eye exercises

Yoga
[Yoga Home][Postures][Breathing][HolisticOnline Home][Meditation][Prayer]


Eye Exercises

The yoga practitioners attach special importance to eye exercises, for two reasons.

Firstly, a lot of eye problems in later life are due to a loss of tone in the eye muscles. These muscles become rigid, and this loss of elasticity reduces the ability of the lens of the eye to focus at different distances. It also causes the eyesight to become weaker. These exercises tone the eye muscles up and keep them elastic. If you already have eye problems when you begin these exercises, you will find your eyesight improving after a few months.

Secondly, any eye tension present will tend to produce a general feeling of tension, due to the eye's connection to the brain via the optic nerve. What happens is that eye tension produces an increase in the nerve impulses in the eye muscles. This increase in nerve impulses travels along the optic nerve and bombards the brain, causing a general feeling of tension and anxiety. The eye exercises will reduce tension in the eye muscles, as well as reduce general tension.

It is best to do these eye exercises while lying down after you've finished the asanas. This way you're resting after the asanas and doing the eye exercises at the same time, thus reducing the time taken to do your yoga routine.

When doing the eye exercises keep your eyes open and don't move your head.

Sitting (as in the exercises for the neck given above), open your eyes, then check on your posture. Is your spine erect? Hands on the knees? Body relaxed? Head straight? That is how you should always remain while doing eye exercises. The whole body must be motionless; nothing must move except the eyes.

Raise your eyes and find a small point that you can see clearly without straining, without frowning, without becoming tense and, of course, without moving your head. While doing this exercise look at this point each time you raise your eyes.

Next, lower your eyes to find a small point on the floor which you can see clearly when glancing down. Look at it each time you lower your eyes. Breathing should be normal. In other words, you don't have to do deep breathing.

Exercise 1

Move your eyes upwards as far as you can, and then downwards as far as you can. Repeat four more times. Blink quickly a few times 1 to relax the eye muscles.

Exercise 2

Now do the same using points to your right and to your left, at eye level. Keep your raised fingers or two pencils on each side as guides and adjust them so that you can see them clearly when moving the eyes to the right and to the left, but without straining.

Keeping the fingers at eye level, and moving only the eyes, look to the right at your chosen point, then to the left. Repeat four times. Blink several times, then close your eyes and rest.

Exercise 3

Choose a point you can see from the right corner of your eyes when you raise them, and another that you can see from the left corner of your eyes when you lower them, half closing the lids. Remember to retain your original posture: spine erect, hands on knees, head straight and motionless.

Look at your chosen point in right corner up, then to the one in left corner down. Repeat four times. Blink several times. Close the eyes and rest.

Now do the same exercise in reverse. That is, first look to the left corner up, then to the right corner down. Repeat four times. Blink several times. Close the eyes and rest.

Exercise 4

This exercise should not be done until three or four days after you have begun eye exercises given here.

Slowly roll your eyes first clockwise, then counterclockwise as follows: Lower your eyes and look at the floor, then slowly move the eyes to the left, higher and higher until you see the ceiling. Now continue circling to the right, lower and lower down, until you see the floor again. Do this slowly, making a full-vision circle. Blink, close your eyes and rest. Then repeat the same action counterclockwise.

Do this five times then blink the eyes for at least five seconds.

When rolling the eyes, make as large a circle as possible, so that you feet a little strain as you do the exercise. This stretches the eye muscles to the maximum extent, giving better results.

Exercise 5

Next comes a changing-vision exercise. While doing it you alternately shift your vision from close to distant points several times.

Take a pencil, or use your finger, and hold it under the tip of your nose. Then start moving it away, without raising it, until you have fixed it at the closest possible distance where you can see it clearly without any blur. Then raise your eyes a little, look straight into the distance and there find a small point which you can also see very clearly.

Now look at the closer point-the pencil or your finger tip then shift to the farther point in the distance. Repeat several times, blink, close your eyes and squeeze them tight.

Exercise 6

Close your eyes as tightly as you possibly can. Really squeeze the eyes, so the eye muscles contract. Hold this contraction for three seconds, and then let go quickly.

This exercise causes a deep relaxation of the eye muscles, and is especially beneficial after the slight strain caused by the eye exercises. Blink the eyes a few times.

