Posts Tagged ‘of yoga’

By Marneta Viegas

Children are being brought up in a world of noise and busyness. Busy parents, school pressures, additional after school activities, computer games and fast moving TV can all add to their stress levels. School tests, falling out with friends, arguments between parents, feeling overwhelmed by homework and being bullied or teased can add to the stress as they learns how to deal with the outside world.

These stresses can cause a range of physical disorders such as sleeping problems, irritability; stomach aches bed wetting, headaches, muscular pains as well as mental and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, nervousness, anger and temper tantrums.

Yoga is a wonderful activity that can help counter these pressures. When children learn simple techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease. Learning yoga from an early age encourages body awareness and appreciation of their surroundings. Physically, it enhances flexibility, strength and coordination as well as aids concentration and sense of calmness.

The beauty of yoga is that children of all shapes, sizes, abilities and ages can benefit from the exercises. Children can stretch as much as as comfortable as they learn that every body is different. Most of the poses have animal names and shapes which can capture the imagination of even the youngest of children. They can imitate the movement and sounds of the animals and imagine the qualities of that animal. For example when they adopt the lion pose, they can feel strong and courageous, while in the tortoise poise, feel quiet and still inside their mind as well as their body.

More and more schools are adopting yoga at this time. A recent government study reported by the Telegraph found that fewer school children are participating in school sports and are signing up for more “fun” non-competitive alternatives like circus skills (juggling) and yoga.

According to the article: “The study found that 58 per cent of secondary schools – and almost a third of all schools – offered cheerleading as a sport, more than a fifth trampolining, 21 per cent yoga and 18 per cent ‘circus skills’. This compares to the number offering rugby falling from almost three quarters of schools in 2006 to two thirds now.”

Interestingly enough, Nick Gibb (Tory schools spokesman) and Nick Seaton (Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education) were shocked and disappointed as they believe that competitive sport is crucial for exercise and team spirit.

It is wonderful news that children and their parents are choosing non-competitive options in school settings. Yoga is a great form of exercise for mind, body and mental health and so a wonderful way for children to stay fit and healthy throughout their lives.

Relaxation is also vital for children’s health and well being. Just a few minutes a day can help young children feel calm and focussed and ready to face their day. Relaxation can help children sleep as it decreases muscle tension, slows the rate of breathing and reduces blood pressure. It can also help children’s concentration and listening skills as they feel quiet and able to listen and assimilate information, so giving them better problem-solving abilities. Creativity and imagination is also improved as children are encouraged to take their minds away from their current situations and take themselves on imaginary journeys in their minds. Children develop self-esteem and a feeling of self worth as they start to see their strengths and qualities in the quiet.

Here are the most common types of relaxation techniques.

Breathing Exercises:

Children can lie on their back and put their hands on their stomachs. As they breathe in, their tummy will rise and as they breathe out, it will fall. Children concentrate on breathing in and out slowly as they focus on the rise and fall of their tummy. This can help children let go and feel calm and quiet.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation:

Children can lie on their backs on in a comfortable chair. Starting at the feet, they squeeze and relax each limb. As they move up through the body slowly, they will feel calm and relaxed.

Visualisation:

Children close their eyes and imagine they are floating on a cloud or lying on a boat and floating down the river. They might imagine that they are lying in warm sunshine and feeling the warmth in their body or imagine that they are sinking gently into soft sand.

Affirmations:

Children can repeat the words “I am calm and quiet, I am calm and quiet’ and slowly as they repeat, they feel more calm and quiet and relaxed.

Marneta Viegas

http://www.relaxkids.com

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Depending on where you live, Yoga classes can be filled with students of different ethnic origins, religions, social status, age, and gender. As humans, we tend to differentiate ourselves from others by our self image. Depending on how we our programmed, we readily accept others at face value or we reserve the right to make a judgment later.

Sadly, it is this judgment of others that has held humankind back for thousands of years. It is easy to see differences in someone else and think our way is the right way. Worse yet, some people feel that their way is the only way.

