The Skeptical Yogi offers a fresh take on the ins and outs of the yoga world from one who was formerly skeptical about the promise of yoga.
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From A Skeptic's Journey Through The Yoga Experience I must first make a full disclosure. My first experience with yoga was a...
Monday, October 9, 2017
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Hillary Clinton Practiced Pranayama To Recover From Election
by YD
How to recover from a virtually never ending presidential campaign? Try alternate nostril breathing. Yes, maybe we’ve been inundated with politics to the max lately, but we have to wonder how politicians, you know, the ones who live it every day, how to do they cope? Besides daily Twitter rant storms, of course.
You may not be surprised to learn that plenty of Chardonnay asana factored into Hillary Clinton’s recovery from the chaos that was Indecision 2016 and the writing of her new book, but the interesting tidbit is that she also dug into a tall glass of pranayama (nadi shodhana aka alternate nostril breathing, to be specific) as she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in a recent interview.
Those keeping score at home would know that HRC had already spoken about practicing yoga (hashtag butheremails), but this is particularly interesting because it’s more about picking herself up after a blow to the gut (and probably the worst news of her life), rather than just trying to keep up, as in during the campaign.
In case you missed it, here’s Secretary Clinton being candid (and also somehow coy) about her grounding pranayama practice. How many other politicians can you think of who might benefit from, we don’t know, taking a deep breath here and there
You may not be surprised to learn that plenty of Chardonnay asana factored into Hillary Clinton’s recovery from the chaos that was Indecision 2016 and the writing of her new book, but the interesting tidbit is that she also dug into a tall glass of pranayama (nadi shodhana aka alternate nostril breathing, to be specific) as she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in a recent interview.
Those keeping score at home would know that HRC had already spoken about practicing yoga (hashtag butheremails), but this is particularly interesting because it’s more about picking herself up after a blow to the gut (and probably the worst news of her life), rather than just trying to keep up, as in during the campaign.
In case you missed it, here’s Secretary Clinton being candid (and also somehow coy) about her grounding pranayama practice. How many other politicians can you think of who might benefit from, we don’t know, taking a deep breath here and there
Friday, October 6, 2017
What I Know for Sure
Oprah Winfrey
"When you nurture your body it reciprocates."
"I won't waste a meal by eating food that doesn't fully satisfy me."
"Getting my lifelong weight struggle under control has come from a process of treating myself as well as I treat others in every way."
"The ultimate in being healthy is to operate at full throttle—physically, emotionally, and spiritually."
"Making the decision to look after yourself is the ultimate in healthcare."
"I don't believe in accidents. I know for sure that everything in life happens to help us live."
"Alone time is when I distance myself from the voices of the world so I can hear my own."
"A little restoration goes a long way."
"I've learned not to worry about what might come next."
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/what-i-know-for-sure-oprah-winfrey/all#ixzz4uk4Fe84R
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
[ 0 ] June 9, 2011 | genConnect Staff
LeBron James and other NBA stars don’t just hit the weights
to stay fit – many maintain their agility and fitness with a surprising form of
exercise: Yoga
There is no doubting LeBron James’
talent. James will lead the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals against the Dallas
Mavericks next Tuesday, May 31 with whopping averages
of 26 points and 9 rebounds per game so far this post-season. But that’s the
easy part.
LeBron has been logging over 43
quality minutes per game during the playoffs, making him arguably one
of the most well-conditioned professional basketball player in the NBA.
So how does he do it? Yoga.
“Downword dog” and “hero” poses have
been part of James’ off-season yoga routine over the past few years. Yoga
is known to be able to benefit your sex life, according to
sex expert Dr. Marianna Brandon. Founder of Ms. Fitness magazine, Greta Blackburn, also hails yoga as a great complement to your weight-lifting regimen. But
while others aren’t convinced of yoga’s benefits,
James is a devout beliver in its effects.
“Does it work for everybody? I don’t
know,” LeBron recently said. “I’m not a guru about
how to be in the best condition — don’t let me sit here and tell you that. But
it works for me.........................................(READ MORE)
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
5 Yoga Myths Even Devoted Yogis Still Believ
The Huff
Post
By Abigail Wise
Yoga is here to stay. The $27 billion industry saw a 29 percent increase in popularity from 2008 to 2012. It
attracts 8.7 percent of Americans to mats across the country. With so much
interest in the practice, some misinformation has also been surfacing. Whether
you regularly visit your local studio or only dabble in the occasional
restorative session, we’re willing to bet that you’ve heard some of these rumors
floating around. Here are some of the most common myths about yoga...
busted.
Myth 1. Yoga helps you sweat out toxins.
The problem with the phrase “sweating out toxins” is that our bodies sweat to help keep us cool, not to eliminate waste (that’s the job of your kidneys, liver and digestive tract). When you sweat, you release water, salt and electrolytes, not toxins. As Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN, CNS, HuffPost blogger, told The Huffington Post in a previous article, “The best way to help your body get the toxins out is to put fewer in.”
That doesn’t mean yoga’s not an excellent form of exercise. It comes with a long list of benefits, starting from the moment you start practicing, including lower blood pressure, improved lung capacity, a lower risk of heart disease and anxiety relief.
