วันอาทิตย์ที่ 31 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Improve Your Yoga Experience With Yoga Equipment

Around the world Yoga is considered an enjoyable way to keep fit and healthy. And, though it has been around for ages, only recently has Yoga caught the American fancy. It is a well-rounded workout designed to tone up and strengthen muscles; at the same time it increases flexibility. Yoga is also an excellent way to shed weight and boost energy and vitality. As you start to practise Yoga or Pilates, for that matter you will notice the need for some basic Yoga or Pilates equipment and accessories.

Yoga Mats
Good Yoga mats help increase balance and coordination. Most folks are not properly aligned. As a result we do a lot of what we do asymmetrically. For those intending to balance and a sense of symmetry a Yoga mat is a must. Then again, we strongly recommend a hand-woven Yoga mat. However, for those into dynamic and vigorous kinds such Power Yoga, Sticky Mats are well worth considering.
Yoga straps

The Yoga strap is highly beneficial for beginners. They are either fabricated from cotton or nylon and let you grasp your limbs, you couldn't reach. They also help you hold a pose longer. Yoga Straps are especially helpful in bound poses when the hands cannot reach each other or for asanas where you need to hold both feet but cannot reach them.

Yoga blocks

Yoga blocks are also called Yoga bricks and are useful in executing a variety of Yoga poses. Yoga blocks help in execution of poses and offer many other benefits. Some of the benefits of Yoga blocks are that they provide stability and support for proper alignment; they also help reduce the distance between the body and the ground.

Yoga cushions

Yoga cushions help practitioners establish proper spinal alignment so that the posture stays steady, straight, and comfortable. Yoga Cushions are also beneficial to pregnant women and to people recovering from surgery. With Yoga cushions, most poses can be done comfortably as you sit on a chair or using a chair to maintain balance while standing. For added support or cushioning, Yoga Cushions are also used on top of a Yoga Mat or Yoga Chair height.

Yoga balls

Yoga Balls are a versatile prop for many postures. Fabricated from durable vinyl, they help achieve the necessary balance and support for asanas. Yoga Balls effectively increase your flexibility, improve your range of motion and balance, as well as tone up the muscles. Besides, they also help shape the body and relieve of stress.

An Overview Of The Yoga History

We may have been practicing yoga for quite some time now, but to understand it better we have to look further into its origins and roots. An overview on yoga history will help us appreciate the yoga tradition better. Although, some researchers say that yoga dated as early as the first Indian civilizations, there is no proof to this.

Yoga history has traces in some Indian religions. In Hinduism, Shamanism, Jainism and Buddhism yoga means spiritual discipline. The earliest sign of a yoga practice can be seen in Shamanism. Both yoga and shamanism has similar goals that focus on the effort to improve the state of body and mind. Another similarity they both have is that they try to improve the overall health conditions of each member. However, this does not mean that to practice yoga is to enter a new religion. Yoga is for all and is universal. No matter what are your beliefs, you can still practice yoga.

Yoga history has also left some solid clues or hints behind like artifacts and documents depicting yoga postures. After a careful study, researchers have found out that these items dates back in 3000 B.C.

In the oldest existing text, the Rig-veda, has evidences that it utilize some yoga principles. Rig-veda is compilation of hymns that include prayers for divine harmony and greater being. Rig-veda is the sacred scripture of Brahmanism that is the basis of present day Hinduism. It also contains the oldest known yogic teachings.

During the time of Brahmanism, the yoga practice is now widely used by Vedic people or Vedas followers. This is the clear part of the yoga history. Vedas followers rely on to dedicated Vedic Yogis to help them live in divine harmony.

Later on, practice for experiencing greater state of consciousness is improved by the traditions of Upanishads. During the 6th century B.C., a Buddhist prince studied yoga and achieved enlightenment at the age of 35. He is now known as Buddha or the enlightened one. At 5th century B.C., a yoga scripture was created and known as Bhagavad-Gita or the Lord's song. This scripture is dedicated entirely to yoga and includes some yoga history information that tells us that it has already been an ancient practice, even before the creation of the Bhagavad-Gita.

