How I cure my back with yoga

I’m a student and as many other students I spend tons of time stuck behind the desk, leaning over some book. Apparently, it’s a common problem among students and other people who lack physical activity to suffer from spinal curvature. There are several ways to solve this problem:

 

 

- to have your back massaged

- to swim

- to do yoga

I chose the latter. I didn’t have a chance to enroll for a course of yoga and, since I’m a newbie in yoga, I bought 2 DVD disks (Yoga for Beginners) online. You can go to ebay or Amazon, there’s a wide choice of such DVDs. In fact, I found doing yoga at home much more convenient. These DVDs give pretty good explanations for each exercise. All you need to do is simply repeat after the yoga instructor on your screen. You can stop the video or rewind it anytime you want.

Since yoga is about stretching, I pay more attention to those particular exercises that are focused on back stretching. On average I do each exercise about 10-15 times. How many times per week should you practice yoga? Personally, I do yoga each day or every other day. The most important rule is to exercise systematically. Don’t expect to get quick results doing yoga only 2 or 3 times per month.

Now, does it work? Yes, it totally does. It’s been a month since I started my yoga practice and the results are already noticeable: there’s less back pain and less tiredness in my back. Of course, I’m looking forward to seeing better results in a couple of months.

Ashtanga yoga or 8 steps to spiritual union

- Ashtanga yoga
- Pranayama practice

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a system of yoga practice. The word was originated by connecting 2 words “ashta” that means eight and “anga”, which is translated as limbs. Eight profound limbs. These eight steps were placed in the Yoga Korunta (an ancient manuscript) by the great sage Vamana Rishi.
The eight limbs basically are:

• Yama
• Niyama
• Asana
• Pranayama
• Pratyahara
• Dharana
• Dhyana
• Samadhi

Personally I’ve tried Pranayama practice, which is so-called breath control. The exercise is not difficult and can be done by everyone. First of all, we know that breathing is life. That’s why it’s of a great importance to be able to control your breath. Pranayama practice of Ashtanga Yoga promotes proper breathing, fills your lungs with more oxygen which is gone to the blood as well. A strong air flow into your nostrils cleans your nostril sinuses and prevents development of some illnesses like antritis. People who suffer from asthma are very advised to do Pranayama exercise, since that practice is used in treating asthma and its symptoms.

The practice is mainly based on inhaling and exhaling. Try it right now just in front of your screen. You’re closing your right nostril with your right thumb and inhale through the left nostril. Make sure you take a deep breath. Then you close your left nostril and exhale with your right nostril. Inhale with your right nostril once again and close it. Continue to repeat these actions. Generally it can be described as “inhale – close – exhale - inhale- close” and keep doing the practice this way. Do you feel the energy flow now?

That is really a helpful practice. It can be done anywhere when you have some minutes free. As for me, Pranayama practice gives me more energy as I inhale air and lighten my brain. I’ve noticed that I have fewer problems with my nose now since I’ve started doing the wonderful practice of Ashtanga Yoga. A stuffy nose does not bother me anymore even when I come down with a cold. It’s really WORTH TRYING.

In fact, Ashtanga Yoga is a great profound and endless practice that needs time and certain effort.
Anyway, you will lose nothing if you spend some of your time doing Ashtanga yoga and its 8 essential aspects.

Yoga + dogs = doga

Yoga has always been the practice that lets you unite your mind and body, achieve spiritual health. Today some new elements of technique are being invented. For example in Japan, yoga with dogs.

People have classes with their dogs, exercising various poses together. So this type of yoga is intended for pups and their owners. You relax and your dog relaxes by being helped to facilitate different poses. You spend time with your dog, stretch his paws and legs and stretch your body as well.

Some owners claim that their dogs would never be able to practise “doga”. However, instructors suggest trying and seeing a result.

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Oh DOGA sounds like something new :) I do not have a dog, but If I had I would definitely try doga for the health of my pet and my own health. Moreover, this is fun, isn’t it?

Family yoga – healthy family

New family yoga classes at the Sherwood YMCA are becoming more and more popular. And that’s not surprising. Instructors believe that family yoga opens a new world in front of people. Some exercises are done in couple, for instance a mother and her daughter. Yoga doesn’t have any age limits. Anyone who’s older than 5 may take up family yoga. Children have fun with their parents, at the same time keep fit and make the spirit stronger.

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I think it's a great practice. There is an invisible connection between parents and their children. When doing yoga the connection becomes stronger and firmer, like yoga helps people to feel each other. Probably it may help each member of the family to find more common things and
avoid everyday disputes.

What about yoga?

What is Yoga and why is it so popular over the world?

Yoga is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. According to Gavin Flood, Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies it has been defined as referring to "technologies or disciplines of asceticism and meditation which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence." Yoga is also intimately connected to the religious beliefs and practices of the other Indian religions.

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Yeah, Yoga is really connected with Buddhism. You can think about Kung Fu for instance. Kung Fu fighters practise Yoga because that's a very important part of the martial art. And as it is said, only a real Buddhist can achieve a great success in Kung Fu.

Why Yoga?

There are numerous opinions on what the goal of Yoga may be. Goals can range from improving health and fitness, to reaching Moksha.

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I'm not sure about Moksha, but there are lots of people caring about their health and fitness and they ARE hooked on Yoga. I'd like to try this one day :)


read the whole article on Yoga