The Excellent Savasana – Don’t Sleep, it is really Healthy

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Yoga is a practice of training your body and various systems in your body. But relaxation is must after every practicing session right? Yoga also has a pose which will make you to be relaxed. The relaxation pose in Yoga is called as Savasana. Savasana refers to the corpse pose. ‘Sava’ is Sanskrit term which means corpse and asana is posture. Since the person doing this asana will lie on ground like a corpse, it is named such way. Though it appears so simple, the benefits it gives are really worthy and it is an easy posture to do.

Importance of Savasana

Savasana is absolutely an important practice to be done after every session of practice of other yoga posses. It is much simple to do. A person who does Savasana must lie down on a flat surface (preferably floor) with legs and arms separated at 45 degrees. Now the person must close his eyes and then have to go with dheerga or deep Pranayama. Pranayama is nothing but taking deep breath and holding it for a while and slowly exhaling it. The whole body now is being rested on the floor with the awareness that the chest and abdomen fall and rise for each breath we take. During this practice, all the parts of our body are getting scanned for muscular tensions and if any found will be released consciously or by simple movement of that part. This practice will reduce all the stress in our body. The pose should be released by slow movement of body parts and deep breathes.

Benefits if Savasana

Practice of Savasana will bring you more benefits. Relaxation is always beneficiary. Hence the yoga pose also bring benefits to the person who practice it. Some of the benefits of Savasana are:

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·       The asana will reduce the heart rate and thus will reduce the flow of blood all over the body and hence makes the person to move into a deep relaxing stage.  

•        The rate of respiration is reduced. Thus the lungs will get relaxed from continuous working.

·       It reduces the blood pressure. As mentioned the heart rate is reduced and thus the blood flow is reduced which will have less pressure in the blood vessels.

·       Decreased muscle tension. Since the person in Savasana don’t move even a single muscle, all the muscles in his body will get relaxed.

·       The practice of Savasana will reduce a general anxiety. Hence the mind will get relaxed and the person will feel mentally relaxed.

·       Increases the energy levels. Being still always will save energy. This is applicable for every living thing in the world. Thus the Savasana will help you to raise and store your energy levels.

·       Increases concentration and focus of the person.

·       Decreases fatigue and results you with regular and deep sleep.

The Savasana is a best and easy pose in Yoga. Practicing it daily is really good for us. But make sure that you follow the right procedure to attain the best benefits. 

The Healing Power of Yoga for Cancer Patients and Survivors

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Dealing with the gripping effects of cancer is dealing with a volatile wave of emotions. Cancer is a vicious disease that saps a person physically and emotionally. Cancer treatments like radioactive treatment can weaken a person. But more than physical damage and pain that patients go through, it‘s the mental trauma that breaks the soul of most patients. Most cancer survivors have to undergo therapy to bounce back from the difficult and traumatic stage that they had to go through. But there are ways cancer patients can deal with the pain and emotional conflicts of dealing with cancer.

Although performing rigorous exercise routines is out of the question for cancer patients, there are other ways to stay healthy. Studies show that practicing Yoga has a positive effect on a cancer patient’s health. It helps in combating physical pain, fatigue and also emotional and mental problems. The extensive treatment procedures and the diminishing strength get to the patient and more often than not, they tend to feel agitated about it. It reduces stress and anxiety levels and also helps in controlling blood pressure or respiratory issues. Yoga is easier to perform compared to other taxing exercise routine which is why it is advisable for cancer patients.

Combat Pains and Conflicts of Cancer with Yoga

Depression is an emotion that most cancer patients as well as cancer survivors go through. Yoga can help in attaining mental balance and dealing with your pent-up frustration and anger. Particular asanas and movements help in boosting positive feelings and attaining physical strength at the same time. Yoga is an effective therapy treatment since the asanas; breathing exercises and the meditation have a healing effect on the patients. It helps in increase the quality of life for cancer patients to a great extent.

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 Many studies suggest that Yoga helps in combating many symptoms of cancer. Pranayama is one of the best things for cancer patients since it creates a harmonious mind-body balance. Patients can include Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and a range of asanas into their daily routine to deal with the physical and mental pains and challenges. Yoga can help in healing you gradually and decrease all negative emotions of death. It helps patients to come to terms with their disease in a better way so that they can live a better and more fulfilling life.

A healthy lifestyle and positive mindset can do a lot of good to the patients and Yoga can help achieve this. Traditional medical practices like surgery and chemotherapy are important and cannot be overlooked, but Yoga is the perfect therapy alternative to deal with the symptoms and emotional tumult. Most cancer treatment centers and doctors are now recommending patients to try out Yoga as a therapy alternative. 

