Benefits of Yoga in Human Systems

May 31, 2020 by author

The practice of yoga offers people wellbeing and health benefiting the organs of the body, the serenity of thoughts, and the integration of the spirit with the universe. It is a matter of practicing and creating habits to constantly perform asana sequences, breathing exercises, and meditations that allow the mind to relax.

Human Systems

1. The Nervous System: Is responsible for coordinating the actions or impulses of the body. With the practice of pranayama exercises or breathing techniques, people can obtain a state of tranquility and calmness, with full attention to their thoughts and actions, integrating the senses and responding to situations that arise with awareness and serenity.

2. The Endocrine System: Controls the intensity of hormonal functions in the human body (pineal or epiphysis, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, adrenal, among others). Yoga on the other hand contributes to efficient communication between human systems, balancing hormonal release and strengthening of organs and glands. In general, when practicing Hatha Yoga series with perseverance and discipline, the organism is enriched and in turn, acquires strength for the prevention of diseases.

3. The Digestive System: Is the one that absorbs and transports the nutrients that are consumed and in turn is responsible for decomposing them. In the practice of yoga, it is not mandatory to maintain a vegetative diet, but it is of great importance to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and to pay attention to the foods that are ingested as they add or subtract energy.

4. The Cardiovascular System: Is responsible for the circulation in the blood and the expulsion of substances and salts from the body. One of the styles of Yoga is Ashtanga yoga, this practice being considered as the synchronization between breathing and movement, using the ujjayi breathing (breathing technique), the contraction of the bands (energetic closures), the focus of the distris (focus) and the practice of asanas (postures) providing the purification of the body and the proper functioning of the metabolism, since it accelerates the way in which food is digested and contributes to the easy expulsion of salts and substances.

5. The Respiratory System: Is one of the most benefited with the practice of yoga. This is responsible for capturing the oxygen that enters the blood and runs through the body. With yoga it is about achieved control breathing in order to increase lung capacity, thoracic and abdominal, with inhalations, air retention, and expulsions of the same, guaranteeing the good functioning of the organism.

6. The Osteomuscular System: Is responsible for supporting the body and giving it shape, helping the movement of bones, muscles, and joints, mainly allowing body movement. It is necessary for yoga practitioners to learn about the functioning of the anatomical base in order to avoid lesions or fractures.

7. The Genitourinary System: Is what is known as the urinary system that filters waste and extra fluids in the blood. It maintains the balance of chemicals and water in the body and produces hemoglobin thanks to the production of erythropoietin. Yoga covers every part of the human body, in this way guaranteeing a good optimization of the organism, the mind, and the spirit. It also ensures a state of health and wellbeing, preventing diseases and symptoms such as stress, anguish, joint pain, sleep problems, hypertension, among others.

Practice with responsibility and enthusiasm and little by little you will be the protagonist of a victorious and healthy life.

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Upward Bow Pose

Mar 23, 2020 by author

The upward bow pose is also popularly referred to as the wheel pose or the urdhva dhanurasana. This yogic posture is of immense benefits if correctly practiced. It benefits the body of the performer as well as cures depression and enhances energy. It might be a difficult pose to perform by beginners but can be mastered with practice.

How to Perform the Pose

Step 1 

Lay supine on the ground. Keep your knee bent and keep the feet on the ground, keeping the heels close to your sitting bone. Spread the arms on the ground and bend the elbows along with the forearms, keeping them perpendicular to the ground. Have your fingers pointed towards the shoulder.

Step 2 

Press the inner feet into the ground. While exhaling, push the tailbone towards your pubis keeping it firm. Now, lift your buttocks off the floor keeping it firm. Keep the inner feet and the thighs parallel and take a couple of breaths. While firmly pressing your inner hand on the ground, lift the crown of your head upwards. While keeping the arms parallel, take a couple of breaths.

Step 3 

Lift the crown of your head off the ground while straightening the arms. Exhale simultaneously and press your limbs firmly into the ground. While firming the outer thigh, turn your upper thigh towards the inside. While lengthening your tailbone backward, narrow the points of the hips and lift your pubis.

Step 4 

Turn your upper arm towards the outside and keep the entire weight on the index finger’s base. Spread the blades of your shoulders across your back, and hang your head or slightly lift it to look at the floor towards the bottom.

Step 5 

Practice the pose for around 5 to 10 seconds while constantly breathing. Repeat the same for around three to ten times duration. Repeat the same pose with increased duration for more benefits.