When students enter an ashram, studio, or class, they are often instructed to leave their stress, baggage, and judgment at the door. This is one of the hardest hurdles for a beginner to manage. Even if you put most differences aside, the ego loves to engage in self praise.

There are also Yoga teachers who claim to teach “real Yoga,” as opposed to “phony Yoga.” This is an interesting analogy, as most students, who attend these classes, often mention that teachers spend an extraordinary amount of time on indoctrination and dogma.

The purpose of Yoga was never meant to divide people into splinter groups. When Yoga teachers meet at intensives and conferences, there is a huge diversity in the backgrounds of the individuals. In general, most Yoga teachers embrace the melting pot we may refer to as “humanity.”

Rather than sit around discussing our differences, humans should spend more time discussing possible solutions to major problems. This often happens in a Yoga teacher conference. Unfortunately, it is rarely seen among political or religious leaders.

In order for Yoga to make a difference in the 21st century, we have to focus on solutions to problems that we and our planet face. It is easy to spot a personality who seeks to divide, polarize, and stir up conflict.

With that said – anyone in a teaching position, who seeks to divide, does not deserve your precious time. The path to ruin is easily discovered within our history books. This is the path of division. The path of unity is the Yogic path.

© 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

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga and music hold an intangible power to cause positive arousal within the mind. The comparison of Yoga and music does not stop here. We might say that Yoga is a science, and music is an art, but both create innovation within the practitioners of these two disciplines.

Have you ever risen in the morning with a song in your heart? Is it a song filled with joyful anticipation for the new day? In this case, the day will likely be filled with happiness. Although happiness is not a guarantee of a successful outcome, positive inspiration tends to carry you forward – even during trying times.

Inspiration runs much deeper than motivation, because it causes the mind to act and create. All too often, people suppress creative ideas because their motivation level has run low. Inspiration is a form of internal or divine guidance that helps us to create and solve problems.

Our dilemma is deciding which voices to listen to. Should you listen to the voice that tells you Yoga, music, and creativity are bad? Should you take a chance? Should you leave all of your responsibilities behind? Some of us believe in an “all or nothing” approach to life.

When you move toward something that inspires you, it is wise to take small steps in moderation. We should use our mind as well as our heart, when risk is involved. Outside advice is always worth considering – whether we agree or not.

Yet, how can you be absolutely assured that a risk you take will not leave you vulnerable? In truth, when it comes down to taking a chance, you cannot be absolutely assured. You can study to your “heart’s content,” but when you take a risk, there is always a chance of failure.

In the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson: “I hold it true, whatever befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; ’tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” We often forget that we can always learn from our past mistakes, but our daily life is a matter of chance.

Yoga and a song that inspires the mind make life and its risks much easier to bear. Take the time to enjoy your Yoga practice and the music you hear each day. The outcome of a day is determined by many different factors, but a positive mindset sways the odds in your favor.

© 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

Written By Jessica Zarcone, CYT

For thousands of years, people have been using yoga to stay “flexible” both physically and mentally, making it ideal for athletes. An athletes body and mind must remain in peak condition. Yes, yoga does more, much more, than help you find inner peace.

With yoga spreading like wildfire in the athletic community (approximately 20 million Americans practice today), it is a important regimen with several benefits. Yoga is very gentle, is it practiced at a pace that suit’s you. Most athletes are familiar with the “no pain, no gain” attitude, necessary to build strength and speed. It serves them well and produces results. However if durability and flexibility are ignored, or injury and age are concerns, this aggressive approach can be counter productive. A gentler approach thru yoga is in fact the best way to utilizes strength to increase flexibility, as muscles grow stronger, they become more flexible. The saying in yoga goes “ If you feel pain, there’s no gain“.

