Archive for May, 2009

Teachings of Yoga and the Fear of Success

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

yoga balanceBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

If one is in search of spiritual enlightenment, should he or she avoid success in all other matters? How many Yoga practitioners think that success is a bad thing? Abundance, success, and achievement are shunned by many Gurus. There is a logical reason for this, but there is also a drawback for all of humankind.

One of many reasons, for embracing poverty, is to practice Aparigraha (non- possessiveness). Yet, those who tell others to enjoy poverty, give this advice to keep greed “in check.” It is true that greed can make slaves of all of us. Chasing power and material wealth can be a never ending struggle.

Those who become consumed by covetousness are never happy – no matter how many possessions they have or how much power they hold. On the other hand, the fear of succeeding holds our entire species back. If all of us refused to advance ourselves, we would still be drawing on the walls of caves.

It is one of humanity’s greatest qualities – to explore, create, and become innovators. At this time, no other species on this planet can be so constructive or destructive. We have the ability to create the world of our dreams or our nightmares. It is up to us whether we succeed or fail.

The problem stems from one undeniable fact: Humanity will not sit still. If you look at our history, you could debate the crimes, wars, and injustice against humanity by human beings. The desire to progress, and the desire to suppress, has been in conflict since our humble beginnings. What logical method can we practice to train the mind and solve conflicts?

In a word, it is “Yoga” that has managed to cross every boundary of race, religion, gender, nationality, and social status.  Some fundamentalists will disagree, but not one of them wishes to create a world of peace, tranquility, or bliss.

They use race, religion, gender, nationality, and social status as dividing points to create anger and hatred. A fundamentalist is a person, of any religion, who rigidly embraces extreme political, philosophical, and social viewpoints.

The objective of all fundamentalist thought is to divide humanity into hostile warring groups. Yogic philosophy is the opposite of fundamentalist thought.

Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” which means to join, unite, or attach. The deeper meaning of Yoga is important because most of us want spiritual growth. The rewards of self-realization and truth, through concentration of mind, cannot be understated.

Therefore, success is a by-product of Yoga practice. Your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, will improve with practice. There is no need to fear achievement because it cannot be prevented, when one lives a Yogic lifestyle.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.” http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

On-Site or Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

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

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Chair Yoga Warm Ups – Clip 05 With Paul Jerard E-RYT 500

Friday, May 29th, 2009

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Chair Yoga Warm Ups – Clip 04 With Paul Jerard E-RYT 500

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

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Chair Yoga Warm Ups – Clip 03 With Paul Jerard E-RYT 500

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

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Yoga for Self-Discovery – The Discipline of Yoga

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Yoga class on the beachBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When we consider the word “discipline,” we might think of the military or harsh training. Yoga may not come to mind, when considering the many faces of discipline. Yet, Yoga is a genuine discipline, which has evolved for thousands of years, and it qualifies this description for two reasons.

1. Yoga is an immense branch of knowledge.

2. Yoga will develop positive behavior through instruction and practice – especially in the art of training one’s mind.

When you listen to people talk, one of the most common complaints is a lack of respect for each other. This complaint is timeless, but it stems from the fact that people resist self-discipline. Who wants to be the keeper of him or herself?

Most of us would rather let someone else be the disciplinarian. To regulate manners, responsibility, and respect is a daunting task for anyone who supervises others. At the same time, rules and regulations tend to have a logical order. Who wants to be the example of a trained mind?

Humankind tends to overindulge in many different vices. Although we are proud to be considered intelligent, we have the ability to make poor and self-destructive choices. It seems the ingredient missing, in many of us, is self-discipline. There are many ways to train the mind, but Yoga may be the most compatible to humans.

A Yoga practitioner does not have to go through a harsh process in order to see changes from within. Moderation, in all things, is the key to unlocking our true potential as a species. However, a moderate lifestyle is quite a challenge because we tend to gravitate toward extremes.

As we know, extreme diets, environments, and challenges can be exciting experiences in the short term. If we can help it, we should avoid extremes. Extreme Yoga styles tend to be a short-term hobby for those who participate.

Extreme heat in a class, or an extreme athletic Yoga challenge, may be considered measurements of progress in the short-term, but over the years, experienced students may seek moderate styles. Yoga styles, which focus on healing, or balanced holistic development, will often attract students for life.

