Archive for October, 2007

By Ashok Malhotra

Yoga is a term that most of us in the modern world are familiar with. It is a general term used for a variety of exercises and procedures used for self-development or spiritual development. The precise meaning of the term is union. It is held in eastern philosophy that the individual consciousness, intelligence and soul has arisen from a unified Infinite Source (God) and continues to remain a part of it. We do not see this unity because of our own individual desires, ego and the exercise of our free will (along with the consequences it brings in the shape of retribution or karma).

However if we reduce the very things that cause us to perceive ourselves as separate we come closer to the universal spirit that pervades the universe and thus also become more evolved. In the ultimate state, which though rare yet feasible, an individual soul looses its identity and merges in the infinite. Yoga means this union and a yogic practice is one that brings one closer to this reunion of the finite consciousness with the infinite consciousness. Yoga may also be regarded as a practice that speeds up our evolution to superior states.

The various yoga practices as propagated in eastern philosophy are numerous. Some involve physical exercises. Many are connected with breathing methodologies (Pranayam). The more advanced are connected with thought control through concentration, chanting or prayer. Some forms of yoga are concerned with lifestyle disciplines. Presently we shall discuss a yoga that can be understood by engineers but it may be practiced by anyone. It has been termed entropy yoga here.

Thermodynamics is a fundamental science that engineers study. Classical thermodynamics deals with the laws of thermodynamics along with its implications and applications. Many modern machines such as the automobile and thermal plants are designed with the help of principles of thermodynamics. The second law of thermodynamics deals with the principle of entropy. According to this law every process that takes place in the universe serves to increase the entropy of the universe. In general when entropy increase is large, mechanical devices such as the automobile engine are less efficient as compared to the situation when entropy increase is small.

Every thing that has happened in the physical universe ever since it began has increased its entropy. Entropy is also a measure of disorder. Higher entropies imply a higher degree of disorder. One may ask what would happen to the universe if the entropy increases to beyond sustainable levels. It would lead to the destruction of the universe, as we know it.

Only a being that is beyond the laws of the physical universe can reverse this change. By definition God is one such being. The process of creating something out of nothing itself implies a process where entropy can be reduced. If all of us have a component of this Infinite power in ourselves then we too have the capacity to decrease the entropy of the universe. Any systematic habit or practice that we adopt to increase order and reduce disorder leads to a reduction of entropy and in that sense is a form of yoga. Let us call this entropy yoga.

If you go around arranging the things in your room in any orderly fashion then you will be practicing entropy yoga. If you do that all around your home than entropy reduces further and if it is done on a larger scale around the city or country then one becomes the agent of substantial change and possibly substantial spiritual evolution. From this point of view cities and countries that are more orderly are more spiritually evolved as compared to others that are disorderly.

Entropy yoga can be practiced with all our activities. If one walks on predefined paths and routes then one is practicing this yoga. If one wanders about wherever it pleases him or her then this yoga is not being practiced. In driving if one drives strictly in one’s lane keeping prescribed distances from the vehicle ahead one is practicing entropy yoga. In brief disciplined behavior that helps maintain order is entropy yoga whereas undisciplined behavior is not.

A person who carries out fundamental things like eating and sleeping according to pre decided time schedules is practicing entropy yoga as well. If you set aside scheduled weekly times to organize your personal belongings and other activities then a more powerful form of entropy yoga is being practiced where order is being affected in both space and time.

When we speak truthfully and thoughtfully we practice an advanced form of entropy yoga as connected to our speech because truthful and thoughtful speech is a high degree of order as compared to loose talk or lying. In every situation there can be a million lies but only one true statement.

Intelligent beings like humans can practice entropy yoga consciously whereas animals cannot. Entropy yoga leads to spiritual evolution and increases abilities to achieve goals. However, even though individuals can play their role in reducing entropy not all processes in the world are in their control. Overall the entropy of the universe is constantly increasing. There is only one other quantity that moves in a single direction like that and it is time. To carry out a process where entropy does not increase is to hold time still and to carry out another that slows down the increase of entropy is to reduce the flow of time for the individual who does it. Thus individuals who act in an orderly disciplined manner will achieve more than others who behave in a disorderly fashion even though they may spend a lot of time and energy in their endeavors. The practice of punctuality combines introducing order in time, space and thought. Individuals who are intentionally and habitually unpunctual in that sense practice the reverse of yoga or play the role of the devil in a manner of speaking.

