[Spiritual]
At PAMA London we believe that the energy centres in the body, also known as chakras, have a great deal of influence over how well our minds and bodies are able to work in sync. When the chakras are clear and energy is able to flow through these energy centres as it should, then peace and harmony is much more likely to be present and persistent.
The word ‘chakra’ is of Sanskrit origin and translates to ‘wheel’. There are seven chakras in the body and it is important to consciously work to balance them. This can be achieved with a variety of techniques and tools and is best worked on in an ongoing way. For example, you can balance the chakras with coloured clothing and this is something you can click here to read more about!
The root chakra is also often referred to as the first chakra and is located at the base of the spine. The connection between Mother Earth and the body and mind is deeply guided by the root chakra.
When your energy is flowing without inhibition through the root chakra then you become better able and more inclined to honour your roots. This means that you can develop a greater appreciation of your family, and those people who support you in all aspects of your life. It is important to remember that your definition of family can differ from the norm, and this does not necessarily have to be concerned with those you are biologically related to.
With a well functioning root chakra you are likely to feel in control of your financial independence and have a justified sense of security. You will feel grounded and understand that you have the power to guide your life in the direction that you wish it to go in.
As we discussed in our previous article on balancing the chakras with coloured clothing, the root chakra is most closely connected to the colour red. If you feel that your root chakra has become blocked or unbalanced then surrounding yourself with the colour red can be helpful.
In addition to wearing red coloured clothing you can also surround yourself with this colour in other respects, such as consciously including red foods more prominently in your diet. For example, opt for red apples, strawberries, red grapes, cherries, pomegranates, tomatoes and red peppers.
Aim to eat at least one of these foods every day and do so in a mindful way. Focus your attention solely on the act of eating this particular food and meditate on the connected concepts that you believe are out of balance because of your root chakra.
Healing of the root chakra can also be encouraged by finding ways to physically become more connected to the earth. For example, a regular yoga practice can be extremely beneficial – especially if you take your practice outside into nature! Practicing yoga not only helps you to ground yourself in a physical way, but also helps your mind to become more grounded in a very healing way. Furthermore, a large number of yoga poses are fantastic for opening up your lower spine and allowing energy to flow with greater abundance through this part of your body.
Next Monday we will be taking a closer look at the sacral chakra. So, visit us again soon to learn how you can balance this chakra to enhance your sexuality, sensuality and creativity!
[Physical]
There is much debate over whether yoga is an activity that can contribute to effective weight loss or not – with strong arguments on both sides of the discussion.
On the one hand, some people believe that because yoga is not a fast paced physical activity it can therefore not be considered a serious weight loss tool. This follows the belief that you must be directly burning calories at a serious rate in order to lose weight.
On the other hand, it can be argued that practicing yoga is a great way to build muscle, tone the body and strengthen the mind – all of which can then contribute to weight maintenance and weight loss.
This misconception of a yoga class predominantly consisting of stretching and seated meditation is perhaps the reason that many people feel that yoga is not an effective way to lose weight. However, if you have ever taken part in a class then you will know that this is not the case!
Yoga requires a commitment to developing both your physical and mental strength, and as this happens your stamina, flexibility and focus will improve also.
Yoga consists of hundreds of different asanas, all of which have varying physical benefits. Although it is true to say that some of these poses are more concerned with flexibility than they are with physical strength, this is certainly not true of all of the poses! As you work to hold each pose for longer periods of time you will be building your overall strength and increasing your muscle mass.
As you continue to burn fat and replace it with muscle, you will naturally lose weight and you will also burn more calories when you are not directly engaging in exercise. This is because muscle tissue burns more calories than fat does.
Although the benefits of this can be felt with the majority of different yoga types, you may want to go for a more physically demanding variety to enhance your results and get the most out of your session. Vinyasa Flow, Power Yoga and Bikram Yoga are thought to be the best choices when it comes to yoga for weight loss. This is largely due to their intense pace and challenging poses.
When it comes to how yoga can benefit you emotionally to support weight loss, you have to consider the reasons that you are not currently reaching your weight loss goals. Do you make unhealthy, emotionally charged food choices? Are you currently lacking the motivation to lead an active lifestyle? Perhaps you are simply stuck in a fitness rut and need to refresh your mindset to find your focus?
