Posts Tagged ‘yoga in practice’

Yoga in Practice – Sustain Your Level of Inspiration

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

Yoga - Lotus positionBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

How can Yoga help people live inspired lives? Yoga is perceived by many to be a physical exercise system, only. Some Yoga classes teach nothing about the eight limbs of Yoga. The entire practice may be devoted to posturing only. How can a practitioner, with only a taste of Yoga, learn about the deeper aspects and benefits of this practice?

Here is how Yoga inspires the mind, body, and spirit. Many people see inspiration as a form of motivation. Inspiration is much different from motivation. Motivation (positive energy) is the fuel that encourages people to get out of bed every morning. Inspiration is a sustained, and controlled level, of motivation. More to the point – inspiration is the arousal of the mind, due to higher levels of motivation and creativity.

Yoga practitioners learn to create higher levels of motivation, and creativity, at will. Thus, there is a steady supply of fuel for inspiration, through regular Yoga practice. For most people, it is a puzzle to maintain higher levels of positive energy.

Hatha Yoga teachers, and students, create a perpetual source of positive energy through the daily practice of meditation, pranayama, asana, niyama, and yama. One who does not practice a Yogic lifestyle may ask – How is it possible to achieve so much by practicing Yoga?

The answer is not complicated. All aspects of Yoga aid the practitioner to cultivate positive energy. Most people understand how pranayama can help one cultivate positive energy, because the physically feel it. Yet, practicing Yama or Niyama, for cultivating positive energy, which leads to inspiration, may be a mystery.

If we practice ahimsa (non-harming), how can we feel inspiration? This level of inspiration is emotional, mental, and spiritual, in nature. If we see our pet chewing on an electrical cord, we may purposely distract this animal to avoid harm. We do not have to hit a pet to help it. We may be concerned about future lessons, but we feel good because we helped our pet avoid a life-threatening situation.

There are many lessons for us to consider, within this one example. The Yoga Sutras refer to five yamas and five niyamas. The foundation of Yogic principles can be found within yama and niyama. Yoga is a lifestyle. Ahimsa is just one Yama, but practicing ahimsa is inspiring.

The opposite of harming is helping. You practice ahimsa by helping as much as by not harming. Helping others makes you feel better about your life, by giving you purpose, positive energy, and ultimately – inspiration.

Practicing yama and niyama is practicing the Yoga described by Patanjali. Yama and Niyama are the first two, of the eight limbs, described in the Yoga Sutras. Many practitioners of Yoga still know little about yama, niyama, or Patanjali, but the knowledge is slowly spreading worldwide.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

To see our complete selection of Yoga teacher certification 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

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Yoga in Practice – Enjoy Your Life Right Now

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The motto of every Yoga session is “live in the moment.” Many of us try to live for now, but we wait in anticipation for better weather to come, a bill to be paid off, or our soul mate to arrive. We might put tasks off and create a new method for wasting time. Let us look at taking our Yoga practice off the mat, and bring it into practical use for daily life and solve two common problems.

Anticipation: This is a wonderful human quality, based upon planning for the future. Yet, life should be enjoyed right now. It is good to have plans for the future, but never forget to enjoy this day. While looking at a long-term goal, it is easy to forget those who love us. Enjoy your friends and family each day – as if it was your last day on earth.

Even during Yoga teacher training sessions, some interns become so fixated on completion of their work, that they realize later how much happiness they have missed. It is great to be focused, but we must allow ourselves to experience inner peace when an opportunity arises. A strong work ethic is a wonderful quality, but humans are not designed to be one dimensional.

How do you balance work and play? This is an age old question, but the keyword is “balance.” We need to be moderate in every aspect of life. Work too hard and you run yourself down. Play too much and the world passes you by. The answer is: Live a moderate lifestyle and you will receive the best of both worlds.

Procrastination: This quality is often associated with laziness. We may see it in work most often. It is a method for getting rid of friends and making the world a smaller place for ourselves. Who wants to defend a co-worker, who puts off completing assignments? Who wants the added burden of extra work to make up for someone who never finishes his or her work?

On a personal note: How often do you hear someone say, “I’ll practice Yoga after I lose 50 pounds?” In other words: This person will never practice any form of Yoga, but you can clearly see that Yoga practice would help the quality of his or her life. You may maintain a relationship with this person for life, but it is hard to watch someone put everything off, including the time each of us should invest in maintaining the quality of our health.