Yoga poses are based on a system of stretches, balances twists, and bends, these poses exercises the entire body. What’s more, every forward movement is balanced by a backward movement, and every twist to the left is countered by a twist to the right, so no single set of muscles are overstretched. In addition, yoga works on more than just muscles- the spine becomes more elastic, the joints loosen, the lungs expand, the circulation is stimulated, and stamina increases. Yoga has the potential to offer real improvements to athletic performance, both physically and mentally. Athletes tend to already focus on breathing, however what they lack is uniform flexibility.

The flexibility component of yoga is very dynamic, stretching multiple muscles simultaneously in all three planes of motion. Also, rather than pushing and disregarding the body’s pain signals. Yoga teaches us to tune into all that we are feeling each moment. This awareness is very helpful for preventing and relieving stress or injury. Yoga allows athletes to better understand their body’s strengths and weaknesses, so that the weaknesses can be “worked on” over time. This will result in better performing muscles for the days to follow. The postures also develop a sense, common in dancers and gymnast, of where the body is in space, which is a necessary skill in any sport.

The type of strength developed in yoga teaches muscles to work equally and efficiently. The practitioner learns how to relax muscles that are not required and evenly uses the ones that are. The isometric strength and eccentric stretching used in yoga combined with the deep controlled breathing, is unsurpassed for building muscles that are resilient. This leads to more expedient healing from injury. Plus alignment practice improves response times and awareness of center of gravity, therefore improving balance.

Any prolonged or repetitive activities relating to work or sport can create muscle imbalances. Depending on the activity certain muscles are shorted, while others are lengthened and weakened. These imbalances can cause strain on joints and result in injury. Many athletes suffer from flexibility deficits. Since most sports involve the same repetitive motions, an athlete’s body becomes biased to those directional movements and positions. As a result, they become at risk of injury if they are challenged out of their available range of motion.

Hatha yoga starts with the body, and what holds the body together is the skeleton. Central to this frame work of 206 bones is the spine or backbone. It consists of 33 small bones called vertebrae, which are separated from each other by a disk of cartilage. The tissue is firm but flexible, just like that in your outer ear. These are the disks that “slip” when you lift things wrongly. The spine is not straight; it should have three natural curves, but poor posture can put the spine out of alignment resulting in backache and many other discomforts.

The pelvis, and hip bones are a basin shaped group of bones, pivotal to moving the body and also containing abdominal organs, such as the digestive system. It transfers the weight of the upper body to the legs and feet. Tilting the pelvis too far forward or backward results in poor posture and puts the spine out of alignment. It can also put unnecessary stress on muscles and internal organs.

Bones meet at joints, which are held in place by ligaments. The ends of the bones are protected by cartilage, and the joints are lubricated to make movement easier. The powerhouse of movements is the skeletal muscle, which is attached directly or indirectly to the skeleton. These muscles always work in pairs one contracts while the other relaxes. Both muscles and joints are easily damaged by the abuse we inflict on our own bodies.

All organs of the body, of course have a function, with the possible exception of the appendix. From the point of view of practicing yoga, the two most important internal organs are the lungs and the heart, which are part of the circulatory system. The lungs are responsible for taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide. Their proper function, especially with modern levels of air pollution, is crucial to well being. Breathing exercises, pranayama, are important aspects of yoga. The heart pumps blood around the body, carrying nutrients and oxygen. Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the western hemisphere, so a healthy heart and maintaining the correct blood pressure is literally vital. Learning to visualize the inner body, and send the energy of the breath to areas of need can increase the body’s healing power.

Of course, to benefit fully from yoga requires regular practice. It is not necessary to devote hours of every day to it, unless, of course, you want to. It is worth starting each morning with the Sun Salutations, even if your regular practice is only once or twice a week. Not only will this stretch the spine, limbs, and stimulate the circulation, it will invigorate and energize you for the day ahead and create a positive frame of mind. Think of it as a concentrated yoga program. Once you start it will be difficult to stop. The programs become successively more challenging, but there is no need to feel that all poses need to have perfect form, it is important to work at your own pace, it is not just about the poses, but about the breath and frame of mind while in these poses.