Although yoga cannot eliminate the cause of cancer, it can definitely give patients the strength and courage to deal with it in an effective manner. Although before starting a Yoga therapy treatment, it important to consult with your doctor about what poses and movements would be safe and effective for you. Yoga treatment has no side effects; hence it is safe for cancer patients and survivors. 

Benefits of Yoga for Rainy Season

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With monsoon comes the great weather and amazing raindrops to feel ecstatic over, but with the rains comes the heavy possibility of innumerable water borne diseases and infections. Precautionary measures are helpful when warding off diseases during the monsoon season and yoga has proven to be very effective in that aspect! Yoga in this matter has often been viewed as a very relaxed, less time consuming and one of the most flexible forms of exercises for the monsoons.

Simple Yoga exercises like the “Kapalbhati Pranayama”, “Nadi Shodhan Pranayama” and many more exercises and asanas have been known to help clearing the respiratory tract, improve resistance to diseases and also block sinuses.

Kapalbhati
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Following are a few of the reasons why Yoga is often opted for in the monsoon season, by most individuals, office going people and even children alike:

Surya Namaskar
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   ·         Surya Namaskar is famous for boosting the immunity of an individual as it helps with activating the thymus gland and promoting better immunity.

  

·       Various Pranayamas are warming practices for the body, which prevent and control the congestion.

·       Warding off respiratory illnesses and aggravation of the pulmonary medical conditions is vital and Yoga exercises on a daily basis see to it that these conditions are controlled to promote a healthier life.

·       Most of the asanas practised during the monsoons are the ones that promote chest-opening and healthier breathing.

While most people choose to hit the gym and stick to rigorous routines and exercises, Yoga seems like a far better and calmer option to pursue. There is a way you can enjoy the monsoon, be in nature and exercise to relax, rejuvenate and revitalise- Yoga helps you do all of that! An everyday half hour. 

Yoga session can definitely provide your body the resistance that it needs to ward of monsoon diseases, various allergies and infections alike. Along with Yoga sessions and exercise routines, eating right is also very vital and if the season in question is the monsoon one then outside food is usually avoided best. Here is a list of a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to following a yoga routine and healthy diet, during the monsoons!

Do’s:

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  ·       Drink ample water and fresh fruit juices and vegetable juices.

 ·       Inculcate the habit of having healthier breakfasts and lighter mid day meals.

   ·       Detoxification of the liver and digestive aid is possible through consumption of amla.

  ·       Eat bitter vegetables like bitter gourd and induce fenugreek and neem in your everyday food to balance the pitta level in your body.

Don’ts:

·       Eat food items that consist of major amounts of acids, spice and salt.

·       Junk food and especially roadside stall food during the monsoon are a strict no!

With these healthy tips and some of the best Yoga routines and exercises, you might just be able to curb the monsoon disease spreads and stay hale and hearty; a healthy mind, body and soul is indeed a key to a happy life now, isn’t it? 

Practice Yoga to Deal with Blood Pressure Fluctuations

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According to modern day studies and research, practicing Yoga religiously can help in combating several diseases and staying fit. With work and personal life conflicts taking the forefront, stress has become a major part of our lives. But there are ways in which we can deal with the growing stress levels and all the ailments that crop up due to anxiety and stress. Fluctuations in blood pressure are more frequent among people today and even youngsters are dealing with it. There are many reasons that can lead to high or low blood pressure problems. There are many medications that help in controlling blood pressure problems. But some prefer alternate treatment options to keep their blood pressure in check.

High strung activities have a tendency to lead to stress levels which is one of the causes for high blood pressure. Taking medication can only help to a certain extent but a person needs to make certain lifestyle changes to control your blood pressure. Yoga can be a beneficial activity to help control stress levels and deal with mental anxiety. Most of the times neglecting important things like diet, exercise, and other habits that lead to pent-up frustration that directly affects one's health. Vices like alcohol and smoking can also lead to blood pressure fluctuations.

Enhanced Control over Your Blood Pressure with Yoga

Heart ailments are on the rise due to high blood pressure problems and cases of youngsters suffering from heart attacks is truly shocking. Women go through low blood pressure problems during pregnancy which can be controlled with mild exercises. Dehydration, thyroid, and other ailments are also responsible for low blood pressure in people. Although there are medications available for blood pressure patients, it’s not necessarily always effective. Sometimes the core reason behind blood pressure is more in the mind rather than what the body is going through.

