Top 5 Yoga Asanas for Hair Growth by Shree Hari Yoga 27 Feb 2025, 6:28 pm

Top 5 Yoga Asanas for Hair Growth by Shree Hari Yoga

Hair health is a direct reflection of our overall well-being. Factors like stress, poor circulation, and hormonal imbalances can lead to hair thinning and loss. The ancient practice of yoga can significantly contribute to improving hair health by enhancing scalp blood circulation, reducing stress, and balancing hormones. In this article, we’ll explore the top five yoga asanas that can naturally boost hair growth and improve overall hair health.

1. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog)

Benefits: This inversion pose increases blood flow to the scalp, delivering essential nutrients to hair follicles. It also reduces stress and improves overall blood circulation.

How to Perform:

1. Start on all fours with hands shoulder-width apart and knees hip-width apart.
2. Lift your hips toward the ceiling, forming an inverted ‘V’ shape.
3. Keep your heels slightly off the ground and maintain a straight spine.
4. Hold for 30-60 seconds, breathing deeply.

2. Sirsasana (Headstand)

Benefits: The headstand is one of the best asanas for stimulating hair growth as it directs oxygen-rich blood to the scalp. It strengthens hair follicles and reduces hair fall.

How to Perform:

1. Kneel down and interlock your fingers, placing your forearms on the mat.
2. Position the crown of your head on the mat and slowly lift your legs upward.
3. Engage your core and keep your body straight.
4. Hold for 10-30 seconds, gradually increasing the duration with practice.

Caution: Perform this pose only if you are experienced or under professional supervision. Avoid if you have neck issues or high blood pressure.

3. Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)

Benefits: This pose increases blood circulation to the scalp, promotes relaxation, and reduces stress, which is a key factor in hair loss.

How to Perform:

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart.
2. Bend forward from the hips, allowing your head to hang freely.
3. Keep your knees slightly bent if necessary to avoid strain.
4. Hold for 30-60 seconds while breathing deeply.

4. Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)

Benefits: This pose helps regulate thyroid function, which plays a crucial role in hair health. It also enhances blood circulation to the scalp, ensuring proper nourishment of hair follicles.

How to Perform:

1. Lie on your back and lift your legs toward the ceiling.
2. Support your lower back with your hands and balance your body on your shoulders.
3. Keep your spine straight and engage your core.
4. Hold for 30-60 seconds while maintaining steady breathing.

5. Balasana (Child’s Pose)

Benefits: Stress is one of the leading causes of hair loss. This calming pose relaxes the nervous system, reducing stress and promoting scalp nourishment.

How to Perform:

1. Kneel on the mat with your big toes touching and knees apart.
2. Lower your torso forward, extending your arms in front of you.
3. Rest your forehead on the mat and breathe deeply.
4. Hold for 30-60 seconds, allowing your body to relax completely.

Additional Tips for Healthy Hair Growth

• Nutrient-Rich Diet: Incorporate iron, protein, and vitamins such as A, B, C, and E for healthy hair.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water to maintain scalp hydration and hair health.
• Regular Scalp Massage: Using natural oils like coconut or castor oil can improve blood circulation.
• Consistency: Practicing these asanas regularly, along with a balanced diet, can yield optimal results.

By incorporating these yoga asanas into your daily routine, you can naturally improve hair growth while enhancing overall well-being. At Shree Hari Yoga, we believe in holistic wellness through yoga and mindful living. Join us to experience the benefits of yoga and deepen your practice with the best yoga teacher training in India.

Your Bali Yoga Escape: A Transformational Retreat from June 3-11 13 Feb 2025, 2:48 am

Your Bali Yoga Escape: A Transformational Retreat from June 3-11

Imagine waking up to the sound of gentle waves, stretching into the sunrise with guided yoga led by experienced teachers who have dedicated years to mastering their craft. Imagine sipping on fresh coconut water after a deep, heart-opening cacao ceremony, feeling lighter, freer, and more connected than ever before. This isn’t just a yoga retreat—it’s a soulful journey, created for you.

Why This Bali Retreat? Why Now?

Life moves fast. Stress piles up. We give so much to others but rarely take time for ourselves. This Bali Yoga Retreat (June 3-11) is your chance to pause, reset, and reconnect in one of the most magical places on Earth.

Led by a team of highly experienced teachers, this retreat is a carefully crafted blend of yoga, healing practices, and cultural immersion, all designed to help you let go of what no longer serves you and step into your most aligned, radiant self.

What Awaits You in Bali?

✨ Daily Yoga & Movement – Flow into your day with Vinyasa, unwind with Restorative, and explore the magic of Aerial Yoga.
✨ Cacao & Sound Healing Ceremonies – Open your heart and reconnect with your inner truth through ancient, sacred practices.
✨ Balinese Rituals & Sacred Water Purification – Immerse yourself in the healing energy of Bali.
✨ Nourishing, Soulful Food – Plant-based, fresh, and deeply nourishing meals designed to energize and restore.
✨ Adventure & Connection – Explore Bali’s hidden gems, enjoy breathtaking sunsets, and bond with a community of like-minded souls.

Who Is This For?

✔ You’re craving a break from the noise of everyday life.
✔ You feel called to heal, expand, and rediscover yourself.
✔ You want to deepen your practice and connect with a community of inspiring people.
✔ You need an adventure that feeds your soul—not just a vacation, but a transformation.

Book Your Spot – Limited Spaces Available

This is not just another retreat. It’s a curated experience designed with intention, depth, and the wisdom of years of teaching and practice.

