The Wellbeing Centre on Philip Street is the location for Waterford's newest Yoga classes with a schedule to meet the demands of modern living.
Heta Hautamaki, who teaches Yoga for just ten euro per class every weekday, told Waterford Today that the classes are for everyone from the old and the young and all shapes and sizes.
Originally from Finland, Heta says that entry into the classes can come at either a class by class basis or by booking a number of classes, ensuring that people in the city can fit it into their tight schedules.
She said there can be some who think that they are not 'flexible' enough for Yoga but dismissed that saying that 'everyone' can do Yoga.
Heta's class sizes have no more than ten people per lesson and the reason for this she says is so people can be comfortable and safe while also getting the attention they need.
Heta is just 25 herself had already worked in Martial Arts before completing her teacher training in Yoga.
One aspect of Yoga is the amazing strength practitioners can exhibit without seemingly having the 'muscles' to do it but Heta maintains that this is perfectly natural, saying: 'When you go to the gym and you start working out, you are working all the muscles on the surface like your bicep and abs which are in charge of big movements. But in Yoga, when you are holding yourself up on your hands and you are holding it for long periods of time, you are conditioning those core muscles under those big muscles. These are the ones that allow our posture to be straight. So, it's that inner strength'.
In fact, Heta questions beliefs that modern living has led people to wrongly believe that they cannot do what she can but reassured those who take up classes, commenting: 'I feel like its not so much unnatural. Its unnatural for society nowadays because we drive cars, we don't walk and we don't use our bodies the way we could.A lot of people I see coming in with their shoulders completely locked from any kind of movement because of typing, driving the car or the stress of carrying bags on one side of their shoulder and not on the other. If, by stretching out on the mat, enjoying that stretch and giving it time, we'd be able to gain that flexibility that the foot would go over the shoulder, then it is natural, it's just forgotten'.
To add to her already in demand class schedule, Heta also has a Philosophy class at the Well Being Centre on Friday evenings and instead of charging for the class, participants donate to a chosen charity with the proceeds of last Friday's class going to the Irish Cancer Society.
In addition to her already busy routine, Heta will be giving a seminar for deep stretching for Martial Artists to give practitioners a wider range of movements. Bookings for the classes can be taken by calling Heta at 086 841 80 80 but people are asked to come early to avoid disappointment.
By www.waterford-today.ie
THE LATEST YOGA CLASSES NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
COMPETITIVE YOGA
ON Nov. 24, the first yoga competition in the country will be held. It is a landmark event for the country on many fronts.
Yoga is still in its infancy here and a competition gives yoga a more visible stage to highlight its virtues. Second, given the good that yoga represents, there is a global initiative to petition the International Olympic Committee to include yoga as a demonstration sport in the Olympic games, a step toward eventually turning it into a medal sport. Third, this competition invites a healthy discussion among those who believe that this event will be for the growth of yoga here, and those who believe that a journey toward inner peace, which yoga is, should not be competitive.
Competition history
Yoga competition is part of India's rich history. It is said that the yoga asana (i.e. posture) practice originated over 5,000 years ago. Competitions have been taking place for 2,000 years now, albeit in a more philosophical form. Today, it is estimated that the yoga pose competition in its current form began about 100 years ago. At least one yoga competition takes place daily in India.
In asana competition, yogis (male yoga practitioners) and yoginis (female practitioners) inspire others in the community to learn more about yoga. Their representation also lets others learn about how a regular hatha yoga practice influences a healthier, happier lifestyle.
Historians point to the work of Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj, founding father of the Yoga Sport concept that was introduced in India in the 1970s. In 1975, Gitananda founded the Pondicherry Yoga Asana Association in southeastern India, which became the leading organization for yoga asana championships.
The aim of Yoga Sport, as the concept of competing in asanas is called, was to introduce young people to the art and science of yoga through competitions. At the time, Yoga Sport was considered an ideal sport for India as no infrastructure or costly equipment was required, and people from all walks of life could achieve so much from it.
For three decades now, the Indian Yoga Federation and the Yoga Federation of India have been conducting yoga asana competitions in various age groups throughout India.
The First International Yoga Championship was held in 1989 in Pondicherry under the guidance of Swami Gitananda. Today, The International Council for Yoga Sport of the International Yoga Federation is the international governing body of Yoga Sport and is based in South America, Asia and Europe.
In Europe, there is the annual European Yoga Championships organized by the European Yoga Alliance. In the US, there are regional competitions leading to the International Yoga Asana Championship (IYAC) Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup in Los Angeles every February since 2003. It is at the invitation of IYAC that the first Philippine Yoga Asana Championship (PYAC) will be held.
Structure of PYAC
Due to its links to IYAC, the Philippine Yoga Asana Championship follows its format. There are usually two divisions: adult (18 years old and above) and youth (11 to 17). Each division is divided into two categories: female and male. Practitioners of all styles of hatha yoga are welcome to join. Email info@philippineyogachampionship.com.
