Introduction to Yoga

The presence of Yoga goes beyond more than 5000 years in India when it was carried out by hermits to attain oneness with the universe. Yoga in Indian tradition is a combination of 8 branches in Ashtanga Yoga namely Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. The overall practice of yoga has potential benefits to the mind and body in the present world with rising treatments sought for stress management, weight management and body ache due to solitary desk jobs.

Global Awareness of Yoga

According to the Yoga Guru BKS Iyengar “Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life.” Yoga as a concept has been in practice since over the millennia and the only written record of present-day practiced yoga is Yoga Sutra by Sage Patanjali. It is 2000 years old treaty devised for gaining mastery over the mind and body. Yoga became more relevant in India and abroad in the early 19th century through varied saints like Saint Vivekananda, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Osho etc. Each of these saints made Yoga prevalent in India as well as in the West through their speeches and self-involvement in the science of Yoga.

Yoga and Science

The word yoga has been derived from the Sanskrit word Yuji which means “to yoke or join together”, which means the union of mind and body. Yoga is a science in itself where the physical activation of the body through asanas, Surya namaskars blended in with breath control and meditation. In the present fast life where people are competing every day with machines, Yoga aids in slowing down and relieves the stress caused due to it.

This has been supported by science in varied researches. For example, in a research conducted in US where 64 women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) underwent Yoga sessions for a month and 52% of the group who continued to practice the same no longer felt the symptoms.  This shows that Yoga aids in reducing stress and brings peace of mind.

Yoga and Lifestyle

In studies and researches, it has been found that Yoga in the present day situation is the best way to lead a happy and contented lifestyle. We all aspire to have a quality life and for this purpose, we go to great lengths. After all of this toil, at the end of the day, often we find ourselves exhausted and tired but not satisfied at all. It is due to the lack of attention to self-care. In search of happiness outside, we tend to lose our innate energies to anxiety, fear, anger, jealousy and greed.

In one of the studies conducted in a big corporate organisation, where 135 senior managers were asked to Practice Yoga for 6 months – they claimed that the practice of Yoga brought in significant changes in the quality of life, moods, fatigue levels and their management style including both their personal and professional front.

The acceptance of Yoga is increasing in the world at large. With a lot of studies and researches done in the field has authenticated the benefits of the same. Wellzee.com has been set up to address health, stress and diet-related goals and challenges and to contribute to individuals at various stages of their lives. The approach is simple, safe and effective. The idea to put forward well-being services on an online platform is to address the need for time, space and cost-effectiveness – with the motive of spreading its message  “Be healthy Be happy”.

To this effect, Wellzee will soon be launching the first of its kind in the world, practical and applied Yoga courses. Stay Tuned!

DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A PROGRAM WHICH IS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING?

1) Holistic

2) Non medicinal

3) Protects mother and child

4) No medicines or supplements

5) Based on ancient wisdom

6) Researched

7) Tried and Tested

THEN CLICK HERE NOW.

Arthritis is no longer a problem associated with advancing age. It is now impacting people even in their 30s and 40s. However, arthritis is not really a disease. A majority of people with pathology of arthritis do not get any pain. Most of them also do not find their daily activities being impacted.

There is a small proportion of people who do get affected by it in a minor or major way. Many of them manage it well. Many are unable to manage or bear the pain and opt for surgery.

However, if one has mild symptoms of arthritis or is in the resolving phase, Yoga asanas can help. In many cases, the condition does not deteriorate at all.

The simple series of asanas in this program are designed for all categories and age groups. Regular practice will make you flexible and also help relieve pain in different parts of the body, including the knees.

Enough exercise will be provided in a very gentle fashion. The advantage is that you can practice a choice of asanas as per your time and convenience. Even 15 to 20 minutes a day is enough.

We have given here the most ideal set of practices which will assist in relieving the body, spine and knees. However, please do not practice anything which causes undue pain or pressure.

Make sure you take clearance from your doctor before you start this program.

Apart from asanas, there are tips you could follow, to prevent arthritis or manage it well if you do have.:

–          Do not drink water or other liquids while standing. Always drink while sitting. Sip water slowly after you sit down.