The creation of the Yoga Sutra marks the classical period of yoga history. It defines and standardizes classical yoga. From this, we can find eight underlying principles of yoga and these are:

- Yama
- Asanas
- Samadhi
- Niyama
- Samadhi
- Dhyana
- Pratyahara
- Pranayama

The writer of Yoga Sutra, Patanjali, focused on meditation setting aside asanas and so are his followers. It was later on that the balance between the body and mind has been rekindled.

During the post classical period of yoga, the 8 principles has been reduced to 5 and continued to be practiced by yoga followers. Up to this day, yoga continues to spread and develop not just in India but also throughout the world.

Yoga Therapy In Kerala

The term "Yoga' has been originated from Sanskrit which means union of mind , body and spirit. Yoga can be also defined as practice of physical postures or poses. The vast field of Yoga includes techniques of breathing, meditation, body awareness, purification, and emotional stability.

Yoga has wide range of features which can very well diminish, managed and cure a particular disease by carefully selecting elements included in the Yoga traditions.

Yoga Therapy:
In the first half of the 20th century, Yoga therapy has been evolved in India. Yoga therapy is a new discipline which integrate traditional Yogic concepts and techniques with the western medical and psychological knowledge. It is a therapy without medicines and surgery without tools. Yoga therapy deals with the holistic treatment of various kinds of psychological or somatic dysfunction. The natural and innate healing resources of the body is promoted by this therapy. It also helps in restoring the proper functioning of the various systems present in our body.

Depending on the individual needs and also considering the medical accounts, Yoga therapists designs Yoga practices for the patients. They prescribes some specific regimens of postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. Yoga therapy can diminish various symptoms and guard the body against various diseases which are mostly evolved due to stress. It treats various ailments ranging from back problems to arthritis to heart conditions to hyperventilation to asthma to irritable bowel syndrome to diabetes to multiple sclerosis to chronic fatigue syndrome to anxiety to hypertension.

In contrary to this, traditional Yoga is primarily concerned with personal fineness on the part of a "normal" or healthy individual. But both the techniques, however, share an understanding of the human being as an integrated body-mind system, which can function optimally only when there is a state of dynamic balance. Yoga therapy is more effective than general yoga practice as a safe means of treating medical conditions.

Advantages of Yoga Therapy:
1. Yoga therapy is good for everyone.
2. It is a modified form of all the classical Yoga practices and therefore provides same advantages the traditional Yoga practices provides but without having any risk of injury.
3. Yoga therapy keeps the body flexible and mobile and keeps the joints moving.
4. Yoga therapy helps in both preventing and curing the diseases..

Yoga Therapy in Kerala:
Kerala which is situated in the southern most part of India is renowned all over the world for its Yoga therapy. Kerala has many Ayurvedic resorts which offers Yoga therapies. Some of the famous Auyurvedic resorts of Kerala are Athreya Ayurvedic Resorts, Keraleeyam Ayurvedic Resort, Somatheeram Resorts, Kare Yoga Centre (Iyengar yoga therapy kerala) and many more.

All these resorts offers special therapies to treat various ailments depending upon the body condition. These therapies included general body massages with herbal oils, Steam bath in herb enriched steam, Dhara [with medicated buttermilk], Half body massage with herbal oils, Special head massage, Panchkarma tretmens, Slimming programs, paralysis, weight loss, Anti- aging, Yoga and mediation, Detoxification and rejuvenation therapies.

Prenatal yoga

Prenatal yoga is an excellent form of exercise to utilize while going through your pregnancy. If you have never exercised before or are looking for a form of exercise to implement while pregnant, prenatal yoga is your answer. Because of yoga's natural ability to reduce stress level and help with various aches and pains, practicing prenatal yoga will help with all the minor or major aches and pains women experience while being pregnant.

Prenatal is one of the only forms of exercise that can give you ways of coping with your pregnancy pains as well as labor pains. Because prenatal yoga deals with breathing techniques, you are learning a method of breathing you can incorporate into your routine when going through contractions. Many women have said that the breathing they learned while practicing prenatal yoga exercise helped immensely in the delivery room. When it comes to your labor, it can be scary, so knowing right away a way to help decease your pain is a great advantage given to you by prenatal yoga.

