Yoga

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:55:56 +0000

By: stylekandy

It’s four going on five! In the last 45 days, India has seen as many as four fashion weeks. Be it the second string Kolkata Fashion Week which is nascent yet promising, or the debutante India Men’s Week, not forgetting the established Lakme Fashion Week and the recently culminated India Couture Week and now the fifth one beckons, the Big Daddy of them all – Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. This one is about putting ICW under a microscope. It was jinxed, many felt. Its existence came last year at a time when FDCI saw a split with Sumeet Nair, who is now practically non existent in the fashion frat. This time around, it was postponed from July to August to September to finally in October. Next year, no one knows if it will happen. The first day stood cancelled, apparently Abu and Sandeep did not get enough passes to accommodate their guests and backed out on grounds of bias. Later a statement was released – We stand cohesively with the FDCI – at least that was heartening! Fashion critics kept insinuating that collections showcased were hardly Couture, barring a select few designers of course. Then there were a few who showed similar collections as shown in previous fashion weeks, perhaps one can’t be blamed since fashion weeks are being held too back to back to be able to churn out a new collection. But then which medical study proves that one needs to show at every ‘week’ to stay healthy? It was nice to see most designers break the bridal genre of couture in India. Like Suneet Verma says, Indian couture is very relevant to Indian fashion, therefore it’s necessary to have a couture week in India. We are designers working in a country that has a treasure of incredible textiles, embroideries and other related crafts which enables us to do super luxe, handmade one of a kind custom made clothing this is a very unique experience compared to the west which has really become about the ready to wear and mass volume collections for most design houses. Even a Varun Bahl who had one of the most stunning collections says, I think India demands High fashion and HDIL did the smartest thing to be the first one to introduce it in India. But the sets this time were not much to talk about, were they? In my opinion the entire Grandeur was beautiful but there is always scope for improvement he politically accepts.

Another point of contention was the presence of too much Bollywood. But then how can one avoid that in the city of Mumbai? Nachiket Barve has a better reasoning, Fashion relates to lifestyle and high fashion is mostly accepted by the Bollywood crowd so even too much of Bollywood is not harmful for a Couture Week. We agree, but only to a point, beyond which it all seems like a farce! A family reunion sort of a thing where one star walks for one friend or wife or sister or whoever The Being Human show had nothing Couture, we we’ll hand it over to them for staging fashion for a good cause, how much ever un-couture the fashion may be. FDCI supremo Sunil Sethi said, It was the biggest show ever, yes as far as star power is concerned, it certainly was.

As for the buying, Kimaya’s Pradeep Hirani said, Kimaya attends 53 fashion weeks across the globe in a year, ICW is one of them. Well, ain’t much to read between the lines here, except for the fact that couture sales is individual centric and doesn’t old much relevance for volume stockers like fashion houses and designer stores. Inference: Do we need a Couture Week? Yes. Is this one serving the purpose? Partially. Is it state of the art? No. Will it happen again? Hope so!

For more information for Fashion Designers and beauty related product, fashion tips for Lakme Fashion Week and fashion deals online you can visit stylekandy.com

Relieve Back Pain With Yoga

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:54:06 +0000

By: Pete Wyatt

Think about it, how many various remedies have you tried when it comes to exercise programs and medications to relieve back pain. Citizens within the western world, tend to put too much reliance upon anti-inflammatory types of medication, which may or may not help in relieving back pain. The same people might also take various painkillers to hide the discomfort they are feeling. However, there are some alternatives and that is exercise.

In the beginning, yoga was a Hindu spiritual practice. It is designed as a series of healing exercises that work to promote the health of both the mind and the body. Hindus often used a beginner form of yoga known as viniyoga. This form of yoga is extremely easy to learn and use, and helps heal in a therapeutic method.

The combination of breathing and movement techniques make viniyoga the perfect exercise for those looking to treat pain within the back and neck. This form of exercise also works to improve muscle strength and posture, as well as promoting overall alignment. If you are a beginner in the world of yoga, you should first speak with an instructor that is certified in the areas of yoga, to help you implement a program that will work specifically for you.

Reducing the amount of tension, thus helping manage pain within the back, is the belief that yoga is based upon. Not every instance of back pain is related to stress, in fact, many spasms within the muscles and injuries cause back pain as well. However, those practicing yoga, hold the belief that by using these techniques and dealing with the back pain through exercises, you can help decrease the amount of time needed for recovery.

