Recently one of my acquaintances suffered from severe toothache and could not sleep in the night. In the morning she was thinking of going to dentist but due to some other complication it was not advisable for her to take strong painkiller or antibiotic. To buy her some time I decided to treat her with acupressure. I treated her with acupressure on certain point and within 15 minutes she had considerable relief. In fact I found that she did not talk about going to the dentist even for the next 3 days and there was no pain after that. This is not to say that you should not go to dentist, but at least you will get considerable pain relief and get proper sleep in the night till you get the appointment of the dentist.

For treating the patient you would need press the points mentioned below with the thumb for 2 to 3 minutes for each point. At the end of the treatment patient will thank you for the treatment.

1. Point 1 : This is on the right foot. This point is located on the line starting from the intersection of second and third fingers and going till the middle of the ankle joint. From the intersection of the fingers it is located one inch above. Press this point for 3 minutes.
   

   Point 1

2. Point 2 : This point is on the right hand. It is located on the joint of the index finger and the thumb near the wrist. Press this point for 3 minutes.
   

   Point 2

3. Point 3 : Clench your teeth. On the right jaw below the right ear the jaw muscle will come out prominently. Press this point for 3 minutes.
4. Point 4 : This point is on the tip of the toes on the foot. If the pain is on the right side press the toe tips of the right foot and if it is on the left foot then press the toe tips on the left foot. Press the all the toe tips for around 3 minutes.
5. Point 5 : This point is tips of the fingers on the hand. Select the hand on based on the side where you have pain similar to previous Point 4. Press all the finger tips for a total of 3 minutes.

At the end of these 15 minutes you will find that patient has lot of improvement and relief. You can repeat this treatment every 2 hours if needed but in my case I did not have to repeat it.

Tip : In case of infection that area should not be touched or brushed and you should give time to heal.

Related Posts
Reflexology Points in the hand
Treating Abdomen Pain with Acupressure
Treat Leg Pain with Acupressure
Acupressure for Menstrual Cramps
Treating Frozen Shoulder with Acupressure
Acupressure and Home Remedy tips For Ear Pain
How to control Febrile Convulsion through Acupressure?

To read all the articles please visit http://www.headfirstyoga.com

No comment necessary…

Babies are such natural yogis! I have just ordered the Itsy Bitsy Yoga book for babies, and I’m really excited to try it out. But do babies really need a book to do yoga? Seems like they already know everything there is to know!

How you start your morning can decide how your day will be. So it’s very important to start your day with a new and fresh approach rather than hassled and rushed. Start you day with simple activities which are not only invigorating but also  relaxing.  No better way to achieve this than yoga. Yoga  not only helps you focus on your goals but also prepares you mentally to face the daily challenges!

You can start you day with simple meditation, focusing on positive thoughts and  beatutiful visualizations.  A 5-minute session will give you energy for the day. Regular  meditationhas been found to reduce blood pressure and also relieve of stress. Try to include yoga too in your morning routine.

Yoga can improve flexibility, posture, balance, muscle tone, and endurance. Yoga also has mind-body-soul benefits, providing an emotional as well as a physical lift. Doing yoga in the morning can give you a feeling of tranquility, boost your energy levels, and raise your spirits for the rest of the day, all while giving you a full-body stretch.

You can also  include walks in the nature in  your morning regime.

Along with these it’s very important that  you never skip your breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day.

There you go, you are all prepared to face the challenges of the day!

Parsvottansana is a standing as well as twisting pose which works on your spine, legs, back and abdomen. Parsvottansana means intense side stretch pose. The sides of the chest and the legs are stretched intensely. Practicing this pose opens up the shoulders which improves the body posture. As with other standing poses it builds up leg strength also. Since this is also a forward bending pose this calms down agitated mind.

