Archive for January, 2009

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Q: I am a registered nurse (RN), who has practiced Yoga for over ten years. Will I be able to put any letters after my name upon completion of Level 1 Yoga Therapy; and at what point will I be able to use those letters?

A: After graduating from Level 1, you could call yourself a Level 1 Yoga Therapist with 250 hours of training. At this time, this is a completely new program. The Introduction to Yoga Therapy course was just released in October 2008.

The first Level 1 certification courses were released on January 30, 2009. There will be two more levels, leading to letters after your name. Eventually a Level 3 graduate will have a total of 500 hours of study and be able to use specific letters.

Q: 500 hours! How do you plan to expand this course?

A: The 100-hour Introduction to Yoga Therapy course is for continuing education credits and a certificate, which indicates 100 hours of study.

The 150-hour Level 1 Yoga Therapy course is for a Level 1 Yoga Therapist Diploma, which will indicate 250 hours of study. The 250 hours is the total of your study hours in Introduction to Yoga Therapy and Level 1 Yoga Therapy.

I will be developing a 150-hour Level 2 Yoga Therapy course in 2010. That course is on the “drawing board” at this moment, which would total 400 hours of study.

Beyond that, we have many requests to develop 3 diploma levels, within the Yoga Therapist field. When that happens (in 2011), we will eventually have a Yoga Therapist credential, which requires a total of 500 hours of study.

Q: Will I be able to join the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) group and call myself a Yoga therapist – with Level 1 training?

A: I encourage you to join IAYT. They are very informative and a great resource for Yoga education. In fact, you could join right now, based upon your medical credentials. Again, you could call yourself a Certified Level 1 Yoga Therapist with 250 hours of training.

Q: Do I have to take both levels to be certified as an Aura Certified Level 1 Yoga Therapist?

A: Yes, each level is designed to build on the next, and the Introduction to Yoga Therapy course is a pre-requisite to Level 1.

Another pre-requisite is that you send us a fax, or scanned copy, of your current credentials before undertaking the Introduction to Yoga Therapy course. Please feel free to add reference letters from your Yoga teachers.

Q: Is there any feedback on completed assignments or is it just “read and test?”

A: There is feedback on every assignment, and the practical exam videos hold a lot of weight in our marking system.

(c) Copyright 2009 – 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

What is an inverted posture, or an inversion, in a Hatha Yoga class? Technically, any posture (asana), in which the head is below the heart, is an inversion. Whether you stand on your head, bend forward, or bend back, if the head is below the heart, you are performing an inversion.

This also means that Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and Fish (Matsyasana) are also inversions – although both postures are mild in comparison to Head Stand (Sirsasana). If you bend back far enough in Camel (Ustrasana) -that is also an inversion.

This is not meant to beat a dead horse, but inversions are not for everyone. When you perform any Yoga technique, there should be a clear intention. If the risks outweigh the benefits, there is no logical reason why a teacher or student should practice a technique. The following contraindications are specifically related to inversions.

General Guidelines for all Inverted Postures

If you have any of the following conditions, please omit inversions or work with a competent teacher who will modify your practice. To identify a competent Yoga teacher is not difficult. Is the teacher really interested in his or her students? Is your safety a primary guideline in class? If not, please seek the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher, who cares for his or her students.

If you are a teacher, you should make it a point to know about the physical condition of each student. This means that new students, who show up late, disrupt your classes, take risks if they have any medical conditions, and will hold you liable if anything goes wrong.

The solution: Do not teach students who you have not talked to before class. A student’s medical condition is information that you must know in order to teach Yoga safely. In the following cases, inversions should be omitted, adjusted, or modified, depending on the health condition of a student.

In the case of neck problems, eye problems, a previous stroke, high blood pressure, heart problems, sinus problems, and epilepsy, inverted asanas should be omitted, adjusted, or modified. If a student is pregnant, she should be practicing with a prenatal Yoga specialist.

In the case of menstruation, there is much controversy. About a contraindication for menstruation: At this point, there is no hard data or research that would warrant an official warning.

Therefore, it might be wise to let students know about the controversy. Students should be made aware and make a decision based upon their own thoughts and research. You could easily design an informative handout for students and encourage them to research all of these contraindications.

Lastly, never put a student at risk. If you have serious doubts about a student’s ability to safely perform an inverted asana, because of a health issue, you should omit it or insist on a doctor’s note.

