Can Yoga Improve or Even Cure Diabetes for Some People

NIDDM or Type II diabetes is multifactorial, depending also on environmental factors including obesity, sedentary lifestyles and nutritional imbalances.

Yoga has shown some beneficial results in curing diabetes. The yoga exercises that are prescribed for curing diabetes is different from hatha yoga exercise because it involves positions tailored to treat certain conditions, as well as meditation, relaxation and stretching exercises.

One of the studies conducted to cure diabetes was the one set up by the Yoga Biomedical Trust, founded in 1982 by biochemist Dr Robin Monro, and an Indian yoga research foundation which discovered that practicing yoga for 30 minutes a day for one month helped reduce blood glucose levels in some diabetics.

The yoga patients took part in one or two 90-minute sessions a week and were asked to practice at home. The classes included the specific yoga exercises of the spinal twist, the bow and abdominal breathing.

At the end of the 12 weeks blood sugar levels fell significantly in all patients in the group and were slightly raised in a control group which had not joined in the yoga sessions. Three yoga students managed to reduce their medication, including one man who had not changed his drug regime for 20 years.

It has been known for a long time that exercise is helpful for diabetics. Yoga therapy may help reduce stress levels which could play a part in maturity onset diabetes. But one drawback is that some patients would find it hard to keep up the regular sessions needed to sustain the benefit. All the patients said they would like to see these classes set up on a permanent basis but we don’t have the money.

It is not necessarily the exercise component of the yoga therapy package which is most important, because there is not enough physical exercise to account for the changes, but stress reduction has a lot to do with it. Stress hormones increase sugar levels in the blood. People also benefit from the stabilization of their moods which yoga brings, an increased feeling of well-being and a feeling of being more in control, which may help with their diet control.

By: Ann Marier –

Anti-aging Yoga

Yoga is one of the most effective ways to make you look and feel younger and can add years to your life with better health, strength and flexibility.Yoga is suitable for all ages and all health conditions and almost everyone will get some positive benefits from doing yoga on a regular basis.Yoga is one of the most effective methods of reducing stress, along with meditation and anything that will reduce the effects that stress can have on your mind and body will make you look and feel younger.There are various different types of yoga and you can choose the one that suits your needs the most from the simplest exercises that will help you to relax to the advanced exercises that will help you get a toned body and help to wind back the years.Yoga helps to improve your blood circulation and that will make your skin condition look and be healthier. Even certain inverted exercises will increase the blood flow to the scalp and this can assist with the reduction of hair loss in some people.Increased flexibility will help to reduce muscular and joint pain and a reduction in pain can help with a reduction of frown lines that are common with people who suffer from constant pain.Yoga helps the digestive system and this will help to get the maximum benefits from the food that you eat and in doing so improve overall health and nutrition which will be reflected in good skin condition.By bringing about a balance in both mind and body yoga can do more for the aging process than a hospital full of surgeons. You should consider trying it as it can be done freely at home without the cost of gym fees; it is convenient and scaleable according to your fitness levels.

Antiaging Exercise – Is There Anything Like This?

Antiaging exercise sounds great. People are more aware of the fact that sedentary lives of the modern times lead to a host of diseases compounded by weight gain and obesity. They know the meaning and significance of having a daily regime of exercise – both for the body and for the mind. The body benefits since the muscles are worked out and fat is burned, while the mind benefits because exercise is supposed to produce pheromones, which give a sensation similar to a drug or alcohol high – which is quite addictive.What Does The Antiaging Exercise Involve?This is exercise like any other – with maybe a few gentle tweaks here and there. For example a lady who is 5’2″ and about 90 kgs would have to first of all loose about 30-35 kgs before she feels or looks good. Only then, special antiaging exercise can be worked out which would strengthen not only the body but the face as well.If you look for more specifics, there are no standard antiaging exercises. However, you will find that whatever exercises are being implemented should match perfectly with what the client wants. Many times, the client looks for a makeshift adjustment for a certain limited period and then they drop out. This could be an impending marriage and both the girl and boy want to look their best. It could be that the person wants to appear for an interview and wants to be exceptionally well-groomed to make a good impression and land the job and the such.While it is okay to use these exercises for such purposes, being a regular in this matter would make one feel good. The antiaging exercise will also ensure that the person is more disciplined with regard to life in general. Though it is okay to use this is a past time, you should also ensure that your ‘before’ and ‘after’ are recorded. This is very important because it would the yard stick for measuring your progress. These photographs will also motivate you not to go back to the times when you were overweight and not settled to a disciplined life.Many thin people also need antiaging exercise. How would you handle them? These people would need special exercises and nutritive diet, which will help to put on weight. For them the exercises would be different, though the end-product is the same. There is no way to stop the clock from ticking on but there are things you can do to make yourself look and feel better.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. It focuses upon developing a healthy mind and body, and on attaining self-awareness. The various practices and disciplines of yoga are available to everyone, no matter what their culture or other paths they may follow. Yoga practice also involves developing awareness on a universal and personal level through the yamas and niyamas, a series of ethics and disciplines intended to cultivate living in harmony with others and in oneness with our true selves.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and consists of ancient theories, observations and principles regarding the connection of the mind with the body. The ancient Indian sage systemized yoga philosophy into eight paths or limbs: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. These limbs each express a different aspect of yoga and combined make up the path or yoga practice that unites the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of our being.

