Is Yoga Good Or Bad For You?

Yoga has been around for about 5,000 years. It was created in India. It came to the United States in 1893. Yoga is thought by some to be a religion. It is not. It is a technique that uses poses to observe the breath, to quiet the mind and to learn focus. It is a mental, verbal and physical practice.

The postures are referred to as Asnan, the breathing techniques are called Pratyahara and the concentration techniques are called Dharana. Hatha Yoga is the type of Yoga typically taught at fitness facilities. Hatha Yoga is a slow-paced gentle Yoga that is a good intro to the basic Yoga poses. It is good for strength training, flexibility training, posture training and to develop mind-body awareness.

Vinyasa Yoga is also popular. It is a more fluid, vigorous practice. Ashtanga Yoga is often called "Power Yoga". It too is practiced by many people in America. It is a very vigorous, athletic type of Yoga best for the advanced student. Bikram Yoga referred to as "Hot Yoga" has 26 poses students do in a room that is 90 to 100 degrees. The thought is that the muscles will be loosened by the warm room so further stretching can occur.

Keeping your body toned and flexible is very important. The poses offered in Yoga can do that if done correctly. Most Yoga practices do not work your cardiovascular system. Power Yoga may be able to challenge your cardiovascular system if the instructor formats her routine in a manner which encourages the aerobic effect.

There are some safety precautions that will help you avoid being injured in your Yoga practice. Some of the poses can place too much strain on the spine. Your neck has smaller vertebrae than your lower back so caution should be used with neck motions. The lower back although stronger also can be injured if the poses are done incorrectly or you already have a bad back.

Forward flexion of the neck (bringing your chin toward your chest) should occur by simply letting go in the back of the neck. No straining or pulling should occur from the muscles in the front of your neck. Your head is pretty heavy and favors going forward so just allowing it to do so is the best way to do forward flexion.

Extension of the neck (bringing your head backwards) needs to be done by lengthening the neck not tilting the head back. Your eyes should be looking forward or slightly rolled upward. In the past some yoga positions like the Cobra had your neck tilted way back which is very hard on your cervical spine.

Neck rolls should always be avoided they place a lot of strain on your neck. Small tipping or turning of your head with each motion returning to an upright position before going to the next position is safer for your neck.

Inverted poses like the Plough are very tough on your neck. They put a lot of pressure on your cervical spine. Misalignment can occur as well as injury. If you already have neck issues they will be aggravated. Even poses that are indirectly inverted (where your head is lower than your heart, but you are not completely upside down) like the Down dog, Standing forward fold or Child pose is unwise for those with glaucoma, ear problems or heart and circulatory issues. Women should not practice inverted poses during menstruation or pregnancy. The most problematic poses are the Plough, Shoulder stand, and the head stand.

Poses that use unsupported forward flexion (bending your torso toward your thighs) puts a lot of stress on the lower back. Most people do not have the strength in their lower backs to do this without injury. The idea is to stretch the back of your legs and to strengthen your back but many people never get to the back strengthening benefit because their backs are injured while doing the pose.To add to the problem many poses like the Sun Salutation require you to have your legs completely straight.

To help ease the strain on your back during the Sun Salutation pose keep your legs shoulder width apart. For the Standing Forward Fold keep a slight bend in your legs and support your back by placing your hands on your thighs. When doing forward folds in a seated position focus on feeling the stretch behind your legs and not on trying to lay your chest on your thighs. Lengthen and extend your spine.

Make sure that you do not feel pain when doing your poses. It is wise to watch a few classes before you take one to make sure the instructor does not push students to go past their comfort zone. An instructor should not touch you and try to push your body past its abilities.

So Yoga is a good thing if done with caution and a very bad thing if you push yourself past your capabilities.

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Stress: Is Meditation a Viable Alternative to Medications?

One of the biggest health concerns American adults face is stress.

 There's tons of research available that shows how damaging stress can be for your physical and mental health. Using stress management techniques is key to reducing your chances of developing ailments, such as depression, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. These diseases are indirectly related, since stress causes most people to overeat unhealthy foods. When you eat too much toxic foods, diseases like cancer can form. At this point, it would be best to obtain the services of a naturopathic oncologist.

You'll quickly learn that the best alternative cancer treatment is prevention. If you can minimize your chances of stress, you can in turn reduce your risk of developing related diseases. This is why it's recommended that you engage in stress-reducing activities, such as meditation.

Can Meditation Really Help Reduce Stress?