One of the most amazing things about yoga is how it encourages you to look inside of yourself, and to better understand your choices, your thought processes and your understanding of the self. When this begins to happens you will likely develop a greater understanding and appreciation of how you can care for yourself.
This process will often lead people to make more positive choices in terms of their self-care, their lifestyle, their diet and other connected concepts. Recognising negative habits and distancing yourself from them will soon follow, and this can be beneficial for both overall health and reaching desired weight loss goals.
Deciding to embrace yoga as a new part of your workout routine can be an exciting way to mix things up. As well as supporting and boosting your weight loss efforts, yoga can also benefit both your body and mind in other ways, such as keeping your mood up!
[Physical]
If you already practice yoga then the chances are you already know the seemingly endless benefits of doing so!
As well as boosting your strength, enhancing your agility, helping you to maintain your weight and keeping stress and anxiety at bay, it has also been suggested that yoga can help with fertility. In fact, yoga can support you through the process of getting pregnant, during your pregnancy and also post-birth.
The varying health and wellness advantages of yoga vary depending on what type of class you are taking part in. Each of the asanas has their own exciting set of benefits and knowing which poses are best for all aspects of pregnancy can be very helpful for supporting you during this part of you life!
Certain yoga poses are fantastic for giving both the endocrine system and the reproductive system a helping hand.
The endocrine system is responsible for producing hormones and having a healthy hormonal balance is key to fertility. This system consists of a collection of glands and affects practically every cell in the body in one way or another.
The reproductive system can be supported in several ways by yoga. By helping the flow of energy through the body, lowering stress levels, increasing circulation, and stimulating the reproductive organs, you have the potential to improve your fertility!
The following poses are believed to be great for boosting fertility and you can easily take just ten minutes each day to practice them.
This stress relieving breathing pose is perfect for tackling the emotional blockages that can contribute to decreased fertility. Regularly practicing this pose can calm the mind, alleviate anxiety and soothe stressful thoughts.
To engage in this pose you must simply sit comfortably with your eyes closed. You can then place each of your index fingers on the tops of your ears. Breathe in deeply as you gently push the cartilage area of your ears with each finger. You must then release your fingers when you breathe out. Continue with this cycle of breathing in and pressing the cartilage, and breathing out and releasing your fingers for a minimum of ten breaths.
This pose is perfect for stimulating the thyroid gland, which is a main component of the endocrine system. Hormones secreted from the thyroid gland regulate many of the essential functions in the body, including the menstrual cycle, body weight, body temperature and more*. This pose is also great for stress relief and promoting a calm mindset.
To engage in this pose you should lie on your back on your mat with your legs stretched away from you. Your arms should rest at either side of your body with your palms facing down. Raise both legs up towards the sky at a 90-degree angle, push your palms into the ground, and bring your waist slightly up off the mat. As you lift your hips, move your legs forwards but ensure that you keep them vertical to the ground. As you continue to support your body with your hands on the floor, move your legs further so that they are at a right angle to the floor.
Hold yourself in this position for between one and two minutes, breathing deeply and mindfully as you do so. When you are ready to exit the pose you can slowly lower your legs back down to the ground until you are once again flat on your mat.
If you have been trying to conceive for a long time then it can of course be frustrating that it hasn’t happened for you yet. This additional stress can actually further hinder your chances as your hormones are impacted by the knock-on effects of this stress. A regular yoga practice is a natural way to combat this stress whilst also helping with your fertility in other ways.
So, stay positive, stay on the mat and choose clothing for your yoga practice that supports your body and expresses your personality. Click here to check out the range of activewear available from PAMA London!
The first part of namaste comes from "namaha," a Sanskrit verb that originally meant "to bend." Bending is a sign of submission to authority or showing some respect to some superior entity." Over time, "namaha" went from meaning "to bend" to meaning "salutations" or "greetings." The "te" in namaste means "to you," Deshpande says. So all together, namaste literally means "greetings to you." In the Vedas, namaste mostly occurs as a salutation to a divinity.
Our site uses cookies offer you a better experience. We use analytical cookies (our own and third party) to understand and improve your browsing experience.
LEARN MORE
