Skip to content

Goalkeeper chalks up 11 straight wins to yoga meditation techniques

"I think the lads who have done it have really felt the benefits from it," Fraser Forster (pictured) said of his holistic routine. "Yoga has really caught on in recent years, especially goalkeeping-wise."

"I think the lads who have done it have really felt the benefits from it," Fraser Forster (pictured) said of his holistic routine. "Yoga has really caught on in recent years, especially goalkeeping-wise."

Getting 11 straight wins is no easy task for any professional soccer team, but Celtic Football Club has done just that. In a win streak that began in November, the group has shut down 10 other clubs (one of them twice!), and goalie Fraser Forster gives most of the credit to his exercise regimen, which is based on yoga meditation poses.

"I think the lads who have done it have really felt the benefits from it," he said of yoga, quoted by the Mirror. "Yoga has really caught on in recent years, especially goalkeeping-wise."

He mentioned Brad Friedel as a case in point. At 40 years of age, Friedel – who played more than 80 games as the goaltender for the U.S. National Men's Soccer Team – is well known for his regular use of yoga meditation techniques.

And he's not alone. According to the Yoga Journal, the regimen is quite common among American soccer players. Leslie Osborne, a midfielder for the U.S. National Women's Team, told the source that she was addicted to yoga after a single session.

"I went once, and that was it," she said, quoted by the news source. "Every session, I learned to mentally overcome challenges that I didn't think I could."

How to choose yoga meditation techniques that are right for your body

Folks who get plenty of exercise already, or who have physical limitations that prevent rigorous bending or stretching, might benefit from a more soothing program, especially one that focuses on mind-body healing the way that Dahn Yoga does.

Folks who get plenty of exercise already, or who have physical limitations that prevent rigorous bending or stretching, might benefit from a more soothing program, especially one that focuses on mind-body healing the way that Dahn Yoga does.

What is the best way to choose yoga stretching poses that will be a good fit for you? Recently, experts told the Vancouver Sun that it all hinges on your physical health, your job, your hobbies and your commitment to yoga.

"It depends on what you need in your life," yoga teacher Christina Niven told the newspaper. She explained that yoga regimens are so plentiful in part because people spend their time doing so many different things, which leaves them in need of various forms of holistic healing at the end of the day.

For example, office workers may prefer yoga meditation techniques that get their blood pumping a bit, since the sedentary nature of their job can leave them lacking the cardiovascular stimulation that their body craves.

On the other hand, folks who get plenty of exercise already, or who have physical limitations that prevent rigorous bending or stretching, might benefit from a more soothing program, especially one that focuses on mind-body healing the way that Dahn Yoga does.

Niven noted that it may help to visit your local yoga community center to see if its regimen is a good fit.

Is your yoga stretching for back pain causing you more pain? Consider trying a more soothing regimen, like Dahn Yoga

Saying yoga should be avoided completely is like suggesting that running or swimming should be skipped at all costs - it's a blanket statement that ignores all the slower, more soothing versions of these exercises.

Saying yoga should be avoided completely is like suggesting that running or swimming should be skipped at all costs - it's a blanket statement that ignores all the slower, more soothing versions of these exercises.

Nine times out of 10, yoga enthusiasts will tell you that doing their holistic pain management techniques helps soothe their aching joints, muscles or limbs. However, occasionally you'll hear about how yoga made things worse. These mishaps almost always involve regimens that aren't as low-intensity and self-healing as Dahn Yoga.

For example, an article recently published in the New York Times Magazine examined reports of yoga teachers with chronic hip and back problems, as well as students who'd twisted themselves into such contorted positions that they'd seriously hurt themselves.

One yoga instructor even told the new source that most people should avoid yoga entirely!

The problem with an argument like this one is that it tends to be based on a few anecdotal horror stories, rather than broad surveys or in-depth research. Likewise, saying yoga should be avoided completely is like suggesting that running or swimming should be skipped at all costs – it's a blanket statement that ignores all the slower, more soothing versions of these exercises.

Plenty of scientific investigations have found that yoga stretching for back pain, shoulder aches or nerve problems really does work. All it takes is a low-impact yoga program that is proven to be soothing and effective.

Yoga’s chronic pain management can keep aches from defining your life

Rather than letting aches run your life, consider taking the horse by the reins. Most yoga studios offer at least a few instructional classes on chronic pain management.

