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Cultivating Gratitude Through Yoga

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

how to become a yoga instructorBy Rachel Holmes

When we think of yoga, the physical benefits are the ones that most frequently come to mind. In the western world in particular, yoga is thought of as a physical activity that just happens to have emotional or spiritual benefits. In fact, yogic methodology is designed to produce harmonious effects in both the physical and emotional spheres.

While the outer dimension of yoga is a physical one, the inner dimension is a spiritual one. Yogic methods teach us that we are more than our bodies. Yoga training also teaches us that our bodies are an important physical tool, which can help us to reach spiritual heights; with the help of a regular practice.

Human beings are naturally aggressive creatures. We race from one objective to the next, seldom giving any thought to the people around us. While this lifestyle helped us to crawl out of the primordial swamps and survive through our primitive beginnings, it is less suitable for the modern interconnected times in which we now find ourselves.

This innate drive often causes us to forget the true nature of the universe that exists around us and of which each of us is an important part. Yogic techniques bring us back to that realization. While it may seem simple on the outside, at its core, yoga is as awe inspiring an art as any ever developed.

One of the most amazing aspects of yogic methodology is that it forces its practitioners to focus their minds and bodies on a specific task. During this period of deep breathing, stretching and changing positions, our perspectives change. The world seems to become smaller and more manageable.

Additionally as we physically transition from one asana to the next, the world seems to become more connected. Gratitude stems from the recognition of this connected nature. Helped by yoga, we begin to realize that being grateful to others is a function of being grateful to ourselves.

Yoga training reveals an entire world in which to be grateful – Starting with our yoga instructor and our classmates and moving on to our friends and families. Ultimately, yogic techniques help us to understand that even those who we consider strangers offer us something to be grateful for.

True gratitude is an aspiration; not something which is entirely obtainable. In order to acquire gratitude we must constantly reach and stretch for it. Much like the physical reaching bending and stretching found in a yoga school, finding gratitude is both a journey and a goal.

© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Inspire Your Yoga Students

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Did you ever consider how much impact teachers have on the lives of their Yoga students?  Years can go by, and you meet an old student at a local market and he or she tells you how much your classes changed his or her life.  Within a month, that same student resurfaces in your Yoga class.  It does not always happen like this, but a Yoga teacher’s impact on the community has a lasting effect.

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

Henry Brooks Adams

Yoga has the power to transform lives – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. While all teachers are role models, few are lucky enough to teach in areas that encompass the wide range of concepts found in Yogic philosophy.

In a society, where material possessions and achievements are sometimes more important than spirituality and compassion, Yogic philosophy is a reminder of what really matters. The Yoga Sutras indicate that the meaning of contentment is “to be just as we are without going to outside things for happiness” – a powerful lesson for any of us.

Yoga teachers face challenges in their efforts to meet the needs of their students. Although Yoga is designed to address the “whole” person, not all students understand or want to pursue every aspect of Yogic teachings. In addition to a variety of intentions and motives, students also run the gamut from practitioners with various years of study, to beginners and to students with special needs.

In spite of these differences, there are several things tha teachers can do to inspire their students:

• Set realistic expectations.

• Do not let your efforts to be a good role model keep you from being authentic.

• Encourage students to find their own spiritual paths by becoming more aware and intuitive.

• Recognize that Yoga students come from various backgrounds and have different aspirations and abilities.

• Make the Yoga studio a sanctuary where students can escape from stress and pressure.

• Get to know your students by name, and try to connect with them on a heart level.

• Discourage interruptions and distractions, such as cell phones or unnecessary conversations.

• Be aware of medical issues and special needs.

• Be willing to adapt exercises, without calling unnecessary attention.

• Remind students that the timetable for progress is unpredictable and sometimes slow.

• Encourage a home practice of pranayama, asana, and meditation.

• Make sure students understand the effects of specific poses and techniques on their physical and mental health.

One of the greatest gifts a Yoga teacher can give to students is the confidence that they have the inner resources needed to cope during hard times, and to respond courageously to change. In today’s emotional climate, that may be the ultimate inspiration.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Yoga for Self-Acceptance

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

become a yoga teacherBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Practicing asanas (postures) is very different from practicing other physical exercises – not only does Yoga help the body, but it also enriches the mind. All of us suffer from insecurities, due to issues we have with ourselves. In order to live a healthy, fulfilled life, it is important to accept our imperfections and learn to accept ourselves.

Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, depending on how well you research and practice Yoga, dedicating yourself to a Yogic lifestyle can help achieve a state of empowerment, which leads to complete self-acceptance. Yoga is dedicated to learning more about yourself. Therefore, it is important to commit, at least, part of your efforts toward self-discovery.

