Stress is actually the number one killer of humans on the planet. Stress is a factor and cause of more physical and mental diseases than most of us can imagine. If you have any disease or ailment, stress will make it worse. If you are getting "stressed out," it may bring on an ailment or disease.

Just look at what stress does to your blood pressure and heart. Cancer patients recover better when they are dealing with less stress. There are many reasons to worry, and none of us is without worry or stress. Too much stress can also cause an abrupt withdrawal from society and result in a possible depression.

Stress overload can cause job burn out, chronic fatigue, and nervous breakdowns. All of these conditions can result in long-term effects that can "sap" a person's life energy, focus, and motivation.

Unfortunately, stress can also be caused by the ego, too much attachment to outcome, greed, jealousy, and hate. This is mentioned within the Yoga Sutras, by Patanjali, which has remained a timeless guide to human insight. Sometimes, we create our own stress and are our own worst enemies.

So, what's the solution? Stress management programs are one answer. Have you ever noticed how many stress management techniques look like Yoga? To be honest, if something looks and sounds like Yoga - it's probably, "Yoga in disguise."

I do not want to take away any credit, but Yoga is a 5,000 year old health maintenance system. You could call Yoga the "mother" of all health maintenance systems. Many of today's health maintenance systems are "off shoots" of Yoga.

Hatha Yoga teaches you to stretch and strengthen your tense muscles, breathe correctly, relax, meditate and much more. Regular Yoga practice will help you develop your focus and turn stress "on its head." As a result of Yoga practice, you will easily be able to handle life daily stress.

Whether the form of Yoga you practice is holding postures for awhile, or flowing from one posture to the next, your body will be relieved of stress. Hatha Yoga sub-styles such as, Restorative Yoga and Iyengar Yoga, hold the Yoga Postures a bit longer than most.

The controlled breathing, practiced while holding a posture, enables the Yoga student to release stress, and walk away from a Yoga class feeling better than he or she did before the start of the class.

On the other hand, Hatha Yoga sub-styles that flow such as, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, and Ashtanga Yoga, have more movement, but the repetition of movement will also release stress from your body.

So, which is the best style for you? Most Yoga studios and wellness centers realize that students do not all "dance to the same beat."

These movement-based Yoga classes differ from a gentle Restorative Yoga style. Each Yoga style has its own flavor, but a prospective student should talk to a Yoga teacher prior to the particular class. This is the wisest course of action, when considering your own goals.

Yoga is not a complete cure for stress, but it does cause the opposite effects of stress. Most Yoga students do find themselves living a calmer, more relaxed, and healthier life style as a result of practicing Yoga on and off the mat. This is why so many doctors recommend Yoga to their patients.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Let think about it: Being a kid these days is not what it used to be. If you grew up watching "Leave it to Beaver," you cannot really relate to the current peer pressure, multi-tasking, sub-par education programs, and daily distractions that our children and grandchildren accept, as part of daily life.

Family structure is not what it used to be either. Many children live in single parent households. This has become a painful fact of life for children to accept growing up without both of their parents. The family unit has changed and parents need practical solutions a lot more than criticism or a lecture.

Peer pressure in school is much more than just drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. Children are harassed by their peers, over every issue, including the clothes they wear. These days, children are pressured into pretending they are rich or joining a gang. This causes children more stress, at an early age, than they need.

So, what is a caring parent to do? Kids Yoga is one answer. Yoga classes for children offer a positive refuge from life outside the Yoga studio. Just by stretching muscles, deep breathing, laughing, getting proper exercise, learning how to relax, meditating, and playing "Yoga games," a child can be a kid again.

Kids Yoga allows a child to deal with daily stress. Each time a child enters a Yoga class for kids, he or she can "close the door" on negative feelings that stress overload brings. Children who attend Yoga classes have one common thread: Their parents care about their well being.

It is not easy for children to socialize with other "good kids," at a time when physical education, recess, children programs, manners, and social skills are being placed "on the back burner." Yet the structure of a Yoga class allows children to bond, socialize, learn, and improve their lives, with new life skills.

Yoga classes are usually non-competitive, but a parent can easily observe just to make sure. Competition is everywhere, but there is no need for it in Yoga or in any form of Mind and Body health maintenance.

