Picture of the Day: Body Mind Soul

Body Mind Soul
Unfold 
with Meditation

Meditation:  Mind Body & Soul
Meditating on a regular, daily basis is known to have many physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual benefits.  Meditation unfolds and integrates the mind, body and soul - the three aspects of self that must be in balance in order to achieve harmonious health and well-being.

Related:
What is Mindfulness Meditation?
The Body on Meditation
Meditation Styles

Picture/Image Source:  Unknown - please contact us for credit.

Infographic: Exercise Ball Chart


When I first got my exercise ball, I had no real idea of what to do with it exactly, except maybe sit on it.  Then I found this really great, easy to understand and follow chart, which I printed out for reference.

The chart illustrates warm-up, general balance, upper/lower body, and core/trunk exercises that can be performed with the ball, including variations, degree of difficulty progression and some useful safety and proper usage tips.

Information regarding proper inflation is also provided.

Related:
Love Your Booty!
Love Your Abs!
Love Your Legs!

Infographic Source:  Fitter.First

Infographic: Colon Cleansing Foods


In his book, Complete Colon Cleanse: The At-Home Detox Program to Restore Good Health, Boost Vitality, and Ensure Longevity, Dr. Edward F. Group III writes that our modern world is swarming with toxins.  These toxins infiltrate and poison the body and accumulate in the colon.  The result is weight gain, fatigue and various other medical conditions and health issues.  Dr. Group maintains that cleansing the colon improves all aspect of one's general health and specifically helps to:

✔ Lose Weight
✔ Lower Blood Sugar
✔ Increase Energy
✔ Improve Awareness
✔ Reduce Inflammation
✔ Alleviate Irritable Bowels
✔ Stop Headaches and Allergies
✔ Appear More Youthful

Today, there are many colon cleanse and detox products and services on the market.  These include supplements, colonic hydrotherapy (colon irrigation) and various other treatments and therapies.

But, one the best natural ways to cleanse and maintain a healthy colon is to reduce the the toxin load by eating organic produce that is high in fiber and to regularly consume certain foods and herbs.

This infographic illustrates some of the best foods and herbs that are thought to be very effective in cleansing the colon and keeping it healthy and include:

✿ Alfalfa Sprouts
✿ Aloe Vera
✿ Chickweed
✿ Cloves
✿ Fermented Foods (Kefir)
✿ Fennel Seeds
✿ Flax Seeds
✿ Mango
✿ Organic Fruits (Apples, Grapes, Pineapples, Papayas and Kiwis)
✿ Peppermint
✿ Probiotic Yogurt
✿ Pumkin Seeds
✿ Spirulina
✿ Tea Tree Oil
✿ Wheatgrass
✿ Wormwood

Related:
15 Foods that Cleanse the Liver
Know Your Food Labels - What Are You Eating?
Fiber for Weight Loss

Infographic Source:  PositiveMed

Infographic: Restorative Yoga Poses to Relieve Stress

Restorative yoga is intended to deeply relax and heal beyond regular sleep and rest by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system (one of the three main divisions of the automatic nervous system) by restoring balance when an individual feels stressed or overwhelmed.

Since stress plays such an important role in weight gain, restorative yoga may be useful in weight loss efforts as well as to maintain a healthy weight.

It is thought that the deep mind-body response from a restorative yoga practice helps to stimulate the immune and endocrine systems, lower the heart rate and high blood pressure, provide a benefit to internal organs, as well as provide general health benefits associated with any yoga practice.

Restorative yoga comprises of many of the same poses (asanas) as used in other yoga styles, but makes extensive use of props in order to hold the body in a passive way, allowing the body to deeply rest for longer periods of time, as shown in this Infographic.

Props include yoga blocks, bolsters, pillows, blankets, chairs, a wall and balls.

This Infographic entitled "The Best Restorative Yoga Poses to Relieve Stress" illustrates and provides instructions (including use of props) for the following

✿ Child's Pose (Balasana)

✿ Half-Pigeon (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)

✿ Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangazana)

✿ Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Buddha Konasana aka Goddess Pose)

✿ Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)

✿ Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Related:
What is Yoga?
Yoga Health Benefits
Yoga Starter - What's Your Style?
How Yoga Transforms Your Body
6 Yoga Office Moves

Infographic Source:  Greatist 

Infographic: 6 Yoga Office Moves

No time to attend a yoga class or engage in a full practice session at home?  You can still benefit from yoga at the office (as well as in the home office) with these six easy moves as illustrated in this infographic:

1.  Forward Bend
2.  Spinal Twist
3.  Side Stretch
4.  Knee Squeeze
5.  Leg Lifts
6.  Sun Pose

Related:
Yoga Health Benefits
What is Yoga?
Yoga Starter:  What's Your Style?

Infographic Source:
Yoga Relief Tips





Infographic: 6 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs

Recent studies indicate that ongoing, widespread, whole body inflammation may be at the root of heart disease, joint pain, accelerated aging and various other chronic diseases and medical condition.  It is also thought that this type of inflammation may promote weight gain and obesity and inhibit weight loss or proper weight maintenance.

In holistic and herbal medicine, it is thought that certain herbs act as anti-inflammatories in the body.  This infographic entitled "6 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs that Annihilate Pain" illustrates and provides a brief description of six such common herbs, including:

❤ Chamomile
❤ Fenugreek
❤ Ginger
❤ Rosemary
❤ Sage
❤ Turmeric

Related:

Reduce Widespread Inflammation in Your Body with these Foods
Healing Herbs and Spices
10 Herbs that Heal
5 Cancer Fighting Spices
A Woman's Healing Herbs

Infographic Source:  Lose the Back Pain

Make Time for Your Yoga [Picture of the Day]


Make Time for Your Yoga (its important)

Image source:  this handmade 8 x 10 doodle print is available for purchase at Artsyville ~~

Picture of the Day: Downward Dog Pug!


This is precious! This little pug really knows his downward dog pose!

Image Source: Unknown - please contact us for credit!

Infographic: Ayurvedic Tips for All Doshas

In Ayurvedic medicine, the three doshas represent three fundamental energies that are believed to circulate in the body and govern psycho-physiological (mind-body) activity.

Each individual has a unique combination of all three doshas, with one or two doshas generally being dominant.

This unique combination is thought to make up an individual's distinct physical and mental constitution and is referred to as the "mind-body type".  The three doshas are:

❤ Vata
❤ Pitta
❤ Kapha

This infographic describes a few key characteristics of each dosha type and offers suggestions on what foods to eat and avoid for each type.

To find your dosha type, take The Chopra Center Dosha Quiz.

To learn more about doshas and Ayurveda, please see our Ayurveda Books and Recommended Reading List.

Related:
Ayurveda:  Integral Plan to Health and Wellness
What is Ayurveda?
East vs. West Medicine

Infographic Source:  Institute for Integrative Nutrition


Infographic: Indian Spices

Traditional Indian herbs and spices are not only flavorful and colorful culinary additions in many world cuisines, they also play a key and central role in health and healing in herbal medicine systems such as Ayurveda.

More recently, various research and studies are confirming the potential health benefits of ingesting these herbs and spices and/or using them topically as a means of lowering the risk for certain diseases and chronic conditions, as well as treating a wide variety of ailments.  Many of these herbs and spices are thought to aid in digestion, detoxification and weight loss and promote healthy weight maintenance.

One such spice in particular, turmeric, has been receiving a lot of favorable attention recently from the holistic health, natural healing and herbal medicine communities.

This infographic illustrates and briefly describes 10 Indian herbs that already have or quickly are growing in popularity in the West for both their exotic flavors and aromas and their potential medicinal and healing properties:

✿ Cardamom
✿ Cinnamon
✿ Cloves
✿ Coriander
✿ Cumin
Mustard Seeds
✿ Nutmeg
✿ Star Anise
✿ Saffron
✿ Turmeric

Related:

Healing Herbs and Spices
10 Herbs that Heal

5 Cancer Fighting Spices

A Woman's Healing Herbs

Infographic Source:  Monterey Bay Spice Company

Ayurveda Herb Chart

The use of herbs, both internally and topically, are central to and an integral part of the science of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic healing.

This is an amazing, comprehensive reference chart (and wall poster) of 168 herbs used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.  A picture and the Sanskrit, Latin and common name of each herb is included.  The chart can be purchased online at Ayurveda Posters - Herb Chart.

Related: 
Ayurveda: Integral Plan to Health and Wellness

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda:  Books and Recommended Reading

What is Ayurveda Poster Wall Chart

Wondering about Ayurveda?  In short, Ayurveda is a 5000 year old "science of knowledge" from India that utilizes a wide variety of both topical and internal natural therapies to treat disease and chronic medical conditions.

Unlike Western medicine, Ayurveda takes into account the whole person:  body, mind and spirit and recognizes that each individual has a different constitution that makes him or her unique.

Following the principles of Ayurveda in daily life can also lead to better overall health, weight loss and healthy weight maintenance, lower the risk of disease and protect against illness.

This poster outlines the basic principles of Ayurveda.  To learn more about Ayurveda and Panchakarma (the intense Ayurvedic detoxification program) please see my list of Ayurveda Books and Recommended Reading, which includes works written by leading experts on the subject like Deepak Chopra and Vasant Lad.

Infographic: Yoga Starter - What's Your Style?

This brilliant infographic has a wheel that explains the key elements of 12 different styles of yoga.  If you are new to yoga or want to explore another style, it can help you determine which type is right for you based on your personal preferences and various features and other considerations:

❤ Flow
❤ Endurance
❤ Strength
❤ Weight Loss
❤ Sweaty
❤ Stress Relief
❤ Focused Breathing
❤ Heart Opening
❤ Fast Pace
❤ Slow Pace
❤ Relaxing
❤ Meditation
❤ Chanting
❤ Philosophy
❤ Prenatal
❤ Vegetarian

The 12 styles of yoga covered are currently the most popular in the West:

Vigorous Flow
Ashtanga
✿ Hatha
✿ Vinyasa

Hot Yoga
✿ Barkan
✿ Bikram

Alignment
✿ Anusara
✿ Iyengar

Healing
Restorative
✿ Viniyoga

Spiritual
✿ Kundalini

Lifestyle
✿ Jivamuki
✿ Svananda

The infographic also has a few interesting facts about the practice of yoga and illustrates 15 postures (poses) with their respective names.

Related:
What is Yoga?
Yoga Health Benefits
The 8 Limbs of Yoga



Infographic Source:  Health Central

For a full-page rendition of this infographic visit Yoga for Starters - Namaste at Visua.ly






Infographic: World's Healthiest People

This really cool infographic examines and answers the question of who and where are the healthiest people in the world and how they got that way.

According to the infographic, the top five healthiest countries are:

1.  Iceland
2.  Japan
3.  Sweden
4.  New Zealand
5.  Finland

The infographic also spotlights the world's oldest man and woman and provides some tips on healthy lifestyle habits such as:

❤ Engaging in some form of daily activity or exercise, such as walking

❤ Knowing one's purpose to reduce stress and lower risk of disease

❤ Managing stress levels through meditation, bathing, vacations and engaging in hobbies

❤ Prioritizing sleep and getting enough rest

❤ Eating less processed food and instead, eating a diet rich in natural, fresh and locally grown or sourced foods

❤ Following the 80% eating rule

❤ Drinking plenty of clean water and herbal teas

❤ Drinking antioxidant-rich red wine in moderation

❤ Belonging to a healthy social network, one of the keys to reducing stress and healthful living

Related:
Why Eat the Ugly Apple?
Stress Relief Activities

Infographic Source:  Best Public Health Schools

Picture of the Day: Namaste

Namaste


Image Source:  Unknown - please contact us for credit

Infographic: Meditation Styles

The health benefits of a meditating on a regular basis are numerous.

