By Robert Elias Najemy

Without doubt one needs to learn yoga from an experienced teacher. On the other hand, because some attempt to perform exercises guided only from a book, these general guidelines might be useful. 1. DO NOT FORCE YOUR BODY under any circumstances. No matter how many times we say this to people, they just keep on doing it. They try to push their bodies into the exercises, whether the body is ready or not. This is a great mistake which does more harm than you can imagine. Work slowly with your body. Respect its limits. These limits will gradually extend and you will gain flexibility if you work regularly and sensitively at stretching your limits.

 

The body will get the message and the tension which is preventing you from proceeding will gradually be released. 2. BE REGULAR in you practice. A few times a week is not enough if you really want to heal, transform or develop your body. 3. DO NOT CONTINUE ANY EXERCISE WHICH CAUSES PAIN. Check with your doctor or exercise instructor what you should do. Pain is a message from the body which must be listened to.

. In some cases it may simply be the body¹s process of changing. In such cases, you simply need to bear with it and continue (without forcing) and it will gradually pass. In other cases you may be doing harm to some part of your body and may have to stop and do some other preparatory exercises before returning to that one. 4. EXERCISE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH at least three hours after eating.

5. REMOVE ALL JEWELRY AND TIGHT CLOTHING. Let your body be free of any restrictions. Find some loose, comfortable clothing or body-hugging dance tights for exercising. 6. BE CONSCIOUS AND CONCENTRATE on what you are doing. Keep your mind on feeling what is happening in the body and concentrate on your breath and position. Do not think about other things or talk to anyone while exercising. If possible, it would be best if you were alone in the room, without distractions such as radio or TV, so that you can concentrate. If this is not possible, just try to concentrate on yourself and ignore what is going on around you. 7. GIVE IMPORTANCE TO YOUR BREATHING. Each exercise has a specific way of breathing. This is an extremely important aspect of the exercise. In many cases, it is even more important than the physical movements themselves. By conscious of your breathing and breathe slowly and deeply, according to the instructions for each exercise. In general (with some exceptions) we inhale when we stretch upward or backward and exhale when we bend downward or forward. 8. COMPLETE YOUR EXERCISE SERIES WITH DEEP BREATHING and, if possible, with DEEP RELAXATION. 9. AVOID EXERCISING AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AFTER SURGERY, unless you have specific permission from your doctor. Some exercises should be resumed only 6 months after surgery, unless you have your doctor¹s permission to start earlier. Also, avoid all exercises at any time when you suspect internal bleeding or an inflamed appendix. 10. ALLOW YOUR ATTENTION to flow through the body as you become aware of each muscle and the tension and energy stored there and allow that energy to flow and the muscle relax. Be Well

About author:
Robert Elias Najemy’s recently released book “The Psychology of Happiness” (ISBN 0-9710116-0-5) is available at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/holisticharmo-20 and http://www.HolisticHarmony.com/psychofhappiness.html . His writings can be viewed at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com where you can also download FREE articles and e-books.
http://www.HolisticHarmony.com

By Steve Stiefel

YOU MAY THINK YOU KNOW WHAT YOGA IS, BUT WHEN you ask someone who knows more about it than you do, suddenly you know less than you thought you did. In fact, you may not even know what you thought you knew. Yoga, Sara Ivanhoe might say, is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in a mystery. By the time she inverts herself into her next unfathomable contortion, floating on water, she has inverted the equation: She herself is a riddle wrapped in her own mystery. What an enigma. To see Sara perform her existential poses of physiological perplexity is akin to watching Russian dolls performing at Cirque du Soleil.

As the layers peel away, the physicality becomes dumbfounding. Ultimately, to understand yoga is to understand Sara herself: What is yoga? “Yoga is not a religion.” What is yoga? “Yoga is not a judgment.” What is yoga? “Yoga is not simply a form of exercise.” What is yoga? “Yoga is not just a way to get a great ass.” What is yoga? “Yoga is not ‘the answer.'” Well, okay, what isn’t yoga? “Yoga is a practice. Yoga is a union. It is to become One with. It is to harness your power. It is the opportunity to learn. Not only that, yoga is a form of exercise. It’s a way to get a great ass. It is the answer. It is what it is not.” There.

“Sometimes you have to find the right question,” Sara says, and she flashes that quirky gorgeous smile that makes everything she said just make sense. She’s far more a woman out of a Sheryl Crow song than the philosophical contrarian or yoga dominatrix the previous exchange might suggest. It’s not hard to imagine Sara having fun till the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard, then spending the rest of the day soaking up the sun.

