yoga information: October 2006

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Yoga for Beginners: The First Step of Yoga Practice

Maybe your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or best friend told you Yoga would be good for you. You have heard so much about Yoga; it seems that Yoga is a “cure” for almost anything. The more you hear, the more confusing it is to understand what Yoga is all about.

Should you go out and buy a Yoga book? What would be the best Yoga book to buy? If you visit the local book store, you see hundreds of Yoga books, CD’s, DVD’s, card decks, and kits. Should you buy a copy of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali or buy one of the “for dummies” Yoga books?
Below is an overview of Yoga, which may help you decide your path of Yogic study. There is no right or wrong path of Yoga study, but be selective when you choose a Yoga teacher, Yoga book, or Yoga class..

You should first realize that there are many styles of Yoga. There are nine major styles of Yoga; many more styles exist, as well as many sub-styles. The nine major styles of Yoga are Bhakti, Hatha, Jnana, Karma, Kundalini, Mantra, Raja, Tantra, and Yantra Yoga. Each style emphasizes unity of body, mind, and spirit.

The literal meaning of Yoga is “union” or “unity.” If we can unify the body, mind, and spirit in harmony, we can achieve tranquility. One of the main purposes of Yoga is tranquility through improved health due to a holistic approach to life.

India is the birth place of Yoga. There are many written works about Yoga, but the origin of Yoga dates back thousands of years. Yoga is the “mother” of most of the world’s health maintenance systems. Asian martial arts, with an origin from the Shaolin temple, and Pilates, can trace their ancestry back to Yoga.

The “higher forms of Yoga” are said to be Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, and Raja Yoga. Each of these four styles is a complex subject, within themselves, and I cannot do them justice by a summarization.

Hatha Yoga sub-styles are the most prolific outside of India. Most new Yoga practitioners will learn a Hatha Yoga sub-style first. Hatha Yoga, and its many sub-styles, primarily emphasize physical health, which will likely result in improved mental health. Most Hatha Yoga classes, outside of India, do not approach spiritual health.

Nevertheless, Hatha Yoga is seen by fundamentalists as an “export of Hinduism.” In some rare instances, this may be true, but most Hatha Yoga teachers are content to teach improved health for body and mind.

Therefore, when you choose a book, or local Yoga teacher, be aware that the Yoga teacher or Guru is a guide - but you have a right to know which direction you are being guided to. The Yoga practitioner learns to expand his or her mind and make independent decisions “along the way.”

Yoga is non-threatening to religion. If a Yoga instructor teaches intolerance, of any kind, that is not Yoga. Unity is not sectarianism. We have to learn to appreciate diversity, and we should never tolerate prejudice. Prejudice and intolerance are often the cause of crime and wars.

On the “Grand Scale,” the goal of Yoga is world peace through unity.

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006

Ten Small Things That Can Add Big Years to Your Life

By Jennifer Jordan

People have a will to survive, a desire to live a long and meaningful life. While there are certain things we can't control, there are many that we can. From little things like wearing a seatbelt to eating a piece of fruit, many of us have the keys to our own survival in our hands. And, most of the time, engaging in a few of these life preserving acts is sure to keep us afloat for a little bit longer than usual.

Daily Workouts

You don't have to be a fitness expert to know that regular exercise can increase physical health. But, as it adds weight to muscle mass and adds strength to the cardiovascular system, it also makes one of the most important additions of all: years to life.

A recent study at the Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center surveyed and tested over 5,000 men and women, finding that those who engaged in exercise - running, aerobics, yoga - almost daily added up to 3.7 years to their life. This was largely due to the fact that exercising decreased stress and interrupted the development of heart disease, the leading killer of Americans.

Not Smoking

We all know that smoking is bad, with "No Smoking" signs recently evolving into more of a life saving plea than a simple suggestion. However, for those who have routinely engaged in use of tobacco, quitting can still sustain life, allowing longevity to butt in.

US and Canadian Researchers recently found that even after the onset of tobacco induced lung diseases, quitting smoking can still increase lifespan, adding up to five years. This was based on the findings that the mortality rate of middle-aged heavy smokers was cut in half once they decided to extinguish their cigarettes, and their habit.

Yoga, because it produces many of the calming affects of nicotine, while teaching you discipline, perseverance, self-awareness, and allowing your body to be a conveyor of positive emotions, has actually helped smokers quit.

Owning Pets

Dogs may truly be man's best friend. They are loyal, happy, and rarely borrow things without returning them. And, going beyond the call of a "true friend," they also increase a person's life.

Several studies have shown that owning a pet lowers a person's blood pressure, increases self-esteem in children, decreases the mortality rates of heart attack victims, decreases cholesterol, decreases depression, relieves stress, and increases family happiness. Pets also make people, particularly younger people, more likely to participate in extracurricular activities. On a whole, research predicts that those who own pets will outlive those who don't by an average of seven years.

Eating Wisely

Eating wisely may seem like an improbable goal, with eating poorly often cheaper and more convenient. But, eating wisely doesn't have to be that hard. All it takes is a little planning, a little discipline, and little portions when the food is unhealthy.

Because most things are good in moderation, eating healthy doesn't mean you can never indulge in a piece of pie or a fast food hamburger; all it involves is eating fruits, vegetables, fish, and fiber most of the time, and making lapses in food judgment only occasionally.

Eating dark chocolate and drinking red wine in moderation, as recent studies have shown, may even increase your lifespan. This is because both contain ingredients that have a positive affect on the heart and the arteries.

Having Good Friends

Human beings have an innate desire to be needed and be wanted. Because of this, having friends and close confidants can increase a person's well being, and their life. The reasons for this lie in the fact that friends and partners are people we can use to reduce stress, boredom, and sadness.

This seems to be particularly true for older people. An Australian study involved researching 1400 elderly men and women for a period of ten years. The findings concluded that those who had the most close friends ended up living the longest.

Laughing

The phrase "Laughter is the best medicine" may seem like little more than an old saying. But, like many old sayings, this one seems to have a bit of truth.

Studies indicate that laughter is a natural medicine, with the ability to decrease stress-related hormones. Laughing also possesses many of the physical and mental benefits of yoga, making it seem like yogic training for your funny bone. The benefits laughter offers include boosting the immune system, regulating blood pressure, increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to muscles and organs, and internal massaging.

Being Nice and Positive

Oftentimes, situations are merely what we think that are. If we think they are dire, then that thinking makes them so. Because of this, being positive and cheerful, and maintaining an optimistic outlook, can add years to life and life to years. Being nice, when it comes to life, does make you finish last, lasting longer than those who aren't.

Recently, two studies were conducted that found older men with angry and hostile personalities more likely to die before those who engaged in an unhealthy lifestyle of smoking and drinking. Along these lines, the second study revealed that those who were giving, helpful, and cooperative with others had a 60 percent chance of outliving those who were selfish and antisocial.

Meditating

Meditation, an activity practiced often in yoga, has been indicated as a factor that can prolong life, health, and happiness. While disregarded as an important aspect in the early years, over the past few decades, meditation has gained ground in the healthcare profession as an activity that can greatly reduce both stress and pain.

Among the things meditation is thought to do is lower biochemical components of stress, lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, and facilitate positive emotions to the brain. Along these lines, meditation also helps stabilize the immune system, keeping it from being susceptible to illnesses and infections.

From an emotional standpoint, meditation allows people to focus on their minds and their inner beings, arming them with the self-awareness and the mental clarity that is needed to keep us all healthy.

