Category: Yoga
Almost everyone has experienced waking up with a sore neck. Or something happens and the neck just hurts so that you can barely turn your head. Most chiropractors charge around $75 for a ten-minute visit to force the neck back into position, almost always causing soft tissue damage. Smart chiropractors know this and ice their clients after an adjustment Another case of the cure being worse than the condition. Now, it is literally possible for you take matters into your hands. And, it can be done gently without force, cracking, or pain.
The most common misalignment in the neck is caused by one or more vertebra rotating to one side or the other. The part of the vertebra that protrudes at the back of the neck is called the spinous process. Think of this bony protuberance pointing more to one side or the other. This is the vertebra rotating to that side.
Many muscles attach to the spinous process, and when you press into those muscles the tenderness is where they are bunched up from the vertebral rotation. This is true even when your neck isn’t really bothering you. A minor tenderness you might find in your neck most likely is a minor misalignment. There are adjustment muscles that are constantly pulling against the vertebra, working to keep the neck and other joints in alignment. These minor mishaps in the alignment aren’t usually noticed because they are minor, and the body does the adjustment naturally as you move about with your normal activity. In some ways, the technique presented here is an extension of the natural way the body does these realignments all the time.
Sometimes muscles will tense up, usually from emotional stress, causing a misalignment. This type of misalignment is more likely to get your attention. A simple misalignment is when one or more vertebra rotate to the same side. When they rotate to alternating sides things can get really uncomfortable, even painful, and consequently a little harder to tell what is going on. The most uncomfortable misalignment happens when one vertebra rotates to one side and the one above or below rotates to the other side.
Finding which vertebra is out and which way tells you where to adjust and which way. This is usually fairly obvious and can be determined by feeling around for the tender or sore areas. You may have to press in to find the exact spot. Most likely the more tender area is the side the vertebra has rotated to, the misalignment.
The adjustment involves a little pressure into the bunched up muscles just to the side of the spinous process which releases them. Turning your head rotates all the vertebra as they do naturally, bringing the one you are adjusting back into alignment.
Lets say the third cervical is very tender on the right side, about two and a half to three inched below the base of the scull. To adjust, take your left hand behind your neck and gently pull just to the right side of the vertebra. The middle finger works well, but it doesnt matter, just so you can pull into the muscles to the right of the spinous process. Gentle pressure releases the muscles and encourages the spinous process to the left. Drop your chin a little and slowly turn your head to the right following along with your finger. It only takes about four ounces of pressure, sometimes even less.
You don’t have to worry about doing the wrong adjustment. This technique is so gentle that you are very unlikely to cause a problem. If you do happen to cause a misalignment, you will know right away by how uncomfortable it becomes. If this happens, just adjust in the other direction.
The first and fifth cervical can be a little different. The fifth is very common, and there can be physiological reasons for it to be out, and it is very deep in and hard to reach. It helps to tuck your chin as far as you can to fully expose the spinous process. The first cervical or atlas usually needs to be adjusted on both sides, and each side needs two adjustments. The first one is further out to the side of the tight muscles, then adjust again as above.
That is the basic technique for self adjusting the neck. A little pressure to release the muscles and encourage the vertebra in the direction it needs to go, dropping the chin to help expose the vertebra and a rotation of the head to the opposite side you are pulling on. Try it out, I think you will be pleased with the result.
In the yoga history, there are only few figures who contributed to create Yoga as we know it now or “Power Yoga”. This last week end, Bangkok gets the great chance to welcome one of the pioneers of modernYoga: Larry Schultz. Larry has been teaching during 30 years and has influenced yoga students and teachers around the world. His strength and success comes from the 63,000 Sun Salutes, 9,000 classes and 142 yoga teacher trainings he has been a part of. He is also known as the Grateful Dead’s yoga teacher and travelled with the band for 3 years. The workshop was aiming to introduce to Thai people the internationally acclaimed Rocket Yoga: an exciting series of poses drawn from Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga to renew energy and vitality throughout the body. This vibrant routine is called the-Rocket- because -it gets you there faster.-
The first yoga class started Friday evening. Thai and foreigner yoga student was much exited to learn from the creator of the Rocket. Larry Schulz makes his appearance and the magic happened. Xenna, reputed model from Thailand describe Larry as: “wonderful, charismatic, inspirational soul!”
Some student was beginners, some were advanced practicioner but everyone shared the same feeling of Fun and joy doing this Yoga routine. Bute the profond message of this week end was that Yoga is not only about doing yoga pose. It’s about a new way of life, of breathing aiming to bring more peace, love and health to our existence.
Before leaving to Koh Pagnan for the It’s Yoga teacher training, we ask Larry Schultz about his new Thailand experience. Thai student quite impress him. They are as flexible as their willingness to learn new things. Teaching Yoga in Thailand is like to be in a yoga holiday.
Yoga is just blooming in Asia and Its Yoga Thailand is the start of a long adventure.
