Many studies have been conducted to determine which areas will
benefit from an extended practice of yoga. Yoga practitioners are most
likely to see improvements in the areas of physiology, psychology, and
biochemistry.
Furthermore, practitioners of yoga speak of a
unification of the body, mind and spirit achieved through the practice
of yoga exercises and breathing techniques. But, of course, that is a
bit difficult to test scientifically.
Yoga Is An Ancient Way of Life
Yoga
is not a recent development. It has been practiced for thousands of
years, during which time people have greatly benefited from it. 1 of the
fundamental beliefs shared by yogis is that the mind and the body are a
unified system, which in a proper environment, can find harmony and
self-healing.
Demonstrated Health Benefits
Many doctors
consider yoga to have therapeutic results, and recommend it for several
illnesses and conditions, mainly related to the nervous system.
From the physiological point of view, extended yoga practice can benefit:
- pulse rate
- respiratory problems
- blood pressure dysfunctions
- help stabilize the nervous system
- gastrointestinal functions
- endocrine function
- the range of motion in joints
- endurance
- energy level
- immunity to diseases
- cardiovascular efficiency
- improve eye-hand coordination
- reaction time
- dexterity
- depth perception
- sleep
- etc.
Yoga's psychological benefits include:
- enhanced somatic and kinesthetic awareness
- self-acceptance
- self-actualization
- social skills
- well-being
- concentration
- memory
- attention
- mood
- learning efficiency
- and more
As for the biochemical benefits of yoga, tests have shown improvements in:
- glucose
- sodium
- cholesterol
- total white blood cell count
- vitamin C
- total serum protein
- hemoglobin.
Deep Organ and Joint Stimulation
Various
studies revealed that yoga exercises are extremely effective at
increasing joint flexibility, and at lubricating and strengthening the
joints, ligaments and tendons. Another interesting finding is that yoga
is one of the very few forms of exercise capable of massaging all the
internal organs and glands. This includes organs that are rarely
stimulated, such as the prostate. The stimulation and massaging of the
internal organs proves to be extremely beneficial for health.
Elimination of Toxins
These
ancient and efficient yoga techniques also provide a thorough
detoxification of the body. Stretching the muscles and performing a
complete yoga workout acts as a massage, thereby ensuring the optimal
blood supply to every organ. Consequently, toxins are eliminated from
the body and certain undesired processes, such as aging, are delayed.
All of these remarkable health benefits are available from yoga practice. What are you waiting for? Let's go find a yoga school!
Showing posts with label Yoga Therapy/. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yoga Therapy/. Show all posts
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Friday, May 17, 2013
How Yoga Will Promote Weight Loss
9:23:00 AM
If you are battling with weight gain or obesity due to unhealthy
eating habits or lack of sufficient exercise, then yoga should be of
interest to you. It is possible to lose weight as well as to relax by
engaging in yoga. Yoga will strengthen your core, tone you up and
increase your flexibility with the various poses, techniques and diets.
Here is a look at a plethora of ways in which yoga can lead to weight
loss.
Yogic poses (asanas)
These poses are geared towards fitting your health needs and age. A yoga instructor keeps in mind your health issues before prescribing certain yogic poses that may help you lose weight effectively. These asanas include sun salutation, shoulder stand, fish, wheel and bird poses, triangle poses among others. In addition, these poses help to check weight gain due to hormonal imbalance as well as allow the endocrine glands to run smoothly. The immune system is strengthened and indigestion and allergies are reduced by these yoga poses.
Yogic techniques
The Prana Shakti is a very effective and ancient method of balancing one's weight. This technique is void of physical movements but deals with the invocation of the life force called Prana through breath. The Prana converts into heat that burns fat and consequently weight loss. Mastering this technique takes only a few weeks of practice.
Yogic diets
Postures, poses and techniques work hand in hand with the yogic diets to lose weight effectively. Healthy eating habits, detoxifying frequently and avoiding junk and sugary foods, while eating a balanced yogic diet with lots of water intake are a must if you want to lose weight. Yoga alters your taste of food naturally, without deprivation or any effort. Yoga helps you to be in touch with your body and hence get to refrain from energy draining foods or sugars. Yoga will help you eat in a healthy manner leading to weight loss and consequently better health.
Positive mental attitude
Accepting that you have weight issues that need attention is the first step to the weight loss journey. Changing your attitude towards exercise and healthy diets in relation to your desired weight is of importance. Yoga allows for holistic thinking that integrates the whole person. It requires the presence of the body, mind, spirit and heart to have a unified way of living and a new positive attitude. This naturally controls your emotional, physical and spiritual needs and hence you are able to say no to overfeeding, laziness and poor feeding habits without strain and be on the path of losing weight.
Yoga motions
First timers who intend to lose weight should partake yoga but at small steps. Start small and grow with practice until you can withstand intense activities or poses. The intensity and aggressiveness of the superior yoga movements, act as workouts that lead to weight loss but should be carried out with care and under an instructor.
Certainly, yoga is one of the best ways to lose weight smartly and as a long term measure. You do not have to force your body to accept certain crash diets or hectic exercises but in the relaxing and meditative poses, techniques, diets, motions, and attitude change, weight loss is achievable.
Yogic poses (asanas)
These poses are geared towards fitting your health needs and age. A yoga instructor keeps in mind your health issues before prescribing certain yogic poses that may help you lose weight effectively. These asanas include sun salutation, shoulder stand, fish, wheel and bird poses, triangle poses among others. In addition, these poses help to check weight gain due to hormonal imbalance as well as allow the endocrine glands to run smoothly. The immune system is strengthened and indigestion and allergies are reduced by these yoga poses.