Taking Time to Relax

It can be hard on the hectic road of life to pull over and relax. But, making a point to do so just might make your journey a little longer. Relaxation, because it relieves stress, and tension - two things that take both a physical and emotional toll - is a great way to keep yourself healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Relaxation, because it is a calming activity, decreases blood pressure and a person's susceptibility to heart disease. By implementing certain ways of thinking and perceiving things, it helps people to use positive powers and life forces to deal with stress and the roadblocks life may put in place.

Doing Yoga

The majority of above mentioned ways to increase life have a common theme: reducing stress adds years to life. The reasons for this range from stress impacting the strain on the heart to stress making people less likely to engage in positive, life affirming activities. Because of this yoga, a practice that can greatly influence stress levels, can be a major partner in increasing the length of your life.

Yoga isn't simply exercise; it's not a practice that is solely fitness based. Instead, yoga encapsulates activities such as breathing, meditation, self-reflection, and mindfulness, a program that helps you train your brain to focus on the present moment. It also improves the flow of blood and oxygen to organs and muscles, allowing them to function properly and allowing your mind to be enriched with clarity. All of these work together to make you more relaxed, freeing your body of physical tension and emotional stress.

Yoga, additionally, because it is so focused on self awareness, empowers those who take it to not only take charge of their exercise routine, but take charge of their life, leaving them more likely to partake in activities filled with health. Taking yoga may be the first step in making a point to laugh, meditate, take time to relax, and engage in all of the activities that can add years to your life and life to your years.

About us: TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado. Twisted integrates osteopathic medicine, Hatha yoga and mindfulness practices to teach optimal balance between physical, mental, and emotional health.

It aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life from the inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment regime for the whole being, empowering each person one breath at a time to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential.

Jennifer Jordan is senior editor of http://www.yogatwisted.com. Specializing in articles that not only teach yoga techniques, but also teach techniques on fulfillment and enrichment, she aims to educate students proudly enrolled in the school of life.

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Friday, October 27, 2006

Yoga for Depression: Motivation and Trust

By Paul Jerard

Yoga is an excellent motivational tool. When you consider starting your day with Yoga meditation, Pranayama, Japa, Yoga postures (Asanas), warm-ups, Sun Salutations, or a combination of any of these - Yoga offers many useful motivation techniques for all of us.
However, some of us like to sleep late, skip work, unplug the phone, and wonder where the day went. This lack of stress can cause depression. This is not an endorsement of a stressful lifestyle, but the reality is: We all require a little daily stress to stimulate, strengthen, and motivate ourselves.

How could an early morning Yoga meditation create motivation for the entire day? There are many types of meditation to choose from, but you could choose a form of positive visualization to raise your level of motivation.

This will require you to set aside a little time and solitude. You could start with a 15 minute Yoga meditation session and allow your mind some forgiveness - if it wanders. Do not judge your mind or any distractions around you.

This is a key to Yogic meditation, and Yoga in general: Be mindful, be kind, do not judge anything, avoid extremes, and live life in moderation. The purpose of your meditation will be aided - if you write down your goals, for the day, and meditate.

With this form of Yogic meditation, you will be pleasantly surprised with how often you accomplish your daily objectives. Keep in mind that Yoga meditation is just one technique to stimulate motivation. Pranayama, Japa, Asana, and Sun Salutations, all work well for stimulating the body and mind.

Another factor, which causes depression, is lack of trust in others, and from deep within our inner being. We must believe in ourselves before we have faith in others. This lack of trust can cause a form of scaring to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Can Yoga turn any of us into “eternal optimists?” The answer is, “maybe.” Most eternal optimists are born that way; but optimism can be conditioned, and you have the power to harness it, if you want to.

A Yoga student asks, “Teach me about self-empowerment.” The lessons are within all forms of Yoga, but you will find more answers within Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Karma Yoga.

Most Yoga students, outside of India, practice Hatha Yoga sub-styles. This is fine - but are you learning anything beyond the physical aspects of Yoga? Yoga is a vast topic, with solutions to many of today’s health problems.

However, can the world learn to trust a 5,000 year old health maintenance system, with a proven track record of success? On a global scale, most of the world’s population still seeks short-term health solutions in the form of pills.

Sometimes prescriptions are required; especially, in the case of severe depression. It is promising that Western medicine now embraces Yoga as an alternative therapy. This will create an evolution in health care which will improve the quality of life for humanity.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006

Yoga for Depression: Blame and Control

By Paul Jerard

Sometimes blaming others for our problems is easier than finding solutions. Any of us can blame our friends, parents, co-workers, family, and significant other for “our lot in life.” We can also blame “every driver on the road of life.”

Have you ever heard something similar to this? “Everyone over there drives terribly, but not me.” What is the source of all this blame? It is an inherent discontent with life.

Unfortunately, this usually occurs when we quietly blame ourselves for everything on a regular basis. Yoga teaches us to accept our mistakes and to accept what we cannot change.

Some people silently carry blame around with them all of their lives. Others look at past mistakes and agonize over them. Mindfulness is a universal practice, taught in Yoga classes, that will help you live for now.

We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it, and do our best to help those who we have hurt in the past. Mindfulness and Yoga meditation techniques will help anyone appreciate the present moment and the prospects of a brighter future. How is this possible?

Each style of Yoga works on the mental aspects of health. Even the very physical styles, of Yoga, work on the mental component of health. A healthy mind will contribute to your physical health exponentially. As an example of this, look at the recoveries of positive-thinking cancer patients.
Sometimes, we are blamed for something we had no involvement in. Our reaction is to feel bad about it, but we must develop “thicker skin” and avoid those who would make us the “scapegoat.” When you are constantly harassed by someone; it is not good for your mental health to repeatedly expose yourself to anguish.

Another contributor to depression is the desire to control everything. There are so many different possibilities in this life. As a result, life creates circumstances beyond our control. This does not give us the right to neglect everything, but we must learn to accept that we try our best, and that is all we can do. If you do your best every day, forgive yourself for any mistakes.
At the same time we must forgive friends, family, and co-workers for being human. If you learn to accept imperfection, you will be pleasantly surprised, when you see perfection as a rare jewel.
So, what did any of this have to do with Yoga? Yama and Niyama are the first two limbs of Yoga. The second Niyama is Santosha, also known as contentment.

A mind without contentment is also without peace. Do not confuse contentment with riches. The rich can only be truly content, when they share.

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Monday, October 16, 2006

Five Keys Toward Detoxifying Your Body

By Jennifer Jordan

To detoxify your body simply means to cleanse your body of any toxins it may be harboring. We know, for instance, that some chemicals and pesticides, or certain fumes we breathe, can be toxic to us. In addition, many of our modern day food choices can create a toxic environment that slowly lowers our overall immunity. The phrase Toxic Load refers to the condition of our cells and tissues - the inner terrain - that develops when we consume, year after year, highly processed foods. While the liver and the kidneys are natural detoxifiers, organs whose job is to filter out impurities, there are several other ways to help your body detoxify itself. While some of these ways may be viewed as extreme, such as dialysis or a lengthy juice fast, there are several every day things that can be done to detoxify your body with subtlety and consistency.

Nutrition

No amount of great nutrition in the world will work very well until our body stops receiving the massive amounts of processed and fake foods that create a toxic inner terrain. Fortunately, it's easy to learn what is hard on your body; there are no complex charts to memorize. Rule One: the more processed a substance, the larger the toxic load. Simply examine your weekly intake. Eat less of them. Find healthier substitutes. Or, better yet, drop them altogether.

