Posts Tagged ‘yoga teaches’

By Elaine Stillwell

Yoga is now universally practiced. Its comprehensive and versatile practice is open to all people; whether religious or atheist, young or old, male or female, physically capable or physically impaired. There are many popular styles of yoga to suit each individual, for example, yoga for pregnancy, yoga for children, and yoga for seniors. The popularity of yoga can be attributed to its therapeutic effects on both the mind and the body, enabling practitioners to enjoy a profound sense of well-being. These therapeutic benefits are particularly relevant today with the ever-increasing pace of modern life. In today’s hectic world with many and varied demands, yoga acts as a relaxing balm, counterbalancing frantic lifestyles by quieting the mind and allowing individuals to slow down and to savor living in the present moment. With regular practice, yoga teaches us how to develop a greater awareness of both our physical and psychological states, which in turn increases our ability to cope with everyday stress and situations, enabling us to step back and assess our reactions and coping mechanisms.

Yoga is essentially a complete science of human behavior, dealing with all aspects of man from physical to the psychological, emotional and intellectual. Yoga has the ability to draw out our positive qualities and to lessen our weaknesses. With its knowledge of anatomy, physiology, consciousness, and conscience, yoga is a science that is able to integrate our body, mind, breath, and awareness, understanding the genuine needs of each individual and dealing with each aspect of health and well being from the periphery to the core.

Words are inadequate to convey the total value of yoga; it has to be experienced to taste its awesome power.

Yoga bestows benefits on many levels. The practice of asanas and pranayama rejuvenates the body. Practicing asanas cleanses the body by purging toxins from the body. Yoga postures increase the circulation of fresh blood to every cell in the body. Muscles get oxygenated. Regular practice of stretches, twists, bends, and inversions — the basic movements of asanas – restores strength and stamina to the body. Asanas, together with pranayama or the control of the breath, rectify physical, physiological, and psychological disorders. They have a positive impact on the effects of stress and disease. Among the many ailments that benefit from the practice of asanas are migraines, high or low blood pressure, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and asthma. Asanas cater to the needs of each individual according to his or her specific constitution and physical condition. Health is not just an absence of disease. Good health means that the joints, tissues, muscles, cells, nerves, glands and each system of the body must be in a state of perfect balance and harmony. Asanas balance the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, hormonal, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems perfectly. Yoga asanas also help to ensure an even distribution of bio-energy or life force, which brings the mind to a state of calm.

The body and mind are in a state of constant interaction. Yoga treats the mind-body as an integrated entity. The mind and body work interdependently. The proof of this is in pranayama. When we breathe slowly, deeply and rhythmically, our mind steadies and calms as a result. The turmoil of daily life brings stress to the body and the mind. This creates anxiety, depression, restlessness, and sometimes, rage. Yoga asanas while appearing to deal with the physical body alone, actually influences the chemical balance of the brain, which in turn improves one’s mental state of being. The primary aim of yoga is to restore the mind to simplicity, peace, and poise, and to free it from confusion and distress. This simplicity, this sense of calm and order, comes from the practice of asanas and pranayama.

Asanas, if correctly practiced, bridge the divide between the physical and the mental spheres. Yoga stems the feelings of pain, fatigue, doubt, confusion, indifference, laziness, self-delusion and despair that assail us from time to time. The yogic mind refuses to accept such negative emotions and seeks to overcome these turbulent currents on the voyage to the total liberation of the self. Once we become sincere practitioners of yoga, we cease to be tormented by these unhappy and discouraging states of mind. Yoga illuminates our life. If we practice with sincerity, seriousness, and honesty, its light will spread to all aspects of our life. Regular practice will bring us to look at our goals and ourselves in a new light. It will help remove obstacles to good health and stable emotions.

