Kundalini Yoga is a spiritual and physical practice closely associated with Hatha yoga that is designed to facilitate spiritual enlightenment. More than just a means to fitness, Kundalini yoga is based on the fundamental principle of awakening the seven chakras through breathing, chanting and meditation. The Kundalini is an untapped source of energy thought to sit at the base of your spine like a coiled snake, and it's through the yoga practice that this energy is drawn up. Full enlightenment is thought to be achieved when the energy reaches the Crown Chakra. Kundalini yoga is relatively new to Western society -- it was introduced to North America in 1969 by the 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization.)

A Kundalini yoga session involves a series (called kriya) of postures (called asanas,) each done with an emphasis on the breathing process. Sessions also involve chanted mantras and meditation. Though it's a highly spiritual form of yoga, don't expect your Kundalini yoga session to be easy -- the practice is very physically intense.

Want to learn more? Discover other types of yoga.

Photo: judepics/Flickr

Yoga has many benefits, ranging from flexibility to relaxation. But now CafeMom tells us that yoga can also reduce asthma symptoms.

A recent study had participants with asthma try yoga for 2.5 hours a week. The participants focused on holding the different poses for one minute at a time and really concentrating on breathing. After 10 weeks, participants noted a reduction in their asthma symptoms, and some were able to cut back on medication.

Want to learn more? Check out yoga on AOL Health and learn how it can help you get a better bikini body, strengthen your core and more.

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When it comes to weight, not all fat is equal. Though you might look in the mirror and grimace at the extra padding on your rear or thighs, when it comes to health, belly fat is the bigger culprit. And now we're hearing that a big waistline can reduce your lung function.

Fat in your mid-section is called visceral fat, and it's more metabolically active than the subcutaneous fat found elsewhere in the body. Visceral fat has long been linked with high cholesterol and insulin resistance. Reduced lung function is just one more reason why we should all stop loving our love handles.

The reasons for reduced lung function aren't exactly known. Perhaps the lungs have less room to expand because of increased belly size or the inflammatory effects of visceral fat could be impairing lung function.

Breathing exercises can help curb stress, anxiety and help maintain yoga poses, but did you know they can also help your workout performance?

Not only can proper breathing make cardiovascular training more efficient, it can also help improve power and stability during strength training and endurance running, says Jessica Matthews, certified personal trainer and spokesmperson for the American Council on Exercise.

A recent study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine found that training respiratory muscles can help improve athletic performance. Twenty-seven soccer players participating in the study used a device called a respiratory muscle trainer, which makes respiratory muscles stronger by applying resistance as the user inhales through a valve. After five weeks, most athletes showed improvement in their ability to perform short bursts of exercise.

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the holiday season is in full swing. All the hustle and bustle of the season can start to feel quite stressful. To help keep your stress level in check, try dedicating some time each day to meditate. There's no need to say "oohhmm" and sit in the lotus position. You can lower your stress level with a few easy steps:

• Quiet place. Find a spot in your home or outside that's quiet and removed from other distractions.
  
• Music. Play some quiet, mellow music that helps you relax.
• Deep, full breathing. Breathe deeply and concentrate on your breathing.
• Focus. Your mind may wander, but as it does just refocus on your breathing -- this isn't a time to sort through your thoughts, this is a time to recenter yourself and clear your mind of the daily stressors.

Take 10 minutes each day to meditate and you'll see your stress levels reduce. Remember, exercising, eating healthfully, and getting proper amounts of sleep will also help you manage stress.

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Recent research shows -- believe it or not -- that sweat and airway secretion are linked. For people who have exercise-induced asthma, dryness in their airways can trigger asthma symptoms. Increased airway secretions can minimize or prevent symptoms during exercise.

Study participants were given medications to induce asthma symptoms and/or sweating. Obviously, the average Joe can't pop a pill to increase sweat production. And honestly, who would want to? So while researchers still work out the practical applications of this knowledge, follow these tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology:

• Try swimming -- the warm, humid atmosphere reduces the risk of symptoms.
• If you want to play team sports, opt for those -- like baseball -- that have short bursts of intense activity rather than continuous movement.
• In cold weather, wear a scarf or mask over your mouth and nose to warm the inhaled air.

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It isn't brand-new news that obesity can worsen asthma symptoms. Previous research has indicated that obesity can cause more severe symptoms for people with asthma. New research expands on that fact and shows that people who are obese and have asthma are more than five times as likely to be hospitalized for their symptoms.

Sometimes I wonder why we need a funded study to tell us these things. I'm not a scientist, I'm not a doctor, and I'm not a researcher, but it seems relatively obvious to me that obesity could potentially exacerbate asthma symptoms.

If you have asthma, maintaining a healthy weight is an important step you can take to protect your health. For tips on weight loss, check out AOL Health.

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I adopted my son from the US foster care system when he was 10-years-old. He has ADHD and often struggles with focus. He also has high anxiety and can get quite nervous in certain situations. One tool that helps him regain focus and composure is taking a few deep breaths. We face each other, look directly in each others' eyes and take a deep breath in... and out. He usually says "one more, Mom" and we continue until he's feeling in control again. The simple act helps to ground him, reduce his anxiety, and help him focus again. Breathing exercises can help everyone reduce stress and relax.

