Yoga Accessories

The accessories used upon for other forms of co-curicular activities requires lot of attention towards the acquiring up of various simultaneous products from the domestic market nd a particular commuter deviated from its path which makes him/her completely confused but as far as selected Yoga accessories are concerned they require certain handful of items that can be purchased very easily as Yoga Asana demands less or very tiny space for relaxation of complete body and soul as no walking; running; jumping; etc are needed but an

Yoga exerciser is rather confined to that specific sheet he/she utilizes to perform those asanas over the mat and with other concerned stretchable products thereupon. The bending of easy Yoga accessories postures makes an exerciser to be susceptible to get attracted towards the accessories always so that the body could achieve far more relaxing stage what it could have achieved out of normal context of the accessories available for doing day-to-day normal exercising.

As the core initial of Yoga exercising is tough so are its requirement and every product before been launched in to the domestic market are thoroughly checked and tested by the manufacturing units as the customer might reject their proposal due to unhygienic conditions implied or there isn’t much elasticity or flexibilty to utilize the product at home or outside the home by the customer.

As Yoga demands absolute concentration with pin-drop silence assessment capbility of an exerciser performing simultaneous activities over the mat atop, the distraction out of wearing loose clothes or woolen clothes to produce itchiness feeling discards the utilitarian review of an exerciser to acquire such form of accessories from the market. The manufacturing companies all around the globe are paying extra attention over the unintentional exposures of an exerciser at the time of performing Yoga at a particular place.

The specific Yoga Accessories prevents an exerciser form falling from the place he/she is standing at as the products provides extra cushioning towards the surface of the product in order not to let the person to come in contact with the ground surfacing.

The Yoga accessories are even especially designed not to let an exerciser to sweat more and helps in absorbing the excessive extra perspiration process of the metabolic system of a human body and not to allow any unwanted and unexpected slipping from the surface of the mat.
Types of Yoga Accessories and Apparels

* Yoga mats and Props

* Yoga Training Materials; Books

* Yoga DVDs and Cassettes; Carry All-bags

* Eye-Pillow; Neti-Pot; Yoga Foam Blocks

* Yoga especially designed foam sandals wth extra cushioning power;
* Lifestyle-Inspired Yoga products such as: Jewellery made up of beads etc.

* Yoga learning tools such as: CD-ROMS; Yoga food and Living-Enlightment Health Books; Enama Equipments; Tongue cleaner; Natural Perfumed fragmented herbal Soaps etc.

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Yoga is to keep Physical and Mental Wellness

When we talk about Yoga, it means that you are talking to connect the soul with God. Yoga is to get Moksha means freedom from all kinds of pain that making the life balanced, which is the one of the most significant goal of Yoga.

Yoga is a practice by which person’s exercised to take control over the physical and mental wellness, to achieve that which is not achieved till now and to be surmise on God, the Parmatma and to reside upon the creation and existence of this world. Yoga give a way to final Salvation and a more temporal kind, temporal in terms of relieving sadness, the kind that surely results from poor health.

The practices of Yoga are very advantageous for the protection of health. It helps to continue both physical and mental health that cannot be performed by either taking form of medications or drinking potions. Yoga helps one conquer mental despair as well as attain balance among body and soul. It augments the ability to work and make the brain to retain power and memory.

Yoga is called Astanga or eight-faceted Yoga. Those eight facets are Yama, Asana, Dhyana, Pranayama, Niyana, Dharana, Pratyahara, and Samadhi.

Yama: Yama stands for Ahimsa, kindness to all living beings, respect and tolerance and impartiality in all feeling, doing and examining.

Satya (Truth): One should forever speak and think truly.

Brahmacharya: In this mind blend with the Parabrahma or the highest level of perception.

Asteya: One who defeats from such act is bathed with valuable stones.

Aparigraha: Although enjoyable, many things we do and are addicted to, such as some of the foods that we eat, are not good for us and must be given up.

Rutu Kala: One must not coddle physically to other than one's legally wedded wife or husband and the same during Rutu Kala, the period that begins on the fourth day after menstruation and ends on the sixteenth.

Niyama: It includes the five concepts of Contentment, Swadhyaya Cleanliness, Penance, and Ishwari Pranidhana.
Santoshadanuttama Sukha Labha; to be truly happy and satisfied is one of the states of mind.

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Meditation improves breast cancer survivors’ emotional well-being

Washington: Mindfulness-based meditation plays a vital role in improving breast cancer survivors’ health challenges, which they face after treatments, a new study has revealed.

