Athletes who do Yoga

Yoga not only enhances your mind and peacefulness, but it also enhances your body physically. Athletes in every sport practice yoga. It keeps athletes focused and and stretches their muscles. Some of the most well known athletes in the world practice yoga every single day.

LeBron James

LeBron James is arguably the best basketball player in the world. James is also does yoga nearly everyday. James said that yoga helps him clear his mind, and helps him focus. Yoga also helped James's lower back injury go away. James credits his great shape and endurance to practicing yoga.

Ray Lewis

Recently retired middle linebacker, Ray Lewis is known as one of the best linebackers of all-time. He is aggressive and his heart gets in the game. Lewis said to ESPN in 2010, "I do it for a lifestyle, and that's a better motivation." Lewis was known as one of the most emotional football players of all-time, and yoga cleared his mind.

Coach K doing the downward dog

Not only do players do yoga, but coaches as well. The historic Duke and USA basketball team head coach Mike Krzyzewski is a yoga goer. Coach K has been practicing yoga for years. On the sideline, it is rare for Coach K to show his emotional side, and that is because he keeps his cool and learned to do that from yoga.

Athletes from all different sports and ages practice yoga. Whether it is a football player, basketball star or even a legendary head coach. Yoga can help anyone in anyway, it just clears your mind.

Namaste.

Yoga and Pediatric Care

Recently, yoga has been seen in pediatric care. In physical education classes in some schools, they have added yoga as a class. Yoga has been seen to help students in physical exercise and breathing and mental relief also. 

Many high school students have also taken up yoga. High school is known as one of the most stressful times of ones life, and yoga can help. Yoga is a major stress relief and can mellow done any high school student. Yoga has also helped kids with ADHD. It helps them out by calming them down, and taking out all of their energy. 

As you can seen, yoga can help anyone at any age. Whether you are six, or if you are 18 yoga will help you. 

Namaste.  

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Yoga is one of the only spiritual practices that lets the human body become one with its own mind. Therefore, there are the eight limbs of yoga. The eight limbs of yoga each have their own personal meaning, and purpose. The eight limb path of yoga helps you form a stronger bond with your own body and mind, and will help yoga be more meaningful for you.

1. Yama
- By definition, Yama is the Hindu God of death and the lord of the unknown world, but in yoga terms it is different. Yama is universal mortality, which is also a lot of different things. In short terms, Yama is just being a good person, and doing good deeds and just treating people the way you want to be treated.
2. Niyama
- Niyama means laws, or rules. Like Yama, there are a lot of other Niyama in all, but Niyama can be more personal and reach home more. Niyama tells you to be a pure person, and to use the energy you have for good use only. Niyama is also saying one should get to know themselves better, and just to be a relaxed person.
3. Asanas
- Now this is really the first physical limb of yoga. What Asanas means is body postures. This limb is telling us that each position that yoga offers we should try, even if it is extremely difficult, it is worth trying because it can only help your body.
4. Pranayama
- Breathing is so key in Yoga. Every breathe you take effects how the whole class or session of yoga goes. What this limb means is that you should control your breathing, so it doesn't get out of control and you just stay relaxed.
5. Pratyahara
- In simple context, this Pratyahara means drawing back, or retreat. But, as the fifth limb of Yoga what this means is withdrawal oneself. This limb is telling you to control your sense during yoga, and just to withdrawal all your sense from any object that is external.
6. Dharana
- This limb is basically concentration. What this limb is telling you to do is to focus on just one object while performing Yoga, and never lose focus.
7. Dhyana 
- This is one of the most important stages in Yoga. What it is telling you to do is have a straight meditation throughout Yoga. You should have a focused flow, and not get distracted.
8. Samadhi
- Samadhi is the final step in Yoga. What this means is to bring everything together. You have sadly come to an end in your Yoga experience, so you need to bring everything together.

Yoga is an art that involves your mind and your body. Following the eight limb path helps everyone have a better Yoga experience.

Namaste.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar Yoga is one of the most popular kinds of yoga. This specific yoga can benefit you in so many ways. With over 200 different poses, Iyengar Yoga is very classic. In this specific yoga, standing poses are most popular, and you rarely sit down.

