Breathe, Relax And Be Still

Whаt to Look fоr in a Gооd Yоgа Teacher

Posted by on May 18, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

 

A gооd уоgа tеасhеr ѕhоuld рrіmаrіlу bе someone whо іnѕріrеѕ уоu tо рrасtісе аnd tо bеttеr уоurѕеlf. Yоgа іѕ ultimately about brіngіng peace tо уоurѕеlf, аnd the tеасhеr’ѕ tеасhіngѕ should еnсоurаgе thіѕ in you.

A gооd yoga teacher ѕhоuld bе ѕоmеоnе wіth a lоt of enthusiasm fоr yoga. He/she іѕ ѕоmеоnе whо еnjоуѕ nоt only practicing and lеаrnіng yoga themselves but аlѕо someone whо еnjоуѕ tеасhіng уоgа too.

A good уоgа teacher ѕhоuld be aware of the deeper teachings оf уоgа whісh аrе іn thе ѕсrірturеѕ. Thеrе аrе ѕсrірturеѕ ѕuсh аѕ the Bhagavad Gita, thаt tаlk about “уоgа” or thе іdеа of unіоn аnd also about “Atma” оr thе ѕоul аnd philosophy. There аrе аlѕо bооkѕ such as Hаthа Yоgа Prаdіріkа, thаt tаlk аbоut dіеt, “аѕаnа” or роѕturе practice аnd ѕо forth. A gооd yoga teacher ѕhоuld hаvе a gооd understanding оf all parts of уоgа.

Thе teacher ѕhоuld undеrѕtаnd thаt yoga іѕ аbоut hеаlth. As уоgа hаѕ dеvеlореd, mаnу people hаvе become аwаrе of the hеаlth bеnеfіtѕ of a уоgа рrасtісе (including those of mеdіtаtіоn), and a gооd tеасhеr ѕhоuld undеrѕtаnd аnd tеасh thіѕ. Fоllоwіng a ѕаttvіс оr pure diet іѕ аn іmроrtаnt ѕtер in yoga. It іѕ uѕеful whеn fоllоwіng a рurе diet tо eat оrgаnіс foods that соntаіn no harmful реѕtісіdеѕ аnd аrе grоwn in a mаnnеr designed tо kеер thе ѕоіl fertile аnd thе рrоduсtѕ full of nutrіеntѕ. A gооd tеасhеr ѕhоuld guіdе уоu with a gооd dіеt аnd good hеаlth.

In аddіtіоn to thіѕ, a gооd yoga teacher ѕhоuld hаvе a good understanding that уоgа іѕ not just аѕаnа оr physical рrасtісе but іѕ ѕоmеthіng muсh dеереr. The tеасhеr ѕhоuld be one whо аlwауѕ encourages уоu tо focus уоur аwаrеnеѕѕ on уоur brеаth in оrdеr tо bring уоu іntо a ѕtаtе оf mеdіtаtіоn.

A good teacher еnсоurаgеѕ уоu not tо be соmреtіtіvе but tо wоrk on yourself. He оr ѕhе undеrѕtаndѕ that еvеrуоnе is dіffеrеnt and has dіffеrеnt gеnеtісѕ аnd thаt еvеrуоnе соmеѕ tо yoga wіth his/her оwn needs. A ѕіgn of a good tеасhеr іѕ that hе оr she tеllѕ you not tо look at оthеrѕ durіng thе сlаѕѕ. Thіѕ hеlрѕ уоu fосuѕ оn уоurѕеlf аnd уоur own development, and this ѕhоuld ideally be what a good tеасhеr lеаdѕ уоu towards.

A gооd teacher gіvеѕ gооd аdjuѕtmеntѕ but dоеѕ nоt push уоu too muсh. He or ѕhе rаthеr еnсоurаgеѕ уоu, hеlрѕ уоu to ѕее уоur potential, and guіdеѕ you towards a роіnt of реасе wіthіn yourself. A gооd tеасhеr hаѕ a ѕtrоng dеѕіrе tо help уоu wіth your jоurnеу and to guіdе уоu tоwаrdѕ реасе.

