Overview on Yoga

It is my last blog that I will be posting this year!!!

I just wanted to give an over view on the history of yoga, the different types of yoga and their great benefits! It will be the last blog encouraging all my followers to practice yoga because it is fantastic.
According to swamij: "Yoga originated around 5,000 years ago in India, but just recently many studies have been proving that Yoga originated much later, maybe around 500 B.C. "* It is always interesting to learn more about the history, we get to know why we are practicing this activity, and since when! However, many people don't care for learning the past or yoga, and just want to practice it because what they hear of their friends and family saying. Well, I am one of many people that encourage the individuals surrounding me to practice yoga. I truly believe it is a remedy for many of my problems, whether it be headaches, back pain, or even my soreness.

Ever since I was young, I was always the tall one in my class room. Due to my height, and my growth being so quick, I developed scoliosis. My doctor encouraged me to do yoga several times a week when I was younger, but I never thought it would help, so I decided to ignore his tips and my back never got any better. Recently, I started new classes of yoga and I can already feel within two weeks my back being less tense. All this to remind everyone that you can be an athlete, a man, a women, a pregnant women and even a child, and you have right to practice yoga.

In addition, even if you can't afford yoga classes, there are plenty yoga sessions you can find on www.youtube.com. Instructors share their poses on YouTube, and teach others how to practice yoga. There are videos for meditation, for beginners, for athletes and even women whom are few months pregnant and do not want to make it to their yoga classes, you can stay home and practice on your mats. I did a survey on 21 people:7 adults, 7 teenagers and 7 athletes. Out of the 21, only 9 practiced yoga, which includes 6 of the athletes, 1 adult (a pregnant women) and 2 teenagers who do it for their own benefits. I noticed that athletes practice yoga more frequently then any other people.

"According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 70 percent of all runners will be injured. Yoga exercises help tone the core, improve your range of motion and balance the body, absorbing the impact frequent running has on other areas of the body."(gaiam)** So, it is proven that yoga will help improve the health of many athletes. I truly believe that fact is correct, many of the NBA, NFL and NHL athletes practice yoga to help stretch their muscles, and relieve their stress.  Ray Lewis is a football athlete that plays for Baltimore Ravens. "Although the menacing linebacker is one of the last people you’d expect on a yoga mat, Lewis has actually been practicing yoga for a few years now." (stack)*** As you can see, athletes do practice yoga, it is not only for women like many guys think it is!

At last, even if you are not flexible, and not the best yoga practitioner, you will get better! As long as you are trying to follow the steps, and you feel your muscles stretching, you are doing it right. You will not be as great as an instructor, but you will come close if you keep pushing yourself, and going to the next level. Yoga will help you improve your heart rate, your flexibility, relieve your stress, and help your body in many different ways.

Thank you so much for following me on my weekly blogs! Good bye




*** http://www.stack.com/2012/09/17/yoga-athletes/

** http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-does-yoga-help-athletes

* http://www.swamij.com/history-yoga.htm

Yoga Vs. Martial arts

There are many people that practice different types of exercise that are similar to yoga, such as martial arts. In this week's blog, I will be emphasizing specifically on my reflections towards Yoga and Martial arts, their differences and their similarities. I will briefly explain Martial Arts before getting into any details.

What are Martial Arts?
According to wonderopolis.org : "Martial arts is a very broad term that encompasses many different types of activities. Often, we think of self-defense techniques developed in and associated with Asian countries. In reality, though, it includes just about any kind of fighting technique, especially those that focus on hand-to-hand (and foot!) combat."
When I was younger, I took Karate lessons which is a type of martial arts, up until the age of 9. Before perfectionism in any activity or sport you must always learn the basics. So, for about a year in those classes, I basically learned postures and simple fighting techniques. After several months, those postures and simple fighting techniques were combined to create a full combat. So, gradually these postures were more than just standing and kicking for a long period of time.

