Yoga Articles
Friday, May 20, 2005
by Timothy Burgin
How Yoga Heals Print E-mail
t has become common knowledge that yoga is good for you. Currently yoga is being used as a therapy for cancer, infertility, lung disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, high blood pressure, and joint pain. Yet there is very little awareness and understanding on exactly how yoga heals, even in the yoga and medical communities. The key is to understand the relationships between stress, yoga and disease.
 
Monday, March 14, 2005
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga for Tendonitis Print E-mail
Tendonitis is the inflammation or irritation of a tendon (the attachment of a muscle to bone). Excessive repetitive movements most often cause tendonitis, but it can also be caused by a minor impact on the affected area, or from a sudden more serious injury. The symptoms of tendonitis are: pain and stiffness, usually around a joint, which is aggravated by movement. Tendonitis is usually a temporary condition, but may become a recurrent or chronic problem.
 
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
by Timothy Burgin
Mudras Print E-mail
Mudras (gesture, seal) are subtle physical movements of the hands, face, and or body. Complex mudras involve the whole body in a combination of asana, pranayama, bandha and visualization, while simple mudras range from hand positions to meditation techniques. The purpose of a mudra is to activate and create a circuit of prana in the body. This circuit channels the prana in a specific way to create a subtle effect on koshas and to regulate and awaken the prana, chakras and kundalini, Mudras are used only after proficiency in asana, pranayama and bandha has been achieved, and when one has obtained some cultivation and awareness of prana. In hatha yoga, the level of progression is asana, pranayama, bandha, mudra, samadhi. Thus, mudra is the advanced practice leading up to the attainment of enlightenment or samadhi.
 
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga for Tendonitis Print E-mail
Tendonitis is the inflammation or irritation of a tendon (the attachment of a muscle to bone). Excessive repetitive movements most often cause tendonitis, but it can also be caused by a minor impact on the affected area, or from a sudden more serious injury. The symptoms of tendonitis are: pain and stiffness, usually around a joint, which is aggravated by movement. Tendonitis is usually a temporary condition, but may become a recurrent or chronic problem.
 
Thursday, October 14, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga for Osteoporosis Print E-mail
Osteoporosis affects some 10 million American women and 34 million more have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for this disease. Losing bone density is a natural part of the aging process, but when too much bone is lost the bones become weakened and susceptible to fracturing and breaking. Osteoporosis is considered a “silent disease” with no symptoms or warnings signs, but can be prevented and treated through regular weight bearing exercise with proper diet and lifestyle habits. Weight bearing exercise is any movement that requires your muscles to work against gravity. Yoga is an excellent weight bearing exercise as it stimulates bone building for both the upper and lower body while being low-impact.
 
Monday, August 16, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga Therapy for Eating Disorders Print E-mail
In the United States, anorexia nervosa and bulimia affect nearly 10 million women and one million men, primarily teens and young adults, according to conservative estimates. Often thought only as a mental disease, new research is finding that eating disorders have a physical component as well. Eating disorders are complex and potentially life-threatening conditions that arise from a combination of behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, biological, and social factors. People with eating disorders often use food and the control of food in an attempt to numb or avoid feelings and emotions that are over-whelming.
 
Monday, June 14, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga Therapy for Diabetes (Type II) Print E-mail
Diabetes is a complex condition with a multitude of metabolic imbalances involving the regulation and utilization of insulin and glucose (sugar) in the body. Effecting over 18 million Americans, Diabetes is currently considered an epidemic disease that is largely preventable and treatable through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. Yoga’s effectiveness at preventing and treating diabetes is due to its emphasis of a healthy diet and lifestyle as well as its ability to balance the endocrine system, massage and tone the abdominal organs, stimulate the nervous and circulatory systems, and reduce stress.
 
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga Therapy for Scoliosis Print E-mail
Scoliosis is the presence of abnormal lateral (side-to-side) curves and rotations in the spinal column. In 80 to 85 percent of people, the cause of scoliosis is unknown. In adults, scoliosis can produce symptoms of back pain, muscle tightness, fatigue, decreased lung capacity and possible neurological symptoms of dizziness, numbness and tingling. Yoga's emphasis on spinal movement as well as its overall healing abilities and innate promotion of correct posture make it an important alternative therapy to prevent the progression of, and potentially reduce the abnormal spinal curvature of scoliosis. Yoga is also a powerful remedy to reduce scoliosis' symptoms of back pain, muscle tightness, fatigue, and decreased lung capacity.
 
