Yoga Series Part 3: Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga yoga, also known as power yoga, is a much more intense form of yoga. This kind of yoga session gives you a work out. This style is not recommended until you are very comfortable with the poses.
Ashtanga yoga is similar to Vinyasa Yoga. The most obvious difference is the series of poses never changes. Typically a series stars with 10 sun salutations and then moves to standing poses, such as mountain pose. Once you complete the standing poses, you will move into back bending poses; depending on your skill level. To finish your practice, you will do several inverted poses.
Ashtanga yoga in the West is taught differently. In the West, classes are devoted to a particular series and guided by an instructor. Traditional classes are supervised self practice, where you move through each series at your own pace.
Ashtanga yoga cleanses and purifies the body. The intenseness of the practice causes the body to sweat and therefore removes toxins. The inversions help to purify the body. Ashtanga yoga also includes the benefit of increasing flexibility; and strength in the tendons and hard tissues.
Ashtanga yoga is said to have origins in an ancient text; the Yoga Korunta. This text is thought to have influenced several modern yoga teachers, such as B.K.S. Iyengar. This style of yoga is much more mantra oriented and also utilizes drishtis, or focused gaze.
Ashtanga yoga is an excellent choice for those wanting to further their knowledge, skill level, and understanding of ones self.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Yoga Series Part 2: Vinyasa Yoga
Another style of yoga is Vinyasa. Vinyasa yoga is slightly more vigorous than Hatha yoga, but is less intense than Ashtanga yoga; a happy medium between the two.
Vinyasa yoga has similarities with Ashtanga yoga, in that both link breath with the movement through the poses. The main difference between the two is not only the pace, but the poses. In Ashtanga yoga, the sequence of poses is called a series and the series do not change. In Vinyasa, the poses are called sequences, rather than series, and the sequences often change, depending on your instructor and their mood.
Vinyasa yoga sessions are much more focused on bringing the breath and movement into perfect synchronization. This means that while beginning yogis are welcome, you should have at least a clear understanding of the basic poses involved in yoga.
A Vinyasa session usually starts with several sun-salutations to get the body warmed up and limber. This is followed by more intense poses and stretching. Now don’t be fooled here, this doesn’t mean you’re getting off light. You then begin to move through the poses a more intense pace than Hatha yoga.
Vinyasa yoga is an excellent choice for those wanting a little more out of their practice while still maintaining the variety of Hatha yoga.
Vinyasa yoga has similarities with Ashtanga yoga, in that both link breath with the movement through the poses. The main difference between the two is not only the pace, but the poses. In Ashtanga yoga, the sequence of poses is called a series and the series do not change. In Vinyasa, the poses are called sequences, rather than series, and the sequences often change, depending on your instructor and their mood.
Vinyasa yoga sessions are much more focused on bringing the breath and movement into perfect synchronization. This means that while beginning yogis are welcome, you should have at least a clear understanding of the basic poses involved in yoga.
A Vinyasa session usually starts with several sun-salutations to get the body warmed up and limber. This is followed by more intense poses and stretching. Now don’t be fooled here, this doesn’t mean you’re getting off light. You then begin to move through the poses a more intense pace than Hatha yoga.
Vinyasa yoga is an excellent choice for those wanting a little more out of their practice while still maintaining the variety of Hatha yoga.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Styles of Yoga Series
Styles of Yoga Series- Part One: Hatha Yoga
Yoga is fast becoming a mainstay in maintaining good physical health and it is hard not to be persuaded to try it. But with so many styles and variations out there, how does one choose the right style? In this series, we’ll explore first the traditional styles of yoga and then the more contemporary variations that have come about in the last century.
Lets start with the most traditional style: hatha yoga or flow yoga. Hatha yoga is a general practice that focuses on slow, gentle movements linking breath with movement of the body. Most beginning yoga classes are hatha yoga. Unless a class is specified, such as vinyasa yoga, it is generally safe to assume that you are taking a hatha yoga class.
Hatha yoga is often very slow paced and each pose is held for several seconds, often a minute at a time. Breathing, meditation, and proper stretching and alignment are also emphasized in hatha yoga. This practice is ideal for any skill level, those wanting to reduce stress levels in the body and mind, and those with arthritis, chronic pain or injury.
Hatha yoga is a great place to learn each basic pose, like child’s pose or downward-facing dog. Hatha yoga also teaches proper breathing technique and meditation. Most people can learn these poses easily and even become comfortable enough to practice yoga at home.
So if you are a newcomer to yoga, or an old friend looking to rekindle a bond, hatha yoga is a great place to start.
