The Use of Yoga Props to Help with Asanas

Paraphrasing a quote about yoga whose author is unknown, “Blessed be the flexible, for never shall they be bent out of shape.” Attaining that flexibility is often easier with the use of yoga props. Why yoga practitioners use yoga props Yoga props are objects that help yoga practitioners strengthen, stretch, or balance the body as…

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Choosing a Style of Yoga to Practice (Part 3)

The practice of yoga is not mastering the perfect asana (or pose), but of using each pose to better understand and transform yourself. Yoga is all at once mastery over the body, mind and spirit, and submission of the body, mind and spirit to a higher level of consciousness where all the answers to all…

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Choosing a Style of Yoga to Practice (Part 1)

The many different styles of yoga can be very confusing to a beginner. Deciding which style to learn and practice is even more of a conundrum. It helps if you can have a guide to see what each style is supposed to do. Each asana, or pose, in yoga is supposed to address a specific…

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4 Yogic Standing Postures, Part 4

The standing postures are an excellent prelude to the remainder of a yogic routine. They energize the body and open it to the meditative states of the less active asanas. Standing posture number 4: Standing Rotations These are a great set of exercises to do before the more vigorous and active standing exercises as well…

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4 Yogic Standing Postures, Part 3

Yogic standing postures, or asanas, provide an opportunity to increase strength, flexibility and create a harmonious balance for the rest of the asanas in a yogic routine. Standing posture number: Modern-day Sun Salutation While the Classical Sun Salutation is a gentle, flowing series of postures, the Modern-Day Sun Salutation is a more vigorous asana. This…

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4 Yogic Standing Postures, Part 2

Focusing on your breath while in a yogic posture allows you to move beyond whatever physical limitations you perceive to the full extent of your body’s ability to move completely into a posture. Failure to breathe deeply while in a posture only ends up frustrating a yogic practitioner due to failure to completely enter a…

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4 Yogic Standing Postures, Part 1

In order to master standing postures, one’s mind must control the body, and the will must control the mind. Correctly mastering the standing postures enables you to discipline both mind and body in a positive way. Because the standing postures are the most physically taxing of all of the yogic asanas, one must take charge…

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How Essential Oils Used in Massage Therapy are Obtained

An essential oil is an oil obtained from a plant or other source that has the characteristic fragrance of its source. The use of essential oils in healing has been around for thousands of years, and they are used very successfully in massage therapy as well as other healing modalities. Methods of obtaining essential oils…

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History of Essential Oils in Healing

Massage therapy is one of the powerful uses of essential oils for healing purposes. Aromatherapy using essential oils has been a part of healing traditions for many thousands of years. In fact, according to anthropologists, perfumery began via the burning of gums and resins as incense and smudging with plants. Smudging involves setting fire to…

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