Health Benefits of Yoga - Reducing Stress and More With Laughter Yoga

There are different kinds of health benefits of yoga. Usually, the benefits received from a type of yoga depend on the kind of yoga a person is practicing. One of the kinds of yoga that is gaining in popularity thanks to its health benefits is laughter yoga.

It is said that children laugh around 400 times each day. Anybody who has been around children know they are typically carefree and full of energy. On the other hand, studies have shown that adults laugh only about 15 times a day on average.

Because adults must deal with more stress, it is understandable that they laugh less. However, one of the key points of laughter yoga is that the more a person laughs, the better they will be able to reduce the stress they feel.

In addition to reducing stress, laughter yoga is also said to be able to boost a person's immune system, strengthen his or her heart and improve overall circulation. A person who wants to try out this kind of yoga to improve his or her health can try the following:

• Find a class - Laughter yoga is usually most effective when it is done as part of a group, rather than a person doing it on her own. Because laughter yoga includes more than just laughing, an experienced yogi can help a person get the most health benefits.
  
  

• Get ready - Just like any other form of yoga, a person who hopes to truly be able to receive some health benefits of yoga that focuses on laughing must be able to take the time to warm up. When warming up, a person should clap twice, saying "Ho, Ho." Then, he or she should clap three times while saying, "Ha, Ha, Ha."
  
  

• Breathing is important - Breathing is important in any kind of yoga. In laugh yoga, a person can breathe deeply by drawing in a large breath through his or her nose that immerses his or her lungs. Hold the breath for about 10 seconds, and then slowly exhale. Pay attention to the way the air leaves the lungs. This process should be repeated three times.
  
  

• Laugh - This is easier said than done. The fact is that a person who is not comfortable acting "silly" in a group may need some time to get used to this kind of yoga. The best way to get used to doing this yoga is to realize that everybody else looks just as silly. A person should start the laughing by raising his or her arms in the air and laughing heartily as he or she throws his or head back. Use the other people in the group. People can shake hands, nod, wave and laugh at each other.
  
  

• Learn to laugh silently - Laugh yoga does not simply focus on the noises a person makes. Rather, it focuses on the way a body functions as it laughs. Laughing silently can allow a person to get a good abdominal workout, It can also allow a person to work out his or her facial muscles.
  

If a person has participated in yoga for years, he or she must remember that laughing yoga does not replace all of the health benefits of yoga that has been previously been practiced. A person who is looking to stay flexible will likely want to continue to do other types of yoga.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on yoga and Pilates, please visit Yoga Supplies, home to many useful articles about health and fitness.

Yoga for Mind and Body

Life today for many people is a stressful situation. We have worries of making enough money to pay for the ever rising cost of housing, food, clothing and other bills. Many deal with work that they do not really enjoy. It seems we are usually in a rush to get to jobs, finish projects and chores, and get children to school or their other activities. As we are trying to do these things we find ourselves faced with traffic and crowds. All while we are trying to find quality time to spend with our families and friends. All of this puts a lot of stress on us, draining a large amount of our energy.

Research has shown that the mind and body are interconnected. What effects us on a mental and emotional level will also effects us on a physical level. People who have emotional problems are usually found to have physical ailments, ranging from headaches to much more series diseases. If we do not deal with our mental and emotional stress, the physical ailments will manifest and get worse.

This is where yoga can be a tremendous asset for us to practice regularly. Yoga helps us connect our mind to our body's movements and rhythms. It teaches us to relax and be at ease. Our bodies become more toned and flexible. Our minds become more clear. We find an inner balance and peace that leads to a healthier life.

Yoga teaches us to be at ease so that when these challenging life situations arise we can deal with them constructively. If we are not relaxed and do not have inner harmony we tend to deal with such circumstances by creating anxiety. It is not the events that bring distress on us, but how we react to them. When we come to this realization it should be easy to see that the power to find happiness is also within each of us. We each have the power to make ourselves more harmonious, and in turn the world a better place.

We find this inner peace by practicing yoga poses, also called asanas, and through breathing. Asana is the Sanskrit word for the poses and positions you practice in yoga. These include many different twisting, standing, back bending, and balancing positions of different parts of the body. This all helps with alignment and balance, making the mind and body stronger. Anyone of any age or ability can practice yoga, though some positions require more skill than others to perform. Breathing awareness and control is also important. It helps strength the mind and body connection while also helping us to slow down and relax.

With how most of our lives are today and the benefits yoga brings, it seems like the two should be brought together. Many people are coming to this realization. Yoga has been gaining in popularity in the West for many years. It has become very common to see its influence very day. Even small towns have been known to be home to a yoga studio.

Chad Lynch has been practicing yoga for several years and wishes to share the benefits it brings. You can learn more by visiting my blog, Spirit Yoga

http://spirityoga.taoreview.com

Yoga Inversions - Seeing Your World Turned Upside Down

Headstands...the mention of this pose in a Yoga class can at once strike both excitement and fear among students. Inversions are dynamic, challenging poses and while some view them as an exciting challenge, others may feel a knot develop in their stomach at the mere mention of it. Why? Well, that's what I'd like to address in this article. By discovering the true essence of inversion asanas, we can better understand our reactions to them as well as how they can affect and benefit our daily life.

Inversion yoga asanas are poses that place the feet above the head during the practice.
When attempting these poses it is important to be properly prepared; these are not postures that you should just jump right into. By preparing properly and being extremely mindful of proper body alignment, you can significantly reduce your risk of injury. Other things to keep in mind when trying inversions are the strength of the neck, pre-existing injuries or conditions such as high blood pressure, glaucoma or detached retina. Women who are pregnant or menstruating should not practice these poses. If you're new to inversions, I'd recommend practicing them under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher.