Even if you have never practiced yoga before becoming pregnant, you can practice prenatal yoga as a method of exercise during your pregnancy. Because prenatal yoga doesn't require any fast paced movements, it is perfectly safe for you and your baby. In fact prenatal yoga will help you to stretch out any stiffness and lower back pain you may be experiencing. Through a series of poses and postures specific to prenatal yoga, you will stay fit and feel great through out your pregnancy. Again this form of exercise is perfectly safe and harm free.

During your pregnancy most women want to stay in shape and do what is the absolute best for their baby. Prenatal yoga is just the form of exercise to use. There are prenatal yoga classes at your local gym you can utilize. There are also exercises DVDs that are strictly for prenatal yoga. There are certain poses and postures you can practice during prenatal yoga that are specific to the trimester you are in. If you decide to partake in a yoga class that is not a prenatal yoga class be sure to tell the instructor that you are pregnant right away to be sure you are not going to be over exerting yourself during the exercise routine.

Of course before beginning prenatal yoga or any form of exercise it is important to consult your doctor. If you are a high risk pregnancy or supposed to be on bed rest, prenatal not any other type of exercise is recommended. After your pregnancy is over yoga is still a great way to feel fit and stay healthy. There are many different types of yoga other than prenatal yoga that can be very beneficial to you and your health, physically, mentally and spiritually. Be sure to give yourself the proper amount of time after giving birth before picking up with your exercise routine if you aren't sure what the right amount of time is consult with your doctor.

Lifestyle Yoga Clothes supplies

Yoga can be defined as a physical and mental exercise that helps in increasing will power of people. Most of the people believe yoga is a spiritual exercise, which enlightens the spirit and purifies the heart. For example: Doing yoga can help you increase patience and get relief from worries. Yoga has to be practiced in a peaceful environment. Most of the people prefer practicing yoga in natural surroundings. Some people prefer practicing yoga at meditation centers. Whatever may be the place, people should concentrate on the type of clothes they wear for yoga. Yoga Clothes play an important role in yoga practice.

Clothes people wear during yoga should give them maximum comfort and help them to ease body movement. Yoga Clothes unlike ordinary clothes are made of special material.

It’s good if people wear Yoga Clothes that are loose, i.e. clothes like shorts, leotards, sweat pants, camisoles, vests, etc. Men and women generally prefer shorts when practicing yoga. Shorts allow people to see the alignment of their foot, knees and ankles. Yoga Clothes for men comprise of yoga shirts and pants. Yoga shirts need to be light and comfortable. All yoga shirts are made of natural materials and preferably are seamless. In fact that’s true with most yoga clothing. Yoga pants can be used for practicing yoga, martial arts, aerobics, dance, and exercise. Yoga pants fit easily around the waist, and permit stretches.

Women should wear yoga shorts along with a yoga bra. Yoga Clothes should be comfortable, sweat absorbent and breathable. Women prefer stretchable cotton pants when practicing yoga. These cotton pants fit loosely around the hips, and have a flattering leg finish. Hard tail cotton pants are easily available and these pants are made of cotton Lycra blends.

Pants are usually pre-shrunk with a mix of 90% cotton and 10% Lycra. These pants are available in varying colors, and are ideal for women with varying waist sizes. People should always wear clothes that are good for all yoga exercises. They should check for yoga clothes that are form-fitting, i.e., clothes they select should be suitable and well adjusted irrespective of yoga movements.

Yoga for Healthy Living

Nowadays, yoga exercises have become more popular all over the world. Yoga is not just a physical exercise, but a mental discipline, which offers great benefits when practiced regularly. Apart from physical fitness, you can also get complete relaxation of mind by making yoga exercises an integral part of your life.

Regular practice of yoga exercises can offer you physiological, psychological as well as spiritual benefits. Some of the yoga benefits include:

1. Increases physical stamina and enhances body flexibility
2. Strengthens your spinal cord and relieves you from back aches
3. Improves blood circulation
4. Strengthen your immune system
5. Helps to maintain blood pressure and cholesterol level in the body
6. Improves concentration
7. Reduces stress and depression by providing mental relaxation
Making yoga exercises as part of your lifestyle helps to cure or prevent diabetes, digestive disorders, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins, headaches, hypertension, insomnia, thyroid problems, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and much more. Yoga is a natural way to cure most of your illness. The effect of yoga will be more, when it is practiced in the right way. To maximize the yoga benefits, you have a wide range of yoga accessories available in the market today.

