Yoga

Yoga: Three reasons you should not do Locust

Summary:

Locust – (Salabhasana)

When this pose is demonstrated it resembles a locust (grasshopper) moving its rear ends up and down, hence the name.

Locust is one of the backward bend asanas usually performed in a sequence; first the Cobra is practiced, than the Locust followed by the Bow. Locust is a posture which turns the body out expanding the chest to face the world. It is a very stimulating, powerful and dynamic asana, one of the most demanding but also one of the most unnatural posture in Hatha yoga.

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yoga, locust, subodh gupta, salabhasana

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The Locust pose requires the muscles of the lower back, abdomen and legs to work with each other to achieve the lift in the lower body.

Before attempting the full Locust try to do the easier version (Half Locust), which involves lifting only one thigh at a time instead of both of them simultaneously.
As a beginner you may not have enough strength to make any movement of lifting the thighs up but you will still benefit from the effort.
As an intermediate student you will be able to lift your legs higher than the beginner student but it will require more strength in the arms, forearms and shoulders.
As an advanced student you have to be careful not to hurt yourself by falling out of the posture by trying to toss yourself up into the full pose before developing sufficient strength and control.
To maintain this asana the intense whole-body muscular effort is needed.

Locust serves as a counter pose to Sitting Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana), Plough (Halasana) and Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) which bend the spine forward.
This asana greatly compliments the Cobra (Bhujangasana), lifting the lower part of the body rather then the upper, but it is more difficult pose because it is less natural and more strenuous to lift the lower extremities (legs) from a prone position (lying face downwards) than to lift the head and shoulders.

Locust brings a large supply of blood to the kidneys, cleansing and regenerating them. It strengthens the shoulders, arms, pelvic organs and lower back muscles. It tones the muscles of the abdomen, tights and legs. It tones the sciatic nerves providing relief for people with backache, mild sciatica and slipped disc (as long as the condition is not serious).

However beneficial the Locust is there are some health conditions in which the Locust should be avoided.

Three important reasons (out of many) not to do Locust:

1) Person with High Blood Pressure is better to avoid this pose.

2) As the asana puts lots of pressure on the abdomen it is strongly advisable for pregnant women not to attempt this asana.

3) Anyone suffering from Peptic Ulcer should not do this posture.

Issued in the interest of people practicing Hatha Yoga by Subodh Gupta, Yoga Expert based in London.

Yoga An Exercise For Everyone

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Summary:

Many adults enjoy and are aware of the rewards of yoga. Yoga stretches tight muscles, builds body awareness, improves endurance, and calms the mind and body. But yoga is now attracting a younger audience who is finding out that yoga can be a fun way to exercise and relax.

Yoga may not look like other forms of exercise to most people, but they are amazed at how the seemingly simple poses can work out so many different areas of their body.

Why Yoga is Different

For p...

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yoga, health, fitness, exercise

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Why Yoga is Different

For people lacking in confidence about their body image, some group activities can backfire causing people to further disconnect from their bodies and actively resist taking care of themselves. Yoga’s emphasis is on self-acceptance which makes it more appealing, a less intimidating way to get active. Yoga stresses a nonjudgmental emphasis on body awareness.

Yoga is not a competitive sport- there are no winners or losers. Yoga can give less confident people that much-needed support from their peers. If someone in a class has difficulty with a particular pose, often others in the room help them out. Yoga offers many people an opportunity to just relax. Just getting to be –without having to achieve anything in particular- is a huge relief to many people.

The Added Benefits of Yoga

Traditional sports tend to emphasize strength and speed over flexibility. Many adults overlook the importance of stretching. Additionally others use weight training to develop major muscles while ignoring the supportive and opposing muscles which are equally as important. Yoga can help correct these imbalances. It helps build endurance and flexibility, thereby improving athletic performance. Yoga can also enhance your ability to concentrate and focus, and improve your posture. Chest-opening postures and inverted poses strengthen arms, shoulders and back muscles, which teach you how to carry yourself with more self confidence.

Yoga can also teach you how to stay calm centered and focused in the midst of distraction and to let your body relax. This is an important skill for anyone who is experiencing transitions- physical, emotional, intellectual in today’s fast paced world. Yoga often becomes an outlet for working out people’s emotions. It can help you take control of you frustration and find alternative ways to deal with it rather than reacting right away.

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Yoga and Christianity a Conflict?

Some critics argue that Yoga and Christianity cannot co-exist, and yet we know that Yoga is not a religion. Are the Salem witch trials still so close to our hearts?

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health, healthy, fitness, yoga, christine, christianity, conflict, conflicts

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Being a practicing Christian myself, there are very few things in Yoga that conflict with Christianity. Some critics argue that Yoga and Christianity cannot co-exist, and yet we know that Yoga is not a religion.

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However, that depends on your opinion. Recently, I was reading about someone who claims Kundalini is “new age witchcraft.” Sorry to say, another person recently stated, “Good Christians should avoid the devil’s exercise,” in reference to Yoga.

Are the Salem witch trials still so close to our hearts? These claims are interesting because ministers and priests have been practicing meditation for centuries, without any complaints.

I suppose, if someone devoted enough time to meditating on bad thoughts, meditation would be a bad experience.

To be honest, it depends upon what you meditate about; and in truth, within some schools of Yoga, Hinduism, or Buddhism is taught. For me, this has always been a conflict, as I love Yoga, but have no desire to change my faith.

The many teachings of Yoga and meditation, are non-sectarian. Now, if Yoga were a religion, which would it be? The principles of Yoga are universal.

The Yamas and Niyamas are similar, in principle, to the Ten Commandments, but as a Christian you have the right to pick and choose what you want from Yoga. You also have the right to avoid sectarian ashrams.

