Posts Tagged ‘competent Yoga teacher’

Will Yoga Help Fibromyalgia?

Monday, September 19th, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins

Although fibromyalgia is a common disorder, its cause remains a mystery. Symptoms may begin after physical or emotional trauma, stress, or illness; but its onset may also be gradual with unknown triggers. Researchers think that it results when the body amplifies pain signals to the brain, causing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and tension headaches.

Fibromyalgia is much more common in women than in men, and at this time there is no cure. Not long ago, male doctors often speculated that fibromyalgia was another one of those imaginary stress related female problems. Just to get fibromyalgia recognized as a legitimate medical problem has taken some time.

In addition to prescription drugs, doctors encourage patients to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and reduce stress. One of the ways to do this is Yoga, and a study in 2010 revealed that there might be a scientific reason for its success.

Published in the journal “Pain,” the findings showed that symptoms of fibromyalgia decreased by 30 percent in over half of the participants in the Yoga study. A control group of sufferers who maintained their normal schedules experienced no improvement in their symptoms.

According to psychologist James Carson, head of the research team, Yoga may actually change the response of the central nervous system to pain. The information revealed several interesting facts:

• The study used a modified Hatha style of Yoga that lasted two hours.

• Participants spent 40 minutes doing postures, such as Child’s Pose and Warrior I.

• An additional 80 minutes covered breathing exercises, meditation, and support groups that allowed patients to share their ways of coping with pain.

• Dr. Carson acknowledged that non-Yoga activities were major factors in pain reduction.

Another study led by Harvard professor Dr. Robert Shmerling also showed improvements in symptoms among participants who practiced Yoga. While additional research comparing Yoga to other exercises is still needed, similar studies have found gentle exercise techniques, such as tai chi, to be helpful in coping with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia patients should do low impact exercises with a well-trained teacher in a supportive environment. This points directly toward gentle yoga classes with a competent yoga teacher. Private classes may be a good option, at least in the beginning. It may also be necessary to find additional resources, such as support groups or meditation classes, to receive optimal benefits.

As in any illness, techniques like energetic bodywork and journaling may complement a gentle Yoga practice.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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Posted in Yoga for Physical Health | 1 Comment »

Hypertension and Yoga

Sunday, June 12th, 2011

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

To function properly, the human body must maintain sufficient blood pressure, to allow blood to be pushed to all extremities and flow throughout the body. However, when the blood pressure is very high, it is known as hypertension. The heart must work hard, and strain, to pump the blood volume. Hypertensive patients are at high risk for organ damage, including damage to the retina, brain, heart, and kidneys.

Yoga is shown to lower blood pressure, and those who regularly practice a Yogic lifestyle, usually enjoy lower rates of hypertension than the general population. Practicing Yoga, to control hypertension, has been proven effective – without the side effects experienced with medication.  However, proper instruction with a competent Yoga teacher and a medical professional are strongly advised.

  • Note: Anyone with hypertension should discuss their treatment with a physician, including any Yoga practice they intend to pursue.

B. K. S. Iyengar, one of the world’s foremost experts on Yoga and a teacher for 75 years, offers a number of suggestions regarding the practice of Yoga to reduce hypertension. B. K. S. Iyengar’s book, “Light on Yoga,” details the asanas, which regulate the blood pressure. Forward bends, supine positions, sitting positions, and inversions all help blood pressure, with forward bends being the fundamental asanas recommended.

  • Note: The above mentioned inversions are recommended for the purpose of “regulating” blood pressure – but may not be advised for those individuals who have high blood pressure.

B. K. S. Iyengar recommends the following Yoga poses (asanas), in particular, for the management of high blood pressure: Savasana (resting pose), Virasana (hero pose), Uttanasana (standing forward bend), Janu Sirsasana (head to knee pose), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog), and Baddha Konasana (cobbler or bound ankle pose).

These poses relieve stress and relax the sympathetic nervous system, allowing blood pressure to drop. There are also several asanas that should be avoided by people with high blood pressure. Vrksasana (tree pose) should be practiced, without the arms raised overhead.

Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose) should be modified, by turning the head to gaze downward, leaving the hand at the waist instead of raising it upward. Virabhadrasana 2 and 3 (warrior two and three), Adho Mukha Vrksasana (full arm balance) and Sirsasana (headstand) should not be practiced at all by those with hypertension.