Rather than letting aches run your life, consider taking the horse by the reins. Most yoga studios offer at least a few instructional classes on chronic pain management.

Chronic pain is a problem that is more widespread than nearly any other. What can we do about it? Rather than taking powerful painkillers or just gritting your teeth and bearing it, individuals with this problem may consider trying yoga's pain management techniques.

The American Pain Foundation (APF) states that pain affects more adults than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined! This prevalence can really take a toll on our pocketbooks. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Americans annually spend $100 billion on chronic pain.

Evidently, much of this money is going to waste, since the incidence of chronic aches is not dropping. If anything, it's rising. The NIH estimates that eight in 10 Americans suffer from chronic pain in a lifetime.

Rather than letting aches run your life, consider taking the horse by the reins. Most yoga studios offer at least a few instructional classes on chronic pain management. You can even find DVDs that walk you through the basics in the comfort of your own home.

Many public health organizations are getting in on the action. The APF recently released a poster promoting the use of basic "chair yoga" for soothing aches and pains. The illustrations walk beginners through deep breathing, meditation, stretching and palm rubbing.

With the obesity rate soaring, the best weight loss exercise may be yoga

People who have difficulty controlling their weight may want to consider trying yoga for weight loss today, before their health gets worse.

People who have difficulty controlling their weight may want to consider trying yoga for weight loss today, before their health gets worse.

Recently, U.S. newspapers have been swarming with headlines related to obesity, few of them optimistic. With this medical condition on the rise, many public health organizations are on the hunt for the most effective diet and the best weight loss exercise. For the latter, yoga may be the answer.

Though news stories about obesity may seem a little frantic, they have reason to be. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of Americans are obese and another third are overweight.

How did nearly 70 percent of the country become so large so fast? Theories abound. In an article for the Los Angeles Times, nutrition expert Melinda Sothern explained that the spiking obesity rate may be rooted in the way pregnant mothers took care of themselves in the 1950s.

A professor at Louisiana State University, Sothern told the news source that 60 years ago, many expectant mothers practiced what she calls the "obesity trinity" – that is, they smoked, restricted their weight and did not breastfeed.

Now, decades later, the children born in that era are heavier than any previous generation, and they're paying for it. An eHealth, Inc. survey has announced that obese Americans pay 23 percent more in annual insurance premiums, compared to adults of a healthy size.

People who have difficulty controlling their weight may want to consider trying yoga for weight loss today, before their health gets worse.

Yoga meditation techniques have benefits for the brain

For all yoga practitioners, even those whose biggest problem is day-to-day stress, meditation can be an effective way to relax and pursue serenity.

For all yoga practitioners, even those whose biggest problem is day-to-day stress, meditation can be an effective way to relax and pursue serenity.

Whether you practice yoga meditation for beginners or more advanced mindfulness exercises, you may be interested to know that such endeavors can be good for the brain. Dozens of scientific investigations have found that yoga meditation techniques appear to soothe the brain waves and calm the emotions.

For instance, a groundbreaking study appearing in the journal NeuroImage found that participants who meditated long term – that is, who had between five and 46 years of experience as yoga meditators – had more neural connections in their brains.

The team theorized that meditation may be especially helpful for patients with neural conditions that affect the brain's central white matter, like multiple sclerosis.

Another study, this one in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that meditation appeared to help participant's modulate their pain levels, a benefit that may intrigue yoga enthusiasts who have chronic pain.

Finally, a report published in the journal Schizophrenia Research stated that a special form of mindfulness – dubbed "loving-kindness meditation" – seemed to reduce the negative symptoms associated with the serious mental condition.

For all yoga practitioners, even those whose biggest problem is day-to-day stress, meditation can be an effective way to relax and pursue serenity.

Yoga meditation supplies company sees dip in sales

What may be at work is the decline in the need for specialized, synthetic yoga wear. Typically, a yoga practitioner needs little more than a loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt and pants made from natural fibers.

What may be at work is the decline in the need for specialized, synthetic yoga wear. Typically, a yoga practitioner needs little more than a loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt and pants made from natural fibers.

For individuals who take yoga meditation for beginners, especially those who don't feel the need to wear trendy workout outfits, a recent news item may be of interest. Reuters has reported that yoga meditation supplies company Lululemon Athletica has seen a precipitous drop in the value of its stock.

