Exercise Yoga

Yoga is a 3,000-year-old, Hindu discipline of mind and body that became known in Western society with the hippie generation of the Sixties and early Seventies. Its image as a mystic practice is disappearing as fast as the stressful aspects of the Eighties are appearing.

As an effective method of stress management, yoga is spreading into the business world, the helping professions, nursing and old age homes, and is used in the treatment of alcoholics, hyperactive children and youngsters with learning disabilities. Yoga centers are getting stiff competition from adult education classes of community colleges, boards of education and parks and recreation departments.

The meaning of yoga is union of the body, mind and spirit with truth. There are many kinds of yoga to study, and there can be endless years of practice for the willing student.

Hatha Yoga is among the most popular forms in the west. It emphasizes the practice of postures, which stretch and strengthen the body, help develop a sense of balance and flexibility, as well as body awareness and mental concentration. All forms of yoga incorporate the practice of proper breathing techniques for relaxation, to rest the mind from its constant chatter, to experience an internal calm, and to energize and purify the body.

As stress levels in society reach new heights, Raja Yoga, the yoga of meditation, is growing in popularity in Western society, while others, such as Krya Yoga, the yoga of cleansing, and Mantra Yoga, the yoga of chanting, not surprisingly, have little appeal for newcomers.

Stretching and toning, though beneficial, aren’t the primary reasons people turn to yoga. Newcomers are hoping that yoga will provide them with a means for handling stress and diffusing tension. The difference between exercise and yoga is that yoga has a meditative quality.

A lot of people are exercising for the psychological benefits and trying many of the Eastern activities, like yoga and tai chi. Yoga seems to have a calming effect on people.

And the techniques work on children as well as adults. When your children are quarreling, ask them to stop what they’re doing, raise their arms over their heads, lean forward and breathe deeply to help diffuse their anger. It definitely helps them to cool it.

When Trace Bonner launched Holy Cow in West Ashley’s South Windermere Shopping Center last summer, she didn’t know what to expect. Now she’s teaching 16 classes a week and adding another instructor. And while she credits the center’s success in part to its cute cow logo and convenient location, there’s no question that there’s a revived interest in yoga across America.
The ancient Indian practice of yoga first arrived in the US at the beginning of the 20th century, but didn’t really catch on until 1969 with chants at Woodstock. Now, after being overshadowed by the aerobics craze in the ’80s and early ’90s, yoga is once again attracting followers, with many looking for relief from ailments and injuries or from the stress of daily life.
Baby boomers, worn out from years of jogging and bouncy workouts, are back on board. But interest is growing with other age groups, too, from college students to senior citizens to celebrities.
The surge in interest is being fueled partly by doctors’ growing acceptance of yoga’s healing potential. Mainstream medicine has adopted yoga as a gentle therapeutic method for treating a number of illnesses, so more and more doctors are referring their patients to yoga. Initial trials have shown yoga can help people with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma and cardiac risk factors.

The ancient art of India – Yoga has been recognized all over the world and the Yoga not only teaches the art of keeping the body fit but it also pertains to the soul, mind and body. But the Hatha Yoga the physical aspect of yoga has become popular in the western world and taken US by storm. But the Hatha Yoga also has different types and styles. They also have power yoga which is more intense to the lighter ones which are gentle and can be used on Svaroopa Yoga.
Yoga is basically known for its stretching and bending the body parts to gain more flexibility. They also include right breathing exercises and the relaxation. The person who learns yoga can become flexible, gain strength, good blood circulation in the body and they would feel general well being.
As thought earlier yoga is not related to any religion but it is a religion in itself. It also offers spiritual connections with your own being and the one above.
Mostly, the class lasts up to one hour in which they pay attention to their breathing, then the chanting of OM and then some cardiovascular movements. It includes stretching and relaxation.
The relaxation period gives students a chance to turn inward. Some people are making lists in their head. Some people are asleep. Some people are just in a really great space, where they’re conscious of what’s going on in the room, and yet at the same time, completely and unequivocally out.