Steps to Practice Parsvottansana

1. Stand in Tadasana with the feet around 3 to 3.5 feet apart.
2. Join the hands in the back doing a namaste at the back.
3. With inhalation turn the torso to the right and turn the right foot 90 degrees to the body and adjust the left foot by turning appropriately.
4. Stretch back and pull back the shoulders and head back.
5. Take few deep breaths.
6. With exhalation bend forward and try to touch the head to the knee. Tighten the knees and gradually try to stretch more.
7. Stay in the pose for around 20 breaths initially and then increase it to 40 breaths.
8. With exhalation come out of the pose and then repeat the pose on the other side for the same duration.

Note : If joining the hands is difficult the just hold the wrist of one hand with the other and practice the pose.

Benefits of Parsvottansana Practice

1. Stretches the spine, shoulders and wrists, hips, and hamstrings
2. Massages and Stimulates the abdominal organs and hence improves digestion
3. Improves posture and sense of balance
4. Strengthens the legs and increases flexibility
5. Calms the agitated mind

Related Posts
Gomukh Asana
How to improve body posture with Yoga?

To read all the articles please visit http://www.headfirstyoga.com

Yoga is for everyone: young or old, male or female, healthy or sick. Yoga is suitable for individuals of all ages, and of any ethnic, linguistic, or religious background. Yoga can always be adapted to your individual needs, whatever circumstances.

Yoga practice improves flexibility, stamina, strength and balance. In addition, yoga has been known to increase concentration, reduce stress and provide clarity of mind. All this can be accomplished only of we practice on a regular basis. Try to follow these tips:

• Yoga begins and ends in the mind. Make a determination that you are going to give yoga a fair try and you are going to practice, because it is important to you.
• Try practicing yoga with some friends. So that if any day when you are not motivated, the enthusiasm of your friend will carry you along.
• To get the maximum benefits of yoga, you should practice it everyday. So try to reserve some time for your yoga practice and meditation.
• Fix a schedule of practicing yoga in the mornings or evenings and stick to it.
• You won’t feel the benefits of yoga immediately. So don’t just give up. Continue to practice. It takes a while before the most profound results of yoga are realized.

Cheerio…

I hope this finds you well. Can we get some sunshine in Dallas, please? Hi God, it’s me Leanne…sunshine in Dallas, please? I’m ready for Spring and beautiful weather. I love jogging outside, being outside, and, the healthier I feel, the more I want to be outside…except when it’s cold…not so much then. Despite the unpredictable weather, I have been feeling good lately. I started practicing Yoga again at the studio where I began my Yoga journey…Suze Curtis’ Dynamic Power Yoga Plus! I love that name…it’s a mouthful for sure. I allow myself to adapt to the Yoga practice there…if I need to modify, I modify, and if there is something I feel better doing…I allow myself to do that, rather than feeling like I have to force myself to do something my body doesn’t feel like doing. Which, I did in the past, at times. Now, I honor the flow of the class, but, if there is something which feels better for my body in a particular moment, I give myself that, in a way that is respectful of the group energy. I have been in Yoga classes, in the past, where it felt like a student was trying to show off their Yoga poses. It’s not about showing off my Yoga poses. Perhaps, at one point in time, I got a little into that, i.e. ego…although not much. But, it wasn’t ever to impress other people, mostly myself. But, now the only reason I do what I do…is for healing or strengthening. There isn’t anything egotistical about it…because the reality is…no one cares what poses another person can do. The only reason what someone else is doing interests me, is because I can grow through their example. If I see someone doing something or practicing something I haven’t done before, I realize that potential exists in myself. It may not be the thing I can grow into right now, but it widens the horizons of my perception of what’s possible…and that’s always a good thing. What I love about Suzes, besides the warm room (it’s not hot, but it’s warm to help your muscles stretch) is she has all of these different affirmations written on the ceiling. So, while you are practicing, you are reading inspiring messages. Messages like: I express myself, change is exciting, be true to yourself, I feel loved, ask and ye shall receive, I attract abundance, Be transformed through the renewing of your mind, thoughts are energy and energy becomes matter, smile, giggle, etc, etc. This was my first introduction to Yoga…thinking positive thoughts while practicing. The reality is what we focus on we create. This is why even in the classes I teach, where there aren’t message written on the ceiling, I still do my best to incorporate a positive message and remind people that our thoughts affect us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And, of course, mentally. It’s been a blessing being back at Suze’s. Since being there over the past few weeks, I’ve also realized, what was missing for me over the past 9 months or so was a regular Yoga practice just for myself. I was practicing, but mostly at home, and always with the intention to share it with others. So, my own Yoga practice was often, in some way, work related. Now, when I practice at Suzes, I’m once again able to practice just for myself, to take care of myself and give myself what I need…which is a wonderful thing…

