Detox The Body! Diabetes…

19 04 2010

   Detox or detoxifcation is an alternative medicine approach which eliminates harmful toxins from the body. This natural cure involves transforming toxins into less harmful compounds and getting rid of them through stool or urine. It is very important to get rid of toxins from your body if you want it to function well. The best method is to incorporate healthy food and healthy living into existing lifestyles.

   Processed foods are full of chemical and preservatives that do nothing good to your body. Restricting or eliminating intake of products like refined sugars, alcohol, caffeine, drugs etc and switching to organic foods is an excellent way of detoxification. Exercising regularly and drinking sufficient amount of water also helps facilitate detox produce.

   All this is regulaly recommended to a diabetic by his doctor. If body is not properly detoxified it leads to chemical build up in the body which has been linked to imbalance of hormones, impaired immune function, nutritional deficiency and inefficient metabolism. All this serves as a breeding ground for diabetes.

   Investing in good health can reap numerous benefits besides making you live longer. To enjoy an active life free of lifestyle related illnesses like diabetes, you need to cleanse and detoxify your body a few times a year to keep all your organs working well.



Hatha Yoga

4 12 2009

   This would be the most popular form of Yoga as practiced in the western world. Yoga Swatmarama introduced this system of yoga in India in the 15th century. The main purpose of Hatha Yoga is to condition the body which makes it easier to condition the mind on it’s way to the spiritual path. However in the west we use it aminly for all the magnificent physical benefits practicing this form of Yoga can bring you. The main feature of Hatha Yoga is the combination of two extremes.

   In fact the word “Hatha” comes from the “Ha” or the sun and the “tha” of the moon. The sun denotes the positive current and the moon the negative one bringing together two extreme in one. “Ha” tends to work on the prana or the physical body while “Tha” works on the chitta or mental energies. Again this involves bringing together the power of both extremes to bring about harmony in our lives. it is akin to the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang.

   The practice of Hatha Yoga involves doing “Yogasana” or yoga postures. Then the “Six Shatkarmas” which may be seen as physical and mental detoxification techniques. Next come “Mudras and Bandhas” which are energy releasing techniques and last but not the least, “Pranayam” which involves breathing exercises to awaken your prana. Since this is the most commonly followed system of Yoga in the west it is easy to access and learn this yoga system at a place close to you.

   The Yogasanas that you will do as part of the Hatha Yoga system will help you to regulate your bodily functioning better. The meditation that you you do will bring you serenity and as you progress you will be able to experience the state of super consciousness, which is the closest you can come to nirvana while being alive. The more you do your asanas the better control you will have over your prana or vital life force.

   Do take care while you do the asanas to follow the routine with grace and full control over your limbs. Remember your mind needs to focus inwards when your body is performing the asanas. Do not push yourself too hard physically. Remember not to complete with others in your class for doing the maximum number of asanas. The true benefit comes from doing a few asanas well rather than by doing a lot of them with no inward awareness or focus.



What is Yoga?

30 11 2009

   You have heard that doing Yoga is good for you. That it helps with specific illnesses and is great tool for relaxation. Although you may still wonder what exactly Yoga is and how do you practice it? There is a misconception that “Hatha Yoga” and it’s postures or asanas is all that Yoga is about. This is not true. Yoga is much more than a few stretching exercises. It has been best described as a “Hindu system of conemplation for effecting union of the human soul with the Supreme Being.” A person who practices Yoga is called a Yogi if male and a Yogini if female.

   Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” which means “to unite”. The Yoga philosophy seeks to unite the body, mind and soul. it is a highly spiritual discipline which seeks to balance out the emotions and actions of a man who practices it. Yoga seeks to bring you from the individual to the universal consciousness of everything being one. it seeks to demolish the duality that you conceive in the world around you. This is done through a series of steps.

   The end result of the whole effect of doing Yoga is to stay healthy, live morally and attain salvation. However there are many schools of thought when pursuing Yoga. The Bhakti Yoga school follows the teaching of Patanjali to some extent and has nine forms that you can follow. This is the most popular form of Yoga practiced in India. Almost every family has at least one member who follows the Bhakti Yoga system.

   When Yoga was brought to the west, the people were not interested as much in the spiritual aspect as the physical benefits. That is why Hatha Yoga which was compiled by Yoga Swatmarama and recorded in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika in the 15th century became more popular in the west. This system focuses on the purification of the body and the mind. It is also the reason why people see images of yogis contorting their body into  impossible positions when they think about Yoga.

   Power Yoga is a new derivative of the ancient art and philosophy which involves both mind and body. While  Yoga is aimed at self-development and self-realization. Power Yoga focuses purely on the body. Unlike the more sedate pace of traditional Yoga. power Yoga gives an intense body work out in a short period of time. There are many other traditional forms of  Yoga as well. We will consider these in more detail.