Exercise 7

This exercise is called 'palming' and is very relaxing to the eyes. It is also most important for preserving the eyesight. Palming also has a beneficial, relaxing effect on your nervous system.

It's an ideal way to finish off the eye exercises.

Remain seated on the floor. Draw up your knees, keeping your feet on the floor and slightly apart. Now briskly rub your palms to charge them with electricity and place the cupped palms over your closed eyes. The fingers of the right hand should be crossed over the fingers of the left hand on the forehead. The elbows should rest on your raised knees and the neck should be kept straight. Don't bend your head. Do the deep breathing while palming your eyes.

If you are going to do the palming for longer than a few minutes, better sit down at a table, place some books or pillows in front of you to support your elbows so that you will be able to keep the neck straight, and palm the eyes in this position. If the palming is done for only a short period one can do deep breathing for half a minute or so at first, gradually increasing it every week.

Benefits:

This exercise helps to do away with eye strain, and tension. Your vision will get better and clearer as the ophthalmic, or eye, nerves receive a richer supply of blood. Some people use this to improve their vision.

[Go To: Corpse Pose (savasana) ]

safe water

The Health Benefits of Drinking Water
Even in developed countries there are cases of people falling sick and even dying from drinking unsafe water. It is no secret that there is a correlation between contaminated drinking water and a variety of diseases and health problems. It is necessary and prudent to be aware of the different water contaminants, especially the most common ones.



Groundwater and surface water can actually be contaminated in a number of ways. It is very easy for a contaminant to seep, wash or deposit itself in close proximity to the water that you drink. The most common contaminants are:

Living organisms: these bacteria are commonly found in septic tanks and manure
Domestic contaminants: can often occur when ordinary household products like soap or fertilizer mix with drinking water.
Industrial contaminants: these pollutants may be emitted by industry or by a gradual build-up over the years and always in the case of an industrial accident.
Protect Yourself with a drinking water filtration system
The health benefits of drinking clean water are many and thankfully with the right tools, getting clean water is easily done. There are several steps you can take to ensure that your water is safe to drink including:

-Mandatory testing (water quality check) of your water supply using our water test kits or through a certified laboratory will provide you with the most important information to select the appropriate water treatment system.

-Having an appropriate water filtration system: we offer a variety of drinking water filtration systems that are specifically designed for a home application. Our models differ only in the quantity and type of filtration, but all can provide water that is free from chlorine, sediment, bacteria or other contaminants.

-Excel Water Technologies Inc. provides you a detailed solution finder which will help you identify your specific requirements.

Your Best Defense
Being aware of the health benefits of purified drinking water for yourself and your family gives you reason enough to ensure that your own water is clean and safe to drink. Excel Water Technologies Inc. is able to offer you the right solutions with a number of water filtration systems that meet your specific needs.


Contact us with your inquiries: info@excelwater.com

aromatherapy

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Blog - AromaTalk « Using Aromatic Herbs | Main

May 23, 2010
Expand Your Aromatherapy Education
Much can be learned about essential oils and aromatherapy through the extensive array of aromatherapy books that have been published, AromaWeb, AromaTalk, the Web sites of AromaWeb's valued advertisers, aromatherapy organizations, blogs and networking with other aromatherapy enthusiasts through facebook or Twitter.

But...

The depth of information that you learn from these sources still isn't as expansive, focused or as complete as what you can learn through a more formal education in the field of aromatherapy. And it certainly isn't comprehensive enough to be able to pursue a formal career in the field of aromatherapy. In many ways, aromatherapy combines both science and art. Even if your interest in aromatherapy will not evolve into a professional pursuit, taking a course in aromatherapy can dramatically strengthen your knowledge within the many facets that aromatherapy entails. And if you do have desire to work within the aromatherapy field as a practitioner, education and training is an absolute must. A formal education in aromatherapy is also a tremendous advantage to those that aspire to become artisans, manufacturers or sellers of aromatherapy products.

Some schools and instructors provide their curriculum in a classroom setting. Some schools/educators plan their classes to accommodate students who must travel to the school to attend. Some also offer long distance or online programs for those students that do not reside in close proximity to the school.

For a list of aromatherapy educators, look to AromaWeb's Schools & Educators Directory, the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy List of Approved Schools and the Alliance of International Aromatherapists List of Recognized Schools.

For more information on the ways to strengthen your knowledge of aromatherapy, view AromaWeb's Aromatherapy Education article.

