Ashtanga yoga, also known as power yoga, is quickly gaining popularity among practitioners. So what is Ashtanga yoga? It is the form of yoga most used by athletes and those interested in quickly increasing strength and stamina. Because of that, Ashtanga yoga postures have a higher degree of difficulty than those in other styles. Additionally, they are done as part of series.
Usually, students doing Ashtanga yoga postures will move quickly from one to the other to maintain that focus on strength. That is in opposition to many other forms of yoga where the emphasis is on breathing, relaxation, and flexibility.
Who Should Practice Ashtanga Yoga?
Ashtanga yoga poses are for most anyone who is in decent shape. If you are new to exercise, this is probably not the form of yoga with which you should start. Even the very easiest of Ashtanga poses are very demanding on the body, especially since you will even start with a body warming routine that is designed to activate your muscles. Overall, Ashtanga yoga can provide you with a build up of strength, stamina, and even some flexibility which explains its popularity with those involved in athletics.
If you decide to give Ashtanga a try, you should expect things to progress quickly. You will likely start right off with a sequence of yoga poses. Those will be practiced until the teacher feels you have mastered it fairly well and have complete understanding of its fundamentals. Then, you will move on to another series and a higher level of difficulty. Overall, it is a very fast moving form of yoga.
Ashtanga Poses
As for the Ashtanga yoga poses, they range widely in terms of positioning. You will find yourself moving from standing, backbent, inverted, balancing, seated, and even twisting poses. In power yoga, the sun salutation sequence of poses is very popular as well, so you will often use standing forward bend, upward dog, downward dog, and many other poses sprinkled in as well.
Though much of the focus in Ashtanga yoga poses is on the development of stamina and strength, you will also, as with any yoga, be focusing. You will be asked to focus your eyes on a point as you move through the poses given out by your instructor. In order to get the full effect and benefit of Ashtanga, you should make sure that your muscles and perhaps even the rooms are very warm. This ensures maximum flexibility and minimal injury as you work through the demanding postures.
If you are into athletics, exercise, or just want a new physical challenge, perhaps you should consider giving Ashtanga yoga a try. The clear choice of athletes and an increasingly popular form in general, it is perfect for those that are in decent shape and want to increase their strength, stamina, and flexibility. Power yoga is a series of poses taken in a quick and free flowing sequence. Even the classes move quickly with teachers adding more difficult sequences every time one is fairly well mastered. So if you learn fast, like to work hard, and think you are up to the challenge of power yoga, then you may benefit greatly from Ashtanga yoga poses.
References: http://.yoga.org.nz/what-is-yoga/yoga_styles.htm
If you’d like to find out more about ashtanga yoga postures, see this article. Ashtanga yoga is great for losing weight, so if you’re interested in learning about the benefits of yoga breathing and weight loss, click here.
Showing posts with label Popularity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Popularity. Show all posts
March 6, 2009
Yoga Positions ? A Few Tips
Yoga positions and the practice of yoga can be beneficial to your mind, your muscles, and even internal functions like your digestive system. With so many benefits, it is no wonder that yoga?s popularity is on the rise. Before you take it up, though, it is a good idea to have in mind the right information to help you succeed and get the most out of the experience. Take these yoga tips into account as you begin your physical, mental, and spiritual journey.
Practice Makes Perfect
Practice your positions often. Yoga offers many benefits to your mind, body, and spirit, and these benefits may be maximized with regular practice on your own in addition to your classes and with your teacher. As a beginner, it is especially important that you practice so that you may see and feel the benefits early on. With yoga, the frequency with which you work on your positions is as important if not more so than the length of the practice sessions. Try to find a few minutes each day to do a little bit of yoga.
Make sure that you practice your poses correctly. Most anything you read, watch, or listen to about yoga will tell you to practice often, but one of the yoga tips that sometimes get skipped is that you must practice right. Make sure that each practice session extends you. Do not practice only your best poses, but also work on poses you struggle with as well. Such a practice will be more productive and give you the feeling of self-assurance that you seek with yoga.
Maximizing Your Potential
One of the more important tips for beginners is to let go of your ego. In order to fully maximize your yoga experience, you must forget about such things as impressing your teacher and classmates. One of the central ideas of yoga is self-study. To fully study yourself, you must try not to compare yourself to the teacher or other students, but instead, you should strive to maximize your own learning and improvement during each class and practice session.
Finding Yourself
During practice, remember what is important. The depths of your poses are not nearly as important as how deep you delve into yourself. In yoga, you learn about your inner attention. Be sure to use that attention when practicing and when with your instructor to get the most out of your poses even if you cannot get deeply into them physically.
Finding the Right Teacher
No number of yoga positioning tips can compete with having the right teacher. When selecting a yoga teacher, make sure you find someone with whom you feel comfortable. Your instructor should have good knowledge and work through compassion and respect for you as a person. No matter how many books you read or tapes you watch, you will never get the feedback and encouragement that you will with the right teacher.
As a beginner in yoga, there are undoubtedly times that you feel a bit lost. That is okay. Hopefully, though, with these tips you will have an idea of what you need to do to feel more successful in your yoga experience. Yoga is not a religion, but in some ways it does become a way of life, and by following these tip you can start your journey toward that way of life on the right foot.
References:
1. yoga.com
2. yogaeverywhere.com
If you’d like to learn about 6 beginner asanas, click here. Or if you’re pregnant, check out these prenatal yoga exercises.
Practice Makes Perfect
Practice your positions often. Yoga offers many benefits to your mind, body, and spirit, and these benefits may be maximized with regular practice on your own in addition to your classes and with your teacher. As a beginner, it is especially important that you practice so that you may see and feel the benefits early on. With yoga, the frequency with which you work on your positions is as important if not more so than the length of the practice sessions. Try to find a few minutes each day to do a little bit of yoga.
Make sure that you practice your poses correctly. Most anything you read, watch, or listen to about yoga will tell you to practice often, but one of the yoga tips that sometimes get skipped is that you must practice right. Make sure that each practice session extends you. Do not practice only your best poses, but also work on poses you struggle with as well. Such a practice will be more productive and give you the feeling of self-assurance that you seek with yoga.
Maximizing Your Potential
One of the more important tips for beginners is to let go of your ego. In order to fully maximize your yoga experience, you must forget about such things as impressing your teacher and classmates. One of the central ideas of yoga is self-study. To fully study yourself, you must try not to compare yourself to the teacher or other students, but instead, you should strive to maximize your own learning and improvement during each class and practice session.
Finding Yourself
During practice, remember what is important. The depths of your poses are not nearly as important as how deep you delve into yourself. In yoga, you learn about your inner attention. Be sure to use that attention when practicing and when with your instructor to get the most out of your poses even if you cannot get deeply into them physically.
Finding the Right Teacher
No number of yoga positioning tips can compete with having the right teacher. When selecting a yoga teacher, make sure you find someone with whom you feel comfortable. Your instructor should have good knowledge and work through compassion and respect for you as a person. No matter how many books you read or tapes you watch, you will never get the feedback and encouragement that you will with the right teacher.
As a beginner in yoga, there are undoubtedly times that you feel a bit lost. That is okay. Hopefully, though, with these tips you will have an idea of what you need to do to feel more successful in your yoga experience. Yoga is not a religion, but in some ways it does become a way of life, and by following these tip you can start your journey toward that way of life on the right foot.
References:
1. yoga.com
2. yogaeverywhere.com
If you’d like to learn about 6 beginner asanas, click here. Or if you’re pregnant, check out these prenatal yoga exercises.
March 2, 2009
Yoga Clothing And Yoga Wear
Yoga has really increased in popularity in the last couple of years. Widely held as a great form of exercise for both your body and your mind, people have been adopting this ancient form of meditation all over the world. As far as equipment is concerned there is very little required to get started.