A good tеасhеr likes all аѕресtѕ оf уоgа. This іnсludеѕ сhаntіng, brеаthіng techniques, meditation, and рhіlоѕорhу. Hе оr ѕhе sees аll thе bеnеfіtѕ of the dіffеrеnt brаnсhеѕ оf yoga аnd helps you wіth thоѕе that арреаl tо уоu.

Abоvе all, a good уоgа tеасhеr іѕ ѕоmеоnе you can bоnd wіth and form a rеlаtіоnѕhір with. Hе оr she ѕhоuld bе ѕоmеоnе whо уоu саn rеlаtе tо, someone who іѕ оn thе ѕаmе раth as you, аnd ѕоmеоnе whо encourages уоu tо fоllоw уоur path.

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Yoga, a Fairy Tale or a Reality

Posted by on Feb 22, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

A lot of confusion is always peddled about yoga. You have seen celebrities with lean bodies praising it to the core. On the other hand, some say that it can only do so much. Much as there is this confusion, we can underestimate or even overestimate the benefits that it brings.

In this article, we will try and decipher what yoga can do for you and what it can’t.

 

 

But before we do that, what is yoga?

Yoga traces its origin in ancient India and it literally means union. It connects you to the ultimate reality of nature’s existence. It’s the process of reversing the outward energy flow and wellbeing making the mind a melting pot to avoid the illusion that our well being depends on fallible senses to actually experiencing the truth.

Let’s indulge in the major beats of yoga, shall we?

Excellent in building muscles.

Building muscles require gym goers to work hard, carry heavyweights, and sacrifice a lot of their time. This basically means they overload themselves.

In yoga, on the other hand, you progress by being able to articulate a posture with a lot of ease, for long, and by moving on to a more advanced edition of the posture.
This is because yoga involves stimulating multiple muscles at a go. But the most overlooked fact about it is that it brings coherence to your body. By doing so, this consonance has a greater ripple effect in comparison with strength training.

However, most pessimists may say that yoga consumes a lot of time before yielding results.
That is okay, as different people have different goals. But still yet, to put on a lot of muscle in a short time, yoga by itself won’t do you the magic. However, if you want to use it to work on diverse phases of strength than what you do in the gym, then it will be an excellent choice.

Yoga helps you become flexible.

Most people have weak and tight muscles. What they need are strong and flexible muscles. Yoga comes in handy,-as it helps you release muscular tension and start getting stronger.
Therefore, yoga is perfect when you want to have a flexible body. A recent study shows that active stretching (a process of a muscle opposite the one being stretched is contracted; this is often achieved in a yoga posture) improved the range of motion, while inactive stretching reduced their range of motion.

Yoga helps prevent heart diseases.

For sure, yoga helps prevent heart diseases. This is impossible to believe but after studies were conducted all over the world, results concluded that yoga lowers and prevents any chances and factors that may lead to you having heart problems.

Yoga prevents the following high blood sugar level, high blood level, and even rare disease atherosclerosis.

Yoga helps improve your sex life.   

One of the most ignored effects of yoga is that it helps improve your sexual experience. Both men and women who take yoga seriously register increased arousal and more overall sexual satisfaction without much strain.

With yoga, you will not be requiring the little yellow, blue pills for maximum satisfaction.
Moreover, yoga breathing styles and techniques increase blood circulation which is paramount for people with natural arousal disarray.

Yoga is not good for cardio.

For any yogi, who’s been training hard and has been taking his yoga programs seriously, every time you see him walking out the gym, he is breathing heavily or is soaked with a lot of sweat. All of that training cannot be compared to any form of aerobic exercise. It may be hard for these yogis to accept this kind of information, but in terms of cardio fitness (having a good stamina), yoga isn’t likely to help.

To help you understand well, cardio-wise, yoga is equivalent to walking. It’s not bad to do, but it won’t give you the similar advantages of running.

The take-home

As you can see, yoga works on many fronts in ensuring overall healthy living. However, it may not be as effective as many would want in helping cardio. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be incorporated. After all, there is no universal formula for staying fit and healthy.

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What Should Men Wear to Yoga Class

Posted by on Sep 24, 2019 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

 

It isn’t difficult to find plenty of fashion advice for women about what to wear to a yoga class. You see plenty of advertisements for yoga leggings, high-waist capri pants with built-in shapewear, and so many other items. Unfortunately, many clothing manufacturers tend to cater to yoginis when it comes to their advertisements. It can be difficult for men to figure out what they’re supposed to wear to their first few yoga classes.

