yoga

With yoga, including iyengar and ashtanga, becoming increasingly popular, the yogic practices has evolved significantly over the years.

Nowadays, there are many different yoga variations practitioners can pick from including ashtanga, iyengar, and various asanas.

Each of these yogic practices come with enticing benefits that are hard to miss.

Other variations might be of interest to you depending on what goals you are looking to achieve.

Below are some of the main types of yoga alongside the benefits they offer, including asanas, yogic exercises, and meditation.

Hatha

Considered one of the older forms of yogic practice, Hatha yoga dates back to thousands of years. There are many modern yoga poses that can be learned, from beginners to advanced practitioners.

The easy Hatha yoga asanas have been designed to increase flexibility, stretch hips, and build strength.

The yoga practices are also low impact and is deemed suitable for anyone regardless of age, given they start slowly and avoid doing too much too soon.

Vinyasa

This type of yoga, also known as hatha yoga, is a form of meditation.

It involves Hatha yoga poses and meditation, designs it in a sequence that will keep the workout interesting, and burn more calories.

The flow is also designed to improve flexibility and stamina, making it the ideal option for those who are looking to lose weight.

It has also been known to help improve both focus and concentration.

Kundalini

Kundalini yoga was first introduced in Hinduism more than 1,200 years ago.

It was designed as an effective way to harness energy and use the energy to balance the body and heal it.

The word yoga means union, the union of spirit, mind, and body.

The word Kundalini pertains to the energy believed to be coiled at the base of the spine, used in yoga sutras and upanishads to transform and heal.

Bikram

Invented approximately 40 years ago, Bikram is named after its founder.

It makes use of 2 breathing patterns and 26 Hatha yoga poses, performed in the same sequence each session.

Other distinctions that set this yoga variation apart is the fact that it is done in a hot studio with a temperature of 80 to 110 degrees.

The idea is the more calories are burned, the faster weight loss will occur.

Bikram yoga is also considered a vigorous workout, with practitioners burning as much as 1, 300 per session.

However, hot yoga might cause dehydration and is therefore not ideal for old people and those with heart conditions and other health issues.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga is a modern yoga variation which has been introduced 60 years ago and can be loosely translated as ‘8 limbs.’

Limbs like the legs support an individual when standing.

The eight limbs refer to the 8 supports that are deemed foundations of any good yoga practice like meditation, breathing, poses, practices.

If you are physically fit and wants a good workout, this is a yoga variation you can look into.

To learn more about yoga and other essentials of the practice, visit www.allure-yoga.com right away!

If you are a lover of yoga, chances are you have been doing yogic practices for as long as you can possibly remember.

You probably have also tried ashtanga and iyengar yoga styles, added new yoga asanas, and routines every now and then.

However, are you prepared to make changes to your routine when you get pregnant?

The good thing is you don’t have to stop doing yoga even if you are on the family way but you need to make certain modifications to your yogic practice.

Below are some modifications you can make to help warrant your safety and that of your unborn baby during yoga exercises, asanas, plank pose, and mountain pose.

Use blocks

Aside from doing modifications to some yoga poses and exercises, consider using accessories to help you out.

One accessory you can definitely put to good use would be the yoga block.

The blocks can be used to brace the back, arms, shoulders, and to offer some relief for neck and back pressure.

One of the most important things you can observe while pregnant and doing yoga would be to ensure your body is braced and given proper and adequate support and yoga blocks can surely help.

Refrain from doing front-facing or downward poses

One of the primary changes you can make when pregnant and doing yoga would be to look for a more suitable yoga routine.

You need to ensure that you avoid doing downward facing positions like the downward facing dog during yoga practices.

You also need to refrain from doing front-facing positions or other poses that entail lying on your belly.

While this may seem like a given, it may not be as obvious to others.

Others might not think they will not fall or hurt their unborn baby, however, accidents do happen so it would be best to be cautious.

As an added safety measure, many prenatal yoga instructors require limiting the amount of time expectant mothers do difficult poses so as to prevent falling and other untoward injuries.

Using straps to stretch

One accessory that can help you modify certain yoga poses more easily would be the yoga strap.

In some cases, however, you’d only feel the stretch has gone too far after it happened so it would be best to stay on the safe side.

Rather than stretching your legs and arms on your own, consider utilizing yoga straps to help perform bends, stretches, and poses.

The modification can also be used in yoga poses that will require leg and arm stretches.

If you will find doing yoga modifications, poses, and changes a little too challenging, it would be best to check with a yoga instructor that is certified in prenatal yoga.

For other yoga basics and essentials, visit www.allure-yoga.com right now!

Many people who start a yoga practice often have tension release or weight loss goals in mind.

