Nourishing Yoga: Body, Mind and Spirit

The Reasons we do Yoga

Why do you practice yoga? Or why don’t you, if you’re one of our few readers who need convincing to begin? When I started to give up my vices, with every endeavor, with every new habit I’ve picked up and incorporated into my lifestyle, I posed the question ‘why?’

I started doing yoga as it embodies holistic living, and for me it was adopting a lifelong practice that took care of the whole of me, not just the blood and bones. Yoga means union in Sanskrit and helps you get in touch with yourself, and your true unconscious self. It is body, mind and soul food. Yoga does not discriminate either – you can adopt it into your lifestyle as a child or in old age, male or female, fit or fat, sick or well. If you’ve done yoga and kept at it, chances are you don’t need to read on. However if you’d like a little inspiration.

Body

Like many at first, I considered yoga just for the physical advantages. Because there are a multitude of body benefits to practicing yoga.

For one, it improves circulation, which makes the digestive and endocrine systems much more effective and it strengthens the immune system. Yoga practitioners have a much greater sense of vitality. Respiration is improved and the increase in muscle tone also helps fire up the metabolism.

From a aesthetic and health point of view, it lowers fat and improves muscle tone greatly, yogis and yoginis tend to be lean and poised, and look younger than their real age. And most definitely feel it. Physical energy is increased dramatically.

It also increases flexibility and strength not to mention stamina. Holding those poses requires endurance and it translates the same into daily life, making everyday tasks seem much easier.

Even those who are generally active sports persons claim that yoga provides them with a different physical training than their own activity. Yoga improves athletic performance. Many top athletes are devout yogis.

It is also a great pain reliever. Yoga can quickly rehabilitate the bodies of those who have suffered injury or undergone any type of surgery.

Mind

Yoga also teaches you to quiet the mind and remove distractions particularly helpful when trying to accomplish a task or attain a goal. Just like your body, your mind feels energized by yoga as opposed to tired. It will help you be more alert and focus your energy on where you want it to go. It improves concentration tenfold.

Yoga encourages clear, positive thoughts. It provides practitioners with clarity when dealing with difficult situations. It reduces stress by helping one relax and alleviating tension.

It also unlocks the mind and increases creativity. Yoga helps one surrender their ego which is vital to the creative process, and allows the mind to relax and ideas to flow from within.

Spirit

Yoga helps you get in touch with the emotional being, nourishing and soothing the spirit by creating a sense of well being and calm. Gives a sense of union, or oneness as its meaning implies by building awareness of your body, your feelings, the world around you, the needs of others.

Yoga also plays a big role in boosting self esteem and encourages self acceptance.

Practitioners feel more centered and balanced even when facing external distress be it everyday ordeals, life changing events or hormonal changes.

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to theColors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visitYogacaraShop.com

Photo credits: lululemon athletica, Brenda-Starr, alicepopkorn on flickr

Utkatasana: The Imaginary Chair

Often called the Chair Pose, Utkatasana literally translated from Sanskrit means powerful pose. To the eye it looks like somebody sitting in an invisible chair and although a task that gets easier over time, is not difficult to learn and is an effective addition to any yoga routine.

A deep squat, Utkatasana is a yoga pose or asana that demands poise and concentration and will reward the yogi with many benefits as it engages the strength of your lower body and provides a stretch for the upper. Utkatasana can help reshape your body as well as it tones the butt and quadriceps, stretches the calves, strengthens the core and exploits the hidden power within the body. Plus it stimulates the organs and heart, opens the diaphragm, strengthens and stretches shoulders, boosts stamina, and works at improving the immune system as well as the various joints.

Sometimes also called the fierce pose, Utkatasana generates heat within the body and employs the seat of power so you can literally ‘feel the burn’ which can be very satisfying. Over time however, the sitting position can easily be attained for longer without support, providing more and more of the numerable advantages listed above. Sparking the fire within the pelvis, that you will feel in your belly will aid you in radiating this energy out through the limbs as you perform this asana.