In order to cultivate self-empowerment and acceptance, it is important to not take any part of life too seriously. Be prepared to laugh at yourself. Do not force yourself into self-acceptance, but merely be open to it. Your feelings will change over time, and vary through the day; but ideally, you should feel more relaxed and in touch with yourself after each Yoga training session.

While practicing Yoga, do not force yourself during meditation, pranayama, or asanas. It will take time and patience before you reach your full potential. Instead, be satisfied that you are performing each technique to the best of your ability. While holding an asana, really focus on how your body feels, and how your breathing affects it. Feel the love from the part of the body you are stretching, and accept yourself for doing something healthy for your body.

It is important to never expect perfection in your Yoga practice. In each session, make it a goal to get in touch with your inner self and cleanse the mind of negative thoughts. While practicing meditation and pranayama, focus on how good you feel. If ever a thought enters your mind, such as: “I can’t do this.” – brush it out of your head and replace it with “I will do this.”

If you cannot fully perform a technique during a session, you must realize that, with time and practice, you will get it! End every asana practice with a minimum of five to ten minutes of meditation to cleanse the mind. This leaves your mind open to appreciate new experiences, which we often take for granted.

Dedicate any part of yourself to Yoga and you are sure to be a healthier, more relaxed, and happier person overall. Take each technique at your own pace, and commend yourself for what you have accomplished. Your mind will learn to appreciate you, and you will accept yourself. In truth, we are all works in progress. Yoga practitioners happily continue to walk the path toward self-acceptance, progress, and complete bliss.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Live Your Dreams With Yoga Practice

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

become a yoga teacherBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga instructors often manage to live their dreams, but what about the rest of the world? What if our students do not see teaching Yoga as the gateway to living an optimum life? Perhaps, students have no desire to participate in an intensive Yoga teacher training course. There has to be a way to guide students toward living their best life other than becoming a Yoga instructor.

If an individual takes a trip through the self- help section of any given bookstore, he or she will be bombarded with a great deal of books promising to hold the secret of living one’s dreams. These are consistently best sellers, often with millions of copies in print. Yet, if one looks around, how many people appear to really be living their dreams? It has been said that less than ten percent of humanity is happy with their lives.

There is certainly nothing wrong with reading and learning from other successful people. This journey of study is often a very enriching practice. However, any theory must become some form of practical action in order to make a measurable impact on day-to-day living.

I propose that daily Yoga practice is one of the best steps for individuals looking to make the dreams of their heart a reality. This may sound radical or strange at first but I assure you that it makes perfect sense.

One of the greatest obstacles to living one’s dreams is lack of knowing yourself. If you don’t actually know yourself or your dreams, how can you hope to make them a reality? Imagine a man wanting to buy something, but not knowing what it is or where any of the stores in town are.

He takes off driving aimlessly. Will he find the thing he wants to buy? Probably not – Without knowing what he is looking for, he won’t know what type of store he should try to find. Yet, he will end up somewhere eventually. Will be achieve his goal someday? Unfortunately, he will never attain a goal, if he has no particular goal in mind.

Yoga guides people to become self-aware, if only for a short period of time. They must stop living in their mental fog and pay attention to the movements during their Yoga asana practice, otherwise they will fall over, hurt themselves, or twist something the wrong way. This little seed of conscious awareness will bloom if given enough time.

The other giant obstacle to personal achievement is fear. The ego is petrified of anything that threatens its sense of self and often sabotages the best efforts of individuals to evoke positive changes in their lives. If the ego has attached the label of ‘fat’, ‘poor’ or ‘unhappy’ to itself, it will do everything in its power to make and keep it that way because anything else is a threat to its identity.

Yoga training automatically creates distance between the real individual and their “second guessing self” (the ego). Prolonged periods of distance, and deeper levels of consciousness, often free an individual from the grip of a cynical ego. This, in turn, releases the hidden resistance to change.

The other aspects of Yoga that lead to one’s dream realization include the feeling of releasing trapped vital life energy, increased health, and states of renewed vitality as a result of the practice.

Many times, individuals express guilt over their daily Yoga because they are ‘doing something for themselves’ and they feel they really should be doing something useful, but these thoughts are false.

What could be more beneficial or practical than setting the stage for achieving one’s dreams on a daily basis? The journey of a thousand miles really only consists of a single step, a step that is repeated every moment. Yoga brings people in touch with reality, which leads to positive and permanent change.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Yoga Training and Cultivating Compassion for Others

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Each Yoga teacher training intensive offers something unique. Due to what is perceived as the most important factor in teaching, Yoga schools have their interns focus on various aspects. Is fitness, therapeutic application, alignment, student safety, or compassion the most important factor in teaching Yoga students? Chances are, you feel it should be a combination of these ingredients and you realize that no two Yoga instructors are alike.

