Relax with Yoga

Are you so relaxed that nothing can phase you, not even the bad day at work? No wonder, after spending a little time doing your yoga exercises. If so, you are probably a true believer in "a mystic Hindu discipline for achieving union with the supreme spirit through intense concentration, meditation, prescribed postures, controlled breathing, etc.," according to Webster's New World Dictionary.

If you're like most people, exercise means walking, jogging, dancing at Jazzercise classes, jumping hurdles, skiing - anything that keeps you moving. But for those of you who find it impractical to do these types of exercise, but still need to find a way to relax, this may be the answer to your search for the way to total relaxation.

Another reason many people turn to yoga is because of their physical disability to participate in strenuous aerobic exercises. Many people also seek the spiritual enlightenment that is inherent in yoga. The opportunity for meditation is alluring to a majority of people who wish to clear their minds as well as relax their body.

So as you begin your quest for relaxation for the body and spiritual enlightenment for the mind, you must first find a class that suits your schedule and pocketbook.

Whether you live in a large metropolitan area or a smaller city, you are likely to find a qualified instructor. Care should be taken when selecting an instructor to be sure that he/she is well-trained, as it involves not only the mind but the body as well. An untrained instructor who doesn't understand the body muscles, etc. could cause the student to strain or injure muscles.

Unless your body is in excellent physical shape and is extremely flexible, you will need to start with a beginner's class to help you prepare and condition your body. There are several styles, such as Vinyasa and Iyengar, so you should look for a class that teaches several styles.

In addition, a beginner's class will show you how to breathe properly, develop good form and increase your self confidence. You should plan your class to take place two to four hours after meals. Wear comfortable clothes that are not too loose or too tight, and that are not flashy or otherwise distracting. Keep in mind that it isn't a competitive sport and that you have limitations on what you can or cannot accomplish.

One of the first things you will learn in a class is the different poses, called asanas. Once you learn the basics, there are many different kinds of yoga to keep your mind and body stimulated. Jivamukti focuses on breathing and touches on spirituality. Bikrim is a form that is very intense, and Anasura is low key but demanding at the same time. Vinyasa yoga glides from one pose to the next.

While the style you choose is important, it's extremely important that you have good rapport with the instructor as well, and choose one who will respect your personal limitations and whose demeanor is calm and professional.

Don't forget to obtain your doctor's approval before starting any exercise.

Benefits of Yoga

One of the fundamental believes that yogi share is that the mind and the body are a unified structure, which can find its harmony and it can heal itself, when being in a proper environment. Due to these principles, as well as to the results obtained, many doctors consider yoga as having therapeutic results, and recommend it for curing a series of illnesses, mainly related to the nervous system.

Remember it is not a recent life philosophy. It has been practiced for thousands of years and during all this time, people benefited from the great results obtained. Furthermore, they conducted investigations, in order to clearly establish the areas in which people can obtain health benefits, by an extended practice. The information obtained after conducting the investigations was grouped in three categories, establishing that yoga practitioners are likely to observe improvements in what concerns physiological, psychological, biochemical aspects.

From the physiological point of view, prolonged yoga practices can cure pulse rate decreases, respiratory and blood pressure dysfunctions, it can contribute to stabilizing the nervous system equilibrium, to normalizing gastrointestinal functions and endocrine function, to increasing the joint range of motions, endurance level, energy level, immunity to diseases and cardiovascular efficiency, to improving eye-hand coordination, reaction time, dexterity skills, depth perception, sleep, etc.

The second category, comprising psychological benefits, points out that it can also contribute to increasing somatic and kinesthetic awareness, self-acceptance and self-actualization, social skills, well-being, as well as to improving concentration, memory, attention, mood, learning efficiency, symbol coding, etc.

As for the biochemical benefits, we can enumerate substantial decreases of glucose, sodium, cholesterol, total white blood cell and remarkable increases of vitamin C, total serum protein, hemoglobin etc.

Furthermore, various studies revealed that yoga exercises are extremely effective when it comes to increasing the level of joint flexibility, together with the level of lubrication of joints, ligaments and tendons. Another interesting aspect has to do with the fact that it is one of the very few techniques, which contributes to massaging all the internal organs and glands, including the ones that are hardly ever stimulated during the lifetime of a person, such as the prostate. The stimulation and massaging of the internal organs proves to be beneficial when it comes to preventing and keeping away diseases.

Moreover, these ancient and efficient techniques guarantee a complete detoxification of your body. When stretching the muscles and performing a thorough massage, due to the complexity of the yoga exercises you ensure the optimum quantity of blood supply you need. As a consequence, toxins are eliminated from your body and certain undesired processes, such as aging, are considerably delayed.

Finally, all the benefits presented above come in addition to the most important aspect provided by yoga practices, meaning the harmony and the synchronization between body and mind, as well as strengthening your meditation and emotional systems.

Fundamental Principles of Yoga

Most of these rules are related to proper relaxation techniques, to the right manner of breathing, to the sort of diet practitioners should follow and, not in the last place, to thinking positively and trying to meditate objectively on the surrounding realities.

As a general rule, all principles underline the importance of self-discipline, self-control, self-determination and focus, as relevant ways of achieving the status promoted by the yoga ideology. Although at the beginning uninitiated yogi might feel overwhelmed with the richness and the vastness philosophy and practice of yoga, there is, however, a series of basic principles , which can help early stage practitioners understand better this ideology.

Here are some of the fundamental principles of this philosophical practice:

It is vital to understand and be aware of the above mentioned principles, in order to maximize the positive effects of your yoga practice.

Getting Started with Yoga

All this is a direct consequence of the fact that yoga is, more than a practice, a state of mind and a life style. That is why your will, as well as your believes and attitudes towards this philosophical path are all that actually matter. Moreover, a balanced and healthy diet, based on natural food, is a key issue for preparing yourself for your first yoga session. What we eat can strongly affect both our mind and our soul, so it is crucial to mind what we eat.

Even though you do not need a specially designed place for performing your class, make sure, when electing the room where you will be holding the class, to choose a place as far away from distractions - such as radio, street noise, TV - as possible. The place also needs to be clean and quite and, if possible, ventilated. A blanket is the accessory that you absolutely need in order to gain comfort when carrying out the exercises and the meditation, as they are performed in either sitting or lying positions, but, however, a towel or a mat, could work, as well.

In what concerns the clothes you are supposed to wear, try to select something very comfortable and loose, such as training suits, sweat pants and a t-shirt, shorts or loose pajamas. Some people would rather wear no clothes at all, but, nevertheless, most practitioners put something on, especially if the session is not private.

It is also highly recommended to have an empty stomach, before starting your yoga exercises. As a general rule, one or two hours after a main meal is the ideal time for practicing yoga. As breathing is a key element in yoga training, do not forget to also clean your nostrils and your throat.

In case you have not decided which could represent the best moment of the day for carrying out your yoga session, you have to know that both morning and evening practices can result very beneficial to your body and mind. Thus, performing the exercises in the morning can contribute to your good shape for the whole day, as it improves your vitality level. On the other hand, evening yoga practices helps inducing a restful and peaceful sleep.

Your yoga session should not exhaust you. Do not hesitate to take a break, when you feel tired. Actually, short breaks are common, between difficult exercises. Keep in mind that as little as 15 minutes of correct yoga practice can produce marvelous results on your body and mind.

Try to remember that the most important thing, when practicing yoga, is your attitude and your desire to discover the incredible sensations and experiences this ancient philosophy can provide.

Remember to obtain your doctor's approval before starting any exercise.