Commonly known as “power yoga,” ashtanga yoga is a flowing practice that emphasizes challenging posture series and strong breathing. The teachings of ashtanga yoga are derived from Pantanjali’s Eightfold Path, a series of disciplines that are widely considered the moral codes of the yogic tradition. In the West it is mostly associated with the form [...]
Office Yoga – 5 Poses You Can Do At Your Desk
If you’re stressed out at work (and who isn’t?) and need a quick fix to get back on track, give these office-friendly, abbreviated yoga moves a try. You can do them right at your desk or around the confines of your friendly little cubicle (you might want to let your boss know what you’re up [...]
4 Yoga Principles Every Runner Should Know
If until now your only mantra has been “keep moving!” maybe it’s time to change your approach. Here are four yoga fundamentals to apply to your running training regimen. You strive for speed, stamina, power. You’re a runner, and you do it all: You run hard, you run long, you lift weights. Lately, though, you’re [...]
Getting Started With A Beginner Yoga Class
Yoga is like a sweet, you can never fully describe it, you have to try it to experience the sensation it provides. Understand that yoga may not appeal to everyone but through exploration and practice one can find their niche. If it is a big effort for you, then you need to consider what is [...]
How To Find A Yoga Teacher
A good yoga practice has a lot to do with finding a good teacher. Here are some tips to help you move in the right direction. There is no credential or license required in order to teach yoga in the United States. While most yoga teachers are sincere and dedicated, it’s still a smart idea [...]
Building Muscle Tone With Yoga
Madonna’s lean and mean look is almost as shocking as earlier revelations that she can actually act. What’s perhaps even more surprising is that she says her toned body is all due to yoga. Could the same graceful moves that melt away stress be more efficient than weights in building a stronger, shapelier body? That [...]
Do You Have To Be Flexible To Practice Yoga?
The myth prevails to this day. However, you’ll be thrilled to learn that yoga isn’t just about flexibility. We’ve all peered into a yoga classes at our local fitness centers and had our jaws drop at some of the contorted positions in which yoga enthusiasts twist their bodies. The fear that your instructor would have [...]
Is Your Yoga Workout Safe?
People all over the country see yoga as the answer to their need for relaxation and flexibility, but if you’re not careful, the wrong move can lead to injuries, such as pulled muscles in your back and shoulders. Mark Blanchard, a yoga instructor and owner of Yogatime in Beverly Hills, California, offers these pointers for [...]
Karma Yoga Concepts And Practices
The yogis say that any work may be transformed into karma yoga by developing the attitude that the work is done for the peace and harmony of all. Karma yoga is the selfless service of humanity without the expectation of reward, compensation or any personal gain other than the delight of helping another. The word [...]
All About Ashtanga Yoga
If you’ve noticed the term Astanga yoga being bandied about but have no idea what it is, we’re here to explain it. Many an unwitting gym denizen has stumbled into this class thinking it would be a relaxing way to spend the hour before their real exercise class begins. What they experience instead is a [...]
Couples Yoga Benefits And Techniques
Despite its reputation as a solitary activity, yoga offers surprising benefits to couples who practice it together. Yoga’s traditional postures and breathing techniques bring strength, flexibility and a sense of serenity. Now, experts are adding another dimension to yoga’s benefits: When practiced as a twosome, yoga provides couples with an emotional and spiritual bonding experience. [...]
How Many Times A Week Should I Do Yoga?
The short answer is between one and six times a week. Once a week will keep you in touch with yoga but progress will be difficult. Yoga can be tiring initially. When you start practicing there is so much new information that one can quickly become overwhelmed. Many people find that they can only practice [...]
The Practices Of Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga is the part of yoga that focuses on self-inquiry and remembering one’s true nature. “Jnana” means knowledge or wisdom. It employs the philosophy of Vedanta which is found in the Upanishads, the concluding portions of the oldest Indian scriptures or Vedas. It is said to be the most difficult path because one must [...]
Yoga Breathing Tips For Beginners
In hatha yoga, the energy of the body and mind is directly influenced by a force known as “prana”. Prana is the vital life energy that exists in different degrees everywhere in the universe. One purpose of hatha yoga is to increase this life force inside the body and mind, to enhance a person’s well-being [...]
The Basic Principles Of Yoga
1. Exercise (Asanas) Our body is meant to move and exercise. If our lifestyle does not provide natural movement of muscles and joints, then disease and discomfort will develop over time. Proper exercise should be enjoyable while exercising the body, mind and soul. 2. Breathing (Pranayama) Yoga teaches you how to use your lungs to [...]
Yoga Eye Pillows And Cotton Mats
Eye Pillow: These are small rectangular pillows measuring about two inches by four inches. They are placed across the eyes in relaxation at the end of class. They help to block out light and the gentle pressure helps the eyes to rest. Eye pillows are often covered in silk or cotton and can be filled [...]
Basic Yoga Postures And Poses
One of the most essential postures is the deceptively challenging mountain pose: Stand tall with your feet close together, shoulders squared and hands at your sides. Seemingly easy, this pose actually requires that every bone in your body be in exact alignment (pelvis neither forced backward or jutting out; chest, or heart center, open but [...]
