E.U. Reaches Funding Deal on Climate Change

E.U. Reaches Funding Deal on Climate Change

By JAMES KANTER and STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: October 30, 2009

European Union leaders on Friday offered to contribute money to a global fund to help developing countries tackle global warming hoping kick-start stalled talks on a new agreement on climate change.

Related
Building a Bridge Across the Generation Gap on Climate (October 31, 2009)

But E.U. leaders disappointed climate campaigners by making the offer conditional on donations from other parts of the world and by failing to decide how much Europe would contribute to a global pot of up to 50 billion euros by 2020.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt insisted the E.U. now had "a very strong negotiating position" to press for a global deal at United Nations talks in Copenhagen in December that are aimed at agreeing a successor accord to the Kyoto Protocol.

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, also stressed that Europe was leading the way.

"There is no-one else among the industrialized nations" to have made as concrete an offer of climate finance, Ms. Merkel told a press conference in Brussels.

But environmental groups took a mostly negative view of the results of the two-day summit, saying E.U. leaders had chosen vague, global figures and thereby diminished chances of unblocking climate negotiations ahead of the meeting in Copenhagen.

"Europe has failed once again to say how much it is prepared to contribute for climate finance," said Sonja Meister, a climate campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth Europe. "In every way the EU is shirking its historical responsibilities and blocking progress towards the just and fair agreement the world needs in Copenhagen," she said.

The European Commission had called on E.U. leaders to make an offer of up to 15 billion euros annually by 2020.

Mr. Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister, said leaders had instead agreed that developing nations needed about 100 billion euros annually by 2020 and that, of that sum, between 22 billion euros and 50 billion euros would have to come from public funds, as opposed to private sources like investments in carbon-reduction projects.

Mr. Reinfeldt also said that E.U. nations could make a voluntary decision to contribute to a so-called fast-track mechanism that would make funds available immediately to developing countries.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, put a brave face on the result, underlining that the trade bloc should not be "naive" going into the negotiations in Copenhagen that are set to begin in fewer than six weeks.

"Our offer is not a blank check," said Mr. Barroso. "We are ready to act, if our partners deliver," he said.

E.U. officials said that Ms. Merkel, the German chancellor, who had been reticent over making any European commitment, had been persuaded that the figures were only conditional on steps being taken by other nation

(NYT, Oct.31/09

How long can commies milk the Asean Treaty

Commies keep on talking about the cheating by the UPA government in respect of ASEAN trade treaty. It is a circus by the commies to getat least one or all seats in the bypoll in Kerala. The commies days are gone for ever in India and in the running of India.
This is a road show exactly like the Nuclear deal. They talk at length about the poor. But unfortunately it is untrue. The party bosses can preach always about the poverty
and starvation.But there is nothing wrong in commies talking about for their own label.

Hail commies.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING EXEMPTION:ASSAIL DECISION

Govt. of Kerala announced a decision to exempt all house holds under 8 cents from installing a water harvesting structure. It is the foolish decision of first order. In Kerala at least 70% of house holds are built within an area of 8 cents or lower. The water harvesting decision like it was done TN, should have been insisted up on the home owners without any area stipulation. Every drop of water needs to to be harvested and saved either for future use by the harvester or be allowed to recharge the aquifers by allowing it to seep through the top soil. This will have very impressive consequences.
There is a green line there. By the time 2050 arrives Mr. Paloli and will be dead and gone. But the implications of our action will be suffered by our grand children in Kerala. They will squarely blame us all for our near ignorant decisions.

Mr. Government keep taking such "wonderful" decisions.

Yet another thing the govt. shall do is to order setting aside of a space around the plinth of the building that will ensure free seepage of water to the subsurface. This wuill ensure recharging of subsurface rocks.

FRESH WATER EQUITY: KERALA’S DYING DREAM OF THE MILLENIUM?

FRESH WATER EQUITY: KERALA’S DYING DREAM OF THE MILLENIUM?

Thrivikramji.K.P. & Rajan, A.N.
Department of Geology, University of Kerala
Kariavattom campus 695 581

Kerala (Area = 38,863 Km2; Population = 30Million) is endowed with a total of 44 (41 west flowing and 3 east flowing – all tributaries of Cauvery) minor and medium rivers following the scaling of rivers by Rao (1972). Among these only 5 rivers (>2000 Km 2 of basin area) fall under the group of medium sized rivers. Sahyadris (a.k.a. Western Gahts) form the eastern border of the state, where as the Laccadive sea shoreline (length = 560 Km) demarcates the western border. Despite the relatively heavy rain fall (annual av.= 400 cm) received in the state out of the SW and NE monsoons, geomorphology and subsurface geology dictate a very low residence time for the surface and phreatic water. The annual runoff of Kerala’s rivers is estimated at 70,323 Mm3 out of which 42,722 Mm3 is utilizable.

