Summary :It would be interesting to learn about the history of yoga, the exercise form that has become a rage today. To understand the origin of yoga we would have to go centuries back in time to ancient India where it originated and flourished. An Indian sage by the name of Patanjali is credited with preparing a comprehensive guide on yoga, as the history of yoga says. Yoga was supposed to be a way of life in those days, one that had an effect on the physical, mental and emotional well being of people.

Yoga Sutra - The Basis of Modern Yoga

According to the early history of yoga, it is a book called Yoga Sutra that was written as many as 2000 years ago that is believed to be the source of the yoga that is being practiced today. The Yoga Sutra comprised of eight limbs of yoga. In fact, yoga is supposed to have branched off in numerous directions and you can find forms of yoga that deal with meditation, or on directing emotions and there is something to fit every person’s requirements and choice.

The problem with studying the history of yoga is that there are many periods where the link is broken due to the very nature of recording how yoga was practiced. Owing to the practice of oral transmissions in the case of holy texts as well as the inherent secrecy contained in early teachings, the history of yoga from ancient times is somewhat blurred. However, there are known to have been early recordings of yoga that date back more than 5000 years.

Four Periods

There is no doubt about the fact that the history of yoga is rich, and it has four main periods in which it has grown as well as innovated. The earliest known beginnings of yoga can be pinned to the Pre-Classical Period that goes back more than 5000 years. Then comes the Classical Period when yoga was organised and systemized and was written down in ancient India somewhere around the second century, and this is when the noted sage called Patanjali structured yoga practice into the “eight limbed path.�

The history of yoga advanced further into the Post-Classical Period and this came about a few hundred years after the time of Patanjali. This was the period when the masters of yoga fashioned many different practices that were intended to revitalize the body as well help a person live longer. In fact, this was a time when the teachings of the earlier sages were rejected and the physical body became the centre of attention in order to attain enlightenment.

Yoga as we recognize it today is that component of the history of yoga that is referred to as the Modern Period and dates to about the end of the 19th century and start of the 20th century. This was a time when the experts of yoga could travel to far-away places including the Western world and teach this form of exercise to far-flung audiences.

The history of yoga underwent a change in the early part of the 20th century with increased emphasis being laid on Hatha yoga in India. This revolution was observed most conspicuously in the creations and works of T. Krishnamachari. A lady named Indra Devi who opened a yoga studio in Hollywood in the year 1947 brought about another transformation. Since then there has been no looking back for yoga as it gained in recognition in the western world and continued to flourish in its country of origin, India.

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Summary :Pilates exercise is used to strengthen and condition the whole body, an aspect that has led to its immense popularity. At the same time, it does not require elaborate equipments. Most of the basic Pilates exercises can be carried out with the use of just a mat. This also means that it is a portable exercise form that can be easily taken advantage of anywhere. To further enhance the benefits, Pilates band can be used as an accessory that is equally convenient to carry around while also imparting greater exercise gains.

However, don’t let their size and simplicity deceive you. Pilates bands are effective for light resistance workouts that can significantly improve conditioning and muscle tone. Pilates bands, also known as the Flex-Band or the Thera-Band, are utilized in other types of fitness programs, but also lend themselves exceedingly well to Pilates for a number of reasons. Pilates bands can help lengthen major muscles and tone and sculpt the entire body, especially the abdominal muscles. They are versatile enough to target specific areas of the body to improve flexibility and joint mobility.

The Convenience Offered by Pilates Bands:

Pilates bands are not only small and easy to carry to classes or take with you on vacation; they are also easily obtainable and very reasonably priced. Ready-made bands can be purchased for $5- 10, depending on the strength of resistance. The bands are available in regular and extra-strength. If you wish, you can buy a roll of latex and cut it to make your own customized Pilates bands. There are also handles that you can get to tie to the ends of your bands to increase your exercise options.

There are some exercises where you can replace the bands for other more expensive pieces of Pilates equipment and witness the same results. For instance, some exercises that are generally done on the Pilates Reformer can be replicated with the use of the Pilates bands. In this way, not only will you be saving money on equipment, but you will also be working with a routine that can accompany you anywhere.

If you are considering using a Pilates band, you do not have to worry about how to use it as there are numerous videos readily available that will teach you the correct way to use and gain from it. So, you can avail the benefits of basic and more advanced Pilates exercises, all in the convenience and privacy of your home, granted to you by Pilates ring. However, it is always a good idea to seek some professional advice before beginning any exercise form so as to get valuable insights and tips about it as well as to help you avoid injury.

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Summary :While all yoga exercises focus on working out the body as well as the mind, hath yoga is that form of yoga exercise that stimulates the body more than the mind. However, hath yoga too, includes stretches typical of yoga, that are intended to relax the body and mind for spiritual awakening. Hath yoga is the most popular form of yoga that is practised in the United States, where it is mostly employed in order to derive maximum physical benefits.

Hatha yoga is a mild exercise that makes the existing muscles stronger without the addition of unwanted muscle bulk. People who practice hatha yoga claim all sorts of homeopathic benefits varying from illness relief to improved concentration while meditating.

Hatha Yoga and Illness

There is no conclusive scientific proof that hatha yoga has any positive or negative effects on the health. However, the technique is thousands of years old and the people who practice the poses and meditation claim to enjoy a range of health benefits. Hatha yoga is said by some to be able to relieve every discomfort from bowel problems to head aches. The stretches and poses are believed to massage the inner organs balancing the body’s chemicals naturally.