New students to Hatha Yoga are sometimes stumped by the idea of setting intentions for themselves and their practice. They usually want to focus on the purely anatomical challenges, such as “setting an intention to loosen my hamstrings.” Yet, one of the powerful things about Yoga training is its ability to address mental states, as well as the physical body. Practicing Yoga, to cultivate compassion, is a wonderful way to improve one’s own life and the lives of others and is an excellent intention for practitioners of all levels.

Compassion, or “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others,” is important to wellbeing, in a very basic sense. Those who practice compassion, produce 100 percent more DHEA, a hormone that counteracts the aging process, and 23 percent less cortisol, sometimes known as the “stress hormone.” Beyond that, compassion and altruism elevate mood, help you to live longer, and deepen your spirituality.

To bring compassion to practice, try including asanas that are known for opening the heart. Some Yoga poses to try include:

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, or Upward-Facing Dog

Sukhasana, or Easy Pose

Ardha Bhekasana, or Half Frog Pose

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, or Bridge Pose

In addition to these chest openers, which literally draw the focus to the core and heart, backbends are an excellent tool in cultivating compassion. Practitioners must heed their body’s own limits in backbends, seeking a pose that is stable and comfortable, rather than a “movie star” pose worthy of a magazine cover. Backbends require careful attention to breath and focus on the process, rather than the end result, much like compassion itself.

To cultivate mental compassion, encourage your Yoga students to imagine they are borrowing the body of someone they love for their practice. If that body were stiff, or unable to complete some poses, would they be angry? Would they be gentle with their borrowed bodies? If so, why are they less gentle with their own physical selves?

To cultivate compassion for others, there is an excellent five-step practice from Ode Magazine – a print and online publication about positive news, which was founded in the Netherlands in 1995. When meeting a new person, with attention geared to the other person, tell yourself:

Step 1: “Just like me, this person is seeking happiness in his/her life.”

Step 2: “Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life.”

Step 3: “Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness, and despair.”

Step 4: “Just like me, this person is seeking to fill his/her needs.”

Step 5: “Just like me, this person is learning about life.”

Over time, these exercises will help compassion. For one’s self and for others, gradually cultivate a Yogic mindset and make Yoga a daily part of life – on and off the mat.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio owner, 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!

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Teaching Yoga and Accepting Change

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

yoga instructor certificationBy Faye Martins

As we decide to pass the torch to others, teaching Yoga helps us to accept change, because the practice itself makes us slow down enough to become aware of the changes that have occurred and supports us in tailoring our teaching and practice to our current physical, while calming our emotional state. We are constantly reminded to breathe deeply, look within, and find out what is true for us in that moment. To move through life from that inner place of ahimsa is what each of us is taught at our foundational Yoga teacher training.

Teaching your Yoga students to accept changes, throughout life, may be their most difficult task to put into practice. Luckily, Yogic methodology is designed to help people cope with new situations, which occur on a daily basis. The practice of Yoga is a great tool for helping a practitioner to accept change.

Often, we are so busy that we are not even aware of the changes that are occurring within us and around us. Yoga helps us to slow our body, breath and mind down, so that we can become aware of our own physical and emotional state. Our bodies change daily, even hourly, sometimes we have a tremendous amount of energy and on other days, we are very tired or fatigued and need a more restorative practice.

The art of the practice of Yoga training is based on the self-awareness of what we actually need in the moment. The practice of ahimsa, or non-violence is a core element of Yogic philosophy. Once you become aware of what you need, the key is to choose a sequence of asanas, pranayama, and meditation that truly nourish you and are appropriate for you on a given day. In order to be aware of the changing nature of our present needs, we must learn to tune into our emotional and physical state of being without judgment. This includes a compassionate awareness of the changing state of our bodies and minds on a daily basis.

For example, to work in a kitchen preparing meals for two hundred retreat participants at a conference, and then engage in a vigorous two hour Yoga practice, may not be appropriate or even self-loving. You may need a much more restorative practice after a long day in the kitchen. In this context, the concept of success is self-referential. In other words, a successful practice is based on an evaluation of how well you match the practice you create to what your body, mind and spirit may need on any given day.

There are also times in our lives when we are recovering from an illness, injury or surgical procedure when we need to engage in a much more gentle Yoga practice than we are used to doing. These limitations can be very frustrating and difficult to accept, especially if you are used to engaging in a vigorous practice of Yoga asanas. As we go through the decades of our lives, the needs of our bodies and minds also change and evolve.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga instructor training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free report, newsletter, videos, podcasts, and e-Book: “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio owner, 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!