Yoga is fast becoming a mainstay in maintaining good physical health and it is hard not to be persuaded to try it. But with so many styles and variations out there, how does one choose the right style? In this series, we’ll explore first the traditional styles of yoga and then the more contemporary variations that have come about in the last century.
Lets start with the most traditional style: hatha yoga or flow yoga. Hatha yoga is a general practice that focuses on slow, gentle movements linking breath with movement of the body. Most beginning yoga classes are hatha yoga. Unless a class is specified, such as vinyasa yoga, it is generally safe to assume that you are taking a hatha yoga class.
Hatha yoga is often very slow paced and each pose is held for several seconds, often a minute at a time. Breathing, meditation, and proper stretching and alignment are also emphasized in hatha yoga. This practice is ideal for any skill level, those wanting to reduce stress levels in the body and mind, and those with arthritis, chronic pain or injury.
Hatha yoga is a great place to learn each basic pose, like child’s pose or downward-facing dog. Hatha yoga also teaches proper breathing technique and meditation. Most people can learn these poses easily and even become comfortable enough to practice yoga at home.
So if you are a newcomer to yoga, or an old friend looking to rekindle a bond, hatha yoga is a great place to start.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Health Benefits of Yoga
The Health Benefits of Yoga: Why Everyone Should Do It
Yoga is an increasingly popular practice, now offered in most gyms and workout studios across the U.S. But why are so many people drawn to it? What is the big deal?
The big deal is the amount of health benefits from practicing yoga. Flexibility is often what comes to mind when one thinks of yoga; but there are more benefits to yoga than just becoming flexible.
The first thing that yoga teaches is breathing and meditation. Meditation has long been used to fight stress and depression, as well as heighten your awareness of your mind and body in harmony. Meditation is essentially a concentration on what is going on at present. Meditation slows the breathing and heart rate, and increases the alpha, theta, and delta brain waves, which are the physiological opposites of a stress response.
Yoga also has great physical benefits, first and foremost being flexibility. You can reach around to scratch the middle of your back without feeling like you have to dislocate your shoulder to do it. You can bend down to smell the flowers and not worry about being able to stand back up. Flexibility also means your joints are healthier, which can help prevent injury and treat mild forms of arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Another physical benefit of yoga is the ability to achieve strength in your entire body, starting with your core. A strong core also carries with it a stronger lower back. Many people have some form of a lower back injury or weakness and keeping your core strong is essential in maintaining a healthy back.
Balance is crucial in life. Standing yoga poses encourage your body and mind to learn how to achieve and maintain balance. There are also arm balancing poses that increase the strength in your arms and shoulders.
Yoga teaches you how to maintain strength and agility and balance in your body and your mind. Yoga can be as relaxing or as intense as you want it to be. Yoga can be tailored to you and your body and your needs. Go ahead, give it a try.
Yoga is an increasingly popular practice, now offered in most gyms and workout studios across the U.S. But why are so many people drawn to it? What is the big deal?
The big deal is the amount of health benefits from practicing yoga. Flexibility is often what comes to mind when one thinks of yoga; but there are more benefits to yoga than just becoming flexible.
The first thing that yoga teaches is breathing and meditation. Meditation has long been used to fight stress and depression, as well as heighten your awareness of your mind and body in harmony. Meditation is essentially a concentration on what is going on at present. Meditation slows the breathing and heart rate, and increases the alpha, theta, and delta brain waves, which are the physiological opposites of a stress response.
Yoga also has great physical benefits, first and foremost being flexibility. You can reach around to scratch the middle of your back without feeling like you have to dislocate your shoulder to do it. You can bend down to smell the flowers and not worry about being able to stand back up. Flexibility also means your joints are healthier, which can help prevent injury and treat mild forms of arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Another physical benefit of yoga is the ability to achieve strength in your entire body, starting with your core. A strong core also carries with it a stronger lower back. Many people have some form of a lower back injury or weakness and keeping your core strong is essential in maintaining a healthy back.
Balance is crucial in life. Standing yoga poses encourage your body and mind to learn how to achieve and maintain balance. There are also arm balancing poses that increase the strength in your arms and shoulders.
Yoga teaches you how to maintain strength and agility and balance in your body and your mind. Yoga can be as relaxing or as intense as you want it to be. Yoga can be tailored to you and your body and your needs. Go ahead, give it a try.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Organics Come to Rural Communities
I live in a small, rural community 100 miles from the capital. For many years, the nearest organic food store was 8 miles from my home. When you don’t work anywhere near these kinds of stores, spending the money in gasoline to shop there doesn’t make a lot of sense does it?