Yoga

Martial Arts

Similarities
Between Martial Arts and Yoga, I see many similarities. The one I noticed the most was management. In both these activities, I had to manage my breathing between every rep and posture. When I use to practice karate, my instructor was very strict about the way we breathe and how often we would breathe, and it was always to help the mind. Wonderopolis.org also stated that : "Martial arts require dedication and practice. Through regular repetition of hand and foot movements, kicks, blocks, and punches, martial arts students increase their physical strength and mental toughness." This is very similar to yoga, because after practicing specific types of postures regularly and frequently we start to notice the improvements on the body, such as flexibility, core strength and relaxation. Concluding that in both these activities, the change of the body takes effort and dedication.

Differences 
Many people can debate that martial arts and yoga are similar whereas others can debate they are very different. I believe they are similar however, their goals are very different. After doing so much research on yoga, I learned that the main goal is to reach relaxation of the mind, body and health, it is more of a spiritual activity that was expanded to be just an exercise. However, martial arts is more of self-defense and combat activity. Since I practiced both these activities, I can relate to both of them greatly. In Yoga we hold the same position for longer period of time, where martial arts are movements towards a partner or rivalry.

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-are-martial-arts/

Impact of Yoga on Athletes

For athletes, there are over 10 types of yoga that could be practiced to help improve your muscles. There are many athletes that have mentioned over interviews that yoga did help their body, and muscles throughout their career, such as Shaquille O'Neal, former NBA player.

My yoga teacher is an athlete, she runs track and she told me that there are many poses that help improve your body. The one she practices is called theSeated head-to-knee pose (janu sirsasana).

According to womenshealthmag.com: "This is basically tree pose on the floor. And since by sitting you take any worry of toppling over out of the equation, you can focus on relaxing your leg muscles and extending your spine to open your hips outward. That counters the inward leg rotation required by most sports." 

When I tried this position, it really stretched my hamstrings, and during volley ball practice at school, we also stretch this way. It really helps loosening my muscles, especially after a long break not doing much exercise.

The way you practice this pose is sitting on the floor, one leg laid in front of you and the other leg bent letting your foot sit under your thigh. While reaching out for your foot that is laid in front of you, you have to take a deep breath in and once you've reached for your foot you have to breathe out. After doing a couple reps, you could switch legs, that way you can stretch both hamstrings.

Impact of Yoga on Athletes
I'v came up with many ways yoga can benefit different types of athletes, such as football players, gymnast, and volley ball players like me.  

Athletes can majorly benefit  from yoga. The strengthening of the core is one of the greatest ways that yoga can  impact on an athletes body, positively. Once yoga is practiced frequently, you will be surprised of the improvements yoga can benefit your body. Your core strength will drastically increase, just like it had happened to me. The muscles in my back, as well as my abs gained strength, and the more I keep up with my yoga classes, the more transformation I see. 

There is plenty of poses of yoga that require you to stand on one foot, balancing yourself while you keep calm. These poses are ways to improve your balance. Many of my gymnast friends practices these poses to help their coordination and keep balance while they're performing. Plenty of yoga poses also improve the flexibility of the body, which is also a great talent to have as a gymnast. As athletes, the more you practice a sport the better you achieve. Yoga works the same way, the more you emphasize on a pose the more it improves your body and muscles, including your mind.

At last, I believe the relaxation and ease of the mind is a huge impact on an athlete. Personally when I play volley ball, if so many things are running through my mind, I notice myself not playing as well. Once my mind is at ease, and I am relaxed, the mind allows my body to relax and concentrate better on the game. Being an athlete is very difficult. You must learn to keep your body and mind focused and eliminate all the tension.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/yoga/yoga-for-athletes?page=2

Yoga Is for Everyone

So many of my friends always tell me that yoga is not for them! I always shake my head, because yoga is for everyone: athletes, pregnant woman, teenagers, and even kids!

