Will Yoga Improve Your Health?
There are multiple reasons why you should consider trying out yoga. You will read about all of them here, however, there is something that I have to get to first. Many people are struggling with their day to day chores, assignments, and time management in general. That’s why those people usually make the same excuses – “I would like to work out but I don’t have enough time.”
Well, luckily for them, yoga isn’t greedy at all! You can literally fit yoga anywhere you please (evenings, morning, after lunch, before bedtime). What’s interesting is that yoga isn’t like every other workout. You don’t have to spend an hour or two on yoga as you would have in the gym. The truth is that you can do yoga for 30 minutes every day and still get fantastic results and benefits. That’s what separates yoga from the rest! So, what will you gain if you do yoga every day? Can yoga change your life?
Yoga and Its Impact on Health
Yoga has been here for centuries. Since the time yoga has been recognized and developed, many interesting things came to surface. However, one of them was known throughout its history – yoga can change your life in ways you cannot imagine! You see, with yoga, you will not only be exercising your body, making your body and muscles flexible and durable; you will be training your mind as well!
By learning how to breathe properly (yes, there is a correct way of breathing!) you will be able to calm your nerves down and collect yourself in no time. Also, you will learn how to control your thoughts and channel them where you want them to go. This skill will help you in everyday life, making you a more positive individual with a strong mind!
That’s where it all starts. With positivity in your life, things will begin to change.
Not only will your mind start to heal your body, but you will be able to do that manually as well. Through many different yoga poses, you will be able to get rid of respiratory problems, back pain, joint pain, and so on. For something that doesn’t take that much time away from you, this seems pretty good!
Although everything you read is true, it only works under one circumstance. That one circumstance needs you to be consistent and on point. That means that you should try to live and breathe yoga. That way, results are absolutely guaranteed!
Final Words Regarding Yoga
So, how do you start? Actually, where do you start?
Starting yoga isn’t that difficult. Start with what you have, wherever you have it. You can either join a yoga community near you and be a regular student or simply search for explanation videos online and learn from them. You can also order good yoga videos and use them as a guide. Yoga can be done in your home, backyard, gym, wherever you can think of.
Happy training!
The Right and Left Nostril Breathing Technique and Its Benefits
Yoga is a very wholesome meditation form that brings suppleness to the body, combined with better blood flow and muscle movement. It not only brings a noticeable change in the body but at the same time, it heals the internal functions of the body. A regular yoga practice can help increase the breathing capacity of the body, enhance the metabolism of the body and improve the digestive system. There are many benefits that can be harvested by simple breathing exercises and routines as it increases oxygen absorption in the body welcoming a healthy change in the body.
We assume that we breathe equally through each nostril, but this is wrong, we favor one nostril for breathing either the right or left one. The yogic beliefs are that we as humans become prone to illnesses due to irregular and dysfunctional breathing. If you breathe through your left nostril, you get access to the right side of your brain, and if you breathe through your right nostril, then you get access to the left side of your brain. When you consciously alternate through the nostrils while breathing, you end up using both sides of the brain, and it helps in maximizing brain usage.
Right nostril breathing helps give the body energy. This ensures that the body is super-powered for the day. Other benefits that can be enjoyed through breathing through the right nostril are:
- Improves brain function: Breathing through the right nostril energizes you, and hence you can use your brain in a perfect way. Maximizing brain usage gives you an edge over others.
- Cleans out the lungs and makes breathing an easier process for you. This is an essential feature for a healthy body. When you opt for this breathing technique, your body manages to breathe fully and not just on the surface. Fuller lungs help ensure deeper breathing and fresher supply of unlimited oxygen.
- The left side of the brain, which gets activated through right nostril breathing, is for thinking. It enables you to think properly and make accurate decisions. With focused breathing, you can deliberately facilitate the desired activities of the brain. This also helps to increase your brain capacity as you are able to think more clearly without hindrance.
- It also helps you sleep like a baby. The majority of adults are faced with an issue of interrupted and broken sleep. This breathing technique helps you make your mind and fall asleep comparably quickly then you would generally.
- Breathing through the right nostril helps you boost your nervous system and create a balance between your energy channels. When your body can find the right balance between the power surges, you are more in control of your body. It also helps you get rid of a sluggish attitude.
- It prepares your body for the day. Right nostril breathing helps you prepare for the day ahead. It should be practiced early in the morning, and you will be ready to go for the rest of the day.
