February 23, 2009

Yoga in Practice: Ten Solutions for Depressed Yoga Students, Part 2

As you know, anyone can feel a little depressed now and then - Yoga students are no different. Here are four more methods to help Yoga students with mild forms of depression.

Get away from being self-centered: There is no reason to isolate ourselves; we are interconnected with all things, people, nature, the universe, and God. We need to be in harmony with our life and everything we come into contact with.

Accomplish what you can in a day and sleep on the rest. The universe will still keep running after our lives are up, so let the universe worry about it. Stop thinking in terms of ?I? and you will have much less burdens to carry around.

Set Goals: Life would not mean much without goals, so write them down and go after them. These should be ?heart felt? goals that are morally sound and yield gratification. This one solution stops many Yoga practitioners from feeling depression most of the time.

Appreciate the little things: Look at what you already have and do not worry about what you don?t have. A rich man who worries about what he does not have is living in self-created poverty. His wealth could be put to something useful, but he dwells on protecting his assets and worries about acquisitions.

What a shame this is, but it is not an isolated case. The rich struggle to find love, real friends, and rewarding relationships. So, ?be careful what you wish for.?

Food: The irony is that food sustains life and can also cause death. One of my teachers pointed this fact out to me, when I was about nine years of age. My reaction was amazement, at first, but then reality settled in. Most people are in denial about food, and this is obvious by the obesity around us. Our waistline has to be monitored, constantly, throughout adulthood.

To keep it simple, Yoga students should adhere to a sattvic diet. Put limits on caffeine, alcohol, and sugars. There are times when most of us fall short, but still maintain awareness about what you eat and drink.

Of course, water should be consumed in fair quantities at all times. Eight glasses per day of quality water will aid your skin, digestion, elimination, muscles, vital organs and more. Water consumption will also give your skin a youthful appearance. Isn?t this also why we practice Yoga?

? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

The Benefits of Yoga for Your Body and Your Mind

If this is your first introduction to yoga, you are about to learn that it is much more than an exercise regime. It could be your first step toward the liberating journey of self-realization. It is known that the body, spirit and mind are intertwined, and bringing them into balance and harmony is the ultimate goal of yoga. With all the stress and turmoil involved in modern day living, there has never been a more urgent need to bring a sense of balance and harmony to our lives.

At the ?beginner? level, yoga is an easy and enjoyable way of learning certain postures and breathing exercises to increase strength as well as how to begin letting go of negative thoughts to bring about an inner calmness. The deep breathing and physical exercises will help you to deal with a variety of illnesses, including high blood pressure, pain in the joints and muscles, anxiety, postural problems, weight problems, and even poor elimination. Getting rid of negativity is important because these negative thoughts are stored in our bodies and disrupt the balance of health. The aging process is accelerated by stress, poor diet and a negative attitude. By purifying our body and keeping it supple, we can reduce cell deterioration.

You need not be concerned about your age or fitness level. Yoga is truly for everyone. The most important factor is a commitment to you. Whether you choose to practice on your own or in a class, it’s important to work at a pace you are comfortable with. The benefits are limited only by the time and effort you are willing to spend.

There are many forms of yoga. Hatha (meaning sun and moon) yoga is the most popular in this part of the world. It concentrates on the theory that gaining control over the body is the key to controlling the mind. The postures emphasize balancing opposing forces in the body such as forward bends followed by backward bends, standing postures followed by inversions, left movements followed by movements to the right etc. Your particular path to getting started may be to read up on the philosophy and history of yoga. Or you may want to get an audio or visual program to teach you how to do the postures and breathing exercises. Another plan would be to join a class for proper guidance and the social aspect. Some basic guidelines to keep in mind are: Find a quiet place to practice (no phone, tv, etc) to distract you. You’ll need a mat or carpet for comfort. Wear comfortable clothing and leave your feet bare. Do not eat a heavy meal before starting.

It is important that you progress at your own pace. Yoga is not about competition or guilt. Any amount that you can comfortably do will be a step in the right direction. No matter how out of shape or inflexible you are, with a little practice, you’ll soon feel increased vitality and a sense of well- being. Instead of worrying about ?find the time? it will become an enjoyable part of your life.

Yoga-Explained.com offers extensive information about yoga, including benefits, poses, equipment and more. If you would like to learn about yoga have a visit.

What is Yoga

Yoga is very much known as the path to enlightenment of the soul.

To achieve this goal one has to attain the union of mind, spirit and body.

Yoga comes originally from the Hindu philosophy. The word is derived from the sanskrit word ‘yeung’, which means to join.

There are various paths the yoga apprentice has to follow to find spiritual insight and harmony for example:

* Physical exercises known as ASANAS. A form of exercise that stretches and strengthens the body through various poses supported by breathing

techniques. A healthy soul inhabits a healthy body. The ASANAS prepare the body for meditation

* Mental and spiritual exercises known as MEDITATION. There are various methods to gain ‘peace of the soul’ for example the old lady who sits by the fire knitting. Meditation is the practice of the constant observation of the spirit. If one is fully concentratoed the spirit gains peace. In yoga, through meditation exercises, one concentrates the spirit on objects known as Mantras to get calm.

Traditionally yoga consists of eight fundamental paths known as:

* 1. Ashtanga or Raja Yoga
* 2. Bhakti Yoga
* 3. Hatha Yoga
* 4. Jnana Yoga
* 5. Karma Yoga
* 6. Maha Yoga
* 7. Purna Yoga
* 8. Tantra Yoga

There are many institutions of yoga which all have there own unique beliefs and practices. In the western world, the term yoga often refers to Hatha Yoga which is perfecting the mind by way of perfecting the body. This technique uses many Asanas, breathing techniques and meditation.

Another popular type of yoga is ashtanga which is considered as a type of aerobic since they utilise quick and smooth transitions between the poses.

The well known ‘ommmm’ chant is commonly used in Mantra. This type of yoga is focused on calming the body and mind through usage of sanskrit word and sounds.

No matter which school one chooses, yoga is a very diverse practice. Old and young people can gain many benefits from regular yoga practices. Asanas can be adjusted to suit the physical limitations of those participating. You can practise at home or anywhere you want at any time of the day. If you want to breakfree from weight rooms, gyms or tread mills, take a look at yoga.

Attain liberation from wordly suffering through mastery over the body, mind and emotional self.

Take the first step on the path to join body and soul in harmony.

Stuart Perryman
Yoga: Body - Spirit - Mind
http://yoga.alluneedtoknow.info

Conquer the Fear of Organ Donation

When one thinks of donating an organ, they automatically think that it is the ultimate good deed to save someone else?s life. For many, this is such an enormous act of generosity. For those who stay clear from donating organs, perhaps it is due to a fear of being cut up, or an inability to be compassionate, or perhaps even a myth that is changing their minds. With over 7000 deaths on the organ transplant waiting list in 2005, many organizations have been actively involved in raising the awareness of need of organ donations in the United States and worldwide.

Giving away some of your organs to those in need is a wonderful feeling. Organ donation can come in two different forms: when you are alive and deceased. If you know someone who needs a kidney or something that you can afford to lose, you should try and see if you are a match. This is a wonderful way to save your loved one?s life and help them create a better path. The majority of people feel that saving someone life alone is all they need to sign on the dotted line. With 90,000 patients on the donation list, it is more than a good deed to help someone else out.

On the other hand, if you are deceased, you can also donate your body to science or for organ transplant. This will also give someone a second chance at life, and someone else in the world will be able to breathe and live normally because of you and your organs. Our bodies are the gifts of life, and organ donation is a way to give the gifts to those who?re in need.

Some people do not like the idea of having their bodies cut up or being donated to science. The last thing they want to do is not be buried with their families or look altered in any way. However, open casket funerals can still be planned, even if you were to donate organs or whole body. Others feel that if they do donate, their families will be charged for any fees, which could lead to thousands of dollars. In actuality, they are never charged if you do decide to do this.

The advance in medicines and medical research depend on the deep understanding of our body. When organ donation for transplant saves one life, whole body donation for science and medical research may save thousands of lives.

Natalie Aranda writes on health and fitness. Organ donation can come in two different forms: when you are alive and deceased. If you know someone who needs a kidney or something that you can afford to lose, you should try and see if you are a match. This is a wonderful way to save your loved one?s life and help them create a better path. The advance in medicines and medical research depend on the deep understanding of our body. When organ donation for transplant saves one life, whole body donation for science and medical research may save thousands of lives.

Insights into the Benefits of Yoga

The practice of Yoga has been used for centuries to promote a sense of physical and spiritual well-being. Although the origins of Yoga are shrouded in mystery, it is generally accepted to have begun at the dawn of civilization some 5000 years ago. A number of respected scholars have suggested that Yoga grew out of the shamanistic culture of Mehgarh, located in the region now known as Afghanistan. In fact, many facets of Hindu culture have their roots in Mehgarh.

The principle goal of the practice of Yoga is to assist practitioners in the transcendence of the human condition. It was an attempt to discern the order of the cosmos, and to apply those principles to daily living. Yoga has been linked to the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, which was one of the oldest and most advanced of the ancient cultures. This civilization also gave birth to some of the oldest scriptures ever discovered in modern times. The Vedas are considered by many as a form of divine revelation, and contain many references to a higher power and to the practice of Yoga.

