Yoga Relaxation

Sweetness in Life...

2012-01-26T16:18:00.000Z

What is your Sweetness in Life?
I was pondering this as I was working on class themes for my yoga classes. and since my cat ~ Barney (not in the picture of blog below) has been diagnosed with diabetes i was thinking about life, sweetness, the Divine consciousness and started to do sOMe reasearch and yes! I found this piece by Misa Hopkins and her words were aligning with everything that was going on with me personally, professionally, mentally, spiritually - even inspired me more with class themes...

so for me I am on this journey of life , l♥ve, light and this recent diagnosis of my cat has revealed and re-awakenen me to savour all the flavours in life and to really delight in the sweetness of life, sweetness of love and the sweetness of the Divine within n all around..

hope you enJOY this post by Misa Hopkins - and thank you Misa...
Namaste
Michelle ♥

Diabetes and Self-Healing

By Misa Hopkins

Wednesday,January26th,2011

One of our readers asked about how to heal from diabetes. I love your questions. They challenge me to dive in deeply into the spiritual and emotional roots behind illnesses.
When I took the concept of healing diabetes into meditation, I received an interesting perspective about this condition. Diabetes is the result of our psychological desire to experience the sweetness of life without expelling any effort. Then when we find that the earthly sweets of food are not satisfying enough, we disrupt our ability to ingest them. We do this so that we will be compelled to discover the greater sweetness in life, which is our true spiritual nature.
Louise Hay in You Can Heal Your Life, describes the internal motivation behind diabetes in this way: “Longing for what might have been. A great need for control. Deep sorrow. No sweetness left.”
The affirmation she recommends is this: “This moment is filled with joy. I now choose to experience the sweetness of today.”

Discover more about Louise Hay’s work at: http://www.youcanhealyourlifemovie.com/
There is a palpable sweetness that is present when we allow ourselves to experience the limitless love of the Divine. The key is to invite an opening to love in each and every moment. If your heart has been closed down for some time as a way to try to protect it, you have probably discovered that stopping the flow of love can be as painful (if not more so) than opening to the risks of love.

At some point, the heart demands to experience love. When that happens, you may find it best to ease your way into sweet love by giving yourself permission to feel gratitude or compassion. It can be quite a challenge to move from protection to experiencing greater love and I have discovered that these two flavors of love seem to make the way a little easier.

Of course, allowing is the opposite of controlling. You can’t control love anyway. It’s not a controllable feeling. It is a vibration that spontaneously wells up within us when we are vulnerable and receptive to life. Being vulnerable is about opening the heart.
We cannot make up for what we did not receive in our past. Love just doesn’t work that way. No person or event can fill the gap. Oh, we try. We fall in love with someone hoping that their love will assuage our aching hearts. We have children with the hope that our love for them will fulfill us in the love we didn’t experience as kids. We build careers with the expectation that money and influence will fill the longing, but they don’t. There is only one thing that fills us and that lies in awakening to the Divine love that we already are.

We just forgot for a while that the sweetest love we will ever experience is not about filling up with food, events, power, things or other people. The sweetest love is right here, right now, in our true nature as expressions of Divine consciousness exploring itself. There is nothing to get or take in. The sweetness is right here and we have the ability to remember it—to awaken to it. The effort required is in surrendering control and allowing ourselves to be present in this moment.

And isn’t that the effort we try to avoid? It takes tremendous diligence and commitment to surrender control. It takes continual focus to remember that all there is and all we long for exists right now. We can’t get it from the past, so regret is futile. Discovering the greatest sweetness we will ever know is in self-awareness and its nature of limitless love, and that is within our ability to experience now.

If you have diabetes, consider everything in your life in this moment that is sweet. Notice the trees and grass as the wind blows across them. Allow your senses to open to the warming of the sunshine and the tickling of the rain. Smile when you see someone smiling in the grocery store and be grateful for a warm cup of tea in your hands. Be delighted by your own silly joke or a mistake you made that led to a funny outcome. Make it a game to be a sweetness catcher, noticing all of the sweet ways in which the Divine exists within and around you. Recognize the sweetness every day until you fully realize that is who you are.

New Year ~ New You

2012-01-11T18:58:00.000Z

Emerge ~ Evolve ~ Expand

With the festivities behind us and the new year under way it is a time when resolutions or intentions are frequently made. All good intentions in January are made to start something new, let go of old ways of thinking or being and begin as we mean to go on with a new paradigm...

Alternatively the new year for some it's harder to see, feel or be or know the right path for you to be on. It might be a time for reflection on what you really wished you achieved and haven't... maybe self doubt, fear and grasping for those goals, intentions, resolutions seem unobtainable.

All reflection is good, and through it I believe letting go of that which does not serve you is wonderful, liberating and cleansing. It makes way for the new, yet sOMetimes it is a challenge to let go ~ maybe through fear... therefore...Embracing that challenge, befriending the pain and nurture yourself, is the first step to healing and raising your consciousness so you emerge...evolve...expand.

In the darkness of the winter month's or the darkness of our thoughts, the light is still inherently there, universally and within our heart ~ we forgotten or it is clouded by the veils of disillusion... we need to be gentle, patient and open to have the strength to seek it once again and re-AWAKEn to the new..

There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens. This is the Light that shines in our heart.'

Chandogya Upanishad

As the year begins I think of Ganesha the Hindu deity of new beginnings and removal of obstacles. Ganesha is revered as the removal of obstacles ~ even those self imposed obstacles of doubt and fear. Ganesha's blessing is sought after at the beginning of new adventures to keep us safe, successful on our journey towards our goal.

so at the begining of this year let's invoke Ganesha blessings, let's SEEk to remove the obstacles that may prevent us from growth this year. For we may chose to place the obstacles there (fear, doubt) ~ we can therefore find the strength frOM withIN to remove them. this is part of the process of letting go.

so to help you to move forward with ease, I enCOURAGE you to prACTice yoga regularly, and to meditate ~ both giving you time to reflect, obSERVE YOUrself, your breath and move forward.

when you release obstacles of self doubt and BElieve in YOUrself, your resolutions or intentions will have more clarity, you enJOY your life and find your true path.

Om Shri Ganeshaya Namaha

Michelle
www.yogarelax.co.uk
www.facebook.com/YogaRelax

Happy New Year!

2012-01-06T18:34:00.000Z

saying goodbye to 2011 ~ hello 2012 in Oz

welcOme 2012... so far so good!

It’s been a while since I’ve written a post and since January is a time for re-newed commitment, intentions, resolutions I decided that I would write more often. I am very good at sharing on my Facebook page and YogaRelax Facebook page and my Twitter page so in case you've not joined me there (yet) I'll endeavour to write more frequently here too! I hope to share more photos of events, retreats, classes as well as articles and guest bloggers to offer inspirations, enCOURAGEment and insights on life, Yoga, love and health.

To close 2011 I travelled half way around the world from my hOMe to Australia.. where I was able bask in the sunshine to re-new, re-AWAKEn, refresh and reflect by the ocean. Now I am back in the UK I am ready to make this an amazing year for my self, my family, my friends and all the people I teach or treat...♥

New Year's marks a new start, so if you are into resolutions make them... I prefer intentions or visons of how you wish to see your life (more on that next blog).

I hope in 2012...you BElieve in YOUrself, be mindful and present, whilst you live every precious mOMent with l♥ve in your heart, a spring in your step (ooooh next season around the corner), and a smile upon your face!

go out there and have a wonderful 2012!
Namaste
Michelle ♥♥♥

www.yogarelax.co.uk

Treat to nourish your mind, body & soul...

2011-08-12T10:22:00.000+01:00

My infamous treats that are deliciously ravished after my Yoga workshops….mmmm yummy!!!

so I thought I'd share with you one of the recipes...I made it up from two different recipes I use...these are vegan, raw, highly nurturious, natural sugar, and delightfully divine...your mouth will savour the delight, your body and mind benefit from the superfood packed ingredients and your heart sing. now that's Yoga food...enjoy!

Raw Fruit & Nut chocolate Balls

75g raisins, 75g mixed nuts, 50g goji berries, 2tbsp coconut oil (or enough to bind mixture) 1 tsp cinnamon
chop the raisins, nuts, goji berries in a food processor or blender and add to bowl, stir in the melted coconut oil liquid and cinnamon (to melt coconut put the bottle or container of solidified coconut oil in a bowl with bowl water and the coconut oil becomes liquid) and combine all ingredients. Form the mixture into small balls in your hands (squeeze/massage the ingredients lovingly together) and place on tray then put in freezer for 15 minutes to set

For the raw chocolate – make when the fruit and nut balls come out the freezer
2 tbsp of cacao powder (this is different from cocoa powder notice the “a” is in a different place – it comes from places like peru and contains more vitamins and minerals and anti-oxidants more than is in blueberries so its superfood) 1tbsp carob, 1 tbsp mesquite powder (optional it is a natural sweetener) 1 tbsp agave (a natural sweetener which is low G.I) 1tsp maca powder (another superfood) coconut oil

place the cacao, carob, maca, mesquite, agave in bowl and stir and then add add the melted coconut oil stirring until it becomes a thick liquid

Take the nut balls from the freezer and then dip the balls in the chocolate (gets messy :-)) and place on a plate and then put in the fridge to set and then enjoy…. With a smile on your face and think of me...
Namaste

All Life Is a Yoga Pose

2011-08-01T15:40:00.000+01:00

I am posting this wonderful blog I read on Facebook and Jennifer has kindly said i could re-post as i loved it so much. Jennifer writes for MindBodyGreen - i hope you enjoy
here's the links....www.mindbodygreen.com / http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-2852/All-Life-Is-a-Yoga-Pose.html

All Life Is a Yoga Pose By Jennifer Jarrett

I believe it is true that all life is yoga -- we are all connected, we are all part of the Divine Whole, there are infinite amounts of love and grace within each of us, our nature is divine, everything is temporary, the Universe is generous, we have everything that we need, etc., etc. But, I think we could also say that every moment is like a yoga pose. The different moments in life and the way I feel in these moments, who I am in these moments can be likened to different yoga poses, and the way I feel in them and who I am in them. Life is like one yoga pose after another.

Those moments when I am super blissed-out, feeling heart-wide-open and fully enlivened, and completely “hell-yeah” about life – those are my Urdhva Dhanurasana moments.

The moments when I need to invoke my inner ninja and access my own strength and power, the moments when I need to be that stealthy, non-violent ninja warrior who dwells within the balance of strength and surrender – those are my Virabhadrasana 3 moments.

When I am feeling more contemplative and introspective, reflecting on my own feelings, thoughts and intentions – these precious moments are my Paschimottanasanas.

When I know that I need to surrender, to let go of something, be it a thought, feeling, notion, opinion, or something else that no longer serves me or my higher good – these great moments of cleansing, of wringing it out are my twists.

Then there is the sweetest of them all -- dear Savasana -- the pose that reminds me that I am held, that I am supported, that I am a part of this infinite Love, this divine Grace. Savasana is like this sweet lullaby that comforts me, holds me and loves me for exactly who I am. And, it reminds me that because of Who walks with me through every step of this journey, there is no reason to fear.

And, sometimes life just puts you in an experience that makes you feel just as unsteady, compressed, challenged, vulnerable and anxious as you might in your least favorite yoga pose, leaving you wanting to know how many more breaths you will be there, aching to find relief from the intensity, desperately yearning to move straight into that joy-invoking Urdhva Dhanurasana. Pretty much just wanting to be anywhere but “here.”

While at certain times in life I may not like the “pose” I am in, I recognize that it is part of this flow. It is part of this journey. I remember everything that all of the poses in my life have ever taught me. See, for me, when I find myself in the most difficult and challenging experiences, well, it’s game time. Every experience, every pose, every word and every breath has brought me to this very moment, to this time when I get to pay homage to this beautiful practice and rely on what I know to be true. This is my opportunity to call upon who I know myself to be in other poses, in other times of my life, and I draw these qualities, these strengths in to my present self with my breath. I let the joy of Urdhva Dhanurasana move through me as I notice the sweetness in even the most difficult moments. I step into my stealthy ninja warrior self, knowing that I have the strength within me to be here now. I allow myself to be reflective and contemplative about the profundity of this experience. I know that I don’t have to hold on to the suffering, that I can surrender the things that separate me from my higher good, and I allow myself to rest in the knowing that I do not walk alone. I know that even in the midst of the struggle, I can breathe in the beauty, the wonder and the miracle of it all.

I know that within me I have the strength the power and the grace to endure, even though there are moments where I feel incredibly weak and powerless. I know that embodying my own stealthy ninja strength doesn’t mean that there will no longer be moments of fear, sadness and trepidation that will knock me off my feet. It just means that I will continue to stand up again no matter how many times I fall. It means that no matter how much life pushes back at me, no matter how uncomfortable I am in this pose, in this moment, I will continue to breathe through it, embracing the impermanence of all of it.

But, the reality is this -- when the pose is called out, the pose is called out. So, if you are in it…really be in it. Be all in for every moment of it, knowing that eventually this pose will dissolve into the next. Just as it does in class, so it does in life. Nothing will remain the same. All of it is temporary.
Published 07.27.11 at 02:45 PM

About Jennifer Jarrett
While still an Indiana girl at heart, Jennifer is a yoga teacher in San Francisco who loves to laugh until it hurts, eat good food, travel to wherever the sun is shining, snuggle with her Labradoodle, Ruby, and spend as much time as possible with friends and family. She teaches at Urban Flow, a donation based studio that shares the practice of Bhatki Flow, the yoga of love and devotion.

