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Our society has a distorted viewpoint of exactly what “fitness” consists of when attached to the word “physical”. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine what physical fitness means to you. Does your minds eye project an image of an oiled body on stage at a contest? Maybe your imagination brings forth a slim, lithe young woman with a grim determination on her face as she crosses the finish line of a marathon. Or is it possible that you catch a glimpse of an extremely muscled man as he flips tractor tires end-over-end during a Strongest Man contest. Collectively these images portray individuals who have achieved fitness of their bodies through continued training.
Hours and hours of curls give that oiled contestant the biceps and triceps that absolutely glow as he tightens up in his program. Our marathon runner has developed the lung and leg power to complete that marathon, through miles and miles of training runs. As far as those tractor tires being thrown end for end…total commitment by the contestant is what gives him that power. The theme common to their successes? Workouts! Workouts that usually bring to mind the gym, a fitness center or a running track. All physical, strenous activity, that athletes engage themselves in to become the best they can be.
So how does Yoga fit into this scheme of fitness? 
Throw out that image of Yoga as someone sitting crossed-legged on the ground, hands in prayer position, while they endlessly hum a mantra. This view of Yoga is fine for those who just want to bury themselves in their mind waiting for divine knowledge. The study and practice of Yoga consists of so much more than that, let’s explore a few.
- Balance. Just how will that hunk of muscle throw tractor tires around if he does not have an ability to maintain balance. Balance is critical throughout our lives, and many Yoga positions require balance throughout. And practice makes perfect. Perform Yoga positions that concentrate on balance and your physical movements become easier and more confortable. Brute strength is absolutely worthless without personal balance to use it!
- Flexibility. Hand in hand with balance is flexibility. Brute strength through weight training is great! However, as the muscles grow, frequently they grow without much flexibility. If you cannot bend when you need to then strains, pulls or tears will soon be in your future. Yoga concentrates on stretching in many of the positions, vastly increasing flexibility in your muscle mass.
- Management of pain/injuries. Very few sports allow participation without a occasional “ouch”. Whether you suffer simply from overworked muscles and need some rest, or really injure yourself you need to accept and work through the resulting pain. Many techniques used in Yoga concentrate on relaxation. Use of Yoga will allow those sore muscles to release tension, to relax. The pain is easily lessened, and many times disappears altogether.
- Heightened levels of energy. Strenuous workouts in the fitness center, as well as long distances runs, frequently leave muscles full of tension. Yoga exercises teach you to avoid this tension, usually increasing the oxygen levels in the blood. Learning Yoga not only will teach you how to alleviate this tension, but will fill you with a new sense of energy at the same time.
Physical strength is mostly achieved by overworking the muscles, increasing the ability to perform whatever tasks you have set for yourself. Couple this strength training with compatible Yoga exercises and amaze yourself at the overall aspect of improvement.
glchandler is an early senior (62) who is attempting to live his words and get on with life. Although disabled approximately eight years I have decided I do wish to live longer and better. Hope to see you around the gym!
Body and Spirit Healing
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yoga-should-be-integral-to-your-physical-fitness-1485088.html
It is always essential to choose a power yoga video with the teacher, who is well qualified to coach the class. Two famous yoga teachers are: Beryl Bender Birch, based in NY, and Bryan Kest, based in los angeles. They have trained with Ashtanga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. The power yoga video should permit different variants of the diverse poses so the beginners can use them easily.
Some of the best power yoga videos to get in shapes are:
Bryan Kest’s videos: In these videos, Kest gives yoga classes in Santa Monica, California. There is also Volume two, which shows the simple way to tone or you can try Volume three: Introducing further challenges.
Rodney Yee teaches a challenging, poses, controlling breath, movement, tension, and relaxation in his video. These poses are Sun Salutation, standing poses, forward bends, back bends, twists, and arm balances. Initially they’re quite easy, but movements begin to get tougher with each repetition of the series. You can do the maximum amount of the series that fits you, it’s about 65-minute exercise if you’re quite a professional and serious yoga specialist.