As time goes by you will improve your technique, posture and that’s when you start enjoying your routines a lot more. Even though there are no ‘props’ required for yoga, you will find certain specific forms of clothing that help you in performing these exercises. Not only will these clothing items make you feel more comfortable and confident in your training, but they should also assist you to improve your style.
One of the very important things to remember about yoga is that this practice has its roots in Hinduism which has been around for centuries. In its eastern form, there was no recommended attire. However, in the western form of this practice, it is not only the style of clothing that is important, but also the quality of the fabric that is used. There are also traditional stitching patterns and methods that are part of the yoga tradition and if you are serious about getting legitimate yoga clothing then you should make sure that you are getting real yoga stitching as well. This will require you to go to a high quality and serious manufacturer who really is dedicated to the art of yoga.
For those who are doing their own research on this topic please keep in mind that yoga attire includes monks meditation robes, sitting jackets, sitting pants, kimono and jubon. There are also western adaptations of these eastern traditional garments. Besides the clothing, there are also meditation cushions and traditional bags that can also help you with your development and commitment to yoga as an art.
At the very least you should look to make sure that the yoga garments you are considering purchasing are made from one hundred per cent pre shrunk cotton. You will also have to ensure that you can dry them on a clothes line after washing, or on the lowest temperature of your dryer.
You can get your yoga clothing in a variety of colours and also different weights depending on the weather conditions that you think you will be practising in. There are usually two weights, a light one for spring and summer, and a warmer heavier one for the winter and fall. The costs will vary but you should not expect to pay extortionate prices unless you are really looking at something special.
Visit http://www.yoga-made-ez.com/ to read articles about pranayam and pranayama exercices.
As time goes by you will improve your technique, posture and that’s when you start enjoying your routines a lot more. Even though there are no ‘props’ required for yoga, you will find certain specific forms of clothing that help you in performing these exercises. Not only will these clothing items make you feel more comfortable and confident in your training, but they should also assist you to improve your style.
One of the very important things to remember about yoga is that this practice has its roots in Hinduism which has been around for centuries. In its eastern form, there was no recommended attire. However, in the western form of this practice, it is not only the style of clothing that is important, but also the quality of the fabric that is used. There are also traditional stitching patterns and methods that are part of the yoga tradition and if you are serious about getting legitimate yoga clothing then you should make sure that you are getting real yoga stitching as well. This will require you to go to a high quality and serious manufacturer who really is dedicated to the art of yoga.
For those who are doing their own research on this topic please keep in mind that yoga attire includes monks meditation robes, sitting jackets, sitting pants, kimono and jubon. There are also western adaptations of these eastern traditional garments. Besides the clothing, there are also meditation cushions and traditional bags that can also help you with your development and commitment to yoga as an art.
At the very least you should look to make sure that the yoga garments you are considering purchasing are made from one hundred per cent pre shrunk cotton. You will also have to ensure that you can dry them on a clothes line after washing, or on the lowest temperature of your dryer.
You can get your yoga clothing in a variety of colours and also different weights depending on the weather conditions that you think you will be practising in. There are usually two weights, a light one for spring and summer, and a warmer heavier one for the winter and fall. The costs will vary but you should not expect to pay extortionate prices unless you are really looking at something special.
Visit http://www.yoga-made-ez.com/ to read articles about pranayam and pranayama exercices.
February 25, 2009
How Much Yogis Earn
The Yoga as conceived by the yogis who first practised it thousands of years ago in India was not primarily for providing basic relaxation technique, but at a much higher sought liberation of the soul. This quest for knowledge which eventually led to the practise of Yoga is a well documented fact.
But how much do Yogis today who practise it as a profession earn? Though a definitive answer cannot be brought on this, since Yoga is practised in almost 140 countries today and the rates vary based on the national cost factors and also the popularity of Yoga, still it is a truth that Yoga teachers do make quite a profit out of taking Yoga lessons.
