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I absolutely love using yoga DVDs and yoga videos during my practices. As a matter of fact, I use one of them almost every time I do yoga. Why do I love using them so much?
I don’t know about you, but I get bored pretty easily. Doing precisely the same practice time after time again would drive me crazy. I choose one that fits my mood and then get to enjoy the practice totally.
Even though I like variety, I also have some favorite programs. It is like visiting with an old pal – you know what can be expected and it’s extremely comfortable.
Like you, I never appear to have enough time. Often, I cannot fit in the additional time into my schedule, so I use a DVD instead.
Yoga DVDs are extremely convenient because they’re always prepared when you’re. You may want to practice at a certain time, but there is not a class available. I know this is the case with me. Very often yoga classes in my area are offered at times that don’t fit my schedule.
There are many presented teachers in yoga and it is a thrill to practice with them. One of my favorite power yoga instructors is Johnathan Bradley. By trying one of Johnathan’s yoga DVDs, it is like he is right there with me in the room.
Yoga DVDs let you target what you want at a specific time. You can choose one that is focused on stress reduction, one that helps you build your higher body, one that helps build your core. You may also pick one that suits your specific physical situation such as pregnancy yoga or yoga for seniors. You decide what you need and you select the Yoga DVDs that meet your wishes.
As of late, I have been fighting with an injured ankle that occurred while I was running. As a result, I can’t put any pressure on that leg. I need to put my knee down so I don’t bear my entire body weight on my leg. Sometimes it takes many extra movements to get into a posture because of this disability.
Now you can understand why I think yoga DVDs and videos are so great. They’re simple, convenient, and they can add breadth to your practice. Try some and see for yourself. You may grow to love them too.
The author is a yoga and fitness instructor who has been involved in fitness for over twenty years. His website http://www.yogadvds.ca/ has got lots of useful information about how you can make yoga and excercise a fun part of your life. You can visit this site which has some very inormative articles and tips on Yoga DVDs.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yoga-dvds-let-you-workout-with-your-favorite-instructors-1356105.html
Most people have heard about Yoga, however do they know it is more than people performing contorted positions?
Yoga dates back thousands of years from India. Since Yoga deals with universal truths its teachings are as valid in the modern day as they were in ancient times. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “yuk” literally meaning yoke or to bind or to bring together – however more commonly the word union is used to define Yoga. This union is further described as the union of the body and mind or on a deeper level the Self and the Universe.
People usually think of Yoga as the various physical postures, those contorted positions mentioned earlier – this is one aspect of Yoga.
When you begin to practice Yoga you start with what you know, the physical body. In Yoga the word practice is often used to describe your own personal experience with yoga, which evolves and changes as the practice is after all about you and what you do on your yoga mat. So back to the physical body and your practice – you practice the postures- asanas which in Sanskrit means, steady pose, and then you start to notice a change in the body as it tones and sculpts into shape, increases in strength and flexibility, which is encouraging…Yes? As well as the asanas you then learn to control the breath, pranayama in Sanskrit through breathing exercises and using the breath in each asana. Then you learn to relax on all levels, savasana in Sanskrit. When you combine the physical postures, the breathing and the relaxation then the union of Yoga occurs. By using your body and breath in the asanas, you centre yourself in the pose, this calms and concentrates the mind and helps focus and awareness. You allow your body and mind to surrender with the yoga postures and relax into them and this surrender leads experience of inner stillness, – union of body and mind, which is Yoga.
Through Yoga you learn to deeply relax by letting go of hectic everyday life, which then releases new energy, you carry this forth in your daily life by finding your centre in other areas of life, which helps you to cope better with the stresses and strains of a hectic life. Yoga is about discovering your strengths, even your limitations and going beyond them, leaving you to feel comfortable with whom you are; thus balancing the body and mind.
Michelle Cross
www.yogarelax.co.uk
www.michellecross.co.uk
Michelle Cross teaches Hatha Yoga and is passionate about assisting people to find their own Yoga within, leading to health, wellness and abundant happiness.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/what-is-yoga-1358962.html
Yoga means ‘union’; for example union of the body and mind or the individual Self and the Universe. The practice of yoga can teach you to cope better with daily stresses and strains of modern daily living – on a physical level as well as mental and spiritual levels too. It is therefore a complete system of health.
Yoga is based on the tenets “simple living and high thinking”. The body has specific requirements that need to be fulfilled for it to work at its optimum and for you to find inner peace. The ancients Yogis viewed the body as a vehicle for the soul and this is a good metaphor for modern day. Just as a car needs a lubricating system, a battery, a cooling system, proper fuel and a responsible driver so does the body – yoga helps fulfill these through:
Proper exercise – asana (meaning steady pose) works on every part of the body, stretching and strengthening the muscles, the spine, as well as massaging and toning the internal organs, glands and nerves, keeping all bodily systems in a radiant health. This is likened to the lubricating system in the metaphor of a car. Through the practice of asanas you become stronger and more flexible, your posture improves so you stand taller and your body becomes more toned. When performed in a slow and relaxed manner the asanas develop more than the physical body, they expand mental awareness and enhance spiritual capabilities– a steady body presupposes steady mind.
