Archive for July, 2008

Written By Sean M. Anderson

Yoga has been in existence for thousands of years. That is longer than any other form of exercise in use today. It is also safe to say that the medical field has improved since then. Yoga has consistently been helping people overcome and deal with many types of illnesses as well as psychological issues. Although, the practice of Yoga cannot be said to “Heal” people of their afflictions, there are millions who would disagree. Like people who have had terminal illnesses go into remission, diabetics going “off the needle”, and many other near miraculous admissions from people who claim that they started feeling and getting better after they began practicing Yoga. The same goes for those who have tried every aerobics class they could find and all of those “number one on the best seller list,” diets and never succeeded in attaining their fitness and weight loss goals. Until, they started Yoga. Diligently practicing Yoga, pranayama (breathing), and meditation.

Medical science has known for many years that there is a definite connection between body and mind. We know that stress can manifest itself into physical symptoms such as, migraine headaches, ulcers, acid reflux, high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. These are just a few of the many physical ailments stress causes. So, it’s safe to say that if our minds can cause ailments it can also heal these and many other ailments. There is scientific evidence showing that meditation alone can affect the immune system and strengthen it to fight infection, as well as lessen the immune system to treat autoimmune disorders, such as skin disorders and HIV/AIDS. People who suffer from depression get sick more often than those with a positive happier outlook on life. Doctors have been prescribing relaxation techniques for years to help patients cope with stress related ailments, even in the case of muscle soreness and fatigue. I believe this is the reason why Yoga is so effective in the treatment of stress related illness and depression. The word Yoga means “Unite”, to bring together body and mind.

As mentioned previously, Yoga has helped many people achieve their fitness goals weather it be fat loss, building lean tissue or muscle mass, and used as a way to improve overall wellness. Yoga actually balances the body and it’s many systems and functions like the, circulatory, skeletal, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, and all other systems and functions of the human body. Yoga normalizes your body by getting it to perform all of its duties the way they were meant to be performed. Due to toxins in our environment, the air we breathe, the foods we eat, and even the things we do to ourselves like smoking, drinking, poor diet, and even modern physical exercise. All of these toxins need a place to go. The body does not recognize most of these chemicals so they get pushed aside and begin to build up. Lactic acid from weight training collects in the muscle tissue and never gets expelled. That creates soar, stiff, muscles, also causes fatigue, dulls cognitive abilities, and makes concentrating difficult.

Through the practice of Yoga the body bends, twists, stretches, and hold positions (asana). By having your body perform in this way it causes the organs to move and rub against each other and releases the toxins and dead blood that get stuck in between them. This gives us the opportunity to expel these toxins from our bodies and start enjoying the rewards of Yoga having a healthy clean body. At first Yoga will feel similar to other training routines you’ve tried. But stick with it and in a couple weeks your body will adjust to the routines, your body begins to expel the toxins on a regular basis making you feel years younger. You will be able to move like you did decades before. We all at one time or another get to a point where dropping something like a pencil becomes an “Oh, no” situation where you then have to bend over to pick it up. You think to yourself “My knees, back, legs are going to hurt”, and you even feel that your breathing is interrupted. Then we justify these physical feelings by saying to ourselves “I’m getting old.” Well, that is just not true. What is true is that like most people we ride our bodies hard and over the years those toxins discussed earlier start to get to the point where they are affecting you physically and mentally. Look at kids, they are like rubber bands and move in ways we barely remember. Yes, partly because they are young, but mostly because they do not have the amount of toxin buildup that we, as adults have. For example when a child breathes you can see their stomachs expand, like they should. Due to social pressures like needing to be thin we hold our bellies in and shallow breathe; stress also causes us to shallow breath. This shallow breathing means we are only using the top half of our lungs, if we’re lucky.

Of all things our bodies need oxygen is the only thing we constantly need. We could probably go a few minutes with practice without it, but not for long. When we take in air we oxygenate the blood. This blood can then go to the brain and muscle tissue and our body’s organs. This oxygen can heal damaged tissue therefore, we recover from injury faster, it also boosts our immune system so we can fight off infection and recover from illnesses quicker. When we shallow breath we deny oxygen to our blood. This increases the ph, making our blood more alkaline. When this happens our red blood cells hold onto the oxygen even tighter. Then we starve our bodies of oxygen. It at this point that toxins build up and bone, muscle, organs, and tissues, even our brain matter begins to age faster than it should and over time it breaks down, decays causing illness, fatigue, and makes us prone to injury. We also lose the elasticity in the muscles, ligaments, even our skin, creating wrinkles. The bones lose flexibility and are more likely to suffer breaks instead of just bruising from a fall. This is why Yogins practice Pranayama, (proper breathing) it is not just a physical fitness routine. Practicing Yoga requires you to learn how to breathe properly. Breathing eliminates toxins from our bodies at an amazing 70% ratio. We also eliminate toxins by urinating and bowel movements, but at only a surprising 30%.

