Alternative nostril breathing has been practiced for centuries. It helps purify the body and calm the mind and it has been know to have a balancing effect for the left and right hemispheres of the brain, too.
Treat High Blood Pressure with Yoga
High blood pressure is a common condition where your arteries cannot handle the force of blood flow, according to Mayo Clinic. The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension and often has no symptoms. Yoga, a system of holistic health, treats hypertension by regulating blood flow over consistent practice of specific poses. Yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar recommends reclining hero pose, or supta virasana, for treating hypertension. Hypertension can lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, so consult your doctor first.
Assume the Locust Pose in Yoga
The locust pose, or Salabhasana in Sanskrit, is an energizing pose that strengthens the abdominal muscles.
Find Good Yoga DVDs
Looking for that perfect yoga DVD can sometimes be difficult and waste valuable time--especially if you're not sure what to look for. Focus instead on your exercise or meditation needs when looking for a yoga video. Find good yoga DVDs with a few key steps and start practicing yoga in a flash.
Assume the Toe Stand Pose in Bikram Yoga
Bikram Yoga consists of 26 basic postures that are practiced in a specific order to fully optimize the exercise of each muscle, tendon and bone in a person’s body. The twelfth posture, or asana, in this form of yoga is the toe stand pose, or Padangustasana. For those just starting out with the practice of Bikram Yoga, toe stand can be a very difficult to achieve. But as you become more familiar with the process, it gets easier and easier to come into and out of the pose. It is said that this posture not only strengthens the abdominals, hips, knees, ankles and toes, but also does wonders for the mind, creating balance and focus that can translate into your daily life. Though this pose is typically performed in relation to Bikram Yoga, it is completely feasible to add this to your daily practice, no matter what form of yoga you observe.