The Yoga rules

Yoga, as a discipline, can lead to the rejuvenation of your spirit and this in itself is a worthwhile pursuit. However, this is only the beginning and through the practice of developing basic yoga exercise positions and postures (and then advanced yoga positions) it is possible to achieve a fusion of spirit, body and mind. This all takes time, however, and there are no short cuts. If you are new to yoga, you must start out slowly and learn basic yoga positions for beginners before you attempt to strengthen your body or try more advanced practices such as improving blood flow throughout your system. Start slowly and avoid the temptation to run before you can walk. Slow practise of these different yoga positions for beginners, however, can provide immediate spiritual, mental and physical benefits.

Be like the tortoise, not the hare!

Yoga exercise positions can take some getting used to. Don't forget that when you first start trying out the various yoga positions, your body will be relatively inflexible and so vulnerable to injury if you attempt too much, too soon. Speed up later on, but get the basics right from the outset. Trust me, your body will thank you for the patience! You will need to learn the correct stretching postures from the outset and also develop the correct mental skills - remember, yoga is good for the whole system. Be realistic, you WILL feel slightly awkward at first, but this is natural and is not a reason to quit. Gradually, the wonderful physical and mental benefits will start to manifest in all areas of your life. Isn't that worth waiting for?

So, what can you expect?

Well, these different yoga positions for beginners include such positions/poses as standing and sitting. Sounds simple, doesn't it? However, these basic positions are essential in correcting any imbalance in your posture and must be mastered before moving on to more advanced yoga positions. These first, basic steps also help to strengthen the entire back and hips. Balance is also very important and so you will need to perfect a series of forward and backward bends. Again, they aren't particularly difficult, but these poses also have the added benefit of developing flexibility in your body and will enable you to release tension from your entire system.

Essentially, you must learn to 'listen' to what your body is telling you; don't push too hard for too long. Your capabilities WILL improve over time but if you initially attempt too much then injury could result and this will set you back even further. A yoga instructor is necessary to provide a daily routine for you to follow. Yes, yoga books have their place, but you simply can't make as much progress as with the guiding hand of an experienced practitioner of the art. Join a class, see what problems and benefits other beginners are experiencing and then go for it.

Remember, yoga positions for beginners are simply that - a stepping stone to more advanced techniques which will yield even greater physical and mental benefits.

Here's to speedy progress!

Yardley Moore invites you to discover more about the great benefits of yoga by visiting [http://www.youryogatips.com]www.YourYogaTips.com where you will find lots of information and advice about [http://www.youryogatips.com]yoga positions for beginners.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yardley_Moore

Americans are increasingly looking for alternatives to prescription medications to promote health and prevent disease. I previously wrote about the effects of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on promoting mental health and reducing anxiety. What about other alternative approaches? Yoga is a discipline derived from India combining mental and physical exercises that is increasingly catching on in the U.S. Not really knowing how to describe it I looked up the handy online dictionary for a definition of the word.

Yoga (noun); the word yoga derives from the Sanskrit, literally, yoking, from yunakti ("he yokes").

1. a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation

2: a system of exercises for attaining bodily or mental control and well-being

Assuming that people were practicing yoga to promote their physical and/or mental health as well as sense of well being, I followed my tradition of relentless questioning, and asked, is there any evidence that this stuff actually works?


Studies comparing yoga to exercise such as swimming show that yoga reduces anger, depression, and fatigue to an equal degree as swimming (and better than doing nothing) and in some cases yoga is better than swimming. Controlled studies have shown that yoga is equally efficacious as exercise and better than doing nothing for reducing fatigue and promoting energy in patients with multiple sclerosis. Yoga has proven beneficial in promoting health in patients with asthma, diabetes, breast cancer and epilepsy.

Yoga has also been shown to be useful in the treatment of major depression, with one study showing a response rate of 67% in patients in yoga compared to 73% for patients treated for a month with an antidepressant drug. Other studies showed yoga to be effective for reducing anxiety, although studies in this area were not well controlled.

There is increasing evidence that interventions promoting mind-body relationships are a good alternative to prescription medications. So limber up and get those moves going!

J. Douglas Bremner, MD, is a researcher and physician and author of
'Before You Take That Pill: Why the Drug Industry May be Bad for Your Health: Risks and Side Effects You Won't Find on the Label of Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins and Supplements.' http://www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Bremner

What is Yoga? Why do some religious fundamentalists fear Yoga? What is the objective of Yoga? These questions about the true purpose of Yoga always arise, but the answers are not quite clear. So, let's get to the heart of the matter.

Yoga is many things and there are many forms of Yoga. For example: Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of devotion) is commonly practiced in India, but is rarely practiced in the West. The most popular form of Yoga in the West is Hatha Yoga (Yoga of physical mastery).

It is understandable that Hatha Yoga and its many sub-styles would take hold in the West, especially on the American continents. Physical mastery, in and of itself, is much easier to absorb than over 5,000 years of Indian culture. The physical aspect of Yoga is the easiest to master, but the study of Yoga is a long journey.