On the physical plain, Yoga has shown incredible promise in treating and managing many illnesses. The practice of Yoga has a number of physical benefits for practitioners. It facilitates flexibility, and assists in the lubrication of joints, tendons, and ligaments. Many of the poses and positions work to massage the organs, thus stimulating the body’s detoxification process. The physical benefits of Yoga are often considered secondary to the spiritual development. Yoga has the incredible ability to bring into harmony the physical and the spiritual elements of the individual experience.

Meditation also plays a significant role in Yoga. By combining intense meditation with specialized physical exercise, practitioners are able to achieve a unity of body, mind, and soul. The intent is to create a sense of balance and harmony, both internally and externally. The emotional calmness associated with meditation works to reduce stress, which is considered by many as one of the root causes of physical illness. The primary goal of Yoga is to empower the individual to transcend the physical world and to achieve a sense of enlightenment or self-realization. For those interested in understanding and fully realizing the oneness of all things, a commitment to the principles and practice of Yoga will undoubtedly unlock the secrets of the cosmos in all their wondrous glory.

Brodi Saatpha has been practicing Yoga for a number of years. When she is not striving to transcend reality, she writes for yoga-insight.com ? an enlightening and refreshing website with information about the history of yoga, yoga certification, worldwide yoga retreats and more.

Yoga in Practice: Train Your Mind for Empowerment, Part 2

Let's look a little deeper into training your mind for empowerment and success. The mind spends much of its time evaluating and categorizing everything. This is an automatic early warning system to react to daily situations and potential emergencies.

However, the mind should be ?wired? to automatically find solutions in all situations, instead of ?freezing up.? One method is to realize when you should engage in facets of Yoga for more productive use of your time. For example: When you are too busy for Pranayama, Asana, and meditation, this is the point where you need to practice Yoga the most.

The most productive people I know make an appointment for themselves. You could write an appointment down on your daily schedule to make ?solo? time for yourself. This is time that you set aside for yourself - just like an appointment for your hair stylist. That is also why some people have a personal coach, life coach, personal trainer, or Yoga teacher.

However, this time should be used wisely, and you should be living in the present moment when you practice any facet of Yoga. After a few days, you will see your productivity increase and your sleep patterns will improve. This is possible because you are now in control of your own schedule. You will not accomplish as much - if you spend most of your time running around in circles.

Therefore, your Yoga practice should be performed on a daily basis. If you cannot do it alone, you should seek out Yoga classes or a competent Yoga teacher. Be honest with yourself and do not postpone a change of lifestyle that is in your best interest.

With reference to training your mind - you should also take the time for self analysis. How much time do you spend ?second guessing? yourself? Researching a situation is one thing, but giving up due to obstacles, is quite another. Learn to recognize, and expect obstacles, as they are on every path of life, including the Yogic path.

Affirm the positive aspects of your life every day. Let your family know that you love them. Appreciate what you have, and give thanks to God for your existence. There is always someone who has a harder life than we do. Appreciate this fact, and show loving kindness to every person you meet, regardless of their status.

Do not draw comparisons about material wealth. Most of the materially affluent people I know are very unhappy and worry about money all the time. The sad fact is material wealth does not equate to empowerment.

? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Yoga: Far More Than a 5,000-Year Old Trend

While riding the bike at the gym last week, I was doing my best to have my iPod drown out the incessant chatter of a guy and gal next to me. During the course of their very long, and loud, conversation, I heard the man made an interesting comment in response to the women?s far too detailed description of the fitness classes she had signed up for, which included yoga. He said, ?I figured yoga was just a trendy pastime disguised as exercise.? Oh how I wanted to let him know that couldn?t be farther from the truth, but figured it best to keep peddling lest I spend the rest of my precious cardio time chatting when I should be breathing.

When many think of yoga, images of zoned-out new-agers in pretzel-like positions chanting mantras, may come to mind, but consider this: Yoga is an ancient practice that can help you deal with the stress of modern life. It has been reported that more than six million Americans are now practicing some form of yoga to increase stamina and endurance among other physical and emotional health benefits. And, it?s far more than just a trend. After all, yoga is over 5,000 years old and still going strong.

According to findings by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) that looked at 34 non-active women in their thirties doing Hatha yoga, which is considered one of the easiest forms of yoga to learn, they discovered the women vastly improved their flexibility, balance, and aerobic fitness level as well as their muscular strength and physical endurance after just eight weeks of 55-minute yoga classes taken three times a week.

Apparently, a Hatha yoga session of 50 minutes burns 144 calories which is similar to taking a slow walk. Not a bad extra benefit considering yoga is often perceived as simply a form of relaxation. ACE also discovered that their test group showed significant improvement in their shoulder and body flexibility, with the ability to do more push-ups and curl-ups as part of the outcome. Posture also improved in all of the subjects.

So, if you ever find yourself in a heated debate over whether or not yoga offers any true health and fitness benefits, arm yourself with this verbal ammo:

Some benefits of yoga include:

? Improved physical balance, joint movement, muscular strengthening and coordination.

? Improvement of joint range of motion, flexibility and extensibility of connective tissue.

? Improved posture which allows internal organs to function properly and improves breathing.

? Stimulation of the nervous system.

? Improved circulation and pulmonary function.

? Enhanced immune system.

? Enhanced self awareness.

? Decreased the risk of injury.

? Promotion of relaxation and stress reduction.

As mind/body exercise continues to take hold in the present, the practice of yoga has moved from the alternative to the mainstream. So don’t let anyone?s preconceived notions of yoga keep you from practicing it and enjoying the benefits of this dynamic mind/body exercise.

Child health advocate, weight-loss industry veteran and former bodybuilding champion Merilee A. Kern is co-founder and CEO of Healthy Kids’ Catalog ? - an online resource offering Solutions That Foster Healthy ChildrenT. She is also author of the fictional children’s book, “It’s Not Your Fault That You’re Overweight - A Story of Enlightenment, Empowerment and Accomplishment for Overweight and Obese Kids”. She can be reached through her Web sites at http://www.HealthyKidsCatalog.com and http://www.NotFault.com

Mudras For Good Health

We present some brilliant, very effective and simple mudras, which you can practice anytime and anywhere:

? GYAN MUDRA ? This is one of the most important mudras. It is widely used in all yogic meditation practices. Join the tip of forefinger to the tip of the thumb. Hold together gently for at least 15-30 minutes.

Advantages

? Increases intelligence and wisdom

? Purifies the mind of the practitioner

? Cures many mental problems

? Makes one joyful

? Cures intoxication and addictive habits

? PURN GYAN MUDRA ? This mudra is known as the mudra of Lord Buddha, since it was propagated by him. Sit cross-legged. Keep both hands in ‘Gyan Mudra’ Posture. Now keep right hand near chest region. Keep left hand near knee region.

Advantages

? Clears the aura in the subtle astral body
? Causes electrical changes in the electromagnetic activity of the brain leading to increased clarity and understanding

? Improves memory to a great extent

? Soothes irritable temperaments

? Improves intelligence and wisdom

? ABHAYA MUDRA - This is normally practiced after Gayatri Mantra recitation. Raise both your hands to the sides of your head. Touch the forefinger to tip of thumb (just as you do in Gyan Mudra). Hold the hand vertically straight by the sides.

Advantages

? Makes your mind fearless

? Gives you a feeling of courage and strength

? DHYAAN MUDRA - Sit cross-legged. Place hands in Gyan Mudra, on your lap. Right palm should rest above left palm in Gyan mudra

Advantages

? Makes you tremendously peaceful and tranquil

? Helps in increasing concentration powers

? Cures depression and other mental ailments

? Practitioner can experience the final state of eternal yogic bliss

? PRITHVI MUDRA - Touch fore part of third finger (ring finger) to the tip of thumb.

Advantages

? Helps balance the earth element in the body

? Normalizes body equilibrium

? Makes you physically stronger

? Increases tolerance and patience

? Helps practitioners of spiritual meditation

? VARUN MUDRA - Touch the fore part of the smallest finger to the fore part of thumb.

Advantages

? Regular practice balances water element in body

? Improves physical appearance

? Decreases dryness in skin and body

? VAYU MUDRA - Fold the index finger (fore finger) on the base of thumb. Press the forefinger gently on the pad. Keep the other fingers away.

Advantages

? Helps in all nervous ailments

? Improves balance of air element in body

? Helpful in pains and aches

? Recommended for patients of Cerebral Palsy and Parkinson’s ailments.

? PRAN MUDRA - Touch fore part of third (ring) finger and tip of fourth (little) finger to fore part of thumb.

Advantages

? Reduces body fatigue and thus energizing the whole body

? Improves eyesight

? Optimizes the circulation of the life current throughout the body

? MRITSANJIVINI MUDRA - Fold the index finger (fore finger) on the base of thumb. Press the forefinger gently on the pad. Touch the fore part of third (biggest) finger and fore part of fourth (ring) finger to the fore part of thumb.

