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Yoga Teacher Traning Course At Shree Narayan Yog Peeth, India

Shree Narayan YogPeeth is an ashram and yoga school, founded by Yogi Sanjay K Naithani. The vision is to offer students and spiritual seekers from all over the world an opportunity to understand the true nature and origin of the ancient spiritual practice of yoga.

It is our belief that the path of yoga can be walked anywhere and bring joy and contentment everywhere, when practiced with love and sincerity. We humbly welcome anyone interested in exploring the spiritual aspect of human nature by deepening the understanding of the yogic path to join our spiritual family. Shree Narayan Yopeeth also offers four weeks Yoga Teacher Training course and ten days SADHANA (Purification) course.

Sadhana is an ancient yogic purification practice and yogic path, with the purpose of cleansing the mind and body to gain deeper understanding and wisdom. It is an ego-transcending practice whereby we achieve non-attachment and freedom from wordly desires. Sadhana is an efficient tool for improving capability and increased spiritual consciousness in all parts of human life. The courses schedule is very intense, under the guidance of founder Yogi Sanjay K Naithani, and participants are expected to make a sincere commitment to the practice during the whole of the stay.

The SADHANA course will start from 1st of every month till 10th and from 15 of every month to 25th. first course is starting from April 2013.

Sanjay is the founder president of Shree Narayan Yoga Peeth. From an early age he was inspired by his grandfather who initiated him into a yogic lifestyle. Later he honed his yogic practice at Sivananda Ashram & Bihar School of Yoga and got an initiation into the Udaseen Sampraday tradition. He has also studied Iyengar yoga style and incorporates its attention to postural alignment into his classes. His systematic approach to asana practice, deep knowledge of yoga therapy and loving yet firm style of delivery makes him an invaluable asset at Shree Narayan Yog Peeth.

The discipline of yoga consists of eight limbs: Yama Universal Morality, Niyama Personal Observance, Asanas Body Postures, Pranayama Control of prana through breathing excercises, Pratyahara control of the senses, Dharana Concentration & Cultivation of inner perceptual awareness, Dhyana – Devotion & Meditation on the Divine, Samadhi Union with the Divine.

Yoga Precautionary Measures For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

It is necessary to keep in mind all pre-existing physical conditions while undergoing any type of workout. As such, the same thing is applicable for yoga students. Although most of the recognized yoga centers consider the medical and physical condition of the students before practicing yoga, there are some late comers who miss the orientation session. In any case, it is the duty of the instructor to educate the students about the precautionary measures necessary for their health. Rheumatoid arthritis is one such disease where yoga should not be practiced without considering the physical conditions of the student.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease which causes inflammation of the joints and tissues throughout the body. Moreover, it can affect other organs of the body as well. If it is not properly treated, the patient may end up needing surgery of various joints in order to ensure full movement. The ratio of this debilitating disease is three times more in women compared to men, and as much as 1% of the world’s population is found to suffer from chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Although yoga ensures a healthy and active life style along with a gradual increase in self-control and motivation, but it is necessary to consult a physician before hand. This disease, if not seriously treated, can lead into chronic conditions. Yoga is a low-pace practice and is recommended to many people having pre-existing physical conditions. It is suggested to practice only those yoga positions which do not exert much pressure on the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, the most commonly affected joints are wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles and knees. With the increasing severity of the disease, the sufferer becomes more vulnerable to motion.

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are two different medical conditions, as far as the effects are concerned. In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are affected due to inflammation and swelling of the surrounding tissue. Holding poses should be avoided, while such poses are highly recommended to people suffering from osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis patients must not undergo any high intensity workout and weight training. The asanas for both types of arthritis are different and must not be confused with one another.

Asana, which exerts pressure on the neck, must not be practiced; however, butterfly pose, child pose, and boat position may be practiced for beneficial effects. Moreover, the patient is required to monitor the symptoms carefully and regularly from time to time, in order to have maximum benefit from yoga.

Hot Yoga for Prevention of Dementia or Alzheimer’s

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are more than just memory loss. They are conditions that can erode a person’s quality of life, independence, and interpersonal relationships. Some medications can slow the process of Alzheimer’s, but once it sets in, it is not reversible. Some forms of dementia can be temporary due to vitamin deficiency or vascular conditions, but most dementia is also irreversible.

Only 25% of these cases are genetic. The rest are preventable.

According to the Mayo Clinic and the International Journal of Clinical Practice, exercise has more impact on aging and Alzheimer’s disease than any other lifestyle factor. Exercising five days out of seven reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s by 35%. If two of those workouts involve strength training, it reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s by half once you are over 65. Don’t wait, though. Obesity in midlife makes you 3 times more likely to have Alzheimer’s.

Hot yoga is ideal for Alzheimer’s prevention because it combines strength with flexibility and stress reduction. Limberness improves balance and reduces risk of head injuries. Flexibility makes your body more resilient as you age and reduces your risk for overall injury, thereby insuring that you can keep up healthy exercise habits later in life.

