Archive for January, 2007

By Donovan Baldwin

Yoga, or its ancestor, first appeared somewhere around 5,000 years ago. Since then, it has gradually evolved into the modern form. However, its “modern form” is neither completely modern, nor is it the only form of yoga. In the western world, when we speak of “yoga” we are commonly referring to Hatha Yoga, a branch of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th century. To keep it simple, Yogi Swatmarama saw Hatha Yoga, not as an end in itself, but as part of a pathway to a higher state on the yoga journey. Hatha Yoga concentrates more on the physical training, conditioning, and “preparation” aspects of yoga. So, as we talk about the purposes of “yoga”, please keep in mind that we are talking only about one portion of the entire range of disciplines encompassed by the word.

We sometimes hear of someone who learned to become more relaxed by the practice of yoga. Or, maybe we have heard of someone who became more invigorated and energetic as a result of their practice. Perhaps someone else was able to play a competitive sport better than before they began practicing yoga, or perhaps they were able to lay aside the competitive aspect of their nature that had been driving them into bad health and broken relationships. We may have even heard all of these types of stories. I have! This, and all the claims made about the practice of yoga, creates a very confusing picture even in the minds of those willing to believe what they hear. For those who have doubts already, the multitude of claims can sound like those of an old-timey snake oil salesman.

Actually, research conducted by many prestigious organizations and institutions has confirmed that a regular practice of yoga can actually produce all of these effects and more. While some uncertainty exists in some areas as to exactly WHY yoga is so effective in relation to a given situation, condition, or result, the common ground seems to be that it works.

While yoga can return the same physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits as any other physical training or exercise program, it also produces a blend of positive results that allow the individual organism to integrate the effects and actions of several different systems to produce a whole overall outcome which seems to be greater than the sum of its parts. For example, the increased ability to relax may help the ability to perform, the strengthening of the physical body helps the emotional output to be brought under control. All specific benefits of yoga, when practiced regularly, work together for the overall benefit of the person.

It appears that this synergistic outcome combines the more specific benefits associated with any regular exercise program, with meditation, with deep breathing, with the “exercise” or “massage” of internal organs normally ignored by standard physical activities to produce the confusing array of “positive” outcomes mentioned at the beginning of this article.

Whatever the other positive outcomes of a regular yoga practice may be, its effect on physical and mental health in general should not be ignored. Yoga has been found to have a positive effect on such conditions as asthma, respiratory difficulties, high blood pressure, pain management, back pain, arthritis, and weight loss. Psychologically, it tends to increase self awareness, create a positive self-image, and uplift the spirits of the participant. Many who come to yoga for the first time find themselves with a “new lease on life” as one practitioner put it to me and find themselves trying new experiences, finding new friends, and taking control of a life which had, up until then, been in control of them.

Apparently, yoga has the potential of being effective in many aspects of life and health, and can, in most cases at least, mold itself to your needs. It might be said that the purpose of yoga is to serve in whatever capacity it is needed.

Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer and a University of West Florida alumnus. He is a member of Mensa and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. In his career, he has held many managerial and supervisory positions. However, his main pleasures have long been writing, nature, and fitness. In the last few years, he has been able to combine these pleasures by writing poetry and articles on subjects such as health, fitness, yoga, writing, the environment, happiness, self improvement, and weight loss. Learn more about yoga at http://yoga-4-the-health-of-it.com/ You can also find articles on yoga and other health related subjects at http://nodiet4me.blogspot.com/ .

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – February Schedule
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Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts,

Below is our February 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

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Attleboro, MA On-site Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor
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FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com

By Michael Russell

Yoga is part of the system of Hindu philosophy, where the aim is to achieve liberation from the limits of the desires of the physical body. A person who practices Yoga is called a Yogi.

The ultimate goal of this practice is to remove the mirage of the senses and the snares of thought to achieve perfect union with the object of knowledge. This is believed by Hindu’s and Yogis to be the only way of truly knowing the universe and our place in it. Traditional Hindu practitioners seek knowledge of the universal spirit, which is known from the ancient texts as Brahma. Other Yogis seek perfect self-knowledge, believing that in knowing oneself intimately and definitively, one will achieve liberation from that self.

Clearly, the goal of Yoga practice is the acquisition of knowledge. Despite some common misperceptions promoted through ignorance or bias, true Yogis do not seek, or expect, clairvoyance, the ability to perform “miracles”, or to practice asceticism for its own sake. In fact, Yoga doctrine is clear that the practice of the given mental and physical disciplines is to be directed toward spiritual knowledge and to avoid “showing off” and painful asceticism.

