Yoga For Beginners - Explore Emotional Healing With Yoga Poses

Looking for tips on Yoga for Beginners? Yoga poses can be used to explore feelings. Think of  your time with yoga poses as an experiment; as if you were in a laboratory. Kripalu yoga developed a framework for working with emotions: Breathe, Relax, Feel, Witness, Allow.

Decide that you want to experiment with an emotion. You can choose to go deep and explore, or you may prefer to simply witness the process. There are 3 principles to consider when witnessing. Let's use 1 principle and work with a Standing Pose.

Standing poses are great to work with when dealing with emotions. They bring a quality of strength and confidence as you make effort to sustain the pose. At the same time  you remain calm and relaxed as you pay attention to your breath. The two qualities of effort and surrender or relaxation create a healthy balance in yoga poses and in life. In yoga for beginners this is an important point to grasp through experience.

With stability in the pose as well as sustained effort and relaxation, tensions held a little deeper in the body can surface. This is your opportunity to explore, eventually integrate and release.

Working with Emotions through Sensations

Choose a standing pose from the yoga poses you like.  Enter the pose and find a way to hold the pose comfortably to allow sensations to emerge and expand. Avoid suppressing or sidestepping sensations. Feel your feet on the ground and press all 4 corners of the feet evenly into the earth. Lift the toes for even more support for the feet and legs. With support and stability established in the pose, gently lengthen the spine.

Witness

After you have established a firm foundation, totally focus on the physical sensations you feel. Remember to breathe consciously, and create space for the breath with micro movements when necessary. Encourage the breath to fill the whole body and definitely touch the sensations you want to work with. Use the breath to draw your attention inwards.

Notice the size, shape, quality of the sensation. Perhaps you are able to see colors and images.  To witness is to observe without judging or analyzing.  If creating a sound helps with a release of emotions, by all means free yourself.

Healing Emotions

This process releases stuck energy of feelings and emotions. What do you notice when the energy is released?

Do share your experience of healing emotions through any of the yoga poses you choose to explore in your laboratory.

And now, I'd like to invite you to claim your free access to a guided relaxation when you visit http://www.yogatogo.com/ Type "guided meditation" to search the blog.

From Heather Greaves - Yoga Therapy Teacher Trainer and Body Therapies Yoga Training

View the original article here

Can Basic Yoga Poses Generate Vulnerable Feelings?

Vulnerable feelings turn our eyes within. There is surprise the first time we come face to face with our fears in a basic yoga pose. If we are in a class, we may notice just 2 things: the pose being executed with ease by another practitioner, and our utter trepidation.

Three poses come to mind when I think of the provocation of vulnerable feelings. One can challenge our physical strength; another pose may expose some nameless uncomfortable feeling; and another can remind us of that which we want to forget. The positions our body assumes affect us physically, emotionally and mentally.

The Hand Stand

A pose where the body leans against a wall upside down supported by arms and hands. Though it is possible, you hardly see anyone in a regular yoga class practicing this pose without the support of the wall. The idea of the body being supported by arms is usually quite intimidating for women. Some of us remember being very unwilling to entertain the idea of attempting the pose. My personal experience is that with correct guidance in technique, vulnerable feelings can propel courage and determination to produce positive results.

The Camel

The front of the body is sensitive and receptive. It's the camel's hump in the camel pose. This pose lengthens the front of the body from the sternum to pelvis, in a kneeling position. This basic yoga pose is modified so the arc from the knees to the crown is very gentle. Sometimes soft rumblings of unfamiliar feelings can be felt. A slow release into Child's Pose calms feelings of vulnerability and turns our eyes within.

Relaxation Pose

The dead man's pose is anything but dead. The breath lifts and lowers the chest. And the mind can be very active. Some part of us is playing dead and another part is coming alive. The muscles and bones lie still. Something below the surface is waking up and it is unwelcome. Do I stay or do I get up? Here I am alone with me.

Ultimately we are alone with ourselves in both active and more passive basic yoga poses. It is our chance to see ourselves in new ways. A chance to synchronize the feminine quality of vulnerability with the masculine courage. This union of opposites that is yoga is to be embraced. Hold the familiar long enough and the unfamiliar will surface. Venture near the unfamiliar while keeping the familiar near. This is the ecstatic dance of yoga.

