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| © 2008 Yoga Highway TM — All rights reserved Please contact Dolby for reproduction or reprint permission. This site provides general information & only the web Goddess's opinions. It is designed for informational purposes only. Always consult with a health care or other professional if you have any concerns about the health or welfare of your body, mind & soul or that of any others. Material on our websites. They come from a wide variety of sources & submissions. Please feel free to share this work in it's entirety... Please do give credit where credit is due and link back to the author. If you would like your website build contact Namaste Dolby Your email address and private information will never be shared or sold Yoga Highway Honors YOU! privacy policy |
Wake up it's Yoga time!
I wake up, sip my coffee, set my intention and get dressed for
yoga. I think about which class I want to take, "do I want or
need a neatly prescribed yoga routine, or do I just want to let
my body breath and move me from pose to pose, as I morph into
and out of different shapes without thinking.
Yoga has changed me, I have learned not to 'try', but to
'practice'. I have discovered so many things about myself since
my inception of my yoga. I practice, I sit quietly, gauge my
tension, and breathe naturally. Yoga is a practice of
transformation. That means, transforming the mind and body.
One of the greatest lessons in yoga is that transformation is a
journey, and not a destination or a change that happens
overnight, it is a way of life, a practice.
I wake up, sip my coffee, set my intention and get dressed for
yoga. I think about which class I want to take, "do I want or
need a neatly prescribed yoga routine, or do I just want to let
my body breath and move me from pose to pose, as I morph into
and out of different shapes without thinking.
Yoga has changed me, I have learned not to 'try', but to
'practice'. I have discovered so many things about myself since
my inception of my yoga. I practice, I sit quietly, gauge my
tension, and breathe naturally. Yoga is a practice of
transformation. That means, transforming the mind and body.
One of the greatest lessons in yoga is that transformation is a
journey, and not a destination or a change that happens
overnight, it is a way of life, a practice.
Ask the Trainer
Q. Can doing yoga help me lose weight?
A. Yoga, an ancient form of exercise, focuses on uniting the body, mind and spirit. It's rated as a
"moderate" physical activity, according to guidelines set by the American College of Sports Medicine
and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That means you will burn calories by doing yoga, but probably not burn enough calories to promote
weight loss. To achieve that goal, you need vigorous activity (jogging, running, race walking, and such)
to give your body a heart-pumping cardiovascular workout. Other factors, including nutrition, also
factor in to successfully losing pounds and maintaining a healthy weight.
During a yoga class, the instructor will lead you through different poses to strengthen your body,
increase flexibility and release tension. You perform yoga exercises while focusing on your breathing
and internal sensations to help clear your mind. The physical movement and body awareness of yoga
practice help reduce stress and can bring about positive changes in your overall physical and mental
health.
By lowering your stress, yoga also may help with weight control—reducing the triggers of emotional
eating and helping you recognize your body's internal hunger and fullness signals, as well as enabling
you to make better food choices.
So, enjoy a regular yoga practice. To help with weight loss, I recommend you also add two or three
cardiovascular workouts to your weekly physical activity routine.
Lisa Mcnabb
The meaning of Namaste
Q. Can doing yoga help me lose weight?
A. Yoga, an ancient form of exercise, focuses on uniting the body, mind and spirit. It's rated as a
"moderate" physical activity, according to guidelines set by the American College of Sports Medicine
and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That means you will burn calories by doing yoga, but probably not burn enough calories to promote
weight loss. To achieve that goal, you need vigorous activity (jogging, running, race walking, and such)
to give your body a heart-pumping cardiovascular workout. Other factors, including nutrition, also
factor in to successfully losing pounds and maintaining a healthy weight.
During a yoga class, the instructor will lead you through different poses to strengthen your body,
increase flexibility and release tension. You perform yoga exercises while focusing on your breathing
and internal sensations to help clear your mind. The physical movement and body awareness of yoga
practice help reduce stress and can bring about positive changes in your overall physical and mental
health.
By lowering your stress, yoga also may help with weight control—reducing the triggers of emotional
eating and helping you recognize your body's internal hunger and fullness signals, as well as enabling
you to make better food choices.
So, enjoy a regular yoga practice. To help with weight loss, I recommend you also add two or three
cardiovascular workouts to your weekly physical activity routine.
Lisa Mcnabb
The meaning of Namaste
Restorative YogaSavor the deep relaxation of restorative postures by preparing for them carefully.
By Claudia Cummins
Let's face it: Some yoga poses taste a little bit sweeter than others. And if yoga were a
smorgasbord, restorative postures would most definitely be at the dessert table. These soothing and
well-supported poses offer us the opportunity to linger quietly for a few moments and savor the
simple sweetness of life.
In an ideal world every asana would feel restorative. But those that fall into the special category of
restorative poses have a particular ability to leave us nourished and well rested. These postures are
usually deeply supported by blankets, blocks, or other props and are held for several minutes at a
time.
Restorative practice can be intimidating to beginners—all those props! But just a few guiding tips
will help you start a regular restorative practice of your own.
Start out with a few minutes of gentle movement before settling into a restorative pose or practice.