How does yoga minimize the impact of stress on the individual? Yogic science believes that the regular practice of asanas and pranayama strengthens the nervous system and helps people face stressful situations positively. Financial tensions, emotional upheavals, environmental pollution, and above all, a sense of being overtaken by the speed of events, have all increased the stress of daily life. All these factors strain the body, causing nervous tension, and adversely affect the mind. While yoga is not a miracle cure to free a person from all stress, it does help to minimize it. The worries of modern life deplete our reserves of bio-energy, our prana, because we draw on our storehouse of vital energy in the nerve cells. This can ultimately exhaust our energy reserves and lead to the collapse of mental and physical equilibrium. Asanas improve blood flow to all the cells of the body, revitalizing the nerve cells. This flow strengthens the nervous system and its capacity to endure stress.

The diaphragm, according to yogic science, is the seat of intelligence of the heart and the window to the soul. During stressful situations, when we inhale and exhale, the diaphragm becomes too taut to alter its shape. Yogic exercises develop elasticity of the diaphragm so that when stretched, it can handle stress, be it intellectual, emotional, or physical. In times of stress, regular yoga practice kicks in to integrate the body, breath, mind, and intellect. Slow effortless exhalation brings serenity to the body cells, relaxes the facial muscles, and releases tension from the organs of perception: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. What follows is that, the brain, which is in constant communication with the organs, becomes void, and all thoughts stilled. Then, invading fears and anxieties cannot penetrate the brain. When we develop this ability, we perform our daily activities with efficiency and economy. We do not dissipate our valuable bio-energy, our precious prana. Our mind is free of stress and is filled with calm and tranquility.

The supreme goal of yoga is the union, (yoga means ‘union’ or ‘yoking’) of the individual spirit with the universal spirit, the finding of one’s essential nature (Self) beyond our ego, which has to be dissolved. This union with the Supreme, God, Brahman, Absolute, Ultimate Reality, Cosmic Consciousness, Universal Spirit, Soul, Void, Buddha Nature, It, represents a goal. Working towards this goal, the body, breath, mind, and spirit are disciplined, refined and perfected by yoga’s psycho-physiological techniques. Progress towards this goal provides great benefits to the body and mind, in improved health, relaxation, tranquility and self-mastery in life.

Yoga teaches and leads us to take this inner journey to the Soul. Yoga offers both the goal and the means to reach it. Yoga asanas integrate the body, the mind, the intelligence, and finally the Self in 4 stages. The first stage is one in which we practice at the level of the physical body. The second stage is when the mind moves in unison with the body. The third stage is when the intelligence and the body become one. The final stage is the state of perfection, of samahdi, nirvana, or satori. Intuitive Enlightenment occurs in a realized Yogin at this stage of Bliss and Joy.

Yoga meditation is one way that facilitates evolving the function of the mind from the subconscious to simple consciousness, gradually evolving to self-consciousness until it reaches universal consciousness. Outwardly, meditation is an awareness of posture, breath, and mental control. Inwardly, meditation is a spiritual search.

Meditation is a practical way to be more in touch with the fullness of our being through a systematic process of self-observation, self-inquiry, and mindful action.

Meditation is not a panacea for all of mankind’s internal conflict but it sure does help. Many Western doctors recommend meditation as an adjunct therapy. Many counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists recommend meditation to stabilize the mind. Hospital physicians use meditation to control pain. Meditation is extremely cost effective. Patients in hospitals can be taught meditation in a matter of 8 weeks. Neuroscientists study brain waves of meditators and conclude that the brain can learn and rewire itself back to good health.

Yoga students meditate so they can relax the mind when needed. To relieve the mind of negative mental energy is the result of the practice of meditation. Meditation is one of the most natural methods to bring the mind under control. It has no negative side effects compared to drugs or alcohol. The benefits are a more relaxed and focused mind, ready for daily tasks. Improved concentration, health, and right attitude are keys to a better quality of life, which fosters happiness. Inner peace results, which brings about better relationships with others. With further practice, meditation brings together our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self, into balance. We live in harmony with ourselves, with others and the world around us.

In periods of personal or health crisis, we have the capacity to train our mind so we heal better and faster. Meditation is truly an ally of our mind.

Yoga is a holistic experience that benefits the body, mind and spirit.