Yoga has also been scientifically to aid in the recovery of diabetes, heart trouble, asthma, pain, PMS, menopausal disorders, obesity, cancer, drug and alcohol addictions, back problems. Yoga also can help, with digestive disorders, lowers the need for medications, fosters healing relationships, is great for alleviating anger and emotional problems, and many more, too many to be listed here. Yoga is more than just another exercise, although it has also been proven to reduce body fat and fat-folds under the arms and on the backs of the arms as well. Through the practice of Yoga the hormone Cortisol is reduced. Cortisol is a stress-hormone that promotes the increase of belly fat. Numerous studies have shown that Yoga’s ability to lower the levels of blood fats and LDL, the bad cholesterol and triglycerides which are shown to cause heart attacks and pancreatitis. It can also increase the good cholesterol, HDL. The weight loss and conditioning of regular Yoga practice tends to drop triglyceride levels and boost the HDL, at high levels this can protect against heart attack acting as a fat scavenger in the blood stream.

As said earlier Yoga helps foster healing relationships. Just like your relationship with your doctor, a good relationship with your Yoga instructor can be a strong therapeutic benefit. Yoga teachers, some times and at the student’s request and permission will often have to physically adjust a student’s posture, or asana. So that they can gain the most benefit from it. Doctors call this “ The laying on of hands” which with today’s technology and “Magic Pill” craze has been replaced by “ The laying on of drugs”. This is a quote from Timothy McCall M.D. He is totally correct you cannot watch 10 minutes of T.V. without seeing a few advertisements for a drug that is supposed to help an ailment or affliction that we all just “dealt with” years ago. I personally tend to stay away from drugs that claim to help with one issue but could possibly cause a multitude of other horrible side-effects, including death. Yoga is truly an all-natural way to live and by doing so you will not only improve physically but mentally.

Yoga benefits our nervous system through toning and fine-tuning it so that it can effectively deal with the stresses of everyday living. With a fine tuned nervous system you will be able to see a stressful event before it comes to fruition and you end up suffering the ill effects. Having this foresight makes it possible for us to make better decisions in how we live and avoid the situations that bring us unhealthy stress. Some stress is healthy and very important. It is important in that it keeps us on our toes, keeps us sharp so that we can get things done and perform our duties at work and in our personal lives in a timely manner. Yoga has also been shown to improve brain function by building new brain synapses. Which at one time doctors thought we could not. Which led to the saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” By practicing the simultaneous actions of Yoga such as asana, pranayama, and mantras. When we learn something new especially in Yoga where you are learning new information with physical movements your brain starts increasing neuroplasticity by creating new connections between neurons, building new synapses.

Using a functional MRI, doctors can scan the brain. Through this type of scan doctors have found that the left prefrontal cortex shows heightened activity in people who meditate. This finding correlates with people who have greater levels of happiness, better immune function, and a more positive outlook on life. It also shows that people who meditate have less anger and has been used to treat people who at one time could not control their tempers or manage their anger. Another studied showed that practicing Yoga lessened depression. This study was conducted over a 3-month and a 6-month period. When compared to a group who were given anti depressant medication it showed that both groups increased their serotonin levels almost identically. Proving that the mind can truly heal emotional disorders without drugs.

In conclusion, it is clear to see that the connection between mind and body is not an idea or theory but a solid fact and that the practice of Yoga cultivates this connection. Allowing people to overcome most if not all diseases and illnesses of both the body and mind. Also. Creating a happier more positive life for its students. It is said we only use 10% of our brains capacity. Which makes you wonder what can we do if we put our mind’s to it? The possibilities could be endless with that kind of mental power. There are things we can do that we cannot even imagine. Hopefully, as we evolve we will truly learn what is important in life, how to treat others and ourselves. We as a race will be able to unlock the hidden potential of our minds and not need medication. We at that point will be able to think ourselves healthy. Or think a broken bone to heal. Who knows? The possibilities are endless.