The greatest amount of disorder that humans create is perhaps at the level of thought. They are generally turbulent. The more emotional we are the more disorderly the thoughts. Spiritualists have recommended stilling thoughts through constant repetition of a name. That is called Jap yoga or chanting. However if we focus on any activity that we are doing at any time with full concentration, preventing our thoughts from wandering we may achieve the same effect. A person who is well ordered and disciplined in his thoughts, actions and deeds and promotes order in the world and conserves his energies. When his motivations are simultaneously to evolve or achieve greater unity with the Infinite consciousness of the universe rather than personal gain then it can be a far more effective way of spiritual evolution than prayer or meditation at a few fixed times during the day. A person can feel the spiritual gain immediately by the feeling of joy and happiness that emerges from such near isentropic actions (where entropy does not increase) as compared to selfish or disorderly actions which produce tiredness, unhappiness or disgust and possibly even depression combined with sinking into lower levels of evolution.

Note: The concept of entropy yoga emerges as a result of discussions between the author and an engineering colleague – KHC Prabhu.

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When you look at the list of virtues that Yoga embraces – patience is one of many. Yet, the development of patience, through the practice of Yoga, could change the quality of your life right away. Traffic jams, delays, extra paperwork, and last-second changes, cause many of us to be irritable – but just how important are they?

Here is an example: You have an appointment with your doctor, but you are running a few minutes late. You fight through traffic, avoiding drivers and pedestrians, while breaking the speed limit. Then you run into office to sit in the “waiting room.” After 15 minutes of waiting, you are admitted to an exam room to wait for another 20 minutes.

The end result is that you put your life at risk to wait 35 minutes. If the doctor you went to visit was a surgeon, you might have waited hours – if he or she was called into the hospital for an emergency. So, you have accomplished nothing by raising your blood pressure, putting your life at risk, and driving to endanger others.

Yoga teaches us to enjoy the present moment – regardless of the situation. Plan and prepare for delays by starting earlier or by making good use of time you spend waiting.

An experienced Yoga practitioner would practice Pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques) or mentally perform mantra anywhere. These Yogic methods do not require you to carry anything with you.

Yet, you could also practice Jnana Yoga (Union though knowledge) by carrying audio books, a lap top computer, or a book. Any of these methods would make delays much more bearable, and you would learn to practice or cultivate patience, while you wait.

© 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
——————————————–
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

Yoga has many styles, but they all lead to a state of inner peace. All forms of Yoga are natural solutions for panic attacks, anxiety, and stress. Over thousands of years, Yoga has been formulated, so that anyone is now able to harness their fears from within. Does this mean that Yoga will make all of your fears go away?

The truth is Yoga can teach you to rid yourself of panic attacks, anxiety, and stress, from within your inner-being, but fear is a part of life. In fact, fear can save your life. Primal fears, such as fear of death, teach us to cross the street at the right time.

People create their own realities. Unstable emotional health, in the form of panic attacks, is very real to the person who has heart palpitations, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Yet, Yoga has many energy cultivation techniques, in the form of Pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques).

Even if you are skeptical about the concept of energy cultivation, western medicine, and modern science, have performed enough studies to prove Yogic breathing techniques (Pranayama) can lower stress and anxiety levels. In turn, panic attacks will be prevented just by practicing Pranayama.

It is only human to find something new to worry about, but Yoga can stop the manifestation of worry “in its tracks.” When we think, focus, and concentrate, on our problems, we are practicing the exact opposite of meditation. A Yoga teacher will instruct you in the proper steps of meditation, but you would never be taught to dwell on negative thoughts.