Advantages

? Makes the heart stronger

? Very useful for people with heart ailments

? Helps normalize blood pressure

? Increases self-confidence

? SURYA MUDRA - Touch the third (ring) finger to the base of thumb. Press the thumb gently over this third (ring) finger. Keep the other fingers away.

Advantages

? Decreases Earth element in body

? Cures mental heaviness

? Reduces body fat

? Enhances weight loss

Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz,mentions the importance of yoga and the benefits one can reap by it which has cured serious illnesses. http://www.yogawiz.com, Yoga has series of mudras which help a person in his physical, mental and spiritual development.

Yoga in Practice: Teaching Yoga

When most people consider the idea of teaching Yoga, they usually perceive the superficial physical requirements of a Hatha Yoga instructor. There are many styles of Yoga, and Hatha Yoga is just one of them. In fact, within the sub-styles of Hatha Yoga, there are a number of ?gentle? styles. So, being really flexible, young, and having the body of a super model, are not required in order to teach Yoga.

The above attributes can be used to your advantage, if you have them, but let?s go over a prime ingredient within all Yoga teachers. ?In a nut shell,? it is the passion to help others. This is the common denominator among Yoga instructors, regardless of which style of Yoga is taught. Teaching others the benefits of Yoga, becomes a ?calling? for students who aspire to teach Yoga.

A Yogic lifestyle will improve any person?s life. Interestingly, a quality life is founded upon positive thought. Therefore, Yoga has ?all the bases covered,? when it comes down to helping people.

When you look at your own life - reflect on the following questions. How do you want to be remembered? Do you feel complete satisfaction in your accomplishments, so far? What do you stand for?

How we are remembered is through our actions. This relates to Karma Yoga: Union by selfless service. When we help people, that action helps people who we never meet because a single action creates a chain reaction. Just look at all the coincidences that add up to you reading these words, at this moment.

What we accomplish in life is, for the most part, based upon our own actions. There are exceptions to this such as: poverty, illness, and bad luck. However, the person who never gives up will realize achievement, success, and goal realization. When we stop trying, we ?short circuit? our potential.

Satisfaction with your life depends upon finding your purpose (dharma). When you have found your purpose in life, you are living a fulfilled life. Whatever you do in life, helping friends, family, and associates will give you the greatest satisfaction.

If you are feeling incomplete, at this time, write down your passions, reflect on them, and notice that one will stir an overriding desire within you. This is most likely your dharma. When we leave this life, it is gratifying to know that we helped people along the way, as this also gives us a deeper sense of purpose.

Getting back to teaching Yoga - there are many excuses to avoid becoming a Yoga teacher, but when you feel the calling, all you have to do is share the gift of Yoga with others to find out if that is your purpose in life.

? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Your First Chair Yoga Class in a Senior Center

Chair Yoga has become more popular in senior centers, but can also be found in nursing homes, physical rehabilitation units, adult day care centers, and some Yoga studios. However, the vast majority of us will attend a Chair Yoga class in a senior center.

You should consult your family physician and get the ?go ahead,? before starting any exercise program. If possible, visit, or call the senior center, to find out about their policies and general guidelines. When it is your first class, it is a good idea to get into the front row, so you can clearly see and hear your Yoga teacher.

When you need extra advice, or have a particular health condition, you should talk to your teacher before, or after, the class. Your Yoga teacher will give advice and show modifications, throughout the class, but when you have questions that concern your safety and health, you should ask right away. This is not something that should be put on the ?back burner.?

Within the senior center staff structure, there are volunteers, paid staff, and management. They are all extremely helpful. Seek help and you will find an abundance of it. If the business world ran like this, we would all be happy customers.

You don?t have to bring any special equipment to a Chair Yoga class. Most senior centers have more than enough chairs to accommodate everyone. Some Chair Yoga classes do use mats, as well as chairs, but this is more the exception than the rule. If the center uses mats, in part of the class, you will have to take your shoes off.

Most senior centers have hard floors with tile over cement. In this case, you should wear good sneakers, tennis shoes, or aerobic shoes. This will allow your shoes to grip the floor, to prevent potential slipping accidents. It also gives your feet and joints some cushion from the hard surface.

There is no need to buy special clothes. You should wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict your movement. Don?t wear anything tight around the waist. This will bother your stomach during some of the bending or twisting movements.

You should never push or strain into a Yoga posture. This can cause a variety of injuries from very slight to serious. Therefore, stay in the ?comfort zone.? No one really knows how your body feels, except you.

If the class is large, it will be held in a large room, like a dining hall. Expect some distractions, with people coming, and going, from different activities, within the senior center. This is not ideal for meditation, but the physical rewards, and new friends you gain, will make up for it.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Improve Your Eyesight with Trataka

Eyes are the windows of the soul and you can see what a person is up to by looking into his eyes. Hence it is important to have clean eyesight. In yoga, trataka is a technique devised by the ancient sages to improve the eyesight. It is a shuddhikriya or purification process to cleanse the eyesight and help in silencing of the mind in concentration. Sit with your back straight. Keep your eyes fixed on an object without winking till tears start streaming down your face. The small object can be the flame of an oil lamp, or an image or a picture or the letter ?AUM?. This object should be placed in the line of sight at a distance of about four to six feet. You can also do this kriya without any object in front of you. Having an object is not necessary. Just stare in front of you at the wall without moving the eyeballs or eyelids. Ensure that you stare at a certain point on the wall.

Before starting this exercise, you can start off by movement of the eyes without moving the head, where you roll your eyeballs up and down, sideways and from corner to corner diagonally. Initially, you can make this movement with the open eyes and then repeat them with the closed eyes. This will give the requisite exercise to the eye muscles. This is then followed by trataka. Trataka makes the eyes clear, improves eyes and silences the mind. Over a period of time, you will experience the silence of the mind. If you want to meditate, start with trataka to silence the mind and then go to the meditation. This way, you will reap the benefits of meditation. Since you are exercising the eye muscles, they become stronger. You can perform this kriya daily without any harmful effects.

Kevin Pederson is the webmaster for Yogawiz that provides loads of information on Basics of Yoga, Office Yoga, Asanas and Poses. Trataka is an excellent eye exercise. It can also lead to silencing the turbulent mind.

http://www.yogawiz.com

Hiatal Hernia - A More Dangerous and Hard to Detect Form of the Common Illness

Hiatal hernia is not as widespread as inguinal hernia which is the most encountered form but it is the second most common type of hernia so you should know what it is and how it manifests in order to know if you are suffering from it and what to do in this case.

Most hernias occur in the abdominal area. Hiatal hernia appears in the upper parts of the abdomen, at the diaphragm. A simple definition of hernia is that it is a disease that appears when a certain part of the body loses its resistance, because it gets old in most cases, and another part of the body that is in contact with the first one slips through a small hole that appears in the first part. Depending on the body parts involved in this hernia can be divided into more types.

Hiatal hernia involves the diaphragm, which is the first ‘organ’ from the situation above, the one that gets weakened, and the stomach, its upper side in most cases is the second one. The stomach is supposed to stay under the diaphragm (the muscular membrane that separates the abdomen from the lungs), but the diaphragm has a small hole in it through which the esophagus passes. The area around the hole weakens and a part of the stomach passes through it and slides inside the chest cavity. There are two forms of hiatal hernia, sliding hiatal hernia, when the stomach slides through the opening in the diaphragm between the stomach and esophagus as mentioned above, which is the most common form, and rolling hiatal hernia, less encountered, when the stomach slides along the esophagus not between it and the stomach.

Unlike other forms of hernia you can’t feel the bulge that appears because the stomach slides inside the body, so in order to detect it you need to pay close attention if any of its symptoms show up, which is not that easy because in most cases it shows no easy-to-see symptoms! It usually causes heartburn, a warm feeling in the chest, because of the acid in the stomach that re-fluxes backwards in the esophagus. Most people feel symptoms after eating and lying down, they start feeling bad, especially if they eat hot spicy foods.

If you experience any of the mentioned above try paying a visit to your doctor and ask for a control. These symptoms also appear because of indigestion so don’t get alarmed until you receive diagnostic. It’s important to detect hiatal hernia early because if it’s left untreated it may lead to severe complications that include heart-attack! So periodically visit your doc and pay attention to the symptoms to avoid complications, but don’t panic as soon as you get a little heartburn because there’s a long way from that to a heart-attack.

If you want to find great information on different hernia subjects check out this links. You can find great content regarding hiatal hernia, inguinal hernia and many more at http://www.hernia-guide.com

Will Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

I suppose it was only a matter of time before the mass
marketing about diet and fitness and weight loss caught
up with Yoga.

After all, Yoga is certainly going through a period of
resurgance - not the first, as these things typically move
in cycles as does most of the market.

Typically though, when you read about Yoga, the topic is
peace of mind, spirituality, relaxation, meditation, perhaps
physical conditioning and strength (both physical and mental).

This time though, the debate rests squarely on yoga’s ability
to shed pounds in a society that is struggling with record
levels of obesity on the one hand, and a severe “thin” image
problem held by popular celebrities on the other.

A recent study started the heated debate by claiming a link
between yoga and weight loss.