Special Note to Experienced Aromatherapy Educators: If you do not already appear wtih within AromaWeb's Schools & Educators Directory, click here to learn how you can become listed.


Talk about this post and keep in touch with AromaWeb via facebook:



Posted at 08:39 AM in Advertiser Spotlight, Aromatherapy Tips | Permalink

Technorati Tags: aromatherapy, directory, education, essential oils, guide, instructors, learning, schools, training
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a0105362ffc06970c0133ee49c6c6970b

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Expand Your Aromatherapy Education:
CommentsVerify your CommentPreviewing your CommentPosted by: |

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment
The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.





Post a comment
Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.

Comment below or sign in with TypePad Facebook Twitter and more... You are currently signed in as (nobody). Sign Out

(URLs automatically linked.)

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)

Name is required to post a comment

Please enter a valid email address

Invalid URL

Categories
Advertiser Spotlight
Aromatherapy News
Aromatherapy Tips
AromaWeb News
Books
Breast Cancer Awareness
Current Affairs
Essential Oil Spotlights
Gardening
General Wellbeing
Herbs/Herbalism
Nutrition
Ramblings
Seasonal
Skin Care
Spirituality
Web/Tech
Welcome
General Information
About AromaTalk
About AromaWeb
AromaTalk Policies and Terms of Use
Archives
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
More...
AromaWeb Advertiser Blogs
100PureEssentialOils.com

Aromaconnection

Aromahead

Australasian College of Health Sciences

Flower Power

Indie Business

Natural Beauty Workshop

Nature's Gift

Sacred Herbals

SunRose Aromatics

West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy

The Winged Seed

Your Body Needs

AromaWeb Advertisers:
Let me know if you would like me to link to your aromatherapy related blog.

Click here to discover the benefits and affordability of advertising on AromaWeb.

Follow this blog



Subscribe to
AromaTalk's Feed

pesticides

EWG's list of non-organic pesticide content in produce (US-based)
Scientists have found that exposure to pesticide residues on vegetables and fruit may double a child's risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a condition that causes inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity or a combination of all three in children.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between three and seven percent of school age children in the United States have ADHD, which makes them impulsive and impairs concentration in the classroom.

In the study, researchers with the University of Montreal and Harvard University tested the urine of more than 1,100 children, between the ages of eight and 15, looking for breakdown products of organophosphate pesticides. 119 of the children in the study had been diagnosed with ADHD.

"What we saw was that the higher the level of pesticide residues in the urine, the higher the risk of ADHD in the children," said Maryse Bouchard, who led the team of researchers.

Investigators found the risk of ADHD was almost double in youngsters with higher levels of the most common breakdown metabolite, compared to children with nearly undetectable levels.

Researchers say 40 organophosphate pesticides are registered with the U.S. government.

Organophosphates are among the most widely used pesticides by growers to protect fruit and vegetables. Studies have showed that organophosphates cause hyperactivity and cognitive defects in laboratory animals, as well as neural changes.

Bouchard, who is with the University of Montreal's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, says she is not surprised by the finding, although she cautions it is too early to draw any firm conclusions.

"We can't affirm that exposure to pesticides is causing ADHD," she added. "We would need a different kind of study to say that."

Lynn Goldman is with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore. Goldman says the use of pesticides, including organophosphates, is widespread in developing countries, where children are exposed to high levels of pesticides through farming.

"Those kids have much more serious, much more severe, neurological problems," said Goldman. "So, we do see evidence of effects in those populations globally."

Goldman says studies will probably now be conducted in other nations to determine how pesticides affect brain development in children.

A 2008 study of produce in the United States found organophosphate residues in 28 percent of frozen blueberry samples, 25 percent of fresh strawberry samples and 19 percent of celery samples.

The new study on pesticides and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder appears in the journal Pediatrics.

sleep

11 Reasons Why You Absolutely Need More Sleep

There’s nothing better than that feeling of waking up completely and utterly refreshed. Feeling so good that you virtually spring out of bed, already enthusing about how marvelous the day ahead is sure to be.

Of course it’s a shame that the last time you woke feeling that way was on summer break in your college days, but hey - that’s the way it goes, isn’t it?

These days, sleep is little more than something that cuts into your every-day hectic schedule. Sure, you love going to sleep, and you definitely acknowledge that you need to sleep at least a few hours, but the reality is that you simply cannot prioritize it above everything else in your life. I mean, you're already behind on Twitter messages as it is.

