Articles

 

Written by Mary Risman CYPPT owner of Yoga Plus

 

Yoga has been around for so many years and overtime we have come to modernize this form of exercise.  Being a yoga instructor I have over the years really found out what yoga can do for you. It has helped numerous of my clients manage their special conditions like Parkinson’s Fibromyalgia, lower back pain, Osteoporosis and so much more. 

 

I believe that everyone should take up this wellness exercise because it really does keep the body very healthy.  Before I started yoga I hardly had any energy and now to my delight I do not tire easy. 

 

Most of my clients have some form of a special condition but  really healthy people should not turn their heads away from yoga as they will find out in due time what the great benefits of yoga are:

 

1)       A Releaser of Stress

2)      A Releaser of Depression

3)      Will help to calm the mind

4)      Will help to strengthen, lengthen and tone the muscles

5)       Give more balance

6)      Give more flexibility

7)      An energy enhancer

 

It is such a wonderful wellness exercise that does not place strain on your body and one that you can practice for the rest of your life.

 

Mary Risman of Yoga Plus holds five certifications they are Sport Yoga Nesta Institute, Spenser Pilates Nesta Institute, Prenatal Yoga Aura Yoga, Stress management Specialist Nesta Institute and a personal trainer certificate

 

How to Choose Your Yoga Pants

Written By Sarah Noelle Williams

There are now variety of cuts and colors available for yoga pants to suit exactly every yogi's character and fashion desires. Some are in capris styles while others are in full-length. There are also leggings, bootlegs, and cropped ones. Companies nowadays also create pants from either cotton, linen, synthetic weaves, or silk. But what is it that really makes a good pair of yoga pants?

First, look for yoga pants that would work well with the different yoga exercises. Remember that flexibility is a fundamental factor in yoga sessions that's why it is important to pick an outfit that will let you move without limitations. Made of either cotton nor synthetic knits, what matters is that it should allow you to do a full-extent flexibility while it is also embracing your body. The idea is to assure that the yogi does the poses correctly and that it can be seen sharply. In that sense, you should opt for lightweight and stretchy ones - those which will make you feel like you are not wearing any pants at all. Consequently, such outfit can let your body breathe and discharge toxins.

You can also workout in style and comfort with flared yoga pants that are made out of bamboo stretch terry, which are the same materials used for sweatshirts. They don't just complement your body's movements; but they are also fabricated with a spacious and breezy fit. Thus, they are certified to flow with every yogi's bend and turn. Usually, these pants appeal most for people who adore natural fabrics. Keep in mind that it is a must to workout with clothes that are made with 100% cotton because it can absorb the moisture well enough, allowing your skin to breath. They won't just make you look good, but they will also let you feel great!

Moreover, an antimicrobial finish for your yoga pants is also a plus because they restrict the growth of bacteria in your garments. Even though they are particularly designed for for yoga classes, other people also wear them during gym workout sessions, aerobics and dance classes, and even martial arts. That's why bumping off the bacteria that causes foul odor helps a lot too.

So dress up fairly well during your next yoga session! Keep this simple thought when you're out in the market buying a new pair of yoga pants: stay free and relaxed no matter how tough it gets!

Teaching Yoga to Students with Parkinson's Disease

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga instructors, working with students that have Parkinson’s disease, must respect the limitations and goals of these individuals. As with any number of physical and neurological ailments, the effective postures and routines will vary. As a general rule, asana practice might require modifications, props, extra support, or assisting for students with Parkinson’s disease.

Balance is something that the unconscious mind controls for most people. A benefit of moving personal balance to the conscious mind is the result of more stability. In the mind of a person with Parkinson’s, these unconscious functions have been damaged by the disease. Students with Parkinson’s should focus primarily on bringing the functions of the body, to the forefront of the mind, during yoga practice.

The strength-building postures improve range of motion and balance, which is essential to effective yoga therapy. Despite the fact that movement is difficult, people with Parkinson’s, are highly encouraged to participate in regular, gentle activities. Yoga is a perfect program because of its low impact nature and unifying, nurturing atmosphere. Students should be challenged in a comfortable way that allows for growth.

Yoga improves the overall sense of well-being, and worth, for the yoga student. Any chronic disease can wear you down emotionally. Many people, with Parkinson’s disease, begin to feel helpless, as they lose independence. The highly positive and healing environment of the yoga classroom, adds to the physical benefits, but also encourages emotional balance.

Postures, recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease, include the cow pose, cobra pose and camel pose. All poses can be modified to meet any student’s needs. Also suggested are the boat, bow, and bridge poses.

The bow pose increases muscle strength in the back, upper legs, hips, and abdominal muscles - improving the center of balance. The camel pose also strengthens the back and increases flexibility of the spine - complementing the bow pose. Each of these poses strengthens the body, or stimulates the nervous system, in a way that will benefit a practitioner with Parkinson’s.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

 

Managing Fibromyalgia

People with fribomyalgia can use yoga to relieve their symptoms and manage their disease.

By Timothy McCall, M.D.

