By Paul Jerard

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.

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

Discover the true meaning of yoga:

In taking any modern yoga class, you will find parallels to ballet. Like ballet, the promise of poise, grace and flexibility encourages much interest. Yet if yoga is like any other exercise, it is only at first glance. Underneath the coveted health and fitness benefits of modern yoga practice are the roots of a great spiritual tradition blending cultures and religions.

Unfortunately, through the westernization of yoga, we have lost an essential component of this peaceful practice. Though the ritual remains intact the meaning has gone astray. Where previously the postures of yoga practice were merely a branch of a tree; today they are viewed by western society as the tree itself. How do we bring meaning to our poses?

Modern Yoga’s Roots and Benefits

Though the development of yoga cannot be pinned to an exact year, the discovery of the Indus seals, which show figures in the classic yoga asana (posture) of lotus pose, trace yoga back to at least 3000 BCE. At this time the Vedas were being written, which today’s yoga postures are derived from.

These gave birth to Vedic yoga, which accommodated the ancient Indians fixation on ritual and sacrifice. We see evidence of the importance of sacrifice in the yogic corpse posture. Lying as though we were placed in a coffin, this represents the ultimate sacrifice-that of death. Though seemingly morbid, corpse posture is one of hope when we understand that according to the Vedanta sutras, death results in liberation

Sacrifice was meant to join the material and the physical, and create the longed-for “union” that defines the word Yoga. The Vedanta sutras (vs.4:4,13-14) declare that the liberated soul is not materially motivated.. By asking us to free ourselves from the bondage of material motivation, compassion requires us to be selfless. Surely, this giving is an exercise in compassion.

Even still, the modern practice of yoga facilitates this. Through postures and stillness, we alter our consciousness and therefore change our perspective. In our new realization of others as being part of the cosmic whole, we feel that in giving to them we are also giving to ourselves.

The ancient philosophy of yoga saw its postures as part of a greater whole. Thousands of years ago during the time of Astanga yoga, posture practice was one piece of a more important whole. Astanga yoga, which originated during Vedic India, was derived of eight branches; yama (control and discipline), niyama (rules, methods and principle), asana (posture), pranayama (focused breathing), prathyahara(avoidance of undesirable action),dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (contemplation).

In contrast, most contemporary yoga focuses on postures and uses breath work as a small component or an afterthought. Though admittedly, the current vision of yoga over-emphasizes asana, it is extremely important and has enormous benefits. The medically studied benefits of yoga include the following: Stress reduction, improved muscle strength and tone, increased energy and flexibility, improved balance and coordination and a reduction in depression. . Moving with Compassion.

Through most of asana practice, we are unconsciously engaging in physical metaphor. Many yoga postures are named after and imitate the living world; tree pose, eagle pose, frog pose, cat pose. By developing postures that imitate the stance of animals, the vedic seers may have been seeking not only to embrace the qualities of these animals, but to formulate compassion for them.

The way that compassion serves as a partner to yoga’s goal of liberation can be understood through reading the ancient yogic texts. Understand these vedas; whether they be the Rig Veda (knowledge of praise),Yajur-Veda (knowledge of sacrifice), Sama Veda (knowledge of chants), and Atharva-Veda(knowledge of atharvan), is likelier while deep in meditation. Understanding the vedic sutras, we are permitted to experience a bliss unknown through material grasping.

In this state everyday experiences fade away and a greater perspective unfolds. Over time, meditation also allows us to become more intuitive and receptive. This opens us up to others, enhancing our compassionate nature. This experience has been discussed by Eastern sacred-text expert “H.P. Blavatsky’s in “The Voice of the Silence.” Blavatsky writes: “Compassion is no attribute. IT is the LAW of LAWS—eternal Harmony, Alaya’s SELF; a shoreless universal essence, the light of everlasting Right, and fitness of all things, the law of love eternal.”

In order to experience compassion for others we must first extend it to ourselves. Straining too forcefully in a pose is counter to compassion. Why? Yoga teaches us that we are all connected, so when we hurt ourselves this pain eventually reaches others. Instead we must strive for gentle self-acceptance, competing with nobody-not even ourselves. This is essential to a rewarding experience of yoga.

