Archive for July, 2007

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Tapas is the third Niyama, described by Maharishi Patanjali, in The Yoga Sutras. Many times, you may see the description of Tapas as “austerity.” Unfortunately, most people still do not understand because Tapas cannot be explained in one word or sentence. Tapas means “heat” and it is a form of penance, which causes realization of self and of God.

Tapas is a spiritual discipline with the objective of self-transformation and spiritual purification. It may consist of intense prayer, meditation, and asana practice. Tapas may also consist of corporal mortification. In the West, Opus Dei (a conservative Roman Catholic organization) has received recent publicity for the practice of punishing the body.

Whether you believe in penance, prayer, meditation, or practicing 108 Sun Salutations per day, it does not matter. The importance of Tapas in everyday life is extraordinary.

Therefore, consider the following example of Tapas in 21st century life.

A wealthy man had worked hard his entire to life (Tapas) to develop a prosperous business and amass a great fortune. He was charitable in his giving of time, material, and money to help the poor (Karma Yoga). He had two children, who he loved, and praised.

He wanted to give them everything he did not have as a child, so he sent them to the best private schools and universities, money could buy. When they returned, they began to sell drugs in their father’s business. The government “crashed the door down,” confiscated the family fortune, and auctioned off their possessions. As a result this man is destitute.

Where did this man go wrong? Our children must also learn the value of Tapas. How many times have we heard of family fortunes squandered away at gambling tables or on a drug habit? Why does this happen? Most people cannot truly appreciate what is “given” to them.

Tapas is more than penance. In the military, one earns his or her stripes to attain higher rank. You cannot afford to have a General inherit a position. A command position must be earned, and battle tested, for the safety of all the troops.

Life’s daily challenges are a form of Tapas. You can easily make a case that Tapas builds character. With all of our recorded history, parents and society can learn from this.

If you simply give everything away to children, and the poor, you have taught them nothing. How will they provide for themselves, once they have consumed your donations and gifts? Children, and the poor, must be taught valuable life skills and independence. Otherwise, they are handicapped by “give away” policies – much like animals at a park, waiting for “handouts.”

Many young parents, in the West, feel that “Spare the rod, and spoil the child,” is an old saying, which does not apply to this time period. The original quote came from Proverbs 13:24, which states, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

Children, and the poor, will respect nothing, if they do not have to earn it. It is easily proven by the lack of appreciation, manners, and respect, we can observe everyday. Discipline in moderation, will enrich all aspects of society.

Getting back to you and the value of Tapas – The true value of Tapas is the character building qualities of emotional, mental, and spiritual health. With those three aspects taken care of, we have better physical health. The habit of daily Tapas will carry over in your physical life by eating and exercising conscientiously.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
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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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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Within Yoga practice is a secret, which should be easy enough for the public to grasp. Meditation and visualization could advance all of human kind. The power of visualization is enough by itself, but meditation teaches us to focus on one thought at a time. This is such a challenge, that most of the public would rather practice Yoga postures, and forget about meditation.

If you have practiced Yoga for one session, you realize that Yoga postures are much easier to focus on than it is to control your mind. Many people feel very uncomfortable trying to harness their minds. No wonder the ancient Yogis compare the mind to a monkey. The mind is restless and resists the concept of self-mastery.

Yet, the ancient Yogis were also concerned about combining Yogic meditation, with visualization, for egotistical purposes. It has commonly been thought that some people would misuse this aspect of Yoga for acquiring material, power, and fame.

The ancient Yogis had nothing to fear, because a Yoga practitioner would need much practice to reach Samadhi (The eighth limb of Yoga – Complete Meditative absorption); there are many levels of Samadhi.

However, Samadhi, and the eight limbs of Yoga, described by Patanjali, are largely ignored by many Hatha Yoga practitioners around the world. Many Hatha Yoga practitioners have developed a “ranking system” for Yoga. Ask most students what advanced Yoga is, and they will mention a difficult Asana (Yoga posture).

It is not their fault, because their Yoga teachers think the same thing. Many Yoga teachers do not really understand the concept of Samadhi, and they do not reflect on the Yoga Sutras.

For a Yoga practitioner to achieve Samadhi, his or her heart must be true. On top of that, his or her mind would have to be disciplined. This would require much time and a coordinated effort, but most people do not take a calculated approach to life. Most people want or wish for “things” without focus or action.