Myth 2.You need to log 60-to-90-minute classes to reap the benefits.
Sure, there’s nothing quite like that accomplished, relaxed feeling many get after leaving a long yoga session, but just because you don’t have an hour (or more) to spare doesn’t mean you should stay off the mat. Even short yoga practices have proven benefits. Research shows that just 20 minutes of yoga can increase brain function by improving focus, speeding up information processing and improving working memory........................(READ MORE)
Myth 1. Yoga helps you sweat out toxins.
The problem with the phrase “sweating out toxins” is that our bodies sweat to help keep us cool, not to eliminate waste (that’s the job of your kidneys, liver and digestive tract). When you sweat, you release water, salt and electrolytes, not toxins. As Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN, CNS, HuffPost blogger, told The Huffington Post in a previous article, “The best way to help your body get the toxins out is to put fewer in.”
That doesn’t mean yoga’s not an excellent form of exercise. It comes with a long list of benefits, starting from the moment you start practicing, including lower blood pressure, improved lung capacity, a lower risk of heart disease and anxiety relief.
Myth 2.You need to log 60-to-90-minute classes to reap the benefits.
Sure, there’s nothing quite like that accomplished, relaxed feeling many get after leaving a long yoga session, but just because you don’t have an hour (or more) to spare doesn’t mean you should stay off the mat. Even short yoga practices have proven benefits. Research shows that just 20 minutes of yoga can increase brain function by improving focus, speeding up information processing and improving working memory........................(READ MORE)
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Why More Men Should Practice Yoga
06/25/2015 12:56 pm ET Updated Jun 25, 2016
When I first picked up yoga as a regular practice, it was like pulling teeth
to get anyone I knew to come to class with me. Maybe it was the mythology, maybe
it was the cultural stigmas (“yoga makes you too skinny,” “it’s for girls”). By
the time I started teaching it, the reception was still mixed, with most of my
friends choosing a “restorative” class (deep stretches meant to improve
relaxation and flexibility, among other benefits) over a rigorous workout
class.
As more celebrities step into the spotlight as yogis, I’m happily seeing more
and more men give it a shot. Thanks to yoga, they are now enjoying better
flexibility, improved performance in other sports, and less injury. So I’d like
to finally address some of the issues that keep many men away from this ancient
practice, and why it’s exactly what they need.
Benefits of Yoga for Men
Men’s Fitness Magazine and U.S. News report that yoga can improve:
Digestion and Food Cravings
Everything from boosting your metabolism to giving you a better grip on your diet.
Creativity and Overall Brain Functioning
Focus, productivity, and creative insight are all improved thanks to time on the mat.
Immunity
Quality and Quantity of Sexual Intimacy
Not only are endurance and stamina increased, but focus and connection can deepen thanks to the breathing practices of yoga. Yoga also teaches you to control your physical energy, meaning you can make sex more intense and make the “big moments” last longer. That should be reason enough to accompany your girlfriend to class!
Quality of Sleep and Relaxation
Yoga reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which means less stress and better sleep. What’s not to love?
Yoga’s “Natural High”
Yes, miles logged on the treadmill do give that endorphin rush of
satisfaction. But yoga has its own built-in natural high too, which is why you
feel so good after a class. Many people call this the “post-yoga glow.”
Yoga workouts release the essential hormone Oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which
is the hormone that promotes feelings of well-being and happiness. More
benefits of Oxytocin include relieved anxiety, increased sexual intimacy,
increased desire for social interaction, and lower blood pressure.
Additionally, the mind-body connection accessed in a yoga class (through connecting movements to the breath, paying attention to the sensations of the muscles, etc.) is thought to be a naturally effective treatment of stress and depression (via UndergroundHealthReporter.com).
For more on the studies proving yoga’s impact on the brain, see these numbers from Psychology Today.
Who practices yoga?
I always tried to draw men into class by promising a long, svelte,
swimmer-esque ........................................(Read More)
Men and Yoga
Men’s Fitness Magazine and U.S. News report that yoga can improve:
Digestion and Food Cravings
Everything from boosting your metabolism to giving you a better grip on your diet.
Creativity and Overall Brain Functioning
Focus, productivity, and creative insight are all improved thanks to time on the mat.
Immunity
Quality and Quantity of Sexual Intimacy
Not only are endurance and stamina increased, but focus and connection can deepen thanks to the breathing practices of yoga. Yoga also teaches you to control your physical energy, meaning you can make sex more intense and make the “big moments” last longer. That should be reason enough to accompany your girlfriend to class!
Quality of Sleep and Relaxation
Yoga reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which means less stress and better sleep. What’s not to love?
“Yoga for me has been a godsend for strength training and injury prevention. I have noticed a tremendous improvement in the performance of other activities I do (running, biking, and tennis) thanks to my regular practice of yoga.”
— Ryan, age 37, Spokane WA
Additionally, the mind-body connection accessed in a yoga class (through connecting movements to the breath, paying attention to the sensations of the muscles, etc.) is thought to be a naturally effective treatment of stress and depression (via UndergroundHealthReporter.com).
For more on the studies proving yoga’s impact on the brain, see these numbers from Psychology Today.
Men and Yoga
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