What is the value of Yoga Nidra (sleep of the Yogis)? Deep relaxation techniques, taught in Yoga classes, can become life savers outside the class. Although we should not take sleep period short cuts, Yoga Nidra is effective for bringing the mind and body to a state of rest, while the mind maintains awareness.

How many people wish they could work longer and get something accomplished instead of sleeping? How many times is the relaxation or meditation segment of a Yoga class taken for granted by students? Many will remark at how they feel a state of bliss or how mentally rested they feel after class.

Yet, how many students take their relaxation practice home? Very few Yoga students understand the benefits of relaxation and meditation. One way to drive the point home is to design a pamphlet, or a flyer, which discusses the consequences of sleep deprivation and the benefits of relaxation.

Now is a time when many people work all day and night. They work at home, after they have left their jobs, and some have second or third jobs. Many people readily admit that when they wake up, they answer Email or do research on the Internet in the middle of their sleep cycle. After an hour or so, they go back to bed.

For some of us, broken sleep cycles do not bother us. However, some people really need a solid sleep cycle to function properly on the following day. Broken sleep sessions seem to work fine for my cats, but many humans tend to function better on eight solid hours of sleep.

The results of sleep deprivation are tricky. Each of us may respond with a slight difference. Some of the many symptoms, due to lack of sleep include: inability to concentrate, nervous behavior, irritability, sleeping during meetings, lack of motivation, reduced decision-making skills, and an appearance of tiredness.

Worse still – sleep deprivation can cause automobile accidents, depression, and heart disease. The need to relax and sleep is a matter of survival. With that said, Yogic relaxation techniques are more than temporary rest, to be experienced once per week, in a Yoga class.

Yoga Nidra, stage-by-stage relaxation, body scanning, and relaxation through visualization, are basic tools for mental and emotional survival. In the worst of times, people are tested by stress and lack of sleep. Yogic relaxation techniques and meditation are valuable methods for enhancing the quality of life.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Yoga is an ancient technique of improving overall health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, much of what is known about this technique in the modern times simply emphasizes on its ability to increase flexibility of the body and provide relaxation. If you look at how yoga has been developed and try to study its roots, you will realize that yoga is a spiritual answer to fitness but it is deeply rooted in a meaningful scientific study, although some of those roots have been lost and are left to be unraveled.

The principles of yoga stem from a deep understanding and study of the human anatomy and human consciousness. Every single technique practiced in yoga attempts to reunite your mind with your body and your soul.

Gradually, the understanding that yoga is a scientific therapy has come to be accepted as its effects have been validated in many studies although the methods of action are not always understood. More and more people have started to understand the depth and the scientific exploration that has gone behind the creation of each single pose. Each pose in yoga has a specific benefit for a specific part of the body.

The literal meaning of yoga is ‘union’. Yoga stands for integration of the body, mind and soul to achieve a balance which fosters optimum health and wellbeing. Yoga helps you to identify illness causing elements and eliminate them in the best way possible. Therefore, yoga can easily be termed as a science for personal and spiritual growth. The technique can also be viewed as a science for healing and health.

As a complete science, yoga considers the anatomical structure of the body and the harmonious functioning of the organs vis-a-vis the body and the other glands. The chemistry of the body and the quantum energies are also considered in order to understand the functioning of the body better. Yogis also study the brain and the mechanisms of perception, the delicate relationship between sounds and energy pulses, human consciousness, the circulation of lymph and blood, expulsion of unwanted materials from the body, and utilization of oxygen in the body.
The various poses and techniques work on all these aspects to make for a sound and healthy physical technique. Oxygen plays an important part as almost all poses utilize the rhythmic exhalation and inhalation. As the body pumps in oxygen, the body becomes more efficient and the immune system is strengthened.

The stress relieving techniques help the body relax by working on the muscles and easing out any pent up tensions. These techniques can also help in the improvement of body parts-especially joints that are diseased. Lastly, yoga also helps in a spiritual awakening where the body submits itself to the higher powers.

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Yoga is a form of fitness that has been practiced over the years. It is used to give therapy to the mind and body by practicing long poses that are held and perfected. Yoga takes lots of patience and time and practice. It can strengthen your mind and body while keeping you healthy. Yoga has been used to treat many ailments and seems to help the body and mind overcome some of these troubles. With all of the benefits of using yoga it is no wonder that it is widely popular and used by pregnant women, seniors and physically fit athletic women.

Many people try yoga to distress. It has been marketed toward not only fitness but distressing. In this world where stress can surround us it is important to know that something like yoga is available to take advantage of. The poses in yoga have been proven to unclog the mind, and elevate regular day to day stresses caused by work, commuting, money and family.