How to perform Utkatasana:

• Stand with your feet and arms in Tadasana or basic mountain pose
• Inhale deeply, moving your arms forward and overhead, palms facing inwards and on exhalation, squat as if you’re sitting on an imaginary chair, keeping your heels firmly grounded.
• Try keeping your thighs as parallel to the ground as possible, but you should be able to see your toes, so your knees should be bent just slightly forward of the ankles.
• Draw in the navel which should help support the spine and aid in dispersing the inner power you have tapped into. Tuck your tailbone in and gaze upwards slightly but do not strain the neck and jaw.
• As much as possible, keep the spine, head and raised arms in line. Make sure the arms are at the same level as the ears.
• Hold the position for four to eight slow and steady breaths. And on exiting the pose, inhale as you straighten the legs and exhale when returning the arms to the sides as in Tadasana. It’s important to remember to breathe through this asana and find your balance. Repeat.

Variations – to make them easier or more challenging can include keeping the feet at shoulder width to start with, optionally using a block between the thighs and squeeze to engage the abductors, keeping the arms perpendicular to the floor, performing the pose on tiptoes, keeping the chin level, etc.

Cautions – Avoid lower back pain by maintaining the natural lumbar curve of the back, avoid straining the shoulders and neck as this can cause sprains or dizziness.

But performed both traditionally and unconventionally, practicing Utkatasana as part of your daily yoga will prove extremely beneficial as over time this asana will strengthen the core and pelvis, which will enable you to hold the sitting position for longer and longer.

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to theColors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

*Photo credits: Photo by tarnalberry, myyogaonline on flickr

Extreme Yoga Poses- 2

With the hit of our last Extreme Yoga Poses post, we decided to bring you some more advanced yoga poses that look a little extreme yet make yoga so damn cool-

Photo by Sami Taipale on flickr

photo by milopeng on flickr

photo by domananda on flickr

photo by domananda on flickr

photo by Ron Sombilon Gallery on flickr

photo by Ron Sombilon Gallery on flickr

Photo by Sami Taipale on flickr

photo by milopeng on flickr

photo by lululemon athletica on flickr

photo by Ron Sombilon Gallery on flickr

CLICK HERE for more Extreme Yoga Pictures

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Extreme Yoga Poses

While Yoga isn’t just about twisting one’s body into an intricate pretzel or doing headstands or balancing acts, it is certainly a part of the practice of Yoga. You may just start off with simple yoga asanas (yoga poses) like the downward facing dog and simple back bends, but with regular practice your flexibility, balance and strength improves drastically allowing you explore and try some harder postures.

Here’s a look at some advanced yoga poses that look a little extreme yet make yoga so damn cool-

photo by milopeng on flickr

photo by Ron Sombilon Gallery on flickr

photo by domananda on flickr

photo by Sami Taipale on flickr

photo by Ron Sombilon Gallery on flickr

photo by milopeng on flickr

photo by milopeng on flickr

photo by domananda on flickr

photo by Kelly Loves Whales on flickr

photo by milopeng on flickr

photo by Pedro Moura Pinheiro on flickr

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Yoga Vs Pilates: What’s the Difference?

The Combined Power of Yoga and Pilates

Two of the most common words thrown out there today when it comes to fitness- Yoga and Pilates. But what is all the buzz about? Why are they so popular? and most asked… What’s the difference between these two?

Yoga
Lets start with Yoga. As we’ve seen previously on this site (Read: Energize Your Body & Soul with these Different Types of Yoga, Yoga: A Spiritual Quest for Enlightenment) Yoga is not purely physical activity. In fact it aims at uniting the mind, the body and the spirit through a philosophical and spiritual focus. The physical aspect of yoga, i.e the poses, stretches and  postures are only one of the 8 parts of yoga. While this is the most focused on aspect of Yoga in the west, it only touches the surface of the ancient philosophy  of yoga which is complete lifestyle and not a mere exercise routine. Meditation plays a very important role in Yoga (Read: The Importance of Meditation in Yoga and Our Lives). At the same time however, Yoga can also be interpreted or adapted as a fitness routine as you will see in Power Yoga: The Physically Intensive and Exercise Driven Modern Yoga. While there are yoga props used in some types of yoga like Iyengar Yoga, you can practice it with only a yoga mat.

