The Journey Of Yoga Through Mind
...Yoga is a transformative art, and deceptively simple. At least, although the advanced yoga postures are in fact difficult to the unpracticed, and look it, the changes that yoga can bring into one's life belie the apparent simplicity of stretching muscles.
After all, we stretch muscles at the gym during a warm up. So what is the basic difference between yoga and regular workouts, including pilates. Pilates, after all, took some of its inspiration from yoga. Or at least the aspect of yoga that is made of the physical exercises, the asanas.
Yoga integrates the breath and consciousness with physical stretches in a way that I haven't even felt in pilates, although pilates is great as a way of strengthening the internal muscles of the body as well, particularly the pelvic floor.
But in yoga, through the breath, and focusing on it within our body, we come to a greater understanding of both our body and ourselves. We begin a more conscious relationship with our individuality. We meet that unique expression of ourselves expressing physically in that moment. And we are able to begin a process of changing that which...more
Yoga is a Fun Way of Promoting a Healthier Looking Body
...It exists both within us and in our surrounding environments. Prana flows through the body using a system of energy channels (nadis) which intersect to form chakras. Pranayama (breathing control) helps to improve the flow of prana through our bodies by clearing the nadis (energy channels) to allow prana to flow through more easily. Meditation on a particular chakra can also bring about better flow of energy through it.
Dedicated asana (posture practice) is a vehicle which can help us to regulate our breathing and thus, improve our pranayama. Together, asana (posture practice) and pranayama (breathing exercises) are the building blocks of yogic theory.more
Yoga in Practice: Anger Management - Part 2
...The next obstacle is self-righteousness or delusion. This is the belief that you are right, even though the universal laws of morality say you are wrong. How can genocide be justified? How can one race, or religion, justify alienating another? How can innocent civilians be slaughtered for retribution?
Sorry to bring up such extremes, but self-righteousness and delusion are the tools of intolerance. Intolerance always justifies itself, no matter how many martyrs perish. If you want to control anger, please discard intolerance and judgment of others.
Very often, anger is created within the ego and is a response to ...more
Yoga Provides Relief and Health Benefits for Certain Health Issues
...t comes with the condition. The feet and legs are focused on, enabling the legs to offset pressure on the spine, by carrying some of the weight. Also, the position of the feet are given special attention for the sake of balance.
Core body strength needs to be built in the area of the abdominal muscles, to prevent back muscles from overworking, causing tightness, and pain. Last, but definitely not least, is breath. Due to the curvature of the spine, often the lung on that side will not get as much breath. Becoming aware of this and working to inhale evenly on both sides will open up the chest and cause more balance and evenness from within. With Yoga, students with scoliosis, learn how to be balanced again from the inside out.
While any of these conditions create debilitating conditions in the lives of their sufferers, Yoga offers relief and treatment for causes and symptoms, without side effects. In tandem with medical care, Yoga students, suffering from these conditions, become more aware of their bodies and gain great relief. Pay attention to the individual needs of students with these conditions, and guide them to balance again.
Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publicationsmore