Bibliography:

Hewitt, James The complete yoga book, Schocken Books New York 1977

Iyengar, B.K.S. Yoga The Path to Holistic Health, Dorling Kindersley 2008

Jerard, Paul M, Jr., website: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Swami Vishnu-devananda, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, Three Rivers Press, New York 1988

Courtesy: Dr Rita Khanna’s Yogashaastra Studio

Elaine Stillwell is a certified Yoga Teacher. She teaches Yoga classes in South Melbourne, Australia and San Francisco, California.

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

How can Yoga help anyone change the course of life? How many people say they would like to make a lifestyle change? How often do you hear someone say he or she would like to make a difference? Let’s look at each issue, and discover a formula for positive change, which will help you, and everyone you know.

How can Yoga help anyone change the course of life? Making a positive change in your life requires you to make a commitment. The root of our commitment is our decision making process and how serious we are about focusing on it. Any form of Yoga, teaches us how to focus our mind, and make positive changes around us.

Whether you practice alone, or under the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher, you begin to realize the unlimited potential that is within each of us. The biggest difference between people is that many have no direction. This lack of direction is a result of great social changes around us or the inability to focus in a particular direction.

However, great social changes have never stopped humanity from moving forward. There is always someone who is focused enough to lead a cause or a nation. A person who has chosen to lead has made a decision, reinforced it with commitment, and focuses on progress every day of his or her life.

How many people say they would like to make a lifestyle change? Most people would like to make a change, but they have not seen the three-step formula of: decision, commitment, and focus. It is not complicated, but each of us has to make an initial decision in order to shape our destiny.

How does Yoga help one learn to make a difference? At the heart of every cause is someone who has learned how to completely focus his or her mind. Consider M.K. Gandhi: He was a humble man. He could have sat back refused to act, and blamed the world for everything. Instead, he created a global philosophy of nonviolent resistance to social injustice and colonialism.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s decision to take part in India’s independence movement became a role model for other independence and social change movements around the world. We can learn from his example to this day. He may not have desired to change the world, but his example created awareness and changed the world view of social injustice.

From the outside, looking in, Yoga may seem quite ordinary. The physical Yoga styles move slowly, in comparison to other forms of exercise. The truth is – Yoga cannot be compared to exercises because the Yogic approach to life and health is holistic. To make decision, maintain a commitment, and remain focused, requires mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical fortitude; all of which can be revealed in Yoga practice.

© 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

No matter who we are – we may feel “stuck” at times. We may see an obstacle and feel like we have hit the end of the road or a ‘road block.” How can Yoga help you when you struggle, at an impasse, which looks like there is only one solution?

We know there may be multiple solutions, but all we see is one, and the one we see may not be appealing. When we gather information to make decisions, we can create a system for progressive thought that gives us multiple solutions.

Sometimes, the best possible solution is a combination of ideas, which take time to link together. If you are the person who makes the final decision, it may require you to compromise your ideas until you find the best possible solution. Below is a system for making progress in the worst of times.

1. Listen to outside opinions completely. Even if you do not agree, the old saying: “two heads are better than one” is worth considering. Make sure you understand the other person’s viewpoint and record the idea before you dismiss it. All, or part of, a foreign idea may be the answer to move forward.

2. Listen to your intuition. If you have poor intuition, it is best to have an advisor who has good “gut instincts.” If you do not like the essence of something, you should proceed with caution. If you have a partner with strong intuitive skills, who warns you about the road ahead, proceed with more caution.

3. Know yourself. If there is one quality you should have from steady Yoga practice, it is to have a realistic perception of yourself. Yoga teaches us about our strengths and our weaknesses. Yoga is a gateway to self-observation, and the ability to transform oneself to become a better person, by training the mind.

4. Learn what you do not know. Yoga is a never-ending path of education, with more information than we can gather in one lifetime. This applies to many other subjects, as well. Libraries are filled with answers, but our time in this life is limited.

Therefore, life is an educational journey. Enjoy it! When you cannot find the solution to your questions, it helps to have intellectual company around you. Yet, some people are good at finding solutions because they are “street wise.” They may not have the formal education, but they are strong in the area of common sense.