This first local championship only has the adult division.
Participants are required to perform five compulsory postures and two optional postures chosen from the 84 asanas compiled by Patanjali (a revered name in yoga tradition and acknowledged compiler of the Yoga Sutras). The participant must complete these seven postures in three minutes.
The compulsory adult postures are: standing head to knee pose, standing bow pulling pose, bow pose, rabbit pose and stretching pose.
The first PYAC, sponsored by Pru Life UK (www.prulifeuk.com.ph), will be held at Francisco Santiago Hall, BDO South Tower, Makati Ave. cor. HV de la Costa St. on Nov. 24, 7 p.m. Visit www.philippineyogachampionship.com
Yoga at the Olympics?
In a world beset by war and strife, what better way to bring peace and well being to entire societies than to elevate yoga to the global spotlight and encourage its practice?
If rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, wushu and archery are in the Olympics, why not yoga which has a far greater following worldwide?
But giving medals offends many practitioners. As a growing number rediscover the ancient practice, some would rather have it as a personal and spiritual tool.
The more traditional followers aren't comfortable with the idea of yoga competitions. People watching yoga for the first time could be misled into thinking that yoga is focused only on the physical, instead of it being a holistic discipline that engages the body, mind and spirit.
I believe that all who practice yoga acknowledge it to be a positive force in their lives.
I would be most surprised if I met a practitioner who did not want to share their yoga with a loved one or friend.
As for the debate that will likely go on, perhaps Yogacharya BKS Iyengar, one of the foremost teachers of yoga in the world, said it best: 'How can I say what is good and bad? People will find what they are looking for.'
By Tristan Choa
THE LATEST YOGA COMPETITION NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Yoga is still in its infancy here and a competition gives yoga a more visible stage to highlight its virtues. Second, given the good that yoga represents, there is a global initiative to petition the International Olympic Committee to include yoga as a demonstration sport in the Olympic games, a step toward eventually turning it into a medal sport. Third, this competition invites a healthy discussion among those who believe that this event will be for the growth of yoga here, and those who believe that a journey toward inner peace, which yoga is, should not be competitive.
Competition history
Yoga competition is part of India's rich history. It is said that the yoga asana (i.e. posture) practice originated over 5,000 years ago. Competitions have been taking place for 2,000 years now, albeit in a more philosophical form. Today, it is estimated that the yoga pose competition in its current form began about 100 years ago. At least one yoga competition takes place daily in India.
In asana competition, yogis (male yoga practitioners) and yoginis (female practitioners) inspire others in the community to learn more about yoga. Their representation also lets others learn about how a regular hatha yoga practice influences a healthier, happier lifestyle.
Historians point to the work of Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj, founding father of the Yoga Sport concept that was introduced in India in the 1970s. In 1975, Gitananda founded the Pondicherry Yoga Asana Association in southeastern India, which became the leading organization for yoga asana championships.
The aim of Yoga Sport, as the concept of competing in asanas is called, was to introduce young people to the art and science of yoga through competitions. At the time, Yoga Sport was considered an ideal sport for India as no infrastructure or costly equipment was required, and people from all walks of life could achieve so much from it.
For three decades now, the Indian Yoga Federation and the Yoga Federation of India have been conducting yoga asana competitions in various age groups throughout India.
The First International Yoga Championship was held in 1989 in Pondicherry under the guidance of Swami Gitananda. Today, The International Council for Yoga Sport of the International Yoga Federation is the international governing body of Yoga Sport and is based in South America, Asia and Europe.
In Europe, there is the annual European Yoga Championships organized by the European Yoga Alliance. In the US, there are regional competitions leading to the International Yoga Asana Championship (IYAC) Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup in Los Angeles every February since 2003. It is at the invitation of IYAC that the first Philippine Yoga Asana Championship (PYAC) will be held.
Structure of PYAC
Due to its links to IYAC, the Philippine Yoga Asana Championship follows its format. There are usually two divisions: adult (18 years old and above) and youth (11 to 17). Each division is divided into two categories: female and male. Practitioners of all styles of hatha yoga are welcome to join. Email info@philippineyogachampionship.com.
This first local championship only has the adult division.
Participants are required to perform five compulsory postures and two optional postures chosen from the 84 asanas compiled by Patanjali (a revered name in yoga tradition and acknowledged compiler of the Yoga Sutras). The participant must complete these seven postures in three minutes.
The compulsory adult postures are: standing head to knee pose, standing bow pulling pose, bow pose, rabbit pose and stretching pose.
The first PYAC, sponsored by Pru Life UK (www.prulifeuk.com.ph), will be held at Francisco Santiago Hall, BDO South Tower, Makati Ave. cor. HV de la Costa St. on Nov. 24, 7 p.m. Visit www.philippineyogachampionship.com
Yoga at the Olympics?
In a world beset by war and strife, what better way to bring peace and well being to entire societies than to elevate yoga to the global spotlight and encourage its practice?
If rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, wushu and archery are in the Olympics, why not yoga which has a far greater following worldwide?
