In the past, yoga has become one of the coolest and trendiest of the exercise and alternative methods that have made a big appearance in the world today. Not only is yoga a fun thing to do, it is also a way for you to loose weight and make yourself more healthy without undo stress on the body. Many people have taken upon themselves to start this wonderful and easy way to get in better health. Thousands of humans that are any age and that are from many occupations now do it. it is a safe thing for even children to start doing on a regular basis. Professionals are now looking into yoga to provide the user with many benefits to your health. can you imagine how great it will be to know that the easy exercises of yoga will also help to cure you of an ailment that has bothered you for years with no relief?

You will definately be able to find a way to use yoga for the bettering of your health and your total life. Yoga will take you to a place where you are stronger and more flexible. You can find a way to prevent or cure a serious illness in your life, even serious ones. You will also get a stress reliever and a way to meditate that is also beneficial to your health.

Several claims have emerged highlighting the health benefits of yoga. Yes, according to several resources, yoga is not only capable of making you feel strong and flexible, but it can also help cure whatever ailments you may be suffering from, even the most serious health conditions. It is exciting to find that results from studies are showing that with a regular schedule of yoga that has breathing deeply, different poses, and meditation, you can help problems with asthma, mental health, and heart diseases, and more. It is not certain what other things that yoga can help you with. Each person who is practicing yoga will give you a story about how yoga has helped them. For more info see http://www.ezyogaguide.com/ on Yoga.

We will look at a few of the ways that yoga can help you.

A.) Asthma - yoga can help anyone to heal him or herself of asthma. Deep breathing is involved in yoga and there is also a relaxing of the muscles of the chest that will give you an easier time breathing. There are many people who have problems with asthma today and yoga is helping it. Yoga will help to focus on helping those who have it. The symptoms that are associated with the problems of asthma are reduced in a big way by practicing yoga on a regular basis. The meditation part of the yoga will also give those suffering from asthma a way to control their fear when the asthma attack starts and thus provide themselves a way to not make the situation worse. Those with asthma tend to get more upset when an asthma attack occurs and this will help them to stay calm.

B.) Mental Health - There are some reports that yoga can help those who have a mental health problem. Professionals have had their interest peaked with the strength of the yoga. They have started to work with people of all ages who are known to have obsessive-compulsive disorder. Within the months that the study continued, the group that was practicing yoga has shown to help. It was in the range of forty percent of the people who have started the study doing yoga would continue and have positive results from the disease. Learning to meditate and to release your feelings in a positive way instead of holding them in is a result of the yoga.

C.) Cardiovascular - One other way that yoga can help is with cardiovascular problems. This benefit from yoga comes from the results that yoga is a great way for you to get rid of stress and will make the length of the cardiovascular system better. It has also shown to give you a better blood pressure and rate of heartbeats. The yoga will give you a way to learn to breath deey and it will give you a proper blood flow to all the right places in the body which will ultimately improve the whole system.

Because of these and other things that yoga can give you, it has caused many people to get interested in practicing it. The amount of the classes for yoga have also increased. The positive effects are endless and are different for each person.

YOGA FOR HEALTHY LIFE

YOGA is a science. Like all other sciences it is based on observation and experiment. This method of observation and experiment is regarded in the west as a distinctly modern innovation, but as a matter of fact it was adopted in India in very ancient times by the “RISHIS”, or seers of truth. Through the process of close observation and constant experimentation, they discovered the fine forces of nature, as also the laws that govern our physical, mental and spiritual well being. The truths thus gained through their own experiences and investigation, they wrote down in Upanishads, preached in public and expounded to their pupils.



“PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE” it is the famous quotation and meaningful quotation..

Yoga helps us to not only prevent from the diseases; it also helps us to cure some of the common diseases.

Yoga is the only branch that has exercises to make us fit in a physical, Physiological, and psychological manner.

ESSENTIAL OF YOGA PRACTICES:

In order to derive the full benefits of yoga it is necessary to understand the following requirements and principles related to its practice.

TIME:

Though the morning time, before breakfast, is regarded best for practicing yoga. One can do it also in the evening or at any other time provided the stomach is empty and not heavy with food.

The individual should select a time which is convenient for his daily routine and should try to do yoga at the same time everyday. A practice for atleast 5 to 6 days in a week should be enough to show improvement.

PLACE:

Practice yoga on the floor. Avoid chowki (Or Bed). Use a carpet, rug, blanket, or mat on the floor. The place of practices should be neat, clean and well ventilated.

