23
Jan 12
New York yoga classes unfairly maligned
New York yoga classes unfairly maligned.
Ever since William Broad wrote an article in the New York Times linking yoga to conditions such as headache and stroke, an international fury has risen, from New York yoga classes to across the pond in England. Luisa Dillner, a health columnist for The Guardian, wrote about the popularity of yoga – and how to practice the mind-body regimen safely – in a recent article.
There are various forms of yoga, and all of them share three things in common, according to Dillner: postures, relaxation and breathing. However, different styles emphasize various factors, such as strength or contemplation.
When it comes to injuries, people may be more vulnerable when they try to force themselves into extreme positions, such as headstands or shoulder stands.
"It is essential to practice under the guidance of an experienced and reputable teacher. If you get pins and needles or anything goes numb, stop," Dillner wrote in the news source. "Be reflective rather than competitive; do not over-extend anything, ever."
When approached correctly, exercises learned in Dahn Yoga classes or similar courses can have a range of health benefits. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, yoga can improve heart rate, blood pressure, lung capacity and physical composition.
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11
Jan 12
New York yoga classes can spur kids’ imaginations
New York yoga classes can spur kids' imaginations.
Children tend to be very energetic and full of life. At best, these traits can be fun and inspiring. At worst, most parents will tell you, they can be exhausting! However, a few New York yoga classes are helping kids put this energy to good use, as reported by the Times Union.
At the Saratoga Dance Museum, staff are offering children aged 3 to 5 years yoga classes that are specially designed to spark their imagination and give them a healthy eye for creativity.
Students will be taught poses that let them pretend to be things found in the natural world, such as a cobra, flamingo or tree billowing in the wind. One pose even challenges kids to imagine jumping into a puddle of honey!
"Kids are crazy, they run all over the place," said instructor Susan Edwards, as quoted by the news source. "This will help them mellow and chill out."
The emphasis on imagination and creativity – instead of practice and precision – will help children think more independently, Edwards said.
Parents who are looking for similar classes should check out their local Dahn Yoga community. Their children would certainly be in good company – as of 2007, more than 1.5 million children nationwide reported practicing yoga, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of health.
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09
Jan 12
Exercising stress relief in the office is an employable skill
Exercising stress relief in the office is an employable skill.
These days, job-seekers are looking for any competitive edge. Some people are early adopters of technology, while others become fluent in different languages. Some people are even turning to yoga to bolster their job prospects. After all, being able to exercise stress relief in the office may make one an attractive hire, according to The Grindstone.
Maryanna Klatt, a researcher who studies the impact of meditation in the workplace, believes that one's perception of stress can affect job performance.
"I like to describe mindfulness as changing the way you see what's already there. It's a tool that teaches people to become aware of their options," Klatt told the news source. "If they can't change the external events in their life, they can instead change the way they view the stress, which can make a difference in how they experience their day-to-day life."
In fact, some prominent companies – including AT&T, IBM and MSN – have incorporated yoga into their wellness programs. It is estimated that for every $1 invested in such initiatives, up to $6 are saved in healthcare spending, according to the news source.
People who are interested in Dahn Yoga and stress relief should remember that this mind-body regimen doesn't just have psychological benefits. Yoga can also improve muscle strength, flexibility and body composition, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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30
Dec 11
For Cheryl Burke, yoga is not just for natural stress relief
For Cheryl Burke, yoga is not just for natural stress relief.
Dancing with the Stars celebrity Cheryl Burke definitely knows what it's like to perform under pressure. After all, she's been partnered up with a popular football player, a professional wrestler and a Kardashian! As someone in the public eye, she can have an appreciation for natural stress relief and, as she explained to People Magazine, for balance.
"If I go a week without working out, it makes me feel that I might as well keep indulging," Burke said, as quoted by the news source. "If you really care about your body, then your mind starts to work better. So it's important that it all stays balanced."
Burke also recommended that everyone take up whatever activity they find fun, whether it's yoga or something outdoors-y.
When asked about who she would love to partner up with next, Burke told the magazine she'd love to dance with Antonio Banderas.
Dancing with El Mariachi? She'll need balance!
For people who are curious about the mind-body regimen, Dahn yoga classes are available. They would certainly be in good company, too. According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Yoga Journal, 18.3 million American non-practitioners expressed interest in the exercise, which was triple the figure from 2004.
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19
Dec 11
Yoga course to teach stress relief techniques to healthcare professionals
Yoga course to teach stress relief techniques to healthcare professionals.
The wisdom behind the mind-body regimen of yoga has been handed down for millennia. In this modern age, scientists have been taking yoga more seriously, classifying the stress relief techniques and exercises as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). In studying these techniques, researchers have discovered many interesting things about yoga.
"The findings suggest that MBSR can actually alter brain structure," said psychiatrist and yoga instructor Kim Dobson, as quoted by UB Reporter. "The research shows benefits with regard to neuroplasticity for participants – that there can actually be changes structurally in the brain in areas that are related to attention, memory, empathy and mood regulation."
In the interest of sharing the benefits of yoga with people who could benefit the most, Dobson will be teaching an MBSR course for healthcare professionals in the new year, designed to help improve stress management and prevent burnout associated with the job, according to the news source from the University of Buffalo. In the past, Dobson has seen positive results from teaching yoga to adolescent males in juvenile corrections facilities.
Dobson became a yoga instructor when she learned about the scientific interest behind MBSR. Others who are interested in teaching New York yoga classes of their own are not alone. According to a report from U.S. News and World Report, there were more than 70,000 certified yoga instructors across the nation as of 2005.
