The Purpose Of Yoga

Yoga, or its ancestor, first appeared somewhere around 5,000
years ago. Since then, it has gradually evolved into the modern
form. However, its "modern form" is neither completely modern,
nor is it the only form of yoga. In the western world, when we
speak of "yoga" we are commonly referring to Hatha Yoga, a
branch of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th
century. To keep it simple, Yogi Swatmarama saw Hatha Yoga, not
as an end in itself, but as part of a pathway to a higher state
on the yoga journey. Hatha Yoga concentrates more on the
physical training, conditioning, and "preparation" aspects of
yoga. So, as we talk about the purposes of "yoga", please keep
in mind that we are talking only about one portion of the entire
range of disciplines encompassed by the word.

We sometimes hear of someone who learned to become more relaxed
by the practice of yoga. Or, maybe we have heard of someone who
became more invigorated and energetic as a result of their
practice. Perhaps someone else was able to play a competitive
sport better than before they began practicing yoga, or perhaps
they were able to lay aside the competitive aspect of their
nature that had been driving them into bad health and broken
relationships. We may have even heard all of these types of
stories. I have! This, and all the claims made about the
practice of yoga, creates a very confusing picture even in the
minds of those willing to believe what they hear. For those who
have doubts already, the multitude of claims can sound like
those of an old-timey snake oil salesman.

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VIDEO : Stress Relief Yoga - Quad Stretch

Safe Yoga for Seniors

Yoga has become a popular means of exercise for older adults.
And no wonder. It makes their bodies fitter and their minds
calmer. Seniors benefit from improvements in balance, stronger
muscles, reduced joint pain and more energy.

Modifications should be made to the various yoga poses for
seniors with ostoporosis and joint problems. Instructors should
be knowledgable about these necessary modifications.

Here are some pointers for older adults to consider when
participating in yoga:

* Keep proper spinal alignment with each pose.

* Avoid poses that require forward flexion (bending forward at
the waist).

* Move slowly and gently from one pose to the next.

* Poses should feel comfortable and steady.

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VIDEO : Stress Relief Yoga - Padded Palm

Pilates and yoga benefits

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice which consists of physical
and spiritual exercises meant to cause the practitioner's total
improvement, implying health, inner peace, mental control, but
also access to a superior level of consciousness, unity with the
supreme and liberation from karma. The basis of yoga is actually
represented by unity: the unity between mind, body and spirit.
The term itself comes from a Sanskrit word (yuj) which has the
exact meaning of unite.

When a person decides to start practicing these exercises, it is
certainly because of the multiple benefits of yoga. There are
extremely numerous types of yoga to choose from, each and every
one of them involving different styles and offering distinct
advantages. What they usually have in common is the combination
between contemplation, breath control and physical exercise. The
most common yoga types are: Hatha, Iyengar, Sahaja, Ashtanga,
Kundalini, Mantra, Raja, Bikram etc. We are going to present a
couple of them along with the entailed benefits of yoga.

For a beginner, for instance, Iyengar yoga would be most
suitable. This one is a method using different props to
compensate the lack of exercise. It involves meditation and
focuses on the correct alignment of the body. It implies
synthesis between pranayama (breath control) and asanas (body
posture). The most important Iyengar benefits of yoga are
attaining muscle flexibility by eliminating tension and calming
pain by eliminating aches.

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VIDEO : Stress relief yoga - Neck Stretches

Ashtanga Yoga- The Eight Limbs

Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices originating in
India. It is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. In
India and across the World, Yoga is seen as a means to both
physical health and spiritual mastery. Outside India, Yoga has
become primarily associated with the practice of asanas or
postures of Hatha Yoga.

In the United States the American Fitness Professionals &
Associates offers Yoga Certification for intructors.

Ashtanga means "eight limbs" in Sanskrit, a reference to eight
elements that define as a lifestyle. These "limbs" cover your
attitudes towards the world around you, your attitudes towards
yourself, the poses, breathing exercises, the withdrawal of the
senses, concentration, contemplation, and enlightenment.

As a type of yoga, Ashtanga is better known as "power yoga."
This specialized form of Hatha yoga (which uses the third and
forth of the eight limbs, poses and breathing exercises)
provides an intense workout. Six series of poses within Ashtanga
yoga allow for steps of progression in skill, strength, and
flexibility. After learning the order of poses from an
instructor (the first series includes 75 poses and can take two
hours to complete), students often practice Ashtanga
independently. This allows them to progress at their own pace to
master each series before attempting to learn the next.

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