Yoga

Yoga For Diabetes

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Diabetes is a chronic and currently incurable condition in which too much glucose (sugar) is present in the blood.

In a nut shell, the problem with people suffering from diabetes is that they cannot utilize the glucose in their blood. Glucose is a simple sugar and the body cells use this glucose and convert it into energy. A hormone called Insulin is the key which opens the door that lets glucose into the cells so that the cells can use them to make fuel. In Diabetes the hormone Insulin is either produced insufficiently, or the body resists the action of Insulin on cells. So the glucose builds up in the blood, and it goes waste as the glucose cannot reach inside the cells.

Other facts worth knowing:

Our mental stresses also dump glucose in the blood and not just food! (under the influence of stress hormones)

Too much fat, especially in the abdomen will give rise to insulin resistance.

The cells of muscles that are exercising dont need insulin to open up their doors to let glucose in! Their doors are open independent of insulin levels or sensitivity.

Why Yoga for Diabetes?

Stress management:

Regular practice of Asanas, Pranayama (breath regulation), and Meditative techniques have been proven to reduce perception of stress and anxiety. Regular practice of all these will help us better manage our daily stresses by making us better understand ourselves and our relations to others and the outside world. After all, Yoga is a journey of self discovery.

Controlled diet:

Regular practice of Yoga creates a positive shift in our habits by encouraging a healthy reconnection to food and by development of physical empowerment through cultivation of present moment awareness. Yoga also brings about a balance in the bodily processes (nervous and hormonal functions) and in the emotions which lead to an overall reduction in the quantity of food consumed, decreased eating speed and an improvement in food choices. Yoga also makes us feel more connected to and positive about our physical well being.

Thus, with regular practice we will become naturally conscious of the food we consume, and we develop the awareness of whether a particular thing is right to do or not.

Regular exercise to burn the excess glucose:

It is a well known fact that active muscles do not require insulin to utilize glucose. So when our muscles are working, not only is the excess glucose being used up, but also the sensitivity of other cells to insulin increases.

Although we dont want to consider asanas as just exercises, lets face it! A lot of muscles are definitely acting so that we can get into a posture or maintain it. And since the leg muscles are some of the bulkiest muscles of the body, all the leg work done in maintaining asanas like chair posture or warrior postures will definitely use up a lot of glucose. It is also just as well to know that the regular practice of asanas and practices like kapalabati will also revitalize the internal organs by massaging them slightly.

YOGA PRACTICES COMMONLY USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES:

Asanas: Parivritta Trikonasana, Uthkatasana, Veerabhadrasana, Vakrasana, Ushtrassana, Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana, Sarvangasana, Matsyasana.

Pranayama: Kapalabati, Nadi shodhana, Sitkari, Bhramari.

Shreyas is an exclusive and private boutique Yoga retreat situated about 35 km from the center of Bangalore. In design, aesthetics, service and comfort levels, Shreyas has been compared to some of the more exclusive and luxurious boutique hotels in South East Asia. It is also a member of Relais and Chateaux, a collection of the finest hotels in the world. Yoga classes (Asana, Pranayama, Meditation techniques) at Shreyas are conducted by experienced teachers. A consultant Ayurvedic doctor and a Naturopath will also guide you in your journey towards healthy living. The no alcohol policy, the light vegetarian cuisine, the serene nature, the spiritual music, the chanting and The Special Yoga Packages that we offer are all designed so that you can experience wellbeing at all levels.

Yoga Practice For Pain Management

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Many people have been wondering about yoga, if it can help cure pain. If theres a specific Yoga instructor just for handling pain. If there are specific Yoga postures dedicated to pain alleviation. If Yoga has some limitations on the kind or intensity of the pain.

Yoga advocates and students are increasingly attesting to the positive results of their Yoga classes which they attend 2-3 times a week. But, similar to typical dietary programs or treatments, yoga has its limitations.

So, as far as yoga is concerned, it’s more of making the newbie perform yoga consistently with diligence. Just like prescription medications, yoga does not offer any definite cure for all complained pains.

Definitely Yoga assures a distraction from the pain and teaches the student to handle it better without negative repercussions.

Constant performance of yoga leads to a turnaround in way of life and makes the practitioner scrutinize their day-to-day activities, even their dietary habits. Yoga differs from the usual exercise programs or the recent wellness fads. Archeological findings have shown the existence of Yoga for more than 5 thousand years. That is definitely not the lifetime of a fad.