Many people suffer from intense pain caused by some sort of injury. This is particularly true if the injury is related to the discs. Treatment and movement both become difficult with this type of back pain; therefore, doctors generally recommend bed rest and medicines to deal with the problem. However, through various research it has been proven that putting a patient on bed rest, may aggravate back issues instead of helping it, due to the inability to stretch as needed. Essentially, when you stretch the spine, as in with yoga, you are creating additional space, releasing pressure caused by an injury.

By combining exercising with breathing techniques, such as with viniyoga, you are improving your back, without placing any further strength on it. Yoga also focuses on the mind, allowing the pain sufferer to benefit from awareness, further giving them control over the pain. Yoga also works to improve posture and create a comfort zone while in the proper posture, eliminating and lessening pain within the back.

When practicing yoga, each pose is experienced between 5 to 60 seconds. There are various levels of difficulty, but the student should always be physically comfortable, while performing the exercise. This comfort level, will determine how long you should be holding the yoga poses. Furthermore, you should find a soft spot, to practice yoga. A mat that is supportive and soft should be used. As you exercise, you are stretching some muscles and loosening others. The yoga experienced is completely involved in the stretching aspect. Tension is often release and blood flow is increased, which means your muscles are getting added nourishment, ultimately creating and training a healthy body.

If you are a beginner, you should be performing only beginner’s exercises. Several great exercises are perfect for those suffering from lower back pain. With one exercise, you lay on the floor, face down. Then, with palms down, stretch the arms straight up. Moving something like a snake and starting with the nose, breathe in and begin to arch the back. Keep arching as far as you can. At your stopping point, take a breath deeply, then hold that position for at least 60 seconds, longer if possible. Do not hold your breath; it is important to remember this.

At some point in their lifetime, almost 80% of American citizens will experience some form of back pain. You should open your mind and consider a gentle exercise, such as yoga, which is non-evasive, as a method to relieve pain; it is certainly worth a shot.

Pete Wyatt is a chronic pain sufferer. His wife has a neuro-stimulator implanted in her back and does not have any painfree moments. Their quest for information to deal with their pain resulted in the creation of their site at http://pain.3trends.com

Healing Grief With Story And Yoga

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:47:50 +0000

By: Sydney Solis

I’ve been fascinated with fairytales lately. It had been childhood since I last delved into their fantastic images, symbols and magical journeys. I’ve rediscovered them all over again for their incredible power of healing.

Recently I worked on the Grimm’s fairytale The 12 Swans, which I renamed based on various sources I researched. I worked on this story this August with storyteller Laura Simms at her annual residency in Philo, California.

I was drawn to tell this tale of a young woman who is responsible for the fact that her 12 brothers must die because of her birth, and must restore her 12 brothers who have been enchanted and turned into swans. Her task is difficult, to spin, weave and sew 12 shirts for her brothers to break the spell, but to add to difficulty, she must not speak or laugh for 6 years and she must make everything from stinging nettles. A king falls in love with her but by trickery of the queen mother, gets the girl accused of witchcraft and dragged to the stake to be burned. She finishes the shirts just in time, sans one last sleeve and restores the brothers, breaks the spell and can finally speak and defend herself.

We are drawn to stories such as fairy tales for the symbols and images they present and how they point to our personal experience on a deep level. Mythologist Joseph Campbell said that the purpose of the symbol is for the witness to experience the transcendent within himself. The physical symbol points past itself and toward the transcendent. One then can have yoga, or union, with that divine within.

When offering a story for telling, Laura said the listener will create their own meaning from the symbols alone, rather than if this story “fits.” As a storyteller my job is not to project my own personal interpretation onto a story but allow the listener to participate in his own experience of the story and its images and make relationships to it.

Aristotle said that the soul speaks in an image. Our task is to listen deeply to the interior landscape of the body, feel it, experience it, uncover the symbols and stories and express it in order to bring a deep awareness of ourselves, undo blocks and uncover resistance and find our ultimate freedom, union of yoga with the self, that is always there, unblemished. It is through yoga, chitti vritti narodaha, by ceasing the fluctuations of the mind, that Patanjali says in the Sutras 1.2, that we can see clearly beyond the mind and perceive the soul. Only after removing this mind’s film of distraction off the shower door with the scouring power of yoga can we identify with the soul rather than the mind and achieve heaven on earth.

