Weight and Ideal Shape

What is ideal weight? How can you tell whether or not you are at your Ideal weight? And is your ideal weight realistic for your body type or based on some unattainable ideal flaunted in fashion magazines? Is your image of ideal weight more about an ideal shape - one which may not have any bearing to the actual shape of the body you were born into?

Is ideal weight or shape a personal, inner-referenced experience, or something determined from outside yourself? Is it something you can feel or is it based on the opinion of others, or cultural, societal ideals, or tables that tell you what your ideal weight should be in relation to your height, weight or fat percentage?

Yoga is a training ground for inner-referenced awareness, starting in Hatha Yoga, with attention to the body in various Yoga postures, and moving beyond this to naturally meeting your attitudes toward yourself and your life. For this reason, from a Yogic perspective, ideal weight is not seen as a specific, measurable number or amount relative to height, age or fat percentage, or any other means of determining your weight from a source outside yourself.

This would mean deeming outside sources as experts over and above yourself, with these outer sources determining what is acceptable for you and your body. This is disempowering because it robs you of the opportunity to exercise your inner knowledge; your inner wisdom.

Yoga is all about cultivating your internal evaluation and motivation system, based on how you feel and what you deem appropriate and desirable. Added to this is an inner strength and willpower generated through Yoga practice.

In Yoga, ideal body weight and shape are considered natural byproducts of health. For this reason, the question of what is ideal body weight naturally leads to a broader question of what is health and how to cultivate it. The order of importance in the process of moving toward ideal weight is health first, which determines how you feel and extends to how you look. This offers a sustainable solution: the stronger your feeling of health and wellbeing, the stronger your self esteem.

This, in turn, makes you less likely to allow criticism (your own, or other people's) of your body, based on unrealistic ideals, to undermine your ability to focus on attaining good health. In good health, your attractiveness and beauty shine through. And once you have achieved good health, you may discover that you are within a healthy weight range.

By Michelle Spencer

Poses And Postures

2008-11-22T00:49:00.001-08:00

Yoga has become a very popular form of exercise, however, some styles focus primarily on physically working the back, for instance: the most important Yoga poses in this case will differ from others, remaining the most important Yoga poses for another kind of Yoga. There are also very difficult one might focus on in other styles of Yoga designed to stretch and strengthen other specific parts of the body, and many that work the entire body, treating the body as left and right equals yin and yang.

There are specific Yoga poses for the floor parts of Yoga exercise, as well as the more familiar standing Yoga poses.

One of the most basic kinds of standing Yoga poses one will learn in Yoga is what is called the tree balance. In this balance you will:

1) Prepare as always by checking the posture and lifting through the torso, pushing your shoulders down.

2) Hold your eyes on one object diagonally or straight forward for the entire pose.

3) Stand with your feet together.

4) Lift up onto the balls of your feet.

5) Rock your weight back, onto your heels.

6) Strengthen the right leg shifting all of your weight and lift your left leg slowly up so that your foot lays flat, toes down, resting on your right inner thigh.

7) Your arms slowly lift up to what is called the prayer position: both palms meeting directly above the top of the head?the full body in perfect alignment. Meeting above the crown chakra and lengthening all the way through the body.

The benefits of practicing this posture are many. It will result in remarkably noticeable balance and grace.

The posture requires balance, focus and concentration?all the basic guidelines of Yoga?both spiritual and physical are involved in Yoga poses. The tree balance is one of the many Yoga poses where the key is to relax and clear your mind. Not thinking about the difficulty of the pose itself?releasing tension?that is the mental aspect of several complex positions?without which many Yoga poses would be virtually impossible to hold.

This is one of the most well known Yoga postures. However, there are many. Including, as I mentioned before, many floor Yoga poses. Focus and breath?this is how you remain in any of the Yoga poses.

One example of the floor Yoga poses is the snake:

1) Lay flat on your stomach with your hands on your shoulders.

2) Lift up by straightening the arms and focus up?as though your eyes were also a part of the arch.

3) Focus on pushing the pelvis down towards the floor?arching your back.

4) And keep your shoulders down, as with virtually all Yoga poses.

Remember, all Yoga poses are meant to be held. You do not just reach the posture. Instead you reach it and remain there?thirty seconds, a minute etc. Holding, breathing, the asana, and the pranayama, this is how the balance is earned. In all Yoga poses you will find that you can stretch further and further each time. There are many other yoga poses and techniques out there?go find the perfect kind of yoga for you!

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, recreation, education and d?cor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles about fitness and health, please visit Yoga Positions.

Improve Health With Yoga in Chairs

2008-11-22T00:45:00.001-08:00

It is never too late to start a yoga practice. Forget the pictures you see in ads and TV that show 23 year old dancers and gymnasts doing pretzel-like yoga postures. Sure, there are young people taking fast moving classes that focus on difficult poses. But the majority of people taking yoga classes are middle aged and older. And the fastest growing student population for yoga is seniors.

To accommodate this growing segment, more and more classes are being offered to suit the needs and desires particular to older adults. Generally, these classes are called Yoga in Chairs or simply, Chair Yoga. The obstacle to yoga for older people is the frequent getting up and down off the floor, and sitting cross-legged on the ground for extended periods of time. Back problems, knee and hip replacements, arthritis, and fatigue combine to make it difficult to do. Chair Yoga overcomes this difficulty by featuring most of the same postures traditionally taught, but done either sitting in a chair, or using the chair as a balance and support. These classes are not yoga simplified, but yoga adapted.

Chair Yoga offers increased range of motion in the spine and joints, strengthening of muscles, improved balance, better breath control, relaxation and lessening of physical and mental tension, and improved concentration. Exactly as any other yoga class does. Even if you haven't exercised in a long time, or especially if you haven't, you will begin to feel these and other benefits after just a few classes. Ageing creates more of a need for the gifts of yoga, not less. Using the chair as a base, allows older people, or people with physical limitations, to carry on a full yoga practice the same as the 23 year old with both knees behind the head.

A common concern among seniors is that yoga will conflict with their beliefs and traditions. Yoga does have a focus on contemplation and inner peace that can be spiritual for some, but it is not religious in and of itself. There is room for all types of believers and non-believers in a yoga class. A class for older people in particular will focus on the physical aspect of practice and the breath. There will be relaxation and quiet. And there will be time for questions and sharing. Perhaps some soothing music will be played; maybe there will be a chance to chant the sound OM at the end of class-- if you feel like it. The chant of OM is just the traditional way to end a yoga class. It is a bow to history and tradition.

Yoga in Chairs classes can be found in churches, senior centers, through community education, and at yoga studios. Look for ads, fliers, and talk to your friends and family and find the teacher and the location that is right for you. Take a friend with you to practice. Make it a social occasion, and enjoy improving your health in a group of like- minded people who share your interests and concerns. Making yoga a part of your life will be one of the best things you have done for yourself.

By Susan Lasch

Yoga on Your College Campus

2008-11-22T00:44:00.001-08:00

Quite unlike the stereotypical high impact aerobics that are often a mainstay of college gyms, more and more campuses across the country are recognizing the benefit of incorporating a variety of different exercise programs to keep students interested and fit.

One of the newest trends sweeping colleges is incorporating yoga into their fitness regime. Regular yoga exercise yields a wealth of benefits, many of which are of extreme interest to college students.

Forget about heading to class panting for breath. Hatha yoga, one of the most popular schools of the exercise, leads you through relaxing and strengthening stretches, long twists, calm and quiet yogic breathing, and positive meditations.

When you walk out of the gym from your yoga workout, chances are you will feel significantly more aware, awake, and refreshed.

Yoga practices are also said to help clear the body of toxic energy and thought patterns.

The calming techniques of yoga need not only be experienced in the gym. Yogic breathing techniques can be done before and during a test, hand and neck exercises can be done at your desk or in the library, and you can do any number of poses even in your cramped dorm room, without bothering your roommate.

Yoga is also something you can jump right into. One of the main aspects of yogic exercise is to only go as far as you can, but to push yourself to that edge. Not having the pressure to go into a pose (or asana) into its fullest extension helps the beginners not feel out of place.

As everyone's body and life experiences are different, so are their points of openness and flexibility. Some poses will come almost naturally at times, while others are slow ground to be conquered. This allows you to set goals in your practice as well, moving further and further into the poses, until you finally attain your goal.

While it may take some time to get completely used to a regular yoga practice, it is more definitely a departure from normal exercises, and has a much lower risk of injury and joint strain than high impact exercises. Even if its just for a few minutes a day, you will feel the benefits of yoga almost immediately, and wonder how you manged without it.

By Tiffany Garden

Using Yoga to Decrease Depression and Stress

2008-11-22T00:43:00.001-08:00

Did you know that regular exercise can ease the symptoms of depression and stress? I know it's tough to get out of bed when you are depressed, let alone exercise and that lack of motivation is symptomatic of depression. When you are stressed it's usually because you are overloaded and adding exercise to an already busy schedule isn't easy. Luckily, one form of exercise, yoga, can ease the symptoms of depression and stress and while ideally, you would find a good beginner's class, you don't even have to leave your house to try yoga postures. Yoga has gotten very popular - you'll easily be able to find a DVD or book on yoga.

How Yoga Reduces Depression and Stress

Yoga postures or asanas help to detoxify the body by manipulating blood flow to areas of the body. The physical movement also causes the release of hormones and neurotransmitters that can elevate your mood and reduce stress. These postures are designed to move the life force of the body so that is does not become stuck and manifest as blocked energy or depression.

Have you ever taken a deep breath to calm down? The breathing exercises that go along with yoga will reduce stress and create a sense of well being. While yoga postures alone will help alleviate stress and reduce symptoms of depression, if you want a more powerful yoga experience you can incorporate breathing exercises into your routine. The humming bee breath and victorious breath exercises help with depression while baby's breath can have an extraordinary calming effect. To add breathing, you'll need to leave the house, since you will need a yoga expert to teach you the proper breathing methods. Perhaps after trying these postures for a few days you'll decide to find a class.

To reduce depression and eliminate stress a restorative yoga class, preferably one with meditation before and/or after, is ideal. Some yoga styles such as ashtanga can be physically intense and that's not what you are going after to reduce depression and stress. You may have to try more than one class until you find one that fits for you. Ideally, you'll practice yoga for at least 20 minutes a day, three times a week. While yoga can be very effective in combating stress and depression, the positive effects of yoga will be negated if you are otherwise mistreating your body.

Specific Yoga Postures to Ease Depression and Stress

Here is my list of yoga postures that help me when I am depressed or stressed. Each posture is linked to a site with directions for performing it properly. Do not be discouraged by the seemingly short list of poses. The entire sequence can easily take you 20 minutes or longer - yoga isn't about rushing through poses - it's about slowly holding poses and concentrating on proper form and breathing. Remember, it's the journey, not the destination.

Suryanamaskar or Sun Salutation

The sun salutation is a series of 12 very graceful poses. The combination of movements with the corresponding breathing is very beneficial physically and emotionally.

Simhasana or Lion Pose

The facial expressions in this posture will lighten your emotions - simha means he powerful one.

Ushtraasana or Camel Pose

The camel pose offers a relaxing stretch.

Balasana or Child's Pose

The child's pose is very peaceful pose that also promotes a feeling of safety.

Sarvangaasana or Shoulder-Stand Pose

The Should Stand benefits the entire body and as such is one of the most beneficial yoga poses.

Savasana or Corpse Pose

Don't be thrown by the name. Designed to quiet the body as well as the mind, this is perhaps the most relaxing of the yoga poses.

By S du Plessis

Yoga to Lower High Blood Pressure by Gardon Cameron

2008-11-22T00:42:00.005-08:00

Yoga attempts to unify the body, mind and spirit and to heal one is to heal all. Yoga makes use of a whole range of stretching positions to align, center and ground the physical body - balancing the mind and relaxing and uplifting the spirit.

The healing power of yoga has been known for centuries and in India, yoga is used to treat many diseases and conditions. Many, many people have achieved a lower blood pressure by using yoga and by adapting to its benefits.
Yogas power lies in the way it combines body, mind and spirit - synchronizing them to one entity instead of three separate ones. This allows for healing to be received and accepted.

Learning Yoga
It's not hard to learn yoga although it may look like it is at first. It's really more about the state of mind you achieve during the stretches than about the stretches themselves. There are several styles of yoga and all provide the same healing benefits.

If you are a novice who wants to learn yoga for blood pressure treatment then the Hatha Style is best. It's the commonest in the west and an easy in route for a beginner. Hatha poses are gentle and easy on the body and each class starts with a mediation session. The breathing techniques and patterns used in yoga help to promote relaxation and will lower BP in the process.

Lowering Your Blood Pressure with Yoga
Yoga lowers high blood pressure by encouraging you to relax using deep and correct breathing. Most of us do not breathe properly - we breathe from our chest not from our lower diaphragm. Yoga teaches you both the correct way to breathe and also different types of breathing techniques.

Yoga meditation will teach you to properly and fully relax. Being able to mediate is something we can all do but for many it will be hard at first to make their minds go quiet and passive. Keep trying - practice makes perfect.

If you really want to lower your blood pressure through yoga then you have to practice it every day for at least fifteen minutes each time. Be patient. Persevere. The benefits are worth it.

Once you learn to control your mind, you will be able to control your blood pressure!

By Gordon Cameron

Yoga Poses

2008-11-22T00:42:00.003-08:00

If you have observed from a distance people doing yoga poses, you would think they are latter day contortionists. You could be wrong, they are wise people who have realized well in time how easily and relatively inexpensively they can keep their bodies healthy, literally fit as a fiddle.

Yoga poses are the best way to maintain the body flexible, supple and toned up without exerting any force on the body. There is a certain subtlety in this ancient eastern system of body maintenance which keeps one in tune with nature.

Modern lifestyle takes its toll in terms of physical and mental health. Hypertension and diabetes are common ailments and the beneficiaries are pharma firms. Resources that should be spent on other productive channels are wasted in shoring up a tiring body that becomes an open invitation to premature aging and a host of diseases.

Yoga has many dimensions The word yoga means union. It meant a whole set of physical, mental and spiritual exercises developed by ancient Indian yogis as a means of realizing God and being united (?yuj? in Sanskrit, meaning ?being yoked?) with Him. The yogis were performing rigorous routine of meditation in forests and mountains and being scantily clad, they devised indoor exercises now known as ?yoga poses? or ?yogasanas? to keep their body healthy and light and make it a willing instrument of their meditation.

Over the years, yoga poses (postures) got separated from the rest of the mental and spiritual practices and has become popular as fitness yoga. Nevertheless, people who practice yoga poses derive benefits of yoga like a focused mind, self-discipline, a composed temperament and a healthy view of life.

The great repose There are a hundred yoga poses. They have interesting names like Red Indians who named themselves Sitting Bull or Galloping Horse. The poses bear names like The Boat, Crow, Peacock, Lotus and so on. The last mentioned is the pose in which the Buddha is shown seated. It is the pose developed by yogis for their meditation. Legs withdrawn and feet resting on the thighs, hands placed on the thighs turned upward with thumb and forefinger closed, the spine and neck held erect, eyes lightly closed and the normally outgoing mind gathered and centred within ? this is the ultimate pose of repose without and within.

But yet, before we could attain that inner repose, we have to slowly master the body through various poses and by regulation of breath which is called pranayama. Regulation of breath is said to energise the body and gradual slowing down of breathing is said to reduce the frequency of thoughts which is the necessary prelude for meditation.

The yogi among bats There is the familiar joke about bats in a cave. They were all hanging upside down as their wont. But one bat was seen standing on his feet. When the other bats asked him why, he answered, ?I am practicing yoga!? That bat is the counterpart of the people who delight in doing the headstand, a difficult but a very effective pose for stimulating blood circulation in the entire body. Its modified and easier version, the ?all limbs pose? is also recommended for all ages.

In a way, yoga poses are for people who want to be and dare to be different and pursue what their inner being and instinct of the body prompt them to do. It is by treating the body with respect and dignity, not by pumping iron and straining the muscular and nervous system. In the latter case, we see these people breaking down in health when they stop doing these heavy-handed exercises.

Tips for the beginner Starting practice of yoga poses is easy. But some words of caution would be necessary.

?Please do not learn from the books. One should not be one?s own Guru (Teacher) in matters of Yoga asanas, pranayama or meditation and one might end up worse than before. Look for qualified, committed, professional teachers. ?If you suffer from any ailments or bodily disabilities, obtain medical advice from your physician and from your yoga instructor as to what poses would fit in with your physical condition. ?Age is no bar for practice of yoga poses. You do not have to be a stripling to do it. ?Your yoga instructor will tell you what kind of yoga accessories and props you need. Your dress should be comfortable enough to allow you to stretch and bend freely. ?Like all other physical exercises, yoga poses should be done on a very light stomach and never after a meal. ?Fix a particular time for your domestic practice to develop regularity and discipline ?Such a discipline does not go with habits like smoking and drinking which have a depleting effect on the physical system

The final test The ultimate test of any exercise regimen is: Do you feel fresh and energetic or tired and exhausted afterwards? Yoga poses pass this test in flying colours.

On the whole, regular practice of yoga poses tempers and tunes up the body, disciplines the mind and trains the will to apply itself to self-improving habits and style of life and lifts one?s perspectives to a higher and nobler level of existence.

Try These Yoga Poses for Jet Lag

2008-11-22T00:42:00.001-08:00

Jet lag appears definitely to be one these things: A Condition resulting when travel across time zones leaves a person feeling ?out of sync? with local time at his or her destination. That considered, to get you 'back in sync', one highly recommended solution will be Yoga

What, with the poses balancing effects on the body (namely the inversions), yoga helps immensely to deal with the effects of jet lag, of course when used correctly.

The two main poses will be the Shoulder stand (and its counter poses) and if possible, the Sun Salutations.

In regards to the latter choice, the Sun Exercises, these are definitely a wise choice in that they stimulate and balance all the systems of the body including the endocrine, circulatory, reproductive and digestive system.

The main benefit one can look to attain from using Yoga for Jet lag will be restoration and balancing which it brings about as one executes the use of some of its poses.

This perhaps reiterates why using the shoulder-stand yoga pose for jet lag as previously mentioned may indeed be a great and wise choice as this pose as well affects all the bodily organs. By pressing the chin-lock, it stimulates the thyroid gland, balancing the circulatory, digestive, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems. It tranquilizes the mind, alleviates stress and psychological disturbances. It is indeed a panacea, a cure all

One can also try the yoga-esque Hindu-Push-ups as this helps drain the brain of unwanted ?debris? and the incorporation of the Yoga Relaxation Pose does just as its name suggests, relaxes the entire body while simultaneously relieving stress and speeding up the elimination of metabolic wastes.

It's safe to say Yoga has something for everything and everyone so for Jet Lag; you will do very well to strike some Yoga poses!

In Friendship,

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Website today for more on Healthy Living Tips and information on Yoga for Beginners.

Yoga Your Way to a Stress Free Life

2008-11-22T00:37:00.003-08:00

Yoga can be an appropriate exercise for people of all ages due to the combinations of movement and meditation. Yoga involves flexibility, balance, controlling of your breathing, strength, and physical posture.