Now, to the question of an instructor with focus on pain relief. A yoga teacher that would be effective for pain management should be well informed in the employment of props. That instructor should know very well that yoga stances are tailor-able to students’ specific requirements. So if you feel the slightest rigid Im the teacher and only I know whats best attitude, drop that teacher immediately.

A critical component for a yoga instructor is compassion and the facility to assist students experiencing different illnesses. If this characteristic is not discernible nor felt at all, this instructor cannot fulfill your requirements. Yoga is adaptable to meet specific requirements of its students. Any instructor who hasn’t experienced any previous pain would not be able to feel with the student enough to recognize and accept. This makes a leading or famous Yoga teacher, despite capability of doing all postures with a perfectly toned body like an Olympian, not the best one to have any understanding of the pains youre having.

For those who are going through constant aches, several styles can be adjusted to your particular needs. There is the Restorative yoga, Therapeutic yoga, Iyengar yoga, Yotherapy or Tri-yoga. Take note that these styles depend on the instructors perspective of the principles of each style.

There are times when doctors dont recommend yoga when there is severe pain, like in severe arthritis. The reason behind this is that any posture is bound to hurt your joints. If you find yourself in this situation, where even the mild styles would be forbidden, you should ask that the reason for that advice be explained to you. If ever you’re not satisfied with the answer (or explanation), feel free to get a second opinion from another teacher.

If you want to act on the pains or aches you are going through, consult your doctor. And if your doctor gives the okay, have a go at other options with a Yoga teacher who’s been known to cater to students suffering from aches and pains.

Historical Health And Fitness Trends

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Many people nowadays may probably be living a toxic and always busy lifestyle. However, this should not hinder any one from targeting a goal to be healthy and fit. In fact, there are numerous health spas and gyms that can be found everywhere offering services and facilities for people who want to be fit and healthy. Included in the services are popular trends in health and fitness that aids in the overall improvement of a persons well being.

During the early part of the 20th century in Germany, Joseph Pilates has developed one of todays hottest trends in health and fitness. The program of Pilates entails improving the central postural muscles which are essential in balancing the body and in supporting the spine. Also, Pilates is aimed at teaching proper breathing, aligning the spine and strengthening the muscles. In brief, Pilates works on the good physical and mental condition of the body.

In America, at the height of economic depression during the 1920s, the art of pole dancing was developed. Pole fitness is one of the forms of this pole dance which some people nowadays are utilizing for their health and fitness regime. A pole is used in firming and conditioning the arms, thighs, abs and back. The program incorporates combination of jazz, ballet, acrobat and gymnastics.

In the early part of 1970s, Hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga was developed by Bikram Choudhury. This synthesized form of the traditional yoga is focused on the bodys overall wellness. Hot yoga involves deep stretching to prevent injury and relieve stress. Every muscle, organ and joint of the body is stimulated and restored its healthy condition. In this form of yoga, a participant is required to stay warm by wearing layers of clothing or switching a rooms heat on.

During the 1990s in Colombia, Zumba was developed by the choreographer Alberto Perez. This physical fitness program combines international and Latin music and dance for a more enjoyable exercise. Aside from being entertaining, Zumba is perfect in polishing the bodys shape as it helps boost metabolism or the rate of burning calories in the body. Balance and posture are also improved with the programs basic steps.

Kettlebells, also called girya are exercise tools looking like a cannon ball with handle of a large iron bowl with handle. They surprisingly make a person on a workout session to feel lively and comfortable while exercising. This revolutionary equipment helps improve the muscle mass in many key areas of the body such as back, thighs and abs. This fitness program is also effective in increasing the fat burning rate of the body for a slim waist.

Speaking of burning calories, another fitness trend called Spinning is utilized to effectively shed 900 calories. In fact, Spinning is one of the intense workouts for fitness. Spinning involves loud and thumping music while sweating out on a stationary bike.

Tai-chi is a fitness trend popular which has its origin from the Far East. This workout is executed on a standing position while moving in a very slow and methodical fashion, the body is twisted and the limbs are raised or lowered. A soothing and quiet music is used while doing this program.