A member of the Shambhala community, Simms had us sit twice a day in meditation. The practice forced me to watch my mind and as she suggested, be curious about what and why I am thinking. What is the thought/story going on here? Why am I always retelling this thought/story? And then bring it back to the present. It forced me to become clear about what was really happening in front of me, as well of what is actually happening in the fairytale.

Additionally, Simms gave us little, “mail,” of tasks to do. For me, she recognized through hearing me tell my own stories that there were aspects of myself that I had repressed over the years. There was something lost that needed to be restored and grieved over. Indeed, I had much to grieve – the sudden death of my husband 2 ½ years ago, a traumatic childhood and other sorrows and losses. She had me list 12 things that I had lost and needed to restore. I spent the week picking up things off the forest floor and meandering along the Navarro River in search of lost aspects of myself. Stories arose out of that deep searching that tied back to the story and my attraction to it. How I didn’t speak until I was 4 years old, how I held my creative, expressive self back to perform the duty of a polite and dutiful corporate wife. Those stories became clear in my sitting meditation and walks.

Simms had me tell the story as if I were the mother of the grieving queen who in the story the 12 brothers were to die. Telling my story of experience and expressing my grief through the fairy tale helped me express and become clear of my grief. There was recognition and a naming. That clarity of mind sets us free, to distinguish what is real and what is a delusion of the mind. Delusions like that there were ever weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. A false perception and belief can lead to unnecessary suffering and strife. Our minds are the biggest weapons of mass destructions. To give into fear, guilt, and to believe in other people’s stories imposed upon us. But if we stop and look at the story in the mind, we can get clear, name it and heal it.

The ultimate healing came through forgiveness. I forgave myself for making terrible mistakes in handling my husband’s estate or choices I made throughout my life that had hard consequences. It was a healing reclamation of my authentic self, which culminated in a forgiveness of myself repressing my true self. I mourned the loss. I made peace I did the best I could. I moved on. I have a story to tell.

The Hebrew tradition says God made humans because he likes stories. It’s as if that’s what our whole ego is, a story, offered up for God. So I practice yoga. I tell stories. I share with my family and friends. And life is beautiful.

WORKING WITH THE STORY:

The Twelve Swans

Work with this fairy tale much like you would do a dream. Make a list of the images and symbols that impressed you in the story. Work with the girl, the 12 brothers, the swan, etc.. What do they mean to you? What associations can you make with them? Ask questions such as, what in my life now or in the past is similar to the heroine’s experience? What misfortunes have befallen me? What difficult task have I had to perform? How am I like the Queen mother, making false accusations, internally and externally? How is my life under pressure? What lost aspect can I find of myself? What memory is now healed but lives on as a memory, a symbol, such as a swan wing?

Draw, paint, write a poem or make a personal symbol to represent your relationship and journey with the story.

Contemplate this story throughout your day and in your asana practice. Discover if certain parts of the body and chakras resonate with the story and its symbols. Let it sit in the back of your psyche composting for a while. Journal around any dreams or insights you have. Draw a symbol to represent this task and period of contemplation and work and the out come. Describe it in a few adjectives. Place it under your pillow and ask it to bring you a dream.

Since 2000, Sydney Solis has been spreading the joy and wisdom of yoga and story with classes, performances, trainings and workshops internationally. From her children’s show on PBS to The National Association for the Education of Young Children to the Estes Park Yoga Journal Conference, Sydney enchants audiences of all ages with Storytime Yoga.

Get Physical and Spiritual Relaxation With Medical Tourism in India

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:43:05 +0000

By: Sarah wilson

Due to the ever-increasing cost of healthcare services, people are looking overseas for specialized and cost effective medical tourism. Now capitalization has made India the number one choice for some specific treatments; therefore, medical tourists from all over the world are visiting this country to have the best treatments along with incredible sightseeing. India offers a markedly cheaper medical tourism package; since this country is equipped with major hospitals, sometimes it offers treatments that are not available in UK. It is true that apart from the medical tourism, India is globally famous for its beauty and hospitality; perhaps this is the reason why most of the patients are pleased at the prospect of combining their medical services with an incredible trip to exotic places in India. Medical tourism in India is something that can provide a patient with physical as well spiritual therapy.

