The Basics of Yoga

Basics of Yoga

The purpose of Yoga is mental, physical and spiritual development meant to create harmony in the mind and body. The dictionary definition is that yoga is a system of exercises practiced to promote control of the mind and body. Yoga originated in India and is thought to be 5000 years old. It is classified into eight limbs. Mental and physical exercises make up four of the limbs, with meditation comprising the other four limbs. In yoga, breath is the most important part of health since it is the life source. Many people think yoga is just stretching. Basics of Yoga is more about creating balance between the mind and body using strength and flexibility.

A typical yoga routine can last anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours. It consists of poses, which can be done quickly to create heat in the body, or slowly to increase stamina. The difficulty of the routine can vary from simple breathing exercises, while doing light stretching, to full blown strenuous workouts.Basics of Yoga, For best results, daily yoga workouts are recommended. While performing basic positions has an immediate effect on well-being, strength and flexibility, it takes years of daily practice to achieve the deep stretches that many people strive for.

Basics of Yoga can be learned in a gym setting by a yoga teacher, or at home from yoga books. No equipment is needed other than perhaps a mat to sit on. There should be plenty of flat floor space to stretch out on and enough room above the head to raise the arms. Yoga is best done on an empty stomach while wearing loose-fitting comfortable clothing.
The health benefits of yoga are numerous. Yoga aids in sleep and digestion. It can make people look and feel more youthful. It increases overall well being and help the mind achieve a state of relaxation. It makes the body more flexible. It also strengthens the immune system and decreases chronic pain. Basics of Yoga, stimulates and massages the internal organs, which helps keep away disease. The stretching of muscles and joints encourages optimum blood flow to all of the organs, which in turn has the effect of flushing out toxins. In terms of weight loss, yoga helps to speed up metabolism and that aids in burning calories. Yoga also helps to strengthen and tone muscles.

Anyone can do yoga, regardless of age. Women who are pregnant or nursing can do yoga, as well. It is important to consult a physician prior to beginning a yoga regime if injuries, spinal problems, or other medical conditions exist. There are no side effects of doing yoga. Beginners may experience soreness and fatigue.Basics of Yoga, It is important for beginners not to stretch too much too fast.

Yoga should not be confused with Pilates. Yoga focuses on flexibility and toning the entire body.Basics of Yoga, It has a greater emphasis on mental and spiritual enhancement. Pilates is more geared towards toning the core and improving posture with less emphasis on flexibility. Pilates has more of an emphasis on the physical than spiritual. There are classes that combine the principals of both into one class called "Yogalates".

Times to Get in a Shape From Bikram Yoga Teacher Training

Bikram yoga teacher training are quite famous among people these days. The benefits gained from Bikram yoga courses can simply change your life. It is pretty wonderful courses which can light up your life and modify your perspectives by learning Bikram classes.
Bikram Yoga is generally well-known as the hot yoga. It was also knows as the Bikram Method which aims to construct your mental and physical strength. And enhancing your flexibility and stability is one of the uniqueness enclosed by this early art.

Bikram yoga teacher training has line in Hatha yoga which was first intended to heal the mind and the body. It has developed his exclusive style after experiencing an injury in a weightlifting mishap. These days, almost everyone is also looking to get more about Iyengar.

The Iyengar style of yoga is famous for great learning great features and the exact position of postures, as well as the use of props such as blocks and belts. It's also goes without saying that part of Iyengar's achievement is due to the value of teachers, who has complete 2-5 year training program for degrees.

Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga that is transmitted to the modern world as well very quickly. Ashtanga yoga also involves with the breath at the same time with a progressive series of postures and it is also a process of producing powerful internal heat as well which remove the effect from muscles and organs.

So anyone who really wishes to do yoga can use Bikram Yoga training, because it does not have any age restriction at all. And also works with great an effect which includes balancing, stretching and creating force which is all completed at a same time to maintain a good blood flow to all body parts.

