Archive

Posts Tagged ‘training’

An Introduction To The Yoga Philosophy

May 5th, 2010

When most people hear the word yoga, an image of a girl sitting with her feet on her things and hands resting on her knees often forms in their minds. They may also imagine that she is meditating. But this ancient discipline is more than just sitting in this lotus position. It is an approach to life that combines the value of both physical and philosophical well being. The word itself comes from ancient Sanskrit writings and in English translates to “royal union.” This royal union is that of the mind and body.

The Sanskrit text that offers the foundation is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. There are four books to this text that were written over 2000 years ago. The four books are the Kaivalya Pada, Vibhuti Pada, Samadhi Pada, and the Sadhana Pada. The Sadhana Pada is where the physical aspects of yoga are found.

Within this book you will discover the “eight limbs” which are steps called the Ashtanga Yoga. The first five of these limbs concern aids from the external while the final three limbs deal with issues of the internal. The third of these limbs is all about discipline of the body. It preaches that the human body should be free of disease and that vital energy must be preserved. Western versions of this ancient discipline have derived from the teachings in this book of the Sutras.

The word asana is the plural form of asan, which means posture or position of the body. The purpose is improved flexibility and meditation. With asana, positions should always be steady and firm, yet comfortable at all times.

Therefore, any pain experienced while assuming poses means that you are not achieving your goal. Poses are plentiful for beginners as well as advanced practitioners.

Whatever your level of expertise is, there are some fundamentals to always keep to. Exercises should be performed on an empty stomach. Breathing must not be erratic but rather controlled and easy. Positions should be such that your body does not tremble from too much strain or pressure. Mats should be used most often instead of doing exercises on the floor. When you complete a session, you should allot time to finding a state of deep relaxation.

Some poses are done standing up. Others are performed lying down, sitting, balancing or with a bent back. Beginning positions that are done sitting include the Seated Wide Legged Straddle, Half Lord of the Fishes and the Cobbler’s Pose. Some of the standing positions for those just starting are The Pyramid, The Standing Forward Bend and The Downward Facing Dog.

As we discussed, yoga is so much more than simply arranging your body into a certain pose. If you are interested in finding a reputable gym in tornot, why not do a search for yoga toronto, and hopefully you will find one. It is a complete philosophy that stresses the importance of spiritual well being as well as the tangible needs of a human body. The first limb, in fact, teaches the fundamental virtues of truth in word and thought, nonviolence and monogamy for those who are married and celibacy for those who are not.

On the internet you can look up gym Toronto and personal training Toronto and hopefully it will link you to a reputable fitness club in Toronto.

Share

Health exercise, fitness, Health, lifestyle, running, sports, training, weight loss, workout

Sports and Physical Therapy: Boosting Recovery From A Massage Chair

April 10th, 2010

If you play sports or other physical activities, then you know that injuries come with the territory. Depending on the type of injury and the extent of your injury, you may need physical therapy. Physical therapy is the process of rehabilitation and recovery from your injury or physical ailment. Physical therapy works on recovery of your musculoskeletal system. Massage therapy is used as part of the recovery process. Some of the more advanced therapy clinics are starting to use massage chair recliners as part of their arsenal of tools to help people recover from their injuries.

If you start a physical therapy program, then you will be assigned a physical therapist. The therapist is a trained professional to help restore your strength, motion and activity. The therapist understands the mechanics of your body and will help design a treatment program for you. You will learn specific stretches, exercises and other specialized techniques to help your body recover. You may also use specific equipment that can address particular issues. Massage therapy has become an important tool in the recovery arsenal and many clinics are making use of massage chair recliners.

Your therapist is trained in different surgeries, treatments and rehabilitation techniques and goals. The therapist will design a recovery treatment targeting the areas of your body that needs greater flexibility or strength. If you are recovering from surgery, then the therapist will be knowledgeable about different surgical procedures. The therapist will help in setting goals as you work through the initial limitations of your physique. Some of the important physical therapy tools are stretching, exercises and massage therapy.

