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| Yoga For Women And Children |
What we know today as yoga is a relatively recent form of the ancient practice. Introduced to America in the early 1900s, modern yoga is a mix of ancient Indian indigenous cultural practices and asanas, blended with modern gymnastics, physical therapy, and naturopathy.
Modern yoga was designed to help individuals become more self-aware, tuned into their body’s needs, while opening up to both feelings and intuition. At the same time, it provides a full-body workout, including strength training and stretching. Contrary to popular belief, yoga is not a religion, although some people have included it as part of their religious practices. That is understandable, because this form of exercise is highly effective at removing distractions, calming the emotions, and clearing the mind, which lays a foundation for increased spiritual awareness. In this book, however, the focus will be on the physical aspects of yoga practice and how they can benefit your mind and your emotions.
The majority of yoga positions stimulate the glandular system, encouraging your internal organs to function efficiently. This exercise practice also promotes deep, controlled breathing, which encourages a centered, peaceful mind and a calm, alert spirit. The consistent practice of yoga can lead to many amazing physical, mental, and emotional benefits that you definitely don’t want to miss out on!
Yoga :
1. Protects your body from a multitude of physical conditions, ranging from migraines to heart disease.
2. Keeps your bones and skeletal support system strong.
3. Boosts your mental health and supports the functioning of the neurological system and other “invisible” body parts.
4. Is a cost-effective way to stimulate your mental health, your physical health and your spiritual well-being.
5. Can be very easy to master.
6. Can be practiced by nearly anyone, anywhere.
Yoga comes in a variety of forms and levels of difficulty, ranging from very basic to extremely complex. Hatha Yoga, the most popular form, is what you are probably most familiar with. It focuses on posture, movement, and breathing. Other types of yoga focus intensely on breathing and meditation while others focus on aspects of wisdom and traditions associated with various forms of religion. This book, however, will focus primarily on the physical and mental aspects of Hatha Yoga.
A Time for Yoga
Yoga can be practiced by adults of any age or physical condition. As you will see throughout this book, certain poses are not recommended for individuals with specific physical conditions. Other poses can be practiced with modifications. Listen to your body; if your body is uncomfortable with a certain pose, back off and find out why.
Your mind, emotions, and body are tightly intertwined. What affects one will impact the other. It is not uncommon for someone to consult a doctor when his or her emotions refuse to respond to professional counseling. In the same way, if physical conditions don’t respond to yoga, a trip to the doctor may be a good idea.
Sometimes a visit with a trained yoga instructor can correct positioning that would otherwise cause harm, or would prevent you from experiencing the full benefits of a specific pose. However, little potential harm can come from practicing the beginner-level poses in this book, if you follow the instructions and honor the restrictions that are given for each one. Feel free to let these pages be your introduction to the wonderful and challenging world of yoga.
Women And Children
Some experts recommend that women who are nursing, pregnant, or menstruating should forego yoga entirely, but most admit that while the most strenuous poses, especially inversions, should be avoided during menstruation and pregnancy, some of the gentler asanas can actually be beneficial. In this book you will discover poses that are frequently used to relieve menstrual pain, address the symptoms of menopause, and support a woman’s body during pregnancy.
Nursing mothers often benefit from poses that can support the muscles used to hold a baby while nursing, avoiding backache and injury caused by the repetitive motions of lifting and carrying a baby. It can also relieve postpartum depression and help both mother and baby relax during those first few weeks of adjusting to breastfeeding. Some mothers even opt to nurse their infants while they perform various yoga poses.
Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to stay in shape while pregnant. A knowledgeable yoga instructor will be able to adjust your workouts as your pregnancy progresses and suggest specific asanas to strengthen your body for the delivery process.
In each of these cases, a conversation with a professional yoga instructor is highly recommended. A professional will be able to guide you in practicing yoga effectively and safely, adapting some poses and suggesting others that might not have crossed your mind.
Children of all ages can enjoy yoga; it can provide plenty of enjoyable play with peers and parents alike. The breathing exercises can help a child gain bodyawareness and increase mental control. The only possible dangers posed are the same dangers experienced by young gymnasts. If the exercise becomes more than just fun play, if children are encouraged to push themselves beyond what is fun and natural, young developing bodies can be harmed rather than helped to grow. For most children, however, yoga is fun, a delightful form of play.
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