It is much easier to sit on a couch, and want to lose 20 pounds, than to change your lifestyle toward better health. It is much easier to buy lottery tickets than it is to invest your money wisely over time, and still give to charity. It is much easier to wish for better health than it is to practice Yoga.

Here is an example: It has been estimated that five percent of all people are successful in life. How do you measure success? People who take action have a much better chance to find success than those who do not. In life, success is a state of bliss, happiness, or gratification. Success is Santosha (contentment and inner peace), which means “appreciating what you have.” The person who is content with knowledge, peace of mind, good health, a happy family, and good friends is “truly rich.”

These are people who wake up happy with their lives. What makes them happy; are they rich? Some of them are, but all of them sleep at night without guilt and look forward to success each day. They are giving people who enjoy the company of good friends, family, and associates.

When we realize that the best things in life are free, we are rich. To visualize the good in our lives is the beginning of a change toward empowerment. If we choose to think otherwise, we become slaves to pessimism.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
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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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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Jnana is the Sanskrit word for “knowledge” and Yoga means “union.” It sounds simple enough, “union through knowledge,” but the spiritual discipline of developing intuitive knowledge takes some of us a lifetime.

Some people will never develop an understanding of their purpose. Why do I say this? Each of us has an inherent purpose, which is lying dormant, in most cases. If you look at a High School graduation, how many of the young men and women have found their purpose? How many of your co-workers love their jobs? How many people are happily married?

It all comes down to finding your purpose, and it is never too late. Many people convince themselves that they cannot do anything else, except their present job skills. Yet, when they leave a job, they always develop new skills. So, if they do not like their present situation, why not change it?

Have you ever heard: “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” or “Why take a chance?” There are many similar sayings, but they all add up to people, with potential, who do not dare to dream big. They have not found their life purpose, and they may think opportunities are for everyone else.

Jnana Yoga teaches us to study and look within for answers. Each person has unique gifts and a higher purpose in this life. It might be a safe guess to say that less than 10% of all people are completely satisfied with their lives.

Out of that small percentage, how many of them do you think found their true purpose? It would be reasonable to say: “Most of them.” You can bet they all know the meaning of empowerment too.

How can you achieve empowerment from any form of Yoga practice, when life seems so out of control? You may have people working against your best plans. How can Yoga help you develop the patience to overcome daily obstacles?

When you are in the middle of a tough situation, try to get an overview of the entire situation. Try to observe the situation without emotion or ego. Try to become the observer. This is not easy, but it is possible.

Now, you may be wondering what good it will do. When you observe situations, without taking anything personal, you will make rational decisions and find solutions. Why? To put it simply, you created time and space to think “outside the box.” In fact, you took control of the situation, by changing from within.

When we change on the inside, the world looks much different on the outside. How can we get proper direction? There are so many possible changes. In order for us to progress in life, we need reliable information. At this time, there is an over abundance of information, and experts can disagree.

Finding reliable answers does depend on information, but it requires some soul searching too. Do you feel in your heart that a decision is right? How will it affect your integrity? Will others benefit from your decision? Will someone be hurt by your decision?

Yoga teaches us to look at life’s situations objectively. In the end, you must make morally-just decisions that you can live with.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Many of us have heard a co-worker or friend say, “I would love to try a Yoga class, but I don’t have time for Yoga practice.” Here’s another good one: “I’m going to start eating better lunches, when I have time to pack one.”

The problem is a perceived lack of time, which has become an excuse for bad health habits. As most of us know, you cannot put a price tag on good health, but when your health is poor, you will pay anything for a day without pain or even less pain.

The worst part about a perceived lack of time is that the real issue is lack of control over our bad habits. This is one of many reasons for anxiety. To live a healthier lifestyle will establish control of our habits and reduce anxiety altogether.

Let’s look at some strategies for ridding or reducing anxiety in your life. Many people do not write a “to do list” at the beginning of a day. This entails having the discipline to plan our day. If you do this the night before, and pack a lunch, you will take back control of your day.

When you have a “to do list,” you will have extra time. This is because you spend less time wondering, “What should I do now?” Some of the most successful people on this planet have created a habit of time management, which has drastically lowered their anxiety levels.

When someone has extra time, the effects of a regular Yoga class, a walk, or a healthy lunch, will add up over time.

Yoga classes offer a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Sometimes Yoga students develop bonds outside the class because they are “like minded” people, with a pro-active view toward life. The people you socialize with each day will “make you or break you.”

