Yoga as a Lifestyle

A person interested in health and wellness should take a look at what yoga can offer. They may be surprised to find that many of the beliefs they held about yoga are not true. Many people underestimate yoga as a way to better their health and wellness. However, many others have found the truth and are living a healthier and happy yoga lifestyle.

Yoga is a low impact workout, but can also offer an aerobic workout. There are some forms of yoga that offer an amazing workout for the cardiovascular system. The focus on breathing and intense poses give the body an unbelievable workout that can be compared to almost any aerobic workout.

Yoga is great for a person of any fitness level. Poses can be modified for a beginner and advanced for someone more experienced. It is an exercise routine that can grow with a person. It is varied and there are many different types of yoga, so a person will not become bored.

Yoga is an exceptional fitness activity for health and wellness. Yoga is the exercise where breathing and stretching take the forefront. A person practicing yoga is working both their mind and body to bring about an overall good sense of health and wellness. Many see yoga as a lifestyle more than an exercise regime because it is so easy to cross over into daily life.

Yoga involves poses and breathing. A person works through various poses, while concentrating on breathing and relaxing. It works the body by manipulating and stretching it and it works the mind by relaxing and clearing it.

Believing in good balanced diet, taking vitamins and minerals. Daily exercise, yoga, stretching, breathing exercises, drinking enough water, meditation, relaxation, positive thinking, and trying to be happy. http://www.preferedforms.com

Mastering Yoga Poses

Yoga is an ancient practice that strengthens the body and mind. Learning about and engaging in yoga can relieve stress and help you tone all the muscles of your body. Master the art of yoga poses, and you will have a routine that you can engage in anytime, anywhere to help you deal with all of life’s little problems. Yoga is the key to empowerment in your life.

Before you can master yoga poses, you have to learn about and practice yoga positions and postures. These are the building blocks of the art of yoga. The right postures in yoga will help you to safely and effectively use yoga poses in the way they are intended. Yoga positions such as ananas will exercise the muscles, glands and nerves as they work to keeping the body and mind healthy.

Another important step in learning yoga poses is learning to breathe properly. Breathing is one of the ways yoga can reach beyond the physical realm and offer mental stimulation, relaxation and growth. You will find that pairing yoga with proper breathing will offer you a new level of mental and physical enjoyment through this exciting art form.

The most common form of yoga is Hatha yoga. This is the basic practice we know today. Hatha yoga uses healing yoga poses to refresh and stimulate your mind and body. Its popularity is a testament to its powers and it is a great way to ensure a more pain-free and relaxing existence.

In our health conscious world, it seems that there is always a new exercise trend. But yoga exercises have been around for thousands of years, so you know you can trust them to be a solid way to improve your health. Whether you need to rid your body of chronic pain, free your mind from the stress of day to day life, or you just want a refreshing daily routine, yoga poses are for you.

Yoga is a great way to strengthen your mind and body and get in shape as well as a great way to unwind after a long day. Whatever your yoga equipment needs, we have the information and resources to point you in the right direction. We have yoga music, mats, clothes, pants, videos and journals as well as information on the different types of yoga, postures and the history of yoga. If you are interested in becoming a yoga teacher learn more about yoga instructor certification requirements in your city or state.

The Easy Pose

The Easy Pose is a relaxation pose and is normally practiced after the Corpse Pose.

Also known under the name of Sukhasana, the Easy Pose is great for meditation. You only have to sit down on the floor or your yoga mat, bend your knees, clasp your arms around them and press them until they reach your chest and your spine straightens. Then, release your arms and place your legs in a crossing position, letting your knees fall down to the floor. Place your hands on your knees with your palms faced up.

It is important to keep your head up and the position of your spine as straight as possible. Just as with most of the yoga poses, breathing is important in the Easy Pose as well -- so make sure you fill your lungs with air and hold it as long as it is comfortable. It is advisable to always breathe through your nose. While in the Easy Pose, relax your face, your jaws and your belly.

Great for any age group and for frequent practice, the Easy Pose is, however, to be avoided after a chronic or recent knee injury or inflammation, as it might bring you discomfort. In order to add to your comfort level you can place a folded blanket either under your knees or under your hipbones.

This pose is highly recommended for meditation, as it is not difficult to perform and it promotes inner calm and relaxation.

