Namaskar,

Yoga in Practice

Yoga May Aid Body Image, Cut Eating Disorders
Mind-Body Workout May Help Women Make Peace With Their Bodies

By Miranda Hitti

WebMD Medical News

May 20, 2005 -- Yoga may make women feel better about their bodies, steering them away from eating disorders, a new study shows.

In fact, yoga may have an edge over other forms of exercise in that regard, according to the study in the Psychology of Women Quarterly .

The reason may be yoga's mind-body aspect, say the researchers, who included psychologist Jennifer Daubenmier, PhD, of California's Preventive Medicine Institute.

"Through yoga, this study suggests that women may have intuitively discovered a way to buffer themselves against messages that tell them that only a thin and 'beautiful' body will lead to happiness and success," says Daubenmier in a news release.

If backed by further research, yoga may help prevent and treat eating disorders, say researchers.

Yoga Study

Daubenmier worked on the project as a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. She compared women who practiced yoga regularly with those who did other forms of exercise. Women who hadn't done either form of exercise, for at least two years, were also included.

First, Daubenmier and colleagues studied women who were 37 years old on average. Next, they studied college-aged women.

The women completed surveys about the type of exercise they performed, how often they did it, and their feelings about their bodies. Those who practiced yoga expressed healthier attitudes toward their bodies and had less disordered eating behaviors.

Meanwhile, spending more time on aerobic forms of exercise (such as running or exercise classes) was associated with greater disordered eating attitudes, the study shows.

The researchers say body mass index didn't explain the findings because they took that into account.

Which Came First: Yoga or Body Image?

Did yoga enhance women's sense of their bodies, or did it attract women who already felt good about themselves? More research is needed to find out. Daubenmier's study didn't assign women to do any particular form of exercise.

Of course, many women who exercise aerobically don't have eating disorders. Health experts encourage men, women, and children to exercise regularly and lead an active lifestyle for optimum health.

Yoga practitioners learn to tune in to the body as it moves through the poses. That could emphasize the body's abilities, instead of its appearance, say the researchers.

That mindful approach is available to anyone, but yoga may help build that skill.

SOURCES: Daubenmier, J. Psychology of Women Quarterly, June 2005; vol 29: pp 207-219. News release, Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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Question of the Month

Q: Namaste Paul, You wrote an interesting article on attracting positive energy a few months back. Could you elaborate on how we might find and cultivate it? What is the mystery behind attracting positive energy?

A: Most of us who study Yoga have been taught that an abundance of Prana (vital air or vital energy) can be found at the ocean, lakes, large open fields, and in the mountains.

Although the air is different, this same energy can be found where people assemble for a positive reason. For example: when people assemble to meditate or pray.

You can feel it in your home, at a church, mosque, temple, shrine, ashram, seminar, martial arts hall, etc. This is when people bond in a mass for the common good. The energy can be used to help humanity and our little planet for the best.

You can project this energy outward by acts of kindness every moment of your life. This is not to say, you allow yourself to be abused. You can be kind to everyone who comes into your life, without becoming a "doormat."

You have influence over a limited number of people who you see in a day. Why not make every contact a harmonious and positive experience?

Some examples would be:

• Stop making foul gestures, becoming angry, and swearing when another driver on the road has irritated you.
• Don't take advantage of respect with anyone.
• Treat everyone as special - no matter what their economic status is.

In regard to your next question: What is the mystery behind attracting positive energy?

To be honest, there isn't one, but I will give you the formula.

Firstly, you have to realize that you have infinite potential, and it comes from within. You also have unlimited potential from the outside, when you engage in prayer and meditation on a daily basis. Prayer and meditation will positively charge you, and you will contribute to the benefit of others, as a result of it.

In turn, all of this helping of others will result in you finding people around you who are more than willing to give you a helping hand.

The following ideas will cultivate positive energy around you.

• Make it a point to wake up in the morning with excitement and say hello to everyone you come into contact with. This goes for the security guard, janitor, maid, garage attendant, cashier at the store, and anyone you may overlook in the course of your day.
• Stop criticizing your family members, coworkers, friends, and associates.
• Be diplomatic first, before giving any advice.
• Let your family know that you love them everyday.
• Be sincere and treat everyone as important.
• Take time to give to people. This doesn't have to be expensive. You could give a sincere compliment, a card, a letter, or flowers.
• Become a trustworthy partner with family, friends, coworkers and associates.
• Set goals, whether they are tangible or not. It is a healthy practice to have goals at any age.

The final results will be that your positive energy will attract positively charged personalities and successful people will seek you out. If this is a major change for you, it will not happen overnight.