Nіnе Popular Quеѕtіоnѕ Aѕkеd About Yоgа bу Yоgа Bеgіnnеrѕ
If уоu have rесеntlу ѕtаrtеd уоgа, уоu will naturally hаvе lоtѕ оf questions tо ask your уоgа tеасhеr. Aѕ a popular yoga tеасhеr, I am оftеn asked similar ԛuеѕtіоnѕ bу nеw ѕtudеntѕ. The following іѕ a lіѕt оf nіnе mоѕt frequently аѕkеd questions I аm asked by new yoga ѕtudеntѕ.
1. Am I Tоо Old Tо Start Yоgа?
Rеgаrdlеѕѕ оf your аgе, уоu саn practice уоgа. An experienced уоgа tеасhеr wіll bе able to adapt роѕеѕ аnd еxеrсіѕеѕ to meet уоur іndіvіduаl nееdѕ.
2. What Dіffеrеnсе Wіll Yоgа Make Tо Mу Lіfеѕtуlе?
In essence, уоgа provides a рhіlоѕорhу of lіvіng іn hаrmоnу with аll. It emphasizes thе nееd tо live a hеаlthу, nаturаl wау оf lіfе аnd for уоu tо see the gооd аnd beauty іn аll. Regular practice wіll аlѕо hеlр you lеаrn hоw to соре wіth stressful situations аt wоrk аnd at home.
3. I Am Nоt A Vegetarian And Enjoy Eаtіng Mеаt – Can I Stіll Prасtісе Yоgа?
Yеѕ, you саn. Mаnу реорlе whо рrасtісе уоgа eat mеаt аnd dаіrу рrоduсtѕ. The fооdѕ you еаt hаvе a mаjоr influence оn уоur еnеrgу lеvеlѕ. Aѕ a source оf еnеrgу, fооd саn еіthеr drain or еnеrgіzе уоu. Tо gеt thе mоѕt оut of your уоgа рrасtісе, you want tо aim tо еаt fооd whісh provides уоu wіth mаxіmum еnеrgу аnd nutrіеntѕ аѕ wеll аѕ аblе to rераіr, ѕtrеngthеn and protect уоur bоdу frоm disease, е.g. raw fооdѕ, whole foods, ѕееdѕ, and nutѕ.
4. Iѕ Yоgа A Rеlіgіоn?
Yоgа is multі-fасеtеd. Yoga ѕtudеntѕ соmе from аll walks оf lіfе, social bасkgrоund, аnd fаіthѕ. Yoga іѕ a philosophy and оffеrѕ you a hеаlthу wау оf living. Thе рrасtісе оf yoga, with іtѕ еmрhаѕіѕ оn сultіvаtіng іnnеr реасе and harmony, can ѕuрроrt уоu tо strengthen уоur fаіth.
5. Whаt Iѕ A Chаkrа/Enеrgу Cеntrе?
The word сhаkrа mеаnѕ “whееl”. In уоgа philosophy, the bоdу consists оf a numbеr of mіnоr and major еnеrgу centers оr whееlѕ оf energy. Your energy flows thrоugh these energy сеntеrѕ. Thеrе аrе ѕеvеn main Chаkrаѕ – Thе rооt сhаkrа, thе sacral chakra, the ѕоlаr рlеxuѕ сhаkrа, thе hеаrt chakra, thе thrоаt chakra, thе thіrd еуе/brоw сhаkrа аnd сrоwn сhаkrа.
6. What Iѕ The Sun Salutation?
Thе Sun Sаlutаtіоn іѕ аn аnсіеnt уоgа рrасtісе that draws еnеrgу and sunlight іntо thе mind аnd body. It mаdе up оf twеlvе dіffеrеnt mоvеmеntѕ or роѕіtіоnѕ whісh fоrm a grасеful sequence.
7. Whаt Dоеѕ “Asana” Mean?
Thіѕ іѕ thе tеrm fоr a уоgа роѕturе or уоgа pose. It lіtеrаllу mеаnѕ “ѕtеаdу роѕе.”
8. Whаt Does Namaste Mеаn?
Nаmаѕtе is a sacred grееtіng tо rеmеmbеr аnd hоnоr thе sacred, the spirit wіthіn yourself аnd оthеrѕ. Whеn уоu say Nаmаѕtе, you put уоur hands together in the prayer position іn frоnt of уоur hеаrt сеntеr, bоw and ѕау “Namaste”.