The physical benefits of inversion asanas include improved circulation and increased strength and balance, improved concentration and increased vitality. These poses can be very demanding, it's important to be able to breathe fully and rhythmically while holding the pose. Yoga is after all, a meditation in motion. Proper breathing is key when it comes to maintaining the pose. These poses require significant core and shoulder strength - moment to moment awareness is the secret to balance.

On the emotional side, inversion asanas are about releasing/overcoming fear. For many people, the idea of being upside down is frightening. This a common and normal reaction to having your world turned upside down. When we move through this fear, we feel a sense of accomplishment and our confidence is boosted; we discover our own inner strength. This has a trickle down effect into our daily life, allowing us a more confident, relaxed approach when we encounter other obstacles.

Namaste

Texas, Certified Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor at The Fitness Underground- Los Angeles http://www.thefitnessunderground.com

Vinyasa Yoga - Going With the Flow

Vinyasa yoga has become one of the most commonly practiced styles of Yoga in the West today. This dynamic style of Yoga is invigorating for the both the body and mind.

Vinyasa yoga often includes components stemming from Ashtanga yoga such as sun salutations, yet there are no predetermined asana sequences and many instructors have developed their own sequences using different asanas and transitions. You may find vinyasa classes also alled "flow yoga" or "power yoga." Classes are sequenced not only to develop internal awareness, but to also build heat and have an energizing effect. Most teachers include music to enhance the flow and rhythm of the class.

Vinyasa is a flowing sequence of poses that connect movement with breath - linking the two together. It is important to remember, vinyasa is not just a sequence of movements; Vinyasa, like all forms of Yoga, connects a meditative practice, a practice with intent to awaken our consciousness, with our movements. Without that intent and meditative approach, it's just calisthenics.

As you flow from one pose to the next, allowing your breath to carry you through, you realize the fluid nature of our bodies. As your body and your movements become more fluid, so do your thoughts and your adaptability.

Vinyasa yoga helps us to develop an awareness of the present moment that links each action to the next - one breath at a time. An approach that is helpful not only on the yoga mat, but in our day to day life as well.

Texas, Certified Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor (E-RYT) at The Fitness Underground- Los Angeles
http://www.thefitnessunderground.com

Five Easy Seated Yoga Exercises You Must Do to Release Lower Back Pain at Work

Do you spend the majority of your day sitting down in front of a computer or answering the phone?

Perhaps, like me, you are a self-employed entrepreneur and depend on the internet to market your business.

Sitting in the same position for lengthy periods of time, typing and looking at a computer screen, places a lot of strain on your body, particularly your lower back muscles. Weak abdominal muscles, tight hamstrings, being overweight and lack of regular exercise all contribute to lower back pain.

If you sit at your desk and do not stretch your body, when you stand up have you noticed your back muscles are sore, stiff and achy?

Back pain is the third most common reason for consulting a doctor in Britain and is closely related to poor posture, stress and tension.

If you have ever suffered from back pain you will know how painful and deliberating it can be. As a child, I remember my father spending days flat on his back, unable to move or go to work due to lower back pain. Given today's economic climate and rising food and fuel prices you can not afford to be in the same position.

Five Easy Seated Yoga Exercises To Release Lower Back Pain At Work

Yoga is great exercise for bad-back sufferers.

The following five seated exercises can be done at your desk, without any equipment or changing your clothes. They will give your body an overall stretch and help to release stiffness and tension in your lower back.

Aim to do these simple yoga stretches at least three times during your working day. Please consult your GP before you start these exercises and take care to listen and work within the limits of your body.

1. Seated Trunk Twist
Sit comfortably on a chair, feet flat on the floor, raise both elbows up to shoulder height, clasp the hands together.
Inhale and as you exhale slowly twist to one side. Make sure you twist from the base of your spine and keep the back straight throughout the stretch.
Inhale and slowly come back to centre. Repeat in the opposite direction.
Repeat the sequence 3 - 5 times each direction.

2. Seated Cobra
Sit near the edge of your chair. Feet flat on the floor. Hands resting on your lap. Lengthen your spine, slowly arch your back and lilt your head back. Relax and take three deep breathes. Slowly return body back to centre.

3. Seated Cat Stretch
Make sure you have space in front of you. Sitting on chair, bend forward and hold your ankles or shins. Arch your back, relax and repeat 3 - 5 times

4. Upward Arm Stretch
Raise both arms above your head. Place your left hand on your right wrist. Gently stretch to the right. Keep your body strong and straight. Breathe into the stretch. Switch sides and repeat.

5. Seated Spinal Twist
Still sitting, cross your left leg over your right knee. Place your right hand on the crossed knee. Gently turn your body to the left and look behind you. Allow your shoulders to be relaxed as you relax and breathe into the pose. Inhale. Release your arms and legs; return to centre. Exhale. Switch legs and repeat on the opposite side.
Regular practice of these five simple yoga exercises throughout your day. They will help to release tension and soreness in your lower back plus, you will feel more comfortable, fitter and at ease in your body.

Ntathu Allen, Hatha Yoga Teacher designs personal yoga exercise programmes for beginners. She helps you learn easy yoga postures which improve your flexibility, breathing practices to release stress and meditation techniques to soothe and calm your mind. To find out more go to: http://www.yogainspires.co.uk and sign up for your free monthly yoga and health newsletter, "Healing for the Soul," full of wellbeing and holistic healing tips and; yoga exercises to energize and nurture your soul.

Email: ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk
http://www.yogainspires.co.uk