In India, the home of Yoga, there has recently arisen a huge popularity for Yoga. Organizations such as “Art of Living” (which also exists in USA and numerous other countries), which teach basic yoga lessons and breathing exercises, charge as much as thousand rupees for a week’s class which is considered quite considerable.
Among the western nations, USA has also taken to Yoga in a big way, mainly due to its contribution to the general well being of the body. The Yogi teachers are paid variably in different parts of the country. In New York for example, the teachers are paid a basic of $35 per hour for the classes and Gyms pay upto $65 per hour for an hour of class. This most often tends to be only the basic pay. The payments often tend to increase based on the number of students who sign up for the classes. This varies from $3 to $5 for every student signed up.
Apart from this are the private classes where students are ready to pay even as much as $80 for an hour’s class.So considering a part-time Yoga teacher who takes a class one hour in the morning and a minimal one hour in the evening, the payments can be as high as $3000 per month.All this for only two hour’s work in a day.
Now that is financial liberation more than the spiritual one!
Anand Srinivasan is the author of the website http://XooXonline.info; a growing website of random and informative content that is ideal for a person who surfs the net but doesn’t know what to!
But how much do Yogis today who practise it as a profession earn? Though a definitive answer cannot be brought on this, since Yoga is practised in almost 140 countries today and the rates vary based on the national cost factors and also the popularity of Yoga, still it is a truth that Yoga teachers do make quite a profit out of taking Yoga lessons.
In India, the home of Yoga, there has recently arisen a huge popularity for Yoga. Organizations such as “Art of Living” (which also exists in USA and numerous other countries), which teach basic yoga lessons and breathing exercises, charge as much as thousand rupees for a week’s class which is considered quite considerable.
Among the western nations, USA has also taken to Yoga in a big way, mainly due to its contribution to the general well being of the body. The Yogi teachers are paid variably in different parts of the country. In New York for example, the teachers are paid a basic of $35 per hour for the classes and Gyms pay upto $65 per hour for an hour of class. This most often tends to be only the basic pay. The payments often tend to increase based on the number of students who sign up for the classes. This varies from $3 to $5 for every student signed up.
Apart from this are the private classes where students are ready to pay even as much as $80 for an hour’s class.So considering a part-time Yoga teacher who takes a class one hour in the morning and a minimal one hour in the evening, the payments can be as high as $3000 per month.All this for only two hour’s work in a day.
Now that is financial liberation more than the spiritual one!
Anand Srinivasan is the author of the website http://XooXonline.info; a growing website of random and informative content that is ideal for a person who surfs the net but doesn’t know what to!
February 23, 2009
What to Look for When Hiring a Yoga Teacher (Part 2)
Safety is a number one priority. Yoga teachers, who take risks with their students, put your business at risk. The Yoga teacher, who physically abuses, his or her students, is not in the right profession.
Compassion is more than diplomacy and popularity, but these are a big help. When a Yoga teacher has compassion, the class is motivated to come back to the next Yoga class. This is a ?win-win? situation for any facility, which employs compassionate Yoga instructors.
Communication is more than good cueing skills. Students learn primarily by seeing, listening, and feeling. One of these senses will be more dominant than the rest. A competent Yoga teacher will be able to reach all of these types of students.
Cueing is a skill refined by describing specifically how the body moves from one posture to the next. This is the hardest communication skill for most Yoga teachers to master.
Assisting is another communication skill, but must be applied gently, and with knowledge of alignment. Yoga teachers should ask for permission before making an assist. Otherwise, this can lead to misunderstandings. Assisting is great, but should not take over the entire class.
Demonstrating is very important. Some Yoga instructors like to walk around and cue. This is fine for part of the class, but what about the Yoga student who learns visually? This student is looking around at the Yoga teacher and everyone else.
Knowledge of alignment is not hard to learn, but some teachers get carried away with ?their own demonstration? and forget about everyone in the room. If a Yoga student is showing poor posture, it should be corrected.
