GARUDASANA (EHGLE POSE)

The name comes from the Sanskrit words garuda meaning eagle, and asana meaning posture. In Hindu mythology Garuda is known as the king of birds. He transports the God Vishnu and is eager to help humanity fight against demons. It is just another tough yoga pose to execute since it requires a great deal of balancing. This is mainly all about standing and balancing that can guarantee improvement on your physical and mental health.

Procedure: - Stand straight with your feet together and with your arms on your sides. Open your palms. Cross your left arm to your right. Raise your right arm with your hand stretching towards the ceiling. Bring your palms together as close as possible, depending on your flexibility. Your fingers should be pointing upwards. Maintain the position of your arms. Slightly bend your knees without going over your toes.  Slowly lift your right leg, cross it to your left thigh as you curve your left foot around your right calf.  Inhale and hold it for 15 to 30 seconds before you exhale and return to tadasana. Repeat for the same length of time with the arms and legs reversed.

Benefits: It helps in strengthening your legs and improving major joints of your body. This helps you to enhance concentration and improves balance. It is good for ankles, calves, thighs, hips and shoulders. It helps to cure asthma, backache and sciatica.

Precautions: Avoid this if you have knee injuries.

Stroke survivors improve balance with group yoga

Yoga demonstrates to improvise balance but also helps for independence and falling fears

In a small pilot study, researchers analyzed the possible benefits of yoga among chronic stroke survivors – whose stroke had occurred more than six months prior.
This study involved 47 participants with around three-quarters of them being male veterans, were divided into three groups; twice weekly group yoga for eight weeks, a twice weekly “yoga-plus” group and used a relaxation recording three times a week and a usual medical care group without rehabilitation.
View slideshow: Yoga benefits

Teaching the yoga classes was a registered therapist that included modified yoga postures, relaxation and meditation, with classes growing more challenging each week.
Those who had completed yoga or “yoga-plus” had shown significant improvement in their balance in comparison to the usual medical group.
Researchers note balance problems frequently last long after a person suffers a stroke and are related to greater disability and higher risk of falls.
The study had also revealed that those survivors in the yoga groups had improved scores for independence, quality of life and less fear of falling.
Dr. Arlene Schmid, PhD, O.T.R., lead researcher and a rehabilitation research scientist at Roudebush Veterans Administration-Medical Center and Indiana University, Department of Occupational Therapy in Indianapolis, Indiana, stated in a public release "For chronic stroke patients, even if they remain disabled, natural recovery and acute rehabilitation therapy typically ends after six months, or maybe a year.” Dr. Schmid is also an assistant professor for occupational therapy at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis and an investigator at the Regenstrief Institute.
Improvements after the six-month window can take longer to occur, "but we know for a fact that the brain still can change. The problem is the healthcare system is not necessarily willing to pay for that change. The study demonstrated that with some assistance, even chronic stroke patients with significant paralysis on one side can manage to do modified yoga poses,” says Dr. Schmid.
Among the participants in the study, the oldest was 90’s and all participants had to be able to stand on their own on the studies outset.
According to researchers may be more therapeutic than traditional exercise due to the combination of postures, breathing and meditation may produce different effects than simple exercises.
Researchers can draw only limited conclusions from the study because of its small number of participants and lack of diversity. The study also didn't have enough participants to uncover differences between the yoga and control groups. The scientists hope to conduct a larger study soon.
Dr. Schmid did add "However, stroke patients looking for such help might have a hard time finding qualified yoga therapists to work with.” "Some occupational and physical therapists are integrating yoga into their practice, even though there's scant evidence at this point to support its effectiveness."
Researchers also noticed improvements in the mindset of patients about their disability. The participants talked about walking through a grocery store instead of using an assistive scooter, being able to take a shower and feeling inspired to visit friends.
In closing Dr. Schmid says "It has to do with the confidence of being more mobile," even though it took time to unfold "these were very meaningful changes in life for people."
Last year Dr. Schmid conducted a pilot study that involved 19 men and 1 woman with an average age of 66 years. For a period of eight weeks they took part in twice weekly hour long group yoga classes taught by a yoga therapist that had modified the poses dramatically to meet the needs of the veterans.
A range of balance items measured by the Berg Balance Scale and Fullerton Advance Balance Scale improved by 17 percent and 34 percent respectively by the end of the program. That study also revealed a measurable gain in confidence in their balance.
The yoga performed in the study was modified to the extent that Schmid said it would be very difficult to find a comparable class offered publicly. Such a class should be taught by a yoga therapist who has had additional training in anatomy and physiology and how to work with people with disabilities.
The study had been funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, QUERI.
Other studies on yoga have revealed that Hatha Yoga practice by older adults who had a fear of falling demonstrated at the end of the study a reduced fear of falling, increased lower body flexibility and a reduction in their leisure constraints.
A study out of Temple University Gait Study Center had revealed that a particular type of yoga helped improved balance and stability in women over the age of 65 years.
Dr. Jinsup Song, DMP, PhD, at the School of Podiatric Medicine and the College of Health Professions and at the School of Podiatric Medicine and the College of Health Professions along with associates and co-author Marian Garfinkel, Ed.D., a certified senior Iyengar Yoga instructor conducted the study.
Their study suggested that improving balance and stability through yoga could help reduce the risk of falling, as these are two areas that are often deficient when a fall occurs.
Garfinkel consulted her mentor, renowned yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar, to craft a specific yoga program of poses tailored to the elderly who have had little to no yoga experience. The use of props in the Iyengar program allows participants to gradually master the poses while building their confidence level.
In addition to improving balance and stability, Song notes that participation in a group setting, such as an Iyengar yoga class, could have positive psychological effects for the elderly, as well.
"Throughout the program, participants consistently noted that they had a better outlook on their day-to-day lives," he said. "The class gave them something to look forward to; they found it engaging, and said that if they couldn't attend a class, they definitely missed it."
To learn more about the benefits of yoga for the 50+ can be viewed online at the American Senior Fitness Association.

