Pregnancy Exercise Tips

Pregnancy Exercise Tips According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1985, moderate exercise, during pregnancy, may reduce the chance of having a miscarriage or a premature baby. Exercise strengthens the pelvic and abdominal muscles which help make the birth easier. * Regular exercise during pregnancy is essential. Walking is the best exercise in that body condition. Brisk and strenuous exercise should be avoided when tired, take a casual stroll. * While sitting on a chair keep your knees wide apart and cross your legs at the ankles and not at the knees. Join an exercise class for pregnant women if available nearby. * A woman should not work full time after the 30th week of pregnancy. During the last three months the heart is working 33% harder than normal. It needs some relief. Avoid high heeled shoes in pregnancy because they shift the body weight forward, thus placing additional strain on the spine and back. * Avoid prolonged sitting. Get up slowly after lying down. During pregnancy you need 9 to 10 hours of sleep. Try to lie on your left side with your knees bent inwards Mid-day rest is the answer to fatigue in early pregnancy. Do not wear undergarments tight about the waist. Link has been established between fetal anomalies, childhood malignancies and X-Ray examination during early pregnancy. X-ray examination must therefore be avoided. * Exposure to smoking, active or passive, must also be avoided. Such an exposure could lead to even a still birth. Drinking alcohol and using narcotic drugs has similar consequences and must be shunned. Do not take any medicines during pregnancy unless prescribed by a doctor who is aware of your pregnancy position. * During pregnancy, the presence of breast milk is no cause for alarm. Wash away any dried milk with warm water so that your nipples do not become itchy, irritated or sore. If the gain in weight is less than 10 kgs or inside of your eyelids is pale or there is unusual swelling of legs, arms or face, medical advice may be sought immediately. * There are occasions when faintness comes while lying on your back. It only means that the uterus has fallen against the main blood vessels at the front of your spine and has interfered with enough circulation to those vessels. The drop in circulation makes you faint. Solution is very simple. Lie on your side and not on your back. The weight of the uterus shifts and normal circulation is restored.

Adho Mukha Svanasana Pose

Adho Mukha Svanasana Pose Adho Mukha Svanasana helps in building power, flexibility and alertness. This is the first pose which some people learn as they begin to do yoga. While executing different styles of yoga, this posture is repeated. It is many times done during a yoga class as it provides a transition between poses, particularly in Surya Namaskar and vinyIasa flow yoga. Make sure that before starting this asana you should know the exact posture required for this asana. * Lie on the floor on your abdomen. * Raise your body to position the body on all fours, palms, knees and toes touching the floor. * Keep your knees apart and right beneath the hips and the palms a bit ahead of the shoulders. * Spread out your fingers. * Exhale and raise your knees off the ground. * Keep your knees slightly bent and your heels off the ground. * Raise your body up further, lengthening your tail bone. * Lift your buttocks further up so they face towards the ceiling. * Lengthen your thighs and stretch the heels so that they touch the ground. * Keep your knees straight but still apart. * Roll the upper thighs inward slightly and roll the heels outward slightly. * Press your palms on the floor and straighten your arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders. * Open up your shoulders and move them towards the tailbone. * Keep your head in between the two arms. * Hold the pose for about a minute. Gradually raise it to three minutes. * Return to initial position in reverse order

Eight Limbs of Yoga

Eight Limbs of Yoga The practice of yoga is both an art and science, which creates unification of the body and mind with the spirit.Each part ultimately brings completeness to the individual. They tend to find their connectivity to the divine. Being a different individual, a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another according to their understanding. * Asanas It is the practice of physical postures and is the most commonly known aspect of yoga. The practice of moving the body into postures helps in improving health, strength, balance and flexibility. On a deeper level, the practice of asana, which means staying or abiding in Sanskrit, is used as a means to calm the mind and move into the inner essence of being. * Yama It is known as Moral observances for interactions with others. Broken down into five wise characteristics, they tell us about our fundamental nature that of being compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful. It teaches the directives of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-covetousness) * Dharana Immovable concentration of the mind is the underlying principle of Dharana. The essential idea is to hold the concentration or focus of attention in one direction. The mind needs to be stilled in order to achieve this state of complete absorption. * Niyama It is known as Moral observances for interactions with yourself. The word itself means rules that are prescribed for personal observance. The niyamas are far more than an attitude, and are more intimate and personal. The directive include Shaucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of religious books and repetitions of Mantras) and Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God, and His worship). * Pranayama It controls the energy, in order to restore and maintain health and to promote evolution. Pranayama is the measuring, control, and directing of the breath. It further provides perfect relaxation and balance of body activities are realized. * Pratyahara In yoga, the term pratyahara implies withdrawal of the senses from attachment to external objects. It is most commonly known for sensory inhibition. * Dhyana Dhyana focuses on Meditation. It means worship, or profound and abstract religious meditation that involves concentration upon a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. The concept holds that when one focuses their mind in concentration on an object the mind is changed into the shape of the object. * Samadhi It is the final step in the eight-fold path of Yoga. It means pleasurable fascination of one's individual consciousness in the essence of God. Samadhi means to bring together to merge. In this state, the body and senses are at rest, but the faculty of mind and reason are alert.