The Cobra Pose

When performing the Cobra Pose, the head and the trunk arch up gracefully. The spine stretches powerfully and the abdominal organs, together with the surrounding musculature receive a thorough massage. This pose is extremely recommended for pain and constipation relief, as well as for treating menstrual irregularities.

In order to proceed with the exercise, keep your shoulders down and your face relaxed, with your elbows tucked into your body. Then lie down with your legs together. It is recommended to place your hand palms under your shoulders and rest your forehead on the floor.

While inhaling, slowly move your head upwards, brushing first your nose and then your chin against the floor. Then, you need to lift your hands and make use of your back muscles to raise your chest as high as possible. After holding your breath for a few moments, exhale, slowly returning to the initial position.

While inhaling, gradually return to the previous position, only this time it is recommended to use your hands to push the trunk up. Push your body upwards until you are bending from the middle of your spine. Try to hold in that position for as long as two or three breaths and then exhaling, slowly come down.

Raise the trunk as before, inhaling deeply. However, try this time to bend your back until you feel it bending from the neck to the base of your spine. Hold the position for as long as you feel comfortable. Breathing normally, slowly return down to the initial position and relax.

courtesy By: www.yogisutras.com

The Bow Pose

The Bow Pose involves raising both halves of your body simultaneously, through a combination of other yoga poses. You have to make use of your hands and arms in order to pull your trunk and legs up together to form a curve. This movement tones your back muscles and contributes to increasing the elasticity of your spine, while also increasing vitality and improving posture. The Bow Pose balances the weight of the body on your abdomen, which reduces abdominal fat. Furthermore your internal organs receive a powerful massage.

In order to proceed with this move, you need to lie down comfortably on your front, keeping your head down. Now, while inhaling, bring your knees up and reach back with your hands in order to hold your ankles. Remaining in the same position, exhale. Continue by inhaling, while raising your head and chest, and simultaneously pull your ankles up by lifting both your thighs and knees off the floor. While arching backwards, keep looking up. Maintaining the position, take three slow and deep breaths and then exhale and release your ankles.

In order to exercise the Rocking Bow Pose, you have to first come into the Bow position, and then gradually rock forward and backward. It is recommended to exhale, while rocking forward and to inhale, while rocking backwards. Your head should remain in a static position while you proceed with the Rocking Bow Pose and your head should be up. Normally, you should repeat the rocking up to ten times, and then completely relax your body.

courtesy By: www.yogisutras.com

Yoga Poses For Your Needs | Yoga Routine | Types of Yoga Poses

Yoga Poses to Establish Your Yoga Routine

Practicing yoga poses means transforming the body’s stress, anxiety, ill health, unhappiness and anger into a peacefulness and energetic form of health. Yoga is a good way of relaxation because it can relieve the tension in your body and mind without experiencing tiredness and overexertion.

Yoga poses provides flexibility, reinforces the muscles and even decreases fat build-up and also develops the circulation of blood and performance of specific organs in your body. There are a wide range of yoga poses that can aid a person to achieve a high level of self-awareness, steadiness, and strength.

For practicing yoga poses, you need to concentrate on your body and mind. Yoga poses will recover your health and enhance your quality of life.

Let’s look at a few simple poses and the way to do them.

Mountain Pose:

The mountain pose is one of the most basic of yoga poses. This yoga posture is also known as tadasana. It is the initial and end point of all standing poses. In this yoga posture, when standing in mountain pose, the mind is calm, and the body will be strong and immobile, like a mountain.

This is a type of yoga pose that you can practice in your daily life. By practicing to stand properly will have a deep influence on your physical and mental conditions. It helps to reinforce the thighs and develops posture.

Method:

Mountain pose is a step-by-step procedure. So follow these steps.

This is a standing pose. Stand with your feet touching from the heel to the big toe, keep your back straight and press the arms a little against the sides with palms facing inward.

Slightly flex the muscles in the knees, stomach, thighs and buttocks keeping a stiff posture. Balance your weight uniformly on your feet. Breathe in through your nostrils and raise the buttocks off the legs bending the back and forcing the abdomen forward and incline the head as far back as possible.

Ensure that your body is straight. Elongate your neck and feel as your head lifted to the ceiling and shoulder bones relax.

This mountain pose is an opening of many other simple yoga asanas, so it’s important for you to learn and practice this yoga poses correctly. Many common discomforts can be noticed to poor posture.