Words Can Help or Hurt Us by Deidre Glendon

2011-07-07T16:30:00.000+01:00

I read this beautiful article by Deidre Glendon and so wanted to share with you - for you to reflect on how you use your words, how you communicate in your cOMmUNITY, and how words can be transformational when used for higher purposes and with the intention of love from the heart...

Thank you Deidre for allowing me to post this...

enjoy..
Namaste
Michelle

Words can Help ot Hurt Us by Deidre Glendon

What are words? As a child I remember the saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me." As I grew older I realized that words can hurt. Words are a very powerful way to communicate. Wars are fought because of the words that are used. Words can lead to lies, arguments, disagreements, sadness, hurt feelings, riots, fear, ill-will, dissention and misunderstandings. Words can also lead to truth, happiness, love, joy, peace, comfort and understandings. Words are so powerful in our everyday lives, in songs, in the written word, in what we say, in prayer and in our thoughts.

Words! Without words our lives would be extremely difficult. How would we be able to survive? How would we be able to interact with others? What would become of our world if our governments, countries and people couldn't communicate? Words are important no matter what language we speak. Because of words we can speak, read or write our thoughts, ideas and opinions. Thank goodness for the internet because it's connecting us quicker and closer than ever before. In an instant communication can travel around the world. Humans need communication for their very existence. Our modern civilization evolved because of our ability to communicate on a higher level of rational thinking with purpose and intention.

As babies we've experienced communication through words, the tone of our voices and the way we're touched by our parents and other people in our lives. In this way, we can learn criticism, sarcasm or love and nurturing. So it's important to speak with intention, purpose, love, integrity and kindness. Words create energy that can travel around the world. There is a universal law that what we give out we receive in return. What we feel, say, think and do comes back to us in unexpected ways. This is the way energy works. Choose your words carefully so the energy will not come back to you in a negative way.

If we want the world to be a better place to live in then we should be diligent in keeping balance and harmony in our lives. Everyone has a part to play whether it's big or small. We're in this world together. Let's all live in harmony by promoting positive energies of love, peace and joy. We can change the world through one deed at a time. Be happy and live your life in the best way possible. From the moment we were born we began communicating by crying when we were uncomfortable and smiling or cooing when we were happy. Our parents or caregivers knew how we were feeling because of our responses. As we grew older we began to learn how to communicate with our words. The next step that we learned was to put the words together into ideas and thoughts. Our simple sentences became more complex throughout our growing up years. We went to school and gained the knowledge that we needed to become contributing citizens in our society. Through our words we can build bridges or destroy relationships.

Communicating is a vehicle that can help us throughout our lives. It can take us to many places and it can also direct us through our life experiences. Words can make us better or words can break us. Words are at our disposal and we can use it positively or negatively. It's up to us to use our words to benefit and spread goodness, happiness, love and peace

Copyright © 2011 Deidre Glendon

Deidre Glendon, MEd: A death experience and helping others through intuitive insights led her to write The Healing Light, Trouble in Paradise and Light of Forgiveness. To see more excerpts on peace and stories of healings visit her website and click on Light of Forgiveness at http://wwwdeidreblog.blogspot.com

What are you dancing with in your life? What is your music?

2011-05-23T07:48:00.000+01:00

When coming to write this I was thinking a lot about Yoga as a dance and the Hindu god Shiva – especially as Nataraja. I was connecting to the Vinyasa flow of Yoga and looking at my statue of Nataraja. The King of dance -Nataraja is a portrayal of Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy the universe in preparation for the creation process once again, for everything has cycles. To understand the dance I found to understand the concept of dance useful.

Dance, just like Yoga, induces movement, trance or meditative state, even ecstasy and the experience of the Divine. Shiva as Nataraja depicts stillness and motion in one, the stoic face of Shiva represents his composure, unaffected by all forces going on around him. Is this not a state we are all trying to achieve in modern day living?

During the practice of Yoga there is movement through the asanas and even when holding an asana there is still (excuse the pun) movement of the breath, the pulse of prana within so there is stillness and motion in one in the asana. The dance of Nataraja portrays all life and its polarities, the oneness in everything.

My dance…
For me the dance in my life is quite simply Yoga and my music is the evolving connections I make with the rhythms, pulse and creativity of life as I move through it. I think of the sequences of asanas of my Yoga as a dance that flows, resonates and moves me from within, enhancing the music of my soul, my Divine nature. This evokes the dance to evolve even deeper and further, reminding me of my Divine nature and its connection to the Divine all around.

I am always dancing, the music within still plays, just different melodies, different vibrations; surrender and stillness turning inwards, along with dynamic, vibrant, uplifting and expansive, they are all one – Divine.

Just like Shiva as Nataraja we are all performing the dance in life through our ever changing cycles; on the one hand Shiva is tranquil, meditative, inwardly calm absorbed in the Supreme Consciousness where all differences dissolve. Yet on the other hand Shiva is total activity, frantic, playful and life’s energy as he performs his dance of destruction and creation. Does this remind you of some of your many life states?

The king of the Dance
Nataraja encourages all individuals to overcome complacency and get his or her act together – for anything is possible when you open up to greater possibilities in the dance. The dance of Shiva represents five divine activities; creation, protection, destruction, concealment and revelation or Grace. These are all represented in the four arms of Shiva dancing in a circle of flames, lifting his left leg and standing on the dwarf, Apasmara who symbolises ignorance.

Shiva’s upper right hand symbolises creation, holding the drum which is the beating pulse of the universe and the music for Shiva’s dance. The upper left hand holds the fire of destruction; fire destroys all at the end of each cycle of creation. These two hands are symbols that portray the intricate balance of the forces of creation and destruction in the universe.

The lower right hand is held in abhaya mudra, a mystical hand gesture that means fear not or Have no fear. This signifies protection from evil and ignorance. The uplifted leg signifies Revelation or Grace that liberates all souls. The lower left hand represents concealment; it crosses the heart signifying how one forgets or looses touch with their heart concealing or camouflaging the heart qualities and forgetting one’s true nature, which is inherently Divine at essence. This lower left hand points to the uplifted leg in assurance of Grace, surrender and liberation, and each individual by means of revelation or Grace reunites with the Divine within.

The image of Nataraja has Shiva dancing in a circle of flames represents the field of the dance with the whole universe and the lotus pedestal on which Shiva rests places this universe within the heart or consciousness of each individual. Shiva dances on the body of Apasmara -the man of forgetfulness, personifying ignorance and laziness. So creation and all creative energy are only possible when the weight of inertia is overcome.

Shiva also has the snake around his waist representing the kundalini or divine energy found in all beings and Shiva’s hair which is usually piled up in a kind of pyramid on top of his head flows freely, dispelling the idea of a conventional ascetic in his frenzy dance of creation and destruction.

Opening up to something Greater
The Nataraja depicts not just a mythical event of a deity, but on a universal level represents the cycles of life, the forces of nature, that constantly evolve and change and the aspirations and even the limitations that each individual tries to overcome in life.

When I think of Shiva I also always think of his consort Shakti who balances the extreme ascetic in Shiva. So as you dance in life, I invite you to evoke the masculine image of Shiva, his strength, courage, stillness, faith, freedom and steadiness and also bring in the feminine Shakti energy of freedom, surrender, joy, playfulness and reverence. For Shiva and Shakti are one Ardhanarishvara. Bringing these qualities forth helps you to appreciate all qualities of the heart on your Yoga mat and then bringing forth Yoga in all aspects of life.

All life comes in cycles, for me this is very apparent at present. Nataraja is encouraging you to win, go further, dance your dance with 100% attitude and love, for you are Divine already. When you open up to something greater, this Divine spirit moves you differently and the whole dance is a joy. Enjoy life’s greatness; celebrate the light and the dark, the contraction as it brings forth new expansion, as one cycle closes a new one is born.
Join me and connect with your heart as the music of your soul dances divinely!

Namaste

Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk

Alleviation for Cancer Sufferers by Krista Peterson

2011-05-11T15:04:00.000+01:00

Krista kindly wrote this piece for YogaRelax to share how Cancer patients are receiving peace of mind from Yoga. I thank you Krista for sharing, Namaste Michelle

Yoga offers a way to heal

Going through the treatment process for cancer can be one of the most difficult and challenging experiences you can imagine. Even in treatment, there are multiple stages of therapy, and a number of side-effects that can be incredibly taxing on the body. Complementary treatments have grown exponentially in popularity in recent years due to the ability to relieve some of the rigors of traditional treatments. One of the more popular and better known options is yoga.

One of the larger reasons for the popularity of yoga in medical circles is because of its focus on both the mental and physical aspects of the self. This popularity is also partially attributed to the diversity of the practice of yoga. Patients can engage in yoga sessions around their own treatment schedules. They can take party in short daily sessions, or longer sessions space throughout the week.

For patients with terminal illnesses, yoga can provide a tranquility and peace of mind, and can also help to provide some clarity for patients going through some of their darkest times. A good example would be patients afflicted with mesothelioma, a rare cancer related to the exposure from asbestos. These patients have an extraordinarily low life expectancy rate, and can use yoga to relieve a lot of the stress and difficulty they may be facing during these times.

The benefits of yoga are common to most households, and have gained popularity as a low-impact exercise routine that not only burns fat, but also melts the body and mind through meditation. For cancer patients, the physical attributes are far more meaningful than just exercise. Yoga is used to relieve the symptoms of the affliction and help the patient feel as though they are on the path to recovery, and can improve sleep in sufferers as well.

Yoga will likely continue growing as a viable complementary treatment as a result of its combined mental and physical benefits. As the research on the subject continues, yoga is certainly on the path to becoming even more popular among terminal illness patients.

Krista Peterson
krista.peterson925@gmail.com

2010-12-20T09:23:00.000Z

Namaste,
With 2010, coming to a close and the Solar Eclipse and tomorrows Winter Solstice 21 st December I thought i'd post you this beautiful letter by Fra Giovanni.

I have had a wonderful year with Yoga classes, retreats, workshops and my therapy clients, from my heart I Thank You for your friendship, the connections I've made and the honour of assisting you on your journey in life, for you have certainly enriched my journey this year....Blessings at Christmas time and for 2011

Om Namah Shivaya Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya OM

Written on Christmas Eve 1513A.D - Fra Giovanni
"I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you have not got; but there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take.

No Heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take Heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instance. Take Peace! The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet with in our reach, is Joy. There is radiance and glory in the darkness ... could we but see and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look.

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging it's gifts by it's covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power.

Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the Angel's hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trail of a sorrow is there; the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys too; be not content with them as joys. They too conceal diviner gifts.

Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty ... beneath it's covering ... that you will find earth that cloaks heaven. Courage then to claim it, that is all! But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, wending through unknown country, home.

And so at this Christmas time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away. "

with love,
Michelle x
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk/
http://www.michellecross.co.uk/

How Do YOU Connect....?

2010-11-02T12:37:00.001Z

I hope this finds you in great spirits!

Do you ever think about the synchronicity of life?

The rhythms, the connections, the energy, the flow, how events happen, how you meet certain people at particular times?

I do, all the time and it got me thinking…

With the recent explosion of social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter, I’ve been thinking about how effectively they bring people together. They reveal how interconnected the world actually is. It’s so much easier these days to make friends and network with people, even though you don’t know them personally. More than that, you might never have come into contact with these people in everyday life situations, yet through the internet you are able to share experiences and emotions.

Connections
A sign of modern times, social media sites, the internet, podcasts and blogging are wonderful tools that enable us to connect with so many more people. They provide us with unlimited potential to influence and engage. The spirit of social media is one of free-flowing communication within an expanding network. You can join a group and meet new people, or reply to a discussion that has been posted. Friends of friends can join in conversations or comment of what you have written if they are of the same mind-set or share your interests.

The online community is growing rapidly and people are learning, evolving and growing. Sharing greater interconnectedness helps to cultivate compassion and awareness, allowing us to learn, reciprocate, and share stories. We can keep up to date with someone in a distant culture and support them through their pain and their joys, even if we’ve not met them before. For relatives whether close to home or far away, it’s a wonderful tool to stay in touch.

The more we participate in these media, the more we become aware of how much we are linked on far deeper levels. It’s an awareness of a collective consciousness, which you as an individual are such a big part of. Life may be an individual journey, yet increasingly we are all being bought together through new technology.

My Experience
I have learnt so much through Facebook and find it a medium of great encouragement and understanding. I am a member of many groups that share insights, beliefs and encouragement, assisting everyone who reads posts to view life positively, creating peace and harmony. Even at the darkest of times in one’s life, a few words from someone who cares enough to get in touch can be supportive and uplifting. Or you may just read something that you find uplifting or supportive, at the exact time you need it.

We all want to be happy, experience life at its fullest, feel love and joy. With so many people sharing positive experiences, beliefs, and encouragement, support is extended to you and shows you how many other people are searching or experiencing what you are.

Social media has expanded my world in the way I practice and teach Yoga. In a most wonderful way, I am united with numerous people through our shared passion of Yoga. Through sharing I learn, evolve and expand and I pass on this growth to other people I teach or come into contact with. I find this cycle of sharing rewarding and beautiful.

Unity
This interconnectedness is not something new to me but rather it reaffirms my own beliefs. Everything is interrelated, every moment, every person, every event, are all in rhythm – like the solar system, the seasons, time. Everything is an aspect of unity.

This is why there are no coincidences - things happen because you create them, or draw them to you. For every cause, there is an effect. You are able to choose to make the world or Universe a beautiful place or to make things ugly. You are able to choose to think positively or think negatively. It’s your choice what you eat – healthy food or junk food.

Consider the word Yoga, it means union: union of body, mind and heart, union of Self and the Universe – this is not something outside of us. We’re all individuals on our own individual path, yet we are not merely our bodies, we have energy which pulsates, whether or not we are consciously aware of it.

