Author: blogger

Yoga, Nutrition And You – How They All Work Together

blogger

For many practitioners of yoga, it’s hard to completely separate the discipline from other aspects of their lives, such as nutrition. To them, getting the proper balance from yoga not only concerns the fitness-building and stress-reducing benefits of yoga, but also includes a nutrition plan that supplies the proper nutrients to assist in the creation of both.

Combining yoga and nutrition is not a new development. Yoga instructors have been touting the benefits of proper nutrition for years. But it has become part of a new awareness recently thank to scientific studies that back up the claims regarding diet that yogis have been espousing for centuries, namely that nutrition is a big part of the quest for balance between the mind, body and spirit.

As we’ve said, combining yoga and nutrition is not a new development. In fact, there is an entire practice of yoga, called Anna Yoga, which is directed at food as it relates to fitness and a healthy spirit. But while the information concerning healthy eating may not be the same among the various kinds of yoga, some of the belief are relatively the same: consume modest, reasonable portions of food that is high in nutrients and low in toxins. These include lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It is a diet that has existed among practitioners of yoga for decades but today’s doctors have only recently begun to understand and encourage.

Among yoga practioners, food is divided into three categories: Rajasil, Tamsik and Satvik. Rajasik (food of the king) is food that is overly processed or seasoned. Candy, processed foods and beverages and alcohol are classified as Rajasik foods. Tamsik foods are elaborately prepared foods that are high in sodium and usually highly spiced. Finally, Satvik foods are considered the ideal diet by yoga enthusiasts, foods that are consumed in as close to the original state as possible, meaning fresh vegetables and fruits that, if cooked, are lightly seasoned and prepared to keep most of their nutritional value.

Satvik foods are, therefore, easily digested and have exceptional nutritional value. When eaten in conjunction with the performance of the health benefits of yoga, Satvik foods are considered an important part of a well-conditioned mind and body.

Even if you are not a regular student of yoga, adhering to a Satvik diet can have great benefits.

One of the main concepts of nutrition and yoga is that the food used be as fresh as possible. Fresh fruits and vegetables and the enzymes they contain are favorable over frozen or canned foods, where the canning process has taken out many of the vitamins and minerals of the food. In addition, some instructors recommend eating a large portion of the fruits and vegetables raw to absorbe more of their nutritional value.

Green vegetables are held in special regard by many yogis, who consider vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, lettuce and cabbage to have the highest nutrients and life force. Fruit is also considered highly nutritious and full of the life force. Because of the natural sugars in fruit, they can supply a quick but nutritious and sustained source of energy without the toxins.

While many yoga practitioners shy away from meat (including fish and poultry), it is not entirely off the list for everyone involved in yoga However, yoga instructors recommend moderation in taking in meat as it may contain toxins such as lactic acid, fat, cholesterol and other chemicals that can slow the growth of muscles gained from the practice of yoga.

Finally, the way in which the food is prepared for consumption is also one of the keys to nutrition for yoga practitioners. Yoga experts recommend that you eat your meals slowly to give your body time to absorb all of the benefits and nutrients contained within. Yoga exercise, many experts believe, will help in preparing the body to use the nutritional benefits of nutritious eating.

Female Hair Loss Treatment

blogger

It is a natural tendency for women to focus more on their beauty as it is a combination of many factors ranging from their complexion, dresses, and hair style. When they face the problem of hair loss and dandruff, they can spend any amount of money to cure the problem. There are medicated treatments which can help women grow their hair back but some of these treatments have risky side effects. A natural female hair loss treatment can be just effective and cost a lot less.

1. One of the effective tips to grow hair faster naturally is to get your hair and scalp massaged every week. You can even undertake head massages on your own at home itself. All you have to do is to take any of the good quality essential oils for hair growth such as coconut oil or olive oil and warm it a bit. Next, using your finger tips, massage your scalp with the oil. Follow this up by wrapping your head with a towel soaked in hot water and later wriggled, for fifteen minutes so that the hair can get some steam. Leave the oil overnight and in the morning wash it as usual.

2. Aloe vera is nothing short of a miracle plant. It soothes sunburn, moisturizes skin, and even cleanses the body when taken internally. It should come as no surprise, then, that aloe is also touted for its hair-regrowth properties. The gel helps to stimulate the hair follicles and sooth the scalp, encouraging new hair growth.

3. Take some garlic cloves and drop them into one cup of milk and let it sit for one hour. This will allow the sulphur from the cloves to be released into the milk. It will also help eliminate some of the smell from the garlic. Apply the mixture onto your scalp and let it stay on for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.

4. As tension and anxiety have become a part of all our lives, we should learn to keep them under control by learning yoga and meditation as they are good stress-busters. High stress levels trigger hair fall thus learning to manage stress is very important.

5. An easy hair mask recipe is to mix two egg yolks in two tablespoons of yogurt and massage the scalp with this mixture. Leave it on for half an hour and then wash off. Another hair mask that is very beneficial for hair is made by mixing a cup of milk and a tablespoon of honey. For getting rid of dandruff, an effective hair mask is made by grinding fenugreek seeds which have been soaked overnight and leaving the paste on the scalp and hair, every time before shampooing for half an hour.

6. If you can stand the smell, apply onion or garlic juice before going to bed, and sleep on it. Slice a clove of garlic in half, and rub it on any balding areas. Squeeze juice from an onion, and do the same. For sensitive scalps, you may want to leave the treatment on for a half hour before shampooing. Always apply the garlic or onion with deep massaging motions to increase scalp circulation.

7. An African tea called rooibos which contains a large number of antioxidants can fight free radicals and also prevent hair loss. Green tea is another good antioxidant which can be applied on the scalp to prevent hair loss. It also has anti inflammatory qualities.