–          Have one teaspoon of ghee (clarified butter from cow’s milk), daily, in your diet.

–          Make sure you walk through the day and are physically active.

–          Try and sit cross – legged with your feet up as much as you can.

–          Keep shifting your position and leg and knee movement whether you stand or sit.

The following are the asanas to be done in a sequence in the given program. These are very useful even if you already have arthritis. You can choose to skip one or two if you have less time on a given day. You can practice this anytime during the day, but on an empty stomach.

1)       Seated Stretches, which is part of the body of Hatha Yoga Asanas known as Yogic Sukshma Vyayama. These are appropriate for all age groups and even those with multiple health problems. These can also be practiced by pregnant ladies.

2)      Konasana Variation. This is a variation of the angle pose and can be practiced by anyone. View and follow this asana with all its benefits at the link given below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6DPbxJCtMc

3)       Yastikasana. This is a wonderful asana to stretch the entire body and very good for seniors. It is also good for those with blood pressure and heart problems. This is one of the few practices which can be done safely during pregnancy as well.

4)      Ardha Halasana. This is also known as the half plough pose. Again a wonderful and simple hatha yoga asana which is also a great inversion. It is excellent for the knees as well.

5)       Savasana. This is the corpse pose and ideal for everyone and for all problems. Practice this by itself for twenty to thirty minutes a day and see your life change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttqyOw9xgCk

In case of any queries, please go through the FAQ Section http://wellzee.com/yoga-faqs

Or write to us on:

http://wellzee.com/contact-us

Opt for the best online yoga program for arthritis. Use it to prevent arthritis or even tackle simple knee pain. It does not matter how old you are. This is the perfect program to avoid such problems.

Diabetes Background

Diabetes is fast set to become a major health problem with millions of people across the World who will get this problem. It was previously thought to be genetic in nature. This was especially thought to be true in USA, India, South Asia and some Mediterranean countries. But Diabetes is no longer restricted to those who have a genetic predisposition. It is now a full-fledged ‘lifestyle disease’ and can happen to anyone even if you do not have it in your genes. What this means is that even though one does not have a genetic tendency, you can easily get it if you do not take care of your health, lifestyle, exercise and eating habits. Diabetes was diagnosed and understood in ancient India and was known as ‘madhumeha’ in ancient Indian texts. It affected a relatively smaller proportion of the population. However, in today’s times, it has already impacted millions of people and millions more are at risk. It is estimated that over the next two or three decades, close to ten percent or more of the World’s population will have Diabetes.

Children are also no longer immune to this lifestyle disease. Now we have many children below the age of thirteen who get Type 2 Diabetes or lifestyle related diabetes. There are many babies born with diabetes which is non-genetic or non -Type A diabetes. This has now been linked to lifestyle causes of the mother. Since this is one of the major health challenges of our times, let us look at the causes of Diabetes

Causes of Diabetes

There is a misconception that diabetes is linked to your weight or obesity. Obesity is a trigger for diabetes. However, diabetes is not linked to your weight at all. Even thin people can and do get diabetes. Apart from genetics and weight gain, there are many reasons for diabetes. Some of them have been listed below:

• Incorrect eating and sleeping habits and overeating. Eating or drinking the wrong things at the wrong times and eating a lot of quantity is a problem.
• Lack of physical activity and exercise of some form. Most of our lives are sedentary which causes glucose imbalances in the blood.
• Air pollution is now established as a major cause which can cause metabolic changes and cause diabetes. This is something we cannot do anything about but we can at least make sure we take care of the other causes and minimize the impact of pollution.
• Pollutants and hormones in foods, especially in processed non-vegetarian foods and vegetables grown using chemicals. Most of the food across the World is only prepared with pesticides, hormones, chemicals and preservatives. This causes diabetes.
• Combining certain food groups causes diabetes. A prime example is combining beef or red meat with dairy products, milk or yogurt. We also mix fruits with vegetables or have fruits with meals. This also can lead to diabetes.
• Stress is a major game changer and can cause blood sugar imbalances. In fact, this is one of the main causes for glucose / insulin ratio imbalances leading to chronic and lifetime diabetes.
• Alcohol even in moderation and substance abuse cause insulin imbalances. There are lobbies which ‘tom tom’ the benefits of alcohol. They conveniently forget that alcohol causes diabetes and damages the liver as well as the isle of Langerhans which produce insulin.