Namaste

Sean M. Anderson is a “soon to be Yoga teacher” from North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Much attention should be paid to spinal alignment, at the beginning, and during, your meditation sessions. In some Yoga classes, you may be instructed to sit in Padmasana (lotus posture). As you will learn, this is not entirely correct for every student, but the reasons for choosing Padmasana are logical.

With the legs crossed, they serve as a strong base, which keep the spine straight, so that energy will flow throughout the body; especially up and down the spine. Yet, this posture is not good for everyone because of the stress put on the knees. In some cases, forcing students to sit in the lotus posture will stress the ligaments within the knee joint.

In the case of knees that do not conform to lotus posture, half lotus (Ardha Padmasana) is often chosen as a secondary posture. Sukasana (easy posture) is also a stable choice for meditation. Modifications can be made by placing blankets under the knees or sitting on the blanket.

When I first began to meditate, we learned to sit in Vajrasana (thunderbolt posture), which is also called, “Seiza” (kneeling posture), in many Japanese and Okinawan martial arts schools. The kneeling posture also keeps the spine very straight, and this posture can be modified by sitting on a bolster or a rolled blanket, which runs between the legs and under the pelvis.

There is also another common modification – by placing a blanket or pillows between the calves and leg biceps. Again, the purpose is to take stress off the knees, which makes it easier for a practitioner to sit in meditation a bit longer.

As you can see, there are many choices, but the primary objective is to sit with the spine in a straight position. Some people choose to sit on a “Zafu,” which is a round cushion. Traditionally, a Zafu was black, about 14 inches in diameter, and 8 inches thick. These days, you can find them in a multitude of colors and ergonomic designs.

This leads into the idea of meditation props. There are a variety of meditation chairs, pillows, benches, cushions, and Salubrion Seats to choose from. In fact, you don’t have to sit at all. Some people practice meditation from a standing position, and there is also the option to do a walking meditation.

At all times, the spine is held straight. When you think about all of the above-mentioned options for meditation, choose a posture, which you can hold without discomfort. If you want to stay with your meditation practice, comfort is part of the equation. People who feel they must suffer through a posture will not continue to expand their meditation practice.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Is there a need for certification and standardization of Yoga teachers? How can you make the nine main Indian forms of Yoga, and their sub-styles, conform to a measured standard? Who should control and regulate Yoga?

Certifications, and attempts to standardize Yoga, are in their infancy. Yoga has existed quite well without bureaucracy for thousands of years. Certification is a new concept, but has gradually grown as classes became more public.

Instead of teaching small groups in a basement, Yoga teachers have seen their class sizes expand into large public areas. With this newfound popularity came a twist. The board of directors, and the owners of large public areas, often request certification as proof of proficiency; and sometimes, they require instructors to be insured.

This is understandable because the owners or managers of a building do not want to incur legal damages for negligence. To deflect the wrath of liability lawsuits, certification has sprung up in every art, trade, and industry.

If you were about to hire a landscaper, you would likely feel relieved to see the words: “Certified, Licensed, Bonded, Insured, and Experienced,” on his or her marketing materials. Most people will not hire local teens to cut their lawns in fear of a potential lawsuit.

With that said, you can see the need for certification in a society with no shortage of personal injury lawsuits. For Yoga teachers, this is especially difficult to comprehend because many of them are “natural born givers.” Yet, it also leads into the need for general standards, which are naturally resisted.

In classes where physical movement, breathing, and posture, is part of the curriculum, the Yoga instructor should have good working knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, preparation of postures, and contraindications.

Therefore, Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and their sub-styles, should have a strong anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology component embedded within the structure of their Yoga teacher training programs. There should also be guidelines for working with students, who have pre-existing injuries.

For example: Should you take new students who are late for class? Do you know their health profile? What if the student is pregnant, has high blood pressure, or is recovering from a motorcycle accident? Sorry to say, Yoga teachers would be wise to lock the doors on students who are late.

Who would the legal system “point its finger” at, if a student is injured because he or she skipped the warm-up? These issues should be brought up during the Yoga certification process.

Who should control and regulate Yoga? There is no single body or organization, which can control all of the diversified styles within Yoga. Self-regulation has been the answer for thousands of years and will continue to be the answer into the future.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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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

In Yoga, we often hear about self-realization, but what is it? To arrive at a state of self-realization is an awakening of the true self. This requires one to objectively look inside oneself, regardless of what we see, and without judgment. This is a uniquely different form of awareness from any other.