If you are acquainted with yoga, you can actually start at any level. These exercises help you to get stronger. This tough yoga program that gives results faster than others. Rodney Yee helps you to deepen your practice, by this continuing yoga flow emphasises on all necessary poses. It is superb way for boasting fat burning muscle and bone power, developing staying power, reshaping your abs, lower and upper body and moving with mindfulness, more than with other yoga programs.
You are moving frequently with Yoga Burns. It helps you build your strength and increase your adaptability. This power yoga video demands your full concentration and sheer slowness all of the time. It’s a form of meditation also. This power yoga video is reasonably encouraging for many and challenging for others, this exclusive DVD gives bonus, complicated option of the exercise with oral cues and music only.
Gregory Colbert’s Ashes and Snow is a great ongoing program that binds together photographic works, 35mm films, art installations and a novel in letters. It demands plenty of patience and a genuine dedication to truly energetic and aesthetic quality of animals. This video shows an extraordinary relationship between people and animals.
If you love a good power yoga workout, it doesn’t matter if you do it with a fitness video or in a class – as long as you sweat!
Try these power yoga videos for some extra inspiration!
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/power-yoga-video-workouts-1480239.html
Yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self control. Energy within and energy without. ~Ymber Delecto
Yoga, the Sanskrit word means ‘union’, the way to unite the individual with the divine means. Practice of this 5000 year old science has been continuing for centuries which was actually originated from Hindu philosophy. According to Patanjali, the ancient compiler of the Yoga Sutras, Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind. The sage also said, “In deep meditation the flow of concentration is continuous like the flow of oil.” Yoga helps to develop harmony between the mind, soul and body by uniting, yoking, joining and putting together these three elements of human being. Kundalini Yoga is a spiritual practice in the world of yoga, which awakes our senses to attain the ultimate peace in life. So proper yoga practice with exercise, meditation and asanas can help to relax the mind, body and soul.
Yoga, the greatest antidote to stress, ensures complete relaxation if practiced regularly. When paired with music, yoga becomes much more effective than ever. While performing yoga, Meditation music creates the right mood. Even relaxing yoga music and soothing sounds can be a great aid to sleep. Yoga helps to develop a peaceful mind. The soothing Yoga music helps to relax, calm the mind, and thus create a balance within. Many stress-relaxing techniques included in Yoga enforce relaxation in this stressful life of the present time. At the end of each Yoga session, corpse pose or Savasana is compulsory. This asana gets one back into the real or mundane world from the world of eternity, feeling more refreshed and relaxed, armed with the weapons to fight off the stress from the daily life.
Yoga helps to bring down stress and enhance relaxation. And music has the universal appeal to soothe the inner-self of anyone and everyone. Music creates a harmony in the mind which also leads to increased power of concentration. Nowadays, gradually, people can understand this aspect or benefit of Yoga practicing for which many spiritual music companies offer particular Yoga DVDs and CDs containing hymns and chants which soothe the mind by creating a calm atmosphere around. These enchanting hymns and mantras of Yoga music enter the deepest sense of human mind and blend with his or her original self.
Spirit Voyage is one such online record label company that guides you through the journey of a spiritual insight. With its huge collection of Meditation music, CDs and DVDs, the company helps to entice the feeling of ultimate relaxation to both your body and soul. So listen to this range of devotional music and dip into the river of melody. Experience the blissful calmness and delightful soothing inner self with the Kundalini Yoga Music offered by Spirit Voyage. Spirit Voyage Yoga DVDs are the greatest way of developing a deep spiritual connection with the divine power. To wipe away all the negative vibes and tensions from the mind which is very much common and normal in today’s perspective, Spirit Voyage is there ensuring you a relaxed and refreshed life.
