yoga information: 05/12/11

How to Relieve Low Blood Sugar With Yoga and Diet

his article deals with the causes of low blood sugar and how exercising can help alleviate it. A regular fitness program and the right diet can help manage this condition. Yoga is a good example of a fitness program combined with therapeutic applications for this condition.

Symptoms and Causes

One of the first symptoms of low blood sugar (otherwise known and hypoglycemia) is a craving for sugary treats and refined carbohydrates between meals. The symptoms that follow are headaches, irritability, anxiety or nervousness and in extreme cases, blurred vision and a feeling that one is about to pass out. It is common for people suffering this condition to want to eat frequently to get over feeling tired and emotionally frail or irritable. The physical state has an effect on the person’s emotional state and often the person feels this can be overcome by satisfying a sugar craving.

The causes of low blood sugar are many including the overeating of processed carbohydrates, erratic functioning of the pituitary gland, a tumor or disturbances in liver function.

Contrary to the belief that low blood sugar can be reduced by sugar intake, a healthy way of dealing with it would be to cut down on sugar in the diet generally speaking. At the precise moment when the blood sugar falls, it is natural to want to perk it up with a shot of sugar. This sudden spiking of the sugar levels in the blood can lead to uncomfortable symptoms. This is the reason why experts suggest keeping off sugar and sticking to a diet similar to what diabetics eat including complex carbohydrates, low-fat protein and fiber. A diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly made juices and whole grains and cereals is likely to be beneficial.

Diet and Yoga Therapy

There are certain practices in yoga that can alleviate the sense of restlessness and anxiety of a low blood sugar attack. When there is a sudden fall in blood sugar and the accompanying sense of tiredness and irritability are present, a few minutes of pranayama can reduce the anxious and jittery feeling. One pranayama that seems to work well for this condition is the alternate nostril breathing, also known as Nadi Shodhana. This regulates the breath and purifies the blood. It takes the awareness to the sensations accompanying the condition and directs energy for healing. It is also a calming pranayama which affects the nervous systems and induces a sense of quiet in a ruffled body and mind.

A practice of asana can also help in treating the condition provided it is being practiced regularly and diligently. Also, low blood sugar can be serious and if it tends to be severe then it is better to seek medical help.
Often, low blood sugar can be aggravated by intense physical exercise and subsequently very little water and food for hours. In order to overcome this, any workout must be followed up with the intake of water or juices. It is good to eat a healthy snack (like a fruit) maybe a half hour after the workout.

It is important to note that any of the yoga practices suggested for the treatment of low blood sugar must be done under the guidance of a doctor and a well trained and experienced yoga expert.

Kundalini Yoga: Unleash the Fire Inside

Kundalini Yoga and meditation operates on the premise discovered long ago in India that there is a force at the base of the spine wrapped around the sacrum that needs awakening. To understand the intense physical and mental power this fiery brand of flexibility exercises brings about, read on.

Focusing on Correct Spine Alignment

Kundalini is Sanskrit and translates roughly to “coiling like a snake” and this type of yoga focuses on many exercises, involving the spine, designed to uncoil and unleash the intense power that is wrapped around the base of the spine at the sacrum, also known as the tailbone. The maintenance of proper spine alignment which Kundalini Yoga for energy and super radiance provides is enough to make this an integral component of your fitness regimen. However, the added benefits of increased focus and a optimal sense of vitality received after stimulating the many nerve centers at the base of the spine are alluring to say the least.

This series on the physical and mental benefits of Yoga (see Yoga for Beginners) highlights some of the most prominent yoga disciplines to explain a little of the philosophies and specific practices (your work on the mat) involved with each different kind. Read about each to decide which practice entices you the most and keep in mind that the practice of yoga will improve your ability and the quality of experience in every other fitness activity you partake in. It simply moulds your body to work at its optimum potential.

If you are looking to rise to a higher spiritual plane, improve awareness, consciousness, and pretty much all your other senses, then a Kudalini awakening is for you. My snowshoes both broke late one night on the way back from a desolate peak in Northwest Montana. Slogging noisily through the deep snow, I suddenly found myself in the midst of a rowdy pack of wolves on a fresh kill and a few of them loped in rather close to take a look at the bedraggled spectacle that I was. This night was both exhilarating and terrifying but most of all, I experienced levels of awareness and a sharpening of my senses (to include a vague impression that I had the ability to commune with these creatures known for their almost supernatural intuitions) that I never knew was possible. I only relate that experience because sometimes I feel this way after practicing Kundalini Yoga. And I am also grateful to that majestic Nine Mile Wolf Pack for not ripping me to pieces with their jaws which are capable of chewing up bones.