The definitive study on Yoga and high blood pressure is considered to be Chandra Patel and W.R.S. North’s research – published in the journal, “The Lancet” in 1975 – in which 34 hypertensive patients participated. They were assigned to either to Yoga relaxation methods with bio-feedback, or given a placebo therapy (general relaxation) for six weeks.

As a fully randomized study, the results were highly significant, with blood pressure in the Yoga group falling from 168/100 to 141/84 mm. (Normal blood pressure is generally considered to be 120/80 mm.) There is every reason, for those with hypertension, to explore Yoga as a complementary treatment.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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Posted in Yoga for Medical Conditions, Yoga for Physical Health | No Comments »

Yoga Moves for Tough Guys

Saturday, May 28th, 2011

vinyasa yoga teacher certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When it comes to working out, tough guys have long adhered to the “no pain, no gain” philosophy. According to experts, however, this belief is not only faulty, but it can result in serious injury. While physical training can be rigorous, pain is not a prerequisite for success. It may actually be a warning from within one’s body to slow down or change routines.

Men have traditionally preferred competitive contact sports, but the need to win can be hard on the physical body and emotional health, as well. Professional athletes, along with other sports enthusiasts, are discovering that the practice of Yoga can help them function more effectively in contact sports, and increase their overall health and wellbeing, at the same time.

20 Ways Yoga Moves Help Tough Guys

• Teaches breathing techniques that make it easier to work through strenuous or painful routines

• Helps to release and balance uneven muscle patterns entrenched by years of rigorous training

• Improves flexibility and relaxes tight muscles

• Gives a different perspective and appreciation for “gentler” methods of exercise

• Increases awareness of sensations within the body

• Cultivates patience and helps to let go of perfectionism

• Makes other training programs more effective

• Helps to prevent injuries or to recover more quickly

• Tones muscles and improves posture

• Aids in weight control

• Slows down the aging process

• Enhances immune system and improves general health

• Encourages healthy sleep patterns

• Boosts concentration and mental acuity

• Improves organ function and circulation

• Releases endorphins that improve mood

• Enhances endurance and performance

• Breaks down lactic acid, resulting from sustained physical activity

• Works entire body

• Removes toxins from the body

If these reasons are not enough to convince tough guys of the benefits of yoga, these recent news stories might do the trick:

• Swami Bua – a Yogi, not listed in record books, because there is no written record of his birth – died in 2010, at an estimated age of 120. He could stop his circulation; and, in his later years, was still able to blow a conch shell for up to five minutes, during one breath, each year at an annual gathering, honoring the United Nations in New York City.

• Wim Hof broke his own world record in 2008 by spending for 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 48 seconds immersed in ice. He used Tummo breathing – a practice used by Yogi Monks in Tibet – to control his body temperature.

Chances are – not many men want to spend days blowing conch shells or using breathing techniques to stay alive on a freezing mountain, but these examples do illustrate the amazing power of Yoga and its potential to enable seemingly insurmountable feats. They leave little doubt of Yoga’s usefulness in the field of competitive sports and other arduous physical endeavors.

Although there are many Yoga moves (asanas) to challenge one’s strength and fortitude, the following is a short list for competitive athletes of both genders.

Yoga Moves for Tough Guys

The Sun Salutations Sequence

Dolphin Pose

Head Stand

Hand Stand

Crow Pose

Wheel Pose

Lord of the Dance Pose

As always, please consult with your primary physician or medical specialist, before starting a new exercise program.  Proper instruction with a certified and competent Yoga teacher is recommended.  Any pre-existing medical conditions or injuries must be respected by modifying techniques.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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!

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Posted in Yoga for Athletes, Yoga for Men | No Comments »

Competent Hatha Yoga Teachers Needed

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There is a perception that the world has plenty of competent Yoga teachers. Yet, when you attend a class, you discover teachers are attentive to their students and some who are not. Without speculating on the exact percentage of teachers, who are self-absorbed in their own practice during class time, we can easily imagine that this percentage of teachers is significant.

For example: If you travel from New England to California, and stop at a Yoga studio, or ashram, every three hours, you are likely to see many styles of teaching. By this, I am not referring to the style of Yoga, but to the style and competence level of each instructor you meet on this trip.