5. Develop relationships based on mutual trust. It is good to have a trusted pool of talent with diversified abilities. Some of these groups are referred to as “master mind” groups. Why should any of us struggle alone, when we have trusted friends?

© 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

The teachings of Yoga show us to look within for answers and solutions to obstacles; but there are matters that people do not want to look at, and there are matters we cannot change. Many people do not want to look directly at the source of their inner fears. A meditation session, devoted to looking at our phobias, might not be fruitful – unless we have professional guidance.

How can we deal with the fear of loss, death, or evil? In Psalms 23:4 of the King James Version of the Holy Bible, it is stated: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Similar meanings can be found within Holy Books of all religions, but let’s look closely at this particular Psalm. The answer is that we all have fears, and they fill us with dread; but even in the worst of times, our spiritual faith is near. This is a universal theme in all religions.

Yet, many people fear danger and terror inspired by extremists. Some extremists are politically based and others are religious fundamentalists. The problem is how to logically deal with those who seek to divide us. Politics and religion are volatile subjects.

If we learn anything about our humanity’s historical mistakes, it should be how to prevent another Hitler or Stalin. Millions of people can be swept up, into a fury of hate and fear, by world leaders who are mentally unstable. Our solution is to participate in the democratic process. If we leave it to someone else, we have much to fear.

In the case of fearing loss: I’m sorry, but we are all temporary “custodians of wealth.” Even the rich cannot take wealth with them to the after life. We can, and we should, take action to maintain the quality of life for our family; but when fears about the loss of money become an obsession, it is unhealthy.

Fear of losing a loved one is also unhealthy. Fear of loss can create chronic stress, anxiety, panic attacks, and possibly death. Yoga teaches one to balance thoughts, problems, and emotions for better health. Any form of Yoga can help a person in the darkest of times.

Fear of death is a major concern of many people but let’s look at this exact fear closely. Do we have a choice? Can we escape death? Can we become immortal? Once again, I’m sorry, but from the moment we were born, we were destined to pass on into the next life. We do not have a choice.

Yet, we can make the most of the time we are here. We can show appreciation to everyone we meet. Yoga teaches us to live in the present. Enjoy what you have and let those you love know it.

© 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

In Yoga, self-discovery is the quest for truth, which begins within each of us. If we manage to avoid the pitfalls of self-pity, we often seek solutions outside of our being. A good example of this is when we try to change others, and when others try to change us.

How will Yoga help you find your inner child? The two words “inner” and “child,” when combined, take on an identity of their own. Someone may think of a situation comedy, while another person may think of counseling sessions. In contemporary psychology, the words, “inner child,” usually refer to the childlike components of a person’s psyche.

In Yoga, we may call this the true self or the original self. The inner child is often suppressed and not allowed to do any creative thinking. In some societies, we are taught to suppress the inner child, which hinders the chance of self-realization, enhanced awareness, or a self-awakening. Heaven forbid that we allow our childhood aspirations and creative thoughts to come to the surface of our being.

Why in the world do you want to find your inner child? Adults often spend time creating and thinking, but it is disconnected from the inner child, our true feelings, or our aspirations. Adults often live for duty. How else is the rent or mortgage going to be paid?

Yoga allows us to reach our inner child, who has aspirations, innovation, and takes positive action toward a successful outcome. Most children are inherently happy. Children are not afraid to take action, fail, learn new skills, or adapt to new environments.

The inner child is starting to look like a natural shot of adrenaline. To find the true self can create a state of new found positive energy. Adults have built their lives upon past success and failures, but that does not mean we processed the information correctly.

How many adults do you know who have given up on life because of past failures? Qualities such as: creativity, taking action, and self-confidence can disappear, if we believe that we are our failures. The important part of failure is to learn from it and alter our plans with a new solution.

Yoga teaches us many forms of self-reflection. To see the true self, look into the past without judgment. Do not indulge yourself in self-criticism. Finding the inner child is not dragging up the mistakes of the past. The real purpose of the exercise is to borrow the positive qualities of the child within, and move forward with solutions in mind.

