Exercise And Yoga For Asthma

Exercise

Give yourself a break -- or two. Dr. Firshein advises everyone with asthma to engage in regular moderate exercise. "It strengthens the lungs, which helps prevent asthma symptoms," he explains. He prefers what he calls pulsed exercise-brief work­outs with rest periods in between. The breaks help prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks. Dr. Firshein's exercise of choice is tennis, but he also swims and takes aerobics classes.

Be the early bird. The concentration of air pollutants tends to rise from morning to early evening, then falls at night. So if you exercise outdoors, try to schedule your workouts for the A.M. Choose routes far away from traffic and automobile exhaust. If that isn't possible, consider joining a health club, so you can exercise indoors.

Yoga

Bend to break away from symptoms. The combination of deep, rhythmic breathing and slow, gentle stretching makes yoga an ideal activity for people with asthma. Indeed, many studies have proven yoga to be an effective asthma therapy.

In one such study involving 106 adults with asthma, half of the participants received standard treatment, while the rest received 2 weeks of happinesslifetime.com yoga training. Afterward, they were encouraged to continue practicing on their own. Four years later, the people who had engaged in regular yoga sessions reported improved lung function, fewer asthma attacks, and milder symptoms than the people who hadn't learned yoga. They had also reduced their reliance on asthma medications.

Visualization

Envision your airways opening. "Visualization is a powerful asthma therapy," affirms psychologist David Bresler, Ph.D., L.Ac., associate clinical professor of anesthesiology and licensed acupuncturist at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. "It can help many people, especially children, reduce or eliminate their need for asthma drugs."

If you want to use visualization as part of your asthma-management program, Gerald N. Epstein, M.D., director of the Academy of Integrative Medicine and Mental Imagery in New York City, suggests practicing the following exercise: Close your eyes. Take three slow, deep breaths. Envision yourself in a pine forest. Stand next to a pine tree and inhale its aromatic fragrance. As you exhale, sense your breath traveling down through your body and exiting through the soles of your feet. See your breath as gray smoke that becomes buried deep in the earth. Open your eyes.

Chinese Medicine

Get to the points. "In Chinese medicine, asthma represents the stagnation of qi, or life energy, in the lungs," says Efrem Korngold, O.M.D., L.Ac. "Treatment involves dispersing qi to eliminate stagnation." One way to do this is with acupuncture. In fact, acupuncture works so well as an asthma therapy that even the United Nations World Health Organization recommends it.

During a treatment session, an acupuncturist inserts needles at several specific locations around the body. If you prefer, you can try stimulating these points yourself with acupressure. Simply apply steady, penetrating finger pressure to each of the following points for 3 minutes.

Lung 7, located on the thumb side of your inner forearm, two thumb-widths from the wrist crease

Pericardium 6, located on the midline of your inner arm, two thumb-widths above the wrist crease

Stomach 36, located four finger-widths below your kneecap and one finger­width toward the outside of your shin­bone

Liver 3, situated on top of your foot in the webbing between your big toe and second toe

Read out for bodybuilding-workouts.org/vitamins/index.html Vitamins. Check out herbal-home-remedies.org/remedies/arthritis.htm arthritis treatment and online-family-doctor.com/home-remedies/index.htm home remedies

Does Yoga Calm the Soul?

What turns a stressed to the maximum human being to a easy going well trained loving soul. Get the tables turned by starting a yoga tape they make them for older venues, young people, pregnant people.

No excuses this is the best exercise no matter what your time of life is. When you are through stretching and moving in the silent rhythm of your body with natures plus makes you a calm soul.

I have found after an hour of stretching, when they say lets lay here and unwind my body proceeds to go to sleep. The calming effect is wonderful and very stress relieving, there are plenty of tapes to try from the library or purchase you will find your favorites share with your friends and then you will have plenty of variety.

Know even if you are working at your computer you will still need time for you and this is one way to entertain your healthful whims during the day. Exercise does not have to be strenuous you just need to do it enough to keep yourself in shape and in tune with your inner being.

What does your body tell you when you are stressed, do you have a head ache that will not remove itself, does your heart race, are you just feeling nervous. Make sure you keep your health under control, we only get one temple to house our soul and we need to take care of it.

What happens if you finally make the big one and get rich if you are not healthy enough to enjoy it what have you accomplished. Take care of you for you and your extended family. There are people that depend on you so if you are enjoying staying in shape you will be here for a longer time to enjoy them.

I like to take time out to watch silly videos because what happens when you laugh and belly laugh so hard the pressure from working is gone. Take time to laugh and lengthen your time on mother earth.

