Yoga Teacher Training

Choosing Yoga Teacher Training

If you are in the same position as I was two years ago when I decided to take my study of yoga further and train to become a yoga teacher you will probably be finding that you have a huge choice of yoga teacher training programmes. How on earth do you make a choice from such a selection. When I made my decision to train i was in a position where I could go anywhere on earth to do it so my first, most obvious limit to choice was removed. I discovered that that made life harder!

If you are in a situation where you know you want to train and you have to do it in your own country that makes it easier. It is then always a good idea to ask around starting with your yoga teacher to find out how they did their training and with which programme. There are different schools of yoga from Asgtanga to Vinyasa and you have probably found a particular approach that you like and feel comfortable about training in. If not: keep looking. There will be a yoga style that is right for you and it is worth finding before you commit to training.

There are different programmes on offer from 200 hour Certificate level which can all be done in one go at a residential to one where it is spread part time at weekends over a number of years. This can also help you make your decision if only one of these options will really work with your lifestyle. There are also 500 hour advanced Diploma programmes which incorporate the basic 200 hour Teacher Training but then extend it to different types of yoga and far more in depth information on history, metaphysics, healing approaches that complement yoga, meditation and so on. These programmes can also be done as an intensive or as modules spread over time. Again your lifestyle dictates what will work for you. Also what kind of person you are will play a part as some people love to do things intensely and in depth. Other are more bite sized approach which enables them to learn a bit, try it out, make it their own, then move on to the next bit. This kind of person may well take some years to do a whole 500 hour programme and be a very good teacher for most of that time. It is worth knowing that you need programme in order to be qualified to teach beginners classes in yoga. You can just do that and start working as a teacher as soon as you are qualified - or sooner if you have the opportunity while you train!

Costs can vary and courses that include a residential element can add up. However it is worth working out how much you would pay in travel costs and food and comparing it before you write off the residential options. They can be surprisingly reasonable but the sums need to be done.

Finally it is also worth joining in with any yoga schools online forum and asking for some feedback from students about their experiences to get a feel for the kind of thing you could expect and the kind of people you could expect to meet.

Whatever your choice I am sure you will have an amazing, expanding, challenging and wonderful experience in your training. I went to Canada and trained at the Prana College in Vancouver and had a very successful and enriching time, however I chose them on the basis of a very very strong intuition that this was the right programme. So my last words of advice are to do all your diligent research and then go with your gut! It will be right.

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Yoga Video

t is usually a helpful idea to watch a yoga instructor guide you through a yoga session on a yoga video or DVD. This can take the place of a class if you just can't manage to get to one for some reason. However doing your Restorative Yoga session by watching a video is not so easy. The point about Restorative Yoga is that it is a very restful, deeply healing practice and for this you need a couple of things:

1. Time

2. Peace

Because you have to get into a posture in a very supported way and then allow your body just to unfold and flow into shape with no strain at all you can hold the postures for up to 20 minutes - or even more once you get the hang of it. While you are in position you will be breathing gently and correctly and entering a meditative state so that your body can activate its own healing strength. If you try to do this with a video or DVD you will find that it is too distracting as you need to do this practice entirely in tune with your own body and needs. What can be useful is to have a small, pleasant timer which you can set for the length of time you want to use for your posture but because the time it takes to get into posture can vary as you get comfortable it is best that you have control of that rather than having a video dictate the pace.

In a typical restorative yoga session you will perhaps only use about 4 or 5 postures and one of these will be the all-important relaxation posture at the end. Restorative Yoga is very different to most yoga practices and once you have experienced it as a form of self help at any time you feel low or are injured in some way you will never look back. It is also a very powerful stepping stone to doing other forms of yoga once you have regained your health sufficiently. Doing other forms of yoga when you just do not have the energy or focus for them is not helpful at all. Like any exercise it will use up precious energy and it is only Restorative Yoga that helps you very gently stretch and flex whilst conserving and building your energy.

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Free Yoga

The Advantages of Free Yoga

One of the wonderful things about Yoga is that if you have some basic experience in it and a mat you can do it anywhere - for free. Yoga is not hard to do once you have learnt a short sequence of movements and can flow through them without stopping to think too much. This makes it one of the easiest and cheapest forms of fitness routine available.

It can be useful to go to a series of yoga sessions for a while to help you get used to the postures (sometimes called 'asanas'). However if you find a well illustrated book or a decent DVD you can immediately start to practice at home. To be safe while you practice it is advisable to get a yoga mat as these are non-slip rubber and will prevent you skidding when you are doing some of the stronger poses where your feet or hands might slip on the floor. With that you are prepared.

Make sure you have some private uninterrupted time when you will not have people bursting in on you and turn off the phone for this short time. The idea of a yoga session is not just that it gives you a pleasant and fairly gentle routine that works through all the main muscle groups of your body but that it helps you R-E-L-A-X. The way it helps you do that is partly to do with the concentration you need to put into doing the poses which cuts off other things from your mind but also the regular breathing pattern you develop as you do the movements. Lastly, but oh-so-importantly, is the relaxation session that comes at the end of any yoga session. The relaxation time is an absolute necessity in your practice. Dont think you can skip out early and miss this. You cant! It is a posture in its own right and has many benefits including lowering blood pressure and changing the focus of your nervous system to being calm and centred rather than being ready for flight or flight.

