...In this article I will help you understand what Yoga is and how it can help you. Achieve a balanced happy and useful life. Yoga is more than exercise. Yoga is spiritual and gives you much more than just a healthy body. It helps your mind and your spirituality as well.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. Yoga is meant to combine your physical, mental, and spiritual being to attain more out of life.

Yoga originated in India where they consider it part of classical philosophy that combines your soul with the universe. But according to iyengar-yoga.com, The origins of yoga are believed to be much older than that, stemming from the oral traditions of Yogis, where knowledge of Yoga was handed down from Guru (spiritual teacher) to Sisya (spiritual student) all the way back to the originators of Yoga, "the Rishis," who first began investigation into the nature of reality and man's inner world.

Legend has it that knowledge of Yoga was first passed by Lord shiva to his wife Parvati and from there into the lives of men.

There are many parts of the Yoga family or many different forms. Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga are all well known forms of Yoga, but there are many more.

According to Wikipedia, Karma yoga, or the "discipline of action" is one of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner.

Raja Yoga is different and involves psychophysical meditation techniques to attain experiences of the truth and finally achieve liberation.

Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiri...more

Yoga for Life

...No matter what your current level of fitness; you can do, and you can benefit from, yoga.

You dont need to renounce your religion, be able to tie yourself in knots or hold your breath for ten minutes. All you need is a desire to improve your physical and mental health and a good guru to guide you.

The word guru is the combination of two Sanskrit words: gu meaning darkness; and ru meaning light. Enjoy this journey from the darkness to the light.

Yoga is a wonderful and relaxing way to lower your stress, increase strength, balance, flexibility, endurance and ability to concentrate.

People who practice yoga can retain full range of motion and excellent balance into their 90s and beyond. I cant stress enough how valuable that is to quality of life.

To give you some idea, think of all the falls not taken, backs not wrenched and ankles not sprained or broken. With good range of motion and the balance to adjust to lifes little missteps, you are less likely to fall and, even if you do, you are less likely to suffer serious injury.

When anyone asks me how to come back to exercise after an injury or depression or many years as a couch potato, I recommend they begin walking and sign up for a beginners yoga class.

When a fit exerciser hits a plateau and asks me wha...more

What Chair Yoga Teachers Need to Know About Teaching Seniors

...Liz Franklin has taught chair yoga to seniors for several years now, so she really knows what to expect when leading a class for the 50+ crowd. Here is what she thinks is important to be mindful of.

Be punctual

Your students will almost all arrive with plenty of time to spare before class, so you better be there at least 15 minutes before it starts. Make sure you dismiss the class on time, too.

Never call your students old

The first baby boomers are starting to turn 60, and one boomer turns 50 every 8 seconds. So watch out here comes the bubble of baby boomer seniors!

As boomers, we never really wanted to grow up, so we certainly are not even considering getting old. Avoid using language such as slowing down, golden years, elderly, or aging. Active adult is regarded as pretty safe. What is wrong with that, anyhow? That is what youre hoping to accomplish by having them in your yoga class!

Expect many students to be hearing and sight impaired

Medical science continues to improve rapidly, but it is still common for seniors to have lost some acuteness in their hearing and/or eyesight.

Make sure you speak up at all times, even more so than you do...more

Yoga Videos - Guidance And Counseling Towards Better Living

...oga videos which can be used for all the different purposes such as in office, while traveling, during pregnancy, stress relief, relaxation techniques, for different cures, a yoga structure for your good health, yoga for the new learners, the basic yoga, complete yoga workout, yoga for strength, yoga to remove your diseases.

By trying such kind of different videos it wo...more

Mandara Mat Yoga