Methods of Hatha yoga abound and are varied, every teacher will have their own technique. However, it is important to be guided by a yoga instructor to help students quickly and efficiently reap the rewards. Traditional training programs sometimes overlook these areas.

When athletes go from one sport to the next, they may be “ in shape” but they may not have been using the same muscles from one season’s activities to the next. Each sport has it’s own unique movements and muscles used, demanding a holistic workout approach.

For example, golfers need to make sure their hips, thoracic spine (mid and upper back) and scapula (shoulder blade) open up in the rotational plane in order to prevent swing injuries to muscles and joints in other parts of the kinetic chain. Basketball players need to have excellent dynamic balance while in baseball , pitchers need a strong core, flexible back and hamstrings to maximally accelerate a pitch. A steady routine of stretching and therapeutic alignment, combined with controlled breathing, can keep athletes in shape all year and increase their enjoyment of each sport.

Since yoga is a gentle and non-competitive, an asset in a fiercely combative society. It encourages a healthy and preventive lifestyle, and aids recovery without recourse to drugs. Injuries obviously happen in sports where you are most challenged to be quick and strong, recovery from these injuries means continuing to explore your range of motion, promoting circulation, and bringing your mind to the area through the body scanning and general mental focus.

Practicing yoga while injured forces you to be more mindful and more careful. If you can take the element of fear out experimentation with your injuries and replace it with curiosity, keen observation, and a free breath, then you will not only help promote healing but also develop a more detached, less fearful approach. Complete avoidance of the injured area is sometimes the right course of action, but you should continue to work with different parts of your body as well as working with visualization and mediation.

No matter what the athlete is currently using for exercise and or training, yoga is extremely beneficial. Developing a regular practice of poses allows the athlete to be at his or her optimum performance. By gaining flexibility both mentally and physically, as well as growing stronger with balance and focus.

Aside from the physical and mental aspects of yoga, there is also a spiritual element. Basically, yoga teaches you about the connection with all living things and yourself. Through the discovery and realization of the connection that all living things have to each other, and element of camaraderie, non-violence and peace begins to shine through. So, no matter if you win or lose, you can be injury free, agile, and live with a sense of appreciation for your competitors and a feeling of peace.

While I consider anyone who practices yoga to be an athlete it is possible to injure yourself while in poses, it is important to know your limits. It is as if our body, and mind are puzzle pieces and when practicing yoga all the pieces fit perfectly creating a beautiful piece of art. There have been countless studies and trials done on the effects of Yoga and mental health, yoga and mental illnesses, yoga and physical ailments and disease for its growing respect in its preventive and healing qualities. With nothing to lose with everything to gain, try yoga today.

Jessica Zarcone, is a certified Yoga teacher, who teaches classes in the Denton Texas area.

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

If one is in search of spiritual enlightenment, should he or she avoid success in all other matters? How many Yoga practitioners think that success is a bad thing? Abundance, success, and achievement are shunned by many Gurus. There is a logical reason for this, but there is also a drawback for all of humankind.

One of many reasons, for embracing poverty, is to practice Aparigraha (non- possessiveness). Yet, those who tell others to enjoy poverty, give this advice to keep greed “in check.” It is true that greed can make slaves of all of us. Chasing power and material wealth can be a never ending struggle.

Those who become consumed by covetousness are never happy – no matter how many possessions they have or how much power they hold. On the other hand, the fear of succeeding holds our entire species back. If all of us refused to advance ourselves, we would still be drawing on the walls of caves.

It is one of humanity’s greatest qualities – to explore, create, and become innovators. At this time, no other species on this planet can be so constructive or destructive. We have the ability to create the world of our dreams or our nightmares. It is up to us whether we succeed or fail.

The problem stems from one undeniable fact: Humanity will not sit still. If you look at our history, you could debate the crimes, wars, and injustice against humanity by human beings. The desire to progress, and the desire to suppress, has been in conflict since our humble beginnings. What logical method can we practice to train the mind and solve conflicts?