? Diana Rickett
D & G Home Business Partners
businessonastring.com businessonastring.com

Running - Building on Your Summer Base

Many runners start race training when Fall begins. What race goals should you create for yourself? Much of it depends on what you did during the summer.

If the majority of your summer workouts have consisted of non running activities such as yoga, swimming, and biking, I hate to tell you that you should not aim for lofty goals in terms of running. That is, unless your Lance Armstrong. However, before he became a biking superstar, he was a runner. I'm sure your cardiovascular system is top notch, but the muscles that you would use for running are not. You might be able to finish a couple good, long runs. However, this might cause you to push too hard and injure yourself. You should aim to finish a 5K or 10K. To train, do fifteen to twenty minutes of easy running, two to three times per week, with a cross training day in between each running day. Do this for two to three weeks. Increase your running time, five to ten minutes for each following week. As you near the end of Fall, you can substitute a cross training day for a running day, if you are planning to finish a 10K. Work on speed if you plan to stick to 5K races.

If you have been a couch potato all summer, your goal should be to get back into the swing of things, to build the discipline to run two to three times per week. Start with ten to fifteen minutes worth of running every other day for the first two weeks. Increase your running by five minutes for each following week. Don't try to race in Fall because you will most likely injure yourself. Keep your racing goal saved for a late fall 5K, but only to finish and not PR.

Blake M Talvitz has been writing articles for 5 years, covering a number of topics such as health, fitness, home and garden, and business management. Her latest blogs are about namebadgeribbons.com name badge ribbons and gardenswingcushions.com garden swing cushions.

Ashtanga Yoga in America - The Early Teachers

According to a biography on his website Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, born in July 1915 is credited with introducing the art of Ashtanga Yoga to America. The first western to be trained with Krishna Pattabhi Jois was Andre Van Lysbeth whose country of origin was Belgium. Before long the first Americans started to come to Jois to learn the practice of Ashtanga at Swami Gitananda's ashram in Pondicherri. The Ashtanga took its root in California and spread throughout USA. Norman Allen and David Williams were the early American students of Jois. David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff are credited with inviting the master practitioner to San Diego County to impart the training.

Ashtanga might still have been a dark art for Americans if Norman Allen did not persistently plead Jois to teach the practice. Norman found it extremely hard as the master did not accept western students. He had to camp outside his entrance for days before Jois was persuaded by his sincerity and took him on as a student. After a grueling period of study Norman returned to USA and brought Ashtanga practice with him. Norman returned to New York City in the early 1980's as Yoga was starting to gain prominence. He practiced Ashtanga initially but was not interested in the commercialism of the art. He left New York City for Hawaii and is settled there to this day. He still tutors Ashtanga to his disciples.

David Williams, an Ashtanga practitioner since the early 70's, has imparted training to many senior instructors of the craft in America. He started his love of Yoga during his student days at the University of North Carolina. He went to India in 1971 to learn yoga. He had to go through many obstacles before finding Manju Jois (Jois son). After seeing the demonstration of Ashtanga, David asked Manju to train him. When he refused, David asked him if his father would teach him. Though Jois only taught Brahman men, he decided to be his tutor. David learned the first, second and half of the third series of Yoga in his stay with the master. Jois did not speak English in those days and David had to study by watching the other students practicing it. He continued his education with Pattabhi Jois till he gained knowledge of the complete Ashtanga series.

David relocated to Hana after the completion of his training in order to concentrate on building strength and polishing his skills. The focus was to develop his style and leave the imitation. He taught exclusively private lectures for almost 20 years before he started traveling and delivering group lessons of Ashtanga as delivered to him by the master Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois.

Nancy Gilgoff is one of the first western females to arrive in India and seek training of Ashtanga from Jois. Nancy is also credited for bringing Ashtanga to America and she has been teaching it for more than 30 years now. Nancy was met with an accident in her early life. Due to her love of horse riding she was left with a chronic back pain. After learning the practice she has been able to live an improved life. Her approach is slow and easy and she still enjoys seeing the results in her students. Nancy Gilgoff is able to teach with the same approach and stroke that was passed on to her by the great Jois.

yogabodynaturals.com Ashtanga Yoga * DOUBLE YOUR FLEXIBILITY* in 28 days... 7 Secrets of Nutrition and Flexibility. Free 7-day email course at link above.

HotYogaGuru.com Hot Yoga DVD *BIKRAM YOGA LOVER?* Get the definitive home study course on Hot Yoga. Giant 300-page book, 2 DVDs, pose chart, and more.

YOGABODY Naturals LLC is a yoga educational and nutritional supplement company aimed specifically at students of yoga asana. Founded by Lucas Rockwood in 2007, the YOGABODY community now includes over 10,000 students and teachers worldwide.

