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.

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.

Power Yoga Tips

Power yoga is much more intense and aerobic than the more traditional forms of yoga. Is a synchronization of body movements that are maintained for long periods of time.

• Select open ground like garden, building terrace etc. as it will encourage you to practice yoga.

• Concentrate fully on each pose.

• Practice power yoga thrice a week and that too for approximate 45 minutes each day.

• Develop a proper sequence of yoga before you start your power yoga session.

• Always try to follow proper series of exercises.

• Stay comfortable and wear sweat absorbent clothes.

• It involves difficult poses, so seek guidance of professionals.

• Avoid over-exertion. Try to do slow but steady power yoga always.

• Take the help of yoga videos available in market that best suits your need.

• Do asanas that your body can perform easily. Never try to confront your body in positions that are hard to undertake & can end up with physical injury.

• Give your body time to adjust the power yoga moves. Do not rush through the asanas at the initial stages.

5 Ways to Fit Exercise into Your Life

As a women on the run I know how hard exercise is to fit into your life. But have you ever stopped for a moment to think about the importance of five easy ways to fit exercise into your life so that it makes a huge difference to your health, fitness and happiness. It is extremely important to select an exercise program that will be well-suited to your lifestyle.

An early run

Exercise is a great way to wake up your body so when you get up in the morning rather than walking straight to the shower put on your trainers and go for a brisk walk, or quick jog, for no more than 10 minutes. By the time you get into the shower you will hardly remember the 10-minute jog but your body will feel energized and ready for the day. Stretch the run to 15 or even 30 minutes when you are feeling more adventurous and you can get most of your exercise out of the way before you have really woken up!

Take the stairs

It may seem like an obvious point but if you remember to walk up the stairs every day then you will be amazed by how much good it does you. It will help to tone your thighs and bottom area and doing it four times a day is the same amount of exercise as walking for 30 minutes.

Break down exercise sessions

By breaking exercise up into small parts of the day you can fit it around your schedule and avoid having to spend hours in the gym. Do three repetitions of 20 sit-ups, push-ups or jog on the spot for five minutes. Such exercise can be a great way to de-stress at work as well as give you an energy boost.

 Easy exercise

Find something you enjoy that doesn't make you feel guilty when you miss it. In that way getting fit doesn't have to mean a gruelling exercise class or hours slaving in the gym. Next time your friend suggests lunch why not suggest meeting for a swim and then lunch after. You don't have to do strenuous lengths; instead swim slowly and chat to your friend and before you know it you have done more than enough exercise to justify a tasty lunch. Renting a bike and cycling is another great, fun activity, especially if you are looking for something the whole family can do together.

Walking

Walking is really great exercise. It tones different muscles to running ones, and in some ways it is more beneficial as puts less strain on your body. Try fitting more walking into your everyday routine on your way to work, at lunchtimes or in the evening to destress. You will be surprised at how quickly you see a difference in your body and health.

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.

Yoga Poses for Beginners

The beginners pose library also serves as a great learning tool and reference guide as you continue to develop your yoga practice. Stay tuned for the addition of new poses.

* Seated Yoga Poses - Grounding and calming, these poses provide some of our deepest muscle opening and twisting.

* Standing Yoga Poses - Good for strength, balance and focus. These energetic poses provide a straight line to shaping our best body.

* Arm Balances - These yoga poses are good for strength, body awareness and focus, providing some fun challenges for every body.

* Backbends - Opening up in the spine and chest feels great and strengthens our connection to intuition.

* Inversions - Good for balance and concentration, as well as circulation.

* Core Poses - These poses will strengthen your core and get your abs beach ready!

* Yoga Poses for Weight Loss - These poses will help you shed unwanted pounds!

* Restorative Poses - These yoga poses are great for winding down and connecting to our breath.

* Yoga Poses for Back Pain - Whether the origins are some acute injury or long-term stress, there are a few simple poses that can help with back pain.

* Yoga Sequences - How we move and breathe is much more important than the exact shape of our poses, for clearing our bodies and minds and creating our own best health.

Yoga Poses for Beginners

The beginners pose library also serves as a great learning tool and reference guide as you continue to develop your yoga practice. Stay tuned for the addition of new poses.

* Seated Yoga Poses - Grounding and calming, these poses provide some of our deepest muscle opening and twisting.

* Standing Yoga Poses - Good for strength, balance and focus. These energetic poses provide a straight line to shaping our best body.

* Arm Balances - These yoga poses are good for strength, body awareness and focus, providing some fun challenges for every body.

* Backbends - Opening up in the spine and chest feels great and strengthens our connection to intuition.

* Inversions - Good for balance and concentration, as well as circulation.

* Core Poses - These poses will strengthen your core and get your abs beach ready!

* Yoga Poses for Weight Loss - These poses will help you shed unwanted pounds!

* Restorative Poses - These yoga poses are great for winding down and connecting to our breath.

* Yoga Poses for Back Pain - Whether the origins are some acute injury or long-term stress, there are a few simple poses that can help with back pain.

* Yoga Sequences - How we move and breathe is much more important than the exact shape of our poses, for clearing our bodies and minds and creating our own best health.

Personal Values Benefits Yoga

* Along with a host of benefits, Yoga also helps in developing and attaining personal values. Yoga erases a variety of ills in human beings. These may range from feelings of frustration, persecution and insecurity. Yoga greatly helps in the development of personal values.

* Personal values are those values which an individual develops and lives by all through his life. The main aim of life is to enjoy every moment and Yoga indeed plays a vital role in this regard. Yoga makes life better. Yoga is a continuing process and a life long thing, not just something you do for a while and stop. We all strive for improvement throughout our lives. It is an indication of our resolve to improve and remain fit. Yoga helps us to attain these goals.

* Our body is the vehicle that carries our mind. It is here that Yoga assumes great significance. Personal Values are very important as they define your character and they develop your personality. Your personality is the way others see you. There is a golden rule in this regard- if you don't respect yourself, no-one else will.

* So you have to earn that respect from others, not just by words but actions too. Yoga also helps you in your resolve to be better. Remember, your personal values are the foundation of your life; you have to continuously grow them up and nurture. Grow and develop them for entire life.