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The Benefits of Yoga for Lower Back Pain Relief

The Benefits of Yoga for Lower Back Pain Relief

Many people suffer with chronic back pain and have tried pills, chiropractors, physical therapy 
and other methods to find some relief for their pain; however, treating any type of back or neck pain can be difficult. It can be hard to determine exactly what is causing the pain and treatment options may range from pain relievers that can be as damaging as they are beneficial to relaxation techniques or self-help methods that may prove completely ineffective for many people. Fortunately, current research suggests that a program of stretching or yoga for lower back pain relief can be extremely effective. It seems that concentrating on stretching and strengthening the torso and leg muscles has been able to provide considerable relief for many people.
While most people understand the importance of exercise to help relieve stress and provide good overall health and well-being, people who suffer with back pain often tend to avoid certain types of exercise because they are worried about exacerbating their already painful condition. If you are suffering with back spasm or pain, the last thing you want to do is exercise and make the situation worse. Additionally, many exercises are almost impossible for someone suffering with back pain. Fortunately, a regular program of stretching and strengthening these muscles, using various yoga poses, can help increase a person's core body strength which has been shown to provide lower back pain relief. However, even people who suffer with other types of pain are finding that the relaxation and stretching benefits of yoga can be extremely beneficial.

While the poses used in many types of yoga may seem simple, they promote flexibility while increasing strength. This provides a more effective frame or core that can be especially helpful in protecting inflamed and sore back muscles. Additionally, the stretching associated with these yoga poses helps to increase blood flow and circulation which can also be attributed to the relaxation and overall better sense of wellness reported by people who participate in yoga on a regular basis.

There are many reasons people could be experiencing back, neck or shoulder pain, but even stress and tension can be major triggers. In today's hectic and fast-paced world, many people are stressed and do not even realize it. Fortunately, an exercise program that includes extensive stretching or yoga for lower back pain relief can help bring about a sense of calm and relaxation which can in turn allow muscles to relax and heal.

Your First Yoga Class - What to Expect

So you've finally made the big leap into the unknown - your first yoga class is approaching. You've picked which class to go to, found out where to park and how much the class will cost, but what should you expect when you walk through the doors?

Your First Yoga Class - What to Expect

Yoga - more than just an exercise class

The mysterious first yoga class is a time of discovery. You'll discover that not every yoga practitioner is a highly committed, eco-conscious vegetarian; that designer gear will not help you into a difficult pose any sooner; and you will discover secrets about your body and your mind that even you never knew. Sound intriguing? Well that's yoga for you! It's more than just an exercise class.

Yoga teachers have got your back - there's no need to worry

Yoga people tend to be a friendly bunch. The dynamics of each yoga class and each studio differ greatly but all should be welcoming and inclusive, not judgemental. Everyone in the class is an equal in the eyes of the teacher so stop worrying about your lack of knowledge or inability to touch your toes, it simply doesn't matter.

Yoga classes are non-competitive

Don't try to keep up with other people in the class. Yoga is an individual practice and everyone is different. Even yoga teachers aren't perfect at every pose. We all have our physical limitations and part of yoga is learning to respect your body, be kind to it and don't push it further than it wants to go. Your body will open into poses when it is ready, so be patient during the early stages of your practice.

,strong>What to take to yoga classes

On a practical note, what do you take to a class? Water is a good idea, unless you are practising Ashtanga when water should not be consumed during the class. You may wish to take a small towel and, if hygiene concerns you, your own mat and an eye pillow for the relaxation at the end.

Yoga mats

Studios generally supply mats so it is not essential to buy your own; this decision comes down to personal preference. Some studios may not disinfect and update their mats as regularly as perhaps they should and practising on a stale smelling mat is not the most pleasant experience. On an environmental note, if this is your first ever experience of yoga it is probably best not to buy your own mat until you know that the practice is for you.

Studio etiquette

Stinky mats bring us on to some rather basic studio etiquette which is all too often ignored. If you use one of the studio's mats, you should clean it after the class. This only takes a moment and you will find a disinfectant spray and cloths near where the mats are stored. Please take a moment to do this; if one person cleans their mat then others tend to follow.

Yoga poses first up

The content of your class will vary depending on the style your chosen studio follows. Generally speaking though, beginners' classes focus on the asanas or poses and tend not to include any advanced breathing techniques or chanting.