Spanda is a Sanskrit term for the subtle creative pulse of the Universe as it manifests into the dynamism of living form. Spanda is translated as a throb or pulse, or to mean vibration, movement, or motion. It refers to the waves of activity coming forth from an unseen source of spontaneous expression, radiating not only from the centre outwards, but from everywhere all at once. Spanda might be eloquently described as the essence of a wave in the ocean of consciousness.

Expand beyond a limited concept
What distracts us from this simple understanding of unity and universal interconnectedness is our mind or our head; the doubts, beliefs, emotions and stresses of life, that pulls us away from our innate nature. Yoga creates the union of merging with our true self, our true nature of being whole, all knowing, pure and good. It is this innate Divine essence that we all inherently possess. It is expanding beyond our limited comcept of ourself.

Yoga is about creating a place where you have the space to connect to your highest potential. By going within and observing your flow of energy, your spirit, your pulse - Spanda, your radiance, your essence or your light and this is One with the Universe.

Everything is in a continuous state of expansion and contraction - all life pulsates with Divine Consciousness. Yoga postures may appear still, yet there is movement where the energy flows. This energy moves you to expand and go beyond your limits, creating space and freedom in your body, joints, lengthening and strengthening muscles. When we connect with this vibration, our spiritual Heart opens, we expand and we can move through life coming from love, joy and a real passion for the flow of Life; sharing our light and connection to the vibration within and all around .

You might think that we are all separate and perhaps you feel pulled in all different directions, physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually. Yoga is the means through which you come back together, where you can reconnect with your true Self or nature. You communicate with your Heart, with your inner self and let it move you, guide you and shine from this.

Practice, Power and Synchronise
Through the asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing) and meditation, through the intention and focus you can liberate your Self from the “baggage” of life stresses and reconnect as a person. The body is the instrument we have to experience life on this planet, it requires regular tuning; practicing Yoga helps you to tune in, to connect, to unite and synchronise, bringing joy and freedom.

Through opening up to your physical body and the power it possesses, you become more aware of your emotions, feelings, your inner strength, balance, stability, energy, and flexibility of mind grows as well as your physical well-being. You move, even vibrate differently, not only during Yoga practice, you bring your Yoga to everyday life and feel more whole; mentally, emotionally, spiritually and realise how much everything is interconnected.

The essence of Yoga is to realise our full potential or whole essence, every day, every moment, thus creating Yoga - creating union, creating synchronicity. Even as you share your experiences through social media tools, you exercise this union, this synchronicity. As your understanding reflects into your life, you will become aware that everything is indeed interconnected… How wonderful!

Namaste
Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk/
http://www.michellecross.co.uk/

Fantastic Yoga Holiday Retreat by the Red Sea

2010-10-05T22:07:00.001+01:00

Join me on my Yoga Retreat by the Red Sea and combine health & wellbeing with a holiday of a lifetime!

As the nights draw in and the warm summer days fall behind us, our thoughts turn to the colder months ahead. As humans, we prefer light and warmth and energy so by winter’s end, without nourishing light, we can feel jaded, run-down, and tired…

This is why I’ve decided to hold my next Yoga retreat at the foothills of Mount Sinai by the Red Sea. With a rejuvenating programme of Flowing Hatha Yoga, meditation, Yoga Nidra (guided deep relaxation) and Pranayama (breathing exercises), against such an historic setting, I want to give you an inspiring week of relaxation and healing with a difference!

As well as the Yoga sessions, you can enjoy some fantastic scuba diving, ride Arabian horses in the desert, visit the historic and majestic Mount Sinai (view the sunrise or sunset), camp out a night in the desert under blazing stars and crystal skies, or just sunbathe, shop, and dine in the exotic bazaars and restaurants. All this against the ancient backdrop of the Red Sea, desert, and the Sinai foothills…

With just so much to do outside the Yoga room, my Red Sea Retreat is also an ideal break for non-Yoga partners and friends too, so I’m offering them a special booking rate if they join you. Contact me for more details.

I’m really so excited by the drama of the location and the range of activities on offer. It’s such a great opportunity to get away from our daily routines and really unwind in superb surroundings. What a way to start the New Year, feeling focused, re-energised, and thoroughly rested!

Have a read through the full programme, and get in touch to reserve your place. I know it’s going to be a great week! I look forward to seeing you and your friends there and sharing the power of Yoga with you!

OM shanti,
Michelle

PS My forthcoming retreat at Tilton House is now fully booked. I can’t wait to meet my fellow Yogis as we practise Yoga and wellbeing in the beautiful Sussex Weald!

A Little Relaxation? YES Please!

2010-09-21T15:50:00.000+01:00

I thought I would share with you a simple technique to reach a more peaceful, balanced state of mental well-being, improved health, so you are better able to cope with what life throws at you! This month I am sharing with you a very simple Yoga Posture - anyone can do and a FREE audio for relaxation.

Free guide for deeper relaxation

It’s a wonderful time of year to think about improving one’s health and well-being. Sadly, many of us feel tired, mentally drained, and burned out instead... It’s all too easy to lose our sense of calm and balance in the middle of our busy and stressful lives.

So, I’d like to suggest something that will help you nourish your mind and body that takes only ten minutes to learn! My Guide to Deeper Relaxation (click here to learn more) is the ultimate, no-stress/de-stress tool for busy people! The guide includes an audio track designed especially to boost relaxation and aid deep breathing. The Guide is part of a campaign I did for the health food store - Holland & Barrett and their Summer Well Being. At the bottom of the page there's an relaxation audio to obviously help you michelle to relax. - Enjoy...

Before you go onto this page I just want to share with you the Relaxation Pose - Savasana to help get you comfortable.

Relaxation Pose – Savasana

Savasana is a pose of total relaxation—making it one of the mo st challenging Asanas (postures), as you have to remain in a neutral position and be still. In Savasana it is time to observe the body and the mind and try to let go of any distractions, including the mind or thoughts that come into it. This is not as easy as you think, as the mind wanders, so just ask the mind to be calm and any thought that comes to mind, allow it to pass through and come back to focusing on your breath.

How to practise Savasana:

• Lie on your back on the floor, your Yoga Mat or even your bed, have your legs about 2 foot apart.

• Bring your pelvis into a neutral comfortable position. Making sure your lower back is very comfortable.

• Soften your abdomen - this helps your legs to let go, and allow your ankles to fall loosely to out the side, letting go of the legs completely from the pelvis.

• Feel your torso being supported by the floor. Have your arms a 45 degree angle away from the body with the palms facing up and the fingers loosely curled.

• Allow your shoulders to draw away from the ears and relax. Allow the chest/ heart area to be open, free and relaxed. Feel your shoulders to melt into the floor and close your eyes.

• Tuck the chin in towards the chest to lengthen the neck.

• This is Savasana the relaxation pose, feel your whole body being supported by the floor; the earth below and bring your mind to your natural breath and allow your self to go deeper within.

Welcome to a path of peace and good health! Enjoy your relaxation audio...

Until next time, take a few deep breaths, let go and relax, your body and mind will be gald you did!
Namaste
Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk/

The Practice Of Yoga - How does it move You?

2010-08-13T10:24:00.000+01:00

Yoga has its roots in India, yet its content is truly universal; Yoga is a means by which you can make the changes in your lives that you desire. The actual practice of Yoga can take each individual person in a different direction. Some practice the physical aspect of Yoga, whilst others like to meditate and others makes Yoga a fundamental aspect of every part of their lives. Whichever you choose, Yoga is like a mirror with which you are able to look inside yourself.

Through the practice of Yoga the union, the coming together occurs naturally and in its own time, not when you are forcing it, rather when you are at one with the practice and it is enjoyable, comfortable and brings everything together. After-all the meaning of the word Yoga is “to join”, “to unite” or “to bring together”.

Before you have even come to practice the physical aspect of Yoga, your mind has had the thought to practice Yoga, then you choose to do it. One union of thought and then action has united to bring you to your Yoga mat...so let’s look at how else when you are on your Yoga mat and practicing the asanas (postures) you may achieve the deeper side of Yoga.

Being Present
Yoga aims to create a state whereby you are present, really present in every action, in every moment. The great advantage to this is you perform every task, every asana, every meditation, every action with attentiveness or focus and are conscious of your actions. During Yoga your action is directed solely towards the activity of Yoga that you are engaged in so it brings you to the present moment, to observe what is going on within.

You can bring this “being present” to any area of your life, for example, writing; if you are soley focused on that piece you are composing, all your creative ideas flow, you are present and connected and attentive. However if you are writing whilst thinking what you want and need to do later, then you are not really paying full attention to the present task. You are thus not present, you are divided rather than united and the piece you are writing may suffer as a result.

When you begin to study Yoga, whether it’s the asanas, pranayama (breath work), meditation, Yoga Nidra or the Sutras, you become more conscious, more aware with each step that there is a holistic nature to your being that is made up of the body, the mind, the breath and much more.

With every action there is an effect. The unity of the practice of Yoga helps to stretch the body and the mind in subtle ways that then reflects into your present moment. It enhances all aspects of human life, including your health, your breathing your relationships with others, and your behaviour. Gradually, moment-by-moment subtle changes occur as you mature through your practice of Yoga.

How do you feel...
In the physical aspect of Yoga, the Asana practice you focus on the body, the breath and the mind. These three can work separately from one another; however Yoga aims to unite their actions. Primarily people tend to see the physical aspect of Yoga - how flexible and supple you are or how long it takes to master an asana like Headstand.

What others can’t appreciate how you feel, how you breathe, or how you feel the breath or how you co-ordinate your breathing with your movement. How you feel the postures and the breath is so important. The sense of felling is an aspect of the mind.

The breath is the bridge between the body and mind, the inner and outer body. It is only by bringing together, by uniting the body, breath and mind, that you truly realise the true quality of the asana. The quality of your breath is so important as it expresses your inner feelings. For example if you are in pain or anxious or distracted you cannot control the breath.

Steady and Comfortable...
Asana means posture and comes from the Sanskrit word “as” meaning “to be”, “to sit”. Patanjali Yoga Sutras describe an asana as having two essential qualities: sthira and sukha. Sthira is steadiness and alertness, sukha is comfortable or the ability to remain comfortable in a posture.

Sthira is about being present, alert and steady both physically and mentally, sukha is about finding the ease and finding that place of comfort that feels good. Both of these qualities should be equally present when practicing any posture. The aim of practicing an asana is to achieve the steadiness and alertness of sthira and the comfort and lightness of sukha for the length of time you are in the asana. Without these qualities there is no asana…

If there is real discomfort or tension when you go into an asana, it is hard to think about anything else apart from the tension. This means that you are not ready for this asana, and a gentler one should be practiced until you are ready or you ease out of the posture. If you are comfortable in an asana yet your mind is elsewhere or agitated then you are not being present or connecting with sthira.

Yoga is about accepting yourself just as you are; from the person you are when you start your practise through to the person you eventually evolve into. Every Yoga practice is different dependent on what is happening within you and how you are feeling. Yoga gives you the mirror to see and explore. While you practice keep both sthira and sukha in mind to assist you on every journey with Yoga.

The key...
When you breathe consciously, you become aware of the significance of the breath on the body and the mind. By feeling and connecting with the breath, the quality of the breath while you practice asanas gradually improves. When practicing an asana your focus should be directed towards the movement of your breath; on the inhalation the breath moves from the chest to the abdomen and on the exhalation the movement from the abdomen. Connecting with these movements also helps sthira and sukha helping you to stay focussed and use the breath to find the comfort and stillness of the asana.

The moments of stillness between the inhalation and exhalations can also be observed. If you can master this you can direct your attention towards any sort of activity; so you see Yoga does reflect in everyday life simply by focussing on your breath. Consciously breathing is also a form of meditation.

You
In conclusion, you will perceive that Yoga is not an external experience, but rather something that you experience inside, deep within your own being. You feel it, you experience it, and it is your journey. As you practice asanas or pranayama or meditation or Yoga Nidra, you observe what you are doing and how you are doing it and how it makes you feel. You do it only for yourself to improve, to feel better and to expand yourself and to grow.

Back in London preparing for November's weekend retreat

2010-08-04T15:13:00.000+01:00

It’s great to be here in London again after a wonderful holiday where I enjoyed some fantastic Yoga and relaxation.

Now that I’m back, I've been getting ready for my new Yoga retreat at Tilton House on 5-7th November.

I’ve designed the programme to be a wonderful tonic to prepare us for the winter season. I’m making it suitable for all levels and abilities, and of course, I’ll be offering individual attention, adjustments and support.

I’ve planned a weekend of relaxation and reinvigoration; I want to extend the feeling of well-being that we all feel during the summer months! So there'll be over 12 hours of Yoga, meditations and breathing exercises, along with wonderful food and views of the beautiful Sussex countryside.

You can read more about the weekend or book your place by clicking on the links. But don’t forget, you can always get in touch if you want to find out more.

Easy Pose - Purvottanasana

2010-07-05T12:04:00.007+01:00

Namaste

Continuing on from last month's Forward Bend Pose Paschimottanasana the pose I am talking about today is the counterpose for the Forward Bend - it stretches and opens the body after you have folded forward in Forward Bend - so here it is...

Easy Pose, Inclined Plane – Purvottanasana

In India, Yoga is traditionally practiced facing East, and the front of the body is the East side hence the name of this pose; Purva is front or east in Sanskrit, ut is intense and tan is stretch so Purvottanasana is an intense stretch of the front of the body. Easy Pose is a counter pose for the Forward Bend, last month's posture which folds the body. Easy Pose is practiced after Forward Bend as it stretches the whole of the front of the body and as mentioned, it also strengthens the hips, wrists, and arms and loosens the shoulders as well as increasing their flexibility.