There has been a debate on how long yoga has been around. Some say yoga has been around at least 5,000 years, while others say it is closer to 10,000 years. Yoga started gaining notoriety, in the 1960's, due to the Beatles association with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Over the past few years, more and more men on the east and west coasts have taken up yoga as a form of exercise and meditation.

There are many new variations of yoga that have sprung up over the years. You can now find fertility yoga, Thai yoga, prenatal yoga, bikrum yoga, power yoga, and fusion yoga that combines yoga with another form of exercising.

By practicing yoga, you will find that there are many benefits associated with it. You will find that you have more flexibility, which golfers and tennis players will find the greatest benefits from practicing yoga. You will also find that you will have a greater endurance for running and bicycling. For those that run or cycle in marathons, practicing yoga can greatly benefit you with this.

Yoga can also help increase your muscle strength and balance, which is a great attribute to consider as we age. For those that have high-stress jobs, yoga is a great way to relieve stress.

You can expect to sit on the floor on a mat for those of you who choose to take yoga classes. The mat is used as a personal area for you to be able to participate in the exercises in the class. Often classes start with gentle breathing exercises, gentle stretches or even short meditations. This will depend on the instructor.

You will be lead through a various group of poses and positions throughout the class. As the class proceeds, the exercises will become more vigorous. There are some poses and positions that can be too difficult for your body to maneuver, and you will not want to force your body into a position because you could injure yourself in the process. If you are unable to use any of the poses or positions in the class, your yoga teacher should help you modify the pose to accommodate you for the pose so you can get the most out of your yoga experience. You will be surprised in the ways that your body can actually move in ways that you did not think it could.

While yoga injuries are rare, there are instances where injuries have occurred during a yoga session. Most injuries are due to repetitive motions rather than more serious injuries. Most of these injuries often occur due to pushing too hard to keep up with the rest of the class. The most common yoga injuries are injuries to hip flexors, wrists, hamstrings, and shoulders. It is suggested that you do not use yoga exercise videos due to the fact that you could do a pose or position wrong, and you will have a higher risk of injury.

You can combine yoga with Pilates so that you can strengthen your whole body and reduce the risks of injury even further.

Yoga Class Etiquette

* You will not want to be late. By coming in late you will disturb the others because Yoga classes are done in a quiet serene setting.

*Do not leave early. By leaving early, you will miss the last pose of the class, the savasana. The savasana pose is the resting pose of yoga. By missing this pose you would be cheating yourself of the whole yoga experience.

* Go barefoot. Taking off your shoes during yoga classes keeps you from slipping around on the floor and your body becomes allowed to get the feedback from the ground.

* Dress comfortably. You will want to wear loose-fitting clothing so that you are comfortable while doing the poses in class.

* Consult your teacher. You should let your teacher know of any limitations of movement, injuries or any preexisting problems.

The Glossary of Yoga

* Asana is a pose used during a yoga exercise.

* Hatha Yoga is form of yoga that is gentle and slow-paced. Hatha Yoga may appear on class schedules as Yoga I, Restorative Yoga or Lite Yoga.

* Vinyasa yoga is defined as synchronized-breathing movement. Vinyasa yoga is a more vigorous style of yoga. Vinyasa yoga could be named Power Yoga or Challenge Yoga on class schedules.

* Ashtanga is a type of Vinyasa yoga that uses a succession of poses during yoga classes.
* Bikram yoga is a branded name of yoga that is done in a heated room that has a temperature of 95 to 100 degrees. The idea behind Bikram yoga is to promote sweating profusely to rid the body of toxins. Bikram yoga will be available at Genesis Health clubs in 2007 and Yoga Central offers Bikram Yoga Classes that uses the heat from the movements of the body rather than heat from a room.

* Thai Yoga Therapy is a one-on-one session that combines stretches with yoga positions that are applied to your body.

* Prenatal Yoga uses poses that are adapted for pregnant women.

* Fertility Yoga is based on a theory that yoga impacts the stress levels and general health of women. By using this theory, Fertility Yoga can help women become pregnant.

* Namaste roughly means The divine in me recognizes the divine in you. The word Namaste is a Hindu salutation that is very similar to the Hawaiian salutation Aloha.

By Karen Barnes

Why Zen Yoga Poses Can Improve Your Health

2008-11-22T00:37:00.001-08:00

Zen yoga poses are part of an Oriental system that combines the practice of asanas with Traditional Chinese and Japanese Medicine. Postures are categorized according to the primary meridian they affect. A meridian can be understood as similar to a blood vessel, in that it has an energetic structure that corresponds with the human body, but which is instead a channel for energy to circulate (instead of blood).

The alignment of these exercises with specific meridians is what makes zen yoga such a powerful healing modality. In fact, teachers of this Oriental system emphasize its' capacity to help treat the basic causes of illness.. This article will explore what is meant by that, and provide some illustration on how zen yoga poses can be adapted to an individual's problems.

Meridian exercises work by facilitating the natural flow of energy in areas where we experience blockages and stagnation. We may feel those areas of blockages as stiffness, aching, tension, pain, or simply a feeling of being uncomfortable. Zen poses open up their primary meridians, and as a result, they dispel 'ill' energy, and allow healthy energy to flow instead.

A little background on meridians may be helpful. There are 12 meridians, and they are named after different organs of the body. So, we have the Lung meridian, large intestine meridian, Heart constrictor, triple heater, liver, gall bladder, spleen, stomach, heart, small intestine, kidney, and bladder.

It's important to note that although these meridians each have an energetic relationship with the organ after which they are named, they are not just referring to the organ when we speak about them. Their primary meaning is an energetic reference, to a type of energy that runs along a specific channel, which just happens to be associated with a physical organ as well. So, when Oriental practitioners and yoga teachers talk about a particular meridian being out of whack in some way, this definitely does not mean that our organs are! I emphasize this because a lot of people tend to get alarmed by some of the terminology, and it just stems from a misunderstanding of the context in which it is being used.

By understanding how important the energetic aspect is in Oriental philosophy, it is easier to understand how they look at the symptoms of disease, illness, or any problems we feel in our bodies. Instead of focusing on the symptom itself, Oriental diagnosis looks at what is going on in the meridians, and a healing approach is based on this, instead of a rigidly defined solution for a set of symptoms. What this means in practical terms, is that one person's ideal solution to a bad back, or a stiff neck, may be very different to another's.

The good news is that you don't have to know a lot of theory to do zen yoga successful. And neither do you need to understand the intricacies of Oriental diagnosis to apply zen yoga exercises for your own specific problems. Masunaga offers this useful guide: first find the exercise which is hardest to do... and then look for another one which is the easiest... If doing the easiest exercise causes an improvement in the performance of the most difficult one, or relieves a ... symptom, it is effectively reinforcing the Ki [energy in the Kyo [deficient meridian.

Masunaga was a leading shiatsu teacher in Japan who organized meridian exercises into a system that people could use themselves. He actually wrote that the best way to learn about zen yoga poses, was to practice them! Zen yoga seems more difficult in theory than it is in practice. It's actually a very fun, playful and gentle style of yoga that can readily be adapted to any level of fitness and health. Like tai chi, it has great health benefits, which can be explored in more detail through classes or publications.

by : Zen Imagery Exercises by Shizuto Masunaga

Inversion Yoga Poses Another Perspective

2008-11-22T00:35:00.001-08:00

Headstand (salamba shirshasana) is one of the yoga poses that are considered inversion poses. Inversion poses involve any asanas that lift the feet above the head. Other inversion poses that are well known include shoulderstand (salamba sarvangasana) and half shoulder stand (viparita karani). But even lying on the floor with your legs on a chair is an inversion pose.

The concept behind inversion poses is expressed in yoga texts as viparita karani. Viparita karani is translated as meaning 'opposite process'. This simply means facilitating a different perspective. From the purely physical point of view, this different perspective in inversion poses is literal - in terms of looking at the world from a different physical viewpoint - as well as involving the body being supported in a different way.

But as yoga is more than simply physical exercises, there are other processes that are assisted. A lot of yoga is designed to help us change mental habits as well as physical habits. Through increasing our ability to adapt to change, instead of being stuck in old habitual responses, we increase our capacity for growth and transformation. This applies in all areas of our lives.

There is a theoretical concept in yoga about why inversion postures help. Ayurveda considers that many of the body's impurities are in the lower abdomen. When we raise our feet above the head, gravity is assisting us to move these impurities towards what the Ayurvedic system calls agni, or 'fire'. Agni particularly relates to our 'digestive fire', and is thus located above our lower abdomen.

So, by being upside down, and by using the deep and slow breathing typical of yoga, we help 'burn off' the impurities that were previously stuck.

Improved circulation is a more readily apparent and less 'esoteric' benefit of inversion yoga poses.

Whilst inversion postures have many health benefits, the ability of an individual to receive those benefits depends as much on their capacity to comfortably hold these sometimes difficult postures. For example, headstand and shoulder stand should simply not be done if people are pregnant, have neck pain, high or low blood pressure, neck injuries, or are menstruating. And neither of these postures should be attempted without the appropriate preparatory postures. Otherwise the risk is there that an injury, or stiffness, particularly to the neck area, will result.

Likewise, if doing these postures is very uncomfortable and difficult, more benefit will be derived from doing either the modified versions, or simply working on other yoga poses that strengthen these areas.

There are several important prerequisites for getting the most benefit fro inversions. The first one, a strong neck, I've mentioned. The others are a strong back and abdominal muscles, and the capacity to breathe well whilst in the posture. The latter is going to get better with practice, both of yoga itself and the inversions. It is also somewhat tied into having a strong back. Our back and stomach muscles will provide the support to hold the legs straight, which inturn opens up the thoracic cavity, and increases our ability to breathe well whilst upside down!

Tips for Doing the Inverted Postures

For Half Shoulder stand:

* Lengthen the exhale
* Don't lock the chin
* Keep your weight not on the head but on the wrists and elbows
* Don't try to pull your torso (and legs) into the vertical like in full shoulder stand if you have difficulties with your neck. By doing so, you're placing more pressure on your neck.
* Make sure you do the appropriate balancing postures afterwards. These include shalabhasana and bhujangasana

For Shoulder stand:

* Don't worry so much about keeping your elbows and arms parallel. This will create more tension in your neck if you're not proficient in this posture.
* Do the appropriate balancing postures. These are the same as for half shoulder stand.

For Headstand:

* Don't ever make adjustments whilst in headstand. If you feel your alignment is not quite right, come down and do it again.
* Never do this posture first up, or without the prerequisite postures. It will lead to stiffness in the neck at best, and injury at worst. And the negative effects can build up over time. This posture is never done traditionally without preparation, and there is reason for this.
* Use a wall for support as a learning stage
* Support your head with all of your fingers, including the little fingers and thumbs
* Finding the right position for your head will make sure weight is distributed evenly, and ensure you don't have to overly press down with your elbows to compensate
* Think of the support for the whole body as being distributed evenly across both elbows and the head
* Don't hold your weight too much on the back of your body. It will place too much pressure on your neck.
* Don't use props that allow the neck to be free. It will lead to the neck muscles contracting
* Use the balancing postures. Shoulder stand is the traditional, but Mohan recommends half shoulder stand instead
* Rest your neck before doing the balancing postures, however. Lie down with your legs bent.
* Other balancing postures include chakravakasana, dvipada pitham with the arms, and shalabhasana

There may be fears or a sense of limitation about doing inversion poses that will be confronted. Sometimes, it's best to start an asana gradually. Shoulder stand comes with a few variations that you can use to build up strength and flexibility, as well as overcome any fear based feelings about the posture and your ability to do it.

Overcoming the fear, and finally being able to do a difficult pose that you thought you couldn't, can create positive psychological effects. When we prove to ourselves that our fears don't bind us, that we can move beyond our limitations, we are more able to make changes in other areas of our lives where before we thought it just wasn't possible.

References: A.G.Mohan, Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind

10 Yoga Exercises to Ease Back Tension

2008-11-22T00:34:00.003-08:00

We are busier and more stressed as a society than ever these days, and like a large number of people, I tend to retain most of my stress in my neck and back area. This results in a tense back, and oftentimes, back pain. Yoga is a highly effective method of back pain relief, and definitely, helps relieve the stress held in this area. In fact, there have been studies that show that regular, proper yoga exercise is one of the most effectual methods for pain and tension relief in the back.

Here are ten exercises that have shown tremendous benefit to the back tension so many of us struggle with. These exercises reach all the areas of the physical back, as well as help us mentally relax, which assists in preventing further inflammation. Try these poses, and remember to breathe while doing them!

Corpse - Do this exercise by lying flat on your back in a relaxed position; rest your arms at your sides, hands facing the floor, legs lying normally, with your knees turned outwards slightly. Breathe normally for a few seconds while allowing the tension to be released.

Cat Stretch - Assume the position of a cat (get on all four!) and start out by keeping your back as flat as the tension will allow. Make sure that your knees are lined up with your hips. Inhale, then exhale, and as you are breathing out, arch your back up, tuck your chin to your chest, and push your tailbone underneath all at the same time! After holding this position, release to the flattened back and repeat.

Wind-Releasing - For this exercise, lay in the same position as the corpse pose. This time, as you breathe in, bend your knee, grab your leg right below your knee, and bring it into your chest. Keep your remaining leg on the floor, lying flat. Breathe out and bring your head up to touch your knee. Finish up by inhaling, and then return to original position during the exhale. Repeat exercise with the opposite leg.

Sage Twist - Keep this exercise a gentle stretch, as it could be painful if taken too far or done too harshly. While sitting on the floor in normal fashion, bend your right knee, lift your right leg over your left, and put your right foot on the floor next to your left knee. Straighten your spine as you sit, take your left elbow and put it on the right side of your right knee. Take your left fingertips to touch your right hip, and at the same time, twist and look over your right shoulder. This is the point in the exercise to be cautious not to overdue this stretch, so as not to hurt yourself. Hold this position, then release and do it again with the opposite side.

Palm Tree - With your feet forward, stand with your arms to your sides, and your weight even on your feet. Raise your arms above your head, interlock your fingers, and turn your hands to face upwards. Then put your palms on your head and turn your head to look slightly upward. Stretch your arms up, stepping up on your toes at the same time. Try to stretch your body upwards as you are doing these moves, then tries and hold.

Fish Pose - For this pose, lie flat on your back with just your knees bent and keep your arms at your side. Arching your back, bring it off the floor with only your elbows. Have your head tilted backwards and put the crown of your head on the floor at the same time. Breathe deeply from your middle and hold for one minute.

Locust - This one is a little different; you will be lying face down. Arms at your side, hands facing down, bend your elbows a little with your fingers pointing towards your feet. Bring your legs as high up as you can without causing any pain to your back. Be careful with this one not to overdo it!

Downward Dog - Beginning on all fours with your hands directly under your shoulders, walk hands a few inches forward, and spread your fingers wide, keep your palms flat. Bring hips upward, forming an inverted V, pressing shoulders away from ears. Keep your feet apart a ways, and the knees slightly bent. Breathe deeply and hold.

Crowe - This one is done by starting out at the original position in the Downward Dog exercise. Only instead of only walking a few inches forward, walk your feet forward until your knees meet up with your arms. Bend your elbows, lifting your heels off the floor, and then put your knees against the upper arms. Keep your toes on the floor during this, and hold this pose for a few breaths.

Lunge - Once again, begin in the Downward Dog position. Step forward with your right leg to the inside of your right hand. Let your left knee drop to the floor and lift up your chest. Keep your back straight, your right knee in line with your ankle, and place your hands on your knee. Breathe and hold. Then return to the Downward Dog position, switch legs and then repeat the exercise.

By Bessie Blanco

Can You Lose Weight With Yoga

2008-11-22T00:34:00.001-08:00

Yoga is revered for its power to relieve stress, increase flexibility, and build muscle tone. It is not, however, well known for promoting weight loss. So you might be surprised to learn that it can actually help us burn calories.

Traditional yoga is not an extremely active pursuit. It works our muscles, but we rarely break a sweat just by holding a pose (unless it's really hot in the room). But the muscle-building effects of yoga do allow us to burn calories more efficiently. So if we participate in a good aerobic workout, we will see greater results than we would if we weren't doing yoga.

Yoga can also give us the discipline we need to stick to a diet and exercise program. It enhances the relationship between the mind and body, giving us the motivation to take better care of ourselves. Lack of motivation is a frequent problem among those who want to lose weight, so this is a very important benefit.

New Incarnations of Yoga

Those who want to lose weight solely through yoga might find what they're looking for in non-traditional yoga classes. There are a number of yoga styles that can give us the traditional benefits of yoga and a cardiovascular workout at the same time. These include:

* Vinyasa yoga - This type of yoga is based on movement from one pose to another while practicing yoga breathing techniques. Sun Salutations are frequently used, but other poses are usually included as well. This is sometimes done in a hot room to increase sweating.

* Ashtanga yoga - Ashtanga is a complex style of yoga that includes six different series of poses. Each serious is more complex than the previous one, so it is important to start at the beginning and work your way up.

* Power yoga - This is an Americanized version of yoga. It combines faster, more active movements with traditional yoga breathing techniques.

These types of yoga are more likely to increase our heart rate and work up a sweat than traditional yoga. While they may not give us as much of a workout as aerobics, they combine weight loss and cardiovascular benefits with the muscle building and flexibility training of yoga. And for those who do not have the time to participate in two separate workout programs, they can be great options.

Other than being forms of exercise, yoga and aerobics seem to have little in common. But traditional yoga can enhance the effects of more intense workouts, and these newly popular styles of yoga can give us the best of both worlds. If other workout routines have left you disappointed, adding or switching to yoga might be the answer you're looking for.

By Kanye Robin

Basic Yoga Exercises

2008-11-22T00:32:00.001-08:00

Here are some basic yoga exercises that can easily be executed at home anytime.

These exercises are so simple. People can conveniently perform them whenever they have time.

FROG STAND

1. Lowly squat. Place the hands on the below ground, resting the triceps on top of the kneecaps. Then, tip forward, and lift the feet from the ground and into position similar to a balanced frog stand. Keep the position for 30 seconds.

2. Extend a leg in back, keeping it diagonally relative to the floor, at the same time elongating the neck to maintain balance.

3. Straighten the elbows, lift the legs, tip forward, then try to press up slowly into a handstand.

These exercise strengthen the whole shoulder girdle. These also help build up core muscles and enhance the body?s overall stamina.

100's

Lie down, face up. Bring legs up, make sure you keep them straight. Make sure the legs are also together. Lift the head and the shoulders off the floor, pull in the abs, then bring the hands next to the thighs.

Next, lower the legs to as much as you could and at the same time keep the back on the floor then press hands up and then down. Count with each press. Afterwards, inhale for about five counts, then exhale for another five counts. Repeat until 100 is hit, then lower the legs again halfway through.

Tree Pose

To start, stand with both feet planted, the arms at the sides and body in a proper alignment (make sure the ears are over the shoulders, then the shoulders are over the hips, and finally the hips are over the ankles).