Dates: June 3-11, 2025
Location: A stunning private villa in Bali

Yoga Retreat Booking Link

Are you ready to say YES to yourself? Secure your spot now and join us in paradise. Your transformation starts here.

Therapeutic Yoga – Using Yoga For Healing And Rehabilitation 9 Jan 2025, 4:52 am

Therapeutic Yoga – Using Yoga For Healing And Rehabilitation

As yoga garners a lot of popularity worldwide, this ancient holistic science has proven time and again of its benefits. Most people though are aware of the term ‘yoga’. However, there are many branches of yoga. Those who have already enrolled for or completed the 200 hours yoga teacher training in India will have a fair idea about the forms and styles. Hatha Yoga is all encompassing and is an umbrella term that covers all yoga forms and styles. But the other yoga forms and styles may not cover Hatha Yoga.

However, there is a new entrant ‘therapeutic yoga’ doing the rounds in the holistic circles. Though all forms of yoga are supposed to be therapeutic, this bears special significance. So, let us get things straight here.

What Is Therapeutic Yoga?

It is basically a gentle and healing form of yoga that uses various postures, meditation, and Pranayama to solve different body issues.   Unlike general yoga forms and styles, therapeutic yoga is a more customized form of yoga, which addresses specific illnesses. Therapeutic yoga is powerful and suits people of all age groups. Additionally, it also helps in the continuous management of diseases and improves body flexibility. It also helps one to strengthen the mind and emotions.

Some of the direct applications of therapeutic yoga are in:

• Chronic Pain Management

Some people live with chronic pain, however there are natural ways to manage the same. In this manner, one can effectively manage inflammation-related disorders. Mindful yoga movements in this sphere are just ideal for arthritis and back pain, to name a few. These practices can help in relieving back pain, improves mobility, and also gives a sense of wellbeing. Moreover, the elderly people also benefit to a huge extent with these movements and modality. They will also experience an improved range of motion and mobility. The result is long-term pain relief in chronic conditions.

• Increased Flexibility

No matter, if you are recuperating from some sort of injury, or just want to improve your overall health, therapeutic yoga can help. It helps in enhancing strength, balance, and flexibility. The best yoga school in India has the right approach to suggest gentle yoga postures that help in stretching and strengthening the body. Additionally, if you engage in therapeutic yoga, your risks related to sports injuries or exercise-related injuries increase manifold. Hand-eye coordination and motor skills also improve, if one engages in therapeutic yoga.

• Overall Mental Health And Emotional Wellness

Therapeutic yoga is also helpful in addressing concerns such as stress and anxiety. Moreover, it can also solve issues related to depressive symptoms. This sort of yoga program includes a lot of mindfulness meditation, breathing techniques and of course yogic movements. The sessions are designed to offer mental calmness and inner strength. The movements also require or are infused with meditative stances, so that you can improve your mind’s focus and concentration. It directly and indirectly affects the individual, by enhancing emotional balance and also gives peace to the individual.

• All-Round Relaxation

Therapeutic Yoga treats the mind, the body and the soul as a whole. The sessions include meditation infused with mindfulness, breathing techniques, and asanas. No matter, if you are looking for recovery after a surgery or an illness, or want to manage any sort of chronic condition, or mental health, then you must join therapeutic yoga. It offers you deep relaxation and instant rejuvenation. The immunity of the individuals also get enhanced manifold, apart from all-round balance.

You can also choose therapeutic yoga as a parallel career, alongside general yoga classes. Here are a few things that are covered in any such yoga course.

Things That You Can Learn To Aid You In Your Therapeutic Yoga Journey

• You must have a thorough knowledge of yogic principles that include the Pancha koshas, nadis, and chakras. Although you will not learn about these in scientific anatomy and physiology, you will be able to study these as a part of the aura and yogic body.
• You will also study nutrition and yoga therapy. The classes will take you through the importance of sunlight, water, and nutrition in one’s life. The course also includes macronutrients and micronutrients. The diet for different ailments will also be included in the course.
• You will also likely learn about Yoga Nidra and meditation. Yoga Nidra is nothing but yogic sleep, which aids in various types of healing. There are techniques covered in the syllabus, which address stress reduction and relaxation, as well. Mindfulness is also included as a part of the therapy course.
• Some of the most common ailments that therapeutic yoga covers are diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroidism, cardiac diseases, varicose veins, insomnia, and arthritis, to name a few.
• You will also learn how to manage and control common digestive issues like constipation, indigestion, gastric issues, IBS, fissures, piles, and other eating disorders.

Therapeutic Yoga Postures

• Utkatasana – This is the chair pose, which you can practice for therapeutic relief. You are utilizing the largest muscle of the body, while practicing this asana. The teachers at Shree Hari Yoga School will suggest you to hold the posture for a long time. The longer you hold this posture, the better it is for strengthening the glutes and quads.
• Trikonasana – This is another therapeutic yoga pose, which helps in toning the core, legs, arms, and the back. There are multiple variations of this pose, which help you to do it as per your convenience. It also lengthens the spine. You get instant and long-term relief from back pain and hip pain.
• Bhujangasana – This is another posture which you can practice, which will help you in opening the chest and heart chakra. Practicing this asana on a regular basis also helps in decreasing pain caused due to osteoporosis, and sciatica. It also controls fatigue.
• Meditation in itself is a therapy and can be applied as well, in Therapeutic Yoga. You can practice mindfulness or guided meditation for this purpose.
• Sudarshan Kriya is another breathing modality which is used to relieve one from stress and anxiety. This rhythmic breathing technique brings complete harmony to the body and emotions. This breathing technique helps one to reach a meditative state of mind, as well.

