Category: Yoga
The explosion of yoga lifestyle in todays world has lead to more and more people adopting the principles of yoga into their day-to-day. It is based on the principles of focus, concentration, discipline and love. Yoga provides a complete perfect state of mental, physical and spiritual balance so as to attain inner peace. To attain this state an individual needs to be fully concentrated while practicing yoga and performing different asanas.
Yoga requires physical movement of the body and for that you need clothes which are comfortable to wear so that you can perform different asanas easily. Moreover uncomfortable clothes even make you lose concentration and are a huge distraction during the whole process. Concentration is something which is something that is very important while performing yoga. The last thing that anyone would want is to lose focus because of the clothes they have worn. It is often observed that people wearing proper yoga apparels get better results as it enables the person to have a better focus while performing different asanas.
Organic apparels are the most effective and popular type of yoga apparels. These have become very popular due to the level of comfort they provide which can never be provided by non-organic clothing. Organic clothing is better at absorbing sweat and it does not cause any irritation or itching during rigorous body movements as they do not contain any chemical materials.
Also, organic clothing is a testimony to the principles on which yoga is based. It teaches us to live in peace and harmony with the natural world and respect all the living organisms. Organic clothes are made from organic crops which are farmed using absolutely no chemical materials or genetically modified seeds. Chemicals fertilizers such as pesticides, insecticides, etc. which are used during farming destroy the soil and land quality and pollute the surrounding air and water of the environment. Hence organic clothes not only provide comfort to the body while performing yoga but also protect our surrounding environment.
If you too are the one who lives a yoga-lifestyle promoting sustainable living then we at Kooshoo can provide you with a wide range of organic yoga clothes such as headbands, hair ties, hot organic yoga apparels and more which is both eco-friendly and comfortable. Yoga clothing these days comes in a variety of designs and attractive colors too. The apparels we provide you with come in many fancy designs and up to date with the fashion world.
India is rightly known as the World Capital of Yoga and the word yoga is from the Sanskrit language which means to unite or to attach. Yoga is widely believed to be in existence as old as civilization. Yoga poses are known to be found in stone seals from around 3000 B.C , although some believe that yoga was prevalent even before that and an other form of body postures ‘shamanism’ which was similar to Yoga. Yoga could be classified into four periods namely Vedic period, Pre-Classical Yoga, Classical Yoga and Post-Classical Yoga. Yoga restores balance and peace into our lives and helps in the physical, mental and psychological well being of an individual. India’s yoga retreats are very traditional and authentic in their treatment which follows the ancient teachings of ‘yoga asanas’. There are many yoga retreats packages that have come into existence through the length and breadth of India.
These yoga retreats emphasize on leading an ashram life and guests are treated very divinely and gracefully. They are instructed to undergo many practices such as meditation lessons, chanting classes, daily yoga etc and they are provided a very soothing environment as it is surrounded by farms and the guests could interact with the local population and get an insight into their lives. Guests are given practice in various facets of yoga for therapeutic guidance and they are also aided if they want to pursue aesthetic and a spiritual path in their lives. yoga thus has the tenacity to bring a change in our outlook towards life and turn us into more reformed beings. It is really a revelation to know that how the minute changes in the life style and dietary habits could bring a world of change in the overall well being of an individual.
These retreats also take special care in the culinary and dietary habits of the guests. It is pure Organic vegetarian food on a very strict time policy and a strict no- alcohol policy. The guests are even involved in the farming in the gardens with the morning sun and they could offer help in the cooking arena thus making their stay as close to home and warm as possible. The massages are performed in a very meticulous manner as the guest requirements vary from one another. They provide an environment to free all types of stress be it professional or personal and help in rejuvenating and reprising our lives to restart our lives on a refreshed note.
A woman’s body prepares itself for a pregnancy every month and menstruation is a part of this process. If a pregnancy does not occur, the uterus sheds its lining which is known as menstruation or monthly bleeding. This passes out of the womans body through the vagina every month. Periods usually start during the early teens for most of the girls and end when it is menopause. This bleeding normally lasts from 3 to 5 days on average.