If you have been practicing any form of Yoga, for one year or more, why would you want to stay in a class with a teacher who never makes eye contact with his or her students? Some teachers do not allow for questions within the Yoga class. Again, I ask, why would students waste their time with a Yoga teacher who would not share knowledge?

The point to understand is people might think that once one completes Yoga teacher training, he or she is competent. While this may be true, in most cases, it is up to the students to observe the quality of instruction they receive.

Does Yoga teacher show compassion, modify techniques, make assists, and give constructive advice, without criticism? These are questions that the public should be asking themselves when they attend our classes. It is not enough to go out and get an impressive certification or a registration card.

Teaching Yoga is a constant learning experiencing – for both the instructor and the student. Some teachers love the stimulation they receive from continuing education. This is an excellent start; but implementing ideas learned, from continuing education, and daily experiences from the interaction with students, is the key to being the best Yoga instructor you can be.

In order to set systems in place for the best possible student experience, we have to develop a comprehensive orientation. This would start with an application, which helps you to understand each student’s physical health and emotional needs. In this way, Yoga teachers will be able to guide new students toward the best choices offered in your facility.

The next step is a formal introduction between both parties. This requires new students to understand that they want to arrive early to their first class. Admitting students, through your doors, after the class has already started, is a very unwise policy.

For example: Let’s say you decide to admit a student, who is five minutes late to class. After all – the class has begun and you are in the middle of getting your students “centered.” This disruption breaks the flow of the entire class. In addition, that student lets you know that she is four months pregnant, after the class has ended.

My point is that you need firm policies and procedures in place, for the safety of those people, who lack the knowledge about how important it is to follow guidelines. For all of the reasons listed above, there will never be too many competent Yoga teachers.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

To join our free online Yoga community of practitioners and teachers, or to learn more about our online or on-site Yoga teacher training courses, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

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Posted in Yoga Teacher Issues, Yoga Teacher Training | 5 Comments »

Teaching Hatha Yoga Classes for Relaxation and Stress Management

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

By Bhavan Kumar

There are so many reasons why public awareness of Yoga has reached this current pinnacle of popularity. Relaxation of mind, body and spirit are often named, but emotional health is very hard to control when people are under constant pressure to work harder and faster than ever before.

Emotional health must be mastered to live a quality life. Listed below are five Yoga asanas, which should be learned from a competent Guru or Yoga teacher. As you learn to master the following asanas, you should work to calm yourself in every phase of your life.

Paschimottanasana- forward bend: it gives a intense massage to the internal organs, regulating the intestines and the digestive system. It also reinvigorates the nervous system while at the same time calming the mind and releasing the legs and back.

Sarvangasana – shoulder stand: allows the heart and the circulation to rest. The brain and nervous system are replenished with a fresh flow of blood. This is not a beginner’s asana. The mind is also calmed and on an esoteric level, this pose grounds us. Viparita Karani, which is also known as inverted lake, or legs up the wall pose, is also an option.

Halasana – plough: releases the back bringing flexibility to the spine and neck. It also releases tension from the cervical region and the internal organs are also massaged.

Matsyasana – Fish: is a self massage for the neck and shoulders, an area which often holds much tension. The heart is also opened allowing a release of any energetic blockages and it activates the thyroids which regulate digestion, our growth & development amongst other regulating capacities.

Savasana – corpse pose: the final relaxation postures where we allow the nervous system to recalibrate with the renewed energy. Also worth noting that although we tend to ‘rest’ without doing anything, this may be while watching the television, reading a book and so forth and therefore still expand energy. In Savasana, we allow the body, mind and soul to rest fully and to reconnect.

In addition to these poses, Ustrasana (Camel Pose) or Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), would also make good complimentary backbends for those concerned with balancing the spinal structure, while aligning the energy centres. If you are a Yoga teacher concerned with structural alignment, please be sure to follow your Guru’s instructions for balancing the asana sequence to avoid too many forward bending postures.

Halasana and Pashmitonasana would both work on massaging the digestive system and releasing the thyroids where Sarvangasana and Halasana would rejuvenate the upper body with a fresh supply of energy.

Yoga postures alone will help reduce stress, but a complete Hatha Yoga class needs pranayama, relaxation techniques, and meditation for optimum results.