Final Words

You can learn about Therapeutic Yoga in detail to help you get solace of the mind, body or soul. Learn it at the best school in India to get instant benefits.

Yoga for Seniors – Adapting Your Teaching for Older Students 20 Dec 2024, 5:55 am

Yoga for Seniors – Adapting Your Teaching for Older Students

While the 200 hours yoga teacher training course in India, gives you comprehensive knowledge about yoga kriyas, anatomy, cleansing methods and teaching methodology, it is more of a generalized offering. You are, of course, well equipped to handle a wide genre of students. After you complete the yoga teacher training in India, you get students who are teenagers, college-goers, middle-aged adults, and seniors as well.

As medical technology advances, life expectancy has also increased manifold nowadays. So, you will find people living till 90 years as well. After retirement, most seniors find themselves lacking family attention and companionship, loss of memory and also imbalance. Moreover, most old people tend to be lonely, as children and grandchildren are busy with their jobs and school. Thus, the time is ripe to address the needs of the older generation.

How To Teach Yoga To Seniors?

Now, the word ‘senior’ covers a wide range of age groups. From 55 years onwards most of us refer to adults as seniors, and then there are septuagenarians and octogenarians. While you may be adept at curating yoga class sequences for people till 50-55 years, the age group that comes later can be a challenge for many. Sometimes, you may feel lost or under-confident regarding the approach and safety aspects to take care of.

So, here are the approaches listed herein, so that you can specialize in yoga for seniors.

• Get To Know The Seniors

This is the first thing that you ought to do. Take your time to analyse each elderly who approaches you. Everyone is different from the other, so you must not stereotype. When you know a particular person’s concerns, then you can also structure the training in a particular manner.

• Listen To Them Properly

When seniors approach you as a yoga teacher for training, the second thing which you must do is to learn of their concerns. Many seniors will be concerned about their flexibility and fear injuries, too. Many even fear that starting yoga practice at a later stage, can result in muscle sprain and spasms. Many will also be concerned about being able to sit and stand properly. There will be queries from the elderly regarding handling knee problems. As that is one of the problem areas of the aged.

• Develop Flexibility

This is also very important, as every elderly in the group will have a different set of issues. So, you should not come up with a rigid plan for the yoga class. Be flexible, so that you can teak the sessions according to the requirements. If you tweak the postures and also modify them according to the elderly’s condition, then they will also appreciate you. In any case, each individual even in a normal group will have different requirements. The supine poses are most suitable for the elderly. After that, you can navigate to prone poses. These will be helpful, as you can determine the fitness levels, from the speed at which the students get back to seated or standing postures.

Educate Yourself About Capabilities

You must educate yourself about the physical capabilities of the students. Finding the age-appropriate challenges will help you to determine the progress status of the individuals. You can also read up some of the common age-related diseases and their symptoms. So, that will also help you to determine if the incumbent is suffering from any such disease. If someone complains of stiffness in the legs and back, it can be a sign of Arthritis.

Set The Sequence And Speed Of The Class Accordingly

In your senior yoga class, you are supposed to adjust the pace of the class as per your students. If the seniors are above 70 years, this becomes all the more necessary. If you have an elderly student who has the habit of practicing yoga, then it can be a little difficult to make that person practice slowly. Sometimes, it may become difficult to ask such students to slow down, as they might take it upon their ego. If you maintain a slow pace, it can benefit everyone in general. Moreover, it can also give rise to greater confidence. This can also reduce all the competition, if at all the elderly are doing something of that sort.

Use As Many Props As Possible

You must always use props, no matter which age-group you are teaching. It is both relaxing and therapeutic. Most seniors will look for therapy in a yoga class. Additionally the usage of props make it easy for students to ease into the poses. They can also hold the poses for a longer time. So, make sure that you always have an adequate number of props in the yoga class. The elderly will also feel supported. Some of the most common ones that you can embrace are pillows, blankets, bolsters, backrests, wraps and belts, and so on.

There will be some common concerns to keep in mind, while you are teaching an elderly group of students.

Things To Keep In Mind While Teaching The Elderly

• Menopause – This is a common point of concern for women. So, you might have to deal with hormonal imbalances. Some of the common poses to suggest in such situations are twists, lateral movements, and deep breathing. The vagus nerve needs a lot of attention in this case.
• Prostate Health – This is a point of concern for the males. So, you must ask them to do more pelvic movements. Standing postures are also encouraged.
• Bone Health – As one grows old, bone health also deteriorates. Osteoporosis is a common concern in the old. So, you can draw a plan with weight-bearing exercises in mind. Squats and arm circles are also likely useful.
• Joint Health – You must suggest more joint and muscle stabilizing exercises to the elderly. Muscle balance is extremely important in such cases.
• Lymphatic Circulation – As one ages, lymphatic circulation takes a hit. So, circling movements and self-massage techniques help.

You must always keep in mind that upper body strength and stamina is the key for the older population. So, design your modules and sessions accordingly.

Final Words

Join Shree Hari Yoga School, for the right direction in your life. The teachers will help you to master the intricacies as you learn yoga TTC. The seniors are vying for support and you ought to deliver with all the knowledge you gather.

Prenatal Yoga – A Guide For Aspiring Teachers 10 Dec 2024, 10:43 am

Prenatal Yoga – A Guide For Aspiring Teachers

There are so many different forms of yoga. Hatha yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Ashtanga yoga, and Yin yoga, to name a few. While Hatha yoga is often used as an umbrella term that covers all these yoga forms, the latter do not necessarily cover the former’s similar concepts. You must have felt a need to practice relaxing yoga during certain times, and the pregnancy period may be one of them. What you can normally do when not expecting is different from what you can do, when pregnant. While yoga courses in India are increasing in popularity, this concept of prenatal yoga has also stepped in.