So you are prepared with your mat, your comfortable clothes that don't have to be specially bought, your dvd/book/memory and a quiet time in the house - and you have it all to have a wonderful free yoga session right there. Enjoy.

Restorative Yoga Workshops and more information about how to use this form of self healing can be found onRestorative Yoga and Yin Yoga. The Fifty, Fit and Fabulous programme provides a step by step approach to wellbeing through holistic care and is outlined on these sites. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Lift Your Immunity With Yoga

We are living an era that is obsessed in "quick fixes" instead of making us responsible for our own health. For example: If we are depressed, take a pill instead of resolving the issue that is making us depressed is the more accepted way to go. There are many factors that weaken the immune system that flu shots and other vaccines can not resolve.

• Toxins in the environment and/or food (cars and processed foods mainly)

• SAD (Standard American Diet, which is a poor diet rich in processed foods)

• Excessive alcohol intake (Which is promoted by our society)

• Lack of exercise (Excessive screen time and our love for our cars)

• Stress (Our current economic situation is not helping with this!)

There is good news. We can take charge of our lives by strengthening our immune system. A strong immune system not only leads to less occurrences of illness, but also helps prevent more extreme manifestations of illness. A few of the ways that yoga positively impacts the immune system include:

• Stimulating the Lymph Nodes

• Improving circulation

• Improving oxygen flow, thus aiding the transfer of energy from nutrients to cells

• Improving the flow of the sinuses and flushing out mucous from the lungs

• Increasing lung capacity and mobility

• Massaging the internal organs

• Relaxing the nervous system

Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakopatasana) and Eagle Pose (Garudasana) are both effective in charging up the Lymph System.

In Pigeon Pose, the pressure of the heel of the foot on the groin stimulates the lymph nodes to "release their juices", thus cleansing them out and making them work more efficiently. Eagle Pose stimulates the lymph in the armpits and the groin as the arms and legs are crossed at the elbows and knees respectively.

Ujjayi Breathing promotes cleansing of the upper respiratory tract, increases lung capacity, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).

Sun Salute A & B (Surya Namaskara A & B)

These two sequences create "heat" in your body by, increasing blood flow, oxygen flow, heart rate and muscle strength. They are energizing sequences that produce similar cardiovascular results as running with out the injuries. If you are new to yoga, try practicing Sun Salute A every day for one month. Once that is mastered, add Sun Salute B to receive the full immunological benefits of these sequences.

Cows Face Pose (Gomukasana) Stimulates the lymph nodes in the groin and armpits, increases lung capacity and mobility, massages internal organs and calms the nervous system (when bent forward). Bonus: Your body looks like a cow's face when in the full pose!

Bow Pose is a backbend with extra benefits! Your upper and lower back muscles and chest is opened by grabbing your ankles and "pushing away" from your hands with your feet and legs. Your internal organs are massaged by rocking back and forth in the full posture.

Corpse Pose (Shavasana) is the most important pose in yoga. Honor your self by quieting your mind. Freeing your self from tension and stress for even a few minutes every day will increase your sense of self and give you power to fight off illnesses.

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The Yogic Path - Showing the Way

There are many rewards that follow the disciplined study and practice of Yoga. Among them are finding one's self, tranquility, and the ability to show others a better way of living. Meditation, relaxation, self-analysis, and self-awareness do not receive as much attention as the Yoga postures and physical benefits, but years of practice grace us with inner peace.

After many sessions of practicing meditation and self-analysis, some of us realize why we are here. We find our life purpose and move forward. Yet, what do we leave behind for our family, friends, and students? Once we have found our life purpose, there should be no hesitation on our part, but we should leave markers along the path for our loved ones and the generations of Yoga practitioners to follow.

As you know by now, Yoga is a lifestyle and one does not have to attend a Yoga class to practice it. Yoga is with you as you walk, talk, breathe, think, sit, or eat. It can be described as a science of life, a health maintenance system, an art of living, as well as a path to pure bliss. The fact is: Yoga can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, and at any time.

When most people think in terms of leaving a legacy behind for future generations, they think of financial arrangements, money, or an inheritance. While a few of us may be able to do this, others worry about their next pay check. It would be nice to leave a monetary legacy behind, but financial wealth is not a guarantee in this life.

You are guaranteed to live in the hearts and minds of others, when you help them. Those who practice Karma Yoga (selfless service) are remembered by those they help, and those who see their example. Although we should not go bragging about all the people we help, our example will inspire others. If we had no examples of modesty and humility, these would be foreign concepts.

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Yogic Head Stand - Sirsha Asan

Yoga is an art that is entirely Indian in origin and practice. The origins of Yoga are buried in antiquity, but most famous saints and rishis have practiced this art. Yoga has two dimensions which are physical as well as spiritual. This is peculiar to the exercise systems that originate from the orient. The western world cannot fathom how an exercise system can have spiritual overtones as well.

The science of Yoga is an ancient science that has been practiced in India since time immemorial.The Vedas allude to this and many men even after decades of study have not been able to unravel the mysteries of this system.

The physical side of yoga concerns a set of poses that are to be retained for some length of time for their beneficial effects to take place. Western physical exercise systems like weight training require repetitive sets, but yoga has nothing like this and consists of retaining a pose for some time. These poses are called asanas.

