Meditation has many different meanings, depending on the individual. Some see it as a practice that enables them to find peace and organise their thoughts, while others see it as a way to connect with their spirituality, a higher-power, or simply as an appreciation of a divine essence that represents a greater meaning.

In our previous article, we focused on five intermediate stretches and poses to help us deepen our range of motion in the back muscles and spine, and provide relief to back pain. We can now gradually start incorporating more demanding yoga poses into our routine that will add more strength and flexibility. This will aid in alleviating back pain and injuries, as well as improving back muscle and spinal health.

For many of us breathing is just a process of inhalation and exhalation. Most of the time we do it unconsciously, and understand that without breathing there is no life. Today, modern medicine, building on ancient traditions and practices, shows us that different forms and ways of breathing can promote health and prevent diseases.

If you have found relief regarding your back pain by following the stretches and poses from the previous article, then it’s time to start with more demanding exercises that will furthermore improve the blood flow and reduce the stiffness.

Back pain is a common issue many face, and research shows that nearly 10% of people worldwide experience at some point discomfort in their lower back. Exercises often help, but when we are short on time is when yoga stretches are extremely helpful as they promote blood flow and can alleviate some of the pain, stiffness and discomfort.

With new and emerging research, the importance of a massage or any kind of physical stimulus to the body that manipulates our muscles tells us that massage therapy can assist with preventing certain health issues and complications. So why not use the full benefits of a massage on a daily basis as prevention? And the best part is, we can even do it ourselves (to some extent).

General movement and exercise reduce the risk of mortality by nearly 30%. This means that our muscles, joints and connective tissue might get banged up every once in a while, but with many of us, that rarely happens. It’s actually the opposite because of our modern, sedentary lifestyle, where our range of motion and flexibility decreases. This is where osteopathy can assist and also potentially decrease the risk of long-term health issues.

Latest research shows that regular yoga practice can reduce hypertension, asthma attacks, effects of autoimmune diseases, and increase red blood cell count, our flexibility and core strength. For many of us who are looking to resolve certain health issues through a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, practising yoga should be a part of our daily routine.

Today’s modern yoga is known to many, but the ancient Yoga practice dates back thousands of years. To fully understand the power of yoga, we first need to learn its origins and history, and how over time different types of yoga evolved.

Relaxation and de-stressing techniques are often touted as methods for our mind and body to achieve balance. Here is where beginners often question the efficacy of meditation, yoga and other practices. That is why today, we will approach Autogenic Training from a scientific perspective and see what the data and research says about this desensitization - relaxation technique first reported in practice back in 1926.

Can we learn how to relax in a better, faster and more efficient way? The answer is Yes. With daily practice of Autogenic Training, we can become calmer and less stressed, and achieve many other health benefits.

We often hear about the physical and mental health benefits of meditation but know little about what meditation really is. This article gives a brief overview of the different kinds of meditations available to beginners, highlights existing research and suggests practical ways for you to get started.