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Ashtanga Yoga. Is that right for you?


Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Ashtanga Yoga is the type of yoga which was developed and founded by K. Pattabhi Jois. This type of yoga is known as the Eight Limb Yoga which has revolved in Pattanjali’s enormous idea. It presented that the path of purification is made up of the eight spiritual practices.

The first four limbs that represent Ashtanga Yoga are – yama, niyama, Asana and the Pranayama. These are considered cleansing practices which are externally correctable. The other set of limbs which are the – pratyahara, dhyana, dharana are the internal practies.

These limbs can only be corrected by the proper application of the Ashtanga Yoga method.

Vinsaya and Tristhana is practiced in Ashtanga Yoga.

The Vinsaya is a style that makes Ashtanga and its principles distinct from the others. Vinsaya means the movement and breathing which is used for the internal cleansing process. Each movement done is accompanied by only one breath. Sweat is the most important product of Vinsaya. When you produce sweat, it only means that you are successfully applying the practice. When you perform the Asanas, the body creates heat which causes your blood to boil and excrete the toxins outside of your body. The toxins are found in your sweat. So the more sweat you create, the more toxins are released.

The poses are used to fully develop the strength and health of the body. The series of practices make this possible. There are three postures used in Ashtaga Yoga.

The three are classified on different levels.

The first is the Primary Series which aims on aligning the body and also detoxifying it.

The second is the Intermediate Series opening and cleaning the energy channels which comes to the process of purifying the Nervous System.

The last series would be the Advanced Series from A to D. in this series, the grace and strength is measured.

The Tristhana is another yoga principle which represents the union of the three places of action and attention. First is the posture, second is the breathing technique ad last is the Dristhi of the Looking Place. All these three should work altogether to perform a function.

Breathing techniques are simultaneous and synchronized. It is important to make a single breath for one movement. Ujjayi Breathing is the Yoga Breathing Technique used in the application of Ashtanga Yoga. Applying this technique must be prolonged after every practice. What you need to master is holding your pose longer at the same time hold your breath. This is an amazing breathing exercise that will increase your internal fire and will strengthen the Nervous System.

Both Ashtanga and Tristhana deal with the series of Dristhi. The Dristhi is described as the point on which you gain your focus or attention while doing the Asana. This enables your mind to be purified and stabilized clearly.

Setting the mind clear and cleansing it can only be done in the Eight-Limb Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga.

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3 Ways Yoga Can Benefit In Hectic Lifestyle

We owe ourselves these simple pleasures.

A lot of modern people facing a stressful life and there is always so many things to do in a day. Sometimes, really wish to have more hours in a day. It would take a pretty compelling set of reasons to convince a person to add something else to an already packed schedule, so why would we even think about regular Yoga classes. In this article, we examine the three main benefits of Yoga and how they apply to our busy lives.

Physical Health

Every one of us ultimate goal is to become wealthy, isn’t it? Have you ever heard the saying that your health is your wealth? Believe me, it is true. No matter how much money we have we cannot benefit from it if we do not have the health to enjoy it and personal health is often neglected in today’s busy corporate world. But the question is not whether one can afford the time for exercise to become healthy; it is whether they can afford not to. Health is a shifting scale – we are not either healthy or dead. It’s important to think about how much your level of health affects our work. A healthy body will allow us to concentrate more, work harder and increase the time we spend productively.

Yoga is the perfect way for everyone to look after their physical and mental wellbeing. Because the exercises are so incredibly low impact they can be performed even by the most out of shape person, and the more regularly they are performed the better that person’s health will become. Yoga is a very efficient method of releasing tension and stress. During a workday, certain blockages develop around the body and many of our vital organs do not get the full amount of oxygen and nutrients that they need to function at peak efficiency. Yoga stretches different muscles groups in certain ways that will lead to these blockages being released and the blood flow bringing the bodies organs all the oxygen and nutrients they need.

Yoga’s health benefits are both immediate and long-term. In the short term blood flow is increased and the body functions better because it is achieving the nutrients it requires. Tension is also released from muscles and the bodies lymphatic system is able to more effectively deal with waste products. In the longer term, these will be ongoing benefits and the digestive system will also function more efficiently, which has innumerable health benefits. The general balance, coordination and flexibility will also be greatly enhanced.

Mental Health

Have you ever considered the importance of a breath? We know that when someone stops breathing they die, and even this simplistic understanding should tell us how important it is to breathe. But breathing properly is often ignored. It is vital not only for the numerous health benefits but also for the strong mental advantages it allows us.