"Powerful Yoga for Real People"

Kriyas - Kriya Yoga And Much More - Learn How To Clean Your Body!

Kriyá, in Yôga, means activity of purification of the mucous membranes

Kriyá, alone, means activity. Kriyás are techniques of purification that are typical to Ancient Yôga. They are the art of cleansing the body inside and outside, paying attention to insignificant details that would make blush any of us that believes to be a clean individual.

To the perplexity of arrogant westerners, kriyás were elaborated at a time when most of the people, which today were considered cultured, didn't even take baths nor brushed their teeth. At this time, yôgis were already more worried about hygiene than we are in this day and age, even more so than any other people in any time in history.

Yôgis knew, for example, that it didn't do any good to clean the outside, the visible face of the body, if we left the part of the body that is not visible filthy. They were conscious of the fact that this is very dishonest as it seems very much like sweeping the dirt under the rug, only that in this case, the rug is one's own body!

There are six main kriyás, called shat karma.

1. Kapálabhati Cleansing of the brain and lungs. It can also be cataloged as a pránáyáma.

2. Trátaka Cleansing and training of the eyes to improve vision. It works rapidly on stigmatisms and hypermetropy.

3. Nauli Cleansing of intestinal and abdominal organs through massaging.

4. Nêti Washing the nostrils and maxillary sinus with water (jala nêti) or with a special medical hose (sútra nêti).

5. Dhauti Washing the esophagus and stomach with water (jala dhauti) or with gauze (vasô dhauti).

6. Basti (vasti) Cleansing of the rectum and colon with water. It was the ancestor of the colon cleansing as we know today.

KRIYÁ YÔGA

An interesting fact: Kriyá Yôga is a kind of Yôga which has no kriyás! Furthermore, it is not secret nor was it ever lost, as declared on a contemporary book that has become very popular in the 20th century, one which has spread much misinformation among uninformed readers. The most evident and convincing proof that such type of Yôga has never been secret nor lost lies in the fact that Kriyá Yôga was described in the Yôga Sútra of Pátañjáli, a work written over 2,000 years ago and one which was never a secret nor lost.

The original trunk of what may be referred to as Yôga's family tree first divided into eight separate branches: Ásana Yôga, Rája Yôga, Bhakti Yôga, Karma Yôga, Jñána Yôga, Layá Yôga, Mantra Yôga and Tantra Yôga. These then subdivided into many others. Rája Yôga, for example, gave birth to Dhyána Yôga, Suddha Rája Yôga and Ashtánga Yôga (also known as the Rája Yôga of Pátañjali). This last subdivision, the one associated with Pátañjali, consists of eight stages: yama, niyama, ásana, pránáyáma, pratyáhára, dháraná, dhyána and samádhi. The second stage, niyama is made up of five parts, three of which make up Kriyá Yôga: tapas, swádhyáya and íshwara pranidhána, which are nothing more that ethical norms

From this we can conclude that Kriyá Yôga is merely the sum of three fragments within the eighth branch of the original trunk of Yôga, or what is referred to as Pre-Classic Yôga, the one which we teach. The interpretations of these three ethical norms often result in many differing procedures. Tapas, as the norm of overcoming oneself, can also be understood as effort over oneself, discipline or austerity. From this point of view, it is possible to declare that, for example, the execution of an ásana, or any other technique, is also the practice of tapas. This constitutes an excellent way to denominate tapas as anything one does. Similarly, one can apply the same thing to swádhyáya and íshwara pranidhána.

Bibliographic support for these affirmations can be found in chapter 2, verse 1 in the Yôga Sútra of Pátañjáli as well as in the book Kriyá Yôga by Srí Swámi Shivánanda, Editorial Kier, Buenos Aires. This second book openly teaches the true Kriyá Yôga, without mysteries or myths.

Some people accept methods that are less encompassing because they know nothing better. What is available in their limited cultural universe then seems to be good enough and they even spread the word that such a small and poor resource is better than all the rest. Imagine the perplexity of people, who have tried this one single resource, when they come into contact with a kind of Yôga that is absolutely complete like Ancient Yôga (SwáSthya Yôga). Complete and uncomplicated!

DRISHTIS

The drishtis are a variety of trátaka that may be both interpreted as kriyá or dhárana. In the first case, they are denominated bahiranga trátaka (external) and in the second case, antaranga trátaka (internal). When practicing kriyá, the sádhaka doesn't have to attend to concentration more than what is necessary in order to execute it well.

Since the drishtis are exercises of ocular fixation, the ocular muscles are used a great deal and the eyes are washed by tearing. For this exact reason, if done in moderation, they can benefit the eyes and reduce some kinds of visual problems. However, on the other hand, if practiced in exaggeration, they can damage the visual mechanism.