If you feel too manly to put on a pair of yoga leggings, what should you reasonably expect to wear to your first yoga class? Men can benefit from applying some of these helpful fashion tips to make them more comfortable during their first yoga classes.

 

 

Tight pants work best.

It may not be exactly what you wanted to hear, but tight pants really do work best for an avid yoga practice. When your pants are relatively form-fitting, your instructor can see your alignment and help you prevent unwanted injuries on the yoga mat. You don’t want to wear your baggiest pair of sweatpants that obscures an instructor’s view of your knees and ankles.

You may want to wear a pair of compression pants with some looser gym shorts over them. This may make you feel a little less exposed, but it still allows your instructor to see your alignment clearly.

Tank tops are better than baggy t-shirts.

You may be tempted to pull a baggy t-shirt out of the back of your closet, but you should really rethink that idea. Baggy clothing can get in the way during a yoga practice, particularly during inversions. Even extremely gentle poses, like the downward-facing dog, can be difficult when you have a loose shirt falling into your face.

A tight-fitting top is a better alternative for men who want to attend a yoga class. It should fit snugly around the abdomen so it doesn’t come up during inversions, but it shouldn’t be tight enough to make it difficult to breathe. You should have a full range of motion in any shirt you wear.

 

 

Prepare for heat in a hot yoga class.

Some men and women prefer to wear full-length pants to a hot yoga class because they believe sweating more will help them to detoxify better. However, other individuals would much rather be comfortable as they move through the rigorous asanas in the sweltering heat. If it’s a hot yoga class, you may be able to get away with wearing a pair of bicycling shorts or regular gym shorts.

It isn’t uncommon to see men remove their shirts for a hot yoga class. A tight-fitting tank top that isn’t too restrictive is still a great option for men to wear to a hot yoga class.

Men who are interested in attending their very first yoga class can benefit from these top fashion tips. You’ll be able to practice your yoga routine comfortably and safely, as well as blend right in from the beginning.

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Crystals For Serenity

Posted by on Aug 3, 2019 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Many crystals are believed to assist us in feeling more calm, peaceful, and serene. 

  • Agate: This soothing and calming stone is said to facilitate strength and grounding. It allows us to heal our emotions and overcome negativity.
  • Amethyst: This stone is said to be powerful and protective. It aids us in balancing our emotional highs and lows.
  • Ametrine: By clearing stress and removing tension in the head, this stone is believed to calm the mind and allow for enhanced focus during meditation. It is believed to work very fast.
  • Apatite: It is known to reduce the fatigue and irritability. It is said to be the stone for manifestation.
  • Aquamarine: This stone is believed to treat anxiety, allowing for peace and serenity to enter. It cultivates strength, creativity, and communication.
  • Azurite: This stone is said to shift fear into deeper self-understanding, removing stress and worry. It can shift sadness into lightness.
  • Bloodstone: By reducing irritability and improving patience, this stone is said to help calm the mind and allow for less indecision in important choices. It is believed to ground and protect.
  • Charoite: This stone is believed to effectively reduce stress and worry, replacing them with drive and vigor. 
  • Cherry Quartz: This beautiful form of quartz is said to replace anxiety with feelings of tranquility. 
  • Coral: The different types of coral are said to bring about different things, but all coral is said to assist in bringing inner peace and overall feelings of optimism. 
  • Fire Agate: By stabilizing and cleansing your aura with it, you are also repelling negative energies. It allows for a less chaotic state and overall more mellowness.
  • Garnet: This is a great stone to facilitate bringing serenity. 
  • Hematite: This is a protection stone that also enhances self-esteem and dissipates negativity. It is a great stone for grounding and cultivating courage.
  • Howlite: This stone is said to be like a sleeping aid. It removes insomnia and allows calmness to enter. 
  • Jade: This stone is a symbol for serenity and overall purity. It is believed to protect you from harm and bring you harmony. 
  • Labradorite: This stone allows calmness for intuition and psychic gifts to flourish. 
  • Larimar: By wearing or using this stone, you can allow for love and serenity to radiate. It is said to bring more playfulness and clarity.
  • Malachite: This stone is said to bring balance and harmony to the heart.
  • Moonstone: This stone is believed to bring balance to emotions. It allows for peace of mind and ease in self-reflection and intrapersonal work.
  • Obsidian: This powerful stone is said to be protective of negativity and allow us to grow and offer support. 
  • Pink Tourmaline: This stone is believed to attract love, heal emotional pain, and open the heart chakra. It can leave you feeling open and peaceful.
  • Topaz: This mellow stone can allow us to release doubt and come into a soothed and aligned state. 
  • Turquoise: This stone has been used for ages by indigenous people to promote tranquility and serenity. It allows the whole body to become balanced and healthy, free from disease.

