Acupressure
Treatments for Your Well-Being

The term acupressure is widely interpreted as some kind of pushing. 'Acus,' meaning a point, a needle, or some tip, along with 'pressure' leads us to a synonymously used term: acupoint therapy.

As it is with many wellness principles, acupuncture is rooted in Chinese medicine. The holiness of a healthy body and a sane soul is described as the flowing energy of life. Chinese medicine supposes two different sources of vitality: yin and yang. In order to live a harmonious and healthy life, both yin and yang have to be in tune with one another. A variety of situations and constellations may lead to disharmony and shows itself by way of illness. To keep the harmony going, one needs to take care of one's life style, stick with a well-balanced diet, and sufficient sleep.

The different points of the human skin to be affected by acupuncture will have been either irritated or calmed for the sake of harmony before any treatment can start. These points run along the main and extra meridians, which cover the whole body. Not only needles are inserted into patient skin, but you may find it helpful to have them softly massaged. By that, therapists using one of these methods contend that excess energies can be accumulated around these very points and then disposed of. On the other hand, energy can also be added to the bodily system through these points.

A preliminary comprehensive medical consultation can avoid the pain relieving effects of acupuncture and suppress a serious illness - which the doctor could not be able to diagnose.

Acupuncture
An Approved Therapy

Similarly to acupressure, acupuncture is known to be Chinese in origin, meaning the punctuating of skin by way of needles. Traditional Chinese medicine applies acupuncture as a supplementary and holistic method of relieving pain. Besides traditional acupuncture, a more specific method, called pain acupuncture, takes advantage of it and is particularly used in severe cases of chronic pain. A thorough consultation with your doctor should always have preceded it.

Acupuncture has been a world-widely approved therapy for over 20 years and even the World Health Organization recognizes it as a healing method. It is widely understood that an increasing number of illnesses and diseases can successfully be treated by acupuncture. Be it the lower or the upper air passages, chronic headaches, or painful joints, problems with the digestion, or illnesses of your eyes - the list could be continued further and will be expanding in the future.

Aloe Vera
The African Desert Lily with the Great Healing Power

The succulent plant is a variant from the large family of lilies and reaches 60 centimeters in height, grows in dry, sub-Saharan regions in Africa and America. Being an ancient remedy, the watery and scentless sap from the plant's core has been known for ages.

Today Aloe Vera experiences a renaissance, because on the market for medicaments there is nothing like that for internal or external application. Its sap contains a variety of bioactive substances that can be used for a wide array of treatments. The somewhat mucilaginous concentrate from the plant's inner part contains some vital mineral nutrients, such as potassium carbonate, magnesium, manganese, iron, calcium, sodium, and zinc.

Celebrities of the past are known to have had their skin treated with the plant's gel, a fact which has certainly conserved their beauty and youthfulness up to their older age. The nature's drugstores of the past have used Aloe Vera for thousands of years, and because of the striving of today's people for a youthful appearance, the plant's total revenue has topped 100 million dollars.

In less serious cases of cuts and punctures, Aloe Vera's sap is said to relieve pain and have anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, insect stings, burnings, and sunburn can be treated with equal success. Therefore, you would not find a crème, ointment, or some similar product sold in drugstores or health food stores in which there is not a tiny part of this very plant. But buyers should keep in mind that only the pure and undiluted substance possesses the healing power necessary to make your treatment a success. So face packs with diluted substances are said to smooth the skin and make crinkles vanish, but this is most likely simply due to their moisturizing effect of other ingredients.

Aloe Vera has always been famous not only for the healing effects mentioned above. Our foreign ancestors were also familiar with the plant because of its purifying and abstergent impact on the body. Research has shown that the effective substances are aloin and anthrachinone, which can be found in the outer layers of the plant. But studies have also indicated that long-term use might produce cancer. Apart from that, the addition of Aloe to yoghurt and fruit drinks has two decidedly positive aspects - the detoxication of the bowels and the strengthening of the immune system.

Recent studies have also confirmed that the plant's sap cools sunburned skin and insect stings and relieves pain. Other studies demonstrated that the treatment of abrasions, rashes, acne, and impure skin with a gel made from Aloe Vera and containing the plant's undiluted sap seem to have a lasting anti-inflammatory effect. However, any healing effects concerning allergies, diabetes, or neurodermatitis have not been scientifically verified so far and seem rather to have been grounded in people's imagination.