For some people this is not such an “easy” pose as they use their lower back area rather than their hips flexors or hamstrings. If your hamstrings, arms, wrists or shoulders are too weak for this posture then Tabletop Pose Chatus Pada Pitham, is a great alternative to help you prepare for Easy Pose and allows you to strengthen before going on to Easy Pose.

Benefits of Easy Pose include:• Strengthens wrists, arms and shoulders
• Increases flexibility
• Stretches the whole front of the body
• Develops balance and muscular co-ordination

How to practise Easy Pose:
1. After Forward Bend Pose; Easy Pose is a counter posture. Place your hands shoulder distance apart about 6 inches behind the back with the fingertips pointing away from the body or pointing towards the feet.
2. Inhale, press the hands down and lift the buttocks up, taking the weight of the body in the hands and feet, aiming to get all ten toes on the floor. Keep the arms straight as you lift the hips as high as is comfortably possible and the head in line with the spine; start with the chin tucked in slightly (photo of me in black) and then gradually allow the neck to release and lengthen with control, tilting the head back - try not to let the head go completely, keep control and only extend as far is comfortable for you (photo of me in the white). Try to keep the heels and toes together and the thighs rotating inwards and the chest open and high to the sky, whilst pressing the floor away with your hands. It is fine if the toes don’t touch the floor in time they will.
3. If it is difficult to lift the hips high and the body in a straight line, then you can practice Tabletop - bend the knees whilst you are seated on the floor, keeping them hip distance apart, bringing the feet about 6 inches away from the hips. Inhale and lift the hips up creating a table top with the knees bent and arms straight, still lifting the hips comfortably.
4. Stay in the posture for five to ten breaths then exhale and lower the hips to the floor back into a seated position.

Share more with you soon...
Om shanti
Michelle

PS. If you would like to let go of any of your stresses and experience deep relaxation quite simply check out my new Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation CD - you don't need to know anything about Yoga to practice this, you simply lie on the floor and be guided into deep relaxation

Relax and Renew with my Yoga Retreat

2010-07-05T11:10:00.003+01:00

Yoga Retreat Weekend at Tilton House, East Sussex, UK - 5th - 7th November 2010
Come and enjoy a weekend Yoga retreat to relax and de-stress, rejuvenate, re-energise and expand your whole mind, body and soul. This retreat offers you the space to explore Yoga and take important "you" time.

This weekend is a time to immerse your self in Yoga with 8 different types of Yoga sessions including Yoga Nidra, meditation and Pranayama (breathing exercises) and of course Yoga classes to expand and develop you Yoga Practice. Find out more details of this relaxing weekend here

Tilton House is an impressive Georgian country house with a wonderful energy and ambience, helping you to relax and unwind. Nestled underneath the South Downs and edged by woodland with far reaching views across the Sussex Weald, Tilton House sits impressively in the natural landscape. Rooms are twin, triple or double. Single rooms are limited with an additional supplement. Book now to guarantee your place - email me - info@yogarelax.co.uk

I look forward to sharing Yoga with you
OM shanti
Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk

2010-06-14T20:51:00.003+01:00

Forward Bend Pose – Paschimottanasana
In the Forward Bend Pose, the body is folded in half, like a book, giving a wonderful stretch to the entire back of the body from the head to the toes. It is simple posture to practice, yet is powerful. It looks easier than it is, to be done correctly, and offers an opportunity to reconnect deeply within.

In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika it says “This is the most excellent of asanas makes the breath flow through the Sushumna, rouses the gastric fire, makes the loins lean and removes all diseases”

Wow makes you want to perform it right?

Benefits of Forward Bend Pose include:

• Powerfully massages the abdominal organs
• Stimulates and massages digestive system
• Relieves constipation
• Reduces obesity
• Mobilises the joints and increases elasticity of the spine
• Strengthens and stretches the hamstring muscles
• Enhances concentration
• Invigorates the mind and nervous system

How to do Forward bend Pose

1.Sit in a seated position with the legs together and straight in front of you and the back nice and tall. Now take your hands to your buttocks and remove the flesh from your buttocks so that the sitting bones are open and on the floor. This tilts your pelvis and sitting bones forward slightly so that you pelvis and lower back are in correct alignment. Then draw in your core (your abdomen) so that you are sitting tall from the waist, open the chest, the heart area lifted, and the shoulders roll them back and downwards towards your tailbone, then elongate your neck. If you wish to sit on a Yoga block or folded blanket, this helps to tilt your pelvis slightly to help with the extension of the upper body.

2.From this position inhale raising your arms above your head, keeping the spine lengthened and the heart lifted and as you exhale gently fold the body forward, staying long through the spine with the abdomen draw in, extending the arms along the legs. As soon as you feel the stretch in the hamstrings lower the arms, either to the toes if you can reach or to the shins or knees. In the beginning your hands may be by your thighs, this is fine, work with the posture and keep the back straight, rather than round your shoulders.

3.Keep the chest open rather than round the upper back. On your next inhalation look forward, lift the heart centre and exhale move the floating ribs away from the hips and towards the knees. This movement lengthens the abdomen and lumbar spine rather than rounds the shoulders, which you try to keep relaxed.

4.If your chest is not close to your thighs, even if you are sitting upright, this is absolutely fine, work with the breath to keep the heart lifted, the head in line with the spine and the shoulders away from the ears. As you practice more and more you will be able to go deeper into the stretch.

5.With each inhalation, lift and lengthen the front of the body just slightly; with each exhalation release a little more fully into the forward bend. In this way the your body lengthens with the breath. If your hands touch your feet, hold the tops of the feet and flex the feet, or hold your fingers around the big toe, or have the hands on the sides of the feet, but do pull your feet outward, keep the feet pointing upward in a flexed position. If you want to go further keep the hands on the feet and bend your elbows and exhale further into the pose.

6.When you reach your maximum extension in the pose, rest there breathing deeply for as long as you continue to enjoy the posture, keeping the legs in contact with the floor.

7.To release, inhale stretch forwards and upwards raising the arms and chest and lower the arms by the hips on an exhalation.

Forward Bend Pose allows you to let go, surrender and observe the mind and breath. The breath will take you further, if you find this posture difficult, release it slightly so you are not forcing the pose and listen to the resistance from within. the objective is to relax and let go so you can go further and you will, have patience.

Om Shanti
Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk

The Essence of a Creative Life from the Heart...

2010-05-20T11:53:00.002+01:00

I wanted to share with you this profound piece, that is inspirational, motivating and touches my heart in a different way each time I read it. I have had this guidance for over 9 years and came across it today again and wanted to share how I feel about my life right now, today... I love My Life - Life is beautiful, Life is transformational, Life when in rhythm with the Universe is mystically sweet, a priceless jewel to be treasured and shared...

I sincerely hope you enjoy this extract from SGI's President Daisaku Ikeda Speech 1974 and that is resonates with your heart..

"The times when I feel most deeply that I have done something creative are the times when I have thrown myself whole heartedly into a task and fought it through unstintingly to its conclusion. At such times. I feel that I have won out in the struggle to enlarge myself.

It is a matter of sweat and tears. The creative life, in short, is achieved by a constant effort to improve one's thoughts and actions, or perhaps we could say it is the dynamism involved in this effort.

You will pass through storms and heavy rains, and at times you may suffer defeat. The essence of the creative life, however, is not to give up in the face of defeat, but to follow the rainbow that exists within your heart. Indulgence and indolence are not creative. Complaints and evasions are cowardly, and they corrupt life's natural tendency towards creation. The person who gives up the fight for creativeness is headed ultimately for the hell that destroys all life. You must not for one instant give up your effort to build yourselves new lives. Creativeness means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway to life. This is not an easy struggle. Indeed, it may be the most difficult task in the world. For opening the door to your own life is in the end more difficult than opening the door to the mysteries of the universe. But to do so is to vindicate your existence. At the same time it makes life worth living for you. I say to you that there is no one lonelier or more unhappy that a person who does not know the pure joy of creating a life for himself. To be human is not merely to stand erect and manifest intelligence or knowledge. To be human in the full sense of the word is to lead a creative life. The fight to create a new life is a truly wonderful thing. In it you find a wisdom that causes your intelligence to shine, the light of intuition that leads to an understanding of the universe, a strong will and determination that challenge all attacking evils, the compassion that enables to take upon yourself the sorrows of others, the sense of fusion with that energy of compassion that gushes forth from the cosmic source of life and creates an ecstatic rhythm in the lives of all men. As you challenge evil and polish that jewel which is life you will learn to walk that supreme pathway of true humanity. Of this I am confident, and I am confident too that he who leads a creative life from the present into the future will stand in the vanguard of history. I myself think of this flowering of the creative life as a human revolution. This human revolution is your mission now as it will be throughout your lives."

written by Daisaku Ikeda

Anjali Mudra - Prayer Seal

2010-05-10T19:13:00.003+01:00

This is also known as Atmanjali Mudra and this hand gesture is often seen in India when people greet, thank or express respect to each other. It is also used in prayer.

Anjali Mudra is used in Yoga classes too. Its significance is broad; it is used to remind you to come back to your centre, that your practice is a form of prayer, it is an offering to your true Self. Anjali Mudra helps to direct the energy upward, calming the mind.

This Mudra helps you to come from a calm, clear perspective and ground yourself. The gentle pressing together of the two palms, activates and harmonizes coordination of the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

When you join your hands together like this, you are making a physical gesture of union and gratitude. Yoga means union coming from “yuk” to yoke or bind, so this gesture is on another level, the union of your individual self and the universe and how the both are interconnected.

When you press the thumbs to your breastbone, your heart Chakra, Anahata Chakra, you are also reminding yourself to nurture the qualities of the heart during your Yoga practice. The hands being placed at the heart is the Self being felt in the Anahata Chakra. Often at the end of the class Anjali Mudra is used, bringing the prayer seal to your eyebrow centre, Anja Chakra, as you bow your head and say Namaste.

So when you hold Anjali Mudra, infuse it with the intention of union; then observe if you notice a change, however subtle, in your mind, body and heart...

Make subtle changes within…

2010-05-10T19:03:00.004+01:00

Allow the Hands to express and release the energy!

Mudra comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “seal”, for example to seal in energy or to focus energy. Mudras are symbolic hand gestures that mystically change the prana (energy) in your body. There are also eye positions, postures and breathing techniques that are called Mudras, however I am sharing hand gestures with you. There are lots of different Mudras, each representing different qualities, like courage, knowledge, enlightenment, wisdom.

Mudras are used in Hinduism as well as Indian dance, where dancers extensively use hand gestures. In Buddhism, the Buddha used Mudras too, which you can see from statues, pictures and Sutras.

In Hatha Yoga they are used in breath work (pranayama), meditation and in Yoga Postures too. When used in Yoga practice they add focus and increase the prana and assist you to channel this energy and help to calm and focus the mind too.

The Hands express…
The hands express our thoughts and feelings. When you communicate with someone, the hands move, appearing to further communicate what you are speaking. The hands also reflect your state of mind even when one isn't speaking. For example, when you are nervous the fingers often fidget or when you are upset you might clench the hands or if you become angry a fist might form.

The opposite of these negative emotions are feelings of warmth and respect. For
Example, when you meet someone you greet them with a handshake. When pray the hands come into prayer position palms together; this is Anjali Mudra; the Prayer Seal, hands placed together at the heart level. In meditation, if you saw the Buddha or a deity with their hands clenched, it wouldn’t instil calmness, peace or tranquillity would it?

Maybe you haven’t thought of the significance of Mudras before…so here I’ll explain a little for you to learn more about for your practice of Yoga or meditation.

Actions speak louder than words
During Yoga the power of these Mudras go far beyond just adding focus. It is easier to look at Buddha or Hindu deities and see them possessing wisdom, enlightenment or courage, than it is to look at yourself and see those same qualities. Mudras help you to choose to feel, see and express these same qualities. This is what Buddha taught and wanted you to understand; that you do possess the same qualities as him.

Just like the breath is the bridge between the body and mind, Mudras are the bridge between your inner and outer world, they help to develop the energy within so you use it. Actions speak louder than words; Mudras are a physical action of a prayer form within.

Yoga Pose of the Month - Downward Facing Dog, Adho Mukha Svanasana

2010-04-03T19:05:00.007+01:00

So welcome back to my Yoga pose of the month! This one is a special one I feel as it's one of the best know postures in Yoga, yet not necessarily taught so much. However, if you look at my last blog all about alignment, when you really use the alignment in this posture the strength and stabilty and energy increases in your body...

So here it is...

Downward facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana
Have you seen a dog stretch? This pose resembles a dog stretching its front legs, which refreshes and enlivines the dog so Yes, that is the same for us, it rejuvenates! The posture also resembles an inverted V - can you see that in the photo? Downward Facing Dog has many functions in yoga - transitional pose, resting pose, strengthening pose and an inversion pose.