Even though Yoga exercises are slow and steady they are very tricky and before starting yoga you need to know certain truths about the same. The yoga is all about relaxing and also while stretching be comfortable and stretch as much as you can and you will notice you will be able to stretch more and more with practice.

For the beginners, first thing you will need to do is remove any thoughts from your mind whatever they are either good or bad. Do not get disturbed by the Phone or the door bell ringing keep them off. You need to relax completely.

Take a warm shower before starting; wear comfortable clothes which can easily stretch. Make sure that from every angle you are relaxed nothing is coming in your way; the hair is tied properly and is not disturbing you. Invest in a yoga mat which will help you rest on the floor. Turn the lights low, or you can do it early in the morning in the direct sunlight. You can use some aroma candles while inside the house.

If you want you can use belts blocks and props for better support and stretches. Of course the exercise is not the only goal of Yoga it is the combination of mind and body. The above mentioned tools will only help you initially and when you have learned to relax yourself these things will not be needed at all.

Some people prefer taking a yoga class so they are guided properly. There is nothing wrong with this, but keep in mind that only you can take your mind and spirit as far as it was meant to go, alone.

Yoga is not about body contortions, Mantras and Turbaned Gurus as many people think. You need to try it out before you push it aside. Trying Yoga will give you respect for the same as you will see the difference in your body, mind and soul.

The Yoga means binding together. Like Sun and Moon, Left and Right, Male and Female, and Yin and Yang Which is highlighted by their techniques of meditation and exercise. It is about the physical and mental balance.

The Hatha Yoga is famous in the western world. The Classic Lotus position or sitting cross legged on the floor is the thing which either comes naturally or not at all.

The Mystical and magical varieties of yoga for which there is so much fanaticism in the society that people quit their jobs and want to go to Himalayas. People generally do not reach the Himalayas but many people would like to learn from the local ashram and Guru’s.

All the people want to learn Yoga for different reasons some do it for awareness, spiritualism harmony, concentration and some do it for weight loss, quit bad habits like smoking, drinking etc. Some like to do the exercises at ease without the sweat.

Any reason you choose to do Yoga, it cannot hurt and if done with a proper guidance it can enhance your life.

The word Kundalini refers to the power in the form of a coiled snake. It is a very familiar word for the people who practice yoga. The serpent has made a home into our body into the Muladhara Chakra. There are basically seven chakras in our body and the other six are Svadhisthna, Manipuraka, Nahata, Visuddha, Anja and Sahasrara.

The history of Agamas is not very popular and it provides the poetry and picture of the vedic style of living. There are twenty eight agamas. They are known as Saiva Agamas and they are known in establishing relationship and realizing the power of God Shiva.

The padas or lessons of agamas are divided into four parts. The first two talk about the good conduct or Chariyas and Kriyas. Kriyas is the worship including the personal worship your duties towards the society you live in. The other two padas are Yoga and Jnana. Yoga is internal worship and the Jnana is Wisdom This wisdom describes the processes and stages of Kundalini Yoga. This is the time when you reach the god and or Sivahood is achieved.

In the texts the lessons are from the Jnana to Kriya and Chariya that means it comes from the God state to Human state. The agamas are very vast and they contain more than ten thousand verses. The Vedas mostly remained in Sanskrit. The agamas took the route of many languages and was interpreted differently by many and eventually many of the lessons or Padas got lost or destroyed

Mountain Pose ( Parvataasana)

This exercise strengthens muscles and nerves in the arms and legs and stimulates the circulation of blood in the upper spine.
While kneeling forward stretch your arms forward and try touching the forehead to the floor. Breathe deeply. Raise yourself on to your hands and knees, keep your toes tucked under and back flat.
Inhale and push towards your toes. Raise buttocks and lower the head between the arms.
Exhale, rest your feet on the floor and try to touch the floor with the forehead. Hold the position to 10 counts and relax.