SILENCE:

One should maintain silence while doing yoga. Any conversation, mental activity and even listening to music should be avoided.

REST:

Two types of Rest:

1.Short Rest

2.Long Rest

Short Rest:

The short rest should be for about six to eight seconds only. This is taken between two rounds of asana, or between one and the other asana. The Shorter restis completed by breathing twice at the completion of one round of a posture

Long Rest:

Long Rest comes at the end of all the asanas, pranayamas and other kriyas which one does at a stretch. The general principle is to devote one fourth of the actual practicing time for this rest. For e.g. : If one has done yoga for 20 minutes , the rest at the end should be for 5 minutes

DRESS:

There should be minimum clothes on the body while doing yoga. Male practitioners can wear half pants or pyjamas along with an underwear. Ladies can wear saree, slacks or stretch pants with blouse. In winter, light woolen clothes may be used while doing yoga.

BATH:

It depends on the convenient and personal choice of the practitioners to bath either before or after the practice. For taking a hot bath after yoga practice one must wait for about 15 minutes

METHOD OF PRACTICES:

In order to obtain the fullest benefit of yoga, one must practice in a proper way. Since yoga is the scientific systems it requires to be done in a specified manner. What is more important here to mention is that though every one cannot practice all the postures which perfection, they can certainly follow the method of doing them without any difficulty. Therefore the advice is;do yoga according to the limits of your body. Do it only as much as you can. You need not be perfect in form. If you cannot do the full form, do half it or even less

FEMALE PROBLEMS:

Female practitioners should avoid the yoga practice during menstrual period and during advance stage (After 4 month) of pregnancy. Pregnant women may practice yoga under proper care and instruction of a yoga experts.

HOW MUCH YOGA? :

Yoga can practised for a longer time in the winter season than in summer . Maximum times devoted for actually practicing yoga should not exceeed 45 minutes in a single day of winter. In summer maximum time for actual practice should be 30 minutes.

DIET:

Foods have been divided into 3 categories

1.RAJASIK

2.TAMASIK

3.SATTVIK

First 2 categories is not suitable for yoga practitioners. Third one, SATTVIK, is highly recommended for the yoga practitioners,

QUALITY OF FOOD:

Eat not more than 85 % of your capacity. In other words always keep some space left in your stomach after dinner.

WATER:

Yoga practitioners should drink about 5 lbs (10 to 12 glasses) of water everyday. Water should be not taken at the time of eating, but after half an hour of eating..

Before starting yoga practice we should know the above the factors then only our yoga practices will be meaningful and beneficial one.

YOGA AND HEALTH BENEFITS:

1. PADMA ASANA

2. PASHCHIMOTTAN ASANA

3. MATSYA ASANA

4. ARDHA MATYENDRA ASANA

5. HALA ASANA

6. BHUJANGA ASANA

7. DHANUR ASANA

8. SHALABHA ASANA

9. SARVANGA ASANA

10. PAWAN MUKTA ASANA

11. TARA ASANA

12. VRIKSHA ASANA

13. SURYANAMASKAR ASANA

14. SHAVA ASANA

HEALTH BENEFITS: (PREVENT FROM THE DISEASES)

PHYSICAL:

1. MUSCULAR STRENGTH

2. FLEXIBILITY

3. POSTURE IMPROVEMENT

PHYSIOLOGICAL:

1. NEURO MUSCULAR CO-ORDINATING

2. CARDIO RESPIRATORY EFFIENCY INCREASES

3. CIRCULATORY SYSTEM BENEFITS

4. EXCREATORY FUNCTION IMPROVES

5. IMMUNITY INCREASES

6. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM NORMALISES

PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS

1. SELF ACCEPTANCE AND SELF REALISATION

2. SELF CONFIDENCE

3. FREE FROM ANXIETIES ,STRENGTH AND TENSION

4. PEACEFUL MIND

5. SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT

YOGA CURE FOR COMMON DISEASES:

In the Medical system on external agent (medicine) does the corrective work, in the yogic system this external agent is not needed at all .It is the patient himself whose personal understanding, practice and care cure his diseases in the yogic system

In certain cases, the medicine provided them immediate relief, but not a lasting cure. On the other hand, a great number of such patients achieved permanent cure through thereaptic yoga within in a period of two or four months .This has specially been so in case of diabetes, arthritis, asthma, gastro intestinal disorders, nervous tension and various other cases.