© 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

How can Yoga help someone cope with loss? Surely, Yoga must have its limits for healing one who has experienced loss or grief. Yoga teaches us to accept what we cannot control. Yet, we are not made of stone. Humans have emotions and we do not want to expose them for public display.

As each of us knows, there are different levels of grief and loss. Yet, that does not explain the level of misery someone may feel. The loss of a friend, spouse, parent, child, and pet are relative to the relationship, situation, or personalities involved.

There are more forms of loss which should be taken seriously. Grieving over the loss of a job, divorce, home, way of life, financial loss, or suddenly becoming handicapped are hardships which test each of us. One person may lose a job and laugh, while another person may consider suicide.

There are many people who are hurt by unemployment and financial hardships. Whole families can become homeless as a result. It is easy to consider the loss of a pet as nothing serious, if the pet is not your own.

It reminds me of something my grandfather would say: “I can’t feel it from here.” He was a general contractor, and builders do receive bumps or bruises during the course of work. If someone complained about their pain, he would gently say, “I can’t feel it from here,” with a smile on his face.

The lesson is we cannot feel anyone’s pain, but we can show compassion; regardless of how large or small we think a problem is. If you teach Yoga classes, you see many people in the course of a week. Sometimes, you may attend a funeral, wake or memorial service, out of respect.

Yet, we can only recommend, if we are asked. Here is a point to mention, if someone is having a very bad time with coping – it is wise to recommend counseling or Hospice. Counseling is extremely valuable and important during bereavement. Additionally, Yoga is practice for the difficult times in life, and for healing after those times have passed.

Recommending specific asanas, meditation, and pranayama, still depends on the student’s general health. However, if someone is on the path of recovery, asanas, which challenge strength, will help drain some of the negative emotional energy.

If a student comes back to your Yoga classes, soon after a major loss, he or she might want to “go easy” during practice, while emotions settle down. Just like physical pain, our students have to respond accordingly to emotional pain.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

What is Yoga? Many times, Yoga is explained away as a Sanskrit word which means, union. In fact, Yoga means many things to many people. Yoga has been called a Hindu discipline, an exercise, a science of life, a self-improvement system, a gateway to God, and many more explanations.

There are some who will argue that Yoga is all of these things or none of these things. Is Yoga good or evil? If you look at the foundation of Yoga, it is Yama and Niyama. There is no evil in moral codes of conduct or moral observances.

Yet, someone will inevitably claim there is something evil in Yoga. Is training the mind for spiritual insight, growth, and tranquility, evil? Yoga is difficult to define. If Yoga falls into a category, which cannot be defined, then it is suspected by the “narrow minded” as a vehicle to undermine religions.

We know that Yoga will improve mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. As a result, Yoga practitioners will enhance their physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga teaches us many things. Within Yama and Niyama, one is taught to love his or her enemies, to find peaceful resolutions, to seek purity, to enjoy solitary moments, and to embrace self-denial.

It is worth noting, that every major religion, also shares these universal beliefs. Humankind suffers from limited thinking. Instead of cherishing cultural diversity, humans are too busy arguing about their differences. Yoga offers everyone, of every religion, a chance to see the good in each other.

© 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

Yoga clearly contains the oldest existing stress management techniques. Yoga teachers have absorbed the archives of “tried and true” stress reducing techniques, which date back thousands of years. Let’s take a closer look at successful Yogic methods for stress management in today’s busy world.

1. Recognize your thoughts, at this moment, for what they are. Most people go through life on auto-pilot. There is much thinking going on, but most of it is background mind chatter, with no definitive purpose, or direction. This is why you meet so many people that regret the past and have no idea what they want to do in the future.

If life is an aimless path, what do you do when you encounter a problem? Sadly, the common response is to worry about the past, future, and present. Yoga teaches us to manage the present moment. Why? You cannot change the past; and unless you take action right now, you will have no influence over the present.