Unfortunately, the freshly squeezed sap needs to be made durable by adding preservative agents. The manifold side effects of these additives would however put a question mark behind the plant's positive aspects. Dubious internet sites offering Aloe Vera products are about to do the rest, as they sell the gels and other Aloe-containing items for unbeatable prices. But nobody can really be sure in these cases whether what you see is really what you get. Only the official seal of the "International Aloe Science Council" ensures that what is labeled is what is inside and that preservative agents are not used.

Anthroposophic Medicine
The Power of the Mistletoe

In Greek language a human being is called 'anthropos,' and 'sophos' is the word for wisdom. So anthroposophy is the teaching of human wisdom. Steiner, a philosopher, fathered the anthroposophic medicine through his biodynamic agriculture.

Anthroposophic medicine blends the sciences, philosophy, several religions, and mystic to a novel healing method. According to the new aproach, a human being is made of the astral body, the ego, the ether body, and eventually the physical body. All these parts constitute an entity or, as he called it 'wesensglieder.' His doctrine contends that if someone gets ill, their wesensglieder would have been in disharmony. Anthroposophic medicine has always acknowledged the primary role of classical medicine in diagnostics and treatments. Homeopathic remedies have partly found entry into anthroposophic medicine, but the substances themselves are not crucial for the healing process. Rather, the dynamic and the very nature of the medicaments are thought to heal.

In this regard, the mistletoe is widely used among adherents of anthroposophic medicine. As this plant blooms in winter and is not rooted in the earth, many assume that it helps us going beyond the limits of growth. It can therefore be applied in cases of cancer. The anthroposophic idea does not only focus on the specific characteristics of remedies, it also emphasizes artistic activities as well as sufficient, benevolent communication among people.

Anti-Aging
An Effective Remedy against Growing Old

Medical experts and sociologists agree: anti-aging will become a hot topic in the twenty-first century. As people are growing older and older, experts have come to see the limit at an unbelievable 160 years. New methods in genetics promise to make the fulfillment of this prophecy ever more likely.

When talking about anti-aging, two concepts of time are applied: the biological and the calendrical age. While the latter is beyond human influence, the biological age is not. Our appearance, the flexibility of the lobe of the lungs, the state of our cells, and also male virility define our biological age. Online questionnaires help us check on our biological age and whether we need to do something about it. The concept of anti-aging, which was developed by American medical scientists, is basically a concept of the healthy life. Methods taken from preventive medicine, behavioral medicine, and spa are blended into an entity.

There are essentially four strategies of coping with old age: hormone therapy, nutrition, mental techniques, and sufficient exercise. Illnesses and ailments due to an older age are thought to be diagnosed in future well in advance, and the necessary precautionary measures could then be taken. Longitudinal analyses suggested the supplementation of these basic strategies with additional coping methods. Not surprisingly, drinking, smoking, and obesity are bad for your biological age; regular workouts, a functioning partnership, and the taking on of challenges slow the ticking of your biological clock.

Aqua Aerobic
Aquatic Exercises are Good for You

Aquatic exercises are commonly referred to as 'aqua aerobic.' For those who need to be very careful about their joints and sinews, their spinal column and feet, aqua aerobic is a good choice. The actual movements are supported by a light musical tune and a great variety of exercise devices.

People who cannot put much pressure to their joints and spinal column are even medically advised to do aqua aerobic. Custom-tailored programs, upbeat music, and many exercise devises help you feel comfortable while doing your chores. Exhalation gets easier, while inhalation is made difficult because of the water pressure. However, the latter helps you train your lung muscles and the pressure of the water that is up to 800 times denser than air lowers your pulse frequency by nearly 20 beats per minute. This, in turn, betters the blood flow from the extremities back to the heart.

Aroma Therapy
Stimulation through Scents

For ages, people have used essential oils and other stimulating substances for body and mind. Thousands of years ago, our Indian, Chinese, and Egypt ancestors made use of joss ticks, burning bark, dried fruits, resin, and other natural substances to worship their gods, clean their bodies, or heal an illness. To alleviate their ailments, or for cosmetic reasons, they squeezed petals, made salves out of it, and added plant scents. They even created essences which eventually found their destination as supplements for perfumes.

Resin, some barks, roots, and petals contain the most effective substances that Mother Nature offers. The essences of roses are the most valuable and also most expensive of all oils. It takes one ton of rose petals to produce a pound of their essences. They are used for massages, aroma bath, aroma lamps, and inhalations. The senses of smell become stimulated when using them as bath additives, massage oils, hot and cold packs, and compresses. Good results will however only be reached if patients attend to the particulars of the therapies and drug doses administered by a doctor.