This style of yoga is also one of the most beneficial styles. This yoga not only improves your balance, but it also helps your body recover from various injuries and strengthens your body. If you are looking for a yoga that can help align your body properly, then Iyengar Yoga is for you. Beginners also tend to love this kind of yoga, since it is not challenging on the body.

Overall,
Iyengar Yoga is relaxing, and it only helps your body. So why not give it a shot.

Top 3 Most Difficult Poses in Yoga

Yoga is supposed to be relaxing, but if you want a challenge you can have a challenge. Some of these poses look impossible, but if you want to give them a shot, I'll help explain them. My top three hardest yoga poses are: Sage Koundinya I, Firefly Pose and Peacock Pose. 

Sage Koundinya I

The Sage Koundinya I is nearly impossible. The style of this pose is you are in a push-up position, with one leg balanced in the air, and the other leg bent and next to your knee. This is hard to explain, so I will post a picture. This pose is very difficult to hold, but if you can do it, you are definitely a yoga guru.  

Firefly 

The next pose is the Firefly Pose. With this pose, what you have to do is have your hands parallel to your legs. Then you lower your hands to the ground, lift yourself up with your arms and lower your back. Once again, I added a picture since it is hard to explain. With this pose, you hold it for 15 seconds or longer. If you can even hold it for more than 15 seconds, kudos to you. 

Peacock 

Lastly, we have the Peacock Pose. This pose is similar to the Sage Koundinya I, but there is one difference. Just like the Sage Koundinya I, you have to hold yourself up with your hands, but you don't have to move your legs. You generally hold this pose for 10 seconds, but if you can hold it for longer, good for you, that is a challenge. 

All three of these poses are as advanced as you get in yoga. If you are just started out yoga, please don't do these poses because it won't end well for anyone. 

Namaste.

The Benefits of Practicing Yoga

Yoga has been being practiced for 5,000 years. About 11 million Americans practice this old tradition, and benefit very deeply from it. Say you have never tried yoga, it is something you should try, because it can't hurt not trying.

One of the best benefits of yoga is all health related. If you practice yoga weekly, you will enhance your breathing, flexibility, strength and posture. Yoga has many different styles, and each different variation of yoga can help in a different way. Strength wise, yoga can build strength in your core, hamstring and quadriceps. Yoga requires a lot of breathing, so this enhances relaxation in your body and mind. 

Yoga can help clear your mind as well. Even if you've only done one class of yoga, you will feel less stressed. Yoga provides relief on the mind, and will help you feel unstressed about anything. After a yoga class, you will feel happier, and more concentrated. Recent studies have shown that yoga has boost the hormone oxytocin, which makes you happier.

After trying yoga, some people just hate it. Whether or not you are one of those people who hates yoga, you can't deny that it is not good for you. If you have never tried yoga, why wouldn't you try, it can't hurt. 

Namaste. 

Top 3 Yoga Studios in America

As a yoga goer, you should always be on the look out for the best yoga studios near you. Whether you are on vacation somewhere, or just moved to town you should look into the best yoga studios. I am here to tell you my top three yoga studios in America. They are: Yoga Works (California and New York), PranaVayu Yoga (Boston) and Tranquil Space (Washington DC).

With 22 California locations and five New York locations, Yoga Works has elite yoga studios on the east and west coast. Something unique about Yoga Works is they offer many different classes. They offer various classes from private to beginner and even offer retreats. If you are interested in attending a yoga class at Yoga Works, you can visit there website here.
David Magone is known as one of the worlds best yoga instructors. Based in Boston, Magone's studio PranaVayu is one of Boston's best. At this studio, three classes are offered which are Base Level, Accelerated Level and Mangalem Yantra Yoga. Each of these levels starts off at a beginner pace, but as you get going the class gets harder and harder. PranaVayu offers clinics for any yoga goers. If you would like to read more about PranaVayu, and the amazing instructor David Magone, click here.

Lastly, located in Washington DC, Tranquil Space is a top yoga studio. Located right in the heart of Washington DC, it can get pretty hectic in the political filled area. That is why this studio is so perfect. Founder of Tranquil Space, Kimberly Wilson is one of the best yoga instructors in America. She has built a team that can teach anyone any kind of yoga that they would like. If you are interested in attending a class at Tranquil Space, click here.

You shouldn't choose a yoga studio based on a ranking, you should choose a yoga studio based on your own choice. Find a studio that is for you, and stick with that.

Namaste.