But giving medals offends many practitioners. As a growing number rediscover the ancient practice, some would rather have it as a personal and spiritual tool.
The more traditional followers aren't comfortable with the idea of yoga competitions. People watching yoga for the first time could be misled into thinking that yoga is focused only on the physical, instead of it being a holistic discipline that engages the body, mind and spirit.
I believe that all who practice yoga acknowledge it to be a positive force in their lives.
I would be most surprised if I met a practitioner who did not want to share their yoga with a loved one or friend.
As for the debate that will likely go on, perhaps Yogacharya BKS Iyengar, one of the foremost teachers of yoga in the world, said it best: 'How can I say what is good and bad? People will find what they are looking for.'
By Tristan Choa
THE LATEST YOGA COMPETITION NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Monday, 10 November 2008
NEW ONLINE YOGA CLASSES
This year, nearly 16 million people will hit the yoga mat.
Some will strike a pose in a yoga studio. Others in front of their very own computer.
That's because yoga instructional videos are popping up all over the Internet.
Some say the how to's strike the perfect balance between calm and convenience. Others say you should 'exercise' caution.
When Sherri Holman hits the yoga mat she stretches her body and her soul.
Sherri heads to the studio weekly. But now, she also lets go by logging on to a virtual yoga class.
She said, 'It's convenient because I can actually tune into a specific yoga class at any given time.'
A quick web search turns up thousands of videos. You'll find them on places like YouTube, as well as many yoga and exercise web sites.
Some are posted by apparent 'do it yourselfers,' others by experienced yogis.
Some show basic breathing and meditation. Others show more advanced positions.
But now, doctors and yoga experts say injuries are on the rise. And they're concerned about some of the clips.
Dr. Bill Stetson is a yoga expert with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
He said, 'I would say some of the most common injuries that we're seeing, secondary to yoga, include wrist injuries, shoulder injuries and also lower back injuries.'
You could also strain muscles trying a back bend at home, or worse, suffer a herniated disk.
Terri Kennedy is chair of the board of the Yoga Alliance, which sets voluntary standards for the industry.
She also posts her own videos on the web. But she does warn, unless you're advanced in your practice, you should never try more difficult positions unsupervised.
She said, 'So if you're doing something slightly off, the teacher can adjust you. And your alignment that might be off just a bit if you're watching an online video can cause an injury.'
No certification or specific training is required to teach yoga.
Although the Alliance strongly advocates training and registers instructors after a minimum of 200 hours of approved schooling, Kennedy added, 'Before practicing with a video, find out about the teacher's background and where they trained.'
You can find the Yoga Alliance registry at: www.yogaalliance.org.
We spoke with three popular web sites that post yoga videos online.
All three say that safety is a top priority and that background info for each of its yoga instructors is posted clearly on the web.
By www.kypost.com
THE LATEST ONLINE YOGA CLASS NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Some will strike a pose in a yoga studio. Others in front of their very own computer.
That's because yoga instructional videos are popping up all over the Internet.
Some say the how to's strike the perfect balance between calm and convenience. Others say you should 'exercise' caution.
When Sherri Holman hits the yoga mat she stretches her body and her soul.
Sherri heads to the studio weekly. But now, she also lets go by logging on to a virtual yoga class.
She said, 'It's convenient because I can actually tune into a specific yoga class at any given time.'
A quick web search turns up thousands of videos. You'll find them on places like YouTube, as well as many yoga and exercise web sites.
Some are posted by apparent 'do it yourselfers,' others by experienced yogis.
Some show basic breathing and meditation. Others show more advanced positions.
But now, doctors and yoga experts say injuries are on the rise. And they're concerned about some of the clips.
Dr. Bill Stetson is a yoga expert with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
He said, 'I would say some of the most common injuries that we're seeing, secondary to yoga, include wrist injuries, shoulder injuries and also lower back injuries.'
You could also strain muscles trying a back bend at home, or worse, suffer a herniated disk.
Terri Kennedy is chair of the board of the Yoga Alliance, which sets voluntary standards for the industry.
She also posts her own videos on the web. But she does warn, unless you're advanced in your practice, you should never try more difficult positions unsupervised.
She said, 'So if you're doing something slightly off, the teacher can adjust you. And your alignment that might be off just a bit if you're watching an online video can cause an injury.'
No certification or specific training is required to teach yoga.
Although the Alliance strongly advocates training and registers instructors after a minimum of 200 hours of approved schooling, Kennedy added, 'Before practicing with a video, find out about the teacher's background and where they trained.'
You can find the Yoga Alliance registry at: www.yogaalliance.org.
We spoke with three popular web sites that post yoga videos online.
All three say that safety is a top priority and that background info for each of its yoga instructors is posted clearly on the web.
By www.kypost.com
THE LATEST ONLINE YOGA CLASS NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Friday, 7 November 2008
BIKRAM YOGA - GETTING HOTTER
'Put your hands behind your back, head to knees, lift up legs, now, push, push, harder, harder. Change! Lie down on your back. Three, two, one, dead body pose.'