Debbie Nicholson is based in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.

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Yoga, Ayurveda to control Stress and Sleep Disorder

Fatigue caused by sleep difficulties is now considered one of America’s top health problems. Medical researchers say lack of sleep can lead to health problems ranging from blood sugar issues to high stress levels. Studies show that people who sleep fewer than six hours a night don’t live as long as those who sleep seven hours or more. Sleeping only four hours a night can cause weight gain as well as difficulty maintaining healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that sleeplessness costs the U.S. economy $150 billion a year in higher levels of worker stress and reduced productivity.

Stress and Sleepless Nights: A Vicious Cycle

The incidence of sleep difficulties is on the rise in America. We are increasingly a 24/7 society, in which high stress levels and time pressures have become a part of normal modern living. Many people would gladly get more sleep if they could, but the information age, which was supposed to make everything more efficient, has only made everything busier.

Americans frequently find themselves too tense or worried to fall asleep at night because of stress accumulated throughout the day. This lack of sleep, in turn, creates even more stress on the job and at home, resulting in a vicious cycle. Many choose to short-change their sleep – sleeping less than six hours a night – making them highly vulnerable to sleep disorders, stress syndrome, and multiple health problems.

Millions are addicted to tranquilizers to reduce stress during the day, and sleeping pills to induce sleep at night. However, you can’t induce a natural state of sleep with products that are unnatural, synthetic, and, in many cases, highly addictive. It is recommended that patients who have difficulty sleeping restore a balanced rest/activity cycle by practicing the meditation, or other stress-reducing practices, to allow the body to deal with the stress of the day. The TM technique has been shown in a number of studies to reduce stress and sleep difficulties. Traditional Ayurvedic herbal formulations have also been shown to help. Ayurveda also offers diet and lifestyle recommendations to support normal healthy sleep and sleep patterns.

