Types of Yoga and Their Benefits

With yoga becoming increasingly popular, the practice has evolved significantly over the years.

Nowadays, there are many different yoga variations practitioners can pick from

Each of these yoga variations come with enticing benefits that are hard to miss.

Other variations might be of interest to you depending on what you are looking to achieve.

Below are some of the main types of yoga alongside the benefits they offer:

Hatha

Considered one of the older forms of yoga, Hatha yoga dates back to thousands of years. There are many poses that can be learned, from beginners to those advanced practitioners.

The easy Hatha yoga poses have been designed to increase flexibility and build strength.

The poses are also low impact and is deemed suitable for anyone regardless of age, given they start slowly and avoid doing too much too soon.

Vinyasa

This type of yoga is also known as flow yoga.

It involves Hatha yoga poses and designs it in a sequence that will keep the workout interesting and burn more calories.

The flow is also designed to improve flexibility and stamina and burn calories, making it the ideal option for those who are looking to lose weight.

It has also been known to help improve both focus and concentration.

Kundalini

Kundalini yoga was first introduced for more than 1,200 years ago.

It was designed as an effective way to harness energy and use the energy to balance the body and heal it.

The word yoga means union, the union of spirit, mind, and body.

The word Kundalini pertains to the energy believed to be coiled at the base of the spine and use it to transform and heal.

Bikram

Invented approximately 40 years ago, Bikram is named after its founder.

It makes use of 2 breathing patterns and 26 Hatha yoga poses, performed in the same sequence each session.

Other distinctions that set this yoga variation apart is the fact that it is done in a hot studio with a temperature of 80 to 110 degrees.

The idea is the more calories are burned, the faster weight loss will occur.

Bikram yoga is also considered a vigorous workout, with practitioners burning as much as 1, 300 per session.

However, hot yoga might cause dehydration and is therefore not ideal for old people and those with heart conditions and other health issues.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga is a modern yoga variation which has been introduced 60 years ago and can be loosely translated as ‘8 limbs.’

Limbs like the legs support an individual when standing.

The eight limbs refer to the 8 supports that are deemed foundations of any good yoga practice like meditation, breathing, poses, etc.

If you are physically fit and wants a good workout, this is a yoga variation you can look into.

To learn more about yoga and other essentials of the practice, visit www.allure-yoga.com right away!

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/11/types-of-yoga-and-their-benefits/

Pregnancy Yoga: Modifications You Can Do

If you are a lover of yoga, chances are you have been doing yoga for as long as you can possibly remember.

You probably have also tried other yoga styles and added new yoga poses and routines every now and then.

However, are you prepared to make changes to your routine when you get pregnant?

The good thing is you don’t have to stop doing yoga even if you are on the family way but you need to make certain modifications to your yoga practice.

Below are some modifications you can make to help warrant your safety and that of your unborn baby during yoga:

Use blocks

Aside from doing modifications to some yoga poses, consider using accessories to help you out.

One accessory you can definitely put to good use would be the yoga block.

The blocks can be sued to brace the back, arms, and to offer some relief for neck and back pressure.

One of the most important things you can observe while pregnant and doing yoga would be to ensure your body is braced and given proper and adequate support and yoga blocks can surely help.

Refrain from doing front-facing or downward poses

One of the primary changes you can make when pregnant and doing yoga would be to look for a more suitable yoga routine.

You need to ensure that you avoid doing downward facing positions like the downward facing dog.

You also need to refrain from doing front-facing positions or other poses that entail lying on your belly.

While this may seem like a given, it may not be as obvious to others.

Others might not think they will not fall or hurt their unborn baby, however, accidents do happen so it would be best to be cautious.

As an added safety measure, many prenatal yoga instructors require limiting the amount of time expectant mothers do difficult positions so as to prevent falling and other untoward injuries.

Using straps to stretch

One accessory that can help you modify certain yoga poses more easily would be the yoga strap.