Flipping onto my back, my sweat soaked clothes sink into the floor. My heart: palpitating. My body: perspiring.
Fresh, oxygenated blood is pulsating, rushing through every organ, fiber, joint, muscle and ligament, coursing through my veins, leaving me in a pure state of total mind body ecstasy.
Finally: transcendence.
All I hear are shallow, deep breaths: breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.
This is Bikram hatha yoga.
Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury is the founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India. He created this 90 minute session of 26 postures repeated twice, with a savasana (lying flat and not moving aka the 'dead body pose') between transitions, and two breathing exercises that are held in a room with a minimum of 105 degree temperature with about 40 percent humidity.
Exercising the endocrine systems and cleansing the body by flushing toxins, hatha yoga energizes, revitalizes and reorganizes the body to increase concentration, mood and mind body integrity while reducing stress.
Colleen Bourgeois, La Jolla studio owner and teacher, has been doing Bikram yoga for more than 10 years for about five to six times a week. She started Bikram yoga to control the effects of stress after she had finished cancer treatment.
'I am a cancer survivor and realized that stress contributes to the cause of most every disease,' Bourgeois said. 'After I began Bikram yoga, I began to notice changes mentally and physically. Immediately, I began to be a much happier person due to the elimination of stress and anxiety from practicing yoga.'
This 'blissful' feeling of happiness after every session is a common response to Bikram yoga.
'I felt like I had just had the hardest and most fulfilling workout of my life. It's not just a physical workout; it's mental and spiritual too,' English student at Cal State Fullerton, Nicole Mcfeely said, after her first practice. 'After one time I felt like a new person, lighter, more complete and tuned into the energy around me.'
Tuned in, hmm, no wonder yoga means 'union.' One of its goals is to aid in the junction of the body, mind and spirit to enter a state of oneness. This preventative medicine increases the mind body integrity as a ticket to positive change and increased connectivity. To connect with others, one must first learn how to connect with themselves.
Every class has the same set of postures in the same order and time period so beginners and advanced students of all ages and sizes practice together.
Prices range according to studio, but for students younger than 25, it is $10 a session or $100 a month, and classes run at various times throughout the day.
'As a first timer, have an open mind. You cannot master yoga in one or two practices. The more you do it the more you learn and, truly, the learning is infinite,' Bourgeois said. 'The gifts of physical and mental well being are the most important aspects of your life. If you ignore them, they will go away. Embrace, learn and practice yoga to have a healthier, happier, more balanced life.'
So why do people pay for torture? Sometimes a little pain is well worth the pleasure.
For more information, visit www.bikramyoga.com. For details on two local studios, visit www.bikramyogalajolla.com or www.bikramyogasandiego.com.
By Amy Ebersole
THE LATEST BIKRAM YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Flipping onto my back, my sweat soaked clothes sink into the floor. My heart: palpitating. My body: perspiring.
Fresh, oxygenated blood is pulsating, rushing through every organ, fiber, joint, muscle and ligament, coursing through my veins, leaving me in a pure state of total mind body ecstasy.
Finally: transcendence.
All I hear are shallow, deep breaths: breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.
This is Bikram hatha yoga.
Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury is the founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India. He created this 90 minute session of 26 postures repeated twice, with a savasana (lying flat and not moving aka the 'dead body pose') between transitions, and two breathing exercises that are held in a room with a minimum of 105 degree temperature with about 40 percent humidity.
Exercising the endocrine systems and cleansing the body by flushing toxins, hatha yoga energizes, revitalizes and reorganizes the body to increase concentration, mood and mind body integrity while reducing stress.
Colleen Bourgeois, La Jolla studio owner and teacher, has been doing Bikram yoga for more than 10 years for about five to six times a week. She started Bikram yoga to control the effects of stress after she had finished cancer treatment.
'I am a cancer survivor and realized that stress contributes to the cause of most every disease,' Bourgeois said. 'After I began Bikram yoga, I began to notice changes mentally and physically. Immediately, I began to be a much happier person due to the elimination of stress and anxiety from practicing yoga.'
This 'blissful' feeling of happiness after every session is a common response to Bikram yoga.
'I felt like I had just had the hardest and most fulfilling workout of my life. It's not just a physical workout; it's mental and spiritual too,' English student at Cal State Fullerton, Nicole Mcfeely said, after her first practice. 'After one time I felt like a new person, lighter, more complete and tuned into the energy around me.'
Tuned in, hmm, no wonder yoga means 'union.' One of its goals is to aid in the junction of the body, mind and spirit to enter a state of oneness. This preventative medicine increases the mind body integrity as a ticket to positive change and increased connectivity. To connect with others, one must first learn how to connect with themselves.
Every class has the same set of postures in the same order and time period so beginners and advanced students of all ages and sizes practice together.
