Yoga Teacher Training: January 2006

Monday, January 30, 2006

Yoga Paths

By Stephen Kreutzer

Since human beings began practicing yoga thousands of years ago, the symbol of a tree has often been linked with the discipline – and for good reason! Yoga has a multitude of branches when it comes to how you choose to practice and all of them are based on the same philosophy, or trunk, of spirituality. Hatha yoga is the one most well known to Westerners – the physical act of practicing poses. Here are a few other paths that you may choose to combine with your personal yoga practice.

Raja Yoga

In raja yoga, the main goal is a calm and spiritual, meditative state. There are eight principles that are followed strictly and in order in raja yoga and, though important, physical movement or poses is not the focus. The eight principles or stages are:

* Ethical standards or ‘yama’
* Self-discipline or ‘niyama’
* Posture or ‘asana’
* Breath control or ‘pranayama’
* Sensory withdrawal or ‘pratyahara’
* Concentration or ‘dharana’
* Meditation or ‘dhyana’
* Liberation or ‘samadhi’

Karma Yoga

The focus of karma yoga is on service and treatment of others. The basic idea is that our experiences today are a direct result of our past actions. Therefore, everything that those who practice karma yoga do today is in an effort to create a better future for themselves and those around them. They do this by eliminating the motivations of pessimism and egotism. This means living for others instead of ourselves.

Jnana Yoga

Those who practice jnana yoga are most concerned with the development of the mind. They are scholars interested in the philosophy behind yoga and they their yoga practice focuses on studying and understanding ancient and traditional texts. This is thought to be one of the most intense yoga disciplines as the learning is intense and difficult.

Unlike branches on a tree, the paths of yoga often intersect and overlap. Though it is difficult to hang from two or three tree branches at once, it is not difficult at all to practice more than one path of yoga. Try them all if you like and choose the ones that most appeal to you.

Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides yoga tips on http://www.justyogabasics.com/

Sunday, January 29, 2006

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

By Sacha Tarkovsky

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

Fireworks after Yoga Day USA

By Paul Jerard

There is an interesting press release from Medical News Today. The article is titled, “Yoga Day USA and The Distortion of Yoga in America.”

Within this article, the “Top 10 Reasons to Try Yoga,” come under fire. The reasons stated are, “stress relief, pain relief, better breathing, flexibility, increased strength, weight management, improved circulation, cardiovascular conditioning, better body alignment, and focus on the present - for health reasons.”

However, the author mentions that these are not the authentic reasons for Yoga. It is mentioned early, within this statement that, “union between Atman and Brahman, Jivatman and Paramatman, and Shiva and Shakti, or the realization of Purusha standing alone as separate from Prakriti,” are some of the authentic reasons for Yoga.

While this is true, and Yoga’s purpose is for physical, mental, and spiritual health - many Yoga students in the United States do not hear of it, unless they attend a Yoga teacher training workshop. If most Yoga students in the United States wanted to learn about union of the Jiva and Brahman, then Bhakti Yoga would have flourished on the American Continents, instead of Hatha Yoga.

However, Americans have a completely different culture from India. For some Christians, the concept of union with the self and God is blasphemy. Some Christians, Jews, and Moslems will not participate in mantras, for religious reasons. Therefore, Yoga outside of India, is interpreted much differently.

In defense of the Yoga Alliance, who is the sponsor of Yoga Day USA, they have to walk a fine line within multi-cultural societies in the West. Within the United States, there are groups who work to have the word, “God” removed from U.S. currency, the Bible removed from our courtrooms, and Christmas trees removed from the premises of government buildings.

For the sake of argument, if the promotions of Yoga Day USA stated, “the roots of Yoga come from the ancient tradition of Sanatana Dharma, out of which has grown Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other traditions;” this would be exactly what the Western religious fundamentalists leaders want. That is to claim Yoga is a “front” for exporting Eastern religions.

Instead of criticizing Yoga Day USA, why not accept the fact that the physical aspects of Yoga are easier for most people to grasp. If Yoga students want to seek a deeper connection to God, they will eventually find it. It would be wise for all for us to genuinely practice a little more non-judgment and tolerance.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Benefiting From Your Yoga Practice

By Stephen Kreutzer

Yoga is not only an extremely popular form of exercise, but depending on the form you practice, can be exciting or calming, social or meditative, energizing or relaxing. No matter which of these best describes your yoga class, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of every class you attend.

* Go to yoga class with an empty stomach. Yoga is full bending, twisting, lengthening, stretching, and strength moves. Eating a big dinner before that kind of movement could result in you cramping up or feeling nauseous and having to leave the class or not participate as fully as you’d like.

* Communicate with your yoga instructor. If you have a bad back or a sprained ankle, let your instructor know before class. She or he will offer you adjusted versions of poses or give you a nod when you should skip a pose that could make your condition worse.

* Leave your cell phones and pagers outside. Don’t just put them on silent mode, but literally keep them in the car. This is not only a favor to your classmates and their focus, but your mind should be focused only on yoga and not concerned with whether not someone is trying to contact you about work or spilled juice on the living room carpet.

* Don’t be late and don’t leave early. This disrupts the instructor’s train of thought and the concentration of others in the class. Also, you certainly won’t get everything you can out of your hour if your hour is cut to 50 minutes before you’ve even begun.

* Be respectful of others in the class. This means keeping your voice down when you talk to others and in general, keeping conversation to a minimum. Bring your own towel or yoga mat if you need to and make sure that you are clean and not wearing any perfumes or strong scents. If props are used, make sure that you put yours away when you’re finished and by all means, leave them there for the next class.

About the author: Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides yoga tips on http://www.your-yoga-resource.com/.

Yoga History 101

By Stephen Kreutzer

When you practice yoga, it is, of course, not necessary to have a full understanding of yoga history in order to fully benefit from your practice. A brief understanding of the history behind yoga, however, may increase your spiritual practice and inspire you to find out more about the tradition behind the discipline.

The first writings about yoga were written in Sanskrit in early religious manuscripts in India called the Vedas. The word ‘yoga’ has many meanings. The root of the word is ‘yug’ which means ‘to hitch up’, referring to fastening horse bridles to a carriage. But yoga also means ‘to actively put to use’ or ‘yoke’ or ‘join’. Today, it is agreed upon that yoga is a method of joining or a discipline. Men who practice yoga are called yogi or yogin and women who practice yoga are called yogini.

Yoga was first passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. It wasn’t until about 2000 years ago when an Indian named Patanjali wrote ‘The Yoga Sutra’ that the philosophy of yoga was committed to paper. Yoga is not just about stretching and breathing and holding poses. Yoga is a philosophy on how to live life and deal with the challenges that human beings face daily. The Yoga Sutra defined this philosophy in 195 statements.

Sutra can be defined as ‘thread’ or ‘aphorism’, which means ‘a short declaration of truth’. It also means ‘the concentration of a large quantity of information into a simple definition’. It is a way of looking at truths that apply to everyone despite culture in the clearest way possible.

Hatha yoga, or the yoga that you do when you take a yoga class or perform yogic poses, was begun as a physical form of meditation. The physical act of yoga calms your body and allows your mind to become calm. It also gives you the physical strength to sustain long periods of meditation.

When you perform the physical practice of yoga, you are only engaging in half of the discipline as it has been practiced for thousands of years. Yoga is an incredible form of exercise and calming for the body, but it can also be used as a spiritual practice and a way to calm the mind and will as well.

About the author: Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides yoga tips on More-About-Yoga.com

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Hot Yoga - Sweeping Away an Image

By Martin Haworth

There are many benefits in using Bikram Yoga, which is a form of yoga that can totally change your life.

Bikram Yoga or Bikram Method Yoga, is widely known as “hot yoga”. And was developed by Bikram Choudhury, who is 60 this year. Based now in the US, he is, of course, a yoga practitioner himself and he developed Bikram Yoga after injuring himself in a weightlifting accident.

Since then, many have proven the benefits of Bikram Yoga, so the practice has grown.
Some people practice Bikram Yoga for healing purposes and physical therapy. This type of yoga has proven helpful in bringing holistic (whole body) benefits, to those who practice it.

In order to be successful, with the healing processes, of Bikram Yoga, you need real devotion, because it is practiced in rooms with a recommended temperature of a minimum of 105 degrees farenheit and about 40% humidity.

This temperature is important because:

- It (ironically) keeps the body from overheating
- To protect the muscles allowing for deeper stretching
- So that toxins are encourage to be ‘sweated out’ through open pores
- To thin the blood and encourage much better circulation
- It gives a better cardiovascular workout
- It improves muscle strength
- Fats in the body seem to be made more fluid and more easily cleared from the body

With this type of yoga, muscles are given a thorough workover. Cellular level lipids and proteins are reorganize optimally in such conditions, allowing for better circulation.

Joint strength and muscular alignment are better co-ordinated and together with strengthened bones, the organs of the immune system within the bones (red marrow) are boosted. It is a whole-body developmental experience.

The lymph nodes are massaged, lymph is pumped throughout the body, and white blood cells are distributed throughout the body as the lymphatic system works more efficiently.

Although there are some who do not believe in the benefits of Bikram Yoga. Bikram Choudhury developed it with the help of scientists from the University of Tokyo University Hospital.

They proved that Bikram Yoga has medical benefits including the repairing of tissues and curing chronic ailments. As early as 1972 the findings and benefits were presented at an International Medical Conference where it was confirmed scientifically that Bikram Yoga has the ability to affect the body internally.

Bikram has come up with twenty-six different posture exercises which are related, each working with previous postures, in a sequence, to treat the body effectively. This is a daily experience, where possible to maximise the benefit.