Most people today live a hectic and demanding life and this is bound to take a toll on their health. Yoga asanas and Pranayama can help in attaining a mental and physical balance. According to studies Yoga can help in strengthening the mind and help in improving blood circulation in the body. Yoga practice can help increase the oxygen supply to various organs of the body. Pranayama has the power to induce positive feelings and naturally increases the positivity in a person. Trying to get your blood pressure normal naturally is a more feasible option compared to popping innumerable pills. Yoga is a non-invasive way to deal with blood pressure troubles and is definitely a better option compared to other medications.

Lotus Pose
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Plow Pose
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Corpse pose
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The Padmasana (lotus pose), Savasana (corpse pose), Halasana (plow pose) are some of the effective Yoga asanas for blood pressure patients. Forward bending poses and movements are recommended for patients suffering from high blood pressure. Along with asanas, Yogic breathing is also recommended since it has a positive effect on our blood pressure. To combat blood pressure, a change in approach towards life is necessary. Revamp your life and inculcate healthy and beneficial habits that will naturally boost your health. A little bit of lifestyle revamp and a daily dose of yoga is all you need to see positive changes.

For more information visit the official website of Ministry of Ayush: http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in/

Facebook page: International Day of Yoga

Twitter id: @IntlDayofYoga

With Yoga You Can Boost Skills in Children with Autism

'Yoga has a sly, clever way of short circuiting the mental patterns that cause anxiety.'

-Baxter Bell

Yoga is a technique, art, practice or discipline to strike a balance between the body and the mind. Connection, union, liberation, coalesce; Yoga imbibes it all in its simplicity. It is a spiritual practice having innumerable benefits to the human body and the mind alike. It is said and believed that yoga can cure the incurable! From the diseases like thyroid and diabetes to respiratory problems like asthma to mental disorders like anxiety, autism; Yoga has the key to control and heal people of all these problems.

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One such disease that can be controlled with Yoga is Autism. Autism is marked by enfeeble social interactions, verbal and non-verbal and a difficulty in accepting social norms. Science is yet to discover a sure shot cure for autism, Yoga has made it possible to heal several symptoms and signs of the disorder naturally without any medical procedure.  What cannot be healed using strong medication and traditional treatment can be cured with Yoga. Here is a list to show how yoga is beneficial for the children suffering from autism.

Yoga enhances concentration and self-awareness

It isn't easy to deal with autistic kids and many parents have trouble understanding them. Lack of interest in things happening around them, understanding others and their feelings often leads them to builds a wall around themselves. But practicing Yoga on a regular basis has made it possible for such kids to build concentration and makes them more aware of their body as well as emotions. Children learn to tackle their emotions and learn how to display them. This way, they are able to gain interest in their classrooms and surroundings and overcome their inhibitions and weird behavior.

Yoga boosts confidence and improves communication skills

Yoga is not purely confined to physical activity, but to mental well-being as well. Often children with autism are unable to interact and are found with low self-esteem. This may be due to bullying by other children, lonesome feeling and facing the continuous mocking by others. Yoga helps them to balance their mind and body, thus boosting their confidence in themselves. A stronger confidence helps such kids to communicate better with others and feel accepted. They are able to listen, understand and act accordingly. Hence, Yoga helps in removing the hindrance of the lack of social skills in them with simple movements and breathing techniques.

Yoga helps in the overall development

Yoga is the art of liberating the soul. It is beneficial in overall personality development. It brings stability, integrates sensory organs, builds confidence, improves social skills and allows children to overcome the major symptoms of autism. Autistic kids have a highly sensitive nature which is why they are unable to handle extreme situations and easily get agitated. Yoga brings inner peace, builds control and allows them to handle situations of all types with ease. They become calm, composed and resistant leading to a balanced young individual raring to go!!

(Pic courtesy:  

swansonhealthcenter.com)

It is thus proved that Yoga can help heal the pain of a disease in which even science fails. It is an excellent treatment to boost skills in children suffering from autism and create a balanced personality. It is an amazing tool to be used to help these special kids grow and succeed in life.

For more information visit the official website of ministry of Ayush: http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in/.

Facebook page: International Day of Yoga

Twitter id: @IntlDayofYoga

The Excellent Benefits of Savasana

Yoga is slowly but steadily taking over the world and spreading a positive energy and message of the true essence of living. From Bikram’s hot Yoga classes to Power Yoga, Yoga has evolved to a great extent. Although each teacher and Guru have a different approach to teaching Yoga, the underlying tradition and practice is common among all forms of Yoga. It’s not about which one is better or more effective, it’s about how you inculcate these teachings into your life. A Guru can only teach you the basics of the poses and teach you how to perform it. But when it comes to executing it correctly, you are on your own.