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY The infinity pool with the mountain backdrop is as stunning as the exquisite Ms. Ivanhoe herself. The house where these photos were shot is beautiful, compelling, terrible! A full bar and vast wine collection dominate the interior of this cavernous loft-style residence. The decor is a collage–a collision–of Pottery Barn art deco Crayola crayon. Outside, on the sedate lawn, Sara stretches, Zenlike, in the last heat of summer in a canyon of vast expanses west of Los Angeles. In a few moments, she’ll not only walk on water; she’ll transform herself into dramatic nouns: eagle, cobra, tree, camel! Sara will graduate this fall from the Yoga Philosophy program at Loyola Marymount University, where she is devoted to learning all that she can about the practice of yoga: “I’m learning Sanskrit and reading translations of the ancient texts because I want to understand them unfiltered through Western interpretation.” Sara is doing this in part, she says, so that she can present a less philosophical, less judgmental, less religious, more stripped-down, more accessible form of a yoga to her students at Yoga Works in Santa Monica. To know more is to preach less. “Many people think of yoga as a religion, and that’s not what it is,” she continues. “I want to make it mainstream and remove those preconceived barriers so that more people can participate.” What is religion? What is not religion? Consider: Alcoholics Anonymous, Christianity. Texas Hold’Em. Scientology. Ironman Triathlons. Buddhism. Pornography. Transcendental Meditation. Defined Abs. It’s a calling; it’s a drive; it takes over your life; it’s a need to let go; it’s a need to take it further. Participate and nothing else matters. “Come to my class for the reason you want to come to my class,” says Sara. “I don’t care why you come. Just come. Come because you want a nicer ass. Come because you want to get laid more. Come because you’re hot and sexy. Come because you’re ugly. Come because you want to escape something. Come because you want to go toward something. Come because you’re enlightened. Come because you don’t understand the universe.”

About author:
For more on this interesting article, please see Muscle & Fitness, Issue Jan. 2006 by Steve Stiefel.

By Kacy Carr

Does it matter what clothing is to be worn when practising Yoga, well of course it does – yoga exercises are about comforting the mind so why not go the whole hog and have the lot – comfort on the body also. There are no certain identities as to what Yoga Clothing to wear – but common sense will prevail and point you in the right direction if you want comfort while working out.

 

Your Yoga clothing should give you room to manoeuvre because of all the different types of yoga moves performed which may entail twists, turns and stretching. By dressing in slack or baggy clothing you will be more content doing your yoga – stretchable elastic materials is also practical clothing for these exercises. Perspiration and how heavy you sweat needs taking into consideration when selecting your yoga clothing. Certain materials can make matters worse.

Think vacation when choosing garments – holiday clothes are ideally suited for yoga. We all relax on vacation and pack the right clothes for the trip so why not for the trip down to the local yoga club. Shorts and light tops are apt but if you prefer leotards or a swimming costume then that is fine along with tights or leggings.

If your choice of yoga clothing is stiff and tight fitting then this can hamper some of your yoga moves and poses. This can also have an affect on your concentration levels due to the stress of discomfort.

The ideal yoga clothing most suitable to wear when working on a routine in an air conditioned room is to wear long sleeves or elbow length. Air conditioned rooms can be a lot colder than you imagine so wrap up if your yoga exercise at the time is not a strenuous one. In the cooler months Yoga clothing that is most popular is the track or jogging suit

Clothes will differ for different types of exercise. Take the Bikram Yoga which is widely known as hot yoga. It is an exercise that you would expect to wear shorts and light tops. Your own personal taste and style is acceptable at all times – the only reason for this guidance checklist on yoga clothing is in your best interest. The main objective to directing you in dressing wisely is for comfort thus leaving you to enjoy your yoga routines.

Take time to enhance the dish so as to speak with added dressy bits and bobs. Colour can be added by wearing coloured wrist or headbands, even a bandana if preferred can spruce up any yoga clothing. How good is this Yoga lark where you dress down to dress up?

About author:

100% fit in mind body and soul is what healthy living is all about. With yoga you claim what is rightfully yours control. http://www.want2yoga.com Find the new you and move on with your life http://www.allaboutonlineeducation.com.

‘Kundalini ‘ literally means, ‘coiled one’. The Oriental (Eastern) Spirituality defines ‘Ananda’ as Bliss; the letter ‘A’ symbolising Shakti . Kundalini is the primordial ‘ Shakti’ or cosmic energy that lies coiled in the muladhara chakra (Base or Root Chakra) corresponding to the base of spine, in your body.

The cosmic energy is your life force, which keeps your body alive, and can be pictured as a coiled snake living at the base of the spine.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

When awakened, Kundalini begins to move upward within the sushumna, the subtle central channel, piercing the chakras and initiating various yogic processes, which bring about total purification and rejuvenation of the entire being. When Kundalini enters the sahasrara ( the Crown Chakra) region, the spiritual center in the crown of the head, the individual self merges in the universal Self and attains the state of Self-realisation.

