Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP Yoga not only benefits the mother, it also has positive benefits for the baby because during Yoga exercises, the baby receives higher levels of oxygen and endorphins. Yoga for pregnant woman helps improve circulation and fluid retention in the body. Asanas also help in relieving the aches and pains of pregnancy as a result of the growing weight of your baby.
Yoga has always contained ethical guidelines and methods for people to co-exist in harmony. The Yamas and Niyamas have changed a little…
In addition to these specific asanas, the practice of controlled breathing relaxes muscles and calms the autonomic nervous system, reducing vascular pressure and lowering heart rate. Recommended poses and breathing exercises vary depending on individual experience and degree of symptoms. As you should have learned in your foundational yoga teacher training, most of the recommended asanas for varicose veins are inversions which are contraindicated for high blood pressure, stroke recovery, eye problems, and heart conditions.
You can think of prana as “life force.” In yoga, the word “prana” is used, but the same concept is present in many forms of philosophy, religion and medicine that arose in the Far East. In Chinese medicine, it’s called “chi” or “qi.” In some forms of Buddhism, it’s translated as “energy wind” or “inner wind.” Regardless of what it’s called, moving, strengthening and cleansing our prana is one of the primary goals, if not the primary goal, of yoga, not to mention the goal of Tai Chi, Qigong, acupuncture, Reiki, certain forms of massage and certain meditative practices.
The practice of Hot Yoga has grown out of Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga outlines a set practice of Yoga asanas, in a specific order. Hot Yoga utilizes Bikram Yoga as a framework from which to build a powerful and effective Yoga practice. The use of a heated and humid room is also a core element of any Hot Yoga practice. Truly, Hot Yoga practitioners and teachers owe a debt of gratitude to Bikram Choudhury and his teacher, Bishnu Ghosh, in the creation of such a powerful and healing Yoga practice…
Yoga can be of great benefit to young athletes, particularly for its ability to connect mind and body. Athletes, especially those in high school and college, tend to use and often to abuse their bodies.
While many students attend class after work, the perfumes and lotions that remain on their skin are often distracting during class. Some students have allergic reactions, headaches, or other sensitivities as a result of strong smells, and the best practice is to just skip the scents on the days when you attend yoga class. For the benefit of all, students who do not believe in bathing should not be admitted to a yoga class.
Hyper-extended elbows are quite common for active people and this can create problems for the average yoga student. Stretch your arm out in front of you and if it easily twists outward, then you will have to be particularly conscious of your elbows while in weight-bearing postures. Putting weight on a hyperextended joint will wear away the joint tissue and cartilage over time. If a joint is inflamed it requires a healing process that may include a doctor’s visit, hot and cold therapy, rest, or something else.
Should you read Yoga books to become a Yoga teacher? Yes, you will have to read and much more. Yoga books, DVD’s, and CD’s set a foundation of Yoga teaching knowledge, but there is much more to this, in order to become a Yoga teacher.
The audience needs to feel engaged. While it may seem like an obvious factor in the success of a video, it is often forgotten. Gone are the days where watching a yoga instructor in a studio satisfied viewers. Today, successful yoga videos need to inspire and stimulate. Viewers should be drawn to watch the video, whether or not they are following along. The trend is for yoga DVDs to feel more like feature films.