Pilates
Pilates on the other hand is purely physical. It focuses on strengthening the entire body, increasing muscle control, improving flexibility and coordination through exercises centered around the abdominal muscles, lower back and buttocks referred to as ‘The Powerhouse’. Pilates teaches six principles – concentration, control, centering, breathing, flow and precision. This trains the body to move efficiently with minimal impact on the body. Some Pilates exercises are done on just a mat, however, specialized equipment is used in Pilates such as the Reformer, which utilizes pulleys, springs and weight resistance to build strength. The principle behind pilates is to strengthen the core powerhouse (abdomin, lower back and behind) and allowing the rest of the body to move freely, which is why all its exercises abdominal intensive. If the center is strong, it enhances everything from posture to agility.

So Which Is Better?
This question is subjective to what an individual is looking for. Yoga meets the needs of a person looking for a low-impact, body toning fitness exercise that improves balance and flexibility along with, the tranquility, relaxation and balance of mind, body and spirit. Yoga will definitely help you stay fit, be more energetic, happier and peaceful in your overall life.

If you’re looking for a dynamic workout sans the spirituality, then Pilates is just the thing for you. With core focus on strengthening muscles, improving posture, stabilizing and lengthening the spine, Pilates is an overall vigorous workout and fitness routine.

However to get the best of both world’s you can always combine the two and practice them in conjunction of each other. Get the stretch from yoga, the strength from pilates, that’ll improve your yoga postures. Breathing techniques from yoga, to help in a pilates sessions and the relaxing tranquility from yoga meditation. Who said you can’t have it all!

*Photo Credits:  photos by Kelly Loves Whales, natalia.sanmartin and gio50000 on flickr

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Pranayama: 3 Yoga Breathing Exercises for Beginners

As we saw in our last post Pranayama: A Beginners Guide to Yoga Breathing, Pranayama involves breathing techniques and exercises to the control the life force (prana)  within our body. This is practiced in thousands of different ways and is known as the types of Pranayama. While breathing is normally an automatic process, the conscious regulation of air in and out of the lungs in the form of inhalation and exhalation both in respect of speed and time has a beneficial effect on the mind and the body. This is the aim of Pranayama. Of the various types of Pranayama, here’s a look a few types of pranayama (breathing exercises) for beginners which can be practiced anyone, anywhere, where distractions are minimal and if you have few minutes to spare.

Bhramari
Bhramari is a large bumble bee. This pranayama is named so because of the humming sound you make when exhaling. It has a very calming effect because of the vibration the humming causes and it helps in lengthening the breath.

• Start off in a comfortable seated position- padmasna, sidhasana or Vajrasana
• Close your ears with the balls of your thumbs and cover your eyes with your middle fingers applying a little pressure, elbows straight out. All sound from the outside should be closed off when you press your ears.
• The position of your index fingers is along your eyebrow bone and the other two fingers lightly covering the rest of your eye and just below the eyes.
• Take a deep inhalation.
• Slowly exhale, releasing air through your nose all the while making a humming sound that resonates in your head. You should feel the vibrations.
• Repeat 3-5 times and end with three simple breaths before releasing your ears and uncovering your eyes.

Kapālabhāti Pranayama (Cleansing Breath)
This exercise is known as the cleansing breath as it clears blocked nasal passages. It emphasis on exhalation leaves inhalation up to the natural reflex. It uses only abdominal breathing, that is breathing into the diaphragm. (*This exercises should be approached with caution for people with Blood Pressure as if it is done incorrectly one may feel lightheaded )

• Sitting upright in Vajrasana, place hands on your thighs.
• Gently exhale all of the air from the lungs then take a regular inhalation.
• Exhale through the nose, mouth closed with force rapidly in a short burst (like a sneeze) so your stomach squeezes in.
• Repeat twenty times, keeping a steady rhythm paying attention and emphasizing on the exhalation each time. Let the inhalation happen automatically. You should use your stomach muscles to exhale completely.
• Perform 8 to 12 Kapalabhati inhalations and exhalations for starters. This is one round. Slowly build up the Kapalabhati breaths taken in each round with practice to 30 times or 1 minute and then to 5 mins minutes.
• Repeat for 3 rounds.

Anulom Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
This Pranayama technique that directs the flow of Prana (life force) between the two sides of the brain and balances the body. It is a simple exercise for beginners that makes you feel balanced, relaxed and calm.

