Yoga books for teachers can help them keep practitioners safe and soothed

Becoming a yoga teacher is typically a long process of training, stretching, meditating and learning to express the concepts of the mind-body regimen in a way that is simple and easy to understand. So, it might not surprise you to learn that some yoga books for teachers are better than others.

Recently, CNN noted that a now-infamous New York Times article – one that caught a lot of heat for arguing that "yoga can wreck your body" – is excerpted from a larger volume on the subject.

This book makes the same contention as the article – namely, that yoga classes have "no hierarchy of officials or organization to ensure purity and [the adherence] to agreed-upon sets of facts and poses, rules and procedures, outcomes and benefits."

Is this true? Well, yes and no. What matters isn't so much the standardization of yoga as the care and concern of its leaders.

Joe Palese, a yoga instructor with 14 years of experience, told CNN that "it's the integrity and the awareness that the teacher brings to class that is most important."

The best yoga books emphasize this fact while taking newbies through the gentle basics of the holistic system.

Older women can turn to yoga books for beginners, not supplements, for better health

Reading yoga books for beginners and practicing the gentle maneuvers may be a reliable way to get healthier, particularly in light of a popular CNN article that suggests that taking supplements may not be as beneficial to one's well-being as previously reported. While most Americans know that exercising and eating a nutritious diet are key to striving for their full potential, it may come as a surprise to those who supplement their food intake with multivitamins that this practice could actually be detrimental.

A recent study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine reported that nutrients like iron, folic acid, vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc and copper have been associated with a mildly increased risk of earlier death, particularly among older women.

"Taking more of what we think is a good thing may not be so good," said researcher Susan Fisher from the University of Rochester Medical Center, quoted by CNN. "High levels of nutrient supplements may be harmful, or at least not helpful."

She and her team emphasized that further investigation is needed before a definite conclusion is made. Meanwhile, American women may want to continue eating a healthy diet and engaging in an exercise like yoga. Throughout the history of yoga meditation, the holistic regimen has been shown to improve many enthusiasts' physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Dahn Yoga recommends exercises to strengthen the Spleen Meridian

Individuals who engage in Dahn Yoga exercises may facilitate the flow of life energy, or Ki, through the meridian channels of the body. Easing this natural force may help them achieve optimal mental, emotional and physical well-being, while cementing the sometimes tenuous connection between the mind and the body.

Earlier this month, Dahn Yoga and Health Centers recently recommended that yoga enthusiasts focus on the Spleen Meridian in April. This channel is known as the “Inner Mother” because it nurtures, soothes and comforts the body. The spleen plays important roles in bolstering the immune system, facilitating digestion and releasing tension, in addition to improving emotional health and resilience.

Because imbalances in the Spleen Meridian can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, menstrual disorders and poor concentration, choosing the appropriate exercises to strengthen this organ may contribute to better health. Leg squats are a recommended technique and may contribute to improved production and storage of blood cells, as well as greater flow of Ki.

Engaging in this practice has helped people all over the world achieve better circulation and body awareness.