In some cases, however, you’d only feel the stretch has gone too far after it happened so it would be best to stay on the safe side.

Rather than stretching your legs and arms on your own, consider utilizing yoga straps to help perform bends and stretches.

The modification can also be used in yoga poses that will require leg and arm stretches.

If you will find doing yoga modifications and changes a little too challenging, it would be best to check with a yoga instructor that is certified in prenatal yoga.

For other yoga basics and essentials, visit www.allure-yoga.com right now!

 

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/11/pregnancy-yoga-modifications-you-can-do/

Ways to Improve Yoga Flexibility

Many people who start a yoga practice often have tension release or weight loss goals in mind.

Once you achieve said goals, you probably don’t expect to stick with the yoga practice anymore.

However, yoga can do more than just achieve those goals you have in mind.

Apart from effectively helping you with weight loss and tension release, yoga can also help dramatically enhance your flexibility.

If this is one goal you have in mind, the following tips would prove beneficial:

Incorporate more arches and bends

One of the most effective ways to use yoga to enhance flexibility would be to incorporate more poses that entail bends and arches.

For instance, the downward facing dog is one of poses you can start with.

Begin with the body in bent position, making a reversed V shape using your body.

The V or the point of the triangle is the rear.

The arms and the legs are also stretched.

This yoga pose enhances flexibility overtime by increasing the stretch by moving the hands and the feet closer.

This technique can be applied to other poses and asanas as well.

Stay away from the wall

Some asanas will entail using the wall as a backup or wall sit.

However, the problem with this technique is you won’t be able to fully work your back or leg muscles.

This would mean you won’t be getting the help with flexibility that you are looking for.

And since the wall would work as a backup, you will be resting against it as opposed to using your muscles fully.

Consider moving away from the wall and utilizing your own body and muscles to hold a position.

You will not only notice getting more flexible, you will also be working your core muscles in the process.

Make use of straps and bricks

When working out on your flexibility using yoga, there will be instances when you will get discouraged.

This is especially true in instances where you realize you can’t keep the arms or legs as stretched as you would have wanted.

Rather than getting discouraged, work on your flexibility by using straps and bricks instead.

You can start at a certain length when you use the strap and shorten the length as you get more flexible.

Overtime, you will find you won’t eventually have a need for the strap anymore.

When you use bricks, start with them in the highest position and slowly remove them once you are able to achieve the full extent of the move.

Once you start using the following tips to enhance your flexibility, you will begin to see improvements.

Remember to also be patient when working on your flexibility as it will take time and patience.

If you need more information on yoga and the things it can do for you, visit www.allure-yoga.com today!

 

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/11/ways-to-improve-yoga-flexibility/

Simple Hatha Yoga Poses for Beginners

When you are a yoga newbie, you can expect a lot of the poses to be challenging to execute, at least at first.

You’ll probably find yourself straining or not flexible enough to do some of them yet.

You can expect the same issues and problems when you switch yoga styles.

If this is something you are experiencing at the moment, you’d be delighted to know there are easy Hatha yoga poses you can do and add to your daily practice.

Standing Forward Bend

This pose is deemed one of the easiest beginner Hatha yoga poses one can do.

Execute the pose by standing with both feet flat on the ground.

Take a deep breath and exhale slowly as you bend.

Take your fingers and place the fingertips on the floor as closely as possible.

The face should touch the legs.

You then bend over and put your face as flat on your knees as you are able.

Corpse Pose

The corpse pose is executed while one your back.

For the uninitiated, this might not even look like a yoga pose at first glance.

Lie on your back with the palm up and at an angle to the sides.

The feet should be a shoulder width apart and the soles of the feet should be facing out.

Breath in and out slowly as you lay in this position.

This pose is designed to help you recognize parts of your body that are under stress and work on releasing that tension and stress.

While this may seem like a very easy pose, it can be uncomfortable for those who are not used to it yet.