The state (in the highland region; >75.0 m a.m.s.l.; extent = 21777 Km2) is mostly underlain by Pre-Cambrian crystalline rocks like gneisses (Hornblende or garnetiferrous-Biotite-gneisses, Khondalites) and charnockite. Dominant surface envelop in the midland (7.5 m – 75.0 m. a.m.s.l.; extent = 13476 Km2) tract is mostly laterite – a derivative of the crystallines. The coastal land (<7 .5=".5" 4="4" a.m.s.l.="a.m.s.l." a="a" alluvium="alluvium" and="and" at="at" beach="beach" br="br" by="by" cap="cap" certain="certain" coastal="coastal" complex="complex" covered="covered" different="different" extent="3610" generations.="generations." into="into" is="is" km2="km2" laterite="laterite" least="least" m.="m." molded="molded" of="of" regions="regions" ridges="ridges" rocks="rocks" sedimentary="sedimentary" set="set" show="show" tertiary="tertiary" with="with">
Scrutiny of the extent of lithological cover provides an interesting insight on the nature of abundance. The dominant cover rock is undoubtedly of the Precambrian age (area = 27955 Km2), where as the laterite has a spread of only 5116 Km2, followed by recent alluvium (area = 4672 Km2) and lastly by Laterite capped sedimentary sequence of Tertiary age (area = 1120 Km2).

In comparison with the dominant cover of Pre-Cambrian rocks, the cover of laterite and alluvium (though secondary in dominance) possess exceedingly commendable water bearing properties and recharge characteristics. This belt also covers the entire low land and most of the midland tracts. Hence, ground water potential and resource of the state are positively dictated by the hydro-geological properties of the crystalline rocks.

The surface water potential on the other hand is a function of total rain fall on the one hand and the topographic characteristics and structural aspects like discontinuities of lithological types. Surface water, due to the very steep gradient of the land surface, rushes down through most part of the channels in the drainage net, and slows down only after reaching the tracts of lower elevations in the lower part of the midland and low land.

Access to satellite imageries (especially the LANDSAT) provided a synoptic view of the surface lithological cover as well as the gross structural make up of the basement rocks. The data gathered on lineaments traversing the terrain (like multiple generations, attitudes, extents as well as their influence on the geometry of the stream (valley) net or disposition of the ridges), added newer dimensions to knowledge base of the practicing hydrogeologist.

The role of the topographic lows falling along or coinciding with some of the major or minor lineaments (= now mostly stream courses or part of the stream net) in recharging the phreatic reservoir gained acceptance. In fact later, litho-structural analysis of the rock suites led the workers to believe that some of these lineaments truly coincide with certain leading shear zones (e.g. Bavani and Achankovil shear zones).

The cumulative length of the major lineaments mapped from satellite imageries (the LANDSAT) is placed at 1824 Km. (or let say 1800 Km.). It has been possible to identify two sets based on their orientation in plan view, viz., a minor NE-SW set (498 Km. or say 500 Km.) and a major NW-SE set (1325 or let us say 1300 Km.). One may consider this 1800 Km long lineament, as a slab of very highly fractured and sheared rock (hence more porous and permeable), in comparison with the rock slabs, and as an excellent phreatic aquifer. Assuming an average width of say 100 m., a depth of 100 m. and a porosity of say 30%, then ideally, total volume of water borne in this body of rock, at any point in time, will be of the order of (1800 Km. x 0.1 Km. x0.1Km. x 0.3) 5.4 Km3.or 5400 Mm3

Assuming an average water yield of 10 lps, this phreatic aquifer shall support
The CGWB and SGWD have promptly and adequately recognized the role of the lineaments as major conduits of recharge and/or discharge. The width of the lineaments has been identified to range between a few tens of meters to several tens of meters. The lineaments are important conduits of water flow like the other weak planes like the schistosity and fracture sets.