Shirshasana Head Posture

Shirshasana Head Posture Shirshasana Head Posture, Headstand, Shirshasana, Sirsasana, Yoga Positions, Asana, Yoga Postures:The posture looks imposing to beginners and is extremely powerful. Place your mat into a comer, kneel down and place your interlocked fingers in the comer close to the walls. Keep your head into the hollow of the palms, rise off the knees and take a step or two towards the comer. Raise one leg and place it in the comer against the wall. Ask a friend to help you if you are doing it for the first time. Just pull the other leg up. Keep the posture for about 15 seconds and then come out the headstand, lowering one leg at a time. * Fold both the legs at the knees and be seated on the heels of the feet. The body, neck, spine and head should be kept erect. Palms can be placed on the knees. Breathe normally. * Interlock the fingers of hands and place them on the soft padding by leaning forward. * Keeping elbows shoulder widths apart, gently place the back of the head on the inner side of the interlocked fingers. Now slowly lift knees from the floor and take one or two steps towards the head. * Inhale and simultaneously lift the legs gently so that they are in a vertical position. Keeping the back straight, relax and breathe deeply from the abdomen. * old on in the same position for fifteen seconds. The time duration can be increased gradually up to three minutes with practice. While returning to the initial normal position, first bend the knees and place one leg on the floor first and then bring the other down.

Benefits of Adho Mukha Svanasana

Benefits of Adho Mukha Svanasana Adho Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana Yoga, Adho Mukha Svanasana Benifits: The name comes from the Sanskrit words, adho which means downward, mukha which means face, svana which means dog and asana meaning pose. Adho Mukha Svanasana helps in building power, flexibility and alertness. * Adho Mukha Svanasana helps to strengthen the immune system. * Adho Mukha Svanasana helps to relieve the symptoms of menopause. * Adho Mukha Svanasana builds strength throughout the body. * Adho Mukha Svanasana also provides an overall body stretch. * Adho Mukha Svanasanahelps in relieving fatigue and gives freshness to the body. * Adho Mukha Svanasana relieves some headaches and insomnia. * Adho Mukha Svanasanais a great preparation for standing poses. * It calms the mind and lifts the spirits. * It also improves digestion. * It strengthens arms, legs, and feet. * It stretches the shoulders, legs, and spine. * It helps back to be less stiff. * Adho Mukha Svanasanalessens stiffness in heels and legs. * It helps to open up the shoulder blades. * It stretches the back of the body, especially hips and hamstrings. * It is helpful in increasing blood flow. * Adho Mukha Svanasanamay relieve menstrual discomfort, but make sure that in this head should be supported. * It is helpful in preventing osteoporosis * It may be useful in chest opening. * It is recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis, etc.

Pranayamam Sarvaroganivarini

Pranayamam Sarvaroganivarini ప్రాణాయామం సర్వరోగనివారిణి యోగా ఈనాటిది కాదు. అతి ప్రాచీనకాలంలో మహర్షులు ఆచరించి అద్భుతాలు సాధించారు. అయితే యోగసాధన మరుగున పడిపోయింది. దీనికి రావలసినంత ఖ్యాతి రాలేదు. అందుబాటులో ఉన్న అమూల్యమైన ధనాన్ని వెచ్చించడం చేతగాక పక్కన పడేశాం. కొంత ఆశాజనకమైన మార్పు ఏమిటంటే కొన్నేళ్లుగా యోగా గొప్పతనం కొందరికైనా తెలిసివచ్చింది. యోగా మహత్తు తెలిసిన కొందరు యోగాసనాలు ప్రాక్టీసు చేస్తున్నారు.   యోగా భంగిమలు, ఆసనాలు చేసే మేలు గ్రహించి తమకు అనుకూలమైన ఆసనాలను ఎంచుకుని సాధన చేస్తున్నారు. సత్ఫలితాలను పొందుతున్నారు. కాళ్ళు, చేతులు, నడుము, వెన్నెముక, భుజాలు, పాదాలు - ఇలా మన శరీరంలో ప్రతి భాగాన్నీ బలంగా, దృఢంగా, ఆరోగ్యంగా రూపొందించుకుంటున్నారు.   వివిధ ఆసనాల సంగతి అలా ఉంచితే శ్వాస (బ్రీతింగ్ టెక్నిక్) చాలా ముఖ్యమైంది. ఇది ఒకరకంగా ధ్యానం. శ్వాసకోశాల నిండా ఊపిరి తీసుకుని, పూర్తిగా విడిస్తే చాలు దివ్య ఔషధంలా పనిచేస్తుంది. ఇది సర్వరోగనివారిణి అంటే అతిశయోక్తి కాదు. రోజూ ప్రాణాయామం చేసేవారికి అసలు జబ్బులనేవి దరిదాపులకు రావని ఎందరో యోగా సాధకులు స్వానుభవంతో చెప్తున్నారు. యోగా ఆరోగ్యాన్ని చేకూర్చడమే కాదు, ఆనందాన్నీ ఇస్తుంది. ధ్యానంతో మనసు, శరీరం రిలాక్స్ అవుతాయి. అలసట, శ్రమ, ఒత్తిడి తెలీవు. ప్రశాంతత సొంతమౌతుంది. రక్తం శుద్ధి అవుతుంది. రక్తప్రసరణ నియంత్రణలో ఉంటుంది.