As sufferers of the condition well know, there is no definitive test to diagnose fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A disorder marked by debilitating fatigue and pain, its cause is still largely a mystery. However, increasingly strong scientific evidence suggests a physiological basis for the condition. It has been shown, for example, that people with FMS have elevated levels of a substance in their spinal fluid (substance P) that may amplify pain signals going to the brain. And a study published in the Journal of Medical Virology in December 2003 found that a chronic viral infection appeared in the muscles of some FMS patients.

Even so, some physicians still believe that fibromyalgia doesn't exist; instead, they attribute symptoms such as severe pain, muscle tenderness, fatigue, and sleep troubles to a psychiatric problem. This misconception does little to help sufferers, and can leave them feeling demoralized and discouraged.

Fortunately, yoga can provide two invaluable things to people with fibromyalgia: relief from symptoms and hope. Though it isn't a cure, yoga can offer a better quality of life. A 1999 study led by Patrick Randolph, Ph.D., at Texas Tech University's Health Sciences Center found that a program of gentle yoga stretches and mindfulness meditation reduced pain and improved patients' ability to cope with it. Here's what I suggest for a yogic approach to managing FMS.

Try not to overdo it. Symptoms can vary widely from day to day, and on a good day, it can be tempting to practice vigorously. While physical activity can be very helpful, it's important to begin slowly and progress gradually to avoid a flare-up of symptoms. If you're particularly tired one day, stick with restorative poses, such as Viparita Karani (Legs-up-the-Wall Pose) and seated forward bends with a bolster.

Learn when to work through pain. Much of the pain caused by fibromyalgia appears to be due to inappropriately amplified nerve signals, so even though an asana might feel slightly painful, you're probably not damaging your muscles or connective tissue. It's important, however, to differentiate between the dull discomfort that comes from stretching tight muscles, which is safe to work with, and the sharper pain that comes from compressing a joint or straining a ligament. If you feel the latter type of pain, come out of the pose right away.

Keep a journal. Write down how your asana practice makes you feel from day to day. Do you have less pain than usual the day after? If you practice regularly, does your mood improve? How about your sleep? These observations may be more reliable indicators of whether the practice is helping you than how you feel while doing the poses.

Try a diverse approach. In addition to asana, try pranayama, chanting, and guided imagery. Regular meditation can teach you to modulate the pain and quiet the internal chatter that can heap mental suffering on top of physical discomfort. And experiment with Western medicine as well as acupuncture, massage, and other forms of bodywork. (Choose a practitioner who has experience treating people with FMS.)

 


 

Yoga And Depression? Yoga Teaches About Depression

Written By Dustin Bartholomay

Practise Yoga And Promote An Overall Healthier Lifestyle!

Written By Michael J Mckay

It is hardly surprising that the majority of people who regularly practice yoga start to develop a healthier lifestyle in a short period of time. These positive changes are seen in many facets of their existence. Once the benefits that yoga can bring about are seen and experienced by these new practitioners, life takes on a whole different meaning and is seen through different eyes. The feeling of having their energy levels increased by practise is really encouraging , to the extent that it spurs people on to make more changes and get even more out of their lives. Some more of these 'magical' effects include:

Diet, where a change from foods of low nutritional value to healthier foodstuffs with higher nutritional value can only promote good health;

Illnesses that are sometimes hard to shift tend to be disguarded rather rapidly;

Trouble with sleeping and insomnia that was pre-Yoga training suddenly changes and sleep becomes more sound and fitful;

The self-awareness of Yoga practitioners is heightened to such an extent that they are able to focus in on troubled aspects of their lives more accurately, thus allowing them to combat these troubled areas more effectively and at a much greater pace;

Ongoing emotional problems that may have been burdening them for a long period of time become clearer more quickly, thus allowing the sufferrer a new found freedom to enjoy life and all the good things it has to offer to those who have found the release brought about by a Yoga re-awakening. A re-awakening that must be taken advantage of.
The powerful positive energy force that is released by practising Yoga becomes greater as it overflows into more and more areas of a persons life, especially focused where it is needed. Each area brings the body and the mind into greater harmony with one another; this being the ultimate aim of Yoga. By eliminating the current imbalances, there is no longer the constant conflict found within the different areas of our lives which tend to be constantly fighting against one another.

There comes a desire to live a healthier life because that is the natural state that we should all be living in and it is a state that makes you feel really good. It opens up and unclutters the mind, allowing it to see more opportunities that present themselves in addition to achieving higher levels of success.

Yoga is such a powerful source that once embraced and followed, the changes can become unstoppable which is really a great thing to look forward to.

Start practising Yoga now to see the great long term health benefits you will receive

Some Benefits of Yoga

Written By Rich A Fatooh

There are dozens and dozens of benefits of yoga. Here are merely three that you can consider now to help you make a decision on whether or not to start. And, there are more where these came from.

Yoga Gives You Pain Management Power

One of the greatest benefits of yoga is that it gives you the power to manage your own pain instead of having to depend on others, like massage therapist. Those who practice yoga develop a healthy body that is less prone to pain. In addition, they learn a set of poses that can deal with acute pain.

One way this works is by making the body more flexible. A good deal of the pain that we suffer from is the result of a constricted and inflexible body. Yoga will slowly stretch out your whole body and make you less susceptible to pain.