Yoga Benefits For Anxiety Relief

blogger

Stressed out individuals carry a great deal of physical tension in their bodies. In these cases the natural unblocking effected by yoga postures are helpful. When one rests between postures, abdominal tension is released from the body promoting deep breathing. The benefits of yoga postures (asana), breathing (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) include increased body awareness, release of muscular tension and increased coordination between mind-and body. It helps in better management of stress and ensures an overall feeling of well being.

Yoga is an ancient practice of controlling body and mind which originated in India a few thousand years ago. It is a practice by which there occurs a physical and mental harmony. The Yoga that is practiced all over the world is actually called ‘Hath Yoga’ a component of the wholesome Yogic practices. There are many sections in yogic practices which have got different implications.

Yoga has considered internal purification of the human body in depth. The shuddhikriyas (Cleansing Process) have been planned with a view to have total purification of the body before various samskaras are made thereon for baking the body in the fire named Yoga so as to turn the body into a ripe vehicle. The organs where there can be a lot of impurities require these shuddhikriyas. The internal organs, which come into contact with the external matters regularly, need to be purified.

If you are pregnant, you are very likely to suffer from occasional depression, anxiety disorders or panic attacks They should let you move freely in different yoga poses by telling you the benefits and also the dangers.

Supported Bridge Pose (you may want to place a folded blanket under your shoulders to give your neck some extra support and protection):

Lying flat on the floor, belly up, bend your knees so that your feet are as close to your buttocks as possible. Make sure your feet are placed firmly on the ground. Inhale and on the exhale lift your pelvis and buttocks up, off the floor. Your thighs and inner feet should stay parallel to each other. Move your arms underneath you for extra support and clasp your hands together. Lift your pelvis and buttocks up until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Make sure your knees are directly above your heels.

Lifestyle changes can help you control your anxiety. Identify all the things that may be contributing to the problem. Some causes may be in our control to remove others may not. Meditate for a deep detachment from everything external. This will reduce the suffering of anxiety. Meditating on oneness with everything will reduce fear and bring solitude and comfort.

Here are a few simple and basic asanas that help relieve stress:

Savasana:

It is also known as the corpse pose and is happens to be a a stress reliever.

Makarasana:

Makara means crocodile. While performing this asana the body assumes the shape of a crocodile. It is as effective as Savasana.

Balasana:

This is also known as the child’s pose. While doing this asana you have to bend forward in such a way that your back is gently rounded.

The Unique Characteristics Of Ashtanga Yoga

blogger

Ashtanga Yoga is the type of yoga which was created and established by a master named K. Pattabhi Jois. Due to it’s theory containing eight different limbs, or components, it is also known as “Eight-Limb Yoga”. It doesn’t imply that the practitioner has a double set of limbs, but master Pattabhi Jois showed that the optimum path of purification is made up of the eight spiritual practices.

The basic idea is that these limbs only can be kept in balance by the appropriate application of the Ashtanga Yoga method.

The first four limbs that symbolize Ashtanga Yoga, and are considered externally correctable are (original names within double quotes):
– Moral codes or “yama”
– Self-purification or “niyama”
– Posture or “asana”
– Breath control or “pranayama”

Then there is the other set of limbs which are the internal practices:
– Sense control or “pratyahara”
– Meditation or “dhyana”
– Concentration or “dharana”
– Contemplation or “samadhi”

K. Pattabhi Jois declared that practicing these Eight Limbs as well as its sub-limbs of the external practices which contain the niyama and yama is impossible. In doing so, the body should be strong so that it can technically perform the methods well enough. If the body is weak, and the sense organs are not functioning well, practicing will never be productive at all.

This is a primary philosophy that K. Pattabhi Jois has applied, it is of prime importance for the Asthanga practitioner to learn and understand this way of thinking. This will make you confident in that the body will significantly improve and become stronger and healthier.

Vinsaya and Tristhana are performed in Ashtanga Yoga.

The Vinsaya is a style that makes Ashtanga and its fundamental principles different from the others. Vinsaya basically means the movement and breathing which is used effectively together in order to cleanse the body. Each movement done is accompanied by only one breath. Sweat is the most important product of Vinsaya. When you produce sweat, it only indicates that you are successfully applying the method. When you perform the Asanas, or postures, the body produces heat which causes your blood to “boil” and excrete the toxins outside of your body. The contaminations are found in your sweat. So the more sweat you produce, the more toxins are released. This is the natural way for the body to get rid of unwanted substances.

The poses are used to fully develop the physical strength and health of the body. It is the sequence of practices that make this possible. There are three postures used in Ashtaga Yoga.

The three are grouped on different levels:

– The first is the Primary Series which aims on aligning the body and also detoxifying it.

– The second is the Intermediate Series opening and cleansing the energy channels which comes to the process of purifying the Nervous System.

– The last series would be the Advanced Series from A to D. In this set, the grace and strength are assessed.

The Tristhana is another yoga principle which symbolizes the close union of the three places of action and attention. First is the posture, second is the breathing technique ad last is the Dristhi of the Looking Place. All these three should work altogether to perform a function.

The breathing is always controlled and synchronized with the movements, in such a way that each movement is accompanied by breath. Ujjayi Breathing is the Yoga Breathing Technique used in the implementation of Ashtanga Yoga. Applying this ancient technique is something that you should work on gradually in your daily practise. What you need to master is holding your pose longer at the same time hold your breath. This is an amazing breathing exercise that will intensify your internal fire and will toughen the Nervous System.

Both Ashtanga and Tristhana deal with the series of Dristhi. The Dristhi is defined as the point on which you acquire your focus or concentration while doing the Asana. This allows your mind to be purified and stabilized clearly.

Clearing your mind (that is sometimes compared to an over active monkey) and cleansing it is the ultimate goal in the Eight-Limb Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga.