relaxation

from nytimes.com

THE FACTS Some call it nature’s tranquilizer, able to smooth away stress and lift the spirits. But are the stress-reducing powers of tea fact or fiction?

"Serenity" ~ dj Meridian

Calm abiding, relaxation spreading through every fiber of your being: this is Serenity . One hour + of sonic peace, Serenity is your ticket to serene stretching, post-workout tranquility, yoga bliss...Download Serenity. It'll melt your tense muscles.

from nytimes.com

Meditation is often credited with helping people feel more focused and energetic, but are the benefits measurable?

A new study suggests that they are. When researchers tested the alertness of volunteers, they found that the practice proved more effective than naps, exercise or caffeine. The results were presented at a recent conference of the Society for Neuroscience.

The word Qigong (pronounced chi kung) is a combination of two ideas: “Qi” means air, breath of life, or vital energy of the body, and “gong” means the skill of working with, or cultivating, self-discipline and achievement. The art of Qigong consists primarily of meditation, relaxation, physical movement, mind-body integration, and breathing exercises. Practitioners of Qigong develop an awareness of qi sensations (energy) in their body and use their mind to guide the Qi. When the practitioners achieve a sufficient skill level (master), they can direct or emit external Qi for the purpose of healing others.

Tondy Lubis . Look for his tracks in the fitmusic free track download library.

from Bellaonline.com

When Cheri contacted me from California to say she was coming to the UK & asked whether I’d like to meet up with her I thought we’d have some fun together! I’d read her channellings from nature spirits in her book ‘Elementally Speaking’ and wondered what she’d make of some of the magical places I know in Wales.

fitPod presents Whispers of the Dharma--60 minutes of freeflowing sound for yoga, relaxation, and meditation

After a run or ride, during yoga, to stretch, relax & chill...you don't need shouts. You want whispers. So here's one hour of ambient sound to quietly wash over you, through you, and around you.. We've tested "Whispers..." as a kind of office soundtrack, too, and the vibe in the room grew noticably peaceful. Focus on your breathing and get ready for a slow float down calm waters.

From yogamovement.com

What's the difference between a cheerleader and a yogi practicing backbends and splits? From a distance, the two would appear to be doing the same thing. But if you looked a bit closer, you might notice that the yogi is breathing more smoothly, slower, and more evenly. You might even observe that while the cheerleader is looking around, smiling at everyone, the yogi's face is relaxed and his or her gaze is focused. While externally the differences between the yogi and the cheerleader may seem slight, the internal differences are significant.

From Yahoo Health

Start walking now. Here are the 5 most important reasons why:

1. Walking is a cardiovascular exercise - it is good for your heart. Which is enough of a reason to walk in and of itself, but walking is good for your head too. Walking is great for clearing your mind and...

fitPod presents "Whispers of the Dharma," a one-hour ambient sound expereince.

When you need to unlax, you need sounds to soothe the beast within. So, after your Big Beat workout, slip into the quiet sonic paces of Whispers of the Dharma, an hour-long ambient soundscape designed to compelment yoga, stretching, meditation, or just plain relaxation. We hope you enjoy this new free music from fitPod. Next week: back to the BEAT!

Note: There's a fitness tip from Miavita every day at Yahoo Health. You can get it updated to your Yahoo homepage everyday. Here's one that works. They forgot to mention though: you should be lying on your back for this to work properly.

From Yahoo Health

Everything's coming at you at once. Don't explode -- try a little yoga trick that can calm you down in an instant. Place one hand on your belly and breathe deep; exhale slowly. Relax your shoulders. As you breathe, gently push your belly out so your hand rises as you inhale and falls as you exhale.

By Rona Marech
Baltimore Sun reporter

Riley Jackson and Shane Perlow, both 7 and ordinarily full of energy, were lying on their backs and taking deep yoga breaths while little plastic frogs on their bellies steadily rose and fell. Soon, they were wobbling and grinning through "tree pose" and hissing enthusiastically for "cat pose." Riley, who has missing front teeth, gaily sang "London Bridge Is Falling Down" as he wiggled into bridge posture.

Yoga is a part of the boys' occupational therapy at Hands On Therapy in Pikesville, where Riley is being treated for a sensory disorder and Shane gets help for handwriting problems and some related spatial issues. As the half-hour yoga session ended, Shane, a sweetly polite kid with wavy brown hair, declared that he felt good. "I feel more quieter," he said. "More calmed down."