Have you tried Yoga Nidra? It’s a great yoga exercise if you have trouble getting to sleep, or are an insomniac.

In its simplest form, Yoga Nidra is a meditation and relaxation exercise, in which you focus on each area of the body in turn, over a period of ten to 15 minutes.

Once you’ve learned this “body scan meditation”, use it at bedtime. You’ll become so adept at it, that you’ll gain complete relaxation in just a few minutes, which transitions easily to sleep. It’s the best relaxation ever, and once you’ve learned it, the process is yours forever.

Need better sleep? Try yoga techniques |
Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas
| Life/Travel: Health reports:

“After the group was set up in the supported reclining child’s pose, Ms. Buffington led a Yoga Nidra visualization. The soothing, rhythmic quality of her voice allowed consciousness to drift. In fact, one of two men attending the workshop fell sound asleep.”

If you haven’t tried Yoga Nidra, do try it. You’ll love it.

[tags]yoga,yoga poses,yoga positions,yoga exercises[/tags]

“Hot yoga” is characterized by a series of yoga poses which is done in a heated room. The room where you perform the exercise is kept at a temperature of 95-100 degrees. This kind of exercise gives off a lot of perspiration during a session.

Hot yoga is advantageous because it cleanses your body and gets rid of the toxins inside your body. Since is makes your body warm, the more flexible it gets.

Think of it as your own personal sauna – your body generates heat, which helps all your systems to work better, and you release toxins as well.

If you are going to practice hot yoga, you should be ready with your clothing. The clothes you should wear should be appropriate. You can wear shorts during the session.

Wearing of shorts allows your skin to breathe and give off heat.

If you are taking hot yoga sessions, make sure that you drink a lot of water – bring a large water bottle with you, and drink regularly during the class, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

[tags]yoga,hot yoga[/tags]

Befuddled by all the different styles of yoga? Here’s a description of several common yoga types you’ll find available at studios near you.

Iyengar Yoga is focused on body  alignment and precise movements. Yoga props such as blocks and straps are usually used as part of this type of yoga for those beginners who are not as flexible as the experts as to compensate for injuries.

Because of its attention to details and the flexible modification of poses, this type of yoga is often a good form of exercise for people with back pain or neck pain, as they are likely to benefit from the close attention to the poses.

In Iyengar yoga the teacher focuses on alignment and inner awareness. This awareness starts with the body and expands to other parts of the self as one continues with the regularity of practice.

Ashtanga Yoga is often called power yoga because it is athletic.

Ashtanga yoga includes pushups and lunges, for  strength and stamina. This style is best for people who have successfully overcome back injuries and are looking for a more challenging practice.

People who are already athletic such as runners, gymnasts and cyclists who want to add more balance and concentration to their routines are also utilizing Ashtanga yoga.

Bikram Yoga is known as hot yoga because it’s done in a very warm room. It’s great for increasing flexibility because the heat helps you to stretch.

But keep in mind that this yoga is not applicable to those that have developed cardio vascular diseases due to the strain placed on the body when vigorously exercising in the heat.

Viniyoga links poses with the breathe and movement in flowing exercises that are adapted to each individual. This is a good form of yoga for those with back problems or neck injuries because it can be easily adapted by anyone.

Raja Yoga is meditation, primarily.

Bhakti yoga is commonly known as devotional yoga and aims to develop your spiritual life.

Mantra yoga is known as the yoga of potent sound. It involves chanting mantras to improve your mental and spiritual health – common mantras include “om,” “hum,” or “ram.”

So there you have it – a roundup of popular styles of yoga. Try several styles. There is no single correct yoga, it’s a banquet of styles.

[tags]yoga, styles[/tags]