Benefits of Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana:

Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
Energises the body
Stretches the shoulders, arms, wrists, hamstrings, calves and spine
Elongates the whole shoulder area
Strengthens the arms and legs
Improves digestion
Relieves headaches, back pain, insomnia and fatigue
Improves concentration and focus

How to Practice Downward Facing Dog

Come onto the floor on your knees with your body lying over your thighs (childs pose). Extend your arms forward about shoulder distance apart. Spread your palms, and engage every single finger and your palms into the mat - your hands are pointing forward and help balance you.
Inhale as you come up onto knees and turn your toes under and exhale as you lift your knees away from the floor and your hips towards the sky. At first keep the knees slightly bent and the feet about hips distance apart and the heels lifted away from the floor. The palms of the hands are balancing you as you push the shoulders away from the wrists, move your chest towards your thighs and externally rotate the shoulders so that the shoulders are away from the ears and the upper back becomes flat as the shoulder blades widen and draw them toward the tailbone. Then draw your core, by bringing the belly button in towards the spine so that the lower back doesn’t arch. Keep the head between the upper arms; don't let it hang, maybe do a "yes" and a "no" to check its relaxed. Now pushing your sitting bones high to the sky lengthen your spine, from your neck to your tailbone. Remember to breathe as you make these adjustments.
Once you have reached your maximum extension of the upper body and spine, then focus on your legs, especially the backs of the legs, exhale and start to straighten your knees, but be sure not to lock them, gently push your legs back and stretch your heels onto or down towards the floor (it doesn't matter if the heels don't touch the floor, it all depends on you individual make-up and some people the heels just don't and won't ever touch - that's fine. it depends on how much the connective tissue around the ankles releases). Activate the legs, you will feel the stretch in the backs of the legs and try to activate the fronts of the thighs too.
Remember to keep the arms strong, active and the shoulders away from the ears and the head and neck relaxed as you gaze at your feet and stay in the posture for 5-15 breathes or longer if you wish.
Release on an inhalation and bend the knees bringing them to the floor and the chest to the thighs and bend the arms at the elbows to release into extended arm childs pose and relax.
Once you have mastered this posture, you might like to try a variation in this posture by taking one leg high to the sky. To do this; from Downward Facing Dog bring both feet together, ground one foot firmly to the ground and then slowly start to lift the other leg upwards to the sky, keeping both legs active and your arms and upper body also active, this means keep using the breath to keep the standing leg strong, use the front thigh muscles and engage the foot to the ground and the shoulders are strong and supportive and open across the back, continue to breathe deeply. The aim is to have a straight through the whole body from the hands along the body up to the raised foot. then change legs.

Please note do not do this pose if you have carpal tunnel sydrome, late stage of pregnancy. high blood pressure and headaches do with caution.

If you would like to receive informative emails on all aspects of yoga, then please go to http://www.yogarelax.co.uk/ and subscribe to my mailing list and you willreceive lots of information to help you relax, de-stress and get the most out of your life. If you know anyone else who would benefit give them my link http://www.yogarelax.co.uk/.

Hope you enjoy Downward Facing Dog, and from now on really feel and experience this wonderful posture.

Until next time...

Om shanti
Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk
http://www.michellecross.co.uk

P.S stay present in your practice and bring that to your daily life....

'Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

2010-03-16T11:17:00.002Z

Some tips for Alignment and Posture in Asanas

Since I am starting to go through various yoga postures (asana), I thought it would be a good idea to give you some tips about alignment, so that you become more aware of your body. Alignment is used to describe the positioning of the body for each posture in yoga. Remember everyone is different so it’s about using these tips for your individual make-up, how you feel in a posture and of course observe your whole posture and piece all the adjustments together to create the asana.

"The posture becomes perfect when the effort of achieving it vanishes" Yogabhashya

Alignment in the various asana has different purposes:
• to ensure that the postures are practiced in a way that maximizes the benefit of the posture including improvements of more flexibility, strength, tone and radiant health, whilst minimizes the risk of injury
• to ensure that the postures are practiced to allow the flow of prana (energy) in the body.
• to help calm the mind, improve focus, concentration, stability and lift the spirit.
• to position the muscles, joints and limbs in a comfortable way

So as I go through these alignment pointers remember to be aware of your own body, shape and how you feel when you are in a posture. The “perfect” pose is the pose that best suits you at the moment you are practicing the pose and what you are experiencing. By aligning yourself and using these adjustments, it may mean that you need to come out of the posture, this is good and better to align the body and free the prana (energy) that to be deeper in a posture with no alignment of the limbs, muscles joints and tendons.

The building blocks;
1.Build the foundation first: If you think of a house the foundations are essential to keep the house erect. So it is essential to pay attention to establishing a confident, stable foundation from which your asana evolves and grows. Whether that is your feet in (standing postures), your sitting bones (in seated postures) or your hands (in arm balances). Once you build your foundation, then you are able to look at the detail of the particular asana.
2.Finding your centre with stability and ease: All yoga postures should be practiced in a way which aims to balance steadiness with ease. Asana means steady pose in Sanskrit and yoga means union, union of body and mind, so the pose should be steady and comfortable so this union occurs. If it is uncomfortable, ease out of the posture a little to see how the body and mind reacts and observe this.
3.Balance your feet: For your standing postures, ground your feet into the floor, lift your toes up and spread all the toes so the weight is evenly distributed between the toes, balls of the feet and the heels. Try to distribute your weight evenly across all three points and (in most standing postures) evenly between both feet.
4.Find your seat: For seated postures, lift the flesh from your buttocks to expose the sitting bones, maybe sit on the edge of a block so that your pelvis tilts slightly forward, bringing the base of the spine on top of the pelvic girdle.
5.Strengthen the arms: For arm balances bring the hands pointing forward, the wrists in line underneath the elbows and shoulders – do you get the idea?

Let’s now works upward through the body;
6.Toes: In general, when standing and sitting with one or more legs extended out, ensure that your feet are parallel to each other. For many there is a tendency to turn our toes out when standing (– this main mean your hips are out of alignment and you need to see a chiropractor), this in practice means focusing on turning the toes inwards slightly. Aligning the feet in this way ensures that your knees are in the same alignment as your feet and the legs are active and this protects our lower back. The latter is particularly important when bending forwards or backwards.
7.Knees: The knee joint has limited rotational movement and especially when standing or lunging, so it is important that the knee points in the same direction as the foot of the same leg and does not twist inwards or outwards. It is also important in standing postures like the Warrior postures, to ensure that the knee does not move forward of the line of the heel and to actively keep the knee in line with the foot, so actively using the thighs and keeping the outside of the knee in line with the little toe. The exception to this is lunging with the back knee on the floor for Crescent Moon pose, Anjanasana, where the knee can come over the line of the heel if it is comfortable. In postures such as Standing Forward Bend, Uttanasana and Downward Facing Dog, Adho Mukha Svanasana, the alignment is achieved by keeping your feet about as wide apart as your hips. Finally, the knee should not lock, or hyper-extend, consciously maintain a softness, rather than simply pulling the kneecap back. This can be achieved by engaging the thigh muscles and will avoid straining the hamstrings. Using the fronts of the thighs muscles help support he knee and the hamstring as these two muscles work in synergy.
8.Your spine: The spine has three natural curves – the lower back (lumbar spine) and neck area (cervical spine) curve into the body; the middle back (thoracic spine) curves outwards. Since everyone is individual these curvatures can be different or more emphasized, so you need to be conscious of your spine. Observe when move where your shoulders are; are the hunched up toward the ears, if so lower them, are you letting your neck go or do you lengthen through the neck, is the chest open and the shoulder back, is your abdomen engaged activating your core and when you bend forward are you hinging forward to protect the lower/lumbar back and using all of the other observation mentioned before; shoulders, core, chest. All of these help support the spine which is essential in alignment for yoga.
9.Twist: The upper spine has more rotational movement due to the structure of the vertebrae, discs and joints of the spine, so for twisting posture you should focus the rotation on the middle and upper back, not the mower back. This is done by starting the twist from the core of the body. Try to turn from the navel first, then the chest, then the chest, then the shoulders, and finally the head and neck. Be aware not to lead with your head in an effort to appear deeper in the posture; allow the twist to evolve naturally with the breath. Use each inhalation to lengthen your spine upwards and tailbone downwards, creating more space between your vertebrae, and each exhalation to deepen the rotation.
10.Backbends: Your spine is designed to bend both forwards and backwards. While the lumbar spine has the least ability to rotate, it is often the easiest part of the spine to bend. In backbends, try to create space between the vertebrae as the spine lengthens. As you go into a backbend, consciously bend as evenly as possible through the whole spine, rather than just the lumbar spine. This means lengthening your upper back and your neck as you stretch your head back. Finally with backbends try not to clench your buttocks, they should be lightly engaged, but not clenched as this too will inhibit the spine’s ability to move.
11.Upside down: In inverted postures such as Shoulderstand and Headstand your stability in the posture is improved by engaging your abdominal and leg muscles. Keeping an upward movement of the leg muscles and pushing through the balls of the feet and the heels and activating your core all help with your inversion postures and balance in them.

These are all tips for alignment in your yoga practice, however you can use a lot of these tips in your everyday life to help stand tall, creating great posture and allow the energy to flow freely through the whole body. You can adjust your posture when at work, standing for a bus or train...Observe and be aware is the key.

Namaste, Michelle

Yoga Pose of the Month - Tree Posture; Vrksasana

2010-03-05T15:12:00.012Z

I thought I'd introduce The Pose of the Month... Over the next coming months I will introduce a new posture to you to help enhance and deepen your Yoga practice. I'll tell you about the posture, the benefits and then how to practice the posture.

So let's begin, since we are coming into Spring I've been doing some gardening and planting seeds etc when I thought I would start off with the Tree posture - Vrksasana, since the trees will soon start to blossom and bloom...

Tree Pose - Vrksasana
The Tree Pose is a standing balancing pose. If you think about a tree, its roots provide the foundation and stability for the trunk or its body and branches, so your feet and legs are your roots and provide the support for your upper body to stand tall with strength and poise. Your feet are your foundation, so with all standing postures you need to make sure your foundation is strong, so with Tree you are standing on one leg, so it is your one-foot that you ground and build upon. Aim to achieve a grounded and firmness of a tree. Just as a tree uses it roots for stability; you ground the energy down through the foot like a tree. The challenge for some may be maintaining balance on one leg - this however improves with practice. Poor balance is often the result of a restless mind or distracted attention. The balancing postures reveal your state of mind; some days your balance is good and others it is poor, this depends on what you are going through in your life. If you are distracted and one thought is jumping to the next, the balance will be harder. Some days you are stressed and your mind is overactive and this will reflect in your yoga practice and maybe need more support, like a wall to achieve the posture like the Tree. This is ok, try not to judge yourself, but think I am a growing tree that needs a stick as a support for strength and metaphorically your stick is a wall that you can use to help your balance into the posture. As you use the wall for support this also build confidence so that you start to not hold the wall and stand tall and balanced alone in the Tree posture. Regular practice of this posture will help focus the mind, it builds calmness and stillness as you hold the posture and lengthens and strengthens the body. Regular practice of the Tree, Vrksasana improves concentration, balance and coordination. Because the weight of the entire body is balanced on one foot, the muscles of that leg are strengthened and toned as well.
As you advance in this posture and are able to remain standing for more than a few moments, try closing the eyes and maintaining your balance.

Benefits of the Tree, Vrksasana include:

· Improves sense of balance and co-ordination

· Tones and strengthens abdominal muscles and your core

· Opens hip area

· Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine

· Increases and improves concentration

· Improves focus, confidence and stillness

How to do the Tree, Vrksasana:

1. Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides. Ground your feet into the floor, lift the toes and spread them wide to create your balancing foot of the standing balancing leg. Bend the right leg at the knee, and bring the sole of the right foot to either the calf muscles, the arch of the foot across the inside of the knee or the foot to the inside of the thigh, pushing into the groin area as pictured or to half lotus position as pictured.

2. Find you balance by focusing the eyes and the mind on something that is not moving in front of you, it is easier to start with the foot lower down the leg, if you have good balance then take the foot higher.

3. When you have your balance bring your hands into prayer position in front of your heart and keeping the focal point and balance, you can raise your arms over the head into prayer position. Hold the posture while breathing gently through the nostrils for about 5-10 breaths.

4. Lower the arms and right leg and return to the tadasana the mountain posture or standing position with feet together and arms at the sides. Pause for a few moments and repeat on the opposite leg.

I hope you enjoy practising your Tree Posture and grow and strengthen from your inner being.

Om shanti, Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk

Which type are you?

2010-02-03T19:06:00.002Z

Nadis
In everyday life one of the nadis, Ida or pingala is always more dominant. The way to check which nadi is more dominant, i.e. is clearer is to breathe through each individual nostril. So you can either do a few rounds of anuloma viloma or you can close the right nostril with your thumb (Vishnu Mudra) and inhale and exhale out of the left nostril a couple of times, then close the left nostril with your ring finger and inhale and exhale out of the right nostril a couple of times. You will notice which nostril is clearer or less blocked and this is the one that is more dominant at this time. Although they alternate throughout the day, one nadi tends too be more dominant more often and for longer periods of time. This shows in your personality, behaviour and health issues so you are maybe more ida-like or pingala-like. You may like to do a few rounds throughout the day say every 3 hours to see if the nadis have changed.

Which type are you?
Ida-like people have more nurturing qualities, are quiet and introspective, yet may lack the enthusiasm to sustain a strong regular yoga practise. They are full of potential however unless they develop their pingala side they may never manifest this potential.
Pingala-like people are lively, with lots of creativity and abdundant vitality, however they need to develop their ida side to have introspection, stillness and the receptivity to manifest the grace of spiritual awakening with yoga.

Creating the balance
Hatha Yoga creates balance. "Ha" of Hatha means sun which is pingala and "tha" of Hatha means moon which is ida. So balancing the sun and moon or pingala and ida is the aim of Hatha Yoga to awaken the Sushumna. So the most powerful method of balancing these two nadis is Anuloma Viloma as you control the prana through the breath in each nostril as you breathe in anuloma viloma using each nostril, therefore balancing the respective nadi either ida or pingala. This is why we do anuloma viloma to create a balance in the prana within the body.