Specifically, the study found that middle-age people who
practice yoga tended to experience gradual weight loss
over a 10-year period, while those that did not practice
yoga seemed to experience fairly substantial weight gain
over the same period.

Since the study was released, a constant barrage of skeptics
have pointed out flaws in the research that range from
self-reported results to missing many other factors that may
lead people to both practice yoga and have reduced weight.

As usual, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, at least
based on my own experiences.

It is much more likely that the positive factors of yoga
and meditation have on your mind and body impact your self-image,
nutrition choices, and overall stress level which are major
factors in weight control. We point to many of the benefits
of practicing yoga over at: http://www.yogasuccess.com

Stress not only results in unhealthy binge eating and poor
nutritional choices, but actually has physiological impacts on
your body that often result in craving foods that can result
in greater weight gain such as sugars, starches and carbohydrates.

In the end, what is important is that you are becoming healthier,
happier, experience less stress in your life and enjoy your
life to the maximum possible.

Let the journalists fight it out over who is technically right,
after all, they are likely all fighting to meet deadlines and
beat each other’s coverage of the story.

It’s time I took a break and go practice some meditation.

Discover A New World Of Peace, Tranquility, Happiness, and
Spirituality To Help You Make Sense Of It All. Visit Us
At http://www.yogasuccess.com - it’s Like A Breath Of Fresh Air!

Yoga Teacher Certification or Registration - Part 1

Lately, there has been a lot of confusion as to what credentials are needed to teach Yoga. There have been some recent changes within the certifying bodies who train Yoga teachers. Here are some of the most common questions and answers in regard to Yoga credentials and regulations.

Why should a Yoga teacher be certified? What about established Yoga teachers who don?t have a diploma? What is the ?right?? Yoga credential to have? When should I become a Registered Yoga teacher? Who regulates Yoga?

In many parts of the world Yoga teacher credentialing is a new phenomenon. Yoga teachers had very small groups of loyal students and Yoga was not a mainstream activity. This same lack of credentialing still occurs within Tai Chi and some of the Chinese martial arts. The belief among some traditional Yogis has been that credentials would lead to commercialization.

As Yoga became more popular the need for certification became clear. Yoga teachers should be certified for their own protection. With liability law suits being so popular these days, it would be prudent to have a Yoga teacher?s diploma on your wall. Yoga is not considered to be as dangerous as some of the other activities in health clubs, but some Yoga classes can be surprisingly vigorous, to say the least.

With Yoga classes reaching every corner of the earth, some students are jumping off the couch and going straight into the nearest Yoga class, without asking questions. This is one very good reason why Yoga teachers should have a questionnaire for new Yoga students. A questionnaire will inform you of health conditions, ailments, history, fitness level, and if a Yoga student is pregnant.

This sudden popularity of Yoga also creates a less formal relationship between the student and his or her Yoga teacher. Yoga may be seen as something to do in order to lose a little weight before swim suit season. Many new students of Yoga are ?just trying it out.? The incentive may be a doctor referral, a magazine article, or a news segment on television.

Yoga teaching credentials make acquiring liability insurance much easier. Depending upon the activities within a studio, the liability insurance policy chosen could be for Yoga only or a sports liability policy similar to what a health club would carry. So the short answer to the question,? Why should a Yoga teacher be certified?? It?s all about liability and don?t leave yourself uninsured. Yoga is a relatively safe pursuit, but you should still cover yourself.

? Copyright 2006 by Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Alcohol And Drug Treatment: Do You Know Someone Struggling With Addiction?

Do you like an occasional beer, or maybe a sip of wine? Alcohol consumption in moderation is not a problem per se. We all love to unwind with a fine wine or frosty brew. However, too many individuals take this leisurely habit to a whole new level. How much alcohol is too much? Well, if you don’t know, then you might want to do a reality check. Don’t make the mistake of becoming too easy-going with your social life.

Too many college kids do this with drinking and partying and none of them end up happy I can tell you. One glass, two glass and before they know it, only gulping down a case a night can satisfy their crave. It’s time to be well-informed, people. You have to control how much you drink and how often. If you don’t, then you just may end up in an alcohol and drug treatment program. I don?t think it?s fun in there.

Back in high school I watched a number of kids drink alcohol like it was milk. Where were they getting all those booze? I mean come on; someone had to be supplying it to them. They were clearly under the drinking age at the time. Regardless of where the supplies came from, they were chugging like there was no tomorrow. Some teens just think this is the only way to have fun and look cool. It?s a way to escape I guess. It’s their vehicle to a less stressful realm. Unfortunately it’s not healthy. People need to focus their energy on more legal and safer routes to a good time. No one wants to end up in an alcohol and drug treatment program.

Talking about alcohol and drug treatment programs, a close friend of mine was in one. I met him about seven years back, while working at a video store. It took me a while to realize that he had spent a mere 20 years on this earth. This amazed me when I found out because he was always carrying cases of beer in his car. He told me once that he drinks around 20 beers each night. I thought to myself, “God, this kid’s an alcoholic, and he’s not even old enough to buy it.” That’s crazy! However, there are many people out there in the same condition. Eventually he engaged the service of an alcohol and drug treatment program. These days he is alcohol free.

Do you or someone you love need the assistance of an alcohol and drug treatment program? If so, you can go on the Internet now and find the answers you’re looking for. There are alcohol and drug treatment centers just around the corner. Get that much-needed help today. This is your future we’re talking about here. Don?t drown it in endless drinking nights again.

John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for health, skin care, and other related information.

Yoga in Practice: Train Your Mind for Empowerment, Part 3

Sometimes, the pause in time, between intention and action, is the best time for Yoga practice. This gives you time to rationally focus on your intention. Of course, if this is an emergency, there will be no gap in time, and your action will most likely be reaction. Therefore, our reactions are not always rational, or positive, but with regular Yoga practice, that will change.

Earlier, I mentioned that you should ?eat, sleep, and drink? positive energy. However, with the practice of meditation, and/ or Yoga, you can always develop a state of tranquility (Santosha). There are many reasons for this, but one of the first among them is non-attachment to the outcome of your plans.

This does not mean you should give up, but the best laid plans are subject to change, at any moment. We cannot control nature, or the universe, so we have to ?roll with the punches.? Whether the outcome is good or bad, we have to adapt to this life the best we can, and we should be creative along the road of life.

Life is a journey, but we are not entirely in control of it. When we learn to accept what we cannot control - that is also Santosha. This state of acceptance is also a form of surrender to a ?higher authority; but to some people, this causes a feeling of helplessness. You should always maintain the frame of mind that -success is ?just around the corner.? Coincidentally, many students have this same positive feeling of hope and aspiration about their lives after a Yoga session.

If you are not in total control, how can success be so close? Life has ?ups and downs,? but innovators become achievers - when they recognize opportunities within their grasp. This is why you train your mind to react instantly to situations with sound solutions. There will be situations where you have control over the outcome, and this is the time when a trained mind has an advantage.

In order to second guess yourself about a decision, you need to have time. While you have that time for ?soul searching,? practice Yoga, meditate, pray, and come up with the best rational decision possible. When you have applied logical thought to the outcome, you cannot look back at decisions with regret.

Lastly, instant decisions depend upon how we have previously trained our mind. Yoga and meditation help you train your mind at all times. When you train your mind for empowerment, you will be able to make the most rational decision in an emergency. You will also be able to help those you love most.

? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Power Yoga: Your Choice for a Healthy Body and Mind

Power yoga is basically known as the “yoga with brawn”. This is the American version of ashtanga yoga, a kind of discipline that combines stretching, strength training, and meditative breathing.

A lot of poses look like basic callisthenics (push?ups, handstands, toe touches, and side bends). But the key to power yoga?s sweat-inducing, muscle-building power is the pace. As a replacement for pausing between poses as you would in traditional yoga, each move flows into the next, making it a powerful aerobic workout.

Power yoga is an energetic exercise that challenges you physically and mentally in order to help you connect to your inner power. The power yoga poses are performed at a fast pace unlike regular yoga. One big benefit is that it can help you increase your physical endurance and ability to focus on a task for a long time without even breaking your concentration. In power yoga there is still the need to execute the basic yoga postures. Power yoga poses offer a vigorous workout which can be done even by beginners.

Power yoga aficionados have their sessions in a heated room. These sessions are composed of accurate cardiovascular exercises. It is designed to build strength and flexibility. Power yoga has also the ability to increase your stamina, tone your body, and remove toxins through sweating.

Since power yoga sessions are rigorous and painstakingly thorough, they should only be done by people who are physically fit and who are not suffering from chronic ailments. One element of power yoga that distinguishes it from other forms of the practice is a breathing technique known as ujjayi.

This deliberate “whoosh, whoosh, whoosh” breathing is an integral part of the poses. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, adding a meditative component to the workout and leaving you with a transforming sense of calm that lingers long after you’ve rolled up your exercise mat.

Power yoga still focus on the main goal of classical yoga, which is to unite the body, the mind, and the spirit. Yoga is practiced to help you get connected to your inner core of power.

