How to Lose Weight Preamble
To attain any objective in life, you must have a purpose for pursuing your objective. Your purpose of learning how to lose weight might be to live a healthier life. It is a proven fact that the slimmer, trimmer you are, the greater your chances of living a healthier, longer life free of debilitating diseases usually associated with obesity. Learning how to lose weight is relatively easy if you put your mind to it. To lose weight, and shed those unnecessary extra pounds, you must be determined to follow through on a disciplined plan of action or prescription.
There are many programs canvassing the best methods on how to lose weight. Some of these how to lose weight prescriptions are quite simple to follow, while others require you to go through a rigorous regime, in order to attain your aim of losing weight and attaining that trim, slim, perfect body shape that you see on TV and poster adverts. Whichever method you choose to follow in order to lose weight by getting rid of those unnecessary extra pounds, the most important thing is for you to
follow through on your plan of action, in a sustained disciplined manner.
Some of the best and most effective approaches on how to lose weight involve your combining several methods of weight control simultaneously. Dieting has proven to be the most popular method of losing weight. In dieting, you reduce the amount of your food intake. The food you eat must also be low in fats and proteins but rich in fibers. Food rich in fats and proteins contain bad cholesterol which increases your weight, without helping to build up your muscle mass. Fibers on the other hand not only help to build your muscles, but also help you to lose weight by giving your body only good, cholesterol.
Another method which you can use to lose weight is by doing regular physical exercises. Exercises like jogging, running, walking, weight lifting and several others when done on a regular basis help you to lose weight in a gradual though slow process. Exercises also help you to keep your body healthy through improved blood circulation. Couch potatoes who do little or no exercise, are more prone to blood related ailments, and need to learn to lose weight in order to improve their blood circulation and save themselves from debilitating diseases caused by poor blood circulation. This group of people can reduce their obesity by losing weight through regular exercises. You do not need to undergo a regime of rigorous exercises in order for you to lose weight. A regular daily plan of brisk walking for thirty minutes to an hour will get you to lose as much weight as rigorous jogging or running.
Research has established that the best course of action in getting to lose weight is by combining several methods of weight controls at the same time. For example, dieting while combined with regular exercises will not only help weight by shedding those unwanted extra body mass, but will also guarantee you a healthier, longer life.
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How Exercise Can Help You Sleep Better…
The amount of physical activity that you expend during the day is a key ingredient to helping you sleep restfully at night.
The more active your body is during the day, the more likely you are able to relax fully at night and fall asleep easily.
With regular exercise your sleep quality is improved and the transition between the cycles and phases of sleep becomes smoother and more regular.
Keeping up your physical activity during the day may also be help you deal with the stress and worry in your life.
Studies indicate that there is a direct correlation between how much we exercise and how we feel both emotionally and physically by changes in our brain chemistry that occur from regular exercise.
Try to increase your physical daily activity during the day. The goal here is to give your body enough stimulation during the day so that you are not restless at night.
Our bodies require a certain amount of physical activity in order to function in a healthy manner.
It is important to note that you should not be exercising three to four hours before bed.
The ideal time for you to exercise is in the late afternoon or early evening. You want to expend your physical energy long before it is time for your body to rest and ready itself for sleep.
Attempt to exercise at least three to four times a week for a continuous period of 20 to 30 minutes. This can include something as simple as walking or something as strenuous as running.
The goal is to increase your heart rate and strengthen your lung capacity. Adding a regular exercise activity to your daily schedule will improve your overall health and benefit you emotionally. This is can help promote a natural remedy for your sleeplessness.
Besides walking and running there are many physical activities that you can add to your life to increase your activity level. Aerobic exercises seem to work best to battle sleeplessness.
Your goal is to increase the amount of oxygen that reaches your blood. There are many types of aerobic activities to choose from. These include running, biking, using a treadmill, jumping rope, and dancing.
Some non-aerobic activities may be beneficial to you as you attempt to solve your insomnia problem. The following activities are relaxing and have other healing properties:
- Yoga has a stimulatory effect on your nervous system, particularly the brain. Yoga uses breathing techniques and yoga postures to increase blood circulation to the brain centre, promoting regular and restful sleeping patterns. Regular practice of yoga will relax you as well as relieve stress and tension.