Yogic asans can be divided into elementary, intermediate and difficult. But bear in mind that all these asans need to be done in the correct way for the benefits to accrue, otherwise there is a chance that you could in the extreme case even harm yourself.

Out of all the yogic poses the sirsha asana or head stand is the king of all asans(poses). It is also the most advanced and difficult. Ancient seers laid great stress on this asana as it was also supposed to lead to nirvana -eternal bliss. But I will caution a beginner who wishes to perfect this pose. Firstly a degree of physical fitness is essential to do this pose. I will recommend that to learn this pose it is best to consult an instructor or join a Yoga school. In the 21st century the western world has realized the benefits of Yoga and a lot many teachers and schools are available to teach Yoga.

The Sirsha asan consists of a basic pose of standing upright on your head. It is also called the inverted pose as the human body is inverted with feet up and head resting on a floor or mat. For this pose it is desirable that you have a mat.I will not advise doing this pose on a concrete floor. You could also do this pose in the garden with the soft grass acting as a cushion for your head.

I will also caution people to attempt this pose only if you are fit and have no serious problems like low or high blood pressure. In such cases the Sirsha asan is to be avoided at all costs. The benefits of the asan are many and have stood the test of time.Basically this pose strengthens the back bone and neck as well as acts as tonic to the brain and other systems of the body. Regular practice of this asan can also act as a rejuvenator of your sex life as well as.

The sirsha asan is done in a simple way. Invert your body and put your hands under your head. Stretch your legs and give an upward push so that your body rises up with the head resting on your palms as the base. The best way to describe this is to practice half a somersault and raise your feet up instead of rolling over. The pose itself can be mastered by doing it repeatedly. The trick in this pose is to retain it for some length of time. I recommend that initially you try and keep the pose for 15 seconds and then gradually increase the timing to 2 minutes.

The sirsha asan has another peculiarity. In case you are celibate and you do the head stand for some time regularly then the as per the learned Yogis the sperms of your body are supposed to go slowly up the spine and form a Lotus flower at the base of the brain. This is supposed to give the person ESP sensations. But nobody has verified this scientifically.

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Pranayama

The "chakra" is a term often bandied about by various New Age or spiritual groups in the West, which is why it is familiar to many Westerners. However, not many of these people know the words meaning. Before we discuss it further, we should start with a short definition or explanation.

Many people have some idea of a chakra as an energy center on the body. That is not quite true. According to some Hindu philosophies, you are not just made of one body. You are, in fact, made up of several subtle bodies, each one being connected to or existing in several planes of existence. Talk about being well-rounded and complex! Your chakras have locations on your physical body, but they actually go through your subtle bodies, growing larger and larger as you pass from one body to another. However, yes, they are indeed involved with energy. The word "chakra" means, quite simply, wheel, and a chakra is a whirling wheel of energy, which is also a transmission point for energy to enter and leave your body.

What is special about the location of a chakra? What exactly does a chakra do? Well, it is an entry and exit point for energy in your body, among other things. This is why your chakra must be open, so that energy flow will not be impeded. This flow is important for your physical and mental health, and even for you to connect with Brahman, the universal being. Accounts differ, but many of them agree that you have several main chakras, located on the top of the head, forehead, throat, chest over heart, solar plexus, prostate or ovaries, and coccyx.

One of the best ways to keep your chakras open and functioning is through breathing meditation techniques. In Hindu philosophy, there is an intimate connection between breathing and life-energy. In fact, the word "prana" can mean both breath and life-force. No wonder that pranayama, which roughly translates into "breath control," is also a major component of yoga and/or meditation. Among other things, pranayama can help regulate the flow of energy in and out of chakras, so that you can maintain clarity and focus without falling into extremes of either lethargy or agitation. Such is the power of understanding your chakras.

Using your chakras is not just about manipulating energy flows. Do not think of your chakras as just floodgates in a dam that you carefully adjust for the desired results. Chakra-oriented breathing can also help you to unlock the hidden energy inside yourself. This energy is called Kundalini, and you can find it, coiled in on itself, at the base of your spine at the coccyx chakra. If you feel that you have had a hard time unlocking your potential, perhaps it is time to attend to Kundalini.

Chakras are much more complicated than many people realize, even if they think they know the "simple" definition of the word. A chakra is a door, a window, a vortex. What passes through the chakra is energy, life-force, Brahman, or a snake, depending on how you look at it. Start exploring the truth about chakras through breathing exercises.

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Yoga Therapy

Yoga therapy is a natural therapy that promotes healing and vitality without the use of any form of medication. This natural alternative healing therapy has gained much popularity in recent years and is perhaps the most effective counterpart to modern medicine today. There is significant evidence that supports this claim as many ailments that have been incurable through modern medical science, have been successfully treated through the use of various different Yoga therapies.

The human body is created with the ability to naturally heal itself. This would explain why ever so often when we have a cold or sore throat, despite the non-use of medication, we can observe our bodies naturally heal itself. Yoga therapy is simply a way of channeling 'Prana' or 'Chi' to heal the body naturally.

While modern medicine seeks to treat the symptoms of an ailment, Yoga therapy seeks to eradicate the root of the ailment such that it is completely cured. Modern medical science still holds strong to the view that chronic diseases cannot be cured, rather only managed through the use of medication.

