The Herbal Remedy

1. THE COBRA: Do this in easy stages. Lie down, face prone, legs tightly together and stretched back, forehead on the floor. Put your hands, palm down, just under your shoulders. Inhale and raise your head, pressing your neck back, now use your hands to push your trunk up until you are bending in a beautiful arc from your lower spine to the back of your neck. You need go no further than this. However, if you are supple enough, you can now straighten your arms completely, bend the legs at the knees and drop your head back to touch your feet. Even if your head goes nowhere near your feet, drop it back as far as possible and hold the posture with deep breathing. Come out of the posture very slowly, returning to the face prone posture. Relax with your head to one side. Repeat.

Astanga, or sometimes spelled ashtanga Yoga is actually taught today by a man named Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, in Mysore, India.  He has brought astanga yoga to the west about 25 years ago and still teaches today at 91 years of age.  Astanga yoga began with the rediscovery of the ancient manuscript Yoga Korunta.  It describes a unique system of Hatha yoga as practiced and created by the ancient sage Vamana Rishi.  It is believed to be the original asana practiced intended by Patanjali.

You may be surprised to hear this, but no one goes into yoga teacher training.  I know this for a fact.  I have been a yoga instructor for eight years, you see, and yoga practitioner for close to 30.  I have studied many styles of yoga including ashtanga, Iyengar, and kundalini yoga.  I also studied from many teachers, and took classes in yoga styles all around the world.  I am an expert in yoga, but I never set out to be.

Yoga is an excellent form of exercise which is suitable for people of all ages and which can be regarded as a way of life and a way in which to change your lifestyle for the better. While yoga works particularly well on its own when combined with a yogic diet it is one of the most successful ways to enjoy a healthier you.

When undertaken this way it is one of the most beneficial systems of total health care and allows us to nourish not only our body but also our mind that in turn allows us to remain in tip top shape and ready to face anything. While eating a proper diet means many things to different people when it comes to yogic eating there are a few essentials that you should know.

While we all think of yoga as being curled or stretched into unimaginable positions, yoga is a form of exercise that you can do everyday and only take a few minutes to perform. It will keep your joints supple and your mind calmer and more active, the exercise don’t need any special training and can be performed by anyone. Here are a few very easy yoga stretches that you should make a part of your daily life.

Yoga has many beneficial effects if you practice it on a regular basis; it is known to help if major illnesses as well as being undertaken by those who just want to get fitter and healthier. There is so much more to yoga however, yoga is a total holistic system that can strengthen not only the muscles but also the mind. Those who practice yoga on a more serious level think of it as a totally spiritual experience and benefit on a spiritual level deeply.

If you work at home or just have some time at home where you would like to take a break to get healthier, more mentally alert, more focused and calmed down, try some of these yoga postures. Experiment to see which ones work best for you, then share them with your other work-at-home friends.

Yoga exercises help you strengthen your body, make it more flexible, calm your mind and give you energy. Yoga sessions are designed for people of all ages worldwide, for helping promote harmony and balance of the body and mind, where you learn to recognize when one side is stronger or more flexible than the other.

The practice of yoga offers plenty for everyone. You can modify positions and systems easily to meet your needs as well as physical conditions, using a variety of props around you like cushions, chairs, walls, floor mats or other items. A yoga practice can even be customized just for you. Note that with yoga, you do not compete with yourself or others, as yoga is a stress-free albeit powerful way to exercise.

Studies show that up to five percent of the world’s population suffer from diabetes in some form. In fact, an estimated 11 million people in Western Europe alone are reported to be diabetics. And yoga has shown to offer beneficial results in curing diabetes.

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is probably the most common form of diabetes found today out of the many different ways in which diabetes presents itself. And NIDDM or Type II diabetes is known as multi-factorial, dependent on environmental factors as well, like sedentary lifestyles, obesity and negative nutritional issues.

Once you develop a good set of goals for your yoga practice, pat yourself on the back - easy. If you’ve crafted your action plan to tackle these goals, pat yourself on the other side - easy again. Now take a few minutes and finish up and learn how to manage your yoga plans with some management tools.

Logbook, Diary or Personal Journal