It’s Yoga opened its first location in San Francisco in 1989. Today It’s Yoga is the global worldwide leader in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training and Certification. During the last 20 years more than 2000 yoga teachers have been certified to teach yoga by It’s Yoga.
More information about the yoga teacher training and yoga holiday in Thailand can be found to their website: www.itsyoga-thailand.com/
Yoga Styles: Guide to the Most Popular Types
The image of yoga has changed during the past years. If once, the first picture that popped your mind was of a group of white wearing weirdoes standing on their heads and breathing loudly, now you are probably thinking about Madonna’s well shaped arms. Currently, yoga is one of the most popular fitness activities worldwide. One of its appeal is that it can be practiced by elders and it can improve the overall physical fitness of athletes.
If you want to start practicing yoga, here is a quick guide to the basic types of yoga. While most of them are based on the same ancient postures, each yoga style has a different focus. Some of the yoga styles focus on strengthening the body while others focus on flexibility. Other types of yoga focus mainly on breathing, relaxation, and meditation.
Most of the yoga styles that were adopted in the west, were derived from the Hatha Yoga, which is a general term that refers to the physical branches of the ancient Indian philosophy. The purpose of the traditional Hatha Yoga was to achieve balance between mind and body through moral discipline and physical exercises, which are expressed by a series of asana: postures, panorama: breathing and meditation.
Western culture adopted mainly the physical aspects of the Hatha Yoga and ignored the moral aspects, usually even the breathing and meditations aspects. All the yoga styles that were derived from the Hatha Yoga share the same basic principle that mental balance can be achieved through practice of physical exercises and postures. Each yoga style chooses to focus on different aspect.
Ashtanga Yoga:
This focuses on the flow of postures in order to improve strength, stamina and flexibility of the body. During a Asthanga Yoga class, the participants jump from one posture to another. Therefore, this type of yoga is not the ideal for beginners. People who are not well fit may find it too difficult and demanding. However, if you are interested in improving your strength, flexibility and stamina and you are fit enough to deal with an hour of jumping from one posture to another, Asthanga Yoga can suit you.
Power Yoga:
This is an American development of the Asthanga Yoga that also adopted several elements from other types of yoga styles. You can find Power Yoga classes mainly in fitness and health clubs. Power Yoga focuses on strengthening the body by performing Hatha Yoga postures for a longer time to improve both physical flexibility and mental focus. Power Yoga can be a good exercise for athletes, people who practice types of fitness activities and people who want to tone their body.
Bikram Yoga:
A Bikram Yoga class features a series of 26 Hatha Yoga postures practiced in a heated room. It is also known as Hot Yoga. The purpose of the heat is to allow the participants to get into each of the yoga poses in a deeper and safer manner. The heat also helps clean the body from toxins promoting sweating. Bikram Yoga focuses more on the workout of the entire body, including the internal organs and less on flexibility. Bikram Yoga is not recommended to pregnant women and people who suffer from high blood pressure and heart conditions, but it can improve the physical fitness of people who recover from injuries.
Iyengar Yoga:
This focuses on the physical alignment of the body and the accurate performance of each posture. Some of the Iyengar Yoga postures are practiced with the assistance of props such as blocks and belts that are designed to help the participants achieve the most accurate posture and to protect their bodies from injuries. Since the flows between postures are not practiced, Iyengar Yoga classes are less intense and therefore more suitable for people who are less fit. Iyengar Yoga improves body strength and flexibility and can fit people of any age and every physical condition.
Yoga Therapy has been hailed the world over. Yuj means to unite and Yoga is Union with the Absolute Being.
Yoga is the Science of Man !
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan
The proper study of Mankind is Man !
Placed in the isthmus of a middle state
A being rudely great
With too much knowledge for the skeptic’s side
And too many weaknesses for the Stoic’s pride
He hangs between !
Yoga is a systematic study of man in his threefold aspect, as Mind, Body and Self. It is the Arts Artium or the Art of all arts and the
Scientia Scientiarum, the science of all sciences. It is based on hoary Indian wisdom and culture and is the art of living a
healthy, contented, balanced and peaceful life.
The Eightfold Path of Yoga is
Yama Conditional personal and social behaviour, according to Yogic Law
Niyama Attitutue under Yoga norms
Asana Physical Body discipline
Pranayama Breath Control
Pratyahara Senses control
Dharana Concentration
Dhyana Meditation
Samadhi Transcendental Consciousness
The first five are called Hatha Yoga, as it is culturing the physique. The last three are called Raja or Regal Yoga, as it deals with the culturing
of the psyche. The first Five represent the Psychosomatic Approach and are referred to External or Bahirangi Yoga. The latter three affects
the psyche and are known as Internal or Antaranga Yoga. It is to be noted that the Internal Yoga cannot be done without doing the External Yoga, as
purification of body is a prerequisite for Self Actualisation. ” Sareeram Adhyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam”, the body is the vehicle for Redemption !
Yoga and TM trigger the Relaxation Response and relaxes you completely. Gone are the strains and the stresses of relativistic life.