Proper breathing – pranayama (meaning control of vital energy or breath) through breathing techniques the energy (prana) is released to recharge the body, by connecting the body to its battery the Solar Plexus, where huge amounts of potential energy are stored. This helps to control the mind, leaving you feeling calm and refreshed. Using the breath during each asana helps you to hold and progress in the posture, releasing the energy in the body, so it flows freely. This is the battery in the car metaphor
Proper relaxation – savasana is also a vital part of keeping the body and mind healthy; rest and relaxation are nature’s way for the body to re-charge, maintaining the body’s equilibrium. Yoga teaches relaxation on three levels – physical, mental and spiritual. This is the cooling system in the car metaphor.
Proper diet- vegetarian is eating with awareness. Supplying the body with food that has most positive effect on the body and least negative effect on the environment. This is the proper fuel so that the car would need to operate.
Positive thinking and meditation. The practise of positive thinking and meditation gives increased clarity, improves concentration and brings peace of mind, which is beneficial to those with a hectic stressful life. Positive thinking helps remove habitual negative thought patterns, putting you more in control, leading to peace of mind in preparation for meditation. In the car metaphor this is the responsible driver, you drive the vehicle and choose which direction to go.
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-five-principles-of-yoga-1359008.html
The meaning of Yoga is union – e.g. the unity of body and mind or on a deeper levels the Self and the Universe – they are one. The bridge between the body and mind is the breath and as you use the breath and become more aware you will soon come to realise what is within is also all around i.e. they are one.
Pranayama means control of vital energy or breath. In Sanskrit the word for breath is the same for the word life – Prana, this gives you a big clue about how important breathing is for your health and well-being, Yama means control – so the literally translation is control of the breath (or life which is prana). Yoga without prana is like the sea without water.
So to use yogic breathing, try to become aware of your breath and observe it, maybe as you are sitting down or lying down, allow the abdomen and chest to rise as you inhale and fall as you exhale, both being rhythmical, comfortable and smooth.
Benefits of yogic breathing
In addition to relaxing and calming the body and mind, when you observe and control the breath you gain other benefits
- Improves posture as uses muscles to support the spine and abdominal muscles
- Reduces stress, anxiety and tension
- You take in more oxygen which is delivered to every cell in the body
- It increases your metabolism – great for managing weight
- Tones the abdominal area
- Strengthens immune system
Just a little note to remember, the diaphragm separates the lungs and heart from the abdominal organs, and is above the solar plexus area. When you start to use the diaphragm muscle it becomes more flexible, psychologically this can release any emotions that have been stored up or suppressed especially if your digestive organs are linked to your stress, so breathing properly i.e. yogic breathing can release emotions or sighs as you release the energy, the prana, the life through your breath. So don’t worry about this it’s a great sign you are releasing something not just on a physical level and will lead to a more fulfilling experience of life and the breath.
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/meaning-of-yoga-and-pranayama-and-their-unity-1359024.html
Breath is life.
We are able to survive days without food or water, however deprive us of breath and we would only last a few minutes. Knowing this, it is amazing how little attention we pay to the importance of breathing.
It’s a great idea to start to think of your breath as your closest friend. From the moment you are born the breath stays with you until the moment you die. Unless you have breathing problems, you probably are barely aware of your breath, you take it for granted unintentionally of course. Just because your breath is automatic doesn’t mean you are breathing to your optimum though.
In yoga the breath is of utmost importance, for the breath delivers oxygen to every cell in our bodies and brain and it also gives us the vital energy (prana) from the air we breathe. So even if you do not practice yoga, you can still use the breath to benefit you. Proper breathing helps us to control the vital energy (prana) and thus control the mind, which helps deeper relaxation.
So how do you breathe correctly?
We’ve forgotten…
It is natural to breathe using the diaphragm and abdomen. If you watch babies, you will notice that they breathe in this way. As we become older, factors like stress and inactivity cause us to take shallow breaths. These shorter shallow breaths use only the upper chest. This is why I say most people have forgotten how to breathe… They breathe shallowly, usually through the mouth and don’t use the diaphragm or only use it a little. Breathing like this only a small amount of oxygen and energy is taken in and only the top parts of the lungs are being used.
Breathing correctly means breathing through the nose, keeping the mouth closed, so that the nose warms and filters the air taken in, and involves a full inhalation where the abdomen expands causing the diaphragm to move down and an exhalation through the nose, where the abdomen falls causing the diaphragm to move up. Breathing like this uses more of the lungs and the diaphragm is actively being used benefiting you by taking in more oxygen, giving you more energy.
