Bikram Yoga- it’s an addicting experience. Why are so many people so into it? I have been going to Bikram for about a year on and off. The session consists of starting and ending breathing exercises as well as 26 postures performed in a heated room.
The benefits of this pose are that the abdominal area relaxes as the stomach relaxes on to the bolster. As hidden or obvious tension is released from the center, a natural feeling of letting go arises that brings relief to the lower back.
When I saw a man in a rabbit costume visiting Jocelyn Olivier at the Healus Center while discussing Candace Pert and the mindbody system, just after having green tea with Dr. Rosenbaum on video while discussing nutrition, supplements, and his holistic healing practice, I knew spending five weeks in Marin would be a rich and exciting experience to be exposed to various aspects of the holistic health community.
Lululemon Athletica is all the rage in the world of pilates and yoga gear. I challenge anyone to go into a class and not see at least 50% of the students in the sporty yet flattering gear. I was recently getting my Lululemon fix and bought what would appear as just a t-shirt, but this innovative piece of cloth has far more to offer. The BBB Sheer VNeck is an everyday super light t-shirt to wear to the gym and is made with vitasea technology consisting of seaweed which releases marine amino acids, minderals, and vitamins into the skin upon contact with moisture. In addition, the fabric provides anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, stress reducing, hydrating and detoxifying features.
More evidence that yoga helps ward off the blues. A new study concludes that Yoga may significantly help those experiencing anxiety and depression. The study reported in the May issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine was performed by Boston scientists who used MRIs to gauge levels of GABA in the brains of both yoga practitioners and non-practitioners.
Greetings from the birthplace of Ashtanga Yoga, Mysore, India!
A new study concludes that Yoga may significantly help those experiencing anxiety and depression. The study reported in the May issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine was performed by Boston scientists who used MRIs to gauge levels of GABA in the brains of both yoga practitioners and non-practitioners.
Brain scans of yoga practitioners who participated in the study showed an average of a 27% increase in levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) immediately after a one-hour yoga session. Low levels of GABA are associated with anxiety and depression.
According to researchers, this is the first study to show that yoga may correlate with a significant change in the level of a major neurotransmitter. If substantiated, yoga could become a useful tool to help those battling anxiety disorder and depression.
Brain scans were taken before the beginning of the experiment. Then, the yoga group was asked to engage in the meditative practice for 60 minutes, while the non-yoga group simply read.
Healthnotes Newswire (June 14, 2007)—Women with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) may find relief from their symptoms by practicing yoga. A study in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that yoga lends a sense of invigoration and acceptance to people with the disease.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, affecting one in eight. Pain, fatigue, and emotional distress affect many women with advanced breast cancer; the new study’s authors aimed to see if practicing yoga might bring a better quality of life to women living with breast cancer.
Hello, I just wanted to say welcome to my Natural Path Blog. I am the Founder and Editor of Jolly Green Girl Confidential.
I just wanted to talk about how I started my journey to become an Environmentalist and why I created a blog about Eco-friendly living. I am very excited about the Jolly Green Girl. I have been doing things for the Environment casually for about five or six years. Living in New York City and getting into Yoga has helped me become more aware of being Environmentally Conscious.
Believe it or not.. New York can be a very Green Place... There's almost a mandatory recycling program that's in the five boroughs.. and that's how I started recycling.. at first it was a chore sorting things out but then I decided that it was a good thing. Then I met few friends and roommates who were vegetarians or into organic stuff so I started going to vegetarian restaurants and I decided that I really liked it.. and organic seemed the way to go. New York City has the best resources for Organic lifestyle. They have Whole Foods thats cropping up all over the place as well as smaller Organic markets thats in almost every neighborhood.. Some more than others but my favorite is the Union Square Market where the farmers in the local region come to sell their products. Most are Organic and they are fabulous. It's so nice to get up in the morning and browse through the market with some Chai tea in your hand. As I became more into my yoga practice. I started to become more aware of the practice of "Ahimsa" which means non-violence. I noticed that almost everything was made of leather, fur and suede.. and I decided to cut down on buying products made of these. I noticed that a lot of companies still practice animal testing despite the fact that there were other alternatives. So I started looking at labels and slowly changed how I shopped. It was a gradual process that I barely noticed but here I am. I am not perfect. I did splurge on two leather bags last year and despite my best efforts; I couldn't go vegetarian.. but I am trying and that's a good thing.
Yoga and Pilates are two of the most popular mind-body modalities around. Everyone from professional athletes to Hollywood a-listers does one or both. People are often curious as to which is better. The truth is, one is not necessarily better than the other. It is dependent on individual physical needs, goals, and personalities.
Below are some key distinctions from a philosophy and physical perspective:
Philosophy/History