YOGA HELPS US TO LEAD A HEALTHY LIFE

The yoga chair is one of the most popular pieces of yoga equipment, and so whether you are a novice to the exercise or experienced, you are going to want to read on so that you can learn more about the yoga chair.

About The Yoga Chair

The yoga chair is one prop in particular which is most frequently used in Chair yoga, which is one of the many different types of yoga that are available that you can choose from. Chair yoga is one of the gentlest types of yoga, and it is practiced by sitting in this yoga chair.

This type of yoga is usually taught as a way to achieve both physical and mental fitness, and not as a way of life, as most other types of yoga in the world are.

This type of yoga is also the best for handicapped and disabled people, because it is a lot easier and, it - for the most part - can be completed while sitting in the chair. This yoga has helped a number of different people with various different health issues, such as hypertension, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, and vertigo, for instance.

Chair yoga is also a great type of beginners’ yoga, because it is much easier than most other types of yoga and so it is great for novices to try first so that they can get an idea about yoga in general and as well builds up their perseverance and stamina.

Chair yoga is definitely one of the newer types of yoga, however it is quickly becoming one of the most popular, and it is also great because it can be combined with almost any other type of yoga. Depending on your ability and willingness, you can combine this yoga with medium to harder types of yoga, so that you can get an even fuller and more complete workout overall.

Just make sure that you are fully aware of whatever type of yoga you are interested in, so that you can be as completely knowledgeable as possible and so that thus you can end up with the best possible results. After all, the more informed that you are the better off you are going to be in the end of it all.

Props and tools can be incredibly useful when practicing an exercise such as yoga, and so you want to make sure to include them whenever you can.

Yoga is a powerful tool to help you blossom and reach your full human potential. The seeds are all within you, yoga is the water, the sunlight, the nutrients and the love they need in order to make your life vibrant, beautiful and full of sweet fragrance. It is not a religion, it is really a science with which to develop your body, mind and spirit. The ultimate goal of Yoga, which literally means, Union, is to reunite you with the Universal Source. You may call this Universal Source by any name you wish, God, Brahman, Allah, Christ Consciousness, Buddha Nature etc, Yoga is a pathway to bring you to the realization that you and this Universal Source are inseparably One.

There are many branches of Yoga, such as Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Laya Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Kundalini Yoga to name a few. These all have the same one goal, unification with the Universal Source, but each follow a different path to get there. Depending on your personality one or the other path may suit you better.

Here is a description of some of the major branches of Yoga:

* Bhakti Yoga: Emphasizes love as the pathway to liberation and Union.

* Jnana Yoga: Emphasizes the intellectual and philosophical approach to penetrate the illusion of dualistic reality.

* Karma Yoga: Emphasizes right action and selfless service as the path to moksha (liberation).

* Kundalini Yoga: Emphasizes the activation of Kundalini Shakti for enlightenment.

* Raja Yoga: Considered the Scientific approach, this branch emphasizes Sage Pantanjali’s 8 step path to Self-Realization.

In this article I will expand on Raja Yoga as that is perhaps the most prevalent and popular Yoga system in use today.

As indicated above Raja Yoga employs Sage Pantanjali’s 8 step path to achieve Union with the Supreme. This 8 step system (ashtanga) compromises of the following parts. Yamas, Niyamas, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and finally Samadhi. This 8 step path is designed to bring about physical, emotion and mental harmony; and in the advanced practices of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi lead to the cessation of thoughts allowing the mind to realize that Reality is indeed Singular, Whole and indivisible.

Here is a description of the 8 limbs of Raja Yoga:

1. Yamas: Yamas are abstensions. They are truth, nonviolence, control of sexual energy, nonstealing and noncovetousness.

2. Niyams: Niyams are observances. They are austerities, purity, contentment, study and egolessness.

3. Asanas: Steady postures and poses.

4. Pranayama: Breathing exercises and control of the vital energy.

5. Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the Senses.

6. Dharana: Concentration of the mind.

7. Dhyana: Meditation.

8. Samadhi: Union with the Supreme Consciousness.

The regular practice of Raja Yoga promotes health, happiness and insight. Although the ultimate goal of Yoga is Union with the Supreme, many material benefits are also obtained by its practice. Today, many ailments are treated via the use of Yoga asanas and pranayamas, and the stress reducing benefits of Yoga meditation are becoming more and more valuable to us given our hectic and frantic lifestyles. Furthermore, the principles of humility, truth and other high values that Yoga promotes are helping to offset some of the excessive materialism and greed that is eroding the peace and spirit of our society today.

