Yoga Omm meets chocolate Yum for the chocolate yoga

Do you want to know the sweetest recipe for fitness success, its Chocolate yoga

What is chocolate Yoga ?

• Finally people got an excuse for eating chocolate without concerning about health, yep its true chocolate yoga is not a joke ,its a real thing.
• Now you tell anybody lecture you with health and fitness that "i am actually doing warm up for chocolate yoga session by eating chocolates"

• Chocolate yoga was founded by Alexandra Leikermoser, she is a also the founder of Yogagurl studio in toronto canada,
• According to Leikermoser "she was snacking raw chocolate in between the yoga class by sharing among the students, and she says Raw chocolates are healthy super-foods , because its made of natural cacao without any sugar and diary in it"

Video credits to watchmojo.com youtube channel

• Th chocolate company Love Cocoa joined hands with Guzel Mursalimova UK based yoga instructor ,to create a 90 minutes yoga session that combines relaxing meditation and restorative yoga with delicious healthy organic vegan chocolate.

Image credits to Matt Alexander/PA Wire Flickr

• In that yoga chocolate flow class,first you enjoy chocolate treats and then you will do  restorative yoga poses with important essential oils to create flexibility and calm the body.
• According to Guzel Mursalimova "There are many parallel relationship with yoga and chocolate they both enhance and elevates the mood of a person "

What are the Benefits of eating Chocolates ?

• Chocolates are considered to be Powerful Source of Antioxidants.
• Can Improve the Blood Flow and Lower Blood Pressure in body..
• Increases the HDL and Decrease LDL From Oxidation.
• Good for heart health and protect your heart from Heart Disease Risk.
• It Protect Your Skin From the Sun.
• Chocolates can even reduce the risk of cancer.
• Reduce the risk of diabetes from a person.
• Chocolate can strengthens your brain power and make you smart.
• It can increase life expectancy of a person.
• Improves the memory power with significant boost.
• Uplift your mood to more happy state.
• Chocolates have the ability to lower the bad cholesterol levels.
• Its the most nutritious healthy super food out there.
• Increase the production of endorphins in your body.

Scientific Research on Chocolate :

• According to a study on cocoa extracts shows that the chocolate main ingredient cocoa are high in flavanols ,which helps in the improvement of cognitive functions,but flavanols get decreased with addition to milk,sugar and eggs with it.
• A study on chocolate shows that it can prevent blood clots,so that the chocolate have the ability to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
• In a 2008 study shows that eating chocolates can decrease the body inflammation inducing proteins. 
• In a london study on chocolate suggest that the high flavanols eaten women can even withstand double the level of UV light on the skin without skin damage.
• In a british Study found that flavanols helps people with mental maths problems better.
• University of Swinburne in Australia found that cocoa polyphenols in chocolate can even make your mood more calmer and happier than before.

How to Safely perform Crow and crane pose - Bakasana an easy Beginners tutorial

Yoga crow and Crane poses explained step by step for beginners level yoga practice 

• Sanskrit Name                                    : Kakasana aka Bakasana
• English Name                                     : Crow pose
• Yoga style                                           : Hatha
• Difficult Level                                     : Intermediate/Advanced
• Duration                                             : 15 seconds to 30 seconds
• Body Position                                     : Arm Balance,Inversion and Strength
• Chakras Activation                             : Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus)
• Muscles Used                                      : Upper Back,Middle Back,Biceps and Triceps
• Followup Pose                                     : Chaturanga Dandasana and Salamba Sirsasana II
• Variations                                             : Parsva Bakasana and Eka Pada Bakasana
• Starting pose                                        : Vajrasana/virasana or Balasana
• Benefits                                                : Arms/wrist strength,shoulder and core strength
• Props used                                            : Yoga mat,Yoga Blocks and Blanket
• Similar pose                                          : Crane Pose
• Who should avoid                                 : Pregnant Women and High blood pressure.

Video credits to Yoga With Adriene youtube channel

What is Crow Pose or Bakasana ?

• The word "Bakasana" in Sanskrit "Baka" means crane asana means pose , its also known as Crow pose or Kakasana.
• This Pose is referred as bird or crow because it resembles a posture of bird.
• According to BKS Iyengar , there are two methods of Crow pose,

1.Simple method ,where you push from Crouching position
2.Advanced method is dropping down from Head stand.