You may also want to experiment with your own practice to help balance the nadis through the asanas you practice. So at the start of your practice do a few rounds of anuloma viloma to observe which nadi is more clear if ida is dominant you can try invigorating asanas like backbends, standing poses and inversion to engage pingala. If pingala is dominant the calming seated asanas like seated postures or forward bends to engage the calmness of ida nadi. You can observe which asanas activate one nadi or the other. Also if you are doing a yoga practice with a lot of forward bends which takes you inwards, it would be a good idea to do some anuloma viloma afterwards to balance the nadis again so you don’t feel so spaced out.
Also observe your mind – agitated and active is pingala-like or calm and receptive is ida-like. When you start to observe the breath and the nadi the intimate link between the body and mind naturally flows. Through this practice you develop your awareness, deepening your practice as you observe and clearing the way for your spiritual growth.

So what are nadis and Chakras

2010-01-21T16:24:00.003Z

Chakra is a Sanskrit word that translates as wheel or disc. Nadi in Sanskrit derives from the word nad which means flow, motion or vibration. Nadis are the energy pathways of the body and there are 72,000 of them in our subtle body and connected by the chakras, which charges the nadis. The chakras function as valves, regulating the flow of prana. Through the nadis and chakras the prana is delivered to every cell of the body and this is enhanced through the breath and the asanas in yoga.

The following seven primary chakras are commonly described:

1. Muladhara Chakra - The base chakra located between the sacrum and coccyx is associated with the colour red and relates to a persons survival instincts and material/physical existence.
2. Svadhistana Chakra - The second/sacral chakra located around the reproductive organs and lumbar region is associated with the colour orange and relates to a persons feelings, desires and sensations.
3. Manipura Chakra - Located in the naval or solar plexus and associated with the colour yellow. This chakra relates to a sense of personal power and identity.
4. Anahata Chakra - Located in the heart region, this chakra relates to a persons ability to give and receive love and is associated with the colour green.
5. Vishuddi Chakra - The throat chakra is associated with the colour blue and relates to a persons ability to interpret and communicate what they have learnt.
6. Ajna Chakra - The third eye chakra, associated with the colour violet, relates to intuition, creativity and imagination.
7. Sahasrara Chakra - The crown chakra relates to cosmic consciousness and is associated with the colour violet.

Nadis

Of these 72,000 nadis, there are 3 that are considered the most important - Ida, Pingala and Sushumna and are purified through anuloma viloma.
Ida is the left channel - starts in Muladhara chakra, Ida ends up in the left nostril. Ida is white, feminine, cold, represents the moon, creative, slow, right brain, when more active metabolic activity of the body becomes low, lethargy and suspended mental activity.
Pingala is the right channel - starts in Muladhara chakra, Pingala ends up in the right nostril. Pingala is red, masculine, hot, represents the sun, logic, active, left brain, when more active heat in body increases and there’s more mental activity.
Sushumna is the central channel running up the body from just below Muladhara chakra to Sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head. This is the main energy channel that Hatha Yoga, prananyama clears the channel so that the kundalini energy flows freely through the sushumna to the Sahasrara chakra.
So that’s all about your energy body. Interesting isn’t it? Amazing when you’re practicing yoga how the prana circulates around the body, without you really knowing how…now you do! How wonderful!

Yoga & Pranayama

2010-01-08T15:46:00.000Z

Meaning of Yoga and Pranayama and their unity
The meaning of Yoga is union – e.g. the unity of body and mind or on a deeper levels the Self and the Universe - they are one. The bridge between the body and mind is the breath and as you use the breath and become more aware you will soon come to realise what is within is also all around i.e. they are one.

Pranayama means control of vital energy or breath. In Sanskrit the word for breath is the same for the word life – Prana, this gives you a big clue about how important breathing is for your health and well-being, Yama means control – so the literally translation is control of the breath (or life which is prana). Yoga without prana is like the sea without water.

So to use yogic breathing, try to become aware of your breath and observe it, maybe as you are sitting down or lying down, allow the abdomen and chest to rise as you inhale and fall as you exhale, both being rhythmical, comfortable and smooth.

Benefits of yogic breathing
In addition to relaxing and calming the body and mind, when you observe and control the breath you gain other benefits
 Improves posture as uses muscles to support the spine and abdominal muscles
 Reduces stress, anxiety and tension
 You take in more oxygen which is delivered to every cell in the body
 It increases your metabolism – great for managing weight
 Tones the abdominal area
 Strengthens immune system

Just a little note to remember, the diaphragm separates the lungs and heart from the abdominal organs, and is above the solar plexus area. When you start to use the diaphragm muscle it becomes more flexible, psychologically this can release any emotions that have been stored up or suppressed especially if your digestive organs are linked to your stress, so breathing properly i.e. yogic breathing can release emotions or sighs as you release the energy, the prana, the life through your breath. So don’t worry about this it’s a great sign you are releasing something not just on a physical level and will lead to a more fulfilling experience of life and the breath.

Yoga and Breathing

2010-01-01T15:00:00.002Z

Breath is life.

We are able to survive days without food or water, however deprive us of breath and we would only last a few minutes. Knowing this, it is amazing how little attention we pay to the importance of breathing.

It’s a great idea to start to think of your breath as your closest friend. From the moment you are born the breath stays with you until the moment you die. Unless you have breathing problems, you probably are barely aware of your breath, you take it for granted unintentionally of course. Just because your breath is automatic doesn’t mean you are breathing to your optimum though.

In yoga the breath is of utmost importance, for the breath delivers oxygen to every cell in our bodies and brain and it also gives us the vital energy (prana) from the air we breathe. So even if you do not practice yoga, you can still use the breath to benefit you. Proper breathing helps us to control the vital energy (prana) and thus control the mind, which helps deeper relaxation.

So how do you breathe correctly?

We've forgotten…
It is natural to breathe using the diaphragm and abdomen. If you watch babies, you will notice that they breathe in this way. As we become older, factors like stress and inactivity cause us to take shallow breaths. These shorter shallow breaths use only the upper chest. This is why I say most people have forgotten how to breathe… They breathe shallowly, usually through the mouth and don't use the diaphragm or only use it a little. Breathing like this only a small amount of oxygen and energy is taken in and only the top parts of the lungs are being used.
Breathing correctly means breathing through the nose, keeping the mouth closed, so that the nose warms and filters the air taken in, and involves a full inhalation where the abdomen expands causing the diaphragm to move down and an exhalation through the nose, where the abdomen falls causing the diaphragm to move up. Breathing like this uses more of the lungs and the diaphragm is actively being used benefiting you by taking in more oxygen, giving you more energy.

Which is the most essential stage of breathing - inhalation or exhalation?
You might think it is the inhalation, when in fact it is the exhalation that holds the key. Why? The more stale air you exhale, the more fresh air or oxygen you can inhale and this is distributed to every cell in your body giving you more energy and nourishing every cell in the body so that the body works at its optimum.

So start to observe your breath and breathe in life to the full!

Natural Pain Relief - Using Complementary Medicine to Relieve Pain Naturally By Nina Schnipper

2009-12-09T20:15:00.001Z

Have you tried different natural methods for pain relief? Do you include complementary medicine in your treatment regimen? To get the greatest relief from natural pain treatments, you need to understand the foundation.

Complement a healthy lifestyle.

Therapies that are based in complementary medicine can be helpful in relieving your pain. If you prefer natural treatments, then you will want to use these as your first defense when pain strikes.

However, some pain sufferers use them as their only method of pain relief. This is not their purpose or foundation.

Complementary methods should be used in addition to healthy lifestyle habits and other therapies. They are not meant to stand alone as a sole source of pain treatment. Their foundation is based in complementing a healthy lifestyle. If you are not practicing healthy habits, including regular exercise and nutritious eating, then you will not reap the full benefits of complementary medicine treatments.

Living healthy first.

If you wish to relieve pain naturally, then you need to first build a healthy foundation. Regular exercise and nutritious eating are the key components of a healthy lifestyle.

Regular exercise must include cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and stretching. Walking is not enough. Lifting weights is not enough. Taking yoga classes is not enough. All three components are necessary for a balanced exercise regimen.

Nutritious eating means eating foods that have high nutritional content, in just the right amounts, and avoiding foods with poor nutritional value. Drinking pure, plain water for hydration is also part of nutritious eating.

When you are basing your healthy lifestyle on these key elements, then you will naturally:

• sleep better
• have more energy
• feel less stress
• reduce your pain

If you build on a healthy foundation, then you can get relief from complementary medicine, naturally.

Some natural therapies for pain relief.

Massage therapy is one of the most commonly chosen types of complementary medicine for pain relief. Relaxing Swedish massage is the foundation of massage. Deep Tissue provides firm massage to a small, focused area. Sports massage includes Swedish, Deep Tissue and stretching, and it aids recovery from sports injuries. Thai-Yoga massage offers a mix of relaxing compressions, assisted stretching, opening energy pathways, and clearing restrictions.

Acupuncture relieves pain. Some acupuncturists practice five-element acupuncture, treating the whole person on a physical and energetic level. Others offer traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), during which they will match herbal remedies to your physical ails.

Other therapies that are effective for pain relief include aromatherapy, herbal remedies, homeopathy, Reiki, chiropractic, muscle activation, somatic touch, and nutritional counseling.

As you try them, know that each practitioner has their own background and style. So, for example, a massage from one therapist may feel very different from another therapist's massage. Keep searching until you find the practitioner who helps you in your healing and recovery. And remember to use complementary medicine as an addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Need more info on natural pain relief? Grab your copy of the '10-Day Guide to Pain Relief' (while they're still free!), loaded with natural relief tips, articles, and videos, at http://www.PainFreeU.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nina_Schnipper

Pregnancy Massage - The Benefits By Kelly Price

2009-12-09T20:14:00.000Z

Pregnancy massage or prenatal massage is a therapeutic bodywork that focuses on the physiological, structural and emotional well being of mother and baby.

It may include Swedish, deep tissue or neuromuscular, and after the first trimester, pregnancy massage can be safely enjoyed by most pregnant women.

The human touch conveys love and comfort. Throughout pregnancy and during labour, pregnancy massage can be especially beneficial to alleviate aches and pains reduce stress and help you to relax.

How Pregnancy Massage Differs From Regular Massage

The major difference between pregnancy massage and regular massage is that the person receiving the massage is pregnant. An obvious point to state perhaps, but nevertheless very important.

When massage a pregnant woman it is very important that the practitioner have knowledge of pregnancy and the anatomy, as positioning during a massage is a critical factor to the safety of both mother and baby.

The second difference is that certain parts of the body should not be massaged.

Pregnancy Massage – What are The Benefits?

The experience of pregnancy can have a profound physiological and emotional effect on a woman. Coming to terms with the changes in her body, and the impending lifestyle changes can be quite stressful.

Pregnancy massage has been used for many years in many cultures to provide a nurturing touch and emotional support to expectant mothers, other benefits include:

• increased relaxation

• decreased insomnia

• lessened sciatic pain

• reduced swelling in hands and feet

• headache and sinus congestion relief

• neck and back pain relief

• stress relief on weight-bearing joints

• assistance in maintaining proper posture

• relief from muscle cramps, spasms, and myofascial pain, especially in the lower back, neck, hips, and legs.

• increase in blood and lymph circulation, which can reduce swelling

• preparing the muscles used during childbirth

Pregnancy Massage – Is It Safe?

Pregnancy massage is not recommended during the first trimester because of the hormonal changes occurring in the body during this period.

During the second and third trimester, and even during labour, massage is considered safe and even beneficial. However, while massage is considered safe during these periods, there are certain parts of the body that should not be massaged.

• The area between the ankle bone and the heel is considered by reflexologists to relate to the vagina and uterus. Direct pressure should not be applied here as it is thought this could induce early labour.

• Only superficial pressure should be applied to the inner leg and massage of the leg should be avoided completely if on bed rest for any complications as this can put you at a higher risk for blood clots forming in the legs.

• A flat gentle hand should be touched only superficially to the abdomen.

• Massage should be avoided if you have vaginal bleeding, diarrhoea or abdominal pain.

It is not recommended that pregnant women lie on the abdomen as this can place unnecessary strain on the lower back. Some therapists may provide a couch or table with a hole cut out for the abdomen but this is still ill advised.

It is advisable that you consult your health care provider before receiving massage during pregnancy and ensure you choose a suitably qualified practitioner with whom you can discuss your health conditions beforehand, in order for treatment to be modified to meet your individual needs.

Pregnancy Massage – Booking a Treatment

When booking a pregnancy massage ensure that the practitioner has been trained specifically in pregnancy massage and doesn’t just cite this on their information leaflet.

Once you have found a suitable therapist you can begin to enjoy the benefits of pregnancy massage for the duration of your pregnancy and beyond. The benefits of massage at any time are great – so go on, what are you waiting for?

FOR MORE FREE INFO

On all forms of massage and the benefits including more on pregnancy massage visit our website at http://www.privatelyyours.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Price

Massage For Moms Running on Empty By Heather Maynard

2009-12-09T20:13:00.002Z

When people ask me what I do for a living I always receive lots of "oooo"s and "aaahhhh"s when I tell them I am a massage therapist. I do love what I do. I have a gift for nurturing. It is why I love being a mom, it is why I practice massage therapy, it is why I was a doula, it is why I enjoy making my husband his favorite dinners. However, there are times when I out give myself. I have typically been an habitual over giver. This resulted in burn out for me especially as a mom. So I've been practicing self care. I'm setting new boundaries with my children, I'm telling people when they upset me, I'm exercising almost every day, I'm praying more and connecting with my community of friends more often. I am making my own favorite dinners too and I am getting regular massages myself.

We must all care for ourselves in order to really be able to care for others. My hope is that by consistently caring for myself physically, emotionally and spiritually I will have more to give to my daughters. Then, I hope they will learn how to do this kind of self nurturing even as I teach them the value of nurturing others.