Let me share a related Zulu saying: "Patience is an egg that hatches great birds."

Why should you become an eternal optimist?

Every one of us has a choice. When you fall down, you must pick yourself up. You can't blame life's hurdles or obstacles - you have to find solutions to get over, around, under, or through them.

Focus on your past achievements and learn to be happy with yourself. Everyone has failed, at some point, but we must constructively learn from our past experience.

Your individual approach to life's daily obstacles is the gateway to success or failure. Therefore, success is a matter of choice.

Building Positive Energy

In relation to what most of us see as possible - success is unlimited. When primal man first discovered fire, could he imagine the concept of a forge? When modern man discovered the forge, could he imagine sky scrappers?

To build positive energy for pursuit of common goals and success, you need a support group. Find and seek out like-minded people.

Each month, we will post one "question of the month." If your question is drawn, we will post it in this space. To submit a question, contact me at: aurayoga@aol.com

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Have you visited our new updated site and improved FAQ's section?

Yoga Teacher Training Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/Yoga-questions.htm

We've added many questions and answers that we frequently come across. Recently, we've started to break them down into categories, so they will be easier for you to find.

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Recipe of the Month

Vegetarian Chili

There are so many ways to make chili that you should explore your own creativity with this recipe. You can substitute anything, sometimes, I use kidney or Cannelini beans instead of Pintos.

Ingredients:

½ lb. Pinto Beans
3 minced Shallots
4 Garlic cloves
1 sweet red pepper chopped
2 Tbsp. Chili Powder
1lb. Morning Star ground meat substitute, Tofu, or similar soy product.
1 Tbsp. Basil
1 Tbsp. Oregano
1 Tbsp Rosemary
26 oz. of your favorite tomato sauce, salsa, or a mixture of the two

Cook pre-soaked beans in large pot on medium heat. Add Tbsp. chili powder and keep adding enough water throughout the process to avoid burning.

This will take a while because Pintos and Cannelini beans take nearly two hours to get soft.

In a separate frying pan, add virgin olive oil and cook thawed meat substitute with shallots, garlic, and red pepper until caramelized. Once this is done, add the tomato sauce and simmer on very low heat.

When the beans are tender, combine both pans and stir in your large pan or a very large bowl.

Options:

If you want to thicken this dish: Use approx 2 Tbsp. natural peanut or almond butter. Just make sure your guests don't have an allergy to these nuts. Allergies to nuts can sometimes be fatal!

If you want this dish to be spicier, add ground cayenne to the beans when cooking or use a spicy salsa. Just one teaspoon of cayenne will make a difference, so spice to your taste carefully.

I actually make an organic cayenne repellant for squirrels and rodents. That one fact alone can attest to the strength of cayenne.

Lastly, you can use a little celery salt or garlic salt to enhance the taste.

Mangi e goda! (Eat and Enjoy)

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Yoga Teachers Wanted

New Yoga Job Opportunities

Jakarta yoga teachers needed
Power Yoga Teachers Needed. Especially with certificate in Baron Baptiste, Jivamukti or Ana Forrest. please send email to hotyogajakarta@yahoo.com

Yoga Teaching Opportunities at studio in Anaheim Hills, CA teaching Core Sequencing and Advanced Beginner on Tuesday and Thursday nights (6-7:30pm). If interested please call The Place of Balance (www.placeofbalance.com) at (714)777-1953.

Massage Therapists and Yoga instructors needed.
Send resumes to: P.O. Box 467, Mountain Home, AR 72654.

HOT YOGA Teacher Position Open
SPACE Taipei seeks HOT YOGA teacher for staff position. In the heart of Taipei, SPACE is a contemporary, ultra modern yoga center infused with great respect for and practice of the ancient traditions of Yoga and Meditation.

We are seeking a committed, compassionate, patient, open- minded adventurous soul to teach HOT and FLOW yoga at SPACE. A one year commitment to living, teaching and thriving in Taipei is requested. Applicants will have a strong sense of bhakti and be dedicated to co-creating and supporting a thriving yoga community in Taiwan.

Requirements: Certified or Registered Yoga teacher with 2+ years of teaching experience in HOT, MOKSHA or BIKRAM styles of Yoga. Each teacher will teach 15 - 90 minute classes per week. Classes will be taught in English . Applicants with fluency in Mandarin Chinese will be given special consideration.

Teachers are rewarded with an exciting sense of opening up many new students to the benefits of Yoga in a multi cultural environment. Competitive monthly salary, healthcare benefits, housing allowance, Mandarin Chinese lessons and opportunity to expand your teaching presence in Asia are offered.

