Archive for November, 2007

An Introduction : All About Yoga

Yoga is defined as a discipline that was developed and introduced in the year 300 by an Indian Hindu in a person of Patanjali. This is art is designed to strengthen the body and stretch the muscles and to increase concentration. It also enables you to relax if you are in trouble by performing that.

So, it is undeniable that this ancient physical and mental discipline has made a remarkable impact to people even at the present time. This specifically popular to athletes and entertainers. And, depending on how much is the intensity that you are putting to this, you can make it as a simple body exercise or a way of life.

This information about yoga would help you to be familiar with it and maybe make use of it and help you to achieve the kind of life that you want have.

The ones who practice yoga are called yogis. They try to utilize this discipline to reach a high level of consciousness because they uphold not only the physical value but the moral values as well. Specifically they try to do things that can demerit themselves in their own eyes and before others like striving to do no stealing, not lying, harming or being greedy to other people. They also promote certain observances such as being clean, self controlled, devoted, content and studious.

Physical control is also essential in Yoga. Yogis take importance to breathing, deep breaths because they consider breathing as prime force of life, counting the span of life by breathing and not by the years.

Contrary to exercises that uses strength to perform, yoga helps the body of becoming flexible. You would find it a little strange. Well, you just have to relax when performing it.

The saying to pain no gain is not applicable in yoga since this does not force yourself in doing exercise. You just need to ease yourself while stretching.

Yoga exercises not just the body but the mind. It balances your thinking through concentrations. By concentration through yoga, you are able to concentrate in your daily living.

Yoga exercises copy nature. Many yoga poses can be traced to the shapes of creatures, such as the cobra, cat, dog, tortoise, crab and eagle.

Yoga exercises are inspired by nature and that’s the reason why most of the poses can be mirrored with creatures like different kind of animals. In cobra for instance, when you do yoga, you are trying to feel like to be a cobra. You lie with your stomach with forehead to the floor. And as you take a breath, take a slow roll, hold a pose, then come down and move like a snake.

Exercises in yoga are trying to develop and promote calmness and moves affect on a muscles, nerve or gland are carefully thought to give positive development on mental development and physical growth.

You can select particular exercises to rid yourself of certain pains, such as back pain from back-packing or leg pain from jogging. Yoga can help condition you for skiing or help you control feelings of fear or depression.

Any good book of facts about yoga will describe various asanas and tell how each works. You may even have done yoga exercises already. Ever done a handstand, or the wheel. Various exercises programs borrow from yoga.

About the Author: Stephen C Campbell is a Master NLP Practitioner, personal coach, learn more about Yoga and the benefits it brings at http://www.yogaunravelled.com/
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

A Cleansing Diet to Improve your Health

One of the most common cleansing diets is a detox diet. This is a diet that will release the toxins in the body that have been stored in the fat cells and will allow the body to excrete them and cleanse your body.

Why use a cleansing diet? This is used to eliminate toxins and other contaminants from the body. The main purposes of doing this is to:

improve health
Feel more energetic
Improve immunity
Improve your mental condition
Aid in digestion
Help with weight loss

There are various ways to do this.

You can do a complete fast. This would entail not eating or drinking at all.

Just drink water. This would be not eating or drinking anything but water.

Just drink water and juice-the same as above accept you would be adding juice.

Eat certain foods-some diets will consist of just vegetables and fruits others will be just liquids. There are many variations on this.

Use herbs: Herbal cleansing has been used since ancient times. Certain herbs are used as cleansing medicines to release and excrete toxins from the body.

Reduce calories: Some cleansing diets are used to reduce calories and aid in weight loss.

The most common diet is one composed mainly of fruits and vegetables. Preferably these should be raw, unmodified and unprocessed. More water is recommended and complete absence of alchahol.

However cleansing diets are not without side effects. If done rapidly the toxins can be released into the bloodstream more quickly than the body can get rid of them. This condition is known as Herxheimer reaction.

This can result in:

* Headaches

* Muscle pain

* Weakness

* Insomnia

* Irritability

Herxheimer reaction: this is the name given to the body’s condition when detoxification is occurring too rapidly and the body is not being given enough time to excrete the toxins. Some detox diets will produce this effect. This often leads to people abandoning their cleansing diets thinking that the diet is making them more sick. In actual fact if they continue with their diet the symptoms diminish and they will feel healthier.

Here are some ways that people have tried to lessen the symptoms of Herxheimer reaction:

* Drinking as much pure water as they can-this in effect will help the body flush out any toxins.

* Taking more exercise-this will improve circulation and help the body work more efficiently. This could help the body work more efficiently and excrete the toxins faster.

* Getting more sunlight

* Detox baths

* Excessive sweating-with saunas, baths and use of herbs

* Avoiding refined processed foods and toxic environmental chemicals

* Aromatherapy oils are used to help aches and pains brought on by rapid detoxification

Cleansing diets have been used from ancient times and can often help you to improve your health and make you feel better. Some people do these diets on a regular basis others more seldom. However you want to do these diets you should exercise care and possibly consult your doctor before commencing on one as sometimes side effects can be severe. If you have any underlying disease especially metabolic ones such as diabetes then it is very necessary to consult your Doctor before trying any type of cleansing diets.

About the Author: Read reviews of network marketing nutrition companies for free, including Liquid Zeolite
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Five Tips To Cooking For A Low Cholesterol Diet

Did you know that there are three main types of fat in food:- saturates, monounsaturates and polyunsaturates and that they are not all bad for you. Foods high in saturates such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, butter, lard, cream, cheese and many processed and takeaway foods, increase cholesterol in your blood so it is very important to eat less of them. However, polyunsaturates and monounsaturates can help lower cholesterol, so it is sensible to swap foods high in saturates for more foods rich in unsaturated fats.

Pure vegetable oils and spreads such as sunflower, corn, grapeseed and soya oils are all good sources of polyunsaturates, while olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds are all good sources of monounsaturates.

If you have been diagnosed with a high cholesterol level you may be required to make a number of changes, including modifying your diet in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Cooking for a low cholesterol diet is not difficult, but you will have to use some different techniques and food choices to keep your heart healthy. Baking, grilling, even microwaving will help control the amount of saturated fat in your food. Here are my top 5 tips:

TIP 1 When cooking meat and poultry, you can reduce the saturated fat in meat by trimming off all of the fat you see or buy the leaner options. Instead of frying, try to roast, or bake the meat. If you roast or bake, put your meat on a rack, this will drain off the excess fat.

TIP 2 Limit the amount of high saturated fat products in your house and stock up on alternatives such as herbs or wine to add flavor to your food. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, or a fat free or low fat oil marinade can help with keeping the meat moist while adding a wonderful flavor.

TIP 3 When making stews and soups, cook the day before you want to use them and put in the refrigerator. As it cools the fat will rise to the top and harden, remove it before reheating.

TIP 4 Fruits and vegetables are a key part of a low cholesterol diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots and celery can be chopped up and eaten as snacks or refrigerated for later. Stir fry or saute vegetables in only a small amount of oil, pure vegetable or olive oil are good to use

TIP 5 Avoid adding too much salt to your food, use herbs and spices to add flavor instead.

These are just a few cooking tips for your new diet. It may take a little more time to think about and prepare your food but it will not only be healthier, it will set you up on the way to improving the health of your heart.

About the Author: Dawn Robertshaw is a writer of health and relationships articles for http://www.InThe21stCentury.com which was set up to help young and old alike to cope with those unique stresses and challenges of the fast-paced life we are all part of In The 21st Century.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

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