Anyone who wants to do yoga can use Biktam Yoga. It is not age specific. Because of the demanding nature of this type of yoga, if the body is weak, applying the practice and consequent healing will be difficult to achieve.

Thanks to Bikram Choudhury, we can now have some alternative solutions to some of our medical problems which really have been shown to be effective.

Always remember that the more you are able to practice this type of yoga, the more beneficial it is, but be careful to ensure that you are fit enough for it by having a medical check first.

© 2006 Martin Haworth has a useful website with lots of information for those new to yoga as well as extended information for experts. Check it out at http://www.makethemostofyouryoga.com/

Yoga and The Breath

By Stephen Kreutzer

Your yoga practice and the way you breathe are intertwined. You won’t fully experience the benefits of yoga without first learning how to breathe properly.

Different types of yoga practice call for different types of breathing, so it is important to note from the beginning that there is no one right way to breathe in yoga. If, in your yoga practice, your goal is total relaxation then your breathing should reflect that.

This means long deep breaths meant to slow your heart rate and allow you to fully relax into the yoga pose. Here are a few tips:

* The diaphragm is where the breath originates in yoga and in everyday life. When you breathe in, your stomach puffs slightly because your diaphragm is filling with air. When you breathe out, your stomach flattens as your diaphragm empties itself of air. When you breathe, be sure that your stomach is moving, that you aren’t restricting this movement in any way.

* It’s important to relax every muscle in your chest, your face, your neck, your shoulders – even your jaw – in order to benefit from a relaxing breath in yoga. One way to do this is to clench the body part in question and then let go entirely. You may not even realize that your muscles are locked until you try to contract them.

* Keep your breaths smooth and easy during your yoga practice. Everyone breathes at their own natural rate, but becoming conscious of your breath does not mean controlling it in any way. Notice your breath and relax into your own natural rhythm.

* Breathing faster, in and out, is a natural reaction to stress or excitement. It stands to reason then, that relaxing breath in yoga should accentuate the exhalation. Breathe in naturally and make sure that your exhalation is longer than your inhalation and fully empty your diaphragm and lungs of air.

* Pausing between breaths will allow you to relax even further in yoga. No need to rush through your relaxation.

* When you breathe, feel the oxygen in the lungs and visualize it reaching every extremity, every toe and finger. Let your whole body enjoy the relaxing breath in your yoga practice.
When you learn how to breathe, you will find that it comes naturally in your yoga practice and in time, will continue in your everyday life.

About the author: Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides yoga tips on 123-Yoga.com.

My Beginning Yoga Experience

By Boyd Martin

As I walked out of the Bikram Yoga studio toward my car after my first class, I found myself declaring, "If I can actually do this yoga, it will totally change my whole life." I had only been able to attempt half the postures, with the rest of the time lying down, just dealing with the heated, humid room. But it was a revelation as to the sorry state of my body's condition, and the pathetic condition of my mind-body connection.

I had already made the firm decision to do yoga class every day for two months, after reading Bikram Choudhury's introductory yoga book. He says, "Give us two months. We will change you." After living with years of back pain due to compressed lumbar discs and a sedentary lifestyle, I was ready for that change--so ready, in fact, I was willing to subject my de-conditioned body to 90 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity in 105° heat and 60% humidity (making the "apparent temperature" somewhere around 145°). But the prospective discipline of it appealed to me, and soon I was actually enjoying the gentle torture of it, as I began to move muscles, bones and cartilage that hadn't been moved in years.

Beyond the rewards of seeing my body stretch and reach new ranges of motion in class, it was after and between classes where the payoffs truly lay. Bending over to pick up something no longer hurt, standing up after sitting for a while no longer involved pain and stiffness, and I began noticing how good I felt instead of how bad.

Of course, getting to these improvements took a while; and although I had committed to two months of daily practice, it has now been nearly eight months, and I can now say yoga is an indispensable part of my life. This path has blatantly announced to me how I had incrementally reduced my own range of motion with each tiny discomfort, each injury, each bout of stiffness, in an attempt to protect myself from future pain. It is a common life strategy, but a very wrongheaded one. The body needs to increase its range of motion over time, and each discomfort or injury points the way. As the World's Stiffest Person at 50, I was on the fast track to being a crippled old man by 60.

I drew a valuable conclusion from this, that all the little aches and pains and microconditions we had as twentysomethings, if not dealt with in a broad and holistic way, are the exact pains and conditions that amplify over time leading us to our ultimate demise. From this perspective, what is commonly referred to as "aging," is actually more like an excuse for not answering the body's calls for help early on. I'm just not buying the "I'm just getting too old for this" refrain I hear from my friends. Time, friction, and gravity will take their respective tolls, but only with permission from you. If I end up dying at 94, I would rather have gotten there vital, active and pain-free, instead of feeble, crippled, and tormented.

The main thing I've learned from my beginning yoga experience is that it takes MUCH MORE WORK than I thought to reverse my past slothfulness, and much more diligence on the day-to-day to maintain what gains I have acheived. Bikram refers to the "body's bank account." You invest into the account with yoga, and then spend the account when not doing yoga. Of course, I found I was sorely and deplorably in DEBT, and am only now seeing the light at the end of that tunnel, striving for the day I can touch my forehead to my toes, rest my leg on my shoulder, and nap on my back with my head on my feet.

SEVEN MORE THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN BIKRAM YOGA

# 1. If yoga turns it on, yoga will turn it off. I've had many classes where a muscle or joint will "release" (I used to wrongly identify it as "strain"), causing pain and stiffness or soreness after class. By the end of the next class, invariably, that soreness and pain disappears.

# 2. Your body is stronger than you think it is, and you have more energy than you think you do. One day in class I decided to completely ignore my thoughts as to what I could or couldn't do in class, and was surprised to find a whole new range of motion, and a whole new area of energy and strength. The body obeys the limitations imposed upon it by the mind.

Because Bikram Yoga is one of the most strenuous forms of hatha yoga, it is easy to claim to myself that I MUST be tired after all that exertion. Letting myself engage in this way, certainly obtained the result. The REALITY of yoga class is that it CREATES energy. Although it is natural to feel weakness or exhaustion, that feeling is actually RECOVERY, and in a few minutes, I claim to myself that I am refreshed and energetically ready for life. And, magically, I am.

# 3. Trust your body to know what it needs to do. Patience. As obedient as the body is to the limitations of the mind, it has also retained the awareness of the sequence of how those limitations were imposed, and knows how to undo them. The deeper problem with this is that many times there seem to be opposing limitations and confused commands operating within the body. These were put there by the mind, resulting in the wrong muscles being used to do certain motions. The trick, of course, is to get the mind out of the way, and it WILL resolve.

# 4. How you do yoga is how you do your life. The corollary to this is what happens during yoga practice is a microcosm of what happens to you in life. Paying attention to this is the road to revelation--as well as some inner grins.

# 5. Flexibility and core strength are the keys to health. Nutrition is important, drinking lots of water is important, getting proper amounts of sleep is important--all things I had been doing throughout my life. Unfortunately, I had overlooked the two most important things. Exercise is inadequate (and I dare say useless) without flexibility and core strength training.

Again, it has taken much more than I thought to keep my body's bank account from going into the red, and the quickest way into the black is with flexibility and core strength training. (By "core strength" I mean the deepest core muscles that create movement in the body, such as abdominal and back muscles.) With a high degree of flexibility, all the enzymes, minerals, blood flow, and myriad other rejuvenating substances the body creates to heal and build itself can get to those areas that need it.

Without flexibility, there is withering and dying. I also noticed that I didn't engage my abdominal muscles when I should, such as when bending over, lifting, carrying, walking, standing up. This set up bad habits of motion, and the obvious developing flacidity and inappropriate muscle recruitment.

# 6. Breathe. Combine this command with how you do yoga is how you do your life, and you'll quickly see where you cut off your life force in daily living. I would stop breathing when I felt weak, for example. Ooops.

# 7. Use your mind to guide and expand. This is a corollary to Number 3 above. I noticed that by setting and visualizing goals on each posture, as well as for the entire class, and by refusing to entertain any other thoughts--such as how hot it is in the room, what hurts, what I'm afraid of, etcetera, etcetera--lo and behold progress gets made.

The body wants to feel better. Help it out by concentrating on improving each posture, and when not doing that, concentrating on breathing. I'm saving myself a lot of unnecessary torture by applying this point in my practice, and in my life.

EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL CHANGES

These are life's small potatoes...The most impressive effect underlying all the physical changes has been my greatly increased ability to confront life in the proper perspective--what I'll call the "Small Potatoes Effect."

This is where one does something so monumentally difficult that the rest of life's daily conflicts, conundrums, irritations and niggly stresses seem to all pale in importance. Or, more accurately, they begin to assume the quality of merely the backdrop texture accompanying my personal goals and purposes. They become the tiny, swirling dust devils stirred up by my atmospheric movements of intention. These are no longer "stresses"--they are revealing acknowledgements that life is changing according to my desires.

As the practice advances, I'm wondering if perhaps it is not so much that it is "monumentally difficult" to do this yoga, but that certain firmly embedded toxic conditions residing for decades deep within organs, muscle and bone are at last being purged--and that translates as a monumental achievement on some subliminal cellular or auric level.

Whatever it is, it has restored my sense of humor, allowed me to rediscover my enjoyment of living, and added an aura of leisure in everyday activities, even as I find myself accomplishing more.

And so I continue on with my daily practice of Bikram Yoga with an inner smile, remembering that Bikram says, "You gotta go through hell to get to heaven," and remembering that the only reason the "hell" is there was my own doing. But with yoga, my days of redemption are at hand.

Boyd Martin is a well-known writer and musician (drummer) in the Portland, Oregon, area, having toured the U.S. and Europe with national-level musical acts. He is an avid, daily Bikram Yoga student, with a keen interest in metaphysics, natural health, and alternative healing methods.

Yoga in Practice: In Search of the Perfect Yoga – Part 3

By Paul Jerard

This is the last in this series of answers to statements about Yoga students who are searching for the perfect Yoga, or the perfect Guru.

“You can’t teach me anything about Yoga, I already know it.”

You are absolutely right. There is an old Chinese saying, “A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood.” In other words, a closed mind still must go through a deep awakening process to reach its complete potential.

However, I am getting on in years, and do not have the desire to teach the intolerant, or those who already know everything. My answer to this student is: You are right, and please stay with your current Guru.

It should come as no surprise that, very often, the student who says he or he already knows everything, does not and never had a Guru. If intolerance cannot be purged from within a particular Yoga student, he or she should be banished by any self-respecting Guru.

Life is too short to waste your time teaching those who don’t want to learn. In talking to my colleagues, I have found similar sentiments. Who among you wants to waste your time?

“What could I get out of Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, or Jnana Yoga?”

Each of these styles has so much to offer, but they could be classified, for the most part, as non-physical styles of Yoga. Let’s briefly take a look at each one.

Bhakti Yoga is most often practiced within India. Bhakti Yoga literally means -unity through devotion to God. Therefore, this is a sectarian practice, most often practiced by Hindus.

However, there are Jews, Christians, and Moslems who practice Yoga exclusively with members of their own religion. The practice of Bhakti Yoga is deeply spiritual.

Karma Yoga is unity through selfless service; also known as the Yoga of action. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. could be considered Karma Yogis. Both were men of peace and action who ultimately gave their lives for what is right.

Jnana Yoga is unity though knowledge or the path of wisdom. Through Jnana Yoga you will discover truth without delusion or bias. Jnana Yoga requires the serious student to meditate often.

So, now you see the “big picture” and the need to keep the Yoga community together. Yoga literally means unity or union. Therefore, we must be living examples of it.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga Teacher Seeking Position in USA

NAME; YADVINDER PAL.

DATE OF BIRTH; 25-6-1961.

QUALIFICATION; COLLEGE LABEL

EXPERIENCE;I AM TAKING GROUPS IN PRIVATE SECTOR, CURING VARIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS AND ASSISTENCE IN GENERAL FITNESS.

FROM 2000-----UP TO NOW. I AM PERMANENTLY PROVIDING MY SERVICES IN HEART CENTER ALSO.

I AM PROVIDING SERVICES TO PATIENTS OF DEPRESSION,OVERWEIGHT, INFECTIONS IN LUNGS, BACKACHE, CERVICAL AND GENERAL FITNESS.

WITH THE DAILY SPECIFICEXCERCISES,BREATHING EXCERCISES. ASANS, MEDITATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE MY SERVICES IN NEVADA, OR ANY OTHER STATE WITH IN USA ONLY.

MY ADDRESS;
42-B,R.B.RATTAN CHAND ROAD,
NEAR POLICE LINES
AMRITSAR (PUNJAB)
INDIA.

CONTACT NO; 0091-9876296791.

MY PREASENT ADDRESS;
42-B,R.B.RATTAN CHAND ROAD,
NEARPOLICE LINES,
AMRITSAR, (PUNJAB)
INDIA.

ANY TIME I AM AVAILABLE AT MY CONTACT NO. --0091--9876296791.

YADVINDER PAL

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Yoga in Practice: In Search of the Perfect Yoga – Part 2

By Paul Jerard

This is a continuation of answers to some very “interesting” statements about Yoga and its many styles. Please don’t take the statements in quotations too seriously; let’s hope these answers will open minds.

“Mine is the best Yoga style and all others are inferior.”

Many students make this claim and I “set them straight,” right away. If you are getting a lot out of your Yoga practice, don’t be so quick to “put down” other styles of Yoga. It is ironic when people practice something that literally means “unity,” and then they let the ego get in the way.

Shouldn’t we just be happy that someone else is trying, or practicing, Yoga - instead of sitting on the couch? If you are a Yoga teacher, do not encourage this kind of thinking. Yoga teachers are very often familiar with many styles of Yoga, so we should know better.

If you are a student, please open your mind by trying other styles of Yoga. You will find more treasure each time you visit a different Yoga class. Always come back to your root practice, and teacher, but leave your mind open.

“Are seniors really getting anything out of Chair Yoga?”

The very first person who said this to me is now a Chair Yoga teacher. You can imagine the convincing I had to do, including her participation in Chair Yoga classes. The energy, and enthusiasm, within Yoga classes with seniors, is priceless and contagious. Some participants feel improvements right away, and their attendance to Yoga classes is much more regular than any other age group.

Chair Yoga is not only for seniors but for those who are wheelchair bound, in physical rehabilitation, or going through a healing process. The positive results of Chair Yoga practice are quite dramatic. Anyone who witnesses the healing effect of Chair Yoga practice is an instant believer.

For me, Chair Yoga is a God given gift that I happily pass on, and it improves everyone’s health in the process. Anything this good should not be kept a secret.

“If you need to use props, you are a beginner.”

Absolutely Wrong! Your style may not use props, and you may not know how to use them, but props do help with alignment. Most of us mere mortals do not have perfect bodies, so a prop can make a tremendous difference with alignment.

If you want to know more about props, visit an Iyengar Yoga, Restorative Yoga, or Kali Ray Tri Yoga class. There are also a number of books, and a few videos, available. The guidance of a compassionate and competent teacher will help you learn so much about props to help your practice, and that of others, who feel intimidated by Yoga.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/
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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

Yoga in Practice: In Search of the Perfect Yoga – Part 1

By Paul Jerard

What is the perfect Yoga? Is it hot Yoga, based on correct alignment; Vinyasa Yoga, only to be performed with props; or do props take something away from Yoga practice? What about Yoga styles which are not from the Hatha Yoga tree? So - what exactly is the right Yoga for you?

Below, I will cover some of the statements I have heard over the years. Some of these statements are straight from the ego, self righteous, and a bit intolerant of other styles of Yoga. Please don’t be offended, and please try to understand – we are not all the same.

“Yoga should be hot; otherwise you’re getting nothing out of it.”

Interesting - I heard Bikram make similar claims on the television show, “60 minutes.” I am in admiration of Bikram, and his wife, Rajashree. They have trained many good Yoga teachers, Yogis, and Yoginis.

However, there are many Yoga practitioners who practice at moderate temperatures and receive fantastic health benefits from their daily practice. When people make statements such as: “Yoga should be hot; otherwise you’re getting nothing out of it.” They scare off those potential Yoga practitioners who believe them.

This could be a person who would have improved their life through the practice of Yoga. Let’s stop the “my way or the highway” mentality. If you truly care about people, tell them the whole truth and give them options. If I can’t please someone with the Restorative and Vinyasa styles in our wellness center, I will find someone who can meet my student’s expectations of Yoga.

Lastly, I do personally like the heat. However, in New England, I know many people who don’t. Even at moderate temperatures, many students get quite warm in a Vinyasa class.

“If your alignment is not perfect, why bother to practice Yoga?”

Without a doubt, alignment is very important, but some of us really need to use props to find the best alignment for our bodies. Yoga teachers need to encourage all of their students to practice more often and accept some limitations that come with each body.

Yoga teachers should be careful not to discourage those students who have limited range of motion. Again, props can be used by any Yoga practitioners, and with the careful guidance of a compassionate Yoga teacher, progress is made.

One last note on this point: No two bodies are alike, so let’s be more understanding of ourselves and those around us. This applies to Yoga and life.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

--------------------------------------------
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Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/
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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Beyond Flexibility - The Health Benefits Of Yoga

By Rebecca Prescott

When I was 21, I suffered a slipped disc in my lower back. I couldn't sit down during the acute phase, only lie or stand, though standing itself was uncomfortable at the time. Once the acute phase had passed (with rest, although acupuncture and shiatsu are great), I had the fortune to meet some yoga teachers and I started going to their classes. I started out with Oki yoga, which is a Japanese form of yoga, and very good for healing the body.

I was given a series of correcting and strengthening exercises designed to improve my back and specific to the meridians that were in need of attention in my particular case. Oki yoga has postures classified on how they affect the meridians, which are like energetic pathways within our body. And that was the one thing that helped restore my back completely, to a state that was actually better than it was before I injured myself. When you are suffering an acute injury though, yoga really shouldn't be attempted until that stage has passed.

That introduction to yoga ignited a deep love of it through which I began to see the more subtle health benefits it brought to my life. Yoga can help with a wide spectrum of physical issues and injuries, but it is also an excellent alternative to the gym for those that find the repetition and distraction of it not to their taste. It is great for toning up your body, whilst gaining flexibility.
Yoga has a reputation for flexibility, and deservedly so. But it can also develop strength.

Developing strength is particularly important for women. Women tend to be more flexible than men, but not as strong, unless they have been involved in fitness regularly. But unlike many traditional forms of exercise, yoga also strengthens the inner muscles and organs in our bodies. It makes a great preparation for childbirth!

Yoga also develops discipline. This comes in making the time on a regular basis to either go to classes, or practice yoga in your living room, or in the morning sun in the garden. But there is a more subtle level of discipline. It starts with bringing your mind to focus on your breathing, and then feeling the effects of a posture on your body. This conscious exploration is quite a different experience of fitness than usually seen at the gym - where loud music, televisions and other external stimuli fight for your attention. You won't see people with headphones on, or reading a magazine, whilst doing yoga.

