Healthy » Stretching

What are the most popular Yoga styles?

Health Guru — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:28:42 +0000

Yoga is practiced in different styles. It’s a bit confusing especially now that yoga masters add some of their own techniques to enhance a certain style. But basically, each style is founded on the fundamental principles of Yoga. The postures used in Yoga are quite similar to each other but differ on its emphasis. All in all, the poses are used to achieve control over the mind and body.

When choosing a style to pursue, pick the one that will fit your character and physique. Here is a list of the selected different styles of Yoga:

ASHTANGA: Is considered as Power Yoga. Its intense athletic style makes it very popular and appealing to individuals who want to have a sense of independence and order. Derived from the definition of Ashtanga, which means “8 Limbs”, it is composed of 8 components: breathing control, sense control, concentration, absorption, meditation, ethics, posture and morality.

ANANDA: Focuses on meditation and spiritual origins to create harmony of the body, mind and soul. The main goal of this style is geared towards relaxation, increasing consciousness and development of correct alignment with the use of postures.

ANUSARA: Defined as the flowing of grace, the emphasis of this style is on heart opening. With the belief that all people are inherently good, it is a style filled with optimism and pleasure.

INTEGRAL: A combination of different branches of Yoga, Integral yoga is a gentle and non-competitive form of class. The goal is to unite the mind, body and spirit to lead the person in living a life of happiness, peace, productivity and healthy lives. Ultimately, it aims to create harmony between man and creation.

BIKRAM: Poses of Bikram Yoga is done in a heated room. Thus, the name Hot Yoga is given to this kind of style. With the combination of dynamic poses and high temperature (95-100 degrees), the body feels warm and becomes flexible. Since Bikram raises the body’s core temperature, it is not the style advisable for pregnant women to use. This style can lead to dehydration so make sure that you drink lots of water before and after the class.

These are just some of the many different styles of Yoga like Kripalu, Kali Ray TriYoga, Iyengar Yoga, Sivananda, Svaroopa, etc.. Find some moment to know about them and decide on the one that will satisfy your needs and suit your capabilities.

Getting To Know Yoga

Health Guru — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:42:11 +0000

Unhealthy lifestyle habits are one of the leading precipitating factors to illness and disease. Nowadays, people get so preoccupied with the demands in life that we tend to forget to value our own health. But keeping yourself healthy and is not a tedious thing to comply with.

Apart from adhering to a proper diet, we need to engage in physical exercise to improve our health and quality of life. But the problem is, we dread to even hear the word exercise because most people think that it is a stressful and time consuming activity to do. This is usually the misconception of many. Yet there’s more to exercise than sweating out, getting stinky and burning calories and fats.

As a fitness regimen today, Yoga is not merely an exercise for the body but it’s an exercise for the mind and soul as well. Yoga dates back between 1000-5000 BC in India as an ancient path to spiritual growth. The goal of Yoga then was to promote union of the self (finite jiva) and Brahman/ God which is grounded on the doctrine known as Pantheism. When applied today, Yoga is considered as a psychosomatic exercise.

Most people expect that Yoga is filled with stretching routines. You might question the safety and health benefits we get in doing this kind of exercise. Most Yoga scholars say that an effective Yoga is when one experiences meditation and Kundalini altogether. The chakra centers are opened to release energy through the kundalini. There’s not much evidence on how it can affect the brain, but some say that if this process is not done properly, the brain can be prone to injury.

In order for us to maximize the benefits of doing Yoga, there are some principles we have to abide with to attain a healthy mind and body.

1. Release the muscle tension and put the body into a resting state. It is important to have proper relaxation to rejuvenate and refresh the mind and body from all the stressors and distractions in life.

2. Exercise using proper yoga postures with deep breathing or Asanas. This regimen will take effect on the regulation of the physical and physiological aspects of the body. It will promote blood circulation, tone and stretch the muscles and make the spine and joints more flexible. It also contributes to the mental and spiritual growth of the body.

3. Proper breathing exercises help relax the person and promote a more focused mind and increased levels of energy.

4. Since this regimen also requires meditation and optimism, Yoga is also considered a way of life. This means that it doesn’t end at the time you exercise. Practicing it throughout the day will aid you in achieving inner peace and a controllable mind.

5. Yoga should be coupled with proper diet. What we eat will greatly affect our capacity to think and feel relaxed.

Start valuing your life today. Stay healthy physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Gymnastics

JBric — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:29:25 +0000

If there was one sport that was the best for body strengthening, it would be gymnastics.

Gymnastics is a sport which involves a series of individuals events that showcase amazing physical ability.

Disciplines including the trampoline, the parallel bars, rings and the basic floor mate are some of the major draw cards in the sport, which is regarded as one of the most popular sports at the Summer Olympics.

One of the biggest benefits is the ability to slowly groom yourself into excellent physical shape.

Because of the strenuous nature of gymnastics, it is important that all gymnasts be in the best physical shape possible, and therefore one will need to do a lot of body strengthening and sculpting.

The natural movements of gymnastics works to groom fitness levels slowly so that overall conditioning as well as strength training is entirely possible without huge problems.

Basically, even without going to the gym, or doing extra work on the side, your body will become stronger by just taking part in training for, and in competing.

When you look at a gymnasts body, it is easy to see the strength they possess.

