Monday, May 31

Yoga - Avoid the Pitfalls of Aging With Better Posture

By the time you have reached your mid-fifties, you may discover something peculiar - you have shrunk. It may not be much - a half inch or possibly more. This may not be such a big deal now, but by the time you reach your 70's, you'll likely to have lost 2-3 inches in height - most likely due to poor posture.

Computer Age Hazard

Many of us spend hours at a desk in front of a computer. Over time it is likely that we will develop a hunched back, or hyperkyphosis. Hip, leg, wrist, shoulder, and arm fractures are potential risks for someone with hyperkyphosis. The more the back is hunched, the greater the risk. Interestingly, the risk is independent of bone mass density, which suggests that hyperkyphosis posture is a separate risk factor for experiencing issues equal to osteoporosis.

Because hyperkyphosis was originally thought to have been caused by osteoporosis, this condition has been largely ignored until now. About 20-40% of the elderly are thought to be afflicted with hyperkyphosis, a slightly lower figure than for osteoporosis. Thirty to 50% of women and 15-30% of men will suffer from an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lives.

Your day-to-day habits have the greatest impact on developing better posture. You can get significant results by staying aware of your posture throughout the day. It takes time and patience when correcting posture. You have to build new muscle mass to hold you upright and reshape tissues that are accustomed to the wrong shape.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Friday, April 30

Yoga - Naturally Increase Your Height by Doing Yoga

Are you the shortest person in your circle of friends and in your work place? Are you determined to look for a solution to your height problems? If you go to your doctor, you might get advised to go in for hormone injections, but this option is expensive and also has many side effects. It makes far more sense for you to opt for ways to naturally increase your height.

You will be surprised to learn that there are lots of techniques that you could use in order to naturally increase your height. Yoga is one of them and it has been gaining prominence over the past few years because of its ability to help rectify many issues that affect people's bodies and minds.

Yoga is an ancient system of exercises that involve a lot of stretching and breathing control techniques. It can sometimes be likened to meditation. There are lots of 'asanas' or positions in Yoga that are excellent ways to stretch out your back bone and gain a better posture.

One asana that you should certainly try out is the Chakrasana or the wheel pose. Another very effective position is the Tadasana. Sukhasana and Trikonasana are also very powerful exercises and they can naturally increase your height by giving strength to your vertebral column.

Yoga is a very specialized set of exercises and you do need help to get started. What would be best would be for you to join a Yoga class in order to get the hang of it. You could as your Yoga teacher to help you with these asanas that naturally increase your height in addition to any others that have the same effect.

The breathing exercises in Yoga also help to reduce your stress levels and focus your mind. It is believed that you have greater control over your body when you have control over your mind. Studies show that people who truly believe that they can grow taller actually do so if they take the right steps. On the other hand, people who exercise without really believing that they can succeed are bound to fail.

In case you wish to discontinue the classes once you have gained some proficiency in Yoga, you could buy videos on this subject, so that you can do the exercises at home. Once you have started this program you should stick with it and you will be rewarded with increased height and you will also lose weight in the process.

Article Source : Ezine Articles

Saturday, February 27

Yoga - Tips For Making Yoga Poses More Effective

Yoga is a mind-body discipline that can change you physically, mentally and spiritually. When practiced correctly it has the ability to heal and transform, and a regular routine of doing yoga often changes lives. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your yoga practice.

Breathe deeply and fully. Take complete breaths while you hold a pose to help you stretch deeper, remain focused and unlock any emotions that are locked inside your physical body. Inhale from the belly to the chest and exhale in reverse. Breathe in and out of the nose with the lips gently closed. Use ujjaii breathing which is an audible breath that will help you hold a pose longer and keep your mind present.

Relax into the stretch until you reach your edge. For example, if you are performing a leg stretch, focus on relaxing into it instead of struggling to reach further. As you relax into it you will come to a point of slight discomfort which is referred to as your edge. Stay at this point and focus on relaxing andbreathing. When the edge no longer feels uncomfortable then you can go deeper into the pose.

Accept yourself and let go of your ego. Try not to compare yourself to others who may seem more flexible or stronger than you are. Allow yourself to be perfect just as you are. Stay present by letting go of judgment, anticipation or fear. The best thing you can do while practicing yoga is to let go of the past and the future and just be content where you are right now.

Article Source : Ezine Articles

Saturday, January 16

Yoga - How to Control Diabetes Through Yoga ?

Diabetes is a disorder that is normally caused by the incapability of the body to control the quantity of sugar in the blood. An individual who suffer from diabetes is not capable to use blood glucose due to inadequate amounts of insulin produced by the pancreas in the body. In simple terms, it can be defined as a problem of the metabolism that can damage the nerves, kidneys, and eyes. It can even cause gangrene, stroke, and heart disease.

In last few years different diabetic treatment methods have been used to control diabetes. While many nutritionists suggested for different techniques for dieting, many doctors also recommended for regular exercise to control sugar level. However, recent studies have shown that yoga too can produce major health benefits for diabetics. Yoga has shown some beneficial results in controlling diabetes. Not long ago, many people were familiar with yoga as a succession of movements or poses. But, today it has emerged as one of the most convenient options to control diabetes.

Yoga as Diabetes Treatment Method

The yoga exercises that are prescribed for curing diabetes are different from hatha yoga exercise. It usually involves positions tailored to treat certain conditions, as well as meditation and relaxation. Yoga can stimulate the pancreas and stimulate insulin production. Regular practice of yoga actually reduces the blood sugar levels, the blood pressure, and the rate of progression to the complications. While most diabetics need to lose or at least maintain a certain weight limit, yoga is an excellent choice to accomplish these twin goals. The symptoms are also reduced to a large extent, and so is the number of diabetes related hospital admissions. Apart from this, some studies have also shown that certain yoga poses have the effect of massaging or stretching certain internal organs which actually led to the increased insulin production.

How Yoga works?

Generally glucagons secretion is enhanced by stress. Now when we perform yoga, it effectively reduces adrenaline, noradrenalin in blood, which is termed as 'stress hormones' and this in turn helps in reducing glucagons and possibly improving insulin action. In addition to this, recent studies have also shown that blood pressure also plays a vital role in the development of diabetic and related complications, which is proven to be benefited by yoga. When we perform yoga, it helps in muscular relaxation and improves blood supply to muscles which further increase insulin receptor expression on muscles causing increased glucose uptake by muscles and thus reducing blood sugar.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com