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Before beginning a Yoga session whether you attend a class or prefer doing it at home, you need to relax your mind and discard any disturbing thoughts. Only a calm demeanor will help in properly performing the asanas. Almost every Yoga session always ends with one particular asana, which is the Savasana. Savasana, also known as Corpse pose is an asana that’s very simple but holds a lot of benefits. Many have a misconception that Savasana is easy to perform since all you have to do is lay on your back and relax. But many find it difficult to lie still for long intervals and tend to get extremely restless.

For many Yoga practitioners, Savasana is the most difficult of all asanas because it requires you to do nothing but rather just be. People are so wound up and jumpy that the thought of performing Savasana can be intimidating to them. But once you let yourself go and just relax both our body and mind, you will automatically feel the amazing benefits of Savasana. At the end of Savasana, you should feel light and uplifted and not tired and stressed.

Benefits of Savasana

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   •       Savasana boosts your mood and helps you relax.

  •       Savasana helps you in releasing all the pent up tension and attain peace.

  •       Savasana helps in improving the breathing. Lying on your back will relax you and stimulate your breathing.

  •       It is believed that Savasana can help in dealing with difficult emotions and existential dilemma.

  •       Daily practice of Savasana will help eradicate any kind of negative feelings and emotions that might be developing inside you.

   •       It helps in relaxing the body, mind and the entire nervous system.

•       A great asana for people suffering from high blood pressure. Regular practice of Savasana will decrease high blood pressure.

•       Improves the circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body and relaxes stiff muscles.

•       Savasana is also known to improve brain function problems of insomnia.

These are just some of the benefits of Savasana. This asana helps in controlling your mind and body and deal with your emotional conflicts. Mastering of Savasana is mastering of your mental demons and it will help in living a more fulfilling life. Make sure to stay in the Savasana pose at least for 5 minutes after you are done with all the other asanas. Improve your self-confidence and focus with the power of Savasana.

Attain a Stable and Stress-Free Mind withthe Power OF Yoga

We all face stressful situations wherein we are forced to make a difficult decision and more often than not, we tend to make the wrong choice when we are not thinking straight. On other occasions, we feel like screaming our lungs out because we don’t understand why we are surrounded by all these problems. Either way there is no escape, you just have to pull it together and deal with the situation. It’s important that our mental state is balanced because an imbalanced mind is a very dangerous thing. But how do you attain a balanced and stable mind with so much stress and life problems to deal with? Well, the answer to your dilemma is Yoga.

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Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that believes in the ultimate union of mind and our soul. It teaches people to release all negative thoughts and emotions out of their system with the help of Yoga. Each breathing technique and pose helps in bringing balance to our mind as well as the body. Many Yoga practitioners have felt the power of Yoga as it helps in emptying the mind from all clogged up thoughts and help them attain balance. It’s very important to silence all the chatter and conflict that’s going in our mind every now and then.

Yoga Is the Answer to a Stable Mind-Body Equation

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You cannot think straight unless and until you have got rid of all the junk in your head and Yoga helps you achieve the peace of mind that you crave. Start with some poses and stretches that will make you feel light and work on increasing your flexibility. You need to focus on bringing your best both physically as well as mentally. Breathing exercises are always effective in dealing with a disturbed mind. It will be difficult at first to just relax and focus on your breathing since your mind is so worked up, but eventually you will learn to slowly let go.

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One of Yoga’s philosophies state that nothing in this world belongs to us and trying to hold onto things will only lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety. Do not try to control situations that cannot be controlled and let things be. Asanas like Shavasana are quite effective in helping us let go and relax both body and mind. Lotus pose and Cobra pose are also effective in boosting good thoughts and dealing with stress. Yoga is also great in increasing concentration and focus which many lack, especially students.

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The beauty of Yoga lies in the fact that people of all ages can practice it and benefit from it. Yoga will help you be a better individual for yourself and for people you care for. But this is possible only if you practice and honor the yogic traditions and teachings and take it seriously. Along with Yoga, indulge in healthy eating habits and avoid vices like drinking and smoking to lead a healthy and stable life. Remember that happiness and peace are not things that are just meant for a few people. Being happy is in your hand, you just have to make the right choices and commitments in life.

For more information visit the official website of ministry of Ayush: http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in/.