Power is also classified into several levels. The first is the physical power which is developed through the poses which develop the body?s strength and improve one?s health. The key to the second level is the mental power of drawing your mind from scattered thoughts and concentrating on your practice. And the last one is spiritual power - the power behind your physical and mental powers. Through these powers, yoga can connect your body, mind, and spirit to the deepest level.

There are some basic precautions for the power yoga beginner. Tell your instructor if you’re a first-timer and never stretch to the point that you feel the pain. Since power yoga involves a lot of twisting and weight-bearing moves, you should be especially cautious if you have a history of neck, shoulder, or knee injuries.

Power yoga is a big help in training for athletes and also aids in injury prevention and rehabilitation. Learning power yoga benefits people who want to improve their skills and performance - especially in sports like cycling, golf, football, and swimming. Many health clubs today promote the use of power yoga as a powerful body and mind exercise regimen.

Yoga has been a popular discipline for centuries because of its rejuvenating effect on body, mind, and spirit. If you are interested in yoga and what it can do for you, be sure to visit Katie Simpson’s Healing Spirit Yoga site at: http://www.healing-spirit-yoga.com

Bleeding Ulcer, or What can Happen if You Don’t Treat a Simple Ulcer

Ulcer is a disease that unfortunately makes more and more victims each year, because modern lifestyle helps this disease to appear and advance. Ulcer is caused by a bacteria called Heliobacter Pylori, which billions of people are carrying. If a person that carries this bacteria lives a stressful life and eats a lot of spicy food (factors that help the bacteria quickly evolve) then he/she will most likely suffer from one of the many forms of ulcer. Ulcer occurs because this bacteria slowly eats the protective membrane around the lining of the stomach and exposes the sensitive tissue beneath it to the dangerous gastric acids inside the stomach. Therefore, ulcer causes an open wound in the stomach, esophagus or duodenum.

If someone has discovered that he or she is suffering from ulcer then the treatment must start as soon as possible because if the disease is left untreated severe complications can appear. The treatment is simple, the patient is prescribed a series of medication depending on the type of ulcer and how advanced it is.

But what happens if a person is not aware that ulcer is affecting him/her or if he/she simply leaves the disease untreated? Well an untreated ulcer can turn into a much worse form of ulcer - bleeding ulcer. It’s called bleeding ulcer because loss of blood occurs due to the fact that H pylori keeps eating the tissue until it reaches the blood vessels and blood starts to enter the digestive track.

Someone that has bleeding ulcer will start vomiting blood, have black, loose stools, will start to experience pain in the abdominal area and indigestions will often follow a meal. In extreme cases, if nothing is done about the ulcer it will eventually lead to death, so bleeding ulcer must be treated immediately after it’s discovered or its consequences will be felt in the entire body. Bleeding ulcer is treated through surgery in most cases, but surgery is not required if the illness is detected early. It is hoped that in the near future ulcer and bleeding ulcer treatment will be much easier because new medical tehniquies are researched intensively every day, since this disease affects more and more people and the situation is becoming alarming.

In conclusion, if you suspect that you have ulcer or bleeding ulcer pay a visit to the local doctor and ask for his advice as soon as you can, because in the early stages both ulcer and bleeding ulcer are treated with just a few pills, which is of course much better that going through surgery and suffering life-threatening complications.

More information about ulcer or about ulcer Symptoms can be found on this website http://www.ulcer-center.com/

Dizziness

Have you ever felt like the floor is tilting up towards you and is going to hit you smack dab in the middle of your forehead?

Have you ever looked around you and suddenly felt as if the room was spinning around, or have images swirled and spun around you?

If so, you have experienced a bout of dizziness…

Dizziness can happen for a variety of reasons. I?ve gotten it plenty of times when I forget to eat for an extended amount of time. I know that sounds silly. How does someone forget to eat? But I?ll bet lots of you reading this article have done it as well. In fact, when men with diabetes don’t take in the correct calories, dizzyness is often a result.You can also suffer from dizziness if you?re sick. An ear infection will really give you a good dose of dizziness because the liquid in your ear helps you to keep your balance. You can also have a viral infection and because your body is under attack and very weak, you may feel dizzy and this could cause vomiting. Strangely enough, sinus attacks can also trigger bouts of dizziness. An acute stroke can give you nausea and dizziness as well. If you suffer from a loss of speech or numbness in any part of the body along with the dizziness, you may be suffering a stroke and it is critical that you see a doctor immediately. Drug use and alcohol use can cause dizziness. Most of you have probably learned this first hand already. I know I have.

Sometimes you might feel dizzy, then light-headed and before you know it you?ve passed out. If this has happened to you, I hope for your sake that nothing was in your path when you went down like a sack of potatoes. You can also suffer from dizziness while exerting yourself. There is a good reason why exercise machines all have that warning label on them that reads ?if you?re feeling any dizziness, stop and take a rest? or some other similar warning. When your body is starved for oxygen, it doesn?t have the resources to power the muscles and brain, so you feel dizzy. It?s basically your body delivering a warning sign that says ?dude, stop whatever it is your doing, or else I?m shutting you down.? Dizziness is more common in older adults than it is in children or people who are in the prime of their lives. However, it is important to remember that no one is immune to dizziness. It can happen to anybody at any age especially with the presence of heart disease. Dizziness should be reported to your doctor. If you feel dizzy for prolonged periods, or you have frequent dizzy spells, then you should definitely see your family doctor. If you have other warning signs such as numbness in any part of your body, confusion or a loss of sight, you may be suffering a stroke and it is imperative that you contact the hospital immediately.

Don’t forget… dizziness is not a disease, it’s always a symptom of something else.

As a website dedicated to advancing the understanding of men’s health and male sexual performance issues facing men everyday, 4-Men.Org is considered a leading authority on the issue of male health.

Ashtanga Yoga - Is It Right for You?

Ashtanga Yoga is the type of yoga which was developed and founded by K. Pattabhi Jois. This type of yoga is known as the Eight Limb Yoga which has revolved in Pattanjali’s enormous idea. It presented that the path of purification is made up of the eight spiritual practices.

The first four limbs that represent Ashtanga Yoga are ? yama, niyama, Asana and the Pranayama. These are considered cleansing practices which are externally correctable. The other set of limbs which are the ? pratyahara, dhyana, dharana are the internal practies.

These limbs can only be corrected by the proper application of the Ashtanga Yoga method. This type of yoga method is quite dangerous to the mind.

K. Pattabhi Jois said that practicing these Eight Limbs and also its sub-limbs of the external practices which include the niyama and yama is not possible. In doing so, the body should be strong so that it can perform the practices well enough. If the body is weak, and the sense organs are not functioning well, practicing will never be useful at all.

This is a philosophy that K. Pattabhi Jois has applied, this is important to understand so that in doing the practice, you are sure that the body will improve and the keep it stronger and healthier.

Vinsaya and Tristhana is practiced in Ashtanga Yoga.

The Vinsaya is a style that makes Ashtanga and its principles distinct from the others. Vinsaya means the movement and breathing which is used for the internal cleansing process. Each movement done is accompanied by only one breath. Sweat is the most important product of Vinsaya. When you produce sweat, it only means that you are successfully applying the practice. When you perform the Asanas, the body creates heat which causes your blood to boil and excrete the toxins outside of your body. The toxins are found in your sweat. So the more sweat you create, the more toxins are released.

The poses are used to fully develop the strength and health of the body. The series of practices make this possible. There are three postures used in Ashtaga Yoga.

The three are classified on different levels.

The first is the Primary Series which aims on aligning the body and also detoxifying it.

The second is the Intermediate Series opening and cleaning the energy channels which comes to the process of purifying the Nervous System.

The last series would be the Advanced Series from A to D. in this series, the grace and strength is measured.

The Tristhana is another yoga principle which represents the union of the three places of action and attention. First is the posture, second is the breathing technique ad last is the Dristhi of the Looking Place. All these three should work altogether to perform a function.

Breathing techniques are simultaneous and synchronized. It is important to make a single breath for one movement. Ujjayi Breathing is the Yoga Breathing Technique used in the application of Ashtanga Yoga. Applying this technique must be prolonged after every practice. What you need to master is holding your pose longer at the same time hold your breath. This is an amazing breathing exercise that will increase your internal fire and will strengthen the Nervous System.

Both Ashtanga and Tristhana deal with the series of Dristhi. The Dristhi is described as the point on which you gain your focus or attention while doing the Asana. This enables your mind to be purified and stabilized clearly.

Setting the mind clear and cleansing it can only be done in the Eight-Limb Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga.

yogaweb.info is a website that likes to give information to people that needs information.
On the site you can find a lot of advice and about 1000 informative articles,
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The Journey Of Yoga Through Mind

Yoga is a transformative art, and deceptively simple. At least, although the advanced yoga postures are in fact difficult to the unpracticed, and look it, the changes that yoga can bring into one’s life belie the apparent simplicity of stretching muscles.

After all, we stretch muscles at the gym during a warm up. So what is the basic difference between yoga and regular workouts, including pilates. Pilates, after all, took some of its inspiration from yoga. Or at least the aspect of yoga that is made of the physical exercises, the asanas.

