Siddha Yoga

March 10, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Siddha Yoga exercises are very much different from the regular yoga exercises. This is because in this type of yoga, there is not much need for physical exercise. All you have to do is to sit and rest or lie down instead. It is said that the exercises your body needs will happen automatically according to what your body needs.

The basic principles of this type of yoga is that treatment as a whole, works on getting rid of the energy blocks from the body in order to restore the health, get some peace of mind and to prevent illness.

Siddha yoga is different from other yogas in many ways. For one thing, traditional yoga exercides are done sitting cross legged on the mat. Siddha yoga can be done in any position. Most yoga forms have long meditation sessions and are practiced only in the morning on an empty stomach. Siddha yoga can be practiced any time you want to.

Siddha yoga meditation is also known as Ayurveda Siddha and is considers man and nature as one. Man is said to be a significant part of the universe. Whatever takes place in the world around you takes place in the human body as well.

According to medical studies done about Siddha, the universe consists of atoms that attributes to the five elements which are fire, air, water, earth and ether. The Siddha knowledge is based on the principles and ideals of alchemy, philosophy, medicine and yoga.

The benefits that are reaped out of siddha yoga would vary depending on the person who practices it. Some would claim that siddha yoga can help cure serious illnesses like arthritis and cancer.

Other perceived benefits of Siddha yoga is that it can help you stay free from any kind of addiction whether it is alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. This type of yoga can also help you get rid of stress and tension.

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Pet Therapy – Animals Can Heal You

March 8, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Are you an animal lover? Then you will be glad to know that having pets can actually make you live longer and contribute well to your health. Pets are able to provide us constant comfort as we focus our attention to them when they ask for it. They make us want to take care of them which is why pets are the best way to bring out our nurturing instinct.

It has been found that pets if used in therapy can help lower the blood pressure. It helps the patient feel better and more at ease. This is probably because of the fact that pets accept us no matter who we are. The stroking and the cuddling can make any pet owner feel relaxed. The speechless communication that is shared with our pets can also be one way of getting some warmth and relaxation.

This is why pet therapy is very effective. Therapy pets make their owners feel as if they are needed and responsible for their well being. This stimulates the survival incentive, nurturing spirit and the healing process of the human brain. A lot of cancer patients and patients with heart ailments were able to live longer than expected due to pet therapy.

Dogs and cats are a favorite for pet therapy as they are animals that can give unconditional love and affection. These pets do not have to be trained. It is better that the patient trains the pet personally in order to develop some bonding. However trained animals are more preferred for people who have physical disabilities.

There are a lot of advantages and benefits coming from the use of pet therapy. One is the development of empathy which lets the patients tell what their needs are. Another is the development of outward focus which greatly helps patients forget their feelings of depression and low self esteem or other problems. Third is by establishing rapport which helps the patient open up.

It does not matter what kind of pet you own in order to enjoy this therapy and its benefits. As long as the animal is of interest to you then pet therapy can help you and your pet happy by caring for each other.

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Breathing—the key to a healthy life!

March 7, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

It is not out of necessity that we humans breathe. We need the right amount of oxygen for us to be able to live. At some point, instead of breathing clean and fresh air, we breathe in the harmful pollution that surrounds our environment everyday.

Breathing gives us some health benefits .Well, taking a few deep breaths can be very relaxing not only to our lungs but to our whole body. It can relieve us from everyday stress and lets us handle situations more calmly and with a clear head.

As you may have noticed, when people get stressed or mad, they take in short quick breaths. Why? It is said that it makes us feel relaxed and comfortable at the same time and perhaps, makes us think clearer because of the opening up of all the veins and air passages in the body.

Deep breathing also has its own benefits in relieving stress. Deep breathing is the cornerstone of several breathing relaxation remedies for stress.

Practice deep breathing by sitting comfortably with your back on a full stretch. Put one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach and try Breathing through your nose.  The hand that is on placed on your stomach should rise and the one on your chest should move very little.