Organic foods are a healthier way for people to enjoy foods without worrying what they are ultimately putting into their bodies. Many people in rural communities often have the misunderstanding that organics are expensive and only available to the rich and elite. And until recently, organic foods were only available in specialty stores, such as Wild Oats Markets or Whole Foods, further feeding that notion. Now, many major chains, such as Safeway and King Soopers, are now offering more selections of organic foods.
Safeway and King Soopers both are just minutes from my home and both have started to carry organic products. Both chains now have an entire sections devoted to organic juices, soups, and soy, rice and almond milk. You can also look for Safeway’s own brand of organic products at a slight lower cost than brand names. King Soopers also offers a section in which you can purchase natural herbs such as Echinacea and cranberry and St. John’s Wart. Both stores carry a quality selection of organic meats, cheese, and produce. And since these stores excel at saving people money, these products are offered a lower price than traditional organic stores.
Another way organic foods are available is farmers’ markets. Most communities have farmers markets on the weekends, and more farmers are offering organic produce. There is one I like that offers the biggest organic tomatoes you have ever seen.
People in rural communities now have increasing access to organic products and they can take comfort in knowing what they are feeding their families.
Organic foods are a healthier way for people to enjoy foods without worrying what they are ultimately putting into their bodies. Many people in rural communities often have the misunderstanding that organics are expensive and only available to the rich and elite. And until recently, organic foods were only available in specialty stores, such as Wild Oats Markets or Whole Foods, further feeding that notion. Now, many major chains, such as Safeway and King Soopers, are now offering more selections of organic foods.
Safeway and King Soopers both are just minutes from my home and both have started to carry organic products. Both chains now have an entire sections devoted to organic juices, soups, and soy, rice and almond milk. You can also look for Safeway’s own brand of organic products at a slight lower cost than brand names. King Soopers also offers a section in which you can purchase natural herbs such as Echinacea and cranberry and St. John’s Wart. Both stores carry a quality selection of organic meats, cheese, and produce. And since these stores excel at saving people money, these products are offered a lower price than traditional organic stores.
Another way organic foods are available is farmers’ markets. Most communities have farmers markets on the weekends, and more farmers are offering organic produce. There is one I like that offers the biggest organic tomatoes you have ever seen.
People in rural communities now have increasing access to organic products and they can take comfort in knowing what they are feeding their families.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Recycle At Home
Reduce, Re-use and Recycle At Home
Ways you can reduce your waste and help the planet.
With all this talk about carbon footprints and global warming, many people are wondering how do to their part. Other than reducing fuel and energy consumption, recycling is a way to lessen our impact.
Each year, billions of tons of trash are deposited into landfills across the country. While most communities offer recycling programs, most residents are not aware of their availability. In my community, recycling is available through the city as part of the trash pick-up program. You can get bins for trash, paper, and glass and plastics. There is also a landscape recycling program.
But what can you do at home? There are things you can do at home to get more than one use out of many everyday products.
Old jeans can be sewn into bags for groceries or even diaper bags. Old clothing can be used in quilts and blankets. If you can’t think of a reason to keep it, donate it to your local Goodwill store.
Plastic grocery bags make great lunch bags or trash can liners for smaller trash cans. Or they can be used as package fillers or as ice bags. Glass jars from pickles and olives can be used as candle holders, or a place to put used grease so it doesn't clog your pipes.
Use leftover water from hiking trips to water plants. If you have an area available, start a compost heap. Tree branches can be used to shade gardens or make mulch. Lemon and orange rinds can be placed in dishes in rooms as air fresheners.
All in all, we can all do our part to re-use and recycle everyday products.
(On a side note, Safeway now gives shoppers $0.05 back on your grocery bill for every bag you bring in to put groceries in)
Ways you can reduce your waste and help the planet.
With all this talk about carbon footprints and global warming, many people are wondering how do to their part. Other than reducing fuel and energy consumption, recycling is a way to lessen our impact.
Each year, billions of tons of trash are deposited into landfills across the country. While most communities offer recycling programs, most residents are not aware of their availability. In my community, recycling is available through the city as part of the trash pick-up program. You can get bins for trash, paper, and glass and plastics. There is also a landscape recycling program.
But what can you do at home? There are things you can do at home to get more than one use out of many everyday products.
Old jeans can be sewn into bags for groceries or even diaper bags. Old clothing can be used in quilts and blankets. If you can’t think of a reason to keep it, donate it to your local Goodwill store.
Plastic grocery bags make great lunch bags or trash can liners for smaller trash cans. Or they can be used as package fillers or as ice bags. Glass jars from pickles and olives can be used as candle holders, or a place to put used grease so it doesn't clog your pipes.
