Learn About Yoga

Stretching and yoga aren’t just for swamis who can fold themselves up like pretzels, or movie stars who have nothing better to do with their days! It can be a beneficial practice to all who use it, and one doesn’t have to adopt the worldview of the swamis in order to reap benefits from it. The pace of our lives these days is crazy–some would argue destructive. Yoga proponents say that learning the art form will not make you dull, but more magnetic, and show you the importance of slowing down. Yoga’s ‘inactivity’ can insert a moment to breathe in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, can clear your mind, and re-energize you with just a few simple techniques.

The first lesson in any Yogic theory is how to relax. This doesn’t mean you flop on the sofa and become a couch potato; instead it is defined as ‘a conscious transfer of energy from one department of nature to another….’ Even if you do this for 5 minutes at a time over a beverage, you’re on your way to relaxing. It will increase your efficiency–try it and see!

Stretching involved in yoga can be very simple: lie on the floor without pillows. Remove your shoes and wear whatever is loose fitting and comfortable to you. Stretch your arms over your head while stretching your legs and feet. Close your eyes and let your head roll to one side.

Now release each part of your body and consciously permit each limb, each ’section’ of your body, to meld in to the floor. Permit yourself to feel as if you are sinking and think of a peaceful scene. This will likely feel very odd to you the first time you do it, but the relaxation that you bring each part of your body will be refreshing!

Now we’ll work on stretching! Lie on the floor as you did for your full-body relaxation, only this time, interweave your fingers above your head. If you turn your palms upward, you’ll feel a bigger stretch along your ribs and spine. Stretch your arms as far above your head as possible, pointing your toes and pushing them towards the floor so you can feel every muscle between your head and feet.

Once you have stretched every part of your body, release! Now go back in to your full-body relaxation mode, remembering to start at the head and relax your way down to your toes.

Now work on the ‘complete breath’ that yoga teaches. Lying flat on the floor without pillows, place your hands gently on your diaphragm. Slowly exhale as much as you can. Very slowly begin to inhale through the mouth, evenly and without sudden stops. You will feel your diaphragm expand at this point–keep going. Now exhale through your mouth, using a slight force, expelling as much air as possible.

You have just completed your ‘complete breath’ in yogic teaching! If you build up the number of complete breaths per day, you’ll notice less tension, better rest, and a more relaxed you. Release the stress of your day and become who you were designed to be!

About the Author

Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

Written By: Kirsten Hawkins

“It ain’t over til it’s over.”

Wait a minute, that was Yogi. Not yoga.

Nonetheless, that six-word sentiment applies to those hour-long sessions at your local health club, the classes where it would appear the involved members are twisting their bodies into some excruciating positions – or perhaps we should say ‘pretzels’.

But the next time you scuffle past the aerobics room and peek an eye through the window, asking yourself, “What in the world are they doing in there,” perhaps it’s time to learn a thing or two about the fastest-growing phase in American fitness.

Yoga classes are becoming as common in American health clubs as sweat and testosterone, a timeless exercise regimen that is in the midst of a serious revamping phase.

While the common conception of yoga is that it is a meditation-type exercise, designed specifically for women, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yoga is a growing, widespread fad, an exercise aimed at increasing flexibility, toning and shaping the muscles, improving posture, and giving an overall better sense of self being for both men and women alike. In fact, take a peek into the aerobics room next time a yoga class is commencing. The proof is with all the men who are turning out for these intriguing sessions.

Check out these yoga forms and see which ones are offered at your health club:

HATHA YOGA: This is the one that’s offered at most places, the standard style that blends stretching and toning of the muscles with extensive breathing exercises. In other words, this is a perfect blend of various yoga concepts, focusing on both the mind and the body and helping you get the two in synch with one another.

IYENGAR YOGA: This is the style of yoga that focuses on the body’s alignment, helping you to achieve proper posture good overall balance in your body. This is a great yoga form for runners and serious athletes, a form that is more geared for the physical elements.

ASHTANGA YOGA: This is also commonly referred to as “power yoga,” a growing style of yoga that is considered far more rigorous than the other forms. In ashtanga yoga, you a quickly delving from one posture to another, and it can be so physically demanding at times, many people consider it an effective form of cardio. This style of yoga is becoming extremely popular among Hollywood celebrities.

KUNDALINI: Whereas ashtanga and iyengar styles of yoga are more geared for the physical challenges, this is the more “relaxing” form of yoga. In kundalini classes, participants are focusing on meditation, breathing exercises, and stress reduction.