In the variety of concentration exercise, the yôgin should make an effort not to let thoughts stray from the object of fixation. For example, if the object is a star, try to continue gazing at it without blinking for as long as possible, of course within reason, while maintaining one's attention on the star as well.

The most common drishtis are:

1) Naságra drishti -fixation on the tip of the nose;

2) Bhrúmadhya - fixation on the base of the nose, between the eyebrows;

3) Shaktí drishti or shakta drishti - fixation on your tantric partner's eyes;

4) Guru drishti - fixation on your Master's image (painting, symbol or photograph);

5) Agni drishti - fixation on fire (a flame of a candle, campfire, torch, etc.);

6) Táraka drishti -fixation on a star;

7) Chandra drishti - fixation on the moon;

8) Súrya drishti - fixation on the sun (just during sunrise or sunset, and even then,

only at the moment when it does not hurt the eyes).

MAUNA

Mauna is considered a resource for purification. Mauna means silence. A vow of mauna is a vow to remain in silence for a determined period of time, as tapas. Its origins probably date back to the monasteries, where the observance of silence was used to make it easier to impose discipline. In the Shivánanda Ashram, one can find, written in dêvanágarí on the walls of some rooms: "mauna kripá," which means silence, please.

The practice of mauna has more to do with the brahmácharya lineage than it does with the Tantric lineage, which is libertarian and preaches that each individual should exercise their liberty to its fullest. This is why, in the Ancient Yôga (SwáSthya Yôga) we do not encourage the practice of mauna. In addition, such a practice could put the practitioner in difficult situations when faced with family and friends that are not practitioners. It must be remembered that SwáSthya Yôga and the DeRose Method are distinguished from others because they do not give off the image of alienation, which can be noted in some other modalities of Yôga.

However, if you are from a brahmácharya lineage and want to practice mauna, it is important to be attentive to the following observations: first, do not make an "occidental brahmácharya face," which means expressing equanimity or a total lack of emotion. Keep yourself extremely likeable and smiling, seeking to participate in everything as naturally as possible. If someone speaks to you, smile and maintain all the normal attitudes of your relationship with this person and strengthen these with an extra dose of care and sympathy.

FASTING (UPASANA)

Fasting is not a kriyá, but it contributes to the purification of the body. The best kind of fasting is that which is short and frequent: 36 hours, once a week, with a lot of mineral water. One day before fasting, one's diet should include foods that contain natural laxatives (like a laxative infusion, papaya seeds or water that has had prunes soaked in it overnight) and a colon washing. Finally, sweet fruits should be eaten before heavier foods, fruits like papaya or mangos.

The reason for short and moderately frequent fasting is that long fasts excessively strain the body, consume muscular mass and can compromise one's health, and therefore should be avoided. Despite this, they can be used in cases of extreme necessity. If you choose to practice longer fasts, do so with a great deal of prudence and close accompaniment by medical experts.

Article writen by Marcello Oliveira, Instructor of Sw?Sthya, The Ancient Y?ga and member of The International University of Y?ga.

ancientyoga.blogspot.com ancientyoga.blogspot.com/

The Spiritual and Healthy Benefits of Attending Hatha Yoga Class

Since each yoga position is holistic that used to perform for its spiritual benefit, the training will truly adjusted with your body and mind nothing like ordinary repetitive exercises on the gym. Hatha yoga class is a fine alternative if you are complete tyro who attends a class for the first time.

Not like the dynamic varieties of yoga like Ashtanga and Iyangar, the focus on more serene laid on the pose and truthful breathing. In this type of yoga, you can do simple yoga movements as well as stretch out all your muscles quietly.

Meditative State Of Mind

Yoga is repeatedly connected with meditation and meditation is a great approach to attain inner calm.

For that reason, you must train the proper breathing techniques and position to achieve this state of mind. However, having those simple workouts in this type of yoga may perhaps be a bit hard than it seems.

In Hatha yoga class, you are required to breathe in the right time while holding particular positions which are not as easy as it seems. So, compared to other classes such as an Ashtanga class, Hatha yoga class will moves a lot more unhurriedly.

Baby Steps

Hatha yoga class is remarkable manner to begin learning yoga, though you are not interested for its spiritual gains.

The premium part about this type of yoga is that you don't feel as if you are straining your body or really exercising.

Repeated exercising on this type of yoga will make you tone and stretch the muscles you didn't know you had. Moreover, recurrent workout on this type of yoga will help a lot to develop your metal as well as improving your healthy life.

Do Hatha yoga class [yogamastertrainer.com/hatha-yoga-class/hatha-yoga-class-perfect-place-to-reduce-your-stress/] for a few weeks and you will turn into addictive to yoga and weigh trying every kind of yoga.