Benefits Of Dharana

Benefits Of Dharana The word Dharana means both the practice of deep concentration and it also is the state of being in which you attain deep concentration. Ideally, dharana should be performed at every moment of the day. It’s synonymous with the adage “being in the moment” Dharana is a form of meditation that can be called receptive concentration. With the help of Dharana, a set of conditions are created that helps the mind focus in one direction and object, rather than concentrating in many directions, thereby diverting the mind. The term 'Dharana' is given to both the practice of deep concentration and the state in which you achieve deep concentration. Ideally, 'Dharana' should be performed at every moment of the day to gain utmost control of both body and mind. * Dharana aims at setting up the mind, by focusing it upon some stable entity. One good method to start it is by rolling the eyes upward and downward, in one direction to get the concentration. Any object selected for practicing has no role to play in the meditation process. * The object is only used to stop the mind from wandering - through memories, dreams, or reflective thought - by intentionally holding it obsessively upon some static object. This ability is a movement toward perception of its true nature and not an escape from reality. * Dharana helps in channeling one's thoughts on a certain thing. It makes sure that you reach a level of awareness in anything you do, by focusing on every step you take. Dharana can bring richness to one's life. With the help of deep contemplation and reflection, one can create the right conditions. * Dharana works with the objective to achieve the mental state, where the mind, intellect, and ego are controlled. The mind becomes purified by the practices. It becomes able to focus efficiently on one subject or point of experience. Dharana also helps in the cessation of fluctuations in the mind. * The practice of Dharana, at the time, when you are struggling with anger, restlessness or expectation would help in balancing those struggles. Dharana is the practice of training the mind, to concentrate and focus, in such a way, that we can possibly avoid frustrations. * Concentrating our attention on one point allows the mind to be stable and calms the disturbance of activity, to which we are used to. The point of concentration can be anywhere within our body or outside. Therefore, maintaining a fixed and focused concentration, throughout the practice, gives consistency and clarity to the thoughts.

Women in Yoga in the West

Women in Yoga in the West Yoga has now become a very popular activity in the west from last few decades. Very famous Hollywood artists confess their love and passion for this art. Basically, yoga came in contact with the west during the times of Plato and Aristotle who paid ample acknowledgments to Indian values in their arts. * These contacts were furthered by Alexander's arrival in India in the third century B.C. The formation of Asiatic Society quite later boosted up the concept of Indian mysticism in west which also included the wonders of yoga. The Yoga was formally introduced in the west through Sanskrit to English or Hindi to English translations of Indian epics. * Modern Yoga gained momentum in the west after late 1800's after the famous disciples of Swami Vivekananda and other great gurus traveled to west and came in contact of the people of west who also inclined towards this art. Germans were the first people to explore the beauty of the Sanskrit language and Vedic mystery. * Scholars like Max Mull immensely contributed in making Indian philosophy popular in west. With time several yoga masters went to west from India and brought popularity to this art in the west. Hatha Yoga then became the most popular form of Yoga in the west. * The Hatha Yoga has derived its meaning from 'Ha' of Sun and 'tha' of moon. It is popularly called forceful yoga because it seems to require all the physical exercises of yoga popularly known. It is said to be very balancing form of yoga aimed to balance to opposite forces in the body. * The entire art of Hatha yoga is based on basic features of yoga, breathing techniques, postures and energizing the subtle channels. It also aims to increase concentration and balance the energy level in the body.

Yoga Back Bender

Yoga Back Bender Yoga back bender has two different curves on each side a steady arch at one end and a steep arch on the other end. The steep arch is meant for yoga practitioners who are more flexible. * It helps to open the front body, shoulders and chest. * It provides support for quieter restorative practice. * It helps in supporting back, which otherwise gets hurt. * Besides, it also enhances the final relaxation poses.   * Forward Bender Forward bender is helpful to perform difficult forward bends. It is a triangle shaped prop with several open slots along its curvature that looks like a curved ladder. It extends forward stretch into the calf muscles, so that the spine is fully expanded and straightened. Forward bender can be used for 1 and 2-legged forward bends. It effectively stretches hamstrings, calf muscles and achilles tendons.   * Whale Back Bender Whale back bender is a popular back bender among people. It's wide enough to support your entire back, while offering comfort to your spine as you perform a stretch. It looks like the regular back bender, but actually it is much broader than the regular ones. It helps in tractioning your spine without stressing other joints.   * Foldaway Back Bender As the name suggests, Foldaway Back Bender is a prop that can be folded, or can be separated to make two new props. It can be used to practice drop-backs and forward bends. It occupies less storage space, making itself the most versatile and innovative back bench.