Yoga Is The Best Weapon To Fight Stresses

Yoga is a 3,000-year-old, Hindu discipline of mind and body that became known in Western society with the hippie generation of the Sixties and early Seventies. Its image as a mystic practice is disappearing as fast as the stressful aspects of the Eighties are appearing.

As an effective method of stress management, yoga is spreading into the business world, the helping professions, nursing and old age homes, and is used in the treatment of alcoholics, hyperactive children and youngsters with learning disabilities. Yoga centers are getting stiff competition from adult education classes of community colleges, boards of education and parks and recreation departments.

The meaning of yoga is union of the body, mind and spirit with truth. There are numerous forms of yoga to study, which is can be endless years of learning for the willing pupil.

Hatha Yoga is among the most popular forms in the west. It emphasizes the practice of postures, which stretch and strengthen the body, help develop a sense of balance and flexibility, as well as body awareness and mental concentration. All forms of yoga incorporate the practice of proper breathing techniques for relaxation, to rest the mind from its constant chatter, to experience an internal calm, and to energize and purify the body.

As stress levels in society reach new heights, Raja Yoga, the yoga of meditation, is growing in popularity in Western society, while others, such as Krya Yoga, the yoga of cleansing, and Mantra Yoga, the yoga of chanting, not surprisingly, have little appeal for newcomers.

Stretching and toning, though beneficial, aren't the primary reasons people turn to yoga. Newcomers are hoping that yoga will provide them with a means for handling stress and diffusing tension. The difference between exercise and yoga is that yoga has a meditative quality.

A lot of people are exercising for the psychological benefits and trying many of the Eastern activities, like yoga and tai chi. Yoga seems to have a calming effect on people.

And the techniques work on children as well as adults. When your children are quarreling, ask them to stop what they're doing, raise their arms over their heads, lean forward and breathe deeply to help diffuse their anger. It definitely helps them to cool it.

Yoga : Learning And Instructions

A 12-Step All-Around Yoga Exercise

A 12-Step All-Around Yoga Exercise

The ’12-step salute to the sun’ is one of the all-around yoga exercises. As you do it once or twice in the morning it will help loosen up any stiffness in your body and rejuvenate it. Then to help you relax at night you can do several multiple repetitions, in fact, some people who suffer with insomnia find by completing six - twelve rounds often helps them to fall asleep better.

1. Stand with your feet slightly apart, palms together, thumbs against your chest.

2. Breath in slowly and deeply as you raise your hands over your head, then bend back as far as you can and tighten the muscles in your gluteus maximus.

You should hold this position for three seconds before exhaling.

3. After three seconds you can slowly exhale while bending forward, keeping your knees straight and touch the floor outside of your feet.

You may not be able to touch the floor but you should get as close as you can to it and then bend your head inwards, towards your knees.

4. Slowly inhale, bend your knees, and if your fingertips aren’t outside your feet, place them as near to them as you can.

Slide your right foot back as far as you can go, with the right knee an inch or so off the floor, (a lunge position). Next arch your back and look up as high as possible, while holding your breath a few seconds before exhaling.

5. Before you exhale, bring your left foot next to your right one, and support your weight on your palms and toes, then straighten both legs so your body is positioned like a flat plane.

Whenever you do this type of yoga you need to keep your stomach muscles pulled in to maximize the effect.

6. Slowly exhale, bend both knees to the floor, bend with your hips in the air, lower your chest and forehead to the floor.

7. In this position begin to inhale slowly once again, bend your head back by looking upwards, now lift up your chest and bring it back down.

Your lower body - from the navel down - should be on the floor, and your elbows should be slightly bent. Hold this position for three to five seconds.

8. As you exhale slowly, raise up your hips until both your feet and hands are flat on the floor and your legs and arms are in a straight inverted V type position.

9. Bring your foot forward as you slowly inhale the same way you did in the forth position.

The foot should be flat on the floor between your fingertips. Your left leg should be straight behind you or as straight as you can make it with your knee slightly bent. Again, you will raise your head by looking upward and arch your back in this position.

10. Slowly exhale and bring your left foot forward next to your right one.

As you try to keep your fingertips on the floor; straighten your legs and touch your head to your knees in the same manner you did in the third position.

11. Slowly begin to inhale deeply as you raise your arms up and stretch back as you did in the second position.

Don’t forget while in this position it is important to tighten your buttocks and hold for three seconds.

12. Begin to relax by slowly exhaling and lowering your arms to the sides of your body.

Feel free to repeat these yoga positions as often as you like, as they will better help to improve your health, by relieving stress and helping you to better relax your body.