If you are someone who has already completed any professional course like 200 hours yoga teacher training in India, then this may interest you further. The yoga sector is today saturated, so it also makes sense to add another specialization. And prenatal yoga can be one of them. You can thereafter start a parallel coaching service that facilitates pregnant and post-partum individuals in their motherhood journey.

But how to become a pregnancy yoga teacher? This is a question which might have been bothering many of you. So, here we have chalked out the answers to make it easy.

How To Become A Prenatal Yoga Teacher Decoded

Firstly, when you are working for pregnant individuals as a whole, at the end of the day, you will find it to be a deeply rewarding job. Moreover, if you were just going about your job of teaching yoga to normal individuals, but suddenly few amongst them got pregnant, you may have to learn. That is where the prenatal yoga teacher training comes up.

If you are teaching yoga at a school or have your own school, you can specialize in prenatal yoga. During pregnancy, most women are at their powerful best. Today, you will find women working till the time before their delivery. The course has been designed in a manner, such that it offers a balanced theoretical and practical curriculum. You will gain a lot of valuable knowledge about this genre. In the process, you also get to support would-be-moms, who are on the way to bring a new life to this world. The course basically prepares you to teach safely and effectively. You will be able to modify the postures comfortably, and design yoga sequences for every trimester.

You can join a yoga school in India today, and enrol yourself for the prenatal yoga course. The course will help you to understand the physical, mental, and emotional intricacies that a woman goes through during this time. The effects of hormones that change course during pregnancy can also be handled through the learnings obtained in this course.

What Will You Learn In This Course?

At Shree Hari Yoga School, you can learn about all the nuances associated with the pregnancy period, which are safe and effective. The program will teach you about every pregnancy month in detail, apart from the practices that are deemed safe even by western doctors and gynaecologists.

We have shortlisted some of the key points here, that will help you to go through the course.

• Human anatomy and physiology is covered in this comprehensive course. The female reproductive system is also studied in detail, as a part of the course.
• You will also learn how to approach yoga from a pregnant woman’s viewpoint. It includes proper alignments and modifications as well. As a trainer, you will become adept at advising proper asana, breathing modalities, and meditation to expecting mothers.
• The course also helps find a common ground for prenatal yoga professionals, doctors, and midwives.
• The course also covers the transition between different trimesters.
• You will also learn yoga philosophy, as with any other form of yoga.

So, you can very well understand how intricate details are covered in the prenatal yoga teacher training.

If you are aspiring to become a yoga teacher specializing in prenatal yoga, then this is the right course for you.

Topics Covered In The Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Course

Most pregnant women suffer from backache, breathlessness, morning nausea, acidity, heartburn, sciatica, and leg pain during the trimesters. You will get a thorough guide on all of these, and their solutions as well. The teachers at the best yoga school in India will teach you about resistance exercises that can be done in pregnancy, cardiovascular exercises, and also diet.

The asanas that are suited for the pregnancy period are also taught in complete detail. They include Tadasana, Uttanasana, Trikonasana, Utkatasana, Natarajasana, and Vrikshasana, to name a few. The asanas that are covered vary from one month to another, based on the development of the fetus.

Yogic cleansing during pregnancy is also covered in this course. Jal Neti Kriya and Vaman Kriya are considered safe practices and are taught herein. You will learn about the process, its benefits and contraindications, as a part of the course.

It is also important to mention here that prenatal yoga does not just include asana practice. There is Pranayama as well, which occupies a very important position. Relaxation during this time is extremely crucial, so breathing exercises are advised as well. You will learn about the important breathing techniques like Nadi Shodhana, Ujjayi Pranayama, Bhramari Pranayama, and Sheetali Pranayama.

Another important subject that you will study in the prenatal ttc, is meditation and yoga Nidra. You will learn how to sit in pregnancy for meditation, how to relax, and how to meditate. The various meditations that are covered herein are mantra meditation, walking meditation, birth meditation, silence meditation and so on.

The course will also cover yogic practices that will aid you in seamless delivery. You will also learn in detail about the mantras that one can chant during delivery.

Final Words

You can join the course at the best yoga school in India, to learn about prenatal yoga. You will also be able to get certified under Yoga Alliance, which is an added advantage. Joining the course will open up another pathway for your yoga teaching career. So go for it today.

How To Guide People Correctly In Yoga? 16 Nov 2024, 6:41 am

How To Guide People Correctly In Yoga?

There are so many teachers around teaching yoga, that you may often feel confused. Some teachers will advise you to practice the poses correctly, while others will talk about breath manipulation. If you ask two different teachers, about the correct ways to practice yoga, you could get two entirely different answers. There comes the ambiguity. To be true, there are different forms of yoga, and each style has a certain distinctiveness of its own. While enrolling for a yoga teacher training course, it is very important that you focus on the correct practice to get the most out of it.

Thus, today we bring to you the right ways through which any teacher must guide their students. It will be extremely useful for you as well, as a future teacher of yoga. There are several elements in the realm of yoga, which if used in the right manner, can bring about life-changing results. Let us delve into the same today.

Guiding People In Yoga – Key Elements Decoded

• Covering The Eyes Of The Students

The best teachers guide students, by blindfolding them and then taking them through the yoga postures. There are many reasons, why one should take up this methodology while guiding one through yoga practice. When your vision is blocked, there will be fewer distractions and you will be forced to turn inwards. It helps one to reach a state of calm and meditation. When you make your students close your eyes, then your connection with the environment and yourself increases.

