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Yoga can be more exactly described by the Sanskrit word asana, which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses. Yoga is a spiritual science of self-realization. Yoga methods include the complete ground of our survival, from the physical, emotional and mental to the spiritual. Its methods contain moral disciplines, physical postures, breath control, as well as meditation. The whole system of Yoga is built on three main structures exercise, breathing, and meditation.
Proper understanding Yoga Types and benefits of yoga that can make a huge and permanent difference to your life. So here are six types of Yoga:
·HATHA YOGA: Hatha Yoga makes the spine more flexible. This in turn enhances blood flow so that more oxygen and nutrients are available to the spine. Hatha Yoga is helpful in slows down the aging process, safest and healthiest mode to lose weight, awakens and enhances vision, improves simplicity of feelings, focus and build up powers of attention.
·KUNDALINI YOGA: Kundalini yoga gives unique consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system, which is a vital part for yogic beginning. This yoga is practiced strictly under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher
·MANTRA YOGA: Mantra yoga meditation involves chanting a word or phrase awaiting the mind and emotions are transcended and the super awake is obviously exposed and practiced. The essential technique is japa, or mental repetition of the mantra to invoke that energy in our selves.
·JNANA YOGA: Jnana-Yoga is the path of Self-realization through the exercise of gnostic understanding or, to be more precise the wisdom associated with discering the Real from the unreal or illusory.
·KARMA YOGA: It is the path of selfless service. It is the source of true peace and happiness It means result of an action. There is a unknown power in Karma or action termed ‘Adrishta’ which brings in fruits of Karmas for the human being. This yoga is the key for making the worldly path a divine path, by helping genuine good people.
·BHAKTI YOGA: Bhakti Yoga is the system in which love and devotion to God are emphasized. It is a path of complete surrender You perceives everything as God and God in everything.
·RAJA YOGA: It is a practical and systematic path, Raja Yoga known as the eightfold path because it is made up of eight angas, or limbs, they are Yamas, Niyamas, Asanas, Pranayama Control of Prana (life force, vital energy), Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.
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200 HOUR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSE
300 HOUR ADVANCE YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSE
500 HOUR ADVANCE YOGA TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM
For detail information visit Types Of Yoga
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/types-of-yoga-and-yoga-benefits-explained-1400733.html
So when you go to a yoga class or do some self practice, the yoga you practice is all about you. After all it is just you, your yoga mat and what you do. You may like to think of your yoga mat as your magic carpet that takes you to new places within your body and mind…the journey of yoga! How wonderful!
It is a nice idea to contain your space to your yoga mat, apart from enjoying the energy of a class, the other people in it and the teacher, it is your time to practice, become aware, open and learn. So there is no point looking at the person next to you. If you are doing self practice this is a lot easier of course, you do not have another person next to you, you do however need the commitment to observe yourself.
So let us look at the beginning of a class or you self practice – a simple step to help you explore your yoga is when you close your eyes. This helps you to bring your awareness inwards so you can start to focus on yourself and let go of distractions. When you close your eyes, your ears and other senses become more receptive. You are more receptive to what the teacher is guiding you to do. By closing your eyes the intention is to allow you to observe your self – your mind (is it thinking of lots of thoughts of the day), how your body feels lying in Savasana or sitting crossed legged (is it tired or open to what you are about to do, how does it feel as you lie down on your mat). You are also more aware of your breath (is it shallow, short, deep, subtle?). All of these are key to start your yoga practice so you know how you feel initially and what is going on within your body and mind.
Then of course after these quiet moments of preparation when you open your eyes the journey of yoga develops as you explore further your body and mind and breath on your magic carpet…
Of course you still observe and be aware of your Self as you practice, keeping a mindful eye this time on how your body, mind and breath are in the postures. When you are holding postures you close your eyes again and take yourself inwards and observe the changes as you have been practicing or how you feel in that moment in the posture. Is your body opening, your “heart” expanding, your mind becoming quieter and your breath synchronising with your postures? Your practice will develop and evolve.
Towards the end of your journey on your magic carpet, you close your eyes again to do final relaxation at the end of the class. This is the time to observe the difference within and without from when you started the practice to how it is coming to an end. How is your energy, your thoughts and have you let go? Has the union of body and mind and breath bought you to a place of peace and harmony…? I hope so!
And as you open your eyes at the end of your practice, really open your eyes to how marvellous you, yoga and your yoga mat are!
Michelle Cross has over 18 years experience in the health and wellness industry, practicing various complementary therapies and teaching Hatha Yoga. She uses her experience to treat, teach and guide people to live a more positive, healthy and fulfilling life.
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk
http://www.michellecross.co.uk
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/you-and-your-yoga-mat-and-what-you-see-1392519.html
More and more yoga enthusiasts are dumping their old mats in favor of a natural yoga mat. But before you jump on the bandwagon, first learn about the pros and cons of natural yoga mats.