Aside from providing all the great benefits (flexibility, balance, muscle tone, stress relief, etc.), yoga can also spree another grand treasure, one that can be strongly enhanced with the right instructor: Yes, yoga can be a blast.

But remember, many yoga classes offered at your gym may charge you a fee of around $10 for an hour-long session. Visit us at http://hsfvitamins.com for lots of information on getting healthy.

Written By: Robyn Mueller

Firstly, let me make it clear that Yoga is not a “cure” for the huge variety of ailments that afflict mankind, but it can help in every area of life. Yoga’s strength lies in preventative medicine, living a healthy life style, and making any current ailments, more tolerable. So, the first thing you will gain from a Chair Yoga class is knowledge. The concepts of good health, longevity, and making the most of your life right now, are powerful tools taught in every style of Yoga.

However, Chair Yoga has been developed from many gentle styles of Hatha Yoga, for those of us who are not so steady on their feet, and those who cannot get out of a wheel chair. Many students of Chair yoga remark that they learn so much from each class.

Nutritional information is sometimes discussed in class. The Yogic diet is environmentally safe, humane, will keep us all around for a while longer, and in good health.

The postures and low-impact movements lubricate the connective tissue, with reduced friction occurring in the joints. This is great news for “weak links” within the human body, such as: Knees, hips, spine, shoulders, and more parts that wear out sooner than we would like.

Toning the body is a result of the stretching and flexing of muscles that naturally occur in a Chair Yoga class. This also releases tension, throughout your body, and triggers endorphins. As a result, students have a feeling of euphoria during and after a Chair Yoga class.

Massaging the internal organs is a result of bending and twisting movements that are a trademark of any Hatha Yoga class. You can expect your digestion and elimination to be improved in a very short time.

Proper posture is result of focusing on it at all times. Yoga teachers constantly correct spinal alignment that needs a little help. Many will verbal cue you without a physical adjustment, but some teachers are more “hands on.” You will notice your posture change, for the better, right away and your spine will thank you for it.

Proper breathing helps us deal with stress and oxygenates the blood faster than the more common “shallow breath.” In many cases deeper breathing will improve high blood pressure. This is not a guarantee, but deeper breathing has a calming effect on the mind and body.

Lastly, the many benefits of learning to relax or meditate are so plentiful that books have been written on the subject. A calm mind leads to a calm body and Yoga will allow you to make friends with your body again.

So, if you have a multitude of good expectations about taking a Chair Yoga class, you won’t be disappointed.
About the Author

Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors. 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

Written By: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

Here is an oxymoron for you: Some of the best Yoga teachers are great listeners. This is a general guideline for Yoga students who aspire to teach some day. Listening skills, in Yoga, start when you take your first class, as you learn by hearing, watching, and doing.

The Yoga student who learns predominantly by listening will be able to verbally communicate the finer techniques to others in the future. This is not to say that other methods of learning have less value, but a skilled Yoga teacher must be a communicator and be able to reach into each individual student’s mind.

Therefore, not all Yoga students can learn from you in the same way. Some will learn by listening carefully to your cues, others will gain more from an assist, and some will be able to copy just by watching. As a Yoga instructor, you still have to be a good listener when it comes to all of your students’ questions.

Most Yoga teachers do a good job with handling student questions. However, here is something to think about: Do you try to clarify why a question is being asked? Consider that your student may not be clear in his or her communication skills and you need to “get to the heart of the matter.”

The motivation behind a question is more important than the question itself. You don’t want to waste your time giving unrelated information before, after, or during a Yoga class. So, get a clarification about what you are being asked, and learn why your Yoga student is truly asking you this question. This will benefit the both of you and avoid wasting your student’s time, as well.

If a student asks you a simple question, with a “yes” or “no” answer, you can still find out the motivational source by saying, “Yes, but why do you ask?” This technique is really that simple, and you may find the question is much deeper than you originally perceived.

Another mistake some Yoga teachers make is handling a question defensively. Your student thinks enough of you to ask for your opinion and is interested in your answer. If he or she had no respect for you, your opinion would not be important. Now, whether you perceive an objection or not, you should ask for a clarification before answering.

There is a positive side to all of the questions your Yoga students ask, but you must clearly see the motive behind the question in order to give the best answer. The bottom line is: Even though you are now at the front of the Yoga class, your listening skills must be better than your best listeners in your class.