Which is the most essential stage of breathing – inhalation or exhalation?
You might think it is the inhalation, when in fact it is the exhalation that holds the key. Why? The more stale air you exhale, the more fresh air or oxygen you can inhale and this is distributed to every cell in your body giving you more energy and nourishing every cell in the body so that the body works at its optimum.
So start to observe your breath and breathe in life to the full!
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/yoga-and-breathing-1359341.html
In this hectic and stressful world that we live in, being able to relax and chill out is extremely important to your heath. One of the best ways to achieve this healthy state is through the use of Yoga as a system for relaxation and meditation.
While there are many different aspects to Yoga, we will be concentrating solely on the aspects that help you relax your mind and focus your concentration. Yoga can help you achieve this by teaching you how to control your posture, breathing and concentration.
The best known position for achieving this state is the Lotus Position. To do the Lotus Position effectively, you need to find a nice area on the floor where you can comfortably sit, preferably on a nice thick yoga mat. You place your right foot on your left thigh and your left foot on your right thigh. Make sure your knees are on the floor and your feet are positioned upward. Keep you back straight and maintain a good posture. If you aren’t very flexible, you may find this position a little difficult at first. So if you experience any pain or discomfort, then you should do a few days of stretching exercises before you start.
Once you have mastered the proper position with your legs and feet, then you need to focus on your hand positions. There are three alternative positions for your hands in the Lotus Position. Your first option is to place your hands on your heels with your palms facing upwards. Or, you can hold your hands with the palms down and place them on your knees. And finally, you can place your hands on your knees with the palms facing upwards, and then use your index finger and thumb to form a small circle.
Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose, expanding your lungs with oxygen and then exhale slowly through your nose, cleansing your lungs and helping your body eliminate toxins. At the same time, concentrate on your breathing and avoid any external distractions – this alone will have a calming effect on your mind.
This Yoga relaxation and meditation practice can also have a beneficial effect on your muscles and body as a whole. The emphasis on breathing will also have a beneficial effect on your overall health as you are nourishing your body with oxygen. It will also improve your circulation as it increases the amount of oxygen in your blood. This will also help eliminate or balance any carbon dioxide that may have found its way into your blood.
John has been writing articles on health andfitness for over 3 years now. His wife recently became involved Yoga, so check out the new website http://thickyogamats.org/ which provides guidelines and tips on choosing the best Yoga mat
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/reduce-stress-through-basic-yoga-relaxation-techniques-1361499.html
Imagine all those tropical paradises you go to when you are deep in meditation, how wonderful and magical those places are.
Imagine relaxing on a beach taking in all those sights and sounds from your dreams, and how wonderful it would be to be truly at one with nature.
Imagine swapping your usual Yoga session in a studio full of other people in the drab city with one of tranquil serenity and natural harmony, surrounded by lush forests, amazing wildlife or the lapping of waves from the ocean.
You want to be there right now don’t you?
This place is not as far as you might think if you take some of your Yoga sessions in the amazing country of Costa Rica.
Yoga in Costa Rica at the La Escuela Del Sol School (LEDS) is second to none, it is an experience every meditation enthusiast should have in their life. After all your body is your temple and you do want to treat it in the best possible way to give you that ultimate feeling of relaxation.
There is absolutely no need to dwell on the idea any longer, if you have ambition and drive, with the desire to take yourself to the next level then Yoga in Costa Rica is a must for you. With the very best instructors who are more than qualified to give people of every level of experience the perfect sessions for them; and dedicate time to individuals who may need a little extra help with stretching or meditation techniques.
The LEDS School is based on Montezuma on the eastern side of Costa Rica, a location that is bountiful in natural beauty and sightseeing opportunities. Students of LEDS will be able to experience all of these wonders before, during and after their sessions of Yoga in Costa Rica.
Not only will you be able to take advantage of the various relaxation techniques and therapies, but you will also be able to try your hands at fire dancing also known as fire poi, gain a certification in scuba diving, be at one with the Pacific Ocean with surfing lessons and on top of all this learn the Spanish language. All these courses run alongside the Yoga in Costa Rica lessons.
I know what you are thinking; that this all sounds a little too good to be true!
It most certainly is within your reach, you only need to take a look at the school’s website to see all the wonders that are on offer at La Escuela Del Sol. Now seeing you are already curious here is the website for you to take in and ponder all those special moments and memories that you would be taking out of being part of the Yoga in Costa Rica classes: http://www.laescueladelsol.com/
For an aesthetic experience about yoga in Costa Rica and Costa Rica yoga, LaEscuela is the best place to visit. Besides, Costa Rica gives you the chance to escape from your routine life. What are you waiting for pal?
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/enlightenment-fulfilled-with-yoga-in-costa-rica-1362843.html
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