| Even if you have never tried yoga before, you | | | | unblocks your chi. |
| probably have some ideas about it. Do you picture a | | | | Seated yoga postures also increase your energy level. |
| wise teacher meditating for hours while he's twisted | | | | The basic staff pose stretches your muscles, works |
| like a hand-tossed pretzel? Maybe you're intimidated | | | | your lungs, and allows the flow of chi. Sitting with your |
| by the lists of yoga poses written in Sanskrit-a series | | | | legs straight in front of you and your hands flat on the |
| of ancient cryptograms with no good hints. Or, it could | | | | floor at your hips is sure to give you a boost. Try it for |
| be that you're not sure what your chi is, much less | | | | about five minutes. Yoga using seated postures is, in |
| whether or not you should release it! | | | | fact, so effective that "chair yoga," is recommended |
| Although this practice is steeped in tradition, philosophy, | | | | for the elderly and disabled. This unofficial yoga |
| and history, yoga can be very simple and practical. | | | | variation targets the energy-sapping symptoms of |
| One of the most phenomenal benefits of regular yoga | | | | chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and |
| exercise is that it gives you energy. | | | | depression. |
| There are three simple things you already do that raise | | | | Standing yoga positions enhance your stamina as well. |
| your energy. Those are breathing, sitting, and standing. | | | | Lack of energy from a weakened immune system, |
| In the practice of yoga, you will do those same things | | | | mood disorder, or insomnia can be combated using |
| with heightened awareness. | | | | The Mountain Pose. Stand straight with your feet |
| The word "chi," meaning literally in Chinese, "breath," is | | | | together and your hands at your sides. Aligning your |
| the life energy central to yoga practice. Your goal is to | | | | posture and creating adequate space for your internal |
| unblock this force, allowing it to flow through energy | | | | organs will increase your energy and enhance positive |
| pathways and rejuvenate you. The chi moves through | | | | mood. |
| your body to chakras-areas of power reserves in | | | | If you're still skeptical about how yoga practice will |
| your body that you can release by doing yoga | | | | boost your energy, you're not alone. |
| exercises. | | | | Arizona State University scholars Virginia Cowen and |
| Right-nostril breathing is a yoga technique you can | | | | Troy Adams were skeptical, too. In a July 2005 study, |
| practice almost anywhere, and experience quick | | | | they found that adults who took gentle yoga classes |
| results. Your left nostril is completely closed using the | | | | for six weeks showed "significant improvements in |
| fingers of your right hand. Your mind must be focused | | | | strength and endurance, flexibility, vitality...and overall |
| on your breath, and you continue the exercise for five | | | | perception of health" in their study, Physical and |
| to fifteen minutes. Breathing this way activates an | | | | Perceptual Benefits of Yoga Asana Practice. |
| energy channel that generates heat and activity in | | | | Take advantage of this wonderful benefit from |
| your system. This exercise also combats lethargy, | | | | yoga-find your chi, increase your energy! |
| relieves depression, releases negative energy, and | | | | |