© Copyright 2009 – 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

What is advanced Yoga? Is becoming a contortionist the primary objective of Yoga? Is advanced Yoga performing nearly impossible poses for the applause of crowds? Is an expert Yoga practitioner an example of good health or just another “health nut?”

There seems to be some conflicting ideas about what a beginner, or an advanced Yoga practitioner, are. In all forms of Yoga, energy within the body is channeled for maximum potential. Many types of Yoga focus on mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. The physical styles of Yoga strive to harness nervous energy through self-mastery.

When advanced teachers work with beginners, or new Yoga teachers, it is easy to spot nervous energy. Their minds are still disconnected from their bodies. They need to purge the body of excess nervous energy to appreciate the valuable aspects of a Yoga practice.

Pranayama should bring the mind and body together, but this new “High-Tech” mindset is addicted to constant stimulation. This is why Vinyasa is so popular with new students. This is also why the concept of “advanced” Yoga has become warped.

In truth, the advanced practitioner has a trained mind and is fully present for Yoga practice. This is hard to explain to an ego-driven child or a competitive gymnast, but perfect asana is not an indicator of a trained mind or an advanced Yogi.

If you desire to be an advanced Yoga practitioner, please observe the Eight Limbs of Yoga as stated by Maharishi Patanjali, within the Yoga Sutras. Below is the Eight Limbed Path.

1. Yama: Moral Codes
2. Niyama: Observances
3. Asana: Postures
4. Pranayama: Yogic Breathing
5. Pratyahara: Preparation to increase mental power
6. Dharana: Mental Concentration
7. Dhyana: Devotion to God (The Divine)
8. Samadhi: Union with God (The Divine)

Please note that the third limb (asana) is just one of eight. While physical mastery is important, it is just a part of the whole. Physical mastery, without moral guidance, can become an egotistical pursuit. When the ego is allowed to run wild, it has no need to pursue mental, emotional, or spiritual growth.

Therefore, the sum of all eight limbs is Yoga, but asana alone is just a physical exercise. If Yoga were just a matter of performing splits and standing on one hand for medals, we would leave it to the Olympic gymnasts.

For the “advanced Yogi,” the practice requires a lifetime of study. There is more to be learned about Yoga than one lifetime will allow for. The advanced Yoga practitioner is, in fact, a student for life.

(c) Copyright 2009 – 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

What is a contraindication for a Yoga technique? Why should Yoga teachers and practitioners be familiar with them? Let’s look closely at how knowledge of contraindications in the physical practice of Yoga can help you prevent potential injuries.

What is a contraindication for a Yoga technique? A contraindication is a factor which makes a Yoga technique inadvisable. These Yoga techniques are postures (asanas) or Yogic breathing methods (pranayama). The reasons they become inadvisable are related to people with specific health conditions performing techniques, which put them at risk.

A classic example of this would be a student who has glaucoma and performs inverted postures. Due to his or her condition, with glaucoma, there is a risk of going blind, from performing an inverted Yoga posture. Whether a Yoga teacher or student does not know the contraindication, or ignores it, the potential for risk is the same.

Why should Yoga instructors and practitioners be familiar with contraindications? There are many contraindications in Yoga, and teachers should research all of them to avoid putting students in harm’s way. In the case of students: Be familiar with the state of your health. Get an annual physical and learn about your precise health condition.

Let your teacher know if you have a medical condition, and make sure that you have done your research about contraindications for your particular health condition. You only have one body. Do not put yourself at risk, when it is common sense to avoid a technique.

In summary, if you teach Yoga and learn of a new contraindication, which is related to any condition, do not ignore it – research it! Find out why and how the contraindication is related to body mechanics. It is better to be safe and too cautious, rather than risky, when it comes to safety.

If your students demand to take risks, advise them to participate in sky diving, skiing, hang gliding, roller coasters, and other activities that give them an adrenaline rush. Yoga, of every form, was designed to enhance every aspect of good health.

It is a great feeling to bond with students and become a “fun Yoga instructor.” It is quite another feeling to realize you put a student in danger for the sake of entertainment. A competent teacher has responsibilities – to make sure sessions are safe. Your classes can be fun, but they should always be safety oriented.

Ahimsa, the first Yama, comes to mind. As teachers and instructors, we pledge to avoid harming other beings, especially our students. Every ethics agreement, for Yoga teachers, should mention Ahimsa in relation to Yoga classes, which simply means: “Be sure that your classes are safe.”

