Yoga and Weight Loss

As a yoga instructor, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is, "Can yoga help you lose weight?" The short answer is yes, for many reasons. Yoga goes along way in promoting a healthy weight loss. Yoga asana is excellent for burning calories while stretching, toning, and strengthening muscles but that is only one piece of the puzzle. We have to look at diet as well. What, how much, and even why we are eating is an important part of the "weight loss" picture. First, let's look at what we are eating. A diet high in fats and sugars will, not only pack on the pounds, but wreck havoc on the systems of the body. Mom was right, eat your fruits and veggies! If you want to feel your best, look your best, and be at your best... eat your best. Mother nature has a delicious bounty of whole foods to choose from, eat up! For optimal health, there's no better choice.

Next let's look at why and how much we are eating. Stress plays a huge role in overeating. It also determines how and where fat is stored in the body. Yoga asanas, breathing exercises, and meditation reduces stress and lowers cortisol levels which will aid in weight loss. Habitual eating can also be a problem. Eating mindlessly as if the auto pilot has been switched on without thinking or even tasting what we are putting in our mouths, that's habitual eating. Then there's emotional eating. Eating when we feel hurt, anger, or depression. Ever hear the expression, "It's not what you're eating but what's eating you," that's emotional eating. Yoga practice helps you to become mindful in the moment. You become connected to and aware of your body and emotions. You will learn to discerne true hungrer from habit and how to re-direct habitual and emotional eating toward effective methods of healing. When you are hungry, you'll make healthier choices, taste and enjoy your food better, and lose weight.

A yoga practice that includes dietary modifications, breathing techniques, and meditation can help you lose weight. Think of the process as a journey of transformation and self-discovery. It will take time and patience. These positive changes are sustainable, unlike those quick-fix fades that feed the cycles of bad habits and ill health. There is a fresh start, a new beginning in everyday. Don't get hung up on where you were or what you did five minutes ago. Don't waste time thinking about what you will do five minutes from now. In this moment, make the choice to be your best right here, right now. Be Well!

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Pilates and Yoga Mat Bags - They Are Funky and Practical - Why You Need One!

Everyone wants to stay in shape, and Pilates is able to provide the perfect way to do just that. When we head out for a workout session, there are a number of things that we need to carry when we go. Water bottles, extra changes of clothes, and the essential Pilates or Yoga mat are just a few of those very necessary items. For the mat, a Pilates or Yoga mat tote bag is needed. Other items can easily be carried in an additional gym or tote bag, but nothing fits the mat like a bag that has been made for carrying it. The Pilates mat is what makes doing the Pilates exercises safely and effectively a possibility, as they provide a non slip, padded surface.

If you are new to Pilates exercises, then you might want to buy a Yoga mat bag first, because you will definitely need a mat for maximum safety during workouts. You can choose to buy one or several different Pilates mat bags. There is a Pilates Mat bag to suit every mood! There are several different styles to choose from that include various colors and patterns. You can buy a silk yoga mat bag with Asian printed patterns if you would like. They are not at all expensive, and they are extremely fashionable and come in many designer prints. If you prefer pink cotton or a mesh yoga mat bag, then your wish shall be granted. There are so many styles to choose from. Hugger Mugger make a great collection of Yoga and Pilates mat bags.

The Pilates mat bag comes with a shoulder strap that is meant to decrease the amount of pressure that is placed on the spine. Everything about Pilates focuses on the human body. The spine is a very fragile region of the body that needs to be taken care of and maintained over the years. Too much pressure in the incorrect areas can potentially result in extreme injury that requires physical therapy and other medical treatments. Injury prevention in exercise is one of its most important facets. Without the prevention of injury, harm becomes more probable. The Pilates or Yoga mat is the back brace to all of its movements and exercises.

Other features that you will be able to find in the Pilates Yoga mat bag include extra compartments to place your money, keys, or other small and valuable items in. The Pilates mat bag is great for those who love organization. They are also wonderful for those who want to keep up with the latest and most fashionable styles. You can even find these types of bags available in leather and suede. Unique colors like gold and silver are also available. Polka dots and flowers are also no stranger to the Pilates mat bag.

Make sure that the bag that you choose to buy contains all of the features that you are looking for. This type of bag goes a long way when it comes to saving money and making room. It gives you a place to put your mat, and it can be stored away in the bag as well. They are convenient, and nifty. Staying organized has never been so easy.

Yoga Meditation - First Step to Mental and Physical Health

Did you know that practicing yoga meditation can bring you some health benefits? Yoga meditation can be particularly helpful to you if you've been experiencing a lot of stress lately. This practice could be one of the best things you can do. In fact, it can even be life saving.

There are many types of yoga meditation you can try. One of these is Sahaja meditation. However, before you jump into it, you'll need to first learn about this technique and the things involved.

Essentially, it is the fusion of yoga and meditation. Of all the exercises you can do, these two are the most relaxing. The main objective is to get your mind, body and spirit in sync. You don't just focus on one aspect; you focus on all three simultaneously. Exercising regularly can help you tone your body and get you in shape. However, a healthy body isn't complete without a healthy mind and soul. And this is where yoga and meditation comes in.

