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, hatha yoga 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.
General health benefits of Yoga include helping in sleep disorders, prostate problems, infertility issues, and reducing or eliminating pain, particularly for arthritis and fibromyalgia. Yoga facilitates proper posture and body awareness, as well as promoting better memory, concentration, focus, and learning abilities. Assists in relieving depression, anxiety, and moodiness. Performing Yoga, which includes breathing and meditation, can help in strengthening the human energy field, known as the aura, and the seven major Chakra's.
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
first chakra
located at the base of the spine
color is RED, spinning downward toward earth
earth element
beeja mantra or seed letter vibration is lam
issues of the body and physical surroundings
related to the zodiac signs of Aquarius and Capricorn
associated with the planet Saturn
emotions of fear and thoughts of lack and survival
deity is Brahma the creator
Svadhisthana Chakra
second chakra
located at the lower abdomen, below naval
color is ORANGE, spinning outwardly from the lower naval and sacrum
water element
beeja mantra or seed letter vibration is vam
related to the zodiac signs of Sagittarius and Pisces
associated with the planet Jupiter
sexuality, intimacy and associated emotions; false knowledge
deity is Vishnu
Manipura Chakra
third chakra
located above the naval, below the breast bone
color is YELLOW, spinning outwardly from the naval and middle back areas
fire element
beeja mantra or seed letter vibration is ram
related to the zodiac signs of Aries and Scorpio
associated with the planet Mars
social roles, community, self esteem, shame, jealousy, desire, worldliness, fear
deity is Rudra. Fire consumes everything
Anahata Chakra
fourth chakra
located in the heart region and between the shoulder blades
color is GREEN, spinning outwardly from the heart in all directions
air element
beeja mantra or seed letter vibration is yam
related to the zodiac signs of Taurus and Libra
associated with the planet Venus
deity is Isha. Love and wisdom.
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
fifth chakra
located at the throat and neck
color is BLUE, spinning outwardly from the throat, sides, and back of neck
located at the forehead, concentrated between the eyes
color is VIOLET or LIGHT BLUE, spinning outwardly from the forehead and back of the head
beyond the five elements. The seat of primordial nature
beeja mantra or seed letter vibration, as well as the yoga symbol is OM
active in a spiritual path, calm and focused
related to the zodiac signs of Cancer and Leo
associated with the planets Sun and Moon
deity is Sadashiva and Shakti, as One. The Guru
Sahasrara Chakra
seventh chakra
located at the crown of the head
color is WHITE or CRYSTAL, spinning upward
perceive the illuminous Self
deity is Paramashiva
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, hatha 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:
energize your life force
quiets the mind and body aiding relaxation
reprograms the vibrations of every cell
positive influence on our emotions and feelings
aids in proper breathing
studies show that it helps in reducing heart disease
reduces the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol in the blood
helps in diabetes and obesity
reduces the emotions of anxiety, fear, and worry
greatly helps people who have challenges focusing and concentrating
helps in sleep and digestive issues
you become more effective and less reactive in your daily life
repeating beeja mantras helps to cleanse and balance each chakra
sublime tonic that nourishes your inner being
increase inner and outer radiance
increases mental, physical vitality, and energy
increases love, peace, and contentment
heart and mind become full of the healing vibrations of the mantra
and many, many more
Here are the four basic steps to prepare yourself for chanting:
sit comfortably with the spine straight -- asana
place the hands in a relaxed manner -- mudra
fixed gaze or eyes closed -- trataka
concentrate -- dhyana
These Yoga mantra chants have the reputation for helping in stress reduction. They are never a substitute for medical attention, though they may aid in the correction of some disorders. More health fitness articles below.
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:
When breathing through a nostril, never breathe through the mouth at the same time
Before beginning yoga breathing, it's important to rest your body after you complete your exercise, stretching or asana poses. The body has to transition from one focus and activity to another. If we do not rest, stress and tension can develop in the body and the mind.
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. This is true hatha yoga.
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
Inhalation -- puraka
Pause -- kumbhaka
Exhalation -- rechaka
Pause -- bahya kumbhaka
These Yoga breathing 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.
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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!
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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.
Thump K-27 Points
place your fingers in the area just under your collar bone and just outward from your breast bone
tap or massage this area firmly, breathing deeply, for twenty seconds
place the middle finger of one hand into your naval, the other hand spreads across the points that were just tapped
gently pull up the finger that is in the naval, stretching the lower abdomen, and take three deep breaths
Thymus Thump
take your fingers of one or both hands and place them in the middle of the breast bone
firmly tap this thymus point for about twenty seconds, breathing deeply
Thump Spleen Points
place your fingers on your rib cage under your chest or breasts
firmly tap these spleen points for about 20 seconds, breathing deeply
Cross Crawl
while standing, take your right arm above your head
simultaneously, lift your left leg off the floor, bending it at the knee
when bringing your right arm down, take your left arm above your head
simultaneously, lift your right leg off the floor, bending it at the knee
repeat the above steps in an exaggerated march, breathing deeply for about one minute
Wayne Cook Posture
sit in a chair with your spine straight
place your right ankle onto your left thigh, just above the knee
with your left hand, grasp hold of your right ankle
with your right hand, wrap it around the ball of your right foot
as your breathe in slowly through your nose, expand and lift your torso, and pull your bent right leg toward you
exhale, relaxing your torso and right leg
repeat five times
repeat the above sequence crossing the left leg over your right leg
once complete, uncross your legs and place your feet on the floor
place your finger tips together forming the shape of a pyramid
rest your thumbs on the area between your eyebrows
as your breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, separate your thumbs across your forehead, stretching the skin
bring your thumbs back between the eyebrows
slowly bring your hands down in front of you toward the heart, placing your palms together in prayer Mudra [ prayer position]
breathe deeply for a few seconds
Crown Pull
place your finger tips onto the crown or top of your head
with some pressure, pull your hands and fingers apart toward your ears
repeat this step, this time placing your finger tips onto the area in front of your crown
with some pressure, pull your hands and fingers apart
repeat, this time placing your finger tips onto the area behind your crown of your head
with some pressure, pull your hands and fingers apart
keep repeating this sequence several times, covering the back of the head and also the area just above your eyebrows
Zipping Up
stand with your spine straight and legs hip width apart
place your straight fingers and hands at your pubic bone
slowly, inhale as you move your hands straight up the center of your body to your mouth
exhale, placing your straight fingers and hands back to the pubic bone
repeat five times, inhaling as you move your hands to your mouth
This ends the six steps of your Daily Routine for keeping your energies humming.
Benefits Of The Daily Routine
each technique is simple to do
restore energy when you are tired
excellent for focus and concentration
be more effective and alert
stimulates all meridians and Chakra's
boosts your lymphatic and immune systems, and removes toxins from your body
increases your strength and vitality
helps to balance your blood chemistry
feel more balanced
improves your coordination and proprioception
untangles inner chaos and releases mental congestion
able to see things with a different perspective
learn more efficiently
opens up the Chakra's
gives you more confidence and a positive outlook
helps to protect you
Energy Medicine
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; authors many health fitness articles, and is consulted frequently within traditional and alternative health care settings.
More health fitness articles and massage therapy info sent you via Email, every month.
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Scott Coleman's 20 years of massage therapy experience encompass many styles of treatment to educating professional and advanced massage therapy all over the world.
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