The goal of ‘ Kundalini Yoga ‘ is to en the life force by causing energy to travel up through the spine, where it will stimulate various chakras (emotional centers throughout the body). Kundalini yoga can be profoundly emotional – it can allow you to see what’s really going on in your life; if helps you become more aware of negative thought patterns and make the choice to change them.

When Kundalini awakening happens to people who are not on a spiritual path, the experience can leave them fragile and fragmented. As the Kundalini process involves a redefinition and reintegration of self, it adds extra pressure when people wish to suppress the transformation and insist to lead their lives normally.

Of greatest benefit is a supportive framework, which can allow people to make sense of the intricate connection between spirit and the movement of physical energy in the body, rather than fearing they are going insane. It is important to understand that Kundalini awakening is a process that taps into the blueprint for higher consciousness, which is latent within every human.

While the enormous changes associated with a spiritual awakening may demand psychological and social adjustments, they are not in themselves necessarily indicative of illness. Communication and connection with others who can provide support and a meaningful context for understanding the process reduces the isolation and overwhelm and can help to minimise the disturbance. Someone who has the personal qualities of creative adaptation to change and a flexible mental framework is more likely to weather the changes with grace and style than those who are rigid in their beliefs and world view.

Essential precautions When practising for example kundalini yoga, be careful about these points:

There may be heat developing in the body. You may wish to go slow on the exercises a little for some days. There may be tingling sensations in the spinal column, palms of the hands or soles of the feet. This is due to energy rising and freely circulating leading to opening of sleeping charkas. You should not bother too much as it will gradually subside. Negative thoughts and desire to express violent emotions. This is part of the energy rising and cleansing process. Control and practise the yamas and niyamas strictly.

By Dipankar Khannat

Mind-Body Fitness at Gaiam

Breath, sound and meditation are the main resources of kundalini yoga. For example, a school of Kundalini yoga is probably best recognised for its frequent use of ‘Breath of Fire’ and the mantra ‘Sat Nam’. Breath of Fire is a breathing exercise where you inhale and exhale rapidly through the nose without pausing, and pump the navel point while using the abdomen as a bellows. Sat Nam means ‘truth is my identity’ and, as a chant, is used to stop mind chatter by creating a rhythm that produces higher consciousness.

Breath + Sound + Meditation = Kundalini Yoga

 

The postures, or asana , of kundalini are mostly taken from hatha yoga. The difference is that Hatha yoga postures are typically held on in same position for some time, while kundalini postures primarily use continuous movement — breathing, chanting and flexing the spine – to allow the kundalini, the life force, to circulate freely in the body thus energising the subtle and invisible charkas in the astral body.

Some techniques

Take your RIGHT hand and make a fist with your thumb out straight. Put that thumb in your upper heart/heart chakra area. Now look at your fingers they are going the way a healthy chakra would go. This applies to all the chakras down the front of your body, 3rd eye / throat / heart / solar / sacral and the root / base, however for your root the thumb should be pointing up vertically into your body.

Pitfalls Of Kundalini Yoga

We are treading sacred waters here. To plunge in recklessly is to risk self-annihilation. When Kundalini awakening happens to people who are not on a spiritual path, the experience can leave them fragile and fragmented. As the Kundalini process involves a redefinition and reintegration of self, it adds extra pressure when people wish to suppress the transformation and insist to lead their lives normally.

Of greatest benefit is a supportive framework, which can allow people to make sense of the intricate connection between spirit and the movement of physical energy in the body, rather than fearing they are going insane. It is important to understand that Kundalini awakening is a process that taps into the blueprint for higher consciousness, which is latent within every human. While the enormous changes associated with a spiritual awakening may demand psychological and social adjustments, they are not in themselves necessarily indicative of illness. Communication and connection with others who can provide support and a meaningful context for understanding the process reduces the isolation and overwhelm and can help to minimise the disturbance. Someone who has the personal qualities of creative adaptation to change and a flexible mental framework is more likely to weather the changes with grace and style than those who are rigid in their beliefs and world view.

Essential precautions When practising this system of yoga, please be careful about these points:

There may be heat developing in the body. You may wish to go slow on the exercises a little for some days.

There may be tingling sensations in the spinal column, palms of the hands or soles of the feet. This is due to energy rising and freely circulating leading to opening of sleeping charkas. You should not bother too much as it will gradually subside.

Negative thoughts and desire to express violent emotions. This is part of the energy rising and cleansing process. Control and practise the yamas and niyamas strictly.