• Sitting in simple crossed leg or any comfortable seated position, fist your index and middle finger of one hand leaving the thumb, ring finger and pinky sticking out.
• Where the bridge bone of the nose ends close one nostril with the thumb. If you closed the right nostril, inhale deeply through the left nostril and count the time of inhalation.
• Closing the other nostril (left in this case) with the middle and pinky finger hold the breath for a few seconds
• Keeping the left side closed, release your thumb and exhale slowly through the right nostril. The exhalation counts should be higher than the inhalation.
• Once you completely exhale, inhale through the same nostril (right)
• Close both nostrils, hold breath and then release through the left side. Repeating this pattern.
• Continue alternating 5 to 10 times.

*Photo credits: photos by lululemon athletica, Bindaas Madhavi on flickr.

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Pranayama: A Beginners Guide to Yoga Breathing

The Basics of Yoga Breathing and Pranayama

Pranayama is the practice of breathing exercises, one of the many parts of yoga. ‘Prana‘ translates into “life force energy” and ‘Yama‘ translates into “control or mastery of”. In other words, Pranyama is used to control, cultivate, and modify the art of breathing and energy balance. Pranayama involves breathing techniques practiced in thousands of different ways.

Most of the Yoga Pranayama exercises consist of 4 parts:
1. Inhalation – Puraka
2. Lungs full retention – Antara Kumbhaka
3. Exhalation – Rechaka
4. Lungs empty retention – Bahya kumbhaka

Many of the breathing techniques in pranayama vary the use of these 4 parts and in the earlier stages of learning the retentions are done lightly.

It is only through proper breathing that oxygen is supplied to the various parts of the body and vital organs. Since Pranayama with regular practice improves your breathing technique, it helps your organs which rely on oxygen function better.

Here’s a Short Guide to Pranayama for Beginners:

Traditionally Pranayama is practiced in the full Lotus Pose (left image). For beginners though this position is not easy to hold and it can make you stiff or uncomfortable. Since the basics of Yoga calls for concentration and to remove all thoughts especially distractions from your mind, it’s best to start your pranayama exercises on a chair, till you learn the lotus position and are completely comfortable holding it for long periods of time (for which you need to do some stretching exercises before taking the seated position).

Choose a nice seat that prompts you to sit upright. Since most seats naturally make you slouch, put a cushion behind your lower back so that your spine curves forward pushing your shoulders back. Allow a little looseness in your posture so that the muscles around the chest and torso have plenty of room to move and expand. Pay attention to your sitting position during the exercises as it’s very easy to start slouching and loose the right posture. Remember there should always be space between the front of the belly and below the navel.

This is the first step to Pranayama. Your Inhalation must be slow and controlled. When inhaling listen to the sound. Keep it smooth and harmonious so that the air enters at a steady rate throughout the inhalation.

Try to inhale deeply but stop when your chest or mind feels any strain. In fact your should try to stop just short of your deepest boundary because of tension or too much pressure. Never forcefully try to deepen your intake. Respect your limits and know when to stop. Your capacity with gradually increase with regular practice.

Antara Kumbhaka means full container. It refers to the part of the breath when the lungs are full of air. It can be done passively or with a positional lock called Jālandhara Bandha. It is done by raising the rib cage up and placing the chin down thereby cutting off the flow of air and energy from the base of the neck.

Introduce the technique after your inhalations have been mastered and harmonized rhythmically. Once the lungs have filled with air cease forcing it in. When the lock is performed the air is trapped and gripped. This causes more pressure as the expansion is decreased by the lock. It sometimes feels as though you are still taking in air.

Antara kumbhaka is essentially holding the breath and allowing time to pass as the lungs change direction. These again like everything in Yoga becomes easier to do with practice.

There is quite an art to exhalation. When exhaling listen to the sound. Like finely tuning a musical instrument the sound is carefully adjusted so that its vibration is perfect throughout exhalation.

If you feel strain at any time during exhalation relax and break the breathing technique. Take easy breaths until you feel relaxed then continue.

Just as in inhalation this process must be slow and controlled. You could even keep count in your head if it helps.

Bahya Kumbaka refers to the time after exhalation and before inhalation. It is the time when the lungs have little or no air. In advanced yoga the lungs are completely emptied but for beginners it is much more fruitful to allow a little air to remain in the lungs.

During Bāhya kumbhaka a lock can be performed called Uddīyana Bandha. In this lock after exhalation the lower abdomen and diaphragm are then drawn upwards in a vacuum. The rib cage is raised creating a little space around the heart.

