Yoga: Three Reasons You Should Not Do Fish

By Subodh Gupta

The Fish – (Matsyasana)

The Fish pose does not look like a fish but if it is performed in water it enables a person to float like a fish, hence the name. In this posture the chest is fully expanded and stretched, and the breathing becomes fuller.

The Fish pose should be practiced after the Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) and the Plough pose (Halasana) because it gives the neck an effective counter stretch and because it opens and releases any muscular tension of the chest after performing Shoulderstand and Plough. When these postures are practiced together the activity of the thyroid gland is regulated; a hypo active gland is stimulated and a hyper active gland is pacified.

The Fish pose relieves the stiffness of the neck and shoulder muscles and corrects any tendency of having rounded shoulders.
It stretches the muscles between the ribs and the throat as well as the abdominal organs. It removes stiffness in cervical (neck), thoracic (between neck and waist) and lumbar (lower part of the back) regions increasing blood circulation in these areas. It strengthens the muscles of the upper back and the neck. It regulates emotions and it relieves stress.
Many people who have depression often have feelings of tightness or pressure in the chest. This pose performed regularly can help ease the pressure.

The Fish should be performed for at least half the amount of time of performing the Shoulderstand in order to balance the stretch.

Tip for beginners: you may place a blanket or a block under your head if the crown does not comfortably come to the floor.

Even though the Fish pose brings tremendous benefits to the practitioner, there are some health conditions where this pose should not be practiced.

Three important reasons (out of many) not to do the Fish:

1) During pregnancy this asana is to be avoided as it places enormous strain on the womb.

2) If you suffer from serious lower back or neck injury avoid this posture.

3) In case of hernia this asana must not be practiced.

Issued in the interest of people practicing Hatha Yoga by Subodh Gupta, Yoga Expert based in London.

Mr Subodh Gupta, a Corporate Yoga Trainer has conducted more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management. He has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London.

For reaching to Subodh Gupta Yoga website http://www.subodhgupta.com/ and for Subodh Gupta Corporate yoga webpage http://www.subodhgupta.com/corporateyoga.html

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The Benefits of Practicing Yoga

By NamSing Then

Whatever that can mean today, Yoga in plain language means opportunity or luck. For example, if you inherit a legacy totally in an unanticipated way, it is your yoga that brought it your way. It is quite a common word in its usage, meaning luck, in India. Sample this: ‘He had a bad yoga; he lost his business in the storm’.

Then, How Come It Came To Be Known As A Different Exercise Cult?

It is quite simple. The four manifestations of yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Jnana Yoga, fundamentally preach different ways of attaining ‘salvation or moksha’ or the eternal freedom; freedom from deaths and lives; freedom from good and evil. Although there are deviations to all four main forms of yoga, there is a common thread binding them in an innocuous way. That it is the means of spiritual enlightenment. Taking a cue from here, another relatively later manifestation called as ‘Hatha Yoga’, preaches the same thing as the other four, considered by ordinary people as difficult to practice, but emphasizes more on physical health.

Hinduism has a lot of literatures and treatises written on all four forms plus the Hatha Yoga. Patanjali, one prominent of them, is credited as being the proponent of yogasanas as yoga is known popularly today. The word yogasana is a conjugate word of yoga and asana. Yogasana combines the benefits of physical postures, in a scientific sequence, performed under extreme concentration on controlling the mind and breath, for physical benefits.

Yoga and Exercises

Yoga is a popular short word for yogasana after it reached west. Yoga is practiced after proper coaching like any other exercising method. Each step in any posture is defined and regulated to precision. When yoga is practiced, practitioners chant mantras which help practitioners hold the postures’ steps till the mantra ends. The steps can also be followed by chanting simple ‘OM’.

OM is believed to be the first sound the human being heard from the Creator. To chant OM, one needs to relax the mind beforehand and slowly chant for a length of time, which is entirely decided by the chanter to his or her entire comfort, which does not strain the lungs. The longest effortless single breath chant is the naturally needed length of OM. Change your yogasana step at the end of each OM and proceed further till end.

What we discussed is the simplest class of yoga. Breath control is equally important for yoga to benefit you in any way. Pranayama, which regulates the oxygen supplies to our blood, must be associated with yoga practice.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Hatha Yoga, Fitness and One Stop Information

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Universal Principles of Yoga: Forgiveness

By Paul Jerard

Yogic philosophy has many components, and similarities, to classical western philosophy - yet Yoga still remains somewhat of a mystery. Is Yoga a threat to any of today’s Western religions or is it a compliment? Let’s take a close look at the component of forgiveness and see how the teachings of Yoga will improve your life for the best, regardless of your religion.

Why is it so hard for people to forgive themselves or others? It is easier today than it has ever been for people to shut off the outside world and play with “electronic toys.” Why should today’s children try to develop social skills or bonds with their peers? They have all they need, or do they have everything?

Due to consumerism, today’s children are bored by all the toys, but they are stimulated by action with each other. Children, who sit in front of the television, often complain about boredom. When they play real games, go to a Yoga class, or participate in dance, music, or a sport, you see healthy and vibrant children.

The consumption of electronic gadgets has led adults and children to think about: “me, myself, and I,” more than ever. In this social climate, why should anyone forgive? Why should adults or children take a Yoga class, when there are so many more toys to play with?

Intolerance is a natural part of humanity, but consumerism has led to a self-centered path, where the world is wrong and I am right. It is easy to see how fundamentalism can weave its way into this social climate. Why forgive when you can get revenge? Why talk when you can sue?

This is why Yoga can help heal today’s world. Yoga teaches us about the law of Karma. Today, we may say, “What goes around comes around,” but “what we sow, we shall reap,” is a scarier thought. Karma is the law of cause and effect.

You can see the path humankind is on, but what can you do about it? It starts with each of us. Open your heart and bond with your children. Make time for family and friends. Shut the electronics off and work on your spiritual, mental, and physical health. Yoga is about good health in many different aspects.

We live in an electronic world, but we know it is not entirely healthy. We cannot run and hide from electronics, consumerism, and materialism when we are surrounded by it, but we can make wiser choices about our free time.

Yoga offers adults and children insight. This allows all of us to better ourselves and put past mistakes behind. We all make mistakes because we are human.

Forgiveness allows us to leave hate behind and spend our energy on more constructive pursuits, such as enjoying time with our friends or family.

This is just one more reason why the universal principles of Yoga pose no threat to any religion. Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, and Moslems are taught the same, or similar, moral codes. We have to forgive each other and learn to live in peace.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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