In a word, it is “Yoga” that has managed to cross every boundary of race, religion, gender, nationality, and social status.  Some fundamentalists will disagree, but not one of them wishes to create a world of peace, tranquility, or bliss.

They use race, religion, gender, nationality, and social status as dividing points to create anger and hatred. A fundamentalist is a person, of any religion, who rigidly embraces extreme political, philosophical, and social viewpoints.

The objective of all fundamentalist thought is to divide humanity into hostile warring groups. Yogic philosophy is the opposite of fundamentalist thought.

Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” which means to join, unite, or attach. The deeper meaning of Yoga is important because most of us want spiritual growth. The rewards of self-realization and truth, through concentration of mind, cannot be understated.

Therefore, success is a by-product of Yoga practice. Your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, will improve with practice. There is no need to fear achievement because it cannot be prevented, when one lives a Yogic lifestyle.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.” http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

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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

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

How can Yoga give you the insight and vision to develop a life plan that is optimistic? What holds you back from opportunities? These questions become life riddles for those of us who lose our way during the journey of life. Let’s take an in-depth look at these two riddles and create a positive life plan for you.

1. How can Yoga give you the insight and vision to develop a life plan that is optimistic? The practice of Yoga was developed as a method of training the mind, body, and spirit. Once this is achieved, we can reduce suffering which occurs during the course of life.

Yoga is not magic. All forms of Yoga are maintenance systems for mental, spiritual, emotional and physical health. Once a practitioner has developed self-control, inner peace and balance, he or she is able to envision a life with purpose.

Having a life purpose is the foundation of optimism. As much as it may pain you, listen to a pessimist and you will see the opposite. Someone who is scornfully negative has no purpose other than to cast doubt on all ideas and solutions.

At this point, your first step is to carefully listen to others and look within. You will find inner vision and purpose. It is just a matter of realizing that advice is based upon opinions. You will not find a solution by listening to a pessimist because he or she is incapable of solving problems. After all, it is easier to criticize than it is to contribute.

2. What holds us back from opportunities? In a few words it is “lack of focus.” This is not to blame anyone for missed opportunities, but this happens every day to people around the world. If you know your life purpose you must have goals.

Once you recognize your purpose, and you have goals, your mindset is similar to an archeologist. If we walk through a national park, most people will not see what an archeologist sees because the archeologist’s eye is trained to recognize past history.

Your second step is to write down opportunities you missed and future opportunities you seek. Each of us finds what we expect to find in life. If we see life as a terrible ordeal, it is likely that our wish will be granted. If we see unlimited possibilities in life, there is a good chance we will be focused enough to recognize an opportunity when it arises.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. 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

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

In Yoga, many students consult their teacher, Guru, or Swami for general advice. These consultations are not always related to Yoga. For the student, the problem is finding reliable advice. He or she listens to the teacher for knowledge and helpful advice.

Where can you find concrete advice?  Advice, in and of itself, is a form of connecting personal opinions, personal belief systems, and personal values into a recommendation.  Therefore, if you obtain the advice of another, it is his or her personal opinion.  In some ways, each of us would like to resign decision- making to some one else.  We want someone, who has all the answers to the riddles of the universe, but we want to have control over our lives.   This creates an internal conflict, as most of us want to establish our independence.

Why do we seek the advice of a Yoga teacher, Guru, or Swami?  A Guru is a person who is regarded as having great wisdom or knowledge, and uses it to guide others.  A Swami is one who knows and is master of herself/himself. In general, these are usually, but not always, Hindu titles of deep respect.

If we think in terms of personal growth, and empowerment, how does one become the knower of herself/himself?  To become the master of oneself requires daily regimentation. What you eat, what you read, your daily physical exercise, the time you spend meditating, and much more, are strictly controlled by you.   This type of lifestyle requires absolute self-discipline.

Yet, let’s be honest ”how many people will ever be able to control themselves at all times?  The answer is: Very few.  All is not lost if we change, what we can, gradually.  To sustain a lifestyle change, requires some planning and to learn to forgive oneself for making mistakes.