At Tupelo Super Store, you can find the best yoga accessories. Hand-crafted in India, their OM Sutra product collections are designed to be attractive and durable. You will find high-quality yoga accessories, like cotton yoga rug, cotton blanket, yoga bags, bolsters, and pillows.

The cotton yoga rug available at Tupelo Super Store helps to maintain your poses without slipping. It absorbs sweat and can be washed easily. Select from one of the yoga bags available in different colors and designs to carry all your yoga accessories. The Chakra Yoga Kit from Tupelo Super Store is all you need to keep your yoga accessories safe and organized. Made from heavy cotton twill fabric, it features two side pockets, an outer pocket, and a carry handle for user convenience.

To get comfort and softness when you practice restorative yoga exercises, you can choose from the high-quality cotton blankets available at Tupelo Super Store. Select from one of the large, round, or rectangular bolsters that helps you maintain your posters. Give the ultimate relaxation to your eyes by using the aromatherapy silk Eye pillows that are filled with natural flaxseeds and scented with Nilgiri oil to soothe your eyes.

Choosing the right yoga accessories will help you practice yoga exercises properly. If you are a regular yoga practitioner, then it’s time to get one of equip yourself high-quality yoga accessories from Tupelo Super Store to fully enjoy the yoga benefits.

Yoga Bag Styles

Yoga bags are becoming very popular now. With yoga mats coming in various thickness, the type of yoga bag that you purchase must fit your mat. So what kind of yoga bag should you get?

Yoga bags come in four main varieties. The main difference among yoga bags is how the yoga mats are placed into them.

Tube Type Yoga Bag

The tube type of yoga bag has an opening on its end. It is generally a round duffle bag with a drawstring opening on the ends. In order to put your yoga mat into these bags, you must roll the yoga mat into a diameter that is smaller than the bag. This yoga bag is best suited for the thinner mats. You will also have alot of trouble placing a sticky yoga mat into this type of bag because you need to slide the full length of the mat into the bag.

Canvas Bag Type Yoga Bag

The canvas bag yoga bag is exactly that. It is a long shopping bag with an opening at the top. These types of bags generally have a simple closing mechanism like a snap, button or tie. With these bags one just opens up and puts the yoga mat in. This is best suited for large thick mats and is probably the easiest bag for the sticky mat.

Purse Type Yoga Bag

The purse type yoga bag is more stylist and usually looks like a long purse. It general has a zippered closure which runs almost the entire length of the bag. The opening is also at the top and placing the mat into the bag is fairly easy.

The Outside Strap Yoga Bag

This bag holds the yoga mat on the outside. They use two straps that secure the rolled up mat to the bag on the outside. This is the most versatile bag as it can carry any size and thickness yoga mat. However, the drawback to this bag is that the yoga mat is on the outside of the bag. So if you have an ugly yoga mat you might want to use one of the other bags.

How to find the Right Yoga Bolsters

Yoga has been part of our lives when it comes to tension and stress relief. Through yoga we gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of oneself. It also serves as a great tool to stay healthy and prevent certain diseases.

Yoga through the years of repeatedly usage has become a popular alternative medicine. Today it is now used to cure chronic diseases and ailments in the different body systems. It includes the nervous, circulatory, endocrine, respiratory, digestive, reproductive and the musculoskeletal system.

Yoga can be practiced by anyone, including the elderly and those that have or suffers from certain injuries. The use of specific yoga equipments can help people who are not perfectly capable of doing yoga. The use of yoga Equipment can help you achieve the maximum physical and mental results of your practice.

One of the best examples of yoga equipments is the Yoga bolsters.

Yoga bolsters are being used in various styles of yoga like the Bikram, Ananda and Kripalu yoga. These are yoga form that needs much of your yoga bolsters for they instill more use of extensive yoga poses.

Yoga bolsters provide support for the back, abdomen and legs. Yoga bolsters also aids in the proper alignment of the body and the stack of spinal vertebrae.

It is also and effective way to cushion and relieve tension in your lower body and upper body, the neck and the abdomen when doing your poses.