The Ayurvedic Approach

The goal of the Ayurvedic approach is to create more ojas – the finest product of digestion – which provides energy, enthusiasm, happiness, clarity of thinking, better coordination between the heart and mind, an experience of connection and better immunity. “Only the deepest, most restful sleep, called stage 4 sleep by researchers, creates ojas,” say Ayurvedic experts. Good-quality sleep provides deeper rest to the mind and senses, and enhances capacity for mental and physical work the next day. On the other hand, lack of sleep increases ama, or toxins, in the body.

Regardless of the cause of your sleep imbalance, Ayurvedic experts recommend that you try to be in bed before 10:00 at night. That’s because after 10:00, a more active, Pitta-quality sleep sets in. If you fall asleep before then, you’ll imbibe the slower, more restful Kapha qualities. Not only will you fall asleep more easily, but also the quality of your sleep will be deeper. Almost anyone can experience deep, restful sleep by doing just this one thing – going to bed before 10:00 at night.

Many of these recommendations are substantiated by research. Sleep researchers, for instance, have documented that a brief period of moderate exercise three to four hours before bed, such as taking a brisk walk after dinner, can really help deepen sleep. Other studies link physical fitness with improved sleep quality.

Creating a Timeless Bedroom

Create a timeless bedroom and keep time pressures away from your sleeping place. If you have to use an alarm clock, put it in a place where you can’t see it. Preserve your bedroom as a comfortable, relaxing haven – a place for warm, intimate and relaxing relationships. Keep heated discussions, intense brainstorming, television-watching, computer work, and monthly budgets out of your bedroom.

Especially avoid violent, suspenseful TV shows before bed. Instead, surround yourself with influences that cultivate your peace of mind while you fall asleep. Before bed, try diffusing lavender essential oil to relax and help induce sleep, sometimes within minutes.

To relax your neck and shoulders, your back and abdomen, you can do some simple, light yoga postures. Soothing music, bedtime prayers, and positive affirmations can also help you to move in the direction of being more peaceful.

If your mind is active, recall your fondest memories, particularly of childhood, where you had soothing, blissful, wonderful sleep, or when you had an amazingly restful vacation. Favor those thoughts instead of ones that cause you worry and anxiety.

What is your sleep I.Q.?

Even if you don’t have difficulty sleeping, you might not be getting enough sleep at night. In assessing your sleep health, you also need to look at how you feel during the day. If you answer “yes” to a majority of these questions, it might be a cue that your stress levels are too high, your life style needs adjustment, or you’re not sleeping enough.

• Do you experience mental or physical dullness?
• Do you have poor muscle tone?
• Do you experience a lack of spontaneity?
• Do you have a tendency to be bored or unhappy?
• Do you have tension, fear, or anxious feelings?
• Do you suffer from decreased cooperativeness, an inability to accept constructive criticism, irritability, temper outbursts, lowered attention span, impaired short-term memory, decreased sex drive, physical complaints such as headache or backache, or do you generally lack motivation?
• Are you addicted to coffee, cigarettes, stimulants, or alcohol or drugs?
• Have you noticed a reduction in general health and joy in living?

Related Health Tips

• Establish a stable regular lifestyle routine
• Get plenty of good-quality sleep.
• Partake in calming activities such as gardening and leisurely walks.
• Reduce travel and avoid stressful situations as much as possible.
• Give yourself an Ayurvedic oil massage daily.
• Protect yourself from dry, cold and windy weather.
• It is best to not read or watch TV while eating.
• Go to bed before 10:00 p.m.

Why Our Country is Poor?

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country. This can be shown by countries like Greece & Egypt, which are more than 2000 years old and are poor. On the other hand, Canada, Australia & New Zealand, that 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries and are rich.

