Santos Yoga

Pranayama is a wonderful method to reduce anxiety. Pranayama originates from two Sanskrit words, "Prana," which means universal energy, and "Yama," which means restraint. In effect, Pranayama is the cultivation of universal energy through breath. You have the ability, within your being, to make sure the energy you cultivate is positive, with the help of Pranayama and a positive mental attitude. There are many methods for the cultivation of Prana to choose from, but let's start with a deep natural breath. This is the "breath of infants." When you watch a baby in the crib, notice how the stomach rises as he or she inhales. Then notice that the navel draws to the spine on an exhale. This is...

Most of us live very busy and hectic lives. If you are married, have children, have a job, you are going to be busy and even if you don't have all these commitments, you are probably busy nonetheless. Throw in other activities you may be participating in, such as higher education, a fitness routine, other hobbies & interests, sports, blogging etc., and 24 hours starts to seem like awfully little time per day. Unfortunately, what seems to often get sacrificed in keeping up with the rat race is the one thing that should not, your daily spiritual practice. So in this article I will give some handy tips on how you can get more Yoga and Meditation practice into your busy lives by doing some...

Yoga is a time old practice which originated in India some five thousand years ago. Since its origin, yoga aims to radiate peace and tranquility within the mind, body and soul. Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word 'yuj' which essentially means to join or unite. Thus, yoga refers to the self uniting of an individual with cosmic consciousness or the Universal Whole. Yoga Poses (Asanas), Meditation (Dhyana) and proper breathing practice (Pranayama) are the keys to yoga. When these three entities collaborate, a yoga practitioner is guided to a journey of deep spiritual insight. Practicing yoga paves the holistic path and help you to connect yourself to the Omnipotent. With passing time, yoga has...

Kids get stressed just like adults do because they are placed in demanding situations where they feel they must excel. School, athletic programs, and daily tasks will tend to stress many kids to the breaking point. All of these expectations that are placed on them afford them little opportunity to relax. Yoga Postures For Kids helps children in many areas of their life, and sometimes transports them into a whole other self. When kids begin taking yoga classes, they are guided by instructors who want them to become in tune with their mind, body and spirit. Yoga can be likened to the phrase, "thinking outside of the box." Through the different yoga postures for kids, children can change their...

If you are also one of those people who are not satisfied with their height then this is for you. Many of you may not know this but yoga is one thing which can actually increase your height naturally. You do not need to take any kind of supplements or go for any surgery while performing yoga. All you need to do is just be regular and committed towards your goal. Here are some of the exercises performed during yoga for increasing height: * Stretching Postures- Stretching posture is one of the most beneficial one to increase height. Tadasan is the most useful stretching exercise performed in yoga which increases your height. It stretches the muscles of the body and internally gives your body the...

I have always known that yoga aids in alleviating IBS. And yoga done on a long-term basis can be very helpful in helping one to manage the IBS and keep it in check. I first started practicing yoga about three years ago and noticed that doing the postures on a regular basis gave me some relief from the pain brought on by IBS. But you know how it is. You’re on the go, and after a great yoga session, things are looking good and you’re keen to get into your regular daily routine. You go about your work, and errands and you are careful with what you eat. Suddenly, especially after a meal, you find yourself burping and feel a bloating sensation in your tummy. You may even start to feel...

old practice of yoga is considered as a blueprint to a healthy, spiritual and blissful life. The concept of Yoga originated in India some five thousand years back and since ages, yoga practice unites the mind, body and the spirit of the individual. Yoga helps an individual to attain an eternal divine insight. With yoga, the dormant potential energy lying within one's body is awakened which ultimately results in a spiritual and healthy well being of the individual. As such, there are no constraints to yoga practice but choosing the right kind of clothing for yoga is a necessity. The proper yoga clothes will make the yoga sessions a lot more enjoyable. Since yoga intends to promote a healthy and fit...