Some of the deep bore wells constructed as part of a SIDA-CGWB project in the late seventies or early 80’s have tapped sources as deep as 200 to 300 meters. The results also indicate and affirm the poor water bearing properties of charnockite which is mostly massive without any major fractures, joint sets or cleavages. In Kerala, the gneisses are by far more water bearing than charnockites as a consequence of the presence of fractures, joints, foliations etc. In fact, the chemical weathering process dominant in this tropical environment, adequately enlarged these discontinuities in otherwise massive rock, facilitating through passage of recharge.
.
The water demand by a teeming population of 30 million is also on the rise in comparison with the demand in the pre- or immediate post-independence days. Though an equitable water distribution for this large population calls for (30x106 x 40 x 365 = 438000.0x106 lit. or 438.0 Mm3) annually, most of the water supplied by the rains is lost to the ocean either through the surface flow or by the sub-surface flow.

THE ARUVIKKARA RESERVOIR SAND MINING: POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH HARMS

THE ARUVIKKARA RESERVOIR SAND MINING: POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH HARMS

thrivikramji@gmail.com

1. The construction industry is at its lowest ebb, due to scarcity of fine aggregate or sand in the industry parlance. As a responsive government, the problem needs to be resolved to help the construction sector which is an area warranting great stimulus to get out of the recession due to global meltdown in Kerala.

So a wonderful idea has come up from the Aruvikkara Panchayath administration to remove the sediment in the reservoir, wash it clean of mud (particle <62 .5=".5" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">

construction are saved in one shot. Obviously a very glamorous proposal

Unfortunately, the lay mind has seen only one side of the issue. At times of contingencies this is the problem with the human mind. But for a trained mind like me, I see a variety of human issues arising out of the desilting of the reservoir at Auvikkara, which is the only drinking water source for the greater Trivandrum area.

2. The questions begging answers are many. Say the question of disposal of contaminated water used for washing and removal of mud (silt+clay), which constitutes the lions share of (at least 75% or more) of the reservoir sediment. How do we keep this water away from the water source we rely on for daily needs? Where would the remainder of sediment i.e., mud will go? Now, what about the re-released chemical ions (some of which are deleterious to human health and organic life in the waters)? Will they join the drinking water source in the reservoir or will be transported away by some mechanical means.

Though the boring was carried down to 5 or 6 meters in the sand bars in the channel, would anybody think of going down to such depths below the reservoir/water levels at any point in time using conventional methods and not suction dredging. Why in the world, after all, humans are employed to remove the sediment? The longer it takes for removal of sediment, the greater are the chances and risks of contamination of the drinking water of the reservoir.

3. The 80,000 m3 of sediment estimated tentatively cover all the size fractions or only the sand in the sediment? If it is the total accumulated stuff then on 20-30% will be the sand component. Or sand fraction will be like 16,000 m3 (2666 tipper truck loads) to 24,000 m3 (4000 tipper truck loads) only.

Any process of desiltation should be using suction dredges which will cause only the least or minimum disturbance. Finally, is the sand reserve the only consideration among all others, when the waters are used for drinking water supply? Unless all these questions are answered scientifically, the Panchayat should be banned and prohibited from the desilting of the reservoir.

Finally has anybody looked into the worth gem-chrosoberyl (or Vaiduriyam) accumulated along with the sediment? Who will have the ultimate right on the Vaiduriyam.

Bit of History

The Wellingdon Water Works, the fore runner of the Trivandrum Water Supply System was operational like in the 1930”s. At the present Aruvikkara dam site, it was only a weir that had pooled the water for pumping to the processing plants and water supply in the city. Then came second five year plan, when a larger diameter cast iron pipe line was laid to augment the water supply to the town. Then, height of the weir was raised and finally shutters were built to regulate the through flow of the river to ensure drinking water for the city dwellers.

Sedimentation in the reservoir

Sediment accumulation in the reservoir is as much a reality as the reservoir and dams. The difference is only in the degree. All along sediment has been acceleratedly accumulating in the reservoir, since the days of Wellindon Water Works. Enhance sedimentation was primarily due to the location of the reservoir in the habited or populated area, with a cultivated catchment in the midland of Kerala, where primary pursuit of the people (landed and landless) were to cultivate Tapiocca and other seasonal or annual crops.- the right ingredients for sediment loss from the prepared land and deposition in the reservoir pool.

Farming trends in the catchment.