(c) Copyright 2009 – 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

Yoga’s philosophy is based upon peace and the end of suffering. Each time a world leader has stood up to give this same message of world peace, he or she is shouted down. Yet, we must ask - “Has the world changed overnight?” Will Barack Obama “become the change we wish to see?”

Throughout history, intolerance has caused many set backs for humanity. Humankind’s history is a track record of blood lust, based on close-minded beliefs about different ideas. Unfortunately, fundamentalist groups demonstrate that intolerance is still alive and well.

If you live in a democratic society, which is not at war, you have the good fortune to see the intolerant clearly. It is not so easy to see any issues clearly if you are in the middle of an armed conflict. Even in democracies, the masses can become swept up in polarization during wartime, after a terrorist attack, or in search of a political scapegoat.

How can Yoga help? Every form of Yoga trains the mind toward rational thought. In fact, Yoga is a nightmare for dictators and war mongers. How can you convince rational thinkers to kill their neighbors?

In the King James Version, of the Holy Bible, Mathew 5:43-44, Jesus states: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

The fundamentalist interpretation of ideas concerning peace is: “Let’s be rational, see it my way.” Actually, we have to listen to the narrow-minded and open dialogue in order to achieve a peaceful solution. You can afford to exchange ideas, with those who disagree, when you live in a democracy.

In a free society, people have a right to choose the path of enlightenment or the path of ignorance. Luckily, the intolerant have limited influence for now. This does not mean to send them on their merry way. It means that we should engage them in conversation, when they demand to state their viewpoint, with the provision that we may state our viewpoint, as well.

What good will this do? If you practice Yoga long enough, you should have a trained mind. As a serious Yoga practitioner, your beliefs in world peace, the end of suffering, and a clean planet, are good and noble causes, based upon rational logic. A blissful planet is the kind of world we want to leave to our children.

(c) Copyright 2009 – 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

Where can you find affordable, yet comprehensive training, to become a Yoga teacher? Are you are looking for a complete course, which covers much more than a few dozen postures? Do you seek to learn about kriyas, doshas, chakras, mudras, mantras, contraindications, bandhas, and more?

The latest method in advanced Yoga training is online. It helps if an intern or instructor has study materials to work with at home, but it is nice to have access to a Yoga teacher community. This sense of community has been part of Yoga training since the beginning.

An online community and network of Yoga teachers, which can be found in a forum, will help interns find answers to puzzling questions. At the same time, access to videos and Pod casts, gives you coaching any time of the day or night.

For centuries, discoveries about Yoga were recorded in books. This is the traditional way many of us learned, at home, long before Video Cassette Recorders (VCR) were invented. We did not have the Internet, cable television, DVDs, CDs, or any of the latest gadgets available.

The traditional home study method, based on books, worked, but it was missing that sense of community and contact with your teacher, tutor, or mentor. You could always pick up the phone, and make a call, but maybe you live in a different time zone.

Email access has changed everything. With Email, you do not have to worry about disturbing anyone. Long distance telephone plans are much less expensive than they used to be. With improved communication, and the power of the web, Yoga distance learning is easier, and more affordable, than any other method.

© Copyright 2009 – 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

Could Yoga make your day less stressful in work? Do you think your stressful job could kill you? Do you have deep feelings of hostility toward your workplace? Let’s look at four time-tested Yogic methods you can learn right now.

1. Breath: In work, many people breathe shallow, or unconsciously hold their breath, throughout the day. In Yoga, we learn to control our breathing. This control of breath is called “pranayama.” There are many variations of pranayama, but let’s work on one natural breathing exercise.

Inhale slowly and let your stomach relax. Exhale slowly and draw your navel in toward the spine. This is not a forceful breath, but it is a conscious breath. There is no need to make it complicated, but you should try this when you are feeling stressed.

2. Mantra: The power of mantra goes beyond the sound of a mystical Sanskrit syllable. The power of mantra is the same in prayer or positive affirmation. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with mantra, you can pray or practice positive affirmations.

How does mantra, prayer, or positive affirmation reduce stress? People commonly clutter their minds with negative thinking. If you practice a positive affirmation, such as: “It is enough to have done my best,” you fill your mind with positive thoughts and energy.

3. Posture: Your spine should be straight, as often as you think of it. Sit, stand, eat work, talk, and walk, with good posture at all times. Just like breathing, this is a matter of making yourself conscious of it. In a Hatha Yoga class, we cover many postures (asanas), but you can carry good posture into every facet of life.

4. Diet: There is no need for a big lecture here. Most people know how to eat right. It stands to reason that less processed, whole, and natural foods are good for you, unless you have an allergy to something in particular.

