Yoga is an exercise and with it comes the potential for injury. Yoga injuries are possible for both beginners and experts if they are not careful in how the exercises are done. Incorrect posture, over-stretching, or going beyond your limits just because you feel you can, all lead to potential injuries that can stop you from enjoying yoga. A few basic common sense preventatives can help you avoid injuries that are very common in the practice of yoga.

An instructor is a crucial part of avoiding Yoga injuries. The recognized governing body for Yoga instructors is the Yoga Alliance. Teachers are certified after 200 hours of training. This should be a factor in determining your instructor. The letters RYT or Registered Yoga Teacher appear on their certificate. In addition to certification, the experience of a teacher should be taken into consideration. But the teachers are only a part of injury prevention.

Yoga injuries are also prevented by recognizing yoga is an individual exercise. Every one’s body is different in the point at which the exercise turns into injury. Competition is not a part of the yoga exercise. Beginners are especially susceptible to turning yoga into a competitive sport. The problem is that this competitive thought will push people beyond their boundaries which often results in injuries. Experts are not immune to this type of thinking either.

Your body is well aware of the limitations it has. Not listening to it is a preclude to getting Yoga injuries. Going beyond these limitations is asking for an injury to occur. Only you can tell where and when to stop. Even the best instructor can not tell you where that point is. You are the most important person when it comes to preventing injuries. In addition, the best defense against injuries is when you are not certain is to ask. If you are not certain that a form is the proper one or you feel discomfort, stop the movement and ask the questions of the instructor. The best defense against injuries is to get proper instruction, do not think of it as a competitive sport, and know your limitations.

Lisa Hauer, founder of Radiant Sun Therapies in Reston VA, is a licensed massage therapist and certified yoga instructor. Learn more about how you can bring balance and harmony in to your life, visit our Reston Yoga studio. Radiant Sun Therapies is a leading Northern Virginia massage therapy and alternative healing center.

Many people from all walks of life in all over the world have been showing increased interest in learning relaxation techniques that they can incorporate in their lives. The role of yoga in this relaxation revolution is one of the areas that medical researchers have shown great interests of late.

Knowing the true meaning of yoga is essential for people if they are to have a better understanding of how these two concepts work together. Unison of the three major areas of a person’s being are what the focus of yoga entails. By keeping the mind, body and soul and to be able to keep them all on an even keel will reap the rewards of both a happier as well as a healthier life.

Exercises are huge component of yoga as they help us acquire the balance of the physical, mental and social areas of life. The more of a balance that a person can achieve with this the far better off they will feel.

People who take a yoga class will learn these ancient balancing and centering exercises. These are done one at a time, and at the conclusion of each one the student will be required to take a moment to relax. The relaxing part of the equation is a vital key in the way yoga works as it is the way the body is given the time to provide a response to the exercise that was just done. The teacher watches all the students and the way they respond and can assess the way to proceed with the class by doing so.

The relaxation time is a very important time to focus on breathing methods that have been taught to you. These methods are all designed to help boost a person’s metabolism which is one of the powerful ways that yoga improves overall well-being.

Learn more about how you can bring balance and harmony in your day-to-day living, visit our Reston Yoga studio. Radiant Sun Therapies is a leading Northern Virginia massage therapy and alternative healing center conveniently located nearby Reston Hospital Center.

Most people would agree that a great massage is perfect for dealing with the stresses of life. Many spas include various massage therapy in their repertoire. Enjoying the benefits of a good massage is no longer just a luxury; in some cases, it has become medically necessary. Fortunately, for most, the feelings of relaxation and gaining a new perspective on life outweigh perceived medical needs. If you wonder what type of massage has the greatest benefit, there are now medical control studies that have been published that point to Swedish massage as one of the most medically healing therapies developed.

Swedish massage is known for the long strokes eventually leading to the deep tissue manipulation. Typically using five stroke techniques that seem to push circulation towards the heart, Swedish massage (known as classic massage in Europe) is the massage therapy that ends with the muscles feeling extremely relaxed much to a client’s surprise. The deep tissue portion can be excruciating at first, but ends with an almost overwhelming feeling of relaxation and looseness, which is the purpose. Other light touch therapy does not manipulate the muscles, often leaving them tight. Light touch therapies often deal only with the epidural areas, not venturing into the inner muscular portions of the body.