This conscious exploration establishes a relationship with your body, and its importance cannot be overstated. So often, parts of us are frozen, or numb in some ways. This can express physically as pain, coldness, or stiffness. Energetically, it is as though despite trying to concentrate on an area, we just cannot feel connected to it.

In a more subtle way, when we feel the points of resistance within our body as we do a pose - when we breathe into that stiffness, and sometimes pain, we develop a resilience and mental fortitude. Yoga does, of course, help with concentration. But that process of releasing and going beyond the point of physical limitation is not limited to the body.

It develops a quiet confidence and knowledge about one's own capacity that is not held back by the boundaries we may have falsely believed about ourselves before. With a yoga practice, we can get back in touch with what yogi's call our dharma, our purpose in life. And we find in ourselves, by virtue of our growing strength, the courage to follow that path.

And finally, a quote from a yoga teacher from Sydney, Australia, Eileen Hall, printed in the Australian Yoga Life magazine:

"Yoga is not about relaxation, it's not about losing weight, it's not about learning meditation. It's about discovering the divine being within ourselves."

References:

Yoga Journal, November 2005

Australian Yoga Life, Nov 2005 - Mar 2006

If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of yoga, click here. The article talks about the psychological, physiological, and biochemical benefits a regular yoga practice can bring.

Rebecca Prescott runs the website Yoga To Health.
http://www.yogatohealth.com/

Friday, January 20, 2006

Tracing the History of Yoga

By Melvin Chua

The history of Yoga has a lot to do with the present times. Yoga started some 5000 years ago when human civilization has only begun. Scholars have believed that Yoga was originated out of Stone Age ‘Shamanism’.

This is because there were some cultural similarities between Mehrgarh which was a Neolithic settlement and the Modern Hinduism. The shamanistic culture of Mergarh was in fact influenced by Hindu ideals, symbols and rituals of the present. The ancient shamanism and early Yoga had so much similarity for the reason both wanted to go beyond the human condition.

Shamanism’s primary goal was to heal the members who were in their society and at the same time act as the religious mediators.

Archaic Yoga also had the same purpose as they were community oriented and they aimed to determine the enormous order through senses and inner vision which then can be applied to our daily lives.

As time went on, Yoga has progressed and has regarded the inmost experience. Yogis then have focused on how to improve the individual enlightenment, recovery and salvation.

Yoga’s evidences were first tracked in the archeological evidence which was found in stone seals exhumed from the Indus valley. Yoga postures were traced and seen fro the figures which were illustrated in the stone seals. the artifacts were placed on History books circa 3000 B.C., which was linked to the great Indus-Sarasvati Civilization which was known to be the largest civilization that exist in the ancient world. The Indus-Sarasvati, being a maritime society, exported goods all over Africa and the Middle East. They build up sewage systems and put up geometrical brick roads and constructed multistory buildings.

The Vedas are known as the oldest scripture in the world, which were the ancient texts brought by the Indus-Sarasvati civilization. It was a compilation of hymns that commends a high power which included the oldest recorded teachings in Yoga. They have considered this the divine revelation. The intelligence of the Vedas was known as the Pre-classical Yoga or the Vedic. This was described by the ritualistic ceremonies that the Yoga practitioners have been required in order to go beyond the limitations of the mind.

The history of yoga would not have been completed in the classical stage of yoga. After the time and turn of the millennium, yoga and its spread in different forms have come up with the need for standardization. This is important so that the people will be aware with it and it can be applied by them. Due to this, during the second century, C.E., Patanjali has composed and collected seminal text which was the Yoga-Sutra which had defined the Classical Yoga.

At the age of Postclassical Yoga in the enormous history of Yoga, it gave rise to some productive literature which has included the Tantra and the Hatha which is famously known nowadays.

These were taught in schools for Yoga and practiced by many. Therefore, post classical Yoga is described to the adaptation of our present state. It is the time when yoga has evolved greatly and introduced to people. It has then been applied in the United States in the 1800's.

Now in the recent decades, yoga has greatly and swiftly evolved. Swami Sivananda was one of the prominent gurus ever to master yoga. He has served as a doctor and he has generously opened up schools in Europe and America.

Now as we move on with the yoga practices that we have today, it is much helpful and easier to understand if we looked back on the history of yoga.

© Copyright Melvin Chua, All Rights Reserved.

Melvin has dozens more related articles and tips on doing yoga at his site: doing yoga, check them out today!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Yoga Teaching Opportunity in Ireland

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Yoga Teacher Wanted

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Yoga teaching position available at a leisure club in Newbridge in Kildare, Ireland.

The centre is currently looking for a yoga teacher to employ for one morning and one evening class. It is for older clients so gentle yoga is preferred.

If you have any one that would be interested could you ask them to contact, Niamh Allen, on 0871221686.

Yoga in Practice: Bhakti Yoga

By Paul Jerard

If Yoga were like fine wine, Hatha Yoga would surely be the wine for export. It could be said that Raja Yoga and Kundalini Yoga got a fairly strong foothold outside India, as well. All of these forms of Yoga have many aspects, but the physical aspect is what lures most Yoga students - outside of India.

Bhakti Yoga, on the other hand, is a spiritual form of Yoga and is very commonly practiced within India. Bhakti Yoga is union by love and devotion to God. Therefore, this is the form of Yoga that really does have a deep spiritual aspect and a connection to Hinduism. This spiritual, and religious, aspect is possibly the reason why Bhakti Yoga has not managed to proliferate as well as Hatha Yoga, which is Union by physical mastery.

Could Bhakti Yoga be practiced by a Yoga practitioner who is not a Hindu? Let’s ask, for example, could a Christian, Moslem, or Jew practice Bhakti Yoga and stay within the confines of his or her religion? Some already do.

This could be considered sectarian Yoga, when a number of Yoga practitioners, of the same religion, gather to worship, meditate, pray, sing, or chant. Attachment to God is not reserved to any one specific religion. Therefore, in principle, Bhakti Yoga can be practiced by members of any religion.

There are many more types of Bhakti classifications, but I will name two basic classifications. Nishkamya Bhakti is praise to God for all that you have. This is appreciation and acceptance of all your situations, relationships, and everything else. Instead of being a seeker, you are now a “finder” of all that is good in your life. In turn, you will easily be able to project loving kindness to others.

In contrast, there is also Sakamya Bhakti. This is devotion to God with the desire for gaining something. The objective could be material gain, to free yourself from an ailment, or to gain power of some kind. In time of need is when most people pray to God. This is a common thread in all of us, and surprisingly our prayers are answered in a positive way.

It is important to understand that Bhakti Yoga is much more complex than this simplified explanation that I have presented. However, the principles of Bhakti Yoga are there for all Yoga students of every religion.

Interestingly, I have heard strong arguments against “oneness” with God. The theory is that God will only let us so close, as we are imperfect. It is true that humans are imperfect, but there is no harm in self-improvement or Yoga.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

--------------------------------------------
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/
--------------------------------------------

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

Staying Fit with Yoga Exercises

By Melvin Chua

Yoga exercises are the best way to free your mind and to concentrate deeply. After you have experienced a stressful situation, your mind, body and spirit is worn out and fatigued.

The cause of these might have been from the interaction with other people or something that have caused a frustration, anger, depression and disappointment in you. These feelings created out of these circumstances should be released so that you will live a happier life.

One effective way and method to express your outpoured feelings and emotion is by doing yoga exercises.

When you feel like shouting out loud or cracking the television, you can instead release your tension through yoga exercises that are effective and helpful.

This type of strategy has worked in many ways for different people. Those who don’t find enough time for themselves can do yoga exercises in order to relieve themselves.

Sometimes, work has caught up on us so tightly that we don’t find time to relax and express ourselves. Yoga exercises are one of the best remedy to this problem.

Yoga exercises can be applied and learned in school. There are some sessions that offer yoga practices. The yoga exercises you will learn in school can be performed at home.

In fact, you can learn some yoga exercises at home all by yourself. You will just have to need a television and a video tape. The tape shows the steps and procedures for each yoga exercise.

During a tired and heavy day, you can set a little time and devotion in doing yoga exercises. Also remember that in doing yoga, you’ll need to be consistent in practicing the yoga exercises so that it will soon take effect and you will notice little by little improvements on your body.

After doing the yoga exercises, you’ll need to relax in order for the effect of the postures take place. In this manner, the body will accumulate the effects.

Before doing the yoga exercises, you should first lay in a relaxed posture so you can focus well and not be distracted by outside forces. You will not feel pain or discomfort too.

Yoga exercises can be done at any time of the day as long as you are free. Although it chooses no time, still, the best time to practice it is in the morning. Before eating your breakfast, the mind is on its state of calmness and free from distractions. This is the perfect time to do the yoga exercises.

Before doing the yoga exercises, make sure that your heart is ready. It should not feel any pain or ego. It is important to keep a good heart so that your mind can work well.

The perfect place to do your yoga exercises is a quiet place. It should be well ventilated and free from all unpleasant things and smell. You should be free from all possible distractions.

Keeping a good stomach is also important so that you will feel good and your digestive system responses accurately. What you should do first is to empty your bowels and clear your noses from mucus. You should stay clean and fit.

Now that you have clearly understood the important reminders, you can start your yoga exercises and work your way out.

© Copyright Melvin Chua, All Rights Reserved.

Melvin has dozens more related articles and tips on doing yoga at his site: doing yoga, check them out today!

Hot Yoga?

By Melvin Chua

There are a lot of yoga types and one of them is the famous hot yoga. The hot yoga is characterized by a series of yoga poses which is done in a heated room. The room where you perform the exercise is conserved at a temperature of 95-100 degrees. This kind of exercise gives off a lot of perspiration during a session.