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13
Dec 11
Barefoot yoga may be good for ankle and foot pain from shoes
Barefoot yoga may be good for ankle and foot pain from shoes.
Across the nation, there is a growing trend of people performing a number of exercises in bare feet: running, dance, aerobics and, yes, even yoga. Practitioners believe that barefoot yoga and other exercises can prevent the ankle and foot pain, as well as other problems, caused by shoes, as reported by Reuters.
"So goes the foot, so goes the body. If your foot is balanced and strong, the rest of the body is too," said Ellen Barrett, who teaches yoga, Pilates and dance. "That connectedness between foot and core and balance, that core connection, that's ultimately what balance is."
Feet that are constantly bound by shoes need to be gradually eased out, Barrett said. This can be done by being barefoot around the house or performing repetitions of pointing and flexing the bare feet.
In order to support the spine, any barefoot exercises should be done on a wooden surface rather than tile or cement, according to fitness instructor Ann Smith.
About 7 out of 10 people will be afflicted with foot problems at some point in their lives, according to the Yoga Journal. However, New York yoga classes can teach practitioners special exercises that can help stretch the feet and improve alignment with the knees, back, hips and shoulders.
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05
Dec 11
Miranda Kerr uses yoga as more than exercises for stress relief
Miranda Kerr uses yoga as more than exercises for stress relief.
Models for Victoria's secret are often admired for their exceptional physiques, but it's important to remember that such appearances rarely come about on their own. Model Miranda Kerr practices yoga, and these are more than just exercises for stress relief for the model and new mom.
Kerr, 28, gave birth to a son last January and uses yoga, pilates and resistance bags to keep her body in shape.
"I do have less time, but I do try to exercise every day. I exercise at home with my son playing around with his toys on the floor," said Kerr, as quoted by The Associated Press, adding that she hopes her son will follow her healthy example.
Kerr was recently given the honor of being a Victoria's Secret Angel, a role that will have her featured prominently on this year's lingerie show to be televised on CBS, according to the News Source.
Ed Razek, chief marketing officer for Victoria’s Secret parent Limited Brands, told the AP that new mothers often use a show date as motivation to get back into shape – and the industry is quite happy with the results.
People who participate in New York yoga classes and similar courses may reap several health benefits, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, including improvements in body composition and stress management.
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05
Dec 11
Miranda Kerr uses yoga as more than exercises for stress relief
Miranda Kerr uses yoga as more than exercises for stress relief.
Models for Victoria's secret are often admired for their exceptional physiques, but it's important to remember that such appearances rarely come about on their own. Model Miranda Kerr practices yoga, and these are more than just exercises for stress relief for the model and new mom.
Kerr, 28, gave birth to a son last January and uses yoga, pilates and resistance bags to keep her body in shape.
"I do have less time, but I do try to exercise every day. I exercise at home with my son playing around with his toys on the floor," said Kerr, as quoted by The Associated Press, adding that she hopes her son will follow her healthy example.
Kerr was recently given the honor of being a Victoria's Secret Angel, a role that will have her featured prominently on this year's lingerie show to be televised on CBS, according to the News Source.
Ed Razek, chief marketing officer for Victoria’s Secret parent Limited Brands, told the AP that new mothers often use a show date as motivation to get back into shape – and the industry is quite happy with the results.
People who participate in New York yoga classes and similar courses may reap several health benefits, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, including improvements in body composition and stress management.
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30
Nov 11
Yoga is more than just natural stress relief for Lady Gaga
Yoga is more than just natural stress relief for Lady Gaga.
While known for her outlandish outfits, Lady Gaga would probably prefer to be renowned as a musician and performer. But as a performer, Gaga has to maintain a certain level of physical fitness, which is probably why yoga is about more than just natural stress relief for her.
According to Examiner, Gaga showed off her superb muscle tone in a photospread for the January 2012 issue of Vanity Fair. In the accompanying interview, she stated that she does strength-training five times a week for 35 minutes.
Furthermore, she practices yoga, runs and tries to eat a healthy diet.
"You know, my work sort of feeds me. I keep in shape by working hard," Gaga said in the interview.
This lean physique contrasts with the overweight body that Gaga said got her bullied as a kid.
Between 2002 and 2007, the number of adults practicing yoga in the U.S. increased by about 3 million, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a division of the National Institutes of Health. Past studies have suggested that New York yoga classes and similar courses can have a number of health benefits, including improvements in lung capacity, strength, flexibility, muscle relaxation, blood pressure, blood chemistry and stress management.
The NCCAM is supporting research to investigate other associations between yoga and health.
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17
Nov 11
Yoga can provide natural stress relief during the holidays
Yoga can provide natural stress relief during the holidays.
The holidays can be a stressful time of year for several reasons. The weather is harsh, people visit family members they may not like, and, if one is a student, final exams are looming. However, yoga can provide natural stress relief at a time like this, according to The Crimson White.
Festivities during the holidays provide the perfect opportunity for stress eating, which will not only add on pounds, but also will not solve the stress issue, the news source said. A healthier way to cope with stress at this time of year is by attending New York yoga classes.
"No longer is it solely for the hipsters, my friends," wrote Tricia Vaughan. "Even celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Matthew McConaughey have jumped on the yoga bandwagon."
Among the health benefits of yoga are improvements in posture, breathing capability, stress management and flexibility, according to the news source.
As of 2007, more than 13 million adults in the U.S. reported practicing yoga within the previous year, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The agency is supporting research that studies the relationship between yoga and blood pressure, chronic low back pain, depression, HIV, multiple sclerosis, smoking cessation and other conditions.
