Yoga for Allergies

Allergy!!!!!!!!!! A very small word and very irritating manifestations. Only the sufferer can describe that it can affect not only the sleep, concentration, and productivity and but can also worsen the condition by spoiling the mood.

Doctors generally prescribe Allergy shots, nasal steroid sprays, and over-the-counter antihistamines but what is more necessary is the holistic approach towards treatment. Yoga has emerged as a boon to help allergy patients as it allergy symptoms countered by tempering your immune system's response to the offender.

What is required is to include calming poses in Yoga practice so as to synchronize breathing and breathe easily.

Allergy symptoms are aggravated due to stress reactions that cause physiological responses, as a result of which stress hormones and histamine are released from the body, and triggers inflammation. Such patients if practice Relaxation exercises, then the fight-or-flight response of the body is averted, and allergic symptoms are countered.

In the relaxation process, the nervous system guides and directs the immune system to hold its fire. Once the immune system follows directions of nervous system, the inflammation and mucus start to go away, and symptoms are vanished.

Yoga for allergies
Allergy patients must keep in mind that when allergies attack, keep those things away that could aggravate the symptoms and add insult to injury thereby keeping energy level high, since allergies are also associated with low 00210111010000001energy. Yoga experts also advise to restrain you from doing forceful breathing or any pranayama through the nostrils, as congestion worsens the symptoms and breathing becomes difficult and uncomfortable. Make sure to emphasize exhalation more during breathing. It has been noticed practically that; a short inhalation followed by a longer one has a calming effect. If comfortable then moderate Kapalabhatti, Anuloma-Viloma, Ujjayi and Brahmari.

Inversions are best suited in these conditions as the upper respiratory tract gets smoother and secretions from the nose are washed off, allowing freshly oxygenated blood to flow into the oral cavity. Nasal passages become clearer if one practices Sarvangasana and Halasana, thereby resulting in drainage of sinuses. However, it is recommended to avoid bending head too long in poses like Adho Mukha Svanasana and Sirshasana. The allergy symptoms may get aggravated due to extra pressure on nasal passages."

Yoga experts advise to include forward and backward bends, and twists – in yoga practice to get rid of allergy. These exercises give a soothing effect to the thoracic cage and the lungs and also massage various parts of the spine.

Top Yoga Techniques For A Healthy Life

Yoga!!!!! A buzz word for today’s generation!!!! We all talk about yoga almost everyday but many a times it is difficult for anyone to know which particular yoga is beneficial for one’s health and moreover we get confused most of the times about the difference in various yoga poses and asanas. This article is an answer to all these questions and different yoga styles are discussed here.

Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti yoga, as the name suggests is a passionate form of yoga involving affection towards God. When history is recalled the origin of Bhakti yoga is believed to be before hatha yogi. The exact origin is not depicted in history, but yoga experts believe it’s origin around since before the fifth century BC. There are nine forms of Bhakti yoga:

• Sravana (hearing about God);
• Kirtana (singing of the glory of God);
• Smarana (remembering God's name and presence);
• Padasevana (service of God):
• Archana (worship of God);
• Vandana (prostration);
• Dasya (cultivating the Bhava of a servant);
• Sakhya (cultivation of the friend-Bhava);
• Atmanivedana (surrender of the self).

Karma Yoga
The dictionary meaning of word Karma is action or deed, and the outcome or the resultant. Since childhood we have been taught to do the karma in the manner so that the resultant of the actions is maximum amounts of good and the least amount of evil. Karma yoga is another form of dedication towards God. A combination of our actions with the Divine force is our performance. Karma yoga is incomplete if it does not involve selfless service. The history of karma yoga is believed to be originated before 800 BC, when yoga was inclined towards life disciplines and paths.

Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga yoga started around 5000 years BC, and was began by Vivekanand Needam Yoga Sutra. As the name suggests ashtanga yoga means asht (8) anga or the eight limbs or eight fold path formulated by Vivekanad Needam. While practicing ashtanga yoga one needs to focus and concentrate on each of the eight limbs, which are:

• Yama (principles or moral code);
• Niyama (personal disciplines);
• Asana (ashtanga yoga postures)
• Pranayama (yoga breathing);
• Prayahara (withdrawal of senses);
• Dharana (concentration on objects);
• Dhyan (meditation);
• Samadhi (salvation).

Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga emphasizes on power of knowledge. While practicing Jnana yoga, one needs to pay attention on the all the seven stages which are study, self-realization, desire, protection of the mind, developing indifference to objects, letting the world appear like a dream, non-attachment to the world, bliss and knowledge of truth.

