Yoga Insights

Have you ever noticed how your body and mind work better on some days than on others? How one day things come easy to you, but on other days those same things require much more effort? These "off" days have a variety of causes. For example, if your body is stiff or tense, or if you're constipated or suffering from indigestion, your mind will also be disturbed. On the other hand, if your mind is disturbed because you're stressed out or emotionally upset, you may also feel lousy physically.

Anger can be very destructive. It can cause physical and mental problems and can even destroy our personal relationships. But you don't have to let it. You can learn to release your anger through yoga. Breathing exercises are particularly good for calming down immediately. Just take as many slow, deep breaths as you need to.

One of the activities yogis avoid is gambling. Why? Because it counteracts the effects on the body, mind, and consciousness of our yoga practice. For example, you may do yoga to relieve stress and tension. Gambling not only increases tension and stress but creates fear and anxiety as well. These mental and emotional feelings can become deep-rooted, leading to health problems such as insomnia, headaches, ulcers, and digestive problems.

If you've been doing yoga asanas, you've probably noticed that they can cause you to perspire a lot, especially in hot climates. But don't worry, sweating is good for your health. It cools down the body and eliminates toxins. However, if you perspire a lot without drinking enough fluids, your body can dehydrate, and this can cause both minor and major health problems. In general, you should drink between 6 to 10 glasses of water each day. If it's hot and you plan to exercise vigorously, you can drink more. Some yoga asanas should not be done too soon after drinking.