- Tai Chi is a form of breathing and movement that was developed by ancient Chinese monks. The movements involved in Tai Chi are precise and slow, which is ideal if you have joint pain or are unable to participate in high impact aerobic exercises. Studies have shown that Tai Chi may help people with insomnia by promoting relaxation.
If you find that you have no time to exercise on a regular basis try sneaking extra moments of activity into your daily schedule. Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.
Try parking your car around the corner and walking that extra block to your appointment. There are many small ways that you can incorporate some added activity into your life. Your goal is to have a healthy, well balanced life…
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Yoga – Breathing Correctly A Simple Exercise To Help You Feel Better Instantly!
Breathing is one of our basic non-voluntary bodily functions, and is our connection to life itself and we also have control over it, so if we learn to breathe correctly we can actually maximize our health and energy levels.
The correct breathing exercise can be done by anyone you dont need to know anything about yoga and it is a quick an easy way to look and feel better instantly.
Lets look at correct breathing and its benefits.
As we have control over it, in yoga philosophy it is believed that if we can breathe correctly we can energize our bodies and our lives. This fundamental believe in correct breathing is seen as the basic cornerstone of yoga and other forms of exercise such as Ti Chi They all base their exercise regime upon correct breathing.
Below we will look at how to use the basic Yoga principle of PranayamaControl of the Breath to reenergize your whole body.
Breathing correctly why its so important
In many languages to breath has the same basic root as the word soul, spirit, and essence. The ancient Yoga Masters believed that if you can control your breathing, i.e. breath correctly you can enhance your life.
In Yoga the Yogis call the life energy Prana, and the Buddhists, Chi, but whatever you wish to call it, it is the energy that surrounds all life, all of creation and in the yoga philosophy we need it to derive the maximum from our lives
In Yoga it is believed that the breath holds more than just air, but also the energy of life. Therefore, by breathing correctly we not only take in a necessary dose of oxygen, but we also receive life energy at the same time, that acts as an energy boost to the whole body.
Breathing correctly to energize your body
The 20th century Yoga Master, Paramhamsa Yogananda taught through his organization, the Self-Realization Fellowship, a series of re-energizing exercises that focused on correct breathing that if performed each day, were believed to keep you fit, active, alert and energetic.
Correct breathing is one of the basic building blocks upon which all yoga exercises are based upon.
In yoga it is stressed that when you were feeling tired, or need some energy and general body re-charging, a correct breathing exercise can instantly give you a boost of energy.
Breathing correctly
Stand upright, with your arms straight out to your sides at shoulder level.
Exhale with the double breath, with your knees bent slightly and then bring your arms (still extended) to the front until your palms touch.
Then with a double inhalation this time, bring your arms back out, straightening your legs as you do so – and then tense the entire body upwards in a wave fashion.
Now, relax the body downwards in a wave in reverse order with another double exhalation. Repeat this exercise 5 times. To help you understand this, and to do it correctly, double breathing must be a short and long inhalation through the nose and a short and long exhalation through the nose and mouth.
The double breath will allow you to inhale and exhale more deeply and to provide oxygen to the blood, and at the same time take in a dose of life energy.
To practice the double breath, you should begin by inhaling strongly through the nose immediately with a short, defined inhalation followed directly by a long, profound inhalation – completely filling the lungs.
When doing so visualize the energy going into every cell of your body and filling you with energy.
Without pausing, exhale twice through the nose and mouth with a short, then a prolonged exhalation – making the sound: “Huf, Huffffffff.”
Try to visualize as you are breathing correctly, the life energy flowing into your body with every breath reenergizing your soul.
The positive benefits of correct breathing
If you practice only this exercise daily, you will gain positive benefits that will help you look and feel better.
Not only will you feel fresh and alert, you will also have exhaled by breathing correctly, many toxins and negative particles produced through our respiration process.
You will as a consequence look and feel healthier, you will be alert, and gradually you will come to sense the life energy that breathing correctly can give you.
This is a simple exercise that can be done by anyone even if you dont want to practice yoga itself, correct breathing will give you health benefits with very little effort.
YOGA an ancient form of Exercise
Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices dating back more than 5000 years from India. It is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. In India, Yoga is seen as a means to both physiological and spiritual mastery. Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas (postures).