Alice Young writes about yoga and find more articles please visit her website at Yoga Master Trainer [yogamastertrainer.com/].

Teaching Hatha Yoga: The Summer Slow Down

Let's face it, Yoga teachers who live in Northern climates have been looking forward to a break from the "winter chill." Your Yoga students have also been looking forward to the warm weather and they want to take a vacation. What can Yoga teachers and Yoga studios do to compensate for the "Sumer Slow Down?"

You have taught your Yoga students about empowerment all year, but some students may not return to your regular classes, without a reminder. Many North Americans take a couple of weeks off in July and some summer vacations will be planned for August. Most of my friends in Europe take August off, therefore, Yoga teachers are looking at a minimum of one month during the summer that is predominantly slow, depending on your exact location and culture.

Some Yoga teachers in the Southern United States will experience a slow down, if the temperatures rise too much and too soon. Yoga classes can become sparse, especially if the temperatures jump to the 90's Fahrenheit during late spring or early summer. So, what action can Yoga teachers take to deal with this vacation season?

How about special classes? Did you ever think about teaching Yoga classes in a pool? What about testing Yoga classes that you had not considered during a busy season? What about an "Introduction to Hot Yoga" or a Vinyasa style Yoga class that is a little warmer than usual? What about testing a short-term Pranayama class or Yoga meditation workshop as a "pilot class" for the busy season?

Once again, I ask you to enlarge your vision and "think outside the box." Do enough ground work and research to become an innovator, rather than "follow the crowd." Even if your Yoga classes do slow down a bit, you can cater to your "regular students," who are with you "through thick and thin." Ask your Yoga students for feedback.

One last major point to bring up: Make sure you are working on "reminders" to your Yoga students who regularly attend classes during cooler weather. It is best to use this time to get a list of all of your Yoga students and prepare for a mailing in late August, or early September.

This is the time when children go back to school, and family plans are made for the fall schedule. If you teach Yoga for a living, your first priority is to thank your students for their past participation and remind them that you still teach Yoga.

It is very easy for anyone to forget their priorities, and Yoga students are no exception. Yoga teachers contribute to the well being of their student's mental, physical, and spiritual health. When you see inactive Yoga students around town, they often thank you for what they have learned from you.

Therefore, do not take a summer slow down personally. This is a season that you should make the most of by taking action and testing new ideas for your Yoga classes.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Yamas Along With Niyamas - Basic Understanding

Yamas are rules for a way we interact with the outer world. Cultural disciplines to lead us in our own relationships with others. The 5 yoga yamas happen to be: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, and Aparigraha.

Aparigraha encompasses Non-Possessiveness, not being greedy, and embracing the simple things in life. It focuses on satisfying one's needs as opposed to wants. Practicing yoga Aprigraha includes a non-bond to belongings, as well as human relationships. Whenever you take away "things," you face your own self. It is not very comfortable, but it's definitely stimulating. It helps one make space for new developments to come. The most important principle of Aparigraha is to abstain from accumulating more than you'll need - "stuff" only serves to keep you from your source, your real self. Usually, one attempts to fulfill spiritual hunger with interactions like sex, food, and material goods. Take away the diversion, and you can link more deeply with what is truly taking place inside. It is okay to have "stuff" but you don't want to get attached to it. Remain connected to your source, and let some other aspects in your life go the way the actual universe directs them.

Niyamas yoga is about how we interact with ourselves, our inner world. The practice of Niyama harnesses the power generated from our own practice and cultivation of a particular yamas. Niyama is all about self-adjustment - helping us maintain a positive atmosphere in which to grow. The particular five niyamas are: Shaucha, Santosha, Tapas, Swadhyaya, and Ishwara-Pranidhana.

Shaucha means chastity and clarity. Shaucha embodies purity of body, cleanliness, good health habits, and a crystal clear and orderly environment. The practice of shaucha embodies evenness of head, thoughts, speech and discrimination. It's main principle revolves around Keeping your atmosphere neat and clear. It also emphasizes orderliness encircling the self as well as our thoughts and orderliness of surroundings. This all essentially has to do with the cleaning of energy.

Santosha yoga is a term that means satisfaction. Accept what is, and make the best from everything. Its practice involves appreciation and joyfulness, as well as keeping calm with failure or success. This state of mind does not rely on any outside reputation and revolves around a mentality of satisfaction, acceptance, and appreciation. Another principle that santosha teaches is to Keep centered in the face of adversity; it is a training of choosing love above fear. Santosha Follows the saying "Take that which we can't change, Change what we can, and also have the intelligence to know the difference."