Select organic, whole, unprocessed foods, whenever possible. Stop eating foods with additives and preservatives. Get your oil needs from olive oil, nuts, seeds, such as flax, psyllium, etc. Slow down or eliminate: processed meat (highly processed beef, chicken, lamb, sausages, pate, luncheon meats, bologna), most seafood (bottom feeders, such as mussels, clams, lobster, highly processed anchovies and sardines), pasteurized dairy (milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt), processed oil(hydrogenated, lard, canola), flour products (bread, pastries, cookies, cakes, pies, donuts, crackers), caffeine (coffee, black teas), tap water ( use filtered or bottled spring water), alcohol (beer, wine, sake, scotch, gin, vodka), processed sugar (candy, sweets, chocolate), sodas (diet coke, sugared drinks), and fake foods (artificial anything!).

Re-hydrate

Our bodies and our world are both largely composed of water, making water a vitally important element to the human race. Thus, it’s no surprise that water is a huge factor in overall health, as well as detoxification. Re-hydrating helps detoxification in several ways. First of all, water is a natural appetite suppressant, keeping people from ingesting things, such as fast food meals, that may add toxins to the body. Secondly, water stimulates the kidneys, helping them to do their job of filtering. Water also aids in digestion; without water, digestion can not occur, leaving the intestines without the ability to remove waste.

One of the most important reasons for re-hydrating is the lymph system. The lymph system is the often overlooked set of vessels used to transport metabolic waste out of the body. Drinking water to re-hydrate helps prevent the lymph system from becoming overwhelmed with old, necrotic material.

While it is recommended that the average person drink at least eight glasses of water a day, people often forget to do this, compromising their body’s natural health driven abilities. Some suggest taking your weight in pounds and dividing it in half. This is the number of ounces of water you should drink a day. Buy a bottle, somewhere around the size of a gallon. Fill it each day, and drink it empty each day. It is a great way to measurably know how much water you are using. If you don't have access to spring water, then filter your tap water with a carbon filter.

Brush Your Skin

Brushing your skin may seem like an odd concept, an act that is typically reserved for a head of hair. But, the pores in our skin are often an open doorway to innumerable toxins we may encounter. Because our skin absorbs what’s on it, it will absorb any toxins present. Brushing these toxins away, however, can minimize the amount of toxins that enter the body through the pores. Our skin can be considered our largest elimination organ, especially during a change in nutrition. To help this process along, purchase a long handled skin brush and dry-brush your entire body for two or three minutes before bathing or showering each day. It may sting a bit the first few times, but you are conditioning your skin to breathe more. This also improves circulation, releases toxins and stimulates new skin production. For some, wet-brushing while bathing can be just as effective.

Take Alkalinizing Baths

Another good idea is Alkalinizing Baths. For these, toss a cup of sea salt or a cup of baking soda into a bath. Get in and slowly increase the heat until you are sweating. The object is to make the outside water more alkaline than the body and blood itself. It is relaxing, and very powerful when combined with skin brushing.

Do Yoga, Be Yoga

Yoga is one of the best detoxifying exercises you can practice. Because one of the foundations of yoga is breathing, and one of the ways to detoxify yourself is to simply breathe, yoga can teach you correct ways to breathe, giving you the ability to make the most out of every breathe you take. The poses, or Asanas, practiced in yoga also aid in detoxification. Freeing the body of restrictions, these Asanas stretch muscles and limbs, loosening them and letting the muscles and limbs become more relaxed and nimble, freeing the toxins that muscle knots may harbor. These Asanas aid in circulation – the circulation of blood is greatly enhanced through flexibility – and these poses make you physically and mentally flow better. When things flow correctly, the body rids itself of toxins much more easily.

Yoga also circulates positive thinking, which removes toxins from the body in more ways than one. A person bent on negative thinking will not only perpetuate thoughts laden in toxicity, but they are also more likely to engage in an overall unhealthy lifestyle, a lifestyle that invites impurities rather than fights them. Yoga, however, because it helps people feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually better, allows a positive life force to circulate within, a life force bent on removing toxins. It also arms people with a mindset that allows people to embrace and embody health and wholeness, adopting an internal environment where toxins don’t want to remain, packing up and leaving instead.

TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado. Twisted integrates osteopathic medicine, hatha yoga and mindfulness practices to teach optimal balance between physical, mental, and emotional health. It aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life from the inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment regime for the whole being, empowering each person one breath at a time to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential.

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Sunday, October 15, 2006

Yoga Mats Guide

By John Furnem

When a person starts practicing Yoga he needs to maintain his calm as well as focus, you will not want anything distracting you from your concentration. There is nothing worse than losing your grip on the floor once changing poses as well as stretching. Not only does this increase your risk for actually injuring yourself, but also it takes away from the effectiveness of the yoga. A perfect way to solve this issue is to acquire the of high quality yoga mat that fits your needs and personal preferences.

There are many different products on the open market with a broad scale of yoga mats and soon, you will find that not all selections may appeal to you. The ease as well as comfort of your workout could be increased once purchasing the proper option. Frequently, this is a personal choice, but there are undeniable factors that contribute to the kind of yoga mat you finally resolve on, including colors, size as well as cushioning.

In many cases you can test various aspects of a yoga mat before a acquire, while other details add up through use. If you are working on a tight manageable and want to make a wise yoga mat purchase, testing some of your friends' yoga mats will help. This way you will be better prepared once browsing through your open to options.

One worthwhile design is to try a mat before buying it, if you can try and test a mat for a day focus on how your feet interact with the mat. The yoga mat should grip the floor not counting any sliding. There are plenty of sticky mats on the open market. Your feet should also keep when you are thinking about the same position when you are moving on the mat. If you should experience every sweating of the feet, can you after all maintain your grip? The mat should also lay flat on the floor exception taken of curling.

Even if we assume you find a mat that will suit all your needs, you're still not scot-free when it plays a part in the course of yoga mat hunting. Next, go to the store as well as investigate some of the ins as well as outs of various product lines. You will want to pay attention to the type of material the yoga mat is made of, including natural hemp as well as cotton.

It is of great importance that your yoga mat should be durable as well as possess the capacity to last a long time. If you're the type to toss about your exercise items, stuff them in the car or have children that may play on them, high durability will go a long way. Is the yoga mat lightweight as well as easy to carry or will you be running up a sweat just transporting it? Also, you don't want any nasty foot funguses or smells to invade your yoga mat. Your buy should be easy-to-clear.

The type of yoga you participate when it plays a part in will also dictate your yoga mat acquire.

For example, Bikram yoga is completed when you are thinking about a heated room. This requires a yoga mat that can handle high amounts of moisture. Different fashions of yoga also call for thicker mats for added protection as well as comfort. To match your personal flair, many different colors as well as patterns are available.

Yoga has its huge benefits, and this is the reason why many people move out of the gym to practice Yoga at their homes and in special locations. If you would like to know more about Yoga types and the philosophy behind it, yoga accessories buying tips and much more visit John Furnem’s Yoga Mats tips and advice pages.

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Saturday, October 14, 2006

Yoga for Depression: Pessimism and Perfection

By Paul Jerard

Is Yoga a cure for depression? How can Yoga stop you from feeling hopeless? Let’s look at how Yoga can help you prevent negative thinking and the resulting damage negative thinking can have on your life.

To be honest, Yoga is not a cure fore depression, but Yoga can be an effective solution for some causes of depression. The hard part is to identify the causes of depression.