Yaowarat Matchim, a former nursing doctoral student; Jane Armer, professor of nursing and Bob Stewart, professor emeritus of education and adjunct faculty in nursing, found that breast cancer survivors’ health improved after they learned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a type of mindfulness training that incorporates meditation, yoga and physical awareness.

“MBSR is another tool to enhance the lives of breast cancer survivors,” Armer said.

“Patients often are given a variety of options to reduce stress, but they should choose what works for them according to their lifestyles and belief systems.”

The MBSR program consists of group sessions throughout a period of eight to ten weeks. During the sessions, participants practice meditation skills, discuss how bodies respond to stress and learn coping techniques.

The researchers found that survivors who learned MBSR lowered their blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. In addition, participants’ mood improved, and their level of mindfulness increased after taking the class. Armer says, for best results, participants should continue MBSR after the class ends to maintain the positive effects.

“Mindfulness-based meditation, ideally, should be practiced every day or at least on a routine schedule,” Armer said. “MBSR teaches patients new ways of thinking that will give them short- and long-term benefits.”

Armer says the non-pharmaceutical approach works best as a complement to other treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

“Post diagnosis, breast cancer patients often feel like they have no control over their lives,” Armer said.

“Knowing that they can control something—such as meditation—and that it will improve their health, gives them hope that life will be normal again.”

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Top 5 yoga poses for flexibility

Yoga physically conditions the body while promoting mental relaxation. There are many benefits to yoga, one of the most important benefits being flexibility.

Dancers and athletes, alike, participate in yoga to increase their flexibility, which in turn makes them agile and powerful.
But yoga isn't just for professional sports persons, and flexibility isn't just a performance-related requirement. Anyone looking to increase their flexibility for better musculature and joint health can consider yoga. Here are the top yoga poses for better flexibility to get you started!

Crane pose
Bakasana is also known as the Crane Pose. The Crane Pose increases flexibility in the upper back and chest. It takes practice to fully master any yoga pose so beginners should take things slowly and focus on the correct positioning of the body to accomplish this pose. To perform this pose, squat down keeping the feet flat on the floor. Separate your knees just slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Lean your torso forward while placing your hands on the floor with the back of your arms against your shins. Take a deep breath and slowly lean forward beginning to place the weight of your body on the back of your arms. Lift up your feet as stability increases in supporting your body on your arms.

Salutation seal
Anjali Mudra, also known as Salutation Seal, is a yoga pose that Increases flexibility in the hands, fingers, arms and wrists. Sit with your legs bent inward, a pose known as butterfly or Indian-style. Place the palms of your hands together with your thumbs resting on the chest. Your hands should rest firmly on each other but should be neutral. Be sure that one hand is not dominating the other and that everything remains equal. Bow your head down towards your thumbs. Lift your chest upward and bring your shoulders down.

Upward facing dog
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana is the Upward-Facing Dog pose. Upward-Facing Dog is designed to increase flexibility in the large muscles of the back and in the spine. To perform this pose, start by laying flat on the floor, face down, with the tops of your feet pressed towards the floor. Place your hands at the side of your waist and bend your elbows, ensuring that your arms are bent perpendicular to the floor. Keeping your hands in the same position with your feet still on the floor, straighten your arms lifting your torso and the hips straight off the floor. Keep the your feet, legs and hips in a straight line. Take care to hold a firm pose but don't harden the muscles; this actually places additional pressure on the back.

Head to knee forward bend
The head-to-knee forward bend targets the hamstring muscles and your lower back to increase the flexibility of these areas. You may also feel a stretch in your neck and calves. To perform the pose, sit on the floor with your right leg straight in front of you and your left knee bent. The left knee rests on the floor, and your left foot is placed against your right inner thigh. This stretches and opens the hips of the left side. Then, bend forward and reach both arms along the floor and toward your right foot. Pull your toes back to stretch your calf. Relax your neck down toward your leg and place your forhead on your shin if you can. Repeat on the other side.

Sphinx pose
The sphinx pose is a gentle exercise for your lower back, chest and shoulders. It is a predecessor to the popular cobra and upward facing dog poses. The sphinx pose resembles its name. To do the pose, lie on your belly with your legs straight behind you. Place your forearms on the floor with your elbows in line with your shoulders and slowly raise your head and chest off the floor. The stomach remains down and your back curves as you lift up. Look straight ahead and pull your shoulders down and back to open your chest.

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Spiritual Principles behind Yoga

Yoga has risen in popularity over these recent years as a helpful stretching exercise. Perhaps it was triggered by a relatively more sedentary lifestyle compared to a generation ago, as more an more people are sitting in front of computers for at least eight hours a day.
Although yoga has been practiced not only recently but in fact for centuries, more people who are not even spiritually connected to the principles that yoga teaches are interested in it as a physical activity.