Tapas is a yoga niyama that basically means austerity, which is the readiness to do what's necessary to reach a goal with discipline. The Practice of tapas includes determination to follow daily practices, making sacrifices as required, excitement for the spiritual way. Tapas encompasses joyfulness with external discipline, which can lead to internal discipline. Tapas is all about austerity, sacrifice, and self-discipline. Tapas indicates "heat" or "fire." Go through heat and accept it - invite it in; The fire brings change. If you're not in stillness, you are craving or having aversion. Change happens in the fire - burn off some layers and emerge as something new - a Phoenix. Give yourself fully to your dharma (your own life's objective). Build bravery, power and simplicity. Prolonged sitting meditation is a disciplined practice - physical heat is produced, which "burns" the ego off to expose the true spirit.

Swadhyaya means self-education and study. It teaches one to consider the meaning of spiritual principles - understanding the fundamental knowledge, but NOT accepting without question. Swadhyaya yoga emphasizes the expansion of one's understanding through reading, and contemplating to understand the scriptures for observation with the self in regards to all existence. Practicing Swadhyaya involves reflection, deep breathing, and a yearning to know the Truth. Swadhyaya is actually the practice of self-observation. It gives you an intermission between stimulus and response, allowing you to have space to breathe, loosen up, feel, watch, and permit. Things you are contemplating may come clear for you in an essentially natural way - or it may take time for truth to emerge. Be receptive and have the spirit of exploration within you.

Ishwara-Pranidhana yoga means to surrender to God/Light/Power of the actual Universe. Its practice involves belief, dedication, sincerity, and tolerance to go beyond the ego, which is always so resistant to surrender. Ishwara-Pranidhana is about your relationship to the divine power within the universe. Give the fruit of yourself, your work, as well as your devotion to Divinity. Keep self-actualization as your goal in your life, adjusting all your actions to serve this particular goal in some manner. Spirituality sees the light and the dark, so do not judge the elements of the spirit. Spirituality is in many things - it is within our hearts. Your own expression may be to read poems, listen to music, to dance, to walk your dog. Find your expression of your surrender to Spirit and celebration of this energy.

Yogafit has a lot of very informative advice in all aspects of yogafit.com yoga dvd poses, training, and everything else. She also has a number of yogafit.com yoga meetings several times a year and is known yoga guru and mogul around the world.

Home Based Yoga

Exercising at home has many advantages. You can do it on your own time, you can save travel time, save membership and class fees and the hassles of sweaty gym rats. Even with these advantages, it is still easy to spend a lot of money on expensive home equipment. The treadmill, elliptical trainer or exercise bike you might spend thousands on may just end up gathering dust in the corner.

A great, low-cost, convenient alternative is to use equipment you probably already have in your home, a DVD player and TV. There are many types of home exercise DVDs, to lead you through aerobic training, weight training and even stationary cycling. However, in this article, I will focus on doing yoga at home. There are many quality yoga DVDs available to lead you through a workout. They are readily available from Amazon, your local library or many stores or web sites that offer exercise videos.

There are wide ranges of yoga DVDs available, so it is important to select one that meets your needs. You should choose based on your fitness goals, yoga experience level and style preference. Many of the most common fitness goals can be achieved through yoga, including:

1. Stress Management

2. Weight Loss

3. Increased Flexibility

4. Increased Strength

5. Improved Stamina

These goals often overlap or complement each other. The key for choosing the right video is determining which of these your primary goal is.

Yoga experience and general fitness level are also important factors. These can be broken down into the following categories:

1. Limited Beginner - No fitness experience, recovering from injury or limited flexibility/mobility.

2. Beginner - Good health but little or no experience with yoga or group exercise.

3. Intermediate - Has some yoga experience or other fitness experience, fairly active and mobile with average amount of flexibility and strength.

4. Advanced - Have a regular yoga practice, fitness experience or seasoned athlete with reasonable amount of flexibility.

Do not feel bad if you are at the limited beginner level. Everyone needs to start somewhere and beginning at a level too difficult will only discourage you from continuing.

You should also use common sense when assessing your experience and fitness level. For example, if you are fairly active and limber- able to climb stairs, walk regularly and participate in normal daily activities but have never participated in a group exercise program at a studio or health club, you still may do fine with a Beginner or Intermediate yoga video. If you are limited in your range of motion or have knee, wrist or back issues you may do better with a slower paced video for a limited beginner where you will have time to make adjustments to suit your needs. Alternatively, a marathon runner might be in great aerobic shape, but have tight limbs and no yoga experience, in which case a Beginner video may be the best place to start.