If we want to enjoy our life, we have a choice. Some of us enjoy life to our last day, while others look back, too far forward, at the stars, or sleep through it as if life was a boring movie. If we practice any form of Yoga long enough, we begin to realize the value of each precious moment.

© 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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Yoga in Practice – Manifest the Law of Attraction

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Tree PosePaul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga has been called, or explained as, many things. There are many forms of Yoga, but all of them lead to clarity in our senses of judgment. Granted, there are some of us who do not listen to logical advice, but with age, comes the wisdom to absorb ideas, which become clearly apparent.

Yoga allows each of us to see the hidden truths in life. When something is clearly revealed to the mind, it seems as if we should have been able to see an obvious truth all along. Yet, some will say that life is a matter of lucky coincidences. Is life just a matter of being in the right place and time, or do we miss opportunities on a daily basis?

There is no luck involved, when our minds are trained to focus on the power of attraction. If we truly want to make a change, we must take the first step toward realization of a new path, which was not seen before. It’s time to look at life with an open mind. Opportunities are always around us; especially if we program our minds to look for them.

This is why the mental, emotional, and spiritual growth, attained during Yoga practice, is so valuable. Many people practice Yoga on the physical level, for years, without self-awareness. Then one day, they realize they have gone through a massive transformation since the beginning of practicing Yoga.

The benefits such as stress management, anger management, empowerment, and self discipline, have slowly transformed one’s personality and character with long- term Yoga practice. So what does transformation and self-realization have to do with the Law of Attraction?

For most of us, we may attain a finite state of awareness, but it is enough to realize that we must act on opportunities when they present themselves. It is not enough to for us practice wishful thinking. Focused thinking is more powerful, but it must be followed up with action.

Therefore, the Law of Attraction may attract situations where precise action is needed. This leads us to action and the Law of Karma, which is also known as the Law of Cause and Effect. A trained mind can recognize an opportunity that may not be apparent to one who sees the dark side of everything.

A trained mind realizes that there is a “window of opportunity” for action to take place; for any action we take, will be answered by an equivalent reaction.

© 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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Yoga in Practice – Three Steps to Train the Self-Critical Mind

Monday, November 17th, 2008

UshtrasanaBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga practice reveals many hidden truths and the ability to train one’s mind for balanced thinking about self-image. For example: Who is your worst critic? If you are like most of us, you can find that critic just by looking at yourself.

We often hold ourselves back with an internal chatter of self-criticism. Many of us question ourselves over every decision, we insult ourselves internally, and we lose sight of true happiness. As long as we are here, we should do our best to be happy on this journey we call “life.”

How can Yoga change the life of a self-critic? Yoga offers each of us a time-tested process for self-analysis. Here is a step-by-step process for any one of us to purge our personal “demons” and return to rational thinking.

1. Do something physical by practicing Yoga asanas (postures) or go for a walk. You have many choices such as: Basketball, tennis, golf, volleyball, or anything that will get you away from the desk, out of a chair, and off the couch. Continue to enjoy your activity and put your worries aside.

2. Get a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle length ways. On top of the left hand column put a minus symbol (-). On top of the right hand column put a plus symbol (+). On the left side of your sheet, you can indulge in writing all of your flaws.

On the right hand side, write everything positive about your life. This should include all of your achievements. This includes good relationships with friends, family, and associates. The right side should also indicate your intelligence, activities, and accomplishments.

After all, you know how to read, write, and learn. In order to perform this exercise, you already must have a reasonable level of intelligence and the desire to improve yourself. Do not forget to include hidden talents, your job, school, and the fact that you have a roof over your head. Feel free to use the back side of your sheet, too.

3. Have you noticed that the right side of your sheet has much more information, than the left? Again, compare the two sides. Notice that each flaw on the left side can be changed one step at a time and it’s all “small stuff.” Nothing is impossible, and I have yet to meet a person who cannot change in small steps.

Let’s be honest, we all make mistakes. Who cares? Is somebody keeping score? God knew we would make mistakes since the moment we were born. Pick up the pieces. Change what you can, and work on the rest as you go forward.

Have you ever met someone who you thought was perfect? How long did it take for you to realize that he or she is only human? What can we learn from this? We should not judge anyone, not even ourselves, because it is an exercise in futility.