As mothers we spend much of our energy trying our best to meet our families physical, mental and even spiritual needs. Any mom knows that this is worth it. At the same time it is very draining. If we aren't careful we can end up running on empty with nothing left to give. Massage therapy is a great way to unwind and recharge. It gives you a few moments when nothing is demanded of you. You can be still; you can just be.Most of us like the idea of getting a massage. It feels good to us, maybe even a little indulgent, but did you know that massage can also be good for you? There are numerous scientific studies that indicate massage therapy can have a positive effect on physical and mental health.

Here are just some of the proven benefits of massage:

Decreasing pain
Reducing anxiety and stress
Improving range of motion
Reducing muscle soreness
Boosting immune system
Lessening depression
Relieving back pain
Easing labor pain and stress
Relieving migraine pain

Consider taking a few moments for yourself today or give a mother in your life the gift of a massage. She will thank you for it. When we mothers don't have to get anyone juice for an hour it feels like a vacation. Imagine how an hour away from it all with the nurturing touch from a trained therapist could make her feel. To find a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist near you, go to NCBTMB's "Find a Practitioner" page.

Heather Maynard has been working as a massage therapist since 2001. She is Illinois state licensed and Nationally Certified. To learn more about her business or schedule an appointment visit http://www.womensmassage.webs.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Maynard

Massage Therapy for Health By Carol Wiley

2009-12-09T20:13:00.001Z

Yes, massage feels good. But, more importantly, massage
helps maintain and promote good health. Three of the primary
health benefits of massage are improved circulation, reduced
muscle tension, and relief from the effects of stress.

Massage increases lymph flow and blood circulation. Your
body depends on the flow of lymph and blood to remove
metabolic waste and by-products of tissue damage and
inflammation and to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissue
cells.

Secondly, massage reduces muscle tension. Tense muscles lead
to stiffness, reduced movement potential, impaired
circulation, and pain. Massage relaxes muscles through the
mechanical effects of pressure on muscle tissue and the
soothing effects of focused, skilled touch on the nervous
system, which controls muscle tension.

A third important benefit of massage is relief from the
effects of stress. Negative stress is a major factor in many
of the diseases that plague our lives. Various sources
estimate that 70-90% of visits to general physicians are for
stress-related illness.

The effects of stress on the body are the result of the
fight-or-flight response. Here's how the fight-or-flight
response works. Let's say that during a backcountry hike an
angry cougar confronts you. You have two choices--run or
fight.

Your body prepares for action: your muscles tense, your
heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure all increase,
your liver dumps sugar into your blood stream for energy,
and your adrenal glands pump adrenaline into your system.
Your body also shuts down the digestive, urinary, and
reproductive systems, which are not needed for immediate

Then after your successful fight or flight, your body pretty
much returns to normal as a result of the intense physical
exertion.

Most of the stresses we face in today's world are subtler
than a cougar. But when someone yells at you for no apparent
reason, your body has much the same response that it has to
that cougar. Since it's not acceptable to either fight or
run, you just stand there and your body does not as easily
return to a normal state.

The effects of such stresses are cumulative: over time your
body spends more time in the hyped-up fight-or-flight state.
You can see where this state could lead to chronically tense
muscles and to heart, blood pressure, blood sugar,
digestive, urinary, or reproductive problems.

Massage therapy helps reverse the effects of stress by
creating the opposite of the fight-or-flight response: the
relaxation response, which lowers heart rate, breathing
rate, and blood pressure and increases the blood supply to
all the body's systems.

Although massage has many wonderful benefits, it is not for
everyone. Most types of massage are not appropriate for
someone with advanced heart disease, uncontrolled high blood
pressure or diabetes, blood clots, and a few other
conditions. Massage therapists take a health history to
ensure that you receive safe and effective massage.

Regular massage helps you maintain good health. The effects
of massage are cumulative. If you have a massage only when
you are totally stressed or in pain, you start over each
time. Receiving massage as often as you can physically,
time-wise, and financially afford is an excellent investment
in your health.

Carol Wiley, LMP, is a massage therapist in Bellevue, WA. Visit http://www.bellevuemassagetherapy.com for more information about massage, wellness, and self-care (including stretching, exercise, stress management, and more).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Wiley

Massage For Stress Related Problems By Robin Brain

2009-12-09T20:12:00.001Z

At every opportunity throughout this book I have talked about how incredible massage can be in the management of stress. Approximately one third of absences from work can be attributed to the effects of stress, anxiety, and depression, so it is in everybody's interest to deal with stress as quickly as possible. However, not all stress is bad since we need a certain amount to give our lives zest and excitement. Its only when demands made on us become too great that we suffer the negative aspects of stress and then seem unable to cope.

There is a strong link between stress and illness: it affects the immune system, making people more vulnerable to infection; it is related to high blood pressure and heart disease; it can cause headaches and backache; and there are even suggestions that there may be a link with cancer, due to the effects of stress on the immune system. So by relieving stress not only will you feel better, but you are also reducing your chances of developing other problems in the future.

Massage for stress-related problems

The best way of relieving stress, anxiety, and depression is with a full body massage. This will induce a sense of relaxation, and relaxing is the thing that most stressed people find impossible to do. You should concentrate on the areas your partner likes best. Keep the massage as flowing and rhythmic as possible, since that will sweep away the tension that is causing the physical problems.

To enhance the relaxing effects of the massage, try adding a calming essential oil to your massage oil. You may also try using the oils in a relaxing bath as well.

Stress-induced insomnia

Insomnia often occurs as a result of stress, and massage can help you break the vicious cycle of tiredness and inability to sleep. Give the massage regularly at bedtime until you have broken the habit. Your partner should lie on a bed so that if he or she succumbs to sleep during the massage you can leave him or her happily dozing. Ideally, you should do a complete body, face, and head massage, which takes about 1 1/2 hours.

If you don't have much time, you will get the quickest results by concentrating on the back, abdomen, feet, and face. You can massage all four areas in any order, or just one, depending on how quickly your partner relaxes. Follow a basic back massage routine but avoid stimulating movements, such as pummeling and energetic kneading, and spend a long time on soothing strokes such as the cat stroke. For the abdomen, feet, and face, give slow and gentle touches on each area. Shiatsu massage can also be helpful in treating insomnia.

I have numerous clients who, through regular massage, have stopped using prescription medicine and consider that massage is the very best medicine - as effective as drugs or alcohol without any of the side effects.

Self-help for stress-related problems

There is a lot you can do for yourself if you are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or if you are having trouble sleeping. One of the problems associated with stress is that it affects your mental health, which can cause people to suffer from low self-esteem; spending time on yourself will help boost morale. Try self-massage; if you take the time and trouble to complete the whole routine you will be amazed at how much better you feel both immediately afterward, and for hours and even days later.

Get the latest makeup products and makeup tips and trends for this season. Find a great selection of makeup, cosmetics products and weight loss pills online today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Brain

Yoga - For Weight Loss By Barbara Tomasik

2009-12-09T20:11:00.000Z

Practicing yoga is great! Not only do you become happier, healthier and calmer but you can also lose weight and keep your body in shape.

Below are given the most helpful yoga poses to help you achieve your weight-loss goal.

Everyone dreams about the flat tummy and this is the most common area where the fat is located. Luckily, with a regular yoga practice and specific yoga poses you will achieve your target.

Some of the yoga poses for your abdominal muscles are: sun salutation, abdominal lift, wind releasing pose, child's pose, spinal twist, cobra pose, boat pose.
Practice them every day for at least thirty minutes.

Our legs and arms also need to be toned up with yoga regime. So, if you want to work more on your legs and arms there are different poses to master like: sun salutation, hero pose, bridge pose, tree pose, chair pose, triangle pose, downward facing dog and butterfly pose.

If you are seeking to tighten your chest muscles you will need to perform poses like: sun salutation, spinal twist, triangle pose, hero pose, wheel pose, four limbed staff pose, downward facing dog pose and upward facing dog pose.

With regular yoga practice you need to look into your diet, what you eat and when you eat. There are some helpful hints to live a healthier and slimmer life. The most important thing you must remember is that - You Are What You Eat.

So, if you stop eating junk food and swap it with a healthy, low-in fat food you will find yourself shedding pounds. But remember that everything in excess, even the good food, is bad for you.

The next thing you must learn is the portion control. Eat smaller portion with each meal rather than eating twice a day and overeating. Eat only when you are hungry and you find yourself having more energy throughout the day.

In conjunction you may add in a steam-room or take a hot bath with lavender oil to help you reduce stress accumulated throughout the day. Stress is one of the major factors in the battle against excess weight.

Water is a wonderful tonic for your body and mind! Drink plenty of still water during each day and your skin will look younger, and your body will be washed out of the toxins, leaving you feeling refreshed and full of energy.

You will stay hydrated and you will get the important minerals and nutrients that you can get from water. Good luck!

Ms Barbara is a Certified Yoga trainer and also a Teacher in Physical Education. She is a member of REPs as Advance Instructor level 3.

She have been learning, practicing and teaching many styles of yoga for around 10 years. Her classes vary in dynamics and strength, depending on the level of students. Some classes may be very gentle and meditative, while other very powerful and strong.

For more information about the author check
http://www.yoga-london.org.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Tomasik

Yoga For Beginners - 7 Most Common Reasons Why You Must Start Yoga By Ntathu Allen

2009-12-09T20:10:00.002Z

Have you noticed the growing trend of people who practice yoga? Maybe you have thought about taking a yoga class but have reservations about the benefits of practicing?

There are many reasons why you may think about starting yoga. From my experience as a Sivananda Yoga Teacher and based on talking with my yoga students here are seven common reasons why you may want to start to learn yoga. Maybe one of these reasons applies to you.

Seven Most Common Reasons Why You Start Yoga

1. Yoga for Stress Relief.

A gentle yoga practice at the end of a stressful day is the ideal way to unwind and relieve tension from your body. This has to be the most popular reason why you start yoga. You're life is busy and full of conflicting demands. The constant hustle and bustle of modern day life means you have trouble switching off and relaxing. The essence of yoga is to encourage you to relax, take time out of your busy schedule and be present and focus on your breath. This instantly calms your mind and relaxes your body.

2. Yoga for Back Pain Relief
Have you ever suffered back pain or experienced sore, tense muscles? Yoga exercises are designed to gently stretch your muscles, increase the range of flexibility in your joints and bring suppleness to your spine. For example, yoga poses, such as the cobra, the locust or seated forward bend, all help to soothe your aching back.

3. Yoga for Inner Peace and Calm
If you are going through an emotional crisis or recovering from a severe illness, chances are you feel unhappy and unsettled about your situation. When you feel unhappy or down, your mind is agitated and it takes longer for the body to heal. Yoga breathing exercises and meditation practices help to promote a sense of ease and calm within the body and mind.

4. Yoga for Weight Loss
Yoga is the ideal exercise to encourage you to lose weight and develop positive eating habits. Yoga philosophy promotes a vegetarian diet based on natural, unprocessed foods.

In addition, yoga encourages you to be conscious of how you eat. Prior to eating, you bless your food and Give Thanks to the hands and souls who worked to grow your food and deliver it to your local supermarket. This sense of reverence and respect for what you eat and how you eat means you take time to select foods which nurture and nourish your body. Instead of mindlessly eating foods, on -the-go, or in front of the TV, from a yogic perspective, you consciously chew each morsel, the more you chew and take time to enjoy and digest your food, and the deeper is your sense of fulfilment from eating.

5. Yoga for Personal Development
Underpinning the physical aspects of yoga is a philosophy and way of living your life which guides you towards enlightenment. The ultimate goal of yoga is to unite with the divine and live a life of harmony and inner calm. The Yoga Sutras offers you a broad range of ethical and practical guidelines to living a healthy harmonious life. Many students gain inner strength, clarity and awareness of themselves through studying The Yoga Sutras

6. Yoga for Energy
Have you ever felt tired and zapped of energy? Yoga exercises can be used to stimulate and energise your mind and body. Blocked energy is released through the chakras, which correspond to key nerve centres or plexuses in the body. As the blocked energy is released you feel energised and revitalised.

7. Yoga for Health
Yoga offers you a truly holistic way of living your life. The physical postures promote a strong and healthy body, the philosophical guidelines offer you a simple natural way to experience life, meditation practices and breathing exercises all promote vitality and ease and comfort within your body.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you may consider practicing yoga. All reasons are valid. If you are thinking of starting yoga, take your time to find a qualified yoga teacher and enjoy your yoga journey.

"And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report "Yoga Exercises and Breathing Exercises to Ease You Into Your Day" when you visit http://www.yogainspires.co.uk/pages/ntathusfreeyogaandmeditationtips.php - Start your day with a smile, a relaxed body and a more peaceful mind."

From Ntathu Allen - Sivananda Yoga Teacher and Registered Polarity Therapist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ntathu_Allen

The Healing Powers & Benefits of Yoga By Sarah Noelle Williams

2009-12-09T20:10:00.001Z

Fit and peaceful. Happy and energetic. No one can argue or deny the therapeutic benefits of yoga. We all know that it is an activity done to unite the body, mind, and spirit. It will make a person become more aware of his or her body's alignment, posture, and movement. Yoga also helps in making the body become more flexible and and relaxed even if you are halfway through stress and anxiety.

It has been practiced for thousands of years and researches were also done to exhibit the health benefits of yoga. Later on, yoga postures, breathing, and meditation were proven to be helpful in several categories: physiological, psychological, and biochemical. It increases a person's endurance and grip strength and helps in improving sleeping habits. Yoga also advances the amount of Vitamin C and hemoglobin in the body. More positive effects can be seen as it helps in improving mood, memory, and even learning efficiency!

The top benefits of yoga include the boosting of the immune system, reduction of stress, and detoxification of the body. It has a soothing effect that takes away stress as it stimulates the tissues, organs, and the muscles.