9. Whаt Arе Thе Four Pаthѕ Of Yоgа?
There are fоur main paths оf Yоgа practice, which аll traditionally ѕеrvеѕ as a mеаnѕ tо hеlр уоu асhіеvе уоur роtеntіаl аnd unіtе wіth уоur dіvіnе nature:
- Karma Yoga (thе path оf ѕеlflеѕѕ ѕеrvісе аnd action)
- Jnаnа Yoga (the раth of іntеllесt, knоwlеdgе and wisdom)
- Bhаktі Yoga (thе раth оf dеvоtіоn аnd lоvе)
- Raja Yоgа (the рhуѕісаl practice оf уоgа – asanas, brеаthіng, plus spiritual, еthісаl guіdеlіnеѕ, known as thе Yоgа Sutrаѕ оr Pаtаnjаlі’ѕ Eіght Limbs of Yоgа.)
When you fіrѕt ѕtаrt уоgа, уоu mау fееl overwhelmed аnd unѕurе of yourself. Juѕt take your time, relax аnd enjoy your class. When уоu gеt home, have a look аt thіѕ lіѕt оf nine most frequently asked ԛuеѕtіоnѕ аnd see if уоur ԛuеѕtіоn is thеrе.
Yoga and Flexibility
The fact that you are reading this means one of two things, maybe even both:
- You want to know how you can get more flexible.
- You want to learn more about yoga before you get into it.
Luckily for you, this article will answer all of your questions.
So, the “main topic” of this article is – can yoga increase your flexibility? Let’s start with the basics first and then move on to the bigger issues.
What Is Flexibility?
Everyone knows what it means to be flexible, but do you know what exactly happens? I doubt that all of you who are reading this can answer it straight away, without the help of Wikipedia of course. So, to answer this question as thoroughly as possible, I will say this – flexibility is the indicator of your joints movement. To be exact, it is an indicator that shows how much they can really move.
For example, gymnasts are really flexible. Their hips can allow their legs to spread out entirely. That’s why they can do all of that amazing stuff that they usually do and not hurt themselves in the process. That means that gymnasts are really flexible! With that being said, a question has to be asked – is flexibility only a feature that the lucky ones get by birth? Do you have to be a gymnast in order to gain more flexibility? Can flexibility be trained?
I will answer all of these questions pretty fast, but first we must look into facts. Here are the facts about flexibility and what affects it:
- Type of the joint: Take shoulders, for example – a socket and a ball joint are way more flexible than the knee joint.
- The quality of your muscle tissue: Is it injured? Is it tight? (tight muscles are not as flexible) etc.
- Bone structure
- Gender: It is a fact that women are more flexible than men.
So, can yoga help you increase your flexibility?
Yoga and Flexibility
Yoga can definitely be considered a legit method of working out. Yoga isn’t made only for women! That is one of the mistakes I just keep hearing over and over again. Yoga is a workout method that treats your mind and your body. It does so because it consists of many different movements and breathing techniques. In this article, the benefits that yoga can offer to our bodies are what we are interested in.
Yoga is proven to affect the following:
- Strength
- Endurance
- Back pain (eliminates it)
- Flexibility
So, we see that flexibility is on the list as well. The reason for this is yoga’s extremely helpful poses that will force your body to stretch. With each time you practice you will get better and better at that specific pose, and your body will be thankful for it as it will get more and more flexible. If you get serious with yoga, your range of motion will be sky high!
4 Life Situations Where Yoga Can Help You Cope
Yoga offers many health benefits, and there are undoubtedly many scenarios where emotions are running higher than others, particularly when life throws you curves. It is quite necessary to find a way to bring yourself back to your emotional state in those scenarios. It will help you keep depression, anxiety, and stress at bay.
Continue reading to find out the enormous benefits yoga has on an emotional state even when you believe nothing will make a difference.
1. When You are Going Through A Breakup
Breaking up is very difficult to deal with, and it can leave you feeling down. At times, it can be tough to come out of one of these emotional funks, when you get into one. However, if you want to recover from your breakup situation, yoga is the perfect solution that will make you feel better. It is because yoga is all about connecting with your inner-being and focusing on yourself. The act of practicing yoga will give you time to put your ex away from your head and center on giving yourself enough care you need to start moving on. Therefore, forget Jerry or Benson – during a breakup, a yoga mat is your new BFF!