Prices range according to studio, but for students younger than 25, it is $10 a session or $100 a month, and classes run at various times throughout the day.
'As a first timer, have an open mind. You cannot master yoga in one or two practices. The more you do it the more you learn and, truly, the learning is infinite,' Bourgeois said. 'The gifts of physical and mental well being are the most important aspects of your life. If you ignore them, they will go away. Embrace, learn and practice yoga to have a healthier, happier, more balanced life.'
So why do people pay for torture? Sometimes a little pain is well worth the pleasure.
For more information, visit www.bikramyoga.com. For details on two local studios, visit www.bikramyogalajolla.com or www.bikramyogasandiego.com.
By Amy Ebersole
THE LATEST BIKRAM YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Thursday, 6 November 2008
THE YOGA HEALTH FOUNDATION
The Yoga Health Foundation, a nonprofit 501 c(3) organization based in Los Angeles, CA, was founded by Johannes Fisslinger who had the sole intent of delivering yoga and other preventive health care practices to underserved communities. To achieve this goal, Fisslinger created National Yoga Month, a national awareness campaign to inspire an informed and healthy lifestyle. In honor of Fisslinger's efforts, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion deemed September National Yoga Month and listed it as an official health observance at www.healthfinder.gov.
To extend the reach and impact of National Yoga Month, a 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour was implemented across the US and Canada. Kicking off in Denver on August 24, 2008, the tour traveled to Miami, Boston, Chicago, New York, Austin, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco before concluding in Vancouver on October 5.
The festival tour offered yoga and other preventive health care classes, a health policy forum led by Arianna Huffington, holistic spa treatments, natural and organic foods, lectures and demonstrations by leading medical practitioners, eco friendly products and services, and musical performances by national recording artists. Russell Simmons, Mariel Hemingway, Sheila E, and other celebrities lent their support and voices to National Yoga Month and the 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour. Sponsors of the festival tour included SOYJOY, Toyota, Yoga Journal, Luna, Yoga Mates and Acacia. All proceeds from National Yoga Month activities benefit Youth Health Alliance, the educational arm of the Yoga Health Foundation.
In addition to the 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour, global grassroots events were held in honor of Yoga Month. Local Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCA chapters across the US partnered with Youth Health Alliance to offer at risk youth free yoga classes and information sessions on preventive health care. Yoga studios participated in the awareness campaign by either hosting free yoga classes or donating proceeds from paid classes to Youth Health Alliance. Health conscious individuals in Germany, Italy, Australia, Nigeria, Japan and other countries celebrated Yoga Month by hosting local yoga events in their communities.
The Yoga Health Foundation reached millions through the national awareness campaign, the 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour, local events, and national media coverage. 'Overall, we are quite pleased with the number of people affected by National Yoga Month, the tour, and Youth Health Alliance,' stated Fisslinger. 'We look forward to working with our sponsors in 2009 to further extend the presence and impact of preventive health care in underserved communities.'
For more information on the Yoga Health Foundation, please contact Vera Alexander at vera@yogamonth.org or 818 762 4767.
By www.pr.com
THE LATEST YOGA FOUNDATION NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
To extend the reach and impact of National Yoga Month, a 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour was implemented across the US and Canada. Kicking off in Denver on August 24, 2008, the tour traveled to Miami, Boston, Chicago, New York, Austin, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco before concluding in Vancouver on October 5.
The festival tour offered yoga and other preventive health care classes, a health policy forum led by Arianna Huffington, holistic spa treatments, natural and organic foods, lectures and demonstrations by leading medical practitioners, eco friendly products and services, and musical performances by national recording artists. Russell Simmons, Mariel Hemingway, Sheila E, and other celebrities lent their support and voices to National Yoga Month and the 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour. Sponsors of the festival tour included SOYJOY, Toyota, Yoga Journal, Luna, Yoga Mates and Acacia. All proceeds from National Yoga Month activities benefit Youth Health Alliance, the educational arm of the Yoga Health Foundation.
In addition to the 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour, global grassroots events were held in honor of Yoga Month. Local Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCA chapters across the US partnered with Youth Health Alliance to offer at risk youth free yoga classes and information sessions on preventive health care. Yoga studios participated in the awareness campaign by either hosting free yoga classes or donating proceeds from paid classes to Youth Health Alliance. Health conscious individuals in Germany, Italy, Australia, Nigeria, Japan and other countries celebrated Yoga Month by hosting local yoga events in their communities.
The Yoga Health Foundation reached millions through the national awareness campaign, the 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour, local events, and national media coverage. 'Overall, we are quite pleased with the number of people affected by National Yoga Month, the tour, and Youth Health Alliance,' stated Fisslinger. 'We look forward to working with our sponsors in 2009 to further extend the presence and impact of preventive health care in underserved communities.'
For more information on the Yoga Health Foundation, please contact Vera Alexander at vera@yogamonth.org or 818 762 4767.