It is better to practice this yoga pose once a day for several minutes. The mountain pose is also suggested before and following any other standing yoga postures. A beginner can practice this yoga pose against the wall so that you can actually feel your body getting into alignment.

Awkward Chair Pose

Another one of the yoga poses is the awkward chair pose, also known as utkatasana, starts with the mountain pose. Be in the mountain pose and bend your knees till your thighs are almost parallel to the floor.

Keep that stern end little down while getting the arms up towards the ceiling. It should be in such a way that there need to be a slight bend in the upper back. Breathe in and out deeply for five to ten times.

This yoga pose can obviously works on the muscles of the arms and legs, but it also motivates the diaphragm and heart. A beginner can practice on just bringing your thighs nearer and being parallel to the floor.

Bridge Pose:

One more popular yoga poses that is often practiced is the Bridge Pose. It is also known as Setu Bandha Sarvangasana. This type of yoga poses is classified as a back bend but don’t get scared away. For practicing this pose, first lie down on your back by bending your knees. Get the soles of your feet parallel on your floor or mat close to the buttocks.

Now raise your hips up to the ceiling. Interweave the fingers behind your back and straight the arms, pressing them down into the mat. After achieving this, first roll one shoulder and then the other. Now lift your hips higher.

Bring your chest near the chin however remember don’t move the chin towards your chest, placing your feet parallel. Liberate your hands and then slowly bring everything back down till you are flat on the floor.

This pose strengthens the backbone, opens the chest, develops spinal flexibility, and stimulates the thyroid.

Boat Pose:

The boat pose is theoretically called the Navasana and is a seated posture. This yoga pose will help increase abdominal and core strength. For practicing this pose, start with a seated position and get your legs up to an angle of 45 degrees. With this the body will naturally fall back; without letting the spine fall down, allow it to do so.

This creates an inverted shape with your body. Get your arms straight in line along with your shoulders. Ensure that you are balancing on your sit bones. For the beginners, try to bend your knees if essential, this is called the Half Boat Pose.

This pose strengthens the abdomen, hips, and spine and stimulates the kidneys, thyroid and prostate glands, and intestines.

Written By:-Alien Sheng
Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

Yoga Poses For Spine Health | Types of Yoga Poses | Cat and Cobra Yoga Pose

Yoga Poses for Spine Health

Yoga is a mind body exercise system that helps you to maintain your spine healthy and also improves your spine problems. Most of the basic yoga poses are already in general use by physical therapists and other rehabilitation professionals. Backache is one of the most common problems faced by most of the people today.

If you have had physical therapy for back pain, then most of the yoga poses that you are beginning to practice will appear very common. Maintaining a good spine is very important and a good spine health is a big part of our health.

Types of Yoga Poses for Maintaining a Healthy Spine

A regular practice of yoga poses will help reinforce the back and relieves from any back pain that you might have already, or keep you away from having back pain. Yoga offers a simple, effective yoga poses for you to maintain a healthy spinal column.

Cat

Here is the one very easy pose that will help your spine is a call the Cat. It works just as it sounds. You lay down on the floor with both your hands and legs just like a cat. Make sure that your calves and feet are more relaxed and your knees, hips, and shoulders are at 90-degree angles.

Drop you belly to the floor while inhaling and look up over your head. Push into your hands, exhaling while you bend your spine to the sky with your head looking at your belly. While you are doing this portion, try to exhale.

It is more important to link the postures with the exact breathing. It is better to hold these two positions for five to ten seconds.

Cobra

One more popular and effortless yoga pose to help your back and spine is the Cobra. This yoga pose is simple to perform however, if you feel difficulty in performing this pose in a traditional way, then you can make substitution of hands with elbows.

For practicing this pose, you lie flat on your stomach placing your palms down on the ground either beneath of the shoulders or just wider than the shoulders. See that your elbows are back and out with the body relaxed. Raise your body letting the back to bend and hold this pose for 10 to 15 seconds.

If you feel uncomfortable in performing the pose, then you can use your elbows instead of hands and it will provide your body a gentler stretch. This will stretch the abdominal muscles while the back muscles are relaxing. Gradually down the upper part of your body to the ground.

Another and last yoga pose appears to be the easiest one to start with. It is very simple, easy to perform, but more effective. Lie flat on your back and try to relax your body. Gradually, raise one knee towards your chest while placing your hands under the knee or the back of the leg.