Yoga Program

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Yoga Styles: Guide to the Most Popular Types
The image of yoga has changed during the past years. If once, the first picture that popped your mind was of a group of white wearing weirdoes standing on their heads and breathing loudly, now you are probably thinking about Madonna’s well shaped arms. Currently, yoga is one of the most popular fitness activities worldwide. One of its appeal is that it can be practiced by elders and it can improve the overall physical fitness of athletes.

If you want to start practicing yoga, here is a quick guide to the basic types of yoga. While most of them are based on the same ancient postures, each yoga style has a different focus. Some of the yoga styles focus on strengthening the body while others focus on flexibility. Other types of yoga focus mainly on breathing, relaxation, and meditation.

Most of the yoga styles that were adopted in the west, were derived from the Hatha Yoga, which is a general term that refers to the physical branches of the ancient Indian philosophy. The purpose of the traditional Hatha Yoga was to achieve balance between mind and body through moral discipline and physical exercises, which are expressed by a series of asana: postures, panorama: breathing and meditation.

Western culture adopted mainly the physical aspects of the Hatha Yoga and ignored the moral aspects, usually even the breathing and meditations aspects. All the yoga styles that were derived from the Hatha Yoga share the same basic principle that mental balance can be achieved through practice of physical exercises and postures. Each yoga style chooses to focus on different aspect.

Ashtanga Yoga:
This focuses on the flow of postures in order to improve strength, stamina and flexibility of the body. During a Asthanga Yoga class, the participants jump from one posture to another. Therefore, this type of yoga is not the ideal for beginners. People who are not well fit may find it too difficult and demanding. However, if you are interested in improving your strength, flexibility and stamina and you are fit enough to deal with an hour of jumping from one posture to another, Asthanga Yoga can suit you.

Power Yoga:
This is an American development of the Asthanga Yoga that also adopted several elements from other types of yoga styles. You can find Power Yoga classes mainly in fitness and health clubs. Power Yoga focuses on strengthening the body by performing Hatha Yoga postures for a longer time to improve both physical flexibility and mental focus. Power Yoga can be a good exercise for athletes, people who practice types of fitness activities and people who want to tone their body.

Bikram Yoga:
A Bikram Yoga class features a series of 26 Hatha Yoga postures practiced in a heated room. It is also known as Hot Yoga. The purpose of the heat is to allow the participants to get into each of the yoga poses in a deeper and safer manner. The heat also helps clean the body from toxins promoting sweating. Bikram Yoga focuses more on the workout of the entire body, including the internal organs and less on flexibility. Bikram Yoga is not recommended to pregnant women and people who suffer from high blood pressure and heart conditions, but it can improve the physical fitness of people who recover from injuries.

Iyengar Yoga:
This focuses on the physical alignment of the body and the accurate performance of each posture. Some of the Iyengar Yoga postures are practiced with the assistance of props such as blocks and belts that are designed to help the participants achieve the most accurate posture and to protect their bodies from injuries. Since the flows between postures are not practiced, Iyengar Yoga classes are less intense and therefore more suitable for people who are less fit. Iyengar Yoga improves body strength and flexibility and can fit people of any age and every physical condition.

Health Benefits Of Mixed Martial Arts Training

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Mixed martial arts is defined as a complete contact combat sport which involves a number of fighting skills and techniques, from a mixture of other fighting sports, used in competitions. Such training programs are great for the body and help one to improve stamina and strength.

It has been proved by a number of researches that individuals who practice any form of martial arts on a regular basis have high levels of fitness as compared to individuals who don’t. In addition to this, they also have a stronger immune system. These training programs are considered good for individuals suffering from innumerable health troubles like high cholesterol level, cardiac problems, high blood pressure, breathing difficulty, poor circulation and many others.

Some of the major benefits offered by MMA training programs are given below:

Increases flexibility and strength
This is one of the major benefits offered by such training programs. Regular training helps in the strengthening and toning of muscles thus increasing body flexibility. One becomes physical stronger and capable of defending himself from any kind of physical attack. Moreover, these training programs also help in muscle strengthening and stress release.

Weight loss programs
This is another major benefit associated with such training programs. Such programs are considered good for weight loss and help one to have a healthy and slim body.

Increases mind sharpness
Learning martial arts not only makes a person physically stronger but mentally sharper as well. The training involves good concentration and self control and thus improves coordination between the mind, body and soul.

Thus, mixed martial arts training provides innumerable health benefits to individuals and is becoming immensely popular worldwide. There are innumerable organizations which are offering MMA courses as per the needs of individuals.