Postures for Peace

By the time of Patanjali’s yoga sutras, which were written near the beginning of the common era, we begin to see a discussion of the more practical aspects of yoga. Posture is discussed (be it mainly for meditative purposes), as is concentration of the mind during this exercise. In the Yoga-Sutra, Patanjali presents relaxation as the very essence of yoga practice. He teaches us that posture should be steady and comfortable.

This sentiment is reflected in the postures (asanas) of today’s practice. The physical dimension of yogic exercise requires us to have compassion for our limits. We are never asked to push, instead only to release. Mercifully, our small efforts are graced with us connecting to a life-force that is divine and encompassing.
Asanas urge us to see our body as divine, and to nurture health in this mortal temple.

Yogic adepts understand that their body is flawed, however slender and toned it may look externally. This acknowledgement leads to less judgement of other’s bodies. However pleasing to the eye a yogis shape may be, the same vedic texts that encourage the practice of yoga for health, also remind us that true “liberation” comes from being free of the cycle of rebirth-free of the physical form.

Yogic postures work in contrast to the western notion of exercise. Here we see exercise as an end, such as an end to overweight and fatigue. Yoga is different. While in most forms of exercise the physical results are the sole goal, in yoga the soul is the goal. The ancient tradition of yoga exercise stands apart in its doctrines. The ancient yoga texts insist that the mind and spirit are more important than the physical body. While many other eastern forms of mind-body fitness also encourage this awareness, no other physical practice has the ultimate goal of union with the divine. In yoga, the process of attaining this union is as important as the actual attainment.

Yoga practice is not a means to an end. It is an end in of itself. Even distinguished from vedas and sutras, the modern practice of yoga posture is a beautiful and calming pursuit. Though modern yoga practice makes little mention of the scriptures that it is based on, the experience of union and compassion can be woven into each pose. In doing this we are enhancing more than our practice, we are improving our life.

Galina Pembroke is an internationally published writer. In addition she publishes and edits New View magazine online, http://www.nuvunow.ca. New View is dedicated to providing unique, non-mainstream articles for personal and planetary growth. To aid this we have rapidly expanding sections on Green Living, Animal Rights and Self-Help.

By Vishnu Dass

Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences that have been united for thousands of years for the sake of healing body, mind, and consciousness. Generally speaking, Ayurveda deals more with the health of the body, while yoga deals with purifying the mind and consciousness, but in reality they complement and embrace each other.

The ancient rishis (seers) were the original masters of all Vedic sciences. They understood that good health is a great asset on the path toward Self-realization. If the body is neglected it can easily become an obstacle to spiritual practice. Anyone who has practiced meditation for any length of time would agree to how difficult it can be to sit still for long periods of time without feeling discomfort and fatigue. Both yoga and Ayurveda are mutually supportive and offer many ways to prevent and heal various disorders as well as to cleanse and rejuvenate the body.

Besides sharing a philosophical foundation, both systems have many similarities in relation to attitude, nutrition, diet, hygiene, exercise, cleansing practices, as well as spiritual practices. Traditionally, a student of yoga would first live close to and serve the guru for many years, during which time he would learn healthy habits. The basic Ayurvedic principles for health and longevity were past on in the lineage in oral form to serve as a foundation for a life of sadhana (spiritual practice).

Nowadays, the teachings of yoga are easily available to all, and whether prepared or not we can leap headlong into its practice. This has its blessings, in the sense that more people can be turned on to the teachings, although much is often lost without the parampara, or close guidance at the feet of an accomplished master.

With this in mind, modern yoga practitioners would most certainly benefit from a basic knowledge of Ayurveda to help establish a healthy daily routine and adjust their practice according to the constitution, dosha imbalance, season, and so on, to prevent disease and promote longevity.

First, let’s take a look at the similarities between yoga and Ayurveda:

* Both are ancient Vedic teachings. Yoga originates in the Yajur Veda, while Ayurveda originates in the Atharva Veda and Rig Veda.

* Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is vital for fulfilling the four aims of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

* Both recognize that the balance of doshas (humors), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) is essential for maintaining good health.

* Both share virtually the same metaphysical anatomy and physiology, which consists of 72,000 nadis (subtle channels), 7 main chakras (energy centers), 5 bodily sheaths, and the Kundalini Shakti (energy).

* Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer, puja, and rituals for healing the entire being.

* Both encourage physical health as a good foundation for mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

* Both share the same view on psychology. Ayurveda embraces all six of the main schools of philosophy including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Vedanta (a non-dual philosophical and spiritual path). They both understand that the attachment to the body-mind complex is the root cause of all suffering and that the ultimate state of health is experienced when we abide in our true nature, which is total peace, regardless of the state of the physical body.

* Both use cleansing methods for the body, all of which encourage the removal of waste products and toxins through their natural routes of elimination. Ayurveda has panchakarma (five cleansing actions) and yoga uses Shat Karma (six purification measures).

Ayurvedic approach to asana practice

The use of asana, pranayama, and meditation for healing is known as Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy and has been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic and yogic adepts. In Yoga Chikitsa, a group of yogic exercises are chosen that will best support the individual and are practiced daily. This can be done over an extended period of time in conjunction with an Ayurvedic regime and herbal and dietary therapies. Yoga Chikitsa also plays an integral role in the Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation process known as panchakarma.

For a well balanced personal yoga practice, it is important to take into consideration the individual’s body structure, prakruti (original constitution), and vikruti (present constitutional imbalance). The following are general recommendations according to the predominant dosha.
Vata predominant individuals should remember to focus on calming, grounding, stillness, strengthening, and balancing while doing their practice.

Precautions for vata:

* Vinyasa or flow styles of yoga tend to move too quickly from one pose to the next and can aggravate the hyper-mobile quality of vata over time. Flow sequences can be made to be more vata pacifying if they are not excessively long, the length of time poses are held is extended, and transitions are done slowly and consciously.

* Those with lower back problems may find that bending the knees in standing forward bends can prevent discomfort.

* Back bends should be done slowly, carefully and within one’s own limits.

Pitta individuals should maintain a calm, cool, and relaxed intention while doing asanas. Pitta types may benefit from trying to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness, and of surrendering or offering the fruits of their practice to the divine of to those in need of positive healing energy.

Because asana practice tends to generate heat in the body, it is best to do them at cooling times of the day, such as dawn or dusk. Also, it is useful to place some emphasis on poses that help to release excess heat from the body, such as poses that compress the solar plexus and poses that open the chest like.

Kapha types tend to be sedentary and often dislike vigorous exercise. For this reason, their practice should be energetic, warming, lightening, and stimulating, providing they are physically capable. Vinyasa or flow style yoga is good for kapha because it is dynamic and moves quickly from one pose to the next, it induces sweating and gets the heart pumping.

Yoga poses that address specific doshic problems can be easily added to an Ayurvedic regime and integrated into an existing yoga routine, or they can be organized as a small session with the help of an Ayurvedic clinician who knows each individual case well and can help set up a well balanced program according to the needs of each client.

Ayurveda also offers Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy, for specific doshic disorders. It is advised to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for an individualized regime.
Ayurvedic Approach to Pranayama (breathing techniques).

The ultimate goal of pranayama is to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. It also has a therapeutic effect on the physical body as well. It is not essential to do a pranayama practice according to dosha, but knowing its effects on the body is a valuable tool for management of the doshas. Below is a general list of pranayama and bandha exercises according to dosha.

Vata: Nadi Shodhana, Kapala Bhati, Agnisara Dhauti, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Pitta: Sheetali or Sitkari, Nadi shodhana.

Kapha: Bastrika, Agnisara Dhauti, Kapala Bhati, Ashvini Mudra (contracting and releasing Mula Bandha), Ashvini Mudra, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Furthermore, the Four Purifications taught in our workshops is an ancient method from the Ashtanga Yoga for purifying the gross and subtle body in order to prepare it for more advanced practices. They are tridoshic and safe for everyone, providing they are performed correctly.