Yoga integrates the breath and consciousness with physical stretches in a way that I haven’t even felt in pilates, although pilates is great as a way of strengthening the internal muscles of the body as well, particularly the pelvic floor.

But in yoga, through the breath, and focusing on it within our body, we come to a greater understanding of both our body and ourselves. We begin a more conscious relationship with our individuality. We meet that unique expression of ourselves expressing physically in that moment. And we are able to begin a process of changing that which is blocking the vital flow of our energy.

That is why it doesn’t matter what state we are in when we begin practising a yoga posture. We might be more or less stiff, or in pain, or distracted, than usual. It is a journey of discovery, not of trying to fit ourselves into an external idea, even if that idea is represented in that moment by the yoga posture we are trying to do. Desikachar writes that the body can “only gradually accept an asana”. (Desikachar) We should not strain ourselves, or judge ourselves, if we cannot fit into that posture. That posture is a possible outcome, yes, but what we do in our practice of yoga is to take the journey.

Desikachar makes another important point: “We should remain flexible so that we are still able to react to changes in our expectations and old ideas. The more distanced we are from the fruits of our labors, the better we are able to do this… Paying more attention to the spirit in which we act and looking less to the results our actions may bring us - this is the meaning of isvarapranidhana in kriya yoga”

The asanas are a way of preparing ourselves to more fully meet the challenges of life in a way that does not throw us off balance, and increases our capacity to adapt to those changes that are inherent in life. They allow us to be more sensitive and aware to what is really going on inside us, and in life itself. This growing self knowledge then provides us with a more complete picture in which our responses to whatever situations confront us more accurately reflects what is truly present. There is a deeper engagement that goes beyond the vagrancies of the mind, the self doubt, the domination of our preconceptions and expectations, or our need for something to be a certain way.

When we are distracted or preoccupied with doubts, worries, and fears, and even hope that is attached to an outcome (need), the vital energy of our whole being is leaking, diffused. Through yoga practice, we are able to clear the detritus, to redirect our diffused energy within, to sit within the body, our being, again. This is an energetic aspect of self-mastery. Integral to this is the knowledge of oneself as whole, and simultaneously a part of the wholeness that is within everything.

References: Desikachar, Heart If Yoga

If you’d like to learn more about yoga poses, see this article. This guide to locust pose yoga is illustrated and with variations for locust pose described, so that it can be adapted to anybody.

What Makes Ashtanga Yoga Different?

Ashtanga Yoga is the type of yoga which was created and established by a master named K. Pattabhi Jois. Due to its theory containing eight different limbs, or components, it is also known as “Eight-Limb Yoga”. It doesn’t imply that the practitioner has a double set of limbs, but master Pattabhi Jois showed that the optimum path of purification is made up of the eight spiritual practices.

The basic idea is that these limbs only can be kept in balance by the appropriate application of the Ashtanga Yoga method.

The first four limbs that symbolize Ashtanga Yoga, and are considered externally correctable are (original names within double quotes):

- Moral codes or “yama”
- Self-purification or “niyama”
- Posture or “asana”
- Breath control or “pranayama”

Then there is the other set of limbs which are the internal practices:

- Sense control or “pratyahara”
- Meditation or “dhyana”
- Concentration or “dharana”
- Contemplation or “samadhi”

K. Pattabhi Jois declared that practicing these Eight Limbs as well as its sub-limbs of the external practices which contain the niyama and yama is impossible. In doing so, the body should be strong so that it can technically perform the methods well enough. If the body is weak, and the sense organs are not functioning well, practicing will never be productive at all.

This is a primary philosophy that K. Pattabhi Jois has applied, it is of prime importance for the Asthanga practitioner to learn and understand this way of thinking. This will make you confident in that the body will significantly improve and become stronger and healthier.

Vinsaya and Tristhana are performed in Ashtanga Yoga.

The Vinsaya is a style that makes Ashtanga and its fundamental principles different from the others. Vinsaya basically means the movement and breathing which is used effectively together in order to cleanse the body. Each movement done is accompanied by only one breath. Sweat is the most important product of Vinsaya. When you produce sweat, it only indicates that you are successfully applying the method. When you perform the Asanas, or postures, the body produces heat which causes your blood to “boil” and excrete the toxins outside of your body. The contaminations are found in your sweat. So the more sweat you produce, the more toxins are released. This is the natural way for the body to get rid of unwanted substances.

The poses are used to fully develop the physical strength and health of the body. It is the sequence of practices that make this possible. There are three postures used in Ashtaga Yoga.

The three are grouped on different levels:

- The first is the Primary Series which aims on aligning the body and also detoxifying it.

- The second is the Intermediate Series opening and cleansing the energy channels which comes to the process of purifying the Nervous System.

- The last series would be the Advanced Series from A to D. In this set, the grace and strength are assessed.

The Tristhana is another yoga principle which symbolizes the close union of the three places of action and attention. First is the posture, second is the breathing technique ad last is the Dristhi of the Looking Place. All these three should work altogether to perform a function.

The breathing is always controlled and synchronized with the movements, in such a way that each movement is accompanied by breath. Ujjayi Breathing is the Yoga Breathing Technique used in the implementation of Ashtanga Yoga. Applying this ancient technique is something that you should work on gradually in your daily practise. What you need to master is holding your pose longer at the same time hold your breath. This is an amazing breathing exercise that will intensify your internal fire and will toughen the Nervous System.

Both Ashtanga and Tristhana deal with the series of Dristhi. The Dristhi is defined as the point on which you acquire your focus or concentration while doing the Asana. This allows your mind to be purified and stabilized clearly.

Clearing your mind (that is sometimes compared to an over active monkey) and cleansing it is the ultimate goal in the Eight-Limb Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga.

Michael Hawkins writes books and articles about Yoga, fitness and health. A free Yoga Ecourse, that explores this exciting world of exercise and meditation, is available at his website http://www.yoga-central.net

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is widely known as a form of exercise that stretches and strengthens the
body through various poses known as ASANAS. For other people yoga is the
realization of inner self satisfaction. For others it is a religion that the believers
ought to follow.

All of this statement makes it hard to really make a full realization of what yoga
really is.

So what exactly is yoga?

Yoga goes far beyond just mere exercises full of awkward routines. Yoga is the
union of mind, spirit and body. Yoga comes from the Hindu philosophy used to
attain spiritual insight and harmony.

Yoga generally refers to the common use of a system of exercises that is practiced as part of this discipline.

The word is derived from the Sanskrit ?yeung?, which means to join. A yoke as used
on oxen is closely related, but also the same root gives us “join”, “junction”, “junta”,
“adjust”, “joust”, and “juxapose” to name a few.

There are many institutions of yoga all of which have their own unique practices and
beliefs. But in this article we have listed down the five most common yoga practices.
However, schools and paths have been established with many different variations
that aren’t listed here.

1. HATHA

This is the most popular variety of yoga and one that has been commonly
taught for years. So what is yoga for them? For them it is perfecting the mind by way
of perfecting the body.

With this technique many asanas or postures, breathing techniques and meditations
are used.

2. ASHTANGA

This yoga is another popular type they are much faster than the other
schools. What is yoga for ashtangas??

For them yoga can be considered as a type of aerobic yoga for they instill quick and
smooth transitions between poses.

3. KUNDALINI

This school is focused on awakening and focusing what is known as
kundalini energy. Kundalini energy is most easily compared to life energy that lies
dormant in our bodies. It is commonly represented by a coiled snake.

4. MANTRA

This type of yoga is focused on calming the mind and body through the
usage of words and sounds. The well known ‘om’ chant is commonly heard in this
school.

5. TANTRA

This type of school is well known by way of its focus on sexual spirituality.
They also focus on kundalini energy, although their intent for awakening it is much
different from the Kundalini practice.

Yoga is a very diverse practice, so no matter which school you choose. People young
and old can gain many benefits from regular yoga practices, and asanas can be
adjusted to fit physical limitations and other complications.

If you want a break from treadmills, weight rooms, or the pool, take a look at yoga.
Not only are you striving towards physical well being, you are striving towards
spiritual well being as well.

Traditionally, yoga consists of eight fundamental paths: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga,
Jnana Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Purna Yoga, Tantra Yoga, Maha Yoga and Ashtanga or Raja
Yoga. In the western world, the term yoga often refers to Hatha yoga and its
postures, movements, and breathing techniques.

The ultimate goal of yoga is the attainment of liberation from worldly suffering and
the cycle of birth and death. Yoga entails mastery over the body, mind, and
emotional self, and transcendence of desire. It is said to lead gradually to
knowledge of the true nature of reality.

? Copyright Melvin Chua, All Rights Reserved.

Melvin has dozens more related articles and tips on doing yoga at his site: doing yoga, check them
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Karmic Yoga is Joy in the Service of What

I've read about ?service as a spiritual practice? in many places lately for some reason, so I have decided to write about it. The fruit of most mature spirituality is usually some kind of service. When one forces oneself to do it out of guilt, it can often be a very painful experience. Service from the heart can be charity, social justice, transformational work, or healing work. The problem for some people, however, is that they don?t make much money for doing it. Many people do the things listed above, but are also paid for it, and some make a great deal of money, but can one do service in the true sense, while living in a capitalist country? Some of the impediments to doing service are a feeling of self esteem that is attached to how much one is paid, resentment because of ungrateful people receiving the services, being looked down upon, or feeling looked down upon, by friends, neighbors and relatives who think that we are just plain crazy.

