The Purpose of Yoga - Santosha for Your Health

What is Santosha and how can it help your health? Santosha is a moral observance (Niyama). Santosha literally means contentment or happiness. Yet, this is much more than a Dont worry, be happy guideline.

How often do people consider exercise, or diet, to be major factors, when they consider the state of their physical health? If you listen to any commercial on the radio or television, you will notice they address exercise and diet, almost exclusively. Physicians always mention exercise and diet as part of a preventative health program.

However, stress and happiness, are also major factors in good health. Too much stress can lower your resistance to allergies, pain, disease, and chronic illnesses. Stress, anxiety, and anger can shorten your life, just as well as a poor diet and lack of exercise.

A person with a negative frame of mind tends to eat poorly and usually does not bother to exercise. When we are in a sad mental state, acid levels in the body and blood can rise, which may cause joint pain and lower our energy levels. Between poor eating habits, and the rise of acid levels in the body, the body becomes a breeding ground for all sorts of potential medical problems.

In comparison, people who are content, eat healthier and have a higher resistance to disease, as a result. Happiness will help people recover from illnesses much quicker, because they are in a positive frame of mind. With that said, happy people will live longer, simply because they are content.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.
http://www.riyoga.com

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit:
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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The Wonderful Benefits Derived From Yoga For Women

Because women have also had a tendency to be more emotional than men, and emotional pressure and stress can have a profound effect on a woman's health. It's been proven many times that emotional distress can translate into various illnesses or physical weakness. Factor such as hormonal change can also have an affect on a woman's health. For this reason many women find yoga is an excellent solution to these health issues that to some extent are unavoidable.

As a woman progresses through her life, different issues can arise. Many women suffer extensively from premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps. Menopause incorporates substantial hormonal changes, and can often lead to increased levels of stress for women. Pregnancy is another major change in a woman's life, bringing with it change and stress to the body. During pregnancy it's also possible that health problems of the mother can be reflected in the health of the baby, so naturally the mother wants to be as healthy as possible for the whole pregnancy. Yoga is a great solution to these varied issues, making it easier for women to deal with these health obstacles through their lives.

It's quite common for women to prepare for the last months of pregnancy and labor using yoga. Every mother wants to deliver her baby without any type of complication, and being fit and healthy is a big part of helping that to happen. Certain yoga poses, including the cat pose and the fish yoga pose, are excellent for assisting the mother to develop both the physical strength and mental focus required for labor. Yoga has also been shown to reduce the effects of other pregnancy issues, including morning sickness. Many yoga stretches help to relax and strengthen the pelvic muscles, which makes them function more effectively during birth. And yoga breathing techniques can be used during birth to help the mother focus on the delivery rather than any pain involved in giving birth.

Having a young baby can be very tiring, so women in the postnatal period often turn to yoga to improve their energy levels and vitality. Using the fish yoga pose is great for increasing the processing of oxygen and improving relaxation. The back and neck muscles are also strengthened in this pose, and it has the added benefit of improving nervous system responses. If you're looking to spend a period of time in meditation, then the hero yoga pose is one of the best.

Another popular yoga pose is the cat pose, regardless of age or physical condition. This is because it's particularly good for increasing the flexibility of the spinal column, as well as relaxing the lower back muscles. These muscles carry the weight of the whole upper body when you're standing for long periods of time. Interestingly, the specific position used in the cat pose helps to increase kidney blood irrigation. The cat pose is often followed by the headstand, which can be difficult to master but also produces great results. Reversing gravity in the body allows many parts to rest in a way they normally never do. It's also great for relieving lower back muscle pressure and back pain.

For more information about the benefits of yoga be sure to visit Hot-Yoga-Tips.info located at http://www.hot-yoga-tips.info where you will find interesting information on yoga benefits for men, women and the many different branches of yoga.

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