Heather Greaves helps natural healing enthusiasts learn more about holistic yoga even though their only teacher is a book. They say, To learn more about something, teach it. Since 2005 this yoga therapist and owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training has been training yoga teachers in a certified program. For more yoga tips and information visit Body Therapies Yoga Training http://www.yogatogo.com/
http://www.yogatogo.com/

View the original article here

First Chakra Poses Help Yoga Students Become Peaceful Warriors

Being present, feeling grounded, and fearless are qualities of the first chakra. This exploration seeks to discover to what extent we can experience these resources in 3 poses: Tadasana, Virabhadrasana I and Parsvottanasana. The instruction to always stay within your level of comfort might be challenged marginally. Are you ready?

Presence

How aware can you be of your whole body? How aware of the breath? The monkey mind can easily be pulled to Planet Future and swing back to Past Haunts. Are you willing to challenge your attention and train the resource to stay present to your body and breath?

Fearlessness

To be fearless means we stand against that which scares the living daylights out of us. First chakra poses can help us do that. We make a life altering decision to dig our heels in literally, peacefully stand our ground, and breathe in and out just one more time. Yes that's the sound of the heart pounding, and yes the body is trembling a bit, and there's even sweat somewhere or other. And yes it passes when I release the pose. Halleluja!

Grounding

To feel grounded I might actually have to leave the ground a bit, lifting and lowering my heels. Over and over again, perhaps bending the knees, making larger and larger arm movements, and creating a wider more secure base by stepping the feet wider. Will I break my sound barrier today and make a sound with this movement?

This is the work we can choose to do in Yoga, if and when we are ready. This is the journey of victory. There is a breath that can help us become victorious, called Ujjayi breath, the breath of victory. We breathe through the throat without distorting the face or tensing the throat. This victory is subtle. The breath helps to keep us steady. No body knows the trouble we're seeing, or the glory. Hallelujah!

Poses

The base of the pose is the foundation. We make that strong by planting our feet firmly with the four corners rooted even when we lift the toes. In Tadasana explore various hand and arm positions to increase our resources. Explore hugging yourself, placing the hands on the heart, raising arms above the head, or any other variation. When you step forward courageously in Warrior 1 ground again before and as you bend the knee. In Parsvottonasana continue exploring arm positions: arms behind the back, Cow's Head Gomukhasana arms, prayer position at the heart, even Goddess Deviasana arms. Perhaps the arms are your weapons.

In your Yoga journey, continue taking small courageous steps as you claim the title of a Peaceful Warrior on the QT.

Heather Greaves is the owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training. She organizes yoga and meditation retreats and workshops in Ontario and Barbados, and has been helping yoga enthusiasts learn to teach yoga in a certified program. For more yoga tips or to sign up for our monthly newsletter visit http://www.yogatogo.com/

View the original article here

Second Chakra Yoga Poses

Second chakra deals with creativity, sexuality, reproductive system, kidney, bladder, all those watery places. Yoga poses can be used to increase sensation. Second chakra poses can be performed creatively plus a focus in the pelvic area will center energy to that chakra area.

Let's explore 3 hip opener poses: Butterfly Baddha Konasana, Cow's Head Gomukhasana, and Goddess Deviasana.

Butterfly (Baddha Konasana)

Perform this pose sitting or lying. I enjoy a deeper exploration lying with legs and feet on pillow or bolster and a light blanket over my body. The soles of the feet snug together as if creating a diamond from hips to bent knees to toes. I bring my focus back to the pelvic area and continue visualizing creatively. Breathe consciously. If this pose brings discomfort on an emotional level and you choose to stay with the pose, focus on the physical sensations.

Cow's Head (Gomukhasana)

Feels like the opposite of Butterfly. Legs are crossed at the thighs - together not apart. If done lying, knees can be brought close to the chest or moved away towards the floor. Try the pose with a pillow or bolster placed to support your legs. Find that spot that makes the pose feel natural and focus in the pelvic area as you stay for 5 minutes. You can wiggle to place one arm under your back and the other above to open the chest more. Or place arms in front of the body. Repeat and reverse arms and legs with the other leg at the top.