Besides, you function extremely well on just 5 or 6 hours thank-you very much. In fact, you’re quite proud of it.

Well sorry to burst your bubble, but what if I were to tell you that lack of sleep is one of the Western world’s foremost reasons for increased obesity, heart disease, and diabetes? That it’s physiologically impossible for you to ‘get away with’ a lack of sleep? The truth is that what you in fact have is a very massive and very demanding sleep debt. And the interest is mounting.

It’s funny how you can start to make just a little more time for something when you truly believe and understand how important it is. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the foremost reasons for a good night’s sleep. Read these and you’ll soon realize that not only can sleep transform your weight and your health, it just might save your life.


1.Studies have shown that staying up all night long (being awake for 17 or more hours) can leave you with a reaction response comparable to that of an intoxicated person with a blood alcohol reading of greater than 0.5. This makes you a definite danger to yourself and to others. Of course this lack of physical and mental control does not simply ‘happen’ at minus 8 hours. For every hour you stay awake you decrease your ability to focus and perform throughout the coming days.


2.Insufficient sleep results in an incomplete hormonal cycle. This means your body cannot produce daytime hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline when it needs them first thing. As a result, you depend on stimulants to keep you going, and set yourself up for another poor night’s sleep. You can’t escape the always tired but always wired cycle you’ve set up for yourself.


3.A classic symptom of this ‘tired but wired’ cycle is not feeling hungry in the morning, or feeling nauseous when you do eat breakfast. Never imagine that this is a convenient way to save on time and calories – the food that you eat first thing stimulates your metabolism and aids in detoxification. Without a good breakfast to line your belly you set yourself up for low energy and poor eating patterns the rest of the day.


4.A poor sleep cycle causes your body to create patterns that will enable you to handle the ongoing sleep of your go-go-go lifestyle. One of these patterns is an excessive release of stress hormones such as cortisol – particularly in the evening. Stress hormones allow you to keep going, but they’re also the ones that keep you up at night, and what’s more - they signal your body to store fat. And that’s regardless of how you’re eating or exercising.


5.Physical patterns such as the release of stress hormones are just one part of the equation. The other thing you need to consider is the compensation patterns that you yourself end up creating. An extra coffee here, a few pieces of candy there, the decision to have that mid-afternoon muffin. When you’re tired your defenses are down and it’s easy to think that these little things don’t count. But they could be the one thing stopping you from losing weight and improving your health.


6.Speaking of sugar, those mid-afternoon cravings are not just in your head. When you don’t have enough sleep your brain continually sends out urgent messages for quick energy. This is a survival instinct – it’s all about keeping you as alert and focused as possible. Will power alone can’t override these cravings - not when you’re fighting your own physiology. This just makes it harder to stick to your healthy eating goals, and the sugar slump doesn’t do you any favors either. The really scary part is that these daily indulgences can mean the hormone named insulin is constantly elevated and you’re setting yourself up for possible diabetes.


7.In fact, it’s not just the mid-afternoon cravings that’ll get you when you’re tired. The truth is that you’ll find yourself eating far more on a daily basis, and that you’ll tend to do it all day long. Breakfast aside, no doubt. You’ll also tend to make poorer choices – more processed foods, more sugary sodas, more starchy carbohydrates or fried foods. And it’s pretty tough to escape this cycle when your eyes are stinging and your motivation is at an all-time low. Leading sleep researchers T.S. Wiley and Bent Formby, Ph.D, in their book ‘Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, And Survival’ show a close connection between a lack of sleep and the increasing existence of obesity in our society.



8.One of the most unfair symptoms of sleep debt is that inability to wind down come evening time. Of course it shouldn’t really be much of a surprise – not when you’ve spent the better part of the day jacked up on caffeine and sugar. And even if you haven’t, your nervous system is in overdrive which keeps you buzzing all night long but leaves you groggy and useless in the morning. There’s only one way out of this mess, and it’s not more coffee.


9.Back ache, neck ache, tummy ache, headache … when you’re tired it sometimes just seems as though everything hurts. According to Paul Chek, H.H.P, as stated in his book “How To Eat, Move And Be Healthy”, physical repair takes place while you’re sleeping, and it happens in the first half of the night – around 10pm-2am. If you skip those vital first few hours and hit the sack post-midnight with the alarm set for 6 or 7am, your body simply cannot rejuvenate your muscle cells, or indeed any of your cells. This leaves you physically weaker and with constant ailments.