Exhale through the mouth, making sure that you are releasing as much air as possible contracting the abdominal muscles. While exhaling, the hand on your stomach should move in and still, the hand on your chest should only move a little.

To be able to obtain satisfying results with your breathing exercise, try doing this exercise with counts. It usually works because you are distracted by the breathe-in-breathe-out process and you will be able to concentrate in breathing thus, keeping you relaxed and at the same time, keeps your body, specifically your respiratory system healthy.

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Thai Massage for Your Body, Mind, Emotions and Soul

March 3, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Nothing can give more relaxation after a long day’s work than a massage. There are different kinds of massage and some of them have their own specializations when it comes to healing. But if you want something that can cover up practically everything about you then you should choose Thai massage.

Thai massage is done by letting your body undergo passive stretching and applying gentle pressures on the energy lines by using an interactive form of manipulation in the body. The massage is said to help adjust your skeletal structure and increases the flexibility of your body. The Thai massage can also affect the body by stimulating your internal organs and balancing your body’s energy system. If you want to get relief from muscular tension and your joints then you should try to get a session of Thai massage.

Your age would not matter when it comes to this massage. It can be used on the old, the young, the active or the inactive. This is one good way for everybody to stay healthy. This massage can make you relax and give you an energy boost at the same time.

There are two ways to do Thai massage. The first one is by applying pressure on the hands and feet. The second one is by giving a variety of passive and stretching movements to your body. Thai massage should be applied in a meditative atmosphere. This will help your body become more flexible and would also help provide easy movement. Take note that when doing the Thai massages you should be in a very comfortable dress for more comfort.

Thai massage can also help reduce your stress and can help your body relax from too much work. This makes it a good way of healing your mind and emotions as well. The feeling of peace and getting rid of your stressors can do a lot of good to your soul.

So if you want to enjoy good health and good body performance while touching up your mind, heart and soul then getting a Thai massage is the right treatment for you.

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Dancing Your Way to Health

March 2, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a fun way to achieve good health then you can always take up dancing. It does not matter if you feel like you can not go along with the rhythm or you feel that you have two left feet. Try locking your door and close your windows so that no one can see what you are doing and give dancing a try for a few minutes. You will find yourself enjoying soon despite of yourself.

There is no better and more entertaining way to stay fit and in shape than dancing. In recent years, dancing has been recognized as a form of exercise and treatments in health clubs, recreation centers and even dance studios. This provides a more fun and enjoyable alternative compared to the usual exercises like running and cycling.

Dancing offers a lot of mental, physical and social benefits compared to gym work outs. They are also more appealing as well since people do not feel like they are working out – instead, they feel that they are having fun.

You can take up any form of dancing – belly dancing and hip hop jazz are turning out to be a favorite these days. Through doing some moves you can get as much cardiovascular rewards and burn as much calories as you usually do when you take a brisk walk or a long bike ride. While you are dancing, you will also get to lose some weight. The activity can help build up your muscular strength and bone density throughout your whole body.

If you feel that you are stiff in the joints then dancing is a good exercise to take up. Dancing will make you move into multiple directions which can increase the mobility in your joints. This will help your joints function better each day and increase the range of motion on your hips and the flexibility in your spine.

If you are wondering what makes dancing better than taking gym sessions aside from the fact that it is more fun to do – you will get to improve your agility and balance this way. This is something that most gym work outs can not focus on. This is important since having the right balance can help reduce the aging factors.

So if you want to stay fit young and have a sexier body then take up dancing. Staying healthy is an experience that you can always enjoy after all.

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Tui Na – Massage and Chinese Medicine in One

February 26, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Do you want to relax and benefit from the healing miracles of Chinese medicine? You can now do this with Tui Na. This is a massage therapy that is classified as an external method within the system of traditional Chinese medicine. This type of massage is particularly best for infants and elderly persons.