By www.pr.com
THE LATEST YOGA FOUNDATION NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
YOGA AND DIABETES
Though Diabetes is a very vast topic, I have tried to give only relevant and important information in this Article. Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin or when cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced as a result glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed into the cells of the body. It is the most common endocrine disorder. Causes are heredity, pancreatic disease, alcoholism, malnutrition, food, obesity and stress. Symptoms include frequent urination, lethargy, excessive thirst and hunger. The treatment includes changes in diet, oral medications and in some cases daily injections of insulin.
OUR PANCREAS
Our pancreas is composed of two major types of tissues; 1. Exocrine tissue (acini), which secretes digestive enzymes via the pancreatic duct into the intestines to help digest (break down) the food we eat.
2. Endocrine tissue (islets of Langerhans), which produces and secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon directly into the blood.
INSULIN & PANCREAS
Endocrine tissue contains alpha, beta and delta cells. Beta cells produce insulin & allow body cells to use and store carbohydrate, fat and protein. Alpha cells produce glucagon & have anti insulin action. Both in unison keep a constant glucose level in the blood.
INSULIN, FOOD & ENERGY
As vehicle works on petrol and diesel, our body functions best at a certain level of sugar in the bloodstream. Digestive process converts carbohydrates from our food into glucose. As the proportion of glucose in the blood increases, immediately pancreas gland situated behind the stomach releases hormones known as insulin. It converts glucose in the form of power and stores the extra glucose in the cells of liver and muscles.
Thus the quantum of glucose in the blood remains balanced.
DISEASE STATE OF PANCREAS
The cells of the body are unable to take glucose out of the bloodstream when needed because they resist the insulin that you need to allow glucose to enter cells.
On top of that, the liver continues to send a lot of glucose into the bloodstream even when it isn't needed because the signals telling the liver to shut off aren't working and leads to high blood sugar. The kidneys cannot bear too much sugar (glucose) in the blood and as a result it is filtered out with the urine. Body, therefore, utilizes fat instead of glucose. When glucose is converted to strength, the fuel is fully utilized but when fat is utilized as a fuel, poisonous gases like acetone are produced. A diabetic patient becomes comatose called as diabetic coma.
TWO MAJOR TYPES OF DIABETES ARE
Type I (Juvenile Diabetes)/insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (IDDM) Type II (Maturity onset Diabetes)/non insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) GESTATIONAL DIABETES (GDM) It can develop during pregnancy and generally resolves after the baby is delivered.
TREATMENT FREELY CONSUMABLE DIET
First thing in the morning Take one to two teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methidana) with a glass of luke warm water. Before breakfast, Take raw vegetable juices (karela/ amla) Breakfast Dalia with vegetables/finger millet (ragi)/two numbers of Khakhara.
Before Lunch Salad in any quantity (Onion, cucumber, tomatoes, sprouts, carrots, radish, cabbage) + Buttermilk. Lunch Chapattis of Black Channa Flour 80% + Wheat flour 20 % ) + seasonal vegetables (green leafy, methi, karalla, palak, cauliflower, carrot, cabbage, gourds of various varieties etc) + curd or buttermilk of skimmed milk. Evening Take fruits/fruit juice Dinner Khichadi/vegetables soups/steamed vegetables.
Before going to bed Take half a glass of warm water.
Avoid Fried, fatty spices, starchy & sugar containing food, jackfruits, mangoes, bananas, sapotas, custard apples, tea, coffee, cocoa, alcohol, white flour, tinned fruit and refined cereals.
YOGA ROUTINE
Asanas such as flexibility exercises, Trikonasana, Suryanamaskara, Sarvanga, Matsya, Hala, Paschimothana, Bhujang, Shalbha, Dhanur, Ardha matsyendrasana, Yogmudra, Pranayama Bhramari, Shitali, Shitkari, Agnisaar, Kapalbhati, Nadi shodhan, Meditation, Walking, Yogic kriyas Uddiyana banda, Shat kriyas Neti, Kunjal, Enema will help balance the endocrine system, tone the abdominal organs, stimulate both the nervous & circulatory systems & reduce stress. Learn these from some qualified Yoga instructor.
IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS
Take 4 to 5 small meals a day rather than three large ones.
The evening meals should be taken at least two hours before going to bed. Light evening meals are recommended.
Avoid the temptation of a second helping.
Take medicine in fixed quantity and at fixed time.
Be regular in exercise/Yoga abhyasa.
Do not make any change in the medicine unless proper advice is taken.
Even though you notice no trouble, get your physical examination carried out periodically. In the beginning let this examination be monthly When you get a control over quantity of glucose in the blood you should get it done every three months.
Get blood examined for glucose as advised by your physician.
Get the examination carried out for glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb Aic). One can find out by this test whether diabetes was under control all throughout the past three months.
Get your blood pressure and blood lipids tested regularly.
Get the blood and urine examined annually to establish that there is no defect in the kidney.
Get fundoscopy of the eyes carried out annually and get teeth cleaned and examined annually.