Benefits

• Helps stretch your lungs and chest while strengthening the muscles

   

• Increments energy as well as lowers depression

   

• Stimulates the pituitary and thyroid glands

   

• It is a therapy for back pain, infertility, asthma, and osteoporosis.

   

• Strengthens your wrists, arms, abdomen, spine, and buttocks

   

Mistakes and Contradictions

If you are suffering from a back injury, diarrhea, a high blood pressure problem, a heart problem, carpal tunnel syndrome, or low blood pressure problem, then you must avoid practicing this pose.

How to Perform It Perfectly

In the beginning posture, you can loop around a secure strap on the thighs such that it holds your thighs parallel to the hip. In order to keep your feet from turning away, place some support in between the feet. As you rise, press your feet onto the placed support. To perform it perfectly, the guidance of an expert can help to the core. Put on a comfortable pair of yoga pants along with a t-shirt such that practicing the pose can be carried out without hassles.

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Breaking Myths about Yoga

Nov 29, 2019 by author

Yoga originated in India but has managed to spread around the world like bush fire. It has become very popular in the western world to the extent that it is a cool thing to do. However, not everybody practices yoga. On the one hand, there are lifetime practitioners, and on the other hand, the ones who do not practice because of the myths and misconceptions surrounding yoga practice. We will focus on the myths and misconceptions that surround this practice among those who do not believe in it. The following are myths about yoga:

Yoga is meant for the young and physically fit

Yoga has no boundaries when it comes to age. Anybody can do yoga since it is meant to focus on the overall well-being of an individual. You do not have to be physically fit to practice yoga and there is no limit on the age for those who want to take up yoga. Moreover, yoga practice is also beneficial to the elderly as it can help solve issues that come with old age, including blood pressure and arthritis.

Yoga requires people who are flexible

The poses associated with yoga can be very scary to those who would want to take up yoga sessions for the first time. Advanced yoga enthusiasts have managed to reach those levels of complexities by practicing daily. You need not worry about difficult yoga poses from the very beginning, but instead, you should only do what your body is comfortable with. After all, you do not need to be flexible to practice yoga, instead, yoga is meant to make you flexible.

Yoga can cure your ailments

Yoga can be very useful especially in maintaining good health and keeping the central nervous system healthy. However, you cannot expect that all the diseases will simply go away in just a day. You will need a certain level of consistency in yoga practice in order to start noticing any changes. Therefore, the medication should go hand in hand with yoga.

Yoga is meant for women

This is a misconception. Yoga is meant for everybody and not necessarily women. In fact, the practice of yoga cuts across the gender barrier, men not only practicing yoga but also becoming renowned instructors. Yoga practice for men will help to strengthen the muscles, keep the body in good posture, improve flexibility, and help to relieve stress. Hence, yoga is as important to men as it is to women.

Yoga is better during the morning hours

In as much as there are benefits of doing yoga in the morning, it does not necessarily mean that you are restricted to this time of the day. If you have a busy morning schedule, then you should find some free time during the day for practice. There is no specific time to practice yoga.

Yoga is about asana and pranayama

Asana, which deals with postures together with pranayama, which deals with breathing, is not the only principle of yoga. There are other principles like Dhyaan, Yama, Niyama, Dharana, Pratyahara, and Samadhi. All these principles work together to ensure the overall well-being of an individual. Therefore, many people say that yoga is much more important than fitness.

Yoga practice is boring

There is fun in yoga sessions as you get to interact with your fellow members, trying together to achieve different stretches and body poses. Yoga is not about being serious all the time; there may be moments of laughter and humor during class since not everybody will manage to do the body poses in the right way. Thus, yoga sessions will become more enjoyable.

Yoga means spiritualism

Yoga does not define religion. Anybody who needs peace with himself can practice yoga without any discrimination.
In conclusion, there are lots of myths associated with yoga practice but they should not prevent you from trying it out. It will change your life for good.

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Life is a Spa

Sep 9, 2019 by author

 

Being tangled in a web of insecurities is not fun. Trust me. Just because my hair is done, I have a smile on and my outfit is put together doesn’t mean I’m strong. If you can’t see it, it must not be there.

My life might not be an open book either, but keeping it all together as a working woman, a partner and a mom is not all rainbows and flowers all the time. That’s why I created a place for me to escape daily. There are a couple of ways to do it.

I like to disconnect myself from technology each day a couple of hours before bed. Dim the lights, possibly light some candles and read a book. If my toddler is still awake, I would create a tipi type of a house for us to sit in and read out loud together. I feel that any activity that does not require strong lighting and loud music works well for calming and de-stressing. I call this setting a spa, with no technology in sight where the time is always now.