Fortunately, if you are still trying to get the hang of it, you can use a yoga accessory or rolled up towel to help with neck support.

Tree Pose

Next to the downward facing dog, the tree pose is considered one of the most common.

Execute the move by standing with the feet flat on the floor.

Bring the hands to a praying position, right at the center of the chest.

Bring one of the legs up with the foot flat against the standing knee.

Wall Bend

The wall bend is performed while lying on the back.

The legs should be placed against the wall, akin to sitting on the wall.

This pose is ideal for those who have leg pain and those who want to build and increase flexibility.

Release stress and work out the muscles by laying with the legs flat against the wall.

There are still a lot of yoga poses beginners can try, however, it is advisable to start with the easy ones until body strength and flexibility has been improved.

If you are unsure if you are executing the poses right, it is recommended that you attend a class first before attempting to do the poses on your own.

For more yoga poses you can try and other yoga essentials you need to know, visit www.allure-yoga.com right away!

 

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/11/simple-hatha-yoga-poses-for-beginners/

Enticing Reasons to Do Yoga

Yoga.

If you are big into health and wellness, it is highly probable you have encountered that word all too many times.

But do you have any idea why yoga is enjoying tremendous popularity and cult following?

Can yoga really help significantly improve your life?

The answer is a resounding YES!

What exactly is yoga?

Loosely translated the word yoga means union of the body, spirit, and mind within a person.

It is also about the connection of the person with the universe as well as the mental and spiritual connection they have with others.

Why should I do yoga?

With more than 5,000 years of practice, the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of yoga have been proven through countless studies.

Granting you do not overdo anything, yoga can effectively help you get fit and toned as it utilizes the weight of your own body in trimming and toning as opposed to fancy equipment.

Yoga is also considered low-impact which means it can be done by almost anyone, regardless of their overall fitness level or age.

In addition, its ability to enhance both flexibility and fitness has been proven time and again.

When it comes to mental benefits, yoga has been known to dramatically help improve both focus and concentration.

Traditional styles of yoga like Kundalini and Hatha yoga also incorporates specific meditation components like repeating mantras aloud or chanting.

Om is a Sanskrit word and is one of the most common (and most well-known) mantra when it comes to yoga.

Roughly translated, it means “I bow to the wisdom within you.”

The you refers both to the universe at large and to one’s self.

Is yoga a religion?

No, yoga is not a religion.

While it has been associated with certain religions like Sikhism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, it has been used primarily to enhance and advance their spiritual progress.

Yoga has also been known to help improve meditation, resulting to a better mental state.

What are the benefits of yoga?

Yoga has been around and has been practiced for thousands of years for fitness, health, and healing reasons.

While it may seem New Age or weird to some, but yoga has been around for more than 5,000 years and is considered an integral part of both Chinese and Indian medicine.

Some of the exceptional benefits of regular yoga practice include enhanced:

• Flexibility
• Stamina
• Concentration
• Strength
• Long lean muscles to help boost the metabolism and lose weight

Yoga can also help combat the following health issues:

• High blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Muscle stiffness
• Obesity
• Poor balance
• High cholesterol
• Stress
• Tension

If you are looking for an interesting, fun, and effective exercise regimen that offers numerous health, mental, and spiritual benefits, you can never go wrong with yoga.

Know more about yoga styles and other yoga basics by heading to www.allure-yoga.com today!

 

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/11/enticing-reasons-to-do-yoga/

Partner Yoga: Basic Poses You Can Do

 

Let us crush one of the most common misconceptions about yoga—it is not a solitary practice!

While it is easy to mistake yoga as a stand-alone activity, many are surprised to know there are many yoga poses one can do with a partner, friend, or significant other.

If you are looking to introduce a significant other to yoga, here are some poses you can try out:

Supported Lotus

By far, one of the easiest yoga poses to execute with a partner is the supported lotus pose.

The pose is actually pretty straightforward.