10.Of course you could try going to bed on time and getting up super-early if you still can’t afford yourself a full 8 hours, but according to Paul you’d then you’d be skipping out on crucial psychological repair. This takes place approximately between 2am and 6am, and is directly linked to your mental focus, your moods, and your ability to maintain a positive mindset. Imagine the effects of a lack of sleep over time – small wonder so many people find themselves heading down the dark road of depression or anxiety.


11.It’s pretty hard to climb off the wheel of life when you barely have the energy to get through the day. Missing out on sleep could be costing you a lot more than you realize if it means you’re stuck in the rut of your day-to-day life and simply can’t even begin to contemplate what it would take to make some changes. Whether it’s testing the waters for a new career or a promotion, ending or beginning a relationship, or even just trying out that hobby you’ve been shelving for so long, chances are it’s not going to happen when you’re frazzled and burnt out.
Missing even half an hour of sleep every night adds up to an impressive sleep debt of 182.5 hours per year. There’s no short-cut to paying of this debt, nor can you outrun it’s constant and grueling effects on your health. Next time you tell yourself that you can get by, stop and consider just how big your sleep debt is right now. And consider that the nights are dark for a reason, that your body sends you physical and emotional responses to tiredness for a reason. Maybe it’s time to listen to those messages and see just what you’re missing out on.

The good news is that increasing your sleep by as little as half an hour, or even 15 minutes, every night can immediately and drastically improve the way you feel and function. For most of us it’s not possible to drop everything and implement drastic change, but the benefits of sleep don’t have to be a case of ‘all or nothing’. Why not treat yourself to an extra half hour shut eye tonight and start to soak up the health rewards right away?

nutrients

Do you like to keep up on nutrition, but are a bit puzzled sometimes about what you hear or read? Do you wonder what makes a carbohydrate simple or complex? Or what the difference is between a macronutrient and a micronutrient?

Know Your Nutrients
The body needs nutrients from foods and beverages for many vital functions including healthy growth and development, and smooth-running organs and body systems.

There are six types of nutrients: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water. Carbohydrates, protein and fat are called macronutrients because our bodies need them in larger amounts. Vitamins and minerals are called micronutrients because our bodies need them in smaller amounts.

Learn more about each type of nutrient below.
Macronutrients - Maximize Your Knowledge
Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body’s main energy source, supplying 4 calories per gram. Carbohydrates are found in many foods and beverages including cereal, bread, rice, pasta, milk, vegetables, fruits, fruit juices, table sugar and honey. Carbohydrates are built from sugar units, and are classified as either simple carbohydrates or complex carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates are made up of one or two sugar units. They are found in sweet foods and drinks such as fruits, fruit juices, sweetened cereals, desserts, soft drinks, jam, syrup and table sugar. Complex carbohydrates are made up of many sugar units. They are found in starchy foods such as cereal, potatoes, pasta, beans and vegetables.

Dietary fiber is a type of complex carbohydrate that passes through the body without being digested. Fiber is found in whole grain cereals and breads, dried beans and peas, fruits and vegetables.

There are two types of dietary fiber—insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber promotes regularity by adding bulk to the stool, which helps it pass more quickly through the body. Insoluble fiber is found in foods such as bran cereals, whole-wheat bread, fruits and vegetables. Soluble fiber slows digestion, which helps minimize spikes in blood glucose, and helps lower blood cholesterol. Soluble fiber is found in foods such as oatmeal, barley, beans, peas and many fruits and vegetables.

Health experts recommend getting 45 to 65 percent of daily calories from carbohydrates.

Protein

The body breaks down the protein we eat into amino acids, which build, repair and maintain body tissues. The body needs protein for healthy growth and development, and to make hormones, antibodies, enzymes and tissues. Protein is found in meat, poultry, fish, milk products, grains and beans, and supplies 4 calories per gram.

Health experts recommend getting 10 to 35 percent of daily calories from protein.

Fats

The body needs dietary fats for proper growth and development, a healthy nervous system and skin, to aid the absorption and transport of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K through the blood, and to store energy in the body. Fats are made up of a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats. All fats supply 9 calories per gram.

