Practicing Yoga for Positive Emotions

By Gopi Rao

With a struggling economy, a lack of good jobs, and rising costs of living what is one to do when considering raising your spirits. Let’s be honest, you can’t afford to get sick in this economy. Co-payments for anything are through the roof and employers are just waiting for an excuse to terminate us, but there is a bright light that doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.

Yoga training sessions are a positive outlet for many people these days. With stress coming from life, jobs, and other ailments, yoga has become a great way to deal with life's trials and tribulations.

The asana (yogic posture) practice helps you learn how to release emotions throughout your body. Whether you are holding a certain position for five to eleven minutes or finding your center, it helps to create a state of stillness within your mind and body that helps to relieve your daily tension. Yin Yoga is a great way to develop your asana and bring a calm structure within your life. For the women, it is perfect because there is a constant soreness within the hips. The stretches and poses help to center your body.

When you go to your practice, leave all your worries off the mat and focus on connect to your body. Finding a way to breathe gently through each pose and pass will create a certain level of flexibility within your body. This can be applied to your life. For example, if you are going through a tough issue, you can write it out and help to find the cause. While your Yoga practice does not help you solve your problem, it does give you the positive emotion you need to take steps on how you can conquer this ordeal.

Developing yogic habits also includes a few things such as quality foods and sunlight. A lot of people have low Vitamin D within their system, so it's important to develop good habits such as practicing in the sunlight for a bit. Not only will you become one with yourself and the positive energies surrounding nature but it significantly helps with your health. 

Additionally, eating foods rich in vitamins such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts will greatly increase your energy and the richness of your body. Combining yoga with healthy eating and sunlight will greatly increase your overall quality of life. When you improve your quality of life, that is a feeling that will help to create more lasting positive emotions.

Applying this yogic methodology is much more than a simple once or twice a week yoga class. Yoga will help you build a healthy and positive lifestyle that you can spread onto others.

© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Why do Yoga Instructors Teach Mantras?

By Kimaya Singh

There was a time when students did what their Guru said and did not ask questions. There was a time when women did what they were told and did not ask questions. Well, those days are past and people are empowered to question traditional methods and guidelines in modern classes. One question that certified yoga teachers hear often is, "Why do we practice mantras?" As an instructor, you should be prepared to give a logical answer.  

What are the Benefits of Mantra?

Mantra practice is one of the oldest and most powerful concepts that yogic methodology has to offer. It is also one of the least understood parts of yoga. This is particularly true in contemporary yoga schools, where many people have adopted the outer forms of asana practice without gaining any insight into the inner workings of yoga.

The mantra technique is uniquely suited to creating increased levels of concentration. Mantra creates focus by drowning outer noise by creating controlled inner noise. As mental reminder, the mantra technique constantly keeps the mind of the practitioner focused on the moment. Using the mantra, yoga students can seamlessly transition from one yoga training technique to the next, without being distracted by their environment.

The mantra aids in the yogic practice of pranayama. When repeating the mantra mentally or verbally, the breathing patterns of the practitioner are naturally slowed down and elongated. It is difficult to achieve advanced states of yogic breathing faster. This creates a governor over pranayama practice, which prevents the eager student from injuring him or herself.

The mantra has a soothing and calming effect on the mind and body. Reciting the mantra frees the mind from distractions and orients focus to the task at hand. Mantra use has also been shown to reduce blood pressure, further relaxing the body of those who practice it.

The mantra is useful for maintaining control over the emotions. Repeating the mantra during times of anger and stress provides release when it is most needed. Unlike asana, the mantra can be performed mentally in any situation and environment.

The mantra provides the benefits of yogic science without the requirements of a special room. Mantra sessions can be performed without a teacher, no equipment is necessary to perform the mantra and no complex instructions are needed to reap the benefits of using the mantra.

Mantra practice promotes health and well being when practiced regularly. Dedicated chanting of the mantra causes the brain to release beneficial substances including dopamine. Balanced dopamine levels in the brain have been proven to be effective in the maintenance of the immune system. Additionally, mantra has been proven to positively impact the hypothalamus; a major control center of the brain.

The mantra is backed up by thousands of years of evidence. For the average student of yoga, knowing that the mantra has been used by yoga practitioners for generations is a great incentive to add this technique in their own yogic exercises. Yoga undergoes continual refinement, the fact that the mantra remains widely used today is a strong indication of its effectiveness.

© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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