New students often compare themselves with others in their class. And it can often lead to feelings of dismay. By practicing with closed eyes, one tends to focus on inner sensations. Moreover, it has other physical benefits as well. You will often lose balance, while practicing a few standing asanas, but with eyes closed, it becomes easier. At the beginning of the session, the teacher gives clear instructions to guide you through the series that you will be engaging in.

• Inhalation, Movement And Exhalation

You have to start with breathing right. Mastery of any asana comes about, only when you let go off the restlessness. Allow the fresh air to flow in first, as it is the best relationship which you can form. The breath is the guide for the asana practice. You have to make the best use of the respiratory system, spine, and the abdomen. Linking the breath with the movement helps with correct postural efficiency. You will learn about movements that improve inhalation and others that support exhalation.

Only a good teacher with knowledge of such intricacies can guide you on the right track. As a teacher who is responsible for guiding you correctly, you must give the commands for inhalation, taking position, and exhalation. This cycle will of course repeat itself a number of times, depending on the movements in a particular pose. It does not really matter, how beautifully you do the yoga asana. If you cannot achieve the proper integration of the body, breath, and your mind, every effort will be futile.

In general, you can inhale while opening the body, and exhale while closing the body. Use the inhalations to lengthen the body, and exhalation to deepen the pose. Always ensure to breathe through your nostrils. The best teachers at schools like Shree Hari Yoga School will help you to learn these aspects, while doing yoga.

• Disclosing The Asana Stance Slowly

You must observe a student, while guiding him or her through yoga practice. Asking the student to enter a certain pose, with the name reveal is the third thing that should come about. You can also explain the name in Sanskrit and then English. Allow the students to do the yoga pose, according to their understanding. Once, they have taken the stance, you can make adjustments and modifications.

You also need to ensure that a proper foundation for the pose has been built. For standing poses, the feet are used for grounding. While in seated poses, you have to use the sitz bones for grounding. Proper grounding will help in preventing imbalance. Once the student gets the above right, you can focus on holding the pose. You can ask the student to stay in the pose, as long as they are comfortable. Overdoing anything is a bad idea. The students are the best judge of their bodies. These are cues that differ from one teacher to another. It is also an art that not every teacher can perfect. A cue generally allows the student to get into the desired shape for any yoga asana. Then comes refinement. They will help you to personalize the yoga asana for beginners. Every body is different, and as a good yoga teacher, you have to respect that.

• Sequencing The Yoga Class

You also need to sequence well. The class will often start with breathing, moving into a meditative mode. Yoga is more about looking within, than elsewhere. It is important for teachers to build an intention before the flow starts. There will be warm-up, a peak pose, balancing backbends and forward bends, prone poses and then supine poses. You have to allow a slow descent to relaxation as well. You can correctly guide any student, no matter what their level of practice, if you follow the above.

Joining the best yoga school in India, will help you to learn such intricacies that are expected from a yoga teacher.

Conclusion

As yoga becomes more commercialized, the true essence is slowly vanishing. So, it is important for you to absorb the best knowledge from eminent yoga teachers, who are based at the best schools. Yoga is not an exercise, where you need to be guided stepwise, physically. It is more about what is happening internally. The earlier you can imbibe such qualities, the more efficient you can get in your yoga practice. Join the yoga teacher training to get the best exposure to the correct techniques of learning and teaching yoga.

The Mind-Body Connection – Understanding Yoga’s Impact On Mental Health 5 Nov 2024, 11:41 am

The Mind-Body Connection – Understanding Yoga’s Impact On Mental Health

It is not hidden anymore, that yoga is a holistic and therapeutic practice that can bring lots of benefits. Widely practiced across the globe for health and wellness, yoga has diversified quite a lot. Some yoga forms have physical focus, while others have spiritual focus. You will find Hatha Yoga being practiced mainly in the west, for its breathing and body postures. Yoga continues to run its marathon, by spreading across the globe. The most general reasons why people practice yoga are flexibility, strength-building, stress relief, and overall fitness. If you want to experience the deep effects of yoga, you must enroll in a yoga teacher training course in India, or attend a retreat.

Research has shown that yoga does have its physical manifestations. However, there are even more records of it being used in therapy for mental illnesses. Yoga has been proven to reduce symptoms of ailments like PTSD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders as well. There are various advantages when you use yoga instead of medicines and therapies.

How Does Yoga Help In Alleviating Your Mental Health?

There are several ways through which yoga can help in alleviating your mental health issues. You should read about them here.

• Practicing yoga has multiple health benefits, which start with the release of happy hormones. Like most other physical activities, it helps in releasing mood-boosting chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. You may argue that yoga is slow-paced, so how does it help in this. Although it is true, it does elevate the heart rate. Thus, when you practice yoga for quite some time and regularly, it does make you happy.
• Yoga practice on a daily basis also reduces depression. This has proved to be effective in comparison with other treatments like psychotherapy and medication. It also benefits those with depressive disorders.
• Yoga also reduces stress levels due to the continuous motion of the muscles. The expansion and contraction is known to reduce tension. Apart from the yoga activity itself, you can benefit from the supportive elements associated with yoga. They include music, the smell of incense, and a secluded spot to practice yoga.
• If you feel anxious, then you can engage in some breathing exercises, which are very much a part of yoga. Some psychologists are using yoga to supplement their treatment plans. So, it must be really effective.
• Yoga can improve your sleep. If you are suffering from insomnia, then practicing yoga will definitely help. Moreover, if you make it a practice to do yoga before bedtime, you will start counting the advantages sooner.
• Yoga is mostly done in groups, if you are not signing up for a solitary class. So, it also enhances your social connections. You tend to meet different individuals when you visit a yoga school or retreat. That in itself is therapy. When you form connections with other individuals, it makes you happy. Group bonding is particularly very effective in curing many of your ailments that arise from isolation.
• You will start inculcating many healthy habits, when you start your yoga practice. It is the starting point for many other physical activities. You start losing weight and also stop relying on smoking, once you find your peace in yoga.