The difference between poor & rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources. Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture & cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw material from the whole world and exporting manufactured products. Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate of the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality. It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order & labor, which made it the world’s strong safe.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference. Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference then? 

The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education & the culture. On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich & developed countries, it is found that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:
1. Ethics, as a basic principle.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. Respect to the laws & rules.
5. Respect to the rights of other citizens.
6. Work loving.
7. Strive for saving & investment.
8. Will of super action.
9. Punctuality.
In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life. We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. 

We are poor because we lack attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich & developed societies.

Career in Yoga

A stressful life and the many ill-effects of lifestyle changes have attracted people from across the globe to the ancient Indian practice of Yoga. In today's competitive world where more career options are in list. Youngsters have a lot of options to choose from. These careers range from being creative to intellectual. One of the careers that have caught the fancy of the youth is that of teaching yoga. Assessing the growing popularity of this art of living, career as a yoga trainer has more returns than investments from every aspect. Be it job satisfaction or monetary remuneration, being a yoga trainer is immensely fulfilling. Sky is the limit when it comes to teaching yoga. A person who has enough experience in yoga along with a lot of patience is capable of taking up yoga training as a career. The openings in this field are numerous and gaining popularity as the exposure of to this particular field is on the rise. 

There are certain skill sets that are required before taking the plunge as a yoga teacher or trainer. Any aspiring yoga teacher should understand the deeply rooted philosophies that give yoga a holistic effect. Physiological and anatomical knowledge of the human body is essential regarding teaching yoga. Moreover, being innovative and knowledgeable of the type of yoga you teach is also important.

Training as a yoga teacher offers the rare opportunity of job satisfaction, that many career oriented youngsters look out for while job hunting. As potential students discover newer techniques while learning yogasanas, different sources of energy and novel techniques are discovered within you as teacher, that enhance your teaching and your art too. Most yoga teachers start off as students and then graduate to teaching the art of living to others. The best way to become a yoga teacher is to be a student first, where you learn various concepts as they come along, even by observing others practice. There are various institutes in India that offer formal training, these include the Holistic Healthcare Foundation Society, Delhi NCR. 

Monetary remuneration ranks high on the list of prospective jobs for any student these days. No matter how creatively stimulating careers are; the amount of money earned ultimately takes centre stage. A yoga trainer teaches asanas that can prevent ailments, promote spiritual fulfillment besides mental and physical wellbeing. As there is a growing demand for all the different tenets of yoga, experienced trainers are paid well. However, it is also based on the expertise of the trainer. A beginner can earn between Rs 8000-Rs 10, 000 per month, while an decently experienced Yoga trainer can earn up to Rs 50, 000 per month. The employers range from corporate houses, resorts to wealthy individuals who create demand for yoga teachers.

Foreigners from all over the world visit India to experience and learn yoga. They prefer learning yoga at the renowned institutes here and then practice it in their own countries. They learnt yoga at here in India and have their own successful yoga practice back home. Some of them visit India every year to brush up their knowledge of the art. Teaching yoga as a career is rapidly gaining momentum abroad. 

It looks like teaching yoga is all set to join the ranks of interesting and lucrative professions as it fulfills all the criteria required for an ideal career. Life as a yoga trainer enables you to experience a growth for yourself, besides contributing to society. It won't be out of place to quote from a renowned yoga instructor who said, "Yoga offers me the joy of self discovery through the process of teaching it. It allows me to contribute to society in a way that makes me feel good."

Yogaguru Mohan

http://www.theyogaguru.com/

Power Yoga Fitness Mantra of the Age

Power Yoga

Fitness Mantra of the

Introduction

Suddenly people have discovered the magic of Yoga and are swearing by the benefits of Yoga. But Yoga has been a very vital part of achieving good health since ancient times. Such is the goodness of Yoga that it helps coping with indigestion, constipation, headache, migraine, insomnia, heart diseases, bronchitis, stress and mental imbalance etc. Yoga even helps build a strong immune system. The good news is that you do not have to spend hours to enjoy the benefits of Yoga. Just try maintaining consistency rather than an intense session once in a blue moon.

