Getting Slim and Trim With Yoga

Yoga’s power to create a state of mental and physical well being may also be put to good use for taking off excess weight. Yoga promotes a healthy and balanced life style and when combined with a calorie burning program may show exceptional results. Practicing yoga will also increase your metabolism, increasing the calorie burning process, but you should not see it as an immediate results method. By following the rigors imposed by yoga you will gain a holistic, long term solution to balance your life style and keep off any excessive weight. In addition to loosing weight you will also experience an increased ability to concentrate and focus, higher resistance to stress factors and an all round healthier way of living.
Metabolism is regulated by the thyroid, a component of the endocrine system. It is responsible for the chemical processes in your body that transform food into energy. Yoga uses a series of twisting poses that stimulate the work flow of the internal organs, thus boosting metabolism to burn more calories and reduce your body weight. Improved local circulation is another direct effect of using yoga postures and this leads to a healthier, more energetic body. When the calorie intake is lower than the calorie output your body will start burning fat cells to acquire the necessary energy. A perfectly healthy and strong metabolism takes this process even further and you will see better results than traditional weight loss formulas.
Different back bends, combined with forward bends, are used to stimulate metabolism. Poses that affect the neck area, where the thyroid gland is situated, are especially useful is the weight problem is caused by a hormonal imbalance. These poses can be those of the camel, rabbit, plow, bridge and shoulder stand. Moving quickly between a series of poses can accelerate the process. For people who are significantly overweight some of the bends may prove to be a difficult task to accomplish. They should gradually increase the difficulty of the postures until they are confident enough to go to more complex exercises.
Muscles can be strengthened by using standing poses, such as the warrior. A higher endurance and increased caloric output will also result from using standing poses. Energize the body and increase your metabolism even more by using Kapalabhati and Ujjayi Pranayama.
A proper diet should also be followed to support the holistic weight loss system Try to consume food rich in fiber vegetables, whole grains and less high fat and processed food items. Balance is essential in all maters concerning your food and no excess should be made. Do not totally eliminate certain food items from your menu and remember that diversity is the key to an equilibrated and satisfactory diet.
is essential with all yoga practices. Results may not be spectacular and immediate, but this is one of the best long term weight loss methods available. In addition to weight lossyou also benefit from an increased protection against adverse factors as well as a general feeling of well being and inner peace.

Gemstone & Wood Meditation Malas

The practice of meditating with malas has been a tradition for thousands of years and some variation of these beautiful malas find a place in Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism. Malas are used to count mantras or prayers and help you create and maintain a state of quiet reflection - a "cloister of the mind and heart." Combining tactile and conscious awareness, simply pausing on a bead is an act of meditation, bringing one back to the center, stilling the mind and presenting, as Jewish thought has it, "a way out of the labyrinth of life." Our beautiful Gemstone and wood malas are strung with the traditional 108 beads, a gemstone or wood "Guru bead" and cotton tassle.

Yoga For Kids

Yoga for kids is an excellent way for a child to exercise and has many other benefits for a child's health. Not every type of yoga can be used as yoga for children though. It must be taken into consideration that children's' bodies are still growing and cannot cope with the strenuous exercises of intense yoga sessions as it can affect both their bodies and minds.
There are, however, a number of programs created especially for children who utilize the more gentle poses and breathing exercises from a number of different types of yoga. Yoga classes for children can be a very rewarding activity as it can help self-conscious children become more aware of the things they can do.

How Can Yoga Benefit A Child?

Yoga for kids can benefit children in a large number of ways, by improving physical and general health, mental health and to helping to treat specific illnesses and conditions. The most common benefits of yoga for children are related to maintaining a healthy body and fighting illnesses. Children's yoga may not be suitable for your child if it suffers from physical illnesses or physical defects.

General Health :-

There are obvious benefits to be gained for a child through the physical exercise involved in yoga but the effects can be even greater. Easy yoga for children has shown to build stamina in those who practise it, aid stability and also improve general balance. It strengthens the child's muscles, elongates the spine and promotes good posture.Yoga has also shown to improve children's digestion and aid the elimination of toxins and aid circulation.In Fighting Ailments and Disabilities such as:

Down syndrome :-

Down syndrome is a disability with an incidence of one in every 700 births. Children with Down syndrome are shorter than average. Other common characteristics of Down syndrome include an epicanthic fold of skin extending from the eyelid over the inner canthus of the eye, crossed eyes and low muscle tone (hypotonia). Motor development is slow; and instead of walking by 12 to 14 months as most children do, children with Down syndrome usually learn to walk between 15 to 36 months. Language and cognitive development are also significantly delayed. Yoga poses (asanas) can help children affected by Down syndrome. They help to stretch, tone and strengthen the entire body. Asanas also benefit the internal organs and help to balance and revitalize the endocrine glands.As children with Down syndrome get older, they tend to put on weight whereas children with Down syndrome who practice yoga stay slim and flexible. In conjunction with yogic breathing exercises, which have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, yoga therapy for children facilitates the development of body awareness, concentration and memory which are vital skills for any child with a developmental disability and are key to helping children with Down syndrome.
Cerebral Palsy :-