So, I meet with the producers of The Difference movie next week. I’m looking forward to it and will share more with you after I’ve learned more. It’s wonderful to have been asked to be a part of this project, no matter what my participation is meant to be. I’m grateful to get to share my experience.

A friend of mine is reading Michael Brown’s book, The Presence Process. It’s a 77 day journey of meditative practices. She shared with me that one of the practices is 15 minutes of conscious breathing/meditation in the morning and in the evening. Although it’s been my intention to cultivate this practice, I have had a difficult time, more recently, being regular with my evening meditations. It’s interesting how it’s incredibly helpful to commit to these practices when we know someone else is practicing them, also. Just knowing she is going through this process, as well, has helped me to reestablish a regular evening meditation. I’m just beginning, but I’m finding I’m feeling increasingly inspired to find this time for myself and to not allow other things to get in the way or deter me from it. I haven’t decided to read Michael’s book, yet, although I probably will. One of the things Yogananda talked about is how he rarely read. He believed all the information we seek in a book is really ever-present, everywhere. I understand, for most of us, this idea is a bit ‘out of the box.’ But, he would encourage people to not read so much, but instead, to meditate. He would say that in meditation is where the answers are. That is the journey we need to take…not into a book…but into ourselves…for inside ourselves is where all the answers dwell. Granted, we can discover a lot of information about the world…but wisdom awakens from the eternal teacher within. I’m also going to practice this…reading less…and meditating more. There really is only so much time…and I would rather focus my energy on meditation more and more. This doesn’t mean I won’t read at all…but I will be really conscious about what I choose to read. That’s what I know. It’s so inspiring what Yogananda accomplished in his lifetime. It’s said he accomplished more than any other spiritual teacher in the last century. He wrote enormous amounts of teachings, and what he wrote about, were the insights he realized through study and meditation. I hope you will have the opportunity to visit his incredible meditation gardens in California if you have never been. There are several throughout the state, including gardens in L.A., San Diego, San Francisco, etc.

I would like to post a couple of poems here. These poems are by Hafiz and Rumi. I finally got my Hafiz poetry book, called The Gift, back. I’m glad I get to share these with you…they are really incredible. I hope you enjoy them. Until the next time…even if it isn’t sunny where you are…may the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you and the pure light within you guide your way on.

Sat Nam

Stay Close To Those Sounds

The sun turns a key in a lock each day
As soon as it crawls out of bed

When God said to Illusion,
“Be.”
-Hafiz

How Do I Listen?

How

Words.
-Hafiz

A Great Need

Out

That.
-Hafiz

No Conflict

No

Dance.
-Hafiz

How could anyone resent sunlight?
Keep walking in this spaciousness
where the sun’s flame is a white hawk.

But there is something flying higher.
Notice how you say not more.
Not this, not that. I do not know.

Negation points to affirmation.
Say rather what completely is.
-Rumi

p.s.-in case you are wondering what Sat Nam means…

The Mantra Sat Nam
Sat Nam is a mantra commonly used in Kundalini Yoga and amongst its practicioners. It is frequently repeated three times at the end of a yoga session. But what is the importance of Sat Nam, what does it mean.

I’ve heard the following interpretations for Sat Nam via my Kundalini Yoga instructors:

•Truth is my identity
•My identiy is Truth
•My True Self
•Truth is our identity
It has been called the process of naming ones self Truth. It can be used similar to Namaste, (the divine in me aknowledges and pays tribute to the divine in you.) Where the “Truth” is the divine.