It aids yoga master in doing supine and passive yoga positions. Putting your yoga bolsters on top of your mat provides added cushioning and support to your lower body and makes your yoga session more comfortable.

Yoga bolsters are light and can be easily carried and stored at the corner of your room. It can easily fit in to your drawer or a closet without taking much space.

Yoga bolsters also comes in a variety of size, shapes, colors and materials which is designed to fit your need and preference.

Different sellers offer cylindrical, rectangular, Zafu, and a lot of other types of Yoga Bolsters.

Sometime people buying yoga bolsters are quite confused on whether to buy cylindrical or rectangular yoga bolsters.

So here are some brief discussions on the difference between this two. But if you are into yoga class and like the yoga bolsters that you are using then you can buy the type you use.

Cylindrical bolsters are a larger and much more firm that the rectangular yoga bolsters.

Cylindrical yoga bolsters are heavier than the rectangular ones, owing the fact that they have different respective filling materials with different weights.

You can do most things equally well with either kind of Bolster, but the different shapes do have marginal advantages for certain poses.

Yoga Bolsters are used for comfort in different positions, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to provide that extra level of comfort and support. Placed under knees, ankles, or neck, these Bolsters help to relieve muscle strain during difficult poses.

The round bolsters and Rectangle Bolster props, supports and encourages your body to stretch, relax and open the areas that need it most.

What ever kind of bolsters that you need, I am sure that you will be able to find one that will suit your needs.

If ever nothing would fit you in yoga store, make one of your own or find somebody who can make them, giving you a much more flexibility and customization in getting the yoga bolsters that you like.

Five Most Common Yoga Practices

Yoga is comprehensively known as a form of exercise that stretches and strengthens the body through various poses known as ASANAS. For some people yoga is the realisation of inner self satisfaction. For others it is a religion that they believe and must follow.
All of this statement makes it hard to really make a full realisation of what yoga is.
So what is yoga?
Yoga goes far beyond just mere exercises full of awkward routines. Yoga is the union of mind, spirit and body. Yoga comes from the Hindu philosophy used to attain spiritual insight and harmony.
What is yoga?
Yoga as a rule refers to the general use of a system of exercises that is practiced as part of this discipline.
The word is derived from the Sanskrit "yeung", which means to join. A yoke as used on oxen is closely related, but also the same root gives us "join", "junction", "junta", "adjust", "joust", and "juxapose" to name a few.
There are many institutions of yoga all of which have their own unique practices and beliefs. But in this article we have listed down the five most common yoga practices.
However, schools and paths have been established with many different variations that aren't listed here.
HATHA: this is the most popular variety of yoga and one that has been commonly taught for years. So what is yoga for them? For them it is perfecting the mind by way of perfecting the body.
With this technique many asanas or postures, breathing techniques and meditations are used.
ASHTANGA: this yoga is another popular type they are much faster than the other schools. What is yoga for ashtanga's?
For them yoga can be considered as a type of aerobic yoga for they instill quick and smooth transitions between poses.
KUNDALINI: This school is focused on awakening and focusing what is known as
kundalini energy. Kundalini energy is most easily compared to life energy that lies dormant in our bodies. It is commonly represented by a coiled snake.
MANTRA: this type of yoga is focused on calming the mind and body through the usage of words and sounds. The well known 'om' chant is commonly heard in this school.
TANTRA: This type of school is well known by way of its focus on sexual spirituality. They also focus on kundalini energy, although their intent for awakening it is much different from the Kundalini practice.
Yoga is a very diverse practice, no matter which school you choose. People young and old can gain many benefits from regular yoga practices, and asanas can be adjusted to fit physical limitations and other complications.
If you want a break from treadmills, weight rooms, or the pool, take a look at yoga. Not only are you striving towards physical well being, you are striving towards spiritual well being as well.
Traditionally, yoga consists of eight fundamental paths which are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga; Hatha Yoga; Purna Yoga; Tantra Yoga; Maha Yoga and Ashtanga or Raja Yoga. In the western world, the term yoga often refers to Hatha yoga and its postures, movements, and breathing techniques.
The ultimate goal of yoga is the attainment of liberation from worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and death. Yoga entails mastery over the body, mind, and emotional self, and transcendence of desire. It is said to lead gradually to knowledge of the true nature of reality.
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