Will Practicing Yoga Conflict With My Religion?
It does not need to because yoga is not a religion. It is true that yoga originates in ancient India where religious practice grew to become what we know of today as Hinduism and Buddhism. Because of this, many of the more traditional yoga schools may be influenced by these teachings. You may see and [...]
How To Find The Best Yoga Sticky Mat
If you’re ready to buy your own mat for yoga class, here’s what to get and how to take care of it. One of the many nice things about yoga is that you don’t need much equipment to do it. However, aside from comfortable clothing, most people practicing yoga today do use one piece of [...]
Can I Eat Before Doing Yoga?
As with most exercises, it is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach, says Mara Carrico, author of Yoga Basics. Why? Internal pressure on the organs increases with many of the poses, so a position that puts any pressure on a full stomach or bladder could be quite uncomfortable and could even cause nausea [...]
What Is The Best Way To Start Practicing Yoga?
The best way to learn yoga is to study with a teacher you respect and with whom you feel comfortable. After “shopping around” for a teacher, stick with one until you feel at home with what you are learning. Jumping from teacher to teacher can lead to confusion. Ask your teacher to help you create [...]
Injuring Yourself During Yoga Practice
Question: Should I be concerned about injuring myself during yoga practice? Answer: A qualified and caring teacher will share ways of practicing that are safe. Nonetheless, always pay attention to your body. Some days you may feel stronger or more flexible than other days. Learn to distinguish the pain of growth from the pain of [...]
How To Choose A Yoga Teacher
Finding a good teacher can be like finding a good hairdresser or doctor. You need to ask around about teachers and try some different people. Ask if your teacher continues his or her own practice, how long they have been practicing and where they did their training. Most of the larger yoga schools offer some [...]
Bikram Hot Yoga – Get Ready To Sweat
If thoughts of the yogic experience conjure up visions of gentle poses, wafting incense and sweet chants of “om,” you’ve yet to experience the sweltering, sweaty, body-bending workout that is Bikram or “hot” yoga. The Bikram method is the brainchild of Bikram Choudhury, an India National Yoga Champion who has been named the most knowledgeable [...]
Practicing Yoga While Pregnant
You should find an experienced teacher and check with your doctor before jumping into yoga if you are pregnant. To find out a qualified instructor, ask your friends, family and coworkers for referrals. Then check out your instructor’s credentials. A good yoga instructor should be willing to discuss their training. The body changes drastically when [...]
Is It Safe To Practice Yoga For Someone With Scoliosis?
Question: I have a spinal condition called scoliosis. I like to practice yoga because the movements are so slow and relaxing. But sometimes it hurts while I’m doing a posture. Should I discontinue or stick with it? Answer: You should definitely continue your yoga practice, even though you have scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). [...]
What Is Bhakti Yoga?
Bhakti yoga is the practice of converting the emotions into devotion or unselfish love. Yoga’s numerous health benefits, its potential for personal and spiritual transformation, and its accessibility make it a practical choice for anyone seeking physical, psychological and spiritual integration. The philosophy of bhakti yoga suggests that just as one may have a feeling [...]
The Benefits Of Yoga For Kids
Yoga, the ancient practice of fusing the body and mind, is not just for adults. Practicing yoga can be fun and beneficial for children. The rage of yoga for kids is spreading rapidly throughout the country. Not only are yoga centers adding children’s classes, but schools are including yoga in their after-hour programs and in [...]
What Are The Benefits Of Hot Yoga
For some folks their yoga practice takes a tumble in the summer months. “Too hot” is sometimes the excuse. For others it’s a great time to deepen their practice. This month I would like to talk about “heat” and “yoga”. We probably all do “warm ups” at the beginning of our practice. When our bodies [...]
The Benefits Of Yoga During Pregnancy
As the six women in Yoga for Pregnancy move through pregnant yoga the sun salutation, their bodies seem to lighten and lengthen. Even those in their third trimester are moving with a vigor, grace and balance very different from the awkward heaviness often associated with pregnancy. Because of its many benefits and the pleasure derived [...]
Exercise And Yoga During Pregnancy
Exercise during pregnancy can be healthy for both mother and child. Pregnant women who are physically active have shorter labors, gain less fat, require less medical intervention during delivery, and recover more quickly than pregnant women who were sedentary, according to research by obstetrician-gynecologist James F. Clapp III of Case Western Reserve School of Medicine [...]
Choosing The Right Yoga Style
Despite yoga’s booming popularity, there are still many misconceptions about the practice. For example, many people don’t realize that the word “yoga” is commonly used in America to refer to hatha yoga, the branch of yoga that focuses on physical postures, breathing exercises and related techniques. Hatha yoga was developed, in part, to create good [...]
The Yoga Mind-Body Connection
True fitness starts between the ears, say yoga experts, who note that the mental calmness through yoga practice helps activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms and promote optimal well-being. As a form of fitness training, yoga is unsurpassed at maximizing flexibility. Yoga can also boost strength and resilience, and some forms are excellent calorie burners [...]
