by Valerie Brooks

Muscling Through Yoga

We all know that yoga carries with it the unspoken sense that it is not supposed to be competitive. This means that we are not only not comparing ourselves to others, but we’re taking it easy on ourselves too. Some people say that yoga, particularly Ashtanga, is considered a moving meditation. If you’re plowing through the pose, are you still meditating? If it’s about muscle more than it is about breath, is it still yoga? This blogger from Duluth encourages us to keep the ujayi breathing steady, watch the tightening of muscles (particularly in the neck and shoulder area), and keep your eyes off the person next to you—and off the clock, too for that matter. Now you’re doing yoga. See namestefromduluth.blogspot.com.

Yoga For Smokers

Anne-Marie Newland used to smoke sixty cigarettes a day. After attending a yoga class for one month, she has quit for good. The key may be in the breath training and the anatomy lessons she learned in the yoga class. Newland is an international yoga teacher and the founder of Sun Power Yoga, a training organization for future yoga teachers. Because Newland has been so successful in kicking the habit, she is now focusing her efforts on helping others nix the nicotine through counseling and yoga. She offers three keys to free yourself from smoking, a detailed breathing routine, and twenty more tips to help you quit in this article at responsesource.com.

Breathe Through Anxiety

This economic climate seems to have everyone stressing at levels way beyond normal. If you’re on edge lately, Tara Stiles offers a simple relaxation routine that involves breathing exercises and using a little body heat to relax your whole system. In typical Stiles fashion, it’s a simple method that can be done anywhere at any time. Check it out in this video at Youtube.