Nearly everyone can benefit in some way or another from doing it. In fact, yoga meditation systematically deals with every level of your being, and that includes your interactions with yourself and the world. Right after your first session, you'll notice how your stress levels have gone down. This is because it addresses the senses, body, breath and mind. It helps ensure that your mind, body and soul are in sync. It is like no other exercise.

Sold on yoga meditation? To get started, register for a class at your local gym or fitness center. This way, you'll work with pros who know all about the proper way to do it and guide you as you do it. With this set up, you'll have someone who will let you know if you're doing something wrong and possibly prevent injuries The great thing about it is that you'll get to make the most out of it this way. After your first few yoga and meditation sessions, you'll notice that you're less stressed and your muscles feel looser. Best of all, you'll feel better overall.

Yoga Benefits

So you have heard of the many benefits of a yoga workout. You have finally given in to purchasing a ten-dollar mat, the hot yoga pants, and even a short DVD to help you along. However, when you finally find the time to try it out, you are disappointed in discovering it is not the yoga routine you have been hearing about. What happened?

Don't give up. There might be a few things you are not considering simply because you haven't heard about them yet.

First things first, the meaning behind yoga is critical to understanding the mentality of beginning a yoga routine. It was originally developed as a spiritual practice. Today it has been morphed into this stereotype of an excruciating circus of flexibility, but it is important to recognize that while some people favor this extreme of yoga that has branched off from the tree, it is not an accurate representation of yoga itself. Yoga is about being present in the moment. It is about having no distractions and aligning your mind, body, and spirit. The word itself literally means "union," and it is all about getting your mind and body in union and feeling balance within yourself.

Before you go back and try that DVD or yoga class, try winding down and thinking about the purpose of yoga and what it is you are trying to accomplish. When you begin your breathing, remember to stay within the moment and put all of your thoughts and concentration on your breathing and nothing else. When you get that equilibrium established, move the breath deep within your belly, and from there move it throughout your entire body. It may sound abstract now, but once you get into this mindset it will become easier and easier to establish this yoga way of thinking.

Of course it isn't going to be natural at first, because you are not used to giving undivided time solely to yourself. It is so easy to get lost in the noise of the world and feel our internal solace drowned out in the constant daily hassles we all face. The important thing is recognizing that to battle those hassles we need to find some balance within ourselves by acknowledging that there is an importance in the mind body relationship. This is why you wanted to start yoga to begin with. Just remember as you go back to that video that it is not about looking exactly like the model being pictured or bending your body in ways you didn't think imaginable. Maybe that day will come, but for now focus on the true spirit of yoga and the joy that comes with your new mind and body relationship. Only after that will the many health benefits and new thinking processes begin.

Should You Practice Yoga During Pregnancy?

My patients frequently ask me for general medical advice because they know that dentists are required to have a sound working knowledge of the body as a whole. They also know that if they ask a question about something that doesn't fall within my specialism, I won't try to treat them for it - not always an assumption they can safely make with their doctors.

A woman recently asked me if she should continue practising yoga during her pregnancy. My immediate reaction was that of course she should. But I'm neither an obstetrician nor a yoga instructor, and there are few things more dangerous than advice from someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

So, in the interests of keeping you safely informed, I took a couple of friends out for a drink and got them to pay me back with advice. One of these friends is a consultant obstetrician and the other is an experienced yoga instructor. This is what they told me:

• As with any form of exercise, it's basic common sense. If you listen to what your body is telling you and avoid any pose or movement that causes physical discomfort, you will not harm yourself or your baby. On the contrary, yoga can be immensely beneficial during and after pregnancy. It will make you more flexible and make your ligaments more elastic. This enables you to adapt to various positions during labour and will reduce labour pain.
• Yoga improves posture, reducing the incidence and severity of back problems which are common during pregnancy.
• Yoga boosts circulation and reduces fluid retention.
• Stretching exercises help to relieve aches and pains - but you must avoid excessive stretching or twisting of the abdominal area.
• Also avoid any postures that require strong use of the abdominal muscles. Supine (lying on your back) leg raises would be an example of this.
• Be careful with postures involving balance because your centre of gravity changes dramatically during pregnancy.
• Yoga has psychological as well as physical benefits - and you can't have too many of those. By encouraging breath and body awareness, yoga reduces stress and helps prepare for the birth.
• You should stay well hydrated, stopping frequently for water breaks.
• Avoid 'hot' yoga such as Bikram during pregnancy because it can dangerously raise body temperature.
• Don't force yourself to lie on your back if it's uncomfortable. During the later stages of pregnancy, a uterus with a fetus inside is a large, heavy lump and your body knows where it doesn't want this lump to press.
• You may be more prone to dizziness when standing from a sitting or lying position, so avoid sudden positional changes.
• Yoga is also beneficial post-natally because it strengthens the abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor. It will also help you regain your shape more quickly. Do not, however, attempt it for 6 weeks after the birth because you might tear muscles and other tissues that are in the process of repair.

In conclusion, I asked the experts to sum up their advice.

Obstetrician - 'Listen to your body. If it feels okay, it probably is. On the other hand, if your body is complaining, don't ignore it. Physical pain is designed to be a warning sign - not a challenge.'

Yoga instructor - 'Don't try to do this alone. Consult a qualified teacher and find a yoga class specifically for pregnant women.'