When you're faced with an abrupt, unexpected stressful situation (such as a car cutting you off in traffic or someone saying something offensive to you) take a moment to pause and breathe deeply before reacting. Those few seconds will calm you so you can respond appropriately and thoughtfully -- avoiding a hasty reaction you might regret later.

When you're faced with longer-lasting stress (such as a difficult deadline at work or ongoing problems with your significant other) make a regular practice of this breathing and stretching technique. It will imbibe your body with oxygen and help relieve stress.

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Did you know that fiber can help you breathe easier? A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that fiber increased lung capacity.

Specifically, folks who took in at least 27 grams daily had a larger lung capacity than did those who consumed fewer than 10 grams. Additionally, the group that consumed more fiber were found to be 15 percent less likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The author of the study, Stephanie London, M.D., Ph.D., said, "The fiber found in cereal and produce may reduce tissue inflammation that can damage lungs." There are plenty of ways to get fiber, and it's good for you in so many ways, you really have no excuse!

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My freestyle swim stroke looked good, my dad told me the other day in the pool as he observed my skills. It just wasn't very strong. My breathing was not ideal either. My kick? Not bad, but he had a tip for how I might improve it.

Here, three dad-generated tips I received on how to become a better swimmer.

• Bring arms high out of the water with each stroke, hands cupped, and reaching a bit across the body (right arm reaches to the left; left to the right) as they scoop into the water. My arms were low, I was hitting the water with the side of my head, and I was not reaching across.
• Breath on a four-count (because I need to breathe to the right only). Stroke, stroke, stroke, breath to the right. Repeat. I was breathing on a two-count, thinking it was necessary in order to get enough air. Not so.
• Kick with the hip, not below the knee.

My new stroke powers me better, my breathing allows me more speed -- not so much time spent turning my head and gulping air -- and my kick propels me with more force. I feel stronger, quicker, and more skilled. Dara Torres I will never be. But a better swimmer, I am.

Not in the mood for exercise? How about sexercise? Redbook magazine offers tips on how to get sexually fit with a handful of easy moves that take only a few minutes each day and can (1) increase your lovemaking stamina and (2) burn off a few calories. Think you can work these sexercises into your routine, ladies?

• Kegels. Get the lowdown here.

• Fire breathing. Read all about it.

• Pelvic exercises. More on The Sexual Lotus, The Cat, The Pelvic Rock, The Hip Swivel right here.

• The Butterfly Quiver. The secret is here.
  

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If your kid has a big neck, he or she may be more likely to develop a sleep-related breathing disorder, say researchers at the University of Virginia. Translation for big: Obese.

Of 215 children, ages 18 months to 18 years, who were referred to a pediatric sleep clinic, 37.3 percent were obese and snored more than not-so-heavy kids, says this Virginia study. Basically, neck size showed a strong inverse correlation with oxygen saturation and was an even better indicator of breathing problems than BMI, weight, or tonsil size.

One implication of this finding, says study author Dr. Pearl L. Yu, is this: "Children with bigger neck sizes for age should be queried about snoring, apnea, excessive sleepiness, and hyperactivity. Neck size should be considered in the clinical evaluation of children with a history of snoring and apnea."

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If you have a child with asthma, you might already know that fitness is especially important -- it can help improve childhood asthma. And with summer approaching, you might be thinking about swimming. It's a great physical activity, and kids love it, so you're set, right?

Not so fast. A recent article by Claire McCarthy, M.D., of Harvard Medical School urges parents to take caution with their asthmatic children when it comes to swimming. While the activity itself helps to strengthen their lungs -- and swimming is one form of fitness that's less likely to cause asthma symptoms -- there is one problem. The chlorine.

The article cites a study done in Belgium, where "children who swam as infants in chlorinated swimming pools were more likely to have asthma later in childhood. It appeared that the chlorine may have damaged the lining of the lungs."

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I used to work on a computer support line. For some reason, I'd get hiccups very often back then. So I'd be on the phone with a client holding my hand over my mouth to muffle the sound or pressing the mute button so they didn't hear my hiccups. Part way through my hiccupy calls, the guy in the cube next to me was doing the same muffle/mute routine -- but not to block his own hiccups ... instead he was trying to cover up his laughter over my predicament.

Everybody gets hiccups from time to time. There are many causes for a case of the hiccups, ranging from stress, to a large meal, to a sudden change in temperature. A hiccup is just a involuntary contraction of the diaphragm (a muscle involved with respiration).

So what do you do to cure hiccups? There are plenty of home remedies for hiccups, but most are pretty ineffective. Taking a spoonful of sugar, holding your breath, being startled, or drinking cold water quickly are just a few. For some people, taking slow, controlled breaths can help the hiccups. For most people, however, you just have to let them run their course. Though very rare, some people do get cases of prolonged hiccups. If you have a case of hiccups that lasts for a long time, call your doctor for advice.

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