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14
Aug 12

The Dahn Yoga community encourages students to get routine vaccines

Parents who know all about the benefits of yoga for kids may be eager to sign their children up for such classes. However, just like any other class that brings youngsters together in the same room, yoga may provide an opportunity for germs to move around. If the kids get sick, not only will they be unable to enjoy their yoga exercises, but they may also bring their bacteria and viruses back home to mom and dad!

That's why the Dahn Yoga community is encouraging all people, young and old, to stay current on their vaccination schedule. After all, August is National Immunization Awareness Month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children aged 7 to 18 years should be inoculated against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, meningococcal illness, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, the flu and several types of hepatitis.

Furthermore, some children may benefit from vaccines for HPV and pneumococcal disease.

However, it is not just kids who need to be inoculated. Adult yoga enthusiasts would do themselves a world of good by getting their annual flu shot.

Vaccines help keep people healthy all year long, making sure that illness won't get in the way enjoying yoga.

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10
Jan 12

Safety ensures benefits of yoga poses

Most practitioners of yoga are well aware of the benefits of yoga poses. However, a recent article in the New York Times may have given novices pause. The story covered the rare occasions in which beginners of the mind-body regimen have injured themselves.

But if you approach yoga keeping certain things in mind, the risks will be minimal, according to the medical blog of ABC News.

The first thing to keep in mind is knowing your limits. In part, this means leaving your competitive spirit at the classroom door!

"One of the basic tenets of yoga is non-injury and self-honesty," said Seattle-based researcher Karen Sherman, as quoted by the news source. "When you practice with the idea that non-violence to your body is part of the practice, you’re more likely to avoid those injuries."

Secondly, if you're injured, be sure to avoid certain poses and ask your teacher for help. The relationship between instructor and student depends on honesty about your physical needs, which makes it important to pick the right teacher to work with, according to the news source. You can sit in on a class to observe and make sure the instructor is certified.

You may even be interested in checking out a local Dahn Yoga community. It shouldn't be difficult to find a quality teacher. According to U.S. News and World Report, there were more than 70,000 certified yoga instructors nationwide as of 2005!

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26
Jul 11

Benefits of yoga extend to musicians with stage fright

What are the benefits of yoga? Besides improving an individual's strength, flexibility, physical stamina and mental clarity, a holistic mind-body system like yoga can go a long way toward relieving the emotional pressures that high-stress situations place on the mind.

The benefits of yoga poses are manifold, extending into nearly any situation you can think of. Consider a recent study published in the journal Applied Psychophysiology and Feedback, which found that doing yoga and meditation may help musicians overcome stage fright.

The authors, a group of doctors, psychologists and yoga experts, asked participants to take eight weeks of yoga classes or, alternatively, of a " lifestyle intervention" that combined yoga sessions, breath control tutorials, conscious eating and a two-day initial retreat.

All volunteers were musical fellows in the Tanglewood Music Center, a training clinic for advanced music studies and the summer practice facility of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Researchers found that individuals who took yoga experienced improvements in music performance anxiety.

According to data provided by Professor Dale Cyphert of the University of Northern Iowa, stage fright is extremely common. The source notes that fear of public speaking, an anxiety similar to musical performance anxiety, afflicts an estimated 45 million Americans, 5 million of whom have a full-blown phobia.

In the study, doing eight weeks of yoga appeared to reduce the severity of such a fear. Additionally, scientists found that the interventions lessened the symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression.

In case you think performance anxiety couldn't be that big a deal for musicians, a study appearing in the European Journal of Psychiatry found that more than 36 percent of professional orchestra members report having difficulties with stage fright, to the point where they felt they needed help.

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30
Mar 11

For Japanese students, yoga brings peace and comfort after earthquake

Dahn Yoga has helped many people achieve personal growth and better mindfulness over the years. In fact, meditation is said to enhance all aspects of an individual's health, from mental and emotional well-being to physical vitality. More practitioners are turning to yoga in times of trouble, due to the regimen's calming and stress relieving benefits.

Recently, the Times of India reported that a group of Japanese students have found solace in the practice of yoga. These individuals, who currently reside in India, suffered stress and anxiety after hearing that their loved ones in Japan had experienced an earthquake.

"The feeling of inner peace and empowerment that comes with yoga continues to help us get through this difficult period," said Michika Inuzuka, a software engineer from Osaka, quoted by the news source. "The telephone lines were jammed and there was no way to find out the plight of our loved ones back home."

Fortunately, the group learned that their family and friends had survived, but they continue to practice yoga, remembering the dark hours it has helped them endure.

The personal growth that comes with practicing a technique such as Dahn Yoga may help remind individuals of the fragility of life, while encouraging them to appreciate their connection to the universe.

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30
Mar 11

Yoga helps practitioners get through difficult times

Dahn Yoga breathing exercises have helped practitioners get through many a tough period in the past. According to the Sunday Mercury, meditation has helped ease the stress and anxiety that many individuals experienced during times of financial insecurity.

Sue MacLusky, a practitioner from Stourbridge, UK, told the news source about a dark time she had experienced last summer, after separating from her partner of 14 years and recovering from the death of three loved ones.

"It was a really difficult time," she said, quoted by the Mercury. "I was getting headaches, my asthma was coming back and I was feeling really stressed. The doctor put me on antidepressants. I was in a very low place."

It was during that time that yoga entered her life and encouraged her to live, love and laugh again. She said that the regimen has allowed her to access her "inner joy," adding that achieving happiness within is doable for anyone and that they simply have to search for it, according to the news source.

The benefits of yoga encompass all aspects of an individual's well-being. By engaging in deep breathing and meditation, people all over the world can improve their physical and mental health.

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23
Feb 11

Yoga may aid women who are struggling to conceive

Dahn Yoga classes may not only benefit one's emotional and physical well-being, but can also have a positive impact on fertility, according to the New York Times.

Over the years, "yoga for fertility" classes have grown in popularity. Although the association between mind-body connection and reproductive health has not yet been proven, practitioners believe that the stress relief that comes with practicing the ancient art is enough to increase the likelihood of conception.

Additionally, women who attend classes with other aspiring mothers may feel a sense of calm and belonging, knowing that there are others who are in the same boat.

"It's a very effective relaxation technique, and a great way to get women in the door to get support," said psychologist Alice Domar, quoted by the news source. "It's a way to get them to like their bodies again."

Many women have benefited from yoga, which can help improve their life balance and reestablish the harmony between the mind and the body.

According to the National Survey of Family Growth, an estimated 6.1 million American women and their partners are affected by infertility. 

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