By Jenny Park

Sequencing is important in any yoga class. There are many different variations of proper sequencing, with no one specific sequence superior to another. Sequencing makes a difference in the way the class flows. It would seem awkward and tedious if students were asked to sit, stand, lay, stand, sit, and so on. A good flow of poses lends gracefulness to a yoga class, making it feel smooth and natural. Instructors must carefully plan sequences, as well as anybody wishing to practice yoga in their home.

General sequences begin with poses that warm-up the body’s muscles, then continue to progress to more advanced poses, and end with poses that cool-down the body and mind. Poses are usually performed one time, but for a variation, a sequence might repeat poses two or three times with emphasis on a different aspect of the posture each time. Some sequences might also include one pose that is returned to again and again. Sequences can vary based on the difficulty level of the class, or the individual needs of the students. Like other aspects of a yoga practice, there is no right or wrong way to sequence, but rather a best way for each person.

When developing a general sequence for a diverse class of yoga students, begin with warm-up and centering poses. Choose a warm-up based on the theme of the class. If the class focus is to relax and unwind, spend more time breathing and meditating. If the focus is to invigorate, spend more time warming up the whole body and getting the blood flowing. Ask students to sit in a comfortable position, and lead a basic pranayama, or breathing exercise such as alternate nostril breathing, or deep belly breathing. Continue for a few minutes. Begin warming up the body with some slow neck rolls and shoulder lifts. Move to an all-fours position to warm up the spine with cat-cow pose, or plank. Progress to downward dog or a forward bend and continue by performing a sun salutation to get the blood flowing, or balance poses to work on focus and concentration.

As you progress into the “heart” of the class, keep similar poses grouped together. For example, complete a series of standing poses like triangle, warrior, and forward bend variations before moving to seated yoga poses. Then perform all postures that originate from a seated or all fours position, like lunges, sitting forward bends, or hip openers. Then you can end with lying down poses like cobra, spinal twists, and bow pose. Finish with corpse pose and another round of breathing to complete the class.

© 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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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!

By Faye Martins

Anyone can turn and bend statistics to give you a variety of different outcomes. The facts are we can only guess how many people practice Yoga in classes and at home. There may be a large number of “closet Yoga practitioners” out there, quietly doing Sun Salutations and meditating at home.

Yoga Journal magazine estimates that 7.5% of the US population has taken a Yoga class or plans to take one in the next six months, totaling approximately 23 million people. But what if people received instruction at home, with feedback on their balance and positioning, and an opportunity to challenge themselves over time? Is it possible, or is it just marketing?

Over 22 million copies of Wii Fit, a fitness “game” designed for the Nintendo Wii and including a Yoga instruction segment, had been sold as of May 2010. The Wii Fit program utilizes a “balance board,” which measures pressure in each foot as you stand on it, determining the center of gravity and even the body mass index (BMI) of the practitioner. While using the Yoga program, one executes poses standing on the board or with hands or feet on the board, and the game provides feedback on how steady the pose is. It can even suggest adjustments based on how much pressure is being placed on the arms or legs.

Critics of the game claim that the instructor avatar gets some poses wrong, and performing the poses on a slightly elevated balance board can be awkward. Others insist that the lack of flow from pose to pose keeps the exercise from being a true Yoga experience. The BMI calculator has been the target of many complaints, and Nintendo issued an apology in 2008 to customers “offended by the in-game terminology used to classify a player’s current BMI status.”

Still, from a statistical measurement perspective, the balance board can be useful. Noting where one’s center of balance is and such problems as favoring one side or putting too much weight in one’s hands may be missed during regular practice, but are tracked visually on the Wii. In addition, results are recorded over time, so improvements to balance or core strength are easily visible.

If viewed as one tool, alongside regular practice and a healthy lifestyle, the Wii Fit Yoga program can be considered valuable for advancement. Just don’t expect your online avatar to experience the peace that comes when you spend time on the mat.

© 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!