Today, almost all major hospitals in the USA and UK have actually incorporated Yoga elements as part of their treatment for various different ailments. The holistic Yoga therapy program at New York's Beth Israel Hospital, has successfully seen positive results amongst some of their chronic cancer patients, by simply applying Yogic breathing techniques.

There are numerous different types of Yoga therapy, to address different ailments and problems. This is evident in our Yoga Studio; we have had a 100% success rate with all of our clients that have signed up for Yoga therapeutic treatment. This is not an exaggeration of any kind, but simply an amazing fact experienced by all those that signed up for Yoga Therapy. The most common ailments cured at our Yoga Studio includes back and spinal problem, arthritis, eye correction, blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

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Yoga in weight reduction

In this recent world it is fairly difficult to stick only on to diet control in order to retain a healthy body. The tight schedule forces them to limit their meals to junk stuffs. This leads to fatness that affects a person's health and self-esteem areas.

Although there are several alternatives to reduce weight, Yoga is one of the efficient ways to reduce weight and maintain a healthy body. Yoga is a great way to get rid of extra fat from the body without any side effects. From olden times, this has been a very common method of fat reduction and weight control. Some positions (asanas) of yoga are particularly meant for weight lessening only. Yoga is also a preferred method for weight reduction as it is does not cause any side effect. Yoga directly affect on the body metabolism by acting upon several hormonal secretions in the body.

Yoga is said to be the most excellent way of weight reduction since it has no side effects on your body.Yoga makes your body makeup balanced with your body weight and age. The deep breathing in Yoga exercises increases the oxygen supply to the cells of the body.

The major yoga asanas for weight reduction are Paschimottanasana, Bhujangasana, Halasana, Dhanurasana, Veerasana, Trikonasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana. Following atleast one of them will certainly help to reduce fat. For thyroid patients who put on weight abnormally due to hormonal imbalance should go for Sarvangasana and Matasyasana. Yoga exercises done with sun reputation is said to be very helpful in reducing body fat and in gaining a healthy body.

You have to stick on to a healthy fat free meal when you are practicing yoga for weight reduction. A usual meal time should be followed and you must keep away from food between meals.

Yoga for Healthy Living

Nowadays, yoga exercises have become more popular all over the world. Yoga is not just a physical exercise, but a mental discipline, which offers great benefits when practiced regularly. Apart from physical fitness, you can also get complete relaxation of mind by making yoga exercises an integral part of your life.

Regular practice of yoga exercises can offer you physiological, psychological as well as spiritual benefits. Some of the yoga benefits include:

1. Increases physical stamina and enhances body flexibility
2. Strengthens your spinal cord and relieves you from back aches
3. Improves blood circulation
4. Strengthen your immune system
5. Helps to maintain blood pressure and cholesterol level in the body
6. Improves concentration
7. Reduces stress and depression by providing mental relaxation
Making yoga exercises as part of your lifestyle helps to cure or prevent diabetes, digestive disorders, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins, headaches, hypertension, insomnia, thyroid problems, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and much more. Yoga is a natural way to cure most of your illness. The effect of yoga will be more, when it is practiced in the right way

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Yogic Cure For Mental disorders

A mind loses its equilibrium when any external or internal problem strains it harshly. Consequently, its functioning gets disturbed and its harmony begins to diminish, slowly or rapidly, depending upon the individual's state of mental health. The person so affected for a long period, became mentally sick with an intensity proportionate to the degree of harmony lost. As a result the individuals thought, action, manner, behavior, and outlook become imbalance and take various forms and shapes of abnormal expression. This can involve person of any age, sex, of any socio-economic background and of any land.

Causes of mental troubles:

The particular problem which strains and causes mental imbalanced in an individual is either nature-oriented, society-oriented or self-oriented.

The problem arising out of nature could be in the form of some natural calamity, danger from certain animate creatures, and the peculiarity of natural phenomenon. The societal problems, likewise, could be religious, ethnic, racial, economic, political, etc., or also they might involve the varied problems of adjustment to certain customs, manners, ways of life, etc., of a particular community. Similarly, there could be countless problems of individuals own creation, which arise because of certain beliefs, faith, notions, habits, manners and also because of inner feelings such as, hatred, jealousy, revenge, love, romance, likes and dislikes.

People of every society, be that individual, agrarian, tribal or primitive, have been faced with various problems arising out of these three above mention sources, more or less, in the same way as we have to face today. Though the nature and forms of human problems have changed because of changes in social conditions, yet basically, they remain the same.

Yogic treatment for mental problems:

People with mental problems are advised to practice only some of the selected items in the initial stage.

First week: It should begin with the practice of Ujjayee Pranayama in 'lying position'. They should practice only five rounds of it daily. After making five rounds of Ujjayee, they should practice Suryanamaskar Asana and Uttanpada Asana. But do not make more than five rounds of each.

When all the three above mentioned items have been practiced, the practitioner should rest either in Shava Asana or by just lying on the back with normal breathing. This rest should be for five minutes at the end of all the three items.

Second and Third week: During the second week they should add the following asana: Paschimottan Asana, Bhujanga Asana, and Trikona Asana. After practicing all the asanas and the Pranayama mentioned above, they should now rest in Shava Asana for ten to fifteen minutes.