We should do our personal best at showing kindness, being happy, forgiving, and praising our loved ones. Yoga gives you all the tools to improve your life; just keep practicing.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
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 Training
——————————————–
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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Yoga In Practice: More Yogic Tips for Time Management

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga teaches us to “live in the moment,” but how can we apply this principle toward time management? We often hear people say, “I need more time,” but how can we get more than 24 hours out of a day? Truthfully, we only have 24 hours, so there must be something to getting the most out of each day.

Yoga teaches us to be consciously aware, and this is a tool we can use to manage time more effectively. Time management starts with awareness. It is as simple as monitoring oneself. How often are we distracted from our prime tasks?

Television, radio, Internet, and idle chatter, contribute to a waste of time, but you cannot live the life of a machine either. You should allow “fun time” each day; but when you start the day, it is best to have a mission. It also helps if your mission was planned yesterday or early this morning.

Rising early helps us make the most of a day, which means you should go to bed at an earlier time in the evening. This is a simple formula and it only requires a moderate adjustment. For example: If you go to bed an hour earlier, you can wake up an hour earlier.

If you had one extra hour, in the morning, you could write a “to do list,” practice pranayama, perform sun salutations, and have a little time for meditation. This routine creates a positive energy flow within your mind and body. As a result, you would “jump start” your entire day.

This early morning Yoga session increases your level of awareness for the entire day. When we are in a state of complete awareness, we can think clearly. This results in looking at tasks according to their importance. We will make sure that we do not spend too much time on trivial matters, but we will also be sure to double check complicated tasks, which arise during the day.

Yoga teaches us to have a “reality check.” For example: What would you do during a crisis situation? It is always best to have a “back-up plan” for the worst case scenario. This does not mean to create something to worry about.

Look at a potential crisis and create the best possible solution for it. There is no need to force oneself to live in denial. It is true that living in denial will help to some degree.

There is a saying: “Ignorance is bliss,” but it is best to be prepared for life’s challenges. Practice Yoga often to develop inner strength and to balance your thinking. In this way, you will make the most of your time.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
Yoga Teacher 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
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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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Yoga in Practice – The Law of Attraction

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

yoga certificationBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

How does Yoga relate to the “Law of Attraction?” We often hear about the universal concept of attraction, but how many of us are aware of it as it happens throughout the day? Let’s take a closer look at our Yoga practice and how we influence the world around us with our thoughts.

Most people feel that actions and words are all that counts. If they think negative thoughts, they assume there will be no repercussions. Yet, negative thoughts create pessimism and influence the outcome of daily situations, for the worst.

If we worry about something long enough, we can influence the end result for the worst. The exact opposite can be said for positive thoughts. Sometimes, the eternal optimist is oblivious of anything, but a good outcome. We must control what we think at all times. Below are a few methods, which can change your life for the best.

Start your morning with a smile, meditate, and give thanks for the blessing of each day. Appreciate the sounds of your family, a bird’s song, and the steady noise of daily life. Never be the person who complains about the weather. This is an imperfect world, but there is still so much to appreciate.

Create a positive affirmation of your own. This is similar to mantra, but much different. If you feel stressed out, you should think, “I look for and find solutions within stressful situations.” This may seem very simplistic and a bit silly to some.

Yet, how many people react to stressful situations with headaches, rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, chest pain, backaches, insomnia, and more ailments? When stress makes you ill, it is unlikely that you will find solutions during a crisis.

Mantra is also valuable, because you block the external signals of stress, with internal sounds of peace. However, let’s put Yoga in practice. If you are in a social environment, a self-created positive affirmation, in your native language, may help you to create a solution to a cycle of stress.

Almost every form of Yoga practices mantra and positive affirmation. If you practice these Yogic methods regularly, you can quell pessimism from within. This is only half of the solution. The other half is to permanently instill positive energy within your mind.

In your free time, meditate on positive feelings. Get to know which images, in your mind, create happiness. It could be God, a spiritual center, a loved one, a pet, your favorite vacation spot, or a beloved teacher.

Regardless of what makes you happy, learn to envision it at any time, and summon into action, all the happiness that comes with it. Kindness and happiness is how a Yoga practitioner can master the power of attraction.

© Copyright 2008 – 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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