By Bhavan Kumar

Many ardent spiritual aspirants may wonder about practicing Yoga before receiving Shaktipat. Shaktipat is the transmission of divine spiritual energy from a meditation master to a student. In Yogic philosophy, the dormant spiritual energy that exists in seed form in every human being lies coiled like a snake three and a half times at the base of the spine. When an enlightened meditation master awakens this energy by channeling divine grace from God to the devotee, the devotee’s spiritual energy is awakened. This awakened energy will help to enliven and guide the student’s quest for health, well-being and divine realization.

Receiving the gift of Shaktipat from a realized master is incredibly helpful in energizing and illuminating the depth and meaning of spiritual practices and teachings. However, awakening the Kundalini energy through Shaktipat is not absolutely necessary before beginning a strong practice of Yoga asanas, pranayama exercises and meditation techniques. These ancient and time-tested Yogic practices offer great benefits to a Yogi or Yogini with or without the gift of Shaktipat. In ancient India, Yogic practices were often practiced for many years in preparation for the experience of the awakening of the Kundalini energy.

Yoga asanas or postures and breathing exercises prepare a student for Shaktipat initiation by strengthening and balancing all of the muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues in the body. The physical postures also increase flexibility and the ability to sit comfortably for extended meditation sessions. Additionally, Yoga asanas in conjunction with pranayama exercises help to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which allows the student to be in a state of alert calmness and witness-consciousness, thereby alleviating a sense of preoccupation, anxiety and depression. The physical postures also cleanse and invigorate all of the internal organs and the energy body that is comprised of thousands of pathways referred to in Yoga as “nadis.”

All of these physical benefits are energizing and life-sustaining for a Yoga student. Yoga asanas and breathing exercises will help to keep a student’s body and mind healthy, strong, balanced and relaxed. These benefits are life-enhancing prior to or after receiving Shaktipat. The meditation techniques espoused by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras are also wonderful tools that can help to prepare a Yoga student for the awakening of the Kundalini energy and/or support a Yoga student in optimizing good mental health and a sense of optimism. Both the physical and mental/emotional benefits of a regular practice of Yoga are incredibly important to maintaining a Yoga student’s balance and well-being in today’s fast-paced world.

© 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!

Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Aura Wellness Center, speaks to you about an easy approach to performing a Chin Lock.

By Barbara J. Euser

Yoga is a complete system for improving the health of the body and the mind. Although many people begin to practice yoga for its physical benefits, they immediately begin to learn that yoga is much more than an exercise program. Yoga offers psychological benefits through the practice of the asanas and also through meditation, which may be part of all Yoga classes. Ultimately, Yoga moves beyond physical and mental health to include spiritual improvement and well-being. Yoga is so rich and complex that it is more correctly referred to as a way of life – a very healthy way of life.

On the physical side, yoga asanas are a gentle form of exercise that allows the gradual stretching of muscles: forward bends, back bends, twists and inversions from seated, standing and prone positions. The body itself provides resistance, so there is no need for additional equipment like the weights used in other exercise programs. Unlike the violent muscle movements advocated in other physical exercise programs, Yoga is non-violent and moderately paced. Bodies toned by yoga exercise are strong without overdeveloped muscles. They are supple from stretching in every direction.

Each of the asanas benefits one or more of the body’s systems: respiration, circulation, alimentation or elimination. As one performs the various asanas, circulation increases. Blood flows more freely throughout the entire body and circulatory problems may begin to correct themselves. If a practitioner has certain health issues, they can be addressed through the choice of asanas that are known to benefit that condition. For example, a number of asanas such as Knees to the Chest, Plough Posture (Halasana) and Child Posture aid digestion and help to correct constipation.

Yoga asanas can be done at any level from the most basic to the most advanced. As coordination and mobility increase and muscles become more flexible and supple, the practitioner can perform more difficult asanas. A number of asanas can be seen as a series of poses that move from less challenging to more challenging. For example, in Tree Pose (Vrksasana) at the easiest level, the hands are held in prayer position. Next, the hands are held over the head. Then Tree may become Toppling Tree as the practitioner becomes more stable moving about while balancing on one leg. From Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana), one may drop one’s legs into Plough Position and move through several variations of Plough before returning to Shoulder Stand. Head Stand (Sirsasana) may be done with vertical legs, spread legs, horizontal legs, folded legs, legs in Lotus Position, and body twists.