The news source stated that in the previous financial quarter, the clothing and apparel chain's shares dipped by 16 percent. Reuters did not speculate why the company's star appears to be in decline.

However, AOL's Daily Finance did. The source noted that a recent rigmarole over tote bags has left the apparel corporation unpopular among many yoga enthusiasts.

Last month, a number of consumers complained about a line of tote bags, released by Lululemon, which had the phrase "Who is John Galt?" emblazoned on the side. This quote comes from Ayn Rand's 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged. The rhetorical question is intended to sum up the author's philosophy, which is one that recommends selfishness above helping others (these are Rand's words).

What may also be at work is the decline in the need for specialized, synthetic yoga wear. Typically, a yoga practitioner needs little more than a loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt and pants made from natural fibers.

“Call of Sedona” An Amazon Bookstore Hit

Sedona Arizona Mind-body expert, educator and mentor Ilchi Lee’s book Call of Sedona has been climbing the charts since its release. Ranked #1 on Amazon for Health, Mind & Body, Religion & Spirituality and Movers & Shakers, this book has been endorsed by partners such as Neale Donald Walsch and more.

The book details out Lee’s experience with Sedona, how it called him to its red rocks and vortexes and how he has utilized the lands energy in finding more enlightenment, purpose and fulfillment. Lee tells others how they too can find the various vortexes in Sedona, what those vortexes energy points are and how to use meditation to tap into that energy. In addition, Lee explains that we all have great potential and that we just need to learn how to tap into that potential to receive its benefits. For instance, Lee states “If you don’t listen to the voice of your True Self and discover a dream into which you can pour all your passion, all you can do is keep living with a feeling of futility in the midst of a mindlessly hectic lifestyle.”

To read more about the book or watch the video, see photos and videos of Sedona Arizona and its vortexes, visit the website CallOfSedona.com.

Yoga meditation techniques take you on a journey into infinite space

By closing your eyes, breathing deeply and allowing the world to recede, you can go on a mental journey that explores the small particles and spans the greatest reaches of the universe.

By closing your eyes, breathing deeply and allowing the world to recede, you can go on a mental journey that explores the small particles and spans the greatest reaches of the universe.

Over the years, mindfulness meditation has become more popular rather than less. In part, this may be due to scientific findings, which increasingly suggest that meditation can dampen anxiety, lower blood pressure and improve overall well-being. No matter why you do them, yoga meditation techniques are also a lot of fun!

The use of alternative and complementary treatments, including meditation, is on the rise in the U.S. A survey conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that about 20 million Americans reported meditating in the previous month.

Even kids love yoga meditation for beginners. The same survey revealed that more than 775,000 children had recently engaged in this activity.

According to the UK National Health Service, meditating is proven to reduce stress, which is great news for anyone who is having difficulty decompressing at the end of a long day.

That said, mindfulness meditation is about so much more than mere relaxation. By closing your eyes, breathing deeply and allowing the world to recede, you can go on a mental journey that explores the small particles and spans the greatest reaches of the universe.

Over time, your meditative odyssey can give you a sharpened sense of the world around you.

When looking for yoga meditation supplies, skip the mat altogether

While it's important to be sure you have the necessary yoga meditation supplies, a mat is not a prerequisite for a positive, healing experience.

While it's important to be sure you have the necessary yoga meditation supplies, a mat is not a prerequisite for a positive, healing experience.

Yoga meditation for beginners is often marketed as an activity that requires a few upfront purchases, including clothes, exercise balls and, of course, the ever-present yoga mat. While it's important to be sure you have the necessary yoga meditation supplies, a mat is not a prerequisite for a positive, healing experience.

Consider an article recently published by the Towson Patch, which argued that there are many different yoga mats available for enthusiasts. According to the news source, these items can range from $5 to more than $100, depending on how large your yoga budget is.

The article was less specific about the benefits of mats. However, it did note that these products can be a chore to lug around.

There's a reason that Dahn Yoga instructors recommend dispensing with mats altogether. A mat is not much more comfortable than a bare floor, and it's an unnecessary expense too.

All that matters is getting a simple, basic pair of loose pants and a long-sleeved top. Such clothes can help you regulate your temperature during a long yoga class. Beyond that, your body will take care of the rest.