A Stronger Body and Balance

Another of the great benefits of yoga is its ability to give you fantastic balance and a strong body. Many of the yoga poses you will study, practice and master involve staying balanced. Your muscles will learn how to keep you balanced.

In addition, doing yoga strengthens your mass. This is different from increasing the size of your muscles. You can have two muscles of the same size but one can be stronger than the other.

People with stronger muscles lose more weight. This is because strong muscles burn more calories at rest than weak ones do.

Openness and Tolerance

Have you ever met an avid practitioner of yoga who was mean-spirited and close-minded? Ok, maybe you have, but you get my point. Those who practice yoga learn how to be more open and friendly.

Practicing yoga brings peace to the body, mind and soul. In addition, if you do yoga at a club, you will come into contact other people who are kind and open. Their spirit will rub off onto yours and yours onto theirs.

I have dozens of more benefits of yoga than these. In the meantime, just remember that yoga can help you deal with pain, strengthen your body, improve your balance and increase your openness to the world. Get started now.

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The Healing Powers & Benefits of Yoga

Written By Sarah Noelle Williams

Fit and peaceful. Happy and energetic. No one can argue or deny the therapeutic benefits of yoga. We all know that it is an activity done to unite the body, mind, and spirit. It will make a person become more aware of his or her body's alignment, posture, and movement. Yoga also helps in making the body become more flexible and and relaxed even if you are halfway through stress and anxiety.

It has been practiced for thousands of years and researches were also done to exhibit the health benefits of yoga. Later on, yoga postures, breathing, and meditation were proven to be helpful in several categories: physiological, psychological, and biochemical. It increases a person's endurance and grip strength and helps in improving sleeping habits. Yoga also advances the amount of Vitamin C and hemoglobin in the body. More positive effects can be seen as it helps in improving mood, memory, and even learning efficiency!

The top benefits of yoga include the boosting of the immune system, reduction of stress, and detoxification of the body. It has a soothing effect that takes away stress as it stimulates the tissues, organs, and the muscles.

Doctors and practitioners agree when it comes to the healing powers and benefits of yoga; that's why most of them also propose practicing the activity as backup therapy for different illnesses. It can relieve back pain and other unhealthy conditions such as fatigue, asthma, and diabetes. Moreover, yoga does not only solve physical conditions. Research also says that even a terminal illness, such as cancer, also benefit from the practice of yoga. Cancer patients who go for this activity usually take a more relaxed and better sleep. Not only that, yoga can also defeat the chance of acquiring breast cancer for women.

Additionally, yoga is also for those people who want to lose weight. Yes! When done correctly and regularly, it can certainly give anyone a slim figure. That is, again, one of the magical benefits of yoga. It allows all the muscles in the body to work and by targeting

Yoga helps depression in many ways. There is no doubt that yoga helps depression. Because of the somatic relationship between the body and mind yoga is perfect for addressing depression. The attitude of depression affects the overall structure of the entire body. When the body takes on the minds depression it takes the posture of depression. Yoga is effective in treating depression because it takes the whole being into consideration rather then only one part. Typically western medicine treats the symptoms of depression instead of going to the root of the problem. Depression starts with a thought. The mind takes on the attitude of this pattern and then body soon follows repeating the pattern of the mind into the structure of the body.

Four ways that yoga helps with depression:

1. One of the main ideas of yoga is to bring balance into our lives. Yoga creates balance in the structure of the body that leads to balance of the mind. Depression is like leaning to far of to one side, it only becomes easier to fall into it the closer you get. Being depressed causes the mind to become obsessed with a particular thought pattern. So in yoga we stand evenly on both feet. This balances our body that leads the mind to balance and out of depression.

2. Practicing asanas makes us strong, flexible and resilient. As these qualities move into our body the mind takes on the similar patterns. With time yoga helps us develop strength to push through depression, flexibility to accept changes in how we believe things should be and resilience to get up every day and carry on.

3. All body fluids and tissues are oxygenated through yoga practices. Watch your breath and notice if it is shallow. Because depression is shutting down our ability to absorb life it is closely related to our breathing pattern. The more depressed you are the shallower breaths you will take. Just try to take a few deep breaths while you are depressed. You will notice instantly you feel better. As you breath deeper can you feel the weight of depression wanting to shut down the breath? Don't let it continue to breath deep.

4. Yoga changes our body's alignment. Notice when you are depressed that it's hard to sit up straight. This downward pull is depression. In fact if you could just sit up straight for a while your depression would gradually ease. It's impossible to have a upright posture and be depressed at the same time. If you really want to be depressed hunch over and drop your head forward, this is depression. Body is not separate from the mind. With yoga practice you don't only understand this concept you put it into action.

Depression is a serious condition that is capable of worsening over time. Get help and surround yourself with friends and family. You can do it! Remember you are not alone we are all here together. We are the same and what one of us goes through we all experience on some level. Remember breath deep, take a yoga class, go for a jog or go dancing. Take one step at a time you will make it through your depression.

Dustin B. was born and raised in Mount Shasta CA. He has practiced yoga for over seven years and is a certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher
 
 
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