Once you achieve said goals, you probably don’t expect to stick with the yogic practices anymore.

However, yoga, including iyengar, asanas, and meditation, can do more than just achieve those goals you have in mind.

Apart from effectively helping you with weight loss and tension release, yoga can also help dramatically enhance your flexibility through stretch exercises.

If this is one goal you have in mind, the following steps would prove beneficial.

Incorporate more arches and bends

One of the most effective ways to use yoga to enhance flexibility would be to incorporate more poses that entail bends and arches, such as backbend asanas.

For instance, the downward facing dog is one of yoga poses you can start with.

Begin with the body in bent position, making a reversed V shape using your body.

The V or the point of the triangle is the rear.

The arms and the legs are also stretched.

This yoga pose enhances flexibility overtime by increasing the stretch by moving the hands and the feet closer.

This technique can be applied to other poses and asanas as well.

Stay away from the wall

Some yoga poses will entail using the wall as a backup or wall sit.

However, the problem with this technique is you won’t be able to fully work your back or leg muscles.

This would mean you won’t be getting the help with flexibility that you are looking for.

And since the wall would work as a backup, you will be resting against it as opposed to using your muscles fully.

Consider moving away from the wall and utilizing your own body and muscles to hold a position.

You will not only notice getting more flexible, you will also be working your core muscles in the process.

Make use of straps and bricks

When working out on your flexibility using yoga, there will be instances when you will get discouraged.

This is especially true in instances where you realize you can’t keep the arms or legs as stretched as you would have wanted.

Rather than getting discouraged, work on your flexibility by using straps and bricks instead.

You can start at a certain length when you use the strap and shorten the length as you get more flexible.

Overtime, you will find you won’t eventually have a need for the strap anymore.

When you use bricks in yoga poses, start with them in the highest position and slowly remove them once you are able to achieve the full extent of the move.

Once you start using the following yoga sutras, poses, and practices to enhance your flexibility, you will begin to see improvements.

Remember to also be patient when working on your flexibility as it will take time practicing yoga poses.

If you need more information on yoga and the things it can do for you, visit www.allure-yoga.com today!

When you are a yoga newbie, you can expect a lot of the asanas to be challenging to execute, at least at first.

You’ll probably find yourself not flexible enough to do some of them yet.

You can expect the same issues and problems when you switch yoga styles.

If this is something you are experiencing at the moment, you’d be delighted to know there are easy Hatha yoga asanas you can do and add to your daily practice.

Standing Forward Bend

This yogic pose is deemed one of the easiest beginner Hatha yoga asanas one can do.

Execute the physical pose by standing with both feet flat on the ground.

Take a deep breath and exhale slowly as you bend in a yoga pose.

Take your hands and place the fingertips on the floor as closely as possible.

The face should touch the legs.

You then bend over and put your face as flat on your knees as you are able.

Corpse Pose

The corpse pose is executed while one your back.

For the uninitiated, this might not even look like a yoga pose at first glance.

Lie on your back with the palm up and at an angle to the sides.

The feet should be a shoulder width apart and the soles of the feet should be facing out.

Breathe in and out slowly as you lay in this position.

This pose is designed to help you recognize parts of your body that are under stress and work on releasing that tension.

While this may seem like a very easy pose, it can be uncomfortable for those who are not used to it yet.

Fortunately, if you are still trying to get the hang of hatha practices, you can use a yoga accessory or rolled up towel to help with neck support.

Tree Pose

Next to the downward facing dog, the tree pose is considered one of the most common yoga poses.

Execute the move by standing with the feet flat on the floor.

Bring the hands to a praying position, right at the center of the chest.

Bring one of the legs up with the foot flat against the standing knee.

Wall Bend

The wall bend is performed while lying on the back.

The legs should be placed against the wall, akin to sitting on the wall.

This pose is ideal for those who have leg pain and want to build flexibility through yoga poses.

Release stress and work out the muscles by laying with the legs flat against the wall.

There are still a lot of yoga poses beginners can try, however, it is advisable to start with the easy ones until body strength and flexibility has been improved.

If you are unsure if you are executing the poses right, it is recommended that you attend a yoga class first before attempting to do the poses on your own.

For more yoga poses, practices, and other yoga essentials you need to know, visit www.allure-yoga.com right away!

Yoga.

If you are big into health and wellness, it is highly probable you have encountered hot yoga all too many times.

But do you have any idea why yogic practices, including Iyengar and Ashtanga asanas, are enjoying tremendous popularity and cult following?

Can yoga really help significantly improve your life?

The answer is a resounding YES!

What exactly is yoga?