These 4 parts are the basic of any Pranayama exercise. It’s important to practice each part carefully paying attention to your position of both your outer body and posture and as bizarre as it may sound, your inner organs as well. Be aware of your organs their capacity and if you concentrate and are focused you’ll understand this is possible.

With practice your capacity will increase gradually. You’ll notice your inhalation deepen, your retention will be easier and longer with out the need of any locks and your exhalation will lengthen.

*Photo Credits: photo by odysseyfx on flickr.

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Myth Buster: Yoga Myths Debunked

Clearing Common Misconceptions About the Practice of Yoga

There’s a lot of common talk, notions, assumptions and mistaken beliefs about Yoga, keeping people from trying it for the first time. But, just like other myths, a little knowledge on the subject can dispel the misconceptions and clear the air. Here’s a look at some Common Yoga Myths:

#1. Yoga Is A For Physical Exercise Only
This myth stems from the most widespread misconception of Yoga . A major contribution to this image of yoga lies in the fact that most information on the subject is always accompanied by a picture of a person twisting one’s body into an intricate pretzel or doing headstands or balancing acts. Well, it is hard to show the bigger picture of yoga with a photo, which is a school of thought that includes physical, mental and spiritual practices to bring about a complete balance in a person for their well being. The physical aspect of yoga called Asanas (yoga poses) is only 1 step of the 8 Limbs of Yoga. (Read more in: The 8 Steps of Yoga- A Spiritual Quest for Enlightenment). This disciplined path is chosen for the purification of our attachments to the temporary material world of form in search of greater spirituality and truth (which doesn’t mean it can’t be used to get you Madonna like arms and physical workout). This leads to the second misunderstanding about Yoga…

#2. Yoga Is Religious
While yoga plays an integral role in religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, it is not a religion in itself. Yoga is a 5,000 year old practice of meditation and lifestyle of greater consciousness which some may choose as a path to God, which ever they may believe in. In other words, Yoga is a path to spiritual consciousness or away to quiet the mind and connect with one’s inner-self.

#3. Yoga is Best Left to the Young and Fit to Practice.
This again comes from the misunderstanding that yoga is merely physical. When we hear the word Yoga many people have the fixed image of a thin, well toned woman contorting her body in a way we would think fit for Cirque Du Soleil. While yes, yoga requires some flexibility it doesn’t mean if you’re as flexible as a carrot stick you can’t practice yoga. In fact the flexibility comes eventually with the practice of yoga asanas and in the meantime there are hundreds of poses to get you there. Yoga is not competitive nor comparative, which is why you’ll notice the lack of mirrors in a yoga classroom. Each individual is different with different physical limitations. One may find certain yoga poses easier than others, but the most important is achieving proper body alignment in each posture. Poses can always be modified to make them more accessible. The Use of Props in Yoga is a great way of overcoming our physical while getting the best from each pose.

As for age, it plays no part in Yoga. The misconception that younger people are more fit and flexible than older folk is a myth dispelled by yoga teachers themselves. The most famous Yogis and Yoginis are not what you would call young, yet the perform and teach just the same proving older people can have the same level or more dexterity than youth. Yoga in fact is good for the problems that come with age like arthritis, blood pressure it’s what can helps us to age well, battle health issues and improve immunity.

#4. To Practice Yoga You Must Be a ‘Health Freak’ and Turn Vegetarian.
This is just not the case. This notion of Yoga is for “those earthy-crunchy weirdos” or “hippies” couldn’t be more from the truth. Yoga is practiced by millions of people and a huge number aren’t vegan or vegetarians even. Usually the people that turn to Yoga are looking for a healthier lifestyle and a spiritual quest. While vegetarianism is consistent with the non-violence which yoga advocates, many people turn to vegetarianism for the health benefits validated by the mainstream medical community to double it up with the health benefits of practicing yoga. It’s in no way a requirement or even asked of anyone choosing to practice yoga.