The study of Yoga requires a student to see, hear, feel, practice, and reflect on each lesson. Yoga lessons are best learned, by using all of your senses, and letting your heart guide your practice. The development of self-realization is much similar because one or two senses will only expose the essence of the true self.

For example: You read a great self-help book or watch a motivational speaker, but unless you practice what you learn, the principles alone will be of little benefit. The same could be said for reading the five Yamas (restraints).

If you read about Satya (truth and honesty), it sounds like a wonderful concept, but to make it part of your daily life is much more rewarding. In some cases, being honest in your words, deeds, and thoughts can be very difficult, even for a day.

Therefore, reflection and practice are just as important to the process of self-realization as the senses you use to learn more about Yoga and life. This is the hardest concept for a new Yoga student to grasp because it requires patience.

It is often at the beginning of the horizon, to being completely present in his or her practice, which a new student gives up. If the truth is exposed, the most common reason for abandoning practice is: “It was too much work.”

So, what are the benefits of self-realization? Complete acceptance of oneself, as is, and without a need to pretend otherwise. Once you have awakened self-realization, you will do your best to follow the Yamas and Niyamas. You will also realize the true value of your Yoga practice and your heart will open to share what you learn.

At this point, it should be noted that not everyone will want your help. With self-awareness, you should also have an intuitive skill set. Continue to listen to your intuition and the body language of others. Some people are quite content, making themselves and others around them, miserable.

Do your best to show them patience, compassion, and humility, but do not allow yourself to be abused by them, if possible. Self-realization should also give you the strength to realize “knowing is enough,” but that is not an invitation to allow others to abuse your rights. Your kindness should not be mistaken for weakness.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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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

Not so long ago, Yoga teachers, in the West, taught small groups of dedicated students in basements, garages, lofts, backyards, barns, or any other place that was convenient. As seasons changed, the location of the Yoga class would have to change too.

For example: If you live in a northern climate, practicing Yoga in a barn might not be suitable as winter approaches. The same would be true if you live in an area where temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, during the summer months. Students, who can accept extreme temperatures and inconveniences, are the exception, but not the rule.

As Yoga classes grew in the West, classes moved into Yoga studios, large ashrams, fitness centers, spas, and large public areas. Suddenly, Yoga became something that teachers could devote their whole day to. As a result, some part-time Yoga teachers became full-time teachers.

It was not uncommon to see Yoga teachers gathering in local book stores, libraries, and ashrams. The reason for these daytime gatherings was networking, mentoring, learning, and sharing information. Along came the Internet, with instant access to resources for teachers, such as videos, forums, Blogs, and podcasts.

Suddenly, there was a need for business consulting, Yoga coaches, and online mentors of teachers. Where would a Yoga instructor start to search for a trainer of teachers? The place he or she graduated from might be a logical choice, if that trainer would share business and marketing knowledge.

If that option was not open, there were still a number of alternatives available, but let’s leap frog into the present. If you are looking for a Yoga teacher consultant or coach, you may want to make certain you are getting reliable knowledge. Consider the following criteria before hiring a consultant or coach that specializes in working with Yoga teachers.

Is the coach in question a Yoga teacher?

The person you hire may be a great consultant for local restaurants, but Yoga students are not exactly the same as a restaurant owner’s customers. Dedicated students are not motivated by the same methods as customers.

Has the coach in question ever owned a successful Yoga studio or ashram?

If he or she previously owned a large and successful chain of gas stations, would that information be relevant? Almost every adult has purchased gasoline, at least once, because he/she had to – unless they lived right next to their place of employment, didn’t transport their children, have their food and clothing delivered, or own a $100,000 electric car. On the other hand, some studies indicate the majority of American adults never participated in one Yoga class.

If you live in Colorado or California, you may find it hard to believe, but a large percentage of American adults are still sitting on the couch. How do you get them off the couch and make them realize the rewards of good health? In truth, it is a lot easier to sell them discount gasoline; especially right now.

Does the coach in question have any experience with teaching Yoga or running a studio in a tough economy?

Economic trends tend to change. Lately, it seems as if we see economic changes every 10 -15 years. If your coach has been successfully teaching Yoga since the early 90’s, you are getting reliable information.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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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

Each of us will approach this issue differently. For some of us, the particular place where we mediate daily is very important. Some people decorate the place where they meditate to resemble a special place, a holy place, or a retreat.

If you choose to create a meditation space, it must be free from clutter. The reason being, clutter can stir up negative feelings, which disrupt your daily sessions. An open space, that is free of clutter, works best for most of us.