If you approach your first class with an open mind, a spirit of adventure and an understanding that yoga is not a competitive sport then you will be fine. Congratulations on embarking on the first stage of your yoga journey, and enjoy!

With the Yoga Classes Directory, now you can search for local yoga classes in your area.

All yoga traditions are represented, so you can easily find a local yoga studio that offers the tradition of your choice - bikram, hatha, ashtanga or iyengar yoga classes are all listed in the Yoga Classes Directory.

Considering yoga teacher training? We've got that covered as well with yoga teacher training offers available worldwide.

What about yoga gear like yoga pants, yoga clothes and yoga mats?

You'll find a wide range of suppliers and product reviews and you can conveniently shop online.

If you're lucky enough to be having a break, you'll be able to review yoga retreats, yoga holidays and workshops as well. It's all covered in the Yoga Classes Directory.

Hatha Yoga

More and more people today are engaging in stress-relieving activities that vary from recreational activities to wider range of activities that would fall under a certain way of life. Yoga, is one of these activities.
The noise and fast pace of modern life is continuously adding stress for many. Many individuals, especially those who live in the city continuously seek peace of mind. Yoga, in general, is one of the more popular channels of stress relief today. It has been commercialized and more and more people are getting into the bandwagon. Some people see it as a recreational activity or a pastime, some view it as a form of exercise of the body, mind and soul, while some adopt it as a way of life. Yoga, which originated from India, is a living tradition that is centered on enlightenment of the human person.

Yoga, in general, is associated with the other facets of human life. It brings into play spiritual enhancement, betterment of the physique and the honing of the human mind. There are more things that yoga touches than what it seems to deal with at first glance.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is one of the traditions of what we call Tantra Yoga. It is depicted as the most physically imposing type of Yoga since it focuses on the general movements and postures of the body. Hatha Yoga is based on the concept of combining polar opposites and the intertwining of different elements. It's name literally means "sun and "moon." Just like the concepts of "hot" and "cold" or the "ying and yang," "sun and moon" illustrates the transcendence of two opposing elements together. One might ask "what about these polar opposites?" The whole concept of polar opposites comes into play when we talk about balance. Hatha Yoga is all about maintaining balance in every aspect of one's life. This will be explained later on as we talk about the different postures and breathing patterns that are associated with Hatha Yoga.

Hatha Yoga is basically concentrated on breathing control and postures. However, on a bigger note, it is a holistic approach which generally includes physical exercises, moral values and meditation, if one would view it as a way of life. Since Hatha Yoga is one of the more popular forms of Yoga in the Western World, it has transformed and found for itself new definitions.

It is said that the basic objective of Hatha Yoga is to pave the way towards the subsequent phases in Yoga such as sense-withdrawal, concentration and meditation.

Asana

One of the main elements of Hatha Yoga is body posture. Exercise posture or Asana is greatly emphasized in Hatha Yoga. Posture is believed to be a key towards achieving true meditation. If one has already mastered his postures, then can be able to achieve higher levels of meditation and concentration. Proper posture is the way towards achievement of sense-withdrawal and true meditation.

Pranayama

Breathing exercises through Pranayama is also essential towards achievement of balance. "Prana" means life force and "Ayama" means to prolong- to prolong one's life force. Hatha Yoga is based on the belief that mastery of one's breathing techniques is a key towards the higher stages of meditation. It opens up channels to the brain and regulates the elements that enter and exit throughout one's body.

Doing Hatha Yoga

There are many venues to to Hatha Yoga today. One can always those Hatha Yoga videos which are widely available in bookstores. However, it is always more advisable to sign up for an established Hatha Yoga class. Videos will never capture the true essence of Hatha, and there would be things that the video would not teach and will tell you to buy the 2nd version and then the 3rd one to be able to avail of the information. The good thing about taking up a class is that you can ask someone you know to join you and this can make the whole experience more fulfilling.

Remember that there are a lot of different types of Hatha Yoga today. Please consult your instructor and tell them if you have any kinds of illnesses. Remember to bring your own mat and towel. The other materials, such as belts and blocks, are usually provided by the instructor.



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