#5. Yoga is a Woman’s Activity
Yoga actually originated among men in India about 5,000 years ago. One look at World’s well-known yogis- Patanjali, B.K.S. Iyengar, Baron Baptiste, Bryan Kest should dispel this one. Yes, 72% of Yoga practitioners today are women and that makes it intimidating for a man to join a class, however most men that overcome the initial nerves will vouch that Yoga is a great great way to work out physically as well as bring about a balance in their lives, keeping them centered. After all, not just women look for peace of mind, good health and inner calm. So leave out the gender stereotyping when it comes to yoga.

So, let go of all these notions, assumptions and mistaken beliefs of Yoga holding you back from trying yoga for yourself. Grab a yoga mat and give a class a try! You’ll experience first hand the holistic benefits of yoga.

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* Photo credits: photos by Kelly Loves Whales, domananda, apolaine, milopeng on flickr.

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

The Health Benefits of Yoga

Lead a Healthier Lifestyle by Practicing Yoga Daily

Everyone knows physical benefits of regularly practicing yoga, the increase in flexibility, improvement in muscle tone and strength as well as overall better posture. But, this 5,000 year old practice  is more than just a trendy workout as it has been called. Its millions of followers are enjoying a host of health benefits. The balance Yoga brings the mind, body and spirit through body poses, controlled breathing and more importantly meditation is associated with a number of health benefits which are medically and scientifically recognized the world over.

Here’s a look at some of the Health Benefits associated with Yoga:

Circulation
Through the practice of yoga poses along with breathing exercises, Yoga improves blood circulation. By improving circulation, nutrients and oxygen are better transported throughout your body resulting in healthier organs, skin and brain.

Respiratory System
Like the circulatory system, a lower respiratory rate indicates that the lungs are working more efficiently. Yoga helps decrease the respiratory rate through a combination of controlled breathing exercises and better fitness. By learning how to control breathing during exercise, it maximizes the absorption of oxygen-rich air for your body which in turn helps reduce respiratory related health problems like asthma, bronchitis and clear the nasal passage and sinuses.

Relieves Stress
Stress is an increasing health issue nowadays. Stress causes your muscles to tense, the heart beat faster, a change in breathing patterns and the secretion of more hormones that increasing blood sugar levels as well as raising blood pressure. The concentration required during yoga practice tends to focus your attention on the matter at hand, thereby reducing the emphasis you may have been putting on the stress in your life. Consistent yoga practice decreases blood pressure through better circulation and oxygenation of the body.

Heart Disease
Several trials have found that yoga can lower blood pressure, cholesterol, resting heart rates and help slow the progression of atherosclerosis—all risk factors for heart disease. A combination of lowering heart rate and improving oxygenation to the body, both these benefits of yoga help in reducing the risk of heart diseases.

Cancer
Research has shown that patients fighting or recovering from cancer who do yoga benefit from a number of advantages. The results of a study in which women with metastatic breast cancer, attended eight weekly yoga sessions and the doctors found that the women had much less pain and felt more energetic and relaxed than others who hadn’t done any yoga. Cancer patients who practice yoga are said to gain strength, raise red blood cells, experience less nausea during chemotherapy and have a better overall well-being.

Back Pain and Arthritis
Yoga involves doing yoga poses in a slow, deliberate manner. It helps reduce spinal compression and improves the overall body alignment which reduce back pain. However, if the poses are incorrectly practiced it can make back pain worse. During a pose gentle pressure exerted on the joints which is an excellent form of exercise to relieve arthritis symptoms. Yoga physically helps loosen all the bodies muscles and therapeutic to the joints.

Menopause
Studies have shown that women who took yoga classes which use props to support the postures, reported a 30 percent decrease in hot flashes, one of the side effects of menopause. Women who took Yoga classes for longer plus reported less physical and sexual discomfort as well as reduced stress and anxiety.

Apart from these health benefits that yoga has shown to help, there are other emotional perks to be gained from a consistent yoga practice as yoga aims at achieving a balance between ones body and mind. Yoga elevates overall mood and well being of a person and is said to help battle depression and anxiety. It is also said to improve concentration, memory and through meditation techniques makes a person more calm and composed with a positive outlook on life.

*Photo credits: Photos by Mahesh Khanna, pikimota, Andreas D., Dave77459 on flickr

For  special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Energize Your Body & Soul with these Different Types of Yoga

The term Yoga is commonly used to refer to the practice of physical postures or poses, which in reality is only a small part of the more complex ancient discipline that is – YOGA.