So, now that you know about the therapeutic effects of yoga on your mental health, you can start with a few preliminary poses. Incorporate yoga asana, breathing, and meditation to make the most of it.

Yoga Poses And Practices For Your Mental Wellbeing

• Balasana – This is the first pose that comes to mind, when you think of yoga for mental health. It is one of the most relaxing asanas that you can choose. Moreover, it is a beginner pose, so anybody can do it. It gives a good amount of stretch to your arms, shoulders, back, and also opens your hips. This is a prone position, which is extremely relaxing and sends a jolt of fresh blood to the brain. Learn it at one of the best yoga schools in India.
• Sukhasana – This is another amazing pose which has huge health benefits, particularly mental health. Also a beginner pose, it is a seated pose. It opens up your hips and groin area. You can master this pose, as it is also the one that you need to be in, when you meditate. It is a deeply restorative pose not only for your body, but also for your mind.
• Paschimottanasana – You can engage yourself in this pose, if you want to boost your mental wellbeing today. It is one of the simplest poses that you may have learnt in school as well. This one is also a seated pose and gives a full-body stretch. Your hamstrings, calf muscles, and your back also get a deep stretch. Moreover, you can practice it almost anywhere. So, that is another huge advantage.
• Adho Mukha Svanasana – This is another beginner pose, which you can practice while standing. You do not need any special accessory to perform this. If you only have time for one pose, then this is it. You can take a dig at it at any instance. Your heart sends fresh blood to the brain to rejuvenate it. So, go for it.
• Uttanasana – This is another deeply therapeutic pose, which you can perform almost anywhere. It gives your entire body a relaxing workout. Your brain drain happens right here.

These are a few of the yoga poses, which you can practice anywhere. All of the above are deeply therapeutic in nature. But yoga is not just asana.

Breathing is also important, and that is why Pranayama is so important.

• Kapalbhati – It is a Pranayama and also a yogic cleansing process. You can practice this forced exhalation followed by passive inhalation, to give a jolt to your wellbeing. It also increases the oxygen supply and relaxes the mind.
• Bhastrika – It is yet another powerful breathing technique, which involves powerful inhalations and exhalations. It increases blood circulation and also clears the mind.

Conclusion

You can choose the above practices to get mentally sound and healthy. But always remember to join a good yoga school in India to get the best benefits. Thereafter, you can regularly practice all that you have learnt and gain the best benefits.

Integrating Yoga Into Your Daily Life 23 Oct 2024, 11:31 am

Integrating Yoga Into Your Daily Life

You may have heard time and again that yoga can change lives. You must have also attended a few yoga classes where you learnt what asanas to perform. But asana alone is not yoga, as other holistic practices under the same wing include meditation and Pranayama. Doing a teacher training course in India can change your life, but how? Doing a course for a month or two, cannot change you.

However, you can integrate yoga into your daily life, if you keep a few things in mind. Read about the same here.

How To Integrate Yoga Into Your Lifestyle?

In your busy life, full of work commitments and family commitments, you must include yoga practices, starting in a subtle manner. You can make it sustainable, if you take it slow and steady. Here are a few ways you can do it.

• Set Realistic Expectations

Making a resolution and sticking to it in the long-term is a different thing. It is not attainable at the very first instance. If you are not used to exercising daily, it can be very cumbersome. If you are a beginner, commit to 2-3 days a week initially. Slowly you can increase the frequency. This will give you ample time to observe your bodily changes and moods. Over a period of time, you can increase the frequency. Once you can stick to your goal, you will automatically start trusting your body and the practice.

• Set Intentions For Your Practice

You must set a theme or intention for your yoga practice, to make it a part of your lifestyle. The intention can be just about anything, from self-love to connection with your subconscious. The stronger it is, the better it is for you. You can better understand it, by the word ‘Sankalpa’. We cannot call it a goal, as such, as ‘Sankalpa’ goes much deeper. It is like an affirmation or a manifestation. You can repeat it before every yoga day. It reminds you that you are not just running after physical flexibility or stability, but eternal wellbeing.

• Measuring Your Progress

If you really want to make yoga a part of your life, you have to keep measuring how far you have reached. It means holding oneself accountable. If you try to find out who is leading much more holistic livelihoods than you, then depression might set in. So, it is always good to track your progress by looking back at the point where you started.

• Let There Be Imperfection

You cannot judge yourself against others in yoga. It is not a competition. Of course there is competitive yoga. But that is different from what you have set out to do, or rather achieve. Your body structure and alignment is completely different from that of the others. So, there is no point sulking, if you find someone with a better posture. If you are tired, but do not feel like giving up, stop that right now! It will be harassing your body. And if you miss a session one day, stop worrying about it. You can catch up the next day, can’t you?

• Enrol In Online Classes

After you have completed a yoga TTC, you can always go back home and enroll in an online class. It will be a refresher of sorts. Your practice will be that way. You can also try a variety of yoga styles, to make it more exciting.

Now that you know how to go about it, learn here, what you can do.

