Yoga

Yoga has Potential to Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain, Study Says

Yoga is proven to have a significant impact on managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia patients. Research conducted at Oregon Health and Science University indicates that a regular practice of Hatha yoga, combined with meditation, breathing exercises and the development of coping skills, relieves the severity of the widespread pain associated with fibromyalgia. Though it is still undetermined if fibromyalgia is a syndrome primarily manifesting from physiological causes or stemming from psychological factors, it is characterized by muscle pain and fatigue. Other symptoms include morning stiffness, tingling or numbness in the extremities, headaches, memory problems, issues with balance and trouble sleeping. Fibromyalgia...

REVIEW: The Basic Poses package for iYoga Premium

As a yoga teacher and trainer, I can fully appreciate the amount of work it must have taken to create this beautiful app. The images are anatomically gorgeous and move in a very lifelike way, which can make it relatable for students. However, I found the repertoire to be far more anatomically-inclined than asana-inclined. This would make a good post-yoga teacher training reference for students who would like to refresh their memory regarding which parts of the body are affected and how. The multiple views and visuals of muscles contracting, stretching or both are great references. I also really enjoyed the different...

Going with the Yoga Running Flow: Yoga Heals Injuries

If you are a runner or an athlete, life may throw you a curve ball. The important part is how you react to this curveball. Injuries are an unfortunate but common occurrence with runners. Yoga can help move the healing process along. From a yogic standpoint, going with the flow means to modify as things change, on and off the mat. When our circumstances change, we must make conscious decisions about how we can continue to flow, even with the changes. Healing the injury is very important. Relaxing and trusting the whole process is even more important. The meaning of yoga...

Laughter Meets the Practice of Yoga

If happiness is what you seek, put the proverbial cart before the horse during laughter yoga sessions and form will follow function. World-renowned author Dr. Deepak Chopra recently presented his latest findings concerning overall well-being. With ample research to support his teachings, Chopra communicated that a major influence in one reporting personal well-being is the degree to which that individual socializes with happy people. Have a look around your office and you will surely conclude that such simple advice is easier said than done. But “Laughter Yoga” – a new form of classes during which students are guided through laughter exercises until...

Homeopathy for Bikram Yoga

As an experienced homeopath who has reaped the benefits of Bikram Yoga for many years, I would like to share some holistic and homeopathic tips that will help Bikram/hot yoga enthusiasts with their yoga practice. Balancing Electrolytes This is one of the most common problems encountered with Bikram Yoga practitioners. The intense heat and sweating can lead to an imbalance of electrolytes, which can then lead to dizziness, nausea, tiredness and/or headache. It is now trendy to sell coconut water in Bikram Yoga studios. Drinking a can or bottle of good quality coconut water before, during or after practice will balance electrolytes. Personally,...

Practicing Non-Attachment in Yoga

You’ve finally made a commitment to your yoga practice. You found a studio in which you feel comfortable, an instructor who really speaks to you and a mat with the perfect stickiness. You have structured your entire weekday schedule to accommodate your three favourite classes. Congratulations, now let it all go. The Buddhist aspiration of non-attachment is woven into yogic philosophy but can seem to be at odds with adhering to a regular, structured practice. The idea of practicing non-attachment is getting comfortable with uncertainty and continuous momentum since to live is to continuously exist in a state of change. But attachment...

Dial Down Your Stress Levels With Yoga

Yoga is one of the best ways of coping with the stress of modern life. It doesn’t involve drugs or great expense, and can be practiced by anyone of any age in any physical condition. Most adults spend their lives in a chronic state of being busy. Earning a paycheck, raising children, keeping up a household, and maintaining social relationships require effort and time, and the result is mental and physical stress. Chronic stress is harmful to health. Prolonged stress causes the secretion of various stress hormones, shallow, rapid breathing, and an elevated heart rate. Over time, stress can manifest...

Yoga Breathing: Recharge Your Life Through the Art of Breathing Control

Breathing is the most basic activity of human life, and it is also the foundation of yoga practice. Yoga breathing is sometimes called pranayama. This two-part word contains “prana” which means “life force,” and “yama,” which means “control.” In other words, yoga breathing is about having control over the life force of breathing. Breathing, of course, is the most natural action, since nobody has to be taught how to do it. It is fundamental to life. Though people can technically go for days without water, and weeks without food, if breathing stops for even a few minutes, brain damage or...

Yoga Backbends for better Posture

Practicing backbends is integral to maintaining height and good posture while one ages. The purpose of backbends has very little to do with your back – which is ironic given that is where the pinch and ache is felt later on if wheel, camel, or even bridge pose, are approached too aggressively. The goal of any backbend is to counter the long term forward slouching posture exaggerated by daily routines such as hunching forward over a computer for eight hours. In a backbend, the length of the back side of the body shortens while the distance between both ends move closer...

Eyes closed: The art of staying present in yoga and life

We tend to spend so much time living in the future or dwelling in the past, we recognize something special has happened when we spend some time in the present moment. You know, like when you get really absorbed in a task or project, and upon finishing you feel like you just took a mini vacation from the constant underlying state of stress. That “mini vacation” is what life would feel like all of the time if we mastered the art of staying present. There’s no need to worry when you stay in the present because there’s nothing to worry about....