Month: February 2019

Yoga is of the mind as ayurveda is of the body. As the mind is being constantly bombarded with information and going through thoughts, we have created many more diseases which we have to contend with. To live a happier existance and understand ones purpose in this life time, the mind needs to be calm and come under the control of the individual. The mind and body need to be fully connected and functioning together to be able to live in harmony and be disease free. Here are a few simple discipilines which if followed will have a major affect on a person’s whole being.

1- Practice some postures on a daily or weekly basis to help the body stay igile and flexable. As the body consumes more physically and mentally, stiffness and rigidity set into the bones and muscle. Yoga postures will keep the body supple so you will be able to sit quietly for meditation. In today’s age this is a fundemental necessity to be flexable.

2- Concentrate on your breathing to see what kind of rhythm is ‘normal’ to you. Do you take short breaths or do you stop breathing at times? Start to take a full breath as your stomach protrudes and your chest expands. When exhaling the chest relaxes and the stomach is sucked in a little. The breath should be through the nostrils and in a calm, deep and meditative manner to bring balance to the male/female or the hot/cold energy in our being. Breath is life so watch your breathing at all times.

3-Avoid overloading the senses by excessive behaviour and habits. Once the senses are over stimulated with too much food, drink and thoughts they disrupt the balance and harmony of the mind/body where a person finds it difficult to function naturally. The best way to control the senses is to avoid any excess and to also refrain from indulging in all activities, talk or desires which come to mind or are presented by others. This will cultivate discipline and help lower a person’s ego mind and out of control desire of ‘wanting.’

4- Be in silence some part of the day without noise or talking. Once the environment is quiet the mind will be more alert to what is going on in the body. Silence is necessary for us to be able to digest food and to digest information which comes invisibly through higher awareness. We connect to a higher level of consciousness once the noise pollution has been lowered. This is wonderful also for the nervous system which controls most of the body and mind.

5- During the day periodically watch your thoughts to identify what is entering your mind and which thoughts are more dominant and repetitive. Once you see a pattern, think back to the origin where and from whom this way of thinking came about. Move away from any judgement or expectations and just observe each thought to see its origin. Through the practices mentioned above the mind and thoughts will eventually be under your command.

Start to practice as no one can do this for you. A yogi or guru can guide but can never do the work which is up to each individual. The change you are looking for is in your control but first through choice one must take action.

Yoga practice is a journey of self-discovery. Depending upon your point of view, Yoga may be perceived as a way of life, an art of life, a science of life, or a series of exercises you practice on a mat. Despite all the differences in what Yoga means to each of us, most practitioners continue to pursue knowledge and advance in their practice.

What is an advanced practitioner of Yoga? An advanced practitioner has been practicing for years and often decades. A serious practitioner applies the lessons learned from practice toward life. Meditation, study, pranayama, asana, and many other Yogic methods are practical applications we learn to use in daily life.

If the prime emphasis of Yoga was performing difficult asanas, we could ignore all of the classic writings of the past. We could discount Raja, Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, and many more styles that have existed for thousands of years. We could forget all the lives that have been improved through practice and application. Yet, every advanced practitioner knows that the value of applying Yoga goes far beyond the mat.

One, who has advanced in practice, applies what he or she knows toward daily situations. One aspect we learn from Yogic studies is doing the right thing. If someone needs help, we stop and help them. Granted, there are a few people who need help for life. In such cases, it is best to point them in the direction of self-help.

Most people just need a little nudge forward to proceed in a positive direction. If we help someone, it must be needed. Who wants to take advice, or help, when it is not asked for? As parents, we learn that our free advice can be perceived as worthless, but our timely help is appreciated for life.

When to do the right thing can be a very difficult learning process, because we learn when exactly to give assistance. Our efforts to help others mean nothing if the timing is not right. If you are not hungry, a loaf of bread has little value at that moment in time. Random acts of kindness are not flower petals to throw on the ground. Too much of a good thing becomes something that is taken for granted.

When reading the Yoga Sutras, of Patanjali, we learn that Yoga is an extremely deep practice. We also learn that moderation is a key component to all Yogic principles. Random acts of kindness must be timely in order to be useful.

You’ll find different things it’s important to give some thought to in selecting the best yoga mat for you personally. The first and primary factor that you should remember while picking out a mat is precisely what method of yoga exercises you perform. Now, you can get various yoga mats built to be utilized for the various yoga types. If you’re performing a yoga style that requires hopping from one type to another, such as Ashtanga yoga, you’ll need a mat that is really thick and can provide you a good cushion. If, perhaps while engaging in yoga, you perspire a great deal, you should have a mat which has the capability to absorb it and the smartest choice will probably be cotton yoga mat. Other considerations to make in choosing a yoga mat are more of your individual preferences.

When planning on your most suitable mat, first of all think about the functional aspects, are you needing a yoga travel mat, to be quite easily carried wheresoever you might be, if that’s the case you will not want an extra thick mat. Secondly, just what form of yoga might you engage in, a high energy sweaty form could lead to insufficient grip on some mats, and if you posses deep environmental views you will require to take into account additional specifications once again. Long lasting, reliable for your form of yoga, comfortable, in addition to eco friendly, would be a great place to start out. You may additionally wish to add reasonably priced, mobile or portable, and quickly washable to your menu of must have mat specifications.