Hot yoga is advantageous because it cleanses your body and gets rid of the toxins inside your body. Since is makes your body warm, the more flexible it gets.

When doing the hot yoga, you should have some accessories like your yoga mat and towel. Since you will be sweating severely, you should have something to wipe up your sweat every other time.

Some people who practice hot yoga do not wear very thick clothes because it causes them to sweat more.

If you are going to practice hot yoga, you should be ready with your clothing. The clothes you should wear should be appropriate. You can wear shorts during the session.

Wearing of shorts allows your skin to breathe and give off heat. Students are the ones who usually wear shorts. They tend to wear small clothes because they are still vigorous and they sweat too much. If you are taking hot yoga sessions, make sure that you drink a lot of water.

If you are in the class, you can also bring along your own bottle of water so that you can drink anytime you want. It is important to bring along a bottle of water so that you will not get dehydrated and so that the skin will produce more sweat. Before having a hot yoga session, you should take note that it is not advisable to eat two hours before the class starts. This is because your body is opt for a heavy exercise.

Bikram’s method is such a good yoga style. People who want to be slim can practice this type of yoga because their fats and cholesterol will be burned through sweat.

Although it burns your fats, you should not be burning all of it because you still need some. Yoga started about 2500 years ago which was founded by Patanjali. After it’s discovery, it was then practiced and spread around the world. Picture yourself doing Yoga when you are suffering from illness like Fever where your body temperature is at 105 deg. Fahrenheit! I bet you couldn’t stand this kind of heat. If ever you will, you have over fatigued yourself.

At the compassion of the disagreement is Choudhuryís wish to put off anybody teaching yoga in a heated room from calling their class ‘Bikram Yoga’. He would like to put to one side this title only for those teachers who are qualified by his Yoga College of India and who stick to his arranged process precisely. This has been handled upon because there are a lot of people who imitate his teachings.

Now that you have learned the difference of hot yoga among all other styles, think again if it satisfies your desired to release your sweat and excess toxins. Remember that in doing hot yoga, all your energy is taken away. If your body has not a single energy to waste, then hot yoga is not the ‘perfect’ yoga style for you.

© Copyright Melvin Chua, All Rights Reserved.

Melvin has dozens more related articles and tips on doing yoga at his site: doing yoga, check them out today!

Yoga Teacher - Job Opportunity in New Jersey

In Home Yoga Instructor - East Windsor, New Jersey

I am looking for a private yoga instructor for my husband and I, who will come to our home in East Windsor, New Jersey, (Twin Rivers Lake Condominiums), at least once a week.

Contact by phone or Email.

Phone number is: 609-448-2476, between 9am and 6pm.

Contact: Mary Beth

marybeth@evaluator.com

MARY BETH SLIVKA

Monday, January 16, 2006

What Is Yoga? Asana In the Context of the Six Yogas System

By Elizabeth Reninger

What Is Yoga?

"Yoga is freedom. It is love. It is pure, radiant, unobstructed joy. It is pure awareness, wide-awake and clear." ~ Richard Freeman, director of The Yoga Workshop, in Boulder, CO

Here in the United States, on the cusp of 2006, just about everyone has heard the word “yoga.” For many if not most, the word conjures images of scantily-clad beings with expanding and twisting limbs: a well-worn “scene” in health clubs, retreat centers, and yoga spaces throughout the country. In other words, it brings to mind the practice of asana ~ sequences of physical movements and postures ~ which, as it turns out, represent just a tiny slice of the entire “pie” that is the Yoga Tradition(s) of the larger world (universe, cosmos).

Now there’s nothing wrong with the practice of asana (I do it myself, and find it quite wonderful!), but it might be useful to be able to place this particular aspect of yoga onto its larger “map” ~ to have a sense of the tradition(s) from which it arises and to which it returns, and to understand asana to be just one of many possible entry-points into this vast and beautiful territory. So let’s explore …

The word Yoga originates from the Sanskrit word Yuj (literally, "to yoke") and is generally translated as "union" or "integration" -- to yoke, attach, join, or unite. The “union” referred to here is that of the individual soul with the cosmos, the Supreme; of the small “self” of ego/individual identity with the larger “Self” or “Spirit” of which we’ll all a part. But what does this mean? And how to we get there?! It is in the quest to answer these questions that the various Yoga traditions have arisen.

Perhaps the broadest categorization within the world of Yoga is along the lines of the great spiritual traditions of the world, and in particular, their mystical wings/branches: Those within these traditions who identify as “mystics” are seeking yoga, or direct (unmediated) union, with the Divine. Examples of Yoga at this level include: Buddhist Yoga (e.g. the “six Yogas of Naropa”); Taoist Yoga (commonly known as Qigong ~ the basis for all of the martial & healing arts with origins in China); and the Yogas associated with the so-called “Hindu” traditions of India.

The practice of asana, as it’s best known in this country, falls into the last of these categories: the Hindu Yoga traditions. But this tradition itself has numerous aspects. One way of looking at it is through the lens of “The Six Yoga Systems,” which can be understood as six different doorways, entry-points, portals, or vehicles through which a practitioner might approach, engage with, and enter the territory of Yoga.

The Six Yoga Systems

1.Hatha Yoga is the category under which asana falls. One way of translating the word “Hatha” is to break it into two parts: “ha”=sun and “tha”=moon. Sun and moon, in this context, refer to the two opposite currents that regulate all processes in our body: the “masculine” and the “feminine,” or ~ in terms of subtle anatomy, the pingala and the , the two nadis, or channels of energy, whose union within the central channel of the shushumna nadi is ~ for those practicing in this tradition, the very definition of Yoga.

Aside from being, in the way described above, a vehicle for mystical union, the asanas ~ on a more mundane level ~ are great for improving health & strengthening the nervous system … and this is understood to be the first and a necessary step along this path. Forms of Hatha Yoga being practiced in the United States today include: Ashtanga Vinyasa, Iyengar, Kripalu, Bikrams, and Anusara (to name just a few!).

2. Raja (royal) Yoga is often referred to as the “crown of Hatha Yoga.” What makes it the “crown” is its addition ~ to the physical practices of Hatha Yoga ~ of a kind of mental training intended to improve concentration to the point at which it flows into meditation and, finally, samadhi (which is, for this tradition, the ultimate definition of Yoga). Raja Yoga is known also as Ashtanga (eight-limbed) Yoga.

These eight limbs include:

1. Yamas, or Restraints (harmlessness, truthfulness, non-stealing, control of senses)
2. Niyamas, or Disciplines (cleanliness, purification of body, mind and nervous system, study of metaphysical principles, contemplation on God)
3. Asanas or Postures
4. Pranayama, or Un-binding of breath and life-currents
5. Pratyahara, or Turning the attention within, by reversing the flow of the energy of the sense organs
6. Dharana, or Concentration
7. Dhyana, or Meditation, i.e. prolonged periods of perfect concentration and contemplation
8. Samadhi, or Mystical Union

The exposition of Raja Yoga is contained, most famously, in the sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

3. Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of Devotion, of love for the Divine in its embodied forms. Radha and the other Gopis are ~ in their relationship to Krishna ~ the archetypal, quintessential Bhaktas, for it is through their love and devotion and delight in the presence of Krishna that they come to know themselves as Divine. Selfless love, compassion, humility, and purity, along with this desire and serious intention to merge with God, are qualities which are cultivated along this path. (Amachi, Shree Ma, and Karunamayi are three contemporary Teachers of this path.)

4. Jnana Yoga (the Yoga of Knowledge) is a Yoga that uses the intellect as a tool to understand that our true Self is behind and beyond our mind. It is, in other words, a path which uses the power of the intellect to ~ ultimately ~ free us from conceptual elaboration of all sorts, and allow us to relax within the space beyond all concepts of mind. For the purpose of this sort of Self-discovery, Jnana Yoga probes the nature of the Self through the question "Who am I?" Thus Jnana Yoga is sometimes called the Quest for the Self or the Inquiry into "who we are." (Shankara ~ a yogi “claimed” by the Buddhist as well as the Hindu traditions ~ and, more recently, Ramana Maharshi are two well-known practitioners of Jnana Yoga.)

5. Kriya Yoga is a yogic system covering a wide range of techniques, including mantras and techniques of meditation for control of the life-force (prana). The term “Kriya” is often used in reference to (intended or spontaneous) actions which free the body and/or mind of obstructions. The goal ~ as in all forms of Yoga ~ is to unite with pure Awareness (God). Since pure Awareness is our original condition, it is also, within this system, referred to as Self-awareness. (Yogananda’s Self-Realization Fellowship is one example of a modern organization devoted to this form of practice.)

6. Karma Yoga is the Yoga of work/action, of selfless service. Practitioners of Karma Yoga engage whole-heartedly in the “mundane” work of the world, for the benefit of all fellow human (and non-human) beings, and devote the fruits of their labors to the Divine. In this action of letting go of hope/fear around future outcomes, attention is brought more and more completely into the present moment, which is the Heart of the Divine. And so in giving away all fruits of labor, the practitioner ~ paradoxically ~ receives, continuously, the greatest of gifts, the greatest wealth: the treasure-house called Yoga, the radiant “aliveness” of the Present Moment.

Yet another way of dividing the Yogic pie (so delicious!) is into the two categories of (1) Yoga as path, which including all the various sadhanas (techniques & practices), schools & historical traditions; and (2) Yoga as fruition, which includes the various siddhis, accomplishments or fruits, of practice, as well as the ultimate “fruit” of Mystical Union itself ~ the final goal ~ which, once received, transcends even the path/fruition polarity. At that point ~ the realized Masters tell us ~ one finds oneself in a place both new and quite familiar … a place eluded to, perhaps, by the Sufi mystic/poet, Jelaluddin Rumi, in this poem of his:

Out beyond ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn’t make any sense.