Therefore, if you plan to make a big change, start with a few smaller changes, which lead to your eventual goal.  For many students of Yoga, they do not see a big change unless they look back in time.  The reason is: They started practicing Yoga, adopted healthy habits, and eventually realized the rewards of small steps forward.

To suddenly change everything, all at once, is a shock to your entire being. This is like eating meat and refined ”junk food” all your life; then suddenly eating raw vegetables, whole grains, and fresh fruit. The usual result of sudden changes is that we change back to what we were before. To make permanent changes, we must take a moderate and gradual approach.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

On-Site or Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

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

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

We often see pictures of Hatha Yoga practitioners performing physical feats, but we cannot see pictures of a trained mind. There is a Chinese proverb, which states, “A picture’s meaning can express ten thousand words.” It seems to have been loosely translated into English as: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Nevertheless, we are moved by pictures and movies that stimulate thoughts with incredible feats, action, and special effects. Meanwhile, training the mind through meditation, Yoga, or self-study is often ignored because it does not sell as many copies.

Yet, we live in the real world. After we are released from the virtual world, when a game or movie is over, we must use our minds for work and studies. The power of the mind can be wasted when we fail to take action on our own behalf. A good example of this is health prevention and awareness of what we can control.

How often do you see someone carry a child, purse, package, or laptop out of balance? Do you realize what will happen to the spine over time? This person will likely be in chronic pain, if he or she carries anything out of balance over an extended period of time.

We see the same thing happen with eating habits. Unconscious eating has already caught up to less active young adults. Take a look at the size of graduates at a local university near you. This is a bad omen, because these young people are in their physical prime.

The window of opportunity for good health is not equal for all of us. You can be born into poverty, with a genetic defect, or three months too early. What a shame it is for young people, in the best years of their lives, to take their good health for granted. Luckily, all is not lost – Yoga has grown in popularity.

Yoga, in its many forms, allows one to become aware of daily habits in posture, eating, and breathing, by constantly training the mind. All forms of Yoga require self-discipline. We become aware of many situations that can throw the body out of balance.

How do we sit, stand, walk, eat, and drink, during the course of a day? While some may say: “Who cares?” It is wise to observe oneself and make corrections. It is easy to criticize others, but we have more control over our own health. To ridicule others, over bad habits, is usually a waste of energy and time.

To become an example of a trained mind, and good health habits, is the best a Yoga teacher or practitioner can do. If we are successful, others will follow.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

On-Site or Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

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

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Once in a while, you hear or read something that is completely ridiculous. Claiming ownership of Yoga, or claiming that someone stole Yoga, definitely falls into the ridiculous category. It is true that Yoga is a 5,000 year old system from India. The world is eternally grateful to the Indian people for many reasons, and Yoga is one of them.

However, every once in a while, somebody has to try to trademark, copyright, or patent everything. If the Athenians had patented democracy, they would be swimming in royalties right now. The same is true for India: The birthplace of Yoga. Although they are different treasures, Yoga and democracy were shared with the rest of the world for the improvement of humankind.

Getting back to the Grinch who stole Yoga, democracy, or Kung Fu – how is it possible? Yes, these are national treasures and some people do steal. However, each of these national treasures has been shared freely with the world. In Lacon, Volume I, No. 183, Charles Caleb Colton, is the first to have noted: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

When Western civilization first encountered Yoga, it was not yet ready to absorb the message of “unity.” It is debatable that our current western culture is ready to absorb Yogic concepts to this day. Of all the forms of Yoga to absorb, we embraced the physical form, which we know as Hatha Yoga.

This is neither good nor bad, but it a logical step in the absorption of Yoga into Western culture. The reason is simple: People believe in what they can see, hear and feel. In the case of Hatha Yoga, many new practitioners believe what they feel. The most common reaction to a Hatha Yoga class, by a novice student, is a positive feeling in the mind and body.

Who owns Yoga? The practitioner, who benefits from regular practice, is the temporary custodian of Yoga, at this moment.

© 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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