If you like the look of a patterned yoga mat there distinctive designs like tree of life, lotus, dragonfly, damask, wisdom, or simple peace on earth, prints. To really make it a whole lot more personal, some stores provide features such as placing a picture chosen by you on the designs of the mat. To hunt for such yoga mats it is possible to use the internet. With these mats, you can do yoga with your own sense of fashion. In fact, if you’re just not quite sure how to get started on looking for or getting more information on the various types of yoga mats and what might work best for you, just simply browse over to a fantastic yoga place to get going such as Gaiam.com. They’ve got all the different sorts of yoga mats and all the yoga gear, props, and videos that will enable you to get started or maybe go further with your yoga routines.

The density you will require is dependent upon a couple of points. A fuller mat will be more desirable for someone who has sensitive joints or if you have got arthritis or other joint issues. Thicker mats are designed for more exhaustive practices without moving around. Consider a thin mat if your primary yoga practice will not be too rigorous. If you intend to carry your mat about a great deal or travel with it, a slimmer, lighter mat is much easier to control. Also, thin mats provide a stronger connection to the ground and this can be well suited for balance.

Cotton yoga mats are great for those kinds of yoga that normally cause you to perspire considerably including Astanga or Bikram. Because they absorb sweat, they help prevent you from slipping and sliding throughout these hotter practices. They perform the best when they are sprinkled with a small amount of water. The moist mat will provide you with lots of traction which means that your hands and feet remain in the spot where you place them. Many of them contain lines in the designs, which can help with your body positioning. Organic cotton mats also offer shock absorption. They can substitute for blankets by helping to reinforce your body during certain postures. Many people use cotton mats in place of sticky mats throughout their routines.

One kind of yoga mat is referred to as the Ashtanga Yoga Mat. This kind of yoga mat is directly designed to satisfy what’s needed when it comes to Ashtanga yoga and even Bikram yoga. The mat contains cotton that is snugly woven to give traction and maximum absorption of sweat. This helps prevent the accumulation of moisture and perspiration. This yoga mat is also padded sufficiently to supply comfort for extended intervals of sitting and floor exercises as well as completely reliable for standing poses.

It is not always necessary to use yoga supplies to practice yoga. Sometimes, however, people that are very involved in yoga may decide on buying yoga supplies to improve on their routines.

There are two types of equipment to consider and these include the basic forms such as mats, eye bags and blankets and the more advanced forms which include belts, blocks as well as bolsters. In addition, you may want to try out supports for different yoga positions.

Yoga Mats the Most Popular

Perhaps the most often used yoga supply is the yoga mat which is especially useful in helping the practitioner to grip while moving and holding individual asanas. These mats do not cost much money; if you choose a quality synthetic mat, you should remember to wash by hand as far as possible

Another part of yoga supplies is the blanket which is useful to relax in when you finish with the yoga exercises and they also come in handy while providing moderate support in a number of poses that includes the headstand and shoulder-stand. You should opt for light blankets when using them for supporting the neck while performing head and shoulder stands.

To relax even further, you may want to use another piece of yoga supplies in the form of eyebags made from satin and filled with linseed, or some other organic and light weight material.

Other forms of yoga supplies include props which are very useful for beginners as well as for those with a physical handicap. Props can also make a person more aware of the subtle nuances of different poses as they help to align the body properly and can be used to best effect along with belts, bolsters, chairs and other yoga supplies.

You may also consider the bolster, which is a yoga supply that does wonders when you perform floor exercises and it can also help in supporting the back. If you are standing while performing a yoga routine, you may want to consider a block which helps those who are not very flexible bend and reach the floor. There are a number of poses in which the belt comes in handy and this yoga supply helps in bending forward as well as helps align the arms properly.

If you feel the need to spend some money on yoga supplies, you will need to look for specialized props that are used while doing a headstand, or backbend. The advantage of having a good prop for your yoga routine lies in it helping to make yoga more fun, and it also improves your ability to perform different routines better. You may also consider other yoga supplies such as a hatha yoga DVD in order to gain more insight into the different yoga practices.

Yoga is a form of mental, physical and spiritual discipline practiced to achieve spiritual insight as well as tranquility. It is also a popular form of exercise performed in yoga retreats around the nation. Yoga has its origin in India and has over time become popular with many people around the world. Furthermore, there are many people seeking for certification – giving them the opportunity to train. There are 6 main divisions of yoga namely: postures, self-control, service, devotion, mind and rituals. Each of these branches has a set of poses and benefits. If you are looking for a yoga retreat center, the following are some of the qualities to look out for in a yoga instructor:

Drawing attention on the learner

The best instructors will often seek to draw his/her attention to the learners in the class as opposed to drawing attention to himself/herself. The instructor should keep asking the learners “How can I help you?” as opposed to “What can I prove?” The attitude of “How can I help you?” helps a great deal in getting rid of the pressure to perform and frees the learners to perform to the best of their ability. This ensures a great experience for everyone in the class.

Relaxed

Good trainers offer a relaxed vibe. Being relaxed should be the culture of the yoga retreats. The environment should be a fun, friendly and approachable. The instructors should go out of their way to make the learners to experience a sense of ease. Furthermore, he/she should offer instructions with clarity while letting the learners feel at ease to explore themselves.

Fun

It is possible to get too serious practicing yoga and miss out on the fun. Great teachers know how to use funny phrases from time to time but still convey a deeper message and movement.

Offer support

A good instructor plays an important role in providing support to perform. He/she will support the learners in the postures and movements, making them get to a position where they are at ease as opposed to fixing or pushing the learners’ body to achieve a particular pose. Pushing the learners to attain a particular shape can cause injuries. On the other hand, supporting results in great experiences.

Provides great music

Yoga and great music go hand-in-hand. Each sequence plays an important role in getting the learners to where they need to be that particular day. The right music can help generate the right experience. It helps the learners to feel relaxed.