Yoga For Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic and currently incurable condition in which too much glucose (sugar) is present in the blood.

In a nut shell, the problem with people suffering from diabetes is that they cannot utilize the glucose in their blood. Glucose is a simple sugar and the body cells use this glucose and convert it into energy. A hormone called Insulin is the key which opens the door that lets glucose into the cells so that the cells can use them to make fuel. In Diabetes the hormone Insulin is either produced insufficiently, or the body resists the action of Insulin on cells. So the glucose builds up in the blood, and it goes waste as the glucose cannot reach inside the cells.

Other facts worth knowing:

Our mental stresses also dump glucose in the blood and not just food! (under the influence of stress hormones)

Too much fat, especially in the abdomen will give rise to insulin resistance.

The cells of muscles that are exercising dont need insulin to open up their doors to let glucose in! Their doors are open independent of insulin levels or sensitivity.

Why Yoga for Diabetes?

Stress management:

Regular practice of Asanas, Pranayama (breath regulation), and Meditative techniques have been proven to reduce perception of stress and anxiety. Regular practice of all these will help us better manage our daily stresses by making us better understand ourselves and our relations to others and the outside world. After all, Yoga is a journey of self discovery.

Controlled diet:

Regular practice of Yoga creates a positive shift in our habits by encouraging a healthy reconnection to food and by development of physical empowerment through cultivation of present moment awareness. Yoga also brings about a balance in the bodily processes (nervous and hormonal functions) and in the emotions which lead to an overall reduction in the quantity of food consumed, decreased eating speed and an improvement in food choices. Yoga also makes us feel more connected to and positive about our physical well being.

Thus, with regular practice we will become naturally conscious of the food we consume, and we develop the awareness of whether a particular thing is right to do or not.

Regular exercise to burn the excess glucose:

It is a well known fact that active muscles do not require insulin to utilize glucose. So when our muscles are working, not only is the excess glucose being used up, but also the sensitivity of other cells to insulin increases.

Although we dont want to consider asanas as just exercises, lets face it! A lot of muscles are definitely acting so that we can get into a posture or maintain it. And since the leg muscles are some of the bulkiest muscles of the body, all the leg work done in maintaining asanas like chair posture or warrior postures will definitely use up a lot of glucose. It is also just as well to know that the regular practice of asanas and practices like kapalabati will also revitalize the internal organs by massaging them slightly.

YOGA PRACTICES COMMONLY USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES:

Asanas: Parivritta Trikonasana, Uthkatasana, Veerabhadrasana, Vakrasana, Ushtrassana, Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana, Sarvangasana, Matsyasana.

Pranayama: Kapalabati, Nadi shodhana, Sitkari, Bhramari.

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How To Practice Yoga Properly

Practicing yoga and meditation can benefit us, both mentally and physically. Healthy relationship through yoga and meditation is achievable. When you start practicing yoga, you learn how to respect your body, learn important of being fit and healthy. With this, one learns the importance of respect which is important in healthy relationship. If you are new to yoga, here are some specific yoga meditations you can do:

1) Sit or lie down and become aware of your body: You can do this meditation either lying down on a flat surface. If you are lying on the surface, relax completely and loose your body. Take lots of deep breath. Close eyes if you wish.

2) Follow your energy throughout the body: Begin with your left foot, become aware of it. Be aware of your toes, ankle and foot.

Then, be careful about left legs muscles. Slowly shift your awareness to the top of your left leg, and focus awareness on your right foot. Then start focusing slowly right throughout your body, going as quickly or as slowly as you like.

3) Thoughts and Feelings: Thoughts and emotions are the most distracting factors through your body. Always try to avoid any thoughts and emotions and let them go. Return to your body scan.

4) Manage Strong Feelings: While meditating, strong feelings can arise in you. You have two ways, either welcome them or avoid them. Every trauma you experienced has laid down its trace in your body.

Due to this, sometimes you find yourself weeping or laughing while practicing yoga. Best way to remove these sorts of emotional traces is to welcome such feeling and focus on them completely for few minutes.

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Astrological Yogas That Move Your Fortune Up

Yoga is a unique planetary position and combination of planets that produce a specific result and make great effects in its native’s life. In Vedic astrology, there are several yogas which are considered very auspicious and play a very effective role to raise the fortune of its native. One who is born in such yogas, lead a luxurious, enjoyable, successful and happiest life. Yoga like Mahabhagya yoga or Vasumati yoga makes very positive effects on its native’s life and behavior. Individuals having Mahabhagya yoga in his or her kundli are blessed by Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity) and enjoy rich, wealthy and successful life.

Let us find out the most important astrological yogas that move your fortune up.