Meditation strengthens brain function by improving focus and concentration. It is also a completely natural, safe and painless means of relieving stress, anxiety and depression, lowering high blood pressure, aiding in weight loss, and reducing the risk of heart disease and other chronic medical conditions.

Just as there are many different styles of yoga, there are also different meditation techniques or methods. When first learning how to meditate, it is very helpful to focus on a particular technique or method.

This infographic illustrates and explains four popular meditation techniques:

❤ Zen Method
❤ Mindfulness Method
❤ Qigong Method
❤ Mantra Method

Related:
The Body on Meditation

Infographic Source:  Unknown - please contact us for credit.

Infographic: What is Yoga?

Yoga.  Everyone is doing it.

For many, it is a form of physical exercise -  the yoga postures ("asanas") are known to confer many fitness and health benefits.  For others, yoga a way of life that encompasses meditation, a spiritual practice and a dietary discipline.

This infographic illustrates the guiding principle and ultimate goal of a yoga practice - that is, to achieve a state of inner peace through the "divine union" of the mind, body and spirit.

The infographic also explains the following six traditional branches of yoga:

❤ Hatha Yoga
❤ Bhakti Yoga
❤ Raja Yoga
❤ Jnana Yoga
❤ Karma Yoga
❤ Tantra Yoga

Additionally, there are many traditional and modern styles or types of yoga that are being practiced worldwide today.   In the West, some of the popular styles include:

✿ Ashtanga
✿ Bikram
✿ Integral
✿ ISHTA
✿ Kripalu
✿ Kundalini
✿ Power Yoga
✿ Restorative
✿ Vinyasa
✿ Yin Yoga

To help you figure out which yoga style is appropriate for you, take the Yoga Style Quiz.

Related:
Yoga Starter - What's Your Style?
Yoga Health Benefits
The 8 Limbs of Yoga

Further Reading:
Yoga Styles Guide

Infographic Source:  Piktochart



The 3 Gunas in Ayurveda

Ayurveda:  The 3 Gunas
In his book, Ayurveda and Panchakarma: The Science of Healing and Rejuvenation, Dr. Sunil Joshi writes:

 "All phenomena in the universe come under the influence of three primary phases of activity called the three gunas.  Nature uses its creative mode, referred to as sattva, to bring life into manifestation.  It then uses uses its organizing, activating phase, called rajas, to build and maintain what has just been created.  When the purpose of that stage is complete, it uses it destructive mode, called tamas, to bring it to an end."

According to Dr. Joshi, the same gunas that govern our existence also regulate our minds.  Thus, it can be said that three gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas) refer to the quality of the mind and the character of the person.

In Ayurveda (the ancient Indian science of life and health), a balance in the three gunas is important in determining psychological health of an individual.  Just as an imbalance in the Ayurvedic doshas can lead to disease and physical illness, an imbalance in the gunas can lead to destructive behaviors and mental illness.  A balance in the gunas is vital, since a health body requires a healthy mind and a healthy mind requires a healthy body.

Just as is the case with the the three doshas, the three gunas are present in every individual, with one or two gunas sometimes being dominant.  The state and balance of the gunas can change or alternate in their predominance in response to a particular set of circumstances.  Environmental factors, including diet, are thought to influence the balance in the gunas.  Thus, the food consumed is considered to have an impact on and a direct relationship to the state and quality of gunas.  In fact, in Ayurveda, all foods (including beverages) are described or categorized as being sattvic, rajastic or tamasic.

When referring to a proper balance of the gunas, the ideal is that the the mind be primarily sattvic (creative, pure, calm, gentle, considerate), and just enough rajastic (active, passionate, ambitious) and tamasic (inert, ignorant, fearful) to bring needs, desires and aspirations to realization and fruition.

Related:
What is Ayurveda Wall Poster Chart
Ayurveda:  Books and Recommended Reading List
Ayurvedic Tips for All Doshas
East vs. West Medicine

Image Source:  Unknown - please contact us for proper credit.



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