About the author:

Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He’s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Written By: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

One of the amazing things about yoga is that despite the great benefits that it produces, it requires no costs. There is not specific yoga training equipment that one has to use in order to obtain the desired results and there is no such thing as the perfect environment required for practicing yoga. All this is a direct consequence of the fact that yoga is, more than a practice, a state of mind and a life style. That is why your will, as well as your believes and attitudes towards this philosophical path are all that actually matter. Moreover, a balanced and healthy diet, based on natural food, is a key issue for preparing yourself for your first yoga session. What we eat can strongly affect both our mind and our soul, so it is crucial to mind what we eat.

Even though you do not need a specially designed place for performing your yoga class, make sure, when electing the room where you will be holding the class, to choose a place as far away from distractions – such as radio, street noise, TV – as possible. The place also needs to be clean and quite and, if possible, ventilated. A blanket is the accessory that you absolutely need in order to gain comfort when carrying out the exercises and the meditation, as they are performed in either sitting or lying positions, but, however, a towel or a mat, could work, as well.

In what concerns the clothes you are supposed to wear, try to select something very comfortable and loose, such as training suits, sweat pants and a t-shirt, shorts or loose pajamas. Some people would rather wear no clothes at all, but, nevertheless, most practitioners put something on, especially if the yoga session is not private.

It is also highly recommended to have an empty stomach, before starting your yoga exercises. As a general rule, one or two hours after a main meal is the ideal time for practicing yoga. As breathing is a key element in yoga training, do not forget to also clean your nostrils and your throat.

In case you have not decided which could represent the best moment of the day for carrying out your yoga session, you have to know that both morning and evening practices can result very beneficial to your body and mind. Thus, performing the exercises in the morning can contribute to your good shape for the whole day, as it improves your vitality level. On the other hand, evening yoga practices helps inducing a restful and peaceful sleep.

Your yoga session should not exhaust you. Do not hesitate to take a break, when you feel tired. Actually, short breaks are common, between difficult exercises. Keep in mind that as little as 15 minutes of correct yoga practice can produce marvelous results on your body and mind.

As a final idea, try to remember that the most important thing, when practicing yoga, is your attitude and your desire to discover the incredible sensations and experiences this ancient philosophy can provide.

About the Author

Sandra is a certified Yoga instructor who teaches 6 classes in the greater San Francisco area. Her blog can be read at http://www.yogablogonline.com.

Written By: Sandra Lovelace

Ever wish you could take harsh words back? Do you wonder how you could have prevented an impending conflict? How could an argument turn out to be a hidden treasure?

We cannot always use the following principles, we are only human, but you will see they work. You will also notice that you can learn from arguments and even diffuse them into mild disagreements.

Firstly, let’s look at the structure of an argument. An argument is a difference of opinion, and nothing more. It is actually healthy to listen to outside opinions and learn from them. Personally, I get tired of hearing my own thoughts and want to hear fresh ideas. Sometimes you can put a “new spin” on a fresh idea and come up with a compromise.

Successful marriages, businesses, and governments are all built on an exchange of new ideas. If someone takes the time to display a difference of opinion, they actually care for you to some degree. For example: If you did not care, why would you bother to open a line of communication? When you do not care for someone, you look at communication, with him or her, as a waste of time.

Some of us look at conversation with a ‘win or lose” frame of mind. If we lose, we must “save face,” and if we win we must savor every minute of victory. This is a big mistake to put your ego in the “driver’s seat.” The ego will never be guided by wisdom, it is too busy protecting, posturing, and thinking about the next victory. Think about your words and how powerful they are to those who care about you.

So, what does this have to do with Yoga? It specifically has to do with Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action and is based upon the universal principles of many religions. Written teachings on this subject can be found within the Bhagavad Gita.

Living for the ego will contribute to your self- destruction. Living for more victories and material, will always leave us feeling a want for more. Look at the incredibly wealthy: Are they happy or wanting for more? Many of them seem very thirsty for true love and heart felt gratification.

However, helping your family friends and associates will leave you feeling gratified, right now. A Karma Yoga practitioner lives for the higher self and the Supreme Being. Sound familiar? It should, since it is a universal principle which we have all been taught.

We cannot always practice understanding, loving kindness, and forgiveness, but we should try each and every moment of our lives.