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and mainly found in animal foods such as fatty cuts of meat, whole milk, cheese, ice cream, butter, cream and lard. Tropical oils (palm oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil) also contain higher amounts of saturated fat. Eating too much saturated fat increases risk of heart disease by raising total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and mainly found in plant foods. There are three types of unsaturated fats: polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and trans fats.

Polyunsaturated fats are found in corn, soy and safflower oils, sunflower and sesame oil and seeds, walnuts, flaxseed, and fatty fish such as salmon. Monounsaturated fats are found in canola, olive and peanut oils, peanuts, almonds and avocados. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are considered healthful choices because they do not raise LDL cholesterol and help replace saturated fats in the diet.

Trans fats are formed when unsaturated liquid plant oils are partially hydrogenated, a process which makes them more solid and similar to saturated fats. Trans fats increase total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

•Health experts recommend getting 20 to 35 percent of daily calories from fats. Limit less than 10% of calories from saturated fatty acids and less than 300mg /day of cholesterol, and keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible.
Micronutrients - No Small Feat
Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients that are crucial to many body processes. Many vitamins and minerals are essential, meaning we must get them from food or a dietary supplement such as a multivitamin.

Vitamins are classified as water-soluble or fat-soluble vitamins. The body doesn’t store water-soluble vitamins—excess amounts are excreted in the urine—so, you need an adequate supply of these vitamins each day. The body does store fat-soluble vitamins, so regularly consuming excessive amounts can be toxic.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

•B vitamins
◦B1 (thiamin)
◦B2 (riboflavin)
◦B3 (niacin)
◦B6 (pyroxidine)
◦B7 (biotin—also known as vitamin H)
◦B9 (folate)
◦B12 (cobalamin)
•Pantothenic acid
•Vitamin C
Fat-Soluble Vitamins

•Vitamin A
•Vitamin D
•Vitamin E
•Vitamin K
Minerals are classified as macrominerals or microminerals (also known as trace minerals) based on how much or little the body needs.

Macrominerals

•Calcium
•Magnesium
•Phosphorus
•Sodium
•Potassium
Microminerals

•Cadmimum
•Chromium
•Copper
•Flouride
•Iodine
•Iron
•Manganese
•Nickel
•Selenium
•Tin
•Zinc
Water - Clearly Required for Good Health
Water is often called the “forgotten” essential nutrient, but is vital for our health. Water helps transport nutrients and oxygen to cells and carries waste products out of the body. It helps regulate body temperature, is part of most body fluids such as blood, sweat and tears, moistens body tissues in the eyes, mouth and nose, and cushions the organs and joints.

The human body is about 50 to 75 percent water, depending on age, gender, body composition, food intake, physical activity level and environmental factors such as how hot it is outside.

The body stays hydrated from the water found in fluids such as drinking water, milk, juice, coffee, tea and soft drinks. Many foods such as fruits and vegetables supply water, too.

Learn more about water intake guidelines from the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations for water intake for the general public, including children.

Yoga

Yoga
Yoga is a Sanskrit word. It has many meanings. It is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning 'unite'. Union of Jivatma (Individual soul) with paramatma (Universal soul or God) is called Yoga. Meaning of Yoga is very vast.

Yoga is associated with all the religions of India. Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism have adopted meditation practices of Yoga. Yoga is also one of the six Astika (orthodox) schools of Hindu philosophy. Texts on Vedas, Upanishads, Hindu Tantras and Buddhist Tantras have all extensively use the Yogic practices.

Major branches of Yoga are Jnanayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Karmayoga and Rajayoga. Veda and Upanishads are the source of Jnanayoga, Narada Bhaktisutra is a text on Bhaktiyoga, Bhagavadgita is an authoritative text on Karmayoga and Patanjala Yoga sutras on Rajayoga. Bhagavadgita covers all the major Yogas. Hathayoga is a major branch of Rajayoga. Hathayoga Pradipike, Shiva Samhita and Gheranda Samhita are the major texts on Hathayoga.

Now a days in West the word "Yoga" is more associated with physical exercises and yogasanas which have therapeutic use. The word "Yoga" is mainly associated with Hathayoga and Yogasanas(Postures). A beginner in the path of Yoga is called Yogarudha. An advanced practitioner of Yoga is called "Yogi"(masculine gender) and "Yogini" (feminine gender)