If we seek longevity, we are more likely to pursue a Yogic discipline, in which the objectives are balance, focus, and purpose. The results of long-term practice, in such a style are: improved physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. It takes much more than a quick insincere commitment to practice Yoga for life, but a lifetime of practice has many rewards.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

On-Site or Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

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

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Yoga for Self-Discovery – Is Happiness a Formula?

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

Tree PoseBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Can Yoga reveal a formula for happiness? Is it possible to live a worry-free life, if we were to follow Yogic teachings? What holds us back from finding happiness? What would one day of harmony be like? Let’s look deeper into Yoga and discover proven methods for resolving life’s daily problems.

Can Yoga reveal a formula for happiness? In a nutshell – the answer is “yes.” The problem is that most people are looking for a fast solution. Yoga does not supply us with quick and temporary solutions. Yoga becomes the practitioner’s lifestyle, because it is based upon 5,000 years of documentation and research.

In other words, one has to practice Yoga, for an extended time, before seeing the deeper results. How long will that be? It depends on the willingness of a practitioner to maintain a steady practice and the realistic tracking of results. Contrary to popular myths, lifestyle changes rarely happen in a day, week, or month.

Most often, the positive results of Yoga practice can be noticed in physical appearance, or behavior; but these are gradual changes. One book, DVD, class, or seminar may be the “seed of change,” but it is daily practice, which creates changes that become easy to notice over time.

Is it possible to live a worry-free life if we were to follow Yogic teachings? Everyone experiences worry, but a Yogic lifestyle does reduce worry, stress, and anxiety. As humans, all of us experience the “ups and downs” of life. Yet, each of us learns how to manage stress, worry, anxiety, and anger – with the practice of Yoga techniques.

What would one day of harmony be like? If you cannot remember the last time you had a harmonious day, you should begin learning more about Yoga today. Obviously, life can be a “long and winding road,” but each of us should become familiar with stress reduction methods. At the same time, each of us should become familiar with the many Yogic methods that bring about states of happiness and tranquility.

In Hatha Yoga, a practitioner may learn asanas, mantras, mudras, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation techniques. Each of the above-mentioned methods can be practiced for the purpose of reducing stress and creating states of tranquility. As an example: Most people are familiar with asanas (Yoga postures).

Whether you hold these postures for an extended amount of time, or you perform them in a sequence, you will release nervous energy from your body. All of us have nervous energy, but asana practice allows us to use it constructively.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

On-Site or Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

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

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Yoga for Self-Discovery – Finding Your Inner Child

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Mother and Child YogaBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

In Yoga, self-discovery is the quest for truth, which begins within each of us. If we manage to avoid the pitfalls of self-pity, we often seek solutions outside of our being. A good example of this is when we try to change others, and when others try to change us.

How will Yoga help you find your inner child? The two words “inner” and “child,” when combined, take on an identity of their own. Someone may think of a situation comedy, while another person may think of counseling sessions. In contemporary psychology, the words, “inner child,” usually refer to the childlike components of a person’s psyche.

In Yoga, we may call this the true self or the original self. The inner child is often suppressed and not allowed to do any creative thinking. In some societies, we are taught to suppress the inner child, which hinders the chance of self-realization, enhanced awareness, or a self-awakening. Heaven forbid that we allow our childhood aspirations and creative thoughts to come to the surface of our being.

Why in the world do you want to find your inner child? Adults often spend time creating and thinking, but it is disconnected from the inner child, our true feelings, or our aspirations. Adults often live for duty. How else is the rent or mortgage going to be paid?

Yoga allows us to reach our inner child, who has aspirations, innovation, and takes positive action toward a successful outcome. Most children are inherently happy. Children are not afraid to take action, fail, learn new skills, or adapt to new environments.

The inner child is starting to look like a natural shot of adrenaline. To find the true self can create a state of new found positive energy. Adults have built their lives upon past success and failures, but that does not mean we processed the information correctly.

How many adults do you know who have given up on life because of past failures? Qualities such as: creativity, taking action, and self-confidence can disappear, if we believe that we are our failures. The important part of failure is to learn from it and alter our plans with a new solution.

Yoga teaches us many forms of self-reflection. To see the true self, look into the past without judgment. Do not indulge yourself in self-criticism. Finding the inner child is not dragging up the mistakes of the past. The real purpose of the exercise is to borrow the positive qualities of the child within, and move forward with solutions in mind.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

On-Site or Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

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

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