About the author:

Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He’s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Written By: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

Happy Birthday Mum

Of course, you practice Yoga with the best of intentions. Now, your thinking, doesn’t everyone practice, learn, and teach Yoga with the best of intentions? In a few words: No, they do not.

Some Yoga teachers over-step their boundaries. We have Yoga students who were abused verbally and physically, before they came here. Some were picked on for being overweight, insulted for their lack of flexibility, and one of my current students had her back jumped on by her former Yoga instructor, while holding Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). By the way, this student had told this Yoga teacher, she had back problems, before she took her first Yoga class.

We’ve all heard stories of different cases of abuse, by anyone in authority. The problem is not the training – it’s the inherent lack of common sense and compassion. Most people grow into a Yoga teaching position just fine, while a rare few develop “petty dictator syndrome.”

It’s amazing what people will justify, and then, insist their acts were done with the best of intentions. My Grandfather used to say, “Hell was made with good intent.” Ponder that for a while, and you will come up with many ideas.

If you think of the worst atrocities known to man, you will find someone who can justify them. Do you think Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Hitler, and Stalin thought they were wrong? They would all justify their intentions. Now, on a much smaller scale, going into your Yoga class, with a competitive mind-set, is not the best of intentions. You will eventually injure yourself. All of us age, and we will not get the same results, from our body, every day. Your body is not a machine and if it were, a machine would show signs of wear too.

A competitive mind-set will bolster your ego and that has nothing to do with Yoga. Your mind, body, and spirit cannot become healthy, when your ego is in “the driver’s seat.” There is no tranquility, harmony, peace, mindfulness, or loving kindness within the ego. To the ego everything is a perceived threat, to its existence.

Leave your ego at the door, with your shoes, before going into Yoga class. When you practice Yoga, savor each lesson, and take it out into the world, for practice. When you leave the ashram or Yoga studio, practice is applying what you learn to real life. So, it does not end, when you roll up your Yoga mat.

Be courteous to everyone all the time. You are projecting loving kindness and being mindful of life in the present, and practicing the unity of mind, ody, and spirit.

About the author:

Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He’s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Written By: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

Stretching and yoga aren’t just for people who can fold themselves up like pretzels, or movie stars who have nothing better to do with their days! It can be a beneficial practice to all who use it, and one doesnt have to adopt the world-view of the swamis in order to reap benefits from it. The pace of our lives these days is crazy, some would argue destructive.

Yoga proponents say that learning the art form will not make you dull, but more magnetic, and show you the importance of slowing down. Yogas inactivity can insert a moment to breathe in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, can clear your mind, and re-energize you with just a few simple techniques.

The first lesson in any Yogic theory is how to relax. This doesnt mean you flop on the sofa and become a couch potato; instead it is defined as a conscious transfer of energy from one department of nature to another. Even if you do this for 5 minutes at a time over a beverage, you’re on your way to relaxing. It will increase your efficiency try it and see!

Stretching involved in yoga can be very simple: lie on the floor without pillows. Remove your shoes and wear whatever is loose fitting and comfortable to you. Stretch your arms over your head while stretching your legs and feet. Close your eyes and let your head roll to one side.

Now release each part of your body and consciously permit each limb, each section of your body, to meld in to the floor. Permit yourself to feel as if you are sinking and think of a peaceful scene. This will likely feel very odd to you the first time you do it, but the relaxation that you bring each part of your body will be refreshing!

Now well work on stretching! Lie on the floor as you did for your full-body relaxation, only this time, interweave your fingers above your head. If you turn your palms upward, you’ll feel a bigger stretch along your ribs and spine. Stretch your arms as far above your head as possible, pointing your toes and pushing them towards the floor so you can feel every muscle between your head and feet.

Once you have stretched every part of your body, release! Now go back in to your full-body relaxation mode, remembering to start at the head and relax your way down to your toes.

Now work on the complete breath that yoga teaches. Lying flat on the floor without pillows, place your hands gently on your diaphragm. Slowly exhale as much as you can. Very slowly begin to inhale through the mouth, evenly and without sudden stops. You will feel your diaphragm expand at this point keep going. Now exhale through your mouth, using a slight force, expelling as much air as possible.

You have just completed your complete breath in yogic teaching! If you build up the number of complete breaths per day, you’ll notice less tension, better rest, and a more relaxed you. Release the stress of your day and become who you were designed to be!

About the Author

This article courtesy of http://www.treadmills-guide.net

Written By: Terry Lowery