Over the decades, the catchment of the Aruvikkara reservoir in the Karamana R. basin went through intense cultivation of rubber and tea and now with pineapple, seasonal vegetables etc. Undoubtedly, all these farms do make use of the biocides (some quite harmful) as well as chemical fertilizers. And the geochemistry has it that a large portion of it will join the waters as dissolved ions in the waters and finally to the reservoir, and in the reservoir sediment. Another portion however will escape the trap in the reservoir to reach the sea.

. . .

Dissolved ions in water and the problems

To the lay citizens what accumulates in the reservoir is only sediment which is more silt and clay (<62 .5=".5">62.5 micron) and perhaps only under 20-30% of all the sediment in the reservoir. In contrast, along with sediment, also transferred to the reservoir are several naturally supplied dissolved ions and human introduced chemical ions which are trapped and bound along with the fine sediment.

Yet another un-addressed aspect is the amplification of concentrations of the chemical ions in water, in the pore-water (i.e., water held in the inter-granular spaces of sediment particles) and finally in the finer sediment particles like silt and clay. The Unforeseen consequence is that when the sediment is disturbed, removed, washed and cleaned for meeting the need for sand or fine aggregate, the finer particle bound chemical ions are released and will join the waters, that we ultimately drink as well as it might mix with the through flow harming the waters down stream.

Summary

1. Thus the hidden trap in the proposition of the Aruvikkara Panchayat, is that it will release harming chemical ions to the drinking waters supplied in the city of Trivandrum, as well as in the waters that flow downstream of the dam. .

2. Scientific estimates of the potential sand reserve has not been made yet. Only the size of the reservoir fill is known and stands at 80,000 m3.

3. Generally only 20 to 30% of the fill is fine aggregate grade sediment. So until such estimates are made hold the back the implementation. My own back of the envelope estimates show only 16,000-24,000 m3 of sand.

4. Unless plans for disposal of washed waste are designed wisely do not jump into the process with 200 men and women with shovels and baskets- a method never to be implemented in a drinking water reservoir.

5. We need to worry about the type and nature of chemical uions trapped and bound on the fime sediment particles and the degree of harm they can do to people and the society. So make sure of the inert/safe nature of these ions before jumping into manual removal of reservoir sediment.

6. Firstly identify the locations for storage of the mud-separate coming off the washing process of reservoir sediment to obtain the salable sand. In other words 70 to 80 percent of 80,000 m3 needs to be disposed off with out harming the area and people and farmland for several decades to come.

7. Has the period for the manual removal of reservoir sediment been estimated and if so what is the duration? If it is carried out in summer where would one find water in large quantities for washing the sediment.

8. Lastly, has any body thought of the potential of Vaiduriyam in the sediment and its worth?

----------------------------

. .

RESERVOIR SILT ANY ANSWER FOR SAND SCARCITY?

Any reservoir is bound to get silted up. Reservoirs in Kerala are no exception. However, at the design stage the idea is to not loose the storage quickly in 2 or 4 generations. It may be difficult in respect of the hydel reservoirs in the high ranges of Kerala. But fate of the low level reservoirs built for storing water for irrigation or drinking water supply or different. As these are set in the lower midland of the state and with in the habited areas, tendency for higher level siltation are possible.

The Kerala government has "invented" a wonderful idea of gathering the sandy-silty mud in the reservoirs, washing and sizing it to be sold through the fair price shops or sand depots. Pro-people idea. Unfortunately there is no handle on the sand available in the reservoir beds. As there has not been any study dome before the construction of the dam, coming up with the volume available will be only a gross estimate.

The sand removal process from the reservoir bed is easier said than done. There will huge volume of waste or mud coming off as rejects from the washing plants requiring eco-friendly disposal. The answers are not ready now.

So without any firm data on available sand in the reservoirs, the idea of using reservoir sand will still remain as a wholycow at the best.

SOLUTION FOR CONSTRUCTION SAND:KERALA, INDIA

We in Kerala are very special in that we think either from the bottom of the stomach or occassionally from the bottom of our feet. Such thought landed us in the situation where the construction sector came to a grinding halt for want of what the aam aadmi calls sand and the engineer calls fine aggregate. Coarse aggregate an important constituent of concrete is always manufactured while the fine aggregate the sand always had to come from a river bed or valley.

Even in the mid 80's I tried to popuularise the idea after a study of the Neyyar river that the government should licence parties to manufacturer sand and not to stop with the making of metal or coarse aggregate.

