Archive for December, 2009
Why Practicing Yoga is Good For the Mind, Body and Soul
Keeping fit and healthy is the aim of all human beings. If you want to live and enjoy the life you have been blessed with then ensuring you are in good health is very essential. Good health comes with taking care of yourself be it your body, mind or soul. Taking care of all three involves eating right, being involved in the right amount of physical activity, thinking right and being happy. When it comes to the aspect of physical exertion and exercising, Yoga comes into the picture.
Yoga is an ancient form of staying fit by performing a few asanas or moves which involve stretching, concentrating and breathing in the right manner at the same time. Yoga was first practiced by saints in ancient India and today it has emerged as one of the top methods of staying fit and healthy and also a means to lose and manage weight. Yoga is a series of movements which is done with a holistic mindset, a clear heart and relaxed breathing. The same importance is given to breathing in the correct manner as is given to performing the stretches the right way.
Yoga looks at self development with discipline, confidence and an earnest effort. Yoga is considered good for your body because the kinds of movements it involves are for the benefit and limberness of each and every part of the body. Yoga is considered good for the mind because it involves meditation. An integral part of yoga involves medication and some experts say you cannot do yoga correctly if you do not tune your mind to meditate. Meditation is a state of mind which is completely relaxed.
You keep your mind focused on your breathing, on good and happy thoughts which build confidence and you stay clear from your day to day problems and other negative issues. The mind becomes relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated after a session of deep meditation.
Yoga is an art which makes you connect with your Creator, the one supreme force or power which created you, sustains you and nourishes you. When you connect with your Creator through meditation and expressing thanks, your soul is nourished and refreshed. The soul is that invincible part of your being which although has no physical form yet its nourishment and development is considered essential for the well being of the entire being.
Yoga has many health benefits. It develops the immune system and provides for better blood circulation in the body. It provides control over anxiety, stress and also depression. It helps in weight loss and weight control. Yoga helps in detoxifying the body and also helps to cure many ailments such as arthritis, heart disease, chronic fatigue, back and joint pain. Yoga reduces tension and stress, helps in concentrating better and also better creative thinking. Yoga enhances flexibility and aids proper balance.
With so many health benefits of yoga for the betterment of the mind, body and soul, practicing yoga is only for the well being of your entire persona.
5 Herbal and Natural Ways to Relieve
Due to its unpredictability and the danger that it poses for each and every attack asthma requires constant monitoring and treatment. Although the there is no doubt when it comes to the affectivity of your prescribed medication, there may be unwanted side effects that can result from long term usage.
Of course your doctor wouldn’t tell you that long term use of steroid based drugs for example can impair the immune system and can lead to more serious health problems in the future out of fear that you might stop your medication totally. You will need your medication to prevent and control attacks but it is important that as soon as possible you can minimize your dependence before any irreparable damage is done.
So how can this be done then? There are actually various options that you have when you want to deal with asthma without having to depend too much on your regular treatment. One of the options is getting relief and control with the aid of nature’s own medicine; plants.
Even before the advent of modern medicine, our ancestors have already been using plants and herbs for various ailments and afflictions. Not only are they effective, they are also safe and can work well along with your regular medication. Strengthening your immunity by natural means and helping eliminate underlying causes as well. While more complicated preparations will require the aid of an expert, there are a number of mixtures with easy to find ingredients that you can prepare for yourself. Here are a few of them:
Honey: Honey is considered to be one of the most highly beneficial and most commonly used ingredients in treating asthma. Honey has been known to help asthmatics by thinning the mucus within the body making it easier to expel. Here are some preparations that you can make using honey as the main ingredient: Mix 1 teaspoon of honey in lukewarm water and take three times a day, you can add a little sugar for taste. You can also mash the bitter root of a gourd plant into a thick paste and mix it with honey, take one teaspoon before going to bed every night. Try it for a month and feel the improvement for yourself.
Ginger: A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, mixed with honey and a cup of fenugreek can act as an effective expectorant for asthmatics. Take once in the morning after waking up and once in the evening before going to bed.
Garlic: Garlic has long been used by some asthmatics to deal with coughing, congestion of the chest and sore throats. The preparation of garlic for asthma includes; 10 cloves of garlic and about a quarter cup of milk. Mix the two ingredients together and bring to a boil. Strain the garlic and allow the mixture to cool. Take during an outset of asthma to relieve discomfort.
Figs: There are many varieties of figs found in the market and while eating them raw can help deal with the condition, they are actually quite more effective when soaked in water. Choose soft, sweet smelling figs for this preparation as they have the best effect. Soak figs in water and leave overnight, eat the soaked figs preferably on an empty stomach and drink the water where the figs were soaked, this will further help clear out mucus buildup within the throat and lungs.
Mustard oil: Mustard oil mostly serves as an inhaler for asthmatics. All the preparation needs is boiling water and mustard oil. Since there is no specific amount required, feel free to experiment until you get the mixture that works best for you. Inhale the steam deeply and slowly to get the best possible results.
Looking at Different Stop Smoking Programs
If you truly want to quit smoking for life, there are many stop smoking programs from which you can choose. The success rates of these programs can reach up to nearly 50% smoke free after one year, a very high rate in this field. This is because stop smoking programs are designed to give you emotional, mental, and physical support to help you quit and stay off cigarettes for the rest of your life. Studies show that quitters who have a large network of support with not only family or friends, but also health care professionals and other quitters are more likely to stay from cigarettes than those people who quit on their own. In fact, only 5% of solitary quitters are still smoke free after their first year.
When you are looking for a stop smoking program, you should find one that is suited to your lifestyle. Today, you have the choice of phone support, online support, or face to face support. Some people may find a combination of any or all of the three the most effective. A phone support system is a good choice, especially for someone who is shy about asking for help. It gives you the warmth of talking to a real human being, but with the anonymity of a phone call. It can bridge the gap between face to face and online groups. There are many quitters’ hotlines; some are private groups that might be linked to a hospital, others are government funded, usually state by state. All hotlines come with a local or toll-free number for you to dial. You can receive tips, encouragement, or track your progress with counselors.
If you think that you might do better in a face to face stop smoking program, you should consider looking up your local branch of Nicotine Anonymous. This group is founded on the proven twelve step program that was pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous. You meet once or twice a week with your support group and discuss your individual trials and triumphs as you accept you have a smoking problem and then work your way out of that problem. Many people enjoy the supportive atmosphere of these Anonymous groups so much that they keep coming for years, eventually offering inspiration and support to newer members.
Busy people might say that they simply don’t have time to quit. However, online stop smoking programs eliminate that excuse. You can choice any number of chat forums to get advice and encouragement from other people who are also going through the quitting process. Sometimes these rooms are moderated by a smoking counselor. You might be directed to web sites that offer in depth information about quitting or sell stop smoking products.
No matter which stop smoking programs you choose, there is sure to be the perfect one out there to help you quit.