Being one who likes to get to “Source” info, I decided to do some further research into the nature of Sat Nam. I made an assumption that Sanskrit is a rather root dialect and that “Sat Nam” in Sanskrit would provide supplemental information on the nature of Sat Nam.

I found this Sanskrit Dictionary, and looked up the words, Sat and Nam.

Sat

1.being
2.real
3.that which really exists
4.the real existent truth
I’ve seen it written that Sat means Be, or more apprpriately Be-ness. Which would be the essence of being. (HPB’s Secret Doctorine) I suspect some careful analysis would find an interesting correlation between Be-ness and emptiness. (For those of Buddhist faith)

but onward to Nam.

1.To bow
2.To submit or subject oneself
And so one is bowing to Truth, to Be-ness the essence of being.

And the active interpretation of Sat Nam emerges.

Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose) is a basic standing pose used for loosening the leg muscles as well as working on various muscles which are not usually used in day to day work. Initially when you start practicing this pose you will find it tough but with time it will become easier. As you keep on practicing you will gain knowledge about the weaker muscles of your legs and will be able to make those muscles stronger. In this pose the ligaments of the knees, especially on the outer side of the legs are stretched thus making them stronger.

Areas affected by Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose)
In this pose outer sides of the legs, inner thigh muscles near the groin and the chest muscles are worked upon. Since the abdomen is pressed, the inner organs of the abdomen are massaged, which helps in relieving constipation and increases the digestion. Due to the twisted pose, upper leg muscles near the butt are also exercises.

From personality perspective, since it involves opening up of the chest, it is good for introvert people as it will open you up. Opening up of the chest also helps the lungs and helps patients of Asthma.

At the mental level this pose improves concentration and body balance as you need a lot of concentration and precision to be able to carry it out correctly. Along with Utthitha Trikonsasna this asana forms the important sequence in the standing poses.

Initially you can use blocks or some elevated objects where you can rest the palm and with practice you would be able to come to the proper position without any prop.

Steps to Practice Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose)

1. Stand on the mat with legs separated around 3 to 3.5 feet apart and arms stretched out.
2. Rotate the right foot outside so that it is around 90 degrees to the body. Adjust the left foot so that body balance is maintained.
3. With exhalation move down the left hand so that it touches the ground outside the right foot and at the same time bring the right hand above the shoulders
4. Look up and try to pull the right hand above and so that both the hands are in line with each other.
5. Stay in this pose for 20 to 30 seconds with normal breathing.
6. Come out of the pose with inhalation and repeat the pose on the other side.

Note : Initially you the place the lower hand inside the legs till you gain enough strength to put the hands outside.

Benefits Of Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose)

1. The abdomen is pressed therefore useful in Constipation, Digestive problems and cleanses the internal organs
2. It stretches and strengthens the leg muscles and opens the chest to facilitate better breathing and good for Asthmatic conditions.
3. This pose stretches the groins, hamstrings, hips and helpful in Sciatica.
4. Improves the blood flow in the lower back region therefore massages that area and relieves mild pain.

Related Poses
Utthita Trikonasana
My Yoga Goal For 2010

To read all the articles please visit http://www.headfirstyoga.com

The standing poses are the starting point in many styles of Yoga Practice. They build up the required strength, stamina and flexibility required for the later poses. For the beginners body is usually not enough prepared for the rigors of the practice and they will find the standing poses quite demanding. Practicing the standing poses will enhance your body strength, reduce obesity and brings the various muscles into right shape.

The extended legs poses are mainly the strength building poses and the poses where the feet are closer are usually the stretching poses, though to some extent stretching also happens in the extended legs poses. Extended poses involves separating the feet and placing them on each side of the body.

The distance between both the feet is important factor in how we practice a pose. In the extended legs poses usually the feet should be placed between 4 and 4.5 feet depending on the pose you are practicing. In practice however you need to adjust as per your body height. If you are around 5.5 feet to 6 feet in height then the above distance is good for you, however if you are shorter or taller then you should adjust the feet distance accordingly by planting them closer or further away.