If one begins to understand who one is doing service for, however, he can foresee any obstacles and prepare for them. Is one serving humanity? Is one serving himself? Is one serving God or the Universe? All of these questions need to be answered before entering into a life of service, or Karmic Yoga. If one is serving humanity it is very easy for him to eventually become resentful and angry. Many people are ungrateful if they receive anything free. This comes from the influence of a capitalist society, lack of clear thinking, and feeling that they don?t deserve to be treated well, on a subconscious level. This is the nature of humanity in some cases?they tend to think less of people who care for them, if they don?t like themselves. Though very few may be ungrateful wretches, there are also, always, some who are very grateful. Most are grateful, but it?s very easy to ignore them and focus on the negative. If one is doing service for humanity, it is important to be aware of this. Human beings are never easy to work with, and many of them have serious problems when it comes to clear thinking and self love.

If one is serving oneself, after a while, he or she will feel that they should be making more money. She will feel like a failure when her fulfillment doesn?t add up to more fulfillment then receiving decent compensation, and helping people. This will especially be the case if she stops liking the work, and begins to feel marginal about it; especially if she has spent a lot of money and has done a lot of studying to get a degree or certificate. Upon looking at peers and associates and seeing them prosper, it will be easy for her, if she is not careful, to become resentful, envious and a bit jealous. These signs will follow those who are doing service for themselves, instead of their clients or the Divine.

If one is doing service for God or the Universe, however, one will do it without expectation. They will know in their heart that they are creating a better world and allowing that part of their self that is the channel, or midwife of the loving presence that we call God, to thrive and usher love into the world. Their creativity will be released and everything will be done out of a love that supersedes the need for acclaim and compensation. When doing service for God or the Universe, one does work without expectation and one is sensitive enough to the spirit to realize that they are receiving gifts of the spirit as well as monetary gifts for the work they are doing. As a result of their work of sowing the seeds of love, they will reap the fruit of joy. That is why it is important to understand for whom you are doing service in the beginning. If you decide in advance for whom you will do the service, things may not run smoothly or perfectly, but if it is for humanity or yourself you will know what impediments to expect, and what to expect if it is for God.

People will think that you are crazy, of course, if you are doing service for a higher power. People will probably put you down, but others will always lift you up, and more importantly, you will be an example for coming generations. Doing service is a great way to seek the spirit and to find it quickly. Be sure, however, when you partake of Karmic Yoga that you are prepared. If you think that you are serving the Divine and any of the above things occur it will be time for you to refocus, do some more of the inner work?maybe even take a break until you are really doing service for the Divine.

Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For more article like this or similar information visit: http://www.dswellness.com

Yoga Clothing - What To Wear For Yoga?

The right yoga clothes will make your exercises a lot more enjoyable. The practice of yoga is a combination of various body poses. The goal is to promote a healthy and fit body. The question still remains - what should I wear?

It would help, if you knowing what you shouldn?t wear. Don?t wear anything that will restrict bodily movements. The obvious items including jeans, dress shirts will not allow the body to relax and breathe freely. As simple as it is, make sure that you take the time to use the proper clothing. Here are some things to look for in good clothing choices for yoga:

Loose-fitting is good- Form fitting clothing restricts the blood flow inhibits the correct breathing techniques. You should be able to able to perform various yoga poses. Try yoga shorts, sweat clothes, leotards or yoga pants.

Sweat absorbent- Lastly, there are some clothing options that are excellent. For example, the materials that they are made of are able to absorb sweat and keep it away from the skin. Look for specific yoga clothing selections for these.

Comfortable- You should be comfortable wearing whatever you choose. Since the objective is to relax you should never be worried about what you look like.

Yoga shoes/socks?- In some studios you are allowed to wear yoga shoes/socks. You should inquire ahead of time to be better prepared.

Just make sure your clothes fit your personal style and you?ll be able to keep your mind on what you were there to do in the first place ? Practice Yoga!

Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.yoga-made-ez.com/ On his website he provides free yoga lessons and more articles about health benefits of yoga.

How Silver Is Able To Kill Bacteria

Unlike antibiotics, silver acts against the single celled organisms by destroying or deactivating the enzymes that allow oxygen intake of the organism. With this action the cell membrane is destroyed and due to this the organisms DNA cannot make replicas and possible resistant strains. This phenomena exhibited by silver is completely natural and there is no chemically induced man made property in it. Colloidal silver is also non toxic and because of this property it doesn?t suppress our immune system that keeps on defeating many other microorganisms.

Before these antibiotics hit the local market in large numbers, there was some research done on silver. One of the examples available on the internet is ?The use of Colloids in Health Disease? by Alfred B. Searle. This book is full of research on the colloidal silver that was being carried out by many researchers before the bigger antibiotic companies market the captured and moved the focus on their drugs. The book illustrates the findings of the scientists and demonstrates the properties of silver against the germs.

The reason today?s biological warfare has become a big concern is that the microbes have become resistant against the antibiotics by mutations and there is no affect of medicines on them. That?s why a mass scale epidemic can kill several thousands of people. The one cell micro organisms are not resistant to the silver because they fail to acquire any resistance by either mutation or natural selection. This is the reason, why man has been using silver historically for enhancing his defenses against germs and many other diseases that he didn?t know of.

Peter Salazar’s source for quality supplements is www.utopiasilver.com.

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Yoga - Breathing Correctly A Simple Exercise To Help You Feel Better Instantly!

Breathing is one of our basic non-voluntary bodily functions, and is our connection to life itself and we also have control over it, so if we learn to breathe correctly we can actually maximize our health and energy levels.

The correct breathing exercise can be done by anyone you don?t need to know anything about yoga and it is a quick an easy way to look and feel better instantly.

Lets look at correct breathing and its benefits.

As we have control over it, in yoga philosophy it is believed that if we can breathe correctly we can energize our bodies and our lives. This fundamental believe in correct breathing is seen as the basic cornerstone of yoga and other forms of exercise such as Ti Chi ? They all base their exercise regime upon correct breathing.

Below we will look at how to use the basic Yoga principle of Pranayama?Control of the Breath to reenergize your whole body.

Breathing correctly why it?s so important

In many languages to breath has the same basic root as the word soul, spirit, and essence. The ancient Yoga Masters believed that if you can control your breathing, i.e. breath correctly you can enhance your life.

In Yoga the Yogis call the life energy Prana, and the Buddhists, Chi, but whatever you wish to call it, it is the energy that surrounds all life, all of creation and in the yoga philosophy we need it to derive the maximum from our lives

In Yoga it is believed that the breath holds more than just air, but also the energy of life. Therefore, by breathing correctly we not only take in a necessary dose of oxygen, but we also receive life energy at the same time, that acts as an energy boost to the whole body.

Breathing correctly to energize your body

The 20th century Yoga Master, Paramhamsa Yogananda taught through his organization, the Self-Realization Fellowship, a series of re-energizing exercises that focused on correct breathing that if performed each day, were believed to keep you fit, active, alert and energetic.

Correct breathing is one of the basic building blocks upon which all yoga exercises are based upon.

In yoga it is stressed that when you were feeling tired, or need some energy and general body re-charging, a correct breathing exercise can instantly give you a boost of energy.

Breathing correctly

Stand upright, with your arms straight out to your sides at shoulder level.

Exhale with the double breath, with your knees bent slightly and then bring your arms (still extended) to the front until your palms touch.

Then with a double inhalation this time, bring your arms back out, straightening your legs as you do so - and then tense the entire body upwards in a wave fashion.

Now, relax the body downwards in a wave in reverse order with another double exhalation. Repeat this exercise 5 times. To help you understand this, and to do it correctly, double breathing must be a short and long inhalation through the nose and a short and long exhalation through the nose and mouth.

The double breath will allow you to inhale and exhale more deeply and to provide oxygen to the blood, and at the same time take in a dose of life energy.

To practice the double breath, you should begin by inhaling strongly through the nose immediately with a short, defined inhalation followed directly by a long, profound inhalation - completely filling the lungs.

When doing so visualize the energy going into every cell of your body and filling you with energy.

Without pausing, exhale twice through the nose and mouth with a short, then a prolonged exhalation - making the sound: “Huf, Huffffffff.”

Try to visualize as you are breathing correctly, the life energy flowing into your body with every breath reenergizing your soul.

The positive benefits of correct breathing

If you practice only this exercise daily, you will gain positive benefits that will help you look and feel better.

Not only will you feel fresh and alert, you will also have exhaled by breathing correctly, many toxins and negative particles produced through our respiration process.

You will as a consequence look and feel healthier, you will be alert, and gradually you will come to sense the life energy that breathing correctly can give you.

This is a simple exercise that can be done by anyone even if you don?t want to practice yoga itself, correct breathing will give you health benefits with very little effort.