Basic Sequences Which You Can Incorporate Into Your Daily Life

• Start practicing when you get up in the morning. This will get the blood flowing. A series of Pranayama can be a good start. Additionally, you can do some movements on the bed itself, before you even set your foot on the ground.
• Next, when you are on your way to the workplace, or have an important presentation to give, practice some energizing poses. Some of them include Camel pose, Tree pose, and Chair pose. You can do them at any place. These are anxiety fixing poses, which will get you through.
• If you are working at a stationery job, you can do some yoga practices at your desk itself. Touching your toes in seated position, stretching the hands, and twisting the body left and right, are nice options. You can also try the Cat-Cow pose, which is excellent. The seated twist is especially very beneficial. Desk-Upward Dog pose is also another option, for you to try.
• There are quite a few yoga poses, which you can practice after lunch. It is that harrowing time, when one feels like napping, but cannot. Instead, you may be tasked with delivering an important speech. Try Kapalbhati, which will make you shine. Additionally, you can also do a few Sun Salutations. Tree pose is also great for balancing.
• You can try out a few yoga poses before bed-time as well. They include Balasana, Baddha Konasana, Viparita Karani, amidst many others.

The yoga that you choose to do before bedtime lays more emphasis on rest and stress relief, rather than anything else. Trying Yin yoga or Hatha yoga can also help. Avoid poses that are too stimulating. Backbends, inversions, and flowing asanas can result in insomnia. So, you must try to avoid those.

Conclusion

There are quite a few ways by which you can incorporate yoga as a part of your lifestyle. Calm yourself and regain your well-being today itself. It will slowly start showing on your body, mind, and emotional spirit. You must ensure to do your yoga teacher training course from a renowned school, where you are made to understand the background and efficacy of each pose. The best school will help you to identify what you are suited for. It will also be a stepping stone towards a life that is holistic to the fullest. Joining a yoga school will also transform your life in several different ways. Identify the best one for that very reason.

The Eight Limbs Of Yoga A Comprehensive Guide 18 Oct 2024, 6:34 am

The Eight Limbs Of Yoga A Comprehensive Guide

If you have studied Ashtanga Yoga, or any other yoga style for that matter, you must have come across Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. This is not to be confused with the Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga developed by Pattabhi Jois. Written sometime around 2^nd Century BC, the sutras is a comprehensive guide on the eight stages of evolution that one needs to go through, to attain enlightenment. These also guide the practitioner of yoga, on the path of spirituality and self-realization. It is a step-by-step guide, which you need to follow to get liberation in the true sense of the word. Learn about authentic yoga from the best yoga school in India, today.

The Eight Limbs Explained

According to sage Patanjali, one must understand each step before walking on the same path. However, in the last few decades, as many self-taught Gurus emerged, many of the scripts have been changed. You must walk on the pathway, sequentially, to get maximum benefits.

Let us explore the subject in more detail, so that you can understand it in a better manner. Yama is the ethical guiding principle and Niyama, which comes after it, is the prescribed code of conduct. You need to master these, before moving ahead with the physical manifestations of yoga, like asana or Pranayama.

After you have studied and made the Yama and Niyama, a part of your life, you can navigate to the next practices. They are the asana and Pranayama. For sage Patanjali, there was only one asana, the one that you needed to practice meditation and Pranayama, in a comfortable manner. So, probably asanas came in much later. A learned yoga teacher from the best yoga school in India can explain all of the above in greater detail.

Thereafter comes Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi comes next. The last three stages of Patanjali’s Sutras can only be experienced, once you are in the right mental set-up. If you want to connect to the divine, you need to master all of the above. Then only you can move forward.

• Yama – It teaches, ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha. In modern life, you can practice ahimsa by being kind towards others. Moreover, you should also abstain from killing other beings, whether animals, or even plants. Therefore, switching to a vegetarian diet is of utmost importance. Satya speaks about truthfulness. According to the principle of Asteya, you must not indulge in any sort of theft, whether physical or that of intellectual objects. Controlling sexual urges comes next, in the context of brahmacharya. Moderation is the key according to Patanjali. The last one, aparigraha points towards non-attachment. You should not develop too much love for something physically, mentally, or emotionally.
• Niyama – It revolves around ethical observances. They are saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, and Ishvara Pranidhana. The first one asks one to maintain cleanliness both internally and externally. Thereafter, you are encouraged to develop a feeling of contentment, as in santosha. Tapas is self-discipline. In the context of yoga, even today, if you are not self-disciplined, you cannot go far. Self-study comes next, which encourages introspection and self-love through knowledge. The last one points towards surrender to the divine.
• Asanas – They are the physical poses that create heat within the body and help you to gain flexibility and strength. It prepares the body for higher objectives like meditation and Pranayama. If you move your body parts regularly, it can also help in gaining fine mental health.
• Pranayama – It is nothing but breath-control. When you can manipulate your breath, then you can also balance the energies which flow through the body. Yogic breathing can help you to manage body processes in a far better manner.
• Pratyahara – This is the fifth sutra which talks about the withdrawal of the senses. It means, moving away from distractions. Mindful disengagement from things like social media is one of the practices that takes you forward. It ultimately leads to better mental clarity and also reduces stress.
• Dharana – The cultivation of unwavering focus is what is encouraged through this. You must anchor yourself in the present moment, to develop the quality. In this modern world, practicing mindfulness is absolutely necessary, to stay productive and healthy. Once you can master this, moving ahead towards the next step Dhyana becomes easier.
• Dhyana – It goes beyond the act of Dharana. It is the ultimate state of meditation, which points towards a state of deep absorption. There are several methods of meditation which you can practice today. There is guided meditation and unguided ones as well. You must choose the one that aligns with your mind-set.
• Samadhi – This is the final stage, or you can also call it the ultimate goal. This is the phase, when you are liberated from all attachments, be they material or non-material. In modern times, those who want to remain in family life, must inculcate a sense of purpose and fulfilment, in their actions. Moreover, mindful living is encouraged today.

