Yoga For Beginners Guide

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 The art of combining Yoga and walking, while integrating mindfulness techniques into both activities, will help you to integrate and resolve emotional difficulties - providing your body and mind with a great holistic exercise. Spending some time outside in the fresh air, and sunlight every day, will also help to regulate your circadian rhythms (body clock) and increase your serotonin levels, which will help to increase your energy level and support a positive outlook on life. Practicing Yoga asanas and mindful walking together, or in tandem with each other, will benefit your body, heart, and mind.

By Dr. Rita Khanna In the modern scenario, human life has become very fast, hectic and demanding. The present lifestyle demands adjustment on the part of the individual. Each of us, as per our coping resources, tries to adjust in this changing world. Some adjust by becoming overactive and others by withdrawing from the situation. When we fail to make a proper adjustment according to the demands of the situation, a state of negative stress or distress develops in our personality, which gives rise to mental or psychological problems. In most people the mind always remains in a state of arousal and tension. Yoga nidra, as a technique of Pratyahara, not only provides relaxation to the body and mind but also has a number of other benefits.

By Shahid Mishra Parenting is at once the most rewarding and the most taxing job a human being can undertake. Babies do not come with a manual and there are no clear-cut steps to take in order to sculpt and create the perfect childhood. Parents always want what's best for their children; which adds to the task, making it seem like an insurmountable obstacle. Parenting is made easier and more natural through the practice of daily Yoga meditation.

By Sangeetha Saran Practicing Yoga over any length of time will gradually enhance intuition. Yoga is a philosophy that seeks to answer the eternal questions "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" The path to this inner wisdom is different for every traveler. Yet, at the core of any spiritual practice is a belief in a higher power whose presence represents pure bliss. How, then, can we reach our destinations?

By Faye Martins Considering the many physical styles of Yoga, not to mention the diverse philosophies considering its practice, it is little wonder that there is controversy over the use of props. According to some purists, ancient Yogis never used props, and neither should modern ones. While opinions vary, mats are props and most Yoga instructors agree that props can be helpful. After all, most western contemporary Yoga enthusiasts do not spend long hours practicing in ashrams, these days. How many modern Yoga students would like to go back to the past and practice Yoga in dirt, mud or on grass?

By Kimaya Singh Wintertime is a season of great beauty, serenity and celebration. It is also a time when many of us find that we get a number of colds and are vulnerable to catching the flu. A regular practice of Yoga asanas and pranayama exercises will help to keep you in good physical and mental health. There are also Yoga asanas and pranayama exercises that are particularly beneficial for enhancing the functioning of the immune system. The immune system is "staffed" by white blood cells that are distributed throughout the body by the lymphatic system. Exercise in general will help to increase the functioning of the immune system by increasing the circulation of white blood cells throughout the entire body. Yoga asanas that turn the body upside down are known as inversions. Inversions will substantially support the efficient functioning of your immune system through the added power of gravity to increase circulation.

By Faye Martins Walking is a great way to stay in shape. You can walk almost anywhere and during any season. Spending time outside in the sunlight is one of the primary ways to regulate your circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm governs your sleep-wake cycle. Walking earlier rather than later in your day will help to keep your sleep-wake cycle earlier as you burn off the hormone primarily responsible for sleep, melatonin.

By Dr. Rita Khanna Tube lights require a certain voltage to come on. If the voltage is required to be 220 and it goes down to 180, what happens? No light. Air conditioners have a booster attached which completes the circuit so that they can continue to function even when the voltage is low. However, if the voltage is very high, say 440, the tube light and the armature in the air conditioner will burn out. Similarly, in our bodies there is energy, Shakti, which can be increased or decreased. When this Shakti is decreased, the mind-body and all of its functions are impaired.

By Asha Saith The word yoga has been a part of my existence since I was a child. My mother employed the exercises for an injury to her spine and my grandmother, noting the benefits started Yoga in her forties and was able to achieve an unassisted headstand in her fifties! For me personally, I do Yoga classes because I leave each class feeling good - rejuvenated and relaxed and also recharged - and ready to face whatever life has in store for me. In my humble opinion this mental state is a strong contributor to good health.