Couples who are preoccupied with infertility usually go to a fertility doctor for procedures and treatments, but many also explore alternative techniques like acupuncture, massage and restorative yoga. Patients and couples are strongly encouraged to consult a fertility specialist to determine which treatment or treatments may provide the best results. Each procedure, treatment or remedy for infertility may have limits to its effectiveness based on the cause of infertility, so establishing this is the first step in overcoming the problem. Before any treatment, a fertility specialist will probably have questions for the couple, undergo diagnosis or may even run tests to pinpoint the likely cause of...

Yoga becomes a famous sport in recent years since many celebrities took part in its popularity. This is not a sport that needs you to move a lot, but is very effective. This is one reason that supports its popularity. Yoga is well-known as a sport that helps people maintain a balanced metabolism and also helps to regulate weight. By doing this sport regularly, you can have an amazing body which is cellulite-free, as it eliminates fat around the cells. Yoga centers are now easy to find, including in your town. You probably get bored in how long you will get the results, but you will like the way it makes you fresh inside and outside. Once the results appear, they are very real as they do not come...

A lot of things may affect your fertility including stress and emotional rigors. To help combat the effects of stress on fertility, certain yoga positions have been used to promote relaxation and relieve stress. Of course, yoga is not a magical fix for infertility. There is a long list of possible causes of infertility and those experiencing this condition are encouraged to discuss all of its possible causes with a doctor. Infertile couples may be put through a host of tests, examinations and are usually asked a lot of questions to help pinpoint the cause of their infertility. The desire to have a baby often contributes to the stress experienced when trying to conceive. This desire is so great for...

From time immemorial yoga has been considered as an effective way to exercise the mind and provide a fulfilling spiritual experience. It enhances the body's general physical health. Well, you do not have to believe in everything there is to say about yoga, especially the whole thing about spirituality. Nevertheless, it is a matter of fact eye yoga exercises are an excellent means of exercising your eyes, relieve strain, and improve your eyesight. The eye is one of the most delicate parts of the human body and if you do not use it properly you lose it. Tension in the eyes is one of the reasons you might experience poor eyesight or blurred vision. Lack of exercises, exposure to polluted air or...

It has been said that words, such as abundance, success, and achievement, have no place in Yoga. Now, consider these opposite words: Poverty and failure. Does anyone think poverty and failure are ideas, which we should meditate on? Pain is part of life. If you have a choice, why take the path of pain? Any sequence of thoughts, whether positive or negative, can become reality when you constantly move toward the end result with faith. Therefore, "I am" is extremely important. Especially if you concentrate, focus, or meditate upon success. For the best results, in every day life, all of us should focus on the positive outcome more often. When a Yoga teacher, or Guru, leads meditation, you are...

Yoga is a practice of performing different postures or a spiritual activity of getting free from worldly worries and sufferings. Yoga sees mind body and soul as one and creates a connection between them. It is practice of making you aware of your own body and it's not just an exercise but a journey to find peace within yourself and a process of self-realization. Many of its benefits are: Yoga is a form of exercise which incorporates the use of your mind and soul and body. Through yoga a person remains calm and improves his inner self. Yoga is a form of meditation too which helps a person in the development of his concentration skills. Many types require you to empty your mind of all thoughts and let...

While breathing the 'essential breath' and returning to our naturalrhythms is key to our journey of self-knowledge and vibrant good health,we need not ignore or turn away from the mundane and often grittyaspects of our basic selves. There can evolve a pleasant rhythm to themaintenance activities in life. There is beauty in simplicity. By becomingmindful and aware in the present moment the most humble task has thepossibility to become a meditation, dance or prayer. If the eye is clear,said Jesus, our body will be filled with light. When our attention isreceptive and accepting, all that we see may become a source ofteaching. According to Kabir, the 15th century Indian poet, (a favorite of mine) "When...