2. Your Job Is Very Stressful
Almost everybody experiences stress at their different places of work at some point or another. You need to have a way to decompress, whether you are always busy or you simply have a heightened busy season. Yoga is established to reduce the effect of negative experiences and help you recuperate from them faster. If you are slammed at the office and you are finding it tough to create time for yourself, this is good news for you. The deep breathing and meditative situation of yoga is an ideal escape from everyday stressful activities!
3. You Just Relocated To A New City
Moving from one location to another can be tough, particularly when you don’t know many people in your new place. The relaxing nature of yoga can help you reduce the intense emotions that accompany even a significant life change, as the transition and adjustment can be scary and intimidating. In addition, a yoga class is a perfect place to meet new friends!
4. When You Are Grieving
Grief is a tremendously complex emotion that everybody experiences in a diverse way. Whether you are grieving the loss of a relationship, pet, loved one or anything else, it is understood that it can be tough. Yoga can certainly help, even though it may not get you off the feeling completely, because yoga is a great method of self-care and can help you to process your deep-rooted feelings physically.
Bottom Line
It can finally be concluded that yoga is a multipurpose exercise that can have benefits on your body, mind, and soul. It is a great hobby that will leave you feeling better than you did when you walked through the door, whether you are going through anything emotional.
The 8 Limbs Of Yoga Explained
The modern practice of yoga is far more than just physical exercise. Most people understand yoga as a dynamic movement class, complete with straps, mats and yoga pants — however, this is only 1/8 of the overall practice. Modern day yoga is based on Ashtanga yoga, which in Sanskrit literally means ‘Eight Limbs.’ These eight steps act as a guideline on how to live a life of meaning and purpose. The physical asana only makes 1/8 of the overall practice. Learning at the beginning of the eight-fold path are the five Yamas; moral, societal and ethical guides to a conscious lifestyle.
1. Ahimsa (Non-Violence)
Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence towards ourselves or others, not only in action but also in our thoughts and feelings. We often create violence in judgement towards ourselves, through criticism, anger or irritation. How often have you mentally beat yourself up over something you said or did, replaying the event over in your head multiple times? Ahimsa is about recognizing these thoughts. Once we let go of judgement on ourselves, we are less likely to judge others. Becoming aware of this allows us to replace critical thoughts with kindness and acceptance.
2. Satya (Truthfulness)
Satya encourages us to live and speak our truths. By living in our own truth, it becomes easier to see the reality around us. The path of truth is a difficult one to walk, especially as we also have to follow Ahimsa, making sure that speaking the truth does not harm ourselves or those around us.
3. Asteya (Non-Stealing)
Not stealing may seem easy enough, but we can also apply Asteya to not hoarding, or not taking what is not freely given, in action or mind. This Yama is about acknowledging the abundance of the world around us and that happiness will not come to us through holding on to what we already have.
4. Brahmacharya (Discipline)
This Yama basically states, if we use our energy wisely, we can live a more fulfilling life. It encourages us to detach ourselves from addiction and excess. In doing so, we gain greater control over our energy. Brahmacharya also reminds us to live in moderation, allowing us to save our energy which can then be put towards a higher purpose.
5. Aparigraha (Being free from desire)
Aparigraha tells us that material objects cannot actually be possessed at all, as they, like everything in nature, are in a constant state of change – and will eventually perish. When we become greedy, we lose the ability to be open to receive. When we are jealous of others, we are in a state of discontentment and not practicing Ahimsa.
The Yamas teach us how to best conserve and use our energy, through practicing kindness and contentment. They act as the foundation upon which the rest of our yoga training can grow. The Yamas are like putting on workout clothes, which aren’t the exercise itself, but they are a step in the right direction. When we are conscious of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, we can start to live a more peaceful and wholesome existence. Practicing the Yamas will improve our relationship with ourselves and others, helping us to progress further along the yogic path.
Iyengar Yoga Basics for Beginners
Background
As a child, B.K.S. Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar yoga suffered from ailments. Up to the age of 16 years, he was frail and week. One of his relatives saw the suffering that he was in and encouraged
Yin Yoga for Hip Pain
What is Yin Yoga?
Yin yoga is a lesser-known style of yoga. It is based around deep stretching of the lower parts of the