Now, you can get peace with yoga, meditation and relaxing music. So heal the anxiety through the practice of Yoga. With this relaxing music let the tensions go away permanently from your life and regenerate your soul and rejuvenate the flow of energy with the soothing tunes.
The author writes of Spirit Voyage which is engaged in offering various kinds of yoga music and meditation music. The company offers different CDs and DVDs for practicing Kundalini Yoga and other yoga forms.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/music-and-yoga-for-relaxation-1482870.html
There are dozens of companies manufacturing Yoga-related products. One of the hottest commodities on this market is a mat. A rectangular piece of PVC or rubber could cost you up to $100. Are you ready to spend that much on a mat? Below, we outline the key factors you need to consider before making a decision on whether to invest into something durable, replace your mat every few months, or use one provided by your studio. We also consider the factors that are important in choosing the right mat.
Your practice:
If you are a beginner, and simply want to get a feel for Yoga, we suggest using a mat provided by your studio. Most establishments supply their students with decent thick mats, which they care for and replace on a regular basis. Majority of studio mats are much cleaner than your personal mat would be, simply because a public mat gets a lot more cleaning between classes. If you suspect hygienic issues with studio mats, you should look for another Yoga school.
If you begin to practice regularly, even a few times a week, you may be more comfortable with a personal mat. There are many reasons to have one. A mat will accumulate your energy, as you go all out, it will keep you calm and will eventually become your perfect meditation spot. Getting used to the same color, size, thickness, even smell would make your practice a lot more comfortable.
A sticky, durable mat would also significantly improve your progress. High quality rubber mats often provide (too) much support and help in holding poses.
Advanced practitioners usually choose a mat based on personal preferences for durability and appearance. Having enough experience, they will pick a mat based on their professional judgment.
Size:
Most yoga mats are about 24″ wide. The lengths vary. Most mats are between 60″ and 75″ in length. Choosing a shorter mat is appropriate for kids and smaller people. A longer mat, however, may be easier to use, as some poses require moving around. An average length is between 70″ and 72″. If you are getting started, a longer, wider mat would make your practice more comfortable.
Material:
It is very important to make sure you are comfortable with what your mat is made of. The key factors to consider are:
Thickness – Pilates mats must be thicker, about 1/4″ as you will be spending most of your time on the floor. Yoga mats are thinner (about 1/8″), but not too thin. Many people prefer thicker Yoga mats to provide better support for weaker or injured parts. It feels easier to practice on a thicker mat.
Traction – A good mat will provide enough traction to support your poses, but it will not be so sticky you can’t peel it off the floor. Extremely sticky mats are usually cheap, and they provide too much grip when it is not needed. As with everything in Yoga, there must be a balance between grip and slip. Another important factor to consider is how well the mat holds when wet. Some cheaper mats completely loose traction when a little sweat is applied. This may not be apparent when you purchase the mat, but becomes a significant problem during class. Natural rubber is usually the best material, though it is costly.
Composition – Cheaper mats are usually made of plastic and PVC. Some of these materials are toxic, smelly and may become skating rings when wet. However, many studios still use classic PVC mats, as they are relatively cheap and provide enough support and traction for most people. Better options are plastic elastomer mats, which are made from more environmentally friendly recyclable materials. The best mats are made from natural and organic latex (rubber). These mats usually provide ultimate support and durability, they don’t bunch up or curl, but may be quite heavy. Organic cotton and jute mats are good options, but they tend to shed quickly, and may feel very hard for some people.
Durability – How long will you mat last? Some cheaper, lightweight mats will not last a few months of extensive practice. Surprisingly, some very expensive jute and cotton mats will also break down and deteriorate, as their natural fibers wear off very fast.
Cost
A high quality latex mat will last longer and will prove to be a good investment over time. However, if you are just getting started – a regular PVC or TPE mat is often good enough. Some people prefer to throw away their mats after a while, as mats tend to accumulate moisture, dust and bacteria if not cared for on a regular basis.