Yoga as a means of spiritual attainment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and has influenced other religious and spiritual practices throughout the world. Hindu texts establishing the basis for yoga include the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and many others.
The four main paths of Yoga are
Karma yoga: The yoga of action in the world
Jnana yoga: The yoga of knowledge and intellectual endeavor
Bhakti yoga: The yoga of devotion to a deity
Raja yoga: The yoga of meditation
A committed practitioner of yoga is referred to as a yogi, yogin (masculine), or yogini (feminine).
The aims of the yoga practitioners are extremely varied.
1. Inspiration of Spiritual Element
2. Increased Flexibility and Fitness
3. Solutions to varied Health Disorders
4. All round development : Mind, Body, Soul
Yoga entails mastery over the body, mind, and emotional self, and transcendence of desire. According to the followers, the Yogi eventually reaches the enlightened state (Moksha) where there is a cessation of thought and an experience of blissful union. This union may be of the individual soul (Atman) with the supreme Reality (Brahman), as in Advaita Vedanta; with a specific god or goddess, as in Dvaita, or dualistic forms of Hinduism and some forms of Buddhism.
Common to most forms of yoga is the practice of concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana). The awareness is concentrated on a fine point of sensation (such as that of the breath entering and leaving the nostrils). Sustained single-pointed concentration gradually leads to meditation (dhyana), in which the inner faculties are able to expand and merge with something vast. Meditators sometimes report feelings of peace, joy, and oneness.
Advantages of Yoga
Yoga emphasizes treatment of the root cause of an ailment. It works in a slow, subtle and miraculous manner. Modern medicine can claim to save a life at a critical stage, but, for complete recovery and regaining of normal health, one must believe in the efficiency of yoga therapy.
On a physical level Yoga postures stimulate the glands, organs, muscles and nerves in ways that traditional exercise cannot. Muscle tightness and strain is quickly relieved and both circulation and digestion improves. Stress-related symptoms like poor sleep, fatigue, muscle spasms, anxiety, and indigestion are greatly improved.
Through continued practice Yoga postures can have a profound effect on the inner dimensions of life, establishing deep calm, concentration, emotional stability and confidence.
Yoga For Total Calmness
The known benefits of practicing yoga are both physical and mental. Physical benefits are the results of a well toned and stronger body together with improved vitality. It also improves our metabolism rate and overall health.
For mental benefits, yoga teaches us how to focus on breathing while we look and feel younger. It improves our athletic performance too.
Consistent practice of yoga with meditation help to control ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure, digestive problems, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic and heart problems. Laboratory tests have even proved the yogi’s increased abilities of consciously controlling autonomic or involuntary functions, such as temperature, heartbeat and blood pressure.
According to medical scientists, yoga therapy is successful because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body. Yoga acts both as a curative and preventive therapy. The very essence of yoga lies in attaining mental peace, improved concentration powers, a relaxed state of living and harmony in relationships.
Through the practice of yoga, we become aware of the interconnectedness between our emotional, mental and physical levels.
I have practiced yoga for more than ten years now and I find that not only does it give me wonderful physical workouts; it also provides me with a completely different outlook in life. It does not matter how tired I may be going into class, I always look forward to it and I come out a changed person when the session ends. I feel refreshed and renewed, like every cell in my body is sparkling.
Many activities and workouts can get our bodies in shape and toned, but yoga provides much more than just a workout. Holding yoga postures actually wrings toxins out of our body and the yogi breathing infuses the body with energy.
We need to breathe deeply to bring oxygen to all our cells, rid the body of toxins and energize us, but we also use breathing to help us turn inward in meditation. Peace of mind is important to us and so is staying calm during the day.
BENEFITS
Physicians and scientists are discovering more and more new health benefits of practicing yoga. Studies show it can relieve the symptoms of several common and potentially life-threatening illnesses such as arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, diabetes, asthma and obesity.
Asthma
Studies conducted at yoga institutions in India have reported impressive improvements in asthma. It has also been proved that asthma attacks can usually be prevented by practice of yoga.
Respiration Problems
Patients who practice yoga have a better chance of gaining the ability to control their breathing problems. With the help of yogic breathing exercises, it is possible to control an attack of severe shortness of breath.