The Yogi seeks to travel through eight stages of development, leading to complete liberation from the physical world. The first stage involves self-control and prescribes truthfulness in all things, abstinence, avoiding theft and not doing any harm to other living things.

Religious observance is called for during the second stage. The Yogi here practices poverty, contentment, the recital of the Vedic hymns, absolute reliance on the Supreme Being and austerity. There are also purification rites to be practiced, preparing the body and mind to progress to higher levels.

The third stage is often the one most outsiders consider to be Yoga, which is the Postures, called asana. There are easily eight hundred asana and the Yogi will practice many to prepare for the more difficult stages to come, including the fourth stage, which is regulation of the breath.

The breath is known as pranayama and the practice includes altering the rhythm and depth of the breath, breathing with only one or the other nostril at will and the nearly complete suspension of the breath.

The next stage is the withdrawal of the sense from external objects. This is the fifth stage and is known as pratyahara, or restraint of the senses. The consequent turning of the mind upon itself is the aim of this stage. For the sixth stage, the Yogi seeks to steady the mind (dharana) through focused attention on a part of the body. This can be the navel, the tip of the nose, or the middle of the brow; and seeks to render the Yogi immune to outside disturbances.

The Yogi is now ready for the seventh stage, meditation or dhyana. Here the mind is fixed on the object of knowledge, particularly Brahma, with the intent of complete exclusion of all other thoughts.

This will lead to the eighth stage of samadhi, meaning profound contemplation. This is described as the perfect absorption of thought into the object of knowledge, creating a union and identification with that object. This achievement liberates the self from the illusions of conscious thought and the odd contradictions of the reasoning mind. To express it differently, the mind has gone beyond thought by creating it’s own negation. This is the ecstasy of true knowledge and complete illumination of the universe.

Hindu philosophy states that several lifetimes will be required to achieve this final stage, as the soul travels through several rebirths. Reincarnation is a basic tenet of Hinduism and each rebirth will lead one closer to total liberation from the physical and then the cycle stops and the soul will dwell in perfect bliss for eternity.

Practicing Yoga, for whatever reasons a person may be doing so, can be a way to health and mental clarity.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher
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FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Michael Russell

Yoga is one of the six longest surviving classic systems of Hindu philosophy in the world, which originated from ancient India some 5000 years ago. The term yoga comes from the sanskrit word “yuga”, which means union. Yoga masters (yogis) believed that the union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul and the reunion of all opposites: mind and body, stillness and movement, masculine and feminine, sun and moon would lead to an inner illumination, the ecstasy of the true knowledge of reality.

Yoga practitioners designed physical and mental exercises to achieve this union. Physical exercises include yoga postures called asanas, which the yogis claimed to have maintained and perfected for millennia. Asanas are performed to purify and strengthen the body and control and focus the mind. It aimed to improve blood circulation and functioning of specific organs in the body. It also served as stable postures for prolonged meditation and often practiced in conjunction with the mental exercises, which include breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation. Yogic breathing techniques and meditation are powerful tools to quiet, calm and discipline the mind and energize, harmonize and balance the body.

Yoga would not have survived thousands of years had it not been beneficial to its devotees. Medical research has confirmed that yoga is indeed helpful in alleviating problems concerning high blood pressure, pain management, backaches, sleep problems, diabetes, digestive disorders, arthritis, chronic fatigue, asthma, obesity and heart conditions. Hence, it is not unusual to see more and more people adhering to the doctrines of yoga. As the results of Roper Poll stated, that at least 11 million Americans do yoga routines occasionally and 6 million perform it frequently.

With so many people adhering to the yoga system, as can be due to the notions cited above, equal number of people might think that yoga is only for unhealthy, sick and disturbed people suffering form mild to severe and chronic disorder or disease. Or in some extreme cases, yoga might be perceived as something other-worldly and non-practical activity as can be due to the perversions of the media and entertainment industry labeling yoga with some negative remarks. Contrary to most misconceptions, people of all ages could perform the yogic exercises, though cautions should be kept in mind. And of course, yoga doesn’t need any serious preparations. All that is needed is a vacant space with flat floor surface large enough to stretch out on, a mat or towel, enough overhead space to fully raise the arms and loose and appropriate clothing. Yoga should be done with an empty stomach, preferably three or more hours after meal. And there’s nothing more important than mental and spiritual readiness.