Fourth week: During the fourth week they should gradually add either all the asanas given below or they should choose and practice only those which they can perform comfortably: Sarvanga Asana, Matsya Asana, Dhanur Asana and Hala Asana.

When the practice of Pranayama and asanas have been regularized for about a month they should add the practice of concentration as describe below.

Raja Yoga: Concentration

The ability to control the mind and to channel it in the chosen direction is achieved through the training in concentration. For practicing concentration, one must have to make certain preparations as describe below:

Place a vase with flowers on some household furniture of small height so that the top of the flower remains in level with your eyes in the sitting position. There should be a distance of about five feet between the object and the practitioner.

Methods of practicing concentration:

When the flowers are arranged properly, be seated in an easy pose. For making this easy pose, you have to fold both the legs at the knees and put the body weight on the floor. After being in easy pose, first bring the left hand on the lap and put the right hand on the palm of the left hand. This will make your right palm facing upwards on the top of the left palm.

Then make the body straight. Your hand, neck and the spine should be in one line and straight up. Let the body be relaxed while keeping it firm in straight-up position. You are now ready to begin the practice of dharana (concentration), the first step of controlling the fluctuation of the mind.

Now look at the flower petals. Keep looking for about ten seconds and try not to blink the eyes. When you have looked at the flower for ten seconds, then close your eyes gently and try to see the shape of the flower in your mind. After keeping the eyes closed for ten seconds, open them and again look at the flower for ten seconds. Repeat this process of seeing closing and seeing. That is, seeing through the eyes, closing the eyes and then seeing through the inner eye. Repeat this process only five times in one session during the first week. Gradually develop it up to ten and then upon fifteen times, which should remain as a limit.

When the practice is over, keep sitting still. Now loosen the body and sit in a relaxed way for two minutes.

Caution: The total time devoted to this practice of concentration should not exceed more than ten to fifteen minutes.

Testing concentration:

While practicing, when you do not see anything through the inner eye, you have not gained concentration. While practicing, when you see some other objects through your inner eye but not the one placed before your outer eyes, you are improving but still have not gained concentration. But while practicing, when you see the shape, for up to 5 seconds you have gained concentration. When you can hold the same shape of image for up to 10 seconds, you have gained concentration, your mental sickness or disorders are gone and you are fully restored to normal life.

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Yoga Asanas - Reduce Anxiety

Yoga is very popular today. Many people claim various benefits can be gained from a regular routine of Yoga. Strength and flexibility are two immediate advantages received from frequent Yoga workouts.

There are literally thousands of poses or asanas for a person to choose from that can enhance physical and emotional well-being. Yoga as an exercise will lessen discomfort and offer increased relief from many disorders. It is also an extremely effective exercise for weight loss and increased circulation.

Yoga can provide amazing improvements in flexibility for many parts of the body including joints, tendons, and ligaments. Through careful study one can find a series of yoga asanas or positions that will establish relief for specific ailments; there are poses for menstrual cramps, poses for stress, poses for backaches, poses to relive constipation, poses to relax, poses to meditate, and even poses to help with better sex.

With a little research you will find popular yoga positions that when performed in sequence will create a sense of peace and create personal harmony. This relax state enhances flexibility and promotes healthy circulation. The poses; massage internal organs, increase blood flow, assist detoxification, and promote better overall health with a greater sense of well being.

Yoga has a purpose to prepare the body, help the mind reflect, and calmly relive anxiety from daily activity. People who practice yoga often receive improved health and a greater sense of purpose by meditating after a series of stretching poses.

The combination of yoga exercise and quite relaxation prove to be a tremendous solution for the reduction of stress and anxiety. The best results are accompanied with controlled breathing exercises to enhance a relaxed feeling and further ease anxiety.

Do you want to learn more on how you can benefit from Natural Anxiety Relief Techniques? Serenity Anxiety Relief

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Stress Busting Yoga

Stress is what our bodies and minds feel when they are confronted with situations that they are not used to and it is a given in our modern existence. Rather than try to escape it, we need to find a way to exist with it and not let it harm us. The need is urgent because stress-related health issues are a major cause of illness and suffering for children and adults alike.

Yoga helps us to deal with stress at many levels. The physical postures, or asanas, strengthen and tone not only the muscles but the nerves too, making our bodies stronger, healthier and more under our control. The breathing exercises, or pranayama, connect our bodies to the cosmic energy, or prana, surrounding us by giving us a very intimate awareness of the one act that keeps us alive-breathing. Most of us breathe reflexively and therefore are not aware of how easy it is to relax by doing it consciously and as modern medical science knows, deep, rhythmic breathing relaxes the body like little else can. Finally, yogic meditation teaches us to harness our chaotic thought processes and mind and gain control over it rather than the other way around. For many, "mastering our thoughts" is a unique idea but once we learn how to do it correctly, we will find a universe in which we are in complete control of our emotions and therefore our reactions to the things that happen to us.

Yoga is a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary science of living in the most stress-free way possible. It will not make the stress in our lives disappear but it will teach us how to react emotionally, physically and spiritually to stressful events without letting them harm us or those around us.

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Muscle Strengthening With Yoga

Yoga is certainly a unique art form with many beneficial values. There are many who have practiced yoga for hundreds of years and are able to attests to its healing and health values. As an art form of exercise, yoga has strengthened and toned the muscles of many practitioners thus giving them more strength and the ability to experience more vitality from life.