Hope this overview (my Karma Yoga for the day!) is useful and/or interesting to you … And if you’d like to learn more about these and other Yoga Traditions, one great resource is Georg Feuerstein’s book The Yoga Tradition.

Namaste! (the spark of Divinity in me bows to the spark of Divinity in you!)

Elizabeth Reninger holds a Masters degree in Chinese Medicine, is a published poet, and has been exploring Yoga ~ in its Taoist, Hindu & Buddhist varieties ~ for more than twenty years.

Her teachers include Richard Freeman and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. To read more of her yoga-related essays, please visit her website: http://www.writingup.com/blog/elizabeth_reninger

Find And Maintain Your Perfect Weight: The Yoga of Mindful Eating

By Elizabeth Reninger

Find And Maintain Your Perfect Weight: The Yoga of Mindful Eating

A common experience, among those who have practiced some form of yoga (or qigong or meditation) for a sustained period of time, is the experience of having ones weight stabilize, and maintain itself ~ almost magically ~ at the “perfect” level.

This has certainly been my experience … Regardless of what I eat (and granted, my diet is, my most standards, quite a “healthy” one), my weight has appeared, over many years, to fluctuate no more than a couple of pounds in either direction. I don’t have scientific “proof” of this, since I almost never weigh myself on a scale … but it is my perception, which I’ve grown to trust. Basically, I feel comfortable in my body, and most of the time what I want to eat is what my body needs … After I’ve eaten what I have desired, I feel nourished, satisfied, and energized by those choices.

But this sort of natural equilibrium, around weight and food choices, for most people takes a while to cultivate. So, in the meantime, what to do about this eating thing? This body-weight thing? Based upon advice I’ve received, over the years and from people I trust, I’d like to present two practices: one very simple (in terms of its mechanics, at least); the other a bit more involved. What they have in common is this: you’re not required to change WHAT you eat, in any way. Sound intriguing? Read on … !

The first practice, designed specifically for those who would be healthier & happier if they weighed less than they do now, is to follow one simple “rule,” which is: don’t eat anything after 5 p.m. This is a strategy that was transmitted to me by one of my teachers (herself a yogini, in the Sikh tradition) in Chinese medical school.

What she noticed was that, almost universally, those patients of hers who were able to do this one thing, did indeed lose the weight that they needed to, without doing anything else. The explanation for this (common to both the Chinese and the Ayurvedic medical models) is that our digestive “fire” is hottest at high noon, and from there begins its daily descent … reaching its low point at around midnight.

To be in alignment with this natural cycle of our digestive system, it’s best to eat our largest meal at around noon, and definitely to avoid those fashionably late dinners, or midnight snacks. Now actually doing this may require some inconvenient if not downright painful (emotionally, socially) shifts & changes in your habitual eating patterns … But if you’re able to work through that piece of it, it’s a very simple thing!

A more involved meal-time practice ~ which still does not require you to change what you eat (though over time, this may indeed, and quite naturally, begin to happen) ~ is to bring a new level of mindfulness to the entire eating process.

This sort of practice begins with the commitment to simply eat, when you’re eating, i.e. to avoid meal-time multi-tasking (you know: reading the paper, checking you email or voice messages, driving the kids to school at the same time as you’re having breakfast, lunch or dinner). Then, once you have your food on your plate, to pause for a moment or two to consider where the food has come from: to think of all the plants, minerals, animals and human beings without whom this food would not be here in front of you.

So to remember: the farm-workers, the sunshine & minerals which were food to the plants that you’re about to consume, the plants which were food to the animals you’re about to consume, the workers in the supermarket and in the slaughterhouse … As we deepen this practice, we come to understand that the food we’re about to consume could not be here were it not for the entire universe!

Then we say a prayer, of acknowledgement and of gratitude, for what we’re about to consume. This could be anything that you’d like it to be. A traditional prayer from the Hindu tradition is as follows (first in transliterated Sanskrit, then the English translation):

brahmaarpa NaM brahma haviH brahmaagnau brahma Naa hutam.h . brahmaiva tena gantavyaM brahmakarmasamaadhinaa ..

“A process of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the instrument of offering is Brahman, the fire to which the offering is made is also Brahman. For such a one who abides in Brahman, by him alone Brahman is reached.”

The essential message of this prayer is: we and the food and the process of eating & drinking are all made of the same “stuff” … and as we come, directly, to realize this, we and our food and our entire world is revealed as Divine (Brahman). In other words: you are God, eating food which is God, which is digested by God, and if you really get this, you will have reached God!

So now ~ at long last! ~ we take our first bite … and chew it long enough to really taste it, and perhaps even long enough to notice how the taste changes as the food begins to break down in our mouths. And we allow ourselves to notice: is this an enjoyable or less-than-enjoyable taste? And allow ourselves to enjoy the whole process … and to marvel at its miracle: at some point (where exactly is that point?) this food ceases to be “food” and becomes part of “my” body!

These sorts of “mindfulness of eating” practices are a potent way of waking up the body’s own intelligence … and as such, are likely, over the long run, to have balancing and stabilizing affects on all of our physical (as well as emotional and spiritual) systems. Give it a try … and bon appetit!

Elizabeth Reninger holds Masters degrees in Sociology and Chinese Medicine, is a published poet, and has been exploring Yoga ~ in its Taoist, Buddhist & Hindu varieties ~ for more than twenty years.

She is a student of Richard Freeman and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, and currently resides in Boulder, Colorado. For more of her essays on yoga-related topics, please visit her website: http://www.writingup.com/blog/elizabeth_reninger

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Free Yoga Music

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Aura Yoga Newsletter is behind Schedule

Lately, I’ve received a lot of Email about our upcoming January Yoga newsletter. Many of you want to know why I am running so late this month. Thank you for your interest and I promise it will be interesting.

Truthfully, it is my fault. Marie and I went to Florida during Christmas week. It was good to get away, but when I came back home, my appointment book was full, and Yoga teacher exams were stacked all over my desk. Thankfully, Paul III and Jackie had the “home front” covered.

The next Aura Yoga newsletter is near completion and will be in your Email boxes early next week. I wish you and yours a very Happy and Prosperous 2006.

If you read this Blog, but don’t get our free Yoga newsletter, visit:
www.yoga-teacher-training.org to sign up.

Yoga teaching opportunities and using Yoga on and off the mat are covered every month.

Please give me your feedback if you are interested in a Chair Yoga Conference this summer.
This is a weekend intensive Yoga teacher training for teaching Yoga in Nursing Homes, Senior Centers, Assisted Living Complexes, Physical Rehabilitation Centers, and Adult Day Care Centers.

I will also cover how to "get your foot in the door," without spending much on marketing.

Namaste,

Paul

Monday, January 09, 2006

Facts About Yoga Business Coaching Services

By Paul Jerard

There was a time when the use of the words, “Yoga” and “business,” in the same sentence, would have been considered “shameful.” However, when you have a Yoga studio, pay for a lease, advertising, insurance, utilities, and more - you know this is serious business. Whether you own a Yoga studio, or are an independent contractor, your money is “on the line,” and possibly your life savings.

Many Yoga teachers, and directors, often ask me the following questions: What is my most effective way to advertise? Who should handle the marketing? What can I do about student retention? Why does a Yoga teacher need a sales letter or business plan?

As the popularity of Yoga grows, more Yoga teachers are looking for professional advice to “stream line,” market effectively, and make their Yoga businesses “recession proof.” For some Yoga teachers, Yoga has evolved from a sideline hobby to a fulltime Yoga business. Yoga students will not be happy to train and learn with you “in a closet.”

As a Yoga teacher, your economic survival is at stake. With a fulltime business, of any kind, a surprising amount of overhead will follow. When you own a Yoga studio, you have to “wear many hats.” If you are already an established Yoga teacher, you went into teaching Yoga to share the gift and practice your own solo routine more often.

Many of the most successful Yoga studios, ashrams, and wellness centers, get “insider” business and marketing advice. The surprising fact is that Yoga business coaching doesn’t have to cost as much as you think. Yoga business coaching can be handled on a “per session” basis. Many Yoga businesses save, and learn, far more than the session costs.

If this is not the case, it is time to find a different Yoga business coach or consulting service. The objective of Yoga business coaching is to help the Yoga business owner become self sufficient. Therefore, consulting is not for dependence, but to teach the typical Yoga studio owner how to fill the gaps and address priorities within a particular Yoga business.

What type of Yoga studio should seek business advice? Most Yoga businesses, of any size, can use help with a particular issue. Established Yoga studios, and Yoga teachers, usually know where they need help, but still need practical solutions. Also, established Yoga studio owners may want to “recession proof” their business or increase their market share right now.

Is this type of service geared toward new Yoga studios, as well? After years of Yoga training, and thousands of dollars, many new Yoga teachers need to recover the money they have invested in their new career as soon as possible. Yoga business consulting services will help any new Yoga studio get to the next level and put the learning curve behind.

Are Yoga business consulting and technical support services given by phone or Email? Actually, I use a combination of both methods. After a Yoga business coaching session by phone, there is a “homework assignment” for my client. Sometimes, this assignment will save my client thousands of dollars or create unforeseen revenue streams.

Sales letters, marketing campaigns, and website development can be handled by your Yoga business coach, but it is far less expensive if you learn how to take control of your own marketing campaign. Again, the objective is to have a client who becomes totally self sufficient.