Now drag gently toward your chest. Hold this position for 10 to 15 seconds. You should feel the stretch in the hamstring, don’t down your leg to the floor until you feel this stretch. Relax for some time and repeat this pose with the other leg.

Considerations While Practicing Yoga Poses

Ensure that practicing these yoga poses is not causing you any pain or discomfort. Also see that these yoga poses are not causing any tingling or numbness at all. If any of these happen when you are practicing your yoga routine, then you need to leave the pose slowly.

In order to feel comfort while practicing these yoga poses, you can make modifications that makes easier for you to practice. You can make modifications such as placing a blanket or pillow underneath the back of your knees when stretched out on the floor.

It is good to go for a skilled yoga instructor, if you have had back surgery or have chronic back pain, because he can suggest you some of the moderate yoga poses that will help you to maintain a healthy spine.

Written By:- Alien
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_188051_23.html

Namaste Yoga For Healing And Health

Namaste yoga comes from the Indian greeting. The word means "I bow to you" and is often used when either greeting someone or when departing.

Namaste yoga is beneficial as is any other kind of yoga. It is based on that Hatha Vinyasa style of yoga, and with this type of yoga, the breath is the guide and the body then follows in time. Yoga is a wonderful exercise, and this kind of yoga is just one of the many different types of yoga that you can choose to participate in. History would relay that this system of healing dated back about three thousand years ago, Namaste yoga is a kind of Thai massage with roots that can be traced back in India.

The tell-tale Namaste yoga pose is to hold the hands in a praying fashion at the heart, and with eyes closed the head is bowed. In addition, the praying hands can start out at the third eye, which is in the center of the forehead. Then while bowing the head, the hands are brought down to the heart. It is often practiced at the end of a session because the mind and body are relaxed and detached. This is also in keeping with the fact that it is a gesture used in saying hello or goodbye.

Generally, the Namaste yoga practice is used in conjunction with other yoga practices. For example, a group could, as a sign of respect, hold the hands to together and bow the head to each other. Then, the group could proceed to do the sun salutation or any other yoga poses. Then, when the session has come to an end, the group again can use the Namaste yoga bow as a conclusion to the class.

I have a tendency to do too much and yoga is all about relaxing into the poses. The core of Namaste yoga is combined with the principles of Gautama Buddha, a guru from India and the father of Buddhism. The core of yoga is combined with the principles of Gautama Buddha, a guru from India and the father of Buddhism.

As with any kind of yoga, it should be remembered that it is a way of life, rather than just something you do to stay flexible and in shape. That's not to say that if you are not serious about yoga then you shouldn't do it. Of course, everyone can benefit from it. However, if you are interested in Namaste yoga you are likely not just looking to get in shape. Since properly performing the various yoga positions is difficult, it requires daily practice until you are able to perform with minimal difficulty.

Written By:-Rich A Fatooh

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_A_Fatooh

Different Poses For Yoga

Today brings the yoga of India into the known realm of many households. You are not without people who are wanting to lose weight using the yoga to do it. If yoga has been a mystery to you then you will like checking out the poses below.

1. Bound Angle is a seated pose. The pose is known as the Baddha Konasana. It is great for working the hips and groin area. This sitting pose will help to get better blood flow, stimulation to the stomach area, flexible thigh muscles, relief from feeling tires, and pain relief from the sciatica. It is also a good pose for those who have problems with their flat feet and those who have asthma.

2. Supported Shoulder stand will have you to move into an inverted pose. You will need a blanket to help strengthen your shoulders. The pose is known as the Salamba Sarvangasana. It will help you to get rid of stress, help the thyroid to become stimulated, stretch the muscles of t

he shoulders, tone the butt, lower tiredness, help you to sleep and make your asthma better. If you are having diarrhea, headaches, or are on your period, you should not try this pose until it is finished.

3. Half Moon pose is a standing pose. The known name is Ardha Chandrasana. It will help to make your legs and ankles stronger. It will also bring great things that will make the digestion and stress better in your life. It will also make stro

nger the thigh, spine, butt, ankle, and stomach. It should also stretch the shoulder muscles, the hamstrings, the groin muscles, the chest muscles, and the calf muscles. If you are experiencing problems with insomnia, reduced blood pressure, or diarrhea, you should not do this pose.