By Bhavan Kumar Having a set of well thought out goals prevents individuals from drifting aimlessly through life but goals should never become distanced and removed from present moment reality. Pairing meditation with efforts to reach goals leads to heightened levels of productivity and success easily and with less perceived effort. It's a state worth living in.

By Kimaya Singh Yoga can be a wonderful tool for supporting you in your weight loss efforts. Many of the standing Yoga poses are very strengthening and vigorous. When you learn how to enter more deeply into the postures, in correct alignment, you will greatly increase the beneficial effects of the practice. Yogic standing postures increase balance, coordination, flexibility and strength. Each Yoga posture targets different areas of the body. Engaging in a regular practice of standing Yoga postures that are linked together by a series of Sun Salutations will enliven and invigorate you. It will also strengthen all of the major muscle groups in your body, keep your spine strong and flexible, and enhance the circulation of fresh blood and nutrients throughout your entire being.

By Jenny Park Ironically, quantum physicists are now telling us the same thing that sages have said for thousands of years. We are living in a sea of energy that connects us to everything else in the universe. Ancient healing arts, such as Yoga, Reiki, and qigong, are all methods of harnessing this vital life force and bringing it into the body to promote wellness and healing. In recent years, many medical professionals and scientists have recognized the importance of energy work as a viable complement to traditional therapies, and the knowledge of these practices is no longer a mystery.

By Bhavan Kumar Hatha Yoga is an intense physical and mental exercise that yields high levels of conditioning and flexibility, especially when compared to other popular fitness techniques. However, yoga has a greater potential to lead to serious injuries as well. As a yoga teacher, there are steps you can take to prevent student injuries from happening in your classroom.

By Bhavan Kumar Although a specialist work shop or yoga teacher training course for arthritis is rare, there is much information available. We know that controlled movement such as traditional asana practice can give pain relief. We also know that too much repetitive motion will cause pain. Therefore, if a student has arthritis, holding asanas are fine, but flowing through them isn't recommended.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Chemotherapy, used most often in cancer treatment, is a powerful tool. However, like killing bugs with a sledgehammer, it packs a powerful punch to the entire body, not just the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy indiscriminately kills cells that divide rapidly, meaning that it also harms non-cancerous cells dividing rapidly under normal circumstances. Bone marrow cells, digestive tract cells, and hair follicles are all targeted by the chemotherapy, resulting in the most common side effects of the treatment: alopecia (hair loss), myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells), and mucositis (inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract).

By Gopi Rao Pranayama refers to the deep and deliberate breathing associated with yoga. More specifically, pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "control of the life force." Pranayama is often referred to as breath control, or yogic breathing. Pranayama techniquess are beneficial in keeping the body healthy and free of toxins.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Around the world, Yoga has moved from private studios to large, mainstream gyms as its stress-relieving body benefits become known to the general public. Is the move to the mainstream good for Yoga? How does gym Yoga compare to Yoga practiced in a Yoga studio?

By Faye Martins There are a number of Yoga poses that effectively release tension in the shoulders. Many of these shoulder opening Yoga poses also help to release tension in the throat and neck areas. Our shoulders are often repositories of anxiety, anger, stress and unresolved emotions such as grief. When we hold our shoulders tensely, we are often holding our tongues as well. This emotional and muscular contraction will stagnant the free flow of energy throughout your body. Tension in the shoulders can also cause tension headaches as the muscle tightness creeps up into the neck area. Working at a computer or desk for several hours in a row may also create tension in the shoulders.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What is happiness? Is it something acquired from sources outside of the self, is it something found within every human being, or is it something carefully developed within us? Studies on happiness over the years have questioned where this feeling comes from: Does it come from obtaining material possessions or from a place within the brain, mind or soul? The results primarily point toward happiness as a feeling coming from within a person. Although certain material possessions can cause brief bouts of happiness, these feeling are usually temporary.

By Gopi Rao Everyone agrees that Yoga has become more mainstream in the world today. With Yogic methods in the limelight, however, there is increasing focus on styles, trends, and fads sweeping through the community. Unfortunately, some of these trends are annoying and even detrimental. Here are eight trends that many Yoga teachers wish would end as soon as possible.