Listening does not seem like a ?big deal,? but what about the Yoga teacher who doesn?t listen to his or her students? For example: A student has a problem in the L-5 area and the Yoga teacher decides to push the lower back a little. This could also be a lack of compassion, but some Yoga teachers do not listen to their students at all.
Modifications for beginners, older students, or those who have limited range of motion, due to skeletal compression are very important. The Yoga teacher, who makes no allowance for these conditions, also puts your facility at risk. Therefore, all Yoga teachers should know how to use props and have a good grasp of body mechanics.
Lack of teacher ethics can put you out of business. We are all aware of the consequences of harassment suits, so we do not have to go too deeply on this one. The best Yoga teachers treat everyone fair and equally. Discrimination of any kind is wrong and very costly.
Continuing education is important in any field, and Yoga is no different. Yoga teachers should stay current in their knowledge of safety, modifications, anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. They should also learn how to keep Yoga classes interesting with fresh ideas. In turn, this keeps members coming back for more.
Therefore, the best selection is a Yoga teacher with a balance of all these factors. The one dimensional Yoga teacher is not an optimum fit for any organization. Within this current climate of liability suits, safety is the most important factor of all.
Lastly, ask each Yoga candidate do an audition, and do not hire him or her until you have been part of the Yoga class. Always remember, ?Seeing is believing? and ?talk is cheap.?
? Copyright 2005 ? 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
Compassion is more than diplomacy and popularity, but these are a big help. When a Yoga teacher has compassion, the class is motivated to come back to the next Yoga class. This is a ?win-win? situation for any facility, which employs compassionate Yoga instructors.
Communication is more than good cueing skills. Students learn primarily by seeing, listening, and feeling. One of these senses will be more dominant than the rest. A competent Yoga teacher will be able to reach all of these types of students.
Cueing is a skill refined by describing specifically how the body moves from one posture to the next. This is the hardest communication skill for most Yoga teachers to master.
Assisting is another communication skill, but must be applied gently, and with knowledge of alignment. Yoga teachers should ask for permission before making an assist. Otherwise, this can lead to misunderstandings. Assisting is great, but should not take over the entire class.
Demonstrating is very important. Some Yoga instructors like to walk around and cue. This is fine for part of the class, but what about the Yoga student who learns visually? This student is looking around at the Yoga teacher and everyone else.
Knowledge of alignment is not hard to learn, but some teachers get carried away with ?their own demonstration? and forget about everyone in the room. If a Yoga student is showing poor posture, it should be corrected.
Listening does not seem like a ?big deal,? but what about the Yoga teacher who doesn?t listen to his or her students? For example: A student has a problem in the L-5 area and the Yoga teacher decides to push the lower back a little. This could also be a lack of compassion, but some Yoga teachers do not listen to their students at all.
Modifications for beginners, older students, or those who have limited range of motion, due to skeletal compression are very important. The Yoga teacher, who makes no allowance for these conditions, also puts your facility at risk. Therefore, all Yoga teachers should know how to use props and have a good grasp of body mechanics.
Lack of teacher ethics can put you out of business. We are all aware of the consequences of harassment suits, so we do not have to go too deeply on this one. The best Yoga teachers treat everyone fair and equally. Discrimination of any kind is wrong and very costly.
Continuing education is important in any field, and Yoga is no different. Yoga teachers should stay current in their knowledge of safety, modifications, anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. They should also learn how to keep Yoga classes interesting with fresh ideas. In turn, this keeps members coming back for more.
Therefore, the best selection is a Yoga teacher with a balance of all these factors. The one dimensional Yoga teacher is not an optimum fit for any organization. Within this current climate of liability suits, safety is the most important factor of all.
Lastly, ask each Yoga candidate do an audition, and do not hire him or her until you have been part of the Yoga class. Always remember, ?Seeing is believing? and ?talk is cheap.?
? Copyright 2005 ? 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
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