Meditation According to Dosha.

These spiritual paths and their meditation techniques can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their prakruti. This list is only intended to give an idea on how dosha can support or influence one’s spiritual practice. Many traditions of yoga blend various aspects of the paths listed here.

* Vata: Kriya Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga and other structured techniques help to keep vata stabilized and focused.
* Pitta: Jnana Yoga and Vedanta are good for pitta types because they often have sharp intellects and have a keen interest in self-study (Atma-vichara).
* Kapha: Bhakti yoga is natural for kapha types because they are often loving and devotional by nature.

Ayurvedic and Yogic Diet.

Ayurveda is more concerned with food being constitutionally balanced, while Yoga promotes a diet that is sattwic (light and pure). A combination of both aspects is the best choice for a yogi or anyone wanting to make real progress on a spiritual path.

Ayurvedic diet:
* According to dosha.
* Primarily vegetarian (meat is used as medicine, mainly for extreme deficiencies).
* Primarily cooked (raw food in moderation, especially for vata types).
* Containing six tastes.
Yogic diet:
* Sattwic vegetarian diet.
* Easy to digest.
* Simple meals (to limit desire).
* Both cooked and raw.
* Foods recommended in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika consist of rejuvenating substances such as wheat, whole grain, white basmati, corn, raw milk, raw sugar, butter, ghee, honey, dried ginger, mung beans, pure water, vegetables.
* Fruits, roots and nuts.
* Avoiding excessive hot, sour, salty, fermented, and fried foods.
* Avoiding tamasic (dulling) foods like meat, onions, garlic and mushrooms as a regular part of the daily diet.

Cleansing in Yoga and Ayurveda.

Ayurveda and Yoga both emphasize cleansing of the body for health and support of spiritual practices. Their methods are similar and work by expelling excess dosha and ama, or toxins, using the body’s natural routes of elimination.
The yogic method is known in the Ashtanga tradition as Shat Karma, or six cleansing measures.

These are:
1. Neti (nasal cleansing):
Jala neti (salt water flushing of the sinuses).
Sutra neti (nasal cleaning with string).
2. Dhauti (washing the GI tract).
Teeth, tongue, eyes, ears and forehead.
Agnisara Dhauti.
Vamana Dhauti (vomiting salt water).
Vastra Dhauti (washing with a cloth).
Varisara Dhauti (washing with water for purgation).
3. Basti (enema).
4. Trataka (forehead wash, gazing into a candle flame).
5. Nauli (intestinal washing, abdominal rolling).
6. Kapala Bhati (skull shining).

The Ayurvedic method for cleansing and rejuvenation is known as panchakarma (pancha karma), or five cleansing actions. This program is usually done for a week or two, but can also be done for longer periods depending on the case.

The five actions of this method are:
1. Basti (Enema).
2. Nasya (Nasal application of herbs and herbal oils).
3. Vamana (Therapeutic vomiting).
4. Virechana (Purgation).
5. Rakta Moksha (Blood letting).

It is obvious that Ayurveda and yoga not only complement each other. Both sciences actually embrace each other as they share similarities and fundamental principles on many levels. Ayurveda and yoga should go hand in hand if we want to achieve optimal health, peace, and longevity.

Vishnu Dass, NTS, LMT, CAyu, is an Ayurvedic practitioner and educator and the Director of the Blue Lotus Ayurveda Center – Ayurvedic Clinic and School, in Asheville, NC, where he offers health consultations, panchakarma, rejuvenating therapies, diet and lifestyle counseling, yoga and yoga therapy, therapeutic massage, educational programs and workshops, and more. For more information, visit: http://www.bluelotusayurveda.com

By Paul Jerard

Do you think the high cost of becoming a Yoga Teacher is too far out of reach? Will you have to sacrifice your family’s life savings to become a Yoga instructor? How will you be able to justify the time off from work needed to gain your Yoga certification?

There are cost-effective, and less expensive solutions, to learn to teach Yoga by becoming a certified Yoga instructor, without the cost of an “arm and a leg.”