Many of the most difficult asanas are beyond the ability of those who have practiced for many years. The challenge never disappears. Although Yoga may prove endlessly challenging for the fit, it is also infinitely adaptable. Yoga can be adapted for practice with children, pregnant women and the aged. Yoga asanas may be adapted for people who have limited mobility, for example, people who are grossly overweight. They may begin a Yoga practice sitting in a chair. They may be able to do only the arm movements of the postures to begin with. They may use the chair to assist them with their balance in standing asanas. They may not be able to get up from being seated on the floor, but with aid of a chair to prop their legs on, they may be able to approximate some seated asanas. The success they achieve with these modified postures may inspire them to do more and eventually begin to tackle their most significant health issues. From children through adults, from pregnant women to those have impaired mobility to the aged, everyone benefits from the physical exercises including breath control. Yoga – like health – is a lifelong pursuit.

Breathing deeply and fully is one of the most basic elements of good health. Unfortunately, because breathing is accomplished automatically, unless people begin to practice yoga or meditation, they often remain unaware of how they breathe. The study of pranayama in yoga is critical to maintaining good health. Yoga increases our awareness of how we breathe. Once we become aware of how we breathe, we can begin to breathe consciously, aware of each inhale, each exhale and the pauses in between inhaling and exhaling. Yogis have determined that there is an ideal ratio for the phases of breathing. Exhalation should take twice as long as inhalation and the pause between inhalation and exhalation should be four times as long as inhalation. Thus the ideal ratio is 1:4:2. One is not expected to achieve this ratio instantly. As one begins to work with the breath, one can use a ratio of 1:2 for inhalation and retention, then move to 1:4. With exhalation the ratio can be 1:4:4 until one can manage 1:4:2. This way of breathing is far from the way we ordinarily breathe. It requires practice to fully breathe into the diaphragm, as most of us normally breathe into only the upper part of our lungs. We tend to ignore our diaphragms. Learning to breathe in Yoga is learning to breathe for the first time.

As people age and become less active, their breathing tends to become more and more shallow. If they do not exert themselves from time to time so that they have a reason to breathe deeply, their lungs are never fully inflated. The unused areas of the lungs become susceptible to disease and infections such as pneumonia. However, practitioners of yoga learn to breathe into the deepest parts of their lungs and keep oxygen flowing throughout the entire respiratory system.

Pranayama may be performed as a separate practice, or pranayama exercises may be included in a Yoga class. Additional pranayama exercises include breathing through one nostril, breathing in alternate nostrils, and breathing through alternate nostrils and retaining breath. After one does pranayama exercises, even though one returns to normal breathing, the element of increased awareness remains. If people can maintain healthy breathing habits, they can live fuller lives for a longer time.

Yoga advocates a healthy diet: fruit, nuts, grains, vegetables, pulses and milk products including butter, yogurt and cheese. The yoga diet does not include meat, poultry, fish, eggs or alcohol. According to Yoga, there are three categories of food. The food that Yogis consume is called Sattvic, or pure food. The category of food that contains meat, poultry, fish and eggs is called Rajasic. This category also contains spicy food and strong-flavored food. The third category of food is called Tamasic. This category includes foods that are rotten or overripe. This category is considered the worst category of food for people to consume. Unfortunately, for meat to become tender, it is often allowed to age, which is synonymous with beginning to rot. Eating meat in this case is not only Rajasic, it is Tamasic food.

If Yoga practitioners cannot become complete vegetarians, at least they can consciously limit the amount of meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and alcohol they consume to a modest amount. Or they may consume small amounts of eggs and fresh fish and forego aged red meat. There are many possible compromises. Again, consciousness of our diet, like consciousness of breathing, enables us to control that aspect of our lives. Even in their diet Yoga practitioners are non-violent.Yoga practitioners are vegetarian because they believe it is a healthier diet and also because they abhor the violence of killing animals for food.

Because of their diet and breathing and exercise, yoga practitioners begin to appear differently. Their bodies respond to the physical demands of asanas, becoming thinner and more flexible. As they breathe deeply, they more fully oxygenate the blood that flows throughout their bodies and their skin looks healthier. Then physical changes connect to mental changes. The slow, thoughtful movements of yoga asanas promote a calming of the spirit. As our bodies adopt the rhythm of vinyasa – asana flow – and focus on pranayama – breathing – our minds become more centered. Calm, centered minds are better able to deal with the elements of stress we encounter in our daily lives.