Even if there is no irrefutable proof supporting the claims that hatha yoga does in fact have health benefits in addition to physically exercising the body, many people who practice yoga have enhanced self esteem, are more in tune with their body’s needs, and take a more active interest in their health by exercising on a regular basis and eating healthy foods.

Menstrual Discomfort

Many medical facilities are devoted solely to women’s health because of a woman’s unique anatomy and various bodily changes that occur through their lives. Hatha yoga is able to advance women’s health by granting an opening for daily exercise, which is recommended by most doctors. The poses and stretches, by their massaging action on the internal organs are considered to alleviate menstrual pain or other discomforts related to the menstrual cycle.

Pregnancy

Some poses of hatha yoga are recognized to be safe exercises for women while pregnant. However, not all poses should be practised during pregnancy; poses, which would call for a woman to press on her stomach, for instance would not be advised.

Also during the third trimester, simple and gentle stretches and poses of hatha yoga should be practiced. Any poses that would require a woman to lie on her back or stand on one foot should not be tried late in pregnancy.

There are reasonable explanations for all these restrictions. It is to be understood that there is a large network of veins running along the spine that supplies blood and oxygen to the unborn baby. When a woman lies on her back, the extra weight of the baby on this venous system can adversely affect the flow of blood thus denying it vital oxygen. In the second case, it is easy to understand that a pregnant woman carrying a baby in the advanced stages has an unstable equilibrium and standing on one foot could lead to further unbalance, which could be dangerous.

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Summary :Pilates is an exercise that increases the overall strength and muscle tone of the body. There are several kinds of Pilates equipments that can be used to achieve this. Pilates ball is an important tool that can help you tone your entire body. Pilates balls are tremendously useful in increasing the strength of the legs, arms, glutes and abs. Acquiring a well-toned body with the help of Pilates balls is quite easy, you just need to look for some books or videos to guide you in the process.

Aiming at your abs:

A Pilates ball will boost your ab strength and will define it by compelling you to employ your core to balance on the ball. Pilates is supposed to be the art of ‘contrology’, that is the art of balancing and controlling the movement of your body. A Pilates ball means extra challenge for your abs, as it is a way to generate different positions for your body; due to this reason your abs will have to overcompensate and work harder to maintain your overall balance.

Aiming at your legs:

Similar to ab-work, using a Pilates ball for your legs also involves overall control. These movements will differ to some extent from those targeting your abs, because in this case instead of striving to hold your body against the Pilates ball you will be employing it as a support to add resistance to your legs. Using a ball for your legs is a good way to add to other Pilates workouts because the ball offers you the means to naturally increase the resistance your legs must work against.

Aiming at your arms:

To tone the arms the Pilates ball is utilized in a manner similar to the one used to tone the legs. Here again, you are balancing yourself on the ball by pushing down with your arms. The ball will permit you to control the amount of resistance you are pushing against by allowing you to position yourself against the floor at different angles. If you are not really interested in weight training, a Pilates ball is a wonderful and simpler alternative for toning up your arms.

The increasing popularity of Pilates has ensured that you can readily find these Pilates balls. To purchase a Pilates ball, look in the sports stores and exercise equipment retailers. You can also search the web for this purpose. On top it all, Pilates balls are extremely affordable so you will not feel the pinch while buying it as an addition to your home gym equipment. These balls are also very easy to carry around as you can inflate or deflate them without any trouble at all. So take the help of a video to learn how to correctly use a Pilates ball and watch your body shape up.

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Summary :Yoga works both at the mental and physical level, which is why it has emerged as an incredibly popular form of exercise all over the world. The Hath yoga is one of the most common forms of yoga that is practised by people. However, there is another form of yoga that is very beneficial, the Dahn yoga also called Dahn Hak or Dahnak. The Dahn yoga is different from other forms of yoga in that it originated in Korea and not India.

Helps to Broaden the Body and Mind

Dahn yoga is intended at imparting knowledge to students so that they learn to develop the mind as well as body. This type of yoga nearly became extinct until it resurfaced in the 80s in South Korea and about a decade later made its appearance in the United States. It is essentially a way of enlightening participants about the different theories as well as principles concerning the action or movement of energy within the body.

Dahn yoga will educate you how stress can cause your body to age as well as grow weaker, and it will help you reduce your stress levels thereby improving your health so as allow you to live longer. In this form of yoga, you will be encouraged to totally communicate with your body and thus make your life more energizing and enable you to live life to the fullest.

Other Benefits

Dahn yoga will also enhance the ability of your body to heal itself naturally, and this is accomplished when the energies contained in the body are stimulated enough to make a connection between the physical body and the conscious mind. You will have to stretch deeply and learn meditation as well as new methods of breathing. Dahn yoga will improve your ability to relax the body as it also provides spiritual healing. Once the body is relaxed, the participant will learn more about his or her own inner consciousness and get rid of the stress from within to have greater control over life. It will also help them to concentrate better.

Dahn yoga helps to attain a confluence of the mind and body. This is valuable in enabling you to become aware of your dormant talents and abilities, which is instrumental in strengthening a person’s resolve so that they reach their goals. It is a common practice among Dahn yoga volunteers to offer their free service to others so that they too learn this form of yoga. By doing this they help advance the health and well being of the community in general thereby promoting peace and contentment.

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