How to do crow pose/Bakasana for beginners ?

• Spread your fingers wide and relaxed and place your hands them shoulder width apart, make sure you hands are bend position.
• Gradually lean forward with steady balance with eyes looking forward  ,then bring your knees closer to your armpits.
• Try to carry all your weight on your hands with still toes on the floor grounded.
• Use your knees to press against your arms and lift your butt slowly from ground by arm balance.
• During your crow pose focus on breath with eyes concentrating forward in a fixed point.

What are the Variations of Crow pose bakasana ?

1. Parsva Bakasana (Side Crane Pose)
2. Eka Pada Bakasana/Kakasana (One-Legged Crane/Crow Pose)
3. Eka Pada Koundiyanasana I (Sage Koundinya Pose I)
4. Eka Pada Koundiyanasana II (Sage Koundinya Pose II)

1. Parsva Bakasana (Side Crane Pose)

2. Eka Pada Bakasana/Kakasana (One-Legged Crane/Crow Pose)

3. Eka Pada Koundiyanasana I (Sage Koundinya Pose I)

4. Eka Pada Koundiyanasana II (Sage Koundinya Pose II)

What are the Benefits of performing Crow/Crane Bakasana pose ?

• Build strength for your Arms,wrists,Abdomen (Core strength) and Shoulders.
• Helps you with advanced inverted hand stand pose with endurance.
• Improves your body awareness with mind,body and balancing both.
• Increase the upper body strength with strong shoulder.
• Boost your self esteem with confidence and happy mood.
• Good for flexibility and agility of body.
• Enhance your immune system for a healthy body.

Who should Avoid Crane/Crow bakasana pose ?

• People with arm injury,carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist injury must avoid this pose , because it requires more hand strength for performing these pose.
• Pregnant women must avoid these kind of inverted poses ,it can be more harmful for fetus as well as the mother.
• If you have high blood pressure or any medical history its better to consult with your doctor or healthcare professional before performing these poses.
• you can also try crane yoga pose with Chair Yoga therapy by using chair as prop to balance in the handle to perform the bakasana modified pose.

What are the things to remember before start performing Crow or crane yoga pose ?

• Make sure the surface your performing the crane yoga pose is dry and not slippery, if  its slippery may cause physical injury during practice.
• Try to Master the Yoga pose with correct form and postural technique without any flaw.
• If you can ,then do these advanced poses after joining in a proper yoga class with expert yoga instructor to teach and guide you with your pose.
• If you felt any strain during your pose ,better take rest and breaks in between to ease into your practise.
• Use necessary yoga props for comfortable and safe yoga session.
• Look forward with a fixed point in front of you concentrate and focus during the crow pose.

Whats the Difference between Crane and Crow yoga pose ?

• Bakasana vs Kakasana some people are may wonder what the difference between both the Crane pose vs Crow yoga pose , because both the yoga poses looks the same.
• The main difference between both the crane and crow pose is hand position, in crow yoga pose the hand will be bent ,whereas in the crane yoga pose the hand will be straight position.
• comparing both the similar poses crow pose (kakasana) is considered to be less difficult or easier to perform than the Crane pose (Bakasana) ,which is little more advanced than the crow due to straight hand holding the full mass of the body.
• If you want to reduce your age with yoga ,then you might like to see my post on Face Yoga exercise to reduce up to 3 years of age.

Hero Yoga Pose (Virasana) is ready for rescue from various health problems

A Beginners guide to learn before performing the amazing Virasana Hero yoga pose

• Sanskrit Name                                             : Virasana
• English Name                                              : Hero Yoga Pose
• Body position                                               : Seated
• Yoga style                                                    : Hatha Yoga
• Yoga Chakras involved                                : Ajna,Swadisthana and Muladhara
• Difficulty Level                                             : Beginners level
• Body parts Involved                                      : Thighs,Ankles,Knees,Hips and quadriceps 
• Duration                                                        : 30 seconds to 1 Minute
• Main Benefits                                                : Relaxation,Stretching and Meditation
• Variations                                                       : Adho mukha virasana and Supta virasana
• Similar pose                                                   : Vajrasana or Thunderbolt pose
• Who should avoid                                         : Knee Injuries and Severe Arthritis
• Props used                                                      : Yoga mat,Blankets and yoga Blocks
• Preparatory Poses (warm-up poses)               : Baddha Konasana and Balasana
• Followup poses                                               : Padmasana and Bakasana

What is Virasana or Hero yoga pose ?