Lastly, Yoga has many benefits for both genders. Yoga is good for both boys and girls to learn. The physical skills and knowledge will carry over into other hobbies and sports. Most of today elite athletes learn Yoga for cross training purposes. An athlete, who is flexible, strong, and calm under fire, is a formidable opponent. This is the reason why so many of the world professional sports teams cross train their players and teach them Yoga.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Shouldn't Yoga should be easy for everyone to understand? There are so many Yoga books, containing detailed, full color pictures and loaded with content.

At this time, it is easy to find audio books, DVD , and various video formats made by world famous Yoga teachers. The world of Yoga has changed from small classes, in a Yoga teacher home, to gymnasiums full of eager Yoga students.

This is a good thing - so who needs a private lesson when you can buy a Yoga video and learn from the masters? Learning Yoga should be a "piece of cake," right? Wrong; as a matter of fact - Painfully wrong.

Yoga videos are great learning tools for "Yoga Teachers." Sometimes, I use them at workshops for Yoga teacher interns, but we stop the film at certain points and cover intricate techniques. This gives a Yoga teacher, or an intern, a more complete understanding of the subject covered.

On more than one occasion, we have had a new Yoga student join because he or she was injured while practicing Hatha Yoga, with a video, at home. How is that possible? It is as simple as watching the television and cranking your neck to the side while practicing a Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana ) or Plow (Halasana).

Why would someone do that? Someone who is new to Hatha Yoga, and has had no formal guidance from a Yoga instructor, does not know better. Hatha Yoga is a safe practice, if you develop a foundation of knowledge by coming to Yoga classes and learning from a competent Yoga teacher.

If there is no Yoga teacher in your nearby area, use a Yoga DVD or video. Please watch the Yoga practice at least one time, completely, so that when you physically participate, you do not injure yourself. You should take notes and develop a safe practice, based on the easiest postures you see.

When you start to develop a Hatha Yoga home practice, never force your body to do anything. Always stay in the "comfort zone" and play it safe. In your spare time, read about contraindications for Yoga postures. This will help you expand your knowledge of Yoga and stay safe.

If you do have a Yoga teacher nearby, and get injured because you did not visit a class, or set up a private lesson - Shame on you. Whenever, you take a private lesson with a Yoga teacher, ask questions. That is what you are paying for.

If you are new to Yoga, and have a health condition, it would be wise to inform your teacher. It would also be in your best interest to take a private Yoga session. In the case of pregnancy, you should seek out a certified Prenatal Yoga instructor, if approved by your physician.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Aura Wellness Center is relocating to downtown Attleboro, MA. The new Aura Wellness Center downtown Attleboro location will open 11:00 am on Monday, October 2, 2006.

Our New Telephone will be activated by September 15, 2006.
Telephone: 508-222-0092

Interns, Mentorship Intensives: Would you like to see Yoga adapted to a variety of age groups? You will learn to teach students from 5 to 95 years of age. Any gaps in your knowledge will be covered, whether toy are concerned with the subtle body or the physical body.

We still have some time frames available for 2006. If you are in need of contact hours, September is booked. However, much of October is still open. November and December have limited time slots left.

To see our regular October class schedule online, visit:

http://www.riyoga.com

You can still reach us at our current North Providence, RI location by calling 508-222-0092 until September 15th.

Do you want to contribute an article about Yoga for today's world?
To submit an article for review, enclose it in your e-mail text (no attached files) and send it to: paul@yoga-teacher-training.org

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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.

I want to thank those of you who wrote me for your kind words about the articles on my Blog. I also want to thank the guest authors for their fresh ideas.

Located at: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com

You will see a variety of articles from other authors, so please accept my invitation to write and have any of your articles published at my new Blog. If you want to comment at my Blog, please feel free.

This Blog has the ability to enter one photograph per post. I am looking for informative articles related to Yoga's many benefits.

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If you want to establish a reciprocal link to this Blog, please feel free to contact me with your website or Blog information. As many of you know the more links you have, the more popular your Yoga sites will be.

You can reach me directly at: paul@yoga-teacher-training.org