From the development of spirituality and using meditation to relieve the stress induced by daily life, to a simple weight loss strategy, yoga is practiced for all sorts of reasons. Not only is it an inexpensive form of exercise serving a multitude of purposes, it is also truly effective and has proven its ability to realize all the claims it makes. As a result of this the interest in yoga and the influence of the same has grown over the last twenty years or so.
Teenagers, corporate /working personnel, housewives, the elderly, expecting mothers, everyone can benefit from yoga especially the latter.
Many hold the belief that pregnant women should not exert themselves as both the mother and the child are in a very vulnerable state. Though excess activity or exertion in such condition is not advisable, it’s exceedingly unhealthy to be cooped up in one place without any kind of activity at all.
Prenatal Yoga is specifically designed to cater to the needs of pregnant women and can be used to ensure physical and mental fitness during pregnancy. In this state the ligaments stretch and pull with the growth of the foetus, stressing the body. During labor the body tightens up further due to the added tension and excitement, intensifying the pain as it has already reached its maximum capacity.
Since it’s a form of exercise that gently stretches the muscles without pulling them beyond their limits, yoga increases your core strength which helps in carrying the child. It relieves the pressure and tension associated with the weight of the baby, thus ensuring a relatively easy birth.
It also uses breathing exercises to relieve stress and tension which in turn, relaxes the body and increases circulation of oxygen. These techniques are well worth the effort as they increase flexibility and strength, which minimize the intense pain to mild controllable pain during labor.
A woman goes through a great deal of emotional turmoil during pregnancy and studies show that rising stress levels increase the risks at this time. Yoga encourages meditation which resolves these common fears and conflicts, inducing “yoga nidra” or yogic sleep which relaxes the mind and maintains a more positive outlook, thus ensuring a healthy pregnancy. The meditative state also brings about an incredible awareness which helps you to connect with your child.
Yoga is a very safe exercise and can be taken up in any phase of the pregnancy, even the last trimester and is recommended as it increases your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a comparatively easy childbirth.
But don’t drop the habit once the little one has arrived! Postnatal yoga can not only help you shed the extra weight, it can also give you the much needed relaxation.
Consult with a doctor before taking up any form of exercise and practice yoga before, during and after your pregnancy, to stay in the best of health and spirits during the most beautiful phase of your life.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Yoga Exercise Ball
The stability ball or what has now become popular as the exercise ball originated somewhere in Italy in the 1960’s. Initially though most American Physical therapists (who happened to find the exercise ball in use amongst the Swiss) called the exercise ball the Swiss ball, under the impression that it was the Swiss who had come up with it.
Later they found that the balls being used by the Swiss physical therapists were in fact manufactured in Italy. Nonetheless they continued to refer to the exercise ball as the Swiss ball for a long period of time and it is only recently that the names Stability ball or Exercise ball has become popular.
The Aura Wellness Center in the USA was the first American fitness-training center to use the exercise ball.
The ball they procured for themselves came from the Italian manufacturers Gymnic Balls. Down the years many other companies have begun producing exercise balls but a number of loyal customers still swear by the Gymnic Ball tag.
No matter which manufacturing company your ball comes from you can use it for performing a variety of physical workouts, including Yoga and Pilates. A number of gyms, professionals and specialized athletes also use these balls in order to improve their coordination capacities.
The use of the exercise ball however is not confined to professional use alone and a number of beginners have also found them to be of particular help during their exercise sessions.
If you are a beginner at a Yoga class you can greatly benefit from the use of a Yoga exercise ball. Such a ball has been known to help various Yoga neophytes to keep themselves steady during many of the asanas. For instance new students performing the Wheel posture (or Chakrasana) often find the use of a Yoga exercise ball and a nearby wall particularly helpful.
This is because the Chakrasana involves an arched stretch of the body that not too many people can manage on their own right at the beginning.
The Chakrasana is fantastic asana that helps enhance a person’s spinal elasticity and thereby improves his/her posture. It is also known to stretch out important internal organs such as the kidneys, liver, pancreas and even the heart, improving blood circulation. Despite the usual profit it bears for students however people with high blood pressure are advised to refrain from practicing this posture. Also, students with a back or spine problem must take proper medical permission and the help of a qualified Yoga teacher to carry out this asana.
Later they found that the balls being used by the Swiss physical therapists were in fact manufactured in Italy. Nonetheless they continued to refer to the exercise ball as the Swiss ball for a long period of time and it is only recently that the names Stability ball or Exercise ball has become popular.
The Aura Wellness Center in the USA was the first American fitness-training center to use the exercise ball.
The ball they procured for themselves came from the Italian manufacturers Gymnic Balls. Down the years many other companies have begun producing exercise balls but a number of loyal customers still swear by the Gymnic Ball tag.
No matter which manufacturing company your ball comes from you can use it for performing a variety of physical workouts, including Yoga and Pilates. A number of gyms, professionals and specialized athletes also use these balls in order to improve their coordination capacities.
The use of the exercise ball however is not confined to professional use alone and a number of beginners have also found them to be of particular help during their exercise sessions.