Why Worry About Diabetes

Diabetes by itself is not a disease in that sense. It is actually a symptom that the there is an imbalance created in the body. There is something which has gone wrong and we need to correct it. If we do not take action to change our lifestyles or eating habits, then a lot of other diseases can occur. Diabetes is the gateway to ill health. Therefore, controlling your sugar or correcting the Insulin – glucose imbalance is important. In fact, it has been found that people who become aware that they have diabetes, start improving their health and lifestyle. The problem is that at least half of all people who have diabetes (estimates) do not know that they have it, as they are not tested.

Diabetes Is Curable or Reversible

Till now the popular belief was that once you get diabetes, it remains with you forever. However, this is not the case. There are many interventions available in conjunction with your regular medications that help to correct or improve diabetes. Three of the most important interventions are changing food habits, Yoga and stress management.

In many cases, effective management of the condition ensures there is no deterioration of health at all and in fact, many diabetics are healthier than even non-diabetics. This is because they take corrective action and become more disciplined. A lot of diabetics do not get cardiac problems or cholesterol as they become aware earlier on and take good care of themselves.

Yoga and Diabetes Research

There has been a large amount of research done now on Yoga and its impact on Diabetes. There have been multiple studies done in India which show that most diabetics manage to reduce their blood sugar in just six months of regular practice. Most of them reduce blood sugar by half and more than a third reach normal sugar levels. The HBA1C tests become normal and urine sugar also goes down or disappears. This implies that severe diabetics are able to go off insulin or reduce their medication by half or more. Yoga also helps other co-morbid conditions like high blood pressure, stress and cholesterol. So if these also reduce or disappear, diabetes starts reducing or also gets totally reversed.

There has been a recent cohort study concluded by Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai with astounding results. Persons with borderline diabetes or pre-diabetics reverted to normal or did not deteriorate for as long as ten to fifteen years; without any medication! They were only taken through a Yoga program and had to practice it regularly. Some of them were just advised some herbs or meditation and none of them were given insulin. None of these patients developed heart or cholesterol problems. This clearly proves the efficacy of Yoga in prevention and reversal of diabetes.

All of this clearly underscores the importance of Yoga for Diabetes. There are many teachers who give different asanas and techniques which one can practice for diabetes. Each one of them claims that their practices are the best. However, there are two practices derived from the Upanishads and from traditional Hatha Yoga scriptures which provide astounding results for diabetes and all other cardio metabolic diseases also. Both of these techniques and be viewed and followed at the links given below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZCPNiouHM&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttqyOw9xgCk&feature=youtu.be

Of course you need to practice a proper Yoga for Diabetes program for a few months. If you like the videos above, then you may opt for the online yoga for diabetes program given on the link below, to take charge of your sugar levels.

http://www.wellzee.com/yoga-program-details/yoga-for-diabetes

WHY IS YOGA TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM?

The world over, Yoga is becoming extremely popular. The most apparent reasons why people practice yoga is to reduce weight or take care of some illnesses or other problems. Many individuals utilize it as a less strenuous form of exercise or a ‘feel good’ discipline. So the reasons range from weight loss to illnesses to alternate therapy to even some amount of laziness.

Yoga definitely helps in all of these, but the real benefits are hidden and in fact, are not highlighted enough. Apart from the physical and physiological benefits, let us look at some of the others.

BENEFITS OF YOGA

We shall leave aside the obvious physical benefits in this discussion like general good health, longevity, weight loss and managing chronic diseases. Let us focus on four of the other categories of benefits which are less spoken about:

Lifestyle benefits

Mental Health

Mind Improvement Benefits

Lets us look at this a bit more in detail:

LIFESTYLE BENEFITS

–       There is an improvement in daily routines and discipline.