Recently, I was talking to an intern from an outside Yoga Teacher Training program, which had paid nearly $10,000.00 for on-site training, on an exclusive tropical island. He was upset, since he had borrowed tuition costs from his parents, and possibly sacrificed his job, in order to become a certified Hatha Yoga Teacher.

He visited my web site for a Yoga teacher correspondence course and discovered my course was a fraction of the cost he and his family paid. He asked me how this is possible. I explained that we do not need to feed, house, or supply hundreds of Yoga interns.

On top of that, there are no transportation costs to be concerned with, when using a Yoga home study course. The only cost is for materials, tutoring, and Yoga teacher certification.

Further, I explained that to be trained in a face-to-face setting, by a Master Yoga Teacher, is more expensive due to the “hands on” time spent with his teacher. After all, we have an onsite Yoga Teacher program that is more expensive than our correspondence course.

Time spent learning Yoga from a Master Teacher, or a Guru, is a valuable service. Our course is designed for an experienced Yoga practitioner who doesn’t need as much hands on help or who has a local Yoga teacher for guidance.

He continued the conversation to ask me about technical support, and I explained that we handle it by Email, over the phone, and some interns stop by for our Yoga teacher workshops. We have had Yoga teacher trainees visit us from California and Great Britain to attend a workshop. By the sound of his voice, he seemed depressed, and I asked him, “What is wrong?”

He told me that he hadn’t been taught anything about the marketing involved in the Yoga business or about business in general. He felt it would take a long time to pay his parents back and didn’t know if his job would still be available to him when he gets back home.

Then, I explained that we have Yoga marketing and business tools in our standard course and as a separate course for experienced Yoga teachers. I invited him to come to a Yoga marketing workshop when he gets back to the States, and, we both, made a new friend.

We all feel a “calling” to do work that gives us satisfaction. It helps to have a passion about our work and to know that you are helping others along the way. This is one of the many benefits of teaching Yoga, but I advise you to research the cost of Yoga instructor education, and to be careful not to put yourself too far in debt.

Otherwise, your passion for Yoga could turn into a financial worry – well into the future. This would make it difficult to teach the benefits of Yoga to your students, while you are stressed out over your bills.

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

We now know that stress contributes to a multitude of ailments, such as: headaches, backaches, high blood pressure, stomach disorders, lowered immunity, muscular tension, depression, heart attack, and much more. Stress is definitely a “killer” and the source of many health problems.

In fact, stress will prevent and distract your body from healing itself. While you are feeling “stressed out”, your body and mind make dealing with stress the number one priority. Your mind and body need to cope with regular maintenance and overall health, on a daily basis, by putting stress on the back burner.

Are you looking for a way to release stress, tension, and pain from your body? Are you tired all the time and feel the need to rest, but you know you should get some exercise? How can you do both? The answer is to start regularly attending Restorative Yoga classes, and reap the rewards of healing without a tremendous amount of effort.

There are many styles of Yoga to choose from. In India, there are nine main styles of Yoga, and Hatha Yoga is just one of them. Hatha Yoga, “the union of physical mastery,” and its many sub-types, are the most popular in the West.

Among the many Hatha styles of Yoga, are traditional and contemporary types of Yoga. Restorative Yoga is classified as a contemporary type of Hatha Yoga. Some might also say that Restorative Yoga is an evolutionary form of Hatha Yoga. The use of props, “sinking into” postures, safety factors, and attention to the internal body, is very rewarding.

This is not usually a class for the vigorous Yoga practitioners who want to move, push, and sometimes strain, in a Yoga posture. Unfortunately, straining will cause long-lasting injuries. Learning Yoga does not have to be a strain or struggle. Restorative Yoga usually attracts a person who is interested in healing his or her body, in the process of attending a Yoga class.

If you have ailments, feel nervous, or are attending your first Restorative Yoga class, you should consult with your Yoga teacher, before class time. Your Yoga teacher may be able to advise you in regard to techniques that will alleviate stress or pain. You can expect that your Yoga teacher will be compassionate and modifications to postures will be taught.