However, individuals seeking different goals will probably practice different types of yoga, for example a pregnant woman will not practice the same type of yoga an athlete may practice. 

What Kind of Yoga Is Good for You?

If you are confused on which type of yoga you should practice, you may read further into my blog and I will be explaining what kind of yoga is good for your body type, age, situation, etc.. 

According to About.com there are several recommended poses for prenatal yoga, however I will be talking about the one my cousin really enjoyed the most, which is called the Cat/Cow Pose. The way my cousin explained it, is very similar to the way I had read on About.com. We often hear that it is very important for a woman to stay in shape during pregnancy, I personally believe yoga is one of the greatest ways to achieve this goal! 

During their yoga classes, woman will learn better breathing techniques, and great ways to stay in shape! There is actually yoga classes meant for this, it is called "Prenatal Yoga". Many woman during pregnancy always feel pain; however my cousin Nesrine is 5 months into her pregnancy and she recently started to practice yoga and she noticed drastic improvements in her health. She also mentioned that even after giving birth, she wants to continue practicing yoga regularly because it is such a great feeling!

Defined on About.com : "The cat-cow stretch is a yoga classic, and with good reason. It consists of moving the spine from a rounded position (flexion) to an arched one (extension). It's a simple motion, but one that is enormously beneficial in preventing back pain and maintain a healthy spine." To practice this pose, you are suppose to get on your knees and hands just like a "cat" hence why it is the name of this pose. Just like each and single one of a yoga posture, the cat-cow also has its benefits.

Just like any type of yoga, the cat/cow pose helps improve your flexibility, specifically the flexibility of your spine. My cousin also mentioned that it not only improved her spine, but also her abdominal section.

http://yoga.about.com/od/yogasequences/ss/catcow.htm

Meditation

The blogs I have been posting about yoga weekly were blogs referring to your body, and ways to improve your health. This week, I will be talking more about ways to relax your mind and conscious! The easiest way to do so, is practicing Meditation. For a few people who rather not stand in a high temperature room, Meditation is a type of yoga for you!

What is Meditation?

According to the Buddhist Center: "Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. Buddhist meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity, emotional positively, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things."* Personally, when I first meditated, it was the toughest time for me! To meditate, you must stay in a position for such a long period of time, having your eyes shut, no technology (which is nearly impossible for teenager now a days to not use our phone), and trying to stay awake! That was probably the hardest thing for me to do: not fall asleep with my eyes shut while relaxing music is playing. However, once you start to meditate more often, you notice yourself becoming so "PRO". The last few times I meditated, I noticed all the thoughts in my mind becoming so clear, I even had questions to ask myself! I can define meditation as being a way of putting yourself, and your mind on another level.

Why Should You Meditate?
Some people meditate because it relaxes their mind, as well as their body. Why Should You Meditate?
You should meditate because it introduces your mind to a whole new world! Meditation can benefit you in several ways, just like any type of yoga.
According to Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati, meditation will bring you:

• "Peace of mind, calmness, and a sense of well being
• Better relationships, better health, and a better life
• Personal, philosophical, and spiritual insights
• The direct experience of your eternal center of being" **

As you can see, Meditation is a way you can find peace in yourself, in a spiritual way. Through Buddhism, where yoga had originally debuted, yoga has become a way where anybody can have a better life! You should meditate because it benefits you, and you lose nothing! It is so simple to meditate....

One thing you should not get mistaken by is, meditation has nothing to do with what type of religion you believe in! In contrast, Meditation had started from a religion but worked it's way through to become a commonly known way to ease your mind, more like an exercise. 

How to Meditate?

Meditating has ought to be the easiest type of yoga. It is so simple, and relaxing! When I practice it, I simple put my self in a comfortable position and put on some relaxing music off of youtube. You don't necessarily have to do a meditation class, you can meditate in your home. This video will simply explain - How to Meditate

https://thebuddhistcentre.com/text/what-meditation *
http://www.swamij.com/whymeditate.htm **