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Tips for Cleansing the Mind and Body

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When it comes to ‘’detoxification.’’ you typically have two schools of thought. One group believes that our bodies are heavily polluted with all sorts of stuff that is making us sick and we must flush it all out; while the other camp states the body has several detoxification processes in place, and it is unnecessary to ‘’cleanse’’ it.

As for who is right, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. Our bodies are probably not the cesspools many believe they are. Yet they could probably use some help in disposing of the chemicals and other elements, we take in through the environment and our diet. Detoxification does not have to be extreme, and if you are not ready to forgo food completely or drink crazy concoctions, here are some more gentle methods that can put you on the path of permanent healthy change.

Elimination Diet

Food allergies and sensitivities can show up as more than rashes or swollen lips—they can affect our health on much deeper levels. If you have been feeling a big sluggish, or you have certain health problems you hope to address holistically, this is a good place to start. For a period of two to four weeks, eliminate the most common allergens from your diet, such as wheat and other grains that contain gluten, eggs, soy and dairy. On a related note, cut out processed carbs and sugar—while not an allergy issue, this is in line with cleansing the body of unhealthy substances. This type of diet intervention can serve as a reboot to your system.To determine whether common allergens affect you personally, you will need to introduce each item back to your diet one at a time to observe whether it affects you.

Beverage Considerations

As for what to drink, water is at the top of the list. Your body is made up of mostly water, and that right there explains much of its importance to your health. Copious amounts also help flush all the gunk out of your system. Fruit is also very cleansing and you can whip up your own healthy drinks in minutes with a blender, some water and ice. Drinks made from healthy greens are also a popular for detoxification purposes. There are many teas that contain herbs specifically known for their cleansing properties and are a great addition to any detox plan.

Yoga

Yoga is a great form of exercise to adopt during detoxification. It helps create a calmer mind and a feeling of balance and wellness—remember that your detox efforts are not just about the physical. Different yoga poses serve different purposes in the body, and while doing detox, focus on ones that promote healthy digestion, circulation and lymphatic drainage. Examples include wide-legged forward bend, three-legged down dog, open-side fierce, staff, spinal twist, head to knee and the locust. You can find a variety of websites that detail how to complete these poses.

Other Considerations

To help get through the detox period, it is important to give some thought to why you want to do it in the first place. This will help keep you motivated. To maximize your results, you may want to use a colon cleanser product, but make sure you follow instructions carefully and avoid any extreme measures. Make a serious effort to tend to mental and spiritual health as well through meditation and other means of connecting with your spirit and reducing stress.

About the Author: Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who enjoys blogging about all things health and wellness.

Yoga And Mental Health

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Yoga tones the body and improves flexibility. Those results aren’t a (wait for it…) stretch, when you’re tucking your legs behind your head and balancing on one foot for minutes on end. But did you know that yoga also benefits mental health and has lasting positive effects on brain chemistry and emotional balance? Read on to find out how every “Ohm” brings you closer to clarity.

One of the tenets of yoga (including hatha, vinyasa, and any type in between) is focused breathing. Yoga practitioners believe that controlled breathing can calm the mind and prepare the body to explore its capabilities. The rhythm of inhale and exhale creates a meter by which your body can regulate itself, and a constant to focus on as you strain to reach difficult poses. The simple act of breathing can slow down a racing brain and bring you into the present moment. Placing yourself in that quiet place of non-stress on a regular basis promotes mental health on and off the mat.

The constant flow of movement involved in yoga promotes circulation, bringing more oxygen to the brain and increasing the production of endorphins. This has very positive minimizing effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety. Not only that – short-term memory, mental acuity, multi-tasking, and concentration all show an upswing thanks to downward-facing dog.

Sleep quality will also improve as well with regular yoga practice. As we all know, a good night’s sleep is one of our most potent weapons in fighting stress, health issues, aging, and even weight loss. Studies have shown marked benefits to length and quality of sleep thanks to yoga, and as a result, better alertness during the day.

Even more serious mental health issues can be addressed in yoga. Many studies, particularly a recent one at Harvard, have proven that amateur yogis have a decreased overall response to stress and are less prone to stress-based symptoms and illnesses. Soldiers experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are likely to find relief from yoga; by encouraging reflection, control, and healing in a non-stigmatized environment, they can find coping mechanisms for their trauma and become better equipped to deal with stimuli in the outside world.

Additionally, it has been found that adults suffering from schizophrenia were able to better handle their illness with yoga skills. The meditative aspect helps to decrease aggressive tendencies, promote willingness to take medication, and supply sufferers with the focus to manage their various symptoms. Binge-eating and other self-destructive eating behaviors also decrease when paired with yoga, a probable side effect of strengthening the healthy body and finding more mental peace.