The following are common manifestations of the risen Kundalini:

Muscle twitches, cramps or spasms.
Energy rushes or immense electricity circulating the body.
Itching, vibrating, prickling, tingling, stinging or crawling sensations.
Intense heat or cold. Involuntary bodily movements (occur more often during meditation, rest or sleep):
Jerking, tremors, shaking; feeling an inner force pushing one into postures or moving one’s body in unusual ways. (May be misdiagnosed as epilepsy, restless legs syndrome (RLS), or PLMD.)
Alterations in eating and sleeping patterns.
Episodes of extreme hyperactivity or, conversely, overwhelming fatigue. Intensified or diminished sexual desires.
Headaches, pressures within the skull. Racing heartbeat, pain in the chest.
Digestive system problems. Numbness or pain in the limbs (particularly the left foot and leg).
Pains and blockages anywhere; often in the back and neck.
Emotional outbursts; rapid mood shifts; seemingly unprovoked or excessive episodes of grief, fear, rage, depression.
Spontaneous vocalisations (including laughing and weeping) are as unintentional and uncontrollable as hiccups.
Hearing an inner sound or sounds, classically described as a flute, drum, waterfall, birds singing, bees buzzing but which may also sound like roaring, whooshing, or thunderous noises or like ringing in the ears.
Mental confusion; difficulty in concentrating.
Altered states of consciousness: heightened awareness; spontaneous trance states; mystical experiences (if the individual’s prior belief system is too threatened by these, they can lead to bouts of psychosis or self-grandiosity).
Heat, strange activity, and/or blissful sensations in the head, particularly in the crown area.
Ecstasy, bliss and intervals of tremendous joy, love, peace and compassion.

Psychic experiences:

extrasensory perception; out-of-body experiences; past life memories; astral travel; direct awareness of auras and chakras; contact with spirit guides through inner voices, dreams or visions; healing powers.
Increased creativity: New interests in self-expression and spiritual communication through music, art, poetry, etc.
Intensified understanding and sensitivity: insight into one’s own essence; deeper understanding of spiritual truths; exquisite awareness of one’s environment (including ‘vibes’ from others).
Enlightenment experiences direct Knowing of a more expansive reality; transcendent awareness.

About author:
Dipankar Khanna
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By Zach Hunt

Yoga is a potent form of exercise that originated in India as a form of spiritual practice. Although, today’s version of Yoga has little to do with the Hindu practice, it can provide numerous benefits.

For those who are unaware of the Yoga way of exercise, it uses a combination of breathing exercises along with physical movement to free the body while the meditation aspect of Yoga assists in easing the mind and soul.

 

Benefits Of Yoga – There are many benefits to the Yoga exercise of. It is known that yoga also helps provide stress relief and health benefits. With the fast paced world of today, it is easy for an individual to become stressed out with the daily schedule and this type of stress and affect the body and mind.

By participating in Yoga, you will reduce the amount of stress that you have in your  life. Some additional benefits of the  Yoga lifestyle include the lowering of blood pressure, a better quality of sleep, and a heightened sense of awareness of your surroundings.

By participating in Yoga, you will reduce the amount of stress that you have in your  life. Some additional benefits of the  Yoga lifestyle include the lowering of blood pressure, a better quality of sleep, and a heightened sense of awareness of your surroundings.

Yoga, can also benefit illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, and diabetes.

While Yoga appears to be the ideal way for a healthy life in , it is simply not efficient enough to allow most individuals to reach their ideal weight loss goals. In truth, yoga should be used mainly for the benefits it is known for.

With this being said, Yoga is a great starter exercise for those wishing to achieve their fitness goals but the Yoga exercise should not be the only form of exercise that a citizen uses to achieve a optimal level of fitness.

Yoga doesn’t do a whole lot to build lean toned muscle and burn fat, which is what most people want to do. The Yoga exercise will not allow you to gain the muscle necessary to enjoy the various outdoor attractions of but it will provide you with the an improved control over breathing that will help you journey through the various parks and trails in the area.

The practice of Yoga should be used as a way to free the mind and not as a way to gain the physical strength that will make you look good in a public environment.

Using Yoga In Your Fitness Plan – For those wishing to create a fitness plan, or improve the efficiency of their existing exercise schedule, Yoga is a great option. Since Yoga is not meant as the only source of exercise for those on a fitness plan, it makes a great partner for other forms of exercise such as Pilate’s and weight lifting.

Since Yoga will reduce the stress encountered from the rest of your exercise plan, it is a good idea to make Yoga a regular part of your healthy lifestyle.

For those who are already experiencing quality results with their exercise plan, the regular practice of Yoga will further increase the benefits and positive results of the workout.

Add Yoga To Your Life – Yoga is not right for everyone but it is an easy form of exercise that everyone should try at least once. If you are interested in adding Yoga to your daily life, it is recommended that you talk to your fitness trainer or Yoga instructor to get started on the right track.

About author:
Zach Hunt is a [http://www.spokanefitnesscoach.com/articles/spokane-yoga-in-spokane.html]yoga Spokane expert, fitness coach and owner of Physzique, a fitness coaching service in Spokane, WA. Go here: [http://www.spokanefitnesscoach.com/index.html]Personal Trainer In Spokane WA for more fitness tips.