Yoga Therapy For The Elderly
Yoga postures help prevent but also help treat muscle imbalances, bone conditions, structural distortions and degeneration of bone tissue as you get older.
People who are in their later stages of life (the Vata stage) can practice yoga postures to give them physical strength and help build tissues such as muscle.
Yoga postures also helps relieves forms of Vata conditions such as coldness, dryness, stress, nervousness, fear and anxiety which are held in the bones, nerves and joints.
After the age of 65 but sometimes even after the age of 40, the Vata stage of life inevitably kicks in and many people at this time suffer from disease and conditions related to the muscle, bones, ligaments and joints.
Arthritis is a growing concern and condition which is starting to happen at earlier ages.
Practicing yoga postures are extremely effective and important in treating arthritis and other conditions.
Yoga postures or asanas are extremely important to keep you in balance and to prevent these conditions from getting worse (especially after 50 and 60).
It is the best form of exercise for them and it should be applied in a gentle and slow manner, avoiding strain and sudden movements that can cause injury.
Structural considerations of Yoga therapy Continue reading
The Importance Of Niyamas – Inner Discipline And Responsibility
As mentioned in the last article both Yamas and Niyamas are very beneficial in cultivating “Sattva” – a state of balance, harmony and equanimity.
Cultivating Niyamas allows you to cultivate discipline and responsibility.
The Niyamas are ultimately designed to help purify your body, mind and emotions.
Here are my interpretation of the 5 Niyamas and how I have come to understand them and apply them in the practice of yoga and Ayurveda.
Saucha: The practice of Saucha means to cultivate cleanliness and purity both outwardly and inwardly.
Purity is also achieved by practicing the five yamas, which help clear away the negative physical, mental and emotional states of being.
Keep yourself, your clothing, and your surroundings clean.
In Ayurveda a good way to practice Saucha is to eat clean, fresh and healthy food and treat your body like a temple. Continue reading
The Importance Of Yamas – Social Behaviors And Moral Principles
The Yamas and Niyamas are principles for the spiritual practices of Ayurveda.
They tie into the philosophy of yoga and since Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences, they apply to both equally.
Yamas and Niyamas are part of the 8 rungs of Ashtanga Yoga, based on the classical Raja (Royal) Yoga system.
In this article, I will explore the importance of Yamas and how they relate to diet and Ayurveda.
They should be considered, contemplated and practiced as part of a healthy balanced or “Sattvic” lifestyle.
Yamas are social behaviors and moral principles. They reflect how you treat others and the world around you.
They are beneficial in refining your Buddhi or “Buddha Nature” – the faculty of the mind used for discrimination and right action.
Here are my interpretation of the 5 Yamas and how I have come to understand them and apply them in the practice of yoga and Ayurveda.
Ahimsa: The principle of Ahimsa is the means of practicing non-violence – including not hurting, not injuring and not harming others and sentient beings. Continue reading
How To Create World Wellness
Creating world wellness may be easier then you think.
With powerful movies such as Thrive and Zeitgeist -2011, the consciousness of health and world wellness is expanding.
Before I share with you an extremely powerful practice that you can do every month, you should define what world wellness means to you.
Creating wellness for the world first begins by creating wellness for yourself.
It involves accepting who you are and your current physical, emotional and mental well-being.
Once you are in that place of acceptance, you can create an intention to have more health and wellness.
There are many ways to re-enforce your intention such as using techniques of prayer. contemplation and meditation (we will talk about this more in a minute).
Once you are able to bring your own state of being into a place of wellness, where you feel good and content about yourself, you can then start to share your intention and feeling of wellness with others.
Healing the world and planet begins by healing yourself first. How can you give someone advice on how to cure a disease if you yourself have not learned how to cure your own disease?
How can you tell people how to practice Ahimsa (non- violence) if you yourself are not practicing non-violence?
How can you practice forgiveness if you cannot forgive yourself?
So, how do you do you learn to create more wellness for yourself. Yes eating correctly, adopting the right diet, taking the right herbs and exercising will certainly help, but wellness is first created from the mind (mental body). Continue reading
The Art Of Solar And Lunar Breathing
Did you know that when you breathe though-out the day one of your nostrils (either the right or left) is more open or dominant?
This means that air is flowing freely through one nostril while the other nostril is more constricted (receiving less air).
This also means that your are not in complete balance or harmony; this is quite a natural and normal process for most people.
In yoga and Ayurveda, it is said that when both nostrils are open and flowing evenly one is in a state of complete balance. Your mind is still, quiet and pure awareness arises.
One way to get into this blissful, aware state is through solar and lunar breathing; otherwise known as alternate nostril breathing or “Nadi Shodhana”.
Alternate Nostril breathing is a method whereby you balance your energy – the right-left brain hemispheres and come into a state of equanimity.
You balance your sympathetic and para-sympathetic nervous system.
And, you balance your solar (sun) and lunar (moon) energies.
Breathing through the right nostril stimulates the solar energy. Breathing through the left nostril stimulates the lunar energy. Continue reading
Follow