The physical practice of Hatha Yoga leads naturally to the practice of Raja Yoga: meditation. A part of each yoga class can be devoted to meditation, either guided or unguided. As pranayama increases awareness of what is going on in our lungs, meditation increases awareness of what is going on in our minds. As we become aware of the incessant, unconnected thoughts streaming through our minds – the “monkey chatter” – we can learn to release those thoughts and, as a result, release our minds from the stress those thoughts cause.

When we practice Yoga meditation, we sit comfortably on the ground, legs crossed in a position we can maintain for the duration of the meditation. For some people this is the Easy Position, for others it may be Lotus (Padmasana) position. Those who are uncomfortable crossing their legs may sit with their legs folded underneath them in Thunderbolt position. Those who cannot sit on the ground can sit in a straight-backed chair with their feet flat on the ground. The important thing is to ground oneself – preferably in actual contact with the ground. The spine should be straight to allow energy to flow up and down unimpeded.

Yoga meditation requires concentration (Dharana), which may be on a point which one sees with one’s eyes, such as a candle flame or flower blossom in Trataka; on an audible sounds or series of sounds, as in Mantra meditation; or on a visual form such as a mandala in Yantra meditation. While we concentrate in meditation, our feelings of stress are suspended.

Some doctors believe that all physical illness arises from stress. According to Dr. Ben Johnson, “We’ve got a thousand different diagnoses and diseases out there. They’re just the weak link. They’re all the result of one thing: stress. If you put enough stress on the chain and you put enough stress on the system, then one of the links breaks.” As we relieve stress through meditation, we not only improve our mental health, we increase our potential for physical health. Yoga teaches us that our mental and physical systems are intrinsically linked: they are one.

The ultimate goal of yoga is to allow the practitioner to become one with God, Atman, Higher Consciousness, The Force. In that sense, physical and mental health are only by-products of the journey – but what valuable by-products they are!

Barbara J. Euser is a certified Yoga teacher.  She teaches Yoga classes in Lakonia, Greece.

Those who practice yoga tend to have a distinctive physical appearance that is attractive and highly sought after. Their bodies usually have better than average muscle tone and are flexible, their erect posture is a statement of self-confidence, while the skin is radiant and supple. As a result, many individuals take up yoga for reasons that are purely skin deep, only to be surprised and disappointed to find that their skin seems to experience the opposite effect. Instead of a clear, bright and luminous complexion they are plagued by excessive oil, blemishes and congestion of pores. Due to a Yogic lifestyle, this is easily remedied.

When people first start practicing yoga, they sometimes experience an extremely negative reaction from the skin. Their bodies have dramatic flare ups of inflamed acne that are most unpleasant. This is normal at first and is due to the detoxification of the body and skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and sweating is one of the body’s ways of dealing with toxins. This initial detoxification period should pass quickly with continued yoga practice. It’s well worth working through this beginning phase.

Always cleanse the skin immediately after yoga practice to prevent unnecessary breakouts. Sweat and oil trap toxins on the surface of the skin where they have nowhere else to go but into the pores, leading to a poor looking complexion. Facial cleansing cloths are a good choice for cleansing the face away from home and can be easily kept in a yoga bag for convenience.

Another important step is to keep the yoga mat sterilized and free of impurities since the skin has a lot of contact with the surface during a typical yoga class. One of the easiest ways to keep a yoga mat in a perpetually clean state is to spray it down with a mat cleaning solution after each use.

Once these steps have been taken it’s time to examine the old skincare routine to see if any changes are needed. For example, scrubs are excellent for stimulating blood flow to the skin, but are rendered excessive when used in conjunction with daily yoga practice since yoga gets blood moving to the face and scalp quite effectively. It may be wise to replace harsh treatments with gentler alternatives in order to restore balance. Be mindful of the new needs of the skin after taking up yoga practice and react accordingly. This will make all the difference.