4. Seated Forward is a bending pose. The common name is the Paschimottanasana. This particular stance is great for the mind that is plagued with the environment that it is in. it gives great things to help with a persons digestive tract, infertility problems, speeding up the kidneys, stretching the hamstrings, relieving stress and lowering tiredness. You should also find that your appetite is heightened and this may help those who are looking to gain weight instead of loosing it.

For the intimate details of these yoga stances and others, you can go to http://www.yogajournal.com. You will be able to find that the importance is not just focused he weight loss but, it also focuses on the ability to use an alternative method to make you healthier all over.

Written By:-Wade Robins

Article Source:-http://www.isnare.com/?aid=199029&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

Yoga: Poses And Postures

Yoga has become a very popular form of exercise, however, some styles focus primarily on physically working the back, for instance: the most important Yoga poses in this case will differ from others, remaining the most important Yoga poses for another kind of Yoga. There are also very difficult one might focus on in other styles of Yoga designed to stretch and strengthen other specific parts of the body, and many that work the entire body, treating the body as left and right equals yin and yang.

There are specific Yoga poses for the floor parts of Yoga exercise, as well as the more familiar standing Yoga poses.

One of the most basic kinds of standing Yoga poses one will learn in Yoga is what is called the tree balance. In this balance you will:

1) Prepare as always by checking the posture and lifting through the torso, pushing your shoulders down.

2) Hold your eyes on one object diagonally or straight forward for the entire pose.

3) Stand with your feet together.

4) Lift up onto the balls of your feet.

5) Rock your weight back, onto your heels.

6) Strengthen the right leg shifting all of your weight and lift your left leg slowly up so that your foot lays flat, toes down, resting on your right inner thigh.

7) Your arms slowly lift up to what is called the prayer position: both palms meeting directly above the top of the head—the full body in perfect alignment. Meeting above the crown chakra and lengthening all the way through the body.

The benefits of practicing this posture are many. It will result in remarkably noticeable balance and grace.

The posture requires balance, focus and concentration—all the basic guidelines of Yoga—both spiritual and physical are involved in Yoga poses. The tree balance is one of the many Yoga poses where the key is to relax and clear your mind. Not thinking about the difficulty of the pose itself—releasing tension—that is the mental aspect of several complex positions—without which many Yoga poses would be virtually impossible to hold.

This is one of the most well known Yoga postures. However, there are many. Including, as I mentioned before, many floor Yoga poses. Focus and breath—this is how you remain in any of the Yoga poses.

One example of the floor Yoga poses is the snake:

1) Lay flat on your stomach with your hands on your shoulders.

2) Lift up by straightening the arms and focus up—as though your eyes were also a part of the arch.

3) Focus on pushing the pelvis down towards the floor—arching your back.

4) And keep your shoulders down, as with virtually all Yoga poses.

Remember, all Yoga poses are meant to be held. You do not just reach the posture. Instead you reach it and remain there—thirty seconds, a minute etc. Holding, breathing, the asana, and the pranayama, this is how the balance is earned. In all Yoga poses you will find that you can stretch further and further each time. There are many other yoga poses and techniques out there—go find the perfect kind of yoga for you!

Written By:-Anne Clarke

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke

Why Certain Yoga Poses Require Lots Of Will Power

The key of all yoga practices consists in the performance of yoga poses or asanas that open the door to plenty of metal and spiritual benefits. Many people feel overwhelmed by the multitude of yoga poses, particularly when getting a look at the many exercises explained online; yet, do not feel discouraged since yoga is actually a life long pursuit and challenges in the difficulty of poses are likely to appear on a regular basis. The thing is to stick to those asanas that are specific to your level of learning: start with simple yoga poses for beginners in order to gain confidence and get used to what this ancient practice is like.

Certain yoga poses require lots of will power and perseverance as well as daily practice, since they address not only the body but the mind too. Even if you took up yoga as a means of improving your health, you'll soon realize that the connection it establishes between the immediate reality and the deep inner self cannot be neglected or ignored. From this perspective, yoga poses will teach you how to increase resistance and develop a level of mental awareness that was unknown to you before performing the exercises.

Every session consists of several types of yoga poses depending on the yoga style you practice; yet there are common body postures that are meant to give you the mental and physical state for the performance of the more complex exercises. These are the warm-up poses that prepare the eyes, the neck, the limbs and the torso for the challenges of the real asanas. To put it in other words, warm-up yoga poses are a good training for all the body muscles, they help one stay fit and in a great health condition. Sometimes, many people choose to practice them separately from a yoga session, as a mere way of training the body.