It went into deaf years of the artists and administrators. Now all the rivers (majority are samll and only some are medium in size) are out of sand and so construction industry started suffering which also affected other manufacturing sectors and employment market.

The only solution will be to start off sand manufacturing units in all the districts of the state to meet the demand with in the district as well as outside.

There is absolutely no way of getting more sand from river channels. It is all exhausted. The "scientific" methods used by the CWRDM and CESS has gone wrong some where. Otherwise, we would have had sand as well as sandy rivers.

One thing the scientists did not reckon was the ability of nature to ,make sand. Iyt takes a million years to covert one meter thick slab of roick to disintegrate. This is the process that releases quartz in the rock which is the chief ingredient of sand. But the sand content in a unit slab is only 30% and that is the catch.

Environment and Obesity

The Effect of Our Surroundings on Body Weight

Researchers point to external causes of--and fixes for--the obesity pandemic

By Hal Arkowitz and Scott O. Lilienfeld

Courtesy:Scientific American, Sept.2009.

Obesity is a “global epidemic,” according to the World Health Organization. Two thirds of American adults and one third of school-age children are either overweight or obese (defined as extremely overweight). These proportions have been rising steeply, report the latest surveys. From 1960 to 2002 the population of overweight and obese adults increased by roughly 50 percent, and the corresponding increase for children was 300 percent. Compounding the problem, obesity rates in other countries are rapidly approaching those in the U.S.

What is causing this pandemic, and what can we do about it? Researchers have provided some tentative answers that fly in the face of commonly held beliefs. They suggest that the increase in obesity may be a result of environmental changes that tempt us into unhealthy habits and tend to overwhelm our psychological defenses against consuming too much and succumbing to fattening fare. In fact, environmental cues can exacerbate any innate tendency to use food as a balm for jittery nerves or sadness. Thus, many health experts advocate legislation—for instance, a tax on junk food—that promotes healthy eating. Others are trying to help individuals change their immediate eating milieu in ways that discourage overeating.

Obesity Myths
Many people, including health care professionals, believe that obesity can be attributed simply to a lack of self-control or willpower. It is true that obese people are often unable to adequately control their eating. But lack of self-control is merely a description, not an explanation. What remains to be explained is why they cannot exercise self-control.

Nevertheless, doctors routinely tell their obese patients to restrict what they eat. Diet books, articles in health magazines and on Web sites, and commercial weight-loss programs also encourage people to eat less and exercise more. Unfortunately, approaches based on self-control do not seem to work very well. As sales of weight-loss books have climbed recently—from 3.6 million copies in 2005 to 4.8 million in 2007—so has obesity. Further, two thirds of those who slim down in weight-loss programs regain their weight within a year, and almost all have put back the pounds within five years.

Other explanations of the increase in obesity are based on genes and psychological factors. It is true that many people are predisposed to gain weight because of their genetic makeup. But genetic factors cannot account for the sharp increase in the prevalence of obesity in society. The genes within a population relevant to weight do not change appreciably in 50 years. Some psychological factors may also play a role in obesity, including impulsivity, anxiety and a tendency among some people to eat during negative emotional states. But here, too, there is no reason to believe that these characteristics have become more prevalent in recent decades. Therefore, genetic and psychological factors cannot account for the rise in obesity.

Toxic Environment
Results of a large number of studies support the conclusion that environmental cues exert a powerful influence on our eating behaviors. And unlike biological factors, our nutritional environment has changed radically in the past 50 years. In various publications, Yale University psychologist Kelly D. Brown ell has used the term “toxic environment” to refer to this new dietary atmosphere, which is characterized by pervasive exposure to food that is energy-dense, heavily marketed, cheap and widely accessible, accompanied by a lack of physical activity.

A 1995 report by the Institute of Medicine set the stage for future work when it concluded that the root of the obesity problem “must lie in the powerful social and cultural forces that promote an energy-rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle.” More recent studies have borne out this statement. These forces, Brownell postulates, include the explosion of fast food outlets, increasingly large restaurant portion sizes, “all you can eat” buffets, the proliferation of mini markets that sell high-calorie snacks and drinks, contracts between schools and fast food and soft drink companies to sell their products in school cafeterias, and widespread powerful food advertising.

Environment and Obesity

The Effect of Our Surroundings on Body Weight

Researchers point to external causes of--and fixes for--the obesity pandemic

By Hal Arkowitz and Scott O. Lilienfeld

Courtesy:Scientific American, Sept.2009.

