12 Yoga Moves to Overcome Anxiety The lazy days of summer are drawing to a close, and as things start amping back up at work and school, it’s easy to get a little bit overwhelmed and very stressed out. No matter what your source of anxiety, these yoga moves will help you relax, refocus, and release some of that pent up tension. 1. Controlled Breathing This is a great way to start your practice. Sit in a seated, cross-legged position. On your next inhale, breathe in deeply to a slow count of four, but don’t exhale just yet. 2. Come onto your hands and knees, and on your next inhale, straighten your legs, so your body forms an inverted V. Relax into this posture, letting gravity release built up tension in your neck and the backs of your legs. 3. Move back to all fours, then walk your hands out in front of you and lower your chest toward the floor with your bottom still in the air. Up next: More yoga postures to release tension!
Susan Piver: 6 Tips for Choosing a Meditation Practice When I started practicing meditation in 1995, I didn't tell too many people about it for fear they would think I had joined a cult or turned into some kind of new-aged oddball. If I mention it today, however, I'm more likely to be greeted by comments like, "I just came back from a 10-day silent Vipassana retreat," or "Yes, my doctor told me I should meditate to stabilize my blood pressure." I knew that this ancient practice had officially entered our culture when I saw a billboard advertising a new sleeping pill called Zazen. It's here. Now, we're faced with a plethora of choices for developing a meditation practice. There are many other forms of meditation practice, but as a Buddhist, these are the ones I am familiar with and can vouch for. Choose a practice that is rooted in a lineage that is older than, say, 2,500 years. Welcome to your life! Thoughts?
Kundalini Yoga: Beneficial or Dangerous? Sadhguru speaks about what kundalini is, and looks at the process of Kundalini Yoga. He explores how this powerful spiritual process should be approached with utmost responsibility and reverence. Sadhguru: In the yogic culture, the snake is a symbolism for kundalini – the unmanifest energy within you. The nature of kundalini is such that when it is still, you do not even know it exists. Kundalini and perception Heightened states of energy are also heightened states of perception. Kundalini and the Third Eye The third eye does not mean someone’s forehead has cracked and something came out. Kundalini Yoga: Preparation first! Nowadays, a lot of books and yoga studios talk about Kundalini Yoga and its benefits, though they don’t know anything about it. Kundalini Yoga is the most dangerous form Kundalini Yoga in its essence is the most dangerous form of yoga. If the necessary supportive atmosphere is not there, simply attempting to raise kundalini could be very irresponsible and dangerous.
Why Do Fireflies Glow? From Mother Nature Network's Chanie Kirschner: It seems kind of magical, doesn’t it? As summer draws nearer and the days grow longer, it’s only natural to start daydreaming of summer barbecues, picnics and downtime. And the glow of a firefly is a requisite symbol of the lazy, hazy days and nights of summer. To be honest, I’d never really thought about it myself, but the answer is positively fascinating. So how do fireflies glow? You see, fireflies contain a chemical in their abdomen called luciferin. So why do fireflies glow in the first place? Another reason fireflies glow (and this one not quite as romantic) is to lure prey. The final reason that fireflies glow is to deter predators. There you have it, folks. Also on HuffPost:
Yoga Breathing Exercises - Pranayama Yoga breathing exercises, which are called pranayama in Sanskrit, may be done in association with yoga poses or just while sitting quietly. Here are some of the most common types of yoga breathing exercises and their benefits. Introduction to Pranayama Breathing ExercisesExplanation of pranayama and instruction for calming and invigorating breathing exercises. Alternate Nostril Breathing – Nadi SodhanaCalm yourself with Nadi Sodhana. Equal Breathing - Sama Vritti PranayamaIn sama vritti, you focus on inhaling and exhaling for the same amount of time. Cooling Breath - Shitali PranayamaHow to Practice Cooling Breath - Shitali Pranayama. Ocean Breath – Ujjayi PranayamaOcean Breath – Ujjayi Pranayama is an important part of a vinyasa yoga practice. Skull Shining Breath – Kapalabhati PranayamaWarm up with Kapalabhati Pranayama. Three-Part Breath – Dirga PranayamaLearn to calm yourself with Three-Part Breath. Lion's BreathRoar!
Some fireflies flash in sync to woo mates U.S. scientists have shed light on the mystery of why the males of some species of firefly flash in unison and in a pattern: It's to help females identify them as suitable mates. University of Connecticut professor of physiology and neurobiology Andrew Moiseff — who is not an entomologist but admits to being fascinated by fireflies since he was a student — teamed up with Georgia Southern University biology professor Jonathan Copeland to study why some fireflies flash in sync. The results of their study, in which they flashed light-emitting diodes both in a pattern and randomly at female fireflies in a lab setting, suggest that synchronous flashing allows the female fireflies to recognize suitable mates. Moiseff and Copeland began studying fireflies from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee after a naturalist from the southern state told one of them that the fireflies at her summer cabin in the park flashed synchronously.