Your body and mind will feel the benefits of relaxing into a Yoga posture. As a result, you be able to balance your life, and feel the benefits of integrating good posture, stillness, movement, relaxation, proper breathing, and meditation.

Every one of these aspects is covered within a typical Restorative Yoga class. So, you can expect to start healing your body and mind during your first Yoga class. You will also continue to keep your priorities in order, while keeping worry, stress, depression, and fatigue on the “back burner.”

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By Paul Jerard

At last, the mystery of how to pronounce Sanskrit terms properly has been revealed. Have you been looking for an English / Sanskrit cross reference? Are the exact pronunciations of Sanskrit terms still a mystery? Would you like to learn a lot more about Sanskrit as it pertains to Yoga?

You don’t have to search anymore. “The Language of Yoga” is an interactive book and double CD set written by Nicolai Bachman. This interactive “course” includes more than 200 asanas with illustrated yoga postures and 300 Sanskrit definitions.

In between teaching Yoga classes and writing, I have some time to read, and I was happy that I took the time to read Nicolai Bachman’s 139 page cross reference book for converting Sanskrit terms to English.

The two CD’s that accompany the book make this work “come to life.” The first CD covers chants for Yoga practice, Yoga Sutras, and Yoga terms. The second CD covers Ashtanga sequences, names of asanas, and much more. In the course of studying this interactive book, you will learn the basic guidelines of pronunciation for many more words.

The author, Nicolai Bachman, guides you through correct pronunciations with the exact rhythm and tone. This book is a masterpiece and a priceless reference tool for any serious student, or teacher, of Yoga. For Yoga book collectors, this book will be remembered with your personal favorites.

At this time, there is no other book on the market that provides this much in-depth study of the Sanskrit Yoga words and cross references it with English. Words are grouped together by subject, such as numbers, Chakras, Bandhas, Mudras, Yamas, and Niyamas. Many of the words that you might hear in the average Yoga class, are no longer a mystery to pronounce for English speaking Yoga students.

Nicolai Bachman,has been a teacher of Sanskrit, and related subjects, since 1994. He has studied at VagYoga Institute in Varanasi, India, the American Sanskrit Institute, the American Institute of Vedic Studies, the Vedic Chant Center, the Ayurvedic Institute, and received his M.A. in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College.

Nicolai is a 500-hour level Registered Yoga Teacher. He teaches Sanskrit, Ayurveda, and Yoga Philosophy; Nicolai currently teaches in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This book will be released later this month, at which time we will have them in supply. Don’t stay in the dark about speaking Sanskrit, especially if you are teaching Yoga classes. Now, you can be confident that your pronunciation is correct.

I enjoyed the book so much that I ordered a shipment for our staff, on-site interns, and Yoga teachers, we network with worldwide. If you are interested in getting a copy, feel free to contact Aura Wellness Center, 974 Charles Street, North Providence, RI 02904 USA

You can get this amazing resource for only $24.95 USD, delivered within the United States. Overseas orders should inquire about shipping charges. We are expecting a shipment of “The Language of Yoga,” around October 27th.

Telephone: 401-725-5133 – The office is open weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST

Fax: 401-633-6081

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By Paul Jerard

There are many things that we know, we should do, but there’s never enough time. Would you like to have more time for your family, Yoga practice, and some quality time, in your life? Maybe, work keeps you too busy, from doing the right things, for yourself, and your loved ones. So, what can you do?

After all, you need to put food on the table and work is a priority. In reality work is only a part of life, and you would realize that, if you lost your job. All of us go through a grievance period, after losing a job, marriage, or a loved one.

At that point, we must make a decision, to continue on, or give up. Now, I am assuming you are not the type to give up. After moving on, we look back at the pain and healing process. Our personalities are developed, and conditioned, from many components. These components help us “keep it together,” such as: Family, friends, work, prayer, and hobbies.

Most of you know that Yoga means “unity,” but do you realize you are practicing union, or unity, every day, even if you don’t officially practice in a Yoga class? Below is a list of things that you should do every day, or almost every day.