Brush Massages
The Rough and Gentle Body Care

The brush is pushed in slow and circular movements across the skin towards the heart, always starting at the right side of the body. If you start the brushing at the legs, first move from the calves upwards at the inner part of the leg and then change slowly to the outer part. Same treatments are applied when brushing the arms or towards the heart. Massage from the ribs to the breastbone, and always towards the heart. Due to their sensitivity, nipples are exempted. Towards the end, circular and clockwise movements massage the abdomen, taking the belly button as its center.

Individual sensitivity dictates the bristle's stiffness. For dry brushings, natural bristles, such as hemp or sisal may be used. To enhance the patient's well-being and comfort, lipidic refatters or oil should be applied to the skin. The brushing of the skin calms down the vegetative nerve system, but stimulates circulation as well as most organs and regulates blood pressure.

Chromo therapy
Recovery through Colors

In order to be successful in their medical treatments, Old Egyptians took advantage of their enormous knowledge about the design and the colors of the patient's room. They erected huge buildings which they parted into several rooms painted in different colors. Depending on their ailments, the sick were taken to the yellow-painted room or the green room. Other than Egyptians, the Chinese even painted their patients with the according healing color.

Light and colors affect people's psyche in individual ways. To see how an individual reacts to a certain color, one may use defective colors, to which the human eye, the skin, and the brain is exposed to for a few seconds. The points of skin that are suitable for acupuncture are also prone to leading the vibrations of the respective color directly to the brain. This is because nerves would take up the information that have entered the body through the skin, and transport it to the cerebrum. Traditional Chinese medicine was very familiar with this process, in which the transport lines are on par with the meridians. Thus chromo therapy releases powers that are good for our health by unknotting energy-capturing nodes.

The color green symbolizes harmony and naturalness, yellow encourages relaxation, and red stimulates the organism. Blue is supposed to have some healing effects with wounds or pain. At least, scientific research has confirmed that the proper use of colors may affect our nerve system positively. However, there is virtually no verifiable data about any principle of cause-and-effect.

Cleopatra's Bath
Donkey's Milk for Your Beauty

Old Egypt used to prepare the luxurious baths for wealthy and beautiful women by adding essential oils and donkey's milk. To accentuate her notorious beauty, the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, took regular donkey's milk baths. Since donkey's milk has always been quite expensive, we would use cow milk today.

If supplementary bath additives, such as essences and oils, are being added, Cleopatra's Bath will bring about and contribute to a general relaxation of body and soul and nourish your skin.

Climate Treatment Successful Healing Results through the Climate

The healing potentials of certain weather conditions can be taken advantage of with regard to the treatment of illnesses and ailments. The very season, air temperature, humidity, and the cleanliness of the air affect directly the healing process. In Europe, particularly coastal areas, mountainous regions, and forests on rolling hills qualify for such a treatment. High mountains are best suited to the sun-bathing of a heliotherapy. Because of the thin air and cooler temperatures there, sun rays are much stronger than in the lower regions. Moreover, the absence of pollen recommends these regions also to people suffering from asthma. Afflictions of the lungs, skin diseases, and cardiac and circulatory troubles can also be cured.

Regions with lower mountains are best suited to rheumatic problems, cardiac and circulatory troubles, and respiratory diseases. Large patches of forests along with their typical natural cover offer a relatively mild and unirritating climate.

The healing effects of the climate at coastal areas are primarily due to the sea salt water, the clean air, and the increased power of sun rays through their mirroring against the water's surface. A stay at a coastal spa combines aspects of climate treatment and balneotherapy. Furthermore, the healing process of respiratory diseases, cardiac and circulatory troubles, inflammation of the mucous membrane, and skin diseases can be enhanced. Scientific research has indicated that the combination of a classical spa with therapeutic baths would produce the best results.

Essence Oils
Intelligent and Successful Use of Essence Oils

In Greek philosophy the chemical primary matter, that originates from the atmosphere surrounding us, was called ether. It was supposed to express that this is a matter that is in direct contact with the original matter that surrounds us. However, in chemistry we know ether as a volatizing deafening substance. It is also used as an anesthetic in operations and as a pain reliever.

All ethereal oils, or essence oils, have one thing in common that unites them. They are all volatile. Due to their natural, herbal ingredients they have the most different effects.

