Balance Your Life & Get Fit With Yoga

After a surge of interest during the consciousness-conscious '60s, yoga began to fall out of favor. Exercisers apparently lost patience with the activity, which offers slow but steady results, and turned to the fast pace and quick shape-up of aerobics. Now yoga is back - but less mystical than in the past, less reminiscent of gurus in pretzel positions, and more attractive than ever to people who are interested in working out rather than working toward some spiritual goal (although there are certainly many forms of yoga that can help with that as well).

People in various yoga asanas.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Once you step out of the metaphysical, yoga is a great stretch and flexibility program. Yoga is increasingly being used by those who are having a trouble in balancing their work and personal life. A stressful working environment and a hectic schedule has an unhealthy impact on the personal lives of modern day executives and so many are turning to yoga to bring about peace of mind and a better work-life balance.

Also, many disgruntled runners, weight trainers and aerobic dancers complain that instead of reducing the stress in their lives, their exercise regimes add more.

People rush to work out every day at lunch, force themselves to keep up and then rush back to work. Although being active in just about any form has health benefits, in some ways these forced, fast-paced workouts are somewhat counterproductive. Yoga is less competitive, less stressful, and above all gives a wonderful feeling of well being.

Indeed, the healing aspects of yoga are key to its renewed popularity. The strained knees, aching backs and neck pains generated by the push for fitness and the stress of making it in a competitive world have inspired many to turn to yoga instead. Some orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors and neurologists are now referring patients to specific yogis during treatment.

Growing interest in the mind-body connection is fueling a major comeback of the ancient practice, boosted by research suggesting yoga can reduce stress and blood pressure, improve work performance, and even slow the effects of aging.

Several yoga techniques are now being taught in mainstream hospitals and businesses; books about them are brisk sellers and many discussion groups have sprung up on the Internet.

US Army 52844 Soldiers learn to connect mind, body, soul through breathing (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even the Army is interested - it has asked the National Academy of Sciences to study meditation, yoga, and other new age techniques that might enhance soldiers' performance.

Details differ, but a common theme is relaxing the body while keeping the mind alert and focused - on an object, sound, breath or body movement. If the mind wanders - and it always does - you gently bring it back and start again. Yoga exercises include holding and/or moving through postures that tone and strengthen muscles throughout the entire body, while increasing flexibility and range of motion.

Stress-related problems and musculo-skeletal pain account for 60% to 90% of U.S. doctor visits, and mind-body approaches often are more effective, and cost-effective, than drugs or surgery. For example, in one study of people starting a regular yoga practice, 34% of infertile patients got pregnant within six months, 70% of insomniacs became regular sleepers, and doctor visits for pain are reduced by 36%.

Yoga can be a great addition to your exercise regimen, and can help balance your life in many different ways, which is of utmost importance in living a healthy, holistic lifestyle.

Visit our website for more on holistic living: http://www.newholisticliving.com/.

Yoga for Your Health

There's a reason why yoga is now my favorite form of exercise. It's not JUST exercise - it also has a number of other great benefits - not the least of which is, it's easier on my back than most other forms of exercise, so I can usually keep up with my exercise program even when my back is bothering me. But yoga has some interesting health benefits beyond just helping you get in shape.

Cardiac yoga sample exercise (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yoga is a series of postures and positions that originated in ancient India. The word "yoga" means "union" in ancient Sanskrit. The unity refers to the mind, body and spirit being in harmony. The practice of Yoga, which involves the combination of exercise, breathing, and meditation, is said to help harmonize and balance these fundamental aspects of the human being - so it's right in tune with holistic living.

What Disorders Does Yoga Heal, and How?

According to a Yoga Biomedical Trust survey conducted in the 1980s, Yoga has very real health benefits. Here are some of the problems Yoga is reported to help heal.

* Asthma - Yoga's focus on slow, deep breathing is extremely helpful for those suffering from asthma. Yoga also relieves the anxiety often associated with asthma attacks. Other respiratory disorders, including bronchitis and emphysema, have also been improved through the practice of Yoga.

* Hypertension - Because Yoga teaches relaxation and provides regular exercise, it has a positive effect on high blood pressure. There have even been reports of people being able to go off their high blood pressure medication entirely after practicing Yoga. (Note: Don't do this without consulting your doctor!)