Tui Na has been practiced in China for over 2,000 years. In traditional Chinese medicine, the belief is that the disease and pain are more of a result of an imbalance in the flow and amount of Qi. Tui Na was made in order to bring that balance back.

Tui Na literally means “pushing” and “grasping”. You will find in the session that the Tui Na practitioner would be brushing, rolling, kneading, pressing or rubbing areas between the joints. This is in order to open the defensive chi of the patient and in order to get the energy moving. Tui Na also makes use of traction and massage stimulating the acupressure points of the body. So basically we can say that the diagnosis and treatments of this massage is also based on the same principles of acupuncture.

There are a lot of Eastern Asian traditions that uses a form of Tui Na to manage or alleviate pain and injury that are caused by training or training related injuries when it comes to martial arts. It has saved a lot of martial artists deal with unmanageable injuries which could often lead to life and death consequences.

A typical Tui Na session would normally last for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the specific problems that you may be having. Your practitioner would probable tell you to return for treatment as frequently as once a week. By the end of the treatment you would usually feel relaxed and energized.

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Natural Ways to Get Rid of Skin Problems

February 24, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Your skin is one of the biggest factors that can affect your physical looks – especially when it comes to your face. Generally, the secret to proper skin care is to determine your skin type and maintaining treatment. The choice of treatment that you go through is also important. There are a lot of skin problems that a person must deal with.

This is why there are a lot of cosmetic and beauty products in the market that promises radiant, glowing and fresh looking skin. However, we all can not avoid the truth which is that most of these products contain harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to your skin.

It is a good thing that you do not have to expose your skins to these harmful elements since there are a number of natural skin care treatments that you can use to help maintain a healthy skin.

Acne is a common skin problem, especially when it comes to teenagers. Studies show that acne is usually caused by exhaustion and stress. Lack of sleep is also one factor when it comes to stress. A natural method to get rid of this is to make sure that you are getting a lot of sleep so that you get healthy skin.

For oily skin, you can always make use of tomatoes. Oily skin can be eliminated by cutting a tomato in half and rubbing it across your skin. Let the juice of the tomato soak in your skin and let dry. After that, you can wash your skin off with hot water, followed by cold water. The temperature change in the water closes the pores which would help keep out bacteria that causes oily skin.

If you find that you have dry skin then you should try skipping the use of soap. Washing daily with soap is a factor that leads to drying out your skin because it removes the natural oil that makes your skin soft and smooth. You can simply sponge off every other or switch your soap to a moisturizing one.

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Eat Up and Get a Good Night’s Sleep

February 22, 2010 By marie 1 Comment

Do you have trouble sleeping? Maybe you need to check your diet. Food can help solve your dilemma and get you that eight hour rest that you deserve. Here are some food suggestions that you should eat in order to catch your forty winks.

Food and sleep actually affects each other. If you do not eat right you also do not rest right. And at the same case, if you do not get enough sleep, your eating habits are also affected. The lack of sleep causes leptin which is an appetite regulating hormone. The leptin crashes if you do not get enough sleep and this causes you to eat more. This is why sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and obesity.

Here are some foods that promote sleep and try to add this to your diet so that you can adjust it accordingly:

  • Fruits – instead of getting a high calorie dessert after your dinner why not get fruits instead? Mangoes, Bananas and Dates are rich in tryptophan which is a sleep inducing hormone. Another benefit that you can get when you eat these fruits is that they have a high antioxidant content so as you sleep, your body gets all cleaned up.

  • Herbal teas – this is the perfect way to unwind at night. Instead of taking the usual night cap of wine or your favorite alcohol drink get a cup of tea instead. Teas that have chamomile, mint and lavender are ideal for those that want to get some sleep. Drinking caffeine free tea made out of gentle herbal varieties helps the body relax as it calms the digestion and it also helps soothe down your stomach. Make sure that you take your cup of tea in a cozy spot so that you can relax well.