Not only is yoga excellent to become stress-free or at least manage it better, it is also a fun form of exercise. Many people get bored with the gym, aerobic and spinning classes, especially when years go by and the same form of exercises is always used. For those who do get bored they may seek something else to do, some try different classes or join sport programs but many turn to yoga.

Yoga can seem intimidating at first. It is a different kind of exercise and you can`t hide on a machine. The poses look awkward and hard and not to mention it seems like you have to be really flexible. And you can`t just show up to a class unprepared, you have to have the yoga mat and a yoga outfit, it leaves many wondering what all the fuss is about. And when you do show up to a class, you are expected to do the poses in front of everyone which can be humiliating for some.

Although yoga might seem hard to get into at first, many people will agree that once they try it they love it. The yoga poses get easier with practice and the body even becomes more flexible as your muscles get used to the poses. The mat and clothes are only used to keep you comfortable, when your hands and feet are pressed against the floor or when you`re holding yourself in poses where you don`t want your top swinging around your face while hanging upside down.

There are many ways you can fit yoga into your life. You can buy DVD`s individually or in packages and sets. You can also attend a yoga class at a gym, where they might have beginner classes and intermediate ones held separately. You can also check out special yoga only gyms that specialize in that type of exercise only.

Yoga teachers have to be certified and are professionals who can help you develop your poses and work you to your full potential. The exercise benefits and long term distressing will only leave you with mountains of positivity. If you can get over your fear of it and just indulge in the art that has many worldwide using it every day, then you too will be a yoga follower. Yoga is recommended for twenty minutes a day or if that is too much then even a few classes a week is a great start.

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Also known as “hot yoga”, Bikram yoga is a type of yoga that concentrates on the cleansing of the body and on improving one’s physical strength and endurance. It is practiced in rooms that have a temperature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) or a bit more. Yoga master Bikram Choudhury is the creator of Bikram yoga. This type of exercise consists of a series of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises that are performed twice in a 90 minute session.

When Yoga is performed at a very warm temperature, it causes one to perspire. It is believed that the sweating process helps the body eliminate accumulated toxins, infection, and bacteria. As well, the warm temperature makes stretching the muscles much easier because the muscles become more flexible when warm. The entire process is designed to rejuvenate the body and improve ones over all health and well being.

The warm room helps one to stretch more effectively, alleviate tension and stress, provide pain relief, tone muscles, burn calories, strengthen the spine, increase energy levels, increase balance and coordination, and prevent muscle, tissue, and tendon injury. The result is stimulated blood circulation and restoring health to the joints and muscles.

When engaged in Bikram yoga, one will be taken through a series of 26 poses which stimulates and improves brain activity, lungs, muscles, heart, mental fitness, and blood circulation. There are two descriptions of the 26 poses that are referred to as pranayama (breathing exercises) and asanas (postures.) Both work in unison to provide optimum results. For instance, many people have reported an improvement in lung capacity. This is because oxygen exchange is improved as well as the increase in blood circulation.

When one follows the 26 poses in order, the increase in blood circulation will deliver a fresh oxygen supply to the organs, joints, and muscles. As one holds a pose, circulation is temporality slowed thereby causing the heart to work harder which delivers fresh blood throughout the body.

Once one ends the pose, the fresh oxygenated blood delivers nutrients throughout the body, including the organs, while removing toxins, bacteria, and other harmful substances. The result is a restoration of the health of the body’s organs, muscles, and tissues. It helps one to strengthen muscles, maintain their weight, and relax the mind and body which improves one’s emotional well being. The overall effect is a feeling of good health, both mentally and physically.

Originating in India, yoga is the practice of physical poses which is designed to improve the body, mind, and spirit. Millions of people from all over the world now practice yoga. Since its inception centuries ago, yoga has evolved to encompass many different types with their own unique benefits. Bikram Yoga is one type of yoga that has become very popular in recent years. It is a relatively new form of yoga that is rooted in ancient yoga practices that are popular for those who want to achieve optimum mind and body fitness levels while engaging in an effective body detoxifying practice.

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Ashtanga Yoga is a type of yoga exercise that involves moving from one posture (asana) to another asana in a specific sequence. It is considered a more intensive form of yoga. The specific sequence of asanas is joined by set of connecting movements which is called vinyasa. The vinyasa increases the temperature of the body which allows for better muscle flexibility and improved circulation.

In Sanskrit, ashtanga means ‘eight limbs.’ It is known as the yoga with eight components that includes: posture, ethics, morality, breath control, concentration, sense control; concentration, meditation, and absorption. The complete arrangement of asanas is broken down into three series known as primary, intermediate, and advanced. In the advanced series, there are more divisions. One moves quickly through the preset poses while staying focused on deep breathing.