* Back pain - Unfortunately, back pain is only too common. Yoga can help this greatly. The postures help align the spine, and enhance flexibility and muscle strength. Stress plays a role in back pain, as it increases muscle tension. Yoga's stress-relief techniques address this aspect of back pain, too. Even the breathing exercises of Yoga help back pain through the specific movements of the ribs, chest, and abdomen.

* General pain - Yoga is said to help the brain deal with pain - it apparently taps into the pain regulating center of the brain and stimulates the secretion of the body's natural pain killers (such as endorphins). Just relaxing muscle tension and meditation - both aspects of Yoga - can help relieve pain, too.

* Prevention - Yoga promotes self-awareness. Being able to "tap into" your body's signs and signals can go a long way in detecting and preventing illness. Yoga practitioners are said to develop a sense of harmony and unity among the body systems, and when one of these systems is off-balance, a Yoga practitioner is likely to be aware of that imbalance sooner.

* Depression - Better sleep, improved energy level, and a more positive outlook are all benefits claimed by those who practice Yoga. All of those things help relieve depression.

Yoga at Wellspring Vancouver (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Arthritis - Not surprisingly, this joint-stretching, body-aligning exercise helps relieve arthritis pain. Yoga helps relax muscles and gently increases your joints' range of motion.

* Thyroid problems - Yoga can have a positive effect on the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Yoga's "guided imagery" or visualization techniques help sufferers of thyroid disease by stimulating your body's own ability to heal.

While you may not suffer from any of these conditions, and even if you do, there's no guarantee yoga will help cure you, it's also a cheap (or free!) method to try, and it could very well end up helping with some of your symptoms, if not all. It's also a great form of exercise, building endurance, flexibility, strength, lung capacity, bone density, and more. And it can be done almost anywhere, with no equipment but a mat and your own body.

If you haven't tried yoga yet, check out our website for some helpful resources to help you get started discovering the benefits today:  http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html

Need Power? Try Core Power Yoga

Core power yoga is an energetic yoga exercise that physically and mentally challenges you to help connect to your inner power without stopping and is accompanied by a heated, climate controlled Vinyasa. It heals, detoxifies and stimulates the body and mind through balance and intention.

Cover via AmazonPower yoga is a dynamic, challenging program that combines strength, sweat and spirituality. It recognizes power in different levels; first is physical power which develops the body’s strength and improves health; second is mental power or the will to concentrate on the practice; and last is spiritual power which is the power behind the physical and mental power.

Core power yoga is the Western version of the Indian Ashtanga Yoga. The term was was given by Beryl Bender Birch, an Ashtanga Yoga teacher. It has been brought to the west by followers of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, a renowned Sanskrit scholar who inspired Western Yogis with his Ashtanga Yoga Style and philosophies.

There are three distinct programs in power yoga. “Core Power” is designed to strengthen abdominals and back and includes both abs-focused Vinyasa power yoga poses and variations of muscle-toning moves. “Unlocking Athletic Power” will develop flexible strength with an emphasis on abs, back, hips and pelvis. “Soul of Strength” on the other hand is a fast-moving power yoga program with a distinct “mind-body” emphasis and some very challenging moves.

Power yoga sessions are done in a heated room and composed of different cardiovascular exercises intended to develop strength and flexibility, increase stamina, improves the ability to focus, release tensions and remove toxins through sweating.

Core power yoga practice also requires the execution of yoga poses. Poses are done at a fast pace, but some poses are even held longer than the required five breaths. This practice can increase physical endurance and ability to focus on any task for a long time without breaking concentration.

What is the difference between core power yoga and other exercises?

Core power yoga is a vinyasa style that has a unique program offering and focuses on core strength, balance and flow to build a solid practice based on strength and spirit. Usually the teachers of this exercise work with the students to personalize their programs and creating a sense of belonging and community

This exercise also offers great health benefits; this lengthens and stretches the muscles and at the same time it builds stamina, strength and lean muscle and mass. It also increases body heat that kills some bacteria and creates a finely tuned state of consciousness of the workings of the body. The focus of core power yoga is on the coordination of the breath movement, connecting the body, mind and spirit to the warmest level.

Core power yoga is best to those who want to improve their performance in their chosen sports like cycling, football, swimming, skiing, surfing, running/athlete, martial arts and other team sports. Some training grounds in sports practice this exercise in transition for aerobics.

Core power yoga can reshape your body and mind!