Vasumati or Vasumat Yoga – Vasumat is a Sanskrit word which means rich or wealthy. As its meaning suggest, this yoga in kundli or horoscope makes its native rich, wealthy and prosperous. Vasumati yoga is formed in horoscope, when all benefic planets dwell in Upachayas houses i.e. third, sixth, tenth and eleventh house. When this yoga is formed in horoscope, native becomes very wealthy; he or she can get name, fame and success in business and can earn and extend his or her properties.

Mahabhagya Yoga – Mahabhagya yoga is formed, when a male child is born during day time and Sun, Moon and Ascendant are in odd signs. In case of female, Sun, Moon and Ascendant should be in even signs and native should be born at night. Mahabhagya yoga is very auspicious and rarely found in kundli or horoscope The native having this yoga in horoscope, get enormous wealth, fame, long-life, expensive property, material property like luxurious car or vehicle and leads a prosperous life. .

Ruchaka Yoga – Ruchaka yoga is one the most important Panchamahpurusha Yogas. It is formed when Mars is in its own sing and exalted in Kendra or occupy Kendra. The person having Ruchaka yoga in his horoscope born with strong health and physique, he lives like king or equal to king. Born in Ruchaka yoga, makes a man brave, wealthy, long-lived and powerful. He leads the people and earns fame in politics and army.

Bhadra Yoga – Bhadra yoga is formed when Mercury is in a Kendra and identical with his own or exaltation sign. The native having this yoga in his or her horoscope is born with sharp intellect and good nature. He or she can be very generous and always ready to help relatives, friends and others.

Hamsa Yoga – Hamsa yoga is formed when Jupiter dwells in its own sign or exaltation sign. This yoga makes native, optimistic, righteous and self-sacrificing. He is praised by wise and learned. He possesses well formed, handsome body and is liked by others. He enjoys good food and luxurious life.

Sasa Yoga – Sasa Yoga is formed when Saturn is in its own sign or exaltation sign. The native blessed with this yoga is praised by all people. This yoga gives fame and success in leadership and native can be a good minister, administrator and leader. He can become a king or king like position. This yoga brings wealth and paramount happiness in life.

About Author
Jyotishacharya Vinay Sheel Saxena is a well known indian Vedic Astrologer and Vastu expert and provides best vedic astrology solutions, vastu remedies, astrology forecast, Kundli matching and other astrological solutions.

Yoga – 5 Yoga Habits To Better Health

Yoga is of the mind as ayurveda is of the body. As the mind is being constantly bombarded with information and going through thoughts, we have created many more diseases which we have to contend with. To live a happier existance and understand ones purpose in this life time, the mind needs to be calm and come under the control of the individual. The mind and body need to be fully connected and functioning together to be able to live in harmony and be disease free. Here are a few simple discipilines which if followed will have a major affect on a person’s whole being.

1- Practice some postures on a daily or weekly basis to help the body stay igile and flexable. As the body consumes more physically and mentally, stiffness and rigidity set into the bones and muscle. Yoga postures will keep the body supple so you will be able to sit quietly for meditation. In today’s age this is a fundemental necessity to be flexable.

2- Concentrate on your breathing to see what kind of rhythm is ‘normal’ to you. Do you take short breaths or do you stop breathing at times? Start to take a full breath as your stomach protrudes and your chest expands. When exhaling the chest relaxes and the stomach is sucked in a little. The breath should be through the nostrils and in a calm, deep and meditative manner to bring balance to the male/female or the hot/cold energy in our being. Breath is life so watch your breathing at all times.

3-Avoid overloading the senses by excessive behaviour and habits. Once the senses are over stimulated with too much food, drink and thoughts they disrupt the balance and harmony of the mind/body where a person finds it difficult to function naturally. The best way to control the senses is to avoid any excess and to also refrain from indulging in all activities, talk or desires which come to mind or are presented by others. This will cultivate discipline and help lower a person’s ego mind and out of control desire of ‘wanting.’

4- Be in silence some part of the day without noise or talking. Once the environment is quiet the mind will be more alert to what is going on in the body. Silence is necessary for us to be able to digest food and to digest information which comes invisibly through higher awareness. We connect to a higher level of consciousness once the noise pollution has been lowered. This is wonderful also for the nervous system which controls most of the body and mind.

5- During the day periodically watch your thoughts to identify what is entering your mind and which thoughts are more dominant and repetitive. Once you see a pattern, think back to the origin where and from whom this way of thinking came about. Move away from any judgement or expectations and just observe each thought to see its origin. Through the practices mentioned above the mind and thoughts will eventually be under your command.