In order to understand yourself, you will have to engage in mindfulness and self-reflection.

These are mental exercises to help you find the sources of negative thought within your mind.

Mental health is also an aspect of Yoga practice.

What are your fears? Do you constantly worry about money, losing your job, a family crisis, or something else? Is this a real problem or a self-created situation?

The answers to these questions will enable you to discover real solutions, instead of worrying years off your life. Below are some common negative thoughts and some Yogic solutions for them.

Are you a pessimist? Do you envision your life on the “bottom of the rock pile?” If you envision anything, you can create that image with the power of your mind. Karma Yoga teaches us that any action causes an equal reaction.

Why waste your time on pessimism, when you could create positive thoughts and images? Learn from children: They are full of positive energy and not afraid to dream.

Get to know your “inner child” and create your world of positive thought. If you made mistakes – So, what?; we all do. Life is full of mistakes, but you can turn each one into a positive thought.

Do you always expect perfection? If you expect everything to be perfect, you are “killing yourself,” and those who love you. This is not a perfect world. What is the cause of your search for perfection? Most of the time, a perfectionist is driven by his or her desires.

Consider Aparigraha: This one Yama teaches us not to desire anything more than we need. The true source of perfectionist thought is the desire to have more of something than is realistic.

The desire to have everything perfect, in an imperfect world, is a mindless pursuit. When you desire constant perfection, from yourself and others, you are taxing your own health.

Holding onto the perception of a perfect world will strain relationships with friends, family, and co-workers. Ultimately, the pursuit of perfection will create a lonely and depressed world without any friends.

Pessimism and perfection are just two of many causes that can result in depression. In both cases, the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher could be a form of preventative medicine.

However, if you, or a loved one, is experiencing chronic depression problems, the advice of a competent psychologist, or psychiatrist, should be sought. Yoga is a good alternative form of therapy, but not a cure for depression.

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Thursday, October 12, 2006

Free Yoga Classes: A Lesson for Yoga Teachers

By Paul Jerard

There is a philosophy, which claims: If you give something away, and people find a value in it - they will react positively to your kindness, with repeat business.

This is all well, and good, but the major fast food chains seem to be the only businesses to profit from it. Maybe that is why we call it “junk food.”

The public cannot establish a perceived value of Yoga, when you initially give away a week or month. The word “Free” is often associated with “junk” or “stuff.”

If you want to give something away free, develop a comprehensive handbook for your Yoga students, give them a music CD, or a Yoga mat, as a bonus for signing up.

If enough Yoga teachers give away free classes, we will depreciate the value of Yoga lessons – then, asking you to teach Yoga for free will become second nature for the average Yoga student.

Think about this: When was the last time you could go to a deli and ask for a “free introductory package?”

What do you think you would get for an answer?

After all, you just want to try them out, see if you like it, and maybe you will come back. If you see no value in them, you could go to another deli, and try them out, until they get tired of serving you “free lunch.”

Although Yoga instructors do not make sandwiches for a living - this is one good lesson for any Yoga teacher to learn. Yoga teachers can learn from parallel comparisons to similar fields.

Let’s look at some mistakes, which the fitness industry has made and learn from them; before any Yoga teachers experience similar financial ruin. Fitness is preventative health maintenance, and good health is very valuable. Anyone who is in good health should “count their lucky stars.”

If you are not in good health - your poor state of health is all you can think about.

Yet, I just heard a radio commercial that offers the rest of 2006 free, if you sign up for a 2007 membership. The fitness club owner is “prostituting” his or her business. More than likely, the fitness club’s third party billing service thought up this “gimmick.”

What is the average life of a member in the fitness industry?

What can a health club do if a member defaults on a contract?

When you consider these options, it makes no sense to give members months of service for free.

This week, I noticed a fitness club that offers memberships for $9.95 per month. How can that fitness club stay open? The overhead costs must be incredible, when you consider paying for all of the equipment, insurance, utilities, and rent.

Do you think that fitness club owner sleeps well? Do you think he or she is drawing a salary? I guarantee the owner regrets the day he or she opened that health club.

Let’s get back to teaching Yoga classes. You put your time in as a Yoga student, went through Yoga teacher training, and now you keep your credentials up to date. So, why should you “sell yourself short?”

Each style of Yoga has mental, physical, and spiritual health benefits, to offer the public. That is why we continue to practice and teach Yoga. Therefore, we must educate the public about the value of Yoga, before the junk food kills them.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Yoga at the Office: Improving Your Body and Mind

By Jennifer Jordan

Many of us spend most of our working hours sitting at a desk, trapped within the confines of cubicle walls, typing on a keyboard. While this might not seem like the most ideal spot for exercise - with no treadmill or elliptical in sight - you might be surprised to find that practicing yoga at work is catching on, quickly climbing up the ladder of Corporate America.

It may take some getting used to, this idea of yoga at the office. But, for those who are zealous yoga students, or just hoping to ease their stiff bodies from that dreadful sitting position, it's possible to greatly benefit from yoga while at work. Through specific asanas, or yoga poses, you will find that your body relaxes the rigidness that sitting in a chair for eight hours a day can cause. These asanas, in addition, also help you mentally, with inverted poses increasing blood supply and feeding your brain. Whether performed at work or a studio, yoga isn't aimed just at toning the muscles of the physical body; it's aimed at moving your energy in a way that discharges stagnation and allows for rejuvenation and restoration. One of the places we may be prone to accumulating an excess of stagnant energy is at the office. Because of this, moving this stagnant energy during working hours can be most beneficial, making yoga at work particularly conducive to employment practices.

You don't need a yoga mat, block, blanket, or a strap to perform yoga at work: all you need is what is in front of you (your desk) and what is underneath you (your chair).

To begin, start with a chair twist, then a forward bend, clasp your hands and arch your back to open your shoulders, chair twist again, stand up and move your chair out of the way so you can place your hands on your desk and walk back into L-pose to elongate your spine, wiggle your tail, don't forget to breath, and have fun as your stagnant energy starts to move, making more space for vitality to support rejuvenation and restore your spirit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC OFFICE YOGA SEQUENCES TO DO AT YOUR DESK - CHECK OUT OUR SPECIALITY WORKSHOP CALLED "YOGA AT THE OFFICE" - SIGN UP AND BRING YOUR BOSS!

Work can be a stressful situation - people yelling, people running around, people refusing to put more paper in the copier - and it can be rather easy to get caught up in the stress: stress generates more stress. However, practicing yoga at work helps to keep you calm, helping you to rise above the stress rather than be piled under it. This is because yoga, through breathing and mindful practices, teaches you to take one moment at a time, with little concern for the issues - a presentation, a disgruntled employee, a computer crash -that may arise later in the day. Yoga helps to center you, and to focus on positive emotions - bringing you into balance. This, ultimately, makes you a calmer, more productive employee. It also facilitates focus and concentration, allowing you to get things done one task at a time.

Practicing yoga at work gives you a well deserved break – even if you are just sneaking in an asana here or there as an excuse to take a much needed, and necessary, rest. Because sitting at a desk can be monotonous, it's easy for your body to adapt to the monotony in the form of a cramp or an ache. Sometimes we get caught up in what we are doing that we forget to take a conscious breath, to open the body through a stretch, to get fresh air, or to take a moment for ourselves. Purposefully performing yoga, however, allows us to be more in tune with when our body needs a break. This rest is not only important to your muscular structure and physical functions, but it is also vital to your eyes, your mind, and your work morale.