Yoga sessions will usually begin with a standing, breathing exercise. The simple process of taking in a deep breath and releasing it slowly is incredibly calming and the basis of the breathing exercises that are a vital backbone to the Yoga discipline. The key to this breathing is that it draws our attention to the one simple act of breathing. We become very aware of the life-giving benefit of a deep and controlled breathing cycle and are able to achieve a level of calmness that we often don’t seek out in our everyday lives. That calmness itself is a stepping-stone to achieving focus.

The ability to focus is probably the single most important primary skill in a work environment. There is always so much going on around us and so much that needs to be done that it is difficult to focus on the single task we are doing because of the multitude of things ‘in the back of our mind’. Regular Yoga teaches techniques to quickly clear the mind of all these other distractions and then focus our mental efforts on a single task. It is also a great provider of personal discipline. The self-discipline that is learned from focusing on the body and becoming master of oneself is a key benefit of Yoga.

Happiness

Happiness is a goal that is often sacrificed in the short term in exchange for some mystical point in the future when everything will come together and be okay. Yoga doesn’t move you any closer to that mystical time, but because you develop such a strong sense of self and connection with yourself, it is common to become more content with your current situation. You will find that the more you practice Yoga the more you will be comfortable spending time alone as well as amongst other people. Your sense of self-worth will increase and you will perform better in social situations. This is perhaps the most important gift that Yoga will give to you.

Namaste.

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How to Heal Yourself “Self Healing”


Healing for most people requires a lot of energy use. You will need to have a clear mind free of any worries or problems that are going on in your life. You can use meditation or visual imagery to help you relax.
Breathing is always the best way to help you relax. Have a steady rhythmical breathing. On the inhale, imagine a pure white light coming into your body. On the exhale, visualize all negativity leaving your body. Send this negative energy into the ground so it can be neutralized.
Washing your hands and visualizing negative energy going down the drain helps. You can also use bells or chimes to help cleanse the auric field. Many other ways to clean an aura are burning incense, ask for protection and cleansing, rub Frankincense on your hands and wipe it around the auric field, and call for the Universal Energy to help you.
You can use these suggestions or in your practice, you may find something else that works equally well. Use that. There is no wrong in Reiki. If you follow your intuition, that is all you need.
No matter how much you want to help someone else, always take care of yourself first. Empathic people use their own energies and end up feeling drained and weak afterward. This also makes you vulnerable to illness and any negative energies that are floating around out there.
Direct the Reiki with your mind an use your hands as vessels to carry the energy to the other person. Let your intent be to help heal the person or to take away some of their pain. The intent is the most important thing in Reiki. Always have good intentions concerning yourself or your patients. Most importantly, practice the Reiki daily to keep yourself strong so you can help others.

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YoF Athletica

 

Written and Produced by Evangeline Joy Music

Let us keep flowing,
Let us stay strong.
Balance our world
before it’s all gone.

Together, recycle,
We will give back.
Put out good vibes;
Get aligned and on track.

Push yourself to the edge,
Mindfully make the pledge:

—
Follow your heart, spread love, always care
Even down to the fibers of the clothes you wear
The world is full of energy,
Inspired by nature is how life should be
Yof Athletica.

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Does Yoga Normalize Body Weight?

Many people are first drawn to Yoga as a way to keep their bodies fit and supple. Others come seeking relief or help for a specific ailment like tension or a Backache. Whatever your reason is, Yoga can be a tool in giving you both what you came for and more.

Though the practice of Yoga is closely associated with ancient texts, beliefs, and values, it also yields benefits useful for people’s practical daily lives. Here are some reasons why more and more people are practicing Yoga:

1. Yoga relaxes the body and the mind. Even in the midst of stressful environments, Yoga helps control breathing and clears the mind of cluttered thoughts, leaving only deep physical and mental refreshment.

2. Yoga can help normalize body weight. For people who are either overweight or underweight, Yoga Exercises can help achieve the desired weight. The principles of balance and moderation in physical activity and diet under Yoga can also lead to a healthier lifestyle.

3. Yoga improves your resistance to disease. The postures and movements in Yoga massage the internal organs, enhancing blood circulation and functionality, thus, lessening the risk of illness.

4. Yoga increases your energy level and productivity. For as quick as 20 minutes, Yoga can replenish the mind and body with the precious energy needed to respond to daily tasks and challenges.

5. Yoga leads to genuine inner contentment and self-actualization. Meditation -one of the aspects of Yoga- focuses the mind, taking it away from the distractions of the highly-materialistic world and leading it to genuine happiness.