The practitioner is able to derive strengthening of the muscles from yoga based on the consistency of practice. Daily practice allows the muscles to be awakened and used in such a way as never before. Ordinary exercise does not allow the training, flexibility, and strengthening of the muscles as yoga does. The daily stretching of the muscles based on a variety of yoga positions eventually brings flexibility to the muscles. Additionally, daily practice strengthens the muscles in a different way unlike doing every day chores which does not.

Toning of the muscles is also achieved from the strengthening practice of yoga. One of the great aspects of yoga is that it is gentle. Unlike the lifting of weights in the gym and punishing of the body, yoga has a tender spot which motivates the practitioner to appreciate the ease of practice without any straining, grunting, or excess physical exertion. Yoga does not produce masses of muscles as one would find in Mr. World Body Builder; however, it works with the muscles in a natural way thus producing normal perfection in toning and conditioning.

Finally, yoga allows the practitioner to appreciate a better quality of life based on the benefits derived from strengthening and toning the muscles. The person is able to feel better, sustains a more active posture, and feels more alive on a daily basis. The flexibility achieved from the strengthening and toning of muscles by yoga, allows better range of movement, more ease of efficiently in movement, and a quality of appreciation which comes with the streamlining of the body.

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Healing Power of Yoga

Yoga is a great helper for the healthy body and mind but it is also a great benefit for those bodies and minds that need healing. If your body is healthy, your first line of defense is to keep it that way with healthy habits and good maintenance. In this, yoga is a major help as it keeps your body well tuned along with your mental health and immune system. One of the main benefits of the yoga poses is the alignment of the spine which allows energy to flow naturally and freely throughout the body. Regular practice also helps the body purge itself of toxins that pollute it via all of the bad stuff we eat, drink and breathe, sometimes even without knowing it.

If your body is not healthy, yoga is great medicine and practiced correctly can help the body heal even faster. For instance, if you are overweight, yoga can treat your joints, jelly belly and heart gently and tone them up more permanently than any other exercise program. Even if you cannot do any of the standard physical poses, or asanas, you can practice yoga with your eye, your breathing and your mind! It is possible to simply tense your muscles in a way that exercises them and if you consciously choose the muscles to tense one by one, you can actually achieve a lot physically without actually "moving" your body much. Yoga should obviously never displace your regular doctor so please do consult with them.

Yoga is taken very seriously in many parts of the world and a lot of people devote their lives exclusively to its practice. Some of them can do amazing things and western doctors have recorded some yogis (yoga practitioners) stop their heartbeat and breathing for extended periods of time, feats that modern medicine deems "impossible"! While these feats illustrate the phenomenal power yoga has over the body, for very serious yogis, they are unimportant and merely signposts on the way to spiritual enlightenment.

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A Yoga Lifestyle

You read so much wonderful information about adopting a Yogic lifestyle. Over the past ten years, the news media and the medical community have both stepped forward with great praise for the benefits of adopting Yoga as a lifestyle.

While it can be agreed that Yoga is a science of life - it is also a way of life, which applies to all aspects of our existence. Some people may feel if they eat right, and exercise right, they are experiencing all that a Yogic lifestyle has to offer.

While it is true that diet and exercise are important factors in the quality of everyday life, there are many principles which are largely ignored within the Yamas and Niyamas. However, let's look at one universal concept that is the bedrock of all forms of Yoga.

Many people know that Yoga means "union" or "unity," but the point seems academic to many of us. The historic meaning of union has more value than the link between a chariot, driver, archer, and horses. While the war chariot was quite a formidable weapon in its day, humankind has the ability to do much more with the power of unity.

Unity within our being is what we first experience, as a result of Yoga practice. Once this is mastered, we may focus on unity with others, the world around us, the universe, or with God. Many of us overlook our ability to connect with others. Some of us would rather pursue intellectual or spiritual studies instead of connecting with people.

The point here is - if we meditate on a mountain top or in a cave, we might find complete bliss in a state of solitude. Yet most of us live in a world, where we interact with others, and put Yogic principles of unity, tolerance, and compassion into practice.

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Getting Into Yoga

Yoga is a form of fitness that has been practiced over the years. It is used to give therapy to the mind and body by practicing long poses that are held and perfected. Yoga takes lots of patience and time and practice. It can strengthen your mind and body while keeping you healthy. Yoga has been used to treat many ailments and seems to help the body and mind overcome some of these troubles. With all of the benefits of using yoga it is no wonder that it is widely popular and used by pregnant women, seniors and physically fit athletic women.

Many people try yoga to distress. It has been marketed toward not only fitness but distressing. In this world where stress can surround us it is important to know that something like yoga is available to take advantage of. The poses in yoga have been proven to unclog the mind, and elevate regular day to day stresses caused by work, commuting, money and family.

Not only is yoga excellent to become stress-free or at least manage it better, it is also a fun form of exercise. Many people get bored with the gym, aerobic and spinning classes, especially when years go by and the same form of exercises is always used. For those who do get bored they may seek something else to do, some try different classes or join sport programs but many turn to yoga.