No matter what your fitness level, yoga is very personal. One of the main advantages of yoga is that you can adjust your own approach and effort level to best meet your needs. If you are limited in flexibility or strength, you still can adjust to a simpler posture to participate in a routine. A seasoned athlete should have the skills necessary to adjust any class to challenge themselves, whether through tightening up muscles in any area or strengthening the mind in focusing on the yoga positions, breath and body alignment. A good yoga instructor, whether in person or on a DVD, will encourage the class to adjust as needed for their individual ability.

Whether you are a seasoned yoga student, or brand new to yoga, finding the right yoga video starts with determining your needs, then matching a video that suits. Some things to consider are what type of yoga you would like to practice, versatility of the workout, instructor style, options offered for varying levels, scenery and music. With the right selection, you can establish a rewarding and sustainable exercise program to help you achieve your goals.

As a certified yoga instructor with over 20 year of experience teaching yoga and other group fitness classes, I have seen many teaching styles and reviewed many exercise videos. For more help in deciding the best home yoga video for your particular needs, consult yogadvdreviewhq.com Yoga DVD Reviews for a comprehensive review of a wide variety of yoga DVDs.

Yoga for Men

Improve Your Game with Yoga for Men

Contrary to what many men believe, yoga isn't just for women. Yoga for men is not only practiced by those who are interested in relaxation techniques and body flexibility, but it can provide many benefits to those who are looking for an athletic advantage. Men tend to have tight muscles, particularly in the hamstrings, hips, and the shoulders, that can limit their athleticism and lead to injuries in these areas. Any time you over-train in one area or perform the same movement repeatedly, stress can lead to muscle or joint injuries.

Specifically designed programs incorporating Yoga for men offer a full-body workout to improve both flexibility and strength. Not only will the yoga poses help you reduce the likelihood of injury but you will also enhance your athletic ability. You will need to use the poses that will focus on the areas where men tend to be the stiffest in order to get the greatest benefit. While there are a number of different styles of yoga, programs that are specifically designed by a professional to provide beneficial yoga for men will focus on the trouble spots that are common among the majority of them.

Get Major League Results in a Short Time

You can see that yoga for men has all the benefits needed by any type of athlete. In addition to improving strength and flexibility of the muscles and joints you use most in your sport, there are additional health benefits that will come with practicing each of the poses. Taking just one class a week or performing a few poses before your workout can provide you with many of the associated benefits.

You can go online and search for the poses that are commonly used to benefit men and find some of the top names associated with the yoga discipline to get all the information you need to get you started. There are numerous online videos that will demonstrate the proper way to do yoga for men so you get step-by-step instructions without having to leave home!

To consider how yoga for men might be the answer you are looking for, think of a baseball pitcher. He is using an area of his body that is considered a trouble spot for men in general. When he pitches, he is repeatedly relying on his shoulder muscles to get the ball to its goal destination. Not only does he rely on strength in his shoulders, but also flexibility to provide him with the range of motion he needs to be successful. Since yoga will improve the flexibility of muscles, tendons, and ligaments and will also improve joint lubrication, it can improve every aspect of the body's ability to perform the repeated action needed to pitch without the high risk of injury.

If you are more interested in the aesthetics of rock hard abs than improving your sports techniques, yoga for men can help you with that as well. Many types of yoga focus on the core muscles which include the abdominals. There are also programs that are designed specifically to create a six pack for men by incorporating the most effective poses. But it is recommended that you start with the aplusyoga.com/general/yoga-for-beginners yoga for beginners.

Yoga is a versatile workout system that can give you the great results that you want while also providing you with the improved concentration, relaxation, and stamina to improve every aspect of your life!

Please click here for related topic: aplusyoga.com/general/yoga-for-back-pain Yoga for Back Pain.

Yoga Teacher - Teaching Chair Yoga

As a Yoga teacher, you will have students, who will have physical weaknesses, and will have seniors in your classes. All students, young or old will be at a different level of skill. You know the wonderful improvements Yoga brings and the health benefits it provides. As for new students and especially those with some kind of physical complaint, they may not trust Yoga totally and therefore, if you would like to keep them in your class - you have to be honest with them.

When you began Yoga can you recall how challenging Yoga was. Not just on your body but on your mental level too, and yet through perseverance you began to understand your body and mind through yoga practice; where as, any new prospective student may not feel that Yoga is for them. Be absolute sincere with your learners whilst guiding and then a few months down the road, they may be thankful for the total health benefits that they have obtain.

Suppose you have older seniors as students would it not be better for them for you to teach them a hard variation of Yoga such as, Power Yoga? Perhaps, they may enjoy it but it could be something they will find strenuous and not appreciate. Have you ever considered Chair Yoga?

A number of instructors would not make use of adaptation, using supports, or even consider tailoring a Yoga class in the direction of their learners.

If, this is you, then I doubt that you would enjoy this field.