Yoga is a school of thought, originating from India  and includes physical, mental and spiritual practices to bring about a complete balance in a person for their well being. Over the years, a number of different types of yoga philosophies have developed, which  more stress on the physical, mental or spiritual aspects more than the others. Recently in the United States the most common style of Yoga adopted focuses purely on the physical benefits of yoga in the form of Power Yoga. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration, while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great. Whatever you are looking for, there is a Type of Yoga to suit your needs.

Here’s a look into the most popular types of Yoga-

Classic Yoga’s

Hatha Yoga
The most popular form of yoga in the western world. Hatha yoga is often practiced solely for its physical benefit. It uses asanas, which are the physical postures or poses of yoga. This 15th century form of yoga is believed to purify the physical body and bring strength in order to lead to the purification of the mind.

Along with Asanas (poses), Hatha yoga includes breathing exercises (Pranayams), meditation and purification procedures known as ‘Shatkriyas‘. Hatha yoga is not just about stretching as many people mistake it for, it develops both strength and flexibility and each pose has specific physical benefits. Hatha Yoga with its many modern variations is the style that many people associate with the word “Yoga” today.

Ashtanga Yoga
Also known as Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga or Raja Yoga, is one of the earliest types of yoga. Started around 5000 BC, Ashtanga yoga follows an eight fold path formulated by Patanjali also known as the eight limbs of yoga mainly- Yama (moral code towards others); Niyama (personal discipline);
Asana (ashtanga yoga postures); Pranayama (yoga breathing); Prayahara (withdrawal of senses); Dharana (concentration); Dhyan (meditation); Samadhi (salvation).

As you see out of the the 8 limbs, only one involves the physical performance of yoga postures. Each of the limbs builds off each other in order, with an aim of achieving a healthy and fulfilling life. The benefits of this yoga practice is more than just the physicality found in Hatha yoga, it applies to everyday aspects of life and is more of a complete way of living rather than a short practice.

Karma Yoga
Many people are familiar with the term Karma, but how many know that it’s a type of yoga. Karma or ‘discipline of action’ is the conscious practice of those actions that bring the most amounts of good and the least amount of evil as it is believed the result of that action will reciprocate yours. This discipline of yoga dates back to before 800 BC and is a spiritual path that dedicates actions to God.

Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga is a type of yoga that focuses on knowledge. Jnana Yoga includes knowing oneself that leads to self-realization, control of the senses, developing an indifference or detachment from objects, concentration, attainment of tranquility and ultimately bliss.

Pranayama Yoga
The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Pranayama is ‘restraint (ayama) of breath (prana)’. It is the practice of breath control and breathing techniques. Since air is considered the breath of life or vital force responsible for life, it’s control into the various parts of the body especially the mind is said to help attain higher states of awareness. On a scientific level pranayama techniques are believed to be beneficial in treating a range of stress related disorders, asthma and oxidative stress.

Swara Yoga
Swara yoga focuses on controlling and manipulating the flow of breath in the nostrils. The word swara means “the sound of one’s own breath” and this form of yoga involves studying the nostril’s breath flow at all times of the day and seasons. It uses Pranayama or ‘breath control’ exercises as a part of a more precise and extensive focus on nose breathing.

Modern Yoga’s

Iyengar Yoga
Developed by the living yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar (now age 91), this modern adaptation of Patanjali’s Ashtanga yoga and Hatha yoga, uses props such as belts, cushions, blankets and blocks as aids in performing asanas (postures). This style of Yoga is said to promote strength, icrease flexibility, endurance, balance and stamina through coordinated breathing and poses that require precise body alignment. Iyengar Yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga taught today.The poses are performed at a slow pace and are generally held longer than in other styles of yoga making it especially good if you’re recovering from an injury.

Power Yoga
The American interpretation of ashtanga yoga aimed at a physical workout is what has come to be known as Power Yoga. This fitness approach to yoga is a sweat-producing, muscle-building series of yoga asanas (poses) that flow into each other without the usual pauses between the poses practiced in traditional yoga. Power yoga is also breath-synchronized and the fluent movements from one pose to another create an almost aerobic workout feel. Power yoga’s popularity as a way to workout has made is a common option in the gyms of America.

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* Photo Credits: photos by lululemon athletica, myyogaonline, milopeng, apolaine on flickr

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