Next, inhale and then bend the right leg. Then, pull the heel up to the point that it rests on the inside of your left thigh. After, get the balance and hold on to this position, slowly pushing the arms overhead, making sure the palms are touching each other. Next, press the knee back preventing any hip movement. Keep the position for another 30 seconds before switching sides. Make sure the procedure is repeated two to three times.

YOGI HURDLER'S STRETCH

1. To start up, sit comfortably on the floor. Then, pull the left heel into the groin area. Be sure the right leg is extended to the front. Reach out and then grab the toes to as as far as can be done, bend at the waist an at the same time keep the back straight. Hold to the position for 30 seconds. After, repeat on the other leg.

2. Put both hand on the toes, and then revolve the trunk sideways forming a window using the arms. This will provide a good overall physical warm-up. Then, stretch the hamstrings, the calves, the obliques and the upper back. Make sure the abs and the internal organs are contracted during the process. Release the stress on the hips and then on the lower back.

WARRIOR LUNGE

1. Stand with the legs forming a scissor-like position widely apart as in a classic lunge. Bend the front leg at knee and then point the toes forward. After that, straighten the rear leg and then push it back as far as possible. The toes should be pointed sideways. Afterwards, lift the arms high above the head. At the same time, let the lower body sink, gradually bending the knee to a right-angle or 90-degree angle. Stick to the position for about 30 seconds, and switch to the other leg afterwards.

2. Maintaining a 90-degree or right-angled knee bend. Then, hold the arms almost parallel to ground, an arm forward. the other one backward. Twist the torso after 30 seconds. This exercise works the glutes and the quads, as well as stretches the hip flexors and lats.

Jeanette Pollock is a yoga teacher and runs her own website JustYogaBasics.com

If you have any questions about yoga, feel free to visit her at http://www.justyogabasics.com

Yoga Laughing as a Form of Exercise

2008-11-22T00:31:00.003-08:00

For thousands of years, civilization has practiced some form of Yoga, connecting mind, body and spirt. Providing this connection between body and mind, Yoga is considered both a mentally and physically demanding workout. Increasing flexibility while working to meditate within the spirit, Yoga can be used in general fitness programs as well as programs to improve both mental health and physical injuries and illnesses. With the advancements in Yoga practice, comes the new method of Laughing Yoga. Understanding how this new level of Yoga stimulates the body and mind program will ensure a new dynamic in the fitness of America and impact a rare group of Yoga enthusiasts.

Yoga, at its very core, offers the fitness enthusiast a lesson in flexibility which leads to stress relief, a sense of calmness and well being. With the added component of stretching techniques, Yoga offers a balance between mind and body which leads to stable and well meditated Yoga positions, each with its own unique benefit.

In recent years, and in major cities such as New York, Yoga instructors have begun to encourage the individuality of he Yoga curriculumn. By offering programs in proper breathing techniques, chanting and meditation, Yoga is evolving creating a market with more Yoga centered facilities encouraging a revival of spiritual awakening. So, what is the latest development into the individuality of Yoga? Laughing Yoga.

Though not a mainstream Yoga practice, Laughing Yoga is becoming a more recognized program for the individuality of Yoga students. With roots tied to the environment of New York City, the concept of Laughing Yoga leans towards a technique in which the yoga poses are consistent with intervals of laughing in between. What prompts this laughing? Nothing; other than the laughter of other Yoga students. As one person begins to laugh, so does the next and, before long, the entire studio is full of laughing Yoga students. After laughing for several minutes, the instructor guides the students into the next Yoga pose.

Yoga students, around the country, report this new niche in Yoga practice is not only fitness friendly but emotionally uplifting. Offering an opportunity to hear other laughs prompts a unique connection between students which would otherwise not be found in an older version of Yoga practice. Furthermore, the muscle contractions, used during Laughing Yoga, further enhance the torso level work out and results of the Yoga program.

Whatever the style of fitness and excercise, many Yoga instructors are turning to variations in Yoga practice so as to offer programs as diverse as the individuals participating. With the addition of the Laughing Yoga concept, many Yoga instructors, and Yoga fitness faciltiies will be laughing all the way to the bank.

By Christine Cadena

Top 5 Yoga Myths

2008-11-22T00:31:00.001-08:00

It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.

Top 5 Myths About Yoga:

1. Yoga is a Form of Physical Exercise:

This is perhaps the most common view of yoga. That it is a form of physical exercise. This certainly needs to be clarified and I am going to provide some details about true yoga practice in order to do this.

Yoga is actually has 8 parts to it, with the physical aspect being just 1. These 8 parts, include yoga dos, yoga don'ts, physical exercises (asana), breathing exercises, sense control, concentration, meditation and divine union.

So you can see from above that although the physical aspect of yoga, which is called asana, is an important part of yoga, yoga as a whole is certainly more that just a series of postures and movements. Yoga is essentially a spiritual science whose objective is to still the mind of thoughts, so that the truth of Oneness hidden behind the waves of the mind can be clearly seen and embraced.

2. Yoga is a Religion:

The other extreme and incorrect view on yoga is that is it a religion. Commonly yoga is considered part of Hindu religion, but yoga is not a religion. It is a time tested spiritual science with the goal of revealing the true nature of reality. As indicated above, yoga practice is a step by step process with the end goal of calming down the thought waves in our mind and thus prevent them from distorting the truth.

3. To Practice Yoga You Must be Vegetarian:

There is a notion floating around that in order to practice yoga you must not eat meat and be a vegetarian. This is not true. Although there are tremendous benefits to being vegetarian and this is being more and more validated by the mainstream medical community, there is no requirement of vegetarianism in order to practice yoga.

One point I would like to add here is that, vegetarianism is consistent with the non-violence which yoga advocates and it certainly would be to your benefit to reduce meat intake, nevertheless, you don't have to be vegetarian in order to be a great yogi.

4. You Need to be Initiated by a Guru:

I have also come across this notion that many believe you need to be initiated and have a guru in order to learn and practice yoga. This is not true. According to yoga, the true guru is within and although it would be to your benefit to learn yoga from an accomplished teacher, this is not a requirement.

5. You Have to be Flexible to do Yoga:

Not so. No doubt yoga will improve your flexibility, along with your strength, balance and overall health, but in order to practice yoga you do not have to be flexible. Yoga is designed to be practiced by all.

Different bodies have different degrees of flexibility and in this case one size does not fit all. For most of the complex yoga posture which require great flexibility to do, there are plenty of modifications which allow you to get the same benefits for those who are less flexible. In fact one of the original reasons I took up yoga because I was not flexible and wanted to improve this aspect of my physical dimension.

Summary:

So there you have the top 5 myths about yoga. Essentially, what these myths do is prevent people from taking up this wonderful science. So if you feel you will have to change faiths, find gurus, stop eating meat or are too inflexible to take up yoga practice, you are wrong. Don't pass up the wonderful opportunity to learn and practice this amazing science, which helps you discover your true divine and eternal nature.

By Anmol Mehta

The Basic Yoga Positions for Beginners

2008-11-22T00:30:00.001-08:00

Yoga positions for beginners are so easy to learn. If you have not experienced any yoga session or have not seen one, that is not a problem.

Practitioners have talked about the unification of the mind, body and spirit. They claimed that this will be acquired through the practice of yoga exercises and techniques.

If it is your first time to hear of yoga, you will of course wonder how these exercises are done and how it looks like. Since you are a beginner, you will also definitely ask what kind of positions will be best for you.

Yogis have believed that the mind and the body are bonded into a unified structure. This belief has never failed and changed through time. Yoga has extensively performed an amazing procedure of healing oneself through harmony. This can be successfully done if you are in a proper environment.

With the great effects of yoga, the doctors have been convinced that yoga has some therapeutic results and can be recommended for people who have illnesses that is hard to cure.

If you have some illness that has been with you for a long time, you can practice the yoga positions for beginners and apply it to yourself.

If you want to practice the yoga positions for beginners, you must believe that yoga is effective and will help you to be cured or be refreshed.

Yoga is not just a recent application. It has been practiced and applied a long time ago and up to the present, the people are benefiting a lot from it.

Investigations and researches have been implemented to prove that yoga can be helpful in the healing process.

Therefore, it has been proved that the yoga positions for beginners are extremely effective and useful when it comes to maintaining a high level of joint flexibility. Although the yoga positions for beginners are just simple and basic, it can slowly bring up a healthy lifestyle and bring more when it is practiced over and over again.

The yoga positions for beginners are very interesting and exciting to perform. Beginners will never find it hard to keep up with the exercises because it is just simple. The technique of yoga gives a very big contributing factor to our internal glands and organs. It also includes the parts of the human body which is barely stimulated.

If you want to learn the yoga positions for beginners, you can learn it easily at home or at school where yoga is taught.

Some basic yoga positions for beginners include standing poses, seated poses, forward and backward bends, balance and twisting. These yoga positions for beginners are not that far from those who are used to practicing yoga. Only that the extreme poses and positions are handled at the latter part of the exercise.

The time duration in executing the positions are also lessened because a beginner cannot fully cope up with a longer time exposure in practice. Rest is required of the beginner so that he will not be drained easily to prepare the body for further positions.

Since you are a beginner, the most important thing you should understand is self discipline. Yoga is not just doing yoga and executing the poses. If you haven't mastered the basics yet, do not jump into the complex stages and positions because you will not feel the essence of executing the yoga positions for beginners.

About the Author

For more info please visit the Yoga Positions Guide

Yoga Not For You Think Again

2008-11-21T23:41:00.001-08:00

For beginners, doing yoga may seem an impossible task. It might seem scary for people who have not tried doing this exercise. They might have seen men and women wearing almost nothing and are able to twist their bodies to positions that seem almost impossible.

Yoga is among the oldest practice for self-development. Its approach is gentle, helping even the stiffest bodies to yield and become flexible in a gentle way. The key to yoga is the non-competitive way of practice. Progress comes with regular practice. It does not come from sudden exercises that force the body into intense positions even if it is not ready yet. More like a work out system, people who do this exercise have made yoga a part of their daily life.

The results of these exercises are visible too. Greater flexibility, increase in muscle strength and an internal peace that is impossible to hide. Even though your family and friends will be unable to point out the changes, they will notice that something is different in you gradually.

Talking about yoga, the stances are identified as asanas while the breathing is known as pranayama. Both of these helps the yoga practitioner relax the body and mind at will, increase the vitality and flexibility, and a calm feeling at times of crisis. Having a frenzied society today, one can go through the stress and strains in life having inward confidence and inner peace.

For those who practice yoga with intent and focus daily, yoga will bring confidence and clearness of mind. In practicing yoga, the most efficient time of day to do it is during early hours of the day. However, some people will have stiff bodies and aches during this time, so practicing yoga will come in the later hours of the day. Yoga can be done any time of the day depending on the physique and agenda of the practitioner.

Yoga has no limitations on to who can and who cannot practice it. What is needed is the desire and intent to learn. With respect to the age or disability, the movements will be slower. However, progress is still guaranteed even if the movements are slower.

It is ideal and beneficial for starters to attend yoga classes. There, they will experience the guidance of experts when it comes to the proper posture alignment. They will also be taught about the benefits of each individual stance. The instructors can also demonstrate each stance from early stages to higher stages.

In some cases, like pregnancy, there are stances that are to be avoided. It is significant to let the instructors be aware of any illness or condition. This is to ensure the safety of practitioners.

Yoga is a nice practice due to the fact that it can be done just anywhere and anytime. You can practice at home, at the office, the beach and even at the backyard, though it is expected that people passing by will surely take a curious glance.

By Lenox Smith

Yoga For a Double Chin

2008-11-21T23:38:00.005-08:00

Dressed to perfection for that evening out and that reflection in the mirror says differently? Well double chins can look quite ungainly when you want to look you best. All of you who suffer from obesity are, will needless to say, in possession of a double chin. Well, get rid of it. It can be done simply by losing weight. And if this is not happening then at least follow these simple rules of yoga for double chin reduction.

This mode of exercise has been in use for ages, and believes in the union of the spirit, body, and mind to create peace within the self, through the practicing of asanas and other meditative exercises.

The first rule of yoga for double chin reduction is-do not use fluffy pillows to sleep on. If possible, avoid pillows completely and sleep on a hard bed. Along with this, do the following exercises to get freedom from that extra chin hanging.

Now for the main exercise in yoga for double chin removal...All you have to do is simple. Just position yourself on a chair in front of the mirror and then look up to the ceiling. From that position, stretch your neck to look over the right shoulder and then follow it by doing the same over your left. Finally bring your neck to look in front and lower it to touch it to your clavicle bone. But remember to do this extremely slowly to get results.

It is believed in the yoga philosophy that one's age is judged not by the years he has lived but by the supple nature of his body and spine. Yoga is therefore effective as a preventive from decay of the body due to age. It makes the spine flexible, the skin more firm, removes tension and gives you a right posture. It therefore that yoga, by keeping your body healthy and in shape reduces the possibility of your getting a double chin

It not only prevents the body from getting bogged down by age but it also helps the mind feel younger thus helping you to lead a greater and more fulfilling life. Moreover, through the asanas yoga continuously fights and neutralizes diseases and problems both inside the body and outside. Therefore, it is only natural that a man who practices yoga regularly will live a longer life than those not practicing. This especially true of those individuals who practice Hatha yoga, which is there for increasing the tenure of life. Moreover, often it has been seen that the inverted yoga postures help reduces graying of hair thereby giving a younger look.

Thus it can be said that practicing yoga is not only healthy for the body but for the mind as well. It will not only reduce your double chin and tone your body, it will also help you fight diseases and problems, both mental and physical, to help you lead a healthier life.

By Jared Rothe

A Closer Look at Five Yoga Poses and Postures

2008-11-21T23:38:00.003-08:00

Divas have fallen out of favor, as the world yawns in the excess of Paris and Britney-style antics. After all, how many times can we really see the same private regions exposed every where we turn before we have to just groan and search for something new? When Martha Stewart, patron saint of good things, violated the terms of her house arrest, she gave us something new to look at. Apparently, Martha Stewart was busted for violating the terms of her house arrest, when she left home to attend yoga class. Bad news for Martha, sure, but its given everyone the opportunity to check out yoga from a new standpoint. After all, yoga is fun and beneficial, but it has to be something extra-special for the Queen of Clean to risk an additional three weeks house arrest. New to yoga? No worries, were going to dig into some of the best yoga poses and find inspiration for some impromptu stretching of our own. 5 Yoga Poses and Postures Yoga is intended to calm the mind and body, reduce stress, strengthen and tone the muscles, and carries a bevy of benefits from lowered blood pressure to increased stamina. Yoga poses and positions have been developed over centuries of research and experience. They have been found to be extremely effective in: *Increasing flexibility of the body, and freeing energy blocks which leads to a healther body. * Helping to lose excess weight, another cause of bad health. * Massaging internal organs of the body, and the rarely stimulated parts of the body like the thyroid gland. Many yoga enthusiasts come to find yoga to be a true lifestyle, encompassing everything that they do. Starting out, of course, its just plain fun and relaxing to learn a few poses and postures. Here are the Top 5 Yoga Poses and Postures, perfect for beginners learning yoga at home. 1. Trikonasan (Triangular Pose) This beginners pose helps reduce fat deposits around the hips, relieves pain in the ribs and back, helps remove skin eruptions and boils, and has been said to increase height (very slightly, of course). To Perform this Pose: Keeping the legs as far apart as you can, making sure that you have good balance while doing so, bend one arm like an arc over your head. Bend in the opposite direction as your arm, touching your free arm to the foot on that side. Hold and concentrate on taking deep breaths for a few moments, and carefully straighten. Then, perform the same steps to the opposite leg. 2. Bhujangasna (Cobra Pose) This very relaxing pose relieves constipation, indigestion, and flatulence. It makes the waist slender and the chest broad. The Cobra Pose also helps in relieving menstrual disorders, liver and kidney disorders while relieving backaches and reducing abdomen fat. Due to the way it works, though, this pose should never be performed by hernia patients. To Perform this Pose: Lie flat on your tummy, with your arms flat along the sides of your body and your feet together. Take several deep breaths, and slide the arms upward so your hands are flat on the ground at about waist-level. Then, raise your head and chest from the ground, up to the navel. Hold for a few moments, concentrating on your breath, and slowly lower yourself. 3. Vajrasan (Vajra Nerve or Adamantine Pose) A perfect relaxation and meditation pose, this one also helps the body become strong and firm, relieving the pain of calves and knees. It is very good for those who suffer from excessive sleep, and has been proven useful for students who keep late hours late at night. This is also the only pose which can be safely performed immediately after a meal, which helps aid digestion. To Perform this Pose: Fold your legs under you, knees and ankles close together, and lower yourself to sit on them. Let the palms of your hands rest on your knees, and keep your spine erect, chin high. Vajra is the name of a nerve, which is directly connected to the digestive process. 4. Gomukhasan (Cows face and Jaw Pose) This pose strengthens the feet, waist, and knees. It is extremely useful for people who suffer from asthma, tuberculosis, and other respiratory disorders. It is possible to inhale markedly greater amounts of oxygen while in this pose. To Perform this Pose: Fold and cross your legs under you, knees wide and big toes touching to create a triangle, then rest your bottom in between them. Take one arm from below the back, at your waist, and grasp it with your other hand, coming down from above the shoulder. Hold for several seconds, taking deep breaths, and then perform on the opposite side. 5. Shavasana (Corpse Pose) This Final Pose is performed at the end of a yoga session to relax the body, strengthen the lungs and heart, and aid nerves and veins in the lower spine become more supple, preventing and healing backaches and sciatica. To Perform this Pose: Lie flat on your back, with your arms spread out in line with your shoulder. Close your hands into fists, with thumbs inside. Then, bend your legs at the knees, with your soles flat on the floor. Keep a distance to allow the knee of one leg touch the knee of the other, without your feet touching. Then, turn both knees to the right, and your head to the left. Hold for a moment, and then turn both knees to the left and your head to the right.

By Lolaness

Hatha Yoga Helping to Treat Diabetes

2008-11-21T23:38:00.001-08:00

Those who live with diabetes are quite familiar with the rigors of treatment for their disease - daily finger sticks to check blood sugar, careful monitoring of food intake and, in some cases, insulin pills or injections.

However, there is a growing number of the diabetic population that is finding the benefits of alternative medicine to be an accepted, if not preferred, way to help deal with the disease. From acupuncture to massage therapy, diabetics are finding the more ways they can find to relax and de-stress, the better they will be able to manage their disease and their overall health.

Hatha yoga is one such form of exercise and relaxation that has gained popularity among diabetics in recent years. There are various forms of yoga, including: Raja Yoga (focus on meditation), Bhakti Yoga (focus on devotion), Karma Yoga (focus on selflessness) and Hatha yoga (focus on physical and breathing exercises). Hatha yoga is what most people refer to simply as yoga.