Whether you are new to yoga, or a yoga master who has worn out their yoga mat; sooner or later you will find yourself looking for a yoga mat to add to your arsenal of yoga supplies. While many people have the misconception that they can just purchase the first mat they see. It simply isn't true. Unfortunately, some manufacturers of mass-produced yoga mats aren't concerned with the longevity of the product. Instead, skimp on the quality to get you to purchase them more frequently. Which of course can and will lead to a much higher bill, than if you would have just spent a little more time and money in finding the perfect yoga mat. Not to mention the ability to purchase a yoga mat free of that rancid...

Yoga is generally understood as a process of unification. This unification is multifaceted. In one dimension, it is a unification of the various systems that exist within the human being including the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual systems. In total there are believed to be five different systems within human life. These are typically referred to as the koshas which are the physical, energetic, mental, subtle, and bliss sheaths. In our current understanding of yoga, we are working to unify these five bodies or layers of the human being. Another process of unification occurs between of the individual consciousness and the universal consciousness. This unification is often referred to as...

Amid the clamor of obligations, rush hour traffic, nagging bosses and the chaos of daily life, the last thing most Americans want is a high-volume vacation that requires a lot of running around and planning. Why not try a week at a relaxing yoga retreat, where you will leave with a deep-seated serenity and awareness? You can go anywhere from India to Mexico in search of rejuvenation and spiritual connectedness. With a combination of yoga, massages, jacuzzi tubs and healthy eating, a yoga retreat is more than just a vacation -- it's a whole new way of life and in some ways, a rebirth. Yoga retreat vacations are great for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. An instructor since 1997, Jillian...

Yoga is a form of exercise and stretching using both the mind and body. It is possible to improve your posture and spine to increase your height. It is good to use Yoga for a variety of things including increasing your height and mental awareness. First you want to start by using a stretching method of yoga. It will help you to increase your long bones and spine. This will allow you to be taller and can also improve your posture. Next you should visit a yoga instructor so that you can better understand how yoga can increase your height. It is important to be with someone that you trust and feel comfortable with so that you can get the maximum benefit our of your lessons. Yoga has been around for...

You simply have to be physically active in order to be healthy and to look good. You can pick between many different types of exercises depending on your preferences and requirements. Yoga is definitely one of the most beneficial activities you can engage in. It is good for you in many different ways. It will have a positive effect on your body, mind and soul. You can easily sign up for a yoga class. These are readily available in big cities as well as in small towns. Usually, the majority of classes are quite reasonably priced. If you find that you cannot afford this luxury you may rather want to get a video guide or a book. The really great thing is that you do not need any specific equipment in...

The Yoga system of wellness is a culture that's been used by the yogis in India for 1000s of years. It has roots hidden deep in the past, but its message is addressed no less surely to the people nowadays, living in the ungratified atmosphere of the contemporary world. Yoga lays emphasis on physical and mental balance and brings about a calmness of spirit that's most advantageous to the entire nervous system. It educates the pupil in the fundamental principles of wellness, and produces a genuine placidity of nature that allows for large intensity of activity of both mind and body, when such activity is needed. The question is whether the Western world requires Yoga and is prepared to attach to it...

Staying fit and healthy during your pregnancy is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself and your baby. Yoga is a great way to do this and it can help not only your body but your mind and spirit as well. Some of the top benefits of doing yoga during pregnancy are: 1. A holistic approach to health and fitness. Your body is an important part of staying fit and healthy but so is your mind and spirit. Keeping your body fit and healthy without having a fit and healthy mind and spirit will not give you the maximum overall health benefit that you really want in your life. Having all three of these functioning well while you are pregnant is even more important. Many yoga practices...

We are back discussing the various yoga balancing exercises. We have gone over the peacock pose and its variations, now I will be demonstrating how to do the Crow pose. It is noteworthy of mention that the crow could be seen as a counterpose to the peacock pose, even with how the hands are placed and the position of the spine. That said, and taking into account the suggestions I have given in previous articles on the Sivananda Yoga Style and the necessity for counterposes, please see to it that if you do the peacock, it is counterbalanced with the crow and for at least the length of time you put into executing the former pose. How To Do The Yoga Crow Pose The yoga crow pose can be described as...