Goddess (Deviasana

Which goddess will you choose? From Africa - Osun, Hathor? From India - Saraswati, Rakini? From Europe - Demeter, Aphrodite? Will you speak to or for a goddess? Do you feel more or less of a goddess if you move your arms and or legs? How about moving the pelvic area itself? After all the focus is the second chakra. How are you showering blessings? With the body still, can you sense your power?

Deeply explore sensations in the pelvic area from pubic bone back to the sacrum by performing the first two poses in a restorative way on your back. End strong with the standing pose, Goddess. This might be a great way to start your day; while at the end of the day you could start with the Goddess standing pose and end with the lying restorative poses.

Close your eyes if you feel comfortable as you dive into the waters of the second chakra with yoga poses.

If you are a beginner to a joyful yoga, Heather Greaves would be happy to introduce you to your yoga. She is the owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training, organizes retreats and workshops, and has been helping yoga enthusiasts learn to teach yoga in a certified program. For more yoga tips or to sign up for our monthly newsletter visit http://www.yogatogo.com/

View the original article here

Generating Energy Through Third Chakra Yoga Poses

Third chakra poses generate energy. A little more energy is just what I need right now. A little fuel to complete a few tasks before going to bed. I'm fading a bit and I want to be asleep in two hours. Sun Bird, Plank and Seated Boat are the third chakra poses I have chosen to generate energy.

Process

For centering and to invoke my Inner Guide, I sit on my heels in Vajrasana/Virasana consciously breathing for about 1 minute, then I move into Table then Sun Bird. I can feel the heat rising especially around my forehead. There's even moisture in my face. After 6 breaths Child's pose is my pose of choice - with my head up, cheeks in my palms.

Time to change sides and because a sore wrist would not entertain the idea of carrying that extra weight, I decide to extend the leg alone and keep both hands on the floor.Of course this is easier. Before I practice on this side I point the fingers backwards to release tension in both wrists.

Without the need for a rest, I go into Plank on the forearms. As I hold I feel the temperature rising. I sit back on my heels and pause in Virasana - a body check. I decide on a vinyasa for Seated Boat to avoid over heating and to be gentle. Holding the pose would light a fire. The vinyasa works well.

Paschimottanasana - seated forward bend - as a counter pose is needed. Muscles release as I hold and breathe consciously, and I drop further forward with each exhale. What a fantastic way to cool down.

A rest in Savasana is what my Inner Guide is ordering. I follow instructions happily. After Savasana I sit up in Easy Sitting Pose, Sukhasana for about 1 minute. The cooling breath I intended to practice following Savasana is not needed.

I am ready to complete the tasks ahead. The practice took 20 minutes.

My Overall Experience

There was enthusiasm to explore just how these three 3rd chakra poses would affect my energy level and mental acuity. It was natural to center before practicing the three poses and to rest as needed. I wondered how my small intestines were handling the spicy snack. The sore wrist feels much better. After the practice I checked and it was able to take the weight in Sun Bird. A few more tasks and then sleepy time.

As a footnote this 3 pose practice took 7 minutes in the morning on an empty stomach with no need for rest poses and no overheating.

Heather Greaves is an avid yoga explorer and owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training. She organizes yoga and meditation retreats and workshops in Ontario and Barbados, and has been helping yoga enthusiasts learn to teach yoga in a certified program. For more yoga tips or to sign up for our monthly newsletter visit http://www.yogatogo.com/

View the original article here

Yoga Poses - Hints and Tips for Beginners

The popularity of yoga has been growing in recent years and more and more people every day are taking it up for many different reasons. Yoga poses for beginners is something that more and more people are wanting to find out about.

Some people want to start yoga to help them try and lose weight, while others have heard about yoga's ability to relieve certain pains and ailments, such as back pain.

Pregnant ladies often want to take up yoga when they hear about the relief they can get from some of the uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy through the practice of yoga, and they also help to prepare themselves for the actual birth of their child by practicing the breathing techniques that are practiced in yoga.

Sports men and women are starting to incorporate yoga practices into their training regimes in an effort to increase their sporting abilities.

Someone just starting out with yoga could be forgiven for thinking that all they need is themselves and some space, which is essentially true. But there are one or two considerations to give when deciding if you need any equipment.