Best of all, clearing the mind has positive secondary effects on the body as well. Twisting your body requires muscle relaxation and focus, which can lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health. Your improved posture and breathing will have lasting good effects on your bone health. And finding that special “me” time, an oasis of quiet in your busy life helps to center you and help define personal goals – even beyond clearing your body and mind.

Ref:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2009/April/Yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression
http://m.thepostgame.com/blog/list/201302/5-surprising-yoga-cures
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/yoga/CM00004

Author Bio:

Shawn is one of the most popular personal trainers in Los Angeles with a client list that includes various celebrities and athletes. He is the founder of Perfect Body, Inc., has been a fitness spokesperson for Time Warner manages three health and fitness web sites, was featured four times on KCAL 9 news “9 on the town”, was featured on CBS radio 97.1 numerous times, has appeared on a variety of cable shows, and runs a successful personal training practice.

How Yoga Can Help Your Overall Health

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Yoga is a popular practice of meditation and exercise that has helped thousands of people lose weight and get into the best shape of their lives. The mind, body and soul connection that yoga provides is unlike any other form of exercise, giving not only your body a workout but your mind as well. The health benefits of yoga are endless and go way beyond just helping you get into better shape. Here are some of the additional reasons you should consider practicing yoga.

Posture

Better posture is achieved through yoga from the core strength that is developed through the practice. Your abdominals are so frequently used to support and maintain each pose that in turn your posture is improved. The ability to sit and stand with your spine straight isn’t easy and requires practice, but that’s another benefit of yoga. During yoga you are also taught to pay attention to your body and with this heightened awareness, you know whether you’re slouching or slumping so you can adjust your posture.

Strength

Yoga teachers are some of the strongest, most naturally muscular people I’ve ever seen. The practice of yoga is all about using your own body weight to tone muscles, which is great. Muscle tone will be improved through yoga, without question.

Static poses such as downward dog, upward dog and the plank pose help to build upper body strength, which is crucial to have as you get older. The standing poses, on the other hand, help to build strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps and abdominal muscles.

Flexibility

Flexibility is something people are born with. For those who aren’t born with it, they have to work hard at it if they’re trying to be flexible. Many people who haven’t done yoga before believe that yoga involves having to stretch like a gymnast and only those born flexible can do it. The fact is you can improve flexibility at any age!

Doing yoga allows you to stretch your muscles and all of the soft tissues of your body. This includes ligaments, tendons and the fascia sheath that surrounds all of your muscles. The great thing about yoga is that no matter what level you’re doing, the results will show fairly quickly.

Stress Levels

Yoga requires relaxation which means that for those who are stressed out and over worked, yoga could really change lives. Even beginners have noted that they feel more relaxed after just one class. The deep breathing techniques that are taught during yoga help to focus mind on breath which turns off the thoughts about work and helps relieve stress.

There are many biochemical responses that are associated with yoga as well. Yoga lowers levels of hormone neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, which creates an overwhelming feeling of calm.

So as you can see, the practice of yoga is no joke. By doing yoga on a weekly basis, you can improve your flexibility and posture, strengthen your entire body and decrease your stress levels. If you thought that was all, you’re sorely mistaken. The benefits of yoga are practically endless, as it will improve your overall health and well being. There’s a reason yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and has continued to grow in popularity. Try it out for yourself and see how you feel after a few sessions. The changes could blow your mind!

Becky Karn is a freelance writer and health advocate. After researching many degree programs including university of southern california (usc) health administration degree online, she would like to go back to school and someday educate the public in making healthy choices.

 

This is How I Lost Weight with Yoga

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There have been instances in my life when I have been tempted to become complacent with my lifestyle and ignore my daily dose of health; i.e. yoga practice. Spending what little spare time I got with a cup of coffee in one hand and remote control of TV in the other, seemed heavenly! Confident enough that once I started on my yogic sessions, there was no looking back. I was a big procrastinator and kept postponing it thinking one day I’ll start my yoga practice. But ‘When?’

The same thing happens to people suffering from overweight, who cannot somehow seem to commit to a daily program of cultivating a healthy habit. Remember, the more you pamper your body, the more it will crave for creature comforts. You can use Time to Spa Coupon for a special spa treatment to reduce stress. But all this is only temporary. The best way is to break the pattern of old habits and replace it with new healthy ones.