Yoga can make immense difference to your lifestyle if you are dealing with stress management, concentration problems or any other health issue. Power Yoga is fast becoming a popular form of exercise to fight obesity and lose weight. Power Yoga can help you burn calories and discover the real power of Yoga, if you want a shapely body or shed those extra pounds.

What is power yoga?

Power Yoga is one of the impressively stimulating Yoga styles. Power Yoga is the ultimate sweat generating, muscle-building vigorous workout. Power Yoga is also known as Dynamic Yoga. As the name suggests, Power Yoga is fast paced and a strenuous exercise. The core of Power Yoga is Ashtanga Yoga.

The term "power yoga" came into common usage in the mid 1990s, when several yoga teachers were looking for a way to make Ashtanga yoga more accessible to western students. The advent of power yoga heralded yoga's current popularity, as people began to see yoga as a way to work out. Power yoga brought yoga into the gyms of America and the world over.

Power Yoga Principle

Typically, you would do one asana followed by strength training. Coordination between breath and movement is the main secret. This improve oxygen intake at the same time circulate oxygenated blood all over the body refreshing and vitalizing every single cells of the whole body together.

Is Power Yoga for You?

Power Yoga can be practiced by anyone who enjoys exercising. However, pregnant women must consult their doctors to take up any form of exercise. Apart from pregnant women, on a general basis, seek help from your doctor or a Power Yoga instructor to know whether it will suit your body or not. There are programs at Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced levels. How fast you move from one level to the next depends on your fitness and flexibility levels.

What is special in Power Yoga?

The stress on fitness makes Power Yoga different from other forms of Yoga.

As against other forms of Yoga, in power yoga there is very little or almost no stopping between yoga poses.

A lot of sports enthusiasts take up Power Yoga because of its ability to balance opposing muscle groups. This lets ease a number of pains and injuries, if not all.

A lot of people come to Power Yoga with impression of a 'good workout routines'. Most of the time, such folks end up realizing that not only has a strong work session been accomplished but what is happening is that life changes start tiptoeing in. This is the magic of Power Yoga.

What can you expect from Power Yoga?

Yoga in any form provides health benefit. Health conscious individuals of any age can enjoy the benefits of Power Yoga. Here are some great benefits that Power Yoga can provide.

It increases lean muscle tissue,

Reduce your body's fat percentage and increased BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)

Improve your strength and stamina for everyday activities.

Power yoga, like the traditional yoga, helps reduce stress and relax your body.

It also helps improve concentration, which is particularly good for students.

Removes body toxins through sweat

Heals disorders like acid stomach

Helps getting rid of obesity

Increases the calorie burning capacity of body

Helps coping with asthma, cancer, bronchitis, insomnia and sinus

Helps to deal with hypertension and menstrual disorders

Increase your flexibility of body.

Reduce accidental injuries.

Improves blood circulation and immune system

Improves concentration and self-control

At last but not the least, Power Yoga is not only about achieving excellence with different poses, it is also a method to achieve an excellence of mind. It is a beautiful way to gain a perfectly fit and healthy body. If you have been wondering about how yoga can help you stay in shape, don’t hesitate to try power Yoga.

There is new concept of Kids yoga to make new generation more sensible and more capable to handle the challanges of life. As it sound enteresting so it is easy to make a part of life as well. One thing that is needed is initiative by parents to make their kids practice the great ancient scientific form of exercise. It helps to improve over all personality of the practitioner from physical, mental, emotional as well as intellectual level of a person. Don't hesitate parents it would be great decision in your part to make the life of your kids better.
feel free to contact any time .
I always love to guide you and help you better.
Love and regards

Dr. Mohan Kumar
visit: http://www.theyogaguru.com/
Email; mohan@theyogaguru.com