Some companies, in fact, have found that advocating yoga at the office helps employees get along easier, and generates a team building atmosphere. Some research shows that employees who perform yoga routinely, on average, are more relaxed, in a state that helps them to be better at listening and better at cooperation, two things fundamental to a smooth office environment.

Yoga, in addition, can help to relieve some of the problems that office work can cause. An example of this is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the wrist affliction that often affects those who spend hours on a computer. Yoga asanas, practiced with proper shoulder, elbow, and wrist alignment can help relieve the pain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A specific yoga sequence to free up your contracted hamstrings, hip flexors, and lower back can also help alleviate the back pain an office chair sometimes facilitates.

When it comes down to it, no matter where you practice yoga - at the office, at home, at a studio - you will be very grateful for the benefits. Yoga is rich in what it does for your mind and your body. While some people may find that yoga at the office is particularly helpful to their busy schedule, others may enjoy the time spent in the solace of a studio. Wherever you practice it, just make certain one thing: practice it regularly. Your mind, your body, and your spirit will all thank you. TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado.

Twisted integrates osteopathic medicine, hatha yoga and mindfulness practices to teach optimal balance between physical, mental, and emotional health. It aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life from the inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment regime for the whole being, empowering each person one breath at a time to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential.

Jennifer Jordan is senior editor of www.yogatwisted.com. Specializing in articles that not only teach yoga techniques, but also teach techniques on fulfillment and enrichment, she aims to educate students proudly enrolled in the school of life.

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Sunday, October 08, 2006

Can Yoga Enhance Your Mental Performance

By Jennifer Jordan

We all know that exercise can improve us physically - lowering our cholesterol, decreasing our predisposition to heart disease, and enhancing our immune system - but, what we might not be aware of is the mind, not to be left out, can also be improved through exercise. The reasons for this are biological and emotional, benefiting the exerciser on several levels and leaving us to discover, when it comes down to it, that the mental benefits of exercise are as important to our overall wellbeing as the physical ones.

Rather than mindlessly putting on the running shoes, or climbing onto the treadmill to discharge energy and get the blood flowing, participating in yoga can give you both exercise for the brain and the heart. While providing physical benefits, it also powers your brain's ability to focus and to recognize unconscious habits that don't support your structure in gravity or your full potential as an emotional spiritual being.

Yoga is often described as a type of exercise, although much more than an exercise routine, when practiced consciously, it greatly aids our mental capacity. While mental health can be difficult to quantify - there is no blood test that reveals emotional health - people who practice yoga regularly can not help but adopt better moods, possess more energy, and have an outlook submerged in positivity. In a nutshell, yoga makes you feel good, and good energy always results in better mental clarity and performance. When you are filled with positive, life affirming emotions, your mind reacts in a way that makes thinking and achievement virtually limitless.

From a biological standpoint, the ways yoga aids the brain can be explained in medical journal fashion. To begin, yoga is a science and an art that coordinates the movement of the body with the breath, improves oxygenation of the blood, allowing better blood flow to the brain, ultimately producing clearer, more concise thoughts. Yoga can also boost dopamine and other neurotransmitters, boosting both moods and the retention of memories.

An essential part of yoga, breathing, is also a cornerstone of the mental aid exercise provides. While breathing does facilitate circulation - allowing vital minerals and nutrients to get where they need to go and letting all organs of the body, including the brain, function more adequately - breathing also helps the brain in a more direct manner. For example, a practice that is sometimes used in yoga is the act of concentrated breathing through one nostril at a time. In EEG studies - studies that monitor a person's brain pattern – this practice shows that breathing through one nostril can increase activity on the opposite side of the brain (i.e., breathing through the left nostril will increase activity on the right side of the brain). This ultimately results in better communication between the brain's two sides, creating better mental function and enhancing a person's ability to learn.

Mindfulness, a foundational component of yoga helps students to embrace, and focus on, the present moment, can also assist mental function. This is because those who practice mindfulness train their brain to work in a certain way. By relaxing, and severing the rope that keeps you clinging to stresses and worries, yoga calms the mind. A calm mind is better at retaining information, remembering information, and concentration skills. A calm mind focuses on attention, and possesses an advanced ability to perceive sensory information. Because of this, some people suggest that yoga, a vehicle of calmness, gives you the amazing ability to open up completely to the present moment and just be more “on” – whether it is in making a decision quickly, being emotionally responsive, or seeing another solution to a problem with ease.

There have also been studies that concluded certain yoga positions can alter a person's position on things; specific poses relay specific moods.

Researchers at the University of California, for example, performed a study that found certain yoga poses were more mood-altering that others. One finding concluded that bending over backwards was one of the best ways to improve your frame of mind, giving those in bad moods something to fall back on.

While the spotlight tends to shine on the physical benefits of exercise, the mental ones are quickly coming out of the shadows and into their own. Yoga, because it exercises your physical body, is a mindful practice that helps you to embody your thoughts, emotions and your spirit. Providing the physical benefits of other exercise, yoga is helping the mental benefits of fitness to get discovered and becoming increasingly well known for giving those who practice it a piece of open mind.

Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment regime for the whole being, empowering each person one breath at a time to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential.

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Saturday, October 07, 2006

Lose Weight from Yoga

By Ian Henman

Do you know that you can lose weight from yoga?

The complex canvas covering weight loss/weight gain is so intricate, with surrealistic understanding of the influence of genetic factors, lifestyle, food addiction, willpower, etc. that a sure fire way to definite weight loss is difficult to predict. However, a system that depends not on mechanical means but works on an emotional level is sure to yield results. And yoga simply does that. “Hatha Yoga” is practiced by many to lose weight rationally. Apart from the spiritual aspect of yoga, it provides control that is never ‘carried away’ by temptations. It makes the person more aware of the food that is to be consumed for sustenance and nothing more. The most significant aspect of yoga regularly is that it teaches you to turn the focus inward so that you can identify the overeating triggers and take steps to prevent it.

Yoga exercises and Diet
Various movements shown by a teacher and at the same time assessment of the food you consume can help you lose weight. Analyzing the eating pattern may open your eyes to many facets hitherto unknown and thus help you to lose weight from yoga. The principal motivation behind it is to make you aware of the actual needs of the body and its various functions to keep it fit and healthy. So, regular practice of yoga and consumption of swatic food (more of corns, nuts, fruits and vegetables and less of meat & fish) is a precondition to lose weight from yoga.
As for movements or Asanas, your teacher or Guru is the supreme master. Try them under his guidance till they are perfect. Remember, flawed movements may do more harm than good. In the beginning you may practice for half an hour every alternative day and then do it daily. It is good to start the day with Surya Pranam (salutation of the morning sun) before starting your yoga.

Food for thought vis-à-vis food for Yoga
Along with yoga, you must consume the right food to lose weight from Yoga. Many foods, however attractive and delicious, contain additives and preservatives that are harmful for the body since they invariably contain some amount of toxic materials within them. Try to avoid them as much as possible. Home cooked food is obviously free from such toxins. Besides, you may cook only that much required for your sustenance.

Addition or subtraction of oils and fat is in your own hand. Include whole wheat grain, cereals, fruits, nuts and poultry in your daily meals to provide the essential energy that the body requires to keep it fit. A lean body is a much healthier body. If you can set your eyes on images of the early Indian ascetics practicing yoga in the high Himalayas, you will have some idea of how a person should look like – tall, erect and upright with not even an ounce of fat in the body but a serene smile on his face, welcoming the rising sun.