  • Soup – soup and stews are usually filled with veggies and legumes that are rich in fiber. These low fat casseroles helps you relax and stay calm compared to meats and spicy foods. The cooking process alone can help you calm down and relax as it would require a long period of time to cook over low temperatures.

These are just three of the many sleep enhancing foods that you can add to your diet in order to get a good night’s sleep. Remember that sleep is important for our overall health. Make sure that you have enough z’s to help your body rejuvenate.

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Massage Tips

February 18, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

A lot of people go to spas in order to get a massage treatment. A massage is one of the best ways to relax and remove the tension from the body. A massage would involve the hands, feet elbows and other body parts since its aim is to manipulate the muscles of the body. There are different forms of styles of massage and each style will vary in their pressure points, their form of manipulation, goals and other factors.

Relaxation is not the only thing that you can get with a massage. There are a lot of benefits that can help your body and general health improve. A massage can help you in your well being, helps you have a better immune system, faster healing and so many more.

You can also use scented oils in order to make you feel more relaxed. There are different types of oil that can be used. If you are sensitive to smells there are unscented oils or light smelling ones that may suit your preferences. Some of these oils would have herbs and are being used for their healing properties.

Here are some tips that can make you get the most out of the whole massage experience:

During the massage, if you feel that the pressure is too light or too hard, you can always ask to have the pressure changed. This would help you be free from any pain after the session. You will never be relaxed if you are in pain or if you do not feel anything at all.

It is best to tell the masseuse if you feel uncomfortable. Some people prefer to have the lights dimmed, to have less blankets, to have the heat turned up – anything that can interfere with the way they relax. Remember that you are asking for their services so that you can feel good.

If you are getting a massage treatments in order to get some relief for pain tell your masseuse where it hurts. This way, he or she will be able to focus in that area because that is where you need the treatment the most.

After the massage it would help to drink a lot of water. This can help your body release the toxins that were released and loose during your massage treatment. It is better if you do light things after the first 30 minutes of your treatment. Go on a short walk or simply sit or lie down quietly. This will make the massage settle into the body.  To make you feel more relaxed, you can always get a hot bath after your treatment.

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Heliotherapy – Soaking Up the Sun

February 16, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Since ancient times natural light was considered to have a lot of positive physiological effects on the human body. Even the Father of Medicine Hippocrates made use of the sun’s rays in his naturopathic treatments for diseases. This practice is now known as Heliotherapy.

Heliotherapy is the method that makes use of the sun’s ultraviolet waves in order to enhance the production of nutrients and vitamins in the skin and the body. This would result to an elevated rate of metabolism that would assist the body in increasing its rate of creating multiple enzymes that is being used for tissue restoration. The process allows cells to rejuvenate and work together. This allows an increase in the pace rhythm of the blood flow which later on leads to an improvement of oxygen supply.

If this treatment is done consistently Heliotherapy can reduce the chance of prostrate breast cancer, osteoporosis, psoriasis and other skin diseases. This therapy can also be used as a natural antibiotic. As a stress reliever it works by relaxing tense muscles and promoting mood stability. It is also proven to help enhance the immune system. Heliotherapy can also assist in wound healing and can eliminate the microbes from the skin. It can help reduce the pain that is brought about by neuralgia and arthritis as well.

Heliotherapy is recommended especially for those who are experiencing symptoms of stress or hypertension. It is said to lower the chances for people to have breast cancer, osteoporosis, psoriasis, acne, prostrate cancer and many more.

You do not have to worry about sunburn when following this therapy due to the fact that the practice should only be done in small doses and is more advised to be done during early morning. All you need to do is get natural sunlight fifteen minutes a day preferably early in the morning before 9:00 am. The whole method is so simple yet you get so many benefits for it.

So if you are an early morning person, why not try heliotherapy to enhance your health and start relaxing in a stress free way.

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