Why Yoga?
As I mentioned earlier, it takes a tremendous amount of will power for a person living a sloppy lifestyle, to commit himself/herself to a regular exercise routine. In this case, Yoga is the most effective option. Since Yoga is far from the huffing and puffing types of exercises like working out on treadmill, cycling, swimming, jogging, that people usually engage in, it has a calming and serene effect on the frayed nerves of a person. This leaves a pleasant impression on the beginner and therefore stays committed to his goal of daily routine of yoga. A person thus committed to yogic exercises becomes a lifetime practitioner, gaining not only a fit body, but a calm mind to deal with the daily stress of life.

Weight Reduction
Yogasanas purify the body and at the same time removes the excessive fat from the body. They help to stimulate the endocrine glands to increase their hormonal secretions. The primary gland responsible for the weight management is the Thyroid gland. Yoga specifically targets to stimulate this particular gland in order to increase fat metabolism. The fat thus gets converted into muscle and energy. Along with the loss of excess fat, you gain a better muscle tone and higher vitality. Yoga reduces the anxiety level of a person, thereby controlling habits like anxious eating, binging on junk food, etc. In all it helps to lose weight, be fit and calm the mind as well.

Weight loss exercises
Some important asanas for weight loss are as follows:
Uttanpadasana
Matsyasana
Halasana
Bhujangasana
Salbhasana
Dhanurasana
Paschimottanasana
Ardhyamatsyaendrasana
Vakrasana
Supta vajrasana
Yoga mudra
Pawanmuktasana
Chakrasana
Jalandhar bandh
Nauli

These exercises cure obesity if practiced diligently. It also removes fatigue and lethargy. Almost all exercises involve every part of the body-the spine, the limbs, the chest and the abdomen. Most of them are very effective in improving the digestive system of the body, increasing immunity and giving a feeling of lightness to the body. Yoga is a complete healthy and holistic package for body and mind. For me, my Yoga practice is my way of life. Be wise enough to make it yours and enjoy the world around you.

Author Bio- Latasri is a yoga lover who likes to share native remedies coupons with fellow bloggers on her website. She practices yoga daily and has now made it a way of life.

Yoga 101– All You Wanted to Know About It

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Yoga is a rage in the Western world ever since pop diva Madonna started practicing it. Teachers and gurus have opened yoga centers around the world celebrating this art form that help to heal the body, mind and soul. If you’re planning to join a yoga class these are some of the tips you’ll need to know before doing so.

Here’s how to start with yoga- the miracle healer

1. Pick your type of Yoga
It all starts with a decent research. Not all types of yoga suit your needs. Choosing a type of yoga that suits you should depend on one’s personality and state of physical fitness. Take your time out to read into different yoga styles; for example, beginners can opt for the hatha or vinyasa class. Don’t jump to the fancier one right at the start.

2. Going to the right yoga class
A quick online search will help you find a class in your vicinity. Ensure you pick a class that is convenient to travel from your home or work.

3. Get your bag full!
Yoga is all about comforting your mind, body and soul. Therefore, start with comfortable clothes. You can find online about the basic yoga equipments, while yoga mats can be rented.

4. What do I expect from yoga?
When you start with placing mats; ensure you don’t line up with the one next to your mat. Your neighbor will need space in all the different poses you try. It is always the cross-legged position (padmasana) at the start of the class, followed by stretches to warm up.
Most classes believe in chanting of the word ‘OM’ to bring concentration. There can also be breathing exercises (pranayam) and meditation.
Also, expect warm-up poses that are little vigorous in nature and lastly, the final relaxation. Don’t lose faith if you feel a little sore after your first class.

5. No yoga classes?
It is the digital age; trust the many brilliant yoga Ebooks and videos that are available. If you cannot make it to a yoga class, start with any beginner’s video of gurus, celebs that are renowned and the visuals will sail you through.

6. What are the general dos and don’ts?
No big meal before your yoga session and no water during the class. If you’re taking diet foods like Bistro md through Bistro md promo code, this will not have any adverse effect while performing yoga. Also a big no is shoes and socks since yoga is about letting your body free. On the do list, review the basic behavior to be familiar; familiarize whatever you can find on the beginner’s guide for yoga and ensure you continue to gift your body with yoga as regularly as possible!

7. What are the common expectations from yoga?
Apart from inner peace and a fit body, yoga helps in:
• Reduce weight
• Getting in Shape
• More energy
• Healing from illness and relief

However magical benefits of yoga are, yoga is also about persistence. To achieve the aim through yoga, you have to back it up with diet, channelize the negative feelings and most importantly, think positive. If you are starting with yoga, remember, regular yoga practice will give you the strength to control your mind and keep emotions under check, apart from physical fitness.

Author Bio- Latasri makes available weight watchers free coupons and discounts on her website for fitness and diet conscious people. She is a yoga lover who likes to share her views with fellow bloggers.

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