POSE OF THE MOON (Shashankasa)

Sit on the knees with your palms on the thighs. Close eyes and relax with the head and spine straight life the arms above the head in a straight line. As you breathe out, bend forward from the hips, while keeping arms and head in a straight line. Try to get the head on the ground with the hands straight ahead. Then bend the arms and relax them hold for a count of 10 and relax.
Breathe in and raise arms and body upwards. Exhale and return your palms to the top of your thigh.
Repeat 5 to 10 times while relaxing in between.

Tiryaka Tadasan ( Swaying Palm Tree Pose)

It develops balance in the body and restructures the waist. Stand with feet apart. Keep a distance of one foot between the two and fix your eyes straight ahead. Interlock the fingers and palms outward. Inhale as you raise your palms over the head. As you breathe out, bend your waist to your left side. See to it that the waist is straight and is not bending forward or backwards. Hold for seconds, inhale deeply and slowly return to the position.
Repeat 5 times, each side.

Manjari asana (Cat Stretch Pose)

this position, Kneel down and lean forward to place the hand on floor blow your shoulders, finger pointing forward, hands stretched forward in line with the knees. The body should be in a straight line and the knees can be separated a few inches.
Inhale deeply, raise head without raising your arms and hold this position for a few seconds. As you exhale, lower your head and stretch the spine upwards. Pull in your buttock, contract stomach muscles and slowly place head between arms
Repeat 5 times.

Any place is good for Yoga. You do not need a particular place for yoga. You can stretch your body any time anywhere. At home, Office or also while driving.
For the office goers the lunch hour is their time to sneak in for a little bit of exercise and keep fit. Many people use that one hour of lunch to do yoga to remain flexible and fit.

Many people just do the yoga for ten minutes and they see the difference. Some people only do Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation which is a complete exercise in itself.
Practicing yoga is becoming a popular exercise regime as you do not need any particular place or time to do that and people are doing it whenever they get time of their busy schedule.

Given below are some exercises which can be done at work

Kick Back Log-on Pose: Join your hands behind your head and stretch your elbows and then release. Do this as much as you can but slowly and find the difference.
Meditation: When you are on the computer, try and pay attention to your breath, slowly breath in and out this is a good relaxing.

Stretch: Keep your hands on the table. Stand back with feet apart now drop your head and chest down and breathe slowly and relax. Place your hands on the edge of the copier. Stand back with feet apart. Drop your head and chest. Breathe and relax your shoulders.

Sitting stretch: In your office in sitting position raise your arms above your head and stretch them to the side and then to the other. Repeat it several times. Do breathe normally.
These all the exercises are good for your body and mind. This will give you a calm and composed way of doing your work and keep the stress away.

In our body we have seven chakras. Chakras is the Sanskrit word meaning the wheel. The chakras are the centers of our body and all are placed along the spine and it matches to the different area of the body. It controls the spiritual and the personality growth of the human being. The Yoga teaches us how to control the chakras through the meditation and Yoga exercises. It helps in bringing peace to mind body and spirit.

The seven chakras are thus named 1) Muladhara: It is situated at the base of the spine. 2) Svadhisthana: This chakra is associated with abdominal, genitals lower back and hip. 3) Manipura: It relates to solar Plexus. 4) Anahata: It corresponds to Heart. 5) Visshudha: It corresponds to throat 6) Ajna: The brows and the 7) Sahasrara: This is the top of the head and cerebral.

The movements and breathing exercises in yoga helps us to concentrate on chakras of the body which will allow us to rejuvenate the parts which are not in perfect synch with the body. The spiritual energy in Sanskrit is known as Kundalini. It is the line of chakras and can be seen as a snake resting at the base of the spine.

The chakras keep the balance and keeps you healthy and in good shape in proper alignment. Therefore through practice of Yoga you can keep your mind, body and spirit in sync with each other.