A growing portion of the diabetic population is finding that the benefits of hatha yoga are worth pursuing.
Yoga is not directly going to change blood sugars, but stress is a know driver of blood sugar and will push it up, said Phil Pettijohn, director of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital's Diabetes Center in Tallahassee, FL. The more fit you are, the better opportunity you have to live a long life with diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that corrupts the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that makes it possible for blood glucose, or blood sugar, to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Type-1 diabetes usually occurs during childhood, and those with type 1 rely on injections or infusions of insulin to treat the disease. Type-2 diabetes, however, is the more common form of the disease. Type s diabetes can develop from poor eating habits, obesity, lack of exercise and family history. This form of diabetes can often be treated with diet and exercise, although some type 2 diabetics also rely on pills or insulin injections to control their disease.

Staying in shape is an important aspect of battling the complications that plague diabetics: Those with the disease are more than twice as likely to suffer from heart disease or stroke; diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people from 20-74 and of end-stage renal disease. More than 60 percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations are caused by the disease, which accelerates atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.That is where hatha yoga comes in as a preventative measure.

The two things people associate with yoga are stress management and flexibility, said Leslie Hanks, director of Yoga Unlimited in Tallahassee. The flexibility people associate with yoga is especially important for those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which can cause reduced circulation. Yoga is most beneficial for reduced circulation.

The American Yoga Association agrees; in an article on its Web site, it details some of the benefits of yoga for diabetics:
Most yoga exercises help keep the blood vessels elastic, and yoga exercise combined with relaxation training has even been shown to reduce high blood pressure in some cases, the site says. ...Yoga relaxation training helps reduce the harmful effects of physical and mental stress.

Hanks, who has been director of Yoga Unlimited for 14 years, said it is not unusual for diabetics and others with chronic illnesses to seek yoga as an additional therapy to traditional treatments.
Yoga is having a renaissance, she said. Yoga is benign, non-drug therapy.

According to Hanks, hatha yoga helps diabetics because of its focus on movement.
There is a yoga of devotion, a yoga of knowledge and a yoga of exercise and lifestyle. Hatha is the yoga of exercise and lifestyle, she said. It's excellent or ideal for beginners, and never strained.

With that in mind, three years ago Hanks started a cooking class with an emphasis on good nutrition for diabetics. It's lots of fun, Hanks said. We learn about the renowned Oriental vegetable bitter melon, which is said to be used 'when the blood is too sweet.'

Patients with diabetes should see a doctor regularly, and should consult a physician before trying a new exercise program or a food with the potential to cause hypoglycemia or other medical effects.

By Lynda Belcher

Back Pain and Yoga Guide

2008-11-21T23:36:00.003-08:00

Looking at the latest articles on the various types of medical treatment, or look for information on health care products which could be useful. Find tips on eating well and how to enhance your own wellbeing. Apart from advice on how to deal with common ailments to resources, this guide also provide tips for healthy living, aging gracefully.

Heat Therapy. Heat therapy is an easy and inexpensive option to provide relief from many forms of lower back pain. It may be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies. Because it is so simple, it is often overlooked and physicians may forget to mention it, but heat therapy used in the right way can be a valuable part of many lower back pain treatment programs and used with yoga exercise.

Learn the importance of muscles in supporting your skeletal structure, understand how muscles all over your body and limbs affect your back and cause back pain. Learn 10 exercises for lower back pain to strengthen and relax muscles in your buttocks, legs, shoulders and neck to relieve back pain.

Diet and Exercise. Pay attention to your diet and exercise for back pain. Water is very important to your body and back. Avoiding meats and animal proteins till the pain is gone is a good idea. These foods contain uric acid that strains your kidneys resulting in back pain. Some opinions also suggest avoiding the consumption of oils, fats, sugars, or processed foods. If you have back pain, you may wish to consider taking these two vitamin supplements including Vitamin B12 and Magnesium.

Sitting cross-legged (or even in corpse pose), in long deep breathing one will first fill the abdominal area by inhaling the air down, then pressing the air consciously into the lower areas. By arching somewhat forward with ones palms on the knees, then with arms straight pressing the palms inward towards the lower body against the knees, the chest cavity will open forwards, so that you can not only keep the pressure on the lungs in the lower abdominal area, but also feel the lungs filling in and through the chest area and, finally, because of the forward arch of the spine the upper area of the lungs will fill as well, all without the need to either open the rib cage or raise the shoulders. This will also help you with your back
pain.

The goal of bringing mind, body and spirit into unity through breathing practices forms the foundation and link between the mind and the body. This provides a valuable tool for releasing tension and reducing stress and attaining peace, calm and a sense of equilibrium.

Breath with meditation and relaxation techniques can help people with health problems - physical and mental - and better manage the physical and emotional sides of their lives. Whether the techniques are used to reduce anxiety or nausea, achieve calm during the challenges of treatment, or cancer, the control that breath meditation and relaxation bestows is great. Alternate nostril breathing (Anuloma-Viloma), breath meditation, and other relaxation techniques have only proven extremely beneficial in improving the quality of life of many people in hundreds of ways.

By Glen Wood

Trying Yoga for Back Pain Then Pick the RIGHT Poses

2008-11-21T23:36:00.001-08:00

Studies have shown that Yoga may be one of the most effective exercises for back pain relief. In fact Health-First reporter Leslie LoBue says twisting your body into those sometimes awkward positions may actually be just the thing for lower back pain.

However, as effective as Yoga may be to reduce the pain of back problems, knowing exactly what poses to use, for how long, what to offset the poses with and in what sequence to execute them, are other factors that should be taken into consideration before using it as a therapeutic relief from back pain.

I can see a reader go ?Wait a minute?if I have to go through all that, then maybe I should just take some painkillers and call it a day.?

If that applies, it is hardly my intention to scare you away from Yoga for back pain, in fact I?d rather you embraced its use as an alternative to drugs-prescribed or otherwise-for your problems, however, for your success with its use, a little bit of awareness of the correct poses to use for back pain is required and will come in handy for a lasting use of this drug-free alternative.

I will go over the common, simple yet very effective poses for back pain and also give you instructions on the proper poses to offset the spinal motions when applicable. Moreover, I will discuss the factors of the duration of time needed when executing these poses as well.

Though some of these poses may best be learned under the supervision of a certified Yoga Instructor or avid expert, with the descriptions given below -and if need be, the use of image searches on related Yoga sites and search engines- I believe you should be able to get a good concept to at least be able to practice these poses at home.

Here are some of the best poses for back ache and since the aim here is more so back pain relief versus exercising, it is not mandatory that you hold them more than 5-15 seconds, depending on your level of comfort. Moreover, a use of a yoga mat or any other soft surface is highly recommended in the execution of these asanas.

The Shoulder-stand (Savangasana)

This, folks, is a noted panacea for near any human ailment. Don?t panic, it is extremely easy to execute, however, depending on the severity of your case, use discretion in its use.

-Spread a thick blanket on the floor and place your yoga mat on it. Lie on the back.

-Slowly raise the legs. Lift the trunk, hips and legs to a vertical position.

-Rest the elbows firmly on the floor and support the back with both hands.

-Raise the legs till they become vertical. Press the chin against the chest.

-While performing this pose, the back of the neck, the posterior part of the head and the shoulders should touch the floor. (I can assure you that you will say ?Hey, I?ve done this before as a kid?this is yoga??)

-Breathe in counts of 5-5-5 (inhalation, retention and exhalation).

-Don?t allow the body to shake.

Now for the counter poses to the Shoulder-Stand, try to incorporate the following:

Bridge Pose (Sethu Bhandasana)
From the Shoulder Stand position, stretch the legs and slowly touch the floor with the feet. It is done to bend the spine in the opposite direction.

Fish Pose (Matsyasana)
Lie on your back. Stretch the legs and keeps the hands palm down under the thighs. Raise the chest with the help of the elbows and, bending the neck as much as possible backwards, rest on the top of the head.

Suggested Duration:
Try to use the ratio below to time the execution of these three poses. 6:1:2 (meaning the fish pose is held for a third of the time spent in the shoulder stand and the bridge pose held for half the time spent in the fish pose (or a sixth of the time spent in the shoulder-stand)

Or as an alternative, you could simply forego the bridge pose and apply a 2:1 ratio (shoulder-stand to fish pose) but this is only advised if you intend to do the parent pose (the shoulder-stand) for only a few seconds.

Obviously a lot of detail has gone into the description of these poses, however, that is because my intention is for you to be well informed, but for the sake of time and space. I will briefly go over the other poses you could do well to include AFTER you try the sequence above. This is if you decide to use it by the way. If not, you could do very well to simply start from the stage to be depicted in part 2 of this article.

Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com For more Yoga tips and information on Yoga for beginners stop by his website today.

Optional Yoga Equipment That Can Help You

2008-11-21T23:35:00.001-08:00

In ancient times yoga was all about physical activities which had no relation with any props or equipments. This was at the times of the ancient sages. But with the passage of time many people have become aware of the effectiveness of yoga and this is the reason why yoga is being practiced by the people of all pages.

Yoga classes are being conducted in schools and institutes. Now according to the changing requirements of people many yoga equipments have been introduced. These are often quite useful in learning yoga in a better way and practicing as well.

The beginners are fond of using these equipments as this makes the postures easy for them. So if you are planning to join the yoga classes then do a little bit of research about the yoga equipments and hop the stores to know what exactly they have on offer.

Basic Equipment

When you are practicing yoga this is essential to wear the clothes in which you are absolutely comfortable because physical ease and comfort is an indispensable part of yoga. The clothes should be loose and made of a material which will not cling to your body. The materials like Lycra or stretchable synthetic are also not advisable because they can make you slip on the floor when you are trying to do a particular posture.

Shoes are not really important as accessories because yoga is an art that should be performed bare foot. The yoga mats are available on the market which are also known as the sticky mats. They basically define the space you need to perform yoga activities and also provide some traction to the limbs so that you do not face the sliding or slipping problems.

Using the Equipment

The yoga blocks are another piece of equipment which is popular enough because of its utility. They make the postures far more comfortable than before and also straighten the alignment of the body. If you are trying to attain a posture where you are supposed to touch the floor while standing on the feet, the yoga blocks will be of great help.

In fact they are more useful for those who are beginners or have certain physical problems. There are straps which come handy when you are not able to touch the body parts easily which you are supposed to touch for a particular posture. The bolsters made from different materials are available in various shapes and sizes and they are basically used to support the back or abdomen while performing yoga.

Now this is a fact that the yoga equipments are not really indispensable but they are helpful. So do not hesitate to take the aid of these equipments if you are facing any sorts of difficulty in making the postures.

By April Kerr

Yoga

2008-11-21T23:29:00.003-08:00

Yoga traditionally conjures up images of long hair, loin cloths and incense burning in a darkened room with strange music playing! It had an almost cultish persona. Nowadays your gran is quite likely to tuck her Yoga mat under her arm and head on down to the local gym for an hour of Yoga and meditation. Yoga is coming out of the darkened room and is being embraced in it many forms by old and young alike.

Yoga originated in India. It is considered one of the most ancient forms of self-improvement exercise in history. Yoga was formally documented around 200BC by one of India's most famous Yoga masters, Patanjali, who wrote the 'Yoga Sutras'.

Traditionally though, the ancient art of Yoga is passed down from Master to student and so on.However, throughout the years, Yoga has undergone many changes and new streams of Yoga have been developed from the original sources.

Also, during history, when India was invaded, many texts that
documented Yoga techniques and teachings were destroyed.It was not until the early 1900 century that Yoga was revived by Yoga
Master Tirumalai Krishamacharya, known as a 'Yogi'. Following this time, Yoga began to become a World Wide exercise that has since been embraced by millions of people as a way of life.

Essentially, traditional Yoga is made up of eight limbs that represent ethics, the physical body, breathing, consciousness, concentration, meditation and God. There are also five 'Yamas', which a 'Yogi', Yoga teacher, must adhere to, which are, non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, fidelity to God and non-grasping, meaning not being attached to material possessions.

By Lorna Mclaren

Prenatal Yoga Exercises

2008-11-21T23:29:00.001-08:00

Because of the emphasis on breathing, balance, and peace, yoga has a lot to offer women during pregnancy. In fact, prenatal yoga exercises are the focuses of entire classes. However, prenatal yoga exercises can be performed in the comfort of your own home. Simply, you just need to know some of the best prenatal yoga exercises.

One of the most popular prenatal yoga exercises is the cat-cow stretch. This position involves the person being on all fours. The pose actually aids the fetus in reaching the best possible position within the expecting mother. To get the fullest benefit from the pose, the expectant mother should make sure that all spinal movements start in the pelvis and work away. This can even be done during very early labor.

Another prenatal yoga exercise that is seen often is the Cobblers Pose, which is also known as the Baddha Konasana. It can be performed with the aid of folded blankets to support the spine, which is sensitive during pregnancy. The pose also helps with opening the hips to, again, prepare for a more comfortable and natural child birth. It may be achieved by sitting with the soles of your feet together and the knees apart. Pressing the feet into each other will help to push the hips open and align the spine even more.

Pelvic tilts, another prenatal yoga exercise, are good for releasing tension and pressure from the lower back. Additionally, the exercise is often used for those with back or neck injuries. These are common problem areas for women in the late stages of pregnancy and thus a great way to relieve some of that joint pain.

Sometimes the ribs feel crowded as the fetus grows out of its home. During this stage, side plank variations are a great prenatal yoga exercise. They de-emphasize the abdominal muscles, but are good for stretching the sides and creating more rib room. When the ribs feel tight, this is a good way for pregnant women to go.

The opening of the hips relieves much of the pressure associated with pregnancy. For that reason, hip openers like the one-legged king pigeon pose is great for prenatal work. It is okay to use props in order to complete or reach the poses. The idea is to open the hips and relieve pressure.

Prenatal yoga exercise is a great way for expectant mothers to exercise late into their pregnancy. Besides the physical benefits of relieving pressure and finding comfortable hip opening positions, the yoga also provides a mental release of the stress of upcoming childbirth. So if you are pregnant or know someone who is, suggest yoga to improve comfort on a physical, spiritual, and mental level.

By Kyle Dudley

Stretching Exercises Yoga

2008-11-21T23:26:00.001-08:00

Stretching Exercises, Yoga

Stretching and yoga arent just for people who can fold themselves up like pretzels, or movie stars who have nothing better to do with their days! It can be a beneficial practice to all who use it, and one doesnt have to adopt the worldview of the swamis in order to reap benefits from it. The pace of our lives these days is crazysome would argue destructive.

Yoga proponents say that learning the art form will not make you dull, but more magnetic, and show you the importance of slowing down. Yogas inactivity can insert a moment to breathe in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, can clear your mind, and re-energize you with just a few simple techniques.

The first lesson in any Yogic theory is how to relax. This doesnt mean you flop on the sofa and become a couch potato; instead it is defined as a conscious transfer of energy from one department of nature to another. Even if you do this for 5 minutes at a time over a beverage, youre on your way to relaxing. It will increase your efficiencytry it and see!

Stretching involved in yoga can be very simple: lie on the floor without pillows. Remove your shoes and wear whatever is loose fitting and comfortable to you. Stretch your arms over your head while stretching your legs and feet. Close your eyes and let your head roll to one side.

Now release each part of your body and consciously permit each limb, each section of your body, to meld in to the floor. Permit yourself to feel as if you are sinking and think of a peaceful scene. This will likely feel very odd to you the first time you do it, but the relaxation that you bring each part of your body will be refreshing!

Now well work on stretching! Lie on the floor as you did for your full-body relaxation, only this time, interweave your fingers above your head. If you turn your palms upward, youll feel a bigger stretch along your ribs and spine. Stretch your arms as far above your head as possible, pointing your toes and pushing them towards the floor so you can feel every muscle between your head and feet.

Once you have stretched every part of your body, release! Now go back in to your full-body relaxation mode, remembering to start at the head and relax your way down to your toes.

Now work on the complete breath that yoga teaches. Lying flat on the floor without pillows, place your hands gently on your diaphragm. Slowly exhale as much as you can. Very slowly begin to inhale through the mouth, evenly and without sudden stops. You will feel your diaphragm expand at this pointkeep going. Now exhale through your mouth, using a slight force, expelling as much air as possible.

You have just completed your complete breath in yogic teaching! If you build up the number of complete breaths per day, youll notice less tension, better rest, and a more relaxed you. Release the stress of your day and become who you were designed to be!

By: Terry Lowery

Enjoy Yoga with a Good and Comfortable

2008-11-02T23:01:00.001-08:00

Yoga is known to be a very relaxing exercise. It is popular not just a Hindu ritual but also a proven way to stay fit and healthy. It is more than just a form of meditation but more like an exercise regimen for many people around the world. But like all other exercise, there are equipments used in the practice of yoga. And probably one of the most important equipment for exercising yoga is the yoga mat.

A yoga mat can either be a big and thick towel, a rug or you can also buy a special yoga mat from sport shops. Most yoga mats that you can find around are made of cotton or polyester latex. There are premium made mats and there are regular mats as well. There are also a choice of natural mats and synthetic yoga mats. It is important though that you know how to choose the yoga mat that's right for you. This is essential in a comfortable and relaxing practice of yoga.

There are different things you need to consider in choosing the right yoga mat for you. The first and foremost thing that you should keep in mind while choosing a mat is what type of yoga you practice. Now, there are different yoga mats intended to be used for the different yoga styles. If you are practicing a yoga style that requires jumping from one form to another, like the Ashtanga yoga, you need a mat that are really thick and can provide you a good cushion. If while doing yoga, you sweat a lot, you need a mat that has the capability to absorb it and the best choice would be a cotton yoga mat. Other considerations to make when choosing a yoga mat are more of your personal choices. Of course you have the final say in choosing the color and the make of the mat. There are some people who prefer natural yoga mat made of hemp to feel closer to nature. But since these types may cause allergies to some people, you should also give this a careful consideration. You should also consider the place where you do your yoga exercise. If you're doing your exercise in a slippery tiled floor, you should always buy a sticky yoga mat to avoid slipping.

The practice of yoga would not be complete without the proper tools and equipment. You should always remember that in any exercise, it is important that you are comfortable while doing it. It is a key to enjoying and relaxing while doing the exercise you've chosen. And since yoga mat is a very important part of the yoga practice, you should choose the right mat for you.

By Jeffery Dodd

How to Lose Weight Yoga Style The Easy Way!

2008-10-31T11:50:00.001-07:00

When most people picture yoga, they envision half-naked fakirs doing fantastical backbends or sitting in the lotus pose and chanting the Om mantra over and over. While yoga can include backbends and lotus poses, lose weight yoga is not solely about getting tied up in knots while chanting Om.

Yoga exercises range from amazingly simple to exceedingly complex; each of them helping you to become physically flexible while staying mentally focused. It is this mind/body connection that helps you lose weight; yoga style.

Lose Weight Yoga Style - The Mind/Body Connection

One of the best things about practicing yoga is that it puts you in touch with your body. When you do yoga, you discipline yourself and you find that you actually like it. The time you spend doing yoga and meditating sets a belief in your subconscious mind that you are capable of taking care of yourself.