High Blood Pressure
The relaxation and exercise components of yoga have a major role to play in the treatment and prevention of high blood pressure and hypertension. Breathing and relaxation exercises in yoga have been proven to control blood pressure, thus reducing the intake of medication for high blood pressure.
Relief of Pain
Breathing exercises used in yoga can also reduce pain because our muscles tend to relax when we exhale. Lengthening the time of exhalation can help produce relaxation and reduce tension. Awareness of breathing helps to achieve calmer, slower respiration and help in relaxation and body pain.
Arthritis
The easy stretches with deep breathing exercises relieve the tension that binds up the muscles and further tighten the joints. Yoga is relaxation and exercise rolled into one the perfect anti-arthritis formula.
Weight Reduction
Regular yoga practice helps in weight management because it improves our metabolism. It is able to overcome anxiety and thus solving the problem on anxious eating. Yoga deep breathing increases oxidation or burning up of fat cells. Yogic exercises induce more continuous and deeper breathing which gradually burns, sometimes forcefully, many of the calories already ingested.
Mental Performance
Experts suggest that the regular practice of breathing through one nostril may help improve communication between the right and left side of our brain. This increased brain activity is associated with better performance and doctors even suggest that yoga can enhance cognitive performance.
Mood change and Vitality
People who participate in yoga over a period of time claim a positive effect on outlook and energy level. stretching and breathing exercises in yoga have been seen as a beneficial effect on mental and physical energy.
Yoga-Your Path To Peace With Food
Several months ago, I attended a conference in Florida to work with a wonderful group of people in the medical and related health fields. We were all together because of our interest in different ways to treat the obesity epidemic. After the conference, a number of us decided to take a break and sit outside to enjoy the afternoon sun. We talked about many topics, including our children, the work we were doing, how some of us loved doing yoga, and, of course, food. Being the only nutritionist in the group, the conversation eventually turned, as it often does, to dieting and weight control.
Several of the women had been on and off Weight Watchers for years. It is a terrific program and the women liked going to the meeting for the support and encouragement, as well as the flexibility and difference food choices they can make. One woman’s story really struck me:
She said she had once lost 40 pounds on this program, and during this time was also regularly doing yoga. She also found herself able to get into the meditative practices of yoga, which are quite difficult to attain. She also enjoyed practicing many of the postures, or asanas. More importantly, she said that during this time, she was experiencing such confidence in herself that she was able to drive past fast food places without feeling the need to stop and get something to eat. She sounded as though this was a very peaceful time for her, not just with her weight, but in her life.
Unfortunately, as often happens, the woman eventually gained back all of the weight (along with a few additional pounds) and she stopped practicing yoga. I found the combination of the two (practicing yoga and losing weight) quite interesting and I spoke to her about this. I suggested that she worry less about the “food” part and consider adding the yoga back into her life. Most of us have a very good idea of what it means to “eat healthy,” what we need to do in order to lose weight. Folks who have been to Weight Watchers are well-educated as to the various acceptable choices they can make, and which foods they can prepare. The woman admitted she did already knew all of this.
I suggested that she focus on rebuilding time for yoga first. The meditation, the postures, and the different yoga sequences would make her feel at peace with her body. Yoga always gives me a sense that, regardless of my weight, I can feel good in my body. Yoga is not just about being flexible in your body. It’s about increasing flexibility, building strength and endurance, physically AND emotionally.
I know that once this woman starts practicing yoga again, she will be able to permanently lose the weight. Not focusing on food while focusing on increasing activity improves one’s overall health and well-being.
Being at peace with your body enables you to become at peace with food so much more easily!
Yoga for Children: Exercises You & Your Child Can Do at Home
How many times have you looked at a child at play and wished you could bottle some of their energy, or at least get it focused on something productive? Kids always have an abundance of energy, and they are always open to new and exciting ways to spend it. This is why yoga for children is such a great concept. Yoga has for centuries proven to be an effective way to focus, relax, and increase inner peace, and parents and teachers alike are beginning to adopt the technique for the benefit of kids.
