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Yoga for Health: Are You Stressing Out? Take a Yoga Class

Stress is actually the number one killer of humans on the planet. Stress is a factor and cause of more physical and mental diseases than most of us can imagine. If you have any disease or ailment, stress will make it worse. If you are getting “stressed out,” it may bring on an ailment or disease.

Just look at what stress does to your blood pressure and heart. Cancer patients recover better when they are dealing with less stress. There are many reasons to worry, and none of us is without worry or stress. Too much stress can also cause an abrupt withdrawal from society and result in a possible depression.

Stress overload can cause job burn out, chronic fatigue, and nervous breakdowns. All of these conditions can result in long-term effects that can “sap” a person’s life energy, focus, and motivation.

Unfortunately, stress can also be caused by the ego, too much attachment to outcome, greed, jealousy, and hate. This is mentioned within the Yoga Sutras, by Patanjali, which has remained a timeless guide to human insight. Sometimes, we create our own stress and are our own worst enemies.

So, what’s the solution? Stress management programs are one answer. Have you ever noticed how many stress management techniques look like Yoga? To be honest, if something looks and sounds like Yoga; it’s probably “Yoga in disguise.”

I do not want to take away any credit, but Yoga is a 5,000 year old health maintenance system. You could call Yoga the “mother” of all health maintenance systems. Many of today’s health maintenance systems are “off shoots” of Yoga.

Hatha Yoga teaches you to stretch and strengthen your tense muscles, breathe correctly, relax, meditate and much more. Regular Yoga practice will help you develop your focus and turn stress “on its head.” As a result of Yoga practice, you will easily be able to handle life’s daily stress.

Whether the form of Yoga you practice is holding postures for a while, or flowing from one posture to the next, your body will be relieved of stress. Hatha Yoga sub-styles such as, Restorative Yoga and Iyengar Yoga, hold the Yoga Postures a bit longer than most.

The controlled breathing, practiced while holding a posture, enables the Yoga student to release stress, and walk away from a Yoga class feeling better than he or she did before the start of the class.

On the other hand, Hatha Yoga sub-styles that flow such as, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, and Ashtanga Yoga, have more movement, but the repetition of movement will also release stress from your body.

So, which is the best style for you? Most Yoga studios and wellness centers realize that students do not all “dance to the same beat.”

These movement-based Yoga classes differ from a gentle Restorative Yoga style. Each Yoga style has its own flavor, but a prospective student should talk to a Yoga teacher prior to the particular class. This is the wisest course of action, when considering your own goals.

Yoga is not a complete cure for stress, but it does cause the opposite effects of stress. Most Yoga students do find themselves living a calmer, more relaxed, and healthier life style as a result of practicing Yoga on and off the mat. This is why so many doctors recommend Yoga to their patients.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Top 10 Profound Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is currently taking its final exam. Even though this science dates back many thousands of years, it has only recently come to the West. This is where Yoga is being empirically tested.

The Western mind demands results and evidence, if none are produced, the system does not survive. This is a valuable approach and Yoga is currently being put though the rigors of this process. So far Yoga is passing with flying colors. Don’t get me wrong, its not that the East did not expect that, its just that this approach filters out the fraudulent and frivolous methodologies, which might otherwise survive simply because of superstition and fear, and the East is just as happy that this is being done as the West. This scrutinizing process results in separating the stones from the diamonds and the diamond that is Yoga is starting to shine though bright and clear.

Over the last three to four decades a great deal of research has been done by the medical community and they now, more and more, recognize the health benefits of Yoga. Below, I will highlight the top 10 health benefits that Yoga bestows and I hope it will inspire all of you to take up this wonderful practice is some capacity and reap the rich rewards as well.

The health benefits have been divided into 3 categories. The Physical Health Benefits of Yoga, Emotional Health Benefits of Yoga and the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga. A short explanation is given along with each benefit to help you understand better the mechanisms that Yoga employs to bestow it.

Physical Health Benefits of Yoga:

1. Energy: Yoga exercises, breath control training (pranayama) and use of yoga body locks (bandhas) all work to activate and balance your energy pathways, giving you the vitality and power you need to maximize your potential.

2. Strength: By strength here we don’t just mean physical muscular strength, although that will benefit greatly as well due to the steady holding of yoga poses and the exercises that yoga incorporates, but also the strength of your internal physiological systems. Strength of your immune system, nervous system, digestive system, respiratory system, circulatory system, reproductive system, etc.

3. Healing: The power of Yoga to heal ailments and cure diseases is becoming more and more an integral part of mainstream medical practice and treatment methods. This ability of Yoga to heal also promotes longevity.

