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23
Jan 12

People with medical conditions should approach New Jersey yoga classes carefully

There are a number of different reasons for people to take up yoga. It's good for meditation, helps manage stress and can improve physical fitness. However, people who have certain medical conditions should approach exercises taught in New Jersey yoga classes and similar courses gingerly, as reported by MyHealthNewsDaily.

According to Loren Fishman, who works as both a yoga teacher and physician, people who have osteoporosis should be conservative with forward bends, while those with herniated discs should be careful of forms of yoga that use forward bends. When it comes to twists, it would be preferable for the latter group to twist away from the side of the disk, Fishman said. However, people who have had hip replacements may want to think about using poses other than twists.

Headstands are not intended for individuals with neck or back problems, glaucoma or cerebrovascular issues, according to the news source. But in general, inversion poses could have health benefits for other people. Such moves could "strengthen the diaphragm, helping people with asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, and bring blood to the upper lung fields, places that are under-infused with blood," said Fishman, as quoted by the news source.

Luckily, Dahn Yoga is a low-impact technique that emphasizes calm and relaxation – in other words, no acrobatic headstands or contorting back bends! So if people are interested in this mind-body regimen for health reasons, they should feel free to look for Dahn Yoga locations near them. They would be in good company: according to a survey published in the Yoga Journal, 14 million Americans were practicing yoga on the recommendation of a doctor or therapist.

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1
Jun 11

Wellness center in Connecticut celebrates the art of yoga

Yoga is a unique exercise in that it takes into account all aspects of an individual's health and works to improve them simultaneously. Those who have engaged in the breathing exercises, poses and stretches of the regimen have reported enhanced mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

According to the Daily Stamford, a wellness center in Westport, Connecticut, is celebrating the role that yoga plays in the lives of countless people all over the country.

"Once you begin to practice yoga and become more aware of your body, everything else starts to fall into place," said instructor Stan Woodman, quoted by the news source. "It is amazing to see the friendships and connections that have developed."

He and co-owner Gina Norman are devoted to the art of yoga, which they have practiced for years and have taught in many countries around the world.

They hope to increase awareness of the many benefits of the holistic mind-body system with the event, which will feature skilled instructors who will help attendees master some of the basic poses and stretches of the program. 

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1
Jun 11

Slovakian retreat helps enthusiasts practice yoga in the mountains

Yoga has been a powerful method of stress management for people all over the world. No matter what your background is, how much experience you have with the holistic mind-body system or your reasons for pursuing it, engaging in gentle breathing techniques and soothing poses can provide welcome relief from tension and anxiety.

One of the reasons yoga is so popular is that it can be performed literally anywhere. Busy employees have been known to squeeze in a little time for deep breathing and posing during their lunch breaks, while tired moms and dads may engage in the rejuvenating stretches at home while the kids are at school.

While some people choose to practice yoga in a classroom full of other enthusiasts, others prefer to go on retreats. The Daily Mail reports that practitioners on holiday in Slovakia have found considerable peace and enlightenment by performing the calming exercises in the mountains.

Practicing yoga in the cool, crisp air beneath the wide expanse of sky helped many individuals relax and improve their health. But no matter where the exercises are done – at home or in the office, on the beach or the slopes – many enthusiasts agree that it has helped them live calmer lives.

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10
May 11

Nature thrives at Lake Naivasha

The key to happiness is achieving a good life balance. It can be difficult to juggle a work and social life with one’s alone time, but one should pay special attention to the latter aspect. Personal joy can be achieved by connecting with the earth, and those who are heading to Kenya on their next vacation can do this by exploring the local wildlife.

Birdwatching is a popular activity at Lake Naivasha, as it is home to approximately 400 aviary species. Travelers may want to take a pair of binoculars with them on their trip to spot some interesting creatures in the area, including the cormorant, pelican and African fish eagle. For the best bird sightings, tourists should visit the lake between October and March, when migratory birds inhabit the surrounding swamplands.

While exploring the local bird wildlife, visitors may notice that there are a bevy of hippopotamuses in the area. Lake Naivasha is well known for its extensive population of this powerful animal, which roams the African wild and can be found in its natural habitat while vacationers tour the lake.

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19
Apr 11

Young patients with cerebral palsy ease tension through yoga

Enthusiasts all over the country have benefited from the soothing mindfulness regimen of yoga. The gentle techniques and breath work of the Korean art have helped many chronically ill patients manage and alleviate their symptoms.

Recently, the New Jersey Real-Time News reported that an 8-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has found peace through the practice of yoga.

Kyle Wilkins spends most of his day in a wheelchair, unable to stretch his legs because of the disease. With the help of his mother, however, he managed to participate in and enjoy yoga at a studio in Sussex County.

According to Kathleen Wilkins, the exercise appeared to soothe and comfort her son, who did not appear as tense or agitated after the session.

"I know he likes the stretching," she told the news source. "It's nice to see him relax and let go."

Instructor Gypsy Rain said that many other paraplegic children have discovered the physical benefits associated with yoga, and that seeing them get out of their wheelchairs and explore their worlds has been rewarding. 

Dahn Yoga classes are available in Nassau County, New York, for residents who have cerebral palsy. The 45-minute sessions are held once a week and typically involve stretching, joint rotation, body tapping, coordination exercises and relaxation.

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6
Apr 11

Florida festival celebrates the art of yoga

Dahn Yoga classes promote optimal well-being and a stronger mind-body connection through a unique blend of relaxation, deep breathing techniques and gentle stretches. The regimen promotes harmony within oneself and with nature, and there may be no better place to practice it than in the great outdoors.