Yoga is such a powerful exercise, that proper precautions are prerequisites to its use. Hence, noted are the following: people with disabilities severe, acute or chronic health conditions should first consult their medical practitioner and yoga instructor to keep away from any dangers that might arise. Although there is no age requirement, certain poses and techniques vary according to the abilities of the practitioner, thus, it is better to consult a qualified yoga trainer for advice.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher
——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Michael Russell

Yoga is claimed to be a good exercise for everyone. Yoga is also a good exercise for pregnant women and provides them with many benefits. So whether you are pregnant or know someone who is, read on to learn the many positive benefits of yoga for pregnant women.

Yoga is a wonderful exercise for pregnant women and can be safely performed throughout the entire pregnancy. Some poses may need to be modified during pregnancy and poses where the woman is lying on her back or stomach should be avoided. The pregnant woman should also avoid any position or pose that does not feel right to her.

Yoga provides many benefits to pregnant women. Among those benefits of yoga are increased flexibility, more energy and stress relief. Yoga also helps the woman prepare for childbirth. This is done by the regular use and stretching of the muscles that are used in childbirth. In addition, the relaxation and breathing skills learned in yoga will help a woman throughout the labor and delivery of her child and may also lessen some of the woman’s pains and anxieties.

As previously mentioned, yoga can play an important part in a woman having a relaxed, comfortable pregnancy and childbirth experience. However, the benefits of yoga do not end there. Yoga can also help the woman to get back into shape after pregnancy and will help to ease the transition into more physical exercise. And the benefits of yoga do not only encompass the pregnant woman; yoga can assist in the mental and physical development of the growing fetus.

Yoga exercises are not the only elements to focus on when performing a yoga routine. A complete, rounded yoga routine for a pregnant woman should include not only the yoga exercises, but also proper breathing techniques, meditation, deep relaxation techniques and mudras, which are yogic gestures. All of these elements of yoga will provide the pregnant woman with many benefits to aid in childbirth.

For the benefit of the pregnant woman, yoga exercises stretch the pelvis and reproductive organs to ensure a smooth pregnancy and childbirth experience. For the benefit of the fetus, yoga exercises provide the best possible blood and nutrient supply. The proper breathing techniques, or pranayama, will aid in the pregnant woman’s overall fitness during pregnancy and will supply a rich amount of oxygen for the pregnant woman and fetus.

The benefits of yogic meditation to a pregnant woman are almost self-explanatory. It helps to calm and soothe the pregnant woman, dissolving away any fears and conflicts, whether pregnancy-related or not. It is also claimed to provide the pregnant woman with an unbelievable sense of awareness that helps her connect with her unborn child.

The benefits of deep relaxation techniques are also pretty much easy to understand. Deep relaxation, or yogic sleep, relaxes the pregnant woman both mentally and physically. It also better prepares her for the childbirth experience. The last element of a yoga routine, mudras and bandhas, is yogic gestures. These gestures are believed to have influential effects on the pregnant woman’s reproductive organs, as well as any pains and ailments.

By combining all of the above elements of yoga, a pregnant woman can achieve and reap the benefits of a successful yoga routine. There are many books and websites available that provide acceptable yoga poses and positions for pregnant women. But as is the case with any other exercise, a pregnant woman should consult with her doctor before undertaking a yoga routine.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher
——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Michael Russell

The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to yoke”. This roughly translated means “the union of the Individual Soul with the Universal Soul”. Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice originating in India more than 5000 years ago. Its practice can be viewed either as physiological mastery (exercise), spiritual mastery, or both. There are four major branches of yoga.

*Bhakti Yoga ~ The yoga of devotion to a deity.
*Jnana Yoga ~ The yoga of intellectual endeavor and knowledge.
*Karma Yoga ~ The yoga of action in the world.
*Raja Yoga ~ The yoga of meditation.

There are many sub-branches including Anahata, Hatha, Kriya, Anusara, Kundalini, Anuyoga, Iyengar, Mahayoga, Ashtanga, Natya, Sivananda, Ati, Krishnamacharya, Pranava, Swara, Bikram, Kripalu and many more. The goals of yoga are expressed differently in different traditions. Kripalu Yoga is one of the many styles of teaching Hatha Yoga and is the style we’ll be discussing here.