Wrong Way Of Standing

For poses like Uthitta Parsvakonasana or Virbhadra Asana series (Warrior poses I & II) one of the leg is bent at the knee and the upper leg should be parallel to the floor while knee should not go beyond the ankle. In these poses the weight should be distributed on the knee and the groin. If the legs are too close, you will not be able to have the upper leg parallel to the floor. The weight will be more on the knee and if you try to bring the thigh down then the knee will not be in line with the ankle. If the legs are planted too far then your thighs will go down more than the knee level and most of the weight will shift towards the groin area.

When either of the condition happens you will not get the required results. The head will be unsteady and, the entire pose will be uncomfortable and wrongly practiced.

How to Stand Properly in Extended Legs Poses
Usually for the extended legs poses, 4 feet distance is the approximate distance between the legs. You can start with this distance then try to practice the warrior pose and see the body position and angle of the knee bend you are able to do comfortable. It should be 90 degrees in the final position. If you find it difficult to bend 90 degrees, then you need to increase the distance. In case you see that you are able to bend comfortably but there is too much strain on the groin area and the buttocks are below the knee level then reduce the distance.

Another way is to practice in front of the mirror or get yourself photographed. This will also reveal the flaws.

Practicing this way for few days will give you required information and then you will be able to practice the standing poses in the correct manner and get the maximum benefits.

Related Posts
Standing Poses

To read all the articles please visit http://www.headfirstyoga.com

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

“Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind.” ~ Patanali

“This yoga should be practiced with firm determination and perseverance, without any mental reservation or doubts.” ~ Bhagwad Geeta

“Yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self control. Energy within and energy without.” ~ Ymber Delecto

It is well know that practice of Yoga is beneficial for the body. According to me main benefit of Yoga is how it brings about positive change in you as you keep on practicing. Here are the benefits of Yoga apart from health benefits.

1. Your Determination Increases
   Even the simple poses require perseverance and determination for constant practice and therefore it is no wonder that gradually you will power increases. This helps you in all spheres of life.
2. Increased Confidence
   This is an extension of the previous point. With determination come the assurance that you can accomplish difficult tasks also and that gives an inner confidence. When you face a new challenge your chances of success are more when you are confident about your abilities.
3. Improved Focus and Concentration
   When you practice regularly you find it easier to focus since most of the poses requires you to focus on particular areas of the body and the breath. When we practice for long enough we find that the concentration increases and we find it easier to focus on other areas of work or life.
4. Relaxed and Peaceful Mind
   Yoga slows you down and subdues the anxiety of the mind by slowing down the breathing. If you want proof, just practice for 15 minutes and then observe yourself and your breath. You will feel extremely relaxed and it is this sense of feel good factor which draws people to return to the practice. So if you are stressed out and full of anxiety I will strongly recommend you to practice yoga.

Practicing yoga makes you more successful in all spheres of life and that itself is good enough reason to practice apart from its apparent benefits.

Related Posts
My Yoga Goal For 2010
5 Great Reasons to Start a Yoga Course

To read all the articles please visit http://www.headfirstyoga.com

Lately a few friends have asked me where to find a good yoga class if you’ve never done yoga before. I LOVE questions like these! I’m always excited when people are interested in yoga, especially newbies. Is this how missionaries feel when they find someone willing to listen?

If you’re new to yoga it’s really important to look for a good intro series with an instructor who is experienced in teaching beginners. An intro series lets you discover the practice at a slow pace in a fun and supportive setting, where the person next to you is not powering through his or her 50th Chaturanga. And committing to a series of classes forces you to go back even if you feel confused after your first class. It can take some time to get the hang of it (You want me to put my foot where? While focusing on my breath? Huh?)

There’s a great 6-week Introduction to Yoga series coming up at Yogalife if you’re here in Seattle:

Sunday Feb 21st 4:00-5:15pm
More info on the Yogalife website.