–       You feel like eating healthier…without any conscious effort.

–       Cravings for ‘mood food’, sweets and alcohol automatically reduce.

–       There is an improvement in sleep quality.

–       Productivity increases, leading to more focus and better financial health.

–       There is an improvement in interpersonal relationships.

MENTAL HEALTH

–       Emotional stability is achieved. This leads to balance and better thinking and decisions.

–       Excessive emotions get neutralized. So excessive anger, hatred, passion, depression; automatically get taken care of.

–       Anxiety is replaced by calmness and negative feelings by confidence.

MIND IMPROVEMENT

–       Memory improves dramatically.

–       Various researches have shown that the mind keeps growing at a rapid pace, even in old age. This is contrary to popular belief that mental development stops around the age of 13 or 14.

–       Less energy and blood is required by the mind, leading to improved concentration levels and less mental fatigue.

–       Performance improvement, ease of learning and performing complicated tasks becomes easy.

BEHAVIORAL

–       You are more composed and less rattled by external events, situations and the behavior of others.

–       You become more congenial and attract a better set of people around you.

–       Without any effort, people automatically start viewing you as a really nice person.

–       You will stop reacting to situations and respond with calmness.

–       You will be happier with yourself and also be very comfortable being alone doing the things you want to.

This is just a partial list of benefits of practicing Yoga. If you want to know more about Yoga and go through the most frequently asked questions, do not forget to CLICK HERE.

BACKGROUND

Everyone today acknowledges the benefits of practicing Yoga to remain healthy. However, there are a lot of individuals who get deterred or intimated thinking it is very difficult. International Yoga Day is now being celebrated each year on 21^st June. This has been one of the greatest initiatives by our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. This has given a lot of attention and focus to Yoga which was long overdue.

YOGA MYTHS

In spite of so much of attention given to Yoga, there are a lot of misconceptions. Most of these stem from the fact there are pictures and videos of people doing very complex asanas, possibly more to show off and not because they are required. Also, we only see toned bodies and great looking clothes and equipments. Due to this, there are some myths around Yoga which prevent people from practicing it. Some of these Yoga myths are:

• You need to be flexible.
• It is better suited for younger people.
• It is meant for only those people who have health problems.
• Fat or obese individuals cannot practice equally well and get all its benefits.
• One has to go to a crowded class and practice with others in a cramped situation.
• One cannot practice at ones own pace and as per ones own convenience.
• You need to buy mats and Yoga clothing to practice.
• You cannot practice it at home.
• You need a teacher to come over and pay lots of money to teach.
• It cannot be done daily.
• You have to do a lot of complex and convoluted asanas to get benefits.
• The more difficult practices are better.
• Householders cannot be serious about Yoga.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

All of the above are popular misconceptions or myths about Yoga. The very fact that these are myths means none of these are true. So how do we go about starting Yoga? One of the best ways to do so is by going to credible experts and learn online. There are so many gentle and simple practices you can do forever and get all the benefits you would have got from even the most complicated asanas.

Pick up gentle asanas which you can learn online for free and practice them at home for fifteen to twenty minutes on a daily basis. If you cant practice daily, then try practicing four times a week. Do not worry even about the time. Practice whenever you have the time, be it morning or evening. Just make sure, you are on an empty stomach.

SIMPLE ASANAS AND HEALTH

There is enough of a body of personal experiences of thousands of people as well as a growing body of scientific research which clearly states there is no need to practice for long hours, spend money or do complex asanas and pranayamas. Even the most simple practices give great benefits as the more complicated hatha yoga postures.

LETS GET YOU STARTED

To make things easy for you and get you started, just follow these basic asanas whenever you can on an empty stomach. Practice these for ninety days and see great benefits ‘kicking into’ your life. Once you are on your way, you may choose to pick some great programs from genuine and authentic Indian Yoga Classes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2FU1gqss0I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zV_HYwEj0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6DPbxJCtMc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GirVmBbdgg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZIHPSfm_24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttqyOw9xgCk

If you want to know more about authentic and genuine Yoga from India, please do visit the FAQ Section.

