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People of varying ages are turning to Yoga to regain back their health, energy levels, and youthful figures. They are discovering the ancient secrets for calming the mind from its incessant chattering, and leading peaceful and relaxed lives. The root meaning of Yoga comes from the words union and to yoke together. So, Yoga is experiencing the oneness of the body, mind, and spirit with pure Consciousness, the greatest health benefit of all. Core Muscle Exercises Some of the major yoga health benefits of performing core muscle strength yoga moves for back, abdominals, and legs is to reduce fat around the abdomen, enhance the functioning, suppleness, and tone of the back muscles, strengthen the bones, and calm the nervous system. Because these yoga exercises have a direct positive effect on the lymphatic system, they aid in reducing weight and detoxification of the whole body. Some of the common disorders we see today, such as Fibromyalgia, headaches, constipation, depression, back ailments, and neck pain, can be greatly helped with yoga asana and exercises of the core muscles and legs. Hip Opening Poses The more flexibility within the hips, the more power and strength we have to move forward in life. Hip openers naturally allow an abundance of blood, fresh oxygen, and hormones to the pelvic organs, hip, and leg muscles. This includes reducing menstrual disorders and returning the uterus to its proper position after childbirth. These poses also help in reducing the risk of injury to the back, legs, and hips. Forward Bend Poses When performing forward bend yoga poses, either standing or seated, naturally massages the contents of the abdomen. They assist in firming up the legs and hips, as well as enhancing physical and mental poise. Assists in bringing suppleness and flexibility to the spine. Back Bend Poses Promotes strength and flexibility of the spine, including the neck. At the same time, stretching and relieving tension in the front of the body, such as the abdomen and chest. These poses assist in delivering fresh blood to all the hormone glands in the head and throat. Inwardly, back bends contribute to inner strength, courage, and contentment. Standing Balance Poses These Yoga exercises generate courage, abundance, and power, removing laziness and lethargy. They promote leg and back strength, great for the ankle issues. They help to tone the waistline, digestive system, and back muscles. Balancing poses generally increase coordination in one's life. Stabilization Poses Contribute to stretching back and neck muscles, as well as loosening the hips, and developing strong legs for durability. These poses facilitate the toning, calming, and balancing of the nervous system allowing you to see the world from a different view point. They create alertness of the body and mind. Inverted Poses The upper body, including brain, head, face, and neck, get an abundance of blood and health giving hormones. These exercises aid in weight loss as it allows the lymphatic system to function with power, and take advantage of gravity. Inversion supports and rejuvenates the whole body and mind allowing the brain, and its thoughts, to be calm. These exercises greatly help natural posture, increase flexibility and health in the back and abdomen, as well as building strength in the arms, shoulders, and chest. Balanced body, balanced mind, balanced life. Meditation Helps to preserve vital energies, strengthens the nervous system, calms the mind and body, and enhances physical and mental poise. Cleansing the mind is cleansing the body.
These Yoga asana's and exercises have the reputation for helping in certain disorders and illnesses. They are never a substitute for medical attention, though they may aid in the correction of some disorders. More health fitness articles below.
The Chakras are sacred, subtle centers of vital energy in every human being. The organs and nerves surrounding the chakras correspond to the same vibrational energy. Often referred to as lotuses of light with various number of petals, chakras produce a specific vibration and sound. Great beings discovered that, by repeating these mantras or sounds of the chakras, can bring healing to the body and mind. Following, you'll discover, in bullet-point format, details on each of the seven major chakras. Muladhara Chakra
Svadhisthana Chakra
Manipura Chakra
Anahata Chakra
There is an additional chakra just below the pericarp of the Anahata Chakra called Ananda-Kanda. This is where mental worship of one's chosen deity should be performed. Vishuddha Chakra
Ajna Chakra
Sahasrara Chakra
Chakra Balancing by an expert practitioner has the reputation for helping in certain disorders and illnesses. It's never a substitute for medical attention, though it may aid in the correction of some disorders. More health fitness articles below. Mantra chanting, yoga, and meditation are spiritual practices performed in homes, meditation centers, yoga classes, and ashrams all over the world. Mantra chants have been practiced since the beginning of time by enlightened beings, spiritual leaders, realized masters, and others. They say that chanting should be done by everyone, every day, with unfailing regularity. Chanting and repeating of power mantras internally or externally is called Mantrayoga. This can involve formal seated chanting, when performing pranayama or asana. Chanting mantra's is also a part of Swadhyaya, the study and recitation of scriptural texts, and makes meditation easy. An ancient saying is: "As food is to cleanse and nourish the body, chanting and meditation cleanses and nourishes the mind." Specific healing mantras are powerful sacred symbols and charged vibrational sounds. The daily practice of mantrayoga enables you to merge the subtle and gross worlds into yourself, into pure Consciousness, giving you a state of bliss, peace, and