Look at reviews of most popular yoga mats at my site.
Konstantin Tsiryulnikov, is an experienced Yoga practitioner.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/choosing-the-right-yoga-mat-1476028.html
Chiva-Som provides an ideal setting for a personal yoga and meditation retreat, a chance to go inward and focus on personal healing. Nothing facilitates our personal development like the ability to be mindful and self-aware.
Scientific evidence points increasingly to the benefits of channelling inwards as a focus for personal healing through mindfulness and purposeful self-knowledge. These are the essence of yoga and meditation - techniques of breathing and body awareness that will be your springboard for practising mindfulness in everyday life.
Harnessed over time, yoga and meditation become harmonised with your home routine, so that long after you cease asana practice the awareness you’ve learned will remain.
There are several retreat options available, running for five, seven, ten and 14 nights, each with slightly different types and numbers of sessions. All packages include meditation and yoga, but longer retreats incorporate specialised disciplines like Jala Neti, Pranayama and Emotional Freedom Technique. Our Health and Wellness consultants are happy to discuss with you the variations on offer.
Chiva-Som’s new Yoga Retreat is managed by our talented yoga practitioners, who help beginners become experts and lead experts to greater awareness. Chiva-Som’s tranquil beachside resort at Hua Hin is the perfect environment for personalised yoga and meditation development, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner.
At Chiva-Som we aim to exceed our guests expectations. Whatever your fitness aims and goals, we will guide you on along the way to achieving them through our exercise programs and our integrated holistic approach.
For more information please visit Chiva-Som’s fitness site
Chiva-Som is a luxury health resort, combining international standards with Thai hospitality to deliver personal wellness programmes in a non regimented way. Everything we do focuses on a holistic approach to health that incorporates mind, body and spirit.
Chiva-Som provides the support to guide everyone on a path to greater health and vitality.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/new-yoga-retreat-at-chivasom-destination-spa-thailand-1475975.html
Yoga can be termed as a scientific system of physical and mental practices, that help a human being to gain emotional stability and clarity of mind. Yoga refers to a spiritual discipline that focuses on the development and maintenance of the natural balance between the mind, body and the soul. It helps an individual to achieve the highest potential and thus guides him to experience a healthy and blissful life. Practicing yoga through set of body movements, different postures, relaxation and meditation, establishes a balance between the mind, body and the spirit. There are many styles and patterns of yoga like Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Viniyoga, Kundalini Yoga, etc. Each of the styles are different ways of achieving the same divine goal which is better health and understanding of the self. Yoga connects the practitioner to the supreme or the ultimate creator and the individual attains the knowledge of spiritual insight.
Since ages, music and yoga practice have been inseparable. Music was used in yogic training since time immemorial. Every tone and sound of the music have a particular effect on the human energy system. Music inhibit the wandering mind, lifts up the spirit, soothes and relaxes the body. Music is used to express as well as induce different states of mind like moods, feelings, impressions and thoughts. Just like Yoga, music and sounds have the power to influence and change many bodily and mental aspects and processes in a human being. Music, coupled with tone and rhythm, are highly energetic and they have strong effect on the mind. Today, music is not only used for commercial purposes but also plays the role of soothing and calming the mind. Through Yoga Music and Mantras one can seek deep in the hidden aspects of their own being. Music relaxes the body and mind and essentially creates an apt background for practicing Asanas and Pranayama.
Meditation requires the mind to fix its focus on a single point. Creating an atmosphere that is peaceful, tranquil and calm is an utmost necessity. Meditation Music and Mantras tune the mind and soul and helps an individual to attain a spiritual insight and consciousness. These can invoke strong moods and influence the subtle energy fields to direct the consciousness towards higher realms. Music for meditation helps the practitioner to merge himself into a harmonious waking state. Meditation improves mental and physical health and relieves stress. Listening to music while meditating helps one to concentrate, withdrawing all attentions from other worldly thoughts. The sounds of bells or gongs will subtly influence the nervous systems and the energetic frequencies evolving from these music are ideal for practicing meditation.