Use leftover water from hiking trips to water plants. If you have an area available, start a compost heap. Tree branches can be used to shade gardens or make mulch. Lemon and orange rinds can be placed in dishes in rooms as air fresheners.
All in all, we can all do our part to re-use and recycle everyday products.
(On a side note, Safeway now gives shoppers $0.05 back on your grocery bill for every bag you bring in to put groceries in)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Environmentally Friendly Companies
Environmentally Friendly Companies
Companies you can partner with in the fight to save the planet!
With the recent concerns surrounding global warming and mankind’s carbon footprint, many companies have begun to take a closer look at their environmental practices. Some of these companies have been practicing environmental responsibility for several years, others for only a few short years.
One company that strives to make their product as environmentally friendly as possible is Teko Socks. This Boulder based company uses 100% wind energy to power their North Carolina factory. The socks are packaged with minimal, 100% recycled materials. The socks themselves are made from recycled polyester. This is a company that people can buy comfortably knowing that it leaves a minute impact on the planet.
SC Johnson is the maker of many products including Windex, Ziploc, and Glade products. Current television advertising proves that SC Johnson is striving to make their products less environmentally destructive. SC Johnson’s website touts wind power and the use of turbines for several of their factories and using 95% recycled corrugate shipping containers.
During a visit to the Anheuser-Busch plant in Fort Collins, Colorado, I discovered that the “King of Beers” is also striving to leave a smaller carbon footprint. The maker of Budweiser proudly states that they recycle 99% of their waste. They currently recycle 27 million cans annually through their subsidiary recycling company. They also reclaim nutrient-rich leftover water, and use the leftover grains for cattle feed.
Apple Computers is now creating earth friendly computers. New Macs are made with recyclable glass and aluminum and only consumes one light bulb worth of power while operating. Apple also uses mercury-free LED displays and lead-free glass. Apple has banned the use of lead, arsenic, asbestos, cadmium and mercury in all of their products. They have also instituted recycling programs in 95% of the countries where Apple products are sold.
Everyone’s favorite coffee maker not only supports Fairtrade coffee and teas, they also support recycling programs. Starbucks cups and sleeves are made with post-consumer fibers. They also support organizations such as Conservation International. Starbucks even has a link on their website devoted to composting.
These are companies that we can all feel comfortable buying products knowing that the impact on Mother Earth will be minimal.
For more information on the products and companies discussed here, please visit their websites:
www.tekosocks.com www.starbucks.com
www.anheuser-busch.com www.scjohnson.com www.apple.com
Companies you can partner with in the fight to save the planet!
With the recent concerns surrounding global warming and mankind’s carbon footprint, many companies have begun to take a closer look at their environmental practices. Some of these companies have been practicing environmental responsibility for several years, others for only a few short years.
One company that strives to make their product as environmentally friendly as possible is Teko Socks. This Boulder based company uses 100% wind energy to power their North Carolina factory. The socks are packaged with minimal, 100% recycled materials. The socks themselves are made from recycled polyester. This is a company that people can buy comfortably knowing that it leaves a minute impact on the planet.
SC Johnson is the maker of many products including Windex, Ziploc, and Glade products. Current television advertising proves that SC Johnson is striving to make their products less environmentally destructive. SC Johnson’s website touts wind power and the use of turbines for several of their factories and using 95% recycled corrugate shipping containers.
During a visit to the Anheuser-Busch plant in Fort Collins, Colorado, I discovered that the “King of Beers” is also striving to leave a smaller carbon footprint. The maker of Budweiser proudly states that they recycle 99% of their waste. They currently recycle 27 million cans annually through their subsidiary recycling company. They also reclaim nutrient-rich leftover water, and use the leftover grains for cattle feed.
Apple Computers is now creating earth friendly computers. New Macs are made with recyclable glass and aluminum and only consumes one light bulb worth of power while operating. Apple also uses mercury-free LED displays and lead-free glass. Apple has banned the use of lead, arsenic, asbestos, cadmium and mercury in all of their products. They have also instituted recycling programs in 95% of the countries where Apple products are sold.
Everyone’s favorite coffee maker not only supports Fairtrade coffee and teas, they also support recycling programs. Starbucks cups and sleeves are made with post-consumer fibers. They also support organizations such as Conservation International. Starbucks even has a link on their website devoted to composting.
These are companies that we can all feel comfortable buying products knowing that the impact on Mother Earth will be minimal.
For more information on the products and companies discussed here, please visit their websites:
www.tekosocks.com www.starbucks.com
www.anheuser-busch.com www.scjohnson.com www.apple.com
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