However, complete marketing campaigns for Yoga studios are never refused by any responsible business coach. In any economy, coaching programs for marketing and business will save you thousands of dollars, and teach you skills that will last you a lifetime. At this point, it will be much easier for you to help your own Yoga students and clients.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Yoga Teacher Seeking Employment Opportunities

P. Dileep - Yoga Instructor

Objective To develop a generation with I.Q & E.Q, cultivate strong
Interpersonal skills and creativity. Above all inspire them to
change the world with their talents.

Career Yoga Instructor (Jan.1998 – Present)
Yoganaath Research Centre
Mahila Samajam Building – Tirur
Malappuram d.t, Kerala, India.

Education Yoga Instructor Course
Vivekananda Yoga Mahavidyapeetham
(Deemed University – Bangalore)
Yoganaath Research Centre
(Centre for holistic healing)

Master of Arts - Malayalam
University of Calicut – Kerala.

Data Preparation & Computer Software
N.C.V.T Govt.of India

Yoga Foundation & Pranic Healing

Massaging course
( From my grand uncle Gopala Menon who was a great Yogi)

Co-Curricular
Activities: N.C.C Senior Division B Certificate passed
First place in Javeline, Shotput& Discuss throw
Third place in Tabla (Calicut University Zonal fest)

I Offer A strong commitment to the career with no time limitations.

Improving self confidence, concentration of the students through
Transcendental Meditation.

I Expect A positive working atmosphere
A pleasant approach.

Interests: Music, Social work

Achievements: Quite happy in all times
Attended two N.C.C Camps
Winner All Kerala State Yoga Championship – 2003.

Interested Employers should contact via Email: dileeptirur@yahoo.com

Dileep currently lives in Kerala, India

Yoga Teacher Seeking Employment

Yoga Teacher Resume

R. SIVANANDAM

OBJECTIVE:

A 19 year young indvidual, who is a goal, results-oriented professional with a strong medical background and communicator.

Persuasive and adaptable, self –motivated with high energy, initiative, insight into the needs and views of others – able to listen and views of others – able to listen and identify issues and solve the problems innovatively, professional through the path of yoga, articulate in presentation.

PERSONAL PROFILE:

Name : R.Sivanandam
Father’s Name : Yogiraj N.Ramalingam
Date of Birth : 16th apr1986 Age :19
Sex : male
Marital status : single
Nationality : Indian
Address for Communication : Swamy Sivananda Yogasana Research Center
Yoga Nagar ,Thanakkankulam (p.o),
Madurai-625 006
Tamil Nadu, India.
Phone Number : 91-452- 5546908
E – Mail : siva_siva96@yahoo.com

Languages Known : English (Speak / Read / Write)
Tamil (Speak / Read / Write)

Areas of strength

Comprehensive knowledge in the field of yoga

Able to communicate ,Negotiate and facilitate effectively.

Excellent interpersonal skills, good problem solving mindset and excellent holistic thinker, who can be both analytical and intuitive.

Assess and manage the peoples efficiently.

Exhibiting leadership qualities and show a graet aptitude for teaching as well as practice.

Prioritizing the goals and the time management skills do occur naturally.

Professional skills:

Assess, identify problems, plan and find , means to solve them through asana, pranayam, and meditation.

Apply the basic knowledge asana , kundalini pranayama, nadi suthii pranayama , meditation, in the patients suffering from asthma, stress, obesity, BP, nervous problem, Parkinsons, ect.

Had good exposure in all types of yoga theraphy (asana, kundalini pranayama, nadisuthi pranayama, meditation , kriyas)actively involved and committed in both yogic practice and teaching.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION:

TEACHER OG YOGASANA ISSUED BY SWAMY SIVANANDA YOGASANA RESEARCH CENTER,TAMILNADU (1999-2000)

DIPLOMA IN YOGA EDUCTION with the tittle of MASTER IN YOGA
by DIRECTOR OG INDIAN MEDICINE(2002-2002)

JOB EXPERIENCE:
Mu guru yogiraj n.ramalingam also he is my father he was involved in this yoga field for the past 44 years. I trained under him from the age 3 and I start to take yoga class from the age 7 and start to take yoga class for the disease peoples from the age 11.

Now at age 19, I am taking classes for the student of dimploma peoples, disease peoples, normal peoples. I was well expert in curing disease asthma, diabetes, obesity, mental stress, BP, and Parkinson.

Through asnana and kundalini pranayama I can cure and I have cured those above mentioned disease.

Recently I have cure a doctor who is suffered from attack his left side of body won't activate and he couldn't speak normally like we speak. My father asked me to treat him, and now he can speak well, and can walk alone without any help. He is going to his clinic now. I trained him with an asnana and kundalini pranayama precription.

I Have MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPERINCE IN YOGA FIELD.

I give my whole life to this field. I was just taking yoga class in our yogasana center. We had a yoga center named as swamy sivananda yogasana research center run by my father yogiraj ramalingam for the past 33 years, and also we have diplomas in yoga.

Now, I am a yoga instructor and HOD (HEAD OF THE DEPARMENT).

I would like to share my knowledge of yoga which was learned for the past 10 years in India. I would like to provide my knowledge for people who are abroad.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN YOGA:

Having well experience in yoga above 10 years I got certificates all over in India . I had more camps for disease peoples. Over 50 camps for a year I had contact .

Expertise in Yoga:
Asanas,
Kundalini Pranayama,
Nadi suthi pranayama
meditation
Mudras, Bandhas,
Kriyas, Meditation

Declaration: I hereby declare that all the information furnished is true to my best of knowledge and belief.
(SIVANANDAM. R)

R.Sivanandam
Swamy Sivananda Yogasana Research Center
Yoga Nagar ,Thanakkankulam (p.o),
Madurai-625 006
Tamil Nadu, India.
PHOE NO : 91-452- 5546908
E_MAIL ID: siva_siva96@yahoo.com

As a qulified and experinecd yoga therapis and yoga instructor ,i belive your organization may be interested in some one with my experince, attitude, and knowledge.

I am to able offer: Diverse yoga skills and communication skills resulting from studies,experince and self_motivation.

Excellent administrative,organizational and time management skills gained from my previous experince.

A total commitment to excellence in all aspects of work performance which includes understanding and interpretation of the yoga path.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Yoga Teacher Certification or Registration - Part 1

By Paul Jerard

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

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Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/
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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Thank you and Namaste, Paul
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Yoga Teacher Certification or Registration - Part 2

By Paul Jerard

What about established Yoga teachers who don’t have a diploma?

Yoga teaching credentials are a relatively new concept. Many “seasoned” Yoga teachers have suddenly found themselves in need of credentials.

Most of the certified Yoga teachers are from Hatha Yoga, one of Hatha Yoga’s many sub-styles, or Kundalini Yoga. This may be due to the physical aspect of these Yoga styles. Yoga teachers, who are without credentials, should contact a certifying body to inquire about recognition or credit for past experience.

What is the “right’’ Yoga credential to have?

There really is no right or wrong Yoga credential. A Yoga teacher should have a minimum of 200 hours of study. The Yoga teacher course selected should cover all the facets of Yoga, but when considering liability, anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, safety, modifications, props, and contraindications are of prime importance.
When I hire a Yoga teacher; safety, communication, and knowledge override any credentials. The teaching performance within a Yoga class is more important than any other factor. This is why some Yoga studios do an evaluation of a new Yoga teacher on a trial basis.

When should I become a Registered Yoga teacher?

The fact is you don’t have to join a Yoga teacher’s association or become a registered Yoga teacher, to teach Yoga in any country. In Great Britain, you have a choice to register with the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) or The Independent Yoga Network. Until recently, I thought BWY was the sole regulator of Yoga within the UK. Apparently this is a myth.

Some studios may require you to be a registered Yoga teacher, but most will not. In North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and most of Europe, Yoga teachers are not required to be registered. However, certification may be required.

Who regulates Yoga?

There is no government backed regulator of Yoga. If you are in doubt, contact a local Yoga teachers association to be assured of local laws and regulations.

It is a wise practice to network with local Yoga teachers and Yoga teacher associations. This will keep you informed and educated about the changes within Yoga. You will also learn about workshops, seminars, retreats, and Yoga camps that are coming to your area.

Lastly, Yoga teachers should stay on top of information concerning sports medicine, anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, safety, modifications, and contraindications. The safety of every Yoga student is the single most important factor involved in teaching Yoga.

© 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

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Yoga and Pregnancy - Why Do Yoga At This Time?

By Lisa Askem

Yoga is for everyone, any age, men, women and children but is especially helpful at times of change in our lives. Pregnancy is a time when extra care should be taken not only in exercise classes but in all activities and living. Yoga will help maintain a healthy and strong body during all stages of pregnancy and help women to deliver their babies in a confident way.

Pregnancy is a natural time for taking care of yourself. For a first time mother a yoga class will offer a chance to be comfortable in the changes taking place both physically and mentally. A chance to take a break, relax into the pregnancy and make contact with her baby. Yoga will also help prevent all kinds of back problems. It will help to keep blood pressure low, prevent cramps, varicose veins, it will improve circulation and prevent swelling of the joints. Breathing will improve and tiredness will be overcome, good sleep will be induced.

The practise of yoga will also maintain a sense of self in a time of change. Postures will be taught with encouragement and ideas to help deliver babies confidently and often without intervention. Yoga can help with anxiety around the birth and possible depression.

Many mothers come to classes as beginners with no experience of yoga but have seen articles on how beneficial it is in helping to give birth naturally. Maternity classes use modified yoga postures with the emphasis on breathing, strengthening and relaxation. Applicable to all stages of pregnancy. For those who already practise yoga a maternity class will provide many tips on how to continue yoga safely during pregnancy.