The yoga word is also known as "union" or "oneness" and this word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, it mean 'to join.' Eyes Palming Exercise Benefits: - 1. Palming relaxes and refreshes the eyeball strength. 2. Stimulates the flow of the aqueous wittiness, the fluid that runs between the cornea and the lens of the eye, aiding the alteration of faulty vision. How to do: 1. Sit gently and close the eyes. 2. Massage the palms of the hands together energetically until they become hot. Set the palms softly over the eyelids, without any excessive force. 3. Experience the warmness and energy being transmitted from the hands into the eyes and the eye muscle relaxing. 4. The eyes are being bathed...

Perhaps one of the hardest things we as humans most learn to do is to learn how to do things for ourselves. What this means is not that we should be selfish and only look out for our own interests. What is meant by this is, as a simple example, that when we go to the gym we should go because we want to feel good and be healthy. People should not go to the gym just so that they can impress the girl next door or to wow their friends because they have the biggest biceps of the group. We are constantly trying to do things that will make others happy instead of making ourselves happy thinking that in order to be satisfied with ourselves we must be satisfactory to others. A life philosophy that I have...

Yoga is well known as a great full body workout and a way to manage stress. These same benefits apply when teens do yoga. As well, there are a myriad of other ways in which yoga helps alleviate many of the concerns specific to the chaotic world in which teens live. First yoga helps teens de-stress. Between academic pressure and the social jungle that is Junior and Senior High School, teen lives are extremely stressful. There is a significant amount of peer pressure. They have to make decisions which impact the rest of their lives. Their schedules are filled to overfull with school, sports, part-time jobs and a social life. Their hormones are completely out of balance most of the time. Yoga helps...

A small guide that goes a long way Flexibility is generally defined as the range of motion of the joints. It is the ability to bend and stretch easily without too much effort. Flexibility depends upon various factors like the state of the joints, muscles, length and looseness of muscles, shape of bones, age etc. Some medical conditions like arthritis can affect flexibility. This flexibility can be attained by effective exercise and also through yoga. Stretching is generally done to increase flexibility. Flexibility can be best gained by performing stretching exercises which may include exercises of back, neck, shoulder, wrist, legs etc. If exercise is done in a proper way it is observed that a...

One of the most embarrassing and distressing types of back pain is caused by accumulated gas in the intestines that can put pressure on the lower back. Unfortunately, we can blame only ourselves for the bad habits that cause it, including talking while eating and therefore swallowing air, eating certain foods like beans, cabbage, radish, and a high fiber diet and too much milk if we lack the enzyme lactase. Gas is also caused by intestinal bacteria and numerous chemical reactions that take place in the digestive tract. In order to attempt a cure, this yogic routine should be followed: - Chew your food slowly and thoroughly, mixing it in with the saliva so that you don't leave any trapped bubbles in...

The Dog pose or the Adho mukha Svanasana, when performed looks very much like a dog whose forelimbs and head are in a rested position while the hind limbs are pointed upwards. In Sanskrit "Svana" means dog, "adho" means downward and "mukha" means face, hence the name Downward facing dog pose. Step by Step The hands should be placed directly beneath the shoulders on the floor and the knees directly beneath the hips. The fingers should be spread out with the middle finger pointing straight ahead. One should make sure that the back is horizontal and straight. One should take care not to drop the shoulders during this asana position. Create a flow of energy through each of the arms to the respective...

Stress relief yoga is a helpful way to free you from the pressures of everyday living. It will help you to ease your mind and start feeling normal again. There are people who believe that yoga is a very complex type of exercise and past time since the poses and stretches looks very tough. Once you engage yourself in stress relief yoga, it does not necessarily mean that you have to do it in routine. If you are not able to do it in a full routine because of limited time, you can try some parts of yoga to rejuvenate, relax and calm you. A simple type of breathing, poses and meditation are already enough to alleviate your stress. These simple techniques in yoga only take about a few minutes to perform...

