Yoga and Nutrition

For many practitioners of yoga, it's hard to completely separate the discipline from other aspects of their lives, such as nutrition. To them, getting the proper balance from yoga not only concerns the fitness-building and stress-reducing benefits of yoga, but also includes a nutrition plan that supplies the proper nutrients to assist in the creation of both.

Combining yoga and nutrition is not a new development. Yoga instructors have been touting the benefits of proper nutrition for years. But it has become part of a new awareness recently thank to scientific studies that back up the claims regarding diet that yogis have been espousing for centuries, namely that nutrition is a big part of the quest for balance between the mind, body and spirit.

As we've said, combining yoga and nutrition is not a new development. In fact, there is an entire practice of yoga, called Anna Yoga, which is directed at food as it relates to fitness and a healthy spirit. But while the information concerning healthy eating may not be the same among the various kinds of yoga, some of the belief are relatively the same: consume modest, reasonable portions of food that is high in nutrients and low in toxins. These include lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It is a diet that has existed among practitioners of yoga for decades but today's doctors have only recently begun to understand and encourage.

Among yoga practioners, food is divided into three categories: Rajasil, Tamsik and Satvik. Rajasik (food of the king) is food that is overly processed or seasoned. Candy, processed foods and beverages and alcohol are classified as Rajasik foods. Tamsik foods are elaborately prepared foods that are high in sodium and usually highly spiced. Finally, Satvik foods are considered the ideal diet by yoga enthusiasts, foods that are consumed in as close to the original state as possible, meaning fresh vegetables and fruits that, if cooked, are lightly seasoned and prepared to keep most of their nutritional value.

Satvik foods are, therefore, easily digested and have exceptional nutritional value. When eaten in conjunction with the performance of the health benefits of yoga, Satvik foods are considered an important part of a well-conditioned mind and body.

Even if you are not a regular student of yoga, adhering to a Satvik diet can have great benefits.
While many yoga practitioners shy away from meat (including fish and poultry), it is not entirely off the list for everyone involved in yoga However, yoga instructors recommend moderation in taking in meat as it may contain toxins such as lactic acid, fat, cholesterol and other chemicals that can slow the growth of muscles gained from the practice of yoga.

One of the main concepts of nutrition and yoga is that the food used be as fresh as possible. Fresh fruits and vegetables and the enzymes they contain are favorable over frozen or canned foods, where the canning process has taken out many of the vitamins and minerals of the food. In addition, some instructors recommend eating a large portion of the fruits and vegetables raw to absorb  more of their nutritional value.
Green vegetables are held in special regard by many yogis, who consider vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, lettuce and cabbage to have the highest nutrients and life force. Fruit is also considered highly nutritious and full of the life force. Because of the natural sugars in fruit, they can supply a quick but nutritious and sustained source of energy without the toxins.
Finally, the way in which the food is prepared for consumption is also one of the keys to nutrition for yoga practitioners. Yoga experts recommend that you eat your meals slowly to give your body time to absorb all of the benefits and nutrients contained within. Yoga exercise, many experts believe, will help in preparing the body to use the nutritional benefits of nutritious eating.
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Yoga - The Elixir For Stress And Fatigue

Yoga could be the answer, the elixir to regain your energy and improve your mood.

But yoga is not a miraculous cure-all. You still have to put some work to get it. Lack of exercise, as weve been taught since gradeschool, makes us prone to illness and other health problems.
Yoga is an exercise involving stretching movements (called asanas) that can slowly release and extend the body, which gives or increases elasticity, limbering and force; breathing exercises (called pranayama) intended to purify the body, relax the nervous system and emotions; and a directed relaxation to remove body tension and encourage a positive feeling. Other yoga groups have activities comprising of meditation and chanting. Yoga effects so many good results on your body, soul and state of mind. These are but a few of the best advantages to your body from frequent yoga practice.

You get improved bearing from frequently doing yoga. Regularly doing the yoga sequences makes you detect your stature. The different asanas, like the mountain pose or tadasana all function in unison and have the effect of you desiring a tall and straight bearing with chest out and shoulders back.

Yoga loosens up your joints and ligaments causing their elasticity. Greater importance is put on the gentle body stretches and your regulating your inhale-exhale motions, with which yoga enables your muscles and joints to expand their movements more. Another asana, the triangle pose enlarges and extends the entire side of your body, especially accenting the area of your hips. The rock-the-baby pose, on the other hand, widens the outer area of the groin and relaxes the joints of the hips.

Your blood gets to flow more smoothly and and move around your body completely. The asana sequence called the Sun salutation lets your blood and energy make an even and easy transmission all around your whole body.

Yoga has a tranquilizing effect on your nerves. Frequent yoga practice incites parasympathetic nerves that helps relax and calm you.

our body's internal organs are spurred into positive action by yoga. The seated spinal twist and other positions transport new oxygen to your internal organs. The lateral twisting postures take nourishment to the base of the spinal nerves and the sympathetic nervous system causing greater elasticity to your spine.