When I grew up, parents would often mention how you should be careful about cultivating friendships with the “right kids.” As children, we would hear the saying, “guilty by association,” which meant, if our friends got into trouble, so would we, and there were always consequences.

Why is it that many adults forget this still applies to adult life? If anyone, of any age, exposes himself or herself to negative people, there will be consequences. Years of under achievement usually indicate that we have been in the wrong place or listened to the wrong information for far too long.

It is written in Proverbs 12:26: “The righteous should choose his friends carefully. For the way of the wicked leads them astray.” This should be hard wired into our memories, but we often forget.

Make sure that you consult with people you deeply trust and who have a track record of integrity. These are trusted friends and a priceless asset in your life.

If the people you associate with are negative thinkers, and cannot be trusted, you should make some major changes in life. This is hard talk, but you cannot rid yourself of anxiety, or improve your life, to its complete potential, in a negative environment. You can take control of your life by changing your environment.

On another note, laughing more often will reduce anxiety and drastically improve your health. The Dr. Kataria School of Laughter Yoga has received much exposure over the past few years because of the medicinal benefits of laughter. Laughing strengthens your immune system and reduces anxiety.

Dr. Madan Kataria is on to something, as laughter could be combined with Pranayama sessions for maximum benefits. In life, there is a shortage of laughing. Unfortunately, too many people take themselves too seriously.

If you feel foolish laughing for 20 minutes a day for good physical, emotional, and mental health, you may want to consider laughing alone, or joining a Laughter Yoga club. The benefits of laughing are too good to miss out on.

Yet, the average adult laughs less than 20 times per day. Children often laugh over 100 times in a day. No wonder so many adults and teens are so stressed out.

Laughter reduces stress, protects your heart, lowers blood pressure, and is a form of quick relaxation. You could watch comedies, or listen to comedy audio recordings on CD, while you are driving on your way to, or from, work.

If you want to avoid negative thoughts, you may want to reduce the time you spend watching the news or reading depressing stories in the newspapers. This does not mean you should avoid learning new things, but be selective about the type of information you read, watch, or listen to.

Good stories do appear on the news, but how many depressing stories will you have to mentally process before you find one. The old saying, “Bad news sells,” often applies. There are plenty of good magazines to read, radio stations to listen to, and television channels to watch, so be selective.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Let’s look into the minds of our Yoga students. What do they need most? What are the most valuable gifts we can leave behind for our Yoga students? Is it something expensive? Would they benefit most from an electronic gift?

Many people look at the word “gift” as a tangible present, but you can give Yoga students good memories and valuable lessons, which last a life time. Below are a few priceless gifts for Yoga students.

Instill enough positive energy within them to become their own best Yoga teacher. A Yoga student must learn to develop full awareness of his or her physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Never hold back any information, which will benefit a Yoga student’s health or success. Yoga teachers are a guide toward a healthy and successful life. Students must be encouraged to independently think for themselves.

Praise students, when it is earned. Whenever a student tries his or her best, you should acknowledge the effort with praise. When you praise, you instill self-worth in your Yoga students. Self-worth is a must, for any person to find a valuable purpose in life.

Take the time to observe everything possible and give an assist when needed. This does not only apply to physical assists in Asana practice. When you see a student who could use encouragement, make sure you are a motivator.

Create a haven within your Yoga classes. Students should expect an atmosphere without pretense, intolerance, or sarcasm, in your classes. It should be a pure joy to learn Yoga from you.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Do you feel that good things always happen to other people? If someone told you Yoga could change your life exponentially would you believe them? Positive change starts from within. Yoga will help you from the inside out, but you must believe you deserve better, envision it, take action, and never give up.

When I was growing up, some members of my family believed that good things only happen to other people. I was told, “Success does not happen to our kind of people.” Yet, some members of my family did not listen to this talk. My grandfather went into business for himself as a successful general contractor during the Depression.

The first book he gave me, as a child, was his copy of “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” by Dale Carnegie. I was a book worm, so I read it more than once. We did not have computers in those days, so I referred to it so many times, the binding cracked and the pages fell out.

My Uncle had read the same copy, so I cannot take all the credit for the wear. Here’s the interesting part: My Uncle went into business for himself and owned two successful shoe stores before he passed away. I left the corporate world and opened a wellness center, which trains Yoga teachers worldwide.

My Uncle and Grandfather never studied Hatha Yoga. Yet they both practiced Jnana Yoga without realizing it. So, what is Jnana Yoga? Jnana Yoga is a spiritual path of compassion, discipline, study, visualization, and meditation.