A Kundalini Awakening of Body, Mind, and Spirit

The practice itself often involves manipulating breathing patterns and a heavy concentration (mindfulness) while maintaining different postures the teacher leads the student in. It’s no coincidence that the term backbone is used so widely to signify strength and courage and this yoga works to fortify your spine and correct all those years of misuse and abuse. In a Kundalini class I took once we moved through poses rapidly while engaging in a quick staccato inhalation and exhalation known as ‘The Breath of Fire.’

By cleansing the mind and body with well directed oxygen during the practice of Sahaja (as it’s also known), many practitioners experience a new level of self-realization and a melding of body, mind, and spirit such as they never have experienced before. Perhaps you’ve heard of certain energy channels within the human body known as Chakras. This type of mat work is designed to balance those chakras and if you believe that is hocus pocus, you’re missing out on the mystery. Every cell in your body has a brain. This type of yoga also does wonders for your kidneys and adrenals over and above what it does for your muscular and skeletal systems.
As for the actual poses you’ll be doing on the mat, the positioning of the spine is the key focus as you engage in cross-legged positions and other more traditional poses. The student will often move in an animated fashion and there’s usually a lot of mantra chanting involved in Kundalini Awakening Sahaja Yoga. Breath control, meditations, and visualizations are also standard. It is said that when your second chakra set kaur is balanced you will have amazing creativity.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/health/fitness/articles/23337.aspx#ixzz1MAIAsVZa

Iyengar Yoga: The Benefits Will Ripple Through Your Entire Life

Iyengar Yoga is one of the best fitness disciplines I’ve ever gotten involved with. The practice of Iyengar yoga has physically benefited every other fitness activity I engage in. Plus, the inherent mental acuity and spiritual levity gained with developing these poses are well worth the effort.

Iyengar Awakens the Body, Mind, and Spirit

When I began practicing Iyengar Yoga I could immediately feel the benefits. First I became aware of the toll the years of rugged use and abuse of my bones and muscles and the age enhancing habits of sitting at a desk took on me. I have several problem areas such as a knee that was scoped, a wrist with mild carpal tunnel syndrome, a precarious lower back, and very tight hamstrings from a lot of running and hiking.

Through the tutelage of a magnificent teacher where I practice at Northern Lights Yoga here in Helena, Montana, most of those aches and pains have greatly diminished and even disappeared.

I am a huge proponent of any kind of yoga, but finding Iyengar Yoga had a profound impact on my life. The poses (which are sustained longer on the mat) are not easy and you must learn to train your thoughts to perceive and manipulate pivotal muscles that are sometimes tiny and most likely unknown to the conscious you. Yet, these muscles play a major role in not only achieving the correct pose but also in the broader sense of learning to maintain the right posture to prevent injury and gain a little grace in many senses of the word.

This attention and awareness that yoga brings to the body also plays a role in reshaping the mind to make it more attuned, focused, and in touch with a whole new world at large which is full of subtle nuances you were used to slogging on by in a blurry haze.

Background and Where to Begin

This type of yoga is named after Yogacharya B.K.S.Iyengar, the agile and pragmatic founder whose eyes beam with the light of inner peace. Iyengar is well into his 80’s but still maintains an amazing ability to practice his poses and teach those inspired enough to bring his discipline to the rest of the world. This yoga is known for its use of props like blocks, belts, ropes, and bolsters to assist the practitioner in working on asanas (postures). Continued work on these postures to achieve precise alignment begins to improve the focus and concentration of the practitioner in all their other endeavors.

Based on the enlightened works of Patanjali's Sutras written many centuries ago, known as the 8 Limbed Path, Iyengar Yoga emphasizes stamina, developing strength, flexibility, balance, concentration, and meditation. The practitioner becomes familiar with the wisdom and application of these sutras.

Continued practice of this discipline melds the body, mind, and emotions to act cohesively with integration rather than each separate element acting on its own like a wild horse attached to you pulling you in three different directions. Iyengar Yoga is meant for anyone interested, regardless of what kind of shape they’re in because unity and self-acceptance are underlying goals of yoga.