Sunday, March 14, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Jalandhara Bandha, the Throat Lock Print E-mail
Bandhas are energetic locks that contain the prana in the torso and concentrate it in the three main energy channels (nadis) of the body. Bandhas can be performed in a physical and external manner engaging the skeletal muscles; it can also be felt as a subtle and internal energetic process. Bandhas are practiced individually at first, and then they can be incorporated with asanas, pranayamas and eventually mudras.
 
Friday, February 13, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga Therapy for Spinal Stenosis Print E-mail
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in the spine where the spinal cord and nerve roots transverse. The narrowing of these passageways results in pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots that exit the spine creating pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. The spinal passageways can be further closed off due to inflammation that arises after these tissues become irritated. Central stenosis is narrowing of the central cannal where the spinal cord travels. Lateral stenosis is the narrowing of the openings between vertebrae where the nerve roots exit the spine.
 
Thursday, January 15, 2004
by Timothy Burgin
Uddiyana Bandha, the Abdominal Lock Print E-mail
Bandhas are energetic locks that contain the prana in the torso and concentrate it in the three main energy channels (nadis) of the body. Bandhas can be performed in a physical and external manner engaging the skeletal muscles; it can also be felt as a subtle and internal energetic process. Bandhas are practiced individually at first, and then they can be incorporated with asanas, pranayamas and eventually mudras.
 
Thursday, November 13, 2003
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga Therapy for Back Pain Print E-mail
Eighty percent of Americans develop back pain at some point in their lives due to injury, overuse or disease. Yoga is an excellent therapy for healing sore and injured back muscles, reducing recovery time, preventing re-injury, and reducing the risk of disability from back pain. Yoga helps alleviate lower back pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles of the lower back, reducing inflammation and increasing circulation of blood and prana. Regular yoga practice also improves posture and body mechanics, relieving pain and preventing injury by keeping the spine in proper alignment. In a 1985 survey, 96% of respondents who practiced yoga reported relief from persistent back pain, compared to 23% who were seeing neurosurgeons
 
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga for Menopause Print E-mail
Menopause is the natural cessation of menses that occurs in a woman’s late forties or early fifties. Menopause usually begins slowly with irregular periods and occasional hot flashes, and once the menses have completely stopped it may take several years for the body to readjust and rebalance due to the change in hormones and body chemistry. This adjustment comes easily for some women and is very difficult and frustrating for others. There are several factors that effect this transition including stress, diet, attitude and lifestyle.
 
Friday, September 12, 2003
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga Rx for Infertility Print E-mail
Approximately 6 million couples in the U.S. have fertility difficulties, and with expensive medical treatments achieving only a 50% conception rate many are looking to non-traditional ways to promote fertility. A holistic approach to improving both partner’s general health is essential to successfully conceive a healthy child. Overwork, stress, smoking, alcohol and a poor diet must all be avoided as they are known contributing factors to infertility. Yoga’s effectiveness at promoting fertility is due to its emphasis of a healthy diet and lifestyle as well as its ability to balance hormonal problems and stimulate and strengthen the reproductive organs.
 
Sunday, August 17, 2003
by Timothy Burgin
Using Yoga for Weight Loss Print E-mail
Within yoga’s ability to create total well-being, lies its ability to reduce excess weight through burning calories, boosting metabolism and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Yoga is not a quick fix, but can be an excellent long-term holistic approach to loosing excess weight – and keeping it off. Not only that, yoga creates many other positive changes: improves self-esteem, increases mental focus, reduces stress, promotes flexibility and increases strength and balance.
 
Thursday, June 12, 2003
by Timothy Burgin
Yoga Rx for Digestive Complaints Print E-mail
When the Gastro-intestinal (GI) system becomes unbalanced a myriad of symptoms and diseases can occur and even the mildest symptoms can cause much distress and dismay. A yoga practice combined with diet and lifestyle changes can strengthen and harmonize digestion and elimination to heal and reduce many GI complaints.
 
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