In fact, this spring, many yoga practitioners will be flocking to the ocean to enjoy a day of meditation at the Rasa-Lila Fest in Tampa Bay, Florida, according to Tampa Bay Online. The all-day yoga event allows attendees to engage in the soothing exercise with thousands of other like-minded individuals.

According to founder Nathan Bangs, many people mistakenly believe that yoga – an ancient Eastern art that has taken the Western world by storm in recent years – is about being fashionable, having the right clothes and listening to the right playlists.

"We're planning [to make the festival an event] for anyone and everyone," Bangs told the news source. 

This meditative practice is unique in that it welcomes people of all experience levels. Anyone of any background may engage in yoga if they choose, whether they are an expert or are trying the technique for the first time.

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30
Mar 11

Bedtime yoga can help children sleep better

Dahn Yoga benefits not only adults, but also children, as more parents in the U.S. have begun introducing their families to the relaxing regimen. Young Americans experience a different type of anxiety than their elders, but they may still feel tense and pressured by schoolwork, extracurriculars and friends. By engaging in deep breathing and meditation, they may also be able to find stress relief.

Opposing Views reports that more kids are having trouble sleeping at night, which might be attributed to too much time spent on the computer or watching television. Insufficient rest can lead to poor performance at school, irritability and an inability to focus.

However, parents may be able to prevent these issues by encouraging their children to practice yoga before going to bed.

"The goal of bedtime yoga is to help a child shift his or her mind's focus from being preoccupied with daily stressors to focusing [on] yoga postures, relaxation techniques and breath work, with the ultimate goal of getting a restful sleep," the authors explained, according to the source.

Benefits such as stress relief may not only be enjoyed by adults. Practicing yoga each day can teach kids to be more aware of their bodies and to meditate in order to achieve optimal well-being.

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7
Mar 11

SOUND, LIGHT AND GOOD VIBRATIONS

SOUND, LIGHT AND GOOD VIBES

light

light

I’ve been practicing Dahn Yoga for seven months and during this time I have visited seven centers. In all seven, I have found two aspects which for me make the experience of practicing Dahn Yoga especially lovely and joyful. The first aspect has to do with sound. Each time the door into a center opens you will hear the friendly twinkle of wind chimes. Perched on top of the door hinge, they offer a charming melody which ushers in each visitor. Whenever I hear this sound, even if I am in my home center of Park East which is in the heart of uptown Manhattan where jackhammers buzz and sirens roar, I am immediately transported to a place where a gentle wind blows and spirit lingers in the air. The wind chimes are unlike any buzzer, doorbell, entry system I’ve ever heard.
The other aspect has to do with light. It is the bright yellow flooring of the training room. A linoleum type of smooth covering, this flooring is not too slippery and has some give. It feels firm but bouncy on my yong chun (energy points on the bottom of feet) when I jump up and down in a circle at the beginning of class. Its color—a glorious golden yellow—to my mind is like the color of the Fourth Chakra which is the energy center of the heart. When I see this bright expanse of golden yellow on the ground, it is as if the sun has come down from the sky to the floor where it has decided to rest and become the ground on which I dance, stretch and lie on. I think of the sun and I feel nourished. The yellow expands and resonates throughout the entire room and I feel like I am in a field of Chunjikiun, otherwise known as cosmic energy. I am enormously happy.
These two elements—wind chimes and yellow flooring—simple enough, are indicative of the heart and mind behind the Dahn Yoga experience. Such attention to detail in order to create this singular experience of warmth, joy and peace for practitioners is a blessing. The centers are safe havens where we can connect to our mind, body and spirit as we travel from spirit melodies of the wind chimes into a field of Chunjikiun light. I am reminded that energy travels in light, sound and vibration and realize how much these two aspects enhance my understanding, sensing and playing with energy.

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25
Feb 11

Cancer patients do yoga to reduce the painful side effects of chemotherapy

Traditional therapies for cancer, such as chemotherapy and radiation, are treatments that are often effective but may come with many unwanted side effects. As a result, some physicians are prescribing yoga to help their patients better cope with the pain and discomfort, Kens 5 News reports.

Tari Prinster, a breast cancer survivor who underwent treatment a decade ago, said that yoga relieved the unwanted side effects that she experienced from chemotherapy. According to fellow patient Carmin Ali, the process is a difficult one that saps energy, induces fatigue and increases stress.

Because yoga both promotes good health and relieves anxiety for practitioners, the relaxing exercise could be beneficial for those who are experiencing discomfort from cancer treatment.

"When people are relaxed, they have less pain," said physician Benjamin Kligler, quoted by the media outlet. "When people are relaxed, they sleep better. When people are relaxed, there's less depression."

Popping in a Dahn Yoga DVD at the end of a long day may be the key to achieving inner peace and acquiring good health. Through deep breathing and meditation techniques, people may be able to lessen pain, tension and anxiety.

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15
Feb 11

Yoga may reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

Research funded by the U.S. Department of Defense reports that veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can experience improvement in their symptoms by practicing yoga, Boston NPR News Source reports.

A team of scientists from Harvard Medical School found that after ten weeks of participating in this self healing exercise, those who had the condition were able to find peace and relaxation.

William Haviland, who served in Vietnam during the 1968 Tet Offensive, said that his PTSD symptoms included horrific memories of the things he had seen in battle. Through yoga, he was able to look within and reestablish a mind-body connection.

"PTSD is a disorder involving dysregulation of the stress response system, and one of the most powerful effects of yoga is to work on cognitive and psychological stress," said lead researcher Sat Bir S. Khalsa, quoted by the news source. "It quiets down the anxiety-provoking chatter going on in the head. People become less reactive and the hormone-related stress cycle starts to calm down."

Peace and relaxation are two of the many Dahn Yoga benefits. Those who set aside time for quiet reflection and meditation may be improving their physical and mental well-being, as well as their emotional health.

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