For more health tips articles and free magazines

For more information on yoga, breathing correctly and other simple methods to make you look and feel better visit

http://www.net-planet.org/health

Yoga in Practice: The Impact of Yoga Teachers on Society - Part 1

In the West, there was a time when practicing Yoga was kept secret. When I was a child, it was considered, ?a bit strange.? During the 50?s and 60?s, Yoga practice was associated with being part of counter culture movements, such as living the life of ?beatniks? or ?hippies.? Interestingly, I was told by a school teacher that I would some day grow up to be a beatnik.

Well, time has passed and Yoga has ?come out of the closet? in a giant wave. Yes, Yoga has gone ?Global.? The world society, as a whole, has been affected positively by Yoga classes and Yoga teachers.

Let?s look at some of the ways Yoga teachers, Yoga classes, and the many styles of Yoga have gently changed the world today. There is much more to Yoga than ?meets the eye,? at first glance. In fact, there is a Yoga style for every need, purpose, and personality.

When you consider the number of Yoga students, who want to change their lives on the physical level, union by physical mastery (Hatha Yoga) is easy for most students to grasp.

This is why you are seeing so many people gravitate toward Hatha Yoga, but I predict that Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga will become more popular in the near future. So, there is much more to Yoga, beyond exercises; but let?s continue with the benefits Yoga teachers make available in a typical Hatha Yoga style

Pranayama, or breathing techniques, are commonly taught in many Yoga classes. Yoga students learn to take control of their lives and regulate their health, just by breathing correctly. This is a form of preventative medicine, when you consider proper breathing as a practical deterrent to panic attacks, high blood pressure, chest pains, and many more stress-related ailments.

Yoga and Ayurvedic medicine address dietary needs based upon your ?dosha? or constitution. If a Yoga student wants to pursue this subject further, he or she can take a dosha test and develop a sensible, practical, and moderate Ayurvedic diet.

Kriyas or Shatkarmas are traditional Yogic cleansing techniques for detoxifying the body. Detoxification is needed more than ever - with so many unnatural foods available. At the very least, students of Yoga should be consuming eight glasses of quality water per day.

? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

What is Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga? (Part-II)

Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga has eight limbs(parts). In my earlier article, Yama and Niyama have been described briefly. Yama and Niyama are external limbs of Yoga; these are to be practised while leading social life. The rest six limbs - Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are internal limbs of Yoga. While practicing these six limbs one concentrates one’s mind on true self and realises the divine truth. In this article Asana and Pranayama have been described.

Asana(posture)

Asana is a posture of the body by which the body rests on a plane surface. For different actions man chooses different postures. For Yoga one should choose a comfortable posture by which one may concentrate mind on true self. For choosing a posture Patanjali describes - posture should be motionless and comfortable(II.46). So in Yogasana one rests one’s body in a comfortable and static posture so that all other succeeding limbs are practiced easily and one reaches upto the last limb i.e. Samadhi.

Different Schools of Yoga teach different Yogic exercises in the name of Yogasana. These Yogasana should be included in Tapa, a type of Niyama. In Tapa a practitioner imparts warmness or heat to the body through the practice of Yogic exercises and thereby the body becomes strong and diseaseless. Tapa and its exercises is external limb of Yoga; however the third limb of Yoga i.e. Asana is internal limb. Through Yogasana which involves exercise of the body, one cannot be motionless or feel comfortable. So in these postures one cannot enter into Samadhi. In true Asana rests one’s body comfortably and rises up above the gross mind, body and senses and realises the true self.

So for a motionless and comfortable Asana one should lie on a plane surface on one’s back with hands and legs streched. This is called Sukhasana. In this posture all the six internal limbs of Yoga may be practiced well. A human being may be partitioned into four - body, Prana(breath), mind, and bliss(soul). If any one of these is brought under control, others will come under control automatically. In Asana, body is kept motionless and as a result Prana(breath) and mind are brought under control. When everything is brought under control and becomes motionless, one feels the bliss of soul or true self.

Pranayama(breath control)

For common understanding Prana(life) is breath or breathing air. But in reality it is more than the air we breathe. It is the life force that moves out and moves in and these movements are expressed through the exhalation and inhalation of air. When this life force goes outside it mingles with the universal life force of all living beings and when it moves in, it touches every living cell in the body. The body functions because of this life force. The energy of this life force is unending. Through our numerous births this Prana works from birth till death. Body does not depend upon food solely, but it depends upon Prana solely. There are people who do not take food for months and years; but still they are able to work and live.

In reality body, Prana and mind are one. When any one of these three becomes motionless, the other two become motionless. In Sukhasana when the body is kept motionless for half an hour, Prana and mind become motionless. When Prana is motionless there is no inhalation or exhalation or breathing takes place in a very subtle manner. This is Pranayama. Patanjali teaches - after one rests in Asana, there is cut off in the movements of inhalation and exhalation and this cut off is Pranayama(II.49). This can be scientifically explained also. When the body is in motion, the rate of metabolism in the body is higher and so one breathes in quick succession. Conversely whe one is in rest the rate of metabolism is less and one breathes after a long pause. Again, when mind is restless, one breathes quickly and when mind is calm, one breathes normally.

Different Schools of Yoga, which teach to control breathing forcibly, only follow unscientific and impure Pranayama. By forcibly withhelding breath, one keeps carbon dioxide inside for a longer period and this may be fatal to the body cells. In pure and true Pranayama one has to do nothing. One should lie in Sukhasana and keep mind on the movement of breath across the nostrills. In this way body, mind and Prana become motionless naturally and become one. In Pranayama one concentrates mind and gives rest to this overworked Prana.

Author is a desciple of Late Munishvar Shiv kumar Shastri and practices Yoga as taught by him. His aim is to spread true spiritualism and yoga. Those who want to read more about spiritualism based on the Upanishads and Yoga based on Patanjali’s Yogasutra should go through his book ‘Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way’.
http://www.bookstobelievein.com/questfortruth.php
premansu_chand@rediffmail.com

Yoga Videos - Guidance And Counseling Towards Better Living

In this rush hour and hectic life every one is looking for peace and tranquility which becomes harder day by day. Many of us do not know the correct way to find relaxation which can be one of the very strenuous tasks to look for. Knowing yoga is very important and getting to learn from a proper yoga instructor is also very important.

Everyone may not have the time or money to invest in yoga classes which happens on an everyday basis. They can buy a yoga video or DVDs to suit their needs which can be very useful for them. These videos are very beneficial for all kind of people. It can be used by an amateur to anyone.

Different video for different people depending upon their needs and wants can be used. There are different types of yoga videos which can be used for all the different purposes such as in office, while traveling, during pregnancy, stress relief, relaxation techniques, for different cures, a yoga structure for your good health, yoga for the new learners, the basic yoga, complete yoga workout, yoga for strength, yoga to remove your diseases.

By trying such kind of different videos it would help many people who can’t travel much and can easily learn all the new things about yoga by getting these fantastic yoga videos or DVDs. It becomes an essential part of workout to let you remain fit and fine for the better part of your life. It spurts up ones passion for life due to the stress which is removed and the different relaxation techniques makes things easier.

Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz http://www.yogawiz.com, where you can find all the information on yoga by buying yoga videos or DVDs, which is very useful for all .

What is Chair Yoga?

Chair Yoga is a gentle form of Yoga. With so many types of Yoga available, here is one that most of us can practice. Inversions and complicated maneuvers are not necessary in a Chair Yoga class.

All it takes is the motivation to get started. Most Chair Yoga classes don?t use a Yoga mat, but the main prop used is a chair. This helps with balancing poses, and most common Yoga postures can be modified for the chair.

We have one particular Chair Yoga class, in Pawtucket, RI, that uses both chairs and Yoga mats. Within this type of Yoga class, you can cover standing, seated, supine, and prone postures. Most of our classes use the chair only, due to the difficulty of getting up, or down, on the floor.

Chair Yoga sessions are most commonly seen in senior centers, assisted living complexes, nursing homes, adult day care centers, and physical rehabilitation units. Clients can learn any number of Yoga postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and stage-by-stage relaxation, with the aid of a chair.

Standing postures, such as Triangle and Warrior variations, can be practiced seated, or standing, with the aid of a chair. You can practice Sun Salutations or Vinyasa, (flowing postures), from seated or standing positions.

Contrary to popular opinion, Chair Yoga is not for seniors only. Most of us take our good health for granted. The physically handicapped have no age boundaries, and they are very enthusiastic students.

Due to trauma, or a debilitating disease, at any time, any one of us could become physically handicapped. Most of us drive cars every day, and there is always a risk of an auto accident.

Some younger family members of seniors, and the physically handicapped, get involved in classes and private sessions. When family members participate in a class, or private session, it is always a good quality time for everyone.

Chair Yoga teachers must continually educate themselves, be knowledgeable of body mechanics, use of props, and a variety of ailments. This field requires teachers with compassion and the patience to help those who are doing their personal best.

It is also a field with growth opportunities; as the population is aging, there are not enough Chair Yoga teachers to go around. Some estimates indicate there are 1.5 million, or more, Yoga practitioners, over the age of 55, within the United States. Therefore, the demand far outweighs the supply of Yoga teachers for this particular field.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
 
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