Yoga for children offers many fun poses and exercises for kids to enjoy, and there are many benefits to be had. Yoga increases creativity and concentration, calms the mind, builds strength and balance, and helps kids connect with nature. The exercises which have been specifically designed for kids are entertaining, easy to follow and come in a variety of levels, from simple to challenging. For example, when you are having a moment where you feel like screaming, chances are the child feels the same way. Here is an exercise to help both of you – called “the roar.” Sit with the child facing you (or, if you are in a group, sit everyone in a circle). Take turns roaring, very softly, while sticking your tongue out. Each time it’s your turn roar a little louder, until everyone is at full volume. This releases tension while opening the lungs, and everyone feels better afterward.
The “roller coaster” is another fun exercise that encourages leadership and group cooperation while firing the imagination. Line all the kids up, sitting in a row. Each child grabs the waist of the child in front of him. Up front is the leader of the ride, and when he leans left or right, the rest of the passengers follow suit. The leader signifies the end of the ride by throwing his arms in the air. Each child gets a turn being the leader, and afterwards everyone feels like they had an excursion to the theme park.
The “sunrise/sunset” pose is an example of how yoga can help kids connect to nature. For this exercise, the child stands with his feet apart and his arms straight up in the air. Have him reach for the sky and stretch, as if he is the sun on the rise. Then have him hang his arms toward the earth and stretch down, as if he is the sun going back to sleep. This exercise helps to strengthen a child’s natural affinity with nature.
Another helpful exercise is the “sandwich wrap.” Lie the child at the edge of a blanket, and then roll him into it while asking him what kind of sandwich he is. Have him make up a different sandwich each time, i.e. a BLT, a ham and cheese, etc. This encourages imagination, but also creates calmness. Because light pressure and compression induce focus in children, this is an especially productive exercise for small children or kids with ADD.
The “flamingo” is a pose which enhances balance while forcing the mind to concentrate. For this pose, the child stands on one leg while extending the other straight out behind her. She then leans forward with both arms extended out to the side, like an airplane. The mind must stay clear for balance to be kept in this pose, so every time her mind wanders, she’ll wobble and have to focus to regain balance again. For this reason, this pose is beneficial to the powers of concentration.
Yoga for children can brings many positive changes to a child’s behavior both at home and in the classroom, and this is why so many teachers are beginning to use it. For those who are interested in bringing yoga into their own classroom, kids yoga teacher training is available at a number of places across the country. Contact your local yoga studio for more information. Also, for parents who want to practice yoga with their children, a kids yoga dvd is a fantastic way to begin this activity at home. You and the kids can enjoy quality time together in the comfort of your own home or outdoors if you like, while learning the ancient and very beneficial techniques of yoga.
What can Yoga do for you?
From its Indian origins as far back as 4000 years ago, yoga has been continually practised but it is only in the present century that its use has become more widespread. Yoga has an effect on the whole person,combining the physical, mental and spiritual sides. The word ‘yoga’ is derived from a Sanskrit word that means ‘yoke’ or ‘union’ and thus reflects on the practises of yoga being total in effect. For many hundreds of years in India, only a select few, such as philosophers and like-minded people with their disciples followed the way of life that yoga dictated. The leaders were known as ‘yogis’ and it was they who taught their followers by passing on their accumulated knowledge. These small groups of people dwelt in caves or woods, or sometimes a yogi would live like a hermit. Yoga has had quite far reaching effects over many hundreds of years in India.
The basics of yoga were defined by a yogi called Patanjali who lived about 300BC. He was a very well respected teacher and commanded great influence at that time and his classification is one that is used now. He established the fact of yoga being separated into eight different parts. The first two concern a person’s lifestyle, which should be serene with the days spent in contemplation, study, maintaining cleanliness and living very simply and at peace with others. Anything that involves avarice or greed or is harmful to others has to be avoided. The third and fourth parts are concerned with physical matters and list a number of exercises that are designed to promote peace and infuse energy into both the mind and the body. The remaining four sections are concerned with the advancement of a person’s soul or spirit and mental faculties by being able to isolate himself or herself from outside worries and normal life, contemplation and broadening mental faculties with the ultimate knowledge known as somadhi. Mentally, this is a complete change that gives final realisation of existence. Much more recently, yoga became available in India to everyone, in complete contrast to centuries ago.