I believe we should train to have a baby. You wouldn't climb a mountain or run a marathon without training first, and there is also the other side to yoga - it is a mind and body practice. The postures will keep the body strong but the meditative side of yoga is vital. The transition into motherhood has to be addressed. We live in a culture where we have babies and rush back to work or put a wash on and go to the supermarket. There is an expectation that believes we will not change. Yoga can be part of the rite of passage into motherhood helping to prepare for the changes ahead.

Lisa Askem has been teaching pre and post natal yoga in London, England for over 10 years. She is trained with the British Wheel of Yoga and has worked with the active birth movement. Lisa teaches at various centres in South West London including the world renown Harbour Club in Fulham. She is also involved in providing yoga classes for the National Health Service Sure Start programme.

http://www.benditlikelisa.co.uk

Lisa is a Member of http://www.WomenWorking4Women.co.uk

Yoga and Your Health

By Michael Russell

Yoga is more than just physical exercise; it is achieving a state of mind. For millions of people, Yoga is a spiritual journey, one that has a number of health benefits. Yoga can help you fulfil yourself both spiritually and can help you hone your physical self into the best you can be. Thus, the benefits of practicing it are three-fold; you will become spiritually enlightened in addition to enjoying the physical benefits of Yoga, which include improvement of both mind and body.

First, let us examine the physiological changes that occur when one takes up the practice of Yoga. When you begin practicing it, you will find that your balance enhances, your blood pressure will lower significantly, your heart will work more proficiently and your endurance will also increase.

Likewise, your muscles will strengthen, your flexibility level increases, your range of motion will ultimately improve; and you will find that you have better immunity against communicable diseases. Also, you will find that you achieve more restful and restorative sleep and your physique will eventually display your new, healthful status.

Additionally, along with the myriad physical benefits derived from practicing Yoga, you will be equally pleased with the psychological benefits. For instance, Yoga can reduce the instances in which you experience anxiety or depression, can improve your attention and concentration span, can help you manage unruly emotions, your learning abilities and your memory will improve, and your self-esteem and level of confidence will improve. This, in addition to the physical benefits produced by the practice of Yoga make it worthwhile, but there are even more benefits to partaking in this form of exercise.

Practicing Yoga also has a number of biochemical advantages including lower glucose levels, lower HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, a higher haemoglobin count, a reduction in the level of sodium in your body, a lowering of white blood cells in your body, a lowering of Triglycerides, and an increase in certain vitamin levels in your system. Plus, through the practice of Yoga, you will find that your alertness improves, your focus increases, you reduce symptoms of fatigue and your entire well-being is affected.

There are a variety of ways in which you can introduce yourself to the practice of Yoga. You can take a public class or conversely, you can order instructional videos and books to study at home or with friends. Likewise, you can find information online. Further, there are even some Yogic schools and you might be able to locate one in your local area.
Regardless of whether or not you decide to take classes or if you decide to learn Yoga on your own, you should always pay a visit to your physician for a full checkup before you engage in any new exercise regimen. Also, you must bear in mind that when you start to practice Yoga you should do so slowly. It serves no one if you strain a muscle when you over exercise and you can incur serious and permanent injury if you are not careful.
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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Yoga
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Universal Laws of Yoga – Part 1

By Paul Jerard

What is Yoga? Why do some religious fundamentalists fear Yoga? What is the objective of Yoga? These questions about the true purpose of Yoga always arise, but the answers are not quite clear. So, let’s get to the heart of the matter.

Yoga is many things and there are many forms of Yoga. For example: Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of devotion) is commonly practiced in India, but is rarely practiced in the West. The most popular form of Yoga in the West is Hatha Yoga (Yoga of physical mastery).

It is understandable that Hatha Yoga and its many sub-styles would take hold in the West, especially on the American continents. Physical mastery, in and of itself, is much easier to absorb than over 5,000 years of Indian culture. The physical aspect of Yoga is the easiest to master, but the study of Yoga is a long journey.

Bhakti Yoga, as mentioned earlier, is the Yoga of Devotion and more emphasis is placed on spiritual and mental health. Religious practices, of any faith, will be much more pronounced within a group of Bhakti Yoga practitioners.

To put it simply, Yoga is the union of mind, body, and spirit for complete health. There are far more benefits to be realized through the constant practice of Hatha Yoga, or any other kind of Yoga, but this is the foundation of “unity.” Physical mastery is constructive and, at the very least, keeps us healthy.

Please bear in mind that all forms of Yoga may overlap in aspects of complete and whole health, but the emphasis within each style will be different. For example: In a Hatha Yoga class, physical, mental, and spiritual mastery may be practiced. The aspects taught depend on the curriculum, the exact style of Hatha Yoga, and the Yoga teacher.

Once a Yoga practitioner embarks on the path of unity, self realization and tranquility are acquired. The Yogic path is filled with many steps before self realization, tranquility, and oneness with God. The following are some of the steps we should take toward self-improvement.
Purify your inner being by freeing yourself from vanity, intolerance, anger, attachment to material, and the ego. We are only human and self-perfection is a difficult road to travel, but we must keep going one step at a time. What do we do when we make a mistake or sin? We pick ourselves up, learn from our mistakes, and amend our behavior.

© 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

By Merilee Kern

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.

Former bodybuilding champion and health advocate Merilee A. Kern, MBA, is the 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 site at http://www.notfault.com.

Universal Laws of Yoga - Part 2

By Paul Jerard

Here are some habits to practice on your journey toward self-perfection. Always remember that you may make some mistakes along the way.

Cultivate love through acts of kindness toward family, friends, and associates. Smile at others and put your “best foot forward.” This alone will open many doors in life and make your journey a pleasant one. Take time for self analysis by observing your past, future, and present. Visualize what you can change and learn from what you cannot. Meditate, pray, and practice your breathing (Pranayama).

Selfless service for the common good is rewarding for the inner and outer self. You do not have to join a group to help others, but a group will have more ability to help than a single person. Either way, helping others will make you a better person.

Give to charity and share with others when ever it is possible. Giving to others, especially those in need is a universal law. When it is possible to help another person, we should all help.
Forgive others for their wrong doings and let go of the past. Do this for yourself and you will feel a great burden, lifted from you. Carrying a grudge and frowning all day, takes too much positive energy out of you, so leave bad feelings behind.

The following are some habits to avoid. Avoid practicing Yoga for material gain or to acquire psychic powers. Anything of value should be used to help those you can. There is nothing wrong with earning a living or bettering yourself, but you should always help anyone you can.

As a Yoga practitioner, you are an ambassador of Yoga. An “air of superiority” should be avoided by all Yogis and Yoginis. This is seen as arrogance, and arrogance is only needed to bolster the ego. Therefore, be a diplomat, when speaking in terms of Yogic philosophy or vegetarianism.
Remember to practice Yoga as a lifestyle. Yoga is not just practiced in the ashram, in the mountains, on the beach, or behind the exclusive walls of a particular Yoga studio. Yoga can be practiced with acts of kindness, devotion to God, or in a physical practice at your own home.

Give your family, friends, and work your best efforts. Practicing Yoga is part of your life, but you should never abandon your obligations for Yoga. It is much healthier to live a full life and enjoy your family, friends, and work along the way.

We can take the right actions by practicing the following: Meditate daily and take action to focus your thinking, when your mind becomes restless. Remember that Yoga can be practiced anytime because of its mental, spiritual, and physical components.

© 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

Universal Laws of Yoga - Part 3

By Paul Jerard

Why do some religious fundamentalists fear Yoga?

For many non-practitioners of Yoga, it is Intolerance for something they do not understand. This seems harmless at first, but cries of witchcraft are never a good omen. However, every method of healing has its critics.

Yoga has also been accused of being a “launching point” to export Hinduism. This is very interesting, considering the large numbers of Yoga practitioners who are not Hindus. Some Yogis and Yoginis do convert to Hinduism, but the “calling” had to come from within themselves. Within North America, most Yoga teachers are not Hindus at all and I have yet to witness religious conversion in progress.

For fundamentalist Hindus that believe Yoga and Hinduism cannot be separate, sorry to break the news, but it has already happened. Yoga was interpreted in many ways by a variety of cultures and partial facets of Yoga have grown independently. Some Hatha Yoga styles do not even practice meditation.

Yoga students outside India, pick and choose what they want to learn from Yoga. At this time, physical mastery seems to be most popular. This is why Yoga teachers outside India focus primarily on physical health. Many western students think only of Hatha Yoga, when they hear the word “Yoga.”

This is why Yoga cannot really be controlled, regulated, or patented. How do you control people’s thoughts, actions, physical practice, prayers, meditation, or songs? The whole concept of controlling Yoga is ludicrous.

Fundamentalists of different religions work together, quite by accident, to divide the world’s religions into mobs of intolerance. Their real fear is loss of control. So they speak in “absolutes.” For example: “You will burn in hell, if you do not, do as I say” and “All of the non-believers are going to Hell.”

The real problem with Yoga, for the fundamentalist of any religion, is that it can be practiced by anyone from any religion. Yoga is not exclusive: The laws are universal and interchangeable with every religion. This allows a Yoga practitioner to work independently on his or her spiritual health and work toward enlightenment.

What is wrong with working toward the common good? The idea of working toward enlightenment and self-perfection are considered blasphemy to some. However, can you imagine a world where men and women did not try to improve themselves?

The objectives of Yoga are complete heath, self-improvement, self realization, and tranquility. With these benefits acquired any Yoga practitioner can help others and work for the common good.

© 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

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