Beginning A Yoga Routine
Are you trying to begin a yoga regimen? When looking for a yoga style, you should first decide what you wish to accomplish from the class. The best thing to do is sample classes of few different styles and begin your routine with the teacher you like the best. The teacher is more important than [...]
Nine Great Reasons to Try Yoga
When I hit my 40s, I began to understand why my parents didn’t want to get down on the floor with me when I was a kid. Although I exercised regularly, my lower back ached. My shoulders and neck were so stiff that it hurt when I’d turn to look out the rear window of [...]
Inverted Poses In Yoga
Of all the asanas, inversions are the poses that most clearly teach perseverance and bring us to a new perspective on our own bodies. Turning upside down doesn’t come naturally for most people. Inverted poses require us to use a completely different set of muscles to support ourselves. And this requires developing new skills, both [...]
Practicing Yoga At Home
Practicing on your own, without the structure and support of a class, requires not only discipline, but mental flexibility. When you decide to practice yoga at home, it’s easy to imagine that you will do it every day, but the fact is, some days your practice will come together, and some days it won’t. Accepting [...]
Stop Wrist Pain And Carpal Tunnel With Yoga
Yoga may be an alternative to wrist splints, drugs, surgery, or changing jobs, if you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). After attending two hour-long Iyengar yoga classes a week for 8 weeks, 22 people with CTS pain had significant improvement in symptoms compared to a similar group that just used wrist splints (Journal of [...]
Yoga – Earth’s Oldest Exercise Pastime
Long before weight machines, stationary bikes and step aerobics became tools in any weight-management plan, people practiced yoga for spiritual and physical health. The origins of yoga predates written history: archeologists have uncovered stone carvings depicting figures in yoga positions in the Indus Valley dating back 5,000 years or more! While it might not produce [...]
The Different Schools Of Yoga
More than 100 different schools of yoga exist, according to the American Yoga Association. Some types of yoga are practiced more in the United States than others. When you start a yoga program, look into what type of yoga you will be practicing. You may also want to experiment with several types of yoga to [...]
Yoga Warm Ups And Stretches
A typical yoga routine includes warm-ups performed prior to the formal yoga postures. These stretches are beneficial whether you are a yoga student or not. They help to release tension while improving muscle and joint flexibility. Here are two yoga warm-ups recommended by Ronni Diamond, a certified Kripalu and Cardiac yoga instructor: Joint Warm-up Stand [...]
Power Yoga Workout
What do you get when you pair the flowing movements of Vinyasa with Ashtanga yoga? Power yoga. Even though this yoga type has been around for thousands of years, people have recently been discovering it anew. Richard Freeman, a student of yoga since 1968, shows you what all the buzz is about. Ashtanga yoga in [...]
What Yoga Class Is Right For You?
Understanding the art and science of yoga not only deepens your practice of yoga postures, but also deepens your experience of life itself. Quite simply yoga is the Art and Science of Living. Perfecting the techniques of yoga is perfecting the life which you were born to live. Here are some terms that will help [...]
Yoga For Physical, Psychological, And Spiritual Needs
Yoga is a classical science and philosophy that was developed some 2,000 years ago by the Indian sage Patanjali. Its purpose is to unite the mind, body and spirit. Corresponding to these are three needs that should be satisfied for a contented life: The physical need is health. The psychological need is knowledge. The spiritual [...]
What To Expect In Your Yoga Class
Yoga is a wonderful form of exercise. It tones and strengthens the body by relaxing and releasing the tightness in muscles, creating flexibility. It also quiets and focuses the mind. Yoga will make you feel and look great! Yoga is best on an empty stomach, you should dress comfortably, bring a yoga sticky mat or [...]
Benefits of Hatha Yoga
Yoga has existed for centuries. Yoga traditionally is part of a larger picture of a lifestyle of mindfulness. The founders of yoga centuries ago realized the importance of exercise that emphasizes flexibility and strength. Yoga means “union”, and specifically the union of mind, body and breath. The body is placed in various positions that increase [...]
The Impact Of Yoga On Your Life
Yoga is a profound system of holistic health care that originated in India several thousands of years ago. Yoga is a practice that brings wellness and strength into the body. It is the oldest documented system of personal development. Yoga postures, called asanas, exercise every part of the body, stretching and toning the muscles and [...]
Finding A Yoga Class That Is Right For You
You want to take a Hatha class. You have heard that Hatha limbers, relaxes and strengthens the body, while toning the internal organs and stimulating the endocrine glands–and you are ready to try it. Alternatively, maybe you took a few classes some years ago and miss the motivation and support a regular class provides. Therefore, [...]
Getting Started in Yoga
During the past five decades, the practice of yoga has become part of the lives of millions of people interested in a more holistic approach to living. Yoga’s appeal is easy to understand. It provides strategies for restoring and maintaining good health while integrating psychological and spiritual training as well. However, if you are just [...]