Yoga for a Beautiful Body

Awkward Chair 

Stand with feet together and abs contracted. Exhale as you push your hips back to squat down as if sitting in a chair; at the same time, lift your arms by your ears. Arms should be shoulder-width with palms facing and fingers pointing toward the ceiling. Hold for 5 to 8 breaths.

High Lunge

Keeping arms raised and abs tight, step your left foot back and lower into lunge position so front knee is bent at 90 degrees and directly over your ankle. Hold for 5 breaths.

Plank 

Lower your hips, coming onto your toes and moving your torso forward until your shoulders are directly over your hands. Your abs should be tight, with your body in a straight line from head to heels. Hold for 5 breaths.

Low Plank

Keeping your body in line, inhale and bend your elbows to 90 degrees to lower yourself toward the floor. Hold for 1 breath.

Half Moon

Return to center and drop your right hand to the floor about 10 inches diagonally in front and outside of your right foot. Raise your left arm, pointing fingers toward the ceiling as you straighten your right leg and lift your straight left leg into the air, foot flexed and pointing to the side; look up at your left hand. Hold for 5 breaths.

Benefits of Yoga in Everyday Life

The practice of yoga, as well as giving all those attributes that are well known, can also give many helpful benefits in everyday life that do not necessarily belong to the field of yoga.

* Yoga can help cure insomnia, as regular yoga practice leads to better and deeper sleep.

* Yoga can help fight fatigue and maintain your energy throughout the day.

* Yoga is an effective treatment for a variety of autoimmune diseases because it can reduce the symptoms these diseases often cause, such as stiffness, malaise, fatigue, and weakness.

Yoga Benefits For Eyes

Most of us do not exercise our eye muscles at all, but yet, we work them all the time, causing them to be under constant strain. The only time the eyes rest for more than a split second, is when we are asleep.

* Light a lamp/candle at a distance of two feet at the eye level. Stare at the bluish centre of the flame with a steady gaze. Continue staring, even if the eyes start watering. 

* You can do this for about 10 minutes to begin with, and slowly increase the duration until the time you feel comfortable. 

* Then slowly get up and fill your mouth with water. Keeping this water in your mouth, wash eyes with tap water. 

* Then spit the water out. This water will be warm as heat gets released from the body. This has to be done twice or until the water temperature gets normal. This is a must after this particular kriya. 

* Look to your right as far as you can, being aware of the edge of your visual field. Hold for 3 seconds, then release. Repeat again, but looking to your left. Hold for 3 seconds, then release. Repeat left and right 3 times. 

* Sit comfortably on a straight-backed chair, with your legs uncrossed and hands resting lightly in your lap. Keep your chin level and move only your eyes, neither your head nor neck. 

* Breathe gently and evenly throughout the sequence. Don’t stain nor force any movements: go only as far as is comfortable. Close your eyes to relax at the end.

* Sit comfortably with your eyes open. Blink around 10 times very quickly. Close your eyes and relax for 20 seconds. Slowly take your attention to your breath. 

* Repeat this exercise about 5 times. 

* Rub your palms together and gently cup them over your closed eyes for around a minute. This is known as palming and is very beneficial for the eyes. 

* The eyes need darkness to rejuvenate them and this need is best served by palming. Palming should be done after every eye exercise, to relax the eyes and every now and then during the day.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline for developing strength, awareness, character, and consciousness.

Preaching a message of drug free living and alternative ways of getting high, the teachings of kundalini yoga became a way for anyone to experience higher states of consciousness. 

Kundalini Yoga is a physical and meditative discipline that combines postures (asanas), breath (pranayama), and the chanting of mantras. Kundalini refers to the energy that lays dormant at the base of the spine. 

Through the practice of yoga, this energy is raised and travels up the spine, through the chakras, creating an overall sense of well being and a heightened sense of awareness. The word Kundalini literally translates as a “coiled female serpent.”

Traditionally the techniques of Kundalini were only communicated from Master to disciple and through a long initation process. In 1969 Yogi Bhajan began teaching kundalini yoga openly to the public.

Yogi Bhajan defines yoga as such: “Yoga means a discipline of mind and body. There is nothing mysterious about it. Yoga does not explain the meaning of life... It’s aim is to develop a quality of mind which can perceive reality and acquire self knowledge.”

There are no inverted postures in Bikram yoga, unless you are in a master class. Bikram felt that most beginners could not safely do inversions, and that other poses provided the same benefits as inversions.

Why Learn Kundalini Yoga? 

* Stress breaks down the systems of the body opening it to all other forms of disease and discomfort. 

* The massive explosion in interest in yoga and mediation in the 21st century is testament to the fact that people are in need of relaxation, ways of finding inner calm, and physical well being.

* The average person is subject to as much information in 1 week as our great great great grand parents were exposed to in their whole lives. Between, iphones, blackberry's, tv, internet, the radio, not to mention advertising, the human psyche is bombarded with information at a non stop rate. Without a buffer zone for the mind, this data acts as 24/7 bombardment of emotional manipulation caussing mental overload, or what we call stress.

* This "buffer zone" of the mind can be developed through yoga and mediation. And with the advent of computers and the rise of the knowledge based economy, many of us are sedentary for hours at a time.

* Yoga is the best form of exercise for maintaining health as it rebuilds the body through stretching and strengthening exercises.