Yes, you can not only lose weight from yoga, but lead a long and healthy life with it.

If you found this yoga for weight loss article intersting then you'll likely enjoy some of the other articles we offer on our website. Take a moment to visit Weight Loss Tips and review some of our other useful weight loss articles, tips and resources.

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Friday, October 06, 2006

Who Should Become a Yoga Teacher?

By Paul Jerard

Lately, there has been a fuss over who has a right to become a Yoga teacher; but let’s look at some of the variables to consider if you desire to teach Yoga. Consider the following questions, “from both sides of the Yoga certification debate.”

Do you have the correct Yoga lineage? This is interesting because - what exactly is the correct Yoga lineage? There are so many styles of Yoga and many sub-styles of those Yoga styles. In general, you should know who your Yoga teachers were and possibly, who their teachers were.

However, Yoga traveled outside of India in a variety of ways. Although there have been many famous Indian Gurus, who helped Yoga flourish worldwide, the British carried Yoga abroad, as well. There are competent Yoga teachers, who trace their Yoga lineage back to Englishmen, who served in India.

Some of the first non-Indian Yoga teachers did not have extensive Yoga training under the guidance of a Guru, but a few did. Consider this idea: If you know nothing about Yoga, but I know a little something - I can show you what little I know. This happens with any form of shared knowledge, and the person who knows a little more about Yoga, becomes a Yoga teacher.

Granted, we are considering the beginning of Yoga’s worldwide proliferation, but now we have 21st century Yoga teacher certification in a fast-changing world - with a variety of styles and approaches to overall health.

There are many new forms of Hatha Yoga being created and evolving at this moment. If you have a traditional Yoga lineage, that’s wonderful, but times change, and so does Yoga.

I can remember when some traditional Yoga teachers did not believe in the Yoga teacher certification process. For example: The master Yoga teacher did not have a Yoga teacher’s diploma, and would not fill one out for their long-time students, who worked as “substitute Yoga teachers,” in the ashram.

Some of these substitutes had over twenty years of experience in Yoga practice, and taught classes when the master teacher was on vacation, but the master Yoga teacher would still not certify them.

Meanwhile some Yoga certifications were obtained, over a weekend Yoga teacher training intensive, by people who just needed a quick Yoga certification for a health club.

So, who has a right to become a Yoga teacher? Anybody, I guess, but Yoga certification bodies should stick to the 200 study hour minimum standard for graduates of their Yoga teacher training programs.

Yoga teacher interns should have at least two years of steady practice, under the guidance of a Yoga teacher, before entering the Yoga teacher certification process. Correspondence and distance learning, for Yoga teachers, should also conform to the 200-hour minimum standard.

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Thursday, October 05, 2006

Yoga and Compassion

By Jennifer Jordan

"This supreme compassion exists in everyone. Therefore, all the great beings say, come into the realm of your heart. Bathe in the light of your own heart. Drink the nectar of compassion from the wellspring of your own heart. Don't look for compassion anywhere else, from anyone else. It is inside you. You are the owner of this great virtue."----Swami Chidvilasananda

Compassion is often one of the most important aspects a person can possess. From helping us better understand our fellow human beings to helping us better understand ourselves, compassion adds a sense of unity to our world, making our shared journeys shorter and more joyous and teaching us that sometimes the greatest thing we can give someone is the benefit of the doubt.

A vital part of life, certain laws, religions and rules, particularly the “Golden Rule,” all have a foundation of compassion. This is because compassion, while being a virtue that strengthens the spirit, also gives people the gift of being better able to identify with and relate to one another. This, ultimately, gives us the keys to help each other.

Though a simple enough concept, compassion isn’t always that easy to pull from the recesses within oneself, where it most certainly can be found. We often get too caught up in the stresses and trials of day to day living – the traffic, the hurrying, the long lines at the supermarket– to make compassion a practiced art. However, through certain activities, we can grow to have a better understanding of what compassion truly is, what it means to one's individual self, and how to fully embrace the gifts it imparts on our daily lives.

Students of yoga often begin to sense a heightened state of compassion because the practice of yoga guides them toward self acceptance, which fuels warm flames of kindness, care, and love towards oneself. Self acceptance is a prerequisite for cultivating compassion in one’s life. A simple concept, self-acceptance means that you have developed a willingness to see things as they are.

This attitude sets the stage for acting appropriately in life, no matter what is happening. Practicing this way of thinking helps us cultivate acceptance by taking each moment as it comes and being with it fully as it is. A person who is calm and accepting, in a relaxed state of openness, is connected to their center where a wellspring of compassion resides. The further we are pulled out and away from our center the more susceptible we are to stresses and trials of day to day living and our well of compassion seems dry. Our center is always a vital wellspring of nourishment and compassion. In a world inundated by so much external focus, we can lose touch with our vital center. Thus, the practice of yoga provides tools of daily living to go inward, and helping us remember to remember our true center.

"A human being is part of the whole called by us the Universe. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest --a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures, and the whole of nature in its beauty."---Albert Einstein

When we get into the habit of connecting on a daily basis from the heart, all our activities glow with the infusion of conscious intent and all our interactions are done with compassion. Yoga serves as an interface that aids those who practice it on a regular basis in gaining a clearer understanding of ourselves and how we connect and relate to the environment around us - helping us to see the Bigger Picture.

The Bigger Picture isn't separate from ourselves; instead, we are very much a unique part of the Bigger Picture. Yoga helps us to deepen our understanding and experience our life's purpose in the Bigger Picture the Universe! When we see the Bigger Picture we start to really see, perhaps for the first time in our lives. This is because even the smallest glimpse of the Bigger Picture opens our eyes to the world, allowing us to see and understand the hardships of others. This understanding leads to compassion, benefiting both those around us and ourselves.

Through the act of mindfulness, the foundation of yoga, we are better able to experience the Bigger Picture: we'll call this experience the "Universal Connection." Mindfulness gives us a connecting line from our heart center to the world around us, a truth more encapsulating than we've grown to know. It is with this truth that we are able to change our perception of things, perceiving them with compassion instead of indifference. Mindfulness also gives us a sense of unity, a sense of harmony with the world around us. With this harmony, we develop compassion not only for ourselves, but for the union we are part of.

Additionally, yoga is a catalyst of self-exploration. While practicing the flowing poses that come with yoga, we can not help but be confronted with every aspect of our bodies, which ultimately connects us to every emotion of our inner being. From feelings of bliss, to feelings of discomfort, these forces confront us and make us more observant of ourselves and, ultimately, more in-tune with how we affect others. Yoga also provides the shovel we need to dig in and find out who we really are. This self-exploration leads to self-discovery, which teaches us to embrace both our strengths and our weaknesses – allowing us to hone our strengths and forgive our weaknesses and to accept ourselves compassionately. And, it carries over to others, allowing us to appreciate peoples’ good qualities and forgive their flaws.

Ultimately, compassion comes down to understanding ourselves and understanding the world around us. Compassion is the force that dissolves the separation and misunderstandings we have between ourselves and each other. Because yoga facilitates both forms of understanding, it’s only natural that it would also facilitate compassion. It arms us with the knowledge we need to embrace compassion as part of our daily lives - to be passionate about being compassionate.

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

---The Dalai Lama

Jennifer Jordan is senior editor of http://www.yogatwisted.com/. Specializing in articles that not only teach yoga techniques, but also teach techniques on fulfillment and enrichment, she aims to educate students proudly enrolled in the school of life.