But real followers of yoga believe that it is not just a way to improve one’s flexibility, but instead, it is a spiritual discipline. The word yoga can be translated to mean “union,” which in many cases can indicate the proper union between a person’s body, mind, and spirit. Spirituality in this case refers to being able to use one’s mind to control one’s body, such as getting rid of all manifestations of anger or other negative emotions.

Below are some of the basic beliefs of practitioners of yoga, with some basic comparison to other belief systems:

1. Spirituality is defined as having satisfaction in a well-developed overall physical well-being, matched with mental acumen and emotional balance, which may eventually bring about material prosperity. This may be an acceptable view to most people, although some religions, such as Christianity, tend to question this perception because they believe that spirituality does not reside in one person alone, and instead relies on a relationship with the Divine Being.

2. They believe that spiritual people do not feel any fanaticism or depression or even manifestations of negative emotions like anger or fear. In contrast, people who believe in a personal God would rather vent out those negative emotions in what they call prayer, or conversation with God, and find that it makes them feel human, certainly, but greatly loved.

3. The exercises help the person feel good and to feel the divine within by emptying one’s mind and relaxing the body. Since yoga is considered fit for any age or fitness level, they believe that it therefore passes the requirement for anything spiritual. Some religions challenge the idea of emptying one’s mind as being the key to true spirituality, as when one’s mind is empty, it actually gives room to evil thoughts instead of good ones, as human beings are naturally inclined to negative things based on their fallen state.

4. Yoga practice is not complete without the right breath work, as the breath is considered the life force, called “Prana.” As such, yoga exercises center around proper breath work in order to “awaken” invisible energy centers in the body so as to facilitate the movement of this breath to all cells, which apparently promotes health and vitality. This may work well with you if you like to believe that there are “energy centers” in your body; conversely, Christians believe that they do not need energy centers as they have the power of God Himself residing inside of them.

5. They believe that a healthy mind can only exist alongside a healthy body. In contrast, Christians and other believers of the Bible believe it to be the other way around, as a healthy mind is believed to result in a healthy body. As a man thinks, so is he, or so the philosopher says. Charles Spurgeon, a well-known preacher, also puts it in a similar light, saying that as a man believes correctly, his physical behavior and well-being will follow.

Perhaps these basic differences are the reason why many people are hesitant to practice yoga, as they believe it goes against what they fundamentally believe. After all, you may try the yoga exercises but unless you also believe what the yogis teach, you will most likely not experience the same level of “peace” that they claim, especially if you believe that there are other ways to achieve that rest and relaxation that you so desire. But in the end, it depends on you individually, if the exercises and its corresponding spiritual beliefs are believable and acceptable to you, or if you choose to find believing in a personal God who loves you as giving you true peace and rest instead of depending on your own efforts.

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Top 5 yoga poses for strengthening the core

It can provide you with greater peace of mind, clarity, strength be it physical, mental or emotional, better sleep, more concentration, less stress and a more optimistic outlook. Specific yoga positions can help you strengthen your core muscles, which gives you better posture and helps prevent developing heart-related diseases that are associated with having a waistline that is out of proportion with the rest of your body.

Crescent moon
Crescent moon, or chandrasana, is another easy beginner's pose. It focuses on stretching and strengthening the core muscles, especially the obliques, while improving posture and balance. Stand straight, with your hands overhead and interlacing your fingers. Point the index fingers up while pressing your feet firmly into the floor, reaching the crown up and relaxing the shoulders. While exhaling, press the right hip out to the side and arch your body to the left. Breathe deeply for several breaths before repeating on the other side.

Four limbed staff pose
Traditionally known as Chaturanga Dandasana, four-limbed staff pose is a good core-strengthening yoga pose to move into from the plank position. The two poses are often combined to create a yoga-style push up. To get into four-limbed staff pose, start in plank pose, then exhale and slowly move your torso and legs towards the floor. Lower your body until it is just a few inches off the floor, and then hold yourself in the position, using your core strength combined with your arms and legs to hold the pose. To tone core abdominal muscles, stay in four-limbed staff pose for 10 to 30 seconds and release with an exhale.

Boat pose
The full yoga boat pose is a balancing posture that effectively helps build core strength. To achieve boat pose, start in a seated position, then lift your legs off the floor so that you are balancing on your tailbone while keeping your back straight. Your legs should be straight with your feet about 45 degrees off the floor. Raise your arms and stretch them in front of you, reaching them toward your outstretched legs. When you are in the full boat pose, your back and legs will appear to form the shape of the letter V when viewed from the side. Increase your core strength by balancing in boat pose for 10 to 30 seconds to start, eventually trying for holding the pose for a full minute.