For more information, please contact Ateeka at moka@aloha.net www.withinspace.com

Germany / Deutchland
The Yoga Loft, in Cologne (Köln) Germany is expanding the ashtanga class schedule & therefore searching for a regular, weekly ashtanga vinyasa teacher, and also someone available to sub classes. We offer classes in German & English but prefer if you can teach in German :) Get in touch with us: info@theyogaloft.de www.theyogaloft.de
namaste.

Are you thinking about visiting China?
A start-up yoga school in Nanjing, China, needs one or two yoga teachers to work as Yoga trainers. If you are interested, please contact us chyuanyoga@yahoo.com or milleyxuan@yahoo.com

Instructors needed for brand new upscale Health Spa with state-of-the-art heated studio, due to open in May/June 2005 in Temecula, CA. offering classes in Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and Feldenkrais More info- contact Michele at:
Ajna Health Spa
web: www.ajnahealthspa.com
email: info@ajnahealthspa.com
phone: 760-802-5785
fax: 760-480-6345

Some of these Yoga teacher opportunities below may already be filled.

Central NJ Yoga Center startup seeking teachers with Ashtanga, HOT, or Pilates experience for partnership - no investment necessary. If you are interested, please contact Peter at: pmercatili@aol.com

We have 2 modern studios in Staten Island, New York. We are looking for instructors for our new facility that want to make a home with us. We are a Health and Wellness Center offering Yoga, Pilates, Massage, Personal Training and much more. If Interested, Please call Janine: 1 718 667 6100

Seeking experienced instructors for soon to open yoga studio in East Fishkill, NY. Please contact Luanne at: 845-223-6000 extension 11

I am looking for a Yoga instructor for our amazing resort in Chiang Mai Thailand. Construction of the new Yoga rice barn within the rice paddies of the resort make a beautiful location for relaxation and meditation. It will be part of the spa where we also offer thai massage, ayurvedic treatments and focus on wellness.
If interested please contact Kelly - kelly.shaw@fourseasons.com

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Yoga Teaching Position Wanted

Finished a diploma in yoga course from Lonawala India in which I have training in various Asanas, pranayama, and meditation.

Work experience in health club as a instructor in which I taught yoga for controlling body-fat . I have additional work experience in teaching yoga and also various games, as a director of sports with college-level students.

Contact: VEENA TRIPATHI 109A SOUTH THIRD STREET PHILLIPSBURG N.J 08865 USA Tel: 908-764-3962 or Email: veena_tripathi2001@yahoo.com

Experienced Yoga Teacher trained in India seeks Yoga teacher position in Boston, MA area. Contact: Dharmendra Singh majdha39@yahoo.co.in

Experienced Trainer with Masters Degree in Physical Education seeks employment in UK or Canada. mann_shine123@yahoo.com

We are twin sisters seeking Yoga teaching positions.

Hamideh Badiefard and Saeideh Badiefard

Address: 9921 North Sedona Circle Fresno CA zip: 73920
Cell phone: (908)-295-8427
(908)-295-6187
E.mail: h_badifard@yahoo.com
Saeedeh_badei@yahoo.com

Objective: Position as a teacher of yoga or assistant

Highlight of Qualification: Skills in Ashtanga yoga , Hatha yoga , Raja yoga , Kerya yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga, Karma yoga. Asanas, Pranayamas, and Meditation. Teaching yoga in different methods (Sivananda, Satyananda, Iyengar ) theoretical and practical.

Experience:
- Teaching yoga in Shiraz university , Shiraz , Iran , 1 year
- Physical & Mental Purification Research and Training Institute, Shiraz , Iran , 2001-2004
- Private lessons , Shiraz , Iran , 2000-2005

Education:
- The International Yoga Teacher Training Course with title Yoga Seromani (teacher of yoga ) in Sivananda Vedanta Centre , Neyyar Dam , India , 2001
- Certificate Course in Yoga in Pune University and Kaivalyadhama S.M.Y.M samiti , Pune , India , 2004
- Vipasana Meditation Course , Pune (Markal) , India , 2004
- Iyengar Institute , Pune , India , 2004
- The International Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Course With title Yoga Acharya (Master of Yoga -M.Y) in Sivananda Vedanta Centre , Neyyar Dam , India , 2004

If you own an Ashram or Yoga studio, and are looking for teachers, feel free to contact me with Yoga opportunities. We reach thousands of Yoga teachers worldwide and will publish "Yoga teacher wanted" ads for free around the middle of the following month. Contact Paul: aurayoga@aol.com

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