The most important aspect of Yoga is that it is based on Self-Realization. In other words, you are given the tools required, and using them you bring about the necessary transformations in yourself to reach your true potential in life. It is now often said, that the next great teachers will arise from the West. This is because the West has an empirical approach to things, as opposed to superstition and blind faith. If something works it is embraced and utilized, if something does not prove to work, it is discarded as junk. This is probably the reason why Yoga has grown in such popularity here in the West, because it works. So dive in and reap the benefits.

Have you ever wondered if what you know about yoga chairs is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on yoga chairs.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about yoga chairs? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

Yoga chairs are of course, chairs used for exercises for chair yoga, a fitness craze that has been sweeping across the ranks of senior citizens and people with low general mobility. Before we can discuss yoga chairs, we should first discuss the exercise for which yoga chairs are used: Chair Yoga.

Chair yoga, is the gentlest form of yoga. It makes use of yoga chairs (basically any sturdy chair that doesn’t move). The student uses the chair for support, to stand on, or for sitting- whatever a particular exercise demands at a certain time.

It is not a traditional form of yoga and consequently may not be seen as “real” yoga by some practitioners. The Asanas, or yoga stances and exercises are by and large, derived from Hatha Yoga.

Chair yoga is widely practiced in retirement homes, adult day-care centers, and senior fitness centers. This has led to the perception that chair yoga is only for senior citizens and that chair yoga was developed only for them.

On the contrary, anyone can practice chair yoga if they are so inclined. There are chair yoga students of all ages and all the spectrum of capabilities who use the practice to be able to reap some of its benefits. Conditions helped by chair yoga are numerous, from depression to hypertension, from vertigo to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Between Yoga Chairs and Asanas

Yoga chairs are used in the facilitating of the Asanas the students take. These yoga chairs are particularly important for chair yoga practitioners who suffer from disabilities or mobility problems.

Chairs will help the student keep balance, prevent them from exerting undue effort, and keep them from experiencing strain that they would otherwise feel if they were to eschew the use of yoga chairs. Many Asanas can be adopted to make use of a chair.

Yoga chairs are often used with yoga mats in order to perform some Asanas. However this is not the case in many classes as some classes are composed primarily of students with movement problems so severe that they have trouble getting off of a floor from a prone or supine position. In these classes, stances that involve sitting are most likely to be practiced.

Specialized yoga chairs are available that claim to have benefits but some of these claims are spurious and unproven. Care should be taken in purchasing a specialized yoga chair as they may cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars and not give back any concrete benefits to the user.

These are just very basic things; you can add more based on your own experience and knowledge.

When word gets around about your command of yoga chairs facts, others who need to know about yoga chairs will start to actively seek you out.

Choosing the right yoga DVD to begin with is as simple as looking for the words beginner on the packaging. Choosing an AM/PM regiment for beginners or a total body yoga program would probably be best for people who have never taken a yoga class. These types of yoga DVD’s will teach the basic poses making learning more advanced yoga techniques possible.

Other choices for beginner yoga DVD’s include those for back support, weight loss, stomach sculpting, children, and seniors. Each instructor uses a calming well paced voice to lead the listener through yoga stretches and poses, helping them to make the essential, body mind connection. Some yoga DVD’s have different sections within them, which will allow the person learning yoga to use a more difficult variation of their routine as they become stronger. They also have an advanced routine with the same poses teaching the person how to gradually advance their flexibility and stamina.

Intermediate

Intermediate yoga DVD’s are intended for people who already know many of the basic yoga poses and are fit and limber enough to not be challenged by beginner exercises any longer. Intermediate DVD’s will have challenging poses that will deeply stretch the muscles and can help over all health. Yoga DVD’s are intended to bring the health benefits of yoga to anyone who is interested in learning the art form. Power yoga is a combination of cardiovascular exercises and intermediate to advanced yoga poses that give the entire body a feeling of wellness and exhilaration.

Advanced

Advanced yoga DVD’s are intended to challenge people who have been working at the intermediate level long enough to need deeper stretches and to learn more exercise and relaxation techniques. Some Advanced yoga DVD’s will give the person practicing yoga the skill-set to create their own routine. Some of these forms can include yoga trance dancing, total body power yoga, and complete body yoga routines. Most of these allow the individuals to express themselves by combining their yoga poses in different combinations.

Yoga DVD’s can be a fun and easy way to learn yoga, supplement yoga lessons, continue learning yoga in between locations when traveling or moving to a new city or state. Yoga is a fun, relaxing way to exercise the body and mind. People all over America are using yoga to be more physically fit and to escape from the daily stress of a fast paced life.