Chair pose
Also known as fierce pose, chair pose is a challenging yoga posture that works the core abdomen as well as the leg muscles. You can find chair pose by starting in a standing position, then squatting back as if you're sitting in an invisible chair. Bend your knees and sit, optimally reaching a 90 degree bend in the knees. Reach your arms up overhead to achieve the full pose. Make sure to engage your abdominal muscles while in chair pose to keep your lower back straight and strengthen your core.

Standing forward bend
As the name suggests, the standing forward bend involves bending over while standing. This position not only strengthens your core muscles, but is also thought to stimulate your liver and kidneys; helps relieve insomnia and headaches and improve your digestion.

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Rejuvenate with yoga

Trikonasana 

Stand erect with the feet about a wide apart. While breathing in, raise the arms to shoulder level. While breathing out, bend forward. Twist the back to the left and hold your left ankle with the right hand. Your left arm should be stretched upwards and look up at the left hand. Hold your breath for 5 seconds, feeling the twist and stretch of the back. Repeat on other side also. This is one round. Do at least 3 rounds.

Marjariasana

1 & 2 Get down on all fours, arms straight, palms under your shoulders, fingers facing forward and knees in line with your hips. Inhale and raise your head and look up as you create an intense dip in your back. Hold the position and your breath for a few seconds. Exhale, and drop head down arching back as shown. Hold breath and maintain position for a few seconds. Resume start position. Do 10 to15 rounds.

Spinal twist 

Lie down on your back with your arms stretched out slightly. Bend your left knee and keep your left foot on the right knee. Hold your knee with the right hand. Exhale and turn to the right side. Hold for 20 seconds. Repeat on other side also. Repeat 3 times on both sides.

Benefits

These moves affect the side, back, waist and the leg muscles as well as twist the whole spine. It stimulates the nervous system and alleviates nervous depression, immediately raising your energy levels. They also help improve your digestion.

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Holistic Nutrition (Ayurveda Diet)

Introduction

Ayurveda has its roots in India, dating back to about five thousand years. Essentially, it is a science that encompasses the health benefits of herbs, meditation, yoga, and massage. Ayurveda is based on the principle that every being on this earth, be it animate or inanimate, is the outcome of five basic elements, or Pancha Mahabhootas - Water, Air, Fire or Energy, Earth, and Sky. Ayurveda embodies the methods that help to achieve a balance between the body, mind and soul, which is absolutely crucial to stay in unison with nature.

Ayurvedic Diet and Nutrition

According to Ayurveda, 'We are what we eat'! This ancient branch of science believes most of the common ailments are a result of poor nutrition. Ayurvedic nutrition is concerned importantly with the dietary requirements of individuals. Any anomaly in the body is thought to emanate in the digestive system, and therefore it become crucial not to cast aside even minor digestive complaints, as it could be indicative of a disease.

Ayurveda does not distinguish between food and medicine, the underlying belief that the absence of nutritive food or diet causes disease in the body. This can only be remedied with appropriate food, which becomes the medicine to heal the body of its ailment. All the same, Ayurveda holds sacrosanct, that each one of us are distinct, and our health is determined by our attitude and response to the conscious and unconscious inputs in life that one is subjected to.

Ayurvedic diet is centered on treating life's experiences as 'food' (for the body and the mind), which is assimilated into the body and contributes to its nourishment. This transformation of 'food' into nutrition is termed as 'Agni' or fire, which forms the edifice upon which the Ayurvedic system is built.

Spices and herbs form an integral part of Ayurvedic healing, mainly because of its power to be easily absorbed in the body. On the one hand, this enhances the digestive capacity of the body and on the other, cleanses it of its toxins, ensuring the cells in the body are empowered with the nutrition available in the diet. Ayurveda recommends that spices be consumed only after they are cooked.

  An Ayurvedic diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fibrous food, which contribute to keeping the body energetic, glowing and in good health. An Ayurvedic diet is miserly with salt to prevent potential fluid retention and also discourages the intake of coffee, sodas, and alcohol.

Benefits of an Ayurvedic diet

• Ayurvedic diet is low in fat and helps to maintain an optimum body weight.
• Ayurvedic diet is endowed with minerals that charge the body with energy and radiance.
 
• Ayurvedic diet is rich in vegetable proteins that are quickly digested and assimilated into the body.
• Ayurvedic meals are easy to digest due to the inclusion of spices - garlic, ginger, cumin, cayenne, and black pepper.
• Fresh organic foods that Ayurveda relies upon, are high on nutrition, and endow the body with strength and vitality.

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