Yoga is a method of learning that aims to attain the unity of mind, body, and spirit through these three main Yoga structures: Exercise, Breathing, and Meditation. The exercises of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the Glandular Systems of the body, thereby increasing its efficiency and total health. The body is looked upon as the primary instrument that enables us to work and evolve in the world, a Yoga student; therefore, treats it with great care and respect. The Breathing Techniques are based on the concept that breath is the source of life in the body. Yoga students gently increase their breath control to improve the health and the function of both body and mind. These two systems prepare the body and mind for Meditation, making it easier for students to achieve a quiet mind and be free from everyday stress. The regular daily practice of all three parts of this structure of Yoga produces a clear, bright mind and a strong, capable body.

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Improve Your Life With Yoga Instruction

Written by Chearly Long

Yoga instruction can be the first step in changing and improving your life and creating a whole new you. When one comes to the decision that they are in need of a real life change, there are many ways to accomplish this, but few will be as beneficial as Yoga.
Yoga is a means by which you can improve yourself mentally, emotionally, spiritually as well as improving your physical body. The benefits of Yoga are immense; you will become stronger, healthier and feel better about yourself when you commit yourself to Yoga instruction.

The health benefits alone are enough to get many people started with yoga instruction, but there are many reasons why yoga can help you to change your life for the better. Yoga is a type of all in one approach to life change, though alone it cannot work miracles to help better your life, it can be a great foundation for a start.

Aside from health, there are other ways in which yoga instruction can help to improve your life.
Yoga can provide you with the ability to manage stress, and this alone can assist you in the workplace, but it can also aid you in your concentration skills. The better you can concentrate, the more you can get accomplished.
Another advantage of learning Yoga is increased energy. Many people claim that they begin to feel more refreshed and energized after they begin practicing Yoga. This translates into more energy to devote to your interests, as well as family and friends. There is little doubt that our loved ones and those things that absorb our interest is what really makes life worth living. Imagine a life in which only a small portion of your energy and thoughts are used for work, and the rest is saved for what is most important to us. This alone could help change your life for the better.

Coping with depression is another area in which Yoga can be of use. Yoga postures are designed to stretch, compress and massage your internal organs and glands. This stimulation is thought to help balance hormone levels in the body, which can help to attain a more balanced emotional condition.
Maybe you would like to stop smoking or conquer some other habit that may be harming you. Yoga will increase your motivation, energy, and focus, which will aid you in changing whatever habit you set out to change.
Yoga instruction can truly be beneficial for those who are looking to make some meaningful life changes.

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Benefits Of Savasana

Written by: Chearly Long

For many, it is considered to be one of the easiest asanas, but that is not the case. Even though it may look very simple and non-beneficial but it is the other way round. After doing all your yoga poses this is one of the most essential and important poses to complete your yoga practice with. It is the asana which gives the opportunity to relax. Savasana means Corpse pose due to the look of the asana. As you lie down it makes you aware of your body and how each part of your body plays a very important role in your life.

As you go along meditating it relaxes each nerve of your body and improves your respiration which creates the areas for energy and vitality. It benefits mentally as well as physically, which helps in focusing your positive energy for a greater good. Mind and body should not waiver while doing this asana. Full concentration is required and it may prove to be very handy in times when you need the most. A motionless mind and body help you reach the level of optimum relaxation. Listening to soothing voice or some chants may just help you reach that meditated level.

The respiratory and circulatory system is cleared and opens to a more refreshing life. The overworked muscles tend to relax when you are in this asana. Every system in the body relaxes which gives them the breathing space to conserve energy and be more useful later on. It is very beneficial for people who are heart patient as well as suffering from blood pressure. It helps in improving your stress level and may also relieve you from slight depression. Minor problems like a headache, fatigue, and insomnia may also be reduced. People with a back injury or any other back problems should take extra care.

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Rethinking the obvious: Is the fashion industry harming the world?

 

We all like to dress up in our fancy clothes for a few moments of happiness. The mere happiness we get from that dress-up is not worth the damage it is causing. If you’re confused about how exactly is your wardrobe a threat to the environment, keep reading!

Where’s the harm

The issue with your wardrobe comes down to one thing only; your lack of information. Most people tend to buy clothes if they look stylish, feel comfortable, suit them, etc. Hardly anyone ever shops by considering the background of the item. You may consider price, but you’ll never consider the process of manufacturing, the raw material, and all the other factors that are actually responsible for bringing this world’s health down. We are not inspired by nature and we aren’t bothered by things like these.

The materials

Clothes are either made out of natural fibers or synthetic ones. These categories further divide into multiple materials. Natural fibers mostly include expensive materials such as silk, wool, cotton, bamboo fabric etc. When it comes to synthetic fibers, these are the problem makers. Polyester, nylon, acrylic, and other man-made sources are all part of this category. These materials are opted for because they are cheaper to produce. Similarly, these materials are also somewhat renewable. However, the issue is that in everyday use, these materials bring more harm than relief. Science has proven that every time a polyester cloth is washed, some of its fibers are released into the water. These fibers eventually find their way into bigger water bodies where they form a sponge that absorbs harmful chemicals such as BPA, DDT, and what not. These fibers then become food for small fish, which are eaten by bigger fish, which are then eaten by us humans. Plastics have also been found in food items like honey. Long story short, contamination in the water causes the existence of plastics into things where it can be life-threatening.