Start to practice as no one can do this for you. A yogi or guru can guide but can never do the work which is up to each individual. The change you are looking for is in your control but first through choice one must take action.

Types of Yoga and their benefits

Yoga is a holistic therapy originated in India over 5000 years ago. Yoga contributes to physical, mental and spiritual well being. Physical benefits lie in creating a toned, flexible and sturdy body. It facilitate in improving blood circulation and significantly aid to relieve pain. Mental benefits rely on relaxing mind in stressful situations. It encourages positive consideration and focus the intellect. Spiritual benefits depend on creating the awareness of oneself and understanding the interdependence between mind, body and spiritual infinity.

Types of Yoga and their benefits:

Yoga can be classified into Hatha, Bhakti, Karma, Jnana, Raja, Tandra, Mandra and Purna. They are discussed in detail below

Hatha Yoga:

Hatha yoga works to achieve balance between body and mind through asanas (postures), breathing techniques and meditation. The postures, followed in Hatha yoga improves flexibility and opens all energy channels. Breath control is believed to control one’s mind in this form of yoga. It is also practical to prevent diseases like diabetes, arthritis and hypertension. The yoga is principally beneficiary for relieving stress, anxiety and depression.

2. Bhakti Yoga:

Bhakti signifies attachment to God. Bhakti Yoga is based on the principle -Love is God and God is Love-. It is one of the oldest forms of yoga which is believed to have its root in the Vedas of Hindu Culture. Nine types of practices are implicated namely Sravana(listening to God’s stories), kirtana (singing God’s praises), smarana(remembering God at all times), padasevena(service to others to reach God), archana(worship of god with images), vandana(self absorption), dasya(meditating and servicing), sakha bhava(delight to be a companion of God) and atma nivedana(self surrender to God). Bhakti Yoga helps the devotee to attain the highest level of spiritual achievement.

3. Karma Yoga:

Karma means deed or action. Karma Yoga insists a person to be ego free and selfless. One develops maturity to service others and carry out God’s commandments happily. It encourages a hopeless man and puts him to think and speak right. The yoga involves remembering God in all activities and service for humankind. It teaches how to work unselfishly and enjoy peace still in suffering. 4. Jnana Yoga:

It is the yoga that leads to path of wisdom. The second part of Bhagavad Gita called Jnana Yoga is taught to the practitioner. The four components of Jnana Yoga are Viveka (ability to differentiate real and unreal), vairagiya (detachment to purify mind and improve one’s concentration), shad samphat which itself involves six virtues and mumukshutva (liberation). The yoga is purely based on the preaching’s of Vedic literature and helps in attaining knowledge. 5. Raja Yoga or Astangha Yoga:

This branch of yoga aims in synchronizing the breath by following a progressive chain of postures. The word Astanga means -Eight Limbed Yoga-. It engross eight spiritual practices namely yama(moral codes), niyama(self study), asana(postures), prnayama(breath control), pratyahara(sense control), dharana(concentration), dhyana(meditation) and Samadhi(dissolve into universe). Through Astanga Yoga, Blood circulation increases throughout the body which relieves from joint pain, removes toxins and diseases from internal organs. It makes the body light, strong and healthy.

6. Tantra or Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is a meditative practice for promoting mental and spiritual wellness. It is an unusual form of yoga based on the fact that energy coiled on the base of the spine like a serpent can be tapped to flow from spine to brain and viz., and bring positive effect for the practitioner. It involves postures, breathing exercises and utterance of mantras. Unlike other yoga, Kundalini helps to develop strengthened nervous system.

7. Mantra Yoga:

In Mantra yoga, one needs to utter words called as Mantras. The rhythmic repetitions of mantras or syllable develop concentration leading to union of mind with the universe. It makes to focus on a single thought and creates vibrating power by certain pitches and pronunciation concealed in the mantras.

8. Purna or Integral Yoga:

Purna yoga leads to wisdom and union of body and mind with spirit. It involves meditation, Asana (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), applied philosophy and change in lifestyle. Meditation comprises of moment to moment techniques which could make you to listen to your heart. Besides postures and meditation, Purna yoga teaches one to follow a good nutritional diet and also protect from environmental toxins to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Yoga gained significant importance worldwide and nowadays in the faster world, it is a remedy to relieve from stress. Apart from the above discussed yoga, there also exists a unique yoga called laughter yoga introduced in the year 1995 in which people laugh with no reason without depending on jokes or humor. It is based on the scientific fact that the body gets both physiological and psychological benefits. To conclude, Yoga is a tool to repair and recondition your life. Only in Yoga, one could attain the awareness of life and the universe. It is pure and truly a spiritual practice that makes a person to think and act globally.