Loosely translated, the word yoga means union of the body, spirit, and mind within a person.

It is also about the connection of the person with the universe as well as the mental and spiritual connection they have with others through yogic philosophy.

Why should I do yoga?

With more than 5,000 years of yogic practices, the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of yoga have been proven through countless studies.

Granting you do not overdo yogic exercises, yoga can effectively help you get fit and toned as it utilizes the weight of your own body in trimming and toning as opposed to fancy equipment.

Yoga is also considered low-impact which means it can be done by almost anyone, regardless of their overall fitness level or age.

In addition, modern yoga’s ability to enhance both flexibility and fitness through yoga practices has been proven time and again.

When it comes to mental benefits, yoga and meditation have been known to dramatically help improve both focus and concentration.

Traditional styles of yoga like Kundalini and Hatha yoga also incorporates specific meditation components like repeating mantras aloud or chanting.

Om is a Sanskrit word and is one of the most common (and most well-known) mantra when it comes to yoga.

Roughly translated, it means “I bow to the wisdom within you.”

The you refers both to the universe at large and to one’s self.

Is yoga a religion?

No, yoga is not a religion.

While it has been associated with certain religions like Sikhism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, meditation has been used primarily to enhance and advance their spiritual progress.

Yoga has also been known to help improve meditation, resulting in a better mental state.

What are the benefits of yoga?

Yoga, hatha practices, has been around and has been practiced for thousands of years for fitness, health, and healing reasons.

While it may seem New Age or weird to some, but yoga, meditation has been around for more than 5,000 years and is considered an integral part of both Chinese and Indian medicine.

Some of the exceptional benefits of regular yoga practice include enhanced meditation, breathing practices.

• Flexibility

• Stamina

• Concentration

• Strength

• Long lean muscles from hot yoga to help boost the metabolism and lose weight.

Yoga can also help combat the following health issues:

• High blood pressure

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Muscle stiffness

• Obesity

• Poor balance

• High cholesterol

• Stress

• Tension

If you are looking for an interesting, fun, and effective exercise regimen that offers numerous health, mental, and spiritual benefits through yoga practices, meditation, and breathing, you can never go wrong.

Know more about yoga styles, poses, and other yoga basics by heading to www.allure-yoga.com today!

Let us crush one of the most common misconceptions about yoga—it is not a solitary practice!

While it is easy to mistake yoga as a stand-alone activity, many are surprised to know there are many yoga poses (asanas) one can do with a partner, friend, or significant other.

If you are looking to introduce a significant other to yoga, here are some asanas and backbend poses you can try out.

Supported Lotus

By far, one of the easiest yogic asanas to execute with a partner is the supported lotus pose.

The pose is actually pretty straightforward.

Start by sitting in the lotus position with the backs touching.

One of the best attributes of the supported lotus is it provides you with the benefits associated with the meditative yoga poses and keeps both participants in a posture positive or straight position at the same time.

It is a good pose to use as a starting or ending point to your daily yoga routine as it can also help you with energy flow and meditation.

Forward and Back Bend

The forward and back bend is performed in the lotus position.

It is also used to transition from the lotus position into the next yoga pose if you don’t want any breaks in between poses.

This can be performed for a deeper stretch or when standing.

Buddy Boat Pose

This yoga pose is considered advanced but can be ideal when looking to work on the leg muscles.

It can be really fun to do too!

Begin by sitting apart and facing each other.

Put the feet and knees together, sole to sole with that of your partner’s.

Raise the feet up so the legs are creating a triangle.

The feet and hips should be at the top of the triangle.

As you angle back on the rear and hold each other’s hands on either side of the legs.

You are mimicking a boat and sail look.

Once created, you can start slowly rocking to help stretch the legs or raise the arms and legs to create a stretch.

If any of the partner yoga poses are of interest, attending yoga partner classes can significantly improve your routine and knowledge.

Nowadays, some yoga studios offer meditation practices even if they are not as prevalent as those traditional or solitary yoga classes.

Interested to know more about yoga?

Discover the latest yoga fashion, trends, and inspiration at www.allure-yoga.com now!

If you are a yoga newbie still trying to find your way around yogic practices, iyengar, asanas, and ashtanga, it is reassuring to know there are tips that can help make your yoga journey way easier.

To get your yoga practice to a superb start, below are some helpful tips you can keep in mind, including yogic practices, asanas, and breathing exercises.

Join a yoga class.

While it is tempting to kick-off your yoga practice at home using online resources and DVD tutorials, it is still advisable to at least sample a few yoga classes first before you start doing them at home.

When you join a yoga class, you will be able to receive proper guidance if you are executing the yogic poses properly and safely.