You probably spend a considerable amount of time in close proximity to your old-style rubber mat. Of all the exercise equipment you own, it’s probably the only piece that you regularly rub up against and smell. When you think about it, you’re inordinately intimate with that old mat.
Getting a new yoga mat is always an iffy proposition. You shudder to ask yourself:
- Will it smell like an explosion at a chemical plant?
- Will it roll up like a window shade every time I try to lay it out flat?
- Will I slip and slide like a drunken penguin on its slick new surface?
With a natural yoga mat, those concerns are moot. Be design, they do away with some of the limitations of an old-style rubber mat:
- They’re made of jute or hemp so they don’t outgas scary and obnoxious chemical smells.
- Their natural fibers don’t curl up like rubber.
- They’re not slippery, even when you are perspiring
However, natural yoga mats can take some getting used to:
- The comforting “cushion” effect that you have grown accustomed to is gone. These mats are firm, with little to no “give”.
- They can be hard on your knees, spinal processes, and the points of your hips.
- When used on uneven or rough surfaces, the underlying protuberances will poke through, making for an uncomfortable session.
How to learn more about yoga mats
Thomas from SkinnyBulkUp is happy to teach you about natural yoga mats along with an overview of “eco-friendly”, “natural”, “pilates”, and “general purpose” yoga and exercise mats.
Click through to exercise mats and find out what your choices are!
Remember: knowledge is power.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/natural-yoga-mats-are-they-right-for-you-1393186.html
If you have read my other articles on the breath, you will understand a little more about the importance of the breath, so let’s relate it to your yoga postures – asanas. Asana in Sanskrit means steady pose. When practicing any posture there are three ways for the posture – moving into the posture, holding it – this is where the steady pose comes into affect, and then moving out of the posture. And each of these stages of the posture you synchronise with the breath to achieve the most benefit. You allow the breath to surround the movement, so you initiate the breath and then make the movement.
- When you inhale, the body opens and expands
- When you exhale, the body folds or contracts
So in the beginning try to allow the breath to guide you to the length of the movement, for example, if you are raising you arms as you inhale and you do not have enough breath before you reach you goal of having your arms raised fully, then you can pause, breath then exhale as you lower your arms. In time and with practice your breath will naturally become longer. Allow your breath, your friend and now your teacher to guide you. If your breath is strained in any way this is the time to release the posture.
- Inhale when moving into back bends e.g. cobra
- Exhale when moving into forward bends e.g. forward bend
- Exhale when moving into side bends e.g. triangle
- Exhale when moving into twists e.g. half spinal twist
Breath and holding postures
When you have become more aware of your breath and using it to come into and out of postures you start to hold the posture for longer without holding, straining or retaining the breath. If the breath does not feel right for you, it is time to come out of the posture and relax for a moment. In time holding a posture allows you to experience the intimate connection between your body, breath and mind. The breath is the link between the unity of the body and mind, which is Yoga.
Michelle Cross has over 18 years experience in the health and wellness industry, practicing various complementary therapies and teaching Hatha Yoga. She uses her experience to treat, teach and guide people to live a more positive, healthy and fulfilling life.
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk
http://www.michellecross.co.uk
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/the-breath-in-yoga-postures-1386008.html
Yoga is an ancient system of keeping body and mind healthy. It is practiced in India since seven thousand of years. The Asthanga Yoga and the System known as Patanjalee Yoga is some of the well know set of Yoga Postures. The beginners might be in dilemma about the benefits they might be getting by practicing the Yoga Asanas. Here are some basic primary advantages that a practitioner of yoga postures would expect to have.
THE STRESS BUSTER
It is needless to add that the yoga postures are not only the set of physical exercises. The postures are devised to deliver more than that. The yoga asanas are one of the best successful devices used to decrease the mental stress. With reducing the level of stress, a yoga can help augmenting the strength of our mind to focus more. Practice it and found it yourself.
FAT BURNING
The lack of physical work and dieting habit can be a good cause for our body fat to accumulate on the limbs wherever it likes. This deposits of fat leads us to obesity and scores of other problems. The regular doers of yoga postures have found that the body weight remains control due to doing a set of selected yoga asanas.
BETTER SHAPING OF BODY
There can be no better factor than our good health that could make us looking fit and in good shape. The yoga practices provide us opportunity to render ourselves healthy and remain always in good shape.
While doing yoga you would not need any exercising machines or any costly gadgets for physical fitness. You can have one yoga mat, one or two pair of yoga wears and a place where you can feel at home. For the beginners it would be better to start from doing the easy yoga postures.
For reading useful articles about yoga asana and yoga for women you can visit the following links.
YOGA FOR LOSING WEIGHT
YOGA POSTURES FOR WOMEN
I write short stories and articles about the paintings.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yoga-lose-weight-and-burn-stress-by-yoga-postures-1389915.html
Steven Giles asked:
During the last several years, an exercise program proving to be increasingly popular is Pilates. Its main focus is on the core postural muscle groups that aid in maintaining the balance of the body. These groups are essential in supporting the spine.
