...ample, if your head is not properly balanced, the natural curve of the neck becomes distorted. If the arms and legs dont have full range of motion, the spine must compensate by extra twisting and bending. Many people with back or neck pain suffer from imbalances of the flexors, extensors and rotators of the spine, arms and legs. An intelligent yoga program can bring these muscle groups back into balance.

However, not all yoga programs will help with back pain. If you try a very vigorous yoga practice while having back pain and fail to listen to the signals from your body, back pain could actually get worse. Its important to take it slow, listen to signals from your body and practice yoga exercises that are appropriate for helping back pain.

To try simple yoga exercises for your low back, visit: www.yogaforbackhealth.com. You find lots of free yoga exercises for your low back that are explained and illustrated, as well as free yoga video downloads of simple exercises you can do now to alleviate back pain.

Reference: Sherman, KJ (et al). Comparing yoga, exercise and a self-care book for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2005, Dec. 20: 143 (12): I18.

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Bhakti Yoga, The Yoga of Love

...nger feels it before practicing Bhakti Yoga) with the divine. When upon his quest for reunion with the Godhead, when filled with love for the Divine, nothing else matters for the devotee, not food, not sex, not wealth, not any earthly pleasure or even responsibility. His love makes his quest by far the most important consideration.

Bhakti Yoga is the fastest way, indeed the most direct way, of attaining God Consciousness. This is because love is the strongest emotion an aspirant can feel and it puts other considerations, even knowledge of the scriptures, into second place. All types of yoga, all forms of knowledge, are based on true faith, true devotion, on true Bhakti Yoga. For without love for the Divine, one hasn't the motivation to mak...more

Yoga in the West

... in Chicago in 1893. One of the most influential of the Indian gurus was Parmahansa Yogananda (18931952), who was sent by his revered master to bring the teachings of yoga to the West in 1920, when he attended a congress of world religions in boston. In that same year, Parmahansa Yogananda founded the Self-Realization Fellowship, an organization through which he initiated thousands of Westerners into yoga. His Autobiography of a Yogi remains one of the most widely read books on yoga throughout the world today. Since these two pioneers, a number of other influential teachers have brought their particular focus on yoga to the West, including, most notably, B.K.S. iyengar (founder of iyengar Yoga), Swami rama (t...more

Anatomy Of Yoga - Getting A Solid Foundation

...t affects the human anatomy.

When looking for a good Yoga teacher always check if the teacher has received training in basic anatomy. An incompetent and over enthusiastic teacher may try to push your body into positions it simply will not go, and this can of course cause serious injury.

A good place to start is comparative anatomy - which is understanding the underlying skeletal structure of the body, how the bones differ significantly from person to person, and how to use that knowledge in gaining a much deeper understanding of our individual Yoga practices.

A good curriculum for learning more about the anatomy of Yoga could look som...more

Best Yoga Mats