Yoga, and Yogic meditation, are fueled by positive energy, which creates positive thoughts. To focus daily, on negative thoughts, is a sad existence. This is much like creating your own form of “hell on earth.” This negative state of mind creates a prison, which seems very real to the pessimist. Worse yet, most people who create negative thoughts are not aware of why so many people avoid them.

If anyone is in the company of a powerful negative thinker for too long, he or she will start to experience nausea, headaches, anxiety, chest pains, and more. This person drags the cloud of doom into every room he or she enters.

To sympathize will a person who goes through life asking “Why me?” will only manifest more negative energy. Sorry to say, negative thinking can only be stopped by a reality check. A pessimist will not usually take action without a “wake up call.” You can give this person information, and he or she will inherently resist taking “life saving” action.

Therefore, how do you help yourself, or someone else, who has created their own negative reality? The first action to take is to write a list of everything, which you are grateful for. Our family, friends, co-workers, pets, health, intelligence, common sense, job, life skills, and accomplishments, are reasons to be grateful for the life that we have.

If a person cannot think of anything positive to write on the list, he or she should seek professional counseling immediately. This is not intended as an insult or to make a joke of the situation. Someone who is a deeply negative pessimist has lost touch with reality and is pushing nurturing relationships away.

Hence, unchecked negative thinking can cause relationships to end, friendships to dissolve, job loss, divorce, or suicide. You now realize, there are an unlimited number of potentially harmful situations, which can occur, when negative thought is allowed to run free.

Practicing Yoga, in the form of Pranayama, meditation, Asana (Yoga postures), and Mantra, allows us the time to find the source of panic attacks from within, while taking preventative action. This does not mean you should avoid visiting your family physician, or a professional counselor, when you need help.

Standard western medicine has many solid solutions for panic attacks, anxiety, and stress. Many physicians and counselors will gladly refer you to the nearest competent Yoga teacher. The reason for this is that Yoga works in harmony with medicine and psychotherapy. Many people, who do not practice Yoga, believe the misconception that Yoga practitioners must practice an “all natural” lifestyle.

All natural, to some people, indicates refusing prescription drugs. While prescription drugs have received much deserved “bad press” for negative side effects, the fact is – prescription drugs have saved, and continue to save, millions of lives. Yoga is an evolving science of life, which peacefully co-exists with other sciences and philosophies.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to daily stress, which occurs in everyday life. Stress and anxiety can be healthy at low or tolerable levels. Each of us is different, so one person’s “breaking point” will not be the same as someone else. This breaking point occurs when anxiety is out of control and turns into an irrational state of mind. When stress builds up to this point, we have some form of an anxiety disorder.

Panic attacks are classified as a form of anxiety disorder, under the listing “Panic Disorder.” There are many other forms of anxiety disorder, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, to name a few.

Panic attacks surface for no apparent reason and with no warning. They suddenly appear with hot flashes, chest pains, racing heart beat, shortness of breath, chills, and many more stress-related symptoms, which can commonly last five minutes to thirty minutes.

When you are experiencing a panic attack, Pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques), can give you instant relief. Proper Pranayama instruction should be sought from a competent Yoga teacher.

Meditation, Asana, and Mantra, should be practiced daily for prevention of panic attacks. This requires a person to take preventative action and to attend Yoga classes on a consistent basis.

Lastly, if you, or someone you know, have panic attacks, preventative action is the largest part of the solution. You should consult with your family physician, which will result in your road to recovery. Your family physician may have a list of preferred Yoga teachers in the area.

Ignoring panic attacks will not make the situation go away. If you decide to make prevention a lifestyle, regularly attending Yoga classes will be a cost-effective solution. Visit and talk with your local Yoga teacher and explain your needs.

© 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
——————————————–
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

Have you ever wondered how Yoga could contribute to world peace? How can Yoga meditation prevent anger? The keyword is, “prevent” because it is difficult to meditate when you have already become angry. Anger is as powerful as pain and can become an overriding thought. So, how can meditation stand up against the power of anger?

Over the centuries, many monks, priests, sages, gurus, and Yoga teachers, have taught their followers about the value of meditation for inner peace and logical thinking. Meditation starts with the practice of sitting quietly for a set amount of time.