With blemishes no longer an issue, one may focus on promoting the anti-aging effects of yoga. The most effective way of doing this is to increase the amount of healthy foods that are eaten on a daily basis. The inversions of yoga practice promote increased blood flow to the face and neck, so giving the blood more nutrients to carry to these areas is an easy way to maximize the benefits of yoga practice for the skin. Try to consume as many different colors of fruits and vegetables as possible on a daily basis, and consider drinking a few cups of tea every day for the antioxidant content. This dietary nutritional support will be good for the entire body, including the face.

The main thing is to be mindful of the skin, always seeking to bring it into balance. By doing so, yoga will have a positive impact on the overall health and texture of the complexion.

© 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!

By Faye Martins 

Although Yoga has become a part of mainstream life, the word still conjures up visions of thin, flexible bodies in complex postures. In fact, many people who realize that everyone from cancer patients to senior citizens practice yoga still think of it as a physical discipline only. There are many forms of Yoga which yield emotional, mental, and spiritual health benefits.

The truth is that only one of Yoga’s eight limbs – Asana – involves the practice of physical poses. The other seven deal with everything from meditation and breathing to morality and concentration.

It is not my intention to discuss all of the limbs, which Patanjali describes within the Yoga Sutra, but to encourage you to think in-depth about one specific sub-category of Niyama, which you may know as “Tapas.”

Niyama, the second limb, is a Sanskrit word that means ‘laws’ or ‘rules’; and its practice involves personal integrity. One of the five concepts of Niyama is Tapas, meaning ‘discipline’ or ‘austerity’. Tapas concerns the action of keeping the body healthy and controlling the inner cravings without exhibiting them externally. Literally, it is translated as ‘to burn’ or ‘to heat’ and signifies purification or cleansing.

Interesting Facts about Tapas 

• The practice of Asana (postures) and Pranayama (breathing) help to keep the physical body in shape.

• In order to fully practice Yoga, one should have burning desire to keep the body clean.

• A healthy diet and adequate sleep are necessary to keep the body pure.

• Tapas stresses moderation and purity of all things, including actions, bodily intake, and senses.

• All thoughts and actions should bring the mind closer to the Divine.

• Activities should be for the benefit of the greater good, not for selfish gain.

• Purification involves sacrifice but leads to greater gains in the long run.

• A common means of practicing Tapas is fasting, or cleansing.

• Tapas may involve striving for a spiritual, physical, or mental goal.

• Spiritual practices and inner cleansing are manifested in the outer body.

• Prayer, meditation, positive thinking, and kind words or deeds lead to purification.

• The ultimate goal of purification is union with God or entering Nirvana.

A person who adheres to ascetic practices in an attempt to achieve the level of the great teachers, such as Buddha or Jesus, is called a Tapasvi. The everyday yoga practitioner, however, need not spend long hours meditating in an ashram to benefit from Tapas. Much like the Golden Rule, it is just a healthy and moral way to live.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

© 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!

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!

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When the first Yogi practiced pranayama (Yoga breathing) to silence the mind, the results must have seemed magical. At times, calming the mind seems to be a miracle.  The mind chatters so much during the course of a day, by creating waves of random and senseless thoughts.  Thank heaven for Yogic breathing techniques, which manage to connect the mind and body in complete harmony, and enable us to silence, focus, and calm the mind, in the process.

In the time spent living our day-to-day lives, we all have stress that we must deal with in a rational way. The way we deal with our stress triggers can have a profound impact on our lives.  Chronic stress has negative effects on the body, such as high blood pressure, so it must be dealt with in a healthy way. Whether we incorporate pranayama into daily activities, or we practice them during a Yoga session, they can be powerful tools for quieting the mind’s worries and reducing one’s stress levels.

Pranayama Ratio for Rhythm Breathing

One breathing technique many Yoga enthusiasts practice is called, “rhythm breathing.”  This is a way to focus on your inhale and exhale ratio. It is a great method for clearing the mind and energizing the body. To perform this exercise, sit or stand, in any comfortable position you choose. Find the rhythm of your natural breathing ratio.  This may take some time, and it must be realized that your natural ratio may not be found in a book, because it is unique to your body and mind.