Daily examine your feet and skin. If you have got hurt and if it has got septic, contact the doctor immediately.
Think positive & try to be cheerful always.
By Rita Khanna
THE LATEST YOGA AND DIABETES NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
OUR PANCREAS
Our pancreas is composed of two major types of tissues; 1. Exocrine tissue (acini), which secretes digestive enzymes via the pancreatic duct into the intestines to help digest (break down) the food we eat.
2. Endocrine tissue (islets of Langerhans), which produces and secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon directly into the blood.
INSULIN & PANCREAS
Endocrine tissue contains alpha, beta and delta cells. Beta cells produce insulin & allow body cells to use and store carbohydrate, fat and protein. Alpha cells produce glucagon & have anti insulin action. Both in unison keep a constant glucose level in the blood.
INSULIN, FOOD & ENERGY
As vehicle works on petrol and diesel, our body functions best at a certain level of sugar in the bloodstream. Digestive process converts carbohydrates from our food into glucose. As the proportion of glucose in the blood increases, immediately pancreas gland situated behind the stomach releases hormones known as insulin. It converts glucose in the form of power and stores the extra glucose in the cells of liver and muscles.
Thus the quantum of glucose in the blood remains balanced.
DISEASE STATE OF PANCREAS
The cells of the body are unable to take glucose out of the bloodstream when needed because they resist the insulin that you need to allow glucose to enter cells.
On top of that, the liver continues to send a lot of glucose into the bloodstream even when it isn't needed because the signals telling the liver to shut off aren't working and leads to high blood sugar. The kidneys cannot bear too much sugar (glucose) in the blood and as a result it is filtered out with the urine. Body, therefore, utilizes fat instead of glucose. When glucose is converted to strength, the fuel is fully utilized but when fat is utilized as a fuel, poisonous gases like acetone are produced. A diabetic patient becomes comatose called as diabetic coma.
TWO MAJOR TYPES OF DIABETES ARE
Type I (Juvenile Diabetes)/insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (IDDM) Type II (Maturity onset Diabetes)/non insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) GESTATIONAL DIABETES (GDM) It can develop during pregnancy and generally resolves after the baby is delivered.
TREATMENT FREELY CONSUMABLE DIET
First thing in the morning Take one to two teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methidana) with a glass of luke warm water. Before breakfast, Take raw vegetable juices (karela/ amla) Breakfast Dalia with vegetables/finger millet (ragi)/two numbers of Khakhara.
Before Lunch Salad in any quantity (Onion, cucumber, tomatoes, sprouts, carrots, radish, cabbage) + Buttermilk. Lunch Chapattis of Black Channa Flour 80% + Wheat flour 20 % ) + seasonal vegetables (green leafy, methi, karalla, palak, cauliflower, carrot, cabbage, gourds of various varieties etc) + curd or buttermilk of skimmed milk. Evening Take fruits/fruit juice Dinner Khichadi/vegetables soups/steamed vegetables.
Before going to bed Take half a glass of warm water.
Avoid Fried, fatty spices, starchy & sugar containing food, jackfruits, mangoes, bananas, sapotas, custard apples, tea, coffee, cocoa, alcohol, white flour, tinned fruit and refined cereals.
YOGA ROUTINE
Asanas such as flexibility exercises, Trikonasana, Suryanamaskara, Sarvanga, Matsya, Hala, Paschimothana, Bhujang, Shalbha, Dhanur, Ardha matsyendrasana, Yogmudra, Pranayama Bhramari, Shitali, Shitkari, Agnisaar, Kapalbhati, Nadi shodhan, Meditation, Walking, Yogic kriyas Uddiyana banda, Shat kriyas Neti, Kunjal, Enema will help balance the endocrine system, tone the abdominal organs, stimulate both the nervous & circulatory systems & reduce stress. Learn these from some qualified Yoga instructor.
IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS
Take 4 to 5 small meals a day rather than three large ones.
The evening meals should be taken at least two hours before going to bed. Light evening meals are recommended.
Avoid the temptation of a second helping.
Take medicine in fixed quantity and at fixed time.
Be regular in exercise/Yoga abhyasa.
Do not make any change in the medicine unless proper advice is taken.
Even though you notice no trouble, get your physical examination carried out periodically. In the beginning let this examination be monthly When you get a control over quantity of glucose in the blood you should get it done every three months.
Get blood examined for glucose as advised by your physician.
Get the examination carried out for glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb Aic). One can find out by this test whether diabetes was under control all throughout the past three months.
Get your blood pressure and blood lipids tested regularly.
Get the blood and urine examined annually to establish that there is no defect in the kidney.
Get fundoscopy of the eyes carried out annually and get teeth cleaned and examined annually.
Daily examine your feet and skin. If you have got hurt and if it has got septic, contact the doctor immediately.
Think positive & try to be cheerful always.
