Good Morning, Sunshine –
Therapeutic Yoga for Body Rejuvenation and Stress Reduction
by
Dana Lerman ND, YT
Yoga has emerged as a staple of North America’s burgeoning wellness industry. Studios abound and people of all ages incorporate yoga into their daily exercise and wellness regimes.
Yoga
has been popularized as an invigorating way of toning and building strength and
stamina in our mental and physical bodies.
What we often don’t learn, is that yoga is an ancient system of
rejuvenation, with self actualization at its core. Yoga practice embodies a
detailed road map, leading to a deeper understanding of the self in our
relationship to nature, to ourselves and all that exist with us on earth.
Asana
practice, consists of yoga’s physical postures, done in particular sequences,
relaxing and toning the body and mind. However, asana is only one part of a
very detailed practice that encourages the progressive movement towards a
realization of our divine spirit. Even not knowing these deeper roots, people
who practice yoga regularly, report that they experience their lives with a
greater sense of calm, in addition to improved physical strength and openness
in their body.
As a yoga teacher, I was taught in the
lineage of Ayurveda and classical Hatha yoga.
Ayurveda is India’s ancient healing art, and yoga is an integral part of
Ayurvedic prescription, along with nutrition, the use of herbs and various
other practices. Ayurveda provides an
individualized training practice through yoga, enabling us to adjust and work
with where we are in the various stages of our lives.
The
Sun Salutation, is often used in both classical yoga practice and Ayurvedic
medicine to build strength, and stamina in the body and the mind. In the west
we are most commonly taught the Sun Salutation as the warm up performed at the
beginning of Ashtanga Yoga practice. It is considered a vinyasa; or a series of
postures performed in a particular sequence. It builds strength, particularly
in the upper body, firming and toning the muscles, and opening the chest and
the shoulders. When it is done
regularly, you can quickly see the effects on the physical body, as the muscles
become strong and firm. The Sun
Salutation (Surya Namaskar in Sanskrit) can be performed as a salutation to the
sun. The sequence is traditionally
practiced in the early hours of the morning, as the sun is rising in the sky.
From
an Ayurvedic perspective, yoga as a therapy, is used with careful consideration
of the season, time of day, environment and individual constitution. From the
Ayurvedic perspective, the Sun Salutation is stimulating and has a heating
effect on the body and mind, helping to explain why it is traditionally
practiced in the morning. The practice
of Sun Salutation is recommended as a practice in the winter and during
seasonal changes, and not in the summer when the sun’s heat is peaking. At this time we are vulnerable to heat
reactions in the body like rashes, anger and frequent bowel movements. The Sun Salutation complements cleansing
practices by increasing circulation and metabolism, and inducing sweating. It is a wonderful way to tone and support
the circulatory system.
The
sun salutation should be practiced with caution by people with weak
constitutions and when acutely sick, though it can be used to help build
strength during convalescence.
When
first learning the Sun Salutation, as with learning anything, you would benefit
from the experience of a trained yoga teacher. As you become more familiar with the sequence and movements, it
can easily be practiced on your own, as part of your daily exercise or health
regime.
For
more information on stress reduction, higher nutrition and easy ways to heal,
contact Dana Lerman, ND at info@pureintent.ca.
Health Communications Key As Boomers Age
As over 4 million baby boomers turn fifty this year, health information has emerged as some of the most sought after information on the web.
Providing the aging 'flower power' generation with timely information from trusted sources is key. Millions suffer from chronic degenerative conditions directly attributed to inferior lifestyle and nutrition habits and helpful, free information to patients and clients helps create awareness and lead to vitality and optimum health
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Healthy Aging
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