Hatha Yoga
Quite popular in the western world Hatha yoga is based on the use of different yoga postures or asanas for the benefit of the body physically. Hatha yoga emphasizes on how to prepare the mind for spiritual journey by conditioning the body. As ancient yogis believed that when the body is in good physical condition, then only mind can concentrate better on spiritual matters.

Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga emphasizes on Kundalini awakening means stimulation of the energy which is found at the base of the spine is. Kundalini yoga is popular as the most powerful yoga. For performing Kundalini yoga one needs to focus on practicing classic yoga poses. Chanting and meditation are also indispensable part of it. The concentration in Kundalini yoga is on breathe control.

Swara Yoga
Swara yoga teaches how to control the inhalations and exhalations from the nostrils and how to manipulate the flow of breath for health benefits. The essential part of Swara yoga is to observe the nostril's breath flow at all times of the day and seasons. Evidences show that Swara yoga has been practiced for over ten thousand years. Initially only high society people, like kings and sadhaks were eligible to practice it.

Raja yoga
Raja yoga emphasizes on synchronization of mind and emotions and makes a balance by controlling one's life force. The meditation style used in Raja Yoga focuses on the Lord. It helps the sadhaka to guide the life force to move up and down the spine, until contentment of mind is acheived. Then awareness is directed to a point in the lower forehead.

Kriya Yoga
The main aim of Kriya yoga is the spiritual growth using meditation techniques that help combining one’s soul with the Divine. The spiritual energy accumulated deep in the spines is guided through meditation. In Kriya yoga the awakening of mind helps drawing the vital energy up and down the spine using mind power.

Mantra Yoga
As the name suggests Mantra yoga means repeat chanting of a word or phrase until the mind and emotions are transcended and the one reaches the stage of super consciousness. Repeating a mantra helps to concentrate the mind meditation and avoids sudden wondering of mind. The mind is then focused better on yoga. Two popular mantras are aum mani padme hum (om the jewel is in the Lotus hum) and asato ma sat gamayo (lead me from the unreal to the real).

By now, you should have got answer to all questions about yoga types.. However, now when the differences in yoga styles are known to you, you may decide what types of yoga are beneficial to you more. Many people practice a number of yoga disciplines, which focus on different aims and techniques. Once you know the yoga types you want to practice, you can search for appropriate yoga teachers or yoga centers. Most types of yoga have practitioners all over the world.

Kapalbhati Pranayama

Kapalbhati Pranayama , another type of breathe control exercise, if practiced regularly, helps to get cure various ailments better than medicines or other therapies.
As the name suggests, "Kapal" means forehead and "bhati" means shining. As a result of Kapabhati Pranayama, a glow appears on the forehead of the person performing it.

How to do it?

• Kapalabhati is done in a sitting posture. The thumb rule is that the concentration must be on "exhaling". Inhaling does not need attention, must be as usual.
• Exhale and make sure that the abdominal muscles are contracted with each exhalation.
• Exhaling must be continued without paying any attention to inhaling all the time.
• Exhale as long as you can.
• Kapalbhati pranayama is recommended to be practiced for about 5 minutes. If one feels comfortable then the duration can be increased to a maximum of 10 minutes.
• Short breaks can be taken for a while at the beginning of Kapalbhati pranayama till one gets habitual of it.
• Kapalabhati helps control obesity, diabetes, kidney and prostate diseases, heart, brain and lung problems and many other diseases

Benefits: cleansing, invigorating, warming, prevents illness and allergies

This breath control is a series of rapid, forced exhales followed by passive inhales. Yoga experts suggest doing it at the beginning of a yoga session. In Kundalini practice, Kapalabhati breath is sometimes done while holding poses.

• Choose a cross-legged position for sitting and make sure that you feel comfortable.
• Start with deep inhaling 2 or 3 times and exhale through the nose.
• Inhale till you feel comfortable followed by sharp and forceful exhalations through the nose.
• Make sure that the belly goes in with each exhalation.
• Concentration must be on passive inhalations, and the cycle of forceful exhales and passive inhales must be continued at a fast pace, so that the belly is pumping continuously.
• Do three rounds of thirty breaths each, coming back to deep inhales and exhales between each round.
• Come back to normal breathing if you feel lightheaded at any time.

Yoga Poses & Yoga Exercises

In Sanskrit, the word “pose” is “asana” (pronounced as “ah-sah-nah”).

Ancient yogis studied human body and then developed various yoga asanas so that each and every part of our body gets benefits from yoga poses. The yoga poses not only give us health benefits but also make us more aware of our body, mind, and environment.

It is however advised that while beginning yoga exercises, one must have a cool mind and experiment with the poses as per one’s comfort and convenience. The benefits of yoga exercises will be noticed faster if one has a playful mind and also the feeling of frustration and competitiveness will not enter the mind. The word of caution one must keep in mind while practicing yoga exercises, is that there must not be any feeling of discomfort or pain.