Chronic stress quadruples the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dr. Vincent Fortanesce of USC points out that the stress hormone cortisol stunts nerve cell growth and connection, accelerating cognitive decline, premature aging, depression, and diabetes. (Diabetes, by the way, makes you twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s). Yoga reduces stress, thereby reducing your cortisol production. It also helps your sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation, according to memory experts Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Gary Small, can really hurt your brain and central nervous system.

Other tips for Alzheimer’s prevention: eat a brain-healthy diet minimizing processed foods and refined starches, focusing instead on fruits and vegetables, antioxidants, Omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamins. Keep your brain active by learning new things, playing with puzzles and riddles. Avoid toxins like cigarettes, because smoking increases your risk by 79%. For more information, visit Helpguide or The Alzheimer’s Association.

Nikki M. Deasy
TriBalance Yoga Center

The Different Types Of Yoga Mats

If you are new to yoga, you might be wondering if you should get a yoga mat. The reality is that in several circumstances, you do not have to have a mat. For example, if you do yoga at home, you can do it on the carpet or if you are at a gymnasium, you can borrow one.

However, if you are serious about yoga or are stuck in a situation where you have to practice in places with a hard floor, a yoga mat becomes a must have. Some yoga mats are really plain whilst others have fascinating patterns and textures to help with friction when trying more challenging poses. Because yoga is about connecting your mind and body, plenty of yoga mats are built to fit your personality and help you achieve these challenging poses.

You may find dearer mats that may offer more support or a special design, but for most of us the average mat will do. Because there are a wide variety of yoga types available, you may wonder about the different ways of which to pick the best mat, particularly if you are new to yoga. The kind of yoga mat you should buy relies on many factors, the most significant being the kind of yoga you practice and your ability level.

If you do more active and challenging poses or need more support, a thicker mat is the best option for you. You may also wish to consider a textured mat if you want help in maintaining poses.

Thinner mats are great if you want a mat that is convenient for you to carry around and to do more relaxing poses. If you prefer a mat that is small enough but will support your poses, sticky mats are just the thing for you. These yoga mats are thinly made and also come in a selection of colours.

It is light enough for you to carry around, and a lot of these mats have guides to indicate where to set your feet and hand. If you are an amateur, such guidance on a mat is an ideal concept till you get used to the basic hand and foot placements. These yoga mats are just perfect in mastering those poses and are very useful in stopping you from slipping off and sliding.

If you are practicing Ashtanga Yoga or Bikram Yoga, cotton mats are ideal for you. Cotton mats are made for soaking up your sweat. These cotton mats will help you to remain in position and not slip off. If your mat is not absorbent, then it is reasonably perilous because wet surfaces can be really greasy. The damp mat is good for gripping so that your feet and hands stay just where you place them.

There are different types of yoga mats for everyone, and the trick to this is to select the mat that will aid you in practicing the kind of yoga that you want, while ensuring that you remain in position and cushioning the impact of the hard floor beneath.

Yoga Central – Legs Up The Wall Pose

This is the latest article in our yoga central series and today we will be looking at a pose known as Legs up the wall Pose or deep lake pose. We will look at how to properly carry out the pose, the benefits you can get from it and anything that you need to consider before beginning. Please read the entire article before trying the pose.

How to Carry Out the Pose

We have put together instructions on how to carry out the pose correctly however there are also a number of modifications that can be done to make the pose easier as well as deeper. These modifications will be found lower in the article.

1. Begin the pose by placing two folded blankets on top of each other about a foot from a wall. If you dont have any blankets you can use a couple of pillows.

2. Sit sideways on the blankets and swing your legs around so that they are up the wall and lie back over the blankets. You should position yourself so that your sit bones are over the edge of the blanket and your sacrum is fully supported.

3. Ensure your legs are straight and use an eye mask to increase the relaxation. Position your arms straight out from the shoulders and close your eyes.

4. Bring your attention to your breathing, particularly in your stomach and use this pose to bring about a deep feeling of relaxation in your stomach. Allow your stomach to sink into the back body and allow your back to relax completely into the blankets.

5. Remain in this position for 2 to 3 minutes continuing to focus on your breathing. To come out of the pose slide the blankets out from under your back and roll on to your side to come up into a seated position.

Tips and Precautions

If you feel discomfort in your lower back when carrying out this pose, move your body back so that your sit bones are fully supported by the blankets. If you still feel discomfort then remove one blanket.

If you have difficulty straightening your legs then move the blankets further away from the wall until you can straighten your legs. You legs may also get tired doing this pose so you can reduce the difficulty by bending your legs, bringing the soles of your feet together and sliding your legs down the wall. You can do this if your legs get tired part way through or if you have difficulties and discomfort keeping your legs straight.

Benefits and Focus

There are a large number of benefits to this pose and many of them are the same as those experienced with more complicated inverted poses. The main areas of focus are the abdomen and lower back with the aim of bringing about a deep feeling of relaxation. This feeling of relaxation can help with various different conditions including stress, anxiety and insomnia. It can also help with relieving stress and tension in your upper back which can be beneficial for conditions like headaches. This is mainly due to the fact that headaches can be caused by tension in the upper back. This can be a great pose to practise before going to bed and can really encourage a deep a restful nights sleep.