A little stretching will warm the muscles and create space in the body to prepare it for relaxation.
Movement will also give your body a chance to shed its restlessness and busy-ness before settling
into a place of stillness.
Don't skimp on the props. Blocks, straps, blankets, balls, towels, chairs, walls, sandbags, eye bags,
and pillows are all considered fair game when supporting yourself in these poses. The more fully
your body is supported, the deeper your sense of relaxation and surrender will be. So go ahead:
Raid the linen closet—your body will thank you with profound sighs of relief.
Take the time to get comfortable on your props and make any necessary adjustments before you
settle in. In restoratives the distance between heaven and hell can be as little as half an inch. A
small adjustment to a blanket or a minor shift in the body's position can transform a moment of
exasperated agony into pure rapture. Be creative and use your inner wisdom to guide you toward
greater comfort, making any modifications you need.
Incorporate restoratives into your yoga practice in a balanced way. Peruse several yoga books—
Judith Lasater's Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times is a great place to start. You
might be inspired to include just one or two restorative postures in your daily practice. Or you may
choose to devote one entire practice each week to restoratives.
Although they look peaceful, restoratives can be challenging for beginners. Just because the body
rests quietly doesn't mean the mind will settle into stillness too. Be patient, and be prepared for
days when every inch of you rebels.
In time and with practice, you will be rewarded with the ability to drop with ease into a place of
deep contentment. This is what yoga is all about, after all: stilling our fidgety bodies and calming
our rambling minds so that we may rest quietly in the present moment and see clearly the peace that
resides within.
Claudia Cummins teaches yoga in Mansfield, Ohio. At the moment, her favorite pose is Parivrtta Janu
Sirsasana (Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose).
By Claudia Cummins
Let's face it: Some yoga poses taste a little bit sweeter than others. And if yoga were a
smorgasbord, restorative postures would most definitely be at the dessert table. These soothing and
well-supported poses offer us the opportunity to linger quietly for a few moments and savor the
simple sweetness of life.
In an ideal world every asana would feel restorative. But those that fall into the special category of
restorative poses have a particular ability to leave us nourished and well rested. These postures are
usually deeply supported by blankets, blocks, or other props and are held for several minutes at a
time.
Restorative practice can be intimidating to beginners—all those props! But just a few guiding tips
will help you start a regular restorative practice of your own.
Start out with a few minutes of gentle movement before settling into a restorative pose or practice.
A little stretching will warm the muscles and create space in the body to prepare it for relaxation.
Movement will also give your body a chance to shed its restlessness and busy-ness before settling
into a place of stillness.
Don't skimp on the props. Blocks, straps, blankets, balls, towels, chairs, walls, sandbags, eye bags,
and pillows are all considered fair game when supporting yourself in these poses. The more fully
your body is supported, the deeper your sense of relaxation and surrender will be. So go ahead:
Raid the linen closet—your body will thank you with profound sighs of relief.
Take the time to get comfortable on your props and make any necessary adjustments before you
settle in. In restoratives the distance between heaven and hell can be as little as half an inch. A
small adjustment to a blanket or a minor shift in the body's position can transform a moment of
exasperated agony into pure rapture. Be creative and use your inner wisdom to guide you toward
greater comfort, making any modifications you need.
Incorporate restoratives into your yoga practice in a balanced way. Peruse several yoga books—
Judith Lasater's Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times is a great place to start. You
might be inspired to include just one or two restorative postures in your daily practice. Or you may
choose to devote one entire practice each week to restoratives.
Although they look peaceful, restoratives can be challenging for beginners. Just because the body
rests quietly doesn't mean the mind will settle into stillness too. Be patient, and be prepared for
days when every inch of you rebels.
In time and with practice, you will be rewarded with the ability to drop with ease into a place of
deep contentment. This is what yoga is all about, after all: stilling our fidgety bodies and calming
our rambling minds so that we may rest quietly in the present moment and see clearly the peace that
resides within.
Claudia Cummins teaches yoga in Mansfield, Ohio. At the moment, her favorite pose is Parivrtta Janu
Sirsasana (Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose).
Affirmation for CONSIDERATION:
I strengthen my own spirit by extending more kindness and
consideration to the world. I practice compassion with
everyone, including myself.
I strengthen my own spirit by extending more kindness and
consideration to the world. I practice compassion with
everyone, including myself.
Be a TreeGiver Today!
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for as little as $39.95
…Includes FREEShipping
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your gift tree to be
planted in the State or
listed Country of your
choice. EachTreeGivers
gift tree supplements
the natural resources
of our Earth and
brings life and beauty
to the countryside!
Give the Gift of a Tree
for as little as $39.95
…Includes FREEShipping
*Note: Extra charge
for international
shipping. Arrange for
your gift tree to be
planted in the State or
listed Country of your
choice. EachTreeGivers
gift tree supplements
the natural resources
of our Earth and
brings life and beauty
to the countryside!
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| "Compassionate action starts with seeing yourself when you start to make yourself right and when you start to make yourself wrong. At that point you could just contemplate the fact that there is a larger alternative to either of those, a more tender, shaky kind of place where you could live." ~Pema Chodron |