Yoga can seem intimidating at first. It is a different kind of exercise and you can`t hide on a machine. The poses look awkward and hard and not to mention it seems like you have to be really flexible. And you can`t just show up to a class unprepared, you have to have the yoga mat and a yoga outfit, it leaves many wondering what all the fuss is about. And when you do show up to a class, you are expected to do the poses in front of everyone which can be humiliating for some.

Although yoga might seem hard to get into at first, many people will agree that once they try it they love it. The yoga poses get easier with practice and the body even becomes more flexible as your muscles get used to the poses. The mat and clothes are only used to keep you comfortable, when your hands and feet are pressed against the floor or when you`re holding yourself in poses where you don`t want your top swinging around your face while hanging upside down.

There are many ways you can fit yoga into your life. You can buy DVD`s individually or in packages and sets. You can also attend a yoga class at a gym, where they might have beginner classes and intermediate ones held separately. You can also check out special yoga only gyms that specialize in that type of exercise only.

Yoga teachers have to be certified and are professionals who can help you develop your poses and work you to your full potential. The exercise benefits and long term distressing will only leave you with mountains of positivity. If you can get over your fear of it and just indulge in the art that has many worldwide using it every day, then you too will be a yoga follower. Yoga is recommended for twenty minutes a day or if that is too much then even a few classes a week is a great start.

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Yogic Principles of Unity

Depending on where you live, Yoga classes can be filled with students of different ethnic origins, religions, social status, age, and gender. As humans, we tend to differentiate ourselves from others by our self image. Depending on how we our programmed, we readily accept others at face value or we reserve the right to make a judgment later.

Sadly, it is this judgment of others that has held humankind back for thousands of years. It is easy to see differences in someone else and think our way is the right way. Worse yet, some people feel that their way is the only way.

When students enter an ashram, studio, or class, they are often instructed to leave their stress, baggage, and judgment at the door. This is one of the hardest hurdles for a beginner to manage. Even if you put most differences aside, the ego loves to engage in self praise.

There are also Yoga teachers who claim to teach "real Yoga," as opposed to "phony Yoga." This is an interesting analogy, as most students, who attend these classes, often mention that teachers spend an extraordinary amount of time on indoctrination and dogma.

The purpose of Yoga was never meant to divide people into splinter groups. When Yoga teachers meet at intensives and conferences, there is a huge diversity in the backgrounds of the individuals. In general, most Yoga teachers embrace the melting pot we may refer to as "humanity."

Rather than sit around discussing our differences, humans should spend more time discussing possible solutions to major problems. This often happens in a Yoga teacher conference. Unfortunately, it is rarely seen among political or religious leaders.

In order for Yoga to make a difference in the 21st century, we have to focus on solutions to problems that we and our planet face. It is easy to spot a personality who seeks to divide, polarize, and stir up conflict.

With that said - anyone in a teaching position, who seeks to divide, does not deserve your precious time. The path to ruin is easily discovered within our history books. This is the path of division. The path of unity is the Yogic path.

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Types and limbs of Yoga

Most Popular types of yoga:

1. Raja Yoga – It is “Royal Yoga” running from the time of king. It is a special Yoga for your mind (dyana) to make it relax. Sit in any position and close your eyes and do meditation. It makes your whole body and mind relax. Do it 45 minutes in one day.


2. Hatha Yoga – Hatha yoga is widely performed in America. It uses body position (asanas), breathing style (pranayama), and Meditation (dyana). This yoga makes you physically and mentally strong.


3. Iyengar Yoga – It is a form of Hatha Yoga, is completely giving primacy to the physical alignment of the body.


4. Bikram or Hot Yoga – Bikram yoga is developed by Bikram choudhury. This Yoga is performing in hot room. This yoga systemically for wellness and restoration. There are 26 different poses in Bikram Yoga.


5. Pregnancy or Prenatal Yoga – This yoga is performing during the time of women pregnancy to make her body fit and in shape. It also best yoga for your baby. We enjoy performing this yoga in pregnancy period.


6. Laughter or Hasya Yoga – Hasya Yoga is physical oriented methods that remove your tension, out of this world and place in new world of peace. During this yoga people laugh for 30 to 40 minutes with noise of clapping and Ha Ha……. People perform this yoga to make their mind free from their personal tension.


7. Ashtanga Yoga – Ashtanga yoga is a yoga therapy, realigns the spine, detoxifies the body, and builds strength, flexibility and stamina.

Following are the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga:

1. Yama (Restraints or Abstinence)


2. Niyama (Disciplines or Devotion)


3. Asanas ( Pose of Yoga)


4. Pranayama (Breath Control)


5. Pratyahara (Retraction of the Senses)


6. Dharana ( Fix of Attention)


7. Dyana (Meditation)

8. Samadhi (Deep Trance)

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Yoga Exercise Styles

With yoga being as popular as it is there should be no surprise that there are many different yoga exercise styles. Some of today's yoga exercise styles have been around for hundreds of years while other yoga exercise styles have been created and based off some of the most common yoga postures and poses. Yoga exercise styles vary in level of difficulty; almost all of the styles are broken down into beginner and advanced levels. The yoga postures used, will depend on the level of the yoga exercise style you are practicing. Each yoga exercise style has a specific purpose and uses different methods and yoga postures.