By: Ann Marier -

Well, if you want to learn yoga from an expert then Yoga Toes is the place for you. The expert in question is Amanda Giacomini who has more than a decade’s experience with yoga and is a qualified teacher. Along with her husband, Giacomini has formed Yoga Toes with the aim of conducting workshops and providing training to students interested in yoga.

Having traveled to India more than once, the couple has obtained yoga training from the leading teachers of yoga in India and they believe that gentle as well as intelligent adjustments to the art taught to them will help others to learn the practice of yoga more easily. As yoga is believed to have originated in India, they felt going to the roots for the training was the best course of action.

A Group of Three Accomplished Yoga Teachers

Another notable person associated with Yoga Toes, besides the Giacominis, is Wendy McLaughlin who also has many years of teaching experience of yoga. She can teach the physical, emotional as well as psychological aspects of yoga and is the person providing focus on Restorative Yoga which essentially is gentle poses that help to open the body and release tension as well as permit energy that heals the nervous and immune system.

At Yoga Toes, you will find that it is also possible to get personalized attention. This is especially useful for beginners who need to understand the basics before joining group classes. It is also useful for those that are injured, but who still wish to learn how to practice yoga in a safe manner. The costs to you would be around $75 for an hour and $100 for 90 minutes.

Beyond Asanas

At Yoga Toes, it is also possible to come together on a birthday, or to celebrate a wedding, or enjoy a family reunion for a reasonable fee. You can also bring your children to Yoga Toes for them to learn yoga as both the Giacominis are trained to teach yoga to kids. Besides learning yoga, you can get life coaching, massages; have acupuncture performed as well as avail of facial rejuvenation. It is kind of a spa where you can begin the session with meditation and exercise and then relax with a facial or massage.

And, if you want to learn different forms of yoga, then Yoga Toes will teach you ashtanga yoga, vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, restorative yoga, and meditation as well as offer lessons in groups, or in private.

Yoga is a potent form of exercise that originated in India as a form of spiritual practice. Although, today’s version of Yoga has little to do with the Hindu practice, it can provide numerous benefits.

For those who are unaware of the Yoga way of exercise, it uses a combination of breathing exercises along with physical movement to free the body while the meditation aspect of Yoga assists in easing the mind and soul.

Benefits Of Yoga - There are many benefits to the Yoga exercise of. Perhaps the best advantage that Yoga provides to the body is the relief of stress and the relief of health factors that cause the stress. With the fast paced world of today, it is easy for an individual to become stressed out with the daily schedule and this type of stress and affect the body and mind.

By participating in Yoga, you will reduce the amount of stress that you have in your life. Some additional benefits of the Yoga lifestyle include the lowering of blood pressure, a better quality of sleep, and a heightened sense of awareness of your surroundings.

Yoga, can also benefit illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, and diabetes.

While Yoga appears to be the ideal way for a healthy life in , it is simply not efficient enough to allow most individuals to reach their ideal weight loss goals. In truth, yoga should be used mainly for the benefits it is known for.

With this being said, Yoga is a great starter exercise for those wishing to achieve their fitness goals but the Yoga exercise should not be the only form of exercise that a citizen uses to achieve a optimal level of fitness.

Yoga doesn’t do a whole lot to build lean toned muscle and burn fat, which is what most people want to do. The Yoga exercise will not allow you to gain the muscle necessary to enjoy the various outdoor attractions of but it will provide you with the an improved control over breathing that will help you journey through the various parks and trails in the area.

The practice of Yoga should be used as a way to free the mind and not as a way to gain the physical strength that will make you look good in a public environment.

Using Yoga In Your Fitness Plan - For those wishing to create a fitness plan, or improve the efficiency of their existing exercise schedule, Yoga is a great option. Since Yoga is not meant as the only source of exercise for those on a fitness plan, it makes a great partner for other forms of exercise such as Pilates and weight lifting.

Since Yoga will reduce the stress encountered from the rest of your exercise plan, it is a good idea to make Yoga a regular part of your healthy lifestyle.

For those who are already experiencing quality results with their exercise plan, the regular practice of Yoga will further increase the benefits and positive results of the workout.

Add Yoga To Your Life - Yoga is not right for everyone but it is an easy form of exercise that everyone should try at least once. If you think yoga would be a good addition to your life, you should talk with a fitness trainer or yoga professional.