The human body absorbs these tiny active agents through the skin or through the lungs. We are being supplied with these active agents by penetration into our blood vessels and placing in our fatty tissue.

If undiluted, the desired effect would be much too strong and might cause a poisoning with unpleasant consequences. Therefore, it is customary to apply ethereal oils in a strongly diluted form. Six drops of ethereal oil in ca. 10-15 ml of vegetable oil are sufficient. Sweet almond oil, sesame seed oil, or olive oil is best suitable. These mixtures can generally be recommended and are very suitable for massage purposes; but if the chest is to be rubbed with ethereal oils in order to activate respiration, it is best to mix a few drops of ethereal oil with a standard petrolatum-based crème.

With ethereal oils as with all medical products there is a direct correlation between cleanness and quality and the expected effect. At buying ethereal oils attention absolutely should be paid on whether they were extracted from the actual plant, the stem mass, or simply diluted, blended, and mixed with additions. For this a special imprint is used, the so-called G & A imprint, which stands for genuine and authentic. That means that the contents have been extracted only from the given plant, that it has not been manipulated and is still unchanged in its pure form. The otherwise usual labeling according to the German Medicines Law is not sufficient at all, because even despite the DBA nature identical or synthetic oils and substances can be mixed in. Now it is of course understandable that despite all the imprints and statements, many of the offered oils do not keep what the imprint concerning the standard admission promises.

Many of the vast number of oils can sometimes even cause strong allergies or lead to other forms of incompatibility. There are, for example, savory oil, thyme-cinnamon oil, and clove oil. Furthermore, there are clove-laurel oil and all kinds of conifer oil. Drop some oil on the sensitive parts of your skin, let it work in and check for skin reaction. If there is no redness, itching or stinging pain, it can be assumed that the oil won't cause any harm and can be applied.

Ethereal oils should be administered to children with great caution. Babies react especially sensitive to peppermint oil and tea tree oil. Here we also advise against eucalyptus oil and camphor oil. Minimal traces of these oils can cause vomiting, disturbance of movement and a very irritated mucous membrane. It can also happen that the throat closes up and it comes to apnea.

Many oils especially in the wellness and cure area are used as massage oils, in order to clear the respiratory tract, and for the purpose of relaxation in general. Furthermore they are a good preparation to increase your health; but ethereal oils should under no circumstances replace the conventional medicine in case of illness. They only serve as support or prevention.

Fasting Cure
The Temporary Reduction of Weight for Mental Reasons

The reasons for reductions of weight are as manifold as human nature, but temporary reductions of weight are often based upon mental dispositions. Hippocrates, the father of medical science, is said to have invented the fasting cure as a direct deduction from his grand idea of a healthy life. All great world religions know the concept of the fasting cure and practice it as a ritual. The procedure is intended for withstanding mental and bodily temptations and focusing instead on the soul of the believer. In its original context, the fasting cure is seen as expiation and a means of purifying your soul.

Today's fasting cures are administered in cases of skin disease, liver disease, rheumatism, and obesity. During these cures, the patient either abstains from food altogether or confines the ingestion to the medically necessary. The intake of liquids is however always a vital aspect of fasting cures. The effect of lesser eating manifests itself in the adjustment of the metabolism to the new situation so that your body starts burning its energy resources. Since they can primarily be found in liver and muscles and will have been burned after five to six days, it is important to supply enough energy to the brain to prevent cerebral damage. Therefore, the body's metabolism again adapts to this condition and begins to burn your bodily fat and protein resources. They are located in acetone, acids, and keton acids, which all account for a rather strong bodily scent and a noticeable acerbity in your mouth during this stage of fasting.

To prevent damages from organs and excess burning of protein, this stage should not be protracted without a good reason. Problems with your circulation and a general feeling of being exhausted are probable side effects and should be monitored by a doctor. For reasons of suppressing a feeling of hunger, after some time of fasting your body will produce bliss hormones.

As you can see and read everywhere, fasting cures may also pose some dangers. Particularly excessive and long-lasting fasting could lead to addictive behavior, which the young seem to be especially susceptible to. For losing weight alone, fasting cures are inappropriate; but as part of some therapy or simply as an unusual experience of your own body they may well bear fruits. The latter can redirect your focus from food intake to other, more spiritual things and raise your body-awareness.