Start by sitting in the lotus position with the backs touching.

One of the best attributes of the supported lotus is it provides you with the benefits associated with the meditative lotus pose and keeps both participants in a posture positive or straight position at the same time.

It is a good pose to use as a starting or ending point to your daily yoga routine as it can also help you with energy flow and meditation.

Forward and Back Bend

The forward and back bend is performed in the lotus position.

It is also used to transition from the lotus position into the next yoga pose if you don’t want any breaks in between poses.

This can be performed for a deeper stretch or when standing.

Buddy Boat Pose

This yoga pose is considered advanced but can be ideal when looking to work on the leg muscles.

It can be really fun to do too!

Begin by sitting apart and facing each other.

Put the feet together, sole to sole with that of your partner’s.

Raise the feet up so the legs are creating a triangle.

The feet should be at the top of the triangle.

As you angle back on the rear and hold each other’s hands on either side of the legs.

You are mimicking a boat and sail look.

Once created, you can start slowly rocking to help stretch the legs or raise the arms and legs to create a stretch.

If any of the partner yoga poses are of interest, you can significantly improve your routine and knowledge by attending yoga partner classes.

Nowadays, some yoga studios offer them even if they are not as prevalent as those traditional or solitary yoga classes.

Interested to know more about yoga?

Discover the latest yoga fashion, trends, and inspiration at www.allure-yoga.com now!

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/03/partner-yoga-basic-poses-you-can-do/

Beneficial Tips for Yoga Beginners

 

If you are a yoga newbie still trying to find your way around, it is reassuring to know there are tips that can help make your yoga journey way easier.

To get your yoga practice to a superb start, below are some helpful tips you can keep in mind:

Join a yoga class.

While it is tempting to kick-off your yoga practice at home using online resources and DVD tutorials, it is still advisable to at least sample a few yoga classes first before you start doing them at home.

When you join a yoga class, you will be able to receive proper guidance if you are executing the poses properly and safely.

Without the assistance of a seasoned and competent yoga instructor, you might not get the insights and guidance you need in order to ensure any injuries are avoided.

In addition, without proper assistance, you might not be able to reap and enjoy the full benefits of your practice.

Fortunately, you are not required to attend a yoga class for the long-term.

However, you need to attend at least a few until you are confident you know the basics and you can execute the poses safely and accordingly and start a yoga practice at home.

Make use of yoga accessories.

One of the best (and often first) tips any yoga newbie gets is to make use of available yoga accessories.

Yoga accessories include straps and blocks.

At first, you may not know why you need them and how they can be of help.

To give you a better perspective, think of a specific pose like the standing forward bend.

For a seasoned yoga practitioner, this is a pose they can do with much ease.

However, for newbies, it can be really challenging especially for individuals who are not that flexible yet.

Fortunately, a yoga brick can be used by newbies to help execute the move.

As you get more flexible, you can already get rid of the brick and perform the pose without much help.

In addition, if you need help holding stretched poses or stretching the legs, a yoga strap can come in very handy.

While stretches and holding stretched poses might seem simple at first glance, it can be difficult for yoga beginners to do.

You can get rid of the accessories once you have enough practice and experience and you have become flexible enough to execute them accordingly.

Begin a yoga routine.

Even if you have yet to decide on a yoga style to go for, it is important that you do not dismiss the importance of starting a routine.

To help establish a routine, it would help to set a time daily as to when you should do it.

The routine should be treated much like a health ritual, much better if you do not go a day without it.

Start with a few simple yoga poses you can easily do and remember.

Come up with a routine, ensure you are doing the poses accordingly, and then work on doing them on a day-to-day basis.

Having a routine will not only help you figure out what will work for you, it will also help your body get used to the new routine you are incorporating.

As long as you put the above tips to good use, it will only be a matter of time until you are able to build a solid yoga routine.

For more yoga tips and tricks and to find out more about what yoga can do for you, head to www.allure-yoga.com today!