When you think of someone meditating, what likely comes to mind is someone sitting down with their legs crossed and their eyes closed. Some even meditate while lying down. However, this is only one way of practicing meditation. There's another concept called mindfulness meditation and it has shown to help lower stress.

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

Practicing mindfulness meditation is simple. All you're doing is living in the now, which means keeping your mind focused on the present only. You'll find that majority of one's stress stems from thoughts of the past and future. If you're at work thinking about the argument you had the night before or worrying about an upcoming event you have to plan for, then you're not mindful of the present.

These type of thoughts are distracting and only build up your stress levels. The key is to be mindful of the present, but without judgment. Studies show that those who learn how to effectively meditate in this manner are able to lower their stress levels. This was determined by measuring the stress hormone called ACTH, as well a pro-inflammatory cytokines (both of which were reduced).

Research shows inflammation is linked to disease, including cancer. Allowing your body to become toxic with stress hormones is only increasing your chances of this illness. You can consult with a naturopathic oncologist at alternative cancer treatments centers to learn preventive methods you can implement today.

But is it a Replacement for Medication?

This is the million dollar question, especially since millions of people are prescribed medications each day. Any chance you have of eliminating a prescription drug is a good thing. Studies show that this type of meditating can actually replace the need for pain medications. In the research, the participants who practiced it witnessed a 57 percent reduction in pain discomfort and 40 percent decrease in pain intensity.

This alone should convince people of the power of meditation. You can learn more about improving your lifestyle from a naturopathic oncologist, who also specializes in treatments like detoxification, IV vitamin therapy and chelation therapy.

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How To Listen To Your Body

        Listening to your body in an art. I remember years ago when I first heard this I was saying to myself “how do you do that? My awareness levels were on the precipice of a new dawn of awakening, I felt I was beginning an inner journey of self discovery, health and healing and I was waking up to something better emotionally, physically and spiritually.

The journey of being receptive to my own body’s messages could first be narrowed down to answering this question how am I feeling? Ask yourself that right now? Any aches or pains? – what’s happening in your body? Feel good? Feel restless, irritated, tired or overwhelmed? Do you know?

Today’s blog comes to your from someone who’s taken the journey of not knowing to someone who really knows. However, I didn’t even know how to decipher these emotions until I first learned how to quiet my mind.
My mind is a very active mind. And being so active it used to run away with itself from time to time. I felt blessed to have been shown a practice that helped me to focus and be in tune with my body. Some people already know the messages their body sends, but I am a learner and had to learn this before I could master it. If you are a learner then this is definitely for you!

A series of things began to happen after asking a few personal questions; ones I wanted answers to. Answers came, albeit in a different fashion to what I thought. This was the introduction to meditation, something that has ended up making a profound difference in my daily life.

I knew very little about meditation 13 years ago. I thought it was something that Buddhist monks did and that was about it. I had never done it or thought about it and I didn’t know anyone who practiced it. However, one day the signs began to flow. They came across my screen of consciousness via a National Geographic TV show. I remember a guy sitting on a chair keeping his back straight wearing an airplane mask to cover his eyes from any distraction. The narrator spoke of the massive physical benefits that just 20 minutes a day of quieting the mind had on the human brain scientifically. I also read about incorporating it into your daily life in Deepak Chopra’s amazing book “Perfect Health.” This was so inspiring to me. Then finally the third message came via a chance encounter with an Indian man in a shop who said, “take this flyer this is the real deal a meditation class.” So now I was curious.

I did the class, signed up for the weekend special and was introduced to Transcendental Meditation or TM. I was given a private mantra (just for me) to repeat silently to myself when thoughts arose. That was it, simple, just repeat the mantra when thoughts arise for your 2 meditations a day. I was told to keep it a secret as it was sacred just to me. Within 2 weeks my teacher Colin asked me to call him back just to check in. When we spoke he said “has anything happened in the last 2 weeks”? I said, “no nothing.” Then he asked, “meditation is not about attaining anything or getting anywhere it’s just about quieting the mind.” Then I thought and mentioned, “actually something has happened that’s unusual, I woke up sweating and had to change the bed sheets 2 nights in a row.” Colin replied, “that’s fantastic that means you body is releasing toxins!”

And that was my first understanding of listening to my body’s messages. Now if I feel a slight twinge after a workout I take it easy to maintain balance. When I feel restless I workout. When I’m eating good foods I feel healthy and clear-headed. I’ve noticed that my body sweats a lot when I eat rich foods especially in my sleep. When I feel aches the next day I tend to slow my workouts right down and go for brisk walks instead to maintain a balance and I’ll also do yoga to stretch. When I have plenty of energy I’ll run, do weights, HIIT or sports or anything that will utilize my vitality.