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder caused by injury to the motor areas in the brain, affecting muscle tone and the ability to control movement and posture. In most cases, the onset occurs during pregnancy or at childbirth. In other cases, infections such as meningitis or traumatic brain injury may result in cerebral palsy.Yoga for kids can help children suffering from Cerebral Palsy. The practice of yoga poses followed by deep relaxation can help to reduce the high muscle tone that is characteristic of most children with cerebral palsy. Holding a yoga pose gives the muscles and tendons a relaxing stretch, releasing overall stress and tightness throughout the muscle structure and around the joints. The yoga poses for kids are not only relaxing the body, they also providing enough resistance so as to exercise low muscle tone areas of the body. In this way, asanas actually improve both high and low muscle tone problems in children with cerebral palsy. One of the most important aspects of asana practice for children with cerebral palsy is its ability to stretch and realign the spine.The poses flex and twist the spine in all different directions. This series of stretches and counter-stretches is scientifically designed and helps to create more space between the vertebrae while reducing pressure on the disks and nerves that radiate out around the spine. Because of this, the child is able to develop a greater range of movement and coordination, as well as greater independence.

Yoga and its benefits

Is your life hectic and full of challenges? Do you feel drained at the end of every day? Do you often wonder what kind of exercise could help you lead a fuller life? The answer lies close to home. Today, thousands of people worldwide swear by the curative effects of Yoga. It relaxes both the body and soul. It can be practiced easily within the comfort of your home at your own pace. It is relatively simple and if practiced correctly, Yoga can enhance your life and improve your health. It is not uncommon to visualize Yoga in dark rooms perfumed with incense, where men and women meditate in the lotus position chanting hymns. Though meditation is one major part of Yoga, it is not the only aspect. Yoga basically consists of meditation, asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), all applied towards achieving harmony between body and soul. The word “Yoga” itself means “to unite”. The basic philosophy of Yoga is that the mind and the body are one. If given the right stimulation in the right environment, the body can act in synergy with the mind to heal itself. What is the science behind Yoga? According to scientists, Yoga works because it has the following physical benefits:
Yoga increases your body’s flexibility
Yoga helps lubrication and easy movement of ligaments, joints and tendons
Yoga is believed to “massage” all the organs of the body
Yoga helps every part of the body receive optimal blood supply and thus causes a certain amount of ‘detoxification’
Yoga is great for toning your muscles and reducing flab
Being a holistic science, there are some aspects of Yoga that cannot be explained by medical science alone. The best part of Yoga is that it can be practiced by anyone with the right training and motivation. Yoga is also an excellent stress buster. If you have never practiced Yoga before and would like to begin, try and tackle the simpler forms before you move on to the more challenging ones. It is also important to understand that Yoga is a process-oriented activity. This means what you experience matters more than what you achieve. By taking your body and soul through the practice of Yoga, you will learn more about yourself and the perceptions that create your entire world. Over time, you could even gain more control of your emotions. You will realize that Yoga is not just an exercise; it is a way of life. Has your lifestyle changed with Yoga, or have you found it doesn’t suit you? Either way, share your experiences with us.

Yoga Philosophy

Yoga Philosophy :-

The Patanjala Yoga philosophy, which is one of the six systems constituting Vedic philosophy, is also known as Ashtanga Yoga (the yoga of eight parts or limbs) and is closely related to Sankhya and Vedantic philosophy. Ashtanga Yoga is the practical manifestation of both these philosophies. This practical system attempts to understand the nature of the elusive element we know as 'mind'—its different states of being, impediments to growth, afflictions and the methods of harnessing it for the achievement of absolute self realization.
While Sankhya philosophy assigns three functions to the mental body—mind (mana), intelligence (buddhi) and false knowledge (mithya jnana)—Vedanta adds a fourth element to this—chitta or conditioned consciousness. But ancient yoga teachers collapse the category of the mental body with the mind and assigns intelligence and false ego as aspects of that mind with the chitta denoting the various states of the mana or mind. Yoga likens mana and chitta with a lake, which is essentially calm and peaceful but whose basic tranquility is obscured by various insubstantial surface waves. According to the philosophy, there are only two ways of disturbing this serenity and engendering patterns of thought—through sense perceptions (pramana) and when our memory (smriti) gets triggered off.
All other sources of mental activity lead to false knowledge. To quote the most venerable among yoga teachers, Sage Patanjali, who said in his Yoga Sutra: "...when the persons possessing a body mistake by their erring intellect, this very body for the soul (atman), this kind of bondage is wrought by ignorance (avidya); its annihilation is emancipation (moksha)."
The central doctrine of Yoga philosophy is that nothing exists beyond the mind and its consciousness, which is the only ultimate reality. The objective of this philosophy is to uproot misconceptions about the existence of external 'realities' from the minds of men. It believes that it is possible to reach this stage of self realization through regular practice of certain yogic meditative processes that bring a complete withdrawal or detachment from all false sources of knowledge and inculcates an inner sense of balanced calm and tranquility.