Feng Shui
Harmonious Living in China

In Chinese tradition, water symbolizes the very energy of our planet and wind represents the immense energy of the skies. Accordingly, Feng Shui can be translated in English as 'water' and 'wind.' Chinese tradition contents that human beings are happy only when their surroundings somehow connects to the actual vital power of the larger cosmos. Even the deceased cannot simply be buried into the earth; rather, to ensure the endurance of their happiness in after-life, the location of their tombs needs to be carefully chosen.

To make Feng Shui work, Southern Asians still cling to the principle, which argues that yin and yang would be in a state of harmony only when the stream qi is able flow freely and unimpeded. Any disregard would cause illnesses and the disruption of harmony. Chinese homes are arranged in a way that furniture, beds, lamps, etc. create good conditions for Feng Shui. To recover a bad Feng Shui, today's people use compasses to readjust their homes, their rebuilding, or their garden. These efforts are intended to make sure that the putting up and building of the objects in question is consistent with the five elements. Important markers are the course of the moon and the exact location of the sun as well as astrologic data. Another device to prevent your life from any sources of disruption is the pendulum. In practice

This means in practice that specially trained Feng Shui experts would be staying for a longer period of time in your home.

Parts of Feng Shui have already entered Western homes and minds, and the arranging of your living space according to cosmic principles has become a cult among its followers. It is perhaps the individualistic undertone of Feng Shui which enables people to set themselves apart from others and which has made it a small but resounding success.

Increasing of Strength Enhancement of Resistance of Body and Mind

There are various reasons why somebody decides to enhance their resistance. Whether for athletic or sanitary reasons, an enhancement of resistance always affects the skin first and only then the entire body. Cold air, water, or ice causes a contraction of the upper layers of the skin and the blood vessels below. The application of warmth and heat has the opposite effect.

Alternate contrast showers are a very effective training for the enhancement of resistance. At this the blood vessels and the pores are being stimulated to be more active. Regarding the wonderful effect, cold and warm water should be changed four times. Starting at the feet and working your way up to the head in slow circular movements gets the best results.

The longer the enhancement of resistance takes place, the more resilient you become. After some time most people notice that prior shivering hardly appears anymore and that the unpleasant feeling of being cold almost completely disappears. This is because of the influence of the cold; the pores of the skin contract faster and save the warmth more effectively. The same effect occurs under the influence of warmth the other way round. Heat escapes faster and the sense of well-being occurs. People perspire less and exude significantly less sweat.

However, not only contrast showers enhance the body's resistance. Thus sauna sessions that end with a jump into an ice hole may cause sheer miracles; but you should get used to this procedure slowly. Plenty of exercises in the fresh air, treading water, Kneipp showers and brush massages cause the desired effects.

Basically it can be said that you should get used to all treatments slowly and carefully. Don't overdo it in the beginning and choose an experienced group for harder procedures, because mutual stimulation contributes on your way to success. After all, only in a healthy body there is a satisfied soul.

Lymph Drainage A Dehydration Therapy

Interestingly, our body houses 750 lymph nodes where bodily liquids, or lymph, are filtered and disposed of. Scavenger cells absorb germs and other harmful substances and destroy them before they can enter our blood circulation system.

To increase the blood flow, better the drain from the lymph nodes, and get congested liquids to flow again, manual lymph drainage is commonly applied. Here circular movements of the therapist's hand press the liquids back into the veins. By that, our body becomes dehydrated and the kidneys filter and dispose of the liquids. Other than a massage, lymph drainage is carried out with smooth and circulating movements of the hand and less pressure is applied. Possible fields of application are in the aftermath of the x-raying of tumors, inflammations, the excision of lymph nodes, or a general impairment of veins, because all of these afflictions may cause a congestion of lymph.

To make the treatment a success, lymph drainages need to be applied at least three times a week over a period of six weeks. After that a doctor should monitor the patient for another four weeks, before phase two of the lymph drainage can start. It should however be taken into consideration that lymph drainages cannot be applied when cancer at lymph nodes, thromboses, and cardiac illnesses have been indicated. In most other cases, lymph drainages produce good results with patients whose bodily liquids are congested, locked in cells, and have not properly been disposed of.

Reflex Zone Massage
The Gentle Pushing of Certain Areas of Skin

For the fostering and care of your health, reflex zone massage is intended to stimulate particular areas of your skin. Here, the regions around the ears, hands, and feet are especially suited for this massage as they mark accumulations of nerve nodes which are connected to the inner organs. The stimulation of these reflex zones can enhance your overall health and well-being.