Nowadays, the practice of yoga is not restricted to India alone, with millions of people worldwide being followers. There are five different types of yoga: raja, jnana, karma, bakti and hatha. It is this last system that is known in the west and it involves the use of exercises and positions. The other methods concentrate on matters, such as control over the mind, appreciation and intelligence or a morally correct way of life. These other methods are regarded as being of equal importance by the person completely committed to yoga as a way of life. Although people may have little or no spiritual feeling, the basic belief of yoga is the importance of mental attitudes in establishing the physical from exercise.
In yoga it is believed that the body’s essence of life (prana), is contained in the breath. Through a change in the way of breathing there can be a beneficial effect on the general health. If a person is in a heightened, emotional condition, or similar state, this will have an effect on the breathing. Therefore, if the breathing is controlled or altered, this should promote joint feelings of peace or calm, both mentally and emotionally. There is a variety of exercises and each promotes different types of breathing, such as the rib cage, shoulder and diaphragm. Some of the movements and stances in use were originally devised from the observations of animals, since they appeared to be adept at relaxation and moved with minimum effort. These stances which are maintained for one two minutes, aim to increase freedom of movement and make the person aware of the various parts of the body and any stress that may be present. It is not intended that they be physically tiring or that the person should ’show off’ in front of others. The aim is to concentrate on self knowledge.
It is recommended to follow some simple rules when practising yoga. First use a fully qualified therapist and practise daily if at all possible. It is always best that yoga is undertaken before mealtimes but if this is not possible then three hours must elapse after a large meal or one hour after a light meal. Comfortable clothes are essential and a folded blanket or thick rug should be placed on the ground as the base. Before commencing yoga have a bath or shower and repeat this afterwards to gain the maximum benefit. If the bladder or bowels are full it is not advisable to do yoga. Should the person have been outside on a hot or sunny day it is not recommended that yoga is practised straight afterwards, as feelings of sickness or dizziness may occur.
Yoga is believed to be of benefit to anyone, providing that they possess determination and patience. If a person has certain physical limitations then these must be taken into account with regard to their expectation but there is no age barrier. If you suffer from stress or disorder in your lives, teachers believe that you are in greater need of harmony and peace. Yoga was used in the main to encourage health in the physical and mental states and thereby act as a preventative therapy. Tension or stress was one of the main disorders for which it was used but nowadays it has been used for differing disorders hypertension, bronchitis, back pain, headaches, asthma, heart disorders, premenstrual tension and an acid stomach. Trials have also been conducted to assess its potential in treating some illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and depression experienced after childbirth. Since the effects of tension are often shown by the tightening and contraction of muscles, the stretching exercises that are performed in yoga are able to release it. Also, being aware of each muscle as it is stretched encourages the person to mentally lose any stress or problems with which they have been beset. Suppleness is developed by the exercises through the use of the bending and twisting actions. This will help to maintain healthy joints, particularly for those people who lead inactive lives.
There should be no strain felt and after practise some or all of them can be done in order. As mentioned previously, it is best to check with a qualified therapist if the person is an expectant mother, suffers from hypertension, is overweight or is having their monthly period.
I have already mentioned that yoga has been used to treat some illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and if a person has such a severe disorder, then a highly skilled and experienced therapist is essential. Since this form of yoga, known as therapeutic yoga, is new there is a limited number of suitably experienced therapists available. For those who wish to use yoga to maintain mental and physical health, joining a class with an instructor is perhaps the best way to proceed, so the exercises are performed correctly and any lapses in concentration can be corrected. These classes last usually in the region of an hour and are separated into sessions for beginners and those who are more proficient. Proficiency and progress are achieved by frequent practice, which can be done at home between lessons.
Most doctors now regard yoga as a type of exercise that is of benefit, although a few will recommend that patients refer to yoga practitioners. However, if a specific disorder is to be treated, it is very important that the ailment should first be seen by a doctor.
About Yoga and Meditation
The word YOGA is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘YUJA’ as also from the root ‘YUJIR’ meaning to ‘unite’ or to integrate’. This union refers to the union of the individual consciousness with the cosmic or divine consciousness. In the contemporary context it means the integration of physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual aspects of human personality and also the integration of an individual with his environment and society. In its true spirit YOGA is the inhibition of the functions of the mind by ‘Abhyasa (Practice- discipline) and Vairagya (Detachment). AYURVEDA has a four-dimensional entity comprising of Sarira (Body), Indriya (Senses), Satva (Mind) and Atma (Soul) and YOGA refers to the union or integration of these four aspects.