Yoga music is soothing and relaxing. With people deriving more and more benefits from the yoga practices, the yoga music is also gaining immense popularity. Yoga Music balances the mind and prevent the mind from getting distracted. Today, many companies offer Yoga DVDs and CDs and Spirit Voyage is one of them. Spirit Voyage is one of the renowned record label company, represented by several artistes who have a deep spiritual connection with their music. The different Yoga DVDs and Cds offered by Spirit Voyage contains hymns and chants that are intensely accelerating and intensifying. Spiritual chants and pieces by artistes like Snatam Kaur, Dev Suroop Kaur Khalsa, Deva Premal, Guru Shabad Singh Khalsa, Bachan Kaur, Wah will guide the listener to reach a state of enlightenment. These chants and music shall have a direct influence on the individual’s body and his/her physiology. The Yoga Music shall create a peaceful ambiance and thus shall help to relax the mind and the body of the individual and will enhance his/her ability to concentrate and meditate. Choose from the Kundalini Yoga Music CDs, General Yoga Music DVDs, Sanskrit Mantra collection, New Age Celtic Music, Buddhist chants and many more and help yourself to connect to the higher spheres of spirituality and holiness. Elevate your mind through Bhakti and religious music or Meditation Music offered by Spirit Voyage.
Spirit Voyage is also engaged in offering different kinds of Yoga accessories like yoga rugs, yoga mats, yoga cushions, malas and jeweleries. Yoga books for Kundalini Yoga, books on general Yoga, Health and Wellness Books are also available which contain in-depth instruction, information and images to practice yoga with utmost perfection. Spirit Voyage, with these collection of yoga Cds and DVDs, books, yoga clothing and accessories aims to infuse devotional thoughts within an individual and let him/her experience the bliss and delight to sooth his/her inner self.
The author writes of Spirit Voyage which is engaged in offering various kinds of yoga music and meditation music. The company offers different CDs and DVDs for practicing Kundalini Yoga and other yoga forms.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/benefits-of-listening-to-yoga-music-1471495.html
Yoga has been known for years. It is a combination of different exercises that help you become more flexible and its benefits can go a long way to keep you young forever. Yoga is quite helpful in healing both physical and mental stress. It increases your logical ability to think and enables to you handle multiple tasks without stressing yourself. Different postures of yoga provide immense health benefits to people of all ages.
Yoga practice consists of asanas, pranayamas, bandha, kriyas, shatkarma, mudras and Dhyan. These different forms of exercises relax your body and reduce physical stress. Pranayamas and Dhyan are quite helpful in releasing muscular tension while improving mind and body coordination.
Dhyan or Meditation has proven very effective for people suffering from low blood pressure, insomnia and anxiety. Meditation practice makes you feel light and peaceful. The various breathing techniques in pranayama cossists of various breathing exercise that helps in supplying oxygen to all the parts of body and cleanse it, which increases the level of energy and awareness.
Kriya Yoga is also a part of ancient yoga practice. It refers to an action with integration and awareness to get a self-knowledge and the truth of one’s existence. It is believed that Kriya yoga frees us from our past karmas. It is practiced in five phases, Kriya Hatha Yoga, Kriya Kundalini Pranayama, Kriya Dhyan Yoga, Kriya mantra Yoga and Kriya Bhakti Yoga. The primary objective of Kriya Yoga is deep mental and physical relaxation of the body. To learn Kriya yoga sincerely you should know yourself and concentrate whole consciousness towards your soul.
Divine Wellness is an interactive health portal that provides interactive sessions, videos and information on different postures for yoga. You can also learn Kriya yoga by taking part in online yoga classes sessions.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/try-out-the-right-postures-for-yoga-to-boost-your-health-1467148.html
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