...Yoga is becoming ever more popular with people all over the world. It is a way of finding your inner peace and becoming one with yourself. There are free yoga exercises online that you can follow, as well as many videos and books you can search through for more tips.

The whole purpose of yoga is to increase your strength and give you more energy. This all adds to you becoming and feeling a lot healthier. This is done mainly with the use of yoga poses which must be carried out correctly to gain the maximum effect. There are various poses you can follow which have different purposes.<...more

Yoga and Pregnancy

...If youre pregnant and are already in yoga classes, dont be afraid to take a break from your current classes or to take a class that is less strenuous. Even if you havent gone public with your pregnancy yet, you should have a confidential talk with your instructor let him or her know of your pregnancy, the instructor will then be able to assist you with less strenuous postures or teach you poses that you arent doing that will help you.

If you are new to yoga and are looking for a low impact way of exercising the best thing to do is to look for a prenatal yoga class. These classes are designed for pregnant parishioners and you can start them as early in your pregnancy as you want. If you are having morning sickness, you may want to wait until that passes and that usually is the second trimester.

If you have been practicing yoga for a while, you still may find your regular classes seem to be too intense for you. Prenatal classes may seem too easy, so at this point you will need to decide which class you should take on a given day depending on how you feel.

The solution might also be to include some prenatal poses that have been adapted into your regular routine. If you are in a class, your yoga instructor may help you with special poses developed for pregnancy and your changing body. When you enter the second or third trimester, you may find that prenatal classes are more suited for your body and its changing shape.

If you do Yoga with videotape, you should buy a prenatal video. Some of the recommended poses are ones that open the hip such as Pigeon, Triangle, Warrior II, and Knee to Ankle.<...more

Allergies - Yoga and Lifestyle

...Ayurveda, an integrated system of medicine emphasis on an ideal life style based on yoga which helps to remove stress and leads to relaxation which are extremely effective in reducing the allergy symptoms by tempering the immune system's response to the offender.

a) Practicing yoga posture in a relaxing way with slow deep breathing relaxes the nervous system is beneficial in fighting allergies.

** Kapalabhati breathing is great for allergies as it forces out the mucus.

** Standing poses-forward and bac...more

The Basics of Yoga

...who are pregnant or nursing can do yoga, as well. It is important to consult a physician prior to beginning a yoga regime if injuries, spinal problems, or other medical conditions exist. There are no side effects of doing yoga. Beginners may experience soreness and fatigue. It is important for beginners not to stretch too much too fast.

Yoga should not be confused with Pilates. Yoga focuses on flexibility and toning the entire body. It has a greater emphasis on mental and spiritual enhancement. Pilates is more geared towards toning the core and improving posture with less emphasis on flexibility. Pilates has more of an emphasis on the physical than spiritual. There are classes that combine the principals of both into one class called Yogalates.more

Decorative Yoga Mats