Kripalu Yoga can be described as the reciprocity of mind, energy and physical body. The prana or life force is the subtle current of rhythmic energy pulsations within the physical body. Every single act of the physical body is strongly affected and accompanied by emotional and mental conditions. Imbalance or even disease can be created by the most infinitesimal thought which disrupts or obstructs this crucial flow of energy.

The practice of Kripalu Yoga includes deep relaxation, breathing techniques, physical postures and meditation. Through the practice of this form of Yoga, you can release pain by eliminating layers of stress and resistance lodged in your physical body. This experience can dissolve blockages, free energy and actual healings can occur on all levels. Energy levels can be improved, anxiety reduced, blood pressure levels normalized, greater flexibility, more strength, increased levels of endurance and general well-being.

There are natural healing processes awakened to improve your mental clarity, emotional stability and your overall physical well-being. When emotional and mental disturbances are dissolved, huge amounts of prana are released to affect healing. The regular practice of Kripalu Yoga can have profound effects on the emotions, mind and physical body.

Kripalu Yoga teaches you to tap into your own inner-knowing instead of being dependent upon any guidance of external authorities. It’s okay to be open to what others suggest, but you don’t need to give away your powers to make your own decisions, your powers to reason and to be discriminatory. At all times during the practice of Kripalu Yoga you are establishing a nurturing and intimate relationship with your physical body.

Physical discipline alone will not provide the benefits of this practice in which your body becomes a temple, which you invoke with the presence of the divine. Each sensation you experience becomes sacred. Sensations are responded to with much tenderness and compassion. Every session is approached with an attitude of prayer.

The practice of Kripalu Yoga can take you to new spiritual and physical levels in your life. This form of Yoga practice may be an extension of your search for meaning in self and integration of the different aspects of being. For the average person still far from enlightenment, this particular practice of Yoga can be a way of increasing one’s spiritual awareness, or cultivating insight and compassion. Yoga in itself is not a religion, but contains practical steps, which can be found in the spiritual practices of all religions, as well as those who do not consider themselves religious. No matter what your goals, Kripalu Yoga can be a method of improving your life on all levels.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher
——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Subodh Gupta

Every year, about 11 million Americans complain to doctors about knee pain. Roughly 21 million American people have osteoarthritis of the knee (a degenerative disease in which the cartilage gradually decays and fails to provide the shock absorbing padding that cushions the bones). Orthopedic surgeons performed more than 1.2 million such surgeries in 1996 alone.

Many older people suffer from this painful arthritic condition, however this knee pain is not only restricted to older people but healthy young people are also getting effected by it, for example dancers, athlete for various reason.

Reason for knee injuries/ pain

Lets see what are the reason that people get knee pain. Most common risk factor for knee pain are old age, obesity, knee injuries because of hyperextension , misalignment of knee, inappropriate way of doing exercise, tight muscles or because of combination of above factors etc.

Hyperextension at the knee joint occur when the joints are overly flexible. In this case legs extend too far and move past the point of being straight. Some people may be born with this condition however most people develop it by habitually locking their knee.

Knee injuries can also occur because the way we stand and walk. For example when we stand straight we need to be aware that whether our body weight is distributed properly on both feet or not. It is not very uncommon to observe that one side of heals of people shoes is wearing out more than the other side creating imbalance at the knee joint.

Imbalance at knee joint also occurs because of underdeveloped inner quadriceps and strong outer quadriceps. In this case tendency of strong quadriceps is to pull the kneecap towards the outside of legs I.e. result in imbalance.

Knee joints in our body can be healthy if the muscles that support them are healthy I.e. both strong and supple. Tight outer hips and hamstrings put undue pressure pressure on knee joints. Athletic activity cause these muscles to tighten up and along with the aging process condition become worse (unless proper stretching are done after each workout when body is warm).

Yoga provide effective solution

Yoga is excellent for increasing strength and flexibility in knees. More and more doctors are recommending yoga to their patients who are rehabilitating after a ligament injury.

The benefit with yoga is that it helps to strengthen both the inner and outer quadriceps, which help to keep the kneecap in alignment. It strengthens the quadriceps, the hamstrings, the calves and the ankles- all fairly consistently. Strength in these areas all help to support a weak knee.

Another benefit that yoga give for the knees is the increase in blood flow and nourishment that it sends to the surrounding joints and ligaments. As with most poses in yoga, the action of squeezing a body part, and then releasing it, sends lots of nutrient rich blood to the area that was affected in the posture. Many postures do this for the knees in yoga.