Obesity is a “global epidemic,” according to the World Health Organization. Two thirds of American adults and one third of school-age children are either overweight or obese (defined as extremely overweight). These proportions have been rising steeply, report the latest surveys. From 1960 to 2002 the population of overweight and obese adults increased by roughly 50 percent, and the corresponding increase for children was 300 percent. Compounding the problem, obesity rates in other countries are rapidly approaching those in the U.S.

What is causing this pandemic, and what can we do about it? Researchers have provided some tentative answers that fly in the face of commonly held beliefs. They suggest that the increase in obesity may be a result of environmental changes that tempt us into unhealthy habits and tend to overwhelm our psychological defenses against consuming too much and succumbing to fattening fare. In fact, environmental cues can exacerbate any innate tendency to use food as a balm for jittery nerves or sadness. Thus, many health experts advocate legislation—for instance, a tax on junk food—that promotes healthy eating. Others are trying to help individuals change their immediate eating milieu in ways that discourage overeating.

Obesity Myths
Many people, including health care professionals, believe that obesity can be attributed simply to a lack of self-control or willpower. It is true that obese people are often unable to adequately control their eating. But lack of self-control is merely a description, not an explanation. What remains to be explained is why they cannot exercise self-control.

Nevertheless, doctors routinely tell their obese patients to restrict what they eat. Diet books, articles in health magazines and on Web sites, and commercial weight-loss programs also encourage people to eat less and exercise more. Unfortunately, approaches based on self-control do not seem to work very well. As sales of weight-loss books have climbed recently—from 3.6 million copies in 2005 to 4.8 million in 2007—so has obesity. Further, two thirds of those who slim down in weight-loss programs regain their weight within a year, and almost all have put back the pounds within five years.

Other explanations of the increase in obesity are based on genes and psychological factors. It is true that many people are predisposed to gain weight because of their genetic makeup. But genetic factors cannot account for the sharp increase in the prevalence of obesity in society. The genes within a population relevant to weight do not change appreciably in 50 years. Some psychological factors may also play a role in obesity, including impulsivity, anxiety and a tendency among some people to eat during negative emotional states. But here, too, there is no reason to believe that these characteristics have become more prevalent in recent decades. Therefore, genetic and psychological factors cannot account for the rise in obesity.

Toxic Environment
Results of a large number of studies support the conclusion that environmental cues exert a powerful influence on our eating behaviors. And unlike biological factors, our nutritional environment has changed radically in the past 50 years. In various publications, Yale University psychologist Kelly D. Brown ell has used the term “toxic environment” to refer to this new dietary atmosphere, which is characterized by pervasive exposure to food that is energy-dense, heavily marketed, cheap and widely accessible, accompanied by a lack of physical activity.

A 1995 report by the Institute of Medicine set the stage for future work when it concluded that the root of the obesity problem “must lie in the powerful social and cultural forces that promote an energy-rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle.” More recent studies have borne out this statement. These forces, Brownell postulates, include the explosion of fast food outlets, increasingly large restaurant portion sizes, “all you can eat” buffets, the proliferation of mini markets that sell high-calorie snacks and drinks, contracts between schools and fast food and soft drink companies to sell their products in school cafeterias, and widespread powerful food advertising.

BENEFITS OF YOGA

Courtesy of WebND

Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, close to 11 million Americans are enjoying its health benefits. Yoga can hardly be called a trend.

Most Westernized yoga classes focus on learning physical poses, which are called asanas. They also usually include some form of breathing technique and possibly ameditation technique as well. Some yoga classes are designed purely for relaxation. But there are styles of yoga that teach you how to move your body in new ways. Choosing one of these styles offers the greatest health benefits by enabling you to develop your flexibility, strength, and balance.

Yoga benefits: Flexibility

When some people think of yoga, they imagine having to stretch like a gymnast. That makes them worry that they're too old, unfit, or "tight" to do yoga. The truth is you're never too old to improve flexibility.

The series of yoga poses called asanas work by safely stretching your muscles. This releases the lactic acid that builds up with muscle use and causes stiffness, tension, pain, and fatigue. In addition, yoga increases the range of motion in joints. It may also increase lubrication in the joints. The outcome is a sense of ease and fluidity throughout your body.