By Rita Khanna
THE LATEST YOGA AND DIABETES NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Monday, 3 November 2008
BECOMING A YOGA TEACHER
You've taken yoga classes for a few years. You grok yoga. You've developed a home practice, can name some yoga folks among your crop of friends, and maybe you've read a few of the essential tomes on the subject (more about that in a future column).
So what's your next step? Well, you could take a flight to India and place yourself at the feet of a yoga master and hope s/he accepts you as his/her student, or you could enroll in one of the many teacher training programs available in the Philadelphia area. There are a slew of them.
Teacher training is a marvelous way to get acquainted with the vastness, richness and whackiness of the yoga world. It's huge and often confusing. It still confuses me and I expect it always will. Yoga is older than dirt and, like a thousand year old tree, has spawned thousands of branches and saplings. All one can do is climb the tree, look for a branch that looks stable and hang out for a while, then if you've a mind, wind your way to another. Teacher training provides you with a boost up the tree.
For me, the teacher training experience opened up a new world in my life. In addition to exposure to the vast literature and history of yoga, a teacher training program might introduce you to ayurveda, the yogic system of health; kirtan, the yoga ensemble chanting/singing of yoga Sanskrit sounds/vibrations; meditation, teaching methodology, cool yoga tricks, and, of course, a deeper understanding of the essential poses(asanas).
You might also experience, as I did, a bond with your fellow students. Training can be intense and time consuming. Students are often seeking some understanding of their world and have chosen yoga as the window to that understanding. The teachers training group of which I was a part maintain communication via a message board, have frequent gatherings and have a mutual concern and love for one another that I myself have never before experienced. We are indeed a tribe with our own identifying symbol of our mutual bond. The image in the photo box is a stylized line drawing of Ganesh, a Hindu/yoga symbol revered by the founders of many who know yoga, and a fave of the founders of Yoga On Main, where I did my teacher training. Yes, that's a muffin on Ganesha's trunk, my unique addition to the design.
All of the following Philadelphia area schools are certified by the Yoga Alliance, http://www.yogaallianceinternational.org/index1.php, an organization that was developed in part to bring some structure and credibility to teachers of yoga. The schools in this list represent an array of styles and approaches to yoga. If I have missed any, or have left out some essential information, please do not hesitate to add it to the list via a comment. I am always open for correction.
http://www.yogaonmain.com/teacher.html
http://www.joanwhiteyoga.com/training.htm
http://www.yogafit.com/articles/yoga-teacher[training[philadelphia.html
http://www.dhyana[yoga.com/special.html#200
http://www.poweryogaworks.com/teacherTraining.asp
http://www.wakeupyoga.com/training.html
By Jonathan Bartlett
THE LATEST YOGA TEACHING NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
So what's your next step? Well, you could take a flight to India and place yourself at the feet of a yoga master and hope s/he accepts you as his/her student, or you could enroll in one of the many teacher training programs available in the Philadelphia area. There are a slew of them.
Teacher training is a marvelous way to get acquainted with the vastness, richness and whackiness of the yoga world. It's huge and often confusing. It still confuses me and I expect it always will. Yoga is older than dirt and, like a thousand year old tree, has spawned thousands of branches and saplings. All one can do is climb the tree, look for a branch that looks stable and hang out for a while, then if you've a mind, wind your way to another. Teacher training provides you with a boost up the tree.
For me, the teacher training experience opened up a new world in my life. In addition to exposure to the vast literature and history of yoga, a teacher training program might introduce you to ayurveda, the yogic system of health; kirtan, the yoga ensemble chanting/singing of yoga Sanskrit sounds/vibrations; meditation, teaching methodology, cool yoga tricks, and, of course, a deeper understanding of the essential poses(asanas).
You might also experience, as I did, a bond with your fellow students. Training can be intense and time consuming. Students are often seeking some understanding of their world and have chosen yoga as the window to that understanding. The teachers training group of which I was a part maintain communication via a message board, have frequent gatherings and have a mutual concern and love for one another that I myself have never before experienced. We are indeed a tribe with our own identifying symbol of our mutual bond. The image in the photo box is a stylized line drawing of Ganesh, a Hindu/yoga symbol revered by the founders of many who know yoga, and a fave of the founders of Yoga On Main, where I did my teacher training. Yes, that's a muffin on Ganesha's trunk, my unique addition to the design.
All of the following Philadelphia area schools are certified by the Yoga Alliance, http://www.yogaallianceinternational.org/index1.php, an organization that was developed in part to bring some structure and credibility to teachers of yoga. The schools in this list represent an array of styles and approaches to yoga. If I have missed any, or have left out some essential information, please do not hesitate to add it to the list via a comment. I am always open for correction.
http://www.yogaonmain.com/teacher.html
http://www.joanwhiteyoga.com/training.htm
http://www.yogafit.com/articles/yoga-teacher[training[philadelphia.html
http://www.dhyana[yoga.com/special.html#200
http://www.poweryogaworks.com/teacherTraining.asp
http://www.wakeupyoga.com/training.html
By Jonathan Bartlett
THE LATEST YOGA TEACHING NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)