One of the key areas when you start is to make your muscles more pliable. When an injury occurs, the body immobilizes the affected area. Your body has redundant systems for most everything. If your leg is injured, it will want the other leg to take over. The body does not want the injured leg used and tries to shut it down to heal it. This is good, but your muscles become stiff and tight. They actually hurt when you start to bend them. Stretching is an important part of the physical therapy routine to build back flexibility.

When you are injured, your body knows to shift work to other areas that are not affected. So certain areas are not used for most activities. The muscles that are not used will atrophy. They will start to lose strength. The body adapts to the situation. To reverse this process, your therapist will start you on an exercise program. The exercise program is usually designed to start off slow, but steady. The program may work muscle groups together or may work on individual muscles. The treatments are designed to bring all the elements together for full strength recover.

Some of the problems encountered in the physical recovery process are scar tissue. Scar tissue forms harder than the original tissue. This needs recurring kneading and pressing massage to restore flexibility. The muscle tissue breaks down into shorter lengths when physically stressed. The muscles tissues need the fibers to be elongated to restore further flexibility. Massage therapy targets these two important areas. Some physical therapy clinics use massage therapists and may also use massage chairs. In either case, the focus is on increasing the longer term flexibility. Massage therapy is effective in loosening the muscles and scar tissue while increasing the blood and nutrient flow accelerate the healing process.

If you push your limits, you may sometimes go too far and suffer an injury. Or they may just happen. Either way, you just want to be fully recovered. The physical therapies being offered utilize top notch technology and methodologies. From massage chair recliners to treadmills, you will be exposed to a range of treatments designed for your full recovery.

I certainly hope that you will never need Physical Therapy, but if you do then find out what massage therapy most benefits you. A massage chair can be an excellent investment in your health. Massage Chair Therapy offers many techniques

Share

Health alternative health, back injury, bodywork, exercise, fitness equipment, football, Health, health equipment, health therapy, injury, massage therapy, physical therapy, sports, training

Avoid Ab Workouts For the Rest of Your Life. Really.

February 27th, 2010

Who needs ab workouts anyway? Rather than slaving away with real exercise, why not check out these wonderfully creative, not-at-all insane ways to get those abs you want? Seriously!

#5 Great Abs Are Out of Style.

Things have changed — now it’s all about beer bellies! No one really cares so much about great abs anymore. All the big trendsetters when it comes to what’s hot and what’s in are saying it loud and clear — flab is fab, lean is not.

#4 Your Body Will Conveniently Hide Fat For You.

Yeah, fine, we gain some fat — but who has ever heard of anyone’s body ‘placing’ that fat in an unfortunate place? I know we just chatted about those pot bellies above, but really, it’s not a big deal, because our bodies figure it all out and send the fat to places that never really see the light of day. So just eat away and don’t really worry, you’ll be fine!

#3 Beaches? What Beaches?

Think about it. We’ve got global warming, we’ve got pollution, it’s all pretty crazy, and who really wants to go to the beach anymore? No one really spends any time there — I haven’t heard of anyone going to the beach in years, and I’m practically an expert about these things.

#2 Those ‘Pulsing’ Exercise Machines Do The Work For You.

You’ve seen those ads on TV, right? You just strap some electrodes to your stomach, turn on a noisy box with a bunch of wires poking out of it, and — if these ads haven’t lied to me — start losing all that stomach fat immediately! You don’t have to break a sweat or burn any calories, because a machine apparently does it for you! Goodbye all other types of workouts!

#1 What Could Ever Be Wrong With Diet Pills?

Load yourself up with pills, you say? Hey, why not? Sure, they might just be sugar pills that will trick you into a placebo effect, or they could have serious negative side effects on your body. But how will you know if you don’t try, right? Why not be a guinea pig for a dubious industry? Forget those ab workouts!

If you still want a well toned body, you better start doing a good body workout on a daily basis. Zuzana’s workout videos at Bodyrock.TV will guide you through the process of obtaining the results you desire.

Share

Health abs workout, body workout, daily workouts, Dieting, family, fitness, fitness videos, Health, nutrition information, sports, training, wellness, workout body, workout routine