Yoga practice, and meditation, give many Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Moslems, a closer connection to God, but there will always be someone who feels tempted to change their faith.

Let’s be honest, the people who worry about a sudden change of faith are, for the most part, rooted in two distinct camps of thought.

1. Someone who is on the fence about their own religion and not quite sure where they really stand.

2. Severe intolerance of any idea that is new or might result in opening the mind.

Let’s stop the intolerance now. When you are driving in your car, waiting in line, or come face-to-face with someone who is different from you, please set an example for your children and give the other person a break.

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Invigorating Yoga Poses

The roots of Yoga can be traced back 5,000 years. The earliest reference to Yoga was the Indus valley, a powerful and influential civilization in the early antique period. This culture evolved around the Indus and Sarasvati rivers, in northern India.
Archaeological findings from Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, revealed a portrait of a human being or god meditating in what appears to be a Yoga posture. The Rig-Veda work, that describes different Yoga methods, is thought to be derived from the Inus-Sarasvati people, and has been dated between 3000 to 5000 B.C.

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Here are three common and beneficial yoga poses:
Yoga MudrÄ: Symbol of Yoga
The Yoga MudrÄ Pose begins with the Padmãsana pose. The feet should be in the hip joints (against the butt), and the heels should press against the abdomen. The hands are brought behind the back, with the right hand grasping the left wrist.
Now, bend forward and lie as flat as possible on the heels, and try to touch the floor with your forehead. This forward movement should be made slowly, and with control. After holding the position for two to five seconds, return your body back to the erect posture (or Padmasana pose).
The Yoga MudrÄ is an excellent exercise for the abdominal wall, internal organs, and the pelvic area. When bending forward, the pressure of the heels is on the caecum and pelvic loop, and is beneficial if you suffer from constipation.
If the abdomen muscular wall is weak, use the hands to grasp the heels, so that your knuckles press into the abdomen, as you bend your body forward. This action pushes the internal organs into their proper place, and helps to relieve constipation.
Breathe naturally, although exhaling when bending may be helpful, especially when the hands grasp the heels.
SimhÄsana: The Lion Pose
The Lion Pose is a vigorous pose, and imitates the fierceness of a lion just about to spring. Kneel and rest the buttocks on your heels; resting your extended hands on your knees. You will feel a sense of muscular tension throughout the body as you expand your chest. Open your mouth (jaws) and thrust the tongue forward, as far as possible. Open your eyes in a fierce gaze, and stiffen your arms and fingers.
The Lion Pose is invigorating and beneficial to the throat muscles, eyes, chest, and spine. In the beginning, hold the position for one minute, and as you progress, this position may be held for three minutes.
SavÄsana: Dead Pose
The Dead Pose is a relaxing pose, offering complete rest and tranquillity to the body, mind, and nervous system. This pose should be the last pose you do in your exercise routine. It's easy just to lie down flat on your back, but systematic relaxation requires involvement of your mind.
Concentration is key to this pose. Think only of your feet, and relax them. Then relax your legs, arms, abdomen, chest, throat, facial muscles, and eyes. Fix your attention on your limbs, chest, muscles and others individually until a complete feeling of relaxation of all parts of the body is achieved.
When learning yoga, relaxation and breathing go hand in hand. If you notice your breath is uneven, direct your attention to the airflow to achieve a natural breathing rhythm. This will help to find complete relaxation of the body and the mind.
More than 30 million people practice yoga regularly. Yoga is the most rapidly growing health movement of today, despite having existed for thousands of years.
Attitudes towards health, spirituality, way of life, and positions in society have dramatically changed, and people are looking for answers to solve everyday problems. Nowadays, our environment is fighting for survival, and we suffer from physical and psychological stress. New diseases develop while old ones, that we thought we could handle with antibiotics, return with a vengeance. We can't always control these developments, but we can learn to face them through yoga techniques..

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Idea On The best ways to Help A Relative With Depression

By Juan Yohansen

Dealing with depression is a daily fight that many individuals deal with each day. Understanding methods to get rid of depression are the initial steps to getting much better coping abilities and finding satisfaction in your life. Follow these easy to do ideas in this guide, and you could find yourself in a better place.

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When it involves handling your depression, do not forget things that you used to appreciate doing. This is essential because sometimes the vital lies in keeping active with things that you have done throughout your life. Keep in mind that you could in fact need to push yourself or have somebody else push you into doing these activities.

Postpartum depression can have terrible effects on a new mom. Varying hormone levels can cause symptoms of depression such as anguish, misery, and fear.

Acknowledging to yourself that your depression needs to be managed is a positive action. To prevent the temptation of sleeping in late or staying in bed throughout the day, deliberately routine visits prior to noon to get you up and ready for the day. Constantly attempt to schedule your appointments early. Waiting until you awaken to choose your routine, may put you at a drawback to taking charge of how you invest your day and you might be tempted to remain in bed since of the depression. Try brainwave technology.

Depression is often cyclical. This implies that your highs and lows will start to come in waves. If you pay very close attention, you may even have the ability to anticipate when the next sturdy down will come. This can help you greatly as you will can prepare yourself for what is to come.

While some people choose to treat their depression without medication, others give up on medicine too soon. Depression is not yet well understood, and everyone's brain and body chemistry is various.

So attempt these easy pointers and pointers and see if it improves your depression. Just reading this information shows that you want to change and improve your life. In some cases, the very best treatment to fight depression is to incorporate little actions in your daily regimen to alleviate the signs or to keep the depression from returning.

About the Author:

Juan Yohansen is actually a mind entrainment hobbyist that likes writing exercise, design plus biofeedback devices. He is likewise a fervent ecologist plus a stage performer.

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