© Copyright 2010 – Bhavan Kumar / Aura Publications

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Practice Hatha Yoga, for Chronic Stress Relief, to Save Your Life

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga can break the cycle of continual stress. We know that chronic stress is linked to a variety of health problems and can cause death. When you are stressed out, hormones, such as – Cortisol and Adrenaline, are released into your body to give you extra strength in an emergency situation. However, long term affects of releasing cortisol and adrenaline, into your body, can result in heart disease and potential suicide.

Among the most necessary reasons, to practice Yoga, is the resulting state of inner peace during and after a session. Multi-tasking, stress, worry, and negative thoughts work against obtaining peace of mind. How can Yoga help people who are worried about their families, employment, and health care? Let’s discuss the healing powers of Yoga, and how you can reap the rewards of inner peace.

If you have problems that are blended with chronic stress, it is difficult to sort out the origin of your anxiety. Most people worry when they see an impending problem. Worrying is only a natural reaction to stress overload. However, have you ever met one person who claimed that worrying solved a problem?

Problems are much easier to solve when we train our minds to focus on solutions. This is where a regular Yoga practice helps us to take control of fear and worry. It is hard to see reality when we are consumed with fear. Many times, the amount of worrying people do has nothing to do with reality. People often worry about potential problems.

On the other hand, if the problem is real, time spent practicing Yoga will allow one to find inner calm and solutions. Hatha Yoga helps people of all ages learn to cope with stress. Most beginners are attracted to the physical postures (asanas), or the flowing of physical postures, with breath, in a sequence (vinyasa).

While there are much deeper practices to be realized within Hatha Yoga, the physical postures tend to be the main attraction on this journey of self-discovery. As time passes, the practitioner becomes much more aware of pranayama (Yogic breathing), niyama, yama, and the many variations of Yogic meditation.

When we read Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras,” we begin to notice that our superficial view of Yoga is much like a child’s view of the world. Our view of Yoga is a fresh start. Most of us easily believe in what we see and what we feel. This is the reason why the Hatha style became so popular when it was exposed to the world. Physical benefits are easier to realize than mental, spiritual, or emotional benefits.

Therefore, a stressed-out person will find complete relief by finding a competent Yoga teacher, learning the Yogic methods for obtaining inner peace, and will be reassured when the physical and mental benefits are realized. The deeper benefits will be revealed, as the practitioner continues on the Yogic path.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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

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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How to Practice Your Best Yoga

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Yoga PracticeBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

No matter which form of Yoga you practice, or teach, you begin to notice talent levels. Our teachers may have instructed us not to be competitive, and to avoid judging, but that is what people do. Judging time, speed, and distance can keep you safe in traffic; just as much as judging saved primal humans, who hunted and gathered for a living.

How do we avoid making comparisons to others and move forward in our Yoga practice? The answer is to look within and find contentment in your practice. It will take time to find your way. It takes years of study to be the best you can be at anything. This is a time when taking the short cut to everything is mass marketed.

If you are told you can lose weight, permanently, in 30 days, do you believe it? This same lesson applies to Yoga and all aspects of life. To improve at anything, you must invest time in practice, study – more practice and more study. As much as advertisers might try to convince you otherwise, there is no quick fix for hard work and dedication.

In Hatha Yoga, photography and our competitive nature have created new sub-styles, which focus on being the best and winning. To be honest, sport and fitness styles have a place in Yoga and in life. Most of us have entered competition for something that we found significant. It is part of life to compete, but that only scratches the superficial surface of fitness Yoga.

The experienced Hatha practitioner begins to realize that deeper aspects may point toward Raja, Karma, Jnana, and Bhakti Yoga practice. We begin to see Yoga as a healer of many ailments. This transition usually takes years to process, even if we study under the careful guidance of a competent Yoga teacher.

As much as some humans may try to avoid it, hard work and dedication are significant parts of life. They build character and shape our way of thinking. In fact, humanity has plenty of hard work on the horizon. We can deny global warming, as we see glaciers and mountain tops melt; or we can work together toward solutions for future generations.

In life, and in every form of Yoga practice, we begin to understand that natural talent will carry us only to a finite point. In order to move beyond that point, we have to invest in research and development.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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

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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