Doctors and practitioners agree when it comes to the healing powers and benefits of yoga; that's why most of them also propose practicing the activity as backup therapy for different illnesses. It can relieve back pain and other unhealthy conditions such as fatigue, asthma, and diabetes. Moreover, yoga does not only solve physical conditions. Research also says that even a terminal illness, such as cancer, also benefit from the practice of yoga. Cancer patients who go for this activity usually take a more relaxed and better sleep. Not only that, yoga can also defeat the chance of acquiring breast cancer for women.

Additionally, yoga is also for those people who want to lose weight. Yes! When done correctly and regularly, it can certainly give anyone a slim figure. That is, again, one of the magical benefits of yoga. It allows all the muscles in the body to work and by targeting areas like the thighs, abdomen, and waist, you can easily tone them evenly. That is why no one can underestimate what yoga can do. Aside from a long-term weight loss, it also helps in increasing metabolism and a person's will power and discipline, which are all major factors in a diet.

Emotional well-being is necessary in any recovery and yoga is a good remedy and answer to that! The health benefits of yoga and its calming effect give a great impact for the mind and the body. Because with yoga, you can relax and exercise at the same time. Generally, it is indeed a total healing.

Sarah Noelle Williams is an active member of ABC-of-Yoga. For more information, you can go to http://www.abc-of-yoga.com

Feel free to join our friendly community in http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/forum

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Noelle_Williams

Yoga and Back Pain By Jennifer Jordan Platinum Quality Author

2009-12-09T20:09:00.001Z

Back pain is a part of many people's lives. From long hours of sitting in a chair staring at a computer to the moments spent lifting up a heavy box to the hours spent toting a three-year old around on a hip, pain often manifests in one of the workhorses of our body: the back. While this sort of pain may simply seem like a load to bear, something with which we all must deal, there are ways of lessening it, getting the proverbial monkey off our back completely.

Many people plagued by back pain have recently turned to yoga, using it as a way to condition their body by the way they think and feel about its relation to their mind and spirit. Yoga moves every joint in your body. You begin to realize where you hold tension in your body and this allows you to let it go. You can actually make changes and live your life in a tension free relaxed manner. Along these lines, pain is sometimes informative. It's your body's way of saying that it's time to change your habits. Yoga encourages us to explore pain, using it as a way to understand our body and habits.

Restorative yoga helps you become aware of and relax chronic tension held in the muscles, for example, muscles along the spine and in the neck and shoulders. Decreased chronic tension can begin to relieve back pain that manifests. A healthy resilient spine distributes weight throughout the whole body. With correct posture, you can help prevent muscular tension in the back and future structural problems, as well as give your internal organs room to function normally.

Conditioning the entire body - especially the legs, back and stomach muscles helps support the back and spine. These muscles bear a lot of the body’s physical load and they are highly conducive to proper posture and correct alignment. Thus, when these muscles are strong and resilient, the support comes from the inside out. A well conditioned body
allows it to self-regulate and the pain that once plagued you begins to subside.

In addition to relaxing and strengthening muscles, yoga also elongates them through flexibility. For people with back problems, particularly lower back problems, flexibility is highly important. Stretching and improving the flexibility of a seemingly unrelated muscle, such as the hamstring, decreases the amount of stress placed on the back,
ultimately decreasing tension and pain.

But, flexibility doesn’t stop there, flexing its muscles in other aspects. In addition to relieving the stress and tension placed on a person’s back, flexibility also increases circulation, sending nutrients into back muscles and filtering toxins out of them. This nourishes back muscles and muscle tissue, leaving them healthier and more properly armed for pain prevention.

Proper breathing, one of the backbones of yoga, is also essential to quieting back pain. Many times people erroneously perform yoga poses with their breath held, creating stress on their body. This tendency, however, must be broken in order for proper breathing to promote the body’s natural healing potential. Once people have learned to take deep, rhythmic, natural breaths, their body becomes relaxed, freeing them of pain-causing restrictions and facilitating proper circulation. Proper breathing also oxygenates the body, which creates harmony and calm, producing a better balanced being.

Making a commitment to the techniques taught in yoga can help commit our backs to a less painful existence. The practice of yoga is intended to improve a person’s well being not merely for one 75 minute session at a time, but for a lifetime. When a person begins applying the knowledge they learn in yoga class - correct posture and relaxed breathing to all their waking hours - proper body alignment begins to manifest. This, while improving general health, also protects the curvature of the spine, an element that is essential to the decrease in, and prevention of, back pain.

While the ways yoga physically helps a person’s back can be researched, checking out medical journals and highlighting important phrases, only those who practice yoga can fully grasp the way it mentally benefits back pain. One benefit is through the art of self-awareness. Self-awareness helps us to better understand our body’s capabilities, and its limitations. By knowing these, we are far less likely to strain our body in such a way that causes back pain. This is because self-awareness leads to empowerment, empowering us to be proactive in our own pain prevention.

Another way yoga mentally benefits back pain is through the concept of perception. Perception is the way we look at things; it conceptualizes the old “glass half empty or half full” adage. We all recall scraping our knees as children and thinking that it didn’t hurt until we saw our own blood flowing through an open wound. At the sight of this, our
perception of the injury worsened and the pain skyrocketed. The perception, alone, fueled the pain. Similarly, when we perceive our back pain with negative thoughts – thoughts of hopelessness and despondency - the pain will undoubtedly worsen.

Yoga, however, is a vehicle of positive thinking. By teaching people to embrace thoughts of gratitude, hope, and encouragement, yoga helps us to alter our perception of things, spinning our perception of pain into a more positive light - a gift actually. This is, ultimately, one of the greatest ways to get pain off our backs for good.

TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado. Twisted integrates osteopathic medicine, hatha yoga and mindfulness practices to teach optimal balance between physical, mental, and emotional health. It aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life from the inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment regime for the whole being, empowering each person one breath at a time to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential.

Jennifer Jordan is senior editor of http://www.yogatwisted.com Specializing in articles that not only teach yoga techniques, but also teach techniques on fulfillment and enrichment, she aims to educate students proudly enrolled in the school of life.

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What Yoga Can Do for You? By Khieng Chho

2009-12-09T20:07:00.000Z

People today are very conscious about their body and psyche. Both the inside and out parts of one’s self. This is why there are so many inventions pertaining to self-enhancement that deals on the physical and psychological aspects of their lives.

Being healthy does not only manifest becoming physically fit. It constitutes all the factors of the well being of an individual. One important aspect is the internal health. Certain activities are participated by a lot of people just to gain emotional and psychological stability. Reiki and yoga are some of the most famous practices.

Yoga originated in India. It belongs to the ancient spiritual practices that later on become a vibrant living tradition. This also promotes enlightenment on the internal features of the human being.

It is said that this practice is related with spirituality. In fact, yoga is concerned with some of the religious sects such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other religions in India.

There are four main classifications of Yoga namely Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jhana Yoga and Raja Yoga. Each of the classification has individual features and practices. These are also comprised of elements inherited from the ancient beliefs of the people.

Some of the benefits of yoga practices are:

• Enhances and improves health.

Ancient civilization believed that the human body is affected with good and bad elements. In order to become totally fit one must try to dispose all the bad elements and it can only be possible through the yoga practice.

• Maintains emotional well being.

Every day life of a person is exposed to pressure, stress and even anxieties. These factors affect the totality of your development. Yoga helps in promoting emotional therapy. Through this, a person will achieve a healthy living free from all forms of fretfulness

• Achieve mental clarity.

Mental disturbances are usually caused by everyday experience of a person. The environment contributes on this aspect. The manner of dealing with other people can also cause you confusion and a certain level of strain. Yoga helps in cleansing all the unnecessary elements that enter your mind.

• Joy in living.

This is the best effect of yoga. By trying to eliminate all the negative elements in your body you can be able to fulfill a healthy and tranquil lifestyle.

Typically the effects of yoga in a person vary from one tradition to another. Yoga can be perceived as a practice that will bring you closer to god. Some may interpret it simply as healthy practice.

Khieng 'Ken' Chho - Yoga [http://yoga.1w3b.com]

For related articles and other resources, visit Ken's website: [http://yoga.1w3b.com]

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What Yoga Can Do for Your Health by Judy Wellsworth

2009-12-09T20:03:00.000Z

In the past, yoga has become one of the coolest and trendiest of the exercise and alternative methods that have made a big appearance in the world today. Not only is yoga a fun thing to do, it is also a way for you to loose weight and make yourself more healthy without undo stress on the body. Many people have taken upon themselves to start this wonderful and easy way to get in better health. Thousands of humans that are any age and that are from many occupations now do it. it is a safe thing for even children to start doing on a regular basis. Professionals are now looking into yoga to provide the user with many benefits to your health. can you imagine how great it will be to know that the easy exercises of yoga will also help to cure you of an ailment that has bothered you for years with no relief?

You will definitely be able to find a way to use yoga for the bettering of your health and your total life. Yoga will take you to a place where you are stronger and more flexible. You can find a way to prevent or cure a serious illness in your life, even serious ones. You will also get a stress reliever and a way to meditate that is also beneficial to your health.

Several claims have emerged highlighting the health benefits of yoga. Yes, according to several resources, yoga is not only capable of making you feel strong and flexible, but it can also help cure whatever ailments you may be suffering from, even the most serious health conditions. It is exciting to find that results from studies are showing that with a regular schedule of yoga that has breathing deeply, different poses, and meditation, you can help problems with asthma, mental health, and heart diseases, and more. It is not certain what other things that yoga can help you with. Each person who is practicing yoga will give you a story about how yoga has helped them.

We will look at a few of the ways that yoga can help you.

A.) Asthma - yoga can help anyone to heal him or herself of asthma. Deep breathing is involved in yoga and there is also a relaxing of the muscles of the chest that will give you an easier time breathing. There are many people who have problems with asthma today and yoga is helping it. Yoga will help to focus on helping those who have it. The symptoms that are associated with the problems of asthma are reduced in a big way by practicing yoga on a regular basis. The meditation part of the yoga will also give those suffering from asthma a way to control their fear when the asthma attack starts and thus provide themselves a way to not make the situation worse. Those with asthma tend to get more upset when an asthma attack occurs and this will help them to stay calm.

B.) Mental Health - There are some reports that yoga can help those who have a mental health problem. Professionals have had their interest peaked with the strength of the yoga. They have started to work with people of all ages who are known to have obsessive-compulsive disorder. Within the months that the study continued, the group that was practicing yoga has shown to help. It was in the range of forty percent of the people who have started the study doing yoga would continue and have positive results from the disease. Learning to meditate and to release your feelings in a positive way instead of holding them in is a result of the yoga.

C.) Cardiovascular - One other way that yoga can help is with cardiovascular problems. This benefit from yoga comes from the results that yoga is a great way for you to get rid of stress and will make the length of the cardiovascular system better. It has also shown to give you a better blood pressure and rate of heartbeats. The yoga will give you a way to learn to breath deey and it will give you a proper blood flow to all the right places in the body which will ultimately improve the whole system.

Because of these and other things that yoga can give you, it has caused many people to get interested in practicing it. The amount of the classes for yoga have also increased. The positive effects are endless and are different for each person.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Wellsworth

You and Yoga and what you see...‏

2009-11-29T17:24:00.000Z

I'd like to share some information on yoga with you so that you understand more of what we do in a class, or when you practice by yourself. Also you can bring some of this information into your daily lives too so that you feel more relaxed and cope with a hectic lifestyle with ease..

You and Your Yoga Mat and what you see…

So when you go to a yoga class or do some self-practice, the yoga you practice is all about you. After all it is just you, your yoga mat and what you do. You may like to think of your yoga mat as your magic carpet that takes you to new places within your body and mind…the journey of yoga! How wonderful!

It is a nice idea to contain your space to your yoga mat, apart from enjoying the energy of a class, the other people in it and the teacher, it is your time to practice, become aware, open and learn. So there is no point looking at the person next to you. If you are doing self-practice this is a lot easier of course, you do not have another person next to you, you do however need the commitment to observe yourself.

So let us look at the beginning of a class or you self practice – a simple step to help you explore your yoga is when you close your eyes. This helps you to bring your awareness inwards so you can start to focus on yourself and let go of distractions. When you close your eyes, your ears and other senses become more receptive. You are more receptive to what the teacher is guiding you to do. By closing your eyes the intention is to allow you to observe your self - your mind (is it thinking of lots of thoughts of the day), how your body feels lying in Savasana or sitting crossed legged (is it tired or open to what you are about to do, how does it feel as you lie down on your mat). You are also more aware of your breath (is it shallow, short, deep, subtle?). All of these are key to start your yoga practice so you know how you feel initially and what is going on within your body and mind.

Then of course after these quiet moments of preparation when you open your eyes the journey of yoga develops as you explore further your body and mind and breath on your magic carpet…

Of course you still observe and be aware of your Self as you practice, keeping a mindful eye this time on how your body, mind and breath are in the postures. When you are holding postures you close your eyes again and take yourself inwards and observe the changes as you have been practicing or how you feel in that moment in the posture. Is your body opening, your “heart” expanding, your mind becoming quieter and your breath synchronising with your postures? Your practice will develop and evolve.

Towards the end of your journey on your magic carpet, you close your eyes again to do final relaxation at the end of the class. This is the time to observe the difference within and without from when you started the practice to how it is coming to an end. How is your energy, your thoughts and have you let go? Has the union of body and mind and breath bought you to a place of peace and harmony…? I hope so!

And as you open your eyes at the end of your practice, really open your eyes to how marvellous you, yoga and your yoga mat are!

Om shanti

Michelle
+447956 127366
http://www.michellecross.co.uk
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk