my-thoughts

3 Common Mistakes Made by Newcomers to Yoga

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:18:45 +0100

Whenever you start something new it is normal to have feelings of uncertainty of the unknown but in most cases it is completely unfounded and you get over it very quickly and easily. Yoga has so many health benefits, on both a physical and spiritual level, that it would be a tragedy for you to quit because of a silly avoidable mistake on your first few attempts. This article looks at the 3 most common mistakes of people new to Yoga, and how to make sure they don't happen to you.

1) Not knowing what you want to achieve from Yoga.

The reality is that there are a lot of different styles and forms of Yoga and each has different attractions. You need to ask yourself what it was about Yoga in general that attracted you and then you can investigate a style that caters specifically to that. You should set goals, whether they are physical, mental or spiritual. If you have set goals, it is a good idea to discuss them with the instructor of your class before you begin. Yoga instructors are usually very approachable and happy to talk about their passion. They will be able to talk to you about your goals for the class and let you know if you are being realistic, aiming too high or too low. Make sure you include a timeframe so it is a measurable goal.

2) Jumping in Feet First.

Having decided to give this Yoga thing a try many people take a running leap and jump in to a 12 month stage by stage class. These classes are usually an upfront payment arrangement and progress from one level to the next as the weeks progress. They are a fantastic way of learning Yoga and becoming very good at it, but it's quite possibly you will choose a class that is not ideal for you.

The best way to start is to join a Yoga beginner's class, also known as a drop in class. If you do these classes for a few weeks you will notice a high turnover of students as new people join and old people move on. These classes are designed to give you a very broad feel for the different types of Yoga. The level of the students in the class usually varies greatly so you can expect the instructor to keep the classes quite tame. The other key benefit of doing this is that the classes are pay as you go so there is no big financial outlay for you while you decide the type and style of yoga that best suits you. You are also not obliged to attend every class. With the longer courses you can fall behind quickly if you miss a week or two in a row. With the pay as you go classes you will find that while each class is different the level stays quite low to cater for the newer people joining in.

3) Choosing the wrong instructor.

Traditionally a Yogi had to be an apprentice to a skilled Guru for many years before he could teach even the simplest of Yoga technique. Nowadays a 3-day course over a long weekend is considered enough by some people. There is a big difference in what you will achieve depending on the skills and abilities of the person teaching you. Yoga is starting to make a regular appearance on the sports injury list and a large reason for this is instructors who have been taught just enough to be dangerous. A qualified teacher won't necessarily be fantastic and an unqualified teacher won't necessarily be terrible - but the odds are certainly cast in that direction, so it's a good idea to check your instructors background and qualifications before you begin studying with them. It is imperitive that you feel comfortable and actually enjoy your instructor in order to achieve true success in Yoga.

As a beginner if you keep these three things in mind, you will find you will have greater success and truly feel the benefits of Yoga in your excersise regime.

How to Become Regular in Your Yoga Practice

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:28:30 +0100

by Dada Vedaprajinananda

People come to yoga looking for various things: peace of mind, stress reduction, improved concentration, and weight loss. Yoga can help you to accomplish all of this, but “yoga works, if you work!” You have to do the practices on a regular basis in order to get the results.

Yoga postures and basic meditation exercises are simple enough to learn. In fact, I teach them to children and they pick them up quite easily. So, I am sure that you can learn what to do fairly easily and quickly. The big problem for most people is to establish the habit of doing the practices on a regular basis. Here are a few tips which may help you to do your yoga and meditation on a daily basis.

1. Start with Firm Determination: Yoga begins and ends in the mind. Take a determination that you are going to give yoga a fair try and you are going to practice, because it is important to you. Close your eyes, and think “For the next three months I am going to do it every day.”

During the course of time, whenever you start thinking, “Oh today I don’t want to do my yoga exercises”, remember your initial determination and stick to it.

2. Do it Together With some Friends: Learning how to give and share is an important part of yoga, so don’t keep “yoga” to your self. If possible find one or two friends who would benefit from practicing yoga, and do it together with them. The good thing about practicing with others is that if a day comes when you are not motivated to do the practice, the enthusiasm of your friends will carry you along and you will do the practice with them.

3. Make a Regular Schedule and Stick to It: Yoga is not like tennis or some recreational sport which you will do if the sun is shining and you feel like doing it. To get the true benefits from yoga you have to do it every day. So, free some space in your busy schedule and “reserve” this time for your practice of yoga and meditation.

If you get up a bit earlier in the morning, then you will have a nice quiet time to do your yoga before the rest of your neighbors wake up. In the evening, do your best to keep some time free for yoga before your evening meal.

Once you have set your schedule, stick to it as best you can.

4. Do Your Practices With A Free Mind: It is not enough to reserve time for yoga, with your body doing the exercises but you mind continuing to worry about other things. When you stop to do your yoga and meditation, you should remember that the next 30 or 40 minutes has been reserved for yoga and for your development. Don’t jump up to answer the phone, or respond to every minor disturbance. This period of time is for you.

If you begin to think about all your other responsibilities and problems, gently drop these thoughts and imagine that your problems are tucked away along with your shoes at the corner of the room, or better yet in another room. (You shouldn’t be practicing yoga with your shoes on!)

5. Be Patient: Sometimes you will feel the effects of the yoga and sometimes you will not feel anything. Don’t worry about the immediate effects, continue to practice. It takes a while before the most profound results of yoga are realized.

It took you many years to build up your present personality and physical structure. You can’t change it overnight. But the good news is that you don’t have to wait many years to change yourself because the regular and systematic practice of yoga postures and basic meditation can help you to make great changes in a period of six months to one year.

So, hang in there, start practicing, continue practicing and slowly but surely yoga will help you to realize your most important goals.

Using Meditation to the Fullest

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:18:49 +0100

There are a lot of people that start to use meditation time and then never do it again. Usually it is because they get frustrated that they are not see the results that they want in a short time frame.

Here are a few tips that can help you to make the most out of your meditation.

A. Always practice meditation in a quiet area.

It is not always possible to find an absolutely quiet room, but the more calm your surroundings, the better your meditation will be. Try to keep outside distractions to a minimum.

B. Use a room with a comfortable temperature.

The temperature of the room you practice in can ruin your meditation. You need to find a room that is going to be right for you and that will allow you to relax in. If it is too hot or too cold, you will focus on this, rather than on trying to achieve inner calm.

C. Wear comfortable clothes.

Always wear clothes that make you feel comfortable in and allow you to meditate properly. Meditation is not a fashion statement, so don't worry about how you look, just be comfortable. It does not matter if it is your bathrobe or your favorite old sweatshirt, just as long as you are relaxed in it.

D. Find a mentor.

It may be hard to practice meditation when you do not have the right help. You should use a guru or mentor to guide you and help you get what you are looking for out of meditation.

E. Learn about meditation.

If you have the right help or not, you want to do your research on meditation. Learning is the only way that you are going to fully enjoy the method. Books or websites are going to help you find what you need so that you can make the most of your meditation practices.

Learning meditation is a process and it does take time. If you put the five above practices into use, you will start to feel the benefits of meditation and achieve inner calm.

For more information on meditation visit here.

Amazing Meditation Resource

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:59:23 +0100

Would you like to develop a calmer, quieter mind, supercharge your energy level and manifest what you truly desire in your life? If so, you'll love Secrets Of Meditation.

You may not realize it, but there are meditation and breathing exercises you can use to reduce stress as well as improve your health and increase your level of energy and enjoyment of life.

These secrets are simple and yet tremendously powerful.

Doing these exercises on a daily basis, as simple as they are, will change your life. And the funny thing is that many, many people are not aware of these exercises at all. These secrets include how to:

** Develop control over your own mind and body.

** Supercharge your energy level and feel great on a day-to-day basis.

** Work with the power of your subconscious mind to move you toward what would really truly fulfil you in your life.

My friend Matt Clarkson of The Mind-Body Training Company has created a complimentary course for you to help you get started.

With each instalment, you'll get an exercise, inspirational message or tip to help you calm the mind and reduce stress. You're just one click away from discovering...

** Greater connection with your true self

** Greater access to your unconscious resources and abilities

** Improved management of emotions

** Broader horizons - new sense of direction and purpose in life

** Improved ability to make good decisions based on values

** More happiness and passion for life

** New perspectives on problems and blocks

** Saying goodbye to negative emotions

** More loving relationships with colleagues and those you care about

** Improved mental power, more energy, vibrancy and mental focus

** Vibrant health and happiness

So if your health and happiness is important, be sure to check this out right away.

How to Start Eating Healthy

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:04:28 +0100

It can be very difficult to start eating healthy when you are not used to it. The temptations around us are difficult to ignore, but if you want to become healthier you need to learn persistence. Healthy eating is important for maintaining bodily function and living a disease-free life. If you struggle with healthy eating, then you know that breaking unhealthy habits can be the most difficult part of the process. But, if you truly want to live the best lifestyle possible, it is important to start eating a more healthy diet.

A good place to start when you want to eat a healthier diet is to rid you house of everything that is not healthy. Keep the junk food and beverages out of your house so that you will not be tempted to snack during the day. If you’re worried about getting hungry, keep healthy snacks like carrots, yogurt, fresh fruit, or whole-wheat crackers on hand. If you find that you just cannot bear to cut out the sweets, try keeping something tiny on hand, like chocolate chips. Eating a few of these won’t ruin your diet but also will give you that little sugary fix you crave.

Another great step to healthy eating when you are first starting the process is to take a few moments to learn about what foods are the healthiest for you and how they work in the body. Most people understand that fruits and vegetables are good for you, but few people really understand how these foods work in their body. The key is learning about nutrients. When you understand how specific nutrients work in the body, you will be more likely to make these healthy choices for your body. Knowledge really is power!

When you are preparing for a new healthy diet, you should also take into consideration your schedule for meals. If you eat in a hurry at odd times of the day, you probably are not getting the best foods possible. Plan ahead! Instead of buying a fast food lunch, take a bagged lunch to work, complete with a healthy wrap and some fresh vegetables. Plan ahead for healthy meals in the evening by cooking ahead if you are not currently getting healthy dinners and have little time to cook when you get home every night.

Start small, by replacing one soda a day with a glass of water, you are really improving your calorie intake. If you eat fast food every day for lunch, take a bagged lunch for one day a week, then slowly increase it until you are no longer eating out. When you start by taking small steps, it does not seem like you are cutting out all of the foods you like. As you slowly replace your unhealthy eating habits with healthier ones learn about healthy foods, try new things, and you will quickly find that you enjoy eating healthy just as much.

Three Essential Oils To Reduce Stress

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:02:21 +0100

One of the most ignored and prevalent problems in todays society is stress. We have gotten so used to living our lives in stress that it has become normal. Usually, we do not deal with stress until it becomes a medical problem. But, with the introduction of three essential oils we can reduce stress before there is a permanent medical problem.

Lavender:

Lavender essential oil has a very calming scent which makes it an excellent choice for calming your nerves and it also helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. The refreshing aroma alleviates nervous exhaustion, restlessness and increases mental activity. Lavender essential oil also induces sleep and is often recommended for people who suffer from insomnia.

There are several methods to use lavender essential oils. A drop on your pillow will help relax you when trying to sleep. Also adding to your bath water is a soothing way to release the tensions of the day. Placing a drop or two on a cloth or cotton swab and placing on a low heat source, such as a register, will release the aromatic benefits into any room.

Sandalwood:

Sandalwood essential oils have many benefits and when it comes to stress it will help with hypotensive, memory, and as a sedative.It has very useful hypotensive properties, where it can be taken with milk or water to help reduce high blood pressure. The paste of Sandalwood has the same effect. It also improves memory and increases the ability to concentrate. It keeps the brain cool and relaxed and saves from undue stress and anxiety. Sandalwood essential oil also sedates inflammations, anxiety, fear, stress, and restlessness by inducing relaxation, calmness, concentration, inner vision, and positive thoughts.

Sandalwood can be ingested, but for stress it is very effective to use as an aromatherapy essential oil.

Chamomile:

There are two types of chomomile, Roman Chamomile which is scientifically known as Anthemis Nobilis and the German Camomile whose scientific name is Matricaria Chamomilla. Although the essential oils are quite similar in medicinal properties. Roman Chamomile Oil is more calming and is a better emenagogue, the German Chamomile is a very powerful anti inflammatory. However, both varieties are very effective in fighting depression and for raising spirit. They eliminate feeling of sadness, depression, disappointment, sluggishness and induce a sort of happy or charged feeling. By smelling either ofthese oils you can help overcome depression and bring about a good mood.

Fighting stress is not difficult if you are willing to. By incorporating all or even one of the above essential oils into your daily routine you can reduce your stress levels. Once stress is under control, you will feel more energetic and happier, but also be much more productive in your professional and personal life. Essential oils are very powerful and prior to using them you should consult with a medical practitioner to ensure you know how and when to use them to get the greatest benefits.

A Ten Minute Yoga Routine Increases Energy and Creates Calm

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:32:05 +0100

Are you a person who can barely get out of bed in the morning, finding yourself exhausted even before the day begins. Or are you coming home after work, and you find you don't even have the energy to get up off the couch. If you are finding that no matter how much sleep you get, or how little you seem to do you are always tired, don't worry, there is an answer.

You can easily boost your energy by incorporating a quick ten minute yoga routine into your daily schedule. Yoga has been proven to reduce stress and increase energy in a very short time.

A yoga routine does not have to be difficult or strenuous on your body, yet it will still have excellent benefits as a form of exercise. By incorporating some basic yoga postures, either individually or in succession, you will find there are short term and long term benefits.

Never rush your yoga postures. Doing just one or two postures correctly, has a lot more benefit than rushing through ten of them. As you gain confidence and start to feel the benefits of your postures, you will also feel the mental benefits.

The easiest way to start is by first sitting in a comfortable position with your back straight and do deep breathing. This will center your mind and allow to be more focused. Once your mind is clear, you can start to do deep stretches, always concentrating on graceful transitions. Unlike regular stretching, you are concentrating on breathing and fluid motion, more than on stretching out your muscle. In regular stretching, you are taught to stretch to the point that it hurts a little. In yoga, stop just before it start to hurt and hold the position.

Ideally, you want to hold your yoga position for one to two minutes at the beginning, not about how many stretches you can do. Always concentrating on your breathing and your smoothness of movement.

Do not push yourself. The benefits of yoga are felt even in the sitting position as you concentrate on your breathing. As you become more efficient you will be able to add more movements into your yoga routine. When you practice yoga regularly, you will experience many benefits including increased energy and better self-discipline. As you continue to practice you will notice lower stress levels, where you have created inner calm and your days of feeling exhausted will be fewer and fewer.

10 Uses For Peppermint Oil In Your Lifes

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:45:56 +0100

One of the world's oldest medicinal herbs is peppermint oil. It was used regularly by people in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. In fact in those eras essential oil cultivation and distillation was a refined art and the knowledge was only accessible to a few. It was so secret that by law if the knowledge of processing essential oils was divulged the penalty was death. Essential oils were regarded more valuable than gold and only accessible to kings. Thankfully, in today's world the benefits of essential oils are available to anyone. More and more people are seeking high quality therapeutic-grade oils, with no harmful synthetics, and one of the most popular essential oils is peppermint.

There are several daily uses for peppermint oil, following are the top ten:

1. Peppermint oil is used in toothpaste, mouthwash, for toothpicks and floss. The dentist uses this oil as mouth rinse, tooth cleaner and a mild anesthetic. Periodontal disease and gum infection are treated using this essential oil. Chewing gums or mint lozenges are a favorite for breath fresheners.

2. Peppermint oil is an excellent digestive aid. It is traditionally used for stomach aches and bowel conditions. Medicines and ointments are enriched with peppermint essential oil as a digestive aid. It is highly effective for relieving cramps, spasms and pain.

3. Used in medicines in pill form or as an inhalant, peppermint oil was used for countless ailments over the ages, anything from colds and the flu, to headache, vertigo, irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and arthritis.

4. Studies on the effect of peppermint oil include its influence on liver and respiratory systems, improved taste and smell, concentration and mental activity, satiation, irritable bowel syndrome, daytime sleepiness, and many more.

5. Oil of Mentha piperita (peppermint) is widely used for bone, muscle and nerve pain and to regenerate tissues. Athletes commonly use analgesic, invigorating or calming rubs before and after a workout. It is a favorite cooling muscle relaxant with antispasmodic effects.

6. Peppermint fragrance is used in personal care and cosmetic products such as shampoo, deodorant, lip balm or soap. Be aware that commercial menthol fragrance is frequently made of synthetic compounds and are potential carcinogenics. Synthetic mint fragrance causes severe health reactions (depression, skin disorders, etc.) and should be avoided at all cost.

7. Therapeutic-grade peppermint oil should be an integral part of any first aid kit. It is used for heat stroke, hemorrhoids, tension headache, to reduce fever, help with poison ivy, boost mood and reduce fatigue, relieve nausea, and much more.

8. Using essential oil of peppermint as insect repellents is a natural way to get rid of mosquitoes, moths, horse-flies, aphids, cockroaches, ants and more.

9. From drinking hot or ice cold mint tea, to making delicious peppermint ice cream and other treats, this oil will lend its invigorating aroma to every kitchen.

10. Peppermint oil is a favorite essential oil used for dietary, aromatic or topical application. With its invigorating, energizing and stimulating properties, it can likewise be soothing, calming and cleansing.

Peppermint oil has an invigorating minty odor and taste. Having a strong, clean, fresh aroma the oil can energize a person instantly. It provides oxygen to the blood, enhances mental clarity, dispels tiredness, improves circulation, and leaves a fresh taste and clean breath when ingested. No matter how you decide to use peppermint oil in your life it will leave you with a refreshing sensation in the mouth and on the skin. When starting to incorporate essential oils in your life, make oneof your first choices peppermint oil.

Solar Energy as an Alternative Energy Source

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:05:27 +0100

Photovoltaic cells—those black squares an array of which comprises a solar panel—are getting more efficient, and gradually less expensive, thanks to better designs which focus the gathered sunlight on a more and more concentrated point. The size of the cells is decreasing as their efficiency rises, meaning that each cell becomes cheaper to produce and easier to produce. As far as the cost, the price of producing solar-generated energy per watt hour has reduced to $4.00 at the time of writing, 17 years ago, it was almost double that cost.

Solar powered electricity is certainly good for the environment, as this form of energy gives off no emissions and is utilizing one of the most naturally occurring things in our environment. Solar collection cells are becoming more practical for placing on people's homes, and they are not a difficult system to use for heating one's home, creating hot water, or producing electricity.

Photovoltaic cells are becoming increasingly better at collecting sufficient sun even on overcast or stormy days. One company in particular, Uni-Solar, has developed solar collection arrays for the home that work well on inclement days, by way of a technologically more advanced system that stores more energy at one time during sunlit days.

There is actually another solar power system available for use called the PV System. The PV System is connected to the nearest electrical grid; whenever there is an excess of solar energy being collected at a particular home, it is transferred to the grid for shared use and as a means of lowering the grid's dependence on the hydroelectrically-driven electricity production. Being connected to the PV System can keep your costs down as compared to full-fledged solar energy, while at once reducing pollution and taking pressure off the grid system. Some areas are designing centralized solar collection arrays for small towns or suburban communities.

Some big-name corporations have made it clear that they are also getting into the act of using solar power (a further indication that solar generated energy is becoming an economically viable alternative energy source). Google is putting in a 1.6 megawatt solar power generation plant on the roof of its corporate headquarters, while Wal Mart wants to put in an enormous 100 megawatt system of its own.

Nations such as Japan, Germany, the United States, and Switzerland have been helping solar energy production by providing government subsidies or by giving tax breaks to companies and individuals who are using solar panels for generating their heat or electrical power.

Benefits and Basic Uses of Aromatherapy

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:30:29 +0100

If you have never taken advantage of the benefits of aromatherapy, it is never too late to start learning and using it in your daily life. Although these days, there are many ways of achieving relaxation and alternative healing techniques, this one remains popular because it is easy to follow and it won't cost you much.

The aromatherapy process utilizes botanical oils where the extracts and essences of herbs, trees and flowers are inhaled. The type of essences that you use in order to gain benefit depends on what you want to cure and your reasons for undergoing the aromatherapy.

This use of aromatherapy can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, but in the 1920s Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, coined the term after witnessing how lavender oil can aid in the curing of skin burns. It has since become a branch of herbal medicine that applies the medicinal properties of the oils and essences from various herbs and plants. And the idea is now being applied in most countries around the world, especially in parts of Europe and North America.

Aromatherapy is very popular in spas and commonly used in holistic treatments. It is also being integrated into products used for relaxation purposes such as candles and massage oils. Many people are discovering the effectiveness of the process. For most of its users, this has become an integral part of their lives as it can alleviate pains, fatigue and stress.

Different essential oils can have varying effects on the body and mind. The effects range from being tranquilizing, antiviral, anti-bacterial, and adrenal stimulating; as well as many others.

The process is very simple, just inhale the essential oil through your nose and the molecules enter your system. When it is inside your body, the limbic system in your brain is stimulated. This system is responsible for your emotions and memories; as well as being directly associated with your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, the hypothalamus, adrenals and your pituitary gland.

As our society becomes more hectic and stressful, the use of aromatherapy will become a common daily practice, and more people will discover the benefits that aromatherapy has on our health.