But the use of props is the practical manner prevent people from injuring themselves or snapping some part of themselves which they may later need. A heavy concentration on standing poses is part of this program. The relief these poses create in your joints, hips, back, and relief from restless leg syndrome are well worth the effort alone, so give Iyengar Yoga a try if you’re lucky enough to have a qualified instructor near you.

Getting Rid of Arm Fat With Yoga

Do you want to put flexibility back into your arms and make them firm and toned? Yoga is the answer! Tone your arms, look leaner and get flexible without owning a lot of fancy equipment.

Chaturanga

According to Women's Health magazine, the chaturanga is a classic yoga arm exercise designed to get rid of that flabby underarm fat that you have no idea how you got in the first place or how to get rid of. Lie flat on the floor, arms at your side. Bend elbows and place hands next to your chest on either side. Push up to a push-up position, then gently lower your body, which should be straight, until your elbows are right next to the sides of your back. Hold this position as long as possible. This move will strengthen the arms and provide stability.

Cobra

The cobra exercise works your arms and abs together for a dynamic duo of a workout. Begin by lying flat on the floor, face down, with your hands on each side of your face. Bend your elbows and push up until your arms are extended. Look towards the ceiling with a curved back and extended neck. Use your arm and lower abs to maintain the pose for 20 seconds. Release slowly and repeat three times.
In addition to strengthening your arm muscles, the cobra pose works your spine to be more flexible and stretches your ab muscles for more movability. Plus, it's a great exercise to perform when your shoulders are sore as well.

Fish

The fish exercise might look funny, but it will stretch your spine and give you a good yoga arm exercise at the same time. Lie flat on your back with your hands tucked flat beneath your bottom. Raise your head and chest and bend your head back until you see objects behind you. Your back should remained curved with arms bent in support of your body. Stick out the chest to hold the pose. Release the pose slowly after several seconds.

Inclined Plane

The inclined plane pose employs the arms to hold the upper body and stabilize the legs. Start by sitting down with your feet stretched out in front of you, hands behind your back supporting your upper body. Lay your head back, lift the hips, and stick out the chest. The head should hand upside-down between the shoulders with arms holding your body.

Bow

The bow stretches the arms, legs, and spine for an all over yoga arm workout. Lie on the ground with your head on the floor. Bend your knees so your feet almost touch your rear. Reach behind you to grab both ankles with your hands. Raise the ankles so only your hips and stomach are touching the floor. Your body should look a little like a rocking chair, with your head facing forward, arms extended behind you, and feet and legs up in the air.

5 Hip Stretching and Opening Yoga Poses

The hips respond to stress by becoming tense and tight. This can cause painful cramping during sleep as well as soreness that limits daily activities. Yoga provides some great hip opening and stretching exercises that will loosen those tight muscles and destress your whole body.

The Hips and Stress

Emotional and physical tension is greatly felt in the hips. If the hips are not stretched, long-term problems can be the unfortunate result. Yoga is one of the best exercises for reducing tension in the hips. Try the following five poses if your hips are feeling tight and tense. Better sleep and range of motion will be the result from a daily hip stretching routine. Try these moves before bed.

Happy Baby Pose

This is a great hip stretch that you can do from a lying down position. The happy baby pose will stretch the inner groin and back in addition to the hips, and this one has the added advantage of reducing stress and fatigue.

Fire Log Pose

The fire log pose stretches the hip and groin region. This is a fairly easy stretch. It's done from a sitting position. You'll be crossing one leg over the other and bending forward to the point that is comfortable, then holding the pose for at least one minute.

Marichi's Pose

The marichi pose is an easy stretch that will relieve hip and back pain. This is a sitting pose that simply involves lifting one leg and twisting the torso. You should feel an easy stretch in the hip area as well as the entire core.

One-Legged King Pidgeon Pose

The one-legged king pigeon pose is a challenging intermediate level hip opener. You'll also stretch the thighs, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and neck when you perform this pose. Don't forget to adjust this one to your own level, or it can be quite uncomfortable.

Side-Reclining Leg Lift

The side-reclining leg lift is a reclining pose involving a high leg lift that is held for one minute of longer. This pose stretches the thighs and groin as well as opening the hips.