Medical tourism in India can be largely defined as a service that integrates medical and tourism benefits together; it mixes leisure, fun and relaxation together with contentment and healthcare. At present, India has become the hub of medical tourism, now patients from various countries come to India for healing their body and soul. In India, one can have the soothing affect with Ayurveda; in fact, it is the biggest attraction of medical tourism in India that offer eternal relaxation to every patient. Surprisingly, people who reside in developed countries also prefer India for having any kind treatment; certainly, it is the low cost and the beauty of this country, which make them start their journey to India. Hospitals of this country are very popular for their personalized care and exclusive health services; there are many hospitals in India which offer rare treatments like cardiac surgery, hip replacements, cancer treatments and fertility work.

Medical tourism has become a common form of vacationing which covers a broad range of medical and tourism services. Popularity of medical tourism in India is increasing gradually; according to a recent research conducted by the global medical tourism association, India is the most preferred medical tourism destination of US patients. You must be wondering that despite of having all latest medical facilities in US why these people come so far for treatment? If yes, then certainly you are unaware about the difference in cost of medical treatments, in fact, cost of medical treatments is India is just half of the cost that one pays for the same treatment in US.

Medical tourism in India is very cost effective. In India, you can have medical and sightseeing benefits at that cost, which a renowned hospital in US charges just for any surgery or treatment. Indian hospitals excel in joint replacement, orthopedic surgery transplants and urology to name a few. These hospitals also offer their international patients the facility of telephonic consultancy, so that patients may also get proper guidance after leaving this country. Therefore, if you are planning to visit India for any medical purpose, then definitely this decision is sensible which will give you incredible benefits.

Sarah Wilson is a tourism management expert with years of experience in overseas medical tourism management. If you want to know more about Medical Tourism in india, lasik eye surgery, gastric bypass surgery, medical tourism New york and more, you can visit www.surgeryunlimited.com

Home Remedies for Prostrate Disorders

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:41:46 +0000

By: Sharon Hopkins

Some of the causes for inflammation of the prostrate gland and related problems are

Sitting for longer periods in one position.

Acute prostatitis can also be caused due to over exposure to cold and chilly climate.

Infectious diseases.

With the increasing age the body gets heavier and looses its flexibility thus increasing pressure on the pelvis making the prostrate vulnerable.

Constipation could also be a reason.

Home Remedies for Prostate disorders

Avoid caffeine in any form like aerated beverages, chocolates and of course coffee and tea as it tightens the bladder neck creating problems for urination.

Avoid consumption of alcohol as this too tightens the bladder neck which could hamper urination. Alcohol is a diuretic and increases urine in the bladder thus creating more problems.

Avoid antihistamines and decongestants as it is more harmful than beneficial.

Stay away from spicy and acidic foods as it affects men drastically with enlarged prostrates.

Be stress-free as it impacts the prostrate gland. Stress can increase adrenal hormones which causes difficulty in urination.

One of the best ways to alleviate urination problem is to have more sex. Ejaculation empties the prostrate secretion that hinders urination.

Try to empty your bladder before going to bed.

Saw Palmetto, herb widely used in Germany is very useful in treating Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). It reduces inflammation, pain, nocturnal urination, retention, trouble in starting urination and dribbling. This should be used for 6 to 12 months and is very effective.

Goldenseal, an antibiotic is very useful for treating prostatitis. It also heals the urinary tract which winces the swollen prostrate.

Lycopene a bioflavonoid extract from tomato reduces dribbling. With strong antioxidant properties it prevents prostrate cancer too.

Pollen (bee pollen) is another method to treat prostrate disorders. It shrinks the enlarged prostrate glands within 6 months.

Although an embarrassing treatment, prostrate massage can provide relief from inflammation and swelling. This is done by the doctor or nurse who inserts a finger into the rectum and massages the prostate for ten to twenty minutes.

Practice Kegel exercises to improve circulation of the tissues. Kegel exercise is done by pulling up all the muscles around the scrotum and anus. Repeat it 10 times and do this at least 5-6 times a day.

You can do Vajrasana and Forward Bend Asana (Paschimothana Asana) to treat prostrate disorders.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

For More Article Visit :: http://www.thearticleinsiders.com/

Self Motivation for Weight Loss and Exercise

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:39:45 +0000

By: Alan B. Densky, CH

If you’ve made the decision to get some weight off – congratulations! For many people, committing to their own fitness is the most difficult step. But in spite of self-motivation, many people discover they don’t know what exercises to incorporate for rapid weight loss.

There are three major sorts of exercise: aerobic exercise, such as jogging; flexibility exercises, such as yoga and other forms of stretching; and strength training, including resistance exercises and weight lifting.