The Ashtanga series of poses includes:

1. Yoga Chikitsa: Meaning yoga therapy, this series is made up of about 75 poses designed to build strength, realign the spine, improves muscle flexibility and strength, and detoxifies the body. This process takes about 2 hours to perform and the process is carried out in a specific order that consists of “sun salutations, standing poses, seated poses, inversions and backbends.” One will then engage in relaxation techniques.

2. Nadi Shodana: The series of poses in this level is performed after completing the Yoga Chikitsa. Nadi Shodana means purification of the nervous system. The purpose of this level is to strengthen and cleanse energy channels associated with the nervous system. It consists of the same postures as Yoga Chikitsa, but new postures are incorporated into the series.

3. Sthira Bhaga: This series is subdivided into a series of four subcategories. It concentrates on intensive arm balances. The Advanced Series A, B, C, and D (Sthira Bhaga) combines the endurance and art of the exercise, requiring higher levels of strength and flexibility.

Ashtanga classes are led by a yoga teacher that guides the class in the order that the poses must be performed. Each level is to be fully developed before moving on to the next level and one must follow the sequential order. It is a popular form of yoga that is designed for those who can handle more intensive exercises as it is quite physically demanding. The goal is to discipline both the body and mind. Throughout the exercise, each movement is integrated with either inhaling or exhaling. The postures are sustained for five breaths. This breathing technique is believed connect the spiritual and physical aspects of ashtanga yoga, by giving a person the ability to reach a much deeper meditation and achieve better mental clarity.

The benefits of ashtanga yoga include improving the immune system, reduces stress and promotes relaxation, increases flexibility, endurance, and strength, helps with impulse control, improves blood circulation, gives one a sense of peace, reduces pain, improves the skin, cleanses the body, improves posture, tones the muscles, and helps with one’s internal spiritual and emotional balance. Because it can be a challenging form of yoga, ashtanga yoga has been steadily increasing in popularity.

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Yoga is a mild to moderate form of exercise which aims to provide a tranquil mind, minimize stress and improve a person’s concentration and flexibility. Aside from assisting blood circulation, it also aids in eliminating waste in the body which results in an improvement in one’s health and a more productive lifestyle.

Yoga has been practiced for more than a thousand years and is also considered an ancient science. The best thing about this exercise is that it is applicable among various ages. However, prior to enrollment, it is suggested that a person’s fitness must be initially assessed by a physician. Below are the different forms of yoga which are being performed for several reasons too.

Bikram Yoga
This type of yoga carries out its routine in a warm area that’s why it’s also known as hot yoga. Doing this increases a person’s flexibility but is not recommended for those who have cardiovascular ailments. Its routine necessitates tolerance to vigorous movements in a warm temperature that may cause severe exhaustion to the ill or weak person.

The Ashtanga
This is also known as power yoga since it involves a lot of forceful movements. These movements aim to improve a person’s strength and stamina which may include lunges and push ups. Most often than not, people who go for this type of yoga are athletes and those who desire challenging activities. This is proven to help them maintain their balance and practice concentration.

Iyenga
This type is highly concerned in accurate movements and proper body alignment. For beginners, props such as blocks and straps are utilized. These tools allow them to become more comfortable and a bit relaxed allowing them to obtain more productive results.

Raja Yoga
This exercise simplifies the thought that meditation is the means to liberation. It highlights the benefits of concentration and emphasizes that having contentment designates a satisfied body and soul.

Bhakti and Mantra yoga
The former is also called devotional yoga wherein its main point is to focus the participant’s attention to self-surrender. While the latter’s popularly known as yoga of potent, its main concern is thorough liberation by verbal or mental repetition of sounds and noises.

Other known benefits of doing yoga are the following:

Improvement in the spine’s alignment, which is beneficial for those who are suffering from back pain and other spine related disorders.

Decrease in mental and physical plight experienced by those who are suffering from conversion disorders and other mind-body related illnesses.

It’s also known to provide a healthy and glowing skin since it’s designed to promote blood circulation and flush away toxic substances from the body.

If you are aiming for a better toned abdomen and muscles, then this exercise fits you well. This is proven to work better than cardio exercises when it comes to achievement of a well-toned body.

Overall, choose the form of yoga that best fits your situation and flexibility. Start slow and increase your movements slowly. Eventually you will be able to move much more freely and feel so much better. Try yoga and you will know how it feels to loosen up, become re-energized and improve your well-being in a natural way.

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