Researchers headed by Dr. Mark Hyman Rapaport, chairman of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at Cedars-Sinai, found much to their surprise that the deep tissue effects of the Swedish massage therapy have more than a psychological effect of relieving stress. They also found that the relaxation was not just a result of tight muscles being released (although this effect was apparent). The results pointed to a biological phenomenon, resulting in actual reduction in cortisol (stress hormone) and increase in white blood cells of the immune system. In other words, the effects of the therapy had actual, measurable biological healing effects. Dr. Rapaport considers himself a critic of massage therapy and was surprised by the results.

It is easy to go through life just enjoying the relaxation of a massage. When you understand the published, measurable healing effects of Swedish massage therapy, the idea steps up to a higher level of importance. Decreasing stress and increasing white blood cells have a double effect of healing, and should not be ignored in the daily process of living.

Physician William Sutherland created Craniosacral Therapy in the late 1800s. When he was examining a human skull, he discovered that the fissures were beveled and appeared designed to move or float. At the first, many osteopaths were unconvinced; however, a team of scientists, headed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger, began investigating the observations and theories of Dr. Sutherland. Their published results fully supported the therapy ideals of Dr. Sutherland. The general basis is that there is a corresponding movement between the bones of the cranium and the sacrum or membrane holding the skull together, a sense of breathing.

The discovery was an important move forward in osteopathy. As the Craniosacral Therapy was studied and results verified, the ideas of bodies having the energy to heal itself were advanced. While the idea that the body has the energy and ability for self-healing has been around for centuries, this discovery was one of the most advanced connecting to the central nervous system. The therapy is designed to complement and enhance the natural healing process and addresses many medical issues such as migraine headaches, neck and back pains, autism, stress and tension related issues, and many more that derive from central nervous related issues or injuries.

In a Craniosacral Therapy session the therapist applies a very soft touch (no more than 5 grams of pressure) to assist the craniosacral system (the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid protecting the brain) in releasing tensions. These slight touches and sensations help the central nervous system by allowing it to respond and in turn increase its function. Similar to a snowball effect, the central nervous system follows through the increased sensation, identifies issues, and begins the natural healing process.

For centuries, medical practitioners’ have discovered and used natural methods for healing, including self-healing therapies. The discovery of the Craniosacral Therapy was a milestone because it opened up a therapy directly affecting and assisting the central nervous system. This direct connection to the central nervous system opened extraordinary healing potential because the main functioning system that operates and monitors the body is involved. If a pin pricks your finger, the message is translated and transferred through the central nervous system. The messaging and working systems are a two way street.

Yoga can help a person de-stress and make the body stronger and more flexible. It is important that individuals starting a yoga program find an instructor who is experienced and knowledgeable. It is imperative that the moves are learned correctly so that proper form is maintained throughout the session. A well-trained instructor can help to give hands on pointers so that you do not injure yourself. This will help a beginner avoid injuries. In addition, reading a book on yoga and looking at specific diagrams of yoga moves can help teach a person how to accurately perform the exercise.

Another tip to consider when starting a beginner yoga program is choosing the right clothes. Perfect fitting clothes are essential in yoga. Loose and tight clothing will hinder a person when they are performing their breathing exercises. In addition, a beginner does not want to feel hindered by wearing the wrong type of clothing. Also, make sure your yoga clothing breathes because your body will become naturally heated when performing specific moves. Choose from t-shirts, tanks and pants that are made of spandex, cotton or a combination of both. The most important thing when choosing clothing to perform yoga in is to use clothing that is comfortable to wear.

It is important to progress slow when performing beginner yoga moves. Do not move on to advanced poses until you have completely mastered easier moves. Attempting to perform challenging moves increases the chance of injuring oneself. Try to be punctual as well since the class is designed to follow a specific sequence for a reason.