Yoga   Yoga: For Health and Much More

Fatigue, the persistent lack of physical or mental energy and motivation, is increasingly common in our stress-filled world. It is often accompanied by muscle aches, apathy, lethargy and drowsiness. Fatigue is a normal response to high emotional stress, physical exertion, boredom and inadequate sleep. However, it may be a sign of more serious physical and psychological problems, such as depression, under active thyroid, sleep disorder and allergy.

Dahn Yoga combines stretching, breathing and meditation exercises to improve how the brain and body generate the vibrant energy needed by people to live well. Here are five Dahn Yoga exercises to revitalize their lives.

1. Take a Bow. When you sit for long periods, this posture is effective for stimulating the spine and nervous system. It stretches the inner thighs, chest, abdomen and waist. Lock your fingers behind your neck. Inhale. With feet together and stationary, turn your body to the left. Bend from the waist and bring your head toward your left knee. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Move your head and trunk toward your right knee. Hold for 5 seconds. Exhale as you slowly return to a standing position. Repeat the exercise twice, alternating both sides.

2. Let’s Swing. Invigorate your body and increase your circulation with this graceful swinging posture. Place your feet parallel, shoulder-width apart. Relax your knees. Extend one arm forward, slightly raised with relaxed elbows, and the other behind you. Imagine that you are gracefully dancing. Slowly bounce while moving your head toward the arm behind you. Repeat this motion in the opposite direction.

3. Happy Giraffe. Reward yourself with a massage to get rid of neck tension. Rapidly rub your hands together to warm them. Massage the back of your neck with your fingertip pads. Slowly rotate your neck in a circular motion to the right (clockwise) and then to the left (counterclockwise). Massage your trapezius muscles (below the neck and along the spine) and then the length of your arms. Do for up to 5 minutes

4. Pedal Pusher. This exercise relieves lower extremity fatigue and enhances your stamina. Lie on your back and raise your legs straight up, keeping the knees relaxed. Support the back of your waist with both hands. As if you are riding a bicycle, move your legs, making a big motion. Be sure that your neck and shoulders are relaxed. Do for up to 5 minutes.

5. Awakened Brain. This simple outdoor practice will awaken your brain, stimulate your body’s energy, and give you precious time alone with your self. Season permitting, go outdoors to get more in touch with your senses. Without shoes, walk slowly on grass or soak your feet in warm water. This activates your feet’s many acupressure points. Next, stand still. Close your eyes and focus on the air and smells around you, on the sounds and the sensation of grass or water on your bare feet. Do this exercise for up to 5 minutes each day.

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Once you decide you’d like to add yoga to your routine, you have another decision to make: what type of yoga you’ll study.

While the goal of all styles is to balance body, mind and spirit, the specific techniques vary.

Ultimately, you should choose the approach and instructor suiting your personal style and interests. Take time to investigate and even audition the styles that most appeal to you. As a start, here are some of the common types of yoga.

• Hatha: Hatha refers to the physical component of yoga, and when applied to a class, can mean a combination of styles are involved. Hatha yoga is usually a good beginner’s introduction to the practice, as it is usually slowly paced and gentle.

• Vinyasa: Vinyasa is another general term used to describe more vigorous yoga styles, and refers to breath-synchronized movement.

• Ashtanga: Ashtanga, translating to “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, is an intense, fast-paced style of yoga in which a set series of poses is performed in quick succession.

• Power yoga: Just like Ashtanga yoga, Power yoga keeps students moving through poses at a quick pace, but incorporates a Western sensibility and a departure from Ashtanga’s set sequence of poses.

• Iyengar: In this style, poses are held for a longer period of time, and props such as benches, blocks and mats are incorporated into the routine.

• Kundalini: Kundalini emphasizes deep breathing and its effects on postures, and typically involves chanting and meditation.

• Bikram/hot yoga: Expect to sweat out the toxins during a Bikram class, which is practiced in a heated room at temperatures pushing 100 degrees.

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This summer in Dublin, Ireland, the Chopra Center co-founders Deepak Chopra and David Simon will present Seduction of Spirit, a special peace event where more than 1,000 people will come together to meditate for six days.

Seduction of Spirit will take place at Dublin’s CityWest hotel, where world-renowned author, spiritual advisor, and Chopra Center founder Deepak Chopra and co-founder David Simon will guide the 1,000 participants in deep meditation techniques, daily spiritual yoga classes, and timeless practices for fulfilling the highest of human potential.

As word of Dublin’s Seduction of Spirit has spread, this meditation retreat is being billed as the “Peace Event of 2008.”

For more information, visit chopra.com

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