 

 

We are obviously different, and other practices might work better for you. So, another way of bringing your awareness to the present moment is by stopping and handwriting things down. In this fast-paced world, we can easily find ourselves with difficulties to convey something thoughtfully. The world revolves at a pace that is difficult for us to keep up with. So, we start meshing things together for better optimization of our time. But, we might be digging ourselves a hole in the long run. I think writing is a wonderful practice of mindfulness. Don’t just make lists. Write in full sentences and start forming paragraphs, and later full articles. If you’re comfortable with it, even find an outlet where you can share them.

Maybe stopping and meditating seems too time-consuming to you. You seem to be more accomplished by leading an always on the go lifestyle. But, think of it again from a distant point of view. Slowing down will bring your heartbeat and blood pressure down, and it will balance your overall well-being. It will make you perform better in the short run, and in the long run it will make you go after health resources less frequently. I say try it in the company of a good friend. So, instead of meditation (or a different calming exercise), you can call it a hangout or a casual business meeting. Stopping and mindfully observing yourself will actually make you think of endless new ideas that might come handy at your next big meeting. I say try it.

Life is a spa. It should feel like it, too.

Here’s a calming yoga sequence that works for me in a place of meditation, I would normally do it before going to bed at night for inspiring better sleep:

– Sit cross-legged on the floor, then bring hands in prayer in front of the heart and cross one leg on top of the other, so that the knee is facing up for Sukhasana. Repeat on the other side.

– Now from that same pose, bring both hands behind your back, one from the bottom of your side, and the other from the top. Now try to interlace the fingers on your back, or bring them as close together as you can, lengthening your spine with each inhales. This is called the Gomukhasana pose.

 

– From here on, bring the hands in front. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position. With an inhale lengthen the spine, and with an exhale rotate towards one knee—placing the opposite hand on the knee— before repeating the move on the other side for the Parivrtta Sukhasana pose.

– From the same comfortable seated position, bend your torso over to the front with a straight back. Continue breathing deeply and slowly. The position is called Buddha Konasana.

– Extend one leg at the time and position yourself into tabletop pose for performing cat-cow poses or Marjatysana and Bitilasana.

– Before concluding the sequence, position in a Child’s pose with arms extended in front and finally arms by your side.

Namaste.

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Best Yoga Props

Jul 13, 2019 by author

Yoga is something you can do with very little equipment. You generally just need a mat and some yoga leggings. In some cases, you may not even need the mat. It just adds extra comfort and stability to whatever surface you are on. There are other props you can use to help enhance or improve your yoga practice. None of these are required, but if you want assistance improving a posture or trying to go deeper into a pose, there are some options.

• The first prop you might find useful is a yoga towel. If you find yourself participating primarily in hot yoga classes or vinyasa classes where you’re building heat in your body and sweating, a towel will help so your mat doesn’t become too slippery. A class that is intended to energize you, can quickly become a slippery disaster if you don’t have a towel to go over a yoga mat. If you don’t want to purchase a full towel, it is helpful to have a smaller hand-size towel to wipe off your hands and feet with.
• If you’re reading this article, then you probably already have a yoga mat or at least know that you need one. You may find that carrying the mat around can be frustrating as it might often come unraveled. The easiest way to remedy this is with a yoga mat bag. They are shaped so the mat can fit in, while rolled up, and most come with a strap so you can put it over your shoulder for easy carrying.
• A yoga block is a fantastic prop for helping you get deeper into poses or support you in more challenging poses. Yoga blocks are inexpensive and can be found at any major retailer. 
• Another prop that is great for adding comfort is a blanket. Use it to place underneath your knees during poses like camel poses or any time you feel pressure on your knees. It will help provide comfort during these poses.
• Lastly, if you’re working on your meditation, you may want to invest in a meditation cushion. Trying to maintain proper posture on what can sometimes be a hard floor, and trying to keep your mind clear of any negative or stressful thoughts is challenging. The cushion will provide you with added comfort and help make sure your posture stays correct while meditating, allowing you to let go and clear your mind.

If you purchase one of these props and aren’t sure how to use them, there are plenty of resources out there telling you different ways to use them to help with your yoga practice. They aren’t necessary. They are merely tools to use if you wish to enhance your practice. Yoga is all about doing your best at the moment and continually growing and improving in each posture. Some days you might see a lot of progress, and other days you might feel as if you’ve taken a step back. The point is to keep coming to your mat, and these props can help you with your growth. 

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