The future also depends on your actions in the present. The time any of us spends worrying is a complete waste. Therefore, design logical solutions for the present. If you have difficulty finding solutions – get help, and advice, from the successful people you know. This will open your mind to solving, instead of worrying.

About thought recognition: Observe your thoughts and learn to sort them by priority and reality. Learn also to identify negative influences, which cause you to become stressed out, filled with anxiety, and cause internal states of panic. This identification process is important, because it will change your life for the best and it leads toward your second stress reduction technique.

2. Be realistic about your limitations. Some people believe they have no control over anything. They believe fate has control of our lives. Everything is carved in stone ahead of time, so there is no use in trying to improve anything. If all of us believed that, we would still be living in trees and caves. Since humans run slowly, tigers and crocodiles would not have to work hard for their meals.

We cannot move the earth, moon, and stars, yet. We cannot control weather, tidal waves, earthquakes, and floods, yet. Notice, I use the word “yet.” Humankind has limitations, at the moment, but we really have no idea what our limitations are.

We do have control over many things. We especially have control over who we associate with. Our friends, colleagues, associates, and co-workers can be a positive or a negative influence. We also have control over whether to attend a Yoga class or watch bad news on television. We can censor negative influences.

We must seek out healthy relationships, in order to be healthy. Remember that stress is contagious. If you spend your free time with someone, who is experiencing chronic anxiety and panic, advise that person to seek professional counseling. If you spend too much time with that person, you may also have to seek professional counseling.

Yoga lessons, of all kinds, reduce stress levels. Activities, such as Yoga, are preventative mental and emotional health maintenance. We are only limited by our thinking. Yoga allows you to train your mind and find inner peace.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yogic Stress Management
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos.
Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
——————————————–
On-Site Yoga Training: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com
——————————————–
FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul
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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Jnana Yoga is often considered the “Yoga of truth.” This form of truth, in Yoga practice, is found through self-discovery and by carefully performing honest self-analysis. Yet, all that we change from within will not change the world around us, unless we interact with it.

Relationships are our interaction, with the people we see, in the course of a day. We cannot change the world by sitting and meditating in a cave for the rest of our lives. Yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and loving kindness are put into practice when we engage in balanced relationships.

In all relationships, the keys to success can be found. Take the following key and apply it toward all of your relationships in work, with family, at home, and with your friends. In this way, you can apply time-tested Yogic principles in your daily life.

The Key of Mutual Trust

You have a right to be skeptical of everything you encounter, but when you wear skepticism like a badge, people will become skeptical of you. This does not imply that you should trust everyone and train your children to “take candy from strangers.” However, when you assume that everyone has a hidden agenda, and you do not trust anyone, you encourage an atmosphere of mistrust.

Supervisors and business owners set the tone within a company. If mistrust starts at the top, it trickles down to the foundation of the company. An atmosphere of mistrust breeds a multitude of problems. The supervisor who does not trust his or her help is most likely to take credit for the help’s ideas.

Similarly, the same supervisor is least likely to take responsibility for his or her mistakes. It is very tempting, when you do not trust anyone, to see everyone as potential enemies. It is also possible to view every subordinate as a threat to job security. Do you think the workers who answer to an openly distrustful supervisor will be loyal?

So far, all we have considered is the level of mutual trust in business relationships, but the key of mutual trust is part of every aspect of life. If you treat your children and spouse with mistrust, you will definitely encounter mutual feelings from them.

Whether trust is earned, or violated, do not ignore it. There is no need to carry a grudge forever or assume that one act of kindness makes someone a saint. We have to accept people the way they are, without going through harsh judgments or leaving ourselves unnecessarily open to be taken advantage of.

Yoga teaches each of us about living in balance and harmony. There is no need to let life’s highs or lows throw you out of balance for long. Granted, we are all human and mistakes are part of a lifelong learning process, but Yoga can help us find the higher purposes of life.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga Teacher Training Courses
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos.
Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
——————————————–
On-Site Yoga Teacher Training: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com
——————————————–
FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul
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