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Yoga Teacher Training – Existence and Purpose

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

yoga teacher training By Sanjeev Patel, CYT 500

Do you know your purpose? Has your guru helped open your eyes to become your own teacher. The best gurus have always encouraged their students to become empowered and independent. The best Yoga teacher is within, if you just focus on your true purpose.

It has been said that life is a successive sequence of efforts. One of us puts forth an effort to build, while another performs and equal effort to destroy what was just built. The illusion in our existence is to believe we are 100% right about everything. Yogis care about the environment, but how can an industrialist world convert to going green and still making a profit?

We may say. “It’s not all about profit.” Tell that to the board room at a foutune 500 company. We have to realize that our reality is not shared by everyone. There is a diversity of motives and aims, which are followed by a level of effort toward an objective.

In order to fully realize the amount of effort we must put forth, we must face the fact that we live in a world of illusions that are commonly mistaken for realities. One religion believes it has the right to destroy another. One business believes it has the right to destroy its competition. One government declares war on another. In each case, there is a feeling of self-rightousness within the agressor.

What can we do about it? Good little Yogis meditate, eat a sattvic diet, talk world peace, go green, and pray for a better world. Can that really be enough? It’s a real good start and an example that might leave the rest of the world puzzled. You see, you don’t have to preach, all you need do is be a good example.

It really makes people upset when you don’t hop on the war and pay back bandwagon. It’s not that we should lay down every time we’re faced with agression, but there needs to be a view that is not limited by the horizon of our limited perceptions. Luckily, we live at a time, when there are some very good world leaders.

What is your purpose as a certified Yoga instructor or a practitioners? To decrease the level of suffering for everyone. Of course, this includes good health, but it also refers to neglected social and environmental changes in every country. Yoga itself must make a meaningful effort for social and environmental change on this precious planet.

Hari Om Tat Sat

© Copyright 2011 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.

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Four Easy Steps for the Yogic Practice of Decision Making

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Yoga Teacher Training By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Many Yoga practitioners understand, that the foundational guidelines of decision making, rest in the Yamas and Niyamas. If you follow the first two limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga, you cannot go wrong. Yet, sometimes, we still make wrong turns in life. How can people make more rational decisions with a simple referencing system? Below are four practical applications that will aid you in making an important decision.

1. Accept the situation for what it is. Many people ask, “why me?” This precious time is wasted on self-pity, when we should be searching for a logical solution. Some people deny they have to make a decision. They close their ears, and shout louder than anyone within hearing distance, to avoid coming to terms with problem situations and decision making.

Although this is an extreme example of behavior that is driven by denial, it displays the need to accept and address a situation in a timely manner. To neglect a situation, through denial, can let problem situations grow out of control. Much like cancer, if we see a warning sign, it is time to react rationally, while we set self-pity and denial aside.

2. Develop a balanced perspective. Look at everything from multiple perspectives. After some deep thought, feel in your heart how a decision will rest with you. This is important because you have to live with your decisions, and your heart’s reaction, to them. Some people describe this as “gut feeling” or intuition. Either way, it is an inner assessment of a situation, based on conscience.

It is also good to listen to outside opinions, even if you disagree with them. Decisions are not always on the right or left side of the road. Siddhattha Gotama’s: “Middle Way,” and Aristotle’s: “Golden Mean,” refer to the path between two extremes. Great decision makers learn to listen to both sides and craft a compromise.

3. Create a positive energy shield. What am I talking about? Harness the positive energy within your mind, while you protect your thoughts and your outlook on life. There is always someone who believes the sky is falling. Humanity has heard the world will end tomorrow, since the first pessimist could speak or write.

In recent memory, the world was supposed to end in 1984, 2000; and now, is forecasted to end in 2012. There will always be a doomsday cult, and some day they might get it right; but they have been consistently wrong throughout history. Needless to say, you cannot make a rational decision with a pessimistic viewpoint.

An optimistic viewpoint allows us hope to find a solution. The world’s problems can be overcome, if we have rational thinkers who are in position to make important decisions for the environment and the betterment of humankind.  Yoga teachers from every part of the world should be a source of positive energy for their students. Yoga teacher training courses should include information about pranayama for the purpose of cultivating positive energy.

4. Invest time in daily meditation. Meditation works much like a mental and emotional insurance. One month of daily meditation will train the mind for rational decision making. Therefore, we should meditate, daily, for life. If you do not meditate daily, or at all, this meditation investment is for future decisions.