Yoga stretches not only your muscles but all of the soft tissues of your body. That includes ligaments, tendons, and the fascia sheath that surrounds your muscles. And no matter your level of yoga, you most likely will see benefits in a very short period of time. In one study, participants had up to 35% improvement in flexibility after only eight weeks of yoga. The greatest gains were in shoulder and trunk flexibility.

Yoga benefits: Strength

Some styles of yoga, such as ashtanga and power yoga, are more vigorous than others. Practicing one of these styles will help you improve muscle tone.

But even less vigorous styles of yoga, such as Iyengar yoga, which focuses on less movement and more precise alignment in poses, can provide strength and endurance benefits.

Many of the poses, such as Downward Dog, Upward Dog, and Plank pose, build upper-body strength. This becomes crucial as people age. The standing poses, especially if you hold them for several long breaths, build strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps, and abdominal muscles. Poses that strengthen the lower back include Upward Dog and Chair pose. When practiced correctly, nearly all poses build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles.

Yoga benefits: Posture

With increased flexibility and strength comes better posture. Most standing and sitting poses develop core strength. That's because you're counting on your deep abdominals to support and maintain each pose. With a stronger core, you're more likely to sit and stand "tall." Another benefit of yoga is the increased body awareness. This heightened awareness tells you more quickly when you're slouching or slumping so you can adjust your posture.

Breathing

Because of the deep, mindful breathing that yoga involves, lung capacity often improves. This in turn can improve sports performance and endurance. But yoga typically isn't focused on aerobic fitness the way running or cycling are. Taking an intense power yoga class that gets you breathing hard in a heated room, however, can provide an aerobic benefit.

Most forms of yoga emphasize deepening and lengthening your breath. This stimulates the relaxation response -- the opposite of the fight-or-flight adrenaline boost of the stress response.

Yoga benefits: Less stress, more calm

Even beginners tend to feel less stressed and more relaxed after their first class. Some yoga styles use specific meditation techniques to quiet the constant "mind chatter" that often underlies stress. Other yoga styles depend on deep breathing techniques to focus your mind on the breath. When this happens, your mind becomes calm.

Among yoga's anti-stress benefits are a host of biochemical responses. For example, there is a decrease in catecholamines, the hormones produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Lowering levels of hormone neurotransmitters -- dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine -- creates a feeling of calm. Some research points to a boost in the hormone oxytocin. This is the so-called "trust" and "bonding" hormone that's associated with feeling relaxed and connected to others. That may be why so many romances start in the yoga studio.

Yoga benefits: Concentration and mood

Harder to pin down and research scientifically, concentration and the ability to focus mentally are common benefits you'll hear yoga students talk about. The same is true with mood. Nearly every yoga student will tell you they feel happier and more contented after class. Recently, researchers have begun exploring the effects of yoga on depression, a benefit that may result from yoga's boosting oxygen levels to the brain. Yoga is even being studied as an adjunct therapy to relieve symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Yoga benefits: Heart benefits

Perhaps one of the most studied areas of the health benefits of yoga is its effect onheart disease. Yoga has long been known to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. A slower heart rate can benefit people with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Yoga was a key component to the heart disease program designed by Dean Ornish, MD. This was the first program to partly reverse heart disease through lifestyle and diet rather than surgery. On a biochemical level, studies point to a possible anti-oxidant effect of yoga. And yoga has been associated with decreasedcholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as a boost in immune system function.

Yoga benefits: Effects on other medical conditions

As yoga has become more popular in the West, medical researchers have begun studying the benefits of therapeutic yoga. This is also called integrative yoga therapy or IYT. It's used as an adjunct treatment for specific medical conditions, from clinical depression to heart disease. Yoga benefits other chronic medical conditions, relieving symptoms of asthma, back pain, and arthritis. Most worldwide clinical studies are happening outside of the United States. But even the NIH has funded clinical trials on yoga and its health benefits for insomnia and multiple sclerosis.

Other benefits of yoga

Some studies have suggested that yoga may have a positive effect on learning and memory. Other researchers have been studying whether yoga can slow the aging process, increase a person's sense of self-acceptance, or improve energy levels.

Some potential benefits of yoga may be hard to study scientifically. For instance, yoga has been said to increase spiritual awareness. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of anecdotal claims for what yoga can do. Go to any yoga studio and listen to students after class. Some will even tell you that yoga can help improve marriages and relationships at work.

The only way to be certain of all that yoga can do for you is to try it for yourself and see by logging on or subscribing to WebMD to receive more info..