The physical exercises called Asanas combats stress and keeps the body flexible.
The three physical states of Doing, Thinking and Being are highlighted in Yoga. All that we see is nothing but Universal Matter or Energy, the
Adhibouthika aspect of Relative Being. All minds together is the Universal Mind and this is the Adhi Daivata aspect of the Supreme. These are
all the manifestations of the Unmanifest and this is Brahman, the Absolute, transcending all relativities
The destructible aspect is called Adhibootha
He who tenants the body, the Purusha, is Adhi Daivata
Being Absolute is Brahman called
These three are the triune states of Being. ( The Song Celestial, the Geetha )
We can transcend all relativities and reach the Absolute Self, via this great Science of Cosmic Union. This is the union mystica, envisaged by the mystic traditions of all other countries
Some of the Yoga Centers in Kerala which you can visit on Kerala Tours are
Transcendental Meditation Center, Poonkunnam, Trichur
Atmadarshan Yoga-Dhama – Ayur Health Center Fort, Vanciyoour, Sreekaneteswaram & Taycaud in Trivandrum – Dr D Sreekantan Nair Email intyoga(at)yahoo.com
Yoga Holidays at Edakkad Beach Houses, Edakkad Village Beach, Kerala. Email pam(at) bodybalancefunction.co.uk
Hatha Vidya Gurukulam – Neernamukku, Vadakkethara, Pazhayannur, Trichur, Kerala.
International Vasishta Yoga Research Foundation – Calicut, Kerala, S India, 673010. vaiyoga(at) yahoo.co.in
Kaivalyam Retreat, Moolakada, Pallivasal, Munnar, Kerala, 685612
Kasi Yoga Anushtana Kendram, Tulasivanam, N Kurakkanni Jn, Varkala. kasiyoga(at) gmail.com
School of Shanti Yoga, TC 15/1572, M P Appan Road, Vazhuthacaud, Trivandrum 695 014, Kerala. santhischool(at) yahoo.co.in
Sivasoorya Divine School of Yoga, Surya, Vellayani PO, Kerala. info(at)sivasoorya.org
Thulasidalam School of Yoga, Tulasidalam Sree Rama Yogashram, Thelliyoor PO, Near Thiruvalla, Kerala. indiayoga(at)gmail.com
Yoga Vidya Peetham, Varkala Beach in Kerala during winters and Dharmasala during summers. info(at) hathayoga-meditation.com
Sivananada Yoga Vedanta Centre in Trivandrum;
Kollam Yoga Kendra, Uilyakoil, I
deal Yoga Centre Manaltheeram Yoga Centre,
Jawahar Balabhavan and Holistic Eastern Advance Research Temple (Heart) in Kollam;
Prajapathi Yoga center, Kacheripady,
Life Yoga Center, Edapally, Adithya Yoga Institute, Thrikkakara,
Pathanjali Naturopathy & Yoga Clinic, Kaloor
Kerala Yoga Centre, in Kochi, Kerala India.
You can visit these centers and feel the holistic positive energy. Enjoy the healing, divine touch of Yoga.
Yoga is one of the best way for modern peoples to keep health always fit and fine and it is also help to make mind relax, fresh and active. Yoga helps us in many different ways like weight losing, control blood pressure, height increasing, managing the body weight, improving eye sites, and many more activities.
Yoga is an old set of theories and practices with deep root in ancient India. It intended the mind, body and spirit and thats why the individuals people of country is more aware about the yoga. Yoga is means of true happiness ad freedom. For our body yoga is beneficial because it improves our health and the diet becomes more balanced.
In yoga there are different Asana and Pranayama which are help to make the our body fit and fine. The term yoga derives form a Sanskrit word yuj which means to join. Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is an ancient art work in which they rotate there body in different shapes to make all the harmonies of the body active. Yoga is also help us to make our mind sharp, active, fresh.
Meditation is also a part of yoga in which a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned, “thinking” mind into a deeper state of relaxation or alertness. I would like to share a few basic pointers about what meditation involve the basic shared principle is to quieted your thoughts and mind.
Yoga is the another form of exercise some young men are said that yoga is for old men or women but its not true yoga is for all child, young men or woman, old men or women. Yoga is an art which makes our body always fit and fine. Yoga can help us in many different ways. We can make some money buy teaching yoga to other it is a good sources of income for yoga teachers. Some big you teaching centres can earn money by giving yoga certifications to yoga teachers.
In past several years yoga will becomes more popular in America where it was turned into a physical exercise. In America Hatha Yoga, is more famous than other yoga, with its postures, with increasing the muscles strength and the body stamina, and creating an emotional balance.
In the old age, people have to faces some difficulty in there lifes. Yoga is extremely beneficial in their cases and they need not to fear as it is safe. Yoga helps old people regain their joints mobility and flexibility. They should exercise on a regular basis to maintains their mobility. They enjoy great psychological effects from yoga. They arr very happy and their immune system improves a lot.