You have heard all the benefits of practicing yoga. You know that anyone can do it. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, how fit you are or how flexible you are. Any yoga position can be altered for your fitness and flexibility level. You want to enjoy the benefits of yoga starting today. Now you need to know how to learn yoga. There are a couple options that you have, the one you choose will really depend on your learning style and comfort level.

To learn yoga you can take a class, go on a yoga retreat, learn yoga from a book or pop in a beginners guide to yoga DVD or video tape. They all have their benefits and again it will really depend on you. Try one and if you are unhappy with the results or instruction try another.

Deciding on how to learn yoga is as important as figuring out which type of yoga you would like to learn. Here is a small list of the types of yoga:

• Hatha yoga - with Hatha there is a lot of importance places on the perfect physical form. This is because those that practice Hatha believe that the perfect form is what helps them attain spiritual perfection. They employ breath control exercises and hand gestures to reach self realization.

• Kundalini Yoga - this is the potential form of life force that is lying dormant in our bodies. It is seen as a coiled up serpent that lays in the base of our spine and it can spring awake when it is activated by spiritual disciplines. The practice of kundalini yoga focus on the psyhic centers in the body to generate a spiritual power.

• Bhakti Yoga - this type of yoga is all about getting in touch with the Divine Being and is then followed by an outpouring of ones’ heart. This type of yoga advocates love and devotion as the path to being liberated.

• TantraYoga - with its roots in the ancient fertility practices of India, tantra yoga is the merging of the Ultimate by arousing and channeling sexual energy.

Remember that this is only a small list of the types of yoga, you will find that some are more spiritual and some are more physical but they all are based on the same poses the variance is in the instruction.

Once you have decided on your learning style and the type of yoga you would like to learn you need to get prepared. You will need a mat or some sort so that you are not just on the hard floor and you will need to be dressed in comfortable clothes. You don’t need to run out and by “special yoga clothes” just wear clothes that are not restrictive and are comfortable.

Make sure that you have a quiet place set up at home where you can practice your yoga poses. It is advisable that you do not begin to practice yoga if you have any physical injuries, talk to your doctor first. Yoga is meant to help you, not cause you more pain. Also do not underestimate the energy that is required to perform the yoga poses. They may look simple, but practicing yoga will require strength and stamina.

Yoga means union in the language of Sanskrit, which is a language of India, where yoga originated. Yoga is actually the union of the mind, body and soul and is a philosophy in itself.

Power yoga is a form of yoga that is based on a choreographed sequence of poses known as asana during which process, the joints in the body unwind, muscles get relaxed and the energy gets moved. When a person performs power yoga, he tends to build strength and flexibility and is able to focus better and consequently the tension in the mind and body is released.

Ashtanga yoga is a rigorous form of yoga that is practiced in the eastern part of the globe and hence Beryl Bender Birch and Bryan Kest of the United States have developed a new form of yoga called the power yoga which is performed more rapidly and subtly, where it is possible to easily switch over from seating positions to sun salutations and head stands.

Power yoga classes do not follow a specific sequence and are choreographed and developed by the teacher. The main objective of power yoga is to offer a lot of stretching practices and a good aerobic workout. Also, the duration of power yoga is lesser as against ashtanga yoga which may last for one and a half hours. Power yoga lays emphasis on physical benefits like weight loss and better conditioning of the muscles and general strength of the body without giving more stress on the spiritual or meditative aspects of yoga.

However, in a power yoga class, five to ten minutes may be set apart for meditation. Power yoga is begun with three to six sun salutations that warms up the body and prepare for deeper poses and concludes with at least five minutes of meditation, commonly in corpse pose or a seated pose. This is the most important part of power yoga practice that enables to incorporate all the subtle changes made during the practice.

Basically, power yoga follows a particular sequence like sun salutation, warrior pose, balancing pose and then the triangle pose. Then come the floor practices and the seated postures and finally the savasana or meditation. Although, yoga series ought to be performed in a particular order for each routine, power yoga allows a person to either skip the entire series or focus on particular physical or emotional needs. Such is the flexibility of power yoga.

The benefits of power yoga are innumerable. Apart from being a great form of exercise for everyone, it improves joint movement, increases muscle strength, promotes stamina, maintains good posture, and ultimately warms the body. But the most obvious and ultimate benefit of power yoga is its ability in focusing mentally and improving concentration and to help to find the inner strength of everyone and relieve the stress because power yoga helps to alleviate mental stress and thus relieve aches and pains in the body caused due to muscle stress and tension.