Yama and Niyama in Yoga

Yoga defines yama and niyama as the positive and negative aspects of behaviour respectively. Traditional texts mention ten yamas and ten niyamas but Patanjali's Yogasutra, which is considered the original treatise on yoga, defines five yamas and five niyamas. It has been mentioned that in Manusmirti that it is more important to follow yamas than niyamas. Here we give a brief description on the yamas...

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Yoga is a Safe Solution to Weight Control

Paul M. Jerard Jr.

One more study tells the world, that Yoga can help with weight control and weight loss. The latest study was held by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington.

The study involved 15,500 healthy, middle-aged, men and women. This is a group that typically has dfficulty with weight loss, since the number of calories needed declines, and the energy levels needed to burn calories, is not what it used to be.

Unfortunately, this is a fact that I have become painfully aware of during the past few years, and cutting back on food was my unwanted last option. Although, I cross train almost daily, it took me one year to lose 16 pounds of extra weight.

Back to the study: Yoga practice was defined as practicing at least 30 minutes once a week for four or more years. Comparatively speaking, this is truly "bare minimum," and many Yoga teachers used to say that this amount of Yoga will do nothing.

How times change; Yoga has been keeping people fit for approximately 5,000 years, and its many health benefits are still a mystery worthy of more studies.

Alan R. Kristal, Dr.P.H., the study's lead author at Hutchinson Center's Public Health Sciences Division said, "Men and women who were of normal weight at age 45, and who regularly practiced Yoga, gained about three fewer pounds during that 10-year period than those who didn't practice Yoga."

Until all the studies are in, it would be safe to say that adding Yoga practice to your weekly routine, and eating wisely, will contribute to weight control or weight loss.

When seeking a Yoga teacher, find one who is compassionate, yet will encourage you to practice more frequently. The results you will gain from regular practice, of three to four Yoga classes per week, will be extraordinary, especially, if you practice Yoga for years.

Yoga is very low impact - in comparison to many aerobic exercise routines, and can be practiced for longevity. Your knees, spine, hips, and shoulders, will thank you for the condition Yoga will keep them in. Many of today's "standard" forms of exercise do not have the same "bragging rights," as Yoga.

With respect to eating, take the time to identify hunger and cravings. You will notice that they are not the same thing. Being a chocolate lover, it is much better to eat a piece of chocolate, now and then, than to buy a dozen chocolate donuts. This is not to justify, or surrender, to chocolate, but to eat it in moderation, and not every day.

Based upon what I have said so far, it is all about identification, control, and moderation. We have to stop "mindless eating" habits.

Recently, researchers found that women who received a 1200 mg. calcium supplement, on a daily basis, reduced their number of premenstrual food cravings by 54%.

On another note: When you have anxiety, your body produces more of the hormone cortisol, which may increase the volume of carbohydrates you eat. Carbohydrates temporarily increase our levels of serotonin, making us feel relaxed for the short term.

Learn the art of substituting foods for more nutritionally dense variations. I cover this, in detail, in my e-Book,

Being in the best shape you can be is also connected to positive thinking. Therefore, use self-improvement sources to keep you on the right track toward optimum health.

About the author:
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. an e-book he wrote called: "14 days to Change Your Life," helps people learn better nutrition. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org


Yoga Clothes - A Fit For Better Yoga

While doing Yoga, one should always keep in mind the comfort and the level of stretch one can go through. To be able to achieve that level one should be wearing really comfortable clothes which can be determined as the need of the hour. Clothes have become an important accessory which cannot be overlooked or undermined. As yoga has become part of your life these clothes just become as important as any other things in your life. The clothes which are used for doing yoga are made of different materials making it as popular as ever to all kinds of people for whom it will be very useful. One should...

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The latest information and news on Yoga Articles:

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'Gentle' yoga can benefit elderly or infirm (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Audrey Moss insists that yoga is for everyone -- even for the elderly or infirm.
Yoga instructor attends training (Lawrence Journal-World)
Lisa Giroux, an instructor at the Yoga Center of Lawrence, 920 Mass., recently attended two weekend teacher-training intensives with senior Iyengar teachers Mary Obendorfer and Eddy Marks. Both teachers are assessors for the National Board for Iyengar Teacher Certification of the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the U.S.
Lovepeaceyoga.com Announces Its New Website and Facebook Page, LP Yoga (PRWeb)
Lovepeaceyoga.com proudly opens its online doors and Facebook page, LP Yoga. Customers can custom design Yoga Sling TM Mat Bags and Totes, selecting from hip, retro limited run fabrics. (PRWeb Oct 12, 2008) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1456234.htm
Lovepeaceyoga.com Announces Its New Website and Facebook Page, LP Yoga (PRWeb...
Lovepeaceyoga.com proudly opens its online doors and Facebook page, LP Yoga. Customers can custom design Yoga Sling TM Mat Bags and Totes, selecting from hip, retro limited run fabrics.
Yoga in Turkey: Don't overstretch yourself (Guardian Unlimited)
A yoga retreat that pleases his partner, five-year-old daughter and bank manager ... Kevin Rushby is in heaven
Misunderstanding with yoga guru Ramdev over: Ramadoss (The Times of India)
NEW DELHI: Burying the hatchet with Baba Ramdev, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Saturday said the ?misunderstanding" of the past was "over" as the yoga guru had validated his theory that yoga could cure many diseases, including AIDS.
Tara Stiles: If Sarah Palin Did Yoga... (VIDEO) (HuffingtonPost)
I don't know if Sarah would be into trying yoga. It can be a fairly meditative practice that involves self-observation. Also, I'm pretty sure it's...
Friendship Yoga offering free classes (The Iowa City Press-Citizen)
Friendship Yoga, 1231 Gilbert Court, is offering a free introductory class from 3 to 4:30 pm. Sunday and from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Class size is limited, and reservations are preferred.
Misunderstanding with yoga guru Ramdev over: Ramadoss (New Kerala)
New Delhi, Oct 11: Burying the hatchet with Baba Ramdev, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Saturday said the misunderstanding of the past was over as the yoga guru had validated his theory that yoga could cure many diseases, including AIDS.
Ramadoss endorses yoga for school children (New Kerala)
New Delhi, Oct 11 : Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said that yoga should be made compulsory for school students.

Isn't It Time To Try Kundalini Yoga?

Although there are many types of yoga, and it may be impractical to try them all, experiencing some of the main branches including Kundalini yoga will give you a fuller grasp of yoga's essence and benefits. Kundalini yoga isn't just another practice, however. It's often referred to as the mother of all yoga, and said to be one of the most powerful forms. What's more, Kundalini yoga is a little different from other practices. Most forms of yoga concentrate on the body's poses, combined with breathing and meditation exercises. While Kundalini yoga still concerns itself with forms and poses,...

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