Natural Health Tips

Archive for the ‘yoga’ Category

There are dozens of companies manufacturing Yoga-related products. One of the hottest commodities on this market is a mat. A rectangular piece of PVC or rubber could cost you up to $100. Are you ready to spend that much on a mat? Below, we outline the key factors you need to consider before making a decision on whether to invest into something durable, replace your mat every few months, or use one provided by your studio. We also consider the factors that are important in choosing the right mat.

Your practice

If you are a beginner, and simply want to get a feel for Yoga, we suggest using a mat provided by your studio. Most establishments supply their students with decent thick mats, which they care for and replace on a regular basis. Majority of studio mats are much cleaner than your personal mat would be, simply because a public mat gets a lot more cleaning between classes. If you suspect hygienic issues with studio mats, you should look for another Yoga school. If you begin to practice regularly, even a few times a week, you may be more comfortable with a personal mat. There are many reasons to have one. A mat will accumulate your energy, as you go all out, it will keep you calm and will eventually become your perfect meditation spot. Getting used to the same color, size, thickness, even smell would make your practice a lot more comfortable. A sticky, durable mat would also significantly improve your progress. High quality rubber mats often provide (too) much support and help in holding poses. Advanced practitioners usually choose a mat based on personal preferences for durability and appearance. Having enough experience, they will pick a mat based on their professional judgment. Size: Most yoga mats are about 24″ wide. The lengths vary. Most mats are between 60″ and 75″ in length. Choosing a shorter mat is appropriate for kids and smaller people. A longer mat, however, may be easier to use, as some poses require moving around. An average length is between 70″ and 72″. If you are getting started, a longer, wider mat would make your practice more comfortable.

Material

It is very important to make sure you are comfortable with what your mat is made of. The key factors to consider are:

Thickness

Pilates mats must be thicker, about 1/4″ as you will be spending most of your time on the floor. Yoga mats are thinner (about 1/8″), but not too thin. Many people prefer thicker Yoga mats to provide better support for weaker or injured parts. It feels easier to practice on a thicker mat.

Are you someone who starts doing something and then goes on to another thing, then another, without completing anything you’ve started? (kinda like “disorganized multi-tasking”)

When we find ourselves jumping from one thing to another without completing anything, a little voice comes in and says “oh my! I must have adult Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.)!”

We don’t give credit to the fact that there is plenty of reason why we feel scattered, because there is:

– sooo much to do
– sooo many responsibilities
– sooo little time in which to do things

The overwhelm can sendya spinnin’!

Consider this.

It might not be that you are lacking in your attention to matters, it might just be that you are lacking in intention.

When we feel overwhelmed with responsibility and a long “to-do” list, it’s easy to just want to get through the day and nothing more.

Not having meaning or intention connected to daily tasks can set the stage for scattered and unfocused activity.

Making a conscious intention for everything we do is a great way to counteract what we think might be A.D.D.

For example, fixing a meal for yourself and family. An intention would be “to nourish and feed the body”.

But it’s not always easy having enough focused awareness to make an intention for each activity.

Here are some steps to create focused awareness in your life:

– ground the physical body to the earth – a simple bouncing up and down on the heels can do that

– create conscious reminders next to each item on your “to-do” list with the intention and purpose behind each task

– make each thought a prayer, an active intention (not a beseeching prayer) until it becomes a habit

There are actually a few (YL) essential oils that can help with this too:

– Valor
– Grounding
– Clarity
– Frankincense

Want a powerful experience to help you overcome I.D.D.?

Use one or more of these essential oils daily, applying them in the morning as you state your conscious intent and prayer for the day.

Essential oils can amplify intention and prayer.

Try putting these on along with your socks and shoes, state your intentions, connect with the meaning of each item on your agenda, and have a focused, smooth, and productive day!

Finding the best nursing home is easier than you might think. That is assuming there is more than one nursing home in your area so that you have something to compare. The sad part is that the best nursing home is just the one that meets your expectations better than its competitors. That doesn`t mean it is a good nursing home, it might even mean that it just isn`t the worst.

A good source of information and feedback on local nursing homes is the attending physician for the residents. The staff at the physician`s office works closely with the nursing home staff scheduling appointments and transportation, prescribing medication, and treating ailments as well as serious medical conditions. We found the best nursing home for my grandfather from the recommendation of our cardiologist`s nurse.

One of the most valuable tools to compare nursing homes is a nursing home report you can get through Check My Nursing Home.com. This report will tell you about complaints against the nursing home, inspections of the nursing home, abuse and neglect cases, and other valuable feedback that potential residents need to be aware of.

This report is definitely a necessity, but the most valuable tool to compare nursing homes is personal interviews with residents, staff members, and family members. Remember when talking to residents and caregivers that we all compare things based on our own perceptions. For example, my grandfather is getting excellent care and unbelievable attention at his nursing home, but thinks he is being abused and neglected because the food is so bad.

Yoga is an ancient spiritual tradition dating back 5000 years. But today, many people separate the spiritual yoga and the physical yoga, and focus primarily on the physical aspect: stretching and breathing as an exercise program. Yoga has many health benefits. It will improve your balance and posture. It will also improve your mood, memory, and your overall well-being. Specifically, yoga can improve your flexibility, build lean muscle, and reduce stress.

Flexibility Stretching of your body will help your joints and muscles to become more flexible. Yoga especially helps your legs, back, shoulders, and hips become more flexible. Yoga is a serious of poses that stretch your muscles. As you do more yoga, you will feel yourself becoming more flexible. Not only will your muscles become more flexible, but your joints will be more flexible as well. Each time you practice the poses you will be able to reach a little farther. Yoga will loosen your tight muscles by releasing the lactic acid that builds up while weight training. Yoga is a total body stretch. It stretches not only the muscle, but the ligaments and tendons.

Building Lean Muscle Yoga is a way of building muscle without the bulk. Yoga uses isometric resistance to help build lean muscle. Isometrics uses the body own weight as resistance. This happens when the muscle does not change its length. For example, when you lift a dumbbell you are shortening the muscle, and when you lower the dumbbell you are lengthening the muscle. Isometrics does not move the added weight to make it stronger.