• The word "Vira" in Sanskrit language means (Hero or Brave or chief), asana meaning pose, so it also called as the Hero yoga pose.
• Virasana is considered to be a basic seated yoga asana,  its mainly used as a relaxation pose for various forward bends,backward bends and also used before certain twist poses.
• It is an alternate pose used with the padmasana (lotus pose) seated pose.

Video credits to Yoga With Adriene youtube channel

• Hero pose is good for building flexibility for the legs and feet as well as having many mental calming benefits.
• This relaxation pose is used for the sahaja meditation purpose to seated in a calm posture.

How to Perform Virasana ?

• sit gently on your knees , make your knees touch each other.
• Then spread feet wider than your hip width.
• Rest your bottom area completely on your heels.
• make sure that your toes pointed inwards.
• Have a straight spine with relaxed body without any strain in your knees and heels.
• Finally have slow deep breath with inhale and exhale up to 1 minute max.

What are the Variations of Virasana ?

1. Adho mukha virasana (downward facing hero pose)
2. Supta virasana (reclining hero pose)

1. Adho mukha virasana :

• In Sanskrit language the word "Adho" means Down, "Mukha" means Facing, Virasana means Hero pose.
• Adho mukha virasana is also considered as a relaxation pose , where this pose involves forward bend with upper body stretching similar to that of balasana or Child's pose.

2. Supta virasana :

• The Sanskrit word "supta" means Reclined , virasana means hero pose, in this virasana pose the upper body reclines , so that the back rest on the floor.
• Variation of this supta virasana are Eka Pada Supta Virasana (One-Legged Reclining Hero Pose) or Ardha Supta Virasana (Half Reclined Hero Pose)

What are the Benefits of Virasana Hero yoga pose ?

• Relieve gastric issues and improves digestion.
• Gives better leg flexibility with strength.
• Improves lower body blood circulation.
• Helps with stretching your knees,hips,feet and thighs.
• Decrease mental issues like stress and anxiety.
• Good for whole body relaxation with better mood.
• Improves the alignment of body with proper posture.
• It can aid in flat feet and asthma.

Hindu Mythological relationship with Virasana :

• The Sanskrit word "Vir" means brave,hero and courage , in the anient mythology of Hindu religion servant of God rama called "Vir Hanuman".
• He is follower and worshipper of Lord ram . with his incredible power like lifting mountains and fly across the sky.
• Hanuman is a loyal devote to lord ram , he even sit in this foot steps humbly ,that sitting pose is said to be the origin of the hero seated pose.

Scientific Study on the Virasana Yoga Pose :

• According to a study shows that the virasana induces temporarily a hyper-metabolic state characterised by enhanced sympathetic nervous system during the spine resting position on the seated asana posture.

Who should avoid doing Virasana pose ?

• People who have knee injuries and pain during the knee bending must avoid this pose.
• If you feel any strain or pain with stiffness , use blanket as a support prop under your knee and leg for comfort.
• And also if you have any severe arthritis bone issues you must avoid this pose.
• People with any leg related medical history should consult with your doctor before performing these kinds of asanas.

What is Difference between vajrasana and Virasana pose ?

vajrasana (thunderbolt pose) and virasana (hero pose) both look the same , so people get confused by these poses.
Both poses are also effective for the meditative pranayama breathing exercise.
The main difference between both the poses are, in vajrasana you sit in the heels of feet but virasana you sit directly in the feet.

what are the Things to Remember before performing Virasana ?

• Don't put pressure in your legs and knees , if you have stiffness try to use props like blankets to ease the pain and gradually increase the stretch.
• Use proper technique by using correct alignment of body position with the legs and heels.
• Have a professional supervision while performing any pose , they will give proper guidance for performing the pose.
• Avoid overstretching , too much of good thing will become a bad thing keep that in mind.
• If you need rest or breaks just take it , don't strain yourself.
• Always focus and concentrate on your breathing that the key factor in a successful yoga session.