Bhakti Yoga, as mentioned earlier, is the Yoga of Devotion and more emphasis is placed on spiritual and mental health. Religious practices, of any faith, will be much more pronounced within a group of Bhakti Yoga practitioners.

To put it simply, Yoga is the union of mind, body, and spirit for complete health. There are far more benefits to be realized through the constant practice of Hatha Yoga, or any other kind of Yoga, but this is the foundation of "unity." Physical mastery is constructive and, at the very least, keeps us healthy.

Please bear in mind that all forms of Yoga may overlap in aspects of complete and whole health, but the emphasis within each style will be different. For example: In a Hatha Yoga class, physical, mental, and spiritual mastery may be practiced. The aspects taught depend on the curriculum, the exact style of Hatha Yoga, and the Yoga teacher.

Once a Yoga practitioner embarks on the path of unity, self realization and tranquility are acquired. The Yogic path is filled with many steps before self realization, tranquility, and oneness with God. The following are some of the steps we should take toward self-improvement.

Purify your inner being by freeing yourself from vanity, intolerance, anger, attachment to material, and the ego. We are only human and self-perfection is a difficult road to travel, but we must keep going one step at a time. What do we do when we make a mistake or sin? We pick ourselves up, learn from our mistakes, and amend our behavior.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Article Source: http://articles-galore.com

With Kegal exercise, your pregnancy can be more comfortablebefore, during, and after your baby is born. With the properkegal exercise, you can strengthen the vaginal muscles and allowfor smoother pregnancy. Kegal exercises strengthen your pelvicmuscles, which become weakened during childbirth. This couldlead to bladder control problems.

To find the correct muscles to target, pretend that you aretrying to stop urinating. Squeeze those muscles for a fewseconds and then relax. Repeat this every few seconds. It's assimple as that. Nobody even has to know that you're doing them.Just make sure you breathe while doing the kegal exercises.

It's important that you don't overdo your kegel exercise in thefirst few weeks after birth. Otherwise, you may become verysore. Three sets of ten repetitions per day is probably ideal.

So, What are some other healthy exercises that can be performedduring pregnancy? Some of the best ones are listed below.

Swimming: Many doctors and fitness professionals profess thatswimming is the safest exercise for pregnant women. Swimmingkeeps your body tone without stressing your joints. This is asafe cardiovascular exercise that can help keep you tonedthroughout your pregnancy.

Walking: Walking is one of the best exercises overall andespecially if you are pregnant. It's safe for your body and itcan keep you in great shape. Be sure to stretch thoroughlybefore hand. Set attainable goals and always wear good shoes.

Yoga: Yoga has a reputation for relieving the stress andpressure in your body. Most forms of yoga are safe when you arepregnant as long as you avoid the more rigorous ones. Some Yogainstructors even offer special classes for pregnant women. Whiledoing yoga, avoid lying flat on your back and try not to overstretch.

With proper kegal exercise and safe cardiovascular workouts, youare well on your way to a healthy pregnancy.

About the author:GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com- Where you can explore thousands of unique and unusual babynames. Read articles on parenting, family, home andgardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

Initially, enlightenment is living in the present moment andaccepting your situation as it is. That is a pretty heavy taskfor anyone in any time. It is often said that an enlightenedperson cannot be angered by small talk or negative energy.

Many people are humble and believe that they will never beenlightened in this life. They also believe: The goal ofenlightenment is too vast for the average person to achieve.However, should you just give up? What can you do to attainenlightenment?

You should meditate daily: This will help you connect to theworld around you. This is an awareness of plants, animals,people and many things around you that are often not appreciatedor overlooked.

Meditation will enhance awareness of yourself, everything aroundyou, and the connection between the two. This will bring out theability to see reality as it is - with the ultimate goal ofreaching a state of "pure consciousness."

Understand the value of prayer, mantras, and singing. Even ifyou only practice in your mind, this will strengthen positiveenergy within you. Many people resort to theses practices; togain comfort in times of need. This is a shame because you cangain the positive benefits of prayer, mantras, and singing, anytime.

Remember, enlightenment is not a race: You would be shocked atthe number of people who put pressure on themselves to be"instantly enlightened."

It is good to have goals in life, so creating a log to trackyour progress is a beneficial practice. Your log may track yourmeditation sessions, your ability to deal with, or diffuse,negative situations, your ability to create positive energy andproject it to others, and your ability to see reality.

If you continue the process of keeping and maintaining a log,your results will be encouraging. You may also want to join agroup with compatible religious beliefs, search for a teacher,or share your practice with a friend on the same path.

Lastly, do not be frustrated by uncertainty and learn to acceptwhat you cannot control. If all humans could maintainenlightenment, we would experience world peace. We could allaccept each other, despite differences of culture, nationality,color, sex, religious beliefs, or any other thing humans canfind to develop a pre-conceived notion about each other.

About the author:Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teachertraining at Aura Wellness Center in North Providence RI. He hasbeen a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a masterinstructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, andfitness to children, adults, and seniors in Providence. Recentlyhe wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yogastudents, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.