 

  



Here are Super Foods Tips on Rejuvenate Body, Mind and Spirirt

13 06 2009

   When the goal is rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit, the methrod should be smaller, more frequent snacks and meals. This will help keep energu levels on an even keel, and regulate your blood sugar levels to avoid spikes and dips. When you choose the right combination of foods, your body gets the much needed boost it needs to sustain itself properly, even though those slumps later in the day. So dump those high sugar junk foods and reach for the following foods and get that boost you need.

   Dried Apricots and Almonds combination provides  high amount of Vitamin A, iron, protein and dietary fiber. Both foods are low in cholesterol and sodium, and apricots are a great source of potassium, which is important in regulating your body’s fluid balance. The Vitamin A in apricots contributes to healthy vision, bone growth, and reproduction, and help fight infection.

   Raisins are a healthy, low-fat, low cholesterol, and low soduim snack with significant amounts of potassium, phosphorus, copper, and iron, and when mixed with low fat yogurt, you also get riboflavon (vitamin B2) and (Vitamin B12) as well as a high amount of calium, which is needed not only for strong bones and teeth but also plays a key role in the normal functioning of the heart and other muscle.

   Baby carrots and seasame sticks are a tasty treat that will provide significant amounts of beta carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin B6, iron, potassium, copper and fiber. Beta carotene helps protect against disease like heart disease and some cancers. Vitamin A is important for healthy skin, for better night vision, and to fight infection and respiratory ailments. Folate, or Vitamin B9, is essential to human life, helping to form red blood cells and break down proteins, and playing a key role in cell growth and division.

   Peanut butter on some whole grain crackers is an excellent source of protein, iron, niacin, and fiber. Peanuts butter on celery is a classic snack, has great staying power, and the celery is stuffed with numerous Vitamins, minerals and is high in fiber. Low-fat string cheese is a good quick source of protein and calcium. They come in easy-to-carry individual serving and you can add a piece of fresh fruit for extra fiber.



How Does Fruits Play A Vital Role In Relaxation From Stress

27 04 2009

   With the stress becaming a part of day to day routine, relaxation has come up as a major therapy for heeling it. Contemporary and modern world has come with a whole new avatar of what was considered to be simple tiredness, which is stress and anxiety. It is known fact that relaxation is answer to all stress or pressure related problems, but another such fact is that fruits are also a major source of relaxation too.

   Stress relaxation properties of fruits have made them quite a popular instrument in relaxation techniques. To understand how the fruits fit in relaxation, it is better to first understand the word relaxation and how different relaxation techniques utilize the stress relaxation properties of fruits.

   Relaxation is nothing  but a tool to fight the strain and psychological imbalances caused by changed lifestyle, demanding daily routines and westernization. Relaxation techniques are the various recreation methrods designed or intended to heel a body of it’s emotional and physical fatigues or stress. The role of fruits are of tools in some of these relaxation techniques. The stress relaxation properties of fruit have enabled many to uyilize them in enhancing the heeling power of relaxation techniques.

   If you are wondering why one needs to follow a relaxation technique, what are these techniques and how fruit are involve them. Then you need to start from the start. Relaxation also known as stress management has these techniques or ways that can treat problems like stress, anxiety, exhaustion, tiredness, and mood change. relaxation is all about enjoying life as well treating the tired or worn out mind and body. Two major things that relaxation or relaxation techniques do for you are they teach you to live happy and energetic, also they add to your health.

   Some of the health benefits relaxation offers are reduction of muscle tension, lowering of blood pressure, slowing down heart beat and control over palpitation, no mood swings, no sleeplessness, control over nervousness, decrease in lack of concertration and no wearness or fatigue. While relaxation has so many, the stress relaxation properties of fruits also serve health benefits and add to the healing of mind and body.

   One reason why relaxation techniques utilize the stress relaxation properties of fruits is the fact they are natural and healthy too. Some of the fruits used for relaxation are orange, watermelon, blueberries, tart cherries, cherries and much more. Each of these fruits and many more of such fruits not only brings freshness to mind, benefits body but also adds to health. For those still do not find a reason to cater to fruits how about simply having them for skin benefits?

   The basic purpose of relaxation or any relaxation technique is to calm down the mind, loosen the tighten muscle and refresh the senses. Fruits work on the same principle and this have amazing stress free properties, such as tart cherry brings muscle flexibility and relieves the body of its stiffness and tiredness, oranges or fruits with vitamin help in fighting stress by fighting free radicals and watermelon works by hydrating mind and body. Similarly fruits with low calories also add to the campaign against tension, pressure and exhaustion.

   Other health benefits that make fruit a good stress buster are they contain fiber which controls or manages level of blood glucose, controls cholesterol and cancer or colon cancer. Fruits also have antioxidants and many essential vitamins as well as minerals to rejuvenate the mind and body.

   Some of the relaxation  techniques that have found to inculcate stress relaxation properties of fruits in their working are aromatherapy, good diet and massage. Next time when you feel exhausted, tired and sad try having watermelon or a good fruit salad.

   Stress, whether emotional or physical can be very well heeled by relaxation techniques, which are based on natural and therapeutic value of fruits as well as the stress relaxation properties these fruits bear.