It is easier to notice in men, who have very ripped and large physiques, while females have well toned and agile body shapes.

Apart form the physical benefits, gymnastics has also been shown to greatly help improve confidence levels in those who take part.

In addition to the great health benefits that come with the sport, there is also the ability to make a career out of it, as well as international success.

How to Stretch Properly

JBric — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:52:09 +0000

Stretching muscles is one of the most relaxing and beneficial exercises for the human body.

Loosening up our muscles offer great health and mental benefits and allow us to live a life free of tension and a lack of flexibility.

But, the problem with stretching is that it is so often don in the wrong way and can often cause more harm than good.

The reality is that our bodies are not invincible, and when we rest them, our muscles tighten up and relax.

If we enter tough physical exercise without warming them up, we risk injury through muscle tears, strains or even tendon damage.

It is for this reason why stretching is so important. It relaxes or muscles, warms them up and prepares us for the challenge ahead.

But to stretch properly it is firstly essential we know which muscles to work on and understanding what parts of your body will be used in the exercise ahead.

While a good overall routine is good, you really should be emphasizing on the muscles tat will be most heavily used in the workout.

Once these muscles are identified, a brief walk or jog should be done before any stretching starts just to get your blood flowing and allow your muscles to be more receptive.

There are many theories on how long each stretch should be held for, and just how far you should go.

The most commonly accepted practice is that each muscle you work on should be stretched for at least 30 seconds and held at a resistance level which you an breath normally and not feel too much pain.

The stretches should also not be forced, or bounced. They should be easy and gradual movements to allow you muscles to respond.

It is also important never to overstretch and push further that you should go. If you do, you could tear muscles and even dislocate parts of your body.

And once your workout is complete, remember to stretch down again at the end!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kju1-DGUro8

The golden rule

bdiamond — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:05:12 +0000

STRETCHING before you exercise is the golden rule that you must not avoid.

Not stretching before you play sport or exercise can have dire consequences.

It has resulted in many hamstring injuries on the football field in recent years just from not stretching enough pre-match.

It is taught so much at junior level that stretching must be done. It is not just the teacher telling the students. It is a massive unwritten law that must be abided by for athletes of any kind.

Even amateurs like us.

It should consist of around 5- 7 minutes of stretching before your full exercise or game.

The purpose of warm-ups includes: keeping muscles supple, increasing range of motion of joints, enhancing flexibility, improving coordination, increasing body temperature and heart rate, increasing blood flow to muscles and preventing injuries.

The Womens Heart Foundation preaches that the right way to stretch is slow and relaxed. Do not bounce it says. This can actually cause you to pull the muscle you are trying to stretch.

You should stretch to the point of mild tendion. If you overstretch you will also cause damage. Back off if the stretch feels painful.

Hold the stretch for a minimum of 15 seconds each, without bouncing. Breathe slowly and naturally. Do not hold your breathe while stretching. Relax the stretch. Stretch one or two more times with each stretch. Try to stretch a little further with each stretch. Again, only to the point of mild tension.

If you have an injury or wish to avoid or a certain injury again, you should see your local chiropractor if it is back related, osteopath, massage therapist, physical therapist, sports coach or personal trainer.

Some of the basic stretches including holding on foot up with one hand and stretching it back. Another is to grab your elbow with your opposite hand and stretch that. There are lots to do and it is definitely important.

Tai Chi makes fitness fun

bdiamond — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:34:50 +0000

TAI Chi looks like kung fu and is a fun way to secretly get toned this summer.

Tai chi is all about feeling the force in your body.

The Chinese believe doing it keeps the chi flowing through your body and keeps you healthy.

Chi is what the Chinese call our life force or energy; it circulates around the body to maintain the balance of our yin and yang.

But it is trickier than it seems.

The craft is aimed at unlocking clogged muscles and the mind.

The Australian Academy of Tai Chi & Qigong is one of the largest Tai Chi classes in the country and was established in 1976 by Grandmaster Gary Khor.

It teaches of Tai Chi from a health and relaxation perspective suitable for the average person.

The Academy also has special programs based on traditional Chinese exercise, which are being produced for those with asthma, arthritis, osteoporosis, low mobility and other conditions; more books are in production, new networks of instructors are being established, as are web based services.

So why not try Tai Chi this summer for relaxation; you’ll feel better at the end of it.

Developing a proper stretching plan

Health Guru — Mon, 11 May 2009 04:32:31 +0000

You cannot maintain an active lifestyle without developing a dependable and regular stretching plan.

If you do not give your muscles the greatest chance to return to a resting state after exercise, they will break down over time and you will be in discomfort.

There is plenty of debate about when the best time to stretch is and how much stretching one should do, but here is a basic guide to loosening up your muscles.

First of all, make sure you are wearing loose and comfortable clothes. You should be warmly dressed but not hot.

Find a good space with plenty of room, such as the living room or another appropriate area. Try to stretch away from people and distractions like music and television.

Give your legs, arms, neck and hips a good wriggle and shake before you start stretching.

Remember that the best stretches are those that you ease into with steady breathing, and not sudden jerky movements.

Start at the base of your feet, working up through your body sequentially.

Stretch each body part for ten to fifteen seconds, and stretch each side of the body twice.

As you progress with your stretching regime you will not only start to feel better in your own skin, you will start to learn how to adjust the program to suit your personal needs.