The menstrual cycle is calculated as the number of days from day 1 of the period to the day 1 of the next period. Most of the women have a 28 days cycle, while a menstrual cycle of 21 to 35 days is also considered normal. Some women experience irregular and painful menstruation during which they have menstrual cramps and severe pain. The discomfort due to menstrual cramps can make it difficult for a woman to carry out daily functions during the period. The pain and discomfort may start few days before the bleeding or at the start of the bleeding. It reduces as the period ends. Condition of excessive painful menstruation is called dysmeorrhea.
Primary dysmeorrhea is when the pain starts around the time of the menstrual cycle and is not related to any problem with the uterus. Secondary dysmeorrhea is when the pain starts after the bleeding and is related to problems in the pelvic organs or uterus. The causes of this pain may be: cysts, stress, fibroids, pelvic inflammation, anxiety or sexually transmitted diseases. Menstrual cramps are said to be related to a substance known as prostaglandin which makes the uterus contract.
Natural remedies for painful menstruation and menstrual cramps can be availed of for reducing the discomfort. The other treatments include medications like anti inflammatory pills, pain relievers, birth control pills, antibiotics or anti depressants. Some of the natural remedies for painful menstruation are as follows:
1. Aloe Vera: Intake of Aloe juice is said to be beneficial in treating menstrual cramps and pain.
2. Garlic: Include garlic in your diet or boil few cloves of garlic in water and drink this water regularly.
3. Massage: A soothing abdominal massage can help in this condition by reducing the pain and tension in that region.
4. Parsley: Drink parsley juice to ease painful menstruation.
5. Ginger: Boil a piece of ginger in a cup of water and drink this regularly. This is one of the effective natural remedies for painful menstruation.
6. Sesame seeds: Boil the seeds in water, cool, strain and drink it regularly. These seeds help in the condition of pain during periods.
7. Coriander: Another one of the natural remedies for menstrual cramps is coriander. Boil the coriander seeds in water for a while. Let it cool, the strain it and drink this water. This decoction will give relief from painful menstrual and menstrual cramps.
It is very important to maintain a healthy diet apart from following the above natural remedies for painful menstruation. Eat food rich in iron and avoid tea, coffee, refined foods, oily and greasy foods. Also avoid foods that are hard to digest. Include papaya, bitter gourd, cucumbers and drumsticks in your diet. A regular exercise regime or practice of yoga can help immensely to ease of the menstrual cramps. However avoid exercising during the menstruation.
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.
As we practice yoga poses we want to do also inversions. Most common inversions are the Headstand and the Shoulderstand. But there are not only those two poses which are the inverted asanas.
Any posture in which the head is below the heart is called an inversion. Whether you stand on your head, bend forward or bend back, if your head is below your heart, you are performing an inversion.
This also means that Downward Facing Dog, Standing Forward Bend and Fish pose are also inversions; although those poses are mild in comparison to a Headstand. The Camel pose can also be an inversion if you bend back far enough.
Remember – inversions are not for everyone!
Your intentions should be clear when you perform any yoga posture. If the risks may outweigh the benefits there is no logical reason why you should practice any pose which can harm you.
Contraindications for practicing inversions:
If you have any of the following conditions, please omit inversions or work with a qualified and experienced teacher who will never put you at risk and tried to modify your practice.
Anyone who has high blood pressure, heart related problems, eye issues, neck problems, epilepsy, previous stroke or sinus problems should never practice Headstand or Shoulderstand, and omit other mild inversions or be adjusted by the yoga teacher.
During any stage of pregnancy yoga should be practiced in a prenatal yoga classes specifically designed for that purpose or privately with a qualified pregnancy yoga teacher.
During menstruation Headstand and Shoulderstand preferably should be omitted and other milder inversions should not be hold for long, but because of the controversy about the inversions during menstruation it is your personal choice. Let your body guide you.
If you are a yoga teacher explain to your students why the inversions can be dangerous for them if they have any of the condition mentioned earlier.
Why not stand on your head when you have pain in your neck or neck injury? What first thing will come to your mind as you there? Ouch … my neck! Can my small neck carry my whole weight as I am inverted?
Most students put lots of weight on their head and neck instead of shoulders. Use your common sense and listen to your body. Intuition will never let you down.
Why omit headstand if I have high blood pressure? Because the danger is when your blood pressure increase from 100/60 mm Hg while standing on your feet to 150/110 mm Hg or even higher when you go for headstand.