All these crystals can be worn or used in meditation to allow for enhanced feelings of overall serenity. 

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Yoga As A Stress Reliever

Posted by on Aug 1, 2019 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

We all have circumstances in our lives that can leave us feeling stressed and anxious. Certain situations cannot be controlled by us—the only thing that can be controlled are our reactions. Stress and anxiety are brought on by circumstances and situations far beyond our control. There are things that can be done to relieve stress and anxiety.

Different forms of exercise, medication and often times avoidance. Yoga can relieve stress and anxiety if you allow it. When many people hear of yoga, they immediately think that it’s not for them because they aren’t flexible enough and another host of reasons why. But yoga is for everyone—every single person can do yoga. Yoga is not just for the mat; it’s for everyday life as well. Stress relief, fitness, and management of chronic illnesses are just a few benefits of yoga.

There are many different styles of yoga and each has its own recipe for combating stress and anxiety. When choosing a yoga style, it all comes down to personal preference and how you are feeling at the moment. Each style of yoga follows the main concepts of mind, body, and soul. When those three concepts become one, you are fully connected to yourself. Meditation and breath are the tools to help you to arrive at that connection. When you meditate and listen to your breath, nothing else around you matters or holds weight. Focusing on just your breath forces you to be present in that moment and slows your mind down. When you are stressed and anxious the focus is on what triggered those bad feelings and nothing else. Meditation and breathing are two positive approaches in times of struggle.

There are different poses to do that are specifically for relieving stress and anxiety. Here are eight poses to do when you are feeling stressed or anxious and need to relax and take a break from the world.

1. Child’s Pose

This pose is great for relieving stress and anxiety because it forces you to focus on your breath and nothing else. Just focus on your breath because in this pose nothing else matters. Melt your body into the early and feel the stress and anxiety leave your body. Sit up on your knees and sink your bottom to your heels as you lean forward and the rest of your body will fall into your thighs. You can stretch your arms in front of you or on the side of your body.

 

2. Reclined Goddess Pose

This pose brings extreme relief to your body and mind. You are surrendering your body to the earth. To feel extra relief, you can bring one of your hands to your heart and feel your chest rise and fall with each breathing sequence. Lay on your back and touch the bottom of your feet together while our knees fall to either side with your hands by your sides.

3. Standing Forward Fold

This pose helps to relieve stress and anxiety by turning you inward and releasing tension in your shoulders and legs, which can become tense when you are in negative situations. To accomplish this pose, stand straight, fold your body over your thighs and place your hands behind your neck to relieve tension. Staying in this pose for about five breaths is recommended and repeat as needed.

4. Legs Up the Wall

This is one of the best poses for stress and anxiety relief because it gives you calm over your entire body and calms your whole nervous system down. Our nervous systems feel it the most when we are experiencing stress and anxiety. Lie on your back near the wall and put your legs straight in the air against the wall. Make sure your thighs and bottoms are as close to if not touching the wall. You will feel instant relief from a stressful day.

5. Corpse Pose

The final pose of most, if not all, yoga styles. The act of being still and doing nothing seems to be the cure for stress and anxiety. In this pose, you are lying still on your back with your legs and arms slightly spread out onto or even off of the mat. This pose just requires you to shut your mind off and just breathe.

The variety of yoga styles and poses makes yoga phenomenal stress and anxiety reliever. No matter the yoga style or pose, you will be given the challenge of focusing on your breath and to be present at the moment. The connection of mind, body, and soul as one is the main concepts of yoga and once you arrive at that place, you will not want to go back.

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