If you happen to opt for Pilates as your exercise regimen, you will discover that it instructs you in becoming aware of the spine’s neutral alignment. It will also direct your focus on adding strength to the deep postural muscles that will assist in sustaining this alignment. These muscles are of vital importance in helping you to relieve and prevent pain in the back.
The Pilates Exercise Program
The developer of the Pilates exercise system was Joseph Pilates. This system had been designed in the early 1900’s not only for improvement of his own health but also that of other World War I soldiers who were hospitalized. Later, Pilates made used the resistance of springs in his rehabilitation regimens for hospitalized patients. He then incorporated the use of springs into machines. Now the special equipment Joseph Pilates designed is being used in the Pilates exercise system.
When it first surfaced, the Pilates exercise program was mainly utilized by professional dancers. They had an appreciation for the improvement it added to strength, balance, and flexibility. With the rediscovery of Pilates in the 1980s, it has become a form of exercise that is quite popular.
Pilates Machines
The resistance of springs is used in Pilates machines to create more effort. The primary piece of the Pilates machine is called the Reformer. This is a sliding platform that is anchored at one end of the frame with springs. You are able to move the platform either by a push off from the stationary bar or by a pull on the ropes. When you do Pilates exercises with the Reformer, they become quite challenging because you must move the platform but at the same time maintain your balance on a surface that moves. This is a true balancing act!
The Cadillac is what another Pilates machine is called. It is comprised of a platform with padding that has a frame similar to a cage above it. Hanging from this frame are several bars or straps that are attached by springs.
The Wunda Chair is yet another Pilates machine. Its composition is just a bench-like platform that is small with a bar attached by springs. The Pilates exercises can be done from a standing position on the floor, lying down, or sitting or standing on the bench and pushing on the bar. You will likely see a number of different Pilates machines if you go to a studio devoted to Pilates exercise.
Mat Exercises
Group classes are where mat exercises are normally taught. Strengthening the trunk and hip muscles are the primary focus of mat exercises. This also increases spine and hip flexibility. Compared to Pilates machines, mat exercises have more limitations.
Recently, it appears as though Pilates have merged with other techniques, such as with the use of the exercise ball or yoga. This gives more creativity while one integrates the principles of Pilates into a larger number of mat exercises.
There are a range of DVD’s on sale at http://www.pilatesorstretchforbackpain.com which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath/Physiotherapist.
Please visit my blog at http://stretchorpilatesforbackpain.com/wordpress/?feed=rss2
Yoga for weight loss, really? Losing weight is very simple, in theory. You simply need to burn more calories than you take in… that’s it. What’s so hard about that? In actuality, the balancing of both sides of this equation is hard. Your calorie intake is represented by your diet. I would argue that smart eating gets you more than half way to your weight loss goals, but this article is about whether or not yoga can help you with the calorie burning side. Let’s talk about burning calories.
So How Do you Burn Calories?
Many wouldn’t even consider using yoga for weight loss or to burn calories. When the average person thinks about burning calories in an effective way, it’s typically aerobic activities like the classes, running or cycling. These activities do the main thing necessary to burn some major calories, which is elevate your heart rate. These are all activities that are performed at a moderate intensity level over a relatively long period of time. This explains why running at a moderate pace for a long distance is aerobic, but sprinting isn’t. People recognize that yoga can be practiced over a long period of time, but when people consider using yoga for weight loss, they wonder if it qualifies as a moderate level of exertion?
Can Yoga Be Aerobic?
Yes it can! Unfortunately, there are only a few styles of yoga that lend themselves to a high degree of calorie burning. Here’s a short list:
1) Ashtanga (Power Yoga): As the nickname "Power Yoga" suggests, this is a more intense, faster pace of yoga.
2) Iyengar: A lot of stamina is required for this style, as poses are often held for a long time.
3) Bikram (Hot Yoga): Sweat time! It’s performed in a room temperature of around 100 degrees!
Yoga For Weight Loss Extra
Research has also suggested another reason why yoga works well as a part of a weight loss program… a stronger link between mind and body. This research suggests that this better link allows yoga practitioners to understand better the feelings and reasons behind our eating habits, and what our bodies actual need versus desires. This helps practitioners to be more "mindful" in their eating. By being more mindful in your eating, it becomes much easier to eating only when you are actually hungry, versus based on emotions.
So both research and my own personal experience have shown that you definitely can use yoga for weight loss. You just have to be sure you find an appropriate program to follow, if you’re reaching for more than just the right mental attitude!
If you truly wish to succeed at being in the best shape of your life, then you must visit the world’s best resource. Go to Next Level Yoga immediately, to see how easily it can be done with at home workouts!
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yoga-for-weight-loss-fact-or-fiction-1344415.html
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