Aerobic and strength training will help you work off the most calories. Because weight loss is dependent on either burning more calories or consuming less, it is best to concentrate on these initially to guarantee your self motivation lasts as you drop pounds.

Generally, thirty minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week is suggested. Increase the duration and frequency as you progress.

But many people whose self-motivation has gotten them to begin an exercise for weight loss program overlook the importance of strength training. Aerobic exercise burns more calories at first, but weight lifting increases muscle mass, and muscle burns more calories than fat. A pound of muscle burns 35 calories a day to function at rest; a pound of fat burns only two calories for the same function.

The fitness consensus used to say that to “build” muscle, you should perform fewer reps (3-5) with heavier weights, and to simply “tone,” higher reps (12-15) at lower weights was the best way. But there is no such thing as “toning.” Definition that happens with what is incorrectly called toning occurs because you have lost the layer of fat on top of the muscle, making it more visible. The size of the muscle underneath depends on how actively you train.

You must “tear down” the muscle so it can rebuild itself afterward. In fact, you don’t build muscle while lifting weights but you do in the days afterward when it’s “resting.” The general guideline for strength training is beginning with three sets of 8-12 reps at a weight that leaves you nearly incapable of executing the entire set. Then, rest for 30-60 seconds before attempting your next set.

Don’t be discouraged if you’re unable to do all of the reps on every set. In fact, use that to gauge when to add weight. If you are doing each set without any muscle strain, you will want to add weight.

Self-motivation got you to start, but most have a difficult time maintaining the pace. It helps to know that the source of our motivations is a belief. Think about it: If you didn’t believe the gnawing sensation in your stomach meant you were hungry, you would not feel motivated to eat.

Understanding what ideas motivate you is essential to losing weight, because when you feel powerfully motivated, you will exercise consistently. NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) is a form of self-hypnosis. And there are NLP methods that can build exercise motivation because, over time, desire to exercise for weight loss alone likely will not be enough to keep you going. Exercise hypnosis motivation therapy can help.

Your initial task is identifying the most important things in your life. We call these things your highly valued criteria. Highly valued criteria are usually intangibles: money would not be highly valued criteria, but the freedom, fun, or security that money can buy would be.

Next, establish what you need to believe to feel motivated to exercise. It’s vital to keep in mind that logic has nothing to do with belief. Things don’t have to be logical to believe them. You may find you already have a belief that opposes this new idea. That’s okay.

While understanding what motivates us is valuable, hypnosis exercise motivation therapy can put these ideas to work by ensuring self motivation lasts. Hypnosis for motivation does this by changing the computer codes in your brain, so you accept motivational ideas.

Belief systems are based in our unconscious mind, which is like a computer. Computers don’t have the ability to reason. The input controls the output. The methods used in exercise hypnosis motivation therapy can make you believe almost anything, as long as you are willing to believe.

You begin by making a picture in your mind’s eye that illustrates something you already believe, such as, “I love my children.” Then you learn to calibrate the elements or ‘Submodalities’ of that mental belief picture.

Next, you make a mental movie that illustrates your motivational idea. Let’s say your motivational idea is, “If I exercise, then I’ll look great and my marriage will get better.” Then you learn how to adjust the Submodalities of this mental image to correspond with the Submodalities in your calibrated belief picture. On the other hand, if a belief is holding you back, the same technique can change that belief to doubt.

Self hypnosis for motivation that uses NLP can provide you with something of an internal personal motivator. Using an exercise hypnosis motivation program ensures that the zeal you began with persists until reaching your objective, and then helps you maintain that objective.

Alan B. Densky, CH has specialized in all aspects of hypnotherapy weight loss, including human motivation CDs since 1978. Visit his Neuro-VISION self hypnosis website and benefit from Free hypnosis articles, videos, and newsletters.

How does Ayurveda work?

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:36:04 +0000

By: Sarah Macartney

Health is a simple concept that resists simple definition. You have probably felt it, and know it when you see it: a person whose step and smile radiate that certain something that feels wholesome and well-nourished. Detecting ill health is easy medical textbooks are filled with its symptoms and signs.

True health is a state of persistent well-being, not a condition of temporary tranquillity or respite from affliction. Well-being is that situation in which one feels inner peace, calm and stillness; states that resist our becoming agitated or unbalanced even when circumstances may trouble or torment us.

The literal meaning of svastha, the Sanskrit word for healthy, says it all: to be svastha is to be established in yourself. Only somebody who is well-established in him or herself will be able to radiate that joy and enthusiasm that we recognise when we see health. In all its prescriptions and proscriptions, preventatives and remedies, Ayurveda’s eye stays firmly fixed on establishing living beings within themselves.