You will notice, that work should not be done every day, in order to live life in moderation. Everyone needs a day off, so enjoy your weekends, when possible, and don’t skip vacations.

Prayer is part of every religion and should be a part of every day. I don’t care what religion you practice, that is your business. Luckily, most of the religions on this planet have universal principles that apply to all. Don’t forget that, you need spiritual, physical, and mental health to be complete. By the way that’s a Yogic principle too.

Family time is so important that we have a dysfunctional generation growing up, due to lack of attention to our children. Some children don’t really know their parents, because they are sometimes brought up by someone else, or a day care center. Lack of bonding time creates inherent problems for parent and child.

Take the time to eat together without arguments and play with your children. Expose your children to religion, games, hobbies, humor, and Yoga practice. Give your spouse or partner a hug and tell them how valuable they are. Self-worth and recognition keep them going too.

Good friends should not be ignored. They are few and far between. You may find your Yoga friends to be valuable company too.

Be conscious of all the following every moment that you can. Breathing doesn’t have to be learned from your Yoga teacher and forgotten. You should practice proper breathing every moment you think of it.

Proper posturing should be practiced when you are sitting, standing, walking, eating, and using your computer. Exercise should be part of everyday and you should be conscious of your nutrition at all times.

Consuming eight glasses of water per day minimum is important for digestion, elimination, your skin, your vital organs, and removing toxins. Please spare the excuses – many people have no problem drinking eight sodas per day. By the way, that’s not good, even if it is diet soda.

Work is a must, unless you are independently wealthy. Work should also help you keep your sanity. If this is not the case, look for a job that is rewarding.

Hobbies are good for your sanity too, but like all of the above they are part of a healthy life. So, how can you make all of this fit into your life? If you go to Yoga classes, you already do.

However, if you haven’t had the time to learn or practice Yoga, you must make the time. Once you do, you will wonder why it took you so long, to start learning Yoga. You will make new friends and live a happier life.

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

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 ever 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, body, and spirit.

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

Until a certain age in life, words like dignity, quality of life, and independence seem to be more suitable for descriptions, or reasons, why independent nations had revolutionary wars, than for senior independence. However, for seniors, these words reflect the need to stay the course of independence.

In some cases, our bodies go on existing, while our physical and mental health is slipping away. We need something that will maintain our health, aside from another prescription, with side effects.

Walking offers many good benefits, but some of us have more wear and tear on the knees, hips, and back, than we would like. We gave up running years ago, and walking is fine, but has to be kept in moderation. We should still walk when, or if, it is possible, but you have to listen to your body and walk accordingly.

Chair Yoga offers a safe, low-impact workout, with cross training benefits that will change your life for the best. Flexibility, mobility, bone density, and strength can all be enhanced with the practice of Chair Yoga.

With flexibility comes “new found” mobility, and this contributes to independence. Many Chair Yoga students start a walking program, or use an exercise bike, elliptical trainer, or tread mill, for enhanced cardiovascular work – shortly after seeing the results of flexibility and mobility.

Fall prevention is also covered in most Chair Yoga classes. Most of us realize the potential consequences of falling down, with bones that are not as pliable as they used to be. We all know how devastating a broken hip can be. Therefore, balancing exercises are covered, and students are reminded to work on balancing at home.

At home, the walls, and your kitchen counter, can also be used for sturdy props when working on balancing exercises. You should also be aware that some prescriptions will affect your balance. This is one more good reason to talk to your doctor, or pharmacist, about the side effects of any prescription.

You can also research any prescription’s side effects on the Internet, by going to a search engine and entering the name of the product in your search. This will take you to the manufacturer’s site, and at the bottom, you will see the possible side effects of that particular prescription.

Getting back to flexibility, mobility, and balance – you can make the most of your life by visiting a local Senior Center or Yoga studio to inquire about Chair Yoga classes. Some classes are also a mix of disciplines, and may be labeled as stretch, wellness, or stretch and tone classes.

If possible, try a class to see if it fits your needs. You will start feeling the results in a week or two and make the most of your life, right now. No matter how much time we have left, we all want to remain independent and keep our dignity intact.

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