* Through the practice of Yoga and Meditation, even for a very short period of time, major improvements in physical health and mental clarity are possible. It is also a lot of fun.

Hatha Yoga Benefits

Many Eastern cultures believe that there is a strong connection between the body and the mind, and when these energies become imbalanced, it is thought that people can be left susceptible to illness, injury, and disease.

Yoga strives to connect the two through physical positions (asanas) and breathing exercises.

Some of the many hatha yoga benefits that are believed to come from this practice include:

* Improved physical health

* Stress relief

* Improved balance

* Increased strength

* Poise

* Detoxification

* Flexibility

While there are many hatha yoga benefits, it is still important to consult with your primary care provider before you begin any new alternative therapy, including this practice.

Most people are able to enjoy these great benefits with no problem, but getting a second opinion from your doctor to ensure you avoid injury or complications is never a bad idea.

Benefits of Adho Mukha Svanasana

The name comes from the Sanskrit words, adho which means downward, mukha which means face, svana which means dog and asana meaning pose. 

Adho Mukha Svanasana helps in building power, flexibility and alertness.

* Adho Mukha Svanasana helps to strengthen the immune system.

* Adho Mukha Svanasana helps to relieve the symptoms of menopause.

* Adho Mukha Svanasana builds strength throughout the body.

* Adho Mukha Svanasana also provides an overall body stretch.

* Adho Mukha Svanasanahelps in relieving fatigue and gives freshness to the body.

* Adho Mukha Svanasana relieves some headaches and insomnia.

* Adho Mukha Svanasanais a great preparation for standing poses.

* It calms the mind and lifts the spirits.

* It also improves digestion.

* It strengthens arms, legs, and feet.

* It stretches the shoulders, legs, and spine.

* It helps back to be less stiff.

* Adho Mukha Svanasanalessens stiffness in heels and legs.

* It helps to open up the shoulder blades.

* It stretches the back of the body, especially hips and hamstrings.

* It is helpful in increasing blood flow.

* Adho Mukha Svanasanamay relieve menstrual discomfort, but make sure that in this head should be supported.

* It is helpful in preventing osteoporosis

* It may be useful in chest opening.

* It is recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis, etc.

Protein Rich Food

Spread out protein intake throughout the day instead of mega doses just once or twice. A serving of protein along with healthy carbs after a workout is a must to help tired muscles recover.

Here are some tantalizing ways to work protein into your meals and snacks no matter what time of day you exercise. 

Below is a list of foods with the highest protein density, for more information, see the sections on other protein rich foods...

Best Drinks for Weight Loss

Best Weight Loss Best Drinks, Best Weight Loss Tricks, Weight Loss Tricks For Telugu: A healthy diet plays a vital role in weight loss. While most of us are familiar with healthy eating habits, not too many of us pay close attention to a healthy lifestyle.

* Coconut Water – It is very good for accelerating your metabolism to give you energy which can be used in workouts for burning calories. It contains a lot of electrolytes which increase the rate of metabolism. Make sure that you avoid the flavouring and extra sugar generally put in the juice.

* Fruit Juice – These may not help to bring down the calorie intake so much but the nutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants that fruit juices provide make them a good choice, especially as a substitute for sweetened sodas.

* Green Tea – It is the best drink for people who cannot do without caffeine daily. Some compounds found in green tea lead to weight loss. It has a beneficial effect on your metabolism which helps in absorbing fat from your body. Have the drink twice daily.

* Vegetable Juice – Pennsylvania State University conducted a study on the effect of vegetable juice on calorie intake of a person. It was found that having a glass of vegetable juice before your meal helps you to eat 135 calories lesser.

* Yoghurt – If you put more of yoghurt in your smoothies, the calcium contained in it helps to burn fat in your body and particularly belly fat. These were the findings of a research done by University of Tennessee. Greek yoghurt is the healthiest choice for making a weight loss drink.

Weight Loss Through Indian Diet

Rice, whole wheat bread, lots of vegetables and dairy constitute a staple Indian diet.

There are ways in which you can incorporate the Indian cooking practices for having delectable meals that make you healthy too and can help in weight loss too.

* In Indian foods, spices play a bigger role in adding flavour than oil. Most of the Indian foods are steamed or cooked with water rather than fried. Adding spices need not necessary mean making it too hot for your tongue.

* Spices not only make the food taste good, they also make you feel more satisfied while eating and this makes you eat less.

* The digestive properties of many spices also make them healthy for you. Cardamom, cloves and fennel seeds are some such spices.

* A lot of low-fat ingredients are used in Indian cooking.

* Vegetables, rice and legumes are common in Indian dishes.

* The method of baking wheat for bread the Indian style is far healthier than the European method of bread making. Roti, Tandoori Roti and Tandoori Nan are baked breads that are some foods prepared by baking bread.

* They are a very useful addition to your weight loss diet. If oils and fats such as ghee are consciously not used, Indian recipes are excellent as weight loss diet.

* The legumes, beans, grains that are commonly found in Indian foods make it an excellent choice for weight loss.

* Eating high fibre foods bring about the feeling of being full sooner and prevent you from your inclination to overeat.

* The nutrients gained through foods high in fibre and vitamins helps your body burn fat more effectively.