Ayurveda’s fundamental aim is to generate equilibrium at all levels of a person’s being body with mind, physique with environment, personality with society as it pursues its goal of progressively more profound states of self-integration and self-establishment.

When we do fall ill, Ayurvedic treatment aims at neutralising the root cause of the illness. It is not, as with Western medicine, so concerned with the classification of illnesses or with the identification of pathogens. In merely treating external pathogens, only the symptoms, not the underlying causes, are dealt with. By contrast, Ayurvedic treatment methods are often not clinical, but come from changes to our own lifestyle. In this way, Ayurveda always brings us back to self-healing.

Ayurvedic curative aids are not necessarily complex, nor do they always have to be administered by another person. They involve dietary changes, use of herbal supplements, lifestyle changes, yoga and meditation that we can implement for ourselves. The more complex remedies only become necessary when the illness process has been allowed to continue unchecked for a long time.

See more at www.Ayurveda-Yoga.co.uk where you can also purchase top quality Ayurvedic Products as well as yoga equipment.

A Leading Fitness Guru shares the benefits of Yoga

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:33:13 +0000

By: Medimanage

Mickey Mehta is India’s leading Holistic health and fitness guru. Having revolutionized the concept of Wellness, he has been associated with Femina Miss India, Grasim Mr. India, and various other Reality shows on TV, including Fame Gurukul, Channel V – Pop stars, and Channel V – Get Gorgeous.

He is the only privileged health exponent in India to be interviewed on CNN, CNBC and BBC and has also been interviewed extensively on almost all radio stations and all TV channels.

Here Mickey Mehta talks about the benefits of yoga:

Yoga is the world’s oldest system of self-development and encompasses mind, body and spirit. The term ‘yoga’ originates from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning yoke, unite, join together as one. Through the practice of yoga, clear steps are followed which help to integrate and harmonize different aspects of ourselves, bringing about balance, health and energy in our mind, body and spirit. There are various types of yoga which help you beat stress & unwind the traditional way. They all share the same aim, that of connecting & uniting with the divine.

Bikram Yoga: Developed by Yogiraj Bikram Choudhary and taught in 1,200 Bikram Yoga schools in the US, it is called “hot yoga” as the asanas are practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Chowdhary, the heated environment acts as a powerful tool to enhance self-realisation and helps the body tissues to stretch.

Iyengar Yoga: Developed and cultivated by BKS Iyengar over the last 60 years, this form focuses on perfect alignment and precise body movements. This style of yoga uses props such as bands and straps.

Ashtanga Yoga: Commonly called power yoga, it focuses on powerful movements such as push ups and lunges, which require strength and stamina. Ashtanga Yoga is appropriate for people who are already athletic and want to add flexibility, balance and concentration to their exercise routines.

Hatha Yoga: “Ha” denotes the pranic (vital force) governing the physical body, and the “tha” denotes the chitta (mental) force, thus making Hatha Yoga a catalyst for the two energies that govern our lives. Hatha Yoga harmonises and purifies the body systems and focuses the mind in preparation for advanced yoga.

Bhakti Yoga: This form of yoga relies on devotion and complete faith. The faith is generally in God or the supreme consciousness. The person interested in following this path should have a very strong emotional bond with the object of his faith and meditate till he reaches a state of self-realisation.

Kundalani Yoga: This system of yoga is concerned with the awareness of the six chakras or psychic centers that exist in the body. The basic method of awakening involves deep concentration on these chakras and forcing their arousal.

Sivananda Yoga: This system pioneered by Swami Sivananda teaches the five basic principles of proper relaxation, proper exercise, proper breathing, proper diet and positive thinking with meditation. 12 basic postures, relaxation, breathing, chanting and spiritual teachings are included.

Viniyoga: Its taught in small groups and on a one-to-one basis. It aims to develop a personal approach to yoga and also includes therapeutic, philosophical and spiritual teachings. It was developed by Desikachar who is the son of the late, great yoga teacher Krishnamacharya.

Raja Yoga: This is a system of yoga promoted by Sage Patanjali by which one can discover the dormant areas of the mind and consciousness. The process of Raja Yoga is divided into 8 stages: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, dhyana and samadhi.