Facebook page: International Day of Yoga

Twitter id: @IntlDayofYoga

Find the Right Class or Guru for learning Yoga/Asanas

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There is an old saying which says “when a student is ready, teacher will appear”. Of course it is completely true. Teacher is a bridge between you and your destiny. They were the people who let you achieve your goal by imparting whatever knowledge required for achieving the goal. Long back, the situation how teachers were treated was different. Especially in India, the teacher is a person who comes next to parents and is considered more important than the spiritual powers. But now, the scenario is different. Earlier, it was the teacher who used to select the student to be taught. Now it is the student who is selects the teacher. However the practice be, Yoga conveying the best knowledge and practice is must. So, students while selecting their teacher must have to be aware that he is the one who can make you master in the art of Yoga.

How to select a Yoga Guru (teacher)?

Well selecting a Guru for learning Yoga is must, but has no pre determined criteria like selecting a candidate for a job. There are some Gurus in Yoga, who are known best for teaching the art to their students. There are some people who take classes with little knowledge they have in Yoga. It differs from person to person. Now it is your duty to search for a best one. The first thing to be noted while selecting a Guru is to have an idea of how much knowledge does the Guru has in the yoga art. It is kind of easy to be understood by looking at how their students practice Yoga or perform it. People who don’t have an idea of analyzing yoga posses and grades can actually go for an enquiry with the students.

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The next thing to be noted is that the duration of the classes. Most of the classes nowadays run between 60 to 90 minutes. This is an average duration of doing Yoga asanas. It is also better to know the number of people in your class. This is because, usually if a class is having more number of students, then the Guru cannot concentrate on every individual. This will have more chance of learning the art wrongly which is worse than being unknown about the art. Choose classes and Gurus who have fewer students so that you will get option to get concentrated by the guru on your posses and styles.

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Another important thing to be noted is the awareness of Guru about your physical strength and weakness. This must be negotiated with the guru himself before starting the classes. If a student has back pain or injuries in knees or any part of the body, then the guru will not allow him to practice certain posses which may affect them more. This is possible only if the Guru is aware of what your physical position is. People who don’t have an idea of what is the physical position of their students, cannot teach Yoga. While choosing a Guru, you can also go for personal enquiries and other aspects.

Fight the Monster Called Depression with Yoga

Anxiety disorder and depression are the most common mental ailments people suffer from. Many a time depression goes undetected since many hide it behind a veil of other emotions. Whether it’s losing a job or losing a loved one or any other reason, depression is a disease that has the ability to suck the very soul out of you. It’s difficult to drag yourself out of long bouts of depression, but it’s crucial to do so before you are engulfed by it. Most people undergo psychotherapy and pop medications like crazy just to feel normal again. But there are other ways one can deal with depression and Yoga is one of them.

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Yoga is garnering more and more attention from people who want an effective and safe remedy to deal with problems like stress and depression. There are several different asanas and poses that are beneficial in combating depression. Yoga’s unique teachings and approach have helped many people to deal with their inner demons and extreme depression. The poses, bends, breathing technique etc. have a healing effect on our psyche and helps in our fight with depression. There are some specific asanas that are especially recommended for people who are dealing with depression and anxiety disorder.

Take Charge of Your Life with Yoga

A healthy diet and exercise routine has always been a necessity in combating mental imbalance and physical ailments.  Regular practice of yoga will help you in connecting with your soul and your true self. Yoga combined with meditation can help in eradicating negative thoughts from your mind which is the first step towards pushing depression out of your life. Try to embrace your true self and discard any thoughts before you begin your yoga session.  There are several different asanas that are especially effective in slowly dealing with depression.

Uttanasana
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Shavasana
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Uttanasana(www.cnyhealingarts.com), also known as Forward fold pose is one such asana that when done correctly can help in releasing pent-up anger and frustration. Hold this asana for at least 2-3 minutes and practice it daily. Shavasana, also known as the corpse pose is one of the best yoga poses to deal with negative energy and feelings. Shavasana might not be as complicated as other asanas, but it is definitely one of the most beneficial ones. The calmness and energy that you feel after performing Shavasana is very powerful. It’s known to rejuvenate your mind as well as your body.

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
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Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, also known as the bridge pose is another effective yoga poses that help in fighting depression. It helps mitigate anxiety and boost your mood while strengthening your core. Other asanas like the Warrior pose, Cobra pose, Child pose etc. are effective in boosting good mental as well as physical health.

It’s important to understand that a healthy diet and exercise routine can do a lot of good to you. How we choose to live our life has a big influence on our feelings and emotions. So, take charge of your life and try to indulge in activities that are healthy and also fun. You cannot combat depression until and unless you have faced your fears and demons and decided to completely eliminate them from your life.

For more information visit the official website of ministry of Ayush: http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in/.

Facebook page: International Day of Yoga

Twitter id: @IntlDayofYoga