Yoga has evolved to include postures that really do fit that sort of description. Through much persistence, patience and careful study, many people today have achieved and even surpassed those. For the uninitiated, the image of yoga commonly consists of contorting yourself into a human pretzel and sitting on the pointy bit of some distant mountain.
Even so, this should be considered an extremity of yoga. Just as all martial arts have evolved from yoga, anything can be taken to the point of distraction when on the road to enlightenment. These complex and sometimes dangerous yoga poses should only be considered after years of experience and never seen as an end-goal.
The oldest formal documentation of yoga comes from around 200 B.C. but there are many references that point way back to the Vedic times where, it is said, the yoga path was initiated. In any case, yoga has been around in one form or another for a very long time.
Long enough to have been the precursor to every form of martial arts and every type of exercise system. Translating from the ancient Sanskrit, the word yoga is derived from the verbal root, yuj, meaning to yoke, harness. From the language, yoga is the process of uniting ourselves in order to express the energy of our true nature. In other words, yoga is the methodical steps of aligning and converging our body, mind and spirit for the purpose of enlightenment. Please visit us at http://www.ayurvedasbeautycare.com
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8 Considerations in Selecting a Yoga Retreat
Congratulations! You are considering a yoga retreat. You have allocated the time and money and are committed to a meaningful experience. Other than someone else’s opinion, how do you know what to expect from your upcoming yoga retreat? We think a little forethought and proper planning can go a long way towards making your retreat a life experience, just as it should be.
A little online research will show that there are terrific yoga retreats all over the globe. The abundance of differing techniques, varied locations and contrasting practices may be a bit overwhelming. Let’s see if we can help develop a checklist of considerations that might help finalize your choice.
1. Instruction – Just as you know there are many forms of yoga, you also know each variation has a different instructional style. No two yoga instructors are the same. Make sure the teaching style at your retreat is to your liking and within you ability. Most likely you will want to continue this form of yoga upon your return so check to be sure that the yoga form and style of instruction at the retreat are available in your local environs. Most yoga retreats offer online resources that describe the practice of yoga and the style of instruction at their facility. As this is probably the most significant consideration on your list, get to the bottom of the information. If you read the site’s material and still have questions, get on the phone.
2.Goals – Make sure you understand the goals of the yoga retreat you will be engaging and that their goals match well with your personal aspirations. Again, research is the key. When setting your goals, think both long-term benefit and short-term benefit. If the program does not give you a sense of these benefits, speak to a coordinator.
3.Facility – Get an understanding of the program’s facility and how the yoga program utilizes the retreat’s facilities. Practical ramifications of this information may affect how you will dress and therefore the clothes you need to pack.
4.Approach – Visit the web site and ascertain if the focus is on group or private sessions. Make sure you are comfortable with whichever environment the program promotes. If sessions are group oriented, be familiar with the group size. Eliminating the potential for a misunderstanding is your responsibility, not the responsibility of the program.
5.Experience – Chance are that you know someone who is familiar with the yoga retreat. Cross-reference your own research with the first hand or word-of-mouth experiences of previous attendees. Don’t be afraid to ask if they would return or what their progress has been since visiting the retreat.
6.Travel – Just as you plan your itinerary, make sure there are no holes in your travel plans. Some retreats are in outlying areas. Also, check to assure that you understand the climate to which you will be traveling. Verify and confirm all return-trip information weeks before departing and, of course, cover your bases at home and work.
7.Budget – Your budget should include all costs associated with travel and the yoga retreat. Make sure you fully understand what the price of the retreat includes. Be especially clear about meal provisions. It is safe to say that every yoga retreat has its own standards.
8.Experience – Many yoga retreats cater to practitioners of different levels. Some retreats are prone to accept beginning students while others prohibit the beginner. You may need a little honest self-evaluation to be sure you are up to the program’s standards. Most important is matching your experience level with the program’s stated experience levels. Being comfortable with the level of the program will make your feel welcome and begin what should be a terrific experience.