Category: Yoga

Our bones, like everything else in the body, must be used in order to remain strong and durable. The older you are, the more this becomes important in order to avoid osteoporosis (brittle bones) in later life. Yoga could be the answer for you if you're looking to boost your bone's density and strength. When we think of exercise we connect it with either losing weight or building muscle. A good exercise session will also have an impacto on our bones. Weight bearing movements stimulate increased bone density because the muscles pull against the bones during the workout. The bones respond to this pressure and stress by building themselves up. The stronger the muscle, the more pressure is put on the bones. Yoga backbends support the spine while seated postures safely open up and work the hips. Cobra pose counteracts the forward hunch from which many individuals with bone loss suffer. Standing poses work the hip bones by putting a great deal...

As any chiropractor will tell you, improper posture or spinal injury can create a host of seemingly unrelated physical issues. For example, misaligned cervical vertebrae might be related to headaches and sore throats while problems in the lumbar region of the spine could also lead to tingling in the feet or persistent knee pain. Basically, the back and neck have a lot of responsibilities; they support lifting and carrying, walking and running, turning and sitting still and any other type of physical activity a person is involved in. The majority of the population suffers from or will suffer from moderate to severe back pain. Many with weak or chronic back pain use yoga to build strength and flexibility plus manage their symptoms. Yoga is one of the few strength building or fitness activities that can claim respect for the spine and all that it does. In fact, rather than putting stress on it like when weightlifting or putting it at high...

Sun Salutations limber up the whole body in preparation for the asanas (stable postures) in yoga practice. The movements allow us to honour the yang or masculine side of our energy. Just as the sun rises each day and warms the earth, the movements wake up the body; they are often practiced at dawn. They are a graceful sequence of twelve basic positions performed as one continuous exercise. Each position counteracts the one before it, stretching the body in a different way and alternately expanding and contracting the chest to regulate the breathing. Practised daily, they will bring great flexibility to your spine and joints as well as trimming your waist. One round of Sun Salutations consists of two sequences, the first leading with the right foot and the second with the left. Below is an illustration of the 12 positions. ...

Worryingly, it’s not just a matter of exhaustion. Insomnia sufferers are also at significantly higher risk of major health problems, ranging from depression and anxiety to immune deficiency and heart disease. Additionally, compared with people who sleep well, people with insomnia are more likely to experience low mood, lack concentration and struggle to ‘get things done’ at work or at home, and to suffer from lack of energy. The depressing list goes on, as disrupted sleep is also associated with weight gain and obesity. If lack of sleep is an issue for you, yoga can help give you the good night’s rest you crave. Through the gentle physical exercise, breathing techniques and complete relaxation yoga encourages, you can promote regular and restful sleep patterns without resorting to medication. As a starting point, simply lie on your back either with your legs straight and apart, your feet falling to the side or with your knees bent and the soles of your feet flat...