The solution

With every passing day, people’s lust for fashion is increasing. This means higher usage of synthetic fibers, more harmful substances in our food, and plastics in our bloodstream. It is high time that the route is shifted from this path of destructions. What we need is a fashion line inspired by nature. The solution here is bamboo fabric. Our clothing line offers sustainable yoga wear that will make you look good while preserving the world.

Bamboo fabric isn’t just free of harmful fibers, it has hundreds of other benefits as well. There is minimal waste from bamboo fabric production as compared to the textile waste that results from the production of clothes made of synthetic fibers. It makes the perfect material for sustainable yoga wear because it is comfortable, odor free, and sweat-proof. This means no sweat, no stinking, and ultimate comfort. The magic of bamboo fabric is that it keeps you cool in summers and warm in winters. This eco-friendly option prevents the body from absorbing UV rays. This allows for it to be attire that prevents cancer. How cool is that? It is perfectly suited for sensitive skins as it is hypoallergenic. The natural bamboo fabric is not a source of allergic reactions. In fact, it prevents anything of the sort.

If you too are inspired by nature, opt for our sustainable yoga wear that will keep your look and blood free of plastics.

Follow us on https://www.instagram.com/yofathletica/ for launch activities.

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Breathing and Relaxing

You don’t need to fall into the stress mode of life. You can use breath to relax, rather than stress, your mind, and body. Yoga helps you to relearn that natural state that your body and mind want to be in relaxation.

Deep breathing is both calming and energizing. The energy you feel from a few minutes of careful breathe is not nervous or hyper, but that calm, steady energy we all need. Slow, steady, and quiet breathing gives a message to your nervous system: Be calm.

Whole books have been written on yoga breathing. Here is one 5-minute Breath Break. (Read through the instructions several times before you try the practice.)

1. Sit with your spine as straight as possible. Use a chair if necessary but don’t slump into it. Feet flat on the floor with knees directly over the center of your feet. Use a book or cushion under your feet if they do not rest comfortably on the floor. Hands are on the tops of your legs.

2. Close your eyes gently and let them rest behind closed lids.

3. Think about your ribs, at the front, back, and at the sides of your body. Your lungs are behind those ribs.

4. Feel your lungs filling up, your ribs expanding out and up. Feel your lungs emptying, your ribs coming back down and in. Don’t push the breath.

5. The first few times you do this, do it for 2 to 3 minutes, then do it for up to 5 to 10 minutes. At first, set aside a time at least once a day to do this. When you learn how good it makes you feel, you’ll want to do it at other times as well.

Just as one stressful situation goes into your next challenge, relaxing for a few minutes every day gradually carries over into the rest of your daily life and activities.

By: Chearly Long

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The Seven Chakras

Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning spinning wheel.  These are a system of seven energy centers located along the spine.  Each chakra corresponds to an area of the body, a set of behavioral characteristics and stages of spiritual growth.  Practicing yoga and focusing your energies during different postures can help you to align your chakras and get all the wheels spinning in the same direction and speed.  Understanding how to fine tune and control your chakras through yoga and meditation can help bring balance and peace to your mind, body, and spirit.

 

There are seven chakras, each associated with a different part of the body along the spine from the perineum to the crown of your head.  Each chakra is associated with a particular body location, a color, a central emotional/behavioral issue, as well as many other personal aspects including identity, goals, rights, etc.

 

The seven chakras are Muladhara- the base of the spine; Svadhisthana- abdomen, genitals, lower back/hip; Manipura- solar plexus; Anahata- heart area; Visshudha- throat; Ajna- brow; Sahasrara- top of the head, cerebral cortex.

 

Through the movements and postures of yoga, you can learn to focus your concentration and energy to and from the various chakras in your body.  This can allow you to compensate for areas that may be out of synch with the rest of your body or not active at all.  By balancing the energy among all seven of the chakras, balance can be achieved.  This spiritual energy is known as Kundalini energy.  In its dormant state, it can be visualized as a coiled up snake resting at the base of your spine, the Muladhara chakra.  Since the chakras act as valves or pumps regulating the flow of energy through your system, controlled and purposeful movements such as yoga can be extremely beneficial in realigning your chakras in a way that can cause great benefits to you in your physical and emotional wellbeing.