Breath Meditation

Breath Meditation :-

What is Breath Meditation?
Breath meditation is the traditional Yoga style of meditation

Its main function is to strengthen mind concentration, ground oneself, and stimulate compassion. To awaken oneself one’s true nature is to become fully conscious and to develop the intellect.

Breath meditation is perhaps the most beneficial to the mind, because when you deal with the breath, you are dealing not only with the incoming and outgoing air of the lungs, you are also dealing with the feelings of energy that surge throughout your body with each breath

If you sensitize yourself to your feelings, and allow them to flow unimpeded and effortlessly, you will be able to function better, and give your mind a handle to deal with all sorts of trials and tribulations.

Techniques of Breath Meditation
Sit in a comfortable position, with your spine erect, shoulders down and back, your body relaxed, your breath fluid and easy.
Just focus on your breath as it flows in and out of your system. Release all other thoughts.
Notice the sensation of your breath, as it moves across your skin just below your nostrils, and above your upper lip.
Feel the sensations as you inhale and exhale. Don't make any attempts to alter your breath. Just notice it the way it is.
If you feel your mind wandering, honor yourself for knowing this and be aware that your mind has gone astray then bring it back to your breath.
Do this again and again as your mind wanders

Gently guide it back to your breath, without any judgment. Be sympathetic to yourself.
The continued practise of this kind of meditation will, over time, take you to a state of bliss and truth

Benefits of Breath Meditation
If you continue practising patiently this way, gradually your thought flow will subside and you will begin to experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation Your mind will become clearer and more spacious and you will feel more and more refreshed.

When the incessant flow of your distracting thoughts is calmed through breath meditation, your mind will become extraordinarily calm and clear.

Although breath meditation is just a preliminary stage of meditation, it is still very powerful From this practice you will come to experience inner peace and contentment just by controlling your mind. Best part is that it is done without having to depend upon external conditions at all.

When the turbulence of your mind subsides and it will automatically become still, a deep happiness and contentment will arise from deep within This feeling of contentment and well-being will help you cope with the trials and tribulations of daily life more easily and effectively.

SURYA NAMASKARA

All sessions of Yoga asanas begin with the 'Surya Namaskar' or sun salutation. It is a series of gentle flowing movements synchronized with the breath. This excellent warm up exercise consists of a sequence of positions that move the spine in various ways and promote flexibility in the limbs. It is of special benefit to beginners, to stiff people, and to the elderly, since it helps the body to gain flexibility. It also regulates the breath and focuses the mind.

How to do :-

Stand erect with the head and body straight but relaxed. The feet are together, and knees are straight and the arms are relaxed at the sides. Inhale deeply and begin.

Bring the hands up from the sides, place the palms flat against each other at the center of the chest. The elbows are pushed out of the sides.

Inhale and raise the arms upwards. Inhaling and raising of hands should synchronize. By the time you have stretched your arm, you should complete inhaling.

Exhale slowly bending forward, touch the ground keeping the hands parallel to the feet and head touching knees. By the time your hands touch the ground, you should complete exhaling. Retain the breathe and remain in the same position for about 6 to 8 seconds. If you cannot touch the ground, then let your hands go only as far as they can.

Inhale and move the right leg back away from the body in a wide backward step. Keep the hands and feet firmly on the ground, with the left foot between the hands. Raise the head.

Exhale and bring the left foot together with the right. Keep the arms straight, raise the hips and align the head with the arms.

Inhale and slowly lower the hips to the floor, (hips should be slightly raised above the ground) and bend backward as much as possible.
Exhale and lower the body to the floor until the feet, knees, hands, chest, and forehead are touching the ground.

Inhale and slowly raise the head and bend backward as much as possible, bending the spine to the maximum.

Then exhale slowly and keeping the arms straight, raise the hips and align the head with the arms, forming an upward arch.

Slowly inhale and bend the left leg at the knee taking a wide forward step. Keeping the hands firmly rooted, place the left foot on the ground between the hands. Lift the head upwards.

Exhale slowly and keeping hands firmly in place, bring the right leg forward, so that both feet are together to align them with the hands. Touch the head to the knees, if possible.
Inhale slowly and raise the arms upward. Slowly bend backward, stretching the arms above the head.
Return to the first position.
Now you have completed one round of surya namaskar. Maximum of 4 rounds can be done. Once you start doing the Surya Namaskaar, make sure to continue it regularly for at least ten days to observe its beneficial effects.