Jnana Yoga is one of the four primary forms of Yoga. Raja, Karma, and Bhakti Yoga are the other three primary forms of Yoga. When you consider the potential of Jnana Yoga applied to life, you will see that success is also a coordinated effort and a spiritual path of compassion, discipline, study, visualization, and meditation. Jnana Yoga is coordinated power.

Anyone can improve himself or herself with applied thought, action, and perseverance. Personal development requires desire, guidance, and a steady stream of motivation. For all of these ingredients to come together at the correct time, one must study under the guidance of a Guru, Swami, Yoga teacher, mentor, or coach.

At this time, and thanks to the Internet, children have access to information beyond our childhood dreams, but the amount of information is overwhelming for one person. In fact, you would need a team to work together, just to decipher facts from fiction, in order to acquire reliable information.

Being smart does not translate into being successful. You could memorize libraries of information, but if you do not apply any of it to real life, it is just trivia. Applied knowledge must be put into action for self empowerment to take place.

Therefore, reading scriptures and classics is a noble pursuit. You are practicing the foundation of Jnana Yoga, but you must visualize, meditate, and act ethically, for your Jnana Yoga practice to reach its maximum potential.

Some people may say it is wrong to have goals, to improve yourself, and to visualize a better life for your family. Yet, the world would be a much better place in the hands of empowered Jnana Yoga practitioners.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

With the exception of mantra or japa practice, most forms of Yoga meditation require a bit of silence. Silence is a “teacher,” which quiets the mind and helps us focus during meditation sessions.

Yet, how can you maintain control “in the heat of the moment?” The ancient samurai warriors, of Japan, practiced meditation before and after being “battle tested.” We do not have to test our meditation skills in this way, but many of us are tested every day by self-control.

Yoga teaches us control, moderation, and timing. There is a time to speak up and a time to be silent. If we are screaming our thoughts out at the top of our lungs, we have not given any consideration to control, moderation, and timing. Shouting may seem necessary, but it tends to escalate conflicts.

This does not mean that you should be silent at all times, or that you should become a door mat. Knowing when, and how to, express your viewpoint, is a vital part of life.

An example of this is when we speak from the ego to protect our own interests. Even when our tone is measured and moderate, self-centered talk does not resolve conflicts. If your objective is to win the argument and prove your point, you will never listen or be silent at the right time.

The ability to listen emphatically to an opposing opinion first, and understand the other side of the issue, does resolve potential arguments before they start. Diplomatic negotiations operate the same way. In fact, if you look at the world today, constructive peace talks make progress – albeit slowly.

In Yoga practice, you are taught to listen and observe. Within a Yoga class, self-observation is addressed frequently. Pranayama and meditation require that you first, listen to the world from within – then you can better understand the world outside your body. To observe the world, you must listen carefully.

When meeting others, one key to remember is that people love to talk about themselves. If you want to diffuse a situation, ask a person to explain his or her viewpoint, and just listen.

When you explain that you will listen, it is upon the condition that the other party does not shout. You will have “air time” to calmly express your views and you will “stick to the issues at hand.” For optimum success, old issues should be addressed at a separate time.

Differences can be peacefully resolved if we rationally discuss them by listening, focusing, negotiating, and by avoiding being side tracked by issues of the past. For all of this to happen, silence on your part, is required at the proper time.

Detachment to outcome is a principle of Yoga and is covered in many scriptures. An ego driven person cannot be silent. He or she must always win every debate, conversation, or argument. There is too much of the “in your face” mindset on public display.

Some politicians, and athletes, destroy their own careers – becoming known by their ego driven shouting matches. They make enemies of the press, the public, and their peers. Is this an example we want to give our children? We should resolve conflicts peacefully, as a shining example for our children’s sake.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

How come some Yogis seem so even tempered? How do Yoga practitioners manage to establish control over fits of anger? Will any Yoga technique help those who become physically violent? Let’s look at some Yogic methods to empower you to take control of your feelings and anger.

Yogic breathing techniques (Pranayama) are highly underrated by the public at large. Among the many powers of Pranayama is the ability to release anger and tension from within your body and mind. Yoga teachers guide their students in a number of Pranayama techniques.

Here is a sample of a Pranayama technique, which you can use for anger management. Inhale for four seconds, hold for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds. Do this four times, without making any noise, before you say a word.