Some meditation practitioners take special care to practice in areas that are free from telephones and communication devices. To continue with this point, many of us need to unplug ourselves from technology. Unless you are on call 24 hours a day, you should leave communication devices aside during your practice.

If you practice a form of walking meditation, the idea of creating a special place for meditation, may seem to be a waste of time. In fact, meditation can be practiced at any time, in any place, but the meditative experience itself will vary with your practice and surroundings.

Motivation is a life-changing force. When a practitioner realizes the benefits of meditation, and becomes motivated enough to create a sacred space for it, chances are that he or she will continue to practice for years to come.

One advantage to making a place for your meditation practice is when circumstances change. Sometimes, our sleep patterns change or the weather becomes rough. At that point, it is nice to sit in a quiet place and meditate in a special place.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
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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

There are many methods that help your body unwind before a meditation session. A bath, shower, massage, and asana practice have one thing in common – the muscles relax as a result. When your muscles are relaxed, it is much easier to meditate.

In a typical Hatha Yoga class, it is common to practice meditation at the end of class. Some teachers choose to guide students through a meditation, at the beginning, and at the end of class. In Kundalini classes, students perform flowing movements, between asanas, but do not usually hold a static posture.

Regardless of the method practiced, students who practice meditation with their muscles relaxed, notice a marked difference in their meditation sessions. Tense muscles create a tense mind, which makes the meditative experience difficult at best.

The sensations of sight, smell, and sound also play a role in your meditation practice. Each of us is different, so what works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, respond to your senses naturally, without worry or conflict.

Sight: Should Your Eyes be Closed or Open?

Some people have no problem with meditating and keeping their eyes open. We call this technique “steady gaze” meditation in English, but it is also called Tratak, Trataka, or Drishti. Regardless of the term used, or the style of Yoga you practice, the gaze is soft, but focused on a particular point.

Steady gaze meditation is said to improve vision, and it definitely is rewarding for its ability to focus the mind. It seems that someone, who can successfully practice steady gaze meditation, will not encounter difficulties with any other methods. Teachers resist labeling techniques, but steady gaze meditation is an advanced meditation technique.

Smell: Candles and Incense

Some meditation practitioners use candles or incense during their practice, while others completely dislike the sensation. If you use scents, they should be light and should not cause a distraction. Just like any other sensation, smells can be overwhelming.

If a group is using candles for a steady gaze meditation, it would be advisable to use unscented candles. It is guaranteed that, at least, one class member will be sensitive to the odor of scented candles.

Sound: Music and Guided Meditation CDs

For some people, everything must be quiet. They demand complete silence. They unplug the phone, put their pets away, and practice meditation in complete silence. There is nothing wrong with this, but the world is full of sound.

Traffic, crickets, birds, children, or family members waking up, are not the end of the world. Music and guided meditation CDs, played lightly, tend to melt into the background and drown distracting sounds at the same time.

However, each of us is different; you may want to experiment to know if CDs work for you or against you. There is no right or wrong, but being frustrated over the sounds of life is an internal conflict, which can lead to higher levels of stress, illness, or worse.

Part of the reason for a meditation practice is to develop states of tranquility and inner peace. The last thing you want to do is turn meditation into an internal conflict – or a conflict with anything.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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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

The average guideline, for a Yoga meditation session, is 20 minutes for a minimum practice. Many advanced practitioners have longer sessions because meditation has become a rewarding experience.

If you have set aside the time, the amount of time practicing is not as important as the quality of the experience. For example: If you manage to focus your mind and reach a state of awareness, the amount of time it takes is irrelevant.

Twenty minutes of fidgeting and self-judgment is a waste of meditation time, but it is a lesson in patience and developing inner calm. This experience will frustrate you and serve as an obstacle to your meditation practice, but the deeper reward is to learn from past mistakes. In some cases, you would be better off to try 5 to 10 minute sessions, just to make a habit of training your mind toward tranquility.

Sessions that bring about states of relaxation will eventually develop into a deeper meditation experience. This also brings attention to the frame of mind you have before meditating: Approach each session without judgment. Approaching each session, without self-criticism, sets the foundation of your practice.

This also explains why some people cannot meditate without the guidance of a teacher. We often talk about “mind chatter,” but it is usually random and unorganized thought. In the case of constant self-criticism, this is also a form of negative mind chatter, which serves to work against us.