For example, will you practice outside on the grass, on a sandy beach, or will you need a yoga mat? If you do need a mat, have you got one or do you need to buy one?

What about a drink? Do you have a bottle you can take with you to use during your session?

And then of course there is your clothes. It is very important that you feel totally comfortable in whatever you decide to wear. Although many people are fashion conscious, it is no good thinking about your top or pants, or the person in front of you, when you are trying to perform a yoga pose or position. Your mind needs to be totally free of thoughts like that so that you can give full concentration to the exercise that you are doing.

A complete beginner might be content with seeing a picture of a pose and then trying to copy it in their bedroom or at home somewhere. This is good for getting a feel of what yoga is and making up your mind if it is something you want to do, and get into.

However, someone who is serious about using yoga to improve their life in some way should really be thinking about starting with a local yoga class or finding an instructor.

Anybody with a health condition that might be affected by yoga, positively or negatively, should really consult with a doctor before getting started. Just because yoga is known for improving back pain in some people does not mean that it is ok for all people with back pain to take up yoga., for pretty obvious reasons.

Likewise, as yoga has been known to improve the circulatory systems of some people does not mean that yoga should be practiced by all people with circulatory problems.
Always stay on the safe side and consult with a qualified doctor who knows about your existing conditions.

If you're a sports person who wants to incorporate some yoga into their current training plan, you should consult with your team doctor and trainers before embarking on any yoga exercises. Even better, consult a yoga sports scientist who will be able to tell you specifically what yoga exercises to do in order to target specific parts of your body.

As with all forms of exercise, it is better to start off gently and build up over time to more advanced positions or poses and longer sessions.

If you take yoga seriously and give it some respect, it will not be long before you start to reap the benefits and be happier and healthier for it.

Read more of Elizabeth Pennington's work at Yoga poses for beginners and more yoga related subjects at Yoga Body and Mind

View the original article here

Baby’s World is a baby store with a big selection of strollers, baby toys and gift, toys box and bags, outdoor playing games and toys, kids clothes, kids furniture for all age babes and many moreBaby World | toy World | baby Games | baby einstein

Yoga Poses to Balance the Kapha Dosha

The term "dosha" arises from Ayurveda and is translated to mean a person's physical and emotional constitutional nature. There are three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. An individual is comprised of a combination of these three constitutions. When any one of these doshas is out of balance, an individual can experience disease and a general sense of being unwell physically and/or mentally. Both the systems of Ayurveda and Yoga help to balance each dosha for optimal health. Ayurvedic doctors will recommend a combination of Yoga exercises, daily massage, dietary guidelines and herbal medicines to restore a healthy balance and rejuvenate a Yogi or Yogini's overall sense of well-being.

Physically, an individual whose primary dosha is Kapha in nature will have thick hair, glowing skin and large eyes. He or she will also generally sleep regularly and have steady digestion. Emotionally, Kaphas are reputed to be loving, loyal, thoughtful, supportive, steady and kind. Kapha individuals do well with routine. When a Kapha individual is out of balance, he or she may become lethargic and too weighted down with possessions, jobs and relationships that have long outlived their usefulness. Kaphas can be very stubborn and resistant to change, which may prevent the individual from really creating the life of his or her dreams. Kapha individuals are often prone to low energy levels and depression.

Yoga poses that help to balance and invigorate an individual whose constitution is primarily Kapha in nature are vigorous standing poses, backbends, arm balances and practices employing ashtanga-based Yoga sequences. When a Kapha dosha person is out of balance, his or her energy may become stagnant. Practicing Yoga asanas and breathing exercises that generate heat and increase circulation throughout the entire body will help to dissipate the lethargy that Kapha individuals often experience.

Before practicing vigorous standing Yoga poses, backbends or arm balances, it is imperative that a Yogi or Yogini warm-up with several rounds of Sun Salutations, preferably while practicing Ujjayi breathing. There are many online sources that offer detailed descriptions of a variety of Sun Salutations including both Surya Namaskar A and B. After warming up well, a Kapha individual may want to focus on flowing from one pose to the next through a challenging vinyasa practice. Linking the poses together through a vinyasa sequence while practicing Ujjayi breathing will invigorate the entire body, helping to enliven and balance both the body and mind of an individual whose primary dosha is Kapha.

© Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

View the original article here

earning training