Without the assistance of a seasoned yogic yoga instructor, you might not get the insights and guidance you need in order to ensure any injuries are avoided.

Without proper assistance, yoga practitioners might not be able to reap and enjoy the full benefits of their yoga practices.

Fortunately, you are not required to attend a yogic class for the long-term.

However, you need to attend at least a few yogic practices until you are confident you know the basics and you can execute the asanas safely and accordingly and start a yoga practice at home.

Make use of yoga accessories.

One of the best (and often first) tips any yoga newbie gets is to make use of available yoga accessories.

Yoga accessories include straps and blocks.

At first, you may not know why you need them and how they can be of help.

To give you a better perspective, think of a specific pose like the standing forward bend.

For a seasoned yoga practitioner, this is a pose they can do with much ease.

However, for newbies practicing yoga poses, it can be really challenging especially for individuals who are not that flexible yet.

Fortunately, a yoga brick can be used by newbies to help execute the move.

As you get more flexible, you can already get rid of the brick and perform the pose without much help.

In addition, if you need help holding stretched poses or stretching the legs, a yoga strap can come in very handy.

While stretches and holding stretched poses might seem simple at first glance, it can be difficult for yoga beginners to do.

You can get rid of the accessories once you have enough practice and experience executing poses accordingly.

Begin a yoga routine.

Even if you have yet to decide on a yoga style or poses to go for, it is important that you do not dismiss the importance of starting a routine.

To help establish a routine, it would help to set a time daily as to when you should do practices.

The routine should be treated much like a health ritual, much better if you do not go a day without it.

Start with a few simple yoga poses you can easily do and remember.

Come up with a routine, ensure you are doing the poses accordingly, and then work on doing them on a day-to-day basis by incorporating practices from yoga sutras.

Having a routine will not only help you figure out what practices will work for you, it will also help your body get used to the new routine you are incorporating.

As long as you put the above tips to good use, it will only be a matter of time until you are able to build a solid yoga routine.

For more yoga practices, poses, and back tricks, head to www.allure-yoga.com today!

For some people, a good sleeping routine may be a bit challenging to accomplish.

Ideally, one’s sleeping cycle should promote both relaxation and sound sleep.

While there are several effective ways one can adapt to improve sleep and relaxation, not many are aware yogic practices, meditation, breathing techniques, and iyengar can help.

Yes, you read that right!

While unknown to many, yoga, including iyengar asanas and breathing techniques, offers numerous benefits, including the ability to significantly enhance sleep and relaxation.

If you want to use yogic asanas and meditation to sleep soundly and relax completely, we’ve listed down several poses you can do before you hit your bed.

Downward Facing Dog

The downward facing dog is one of the most common yogic asanas and should be used as a starting point for your bedtime yoga routine.

This yogic exercise helps eliminate tension by working out the back and leg muscles.

Start the yogic pose with your feet flat on the yoga mat.

Your hands should be in front of your feet.

Create a triangle with the rear as your point.

The downward facing dog, a yoga pose, can be modified by moving the hands and feet closer to make it a tighter and flexibility-building pose.

Side Angle Pose

Transition out of the downward facing dog pose by moving into the side angle pose.

Begin by rising up and doing a standing V shape.

Your core should be the point of your inverted V.

Ensure that your feet are spread flat out on your yoga mat.

Raise both arms and lean to one side, then lean to the other side after.

The aim of yoga poses is to be able to stretch the side muscles slowly without creating any tension.

Breath slowly and hold the pose through each side for at least 20 seconds.

Forward Bend

From the side angle pose, move to the forward bend pose.

Start by bringing the feet together and bending at the waist.

The goal is to be able to put the hands flat on the floor right in front of the feet.

While this may seem like a very challenging (if not impossible) move to do, it is actually achievable.

The trick would be to bend at the waist first before trying to touch the toes in order to prevent any injuries.

Lotus Pose

From the forward bend, move to the sitting position.

The ideal sitting position to do would be the lotus pose.

Begin by sitting with the leg crossed and the hands turned up for meditation.

The palms should be up and on the knees.

Close the eyes and perform slow and steady meditative breaths.

Corpse Pose

The final pose to complete your yoga bedtime routine is the corpse pose.

Start by lying flat on your back.

Your legs should be out and should be at least a shoulder width apart.

Ensure the soles of the feet is facing outward.

Make sure the arms should be at a 45-degree angle out to the sides, palms facing up.

Breathe slowly as you lay in the pose for several minutes.

As you consistently integrate the following yoga routine in your day-to-day life, you will find that you are able to relax and sleep better overtime.

For more yoga tips and other yoga essentials you might want to know about, please head to www.allure-yoga.com right away!