How can yoga poses help to the improvement of the health condition? If you know what it is like to feel all your back, neck and shoulders stiffen with tension or bad postures, then you'll definitely feel the difference after a relaxing yoga session. The main benefits of the training are immediately noticeable in the condition of the spine, the position of the head and the overall health state. The safest way to pass from one level of difficulty to another is to have a teacher or a master to guide you along the way; failure to do so may seriously affect the correctness of the asanas and may expose you to injuries.
Written By:-Muna wa Wanjiru
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_545098_23.html

Some Different Types of Yoga Poses

The most important part of yoga is the different poses and positions that you can place your body into. True yoga followers understand that this is an important step in their training. Through these different poses your body can promote its healing qualities and improve the energy flow within.

If you slowly execute these yoga poses with some amount of concentration, you’ll be succeeding in not only training your body but your mind too. A slow start and daily practice is the way to build up your body as well as the number of poses that you can master. Poses include different things such as warm-up, standing, seated, twist yoga, supreme, inverted postures, balance, backbends and finishing poses.

One of the most basic standing poses in yoga is known as the triangular pose or the trikonasana. In order to execute this pose you should be standing and position your legs somewhat farther apart than your shoulders while keeping your feet straight. Your arms should also be raised up to shoulder level. Next you should lower your right arm and stretch it as far down the right leg as you feel comfortable. You should also raise your left arm over your head too. After this you can straighten your body to the initial position you started from and repeat this for the other side of your body. What this pose will do for you is to tone your legs as well as abdominal muscles and promote your lower back health too.

One of the most popular yoga poses is the lotus pose otherwise known as the padmasana. The lotus pose is a seated pose and it requires flexibility too. You should start off by placing your right foot on your left thigh and keep this foot facing up. The next thing you should do is place your left foot on your right thigh and facing up too. The other thing you should do is place the palms your hand on their corresponding thighs facing up. Then place your left foot on your right thigh and keep that foot facing up too. You should then proceed with laying the palms of your hands facing upwards as well. Carrying this pose during meditation will strengthen your legs and ankles and increase your flexibility. It also helps in relaxation and promotion of good posture.

Another pose that functions by rotating the spine is known as the half spinal twist otherwise called the Ardha Matsyendrasana. To start you kneel down on your heels and place your legs together. You should also sit to the right of this pose and place your left leg over your right foot with your foot on the outer side of your right knee. Next you should try to keep your spine straight and bring your right heel much closer to your buttocks and stretch your arms out to your shoulder level. Next you bring your right arm over the left knee and hold your left foot close. After this you place your left hand on the floor right behind you. Twists as far to the left as you can, this pose ends up toning your spinal muscle and ligaments as well.

Another basic yoga pose is known as the king of the asanas (Sushasana), this is also known as the headstand. When performing this pose you start in a kneeling position and your hands and elbows placed on the floor before you. You then interlock your fingers and place your head in between your hands. After this you should push up on your toes and bring your legs to an extended yet upright position. Try to focus on a point that is in front of you and make sure your body remains straight and balanced. This pose strengthens the neck and back and reduces stress and fatigue too.

Written By:-Darren Williger writes for CoffeeZen.com, BeeYourself.com, and PrimeYoga.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Williger

Favorite Stress Relief Gifts - Seven Perfect Treats to Soothe Your Harried Loved Ones

Figuring out what gifts to give used to be hard. It's getting easier lately, if only because there's one common denominator we all have: Way too much stress. Which means that just about anyone will appreciate a stress relieving gift.

And it's not hard to find them. The Internet is awash with stress relief gifts that are not only affordable, they also provide an excellent escape for the user, and some of them are outright indulgent, which, of course, makes them the perfect gift. Spa, massage and aromatherapy items are great for all-over relaxation that calms the senses. Stress-relieving music and soothing sounds add to the experience. Scented candles carry the spa feeling throughout your house.

While most people buy some of those for themselves, there's always that niggling feeling of guilt - we don't treat ourselves to things that please us as much as we should. And that's why they make such ideal gifts: We can give them to each other! You can buy those stress relief gifts for your stressed-out friends, relatives and co-workers, even your boss. Chances are, some of them will return the favour sooner or later, and so you too may become the lucky recipient of your very own spa quality gifts.