Yama – Yama are ethical disciplines that relate to how we can live in a shared world with peace and integrity. Niyama – These disciplines relate to the individual and focus on living a healthy, fulfilled and masterful life. Asana – The word asana means ‘to be’, in the sense of being in a posture. The asanas were developed for the maintenance of a healthy mind and body, with each posture affecting the body, mind and emotions in a unique way and working as a pathway to balance and wellbeing. Pranayama – In the practice of pranayama, we develop breathing techniques that increase oxygen intake and strengthen lung capacity while also increasing the absorption of prana, or life force. In its simplest form, pranayama involves deep, full breathing. Dharana – Following on from pratyahara, dharana is the ability to be completely internally absorbed and focused. This practice of single-pointed concentration stills the mind and leads to profound quietness within. Dhyana – Following on from dharana is dhyana, or meditation – sitting where there is no focus, just stillness; no thoughts, only emptiness. Samadhi – In this state of absolute personal freedom there is union of the individual soul with the universal soul. It is the practice of living at one with all that is.

With regular yoga practice of yoga, you will get strength, flexibility and good health, the benefits of which flow into all aspects of life. Increased energy levels bring a new perspective on life, the increased feelings of self-love and inspiration lead us to discover talents and interests we never knew existed and problems that once seemed overwhelming become more manageable.

The Anti Aging Exercise Program

Doing just one kind of physical activity isn’t going to have an effect on the aging process. Instead of resorting to solutions that are likely to end up futile, get yourself to do varying activities. Besides, this is a more enjoyable way to fight the signs of aging, preserve good health and continue being physically dynamic.

When you are not moving enough it means you aren’t conditioning your body into doing anything much. Being physically incapable of doing the things you like could be a sign of aging. A combination of strength, aerobic and flexibility training can help you in more ways than one.

Strength Activities

Delay the aging process by doing a strength workout every now and then. What strength training does is enhance bone density and muscle mass. Lacking exercise results in the loss of muscle tone, where your muscles are less capable in sustaining your bones. You may end up developing constant back pain and a bad posture.

What’s good about doing regular strength workouts is that your muscles become toned, skin tighter, arthritic conditions minimized and metabolic rate increase. Once your body has been conditioned to strength training, it is still able to burn fat even after you’ve finished working out. You can do a strength workout by weight training, resistance training (where you oppose forces), and isometric training (where you strengthen muscles without movement). The recommended amount of time to strength-train is 2-3 days per week.

Isometric training is good for those who are just starting an exercise program because it is low impact. All you have to do is tighten and loosen your muscles in a repetitive manner.

Aerobic Training

Slowing down the progression of aging is easy with aerobic training. Because it has more to do with endurance than bursts of power, individuals from any age bracket can do this type of training. Anyone can run, brisk-walk, and do most other types of endurance training.

Involving in regular aerobic training promotes good blood circulation. Good blood circulation helps blood effectively distribute oxygen throughout the body. It improves mental clarity, physical coordination and response mechanisms. Poor blood circulation causes you to feel faint, have regular headaches and can lead to more serious conditions like heart disease and dementia.

The advantages of doing an aerobic workout are better endurance, minimized mental and physical stress, and reduced blood pressure. It is recommended that at least 20 minutes of aerobic training be incorporated into your exercise program.

Flexibility Training

Anyone who is getting into any type of exercise, be it cardiovascular or strength, needs to do some flexibility workout. This is why you are always told to warm up before exercising and cool down afterwards. Doing a flexibility workout enhances joint, skeletal and muscular health so that you can maximize your physical and mental capabilities.

Benefits of flexibility training include alleviation of joint problems that cause discomfort and wider range of bodily movement. Performing a flexibility exercise for 30 seconds per day can already increase range of movement and improve overall flexibility.

Incorporating strength, aerobic and flexibility training into your anti aging exercise regimen can give you the benefit of having more speed, power, balance and agility to defy aging.