 

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/03/beneficial-tips-for-yoga-beginners/

Sleep Soundly with Bedtime Yoga

For some people, a good sleeping routine may be a bit challenging to accomplish.

Ideally, one’s sleeping cycle should promote both relaxation and sound sleep.

While there are several effective ways one can adapt to improve sleep and relaxation, not many are aware yoga can help.

Yes, you read that right!

While unknown to many, yoga offers numerous benefits, including the ability to significantly enhance sleep and relaxation.

If you want to use yoga to sleep soundly and relax completely, we’ve listed down several poses you can do before you hit your bed:

Downward Facing Dog

The downward facing dog is one of the most common yoga poses and should be used as a starting point for your bedtime yoga routine.

This yoga pose helps eliminate tension by working out the back and the leg muscles.

Start the pose with your feet flat on the yoga mat.

Your hands should be in front of your feet.

Create a triangle with the rear as your point.

The pose can be modified by moving the hands and feet closer to make the downward facing dog a tighter and flexibility-building pose.

Side Angle Pose

Transition out of the downward facing dog pose by moving into the side angle pose.

Begin by rising up and doing a standing V shape.

Your core should be the point of your inverted V.

Ensure that your feet are spread flat out on your yoga mat.

Raise both arms and lean to one side and then lean to the other side after.

The aim of the pose is to be able to stretch the side muscles slowly without creating any tension.

Breath slowly and hold the pose through each side for at least 20 seconds.

Forward Bend

From the side angle pose, move to the forward bend pose.

Start by bringing the feet together and bending at the waist.

The goal is to be able to put the hands flat on the floor right in front of the feet.

While this may seem like a very challenging (if not impossible) move to do, it is actually achievable.

The trick would be to bend at the waist first before trying to touch the toes in order to prevent any injuries.

Lotus Pose

From the forward bend, move to the sitting position.

The ideal sitting position to do would be the lotus pose.

Begin by sitting with the leg crossed and the hands turned up.

The palms should be up and on the knees.

Close the eyes and perform slow and steady meditative breaths

Corpse Pose

The final pose to complete your yoga bedtime routine is the corpse pose.

Start by lying flat on your back.

Your legs should be out and should be at least a shoulder width apart.

Ensure the soles of the feet is facing outward.

Make sure the arms should be at a 45-degree angle out to the sides, palms facing up.

Breathe slowly as you lay in the pose for several minutes.

As you consistently integrate the following yoga routine in your day-to-day life, you will find that you are able to relax and sleep better overtime.

For more yoga tips and other yoga essentials you might want to know about, please head to www.allure-yoga.com right away!

 

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/03/sleep-soundly-with-bedtime-yoga/

Learning the Headstand: Helpful Tips to Remember

The headstand is considered one of the many poses that are carried out in the advanced yoga practice.

While there are several notable benefits of the headstand, two of the primary ones are meditation and circulation.

If this is one pose you have been wanting to do as you move forward in your practice, it would be a good idea to incorporate beneficial asanas that can help make the headstand easier to nail.

Aside from integrating helpful asanas that can help you easily transition to the headstand, below are other tips and tricks you can look into in order to execute this challenging and advanced yoga pose safely and properly:

Consider Using Neck Assistance

If you are a yoga newbie, you would be surprised, if not delighted to know that there are assistive devices you can make use of so executing the headstand becomes a lot easier.

For starters, you can make use of braces and specialty pillows that are designed to keep the practitioner in safe position by providing ample neck support.

When still in the learning stages, you can use those that have bars as they would be able to provide more ample and stable support and will help ensure your body is held in place.

This kind of assistive devices can be found in fitness and health stores or at online yoga stores.

Get the Help of a Competent and Trusted Friend

Yet another effective way to learn the headstand would be to make use of a friend’s help.

Your friend can help you out with a lot of the important things—spot you, hold your legs, or help you come out of the pose when needed, among other things.