8 Simple Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Day It's not always easy to get to yoga class. Whether it's a late night at work or something else, we get it; sometimes that hour of downward dogging just doesn't happen. There's no reason not to strike a few poses throughout the day, though. In fact, you can reap most of the same benefits of a class by spending a few minutes throughout the day doing a backbend, warrior pose or opening up your hips. Here are 7 yoga poses to do every day -- yes, even at the office. When You Wake Up Cat-Cow (Damon Dahlen/Huffington Post) Cat-cow is the perfect way to wake up the entire spine after it's been resting for a solid seven to eight hours (we hope). Downward Dog Downward dog stretches out the back, legs and arms. Mid-Morning Standing Forward Fold When you've been sitting all morning, a standing forward fold is a great (and not all that noticeable) way too stretch your legs and back. After Lunch Seated Forward Fold Mid-Afternoon Warrior 2 Evening Pigeon Pose Child's Pose
me What is Kundalini and how to Activate it? I can recall in my spiritual journey a time of inner purification, which steadily integrated and unleashed soul through my being. Each step was like a home coming - a remembrance of who I was and where I really came from. But nothing was quite like the power of Kundalini Reactivation: the unification of higher and lower self, which I experienced as the top of my head lifting off and a fountain of light connecting me deep into the cosmos. This truly was like coming home! So what exactly is Kundalini and how do we activate it?... What is Kundalini? To me the soul is a flowing stream of consciousness, out from the source and back again. Most - if not all - have suffered the loss of this inherent condition early in life. We can reactivate this kundalini. How to activate Kundalini? Firstly, it greatly helps to keep reminding yourself of the higher connection through spiritual practice. But this connection to higher self is not the end of the story. Opening the channels for Kundalini
Why Awaken Kundalini? Everybody should know something about kundalini as it represents the coming consciousness of mankind. Kundalini is the name of a sleeping dormant potential force in the human organism and it is situated at the root of the spinal column. In the masculine body it is in the perineum, between the urinary and excretory organs. To awaken kundalini you must prepare yourself through yogic techniques. Although kundalini is said to reside in mooladhara chakra, we are all at different stages of evolution, and in some of us kundalini may have already reached swadhisthana, manipura or anahata chakra. Once the multipetalled lotus of sahasrara blossoms, a new consciousness dawns. How man discovered Kundalini Right from the beginning of creation, man witnessed many transcendental happenings. In the course of his investigations, man came to understand that within every individual there is a special form of energy. Whatever happens in spiritual life, it is related to the awakening of kundalini.
Breathing: Three Exercises "Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." Andrew Weil, M.D. Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. I recommend three breathing exercises to help relax and reduce stress: The Stimulating Breath, The 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise (also called the Relaxing Breath), and Breath Counting. Try each of these breathing teachniques and see how they affect your stress and anxiety levels. Exercise 1: The Stimulating Breath (also called the Bellows Breath) The Stimulating Breath is adapted from yogic breathing techniques. Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. Watch a video of Dr. Exercise 2: The 4-7-8 (or Relaxing Breath) Exercise
Kundalini Rising: A Comprehensive Guide To The 7 Chakras Kundalini Rising, Part 1: The Root Chakra “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” ~ Carl Jung Imagine your spine is a tree trunk with seven ascending flowers (chakras) growing out of it. Muladhara, the root chakra. If the crown chakra is the Übermensch (overman) of the Kundalini process, then the root chakra is the Untermensch (underman). The root chakra is symbolized by a red lotus with four petals. The four petals directly denote stability and foundational survival, and are indirectly related to the four sides of the square, the four directions, and the four elements: earth, air, fire, & water. The deity associated with this region is Indra who is often depicted riding a white seven-tusked elephant. The root chakra is the energy center of the entire Kundalini process, but it is also the toxin-release center. Those whose root chakra is open, tend to be healthier, more balanced and grounded. Kundalini Rising, Part 4: The Heart Chakra
Meditation Breathing Techniques Next you want to deepen your rumination even further, and you can use many meditation breathing techniques to fast track the process. With total focus, take three slow, deep, breaths; simple meditation breathing techniques use a count of eight for your inhalation, then hold the breath for the count of eight and exhale for the same. This keeps the breathing even and also gives your body an oxygen boost which relaxes you even further. If a thought does pop into your mind throughout the session, as before, remind yourself everything is fine and all will resolve just as it should. Take comfort knowing after your meditation you can spend time thinking about whatever you like, but now is not the time. Sometimes you will start thinking without even noticing you are doing it, and this is okay. It is not uncommon for people to experience restlessness or a moment of discomfort during the initial meditation breathing technique’s effects. By Jack McCoy Popular related searches:
How One Simple Breathing Technique Can Induce Better Health By Lorraine Ereira Guest Writer for Wake Up World We all do it, all day, every day. Even while we sleep. In fact we never ever stop doing it. It is the simple act of respiration. I would like to share with you an extract from my latest book Sports Pattern Releaseâ„¢. “Breathing is something that is all too often overlooked but is of the utmost importance in correct biomechanical function. “There are many different yoga breathing exercises. So by simply working on our breathing technique we can induce better health both physiologically and mentally. Try this exercise for a few minutes each day Either lie down or sit with a lengthened spine, to open the airways fully. The more you practice the deeper your breathing will become and the more benefits you will achieve. Sports Pattern Release A message from the editor… Lorraine Ereira is a writer and a Sports Therapist with a keen interest in nutrition and natural healthy living. Sports Pattern Release is now available on Amazon and Amazon.co.uk.