You should learn to do this so quietly, a person standing next to you would not know. Eventually, you will be able to do this for a much longer time span, which is fine. The one to two ratio of inhale to exhale will expel your anger and rid your body of toxins.

This breathing pattern is sometimes called the “4-7-8 breath,” but it can also be modified for people who can not breathe as deep. For example: You can modify this Pranayama to – inhale for two seconds, hold for four seconds, and exhale for four seconds.

This breathing sequence is a “2-4-4 breath.” The one to two ratio of inhale to exhale has still been maintained, but the sequence has been modified for those who have a shallow breath. When possible, the breath can be lengthened as the lungs get used to harnessing the air flow.

Extended breath retention may have to be modified to meet your needs. In the case of dizziness, pregnancy, high blood pressure, and breathing disorders, you should consult with a physician before practicing breathing techniques.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

“Time flies, when your having fun,” but does aging sometimes make you feel sad or slightly depressed? Yoga classes have given students a new appreciation of life. The realization that the “clock is ticking;” appears to be a path of physical and mental limitations for some of us. As we age, will we be less mobile, less wise, or a bit slow on our feet.

Let’s discuss why; as you continue to practice Yoga, you will age gracefully and happily. How many times has your Yoga teacher told you to be present for practice or to “live in the moment?” Yoga teaches us to live right now as if it was our last day on earth.

Since we are living at the moment, we must give our lives purpose, meaning, and not be afraid to take a chance. Never look back with regret on the life, spouse, or job you could have had – if you only took a chance.

What is the worst that can happen? Nothing will be different than it was the day before. In the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson: “I hold it true, whate’er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most; ‘Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all.”

This brings to mind, wisdom, which comes with age. If we had only known what we know right now, things would be different. Well, there is no time like the present, so get all your knowledge together and take action this second.

Who cares how long you have been on this earth? There are no medals given for lack of action. Jesus once said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” The miracle at the pool of Bethesda required action.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

What is Santosha and how can it help your health? Santosha is a Yogic moral observance (Niyama). Santosha literally means contentment or happiness. Yet, this is much more than a “Don’t worry, be happy” guideline.

How often do people consider exercise, or diet, to be major factors, when they consider the state of their physical health? If you listen to any commercial on the radio or television, you will notice they address exercise and diet, almost exclusively. Physicians always mention exercise and diet as part of a preventative health program.

However, stress and happiness, are also major factors in good health. Too much stress can lower your resistance to allergies, pain, disease, and chronic illnesses. Stress, anxiety, and anger can shorten your life, just as well as a poor diet and lack of exercise.

A person with a negative frame of mind tends to eat poorly and usually does not bother to exercise. When we are in a “sad mental state,” acid levels in the body and blood can rise, which may cause joint pain and lower our energy levels. Between poor eating habits, and the rise of acid levels in the body, the body becomes a breeding ground for all sorts of potential medical problems.

In comparison, people who are content, eat healthier and have a higher resistance to disease, as a result. Happiness will help people recover from illnesses much quicker, because they are in a positive frame of mind. With that said, happy people will live longer, simply because they are content.

So, how can we “bottle” Santosha? Contentment seems to slip through our fingers, and we cannot hold onto it for long. Is there a formula for being happy?

One method is to wake up every day and give thanks for what you have. Everyone has something to be grateful for. You can focus on it first thing in the morning, and thank God for what you do have. You can also thank yourself for the accomplishments you have made.

Releasing anger works for many of my Yoga students, but you have to be careful how you do it. Obviously, “telling everyone off,” will reduce your number of friends, but anger is a natural emotion, even if it is not justified.

You could write everything down, which makes you angry. All of your bad feelings could go onto a piece of paper. Sleep on it, and after you have come to grips with it, you can burn it or shred it. Now, you can calmly and rationally deal with the issue or speak to the person, who has caused your rage.

Some people privately roll their car windows up and scream at the top of their lungs, on the way to work, or on the way home. A Yoga student and a friend of mine swore his blood pressure would drop, as a result of this method. Regardless, pent up hostility should be released safely, privately, and carefully. The car should never be used as a tool for road rage.

To forgive others will release a tremendous burden from you. Holding in anger is much like walking around, “with the weight of the world, on your shoulders.” You can forgive others for your own health, and you will find Santosha.

Once you have found Santosha, regular Yoga sessions will enable you hold onto it. The choice to be happy is yours to make.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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