People who do not practice yoga and are not in touch with their inner selves will often find themselves straying towards the refrigerator even when they are not really hungry. Yoga practitioners on the other hand, are more disciplined; they can recognize genuine hunger pangs and will only give in to the urge to eat when really hungry.

Lose Weight Yoga Style - The Muscle Factor

Some yoga poses including the plank pose helps build muscle all over your body. In fact, if you only want a way to tone your arms, shoulders, chest and abs, the plank pose itself will do that for you. The good news about building muscle is that muscle burns fat. You burn an additional 50 calories a day for every pound of muscle you put on.

If you haven't yet found an exercise program that you like, try yoga. You really can lose weight yoga style!

By Vanessa Raven

Are Yoga Balls Helpful for Doing Poses

2008-10-29T02:24:00.001-07:00

I've been doing yoga for years and never actually had the need for or even used props such as blocks, belts or even the common yoga balls.

However that changed when I recently attempted some yoga poses using the big ball nestled in the corner of my girlfriend?s apartment.

Turns out that when doing yoga poses with an exercise ball, there are many benefits that it can add to your practice.

Being as though it is a versatile prop for many postures, the 30 inch diameter ball is a terrific tool. These air-filled balls give support in poses such as backbends hip openers and restorative poses.

Balls are shipped un-inflated and include a small hand-held pump. Moreover, they are made from durable vinyl and can support up to 600 pounds.

For Moms, kids being kids, they naturally tend to gravitate towards the prop as they too, like you, may be trying to practice their favorite yoga poses.

Well, in spite of all the fun that I?ve said it could add to your practice, let?s remember it?s not to be abused (per-se) as you need to remember to keep the order of the poses as suggested in your yoga class or literature you may be using as a road-map.

Going back to the fun part of using exercise balls for yoga, what's even better is you can add simple calisthenics like the yoga-esque Hindu Push-Ups and several other core exercises to have one knockout of exercise routines for your yoga ball.

Hey, one more thing, if you simply need a place to keep your jacket after a hard-day?s work, you could drop yours right on the prop too?

All in all, here?s to making Yoga even more fun folks.

In Friendship,

Aje

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Yoga for Beginners Blog today for more information on exercises with yoga ball.

yoga exercises

2008-10-29T02:14:00.001-07:00

Yoga is the perfect exercise! Anyone can do it, it is easy to learn, requires no specialized equipment, and it is easy on your joints. Yoga combines stretching your muscles and improving your mental condition, along with working out your cardiovascular system.
So if you are looking for the perfect exercise, yoga is it!

Just what is yoga? It is an ancient discipline, more than 3,000 years old from India. It is designed to bring your body, mind and spirit together. While the exercise is very popular, it is only one component of the whole. Yoga is also a meditation that calms the mind, improves concentration and relaxes the inner person. It is one of the best stress relievers available today.

You can practice yoga either by yourself, or with a group. Many gyms and YMCAs have yoga classes. There are several different styles of yoga, ranging from the gentle, slow moving exercise to a very up tempo, aggressive style and everything in between.

Yoga practitioners assume the various poses and practice deep breathing exercises. This helps to clear the mind and the same time it exercises the body. By concentrating fully on the exercise and breathing, the troubles just seem to melt away. It is hard to worry about your stress and problems when you are deeply concentrating on your breathing.

Yoga also gets rid of your bodily toxins, by increasing the oxygen flow to the body through the breathing exercises. This will help the body heal itself along with increasing the immunity level against harmful disease.

Yoga is the perfect exercise, regardless of what your goal is; from losing weight, increasing your muscle strength, improving your flexibility, to eliminating your stress, yoga can help you achieve your goals.

As with any exercise program, it is always best to consult with your doctor before undertaking yoga. Dont try and achieve the poses that your instructor is able to obtain on your first day. They have been practicing yoga for a long time, and their body is much more flexible than yours is. Start off slow and easy, youll get there with time. If you strain yourself in your first lesson, youll think that yoga is a bad exercise, when it really can help you.

By Sydney Heiden

Yoga Poses And Postures

2008-10-29T02:13:00.001-07:00

Yoga has become a very popular form of exercise, however, some styles focus primarily on physically working the back, for instance: the most important Yoga poses in this case will differ from others, remaining the most important Yoga poses for another kind of Yoga. There are also very difficult one might focus on in other styles of Yoga designed to stretch and strengthen other specific parts of the body, and many that work the entire body, treating the body as left and right equals yin and yang.

There are specific Yoga poses for the floor parts of Yoga exercise, as well as the more familiar standing Yoga poses.

One of the most basic kinds of standing Yoga poses one will learn in Yoga is what is called the tree balance. In this balance you will:

1) Prepare as always by checking the posture and lifting through the torso, pushing your shoulders down.

2) Hold your eyes on one object diagonally or straight forward for the entire pose.

3) Stand with your feet together.

4) Lift up onto the balls of your feet.

5) Rock your weight back, onto your heels.

6) Strengthen the right leg shifting all of your weight and lift your left leg slowly up so that your foot lays flat, toes down, resting on your right inner thigh.

7) Your arms slowly lift up to what is called the prayer position: both palms meeting directly above the top of the headthe full body in perfect alignment. Meeting above the crown chakra and lengthening all the way through the body.

The benefits of practicing this posture are many. It will result in remarkably noticeable balance and grace.

The posture requires balance, focus and concentrationall the basic guidelines of Yogaboth spiritual and physical are involved in Yoga poses. The tree balance is one of the many Yoga poses where the key is to relax and clear your mind. Not thinking about the difficulty of the pose itselfreleasing tensionthat is the mental aspect of several complex positionswithout which many Yoga poses would be virtually impossible to hold.

This is one of the most well known Yoga postures. However, there are many. Including, as I mentioned before, many floor Yoga poses. Focus and breaththis is how you remain in any of the Yoga poses.

One example of the floor Yoga poses is the snake:

1) Lay flat on your stomach with your hands on your shoulders.

2) Lift up by straightening the arms and focus upas though your eyes were also a part of the arch.

3) Focus on pushing the pelvis down towards the floorarching your back.

4) And keep your shoulders down, as with virtually all Yoga poses.

Remember, all Yoga poses are meant to be held. You do not just reach the posture. Instead you reach it and remain therethirty seconds, a minute etc. Holding, breathing, the asana, and the pranayama, this is how the balance is earned. In all Yoga poses you will find that you can stretch further and further each time. There are many other yoga poses and techniques out therego find the perfect kind of yoga for you!

By Anne Clarke

Yoga and Animal Welfare The True Path to Peace and Harmony

2008-10-24T16:58:00.001-07:00

Twenty-first century is the age of technological advancement. But this is definitely not a period of harmony with oneself or with other species on earth. Both are intricately connected.

We can find true peace within ourselves only if we are compassionate, empathetic towards other species. Ahimsa or nonviolence is an integral concept of yoga. The ability to love all and not harm any species is the true path to yoga and self-realization.

Yoga is just not about physical fitness. We follow a specific diet to improve physical fitness; the same rule applies to improve our mental health. Yoga diet includes organic food grown in harmony with nature.

A short note on history of yoga will tell us how yoga and animal welfare is connected. Patanjali is considered to be the father of yoga. Many do not know that Lord Dattatreya is the guru of Patanjali. Lord Dattatreya left home at an early age to roam the forests, and lived on a simple diet. One of his charming traits is he loved all animals. He was always found in the company of four dogs and a cow.

In these distressing times we find that we are accelerating extinction of plant and animal species. Violence against any living form harms the sacred unity and balance. We come across various species of animals and birds. We have our obligations towards them. When this is felt, our every act becomes harmonious. We have to give equal importance to our feeling aspect of our mind as we have for the intellectual one.

For more information on Yoga, Yoga for Beginners, Yoga Diet, Meditation, Yoga Therapy, Yoga and Animal Welfare, Animal Therapy, and Yoga of Beauty visit web site: http://yogaforharmony.googlepages.com/yogaforharmony

By Suchitra Srinivasan

Different Types of Yoga For You to Try

2008-10-23T09:06:00.001-07:00

Yoga has become on of the most popular methods of losing weight and keeping fit in all parts of the world. Now there are different types of yoga which involves various postures and rules. But all of them aid in the well being of the humans and keep them fit both mentally and physically. Here you will get to know about different types of yoga.

Anusara

This is basically the newest form of yoga which was introduced in the year of 1997. The postures of this type of yoga are quite complicated at times but the spirit is playful and joyous. The message that is sent through this yoga is all about opening the heart and endeavor to connect yourself with the divinity.

Ashtanga

This type of yoga is explained in the book of Patanjali. He was from ancient India and there are two main constituents of this yoga. There are five Yamas and five Niyamas which aid in the spiritual upliftment along with the physical fitness.

The five yamas are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha. The five Niyamas are Shaucha, Santosha, Tapa, Swadhyaya and Ishwar-Pranidhan.

The methods of this yoga focus mainly on the limbs. This improves the flexibility of the body and also increases blood circulation. This is not suggested for the beginners but for the athletes who are looking forward to increasing their stamina.

Bikram

This is a stream of yoga which involves activities and postures that can work wonders in increasing the muscular strength and flexibility of the cardiovascular system. This is helpful for those who are overweight and wish too loose weight in a method that is devoid of any side effects.

This method was introduced by the great Bikram Choudhury who was a weight lifter and showed his magic in Olympic 1963. The unique fact about this yoga is that it can be practiced even when the temperature of the environment ranges between 95 degrees to 105 degrees.

Regular practice of Bikram yoga will prevent your body from getting injured easily.

Hatha

This is the easiest form of yoga which has gained immense popularity in the foreign countries like United States. This involves the basics of yoga which can be learned and practiced by everybody. It has asanas, meditations, pranayamas and kundalini. This is a method which will calm the mind and increase the fitness of the body.

It even increases the longevity of a man and helps people to manage the stress. This is extremely helpful for those who lead a life that is overloaded with work stress. It takes few minutes to practice a complete set of Hatha yoga everyday and the effects are wonderful.

These are few of the yoga styles and there are many more which are equally effective and good for health.

By April Kerr

6 Ways Yoga Increases Energy

2008-10-22T08:43:00.001-07:00

Have you ever known someone who just lights up a room? What is it that they have that attracts others? Some celebrities have 'it', babies are born with what seems an infinite amount of 'it.' It is their human energy. They are putting out an energy that is inviting to others and equally infectious. Other people may be doing the opposite, not intentionally; but other peoples negative energy does have a negative effect on you. Notice how beautiful features on a tense scowling face pushes you away. Conversely, less than perfectly formed features showing acceptance and joy with the warmth of a smile are equally contagious. I remember working with celebrities who were considered beautiful, and some became more beautiful over time, while others became downright ugly because their inner energy magnetized their outer appearance. Since the 3rd millennium, B.C., the Chinese called this vital energy, 'Chi, stating that all matter, animate and inanimate, contains this. Chi is seen as the basis of life. Yogi's practice manipulating this energy through breathing, physical exercise and meditation techniques. By directing focus on achieving more Chi, more energy through energy producing breathing techniques, integrated with easily attained Yoga poses, you feel an instantaneous feeling of youthful vigor.

1. Exercise

Some people have told me they're too tired to exercise - but a study involving over 6800 people in 70 studies found that exercise increased energy and reduced fatigue - and not just in healthy people - people who had cancer and heart disease also benefited with an energy boost. However YOU have to exert the energy to make it happen. There are three kinds of people in this world, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who just wander, what happened? Unfortunately, some of my patients fall into the 'what happened' category after years of mistreating their body. Your muscles were meant to be exercised, your brain is nourished through stimulation and your energy source is the connection of your mind, body and spirit. I just saw a patient today who had never exercised in her life. She is 54 years OLD, is on 16 medications, has had a recent heart attack, diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure. All this was preventable if she treated her body like the temple it is. Instead she is wondering 'what happened.'

2. Nutrition

Yoga motivates you to treat your body like a temple for your soul to reside in. If you filled a Mercedes with regular fuel, how would it run? Your body is a first rate machine and needs premium fuel to run at its best. Eating excess fat is like sludge in an engine; it will slow down and stop running. Yoga's inspirational message helps you treat your body with the respect it deserves and rewards you with more energy.

3. Empower Yourself

Yoga encourages mindfulness so you think before you eat. When this becomes a habit, you lose weight and the practice of self control becomes easier and even enjoyable because you know you are in charge of your health. When you are in charge of your health instead of your health in charge of you, a new found energy rises in your spirit.

4. Relax

Confucius said: Men do not mirror themselves in running water - they mirror themselves in still water. Only what is still can still the stillness of other things.

In our super-busy, hectic, often frantic, overworked, overburdened world, we do not take the time to be still. Yoga offers peaceful meditation to help you boost your energy to achieve your goals. So stop and hear yourself breathing. Breathing requires one to breathe in the breath of life - to inspire is to be inspired with the gift of life and possess an extraordinary sense of well being. What a blessing.

5. Get Enough Sleep

Yoga can help alleviate anxiety and help you sleep soundly. A former client of mine, Myra, a hospital dietician and college professor stated she hadn't slept well in 2 years, but once she practiced my yoga techniques, she finally got a long awaited and well deserved 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

6. Yes You Can

Yoga with meditation teaches gratitude and a positive attitude. A Gratitude attitude has a way of transforming your way of looking and acting in everyday life. Your gratitude speaks volumes about the direction, concerns, and qualities of your life. Yoga unites a feeling of gratitude with a physical connection to wellness in a seamless, effortless way to achieve the desired state of being appreciative while giving thanks for the natural life forces that surrounds us. Connecting with nature instills a sense of wonderment and admiration towards the universe. The more we appreciate nature, the more it rewards us by allowing us to relax, unwind and be spiritually linked to this extraordinary planet earth.

By Suzanne Andrews

Yoga Poses Techniques for Beginners to Veterans

2008-10-21T07:46:00.001-07:00

In philosophical terms yoga means a refined rejuvenative reunion with self, a journey of self-discovery. The intimate practice of yoga offers a diverse range of poses and postures for physical, mental and spiritual growth. The yoga poses are essential forms of meditation, used for calming the mind, strengthening the body and assisting in improvement of blood circulation. No matter what level of expertise, each pose delivers different benefits to the mind, body and soul of the individual.

Poses for yoga beginners

When first practicing yoga, it is important to start off slow as it is likely you will not have the flexibility of someone who has been practicing for years. Basic poses will be introduced, mainly for stretching purposes and to establish the body into the yoga mind frame. You must remember that yoga is not a competition and everyone has different abilities. For some, the poses and postures may occur naturally whilst others will have to work at achieving them.

The various basic poses for beginners include standing poses, to help align ones body and maintain good posture, as well at seating poses, for hip and back strength. Forward and backward bends are performed for an increase in balance, flexibility and to help release tension in the body. Balance plays a large role in yoga poses and it is necessary to establish and maintain this before engaging in further positions.

Listen to your body and do what it is capable of, do not push yourself so hard that you experience pain. When your body says no more, it means no more! Advanced poses will come naturally depending on the amount of time you practice. It is important to establish a routine that your body will become used to over time. These basic poses can be learnt with guidance from professionals at yoga schools or retreats; however alternatively you are able to practice them by yourself in the comfort of your home.

Poses for the veterans

When practiced traditionally, yoga is a 6 day a week exercise. Once introduced to the yoga, many find it inescapable and integrate it as a regular activity in their daily lives. Those who practise yoga regularly will experience increased flexibility and toning of muscles. This allows for more advanced poses to be undertaken.
Advanced poses often involve contorting the body to resemble animals, stances, objects or natural formations. For these demanding poses, the mind must work in conjunction with body movements. It is essential for accomplished yoga individuals to have a strong ability to control and balance the body as is required by the majority of these difficult poses. Here, yoga allows for the creation of peace as well as mental and spiritual awareness, escapism and deep levels of meditation.

Yoga veterans would find it beneficial to attend specified workshops or yoga retreats to further develop their skills. These learning forums allow yoga experts to interact, share and develop challenging, new poses which can be added to their daily routines. Accredited and fully trained professionals will assist you in taking your yoga practice to inspiring heights and profound depths.

By Sheridan Hammond

Yoga in Practice The Yama For Peaceful Co Existence

2008-10-21T02:38:00.001-07:00

Within Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, you learn many things, such as the Yamas and Niyamas. Yet, the moral ethics found within the Yamas and Niyamas are not always easy to apply to your daily life. The following is an example of using one Yama and applying it to your life.

Some of us may work, socialize, or live with people who have very difficult personalities. For example: How do you handle someone, who sees compassion and a willingness to negotiate, as weakness? If you are trying to negotiate with him or her, you are in the way. This person has needs, wants, and desires. If you speak in terms of logic, it sounds like an unknown language to him or her.

This personality envisions victory over perceived enemies and uses negotiation as a form of deception. How can you reason with someone who will lie, cheat, and steal from you? If you have the ability to see reality, and your vision is not distorted, you still hold some valuable cards.

A self-centered personality will not bother to open dialogue with you, unless you have something of value. Take the time to see his or her hidden agenda. All is not lost when you see each matter as it truly is.

This situation could possibly become a very basic form of carrot-and-stick negotiation. The carrot is a positive reinforcement, and the stick is negative reinforcement. You really have no choice but to use this tactic, because this person would like to beat you with a stick rather than negotiate with you.

You do not have to resort to any form of conflict, but you have to make a difficult person aware that there are potential consequences for the wrong action. At the same time, he or she should realize there are rewards for the right action.

If you are an even handed person, you may see negotiation as an art form, but you have to adapt to each situation. When negotiating with someone, who is always looking for your weakness, you might consider resorting to the art of influence. To initially offer concessions will likely be misunderstood and possibly seen as a gateway to victory.

One way to influence this person is to paint a picture of a gateway to loss. Even if this is an illusion, a bullying personality will usually back away from the potential to lose, and opt to take the gentler route of playing at negotiations.

So, which Yama would you be practicing in the above-mentioned circumstances? Which Yama would teach us about loving kindness, mercy, and non-violence? You would be practicing Ahimsa, the Yama of the non-harming with our thoughts, words, or actions.

? Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

By Paul Jerard

Mastering Yoga Poses

2008-10-16T01:06:00.001-07:00

Yoga is an ancient practice that strengthens the body and mind. Learning about and engaging in yoga can relieve stress and help you tone all the muscles of your body. Master the art of yoga poses, and you will have a routine that you can engage in anytime, anywhere to help you deal with all of lifes little problems. Yoga is the key to empowerment in your life.

Before you can master yoga poses, you have to learn about and practice yoga positions and postures. These are the building blocks of the art of yoga. The right postures in yoga will help you to safely and effectively use yoga poses in the way they are intended. Yoga positions such as ananas will exercise the muscles, glands and nerves as they work to keeping the body and mind healthy.

Another important step in learning yoga poses is learning to breathe properly. Breathing is one of the ways yoga can reach beyond the physical realm and offer mental stimulation, relaxation and growth. You will find that pairing yoga with proper breathing will offer you a new level of mental and physical enjoyment through this exciting art form.

The most common form of yoga is Hatha yoga. This is the basic practice we know today. Hatha yoga uses healing yoga poses to refresh and stimulate your mind and body. Its popularity is a testament to its powers and it is a great way to ensure a more pain-free and relaxing existence.