relaxation. A wonderful quote from a great saint said: "To understand the power of letters is to attain everything." Meditation And Mantras The are two kinds of meditation. One is repeating mantras with the breath, the other is not repeating a mantra. As you sit and repeat the mantras more often, the mantra disappears. You are know in the state of pure meditation. There is no repeating of the mantra. Just silence. You reach that state through the use of the mantras. Mantras possess powerful vibrations that correspond to specific spiritual energies and physical energy frequencies. When repeated more and more, silently or publicly, you become entrained and vibrate at the level of the mantra being repeated. Along with a focused intention, you can gain specific benefits related to that mantra and your intention. Chanting Chanting powerful, positive mantras, silently or out loud, on a regular basis, can give the following results: Here are the four basic steps to prepare yourself for chanting:
When practicing yoga breathing or pranayama, whether it be for three minutes or thirty-three minutes, we must sit with a straight spine. Sit comfortably on the floor or a straight-backed chair. It's best to always ask an experienced teacher in deciding which deep breathing exercises to perform and which one's are suited to you. Remember these two simple rules:
So'Ham Translation: "I am That."So'Ham is the natural sound of the breath.So -- exhalation. Ham -- inhalation.As you naturally breathe in, repeat in your mind "ham."As you naturally breathe out, repeat in your mind "sa."Repeat for several minutes. Do not concentrate on the mind repeating this mantra, but on the sound of the breath. Ujjaya or Ujjayi Translation: "breathing that clears the throat and masters the chest."This yogic breathing exercise is formed by purposefully contracting the larynx slightly, narrowing the breathing passage. As you breathe, a slight noise is heard from the throat. Anuloma UjjayiBreathe in through the mouth, then breathe out through one nostril while the other nostril is closed. Viloma UjjayiBreathe in through the nostril, then breathe out through the mouth. Lengthens the inhalation. Sitali Translation: "cooling breath."Curl up the edges of the tongue to form a tube. Inhale through this tube.The air passes over the moist tongue, cooling the air and refreshing the throat.When exhaling, to keep the tongue cool and moist, roll the tongue back as far as comfortable against the roof of the mouth. You can also breathe out through the nostrils.An alternate breathing technique is sitkari pranayama." Instead of creating a tongue-tube, open the mouth slightly and place your tongue between the top and bottom teeth, then breathe in. This keeps the air cool. Exhale through alternate nostrils. Nadi Sodhana Translation: "cleansing the subtle channels."Also known as "alternate nostril breathing" and "circular breathing."This technique is for experienced individuals and used to lengthen the inhalation and exhalation.Do not perform this exercise if you're nasal passages are blocked. Do not force the breath.Take your right hand and close off the left nostril with your ring finger. Slowly breathe in through the right nostril.Close off the right nostril with your thumb, open up the left nostril, and breathe out through the left nostril.Breathe in through the already opened left nostril. Close off the left and open up the right. Then breathe out through the right nostril.That is one round of nadi sodhana breathing. Repeat several times. Ujjayi, sitali, and nadi shodhana, help the mind to become calm as it focuses on where the breath is in the body. On inhaling, the mind can focus on the chest area. on the exhale, the mind can focus on the abdomen. Kapalabhati Translation: "that which brings lightness to the skull."The cleansing breath. This breathing exercise is great for clearing sinus and air passages, fogginess and heaviness.The breathing focus is on the exhalation. Inhalation is passive as the lungs do the pumping. The breath is fast, strong, rapid, and short. Only abdominal [diaphragmatic] breathing is used, not chest breathing. Start with fifteen seconds of kapalabhati and slowly work up. Bhastrika Translation: "bellows breath."Bhastrika resembles kapalabhati but concludes with a long deep breath, a suspension or holding of the breath, and then a long exhalation with the throat fully open. Start with fifteen seconds of bhastrika and slowly work up. Meditation Meditation can be practiced and enhanced by utilizing some of the yoga breathing techniques described above. Vinyasa Yoga Breathing A great way to incorporate yoga breathing exercises and asanas is perform Vinyasa -- a flow of postures using the in-breath and out-breath. There are four stages of breathing
The Human Design System is an esoteric science of self-discovery and a roadmap for the life you were born to live. There is only one of you, and this unique system reveals that truth. This modern system of human analysis gives you specifics on your inherent strengths as well as your weaknesses and area's to grow into. By living the life you were born to live, you are fulfilled. The Human Design System was born in 1987. It encompasses Yoga, Astrology, the Chakra's, I-Ching, the principle of physics, and many other subjects. You really don't need to know every detail on how it works, but it does. It's been validated by modern physics to be accurate. To interpret your Human Design, an expert in the reading is needed. Although this may be complicated, the principles in your individual chart are simple. Each one of us have characteristics and tendencies that are uniquely ours. By knowing and understanding your Human Design, you can learn strategies and glean idea's for optimal living. You will be able to swim with the flow instead of treading water. Discovering your own Human Design reveals mental, emotional, physical, relationship