Traditionally, we were taught to meditate for a minimum of 20 minutes – once or twice per day. At this point in time, the vast majority of people do not want to “unplug” themselves from electronic devices. The most common excuse for avoiding meditation is, “I don’t have the time.” Two more reasons for avoiding meditation are poor results and lack of stimulation.

Let’s go back to the drawing board of Yogic meditation. If you are a beginner – instead of 20 minutes, try, at least, three minutes of meditation, every day, for one month. This is a personal pledge of just three minutes per day. If you write it down, or make an appointment with yourself, your chances of success will be higher.

Therefore, what does a beginning Yogi or Yogini meditate about? Here is an easy concept: Just observe your breathing and follow your breath mentally. Do not try to control or judge your breathing, at all. You should continue to practice this for a few minutes per day over the course of a month.

After one month, you will make this simple form of “Yogic Breath Awareness Meditation” into a regular habit. Do you have to lengthen your meditation sessions after the first month has passed? Not unless you want to, but my guess is you will want to.

One benefit that is absolutely guaranteed: Regular Yogic meditation is preventative medicine for anger, stress, anxiety, and a multitude of emotional problems. It may not help you in the “heat of battle,” but it will prevent battles from taking place.

© 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
——————————————–
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 Jonathan Fitzgordon

Standing at the front of the mat in Tadasana, which translates from Sanskrit as mountain pose, is the foundation of the asana yoga practice. Tadasana is also called Samasthiti, which translates as equal standing. For me, all yoga poses are a reflection of and a search for tadasana and Samasthiti

What is equal standing? Standing correctly, which might be our most difficult physical act, balances all of the energetic forces of the body; front, back, side-to-side, and top and bottom. There is skeletal alignment and muscular alignment; disharmony in one creates disharmony in the other. Most people stand and move in a way that forces the muscles to do way to much work and the bones to be pulled out of alignment. Finding alignment helps us to find samashtiti in yoga and our lives.

Here is an easy example of what muscular and skeletal balance is in the body. Hold up your hand and take a side view of your palm. Let your hand go limp. You can see and feel the quality of both the muscles and the bones. Everything is relaxed and soft. Now open your hand as much as you can. Feel the difference. Here you are probably hyper-extending the bones of the fingers. Hyperextension, movement that goes beyond the normal healthy boundaries of the joint, is a classic misalignment of the knee that occurs in both standing and walking. The muscles of the hands are also probably imbalanced with the front of the palm and fingers working overtime. Now find the middle ground. Straighten your fingers evenly and feel what happens. There should be an even balance between the muscles of the front of the palm and fingers and the back of the palm and fingers. Looking sideways at the bones, everything should look stacked atop one another evenly. This is a microcosm of our body’s posture. We want to find this sense of equal standing everywhere we go.

Stand up and feel how your body aligns in space. Do you have to work to hold your self up? If your bones are aligned your muscles will have very little work to do. The bones should stack one on top of the other allowing energy and weight to transfer through them. Where are your thighs, under the pelvis or forward of it? How about the shins, do they create a right angle with the floor or do they seem opened to 100°? What about the head? Are all the bones below lined up to support the rather large and heavy head?

It can be helpful to feel what you do sometimes before you begin to fix things. Spend some time doing your asana practice and even check in with the body as you walk around. Start to try and feel your imbalances and patterns. Next month we will look at specific techniques for feeling and finding Samasthiti or equal standing.

Jonathan FitzGordon is the creator of the FitzGordon Method Core Walking Program. You can find more information at http://www.fitzgordonmethod.com or visit his blog at http://www.fitzgordonmethod.blogspot.com Jonathan has been practicing yoga since 1995 and has been teaching since 2000, having studied with some of the yoga community’s leading teachers. In addition he is a Level II Reiki (healing art) practitioner. The FitzGordon Method is uniquely influenced by the Universal Principles of Alignment as created by John Friend of Anusara Yoga. The program synthesizes years of inquiry and practice and was born out of FitzGordon’s personal and professional experience with changing neuromuscular patterning through self-awareness and repetition. The program’s philosophy rests on the rock solid belief in our ability to change and evolve as we age.