Yogic techniques
The Prana Shakti is a very effective and ancient method of balancing one's weight. This technique is void of physical movements but deals with the invocation of the life force called Prana through breath. The Prana converts into heat that burns fat and consequently weight loss. Mastering this technique takes only a few weeks of practice.
Yogic diets
Postures, poses and techniques work hand in hand with the yogic diets to lose weight effectively. Healthy eating habits, detoxifying frequently and avoiding junk and sugary foods, while eating a balanced yogic diet with lots of water intake are a must if you want to lose weight. Yoga alters your taste of food naturally, without deprivation or any effort. Yoga helps you to be in touch with your body and hence get to refrain from energy draining foods or sugars. Yoga will help you eat in a healthy manner leading to weight loss and consequently better health.
Positive mental attitude
Accepting that you have weight issues that need attention is the first step to the weight loss journey. Changing your attitude towards exercise and healthy diets in relation to your desired weight is of importance. Yoga allows for holistic thinking that integrates the whole person. It requires the presence of the body, mind, spirit and heart to have a unified way of living and a new positive attitude. This naturally controls your emotional, physical and spiritual needs and hence you are able to say no to overfeeding, laziness and poor feeding habits without strain and be on the path of losing weight.
Yoga motions
First timers who intend to lose weight should partake yoga but at small steps. Start small and grow with practice until you can withstand intense activities or poses. The intensity and aggressiveness of the superior yoga movements, act as workouts that lead to weight loss but should be carried out with care and under an instructor.
Certainly, yoga is one of the best ways to lose weight smartly and as a long term measure. You do not have to force your body to accept certain crash diets or hectic exercises but in the relaxing and meditative poses, techniques, diets, motions, and attitude change, weight loss is achievable.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Yoga Therapy - A Remedy
12:55:00 AM
Yoga therapy is difficult to define, in part because of the
breadth and depth of the tradition itself, and because, like Yoga, the
discipline can be approached in so many different ways. It is the
process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and
well-being through the application of the philosophy and practice of
Yoga. It consists of the application of yogic principles, methods, and
techniques to specific human ailments. In its ideal application,
Yoga therapy is preventive in nature, as is Yoga itself, but it is also restorative in many instances, palliative in others, and Yoga Therapy is an important aspect of Yoga. It is typically conducted one-on-one or in small groups curative in many others. By combining different techniques such as massage, stretching or alterations of the circulatory patterns, yoga promotes specific changes in muscles, joints and organs altering the vital functions of the body. The fact that the different branches of science are now acknowledging that everything in the universe works together with absolute, intimate and exquisite interrelationship is part of the basis of the increasing success and respect that Yoga Therapy is gaining among main stream medical practitioners.
As more clinicians use these techniques either for themselves of or their patients, and as more masters design specific applications of yoga, the spectrum of Yoga Therapy grows exponentially. The integration of mind and body is very important for the healing process, but perhaps the main area where yoga comes in handy is the inclusion of the 'spiritual' realm into the equation. Even if the student or patient belongs to no religion, or even if she or he does not acknowledge the existence of spirit, the practice of some of these techniques can eventually integrate this aspect of the self. Common applications for Yoga Therapy also serve structural problems such as spine misalignments or joint function.
Deeper applications may even aid more intractable problems such as AIDS and cancer. The different relaxation techniques allow the troubled mind to calm and decrease its activity while promoting stability. Yoga considers the psyche to be spread in different centers along the body (chakras). Each related to a nervous plexus, an endocrine gland, an organ or group of organs and specific psychic qualities. More than following just one style or one branch of yoga, Yoga Therapy feeds from virtually all styles and branches, combining the tools that each one of them bring in the design of a yoga sadhana, or a routine that addresses the given condition.
Yoga therapy is preventive in nature, as is Yoga itself, but it is also restorative in many instances, palliative in others, and Yoga Therapy is an important aspect of Yoga. It is typically conducted one-on-one or in small groups curative in many others. By combining different techniques such as massage, stretching or alterations of the circulatory patterns, yoga promotes specific changes in muscles, joints and organs altering the vital functions of the body. The fact that the different branches of science are now acknowledging that everything in the universe works together with absolute, intimate and exquisite interrelationship is part of the basis of the increasing success and respect that Yoga Therapy is gaining among main stream medical practitioners.
As more clinicians use these techniques either for themselves of or their patients, and as more masters design specific applications of yoga, the spectrum of Yoga Therapy grows exponentially. The integration of mind and body is very important for the healing process, but perhaps the main area where yoga comes in handy is the inclusion of the 'spiritual' realm into the equation. Even if the student or patient belongs to no religion, or even if she or he does not acknowledge the existence of spirit, the practice of some of these techniques can eventually integrate this aspect of the self. Common applications for Yoga Therapy also serve structural problems such as spine misalignments or joint function.
Deeper applications may even aid more intractable problems such as AIDS and cancer. The different relaxation techniques allow the troubled mind to calm and decrease its activity while promoting stability. Yoga considers the psyche to be spread in different centers along the body (chakras). Each related to a nervous plexus, an endocrine gland, an organ or group of organs and specific psychic qualities. More than following just one style or one branch of yoga, Yoga Therapy feeds from virtually all styles and branches, combining the tools that each one of them bring in the design of a yoga sadhana, or a routine that addresses the given condition.
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