Yoga posture like staff pose(Dandasana),Half downward facing dog pose (Ardha Adho Mukha Svanasana),Seat of power pose (Utkatasana Pose), simple balancing pose, Half frog pose (Ardha Bhekasana) etc can be very helpful for rejuvenating knee joints.

Practiced with care, yoga posture can contribute to the long-term health of your knees by strengthening your quadriceps, opening your stiff hips, and teaching your body improved alignment and movement patterns that transfer into your everyday activities.

Note: It is important to practice yoga with caution. Initially Some yoga posture for example, padmasana and yoga style like Ashtanga yoga mysore can be avoided. Yoga posture that are done incorrectly can actually injure the knee.

Remember most important rule in practicing yoga posture is that any slightest pain is indication from you body that something is wrong and come out of it. If starting yoga practice, it is strongly recommended that you begin in presence of qualified yoga teacher and do listen to your doctor advise.

Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta yoga expert based in London.

Mr Subodh Gupta, Corporate Yoga Trainer has conducted more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management. He has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London.

For more information Indian Foundation of Scientific Yoga and Stress Management http://www.subodhgupta.com London (UK)

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher
——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Nancy Wile

Okay, so you’ve decided that this is the year you are going to get into shape, both physically and mentally – you’ve decided to take up yoga or to recommit to your current yoga practice. Maybe you’ve signed up for a new class or purchased some new yoga DVDs, or maybe you want to begin your daily yoga practice at home. You’re feeling enthusiastic about making some healthy changes in your life, but how can you keep that motivation going throughout the year?

Right after New Years many people are motivated to start a new yoga program or some other type of fitness program, but within a few months give it up, succumbing to frustration or loss of interest. Many people don’t know how to maintain enough motivation to get them through the inevitable decline in enthusiasm and plateaus of their practice. Below are some ways to help you maintain your motivation for yoga or any other fitness program.

To stay motivated in yoga:

1) Vary your classes. Try new instructors and new places. Add new postures to your home practice. Keep the tried and true postures, but add something new each week.

2) Use different props for familiar poses. This is another way to create variety. Learn different ways to use yoga straps, blocks and bolsters. Be creative and try new things.

3) Involve your friends. Human beings are social creatures. You’re more likely to go to class if you have a friend meeting you there. Get to know some of the other people in your yoga class. Having friends in the class will motivate you to keep coming.

4) Learn about the specific mental and physical benefits of different yoga postures. The more you understand about how yoga is benefitting you, the more likely you will continue your practice.

5) Write down what you hope to get out of yoga. What would you like to change (i.e. more strength, flexibility, balance, peace of mind, etc). Below your goal write what the date will be in two month. When that date comes, complete the following, “Before I started yoga, my body and mind felt; since practicing yoga, my body and mind feel. What a difference.” Keep this statement posted somewhere in your home as a reminder of why you started yoga and how it has helped.

6) Whether you take a class or not on a particular day, schedule 15 minutes each day for additional yoga practice at home. Everyone can find 15 minutes at some point during the day and by doing at least something everyday, it becomes a habit, and you increase the likelihood you with stick with it.

7) Create a yoga corner in your home. Carving out a symbolic niche for yoga in your home, makes your practice an undeniable part of your life.

Most important, remember that procrastination and frustration often come with any new venture. Resistance doesn’t mean that it’s time to throw in the towel. If you keep persisting and ask for help when you need it, you’ll push through the plateaus and find a whole new way of health and vitality.

To learn more about quick and effective yoga programs you can do at home, visit: www.YogaTG.com

Nancy Wile, Ed.D. is the founder of Yoga To Go – a yoga organization that provides simple and effective yoga programs for busy people around the world. You can subscribe to her free yoga and fitness newsletter at: http://www.YogaTG.com

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher
——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

What can a Hatha Yoga teacher offer in the way of a fitness program? Is it too late for bad health habits to be corrected by Yoga?

Large numbers of “Baby Boomers,” who were born between 1946 and 1965, are coming to grips with the concept of aging. Regular doctor visits and lab tests reveal more cases of high blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels in many Baby Boomers.

Some Baby Boomers are doing their best to live a more pro-active lifestyle, joining Hatha Yoga classes, Pilates classes, walking, and consuming a more moderate diet.