matters, and health issues. This gives you the gift of making the right decisions at the right time. Knowing the Human Design of your friends, family, and people you may do business with, greatly helps you to understand why they say and do what they say and do. You will realize that they are not like you, and you will discover what to expect from these individuals. One of the most important aspects of the Human Design System is knowing your Type. They are: Manifestors, Generators, Projectors, and Reflectors. Manifestors Manifestors are initiators. They do not need to respond or be invited. They are very successful at initiating action and conversation with communication and expression. The way we live in the west is a conditioning to be a Manifestor, but most of us are not. This leads to irritability, frustration, and illness. In times gone by, most of the leaders were Manifestors. Now, times have changed. You cannot tell a Manifestor what to do. They do not like to be controlled. Children who are Manifestors get themselves into hot water because they do things without asking permission. The result is suppressed adult Manifestors. Manifestors should inform by letting people know what they are doing or going to do. Many people shy away from a Manifestor because they can be intimidating. As the Manifestor informs, people are more inclined to like them, and follow their lead. The main emotion of a Manifestor is anger. They get angry when people try to tell them what to do and control them. An important note is that Manifestors are doers, so they need rest. Generators Generators must respond not initiate. They must wait for life to come to them. This doesn't mean sit back and do nothing. It basically means, put yourself in situations and wait. This "waiting" is the hard part for Generators to grasp. It takes practice. Generators can respond, not only to questions, but events that happen in their lives. They are busy, hard working people. Often working on the wrong things because they haven't learned how or when to respond. The main emotion of a Generator is frustration. This stems from thinking that they have the power to initiate due to our western conditioning. Three quarters of the population are Generators. Projectors Projectors direct and manage people, bringing them together, and organizing them. They are a "people person." They are experts at managing other people's energy, and can "read" it with great skill. They get noticed, stand out in a crowd, and have more recognition than any other Human Design type. Being recognized for who they are, makes them successful. Projectors have to wait to be invited, whether a job, dance, or any other aspect of their lives. This "waiting to be invited" draws to them the people and situations that are right for them. People find it hard to resist a Projector who is confident and truthful. Because of the waiting, Projectors are known as "late bloomers." Projectors have a tendency to be controlling. Instead, they should guide and influence, but only when invited to do so. Many Projectors make the mistake of inviting instead of being invited. They can mistakenly hoard other people's energy. They need to distribute and direct it. This energy from other people can come in the form of money, material things, effort, and support. They are not here to work hard but to delegate. Projectors main emotion is resentment. For example, not getting recognized for something they have done or failing in an area of life. This exhausts a Projector and makes them bitter and resentful. Projectors are our leaders of the future. Manifestors have been the leaders of the past. Reflectors Reflectors are known as "Feelers." They should reflect on a decision for about twenty-eight days, a cycle of The Moon. They have an innate sense of the emotions and feelings of the group, and can be greatly influenced by them. They are wise people because they learn from every experience in life. Reflectors are completely open, reliable, and not fixed on just one way of looking at something. They go through life without much damage. They process experiences slowly as they are in wonder of most everything. They should not be rushed. Their main emotion is disappointment. Reflectors need to be around people and situations they trust, choosing relationships very carefully. Live The Life You Were Born To Live!
Does your energy seem chaotic, frenzied, and running backward? Perhaps it feels unbalanced, congested, stagnant, and without flow? Feeling sick and tired of being sick and tired? The most probable reason for this is your energy meridian system is running backward, and your Chakra's are stuck or spinning in the wrong direction. Today's world opens us up to radiation and electromagnetic fields that scramble our energies: microwaves, non-nutritional food served through windows, TV's, modern medicine, and pesticides, to name a few. The good news is, you can reverse these disturbances in your human energy body using simple yoga energy medicine techniques. Your energy should be clear, rhythmic, flowing, pulsating, and humming. We just need to get your energy meridian system, and your Chakra's flowing in their normal, organic direction. Read on and discover how you can do this, in ten minutes or less, with the Energy Medicine Daily Routine.
This ends the six steps of your Daily Routine for keeping your energies humming.
A pioneer in the field of energy medicine, Donna Eden has been teaching people for more than two decades to understand the body as an energy system, to recognize their aches and pains as signals of energy imbalance, and to reclaim their natural healing capacities. She speaks to packed audiences throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South America, and is consulted frequently within traditional and alternative health care settings.
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