Everyone is different but listening to your body’s messages can be a life saver as it helps you to maintain a balance which is key to your quality of life.

Live well, Live inspired!

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Rice Diet - Brown Rice Detox Recipes

Nowadays, people are getting more aware about the importance of maintaining their health. There are many things that people do in order to keep healthy such as exercising regularly, doing yoga or meditation, quitting smoking, reducing the consumption of alcohol, avoiding unhealthy foods, doing a detox program, going on a healthy diet and many more. For those who are overweight or with a serious health problem, doctors might suggest them to go on the Rice Diet. This diet is an excellent weight loss program; you can lose between 20 to 30 pounds in the first month, and 2.5 to 3.5 pounds per week in the later stages.The program consists of very low-calorie, high-complex carbohydrate, low-fat, low-sugar, low-sodium, low-protein diet that will help detoxify and treat chronic health problems. The diet plan requires the use of brown rice. Regular white rice contains a lot of sodium, sugar, and bad fats which are some of the major causes of weight gain and many diseases such as diabetes. On the other hand, brown rice is rich in fiber and healthy fats that help lower bad cholesterol levels.Besides fiber and good fats, brown rice is also rich in iodine, potassium and essential minerals that are good for your body. It also helps detoxify your body and enhance your energy levels as well mental awareness. Furthermore, it can help you lose weight quickly. Most people do not like the taste of brown rice. However, you can easily turn them into delicious dishes by following easy brown rice detox recipes that can be found in various diet books or on the internet.The detox program does not require you to consume only brown rice throughout the day. For breakfast, you are allowed to consume one serving of fruit, such as banana, apple, pear or citrus. For a wholesome breakfast, you can try the following rice porridge recipe. Combine ½ cup of brown rice, 1 cup of almond milk and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg powder in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring frequently. Cover the pan and reduce the heat. Simmer for about 45 minutes and serve with walnuts, ground flaxseed and chopped Fuji apple.For lunch and dinner, you must consume about 1 to 2 bowls of fresh vegetables in each meal. You can choose whatever vegetables you like, and they do not have to be the same every day. The following Brown Rice Pilaf is very easy to make. Chop 1 medium onion and 1 green pepper and saute them in a large pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add 1 ¼ cups of brown rice and 2 cloves of garlic; stir until the rice is lightly browned. Add 1 ½ cups of water, 1 cup of chicken broth, a pinch of dried thyme and a pinch of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer for 40 minutes or until the rice is tender. This dish serves up to 6 people, and you can serve it with a side of green salad.

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Some Benefits of Practicing Yoga

The benefits of yoga vary depending on the type of yoga practiced. Although many forms of yoga practice are safe, some are strenuous and may not be appropriate for everyone. With easier movements performed at a slower pace than more advanced forms of yoga, hatha yoga is perfect for beginners seeking the benefits of yoga. There are many styles of yoga asana practice including Ashtanga, Integral, Iyengar, Kundalini and Bikram.

Hatha is one of the most common styles of yoga, and some beginners find it easier to practice because of its slower pace and easier movements. Hatha yoga is one of most popular forms of yoga poses all over the world.

The Health Benefits And Medical Uses Of Yoga

The benefits of yoga extend far beyond the typical benefits of which people are aware of. Perhaps the physical health component of yoga is secondary for you and you are looking more for the spiritual health benefits. Most women are not aware of the health benefits of yoga to increase fertility. The health benefits of yoga are innumerable and so are the benefits for the mental, emotional and spiritual self. Yoga is ideal for anyone wishing to get health conscious as it addresses all areas of health, both physical and mental. Many people are still unaware of all the great benefits of practicing yoga as a way to better their health.

The Regular Practice Of Yoga Asanas

Practicing yoga is about creating balance in the body by developing both strength and flexibility. There are five key areas where you benefit when doing yoga, and each of them improves your overall well-being. As your self-awareness increases, you will become more aware of your body, taking better care of it. Most sports build muscular strength and stamina, often in specific areas of the body. One of the many joys of advancing in a yoga practice is the ability to tackle more challenging poses. The regular practice of yoga does show a benefit towards increasing lung capacity, although it is tough to say whether the improvement is completely credited to yoga.

Yoga Cultivates Mind And Body Awareness

Yoga teaches you to become more self aware of how your mind and body are connected and what it feels like to be still and calm. Yoga will have a profound effect not only on the functions of your body, but also on the functions of your mind. After doing an hour of yoga exercise, you will tend to feel more settled and clear, as it is extremely beneficial to the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga brings the body and mind together, and many of the poses help to sharpen the mind and improve concentration skills. Once your body is relaxed and your mind is calm, all energies are focused on the Third Eye, the inner sanctuary located between the eyebrows. Yoga means to join together, so the principle is to join the body, mind and soul together.