Yet, being pro-active about health is a rarity in western society. “Big Gun” medicine, in the form of prescriptions, is called upon to correct years of negligent health habits. The problem with western medicine is that the public expects miracles from it and ignores the side effects.

What can a Hatha Yoga teacher offer for those who are interested in improved fitness? Hatha Yoga teachers offer many things including exercise where students learn to bear their weight. This Yogic weight bearing exercise is good for middle-aged Yoga students, right now, and when they become seniors, as this will help increase bone density.

Hatha Yoga is also excellent for flexibility, but the “flip side” of flexibility is strength. Holding a Yoga posture (asana), longer than 20 seconds, will help you develop strength, without gaining size. How else can you explain an average sized woman, over 60 years of age, who can balance on her hands?

Some Hatha Yoga instructors also teach Sun Salutations and Vinyasa Yoga. These flowing movements are good for cardiovascular heath, even when done slowly, or with a chair as a prop. Just holding some Yoga postures (asanas) will raise the heart rate.

For those students who have had a heart attack, or who are at risk of having one, the heart could easily be monitored during practice. Heart rate monitors are the size of a wrist watch, and look like one. The cost of a heart rate monitor is affordable from $30 to $153 US dollars.

Therefore, Hatha Yoga teachers can offer improved strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. When we think of these physical health benefits, it is hard to remember that Hatha Yoga teaches us so much more.

Hatha Yoga also teaches us moderate dieting habits. I was interviewed by a local paper reporter, who did not care to hear about the three Gunas. Yoga teachers know that dieting is one of the most important components of good health. If you go to any health club, the staff will tell you that your diet is very important for optimum physical health.

Pranayama (proper breathing) techniques are the most important part of physical health. Pranayama helps you every day and in times of extreme stress.

Many Yoga students are only aware of how their muscles feel, when considering the physical aspects of Yoga postures (asanas) during practice. A competent Yoga teacher will remind you to open your awareness about your vital organs, which are being massaged, and your body is feeling benefits at the skeletal level during asana practice.

It is never too late to correct bad habits and Hatha Yoga offers help for most of the ailments, which trouble mankind.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor
——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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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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By Rebecca Prescott

I was reading through an article in a yoga magazine today, and it sparked some ‘ah-ha’s’ on some yoga issues I have been wrestling with. And in my practice today, not only did I rediscover the way my hips should be aligned, but I reconnected with a sense of body strength and balance that I though I had lost.

As a bit of background, I used to do yoga very regularly – 2 classes a day, sometimes more (though I was never able to overcome my body’s late-night, late-morning programming to make it to very early classes!). I was very fit, very flexible, and extremely dedicated. I would work on asanas at home, and many of my friends were equally dedicated. Then, I gradually moved away from both those friends, and that yoga-centered lifestyle.

When I took up yoga again, it was very much as a beginner. I had lost that core strength I once had, my flexibility had gone AWOL (absent-without-leave, to coin a military term!), and I could not do many of the poses I once did rather effortlessly. And yet, I still remembered that I could do them! It has been intensely frustrating, to say the least. I found myself really trying to do the ‘finished’ pose, even though I realize now that the plane that my body was in, was way out of alignment.

But the turning point for me began, in a way, by abandoning any set sequence that I had learned. I used to be heavily into ashtanga yoga, and that has a very strict sequence of poses. You start with a ‘warm-up’ pose, like suryanamaskara (the Sun Salutation), and then move into the standing poses such as padangusthasana (Foot to Fingers Forward Bend), pada hastasana (another standing forward bend), trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose), and others.

My problem centered around the fact that between ‘then’ (when I was flexible), and ‘now’, I had broken my ankle in 3 places, had surgery on it, and managed to twist my hip when I broke the ankle. Despite it being 3 years since recovering from that injury, parts of my foot were just not very strong, and I had difficulty balancing as a result. As well as being stiff, those parts of my body just felt almost numb. Not the kind of numb where there is nerve damage. But the kind of numb that is a result of energy (and blood), not flowing freely. If you’ve ever ‘rediscovered’ parts of your body by doing any type of exercise that involved consciously connecting with the parts of your body being used, you’ll know what I mean.

That sense of reconnection is very powerful. And given the way we often go about things, somewhat distracted, perhaps worrying or simply thinking all the time – about the past, the future, the groceries… it doesn’t take an injury to actually feel disconnected from your body. Because yoga is about using consciousness and breath within movement, it is a beautiful way to literally ‘rediscover’ yourself.