Karma Yoga: This system of yoga relates to daily activities we perform from morning to night. In Karma Yoga there is a certain philosophy to life and action. Its not what you do but how you do it that is significant. It’s a yoga of non-attachment and yet perfection in action.

To read more about A Leading Fitness Guru shares the benefits of Yoga

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Eczema Natural Remedies – Treat your Eczema Tips

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:30:56 +0000

By: Dr John Anne

Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that can happen to any one at any time. But it is more common among children than in adults. In fact, it is less of a problem in adulthood. It can occur if an individual is exposed to chemical irritants or allergens. There is a whole host of treatments available for eczema. Among all of the treatments, however, eczema natural remedy is actually appreciated by many people.

There are several artificial medications available in the market for treating eczema. However, the treatments offered by eczema natural remedy has no or minimum possible side-effects.

Herbal Treatment for Eczema

In practice, eczema natural remedy is preferred over any artificial or chemical based treatments. When we are talking about herbal treatment, no discussion seems to be complete without the discussion of neem.

Neem offers a wide range of health benefits. Several clinical studies confirmed that both external and internal application of neem extracts may result in alleviating the symptoms of chronic eczema. With the blessing of its exclusive antibacterial, antifungal and blood purifying properties neem is helpful in almost any sort of skin disorders and in maintaining a healthy skin.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Eczema

In Ayurveda, eczema is known as ‘vicharchika’. Typically, eczema is of two types – acute and chronic. The most common form of eczema is of course chronic. The major symptoms of eczema include oozing, itching and exfoliation of skin area.

According to Ayurvedic study, it can result from disturbances of all doshas. The most significant role is, however, played by disturbed pitta and contaminated blood condition. Both of these two factors deteriorate the quality of skin and mamsa and cause eczema. On the other hand, vata and kapha may participate in the pathogenesis in order to produce other symptoms related to eczema.

Each of these three doshas or humors may contribute to the development of unique eczema condition. In the vata type, the skin area becomes very dry with a severe pain and itching. There is a possibility of oozing and symptoms like burning and fever are quite common in the case of pitta type. In kapha type, the skin becomes white and thicker than usual in addition to oozing and itching.

Ayurveda offers rich eczema natural remedy. There are several numbers of Indian aboriginal herbs particularly beneficial for treating eczema. The commonly used herbs for treating eczema are discussed below.

Alsi (Linum usitatissimum):

This herb is commonly known as linseed. To get immediate relief from skin irritation, the oil extracted from linseed needs to be mixed with lime juice and applied on the inflamed skin area.

Arka (Calotropics gigantica): It is commonly known as swallow wort or Dead Sea apple. The Arka juice mixed with sesame oil and turmeric can be applied externally on the affected skin area.

Babul (Acacia arabica): In treating the eczema, babul powder is found to be beneficial. To make the eczema natural remedy from it, you first need it to mix with powdered bark of mango tree. Then the mixture needs to be boiled in water. The vapor coming from the boiled water is used to stimulate the affected area. Later ghee is applied on the affected area after the stimulation session is over.

Mahua (Madhuca indica): The leaves of this herb are particularly beneficial for treating eczema. First, you need to make a paste from Mahua leaves, and apply it as bandage over the inflamed area. It offers immediate relief to itchy pains. However, the bandage needs to be changed at least 8-10 times within 24 hours.

Palasha (Butea monosperma): It is useful in treating dhobi’s itch. It is a type of allergic reaction that mainly occurs due to tight cloths. For preparing the eczema natural remedy, the grounded seeds of Palasha are mixed with lime juice and apply on the inflamed region.

Apart from that, there are few Ayurvedic preparations such as tikataka ghritam, padavalamooladi, talakeshwara, kadiraristha, and mahatikitha kashaya found to be effective as eczema natural remedy.

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health. If you are looking for more information, read about Home Remedies for Eczema and Eczema Symptoms at http://morphemeremedies.com/ – Herbal Remedies and Health supplements

Liberation Of Consciousness

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:27:58 +0000

By: Bruce Boyd

There is a particular mantra (word or phrase used during meditation) of which I am very fond: Baba Nam Kevalam. It is written in the sanskrit language and I have heard it translated into English many ways over the years. “God’s name only” is a very simple, direct and useful one, but I tend to translate it differently for my yoga students. “Everything is an expression of God” or “Everything is an expression of the supreme consciousness.” Whether that is the best translation or not, I can not say, but it works for me, and I believe the statement to be the truth and furthermore that the realization of that truth by a person will result in a dramatic transformation in him/her. A transformation from the “normal” to the sublime, from the tortured to the blissful, from the ignorant to the wise, from the harmful to the benevolent, from the unconscious to the conscious.