Important things to keep in mind during yoga practice:

• Never hold your breathe during a pose.
  
  
• Do not force or strain your breath.
  
  
• Whenever you notice Labored breathing, come out of the pose slightly as it is an indication that you’re working too hard.
  
  
• The rule of thumb is that, one can hold for three full breaths through most yoga poses. You must hold it longer only if your body says that you are comfortable in the pose, and if the body shows symptoms that you are uncomfortable, you should come out of the pose immediately.

Types of Yoga Poses

Seated poses

• Seated yoga poses are especially beneficial if practiced for breathing exercises and relaxation or meditation techniques.
  
  
• Seated poses generally advised to be used as a warm up or as a starting point for other poses.
  
  
• Performing seated poses can help improve your posture and open your hips.

Standing poses

• Standing yoga poses are often used as warm up or as a starting point for other poses.
  
  
• Standing poses are beneficial for strengthening your legs, opening your hips and improving your sense of balance.

Inversions

• Yoga experts advice Inversion yoga poses because it helps to improve your blood circulation quiet your mind and improve your overall health.
  
  
• Inversions are also believed to reverse the ageing process and reduce the effect of the gravity on your body.

Relaxation and restorative poses

• Relaxation or restorative yoga poses are more beneficial if performed at the end of each yoga practice.
  
  
• The body and mind get more relaxed at this time and the energy released by the poses in your practice is moved freely throughout your body.

Counter poses

• A counter pose is a yoga pose that stretches your spine in the opposite direction from a previous pose or returns your spine to a neutral position.

Twists

• Twists are generally advised to stretch and strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, increase the flexibility of your spine and improve your circulation.
  
  
• As the body is twisted and released, a fresh flow of blood moves in the body thereby improving the functioning of your internal organs.

Balancing poses

• Balancing yoga poses are great for improving your balance and coordination as well as developing your ability to remain grounded in a pose.
  
  
• Keeping your body balanced encourages you to focus, quiet and balance your mind.

Forward bends

• Forward bends stretch the entire back of your body, especially your hamstrings.
  
  
• Forward bends especially beneficial to release tension, calm your mind and soothe your nervous system.
  
  
• Similar to back bends, forward bends help keep your spine strong and supple.

Back bends

• A great challenge for any yoga performer is to perform back bends successfully.
  
  
• Bending backward helps strength your back and keep your spine strong and supple.
  
  
• Back bends also open the front of your body, especially your chest.

Ashtanga Yoga

The dictionary meaning of the word Ashtanga, is eight limbs.

Advised by all yoga experts and promoted by all schools and branches of Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga is practiced in 8 (Asht) defined steps. The main emphasis in Ashtanga Yoga is on the purification of our mind and soul through 8 (Asht) prescribed steps.

In Ashtanga Yoga, The rule of thumb is to get expertise in each and every step moving on to the next, or even attempting it. The 8 steps are as follows:

1. Yama (Control)
2. Niyama (Rules of Conduct
3. Asanas (Poses)
4. Pranayama (Breath Control) s
5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Sensory Perceptions)
6. Dharana (Concentration)
7. Dhyana (Uninterrupted Mediation
8. Samadhi (Complete Equilibrium)

One should not get confused with order of asanas prescribed in Ashtanga yoga. The sequential order of asanas does not matter in Ashtanga Yoga. Genuinely no specific series (Primary Series, Secondary Series, so on and so forth) has been mentioned in Ashtanga Yoga.

Contrary to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali where asana is described as being still and firm, Ashtanga yoga does not stress on that the actions must be more concentrated or sustained while practicing. Ashtanga Yoga only focuses to get benefits from the traditional eight limbs of yoga (also referred to as Raja Yoga) when it is practiced in prescribed manner as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras.

The modern day Pattabhi Jois Vinyasa series (or the roots of Ashtanga Vinyasa are believed to be originated from an ancient text Yoga Korunta. Pattabhi Jois’s Guru – who has a credit to promote the modern forms of Yoga in 20th century generation, has played a crucial part in their development. Many renowned yoga teachers of today, including B.K.S. Iyengar and Indra Devi, Krishnamacharya have learnt yoga in his guidance and further promoted it.

It helps the youths of today to learn how to make their restive bodies more active and how to synchronize the hyperactive young minds with the infinite energy of teenage boys. Ashtanga Yoga is a rather physically demanding practice

Modern day Ashtanga Yoga does not aim to change much from that practice. The Ashtanga Yoga series for adolescents is the resultant of the way Krishnamacharya modified, tailored and customized his teachings as per the specific needs of a person or group. Krishnamacharya himself did not practice those series at the time. Also he did not teach experienced practitioners and adults the same way.

Ashtanga Yoga Demo