Everyone has negative thoughts, but most of them are fear based and are not rooted in reality. We all have the potential to purge negative thoughts from our minds, if we choose to do so. This is why Yoga meditation is so valuable – you have the ability to change everything around you by cultivating positive thought.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
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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

Although the general public might see many different styles of Yoga, in a variety of locations, Yoga is often categorized as a form of physical fitness. Some might go a bit further by classifying Yoga as a form of wellness or a mind and body exercise.

If you speak to the average participant, most of them would consider the chance of injury, during Yoga class, unthinkable. They have heard of injuries in high-impact classes, but Yoga falls into the low-impact category. Yoga is considered so gentle, that most participants strongly believe it cannot cause harm.

Consider this: Compare one hour of step aerobics to Yoga and your body notices striking differences. At the end of both classes, you feel great, but that is where the similarity ends. There is much creative movement in a step aerobics class, but the feet and legs take a repetitive pounding.

After a typical step aerobics class, your knees, ankles, and toes feel the repetitive impact from the floor. This can result in knee inflammation, stress fractures, shin splints, metatarsalgia (toe joint inflammation), plantar fasciitis (an inflammation of the plantar fascia), sesmoiditis (inflammation of the two small bones below the first metatarsal – ball of the foot), bunions, or hammertoes.

However, none of the movements in a step aerobics class challenge the participant’s range of motion in the same way Hatha Yoga does. When you add movement or speed, to the equation, everything changes. When performing Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) or Vinyasa, Power, Ashtanga, and Flow sequences, there is much room for caution.

The following precautions are for teachers to implement for the safety of all students who participate in any form of Yoga with movement. Warm-ups should be practiced before the flowing sequences.

The older your students are, the longer a warm-up session should be. In general, students who are under 30 years of age should warm up from 10 to 15 minutes, regardless of their supposed expertise. Therefore, add some time when teaching students over 30 years of age.

When performing a flowing sequence, have your students perform the first round slowly. Make sure you observe all of your students carefully – even the students who gravitate toward the corners or the back of the room. Observing your students, at all times, in your class, is specifically for your students’ safety.

Your performance is for demonstration purposes only. When teaching Yoga classes, your responsibility is primarily geared toward student safety, and your personal practice is irrelevant.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
Yoga Instructor Training
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos.
Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
——————————————–
On-Site Training: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.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

Yoga is said to cure almost every ailment known to humankind, but how do we define anger? Some of us feel anger the minute we wake up, while others never seem to let anything bother them. Anger is hard to place on the emotional spectrum, as it arises from a combination of thoughts, emotions, feelings, and circumstances.

Anger can cause wars, holocausts, and crimes of passion. Left unchecked, fits of anger can cause families to break up, job loss, and criminal prosecution. Anger is a volatile emotion that leaves destruction in its wake. So, how could Yoga reduce anger levels?

Yoga practice works on the prevention of negative conditions, when dealing with ailments. Yoga therapy can be practiced, even when a person is afflicted by an ailment. However, it is nearly impossible to practice Yoga and have a temper tantrum at the same time.

This opens the door for Yoga therapy as a method for anger management. Yoga sessions can be structured around techniques that calm the mind. This may also require a private session, instead of the typical Hatha Yoga class in a group setting. The purpose is to create a habit of practicing Yoga at any time of day.

Application of Yogic techniques to daily life does not require a mat. You can mentally practice mantra, prayer, japa, or a positive affirmation without bothering anyone. You can practice sitting up straight or walking in your best alignment. You can also practice Yogic breathing (Pranayama), to calm your mind, at any time, without drawing attention to yourself.

Granted, many people lead busy lives, but there are “windows of time,” where most of us daydream or default toward negative thoughts. The above-mentioned techniques allow our practice to transcend the Yoga mat, and we have not yet discussed meditation.

Once a student has mastered how to meditate, the mind can be trained toward mindfulness, patience, kindness, forgiveness, and tolerance. When you make these qualities become a daily part of your life, you cannot hold onto anger. It is difficult to focus on negative and positive thoughts at the same time.

Therefore, use meditation to cultivate positive energy and positive thoughts. This steers the entire mindset toward happiness and away from anger. Meditation also opens the path toward self-realization. A person who has developed this level of awareness can spot the warning signs of potential anger.

For example: When one feels the need to judge, becomes critical, or feels frustration toward anything, this is “fertile ground” for anger to thrive in. By training the mind with positive thoughts, good posture, calm breathing, and all that Yoga has to offer, the “homework” is done. The end result of a trained mind, thinking in a positive direction, will be happiness and success.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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