HEALTH - YOGA - 1

1. How you can benefit from doing Yoga

Yoga is a very popular form of exercising these days. There are many kinds of Yoga and they are all considered a good way to keep both a healthy body and a healthy spirit. There are many benefits for doing Yoga on a regular basis.

It is estimated that about 6 percent of Americans are doing Yoga once a day. This number increased a lot in the last few years as Yoga came to the front line of what is considered a healthy way of life. Although almost all physical exercise also benefits the mind Yoga is perceived to be unique in its equally important influence on both the body and the mind. The saying healthy mind in a healthy body is synonymous to Yoga.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years although it became so popular just recently. Yoga was developed with mind and body as one entity that needs to be nurtured. Yoga does not consider the body and the mind to be separate but aims to unite them into one healthy and wholesome entity. Yoga does not put unnecessary physical stress on the body. Instead it brings the body and mind into a harmony that can help delay the aging process and make one feel younger and healthier. Yoga is not the same as meditation and or spiritual ceremonies although many times it is confused to be exactly that.

One of the most important elements of Yoga is breathing. Yoga focuses on breathing on stretching and on using all of the body muscles from the large muscle groups to each small muscle in the body. Breathing helps control the mind. Yoga is usually done in a quiet room or with some soothing music. Yoga is not a competitive sport basically it is everybody to themselves and thus there is no unnecessary competitive stress when practicing Yoga.

Yoga promotes self awareness and meditation quality. By slowly and deeply breathing and by staying in one position for a long time the mind can concentrate and can communicate with each part of the body. Oxygen flow can increase to parts of the body where it otherwise depleted.

It is believed that Yoga can help many illnesses from random pain to diebitis and more. There is no scientific proof for that but it is believed that due to better oxygen flow and better physical and spiritual condition the body immune system gets stronger and the body can fight such illnesses more effectively.

Like any other form of exercise Yoga should be accompanied by a balanced and healthy life style. Doing some Yoga and then running to the local joint to eat a cheese burger is not the recommended way in order to benefit from Yoga. Yoga looks at a person as a wholesome entity. In order to benefit from Yoga and to be healthier and feel better you should not just exercise Yoga on a regular basis but you should also live a Yoga life style. Eat in moderation and try to consume as much nutritious and healthy food. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits and drink lots of water.


2. A Remedy For Worry - Yoga

How could Yoga be a remedy for worry? Yoga teaches you to be completely, and consciously, aware of the present moment. The first time a friend of mine heard the words "consciously aware," he laughed because it was a pre-requisite for a potential date.

He did not understand the importance of pure, focused consciousness applied toward the present. At the same time, he was a prime example of one who lives in the past. He regretted his past mistakes, so much, that it had taken the joy out of his life.

Living in the past is much like focusing on the rear view mirror, when your car is going forward. Your life is going forward, even if you are focused on the past. If you are worried about the past, how can you help yourself today? The past is an encyclopedia of lessons filled with achievements and mistakes. Look at the past as a reference guide and learn from it, without agony.

Very often, people worry about the future. The future is not carved in stone, but we waste so much energy worrying about it. The only thing we can be guaranteed about the future is it will be uncertain. The last thing any of us need is to focus on the future with a fearful or pessimistic viewpoint.

Look at the news today. Economic news speculation could be summed up as: "The recession is here, the recession is there, the recession is everywhere, and it will last for years to come." Let's be honest, depending upon where you live, there has been an ongoing recession for some of us. On the other hand, the person currently experiencing prosperity cannot envision a house foreclosure.

Your point of view will not make a recession go away, but a collective point of view, which is optimistic, will cause an economic upswing. Just watch the stock market for ten minutes, and you can see collective optimism or pure panic at any given time. Sometimes, you see both mindsets on the floor of the stock market at the same time.

Now, let's see how Yoga can help us with daily worries. Focusing on your existence at this very moment is a basic concept of all forms of Yoga. Every Yogic technique teaches you to concentrate with full awareness. The emphasis of your practice is always positive.

Some people find the leap toward positive thinking to be their greatest challenge. Default negative thoughts may be caused by years of pessimism, frustration, and focusing on failure. Anyone can focus on negative thoughts, but it must be realized that this is a personal choice.

Yogic techniques, such as: Asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, and deep relaxation, give you the strength to make a positive difference in your life and the lives of those who come into contact with you. When we leave memories behind, they should be filled with positive energy.


3. Yoga - Weight Loss

Increasing in popularity in Western cultures, the practice of asana, or yoga, as it is more popularly known, is a series of movements that are done in sequences that maximize the flow of oxygen and blood through the body. Focusing on the mind, spirit and body in union, yoga provides numerous health benefits.

Originating over 5,000 years ago this Hindu philosophy is a great way to lose weight. Involving the body as a whole, those who practice yoga achieve multiple benefits of which include strength, flexibility, and confidence.

Based o n a sequence of poses, yoga is also the best way to lose weight because those who practice yoga have achieve better breathing, posture, and muscle tone. Building muscle tone is a necessary component for fat burning.

The practice of yoga is an individual experience. Unlike other activities, which are based on competition, yoga is a personal journey that focuses on physical, mental and spiritual growth of each individual. It has been said about yoga that the physical achievements lead to spiritual discovery.

Since yoga is a personal experience, no matter what the level of fitness an individual is at, everyone can participate. Starting off slow and building up to a challenging practice is the best way to practice. Often times however, the intensity of a yoga regime is not enough to raise your heart rate to a level of aerobic exercise. In this instance it is recommended that it be practiced in conjunction with a running or walking routine.

Due to the gentle nature of yoga, many pregnant women are able to participate in yoga during pregnancy, and find it a great way to lose weight fast after birth.