The Effectiveness Of Yoga In Reducing Physical Issues

Yoga has been shown to be safe and help improve sleep and quality of life in a group of older adults with insomnia. Yoga is one of the most helpful things you can do for arthritis. Yoga will help you fall asleep sooner and improve the quality of your sleep. Having too many stress factors in life can lead to some mental illnesses, the main one being depression. When stress takes over your life yoga can help you relax and feel better. Practicing yoga as a family has been shown to reduce stress, reduce anxiety, and lead to healthier lives because of it.

The Role Of Yoga Breathing

The practice of pranayama (focused breathing) with simple postures is highly useful in controlling asthma. The practice of yoga involves stretching the body and forming different poses, while keeping breathing slow and controlled. One can remain content practicing simple yoga postures, breathing exercises and meditation techniques after learning them from a qualified teacher and enjoy whatever good that may come out of them. The breathing techniques, which are central to yoga, are called pranayamas. This practice of a combination of meditation, poses, and breathing techniques will help you achieve deep relaxation and mindfulness. The true goal of yoga, which involves not only physical postures, but also chanting (if you want), breathing and meditation, is to attain enlightenment.

A Helpful Treatment For Back Pain

Practicing yoga can provide chronic pain sufferers with useful tools to actively cope with their pain and help counter feelings of helplessness and depression. Back pain can be classified anatomically as upper, lower and middle back pain. Yoga poses vary from balancing, strengthening, twisting, back bending, and inverting. Chronic pain sufferers will be able to counter feelings of depression and helplessness and actively manage their pain by practicing yoga regularly. Yoga helps ease back pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine. No kind of pain or nausea should be felt during or after yoga.

Yoga Works Different Muscles And Joints Of Your Body

The postures work every part of your body down to a cellular level flushing toxins out of your system. Yoga helps loosen and lengthen all the muscles of the body, to reverse the muscle tightness caused by running, and to make your body more flexible and stable. All of the organs of the body, including the glandular and endocrine organs, are massaged and guided back to functioning normally. One of the two control centers of the body is the nervous system, with the other being the endocrine, also known as glandular, system. To reshape and change your body safely, you have to heat it up because a warm body is a flexible body. The warm temperatures and practice of poses can make your body feel looser and more flexible than normal, which can make it easier to pull a muscle.

Get Rid Of A Stressed Life Full Of Tension

After an intense yoga session, you could feel a very high, euphoric happy feeling. Incorporating soft movements and tactile sensation, the practice has proven beneficial for people old and young.

The Flow Of Blood

Increasing the circulation of your blood increases helps with relieving you of muscle pain and making you feel fresh and energized. Yoga enhances blood circulation, which in turn, helps the various parts of body get oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood. When the twist is released, fresh blood is allowed to flow back in. When you turn upside down, you are increasing the blood flow to your brain. Yoga may be able to improve blood flow to the head, which further stimulates the vessels leading to the brain.

Blood Pressure And Heart Rate

Regular yoga practice can help your cardiovascular activity which will help get you in shape and help your blood sugar and blood pressure improve substantially. Although regular practice of Yoga has been linked to reduced blood pressure, it would be too early to say that you can go without medication after starting it. Fasting blood sugar in people without diabetes is usually below 120. High blood pressure is one of the most prevailing ailments in the world right now which is affecting people of all ages. Yoga has the ability to lower blood sugar levels when practiced on a regular basis as it helps reduce your stress levels.

A Doctor Or Other Appropriate Health Care Professional

You cannot buy good health but you can buy good health information. As with all physical activity, be sure to consult your doctor before beginning yoga or any new form of exercise. Depending on your age and health, you may not be able to do the poses the way others can. By attending practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. With regular and diligent practice, you can improve your condition greatly.

Did You Know?

Teens taking yoga classes had better scores on several of the psychological tests. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. Yoga meditation benefits both the experienced and the novice alike.

This is a small summary of the benefits of yoga. You might be able to come up with more.