In our health conscious world, it seems that there is always a new exercise trend. But yoga exercises have been around for thousands of years, so you know you can trust them to be a solid way to improve your health. Whether you need to rid your body of chronic pain, free your mind from the stress of day to day life, or you just want a refreshing daily routine, yoga poses are for you.

By Sarah Freeland

Easy Ways to Practice Yoga at Home

2008-10-16T01:02:00.001-07:00

Yoga is a spiritual practice which assists people in unifying mind, body and heart. Yoga consists of many Asanas and different yoga postures. For practicing yoga you are not necessarily required to join some sort of yoga classes, instead, you can easily practice yoga at home. Many times on account of many reasons such as lack of time, living far from yoga studios or unable to afford join yoga classes' people prefer to practice yoga at home rather than going anywhere else.

Sometimes people want to do Yoga in odd hours, like late night for peace of mind and at such time home is the best place to practice it. But to do that you should know how and what to do. There is below mentioned some points which you should keep in mind when you are going to do yoga at home -

Make a specific place for meditation. It may be either a room with door or even you can part one room into two sections with the help of furniture or a screen.

Arrange for tools required for doing yoga at home like yoga mat. It becomes easy to practice yoga with right tools.

Paint this place with soothing colors and decorate it with music, art and plants. Soothing music will help you in concentrating your mind.

Use some media assistance like yoga DVD. Then you will not have to worry remembering yoga steps and you will be able to practice well. During meditation if you are taking help of VCD or DVD voice then it prevents your mind from wandering anywhere.

There is no such compulsion that for yoga you must join some yoga studios. This is the best feature of yoga that you can do it anywhere you desire. When you are doing yoga at home then first of all you should make sure that you are physically fit and able to do it. If you are suffering from some sort of disease then doing yoga may be harmful. Hence practice yoga at home only when you are physically sound and healthy.

By Jim Andrews

The 6 Styles of Yoga

2008-10-16T00:59:00.001-07:00

Yoga as a form of fitness exercise has many benefits. Although you may not lose a significant amount of weight, you will improve your strength and flexibility. The traditional form of yoga originated from ancient India and the philosophy of connecting mind and body. This connection was achieved through the use of physical exercises in the form of postures. Several styles of yoga have developed over the years with each having a unique focus. These styles are named: Hatha, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar, Anusara and Kundalini.

Hatha is the umbrella of yoga. It is the yoga of breathing and postures. The goal of Hatha is to teach you how to concentrate, focus and hold your postures. This form of yoga is more slower and relaxing than the other styles. This makes Hatha a good starting point for beginners.

Ashtanga Vinyasa is a form of flowing yoga. The goal is to flow from one posture to another. It's purpose is to increase the body temperature to allow purification through increased circulation and sweating. In addition, you build strength, flexibility and stamina. Ashtanga can be demanding on the body which may not be suitable for beginners. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't try it on for size. Just recognize your limitations and don't overextend yourself.

Bikram or Hot Yoga consist of 26 postures done in a room heated between 90 and 105 degrees. The heat allows the individual members to achieve the poses more easily due to increased flexibility. In addition, the sweat allows body toxins to be released. This form of yoga increases metabolism and helps to alleviate chronic pain and symptoms of arthritis. However, if you have health conditions such as high blood pressure, or are pregnant you should avoid practicing Bikram yoga.

Iyengar yoga uses props to strictly focus on body alignment. The best form is achieved through the use of block and belts. Since this form of yoga is very structured beginners benefit. However, the downside to structure is that you are unable to gradually flow from different poses.

Anusara means flowing with grace and is about being free. Anusara allows the participant to move freely from one pose to another. A set of alignment principles, Attitude, Alignment and Action forms the foundation of each pose. These poses are modified with props if needed to help participants achieve the general form of each pose.

Lastly, Kundalini is a form of spiritual yoga. The purpose of this ancient practice is to free energy in the lower body which moves upward. The energy is formed by chanting, meditation and kriyas. Kriyas are a set of movements which are performed to achieve a certain outcome. Kundalini involves the use of fast repetitive movements and breathing to move deeper into each posture.

There are many different styles of yoga which makes this form of exercise so interesting. You can choose from slow and relaxing styles to an intense workout. Regardless of the type of yoga, you will definitely strengthen and improve your mind and body.

By Patricia Coates

Yoga For Weight Loss

2008-10-16T00:57:00.001-07:00

Many people claim that yoga helps with weight loss. However, there is no hard and fast scientific data to support this claim. Everyone acknowledges that yoga helps stretch the muscles and increases flexibility and limberness, but now people are claiming that you can use yoga for weight loss.

It may be hard to understand how yoga can help you lose weight, but studies have shown that people who practice yoga do lose weight. The weight loss is probably not the result of burning calories through strenuous exercise, because most yoga exercise is not that strenuous. Most people believe the weight loss is a result of reducing stress and learning to avoid bad habits that lead to overeating. By reducing stress, yoga helps you lose weight.

Any exercise that helps you get fit and in shape will help you lose weight. Also, by helping you reduce stress in your life, yoga helps eliminate destructive habits which lead to overeating, which in turn helps you lose weight. Yoga is very effective at reducing stress in your life, and a person living a stress free life tends to have fewer self sabotaging bad habits like compulsive overeating.

There may not be a proven medical link for weight loss through yoga, but this doesnt mean that yoga isnt beneficial. Yoga contributes to your general well being through stress reduction and flexibility. It may be that weight loss from yoga is a result of the other benefits that come from yoga.

Regardless of what individual facet causes it, you can use yoga for weight loss. It may not be the only thing in your life that results in weight loss, and it may not be the fastest way to lose weight, but there are few things in life that have as many positive benefits for you as yoga does. I guess that you can think of using yoga for weight loss as a nice, additional bonus!

By Sydney Heiden

Learn the Power of Yoga

2008-10-16T00:52:00.001-07:00

Yoga is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. It has been defined as echnologies or disciplines of asceticism and meditation which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence.

Yoga is a 5000 year old science whose teachings were first imparted not in a classroom but on the war field. In the epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna is first said to have imparted the teachings of Yoga to his student Arjuna, in order to make him understand life, the body, the mind and the best practices to use them together to lead a better quality of life.

The Sanskrit root for the term Yoga is Yujir Yogeh which means to unite, to yoke, to join, to put together. Yoga is not about one facility over another. Yoga is about developing harmony between the body and the mind. In Yoga, you use your mind to understand and heal your body. Though originated in India, yoga is practiced by over 20 million Americans daily. While for Indians, yoga is a route to spirituality and eventually realizing god, Americans have adopted yoga for a completely different purpose, that is, enhanced quality of life and being.

Yoga has a great deal of benefits:

* Reduces stress and enhances relaxation

* Boosts physical strength, stamina and flexibility

* Increases powers of concentration and self control

* Inculcates impulse Control

* Enhances tolerance to pain and enhancing mental clarity

* Better functioning of the immune system

* Enhances posture and muscle tone

* Improves blood circulation

* Results in healthy, glowing skin

* Cleanses and improves overall organ functioning

* Bestows peace of mind and a more positive outlook to life

* Infuses a sense of balance and internal harmony

Yoga is all about feeling good, the energy pulsating through your mind and body and the bliss coursing through the entire being. Yoga is a way of life, it's not just exercise. The grace, poise and malleability of the body that you cultivate, is the natural outcome of regular work out. Yoga does not require bodily exertion. In fact trying hard will turn your work outs into a painful, sometimes even injurious routine. The therapeutic effect of Yoga is the direct result of involving the mind totally into breathing new life into the body.

Contrary to popular belief, Yoga positions are not about how far you can reach to touch your toes or how many repetitions you can perform. It is about realizing how your body feels. Yoga is all about breathing correctly. Yoga enhances your vitality, malleability, strength, energy, levels of endurance and self control. With constant practice your body and mind start to become more balanced until, eventually, you find it takes so much less energy to move through life.

By Paul P Harris

Lose Weight With Yoga

2008-10-15T21:38:00.001-07:00

Yoga is a form of exercise that varies greatly from all other workouts. It is designed to increase flexibility and strength, focusing not only on the physical, but also on the mental health of a person. The benefits and results of Yoga are absolutely amazing, and can be achieved faster than through other types of exercise programs.

Yoga is a workout of stretches and maintaining body positions. Stretching is essential to one's body and helps protect a person from injury and stiffness. Yoga also increases the blood circulation throughout the body. It strengthens the ligaments, muscles and even the bones. It also helps you to lose weight and tone your body.

Relaxation and concentration are essential components of a Yoga workout. They allow you to get in touch with your body and help you listen to it. This allows you to learn more about yourself and what your body needs, enabling you to take better care of yourself.

The benefits of a Yoga workout are immense. It helps to alleviate stress and decreases the levels of stress hormones. This relaxes facial muscles and decreases the evidence of wrinkles. Yoga is a great workout to do to relax yourself as you begin preparing to go to sleep. It even improves the quality of sleep. Pain alleviation is another one of the incredible benefits of Yoga. Those who regularly do Yoga exercises report a reduction in pain. Yoga also helps you relax and calm yourself during the day, by focusing on the breathing and relaxation techniques that are taught.

To someone who has never before done Yoga, it may look very difficult, however there are many videos that you can rent or purchase for beginners that will introduce you to Yoga and ease you into it. Try practicing Yoga every day for a minimum of 15 minutes. It's a short amount of time, but the benefits will last throughout your day and even improve the quality of your life.

By Gina E Clark

Prenatal Yoga For Women

2008-10-15T21:37:00.005-07:00

What is it? As many may know by now, or not, the word 'Yoga' is derived from an ancient Indian word which translates into union. Yoga is a practice of poses and postures connected to the development of a person's body strength and flexibility. Different poses or postures have, in themselves, different benefits.

Although it may look easy to a stranger's eye, the alignment of postures are physically challenging for beginners, many of them may giggle at the awkwardness of their posture.

I've personally thought and still think that yoga is a slow activity yet I find myself sweating profusely than any other sport that I've tried.

Prenatal Yoga (also known as pregnancy yoga) helps a pregnant mother to 'slow down', literally. During pregnancy, there will be many changes taking place in the human (mother's) body. Hormonal changes, circulatory system changes, respiratory changes, body temperature changes to name a few.

Prenatal Yoga helps and encourages women to adapt to these changes in a positive manner - positive growth. The yoga stretches and poses help in strengthening the birthing muscles, improves blood circulation, reduces backache that are common among pregnant women, reduces anxiety and postpartum yoga quickens the recovery process.

Mental Power

Yoga itself is a physical practice but it starts and ends with the mind. Firstly, free your mind and do not think of anything else during your yoga sessions. Keep in mind that you DO NOT HAVE TO worry about chores, responsibilities and a hundred other things. The priority is me, myself and I.
Second of all, be patient. Yoga is not a get-healthy-quick scheme. Yoga is health program by means of determination, persistence and perseverance. Results may not show immediately as it varies from individuals but the one thing that is certain; the most profound results of yoga are achieved after sometime and not the early stages of practice.

Last but not least, consistent by frequency is the key of yoga. Do it every day and make sure that you do it. Yoga cannot work under 'do-whenever-I-feel-like' circumstances, the right momentum is required.

Common Techniques

There are few common techniques that are recommended for pregnancy. DO NOT ATTEMPT WITHOUT FIRST SEEKING EXPERT ADVICE - I'm merely showing what it's about.

Backbend - Known as the bridge pose, is to lie on your back and bend your knees thereby lifting our hips by the strength of your thighs. This technique or posture strengthens your spine and thus spinal flexibility.

Cat and Cow Stretch - is to pose on all fours (hands and legs) like how a toddler crawls. Keep your spine straightened as a neutral pose. Cow stretch is done by attempting to look at the ceiling by first movement of the tail bone then the spine and finally the neck. Cat stretch is the opposite movement of cow stretch, attempting to look at your abdomen/stomach by first moving the tailbone, followed by spine then neck. Repeat poses alternately.

These are good for beginners to start with. For other poses, seek appropriate instructions:
Cobbler's pose, extended triangle pose, goddess pose, half-moon pose, knee to ankle pose, pelvic tilts and one-legged pigeon pose.

By Brenda Williams

Yoga to Lower High Blood Pressure

2008-10-15T21:37:00.003-07:00

Teaching Hatha Yoga Steps to Professional Development of Yoga Teachers

2008-10-15T21:37:00.001-07:00

Over the past two decades, professional development of Yoga teachers has grown, in parity, with the volume of new students. Let's look at some easy steps any Yoga instructor can take toward taking his or her knowledge and teaching skills to new heights.

Before you make a decision toward developing your skills, you may want to compile a list of areas where you feel you might want to go. Consider your performance reviews, feedback from program coordinators, students, or colleagues, and the input of your mentor, if you have one.

Ultimately, it is your decision to choose which direction of development or education to go in. If you have a wide variety of needs, you have to decide which ones are a priority - based upon a mix of rational thought and intuition.

Assess all of your options before choosing a path toward continuing education. When it comes to education, some of us are like kids in a candy store. We have difficulty making a decision about which course to take or which direction to go in.

Yet, there is a simple way to decide your direction. What are your students' needs? After you become a certified Yoga teacher, your decisions are based upon the needs of your students. If your students are a particular age, have similar health conditions, or there is a predominant ailment among them, this may be your calling.

On the other hand, if you cannot see a particular need, there are many training methods, and many areas of Yoga, where we could use improvement. Some skills are on the fringe of teaching, such as communication, public speaking, and marketing. One teacher may feel these skills are not necessary, while another may see a value in improving areas, where he or she needs help.

Most importantly, choose an option that suits your specific situation. Finances and time should be given consideration. Do you have the means to travel, a budget for continuing education, or the time needed to attend an intensive for Yoga teachers? Are you a self-starter, who can learn from books, DVD's, CD's, and online sources?

This brings to light a variety of choices Yoga instructors have when taking courses to enhance their education and professional growth. While training intensives are an option, so are home study, independent study, online courses, and correspondence courses.

No matter which direction you choose, professional development will be the end result.

? Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

By Paul Jerard

Why Yoga Exercises Are Different From Other Forms Of Exercise

2008-10-09T15:20:00.001-07:00

If you are thinking of taking up a form of exercise with the aim of making yourself look and feel much better you should give very serious thought to yoga exercises.

Yoga works holistically on the body and mind and so its positive effects can be seen in many different aspects - on our bodies, their health and how they look, and also on our minds - in how we view the world.

So how do yoga exercises differ from other forms of exercise?

Yoga exercises, also known as asanas or postures, are applied to the entire anatomy of the living body. On the other hand,
many other exercise regimes are a form of engineering applied to the muscles of the body. This means that yoga exercises are concerned with more than just the superficial development of muscles. The postures used in yoga exercises tend to normalize the functions of the entire organism.

The advantage of yoga exercises is that they can regulate the involuntary processes of respiration and help the circulation, digestion, elimination, metabolism etc. The yoga exercises also work to affect the working of all the glands and organs, as well as the nervous system and the mind. This result is achieved by doing deep breathing while the body is placed in various postures. Each of these yoga exercises creates a different totality in the functional relationship within the organism.

Hence, yoga is able to influence man physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. Yoga emphasizes the philosophy of exercise. Under its training one experiences a sense of awakening. All of one's capacities are heightened, and one achieves balance and stamina through these yoga exercises, some of which are modeled after the movements of various
animals. In yoga exercises, relaxation is taught as an art, breathing as a science, and mental control of the body as a means of harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit.

The advanced stages of yoga require many years of special preparation-practices. Today's mode of living , its tempo and surroundings, mean that this is difficult to achieve. However, practicing yoga exercises and deep breathing and relaxation techniques, with some of the time devoted to concentration and meditation is something
everyone can achieve.

Yoga exercises can have a positive effect on individuals who are suffering from disease or illness. Whilst it is not able to cure these things, practicing yoga can means that obstructions and impurities are removed so that nature can perform its healing work.

So if you are looking for a form of exercise that works positively on the body and mind, and one that is relatively easy to fit into your daily routine then why not take up yoga exercises. The growing popularity of yoga exercises means that you will likely find a yoga center or a gym offering local classes in your area. If, however, you do not have time to attend classes there are many books and dvd's available on yoga exercises, so you can do it at home at a time when it is convenient to you.

Within only a few days of performing yoga exercises it is possible to feel revitalized and stronger. Continued practice of yoga exercises can make us healthier and happier.,

By Nelly Luprimo

Yoga Basics

2008-10-04T22:03:00.001-07:00

The word yoga originates from Sanskrit, which is an ancient language from India. It means union particularly of the body, spirit and mind. The yoga that we know today is what is termed as asana, which pertains to postures and poses.

Asana is just one of the eight types of yoga. It is more physical compared to the other types of yoga, which are more directed towards the development of mental and spiritual aspect of an individual. At present the word yoga is used synonymously with asana.

Many people viewed yoga as a type of stretching exercise. Although there is some truth to it but the stretching involved in yoga are designed to create a sense of balance that does not only strengthen the body but makes it flexible. This explains why people who are into yoga can bend their body in an amazing way, makes you think whether they still have bones or not.

There are different poses involved in yoga and each of these provides physical benefits. Yoga poses especially for those who are not into this type of activity will think that it's hard work. Well not to dishearten you there are also simple poses, which are easy to do. The complex poses that you see are performed by those who have perfected the basic and have gained the needed flexibility for higher forms of yoga poses.

Basic Yoga Poses
If you want to try some basic yoga stances just to see whether you can do it or not, then the sun salutation is the way to go. It is easy to follow and very relaxing. Since this is your first time make sure that you focus on your breathing and then follow the following procedures one at a time carefully and slowly:

1. Stand with your feet together and your hand in a prayer like position placed in front of your chest.

2. While breathing in, try to arch your back very slowly while extending your arms over your head and slowly stretching your spine.

3. Breathe out while you bend over and try reaching your toes if you can. However if you cant then its okay, just do not overexert or else you will just injure your back in the process.

By John Furnem

Yoga To Force Or to Feel

2008-10-04T19:23:00.001-07:00

Our asana practice can have a positive impact because it constantly asks us to become more sensitive, more conscious, more aware of ourselves--not just our bodies but also our minds, feelings, emotions, and our very nature. The real value of asana practice is that it can teach us to tune in and truly feel. As our sensitivity increases, life becomes more rich and enjoyable because we can taste the unique flavor of each individual moment. More important, we also become more aware of what moves us toward out dharma and what takes us away from it. This awareness makes us clearer and more peaceful, more able to elegantly handle life's endless dilemmas without feeling overwhelmed or fearful. As a result, we become more effective in all of our actions, and our presence begins to inspire and bring out the best in people around us.

The opposite of feeling is forcing. When we force, we cannot feel, and when we feel, we cannot force.

The moment we start to force, we begin to lose awareness of the effect our efforts have on our nervous system, on the situation itself, and on the other people involved. Forcing makes us angry, inflexible, and intolerant; raises our blood pressure; and can eventually create heart problems. Feeling, on the other hand, makes us calmer, more receptive, more understanding, and healthier.