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Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Teaching Hatha Yoga: Establishing Guidelines for Student Conduct

By Paul Jerard

Once you have decided to become a Yoga teacher, you begin to see behavior in the Yoga class differently. You are no longer a Yoga student, but a Yoga teacher who is trying to cover the class lesson plan, within a specific time frame.

Most Yoga teachers work with adults, so I will not cover children’s issues or “Kids Yoga Rules.” Even though you expect adults to use “common sense,” you should establish Yoga studio guidelines or rules of conduct. What you consider to be common sense might be an “awakening” for a few Yoga students.

Most floor surfaces for Yoga are kept clean. There are a variety of surfaces to choose from, but most Yoga teachers do not want shoes on the studio floor. During winter, in northern climates, snow and ice can track all the way onto the Yoga studio floor.

That is, just one reason, why Yoga studios have a sign that states: “Please leave your shoes outside the Yoga studio door.” The best one I ever saw was a guy who left a trail of metal splinters from his work boots in the Yoga studio rug. Just picture the clean up, and we were pulling splinters out of that rug for weeks.

“Cell phones are to be turned off. If this is not possible, you will be unable to participate in the Yoga class.” Does that seem a bit harsh?

There’s nothing like teaching a meditation session and having the “March of the Imperial Guard” ring off in your Yoga class. If Yoga students cannot separate themselves from the phone, they should set it to vibrate without noise.

Most Yoga teachers realize a few people are “on call,” but they cannot be allowed to disrupt what the majority of Yoga students seek. Most Yoga students come to your classes to find a “piece of tranquility.” They want to get away from cell phones, multi-tasking, deadlines, and a hectic work day. “Keep your body clean. It bothers all of us, if we have to remind a student of this.” This is a tough but necessary guideline. Even though you might use common sense, someone eventually will enter the Yoga studio, and your nostrils will never forget the experience.

How long can you, or your Yoga students, take the punishment? Your students do not have to stay in your Yoga class, and you may end up teaching the source of the problem – alone. Related to this rule is: “Please do not wear strong perfumes or colognes to Yoga class.” Most of us love to put on perfume or cologne. However, too much, or the wrong type, might smell like insecticide to everyone else. This reaction can cause headaches, nausea, and some Yoga students may leave as a result.

These were just a few examples of why you should implement guidelines for your Yoga classes. It is true that a small number of people have created the precedents, but rules and guidelines should be designed to protect the vast majority of Yoga students.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.

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Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Yoga FAQ (Frequently Asked Question)

By Megha Brahmankar

What is Yoga? Is yoga a religion? Has it been "proved" that Yoga is good for you? What are the benefits of yoga? When should a patient take Yoga Treatment? Which are the diseases that can be cured by Yoga? How many styles of yoga are there? Will yoga help me to reduce weight? Should women do Yoga during menses? Yoga during pregnancy?

What is Yoga? Yoga is a psycho-physical discipline with roots going back about 5,000 years designed by the ancient Indian seers in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment. These days the focus is often on the more down-to-earth benefits of Yoga, including improved physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control, and general well-being. Though in the West today, "yoga" has come to refer, in the main, to the physical stretching poses or "asana" that is one part of the yoga.

Is yoga a religion? No. Yoga developed in India alongside Hinduism and also has influenced and been influenced by Buddhism and Jainism. But yoga is not itself a religion. The physical and psychological benefits of Yoga are real and don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, color. Yoga encourages each person to explore his or her consciousness. Today many branches of yoga are practiced across the globe. Yoga teachers differ widely in the extent to which they incorporate such elements as chanting and meditation into their teaching, so spiritual practices do form some part of many yoga classes. To attain the supper consciousness is the goal of all yoga but spiritual principles may be either implicit or explicit in a given teacher’s approach to teaching. Regardless of whether you choose to incorporate the spiritual aspect, the benefits of Yoga are real. Yoga is truly universal. Most people find that they can practice Yoga without any conflict with their religious beliefs.

Has it been "proved" that Yoga is good for you? Studies in the United States and India suggest that Yoga can help conditions such as stress, anxiety, and even epilepsy. Western science has been studying yoga for nearly 50 years and evidence suggests numerous physical and psychological benefits.

What are the benefits of yoga? Improves muscle tone, flexibility, strength and stamina. Lowers fat, Improves circulation, Stimulates the immune system keeps one young. Younger biological age i.e. one is younger than one’s chronological age. Lowers levels of cortisol, lactate, cholesterol etc... Maintains blood pressure. And that's just the surface stuff. In fact, most of the benefits mentioned above are secondary to yoga's original purpose. Reduces stress and tension, anxiety, depression, irritability and moodiness. Boosts self esteem, Improves concentration and creativity Heals old traumas Increases brain wave coherence. Improves comprehensive ability and memory. Enhances emotional stability. Brings happiness and leads to vitality and rejuvenation. Promotes an interdependence between mind, body, and spirit. Helps you live the concept of “oneness.” Sets one free from one’s illusions and preconceptions that prevents from fulfilling oneself. Attains the union between a person's own consciousness and the cosmic consciousness.

When should a patient take Yoga Treatment? When a Patient needs quick relief he takes Allopathic ,Ayurveda or Homeopathy treatment. But when such treatment does not bring in the required effect a patient takes “Yoga Treatment” because these treatments cure without medicine.

How many styles of yoga are there? Hatha Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Tantra Yoga are considered the main yogas, but there are many other types. The various yoga practices are a methodology for reaching the same destination.

What is the meaning of Asana? Asana is a steady and comfortable posture of body.

How many asanas are there in Yoga? It is very difficult to say How many asanas are there in Yoga? Patanjali has defined asana as "Sthir Sukham Asanam" that is "Asana means steady and comfortable posture". There can be thousands of probable states and so, it is difficult to fix total no of asana.

What is Pranayama? Pranayama means controlling the Prana i.e. bio energy which is behind all activities of the body.

What is Om and why is it chanted? The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m which represent several important triads: the three worlds of earth, atmosphere, and heaven; the three major Hindu gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva; and the three sacred Vedic scriptures, Rg, Yajur, and Sama. Thus Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. It is uttered at the beginning and end of Hindu prayers, chants, and meditations. It often is used as a mantra during meditation. Although often pronounced as if it rhymed with "home," it is also pronounced "ah-oo-mm."

What is mantra? Mantras are handed down since ancient times by religious seers who had attained self- realization by chanting them, mantras are words or syllables in Sanskrit which when repeated in meditation helps you transcend into a higher state of consciousness. As sound energies that have always existed the universe, they cannot be created or destroyed and command the power to heal you physically & spiritually. At the very basic level mantras help you to concentrate in meditation. And once you enter its auspicious circle, the mind instantly gets focused.

Which are the diseases that can be cured by Yoga? Yoga can be useful in reducing the effects of the diseases like Hypertension, Spondilities, Asthma, Arthritis, Slipdisc, Digestive disorders, menstrual disorders, mental disorders and sleeplessness and many more like these.

How can Yoga be helpful to improve your personality? The physical development as well as psychological improvement can be obtained by Yoga. The proportionate body structure can lead to increase your confidence. The stability of mind, increase in the concentration of the mind can be obtained with the help of Yoga.

Is there any age limit while performing Yoga? There is no limitation of age. Yoga can be practiced at all ages above twelve 12 years .It can be practiced at the age of 80, years. But one should do only those asanas that are suitable to one’s physical conditions.