If you are a beginner at a Yoga class you can greatly benefit from the use of a Yoga exercise ball. Such a ball has been known to help various Yoga neophytes to keep themselves steady during many of the asanas. For instance new students performing the Wheel posture (or Chakrasana) often find the use of a Yoga exercise ball and a nearby wall particularly helpful.
This is because the Chakrasana involves an arched stretch of the body that not too many people can manage on their own right at the beginning.
The Chakrasana is fantastic asana that helps enhance a person’s spinal elasticity and thereby improves his/her posture. It is also known to stretch out important internal organs such as the kidneys, liver, pancreas and even the heart, improving blood circulation. Despite the usual profit it bears for students however people with high blood pressure are advised to refrain from practicing this posture. Also, students with a back or spine problem must take proper medical permission and the help of a qualified Yoga teacher to carry out this asana.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Yoga Clothes
The practice of Yoga is directed at relaxing your mind and body. Hence, you must not wear something that is uncomfortable or non-functional or distracting during your yoga sessions. Make sure your yoga outfit feels good against your skin and allows you maximum mobility if you don’t want to be constantly reminded about them during the course of the session.
If you have a choice in the matter go for absorbent materials that will easily soak up perspiration from your body. You don’t want to feel clammy and smelly during your yoga session, no matter how much you might be exerting yourself.
In the following section we give you a list of the few essential details that you ought to keep in mind while selecting yoga outfits for yourself.
1. The Yoga Pants – Yoga pants are of various kinds. Some of them are long and extend up to the end of your ankles while others end above your knees. Most of them are clingy and fit your body snugly. Wearing such a form-fitting outfit has its advantages. For instance, many instructors claim that such closely fitted wear allows them to spy the exact alignment of their students’ bodies and thereby allows them to make the necessary changes in their postures.
However, if you are personally not comfortable in such tight garments go for loose cotton trousers instead. No matter what sort of pants you choose for yourself make sure you are comfortable in them and that they allow you the freedom to bend and twist in an uninhibited manner.
Also, ensure that the waist area of the pants do not have any bulky tie which may bite into your skin and prove cumbersome after a while.
2. Yoga Shorts – Yoga shorts are your best choice in case you mean to do Bikram or hot yoga. This is because such yoga is practiced in a hot room, which can sweat you up a bit. Shorts are also a good choice during the summer months when the temperature is too high to allow long pants to remain comfortable.
If you are choosing Yoga shorts for yourself make sure you ensure that they don’t ride up your body during exercises. Form fitting shorts tend to stay put in their pace and are perhaps the best choice you have.
3. Yoga Tops – No matter what sort of yoga tops you choose for yourself (and there really is a wide variety you can choose from) make sure that it doesn’t fall all over your face when you do difficult asanas.
Pick up a few fitted tees or even a sports bra (in case you practice Bikram or hot yoga) for your yoga classes. These sort of outfits are both form fitting as well as revealing enough to show your alignment to your instructors.
However when choosing a sports bra make sure you don’t end up choosing something you’d be too uncomfortable to wear in a class. Also, ensure nothing falls out of your top while exercising, you don’t want to be concerned about what you might be revealing while concentrating on your asanas.
If you have a choice in the matter go for absorbent materials that will easily soak up perspiration from your body. You don’t want to feel clammy and smelly during your yoga session, no matter how much you might be exerting yourself.
In the following section we give you a list of the few essential details that you ought to keep in mind while selecting yoga outfits for yourself.
1. The Yoga Pants – Yoga pants are of various kinds. Some of them are long and extend up to the end of your ankles while others end above your knees. Most of them are clingy and fit your body snugly. Wearing such a form-fitting outfit has its advantages. For instance, many instructors claim that such closely fitted wear allows them to spy the exact alignment of their students’ bodies and thereby allows them to make the necessary changes in their postures.
However, if you are personally not comfortable in such tight garments go for loose cotton trousers instead. No matter what sort of pants you choose for yourself make sure you are comfortable in them and that they allow you the freedom to bend and twist in an uninhibited manner.
Also, ensure that the waist area of the pants do not have any bulky tie which may bite into your skin and prove cumbersome after a while.
2. Yoga Shorts – Yoga shorts are your best choice in case you mean to do Bikram or hot yoga. This is because such yoga is practiced in a hot room, which can sweat you up a bit. Shorts are also a good choice during the summer months when the temperature is too high to allow long pants to remain comfortable.
If you are choosing Yoga shorts for yourself make sure you ensure that they don’t ride up your body during exercises. Form fitting shorts tend to stay put in their pace and are perhaps the best choice you have.
3. Yoga Tops – No matter what sort of yoga tops you choose for yourself (and there really is a wide variety you can choose from) make sure that it doesn’t fall all over your face when you do difficult asanas.
Pick up a few fitted tees or even a sports bra (in case you practice Bikram or hot yoga) for your yoga classes. These sort of outfits are both form fitting as well as revealing enough to show your alignment to your instructors.
However when choosing a sports bra make sure you don’t end up choosing something you’d be too uncomfortable to wear in a class. Also, ensure nothing falls out of your top while exercising, you don’t want to be concerned about what you might be revealing while concentrating on your asanas.
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