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And Get Tips For Practicing Yoga to Burn Belly Fat

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Your Guide for an Aerobics Workout

Aerobics is an intense workout which gives you massive results, but only if you do it patiently and regularly. It's really important to dedicate your time and energy positively to attain the desired results when you start with such a workout regime. So, before starting with it, you need to remember a few important things which will help you during these sessions.
1. Precautionary measures
If you have any chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or arthritis) or any other risk factors (such as smoking or being overweight), and have not discussed exercising with your doctor, you should do so before starting out on your aerobics workout regime. Exercise is often an important part of the treatment for such conditions, but you may have some limitations or special needs that your doctor can inform you about. You may get hurt while doing some difficult steps during your aerobics workout, so it is necessary to discuss it with your doctor.

2. Must-Haves
Wear shoes that fit well and are capable of providing the right kind of support for your aerobics activity and comfort for your body type. Wear appropriate clothes for exercising. Make sure you always carry a Water bottle and Towel during your workout. Fabrics that absorb sweat are recommended. Women should wear supportive sports bras. But no one should EVER wear rubber or plastic suits or belts-these prevent your body from dissipating heat properly and can lead to serious health risks from overheating and dehydration.
3. Know your limits
It is inevitable if you experience a little amount of discomfort during your aerobics exercise - this way you push your body's limits.. Expecting to have some sore muscles after a vigorous workout is expected and you will feel the cramps for a day or two. But at the same time, you need to take care that if you are experiencing problems like pain or pressure in your chest or neck, shoulder or arm, or notice that your heart starts racing or beating irregularly during your aerobic exercise, it is best to immediately slow down. Allow your heart rate to drop gradually before stopping completely, since an abrupt stop can cause problems with blood circulation and sometimes, fainting. However, in cases of severe and sudden pain, stop immediately and seek help.

4. Enjoy your workout
After taking care of all the essentials and becoming aware of your body's limits, enjoy your workout to the fullest. Aerobics is a workout which is best enjoyed with great music. The workout always starts with simple stretching techniques; therefore, it is easy for anyone in the early stages to catch up with the steps. Initially, the steps are done with a set count, so it is effectively done if you follow your trainer's lead.
Don't waste a single second in pondering about how to go for an aerobics session, and start your workout right away.

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Basic Yoga Poses For Beginners

If you're not already doing yoga, seeing some of the more complicated yoga poses can be downright intimidating. Before you dismiss yoga as something you can't do, however, remember that anyone can do yoga. From little kids to older folks, yoga benefits everyone. It is an age-old practice that incorporates physical poses, soothing breathing exercises and deep meditation sessions to unite the mind, body and spirit as one.
Many practitioners of yoga develop a very deep sense of awareness about themselves and the universe. Yoga can seem pretty far out to the untrained person, but if you give these poses a try, you'll find yoga to be a very enjoyable and restorative activity to incorporate into your health regimen.
Here are some beginner's poses to get you started on your journey in yoga.

Dog and Cat Pose
The Dog Pose is beneficial for a healthy spine. It is good for beginners because it is low-impact and not as physically demanding as other yoga poses. Start by standing on your hands and your knees. Place your hands slightly in front of your shoulders. Breathe in slowly and move your tailbone and pelvis upward. To do this correctly, your head should lift, stomach drop and spine curved downward. Stretch this pose as long as you can without feeling difficulty. Move into the Cat Pose by exhaling and reverse the position by bending your spine upward and your tailbone downward. Repeat these poses as often as desired.
Forward Bends
These yoga poses help strengthen and improve flexibility in the arms and legs. Stand straight with your hands touching in front of your heart (Mountain Pose). As you inhale, raise your arms high above your head. On the exhale, bend at the hips and bring your arms to the floor. Bend your knees if necessary to ensure that your hands touch the floor. Slowly rise upward on your next inhale, and repeat on the exhale. Do about four or five repetitions of this to feel its effects.
Cobra Pose
This is a perfect pose to stretch your back and arms. Begin the pose by lying flat on your stomach with your arms at your side yet near your chest and feet firmly together. Try to raise your head and chest as high as you can while maintaining a steady and slow breathing pattern. Support your body with your hands and flex your buttocks to support your back. Hold this pose for about 30 seconds and go back down on the exhale. Go back up on your next inhale and hold the pose again. The Cobra Pose helps your back muscles become stronger and more flexible.

Corpse Pose
Usually the pose to end all yoga sessions, the Corpse Pose is a great way to relax after a workout and it feels great. Start by lying flat on your back with your feet slightly apart, and your arms at your sides, palms facing upward. Breathe several deep breaths. Envision yourself sinking into the floor, and as you do that, be aware of the tensions in your body and try to relax. Clear your mind of any distractions, focusing only on relaxing. Keep this pose for about ten minutes to feel deeply relaxed and refreshed after your yoga practice.

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