This is a very easy posture which is performed as a resting pose between two difficult postures. The Sanskrit name for this 'Balasana' in which 'Bal' means child and 'asana' means posture. This posture is called the child posture because our body bends in the fetal position in this pose. Balasana posture eases the tension in the neck and back area and stretches the hips muscles and strengthens the thigh muscles. Technique to perform Balasana posture- 1. First, place a mat on the floor and kneel down. Your buttocks should be placed on the heels of your feet and your big toes should be touching each other. The knees should be apart by the distance equal to the width of your hips. Take a deep breath. 2...

When you consider yoga, at first you might think that it is the polar opposite of the martial arts. With all the peaceful breathing and slow movement into calming stretches. The postures and meditative quality of yoga is peaceful and relaxing but when you examine further the benefits that yoga imparts on it's practitioners you quickly come to realize those benefits are perfect for martial artists of many styles. Those benefits include increased flexibility, improved focus, the ability to stay calm and breath control, all very important and extremely beneficial to martial artists. Let's take a look at those benefits one by one. Increased flexibility seems like a no brainer but what many people don't...

Yoga is an all-encompassing lifestyle consisting of exercise, diet, holistic healing, and mental wellness. Originally developed in India, yoga is a practice that refers to physical and mental discipline. However, the popularity of yoga as a method of exercise has been on the rise in the past few years throughout the United States. There are several types of yoga that are utilized for exercise and otherwise. Yoga is very beneficial due to the stretching it provides as well as development of core stability. Even professional athletes are beginning to get into yoga, recognizing the potential for not only physical well-being but also mental strength. Before you decide to take up yoga, you might want to...

Physical fitness is an extremely important factor in leading a happy and healthy life, and it can be achieved by a number of different exercise regimes. One of the routines that prove to be beneficial in achieving goals of physical fitness is yoga. Yoga is a practice of the mind and body with its roots deeply implanted in the ancient Hindu culture. Initially yoga was practiced mainly for meditative purposes but it also provided strength and flexibility to the body while relaxing the mind as well. With the advent of yoga in the western world, it was transformed into a more physically active exercise plan and minimized focus on the meditativel side. Although people practice yoga for both purposes...

Yoga is considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine utilizing the practice of mind and body, with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. There are many styles of yoga which combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. Yoga typically involves using your conscious mental process to do certain techniques-such as focusing attention on maintaining a specific posture-to suspend the stream of thoughts and relax the body and mind. Yoga is a typically thought of as a form of exercise that stretches and strengthens the body through various poses, also known as Asanas. But, yoga is far more than a series of awkward poses and routines. Yoga in its full form combines physical...

The history of yoga can be traced back as far as 1500 BC to the Vedas. These are literary texts that lay down the framework of the Hindu religion and are divided into four main groups. Patanjali is often considered as the father of yoga and his yoga-sutras still strongly influence all styles of modern yoga. In Patanjali, the art of yoga is divided into an "eight limbed path" that contain the steps to obtain the enlightenment. Patanjali is considered to be the father of yoga. Hatha Yoga was then created because of this exploration on the physical-spiritual connections as well as body centered practices. Hatha yoga is one of the styles of yoga that the westerners of today are practicing. It is a very...

ching exercises are beneficial for our health and help to keep our body supple and flexible. Doing stretching exercises for at least five to ten minutes before you embark on any kind of exercises be it aerobics or swimming goes a long way in preventing muscle pull. Benefits of stretching exercises are manifold and include enhancing flexibility of your muscles, improving coordination among different body parts, controlling body temperature and heart rate and preventing overall injuries. However, there are some methods that should be followed by an individual religiously while doing stretching exercises. As in the case of other types of exercises, a person while performing stretching exercises should...