Here are 7 favorite stress relief gifts that are sure to be welcomed by the recipient:

1. Stress relief in a barrel or a basket

There are several different styles available. For men, an ideal barrel might contain juggling balls, a finger punching bag, a slinky and some sweetness in a Pez container. For women, you can pick up a barrel or a basket containing tranquility candles, crossword puzzles, bath salts and specialty teas. Of course, be sure to include some sort of mini-massager.

2. Stress relief toys

The Internet is overflowing with odd shaped rubbery characters that are practically guaranteed to bring a chuckle or two. They stretch, they deform, they bounce, they stick, and they just feel good. In fact, they're ubiquitous as brandable gifts, so you can get some for your customers too.

3. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is one of the top favorites when it comes to stress relief. Certain aromas have a natural ability to bring relaxation to anyone who smells the scent. Lavender, lemon, cinnamon, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, grapefruit, orange, and pine are some of the essential oils that are known to bring relief.

4. Fun Slippers

Footwear made from soothing materials with amusing decorations make the perfect gift for around the house. Bunny slippers may still be golden oldies, but they've almost gotten hard to find among all the new options. Not only can your friends use them at home, but they can even tuck a pair under an office desk for some sneaky relief.

5. Yoga (and other Exercise) Videos

Exercise is a proven stress reliever, yoga being one of the first. Yoga stretches out the tight spots and improves the body's energy flow. You'll easily find a good selection of yoga CDs and DVDs online and off. Tai Chi is another exercise to relieve stress. Regular exercise videos work too, but be careful - this is supposed to be a gift, not a guilt trip.

6. Choke the Chicken

Buyer beware: be sure to know the gift recipient before choosing this one. Some people consider that soft fluffy chicken hilarious and one of the best stress relief products on the market. By pressing its wing and wringing its neck, you activate music that speeds up as you choke the poor thing and watch its eyes and tongue pop out. Some people, on the other hand, may feel quite turned off.

7. Flower bouquets

A beautiful bouquet of flowers may not be original, but it still makes an excellent gift for people in stressful situations, whether they're in a hospital or recovering from illness, or whether they are just struggling through a bad week. Not only are the flowers soothing and cheering, but the soothing built-in aromatherapy most flowers naturally come with is a huge extra bonus.

Need some stress relief yourself? Get Elisabeth Kuhn's FREE report with seven stress busting strategies. Or visit her eclectic self help blog for lots more resources for body, mind, spirit, and prosperity.

Yoga Stress Relief

Yoga is an excellent exercise for stress relief. If nothing else, the deep breathing exercises that are part and parcel of yoga will help you find stress relief. Yoga is an excellent way to tune out the troubles of the world and relax, now take a deep breath …

Technology is increasing every day. We have all these labor saving devices that help us keep in touch with the business world, cell phones, pagers, faxes, you name it, we got it. Yet with all these labor saving devices, instead of our lives getting any easier, it seems to have gotten more complicated. We no longer have the simple disconnect from work that we once had. There are even people that take their cell phone to the beach and conduct business deals while soaking up the rays. Is it any wonder that we are more stressed out than ever before.

Now more that ever, yoga exercise as a method for stress relieve makes more sense than ever. Stress, from just trying to keep pace with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, is killing us. There is more heart disease, strokes and other illness caused by stress than at any time in our history. Stress is the culprit in many health related problems from migraines to insomnia. It is a leading cause of weight gain, high blood pressure, poor digestion and other diseases. In fact, it has been said that stress is the leading cause of disease in America today.

With all the stress that the body is subjected to, it is no wonder that the nervous system of many people is completely shot, leaving us feeling depleted and overwhelmed. Yoga exercise can help relieve this stress. You concentrate on achieving the various poses, breathing deeply, and relaxing. You not only build up your strength and increase your flexibility, but equally important, you recharge your energy levels and reduce your stress levels.

Yoga is probably the best exercise method for reducing stress and improving your mental health. So, the next time you start feeling stressed out, just relax, take a deep breath and hold that pose. Your body will thank you for it.

Sydney Heiden is a practitioner of yoga and founder of Yoga and Meditation for Beginners. For more yoga tips and information, go to her website, http://www.Yoga.Cool-Home-Stuff.com