Thus, you can very well understand the context of learning Patanjali’s Sutras today. It is more than just studying some old and obsolete script. You must study it in detail, and with a lot of conviction, to lead a rich life. You are guided through this comprehensive framework to lead a life that aligns with the guiding principles of the sutras. Deepen your understanding of this practice, through this divine knowledge.

Conclusion

You must ensure to gain holistic knowledge of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras from one of the best schools. Joining a yoga teacher training in India is the best thing to do. You can enrol for a course at the most prestigious schools following the original lineage. It will help you to gain mastery over the holistic subject of yoga, as you get to study from the beginning of time. Learning about the Vedas, Upanishads, and other religious scripts will also open your intellect.

Choose a school which resonates with your lifestyle choices and also offers a certification. These will help you to gain a foothold in this sphere.

Building A Successful Yoga Teaching Career 25 Sep 2024, 5:12 am

Building A Successful Yoga Teaching Career

Congratulations on the successful completion of the Yoga Alliance accredited yoga teacher training course in India. So, now you are competent enough to teach others and propagate the knowledge of authentic yoga. It is important for you to keep practicing after your course is over. It will help you to build continuity. However, you may be wondering how to break into the competitive market, as there are so many teachers around you. Take it easy!

There are many ways to build your successful yoga teaching career, or business. Your keen sense of planning will help you to pave the way. So, without wasting much time, let us find out how to go about it. Find tips underneath to give a jumpstart to your yoga business.

●Develop Your Personal Message

Your story is important for yourself and everyone around you. It is your personal journey that will make an impact. If you want to differentiate yourself from the herd, then building your personal message is important. This is what will attract others towards you. You will also attract like-minded students and participants in this process.

● Narrow Your Clientele

There are different types of classes, like yoga teacher training courses, workshops, conferences, drop-in classes, and retreats. If you dip your fingers into all of these, it can be confusing, and you may not be able to attract students and yogis. Narrowing your vision will help you to get clients, as people look for a niche and focus.

●Start Volunteering

Although such classes do not bring you money or gains, you can jumpstart your career through such classes. These also help you to build awareness in your community. Moreover, you can also connect with your audience. People around you will come to know about your offerings. After you have developed rapport with yoga enthusiasts, you will be able to offer them paid-classes. And they will readily pay you, as well.

●Start With Online Classes

You can also start with online classes, as they do not require much infrastructure initially. Moreover, you can reach people far off, online. So, your reach increases a lot. Advertise on social media platforms to get the right attention. This is one of the channels, which if leveraged well can bring you huge returns.

●Continue To Practice

While you are looking for different ways to build your yoga teaching business, continue with your self-practice. There are no other alternatives to that. At the yoga school in India, when you were attending classes, you must have learnt about the importance. Your practice will make you perfect. Moreover, you may understand various issues that may come up, once you start offering classes to others.

●Finalize A Location

Selecting that perfect location for the yoga TTC, is absolutely important, if you want to make profits. Nature is a constant empowerment and motivation for yogis, so choose a place with hills as backdrop, or lush green forests in the vicinity. The presence of water bodies nearby can add more environmental benefits. It will be a meditative journey for you. You must consider the market of that area as well, before you look for a space. Try to avoid congested spaces, where there are other schools nearby.

●Develop Your Business Acumen

At the best yoga school in India, you will not just receive yoga education, but business education as well. You admit it or not, being a yoga teacher and being a business person requires different skill sets. You have to know how to put together your business dream. As your business grows, you will require more people to support your business, like teachers, accountants, cleaning staff, and cooks, as well, if you offer residential services. Administration staff may also be required. Developing relationships with your internal people is also important. As a business owner, you also need to develop communication skills, so that you can communicate with everyone.

●Negotiate And Network

You will find that negotiation is required in the yoga business as well. If you cannot do that, you will simply not make it. Additionally, you need to network a lot, so that you can attract more opportunities. The best schools will help you develop these skills as well. Any business, which does not have business skills, fails within a year. Networking with your fellow students at yoga school is also important. They are the ones who will give you the opportunities to set shop.

●Building A Website

In today’s times, building a website is very important. It cements the status of your business. A yoga website is extremely important for your business, as it makes you appear more prominently in online searches. Posting blogs online on your website is another way to attract your target clientele. Marketing and sales are two important aspects of any business. Once you attract a client, you can develop the strategy to sell. The same applies here. Get your website professionally designed by the best designers.

● Develop Multi-Tasking Abilities

This is as important as anything else. You can be a teacher, a business, a mother and so on. You must learn to multitask. A multi-faceted personality can do just about anything. So, live life in a wholesome manner. As a business owner, you may offer classes of your own, but you also need to make way for others to forward their careers. Building employment is also your responsibility. After completing the yoga ttc in India from a renowned school, you must explore different opportunities, practice, and then take the leap.

Final Words

Joining a good school of yoga enhances your possibilities. You gain the necessary skills to take on the world. The best teachers at such schools take on the burden to educate the students and make them complete individuals. A Yoga Alliance certification also helps in many ways. You will be able to undergo refresher courses later as well. The certification also cements your business. You gain recognition globally. Therefore, enrol for a course from a prestigious school, so that you can get authentic knowledge.