Yoga

Tips for Regular Yoga Practice:

As with everything in life, yoga is effective but it will only work if you 'work it'. For results with Yoga, as with any program, one needs to learn two simple rules; dedication and persistence. You have to be dedicated and follow the practices on a regular basis if you really want to get results. If you have bought some books on yoga and meditation, don't let them gather dust while you plan and hope you will start the practice one day.

Yoga postures and basic meditation exercises are simple enough to learn, even for a child. The major problem with most yoga 'drop outs' is not getting the techniques right, as most people have aligned their minds to believe, but the ability to establish the habit of following the practices through on a regular basis. The following tips may help you to do your yoga and meditation on a daily basis.

Determination: Start your yoga with a firm determination to see it through. Yoga begins and ends with the mind, if you can convince yourself you really want to do it, then you should be able to keep the spirit. The problem with most people is that they rush into everything that sounds interesting before they are sure of whether they want it or not. These people will usually dump a program before they even really begin it. Close your eyes, search deep within you, "is yoga really important to me?" Decide you will give it a fair try and stick to that determination. There are days when you feel low and won't want to do your yoga, remember your initial soul deep determination and you will always find the right spirit to go ahead.

Be organized: Things go smoothly and are more interesting when they are well organized. Make a regular schedule for your yoga practice and stick to it. The mere fact that you will always look forward to the period of your daily yoga practice will always keep it in your consciousness. You will get best results from yoga if you do your practice daily. No matter how busy you are, keep some time free during the day and reserve this time for your practice of yoga and meditation. It is better if you can get up early in the morning or late in the evening, when there will be fewer distractions.

Free your Mind: It is not enough to reserve a time for yoga if you can't put your all into the practice. When you decide to do your yoga practice and meditation, remember that the next couple of minutes have been reserved for the development of your mind and personality. It would be pointless, if your body were doing the practice while your mind were busy sorting out some other worries. Once you begin your daily yoga practice all other worries and responsibilities should be tucked somewhere else until you are through.

Add Some Color: Learning how to give and share is an important part of the personality yoga seeks to create in you. Add some color and fun into your daily yoga practice by involving your friends who would also benefit from practicing yoga. The enthusiasm of others would rub off on you any day you feel low and don't want to continue with your practice. Yoga is not what you keep to yourself - bring in one or two friends.

Learn Patience: It took you several years to build up your present personality and physical structure. You can't change it overnight. Although, with yoga you don't have to wait for that many years to change yourself because the regular and systematic practice of yoga postures and basic meditation can help you to make great changes within the shortest possible period. It's being human, sometimes you feel like you are getting results and other times, you feel like nothing is changing. You shouldn't worry so much about the short-term effects, what really matters is the ultimate goal you want to achieve. It takes a little time, but with dedication and persistence, your most profound yoga dreams will be achieved.

Yoga in Relationship with Food , Body Image , and Emotions:

Conversation is a barrier to intimacy...you can talk your way out of feeling. For individuals struggling with weight and food issues, many have learned that a diet or psychotherapist cannot solve the root these concerns—only you can look inside and discover what your soul needs to learn. For someone with an eating disorder, disordered eating, or a food addiction, the benefits of yoga can be a powerful tool to uncover your attachments and move forward with awareness.

Yoga can help delay impulses. Through a regular yoga practice, individuals may find themselves in postures that are difficult or awkward. Learning to stay within the poses and work through these postures can help an individual, who feels an urge binge or practice unhealthy food behaviors, delay acting on this urge. In our society, there is a natural tendency to want to escape anything that causes psychological or physical discomfort. People tend to escape by overeacting, working too much, getting caught up in unhealthy relationships or by drug/alcohol use. In yoga, individuals are encouraged to observe rather than react to their discomfort by breathing and listening carefully for what his/her body/mind is conveying.

Individuals begin to enjoy their body for the first time. They start to define their body in terms of “what it can do” versus “what it is.” They learn that they are not mere extensions of their body, but possess beautiful internal qualities. Yoga also emphasizes mindful eating. Individuals learn to experience the taste, texture, and other sensual qualities of food and to pay attention to what and how much they are eating. They also learn to rely on their higher wisdom and intuition to make decisions about food and daily life decisions.

Interestingly, the neurologist, Antonio Damasio, headed the team that created the Iowa gambling experiment. Dr. Damasio studied patients with damage to a small but critical part of the brain called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which lies behind the nose. The ventromedial area plays a critical role in decision-making. People with damage to their ventromedial area are perfectly rational. They can be highly functional, but they lack judgment. Addicts can articulate very well the consequences of their behavior, but they fail to act accordingly—because of this brain issue causing the disconnect between what one “knows and what one does.” Studies have shown that meditation can act on the cerebral cortex improving awareness, focus and memory. Further studies are warranted to understand the exact mechanics of yoga and how yoga can help food addiction and related eating behaviors involving these intricate brain centers.