The typical ratio Yoga practitioners are taught to target is one part inhalation to two parts exhalation (1:2).  What if you discover you naturally inhale for four seconds and exhale for five seconds (4:5)?  Should you stress out over making your breath match a “cookie cutter” ratio?  The short answer is: “Absolutely not.”  No worries – just enjoy your breath, as if you were a child in a candy store.  If you decide you want to lengthen your inhale, just quietly practice Ujjayi on the exhale.  Suddenly, your exhale increases to seconds, or many seconds, longer.  You can do this form of pranayama any time or during any stressful situation.  Try to do this in the morning, and night, to prepare yourself for the stresses of the day, or relieve them from your mind before sleep.

Breath Awareness Technique

Another way to practice Yoga breathing to silence the mind is the “breath awareness” technique. It can be practiced anywhere as a de-stressor. To do this, sit or stand up straight. Close your eyes, or if you are in a public place, choose a soft point to focus your eyes on, such as a tree or picture on the wall. Inhale deeply and concentrate on fully expanding your stomach, filling your lungs with oxygen. As you exhale, gently draw your stomach toward your spine, and imagine pushing out all the negative thoughts that you store in your mind. Repeat as many times as you need, until you feel relaxed and in control.

Practicing these techniques, regularly, creates a healthier body and stronger mind. It is important to get in the habit of practicing deep, relaxing breathing, whenever you are in a tense situation or whenever you feel your heartbeat begin to quicken. You will be much better able to handle stress in the future, silence negative thoughts, and have a secret weapon to get through anything.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our complete selection of Yoga teacher training courses, please feel free to visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/Teacher-Courses/

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!

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga provides many physical and mental benefits. One of the most overlooked benefits of Yoga is healthy and beautiful skin. Most people do not decide to practice Yoga for skin benefits. However, you need only to look at mature Yoga practitioners to see the amazing effect that Yoga has on the skin.

While it takes regular Yoga practice and a healthy diet, many people experience a remarkable improvement in their facial complexion and overall healthy appearance of their skin. Yoga increases blood flow and removes toxins from the body. This increased blood flow develops a youthful appearance and reduces the toxins that are released through the skin. The toxins are damaging to the skin, often creating a dry skin surface, with a dull appearance. In addition, the increased blood flow provides essential nutrients to the skin and also aides in collagen production. Collagen is essentially the elastic in the skin. As people age, collagen production diminishes and supple skin disappears.

Yoga develops a healthy mind, body, and soul. This practice relieves tension and stress. Tension and stress are two significant factors in the aging process. If you compare two people of the same age, similar jobs, and similar environmental factors, you will clearly see a stunning difference between the person who practices Yoga and the person who does not engage in physical activity. The person, who practices Yoga, will look significantly younger, which results in a much healthier appearance.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. If the body is ill, the skin reflects this. You rarely see an ill person with radiant skin. If the inside of the body is healthy, then the skin will reflect that health. Many people are beginning to recognize Yoga as one of the best natural anti-aging tools. The health benefits of Yoga, for improving one’s skin, are drawing many people to the practice. In this youth driven culture, Yoga is becoming the most popular method for staying healthy and looking younger.

Conclusion

To achieve the “Yoga glow,” requires a regular practice of at least two times per week. Of course, avoiding excessive sun exposure, alcohol, and smoking plays a role in developing healthy skin and maintaining a youthful appearance. A regular Yoga practice, with a balanced diet and consumption of good quality drinking water, will help one achieve the best possible appearance. This formula will gradually translate into a healthy and radiant appearance. The benefits of Yoga for skin are a bonus for those who have incorporated Yoga into their daily lives.

All of the techniques learned in a typical Yoga class will help practitioners achieve radiant skin. Pranayama techniques increase oxygen flow throughout the body. Asana techniques strengthen, stretch, and tone the body below the surface of skin, but they also relieve tension and stress. Relaxation and meditation enhance mental health, while keeping emotional health in control. Finally, the Yogic lifestyle of moderation helps practitioners to form good dietary and exercise habits.

© Copyright 2011 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

To see our complete selection of Yoga teacher training courses, please feel free to visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/Teacher-Courses/

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

Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Aura Wellness Center, shows several modifications and variations of backbends with guest Yoga Yang. Part II of this two part series.