Having a friend to help you out is more of a safety precaution more than anything else.

However, the help of a friend who knows the headstand and has done it successfully would prove to be invaluable especially while you are still trying to find your way around.

Practice the Pose with a Seasoned Instructor

The most ideal step when still trying to learn the headstand would be to practice it with a competent and seasoned instructor.

While this may seem like something you can just forego, keep in mind that if you do not have someone knowledgeable helping you out, you can end up injuring yourself while attempting to do the pose.

When done wrong, you can end up hurting your core, back, and neck.

Fortunately, with an able yoga instructor helping you out, you can rest assured you will be executing the pose without compromising your safety.

The abovementioned are just some of the many methods you can do to be able to properly and safety perform the headstand.

Also, keep in mind that learning the headstand will entail time.

Be patient and do not expect to learn the move overnight.

For other yoga essentials, as well as helpful beginner tips, head to www.allure-yoga.com right away!

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/02/learning-the-headstand-helpful-tips-to-remember/

On a Holiday? Here are Some Hatha Yoga Poses You Can Still Do!

For many, going on a holiday is the perfect opportunity to slack out on their exercise routine, including their yoga practice.

After all, looking for ways to still incorporate some sort of exercise regimen in a trip can seem like too much hassle.

Of course, you’d have to decide on something that will need little to no equipment.

Add the fact that you need to do something that will not require too much space especially if your hotel room is all you have.

On the bright side, the abovementioned factors help narrow down the possible choices you can do.

Undoubtedly, yoga seems like the perfect exercise to throw in the mix.

If you are a lover of yoga especially of Hatha yoga, here are some poses you can do even when on the go:

Mountain Pose

For those who are looking to stretch both the back muscles and the legs, the mountain pose is deemed ideal.

This yoga pose has also been known to help effectively open the lungs and the chest muscles.

Another reason that makes the mountain pose the ideal addition to your travel yoga routine is it considered very beneficial for those who experience aches and stress often associated with long flights.

In addition, it can help effectively stretch the muscles after being confined in the narrow space of the airplane for too long.

Start the pose in a lunge position.

The front foot should be flat while the back food should be at the foot’s ball.

The body is then arched back slightly so the chest area is opened.

Side Angle Revolve

If you are doing the mountain pose, you can easily transition to the side angle revolve.

To execute this move, keep the legs in the same position as if you are doing the mountain pose.

When in the lunge pose, straighten the back and start to revolve to the right or left.

The hands should be in the prayer pose in the middle of the chest as you revolve from the left or the right.

This yoga pose has been known to help effective remove tension from the lower back.

It also helps move the spine slightly to help release energy.

Warrior Pose

From the side angle revolve, transition into the warrior pose.

The warrior pose is straightforward.

However, there will be a slight change in the position of the feet.

While you will still stay in the lunge position, you will need to go flat on both feet.

Extend the arms, palms facing out with one in front while the other behind the back.

If you want to flex the leg muscles, you can extend the lunge.

Pumping Warrior

Yet another pose one can easily do even on a holiday is the pumping warrior pose.

This pose is executed by shifting out of the warrior pose.

Start by moving from the lunge to a position where the feet are both facing outward.

The shoulder should also be a width apart as you move your body forward.

This move can be likened to a frozen jumping jack pose.

End by raising both hands in the prayer position above the head and stretching.

Forward Fold

One fitting final pose you can do would be the forward fold.

Start by slowly moving the legs together.

The arms should still be positioned above the head in prayer pose.

Breathe in slowly and release as you fold forward to the feet.

For those who are flexible enough, you can position the face to be even with the knees and the fingers touching the toes.

If you want to know more about yoga, yoga types, alongside other beginner asanas you can try, head to www.allure-yoga.com today!

 

 

source http://allurewellness.net/2017/06/02/on-a-holiday-here-are-some-hatha-yoga-poses-you-can-still-do/