If we force ourselves into Ardha Matsyendrasana II (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose II), the spine will twist where it always has, where it needs the twist the least. In this pose, it is particularly easy to force the body while attempting to reach around the back and grab the shin. To the extent that the desire to do this comes from the ego's urge to satisfy itself--just to prove we can do this pose--it manifests itself as force. Feeling, on the other hand, allows us to tune in to the habitual tendencies of the body and sense which vertebrae are twisting and which are not. Cultivating feeling in Ardha Matsyendrasana II allows movement where there was stagnation, release where there was stiffness, and freedom where there was bondage.

Just as force and feeling are opposites, so are violence and awareness. We often get angry, and sometimes even outwardly violent, when a situation arises that is not to our ego's liking, rather than using it as an opportunity to become more aware. But violence inevitably breeds more violence. The more forceful and violent we are, the further we move from feeling and awareness; consequently, the more violent we become.

I believe much of the violence in our world comes from our lack of awareness, which has historically manifested itself as an unwillingness to see other people's point of view. When we pause and feel, we become more open and more receptive to the possibility that there are valid ways of thinking other than our own.

Sensitivity is often portrayed as weakness, yet it actually gives us the strength to lower our guard and say to an enemy, Let's sit down and talk this through. How are you feeling? Why are you behaving the way you are? People who have the security that comes with deep sensitivity and awareness have no desire to be violent; it is insecurity that contributes to violence. Through feeling, sensitivity, and awareness, we can bring insecurity and its resulting violence to an end.

What does all of this have to do with our individual practice of asanas like Ardha Matsyendrasana II? The awareness that we develop on the yoga mat, though seemingly small, affects all that is. As we become more aware in our yoga practice and in our lives, as we move away from force and violence and toward sensitivity, feeling and awareness, we change our individual consciousness and actions. In turn, these changes influence the consciousness and actions of everyone we meet. Slowly we shift the direction the world is taking. As we practice each asana, whether it be a challenging twist like Ardha Matsyendrasana II or a simple standing pose, we have the opportunity to become the embodiment of peace and to make our practice a prayer for harmony in the world.

? 2008 Aadil Palkhivala

By Aadil Palkhivala

Yoga in Practice Ishvara Pranidhana

2008-10-04T19:22:00.001-07:00

Ishvara Pranidhana is sometimes referred to as the last Niyama (restraint or moral observance). Ishvara Pranidhana means to surrender to a Higher Power. Some Yoga teacher training courses skim over this subject to avoid potential conflicts.

Why should the concept of surrender to a higher power be a potential source of conflict? If you look at the principle closely, this is to put your faith and trust in a higher power's hands. At the same time, there is a problem with describing what that higher power is.

Humans have struggled with the concept of a higher power since the beginning. There are no shortage of names for The Great Spirit, The Divine, The Father, God, Allah, Yahweh, and Brahman. We have all heard many more names, and there are many religions to complement our variety of beliefs.

Yet, putting our trust into the hands of God is not a call to exterminate every person who does not agree with our religious beliefs. Intolerance and fundamentalism have been a ribal minded curse on humankind since the beginning.

If we observe the social behavior of chimpanzees, we can look back into a window of time. We can observe primal behavior and the chimpanzee's simplistic approach to tribal life. Although they appear peaceful, sometimes chimpanzees hunt other monkeys and kill each other.

Although humans are a unique primate species, we also display a tribal mindset through intolerance and violence toward each other. Human behavior has not completely evolved beyond massive warfare, genocide, and violence.

Realizing this - who is prepared to listen to an outsider's concept of God? When we surrender to God, how will we know what God wants us to do? In fact, we know what is right, and what is wrong, but it is very difficult to walk the right path.

If we really want to practice Ishvara Pranidhana, we must practice all of the other Yamas and Niyamas. To live a life of non-harming, honesty, charity, purity, contentment, discipline, and spiritual learning is a difficult path.

To be pure in our thoughts is nearly impossible because everyone has negative thoughts at one time or another. With thousands of thoughts running through our minds, they cannot all be pure and good. Most people do not take action based on fleeting negative thoughts because they live according to a moral code of conduct.

Therefore, we inherently know what is right and what is wrong. If you look into the moral guidelines of societies, from opposite corners of the earth, ethics are very similar.

Ishvara Pranidhana is to live an ethical lifestyle of non-harming, honesty, charity, purity, contentment, and discipline. All we have to do is let God handle the details.

? Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

By Paul Jerard

Breathing The Essence of Yoga

2008-10-01T00:14:00.001-07:00

Yoga has an extremely long history; over 6,000 years in fact! This ancient form of exercise is great for conditioning the body and the mind alike.

The practice of yoga is largely thought of as just the asanas (postures and exercises), but breath is really at the heart of yoga. Some have said if you can breathe, then you can do yoga. The use of breathing techniques to quiet your mind is one of the primary objectives of yoga.

The regular practice of yoga will make you intimately acquainted with yoga. You'll learn proper techniques for breathing which will produce relaxation and stress relief and also help you to achieve better posture.

Our minds tend to wander; thinking of the future and the past constantly. With yoga, you'll train yourself to consider the present - where we are, where our bodies exist. The practice of yoga through breathing techniques helps you to draw your thoughts inward and release all of your worries and tensions.

Yoga can help to prevent stress and disease by letting you do this - letting go of these harmful, stressful thoughts, even for a short time, restores your body and mind to a healthy balanced state. Focusing on the present is what brings about this benefit.

Yoga teaches the practice of conscious breathing while doing poses - this fosters consciousness of your technique and greater mental alertness. By drawing your mind into the moment and forgetting all else, you will garner the benefits which yoga has to offer.

Yoga has many breathing exercises which combat tension and bring a balanced mental state - to begin with, try this exercise.

* Lie or sit still in a comfortable position and be aware of your breathing.

* Still aware of your breath, inhale and exhale 4 counts each several times.

* Next, increase your inhalation and exhalations to 5 counts each.

* Then increase the count to 6 for each inhalation and exhalation. Become aware of your body - make sure that it is relaxed.

* Continue this way until your inhalations and exhalations reach 9 counts. If this is causing you any discomfort, drop the count back down to more comfortable number for you.

* Keep bringing your mind back to your body to check to see if there is any tension anywhere in your body. If so, attempt to relax that part of your body.

* Whatever number of counts you reach, continue breathing with these long breaths for several rounds, then stop counting and breathe normally for 10 rounds.

What you can gain from this exercise - as you can from a number of other yogic breathing exercises, is the capacity to still your mind and relax your body through mastery over your breath. With some practice, you will become an expert at this technique, able to achieve a state of relaxation any time you are under stress and feeling tense.

By Kim Archer

Benefits Found in Yoga Offered in Many Vedic Books

2008-09-30T18:15:00.001-07:00

On the market today at many retail book stores and on a variety of web sites there are a huge number of vedic books currently being offered based on the subject of Yoga. Individuals have found a massive knowledge surrounding this marvelous practice that has gotten them encouraged enough to seek out professional individuals that can help train them in the practice of Yoga.

The practice of Yoga can assist individuals with managing their pain in areas such as knee, elbow, other sore joints, arthritis, rheumatism, and any other regular aches they may have.

To assist with the pain that an individual has is to work directly with the pain center of the brain that helps regulate pain controlling mechanism that sends natural pain killers throughout the body. Another effect way to reduce pain within the body is helpful breathing exercises that are featured within the many of vedic books that focus on yoga. These exercises teach the individual that there body can relax, which will help to free itself from many types of tension. This will also lengthen the time that the individual can exhale, because their muscles will be relaxing when ever they exhale.

Yoga has also been found to help individuals who suffer from various respiratory problems as well. When an individual is more aware of their breathing, then they are more able to control their exhale and inhales to slow down their respiration. This technique helps in calming down, relaxation, and in pain management. When relaxation and meditation techniques are used in combination with Yoga techniques, then individuals and therapist have found they have been extremely successful in reducing pain. Early preventive action in individuals by being aware of their inner body, which Yoga helps them successfully complete, can also help individuals benefit in reducing pain as well.

One of the major problems that individuals suffer from all over the world is back pain, which can be caused from long term stress or even acute muscle tension. Either way back problems can be a result of bringing an individual down emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically, and even economically. There is a particular practice of Yoga known as Yoga Asanas, which prevents and cures back pain by strengthening the back muscles to becoming more flexible.

There are a variety of vedic books about Yoga that will focus on the spirituality side and the meditation side of Yoga. There are also a variety of books available on the market today about the various accessories used in Yoga, which include straps, blocks, and mats. These books will give individuals basic and more concrete knowledge surrounding the practice of Yoga, but if an individual truly has the desire to learn the practice of Yoga, then they should join a Yoga class.

In a Yoga class individuals will learn methods for releasing negative energy, but the person must have a desire to change and must stay with the program for it to work successfully. Yoga is a constant positive energy, so when ever the individual joins a Yoga class the atmosphere should be completely positive. If there is any negativity when in the class, then consult the coordinator and if it persists, then you may want to find another class.

By Victor Epand

De Stress With Restorative Yoga

2008-09-29T21:34:00.001-07:00

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade, you or someone you know has tried yoga at least once. There are so many different forms to choose from, so most of us are likely to find some kind we like. I, for example prefer the power vinyasa yoga over all others simply because it is what I have grown accustomed to. I feel it is a very intense workout, yet very relaxing at the same time. However, there are times when I am too worn out and prefer to take my workout down a few notches with a more soothing yoga.

Restorative yoga focuses on relaxing the body in restful poses by using props such as blankets, bolsters, pillows, blocks, and straps.

Remember, rest does not mean sleep. These poses help tone the body with minimal effort and give it the opportunity to heal and renew itself. It also increases the efficiency of the glandular and parasympathetic nervous system balancing the equilibrium. This lowers your heart rate and blood pressure while stimulating the immune system. It is believed that if the PNS is diminished or under active illness permeates. The mind and body working together is a powerful asset in combating illnesses.

Restorative yoga poses or asanas can help people who are not only depressed but also suffering from sleeping disorders such as insomnia. Other benefits are associated with better resistance to injury, improved circulation, increased metabolism, and immunity. It also provides a source of relief from exhaustion and fatigue. After a relaxed yoga class such as a restorative kind, you should feel an overall sense of well being. It is also important to stay in a relaxed state immediately after to reap the complete effects. So, this is just a friendly reminder that an exercise routine does not always have to be an all out sweat session. Be kind to yourself and just relax, you will feel so much better.

By Lyla Feldman

Yoga For Healthy Life

2008-09-28T23:22:00.001-07:00

Yoga position Relieve from depression, stress, and tension required regular practice of yoga. Yoga is the best exercise to get rid from the disease.

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word meaning join or unite. This implies union between body, mind and soul of the individual to achieve the good health and well being. There are 8 disciplines of yoga which includes

1. Asanas - practice of the yoga postures or position.

2. Dharana- concentration or focus

3. Dhyana- meditation

4. Pranayama- Breathing technique

5. Niyama- Principles of self conduct: purity, self-surrender and satisfaction.

6. Samadhi- the state of higher consciousness where the individual dissolves in the meditation

7. Yama- Universal ethics like sexual restraint, non-stealing, truthfulness, non-violence.

8. Pratyahara- Control of Sense

These are the disciplines of yoga but if person do regular practice of yoga position, meditation and breathing technique. He will get rid from all disease like depression, stress, back pain, high blood pressure, obesity etc.

The yoga position or postures can be classified into the seven categories like

1. Standing yoga position - Chair Position, Eagle Position

2. Forward bends - Child's Position

3. Sitting yoga position - lotus position, Bound Angle Position

4. Lying position -- Corpse position, Fish Position

5. Twisting yoga position

6. Upside down yoga position

7. Back bending yoga position

Research proved that regular practice of yoga position, breathing techniques has many benefits like weight reduction, blood pressure normalize, immune power increase, increase of concentration, increase flexibility of body, detoxification of body system. Scientific experiement proved that yoga and breathing exercise releive stress, tension and calm the body. breathing exercise is the most effective exercise to control the asthama, depression and cool the nervous system

By Jennifer Miller

Yoga For Drivers' Neck and Shoulder Pain

2008-09-28T23:20:00.001-07:00

Recommended by Prevention Magazine Yoga: Relief from Neck and Shoulder Pain offers a comprehensive look at gentle yet effective yoga poses to relieve tension, increase strength, and improve posture in the neck and shoulders. Lillah provides clear guidance for the safe execution of each pose, suggestions for correcting common mistakes, and non-weight bearing alternative poses for therapeutic needs.

Although no one treatment works for everyone, many aspects of yoga make it ideal for treating back pain and neck pain. For example, studies have shown that those who practice yoga for as little as twice a week for 8 weeks make significant gains in strength, flexibility, and endurance, which is a basic goal of most rehabilitation programs for back pain or neck pain.

A common cause of shoulder pain is soreness of the tendon (a cord that attaches a muscle to a bone) of the rotator cuff (the part of the shoulder that helps circular motion). If shoulder pain and immobility are keeping you awake at night or from the daily activities you love, you are not alone.

The Alexander Technique is often used by people with postural problems, chronic back and neck pain, or a desire for improved performance in sports or the performing arts. Much of what is known about the benefits of the technique has been anecdotal.

More recently, small scientific studies have suggested benefits for stress reduction, back pain during pregnancy and chronic pain (Atchison, 1999), pregnancy and childbirth (Stallibrass, 1997), enhanced relaxation (Kerr, 2000), improved balance in older women (Dennis, 1999), enhanced respiratory function (Austin, 1992) and improvement in posture, spasticity and anxiety in people with learning disabilities (Maitland, 1996).

It is best to do your yoga exercise for low back pain under the supervision of a good yoga instructor, and if you encounter any problems with these poses, you should consult an expert. Even just one or two sessions with a yoga instructor can help, as an instructor will help you with your form and posture during poses.

Yoga - Relief from Neck & Shoulder Pain (VHS Video)featuring Lillah Schwartz Relieve stress and improve posture with this comprehensive routine 60 minutes of Instruction 22 Minutes of Guided Practice. A simple time tested, therapeautic sequence of yoga postures focused on relieving tension, gaining strength and improving posture in your neck and shoulders. The 60 Minutes of Instruction provide you with clear gentle guidance for the safe and effective execution of each yoga pose and teaches you how to correct the most common mistakes.

By Glen Wood

Learn Basic Yoga Moves Easily

2008-09-28T20:55:00.001-07:00

It can seem daunting to learn basic yoga moves when you watch an experienced Yoga teacher doing their stuff on DVDs or videos. But remember that they had to start right at the beginning once, too!

When I started practicing Yoga I bought all sorts of Yoga videos, some that I'd seen advertised on TV and some that had been recommended to me by well-meaning friends. However, I struggled watching someone demonstrating whilst I was trying to twist and turn my way into the same positions that they seemed to easily glide into without their bones creaking or seemingly begging them to stop before they fell over!

I was only a beginner and so I didn't want to start classes just yet and draw attention to my unsupple, weight laden body. Sensibly I then turned to books and this proved successful. By studying a book and ingesting the moves and how they should be approached and executed without actually trying them first I felt more confident.

Then when I actually got around to trying them out I felt more self-assured that I'd be doing them correctly.

Compared to following a video or DVD I could choose the yoga moves that appealed most to me and also only the basic yoga moves to start with as I wanted to undertake my practice slowly and safely without expecting too much from myself, too soon.

I've since worked up to joining a class and I truly believe that I only grew in confidence to take this next step by learning my basic yoga moves at home at my own pace from a good instruction book.

Remember when you start off learning yoga that you should never be in pain or shake in any of the positions that you practice. The most extreme that you should feel is comfortable discomfort; otherwise you've stretched yourself too far.

That doesn't mean that you'll never manage that yoga move it's just that your body's not quite there yet.

Time & patience and practice are all that's needed for you to achieve basic yoga moves easily. Good luck.

By Katie S Turner

Tantric Yoga

2008-09-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

It is a well-known fact that Yoga, as a generalized art, is the practice of perfecting some aspect of an individual's existence. This could comprise the physical well being, spiritual formation, or mental ability or mental perfection. The distinction between forms of yoga, though each one is practiced in a different manner, is not so much as the format that you utilize but the source, which you seek to alter or perfect. Some Yoga techniques are for mental reasons, some for physical, and some for spiritual. However, some techniques actually are meant for more than one of these aspects, some for three. The variety of Yoga techniques is truly endless. Nevertheless, there is one form that is likely sought after more than the rest. Though prized and desirable, this technique is also the most difficult to learn and master. This particular format is known as Tantric Yoga.

Some early documents actually trace the roots of the practice of Tantric Yoga as far back as time of the Indus Valley civilization. This era was synonymous with that of the early Egyptian dynasty. There has been a progression over the centuries, an occurrence that seems to happen in most traditional arts, of the practice and true meaning behind the concept of Yoga. To say that Tantric is not what it used to be would be a very extreme understatement.

If one studied the art in depth, focusing on the original archaeologically found documents, he or she would find that Tantric Yoga is on a scale above most other forms of Yoga. The focus is on such a broad scale, such a massive possible format, that it surpasses all other forms in its point of purpose.

Though actually putting the purpose of this age old art in words is difficult, it could possibly be summed up best as The ways and Means for solution of all forms of conflict from two viewpoints, on all scales. In non-technical language, the focus is to destroy any non-duality, be it from the focal point of the inner psyche, a wife and a husband, or even a parent and a child.

Though it is a hard concept to truly grasp, it can be made simpler by a look at how we phrase things. In one aspect, you have a man with a wife and two children. In the sought after teachings of Tantric Yoga, if successfully performed, this group of people is A family. Are you beginning to see the overall picture here? Instead of individuals (Plural) living together, you have A (singular) family. It is the process of making more than one into one.

To actually conceive of the purpose of this practice beyond the family, we must look at the modern world as the place of duality that it is. The teachings of modern times are those of individuality. Be yourself. I believe in me. You get the point. These days, it is all about three people, me, myself, and I.

Perhaps if we could truly delve into the Tantric teachings, we could become one family, one company, one people, one country, one continent, and yes, even one world.

By Sarah Freeland

Lose Weight With Yoga Exercises

2008-09-28T20:52:00.001-07:00

The aims of yoga exercises are to prevent sore muscles and relieve chronic aches and pains, to improve joint mobility through the safest possible sort of stretching, and to aid in producing a high level of relaxation after a bout of exercise.

Here are a few tips about yoga exercises and on how they have become effective in helping people lose weight.

(a) Yoga exercises must be done systematically

In order to lose weight effectively and to avoid possible health problems, each yoga exercise must be described and performed in different levels of increasing difficulty.

You are not expected to achieve the most advanced level on the first day, or even in the first weeks or months. Continue doing one intermediate step of yoga exercise each day until you can move comfortably on the next.

(b) Yoga exercise can be done to good advantage more than five times a week

It can even be done as often as three times a day if time permits. The yoga exercise drains very little of your energy reserves. You will be working toward the day when you can hold the final position of each exercise for one minute.

