If you eat ghee and butter, you become fat, but in yoga the more ghee and butter you take, the thinner you become. Yoga is a course of related exercises and postures intended to promote control of the body and mind and to attain physical and spiritual well being. Yoga's preserving effect of body is so profound that daily yogic routine can make a huge difference to one's ageing process. In case of time constraints you should try and practice Maha Bandha and Vipareeta Karani Mudra daily.
Maha Bandha
Sit in padmasana : place your palms on your knees.
Exhale from your mouth.
Bend your head forward till your chin presses against your chest.
Straighten your arms,lifting and locking your shoulders.
Contract the perineum.
Pull in your stomach.
Hold the posture.
Release the perineum, then the stomach and finally the shoulder lock.
Lift your head and inhale.
Relax and repeat the procedure 5-9 times.
Vipareeta Karani Mudra
Lie down on your back .
Supporting the trunk with your hands, throw your body upwards.
Straighten your legs to a vertical position.
The body should be at an angle of 45 degrees.
Breathing normally, hold the posture as long as comfortable.
Slowly lower your body to the floor.
Random Tip- Benefits of Exercise!
a) Prevents Osteoporosis: Exercise builds strong bones. Running and walking helps lower the odds of getting osteoporosis as you grow older.
b) Lower High Blood Pressure: Exercise is good for your blood pressure, no matter what your age or weight is. And it really doesn't matter whether you get exercise from a brisk walk or a swim.
Must Read - Exercise Schedules to combat different health problems of woman at http://www.weightloss-health.com/health%20exercise.htm
Mudras and bandhas are very powerful and should be attempted after a year of practicing asanas and pranayama. Asanas are the yogic postures and pranayama refers to the proper breathing technique. The delicate tissues of the lungs can be damaged due to undue strain of these are practiced in advance. When you are used to the internal and external retention of breath for extended periods only then should these practices(mudra and bandhas) be taken up. The correct sequence asanas, pranayama, mudra and bandha must also be followed. Asanas clear the energy pathways, pranayama generates energy, while mudras channelize it and the bandhas lock it in. The affect of stress on ageing is well known. So practice yoga nidra and keep stress at bay.
Random Tip- Yoga Exercises- Headache Cures - Yoga is probably the most ancient science that deals with every kind of mental, physical and physiological ailment while keeping one fit and supple.
The best thing to do when encountering a headache due to excessive heat is practicing the two pranayamas- Shitali and Sheetkari.
Shitali- Roll the tongue into a tube (as best as you can) and stick the tip out of the mouth. Inhale through the tongue and hold the breath in for 4-5 seconds with the shin pressed against the chest. Exhale using Ujjayi Pranayama through the nose. Repeat 5-10 times.
Sheetkari: Curl the tongue touching the roof of the mouth as far back as you can to the soft pallet. As you inhale clench the teeth together and slightly part the lips making a hissing "ssss" sound. Exhale through both nostrils. Repeat 5-10 times.