Which is the best time to perform Yoga? Early in the morning. But if not possible then, you can practice Yoga in the evening at least Four hours after your lunch. It's best to do the asanas in the early morning or the early evening at least Four hours after or before meals.

What should I wear? Comfortable loose clothing, particularily around the waist so that you can breath and stretch freely. Tight clothes may restrict the circulation to some areas of the body.

This would defeat one of the purposes of the asanas, that of increasing the circulation to various parts of the body. Make sure you can kneel, squat and reach down toward your toes without being encumbered by clothing. Avoid wearing very large T-shirts and tight fitting pants other than exercise pants that stretch. Shorts, sweats, leggings, non-bulky T-shirts, leotards, and fitness wear are all appropriate.

Is it okay to eat before yoga asana? No, never exercise on a full stomach. Before exercising, wait at least three hours after eating a main meal, about one hour after eating a light snack such as a piece of fruit and about half an hour after drinking juices. After finishing the asanas, wait about a quarter of an hour before eating.

Will yoga help me to reduce weight? Yes definitely. Yogasana and Pranayama can improve the digestion capacity of the body which reduces excessive fat consumption of the body. Yoga can help you to lose weight gradually and permanently when you practice regularly and eat reasonably. You will look and feel better very soon. As you become stronger and develop greater stamina, a more intensive Yoga practice will help your body maintain weight control and excellent tone.

Should women do Yoga during menses? Mostly it's a matter of personal preference. Some women don't want to do Yoga during their period, many don't mind and continue to practice during menses. Yoga Relieves menstrual discomfort and sciatica also helps relieve the symptoms of menopause. yoga poses are calming. Lower abdominal and pelvic compression aids cramps and heavy bleeding. For women who do choose to practice, it is suggested that they avoid inverted poses, abdominal strengtheners, extended holding of any pose, or energizing breaths (kapalabhati). The issue is that these practices might interfere with the downward flow or cause discomfort.

Is it okay to practice Yoga while pregnant? It's okay to continue practicing yoga while you are pregnant as long as you were practicing before conception. Yoga is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. In particular it can help strengthen the pelvic area, normalize thyroid functioning and blood pressure, and help keep you calm and relaxed -- all of which is good for the baby, too.

In general, however, you want to avoid strain, compressing the belly or abdomen and inverted postures, especially in the later stages. Still if you are pregnant, please talk with your doctor before beginning any yoga program. It is also very important that you let your instructor know prior to the start of class.

Can I practice yoga with an injury or medical condition? If you have any injuries, medical conditions or other health concerns, it is very recommended that you should consult yoga experts, they may safely guide you through the postures.

What's the difference between a yogi, a guru and a swami? A yogi is someone who practices Yoga. A yogin is a male Yoga student, a yogini a female student. A guru is a teacher. "Swami" is a title of respect for a spiritual master.

I just have started yoga practice, but I feel drowsy all through the day. Yes in several cases it happens. One may feel uneasy for one to two weeks after starting the practice of asanas. It may happen because the yoga exercises cause the body to release deep rooted toxins, this toxins when comes to the surface, it spends some time in the blood before being eliminated. After this initial phase of body clean-up, you will start to feel much better. The more toxins you have, worse you will feel in the beginning.

Do I have to be a vegetarian to practice Yoga? Although the traditional Yoga diet is vegetarian, you don't have to be a vegetarian to practice Yoga. But it is recommended to be vegetarian.

What are Do’s and Don'ts while practicing Yoga? Time for practice Actually anytime is suitable if your stomach is empty. Considering our schedules, the time early in the morning is most suitable for study. The evening time about 4 hours after lunch is also suitable for practice, provided no additional food is taken in between.

Practice the sessions continuously Do not split the time of study in the morning and evening.

Place The place where you are going to study must be clean, airy, spacious, pollution free, warm and with not so bright lights. Accessories Used You can use carpet or mat for the study. The floor should be level. Requirement for yoga is a mat or a folded blanket. Position As explained in ancient texts, you should face either east or north during the study. Clothes Comfortable loose clothing, particularily around the waist so that you can breath and stretch freely. Tight clothes may restrict the circulation to some areas of the body. This would defeat one of the purposes of the asanas, that of increasing the circulation to various parts of the body.

Never exercise on a full stomach. Don't exercise immediately after getting out of bed, since you'll be too stiff. Wait at least one hour. Don’t practice the asanas before bed, since their stimulating effect may prevent you from getting to sleep easily. Don't take a hot shower or bath immediately after yoga, since this draws blood away from the internal organs and glands to go to the skin Take a bath if possible and empty your bowel and bladder before you practice asanas.

Always be alert, attentive and watchful when you practice asanas. Concentrate on your own pose. Light physical exercises, followed by yogasana, pranayama and meditation is the ideal sequence.

Author is dedicated to introduce yoga and Energy Medicines more into mainstream and to provide a comprehensive resource of information on yoga and energy medicines. you can find more stuff at www.theholisticcare.com

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Sunday, October 01, 2006

Practice Jnana Yoga for Optimum Mental Health

By Paul Jerard

Anyone who cares about their health often focuses on keeping his or her body in peak condition. Who considers the health of the mind? A psychiatrist or a psychologist is concerned with behavior, and mental health, but how can Yoga help you?

We have all heard Yoga is a good “mind and body exercise,” but how does a Yoga student exercise his or her mind through Yoga practice. How can Yoga help you develop mental strength? Let’s look at one of the many styles of Yoga, to find answers, and acquire optimum mental health.

Jnana Yoga is the union of mind, body, and spirit, through acquired knowledge. It is true that reading will make your mind sharp, but what do Jnana Yogis read? Traditionally, Jnana Yogis read Hindu scriptures to expand their knowledge.

Yoga has been around for thousands of years. The Brahmin caste would have had more access to Yogic philosophy, and the scriptures (Vedas), than the average person, at that time.

This same parallel can be made to any holy man of any religion. Access to written knowledge, books, and Holy Scriptures was not common place, in any religion, hundreds of years ago. There was a time when the average person was forbidden to have a copy of the Bible. The early Bibles were very big, expensive to produce, and not meant for the public to interpret. Whether we like it, or not, this is a part of history.

Now, let’s fast forward to the 21st century. Millions of new computer users are accessing the Internet every year. So, how is it that more people, than ever, are disconnected from their mind, body, and spirit? We have attention disorders, multi-tasking, and many distractions to keep us far from tranquility.

Even in a Yoga class, you may hear a cell phone go off - despite the fact there are rules and a sign on the entrance of most Yoga studios. The sign might read, “Turn your cell phone off,” but people do not see it, even if it is right under their nose. Why?

Unfortunately, people do not read or pursue vital information. Cable television has hundreds of channels and the Internet has millions of sites. Do you really think the masses are trying to expand their minds by reading?

Jnana Yoga practice, and regular meditation, raises the “Level of Consciousness.” Yet it seems that prosperity seems to breed poor mental and physical health. When given the choice, children would rather play video games than watch the History Channel. Therefore, many adults must be getting in touch with their “inner child.”

Now, let’s come full circle. Entertainment is a wonderful thing, but we should be deliberate in our efforts to challenge our minds. Creativity cannot be found in games that are programmed or in viewing stories where you can easily guess the ending.

Your mind must be challenged on a daily basis by reading good quality writing and watching entertainment that is true art. The modern Jnana Yoga practitioner has much more access to education, information, art, and entertainment. However, he or she must be much more selective than ever before.

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com/ He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.

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