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There are many useful purposes for mantra and japa (the repetition of mantra). We often think of mantra as a way to shut out the constant noise of the world around us. It is true this method works effectively, and serves us as an aid for meditation. Mantra and japa will guide you toward the gateway to inner peace, but there are many more uses.

Mantra and japa can be practiced in silence any time you start to think negative thoughts. Mantra, japa, and prayer, are positive forms of communication. You cannot recite a round of japa in your mind and hold onto a negative thought at the same time. Negative thoughts disappear, when we practice japa.

Some people will tell you to express yourself loudly and vocally, when you are confronted by anything, which causes you to be irritable. They will advise instant retaliation to everything, otherwise you will appear weak. Retaliation always inflames arguments, makes enemies, and displays a lack of restraint – even if you perceive that you have “won an argument.”

Japa allows you to collect your thoughts without hostility. You might even ask someone to explain their point again, because you want to completely understand. As a result of your willingness to listen, the other person becomes less tense. You now have time to absorb the point of conflict and seek a mutual solution.

There is a saying, “Those who live by the sword die by the sword.” How many friends are attracted to a personality which advises instant retaliation? Not many, because this person has “burned a ring of fire” around him or herself.

Look at some of the most well-known dictators of the 20th century. The people in their entourages had no illusions of friendship, love, or compassion. Dictators rule by instilling fear into everyone around them. This is the most extreme example of relationships, based upon the fear of instant retaliation, but what does it have to do with mantra?

Every day we face situations, and we make choices, but basically we have a choice of conflict or peace. Do we love or do we hate? The choice comes from within. Practice mantra for the tranquility of your mind, and you can enable others to find bliss.

© 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
——————————————–
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

Pranayama is a Yogic method for harnessing or restraining energy through breathing. Many Yoga teachers explain the concept of Pranayama, in detail, to the public, because breathing is often taken for granted. To put it quite simply, most people do not breathe properly, but many of them claim to know how to breathe and they see Pranayama practice as a waste of time.

After all, everyone has been breathing throughout life, right? If a Yoga practitioner with decades of experience has to remind him or herself to control breath on a daily basis; how is the rest of humanity breathing?

Most people breathe in a short, choppy, and uncontrolled manner, without filling the lungs to capacity. This cycle repeats itself daily, which contributes to the development of many ailments, health conditions, diseases, and emotional problems.

In relation to anger management, a short, choppy, and uncontrolled breath will encourage temper tantrums. It will enhance an environment of irritability. This is like walking around with a loaded, “hair-trigger” revolver, without a safety mechanism, and expecting it not to go off some day.

In fact, improper breathing is a recipe for emotional disaster. Pranayama has many purposes. Pranayama is able to control anger and emotional turmoil. We instinctively take a deep breath or sigh during stressful times, but how often do we really listen to our instincts? If people listened to instinct and intuition more often, the lines at the doctor’s office would be shorter.

One way to test this is to practice Pranayama the next time you feel anger. Before you say a word to retaliate, practice Pranayama. Which method you choose depends upon how many people are around you.

If you are being “taken to task,” in a business meeting, you may want to practice a slow and deep breath, which does not indicate your level of stress. One example of a slow and deep breath is Dhirga Pranayama (three part breath).

If you are alone Brahmari, Udgeeth, Ujjayi, Kapalabhati, Bastrika, or Sitali Pranayama are options, which make a bit more noise, but each has its place, when considering a method for mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Each of us is emotionally different, but one or two of the above mentioned Pranayama techniques will relieve anger, frustration, and irritability.

The best choice can be determined by practicing Pranayama on a daily basis and finding out, which method is the most effective for you. So, why do people spend millions of dollars on prescriptions to make them feel less angry? Air is free, and when anything is free, people see it as worth nothing.

What a shame, because common sense, intelligence, love and friendship are free too. These are priceless treasures and so is air. Without air, the earth as we know it would not exist.

© 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
——————————————–
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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