Yoga helps in the proper functioning of your breathing system. Breathing exercises in yoga trains your respiratory system to function properly. Improved breathing results in enhanced zest and energy.

Now you understand that yoga benefits your body and your health? Good health makes you positive towards a good life.

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Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal yoga is an excellent form of exercise to utilize while going through your pregnancy. If you have never exercised before or are looking for a form of exercise to implement while pregnant, prenatal yoga is your answer. Because of yoga's natural ability to reduce stress level and help with various aches and pains, practicing prenatal yoga will help with all the minor or major aches and pains women experience while being pregnant.

Prenatal is one of the only forms of exercise that can give you ways of coping with your pregnancy pains as well as labor pains. Because prenatal yoga deals with breathing techniques, you are learning a method of breathing you can incorporate into your routine when going through contractions. Many women have said that the breathing they learned while practicing prenatal yoga exercise helped immensely in the delivery room. When it comes to your labor, it can be scary, so knowing right away a way to help decease your pain is a great advantage given to you by prenatal yoga.

Even if you have never practiced yoga before becoming pregnant, you can practice prenatal yoga as a method of exercise during your pregnancy. Because prenatal yoga doesn't require any fast paced movements, it is perfectly safe for you and your baby. In fact prenatal yoga will help you to stretch out any stiffness and lower back pain you may be experiencing. Through a series of poses and postures specific to prenatal yoga, you will stay fit and feel great through out your pregnancy. Again this form of exercise is perfectly safe and harm free.

During your pregnancy most women want to stay in shape and do what is the absolute best for their baby. Prenatal yoga is just the form of exercise to use. There are prenatal yoga classes at your local gym you can utilize. There are also exercises DVDs that are strictly for prenatal yoga. There are certain poses and postures you can practice during prenatal yoga that are specific to the trimester you are in. If you decide to partake in a yoga class that is not a prenatal yoga class be sure to tell the instructor that you are pregnant right away to be sure you are not going to be over exerting yourself during the exercise routine.

Of course before beginning prenatal yoga or any form of exercise it is important to consult your doctor. If you are a high risk pregnancy or supposed to be on bed rest, prenatal not any other type of exercise is recommended. After your pregnancy is over yoga is still a great way to feel fit and stay healthy. There are many different types of yoga other than prenatal yoga that can be very beneficial to you and your health, physically, mentally and spiritually. Be sure to give yourself the proper amount of time after giving birth before picking up with your exercise routine if you aren't sure what the right amount of time is consult with your doctor.

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Benefits of a Yoga Practice

To date there are still researches being conducted on the benefits of yoga, particularly those that had raised some questions. Accordingly, more than 900 studies have been conducted and published on the advantages of yoga. The worldwide web by itself can already point out these common positive results, like better health condition, reduction of fat or weight, ease of body aches and pains and a fulfilling rest.

Even just one, among the many benefits, would inspire you to do yoga regularly or at least, make it one of your goals,. Yoga, translated is defined as "union," which explains its all-embracing view of health and wellbeing. Now if you wish to see any or all of the positive effects of yoga performance you must take the wholistic perspective of it. Individually, yoga is not miraculous; however, it will set the groundwork for your new direction in your life.

A yoga habit enables you to relax enough to recharge and confront the next day's stress with ease. Meditation is one basic element of yoga that lets you clear your mind off those anxiety-driven thoughts. You could do with precisely just this - to close each day with some relaxation and get into a really good night's sleep and wake up reinvigorated. Thus you are able to wake up completely rested and recharged, with a new perspective and focus. This focus you can direct towards whatever you might want to accomplish for the day, or as a long-term goal, like a promotion, your own business, a new house.

Additional energy, stimulation and focus will surely hone your physical and mental skills or interests. Or you can harness these recharged and focused energies to putting harmony into your professional and personal life, and enable you to share more effective time with the people you value.

The different poses change your metabolism and can result in you shedding of those unwanted pounds. The stretching movements result in toned muscles for you, thus, the body you desire to have would soon become yours. Nothing can top that for morale-boosting, I'm sure!

The yoga positions have not just physical effects. These postures increase the span of your limbs, invigorate your glands and internal organs, coming up with hormonal balance for you. Hormonal balance results in mental and spiritual balance for you.

Constantly performing yoga slowly erodes any thought of quitting. A growing inspiration, energy and direction mixed with the yoga meditation breathing methods can help you break negative habits like smoking.

Yoga grants you not only physical advantages. These advantages you get from yoga practice could be the motivation to transform your life. These numerous positive results have encouraged increasing numbers of people to practice yoga.

Take note that if you want yoga to work for you, you must work on it too. You will need to commit a regular time for performing yoga. Yoga as a habit could be the stimulus you just need to take your life on the path that you choose.

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