Monitor your caffeine intake during work. You may want to consider reducing beverages full of caffeine. One of the substances most often associated with heart palpitations is caffeine. This reaction to caffeine can happen without related stress. Therefore, consider your heart health and switch to beverages with less or no caffeine.

Summary: Do not expect to make all four of these changes in a single day. Start with the easiest one and move forward. It is so easy for people to advise you to get another job. In some cases, that is the best option, but a pro-active mindset toward naturally reducing stress, with techniques from Yoga, is a viable solution.

© Copyright 2009 – 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

Can Hatha Yoga give you recession relief? That seems to be the general feeling, among students this winter, as Hatha Yoga classes have not slowed down. The more you listen to the news, the worse you might feel. Yet, you can visit a local Yoga school, center, or studio, for some rest and relaxation.

Even if someone is on a tight budget, Yoga classes are affordable, in comparison to any other form of stress relief. There is a sense of community within classes. In the past, people had a tendency to abuse alcohol during stressful situations, but this time, many people are reacting rationally.

Sudden economic recessions, and the past Great Depression, led to an increase in suicide rates. When the economy is down, people can become severely depressed, but logic dictates that Yoga will enable its practitioners to survive mentally and emotionally.

What caused this change in behavior patterns? Why are so many people taking care of themselves instead of jumping into chemical abuse? The benefits of Yoga are fairly well-known worldwide. Yoga is not a stranger to the western medical community or educators.

Many physicians and counselors recommend Yoga classes to their patients. Some forward-thinking companies have Yoga classes within their facilities. Churches have Yoga classes in their basements and on their grounds.

Finding the right Yoga class, for stress relief, is a little harder than finding a class. There are many styles of Yoga. Some classes focus on the physical body and some do not. The physical form, which is known as Hatha Yoga, is very common outside of India.

Physical postures (asanas) do relieve stress, but each of us is different, and we relax in different ways. Some classes hold postures, while others flow through them. Younger students may be more frustrated in a class where postures are held. Older students may not be able to relax during flowing postures.

Some instructors teach meditation and Yogic breathing, while some do not. Therefore, if you are teaching Yoga and focus on stress relief, you should make the public aware of it, but you should also let them know what kind of Yoga class to expect. What aspects of Hatha Yoga do you teach that help your students reduce their stress levels?

Let the public have information about any stress management workshops that are held in your facility. In this way, Yoga will reach out to those who need it most.

© Copyright 2009 – 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

The general concept of Hatha Yoga is a mind and body exercise, but that barely skims the surface as to what Hatha, or any other form of Yoga, is. Now we hear of Yoga for ripped abs, growing taller, stress relief, back pain, and raising children. Is it all a marketing ploy, or can it do all of these things?

Truthfully, ripped abs will require more than Yoga, but you can reduce and manage your weight. If you have tried losing weight before, you know about false promises. You know that instant weight loss diets are “roller coaster rides.” There is no yo-yo effect from bringing Yoga into your life, but changes do happen gradually, so let’s look at why and how.

Why does Yoga help people lose weight?

Up to this point in time – of all the studies that have taken place so far, the study (conducted by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) in Seattle, is the most well known. Yet, the concept of Yoga for weight reduction has experts baffled.

The physical form we know as “Hatha Yoga” does not burn the calories of a high impact exercise. When you put Yoga under a microscope, it produces results, but it leaves researchers baffled. What is the answer? In any study, subjects who practiced Yoga did so as a lifestyle. It was never viewed as a temporary fix.

Yoga is a lifestyle. To see it as an exercise is not the full view or an accurate picture. In fact, the biggest secret in losing weight, through Yoga practice, is enhanced emotional health. We often hear about mind, body, and spirit, but we ignore emotional heath. When your emotional health is unstable, it is hard to control your weight at all.

How does Yoga help people lose weight?

Through regular practice of Hatha Yoga, a practitioner can improve emotional flows. This puts your feet on stable ground and keeps your mind focused. Unhealthy habits can gradually be changed into positive habits. Sure you can count calories, if you like, but it’s much easier to take one day at a time, when you are programmed with healthy habits.

The deeper key is to change your mental thought process toward daily Yoga practice, walking, biking, activities, and moderate dieting habits. This is not a drastic lifestyle change, but it is a gradual one. It may take time to get to your optimum weight, but you will change your direction from the first day of Yoga practice.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos.
Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
——————————————–
On-Site and Online Yoga Training
——————————————–
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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