9 Tips to Practice Yoga at Home

  Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation is a sequence of 12 powerful yoga poses. Besides being a great cardiovascular workout, Surya Namaskar is also known to have an immensely positive impact on the body and mind. Practicing Surya Namaskar steps is best done early morning on an empty stomach. Each round of Sun Salutation consists of two sets, and  each set is composed of 12 yoga poses . You might find several versions on how to practice Sun Salutation. However, it is advisable to stick to one particular version and practice it regularly for the best results. Besides good health, Surya Namaskar also provides an opportunity to express gratitude to the sun for sustaining life on this planet.   Surya Namaskar Steps to Follow: Step 1. Pranamasana (Prayer pose) Stand at the edge of your mat, keep your feet together and balance your weight equally on both feet. Expand your chest and relax your shoulders. As you breathe in, lift both arms up from the sides, and as you exhale, bring y...

Is bad breath the culprit behind your low confidence, poor social life, and hesitation to speak? Clinically known as Halitosis, bad breath is a common occurrence among people everywhere. Stressful lifestyles, along with hectic work schedules disturb the body equilibrium, leading to problems such as bad breath. Most people believe that poor oral hygiene is the reason for bad breath. However, this may not be entirely true. Bad breath may be caused by: Irregular food habits Improper digestion Less intake of water Type of food consumed Smoking and consumption of alcohol or tobacco Dry mouth White deposition on tongue, leading to bacteria Though you could be giving oral hygiene a priority, bad breath could recur. Here’s where yoga and pranayama will help. They help remove toxins from the body, regulate the digestive system and rejuvenate you from within.   Breathing exercises (Pranayama) to get rid of bad breath 1.   Kapalbhati pranayama (Skull shining breathing technique...

  Paschim Namaskarasana or the Reverse Prayer pose is an upper body strengthening pose that works specifically on the arms and the abdomen. It is also known as Viparita Namaskarasana. How to do Reverse Prayer Pose (Paschim Namaskarasana) Begin in Tadasana pose. Relax the shoulders and bend your knees a little. Bring your arms behind your back and join the palms with fingertips facing downward. As you inhale, turn the fingertips inwards towards the spine and bring them to face upwards. Ensure that the knees are still slightly bent and the palms are pressed firmly against each other. Stay in the position for a couple of breaths. As you exhale, slowly turn the fingertips downward. Bring the arms to the side of the body and slowly come back into Tadasana. Benefits of the Reverse Prayer Pose (Paschim Namaskarasana) Opens the abdomen, thus allowing deeper breaths. Stretches the upper back . Stretches the shoulder joints and pectoral muscles. Contraindications of the Reverse Prayer P...

  A wavering focus is one of the major causes for low productivity at the work place or low grades at school and college. It is this same attribute that students, professionals, entrepreneurs and home-makers alike have been trying to achieve to uplift the quality of their lives. While a lack of focus is the mother of all follies, achieving better concentration is not really that difficult when one knows where to look for help. Of the various focus improvement options available today, yoga and pranayama are probably some of the oldest and time-tested methods that can take you closer to your goal. Though it may seem that yoga is more of a physical workout technique, it works on the mental level too. It makes the body more flexible and improves the immunity level. It also alleviates stress, soothes the nerves and calms the mind. Here is a list of simple pranayamas that can help you achieve better focus: Lack of exercise, odd sleeping patterns, and poor food habits can also be the...

  Weight loss for some can be fun, and for some a complete nightmare. While some may hit the gym to   lose those extra pounds , others may resort to crash dieting and weight loss pills. The urge to lose weight can actually end up doing more harm than good. While losing weight is crucial, more importance should be placed on losing it the right way. One of the keys to a safe weight loss program is keeping the metabolism high - on and off the floor. Restricting your diet helps to a certain extent, but boosting metabolism can really help speed up the weight loss process. Here are a few tips that can help you to increase the metabolism rate and reach your desired weight target! Yogasanas and Pranayama To Boost Metabolism While yoga might appear like an acrobatic body twist, in reality it is much more than that. “Yoga” means union in Sanskrit, and it is the harmonious fusion of body, breath and mind that balances our bodily systems. The harmonious unification with Nature brings a ch...