PCOS is also known as PCOD and is rapidly becoming a fairly major health issue for an increasing number of women. There are different levels of severity and it is not too serious or fatal. The causes are not known as to why this occurs. However, there is an increasing body of research which is pointing to the fact that stress plays a major cause in triggering this condition.

Many a times, stress is deep rooted and not too obvious. So we may think we are not stressed. However, it has become part of our lives and we do not even realize it till it is too late.

Apart from stress, there are other possible causes for PCOS which are not too clear.

One of the main cause of PCOS is our polluted food and drinks. Everything today has plastic, hormones, chemicals, preservatives and pesticides. This brings about changes in the body and one of the major manifestations is PCOS.

It is assumed that there could be a genetic link. However, this is fairly nebulous. But popular belief states that if your mother or sister has PCOS then you are more likely to get it.

One another reason for PCOS is hormonal imbalances especially an excess of androgen. Androgen is produced in small quantities in women but an excess could cause problems. Excess of androgen is linked to either excess insulin, an insulin / glucose imbalance or external intake of hormones to be found in food and drinks (without our knowledge as pointed out earlier).

Since this is a women centric condition (it would be incorrect to call it a disease), very little of it is spoken about openly. This itself causes a lot of myths and misconceptions and many a times, women are not even aware of the symptoms.

Even though PCOS is becoming a health challenge, there is a lot of misuse of this condition by women themselves. Most women do not even get tested, read the symptoms online and justify their health or behavior saying it is PCOS. It avoids a lot of difficult conversations and personal effort especially if you have mood swings, are irritable or putting on weight. This is also now a leading excuse even when there is no PCOS or any other problem. In short, it is a nice and effective argument winner or conversation stopper.

PCOS has certain symptoms. However, it is not essential to have all the symptoms. There could be one or more and in varying degrees only. However, if there are any prolonged symptoms, it is important to see a doctor. Some of the key symptoms are:

–          Periods becoming irregular and in extreme cases periods do not occur at all

–          There is some difficulty in conceiving and getting pregnant due to ovulation failure

–          There may or may not be excessive or sudden increased hair growth on different parts of the body

–          Weight gain is one of the most prominent features of PCOS

–          Hair loss or thinning of hair could be a problem. However, this is difficult to figure out as hair loss has so many other causes.

–          Increase in the oiliness of complexion and regular acne or pimples if you have crossed your teens and twenties.

The best possible treatment for PCOS has been found to be exercise, diet, lifestyle changes and stress management. However, if the degree is more severe or prolonged, a doctor may recommend different types of medicines. Some help regulate insulin or blood sugar. Some help to reduce androgen and yet others promote periods or ovulation.

In extreme but rare cases, surgery may be recommended to puncture a part of the ovary and send through an electric current. This destroys a small part of the affected part to promote ovulation, periods and reduce excess production of male hormones. However, this is a short term approach and advised for women who want to conceive.

We shall look at the first option for PCOS which is actually about regulating your lifestyle. Specifically, we shall be talking about the role of Yoga in managing or reversing PCOS.

Yoga brings about many benefits in PCOS. Some of the proven and important ones are:

–          Dramatic reduction in stress levels

–          Reduction in blood sugar levels

–          Normalization of the insulin/sugar levels (known as I/G Level)

–          Stimulating the adrenal glands and getting them to function properly

–          Regulation of hormones and correct production in required quantities

–          Removing co-morbid conditions like cholesterol and high blood pressure

–          Regulation of the thyroid and thyroid function which helps reduce weight

–          Lowering of body fat levels to normal and natural levels

All of this leads us to some great benefits and PCOS can be managed with minor medication and also eradicate it totally over a period of time.

Having seen the benefits of yoga for PCOS and curing it, it is important to start practicing something. To get you started with a few minutes a day, view and follow the links below for free for a month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHmyhRXXvTc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwXIZ2O4VU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttqyOw9xgCk

Once you are used to these simple practices, you should ideally take a proper Yoga for PCOS program which is available on this link:

http://www.wellzee.com/yoga-program-details/yoga-for-pcos