I found though, that to start to move back into that strength that I knew I once had, I had to start where I was. This meant choosing certain poses to start to build some strength and flexibility, that were not in a sequence set in stone. I had an advantage in that I had done yoga a lot, and so had a range of experience to draw on. But for anyone just starting out, finding a good beginners class, with an understanding teacher, is a great place to begin. From there, perhaps talk to the teacher, who may be able to advise on what to concentrate. Or book in some private lessons to get a personalized program you can work on at home.

Working on yoga at home is important, even if you only do it for 15 minutes or half an hour a day. Because I felt exhausted, I left the standing poses alone. I made sure to warm up, using some generalized Oki yoga poses I knew, and then concentrated on opening my hips and building some abdominal and core strength. And I did it all lying on my futon bed! That way I couldn’t put off doing something by thinking ‘later, when I get up!’.

One thing that I found was critical in making reasonable progress, was what I think of as doing yoga from the inside out. You’ll know if you’ve done yoga for a while, that once you ‘get’ a pose, there is a real effortlessness. It’s like there is this conduit of energy that just lifts you up, elongates you, no matter how awkward it may seem from the outside. And yet, the way we often approach yoga, when we’re not ‘there’ is like going to the gym. Or like I mentioned before – we try and assume the ‘perfect’ pose. But because we haven’t ‘unlocked’ out stiff bodies, or become strong yet (or both), we just miss it completely.

Once I had stopped trying to fit my body into an ideal of an asana I held in my mind, and did the best I could without sacrificing any alignment, even if my legs were way in the air when they should be flat on the floor, or my hands were on my thigh instead of on my ankle, things started to flow. But the real key, was where I placed my awareness. I noticed where it was tight, just picked the ‘biggest’ tightness, and sat my consciousness smack bang in the middle. Then I very gently breathed out, through that tightness, and felt the sense of radiating energy arcing through it, from the inside out. Instead of pushing my limbs, I pushed my consciousness. Sometimes I didn’t move at all, just held that pose. Sometimes I felt this wonderful release, that heralded a new layer to explore. But these ah-ha moments, these explorations, this reconnection, has allowed a very rapid healing of long standing areas of misalignment in my body.

And the wonderful thing about ah-ha moments, is how they often generate more, until a new approach to one’s own practice becomes blazingly clear.

To learn more about yoga breathing, click here. Rebecca provides tips on asanas, as well as information about the many aspects of practice.

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor
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Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

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By Foras Aje

Okay, I just finished 4 games of basket ball with the guys at the gym and before that had done sets of pull-ups, dips and the ab-wheel. While the rest started winding down to get showered and changed, I all of a sudden got into the 8-limb staff yoga poses to loosen up my whole body, the way only this pose seems to.

“Say man; you do yoga?” one of the guys called out I said yes.

He asked if I teach it and I told him I was in the process of trying to get a license to do as much.

All the more intrigued he said when I have assembled all the steps and necessities required for such a cause, I should pass it on to him so he could inform his girlfriend of such an opportunity.

Well, after doing some research online to see about getting certified to teach yoga, it turns out that if I play my cards right…I could be making upwards of $85 per hour teaching yoga. It goes without saying then that I’ll need to obtain some kind of yoga trainer license to be able to professionally say I am qualified to teach this form of physical culture.

Unfortunately, there are far too many yoga training camps and correspondence programs out there that only teach their students a small portion of what it takes to start, run, and grow a successful yoga practice and as for me, if I ever decide to pursue being a full-fledged yoga teacher the whole process of obtaining a yoga trainer license for me has got to be…well: ON POINT!!!

I mean I know enough from research, practice and study to teach the essentials of Yoga, but we all know that probably won’t cut it in the broader sense of the world.

Nonetheless, there seems to be several options online on the subject and at affordable enough prices and flexibility options for several people with full schedules. Moreover, most Yoga Studios and even directories in helpful Yoga magazines have information on just the very right ones to choose so my options are quite many.

Well, maybe in the near future, who knows, I could be the next ‘Rodney Yee’ of yoga eh…(even though I can say I know probably as much-if not more-than he does about yoga…{chuckle}…)

In Friendship,

Aje

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Yoga for Beginners Blog today for more information on yoga instructor certification.

——————————————–
How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor
——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf

Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
Sister Blog: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com/
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–