The more frequently you do yoga exercise, the more rapidly you will progress, although three times a week is sufficient for gradual improvement in losing weight.

(c) Yoga exercise must be performed easily and gently

It must be done without jerking, bouncing, or sudden movements. Do not hold your breath at any time.

When the yoga exercises are performed easily and in the proper manner, they provide an ideal cooling down activity starting from the more vigorous parts of the fitness program. They will leave you invigorated but relaxed.

In summary, yoga exercises can help you lose weight and stay in shape without creating sore muscles and damaged tissues. They have been designed to help people lose weight even for those who can no longer exert effort in a strenuous exercise program.

By Anthony Lee

Yoga For Work Life Balance

2008-09-28T20:51:00.001-07:00

Yoga was a big thing during the 60s. However, it soon began to drop in popularity. People undertaking yoga as an exercise soon lost patience with the activity, due to its slow but steady results, and turned their interest to a faster pace of exercise such as aerobics. However, yoga has turned once again in the popularity ratings and become a very attractive form of exercise for people who are interested in working out rather than working towards a spiritual goal.

You will find that yoga is a great stretch and flexibility program. It is being used increasingly by those who have trouble balancing their work and personal life. The personal lives of modern day executives are affected by a stressful working environment and a frantic schedule, so they turn to yoga to help them bring a little peace to their mind and to adopt a perfect work-life balance.

It is also agreed by many runners, weight trainers, and aerobic dancers that exercise regimes do in actual fact add more stress to their lives rather than reducing it.

Many people use their lunch hour to work out, forcing themselves to keep up their exercise regime, and then return in a rush back to work. Yes, maybe this is good for them, but it is just an added pressure. Well, yoga is much less competitive, less stressful, and it gives you a wonderful sense of being.

The key to its renewed popularity is almost certainly its healing aspect. When people push their fitness levels they are bound to suffer with strained knees, aching backs and neck pains which are generated not only by the physical power that they put into it, but also the stress of making it a competitive world. Yoga is nowadays being recommended to patients by many orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, and neurologists as part of their treatment plan.

The ancient practice is growing in interest in the mind-body connection and it is also boosted by research that suggests that it can reduce stress and blood pressure, as well as improve work performance and even slow down the effects of aging.

Mainstream hospitals and business are now teaching several techniques. This is being done using books, discussion groups, and even using the Internet.

The Army is even interested. It has requested that the National Academy of Sciences study meditation and other new age techniques that may enhance soldiers' performance.

Details do differ. However, a common theme is relaxing the body while the mind is kept alert and focused, whether it is on an object, sound, breath or body movement. If the mind wanders, and it generally does, you can gently bring it back down and begin again.

Stress related problems do in actual fact account for 60% to 90% of U.S. doctors visits, whilst mind-body approaches are very often more effective and cost effective, than drugs or surgery. For instance, 70% of insomniacs become regular sleepers, 34% of infertile patients become pregnant within six months, and visits to the doctor are reduced by 36%.

By Kevin Sinclair

Yoga and Side Shoulder Stand Go Beyond Asana to Reach Infinity

2008-09-23T21:35:00.001-07:00

Many practitioners of yoga think of asana (the physical poses, or exercises) as the whole of the art. Yet making them the end defeats the real purpose of yoga. To practice asana and not reach beyond them is like having a top-of-the-line automobile that we run only on a treadmill in the garage. Although the vehicle works perfectly, it doesn't take us anywhere. Such a car was designed to be on the road, to transport us powerfully into our future, our unexplored potential. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes an ashtanga (eight-limbed) path of which asana is but the third part. Our work in yoga begins with yama (ethics towards others), five guidelines that help us create and live in a sane and peaceful society. Then comes niyama (prescribed observances), personal disciplines that help us to become more aware of ourselves.

According to one traditional categorization of yoga's eight limbs, asana belongs with yama and niyama as part of bahiranga sadhana (external practices). Pranayama (breathing practices), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), and dharana (concentration) are known as antaranga sadhana (internal practices), while dyyana (meditation) and all the different levels of Samadhi (union) are considered antaratma sadhana (inner practices), the work that involves connecting with the Spirit within. The great Indian Sage Sri Aurobindo once wrote, When we have passed beyond knowings, then we shall have knowledge. Reason was the helper, but reason is also the bar. A similar shift in status from vehicle to roadblock can occur with the limbs of yoga. As we move along the way, the yamas, niyama, and asanas remain important, but if we focus entirely on them and make them the end of our endeavor, they become a burden.

We are misguided in our efforts when we dwell on that which is intended merely to help take us to the next level. The primary purpose of the asanas is to make the body strong, stable, and able to withstand the energy of prana, the life force cultivated in the practice of Pranayama. Pranayama, in turn, is used to strengthen the nervous system so that it can handle the power of the succeeding limbs of yoga, the withdrawal of the senses and the ever-deepening stages of meditation that lead to the greater purpose of yoga, the communication with the Self. When we practice with this understanding, the asanas serve as a bridge to infinity, to the vastness of the worlds inside. The yamas, niyamas, and the asanas are the ground in which we root, while the remaining parts of the eightfold path are the limbs that rise up endlessly in all directions, seeking our true Self.

Reaching Into Infinity

In asana practice, no posture better embodies and teaches this simultaneous rooting in the present while stretching into infinity that Parshva Sarvangasana, one of the most beautiful poses in yoga. As the legs reach powerfully, the arms and shoulder ground and the chest receives a mighty opening. The whole body balances on the fulcrum of the sacrum, and an amazing power is generated as you extend out of your center in both directions. This dual extension creates heat and energy in the body, forcing prana into the cells of the pelvis and abdomen. In very few poses are the legs completely unsupported as they reach toward the horizon; in most asanas, they're either rooted or inverted. In Parshva Sarvangasana, we gain an awareness of the legs that we cannot get from any other pose. Additionally, it requires a powerful lift of energy from the pelvis toward the heart center. Parshva Sarvangasana creates a connection between the hands--which are the most powerful physical energy emanatory in the body--and the sacrum--which is the most sacred bone, the center of balance. The body weight falling through the sacrum onto the hand creates a very powerful grounding, charging the sacrum with the hand's energy, which can then rise up through the body.

? 2008 Aadil Palkhivala

By Aadil Palkhivala

Use Yoga Exercises and Postures to Reduce Back Pain and Inflexibility

2008-09-23T21:32:00.001-07:00

What do you think is one of the most common ailments that patients consult their doctors for? Did you guess it? Yes, the answer is back pain. The majority of adult Americans have at some point in their physical development suffered from a bad back. Seeing as we are discussing facts, another fact is that over 82% of the people visiting their doctors complaining of back pain actually have no physical disorder of their backs. The pain and unease that they are feeling in that region of their bodies is systematic with a lack of suitable exercise that results in the corresponding pain caused by a lack of muscle tone in the back. These muscles assist in the support of the back.

Tension in the surrounding muscles is also created in the surrounding area where pain is experienced. Without doubt, Obviously then, following a course of yoga exercises will greatly improve your condition, and if maintained regularly these exercises will considerably reduce the need for visits to your doctor.

It would be inappropriate of me not to offer a word of warning at this juncture, in that you should always see your doctor prior to embarking on any form of physical persuit. This is to ensure that there aren't any contributory factors present other than has already been mentioned that could actually be causing the back pain. A herniated disk, for example, is a condition that will require professional attention, and following any form of physical activity without a full medical consultation could well worsen the existing condition.

That said, various yoga postures assist in strengthening the core muscles of the body, such as the abdominal muscles, and increased strength in this area in particular gives the back an increased amount of support. This benefits the sufferer by reducing the likelihood of further injury, which in turn lessens pain.

The vast majority of basic yoga exercises actually help to strengthen both the back and the abdominal muscles, as a result of which these will assist in reducing the occurrence of back pain. However, if you are already suffering from back pain it is advisable to take care and only do exercises you are able to complete comfortably, limiting the range of movement until you can release some of the tension and stiffness without causing any further inflammation.

By Michael J Mckay

The Benefits of Yoga

2008-09-23T21:31:00.003-07:00

Yoga is an ancient exercise, which was originated in India 5,000 years ago. Yoga is an applied science of the body and mind. Practicing yoga creates a balance between the body and mind. Yoga helps in internal as well as external strength. It balances the yin and yang. Yoga teaches about healthy body and healthy mind. Good health means calm mind.

The balance between mind, body and soul is established by yoga. Yoga was developed thousands of years ago by yogis. There are thousands of yoga asanas (exercises) and each has its own significance. Yoga can be done in the morning or in the evening. A trained instructor is required to teach the person. There are various breathing exercises, which help in relaxing the whole body. There are many standing exercises, deep breathing exercises and exercises, which are done sitting and lying flat.

There are many yoga institutes in US. There are various types of yoga, like kundalini yoga, hatha yoga etc. People with diseases and pain, whether it is migraine or arthritis, can utilize yoga as it can help in healing. By doing yoga the bodys immune system functions well and the healing properties in the body is enhanced. Meditation helps in improving a persons concentration and memory.

Yoga also helps in muscle flexibility, stamina, lowers fat, improves blood circulation, lowers bad cholesterol levels and makes the mind calm. Everybody can do yoga and attain its benefits.

By Paul Cris

Yoga A Beginner's Guide to Inversions

2008-09-23T21:31:00.001-07:00

I helped her up, kept her there for about 15 seconds, and carefully brought her down. She stood up, smiled, and gave me a big hug. The next day, the first thing she said to me was, Can you take me upside down again today? I've been told that she has been up during every single class since. At a spry 82, this woman had faced her fears, empowered herself and made herself more able in old age than youth.

Since we rarely, if ever, purposefully turn ourselves upside down, an aversion to inversions is natural. But it's a shame to let fear keep us from so many benefits and delights. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, He has not learned the lessons of life who does not every day surmount a fear.

A yoga practice without inversions is like a marriage without a spouse, lemonade without lemons, or a body without a heart - the essence is missing. Inversions set yoga apart from other physical disciplines: Psychologically, they allow us to see things from an alternate perspective. Emotionally, they guide the energy of the pelvis (the energy of creation and personal power) toward the heart center, enabling self exploration and inner growth. Physically, they stimulate the immune and endocrine systems, thereby invigorating and nourishing the brain and organs. When done correctly, inversions also release tension in the neck and spine.

To receive these palpable benefits--and to prevent injury, especially to the neck--it is essential to learn the correct setup and alignment for each pose. Also, I recommend that women forgo inversions during their menstrual period. Reversing blood flow goes against the body's natural urge to release stale blood and the endometrial lining, and it may lead to a backflow of menstrual fluid (known as retrograde menstruation). Other contraindications include neck injuries, epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and eye problems. So be mindful about your body as you approach these poses, but give them a try.

After 36 years of yoga, I practice both poses every day and recommend the same to my students. It takes a while to build up a practice of Sarvangasana and Shirsasana. Be patient with yourself, and work with a well-trained certified instructor. It can take time to master these two powerful poses, but when you do, you will reap their benefits for the rest of your life.

?Aadil Palkhivala 2008

By Aadil Palkhivala

Tantra Yoga Secrets

2008-09-20T17:54:00.001-07:00

Tantra Yoga is unity by controlling sexual energy. When you consider the main Indian Yoga styles, Tantra Yoga is probably the most controversial of them all. So what is the problem? Is it our sexual hang-ups or is it something more? What is the origin of Tantra Yoga? Is it all linked to the Kama Sutra or is there more to it?

Since Tantra Yoga uses many components of the classical Yoga styles such as mudras, pranayama, asanas, meditation, Bhakti, Yantra,and Kundalini, there are many similarities to other forms of Yoga practice. Some Yogis say that Tantra Yoga is the hardest Yoga to define, but there is a fundamental difference.

The major difference is Tantra Yoga accepts and embraces the power of desire. Tantra Yogis are not trained to avoid desires that arouse the senses. This is a stark contrast from the many other forms of Yoga, which train their students to renounce desire. This is the foundation of the division between Tantra Yoga and the other classical Indian styles.

The origins of Tantra Yoga and the Kama Sutra date back to the Fourth Century A.D. The author of the Kama Sutra was Vatsyayana Mallanaga, who is somewhat of a mystery in the history books. There are no other traces of him to be found. He did write the worlds most famous sex manual to date.

Northern India seems to be the birth place of Tantra Yoga and it appears to have migrated further north to Tibet, and China, before going global. Many contemporary Tantra Yogis practice Tantra Yoga of Tibetan or Indian origin. Tantra Yoga practitioners focus on the opposites and dualities within the universe such as, male and female, Shiva and Shakti, or Yin and Yang.

At different points in time, ritual Tantric sex has been considered common place within certain Tantra followings. However, it is not as common place as some might think. There is also a common belief that Tantric sex is always intentionally prolonged. This is not always the case and sometimes Tantric sex takes it own natural course.

Lastly, it should be noted that the Kama Sutra might have been considered a racy classic at the time of its writing, and during conservative points in history. However, by todays standards, the Kama Sutra would offend the masses much less. Some of the entertainment, at this point in time, has managed to make the public more callous than we should naturally be. Entertainment of the present day is sometimes comparable to that of the Roman coliseums in the past.

Tantra Yoga is a good example of the cycles and evolutions of morality within human history. Whether we think Tantra Yoga and the Kama Sutra are right or wrong, the current moral code will change with time, but we may not live long enough to see it.

By Paul Jerard

The 6 Styles of Yoga by Patricia Cotes

2008-09-20T16:44:00.001-07:00

Yoga as a Lifestyle

2008-09-17T20:10:00.001-07:00

A person interested in health and wellness should take a look at what yoga can offer. They may be surprised to find that many of the beliefs they held about yoga are not true. Many people underestimate yoga as a way to better their health and wellness. However, many others have found the truth and are living a healthier and happy yoga lifestyle.

Yoga is a low impact workout, but can also offer an aerobic workout. There are some forms of yoga that offer an amazing workout for the cardiovascular system. The focus on breathing and intense poses give the body an unbelievable workout that can be compared to almost any aerobic workout.

Yoga is great for a person of any fitness level. Poses can be modified for a beginner and advanced for someone more experienced. It is an exercise routine that can grow with a person. It is varied and there are many different types of yoga, so a person will not become bored.

Yoga is an exceptional fitness activity for health and wellness. Yoga is the exercise where breathing and stretching take the forefront. A person practicing yoga is working both their mind and body to bring about an overall good sense of health and wellness. Many see yoga as a lifestyle more than an exercise regime because it is so easy to cross over into daily life.

Yoga involves poses and breathing. A person works through various poses, while concentrating on breathing and relaxing. It works the body by manipulating and stretching it and it works the mind by relaxing and clearing it.

By Bob Taylor

Yoga in Practice Ishvara Pranidhana

2008-09-12T04:30:00.001-07:00

Yoga Basics

2008-09-11T04:28:00.001-07:00

The 6 Styles of Yoga

2008-09-11T04:08:00.001-07:00

Easy Ways to Practice Yoga at Home

2008-09-11T04:07:00.000-07:00

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Yoga is a spiritual practice which assists people in unifying mind, body and heart. Yoga consists of many Asanas and different yoga postures. For practicing yoga you are not necessarily required to join some sort of yoga classes, instead, you can easily practice yoga at home. Many times on account of many reasons such as lack of time, living far from yoga studios or unable to afford join yoga classes' people prefer to practice yoga at home rather than going anywhere else.

Sometimes people want to do Yoga in odd hours, like late night for peace of mind and at such time home is the best place to practice it. But to do that you should know how and what to do. There is below mentioned some points which you should keep in mind when you are going to do yoga at home -

Make a specific place for meditation. It may be either a room with door or even you can part one room into two sections with the help of furniture or a screen.

Arrange for tools required for doing yoga at home like yoga mat. It becomes easy to practice yoga with right tools.

Paint this place with soothing colors and decorate it with music, art and plants. Soothing music will help you in concentrating your mind.

Use some media assistance like yoga DVD. Then you will not have to worry remembering yoga steps and you will be able to practice well. During meditation if you are taking help of VCD or DVD voice then it prevents your mind from wandering anywhere.

There is no such compulsion that for yoga you must join some yoga studios. This is the best feature of yoga that you can do it anywhere you desire. When you are doing yoga at home then first of all you should make sure that you are physically fit and able to do it. If you are suffering from some sort of disease then doing yoga may be harmful. Hence practice yoga at home only when you are physically sound and healthy.

By Jim Andrews

Benefits Found in Yoga Offered in Many Vedic Books

2008-09-08T04:51:00.003-07:00

On the market today at many retail book stores and on a variety of web sites there are a huge number of vedic books currently being offered based on the subject of Yoga. Individuals have found a massive knowledge surrounding this marvelous practice that has gotten them encouraged enough to seek out professional individuals that can help train them in the practice of Yoga.

The practice of Yoga can assist individuals with managing their pain in areas such as knee, elbow, other sore joints, arthritis, rheumatism, and any other regular aches they may have. To assist with the pain that an individual has is to work directly with the pain center of the brain that helps regulate pain controlling mechanism that sends natural pain killers throughout the body. Another effect way to reduce pain within the body is helpful breathing exercises that are featured within the many of vedic books that focus on yoga.

These exercises teach the individual that there body can relax, which will help to free itself from many types of tension. This will also lengthen the time that the individual can exhale, because their muscles will be relaxing when ever they exhale.

Yoga has also been found to help individuals who suffer from various respiratory problems as well. When an individual is more aware of their breathing, then they are more able to control their exhale and inhales to slow down their respiration. This technique helps in calming down, relaxation, and in pain management. When relaxation and meditation techniques are used in combination with Yoga techniques, then individuals and therapist have found they have been extremely successful in reducing pain. Early preventive action in individuals by being aware of their inner body, which Yoga helps them successfully complete, can also help individuals benefit in reducing pain as well.

One of the major problems that individuals suffer from all over the world is back pain, which can be caused from long term stress or even acute muscle tension. Either way back problems can be a result of bringing an individual down emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically, and even economically. There is a particular practice of Yoga known as Yoga Asanas, which prevents and cures back pain by strengthening the back muscles to becoming more flexible.

There are a variety of vedic books about Yoga that will focus on the spirituality side and the meditation side of Yoga. There are also a variety of books available on the market today about the various accessories used in Yoga, which include straps, blocks, and mats. These books will give individuals basic and more concrete knowledge surrounding the practice of Yoga, but if an individual truly has the desire to learn the practice of Yoga, then they should join a Yoga class.

In a Yoga class individuals will learn methods for releasing negative energy, but the person must have a desire to change and must stay with the program for it to work successfully. Yoga is a constant positive energy, so when ever the individual joins a Yoga class the atmosphere should be completely positive. If there is any negativity when in the class, then consult the coordinator and if it persists, then you may want to find another class.

By Victor Epand

Why Yoga Exercises Are Different From Other Forms Of Exercise

2008-09-08T04:51:00.001-07:00

Yoga For Inner and Outer Beauty

2008-09-06T05:24:00.000-07:00

Yoga

2008-09-04T02:55:00.000-07:00