I mention this since there be a huge requirement for Yoga instructor's who have the persistence, the imaginative, combine with empathy and really wish for the betterment of others, and therefore would like to persist with their schooling as vital for Yoga instructors Job as part of Chair Yoga teaching.

The result of Chair Yoga is it will benefit your students by strengthening their abdomen, and deepen their breath. These exercises are great for your senior students and those who have limited mobility as they can be practised in almost any location including an office or any sitting location sitting.

If you are resolving to be a master teacher of yoga and not fall victim to unethical trainers who have scruples to taking advantage of your time and hard earned money then go to yoga-teacher-certification.info yoga-teacher-certification.info the an online resource full of valuable articles containing tips, secrets and advice.

Aloha - Learning to be Happy with Yourself

Shelly felt sick. As she sat at the table and watched all the people eating, talking, and having a good time, all she could think about was if anyone noticed how horrible and runny the stuffing was. Shelly's mother in law had fallen off of a step-stool two weeks earlier and broken her wrist. This year, for the first time, Easter dinner, which was also celebrated as her father in laws birthday, was being done at Shelly's house. At first it seemed like a great idea. When Allen, her husband, had suggested it as a great way to help his mother out, Shelly embraced the thought. However, as the day grew closer it became more and more overwhelming.

Shelly was frustrated that Allen hadn't recognized how hard she'd worked to prepare in advance and had been short with him for days. She found herself trying to fit into her schedule a trip to the hair stylist so she would look good when the family from out of town arrived. She stayed up past midnight three nights in a row frantically cleaning and getting the two guest rooms in perfect order. Now that the event was upon her and everyone was having a wonderful time, and by all measures, Shelly was miserable. The stuffing was runny. Not to mention, Shelly was cranky and she had snapped at Allen in front of his mother earlier. It was humiliating. Shelly was positive it would live on in family history forever. Shelly didn't think his mother had ever really liked her that much anyway. What a mess she had made of things...

The person we judge the most and judge most harshly is always ourselves. As women we are trained - it is ingrained in us to be critical of ourselves and as we learn to do it to ourselves first we also learn to direct it outward on the world around us. Nothing, and I mean nothing drains our personal energy the way judging ourselves does. However, this is the one habit of self sabotage that is so subtle, so soft, it's like a whisper, but it is the mother of all of our failures. Judging self is the most fundamental crime we commit against humanity for if we cannot love ourselves we surely will never truly love another. That is a bold statement. However, it's true and although we know in our hearts it's true, we go on judging ourselves quite harshly everyday anyway.

Again, embracing the spirit of Aloha, to love is to be happy with and that applies to our relationship with self more then any other. If we can find a way as women to escape judging ourselves and just settle into being happy with who we are, we free up so much personal space inside our heads that we can finally begin to thrive. Wouldn't it be great to thrive? I mean seriously. I know this sounds a little like mumbo, but really - what if you could just commit to loving yourself and you could then have enough extra personal energy to work on that novel you've wanted to write or train for a marathon? You may never know what you could achieve until you commit to loving yourself with abandon just to see what's possible.

So, fast forward one full year. It's Easter. Shelly's mother in law has just decided that since the family descends on her home for all the other holidays, she doesn't want to do Easter anymore. They enjoyed it so much last year, Allen's family more or less invites themselves back to Shelly's place. This year Shelly spends a few bucks, hires someone to come in for an afternoon to clean the house while she goes to the spa the before the family comes. For dinner instead of the regular Easter fare Shelly serves an amazing Italian dinner that her family would traditionally make for special occasions. Everybody raves about it. There is no stuffing in sight.

There is a photo that hangs in Shelly's kitchen today of Allen's dad's 64th birthday cake all ablaze with sixty-four candles and all the family around it in her kitchen with Dad and Shelly blowing out the candles together. It's a classic. I can't help but smile every time I see it. She's beaming.

Shelly figured out Aloha. Make it your year.

Lisa Hayes is a mind, body, soul, practitioner who views the person as a whole - With meditation for the mind Yoga for the body and as an ordained minister, for the soul, Lisa works with women to help them achieve peace and bliss in the chaos of their every day lives.

Lisa is also a partner in an independent technology firm and is a single mother of a teenage boy, so she understands chaos. Chaos is a part of everyday life. It is a part of the contrast of life that makes the zen seem so much more precious.

Lisa began the pursuit of the healing arts more than fifteen years ago when she completed her degree in natural health and nutrition. She continued that path as a yoga and meditation instructor before becoming a life coach.

Lisa believes that zen is our basic nature. All we have to do is release it. She has dedicated herself to assisting women in finding whatever tools work best for them individually to become their most blissful and beautiful selves.

To contact Lisa email her at