Sometimes when I simply reflect on the word “conscious,” I become euphoric. It is so simple, yet so liberating to be truly conscious of something, anything. No big mystery. To be “aware” of something is another way of saying it. If I notify my kids that it is snowing outside, they will immediately run to the window to verify the story, and assuming I have told the truth, they will soon become “conscious” of the snow. They run to the window, not because they don’t trust me, but because they are hungry for that experience of awareness of the snow. Snow is something they have seen before but only rarely in the rainy area we live in. Yet, it is something they love for many reasons. Snow gives them great joy and they drink in the “vision” from the window. What a blessing it is that holds their attention (another word for consciousness I believe) so firmly. The snow is so white and pure, and it floats so gracefully to the Earth seemingly from Heaven. Ten minutes ago they might have been bickering over a toy they don’t even want to play with, but now they are sharing a window as they both witness snow. Their minds are focused, joyful, one with the snow. For my kids, snow is fulfilling the purpose of art, lifting their minds up from their normal existence to a more lofty state.

But what is consciousness? It is something we all have to some extent, some people seem to have more of it than others, and if we get hit on the head too hard, we lose if for a while. But is it something we can cultivate and grow? Can we expand or somehow strengthen our consciousness? I am not talking about the intellect. That is something completely different. That is the computer, the information manipulator, the little puzzle solver. I am talking about consciousness. The consciousness that tells us “I am breathing”, “I am cold”, “The sun just came up”, “I am hungry”, “I exist” “You exist” “I have a blissful feeling in my heart.”

I propose that we consider consciousness a valuable commodity that can be expanded/developed, and something that can be used to an extent we would never have dreamed possible. Furthermore, I am going to go very far out on a limb now and tell you I believe we can use this “super-consciousness” to revolutionize our personal existence and give us undreamed of powers. Next, I would like to introduce the concept of “intuition”. Here is a word we are all familiar with, but not generally in terms of religion. Sadly intuition is thought of as not much more than a lucky hunch here and there, but I think it is a natural albeit undeveloped personal ability, which is both reliable and nothing more than an extension of that day to day “consciousness” that I mentioned above.

So what’s the problem? Why aren’t we all brimming over with the power of intuition? Because:

A. We are drowning in a sea of mental noise

B. There is no “B”

OK, hold on to your hat; this is the way I see it…. Our primary existence is consciousness. Essentially, we are nothing more or less than a pinpoint of pure consciousness. That pinpoint is surrounded by the rest of the cosmos, which I will call “reality.” We are the subject, “reality” is the object (signal) we are trying to be “conscious” of, but (for better or worse) in between we have a layer of noise, which I will call the “ego”, a fictitious sense of self, a misunderstanding of who we are, and that persistent belief that we are this absurd dream identity is the only thing preventing us from experiencing heaven right here on Earth.

So, how do we get rid of the noise and attain this super consciousness? For want of a better word, let’s call it “yoga.” Yoga directly translated means “union,” similar to the translation of the word “religion” by the way. Yoga promises to unite us with our true nature known in yoga circles as “the Self.” The full nature of yoga practice goes way beyond the scope of this short essay, but for the benefit of the novice who may hold the misunderstanding that yoga is merely a set of stretching exercises, I will briefly run over the 8 “limbs” of yoga as originally presented by the great yogi Pantanjali:

1. Yama (a group of 5 morel rules of the road)

2. Niyama; some additional guidelines for day to day behavior (study, helping others etc)

3. Asanas; the physical exercises that have become popular in the West

4. Pranayama; best known as breathing exercises

5. Pratyahara; withdrawal from the senses (preliminary to mediation)

6. Dharana; concentration exercises (meditation)

7. Dhyana; Attention to spiritual phenomena (contemplation)

8. Samadhii; Complete absorption in spiritual experience

I highly encourage anyone interested to seek instruction from a qualified instructor. For more information on yoga and the Baba Nam Kevalam mantra, please visit www.babanam.com.

Baba Nam Kevalam

Bruce Boyd has been a spiritual seeker since the early 70s and spent most of his adult life overseas (Japan, India, Nepal, China, Ireland, and Thailand), studying/ teaching yoga and martial arts. He now lives in Eugene, OR with his wife and kids, teaching yoga and meditation. http://www.babanam.com