4. Flexibility: Yoga postures (asanas) are perhaps the best type of exercises you can do to improve flexibility. Flexibility is essential for avoiding injuries as well as for the health of the joints, tendons and muscles.

Emotional Health Benefits of Yoga:

5. Peace: Yoga meditations and practice methodology promotes a greater awareness and appreciation of the present moment, which calms the mind and allows the peace deep within to surface.

6. Joy: With the maturing of a Yoga practice, the beauty and depth of life become more apparent and the spontaneous joy of existence emerges.

7. Compassion: Yoga values and philosophy, along with the practice of yoga meditations, dissolves one’s ego-centric reality, thus developing other mindedness, thoughtfulness, generosity and compassion.

Mental Health Benefits of Yoga:

8. Brain Development: Yoga breathing exercises and yoga meditations develop parts of the brain that are normally dormant. Once these parts are activated the power of intuition, as well as other latent powers are unleashed. In addition as the brain develops so does your intelligence and clarity of thoughts.

9. Concentration: The requirement of many Yoga meditations to keep the mind focused on a single object or mantra (sound vibrations), helps to dramatically increase your power of concentration and focused attention.

10. Awareness: Yoga can simply be called the Science of Awareness. This is its primary purpose. To refine and increase awareness so that you can penetrate the veil of the ordinary dualistic mind and encounter your Divine Nature within.

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Enjoy Yoga For Health As You Age

Yoga is a wonderful form of exercise and assists in controlling and balancing various aspects of the body and mind. Yoga helps you in the control of your Central Nervous System and more. Enjoying yoga will promote many positive changes including a boosted self-esteem, a reduction in stress levels as well as discovering strength in your body and improved overall health. For more than 5000 years, people have enjoyed yoga. Yoga derived from the Indian nations, and through time has now allowed many people in the western world take control of their body and mind. Yoga when enjoyed on a regular basis is a great method to help you with the many pressures of today’s society. Yoga combines spirituality, exercise, positive thinking, breathing and so on to help you enjoy healthy ageing.

The Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a valued practice for many people worldwide. Yoga incorporates fitness, health, gymnastics, and training in a set of rules. Yoga helps you to maintain or lose weight along with strengthening and toning to the muscular system. Yoga is a stress reducing machine. Yoga will train your mind, as you learn to control your thoughts through meditation and breathing. Breathing correctly is essential to mastering yoga. When you practice this form of exercise, you are connected with your inner self. You learn to balance your mind and body, which leads to good health.

Through practicing yoga, your emotions are also controlled, meaning that fears, doubts, and other negative influences will not take control of your life. Rather you will have control. As you practice yoga, you will feel comfortable with both yourself and others around you. The world will become yours, as you learn to communicate effectively and stop sweating the small stuff.

As there are many forms of yoga, be aware that some types of yoga training may not be right for you. Sometimes you may have to modify the workouts to benefit your body type and to withhold the workout suited for your strengths. You have to determine the beginners level in whatever yoga form you participate in, and allow to progress naturally. Your instructor will provide you with the necessary steps to receive the utmost benefit to you and your body.

How To Get Started With Yoga

The first thing you should do is seek medical approval from your practitioner. Make sure you are able to enjoy the type of yoga you choose. Start out slowly and progress only when your body is comfortable. Guide your way into mediate exercising. Yoga will put you in connection with your spiritual side, so prepare to find a new you.

When you first begin yoga, perhaps you would benefit from joining groups that practice yoga at the appropriate level. The group sessions will inspire you to continue your journey to healthy ageing. Having support is essential for all of us, and these yoga groups can become your support team on your journey. If you cannot find a group in your area, visit your local library. You can also purchase books, videos and dvds that provide instruction on how you can both enjoy and benefit with yoga.

Where do I go after learning yoga?

After you have taken the steps to get started and learn and discover the correct methods to perform the yoga exercises, you will need to find a quiet area where you feel comfortable. You want to avoid interruptions while practicing yoga to receive the most benefit from your workout. As yoga involves both physical and mental connection and balance, the benefits from the meditation and breathing will be tantamount to your results, stimulation and healing.

When will I notice the change in me?

Be patient. As with almost everything in life, you may not notice a change right away. It takes time to notice or feel the changes. If you practice yoga on a regular basis changes will occur gradually and soon you will be amazed how your emotional and spiritual connections will begin changing your life in leaps and bounds. Keep in mind that yoga is teaching you how to control your mind, body and emotions.

Work with yoga and yoga will work with you. Yes, promote healthy ageing with the benefits of yoga.