To train one’s mind will require time, but it is time well spent. Meditation balances the mind and creates rational thought. One of the best habits, one can develop, is daily meditation. In this way, we can address volatile situations with inner calm.

Conclusion

Yoga works best, when we learn to apply it to life, in the practical sense. The practical application of Yogic principles, toward daily life, is more important than anything we do on a Yoga mat.

© Copyright 2011 – Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Five Easy Steps to Practice Yoga for Inspiration

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

online 500 hour yoga teacher training intensiveBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yogic philosophy is based upon living in the moment. In a Hatha or Vinyasa class, students are taught pranayama (Yogic breathing) to create a connection with the mind and body. This mind and body connection makes the Yoga practitioner mindful of life as it is right now.

What is the significance of being mindful or more aware of life? To many people, this Yogic jargon about awareness or mindfulness is a mystery. Is there an easy way to explain this? Yes, mindfulness or awareness can be easily defined as “appreciation.”

How many people take the time to appreciate the little things in life? How many of us take our relationships for granted? Unfortunately, it is human to take good relationships and situations for granted. It seems the more humans have – the more humans want.  Below are five steps to enhance inspiration through the practice of Yoga.

1. Waking up with gratitude should be easy for any of us. We can be happy and inspired by being thankful for all that we have. A bird wakes up with a song in his or her heart, and so should we. To focus on happy thoughts brings states of bliss and inspiration.

2. Stop to notice people, objects, or moments we usually take for granted. This could be as simple as enjoying a good laugh or stopping to appreciate nature. Over the years, children, pets, loved ones and friends deserve time for us to focus on them. If you take the time to notice, your life will change for the best.

3. Let go of judgment. Drop the comparisons to others. This happens in life and even happens in some Yoga classes. Competition will not disappear from our lifestyles, but we do not need to become obsessed with it. The drive for material competition can take happiness out of life.

4. We attract what we think. If we think about doom and gloom, we will attract like minded people. The same is true for inspiration. If we are inspired we will attract people who are kindred souls. A person who is positive will not be attracted by a negative personality and vice versa.

5. Appreciate the magic in life. In the course of life, we see miracles happen. Some people recover from illnesses, trauma, and near death experiences. Many adults are living full lives, who would not have survived without the medical technology we see today. This is just one example, but small miracles are happening every day. It is good to appreciate these magical moments in life.

Ultimately, we practice Yoga in every aspect of our daily lives.

© Copyright 2011 – Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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 If you are a teacher, yoga school manager, 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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How to Become a Yoga Teacher – Self-Study

Saturday, December 25th, 2010

yoga teachers training center on the waterBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Where does one begin the journey of Yoga teacher training? Does Yoga instructor training start in a course, an intensive, or through years of practice with a Swami? The calling to teach any subject; stems from learning enough about the subject, to be able to guide others who wish to know more.

The first requirement of advanced training, in Yoga, is to be willing to know one’s true self. This internal study makes Yoga unique, in comparison to some subjects, which require us to study how a particular subject is related to external matters. Yogic self-study requires hours of research, practice, and modification.

To see one’s true self may be difficult because the ego is a great deceiver. The ego’s primary objective is more often related to self-protection than deceit. The Yogic practice of withdrawing the senses, and focusing on the inner self (Pratyahara), is a method for finding the truth. At the same time, Pratyahara helps the Yoga practitioner expel emotional damage.

There are many good, quality books for the study of Yoga; but the “Yoga Sutras,” by Maharishi Patanjali, and the “Hatha Yoga Pradipika,” by Swami Swatmarama, are excellent foundational references. There are many interpretations from Sanskrit to English, so it may take some cross-referencing to reach a state of clarity in reading the above-mentioned classics, however, the time is well worth it.

There are many forms of Yoga; some are not well known outside of India. Although Hatha Yoga has reached worldwide fame, it is necessary for teachers to understand the differences and similarities in the main Indian Yoga systems. After investing time in study and practice, we realize that Yoga training is a complete holistic system, which allows us to understand ourselves on the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual planes of existence.

When direct sensory perception (Pratyaksha) becomes a difficult method for finding the truth, meditation, mantra, and objective listening, may also be useful tools. Objectively listening, or reading the opinions of others, requires patience, as there are many different points of view. When we absorb opposing opinions, and rationally consider them, we may likely come to a third point of view, which is some form of a mutual agreement.

Mutual agreements and compromises are not for the selfish. Arbitration and resolution are the result of higher forms of thinking. Reconciliation is very difficult, if we cannot put the ego aside, see ourselves, and think logically.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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