Ill organs can sometimes be detected through changes taking place on the surface of your skin as well as the accompanying pain. The sensation of pain is caused by the information of the organ's disease, which is transported via the spinal cord to the nerves. Longer periods of diseased organs manifest themselves in locally occurring inflammations of the skin.

Some patients find fault with the sometimes too intense and painful pushes by the therapist's hands. However, this method requires the intense massaging of reflex zones and occurring pain merely indicates diseased organs. Although similar massages are successfully applied to psychosomatic diseases, there is a lack of scientific studies

Roman-Irish Vapor-Bath
Perspiring in Hot Wet Rooms

Wet and warm rooms characterize the Roman-Irish vapor-bath. The Romans already preferred being in a vapor-bath and so they built specially designed rooms which they then heated up to an air temperature of 30 to 35 degrees. To stimulate blood circulation, brush massages were applied. Once the person's perspiration had reached the right stage, an even hotter room was awaiting them. There, 50 to 55 degrees further stimulate perspiration. Before they can rest, the patients need to immerse themselves into a basin of cool water.

After a while the proceedings start anew; and when the body has been cooled down in the immersion basin, it enters the actual Roman-Irish vapor-bath, which is a room completely clouded by the vapor. There, benches have been installed at different heights to provide visitors with the possibility to choose a temperature at their convenience and give them time to relax. With a temperature considerably lower and air moisture much higher than in a classical sauna, the Roman-Irish vapor-bath is intended to open your skin's pores so that the vapor dampens every bit of your skin. Since the lower temperatures will not strain your circulation and the higher air moisture positively affects your lungs, the Roman-Irish vapor-bath is good for people of all ages.

Schroth Cure
Named After Its Discover Johannes Schroth

Now being a natural healing method for 140 years, it was discovered and further developed by Johannes Schroth. Supposedly, a fasting cure is intended to set free bodily energy that affects the body and soul, leading to some kind of regeneration.

Today clinics and hospitals offer Schroth cures under supervision of doctors in cases of cardiac and circulatory troubles, articular gout, and rheumatism. As a side effect, the extrarenal purification helps obese people loose some weight.

Schroth cure means the patient takes dry stale rolls, zwieback, rice, oats, or some other bland diet. The digestive system will then undergo a complete regeneration.

The Schroth cure will not function at all without the process of alternate dry days and fluid days. During the first three dry days you may have not more than just one glass of wine; during the following dry days, you may have a bottle of wine each day. This procedure could be supportively accompanied by wet and warm packs.

Basically, dehydration will have a profound effect on your metabolism; and the resulting lack of minerals and vitamins as well as the scientifically verified notion that a human organism needs two to three liters of water each day makes it hard to believe that the Schroth cure were good for you.

Furthermore, the intake of alcohol in such quantities can cause an addiction. Not only scientific evidence is lacking, but there remains also some doubt as to whether a congestion of metabolic substances occurs at all or can be treated by this method.

Yoga
Secrets of Inviting Happiness

In traditional yoga balance and healing come from integration of body, mind, and spirit. Some 4,500 years ago, the idea of yoga was recorded in the book of eternal wisdom, the Indian Bhagavatgita. It contains exercises, sayings, and directions as to eternal truth. Over time, the great philosophy of yoga has itself differentiated into various schools of thoughts, such as japa-yoga, jnana-yoga, hatha-yoga, bhakti-yoga, etc.

In order to feel utter self-satisfaction and be good at interacting with other people, yoga seems the perfect way to go. To be clear, yoga is not a religion, but rather a path to follow when looking for purity of thought, knowledge, and a means to solve personal problems. The search for eternal truth is always a hard way and consists, according to the Patanjali yoga sutras, of eight distinctive stages: universal moral commandments, self-purification through discipline, posture, breath-control, withdrawal of mind from external objects, concentration, meditation, state of super-consciousness. In the end, the disciplining exercises are supposed to bring happiness into your life.

Due to its healing power, hatha-yoga has now entered the minds of a considerable part of humanity. Increasingly, scientific studies agree upon the good therapeutic value of yoga, arguing that regular exercises would raise the overall apperception and the coordination of movements, lead to a strengthening of muscles, enable better coping abilities in times of stress, and optimize your circulation, respiration, and processes of metabolism. However, no healing effects are known with regard to depressions, serious neurotic disturbances, and other psychogenic disorders. Please take into consideration that only the accompanying instruction of specially trained medical practitioners will achieve sustained success.