  A brief introduction to Bhakti Yoga - The path of devotion Those who fix their mind on me and only I dwell in their thoughts; and who sing my glories with love and devotion; and who have complete faith in me are the best." In the above citation, Lord Krishna answers Arjuna's question in Bhagavad Gita, on who is an ideal Yogi (one who is in complete union with the divine). It is verily the essence of Bhakti Yoga. What is Bhakti Yoga? Bhakti Yoga is a Sanskrit word; Yoga means union; the only English word that can do justice to the word Bhakti is perhaps "Love," "Universal Love" or "Divine Love." Bhakti is not what we do or have but what we are. And waking up to realize that - is  Bhakti Yoga . A realization that everything is the Supreme Consciousness, nothing else exists. Losing the sense of separateness from that all-pervading Power, losing the identity that is defined by the world, and merging, diving into the vast, endless ocean of a throbbin...

  The posture is named Badhakonasana because of the way it is carried out – both the feet tucked close to the groin, clasped tightly with the hands as though tied or bound together in a particular angle. It is also popularly known as the Butterfly Pose because of the movement of the legs during the posture, giving the appearance of a butterfly flapping its wings. The posture is also sometimes known as the Cobbler Pose as it resembles the  sitting position  of a cobbler at work. How to do Butterfly Pose (Badhakonasana) Sit with your spine erect and legs spread straight out. Now bend your knees and bring your feet towards the pelvis. The soles of your feet should touch each other. Grab your feet tightly with your hands. You may place the hands underneath the feet for support. Make an effort to bring the heels as close to the genitals as possible. Take a deep breath in. Breathing out, press the thighs and knees downward towards the floor. Make a gentle effort to keep pressi...

  Do your knee joint or wrists or shoulders ache when doing trivial things? Is the pain in your joints limiting you from enjoying life the way you wish to? Are you tired of popping painkillers multiple times a day? If you said yes for either of these questions, you've obviously have had enough and are willing to end your relationship with the pain. As one ages, the chances of joint pains increases. A weak bone structure, lack of adequate physical exercises and lack of essential nutrients in the diet can contribute to and aggravate the situation further. While medication helps alleviate the pain, alternative time-tested methods like yoga can accelerate the process of eliminating the pain altogether. Yoga is an ancient Indian technique that effectively uproots the pain, tones the body and calms the mind. A Word Of Caution: Make use of yoga blocks, cushions and support while practicing these poses to avoid aggravation of pain. Respect your body's limit and do only as much as...

From head to toe, from the brain to the tummy, from improving focus to managing anxiety and stress, yoga is excellent for several reasons. Though there’s a catch: to experience yoga’s sustained benefits, it needs to be practiced regularly. That is why inspiring stories of people recovering from health ailments with a regular practice are aplenty. However, with hectic work schedules, late mornings and our own laziness, making time for yoga every day becomes a dream too ambitious for some of us. Yet there are ways to fulfill this dream.  This International Day of Yoga, follow these useful tips from our experts to make it happen. Don’t be rigid about a fixed time Do you dream about a day when you get up at 4 in the morning and practice yoga? You need to admit it - it is never going to happen! It is better to do your practice at any time than not doing it at all. So be flexible. Choose a time that fits in your schedule. Yet be flexible enough to do it any other time of the day. Use a p...

Can yoga help me boost immunity? Does it work instantly or is it slow to show the results? Can I practice yoga during the COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus, quarantine? The answer is yes.  Regular practice of yoga has shown effective results. Different asanas boost immunity, build the body’s strength, increase energy levels, bring down anxiety and stress, infuses positivity and freshness in the mind.  When thinking about the cause of sickness, weather and other external pollutants are usually the first ones to blame. However, talk to any yogi and you will most likely find out that they rarely get sick. Why viruses like corona find it easy to attack humans? What makes us susceptible to the microscopic crazymakers? Lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and life stress all lead to a weakened immune system and vulnerability to sickness. Stress, more than anything, leads to a breakdown in the body’s ability to defend itself against bacteria and viruses. When stressed, the hormone co...