Hatha yoga is one of the more laid back yoga exercise styles. Most often Hatha yoga is a slow paced yoga class. It is most commonly designated as the best yoga exercise style to take part in when just beginning to practice yoga. These are because of it slow pace and ease into each of the yoga postures used during a session. This yoga exercise style uses many different areas of each style of yoga. It does this by introducing the beginner level yoga postures of each different yoga exercise style.

Vinyasa is another yoga exercise style that encompasses many different styles of yoga. The word vinyasa translates to mean a series of breath synchronized movements. This yoga exercise style is more energetic than Hatha yoga. Vinyasa uses a group of yoga postures called sun salutations. Vinyasa is a yoga exercise that will start off slow with a series of sun salutation yoga postures as a method of warm up and then move into more intense yoga postures and stretches.

One of the more popular forms of yoga exercise used today is Ashtanga yoga. This type of yoga is also commonly referred to as Power yoga. Power yoga is one of the most intense forms of yoga exercise practiced. It involves a series of yoga postures; each of the yoga postures is always performed in the same sequence. This yoga exercise style is very physically demanding because of the pace needed to keep up in the class when switching yoga postures. It is not recommended for beginners. Bikram yoga is another of today's most popular forms of yoga exercise. Bikram yoga is also known as hot yoga. During a hot yoga session you will complete a series of 26 yoga postures in a room that is 95 to 100 degrees. The idea behind practicing these yoga postures in a room that hot is that is acts as a way of body cleansing because of the profuse sweating one will experience. Also do yoga postures at that temperature will allow for your muscles to loosen fully, meaning you will be better able to do the yoga postures given to you.

It is best to consult with your doctor before deciding which yoga exercise style would be best for you. Some styles may be too strenuous to begin with.

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The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. It focuses upon developing a healthy mind and body, and on attaining self-awareness. The various practices and disciplines of yoga are available to everyone, no matter what their culture or other paths they may follow. Yoga practice also involves developing awareness on a universal and personal level through the yamas and niyamas, a series of ethics and disciplines intended to cultivate living in harmony with others and in oneness with our true selves.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and consists of ancient theories, observations and principles regarding the connection of the mind with the body. The ancient Indian sage systemized yoga philosophy into eight paths or limbs: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. These limbs each express a different aspect of yoga and combined make up the path or yoga practice that unites the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of our being.

Yama - Yama are ethical disciplines that relate to how we can live in a shared world with peace and integrity. Niyama - These disciplines relate to the individual and focus on living a healthy, fulfilled and masterful life. Asana - The word asana means ‘to be’, in the sense of being in a posture. The asanas were developed for the maintenance of a healthy mind and body, with each posture affecting the body, mind and emotions in a unique way and working as a pathway to balance and wellbeing. Pranayama - In the practice of pranayama, we develop breathing techniques that increase oxygen intake and strengthen lung capacity while also increasing the absorption of prana, or life force. In its simplest form, pranayama involves deep, full breathing. Dharana - Following on from pratyahara, dharana is the ability to be completely internally absorbed and focused. This practice of single-pointed concentration stills the mind and leads to profound quietness within. Dhyana - Following on from dharana is dhyana, or meditation – sitting where there is no focus, just stillness; no thoughts, only emptiness. Samadhi - In this state of absolute personal freedom there is union of the individual soul with the universal soul. It is the practice of living at one with all that is.

With regular yoga practice of yoga, you will get strength, flexibility and good health, the benefits of which flow into all aspects of life. Increased energy levels bring a new perspective on life, the increased feelings of self-love and inspiration lead us to discover talents and interests we never knew existed and problems that once seemed overwhelming become more manageable.

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5 Tips For Pregnant Yogis

Your physical world changes drastically when you're pregnant. Not only is your center of gravity off, but you may have aches and pains in places you didn't even know you had muscles. At the same time, your ligaments soften and your flexibility improves. Follow these 5 easy tips to continue a safe practice and get the most out of your precious remaining alone time:)

1) Stay away from the edge:

You usually push yourself right to the edge, and then a breath or two over. But with those softened ligaments, you may want to ease up a bit. Get the most out of your workout by listening to your body and knowing your limit. As you get bigger, use yoga blocks and yoga straps to stay balanced or help with releases.

2) Get comfortable and take time to rest:

After a certain point, you will lay on your side or in a safe restorative pose instead of savasana. Use a yoga bolster between your legs and one propped against your back.

3) Use an thick yoga mat for comfort and knee support.

4) Understand your body is changing and you're having energy highs and lows. Work with how you feel in the moment, now how you usually expect yourself to perform.

5) Try to do some relaxing poses at home every day if you can't make it to class. Find a quiet place you can focus and breath. If you aren't feeling physical, sit on the edge of a couple yoga blankets and connect with your breath.

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Yoga Asanas For Backaches

Backaches are mainly caused by a misalignment of the spine which in turn are caused by bad posture or injury brought about by things like sudden movements or carrying excess weights. The best course of action in treatment of back pain is to stretch and rest the spine, allowing it to realign itself as much as possible. Many people resort to costly medical treatments like painkillers but these end up making the body more toxic and only treat the symptoms, not the cause. Here are two simple and safe yoga poses that will likely give backache sufferers real relief and should be tried before anything else.

1. Stand with feet together. Interlock the fingers with palms facing upwards and rest the hands on top of the head. Inhale slowly and deeply, raising your heels off the ground and stretching your hands out above your head as far as they will go comfortably. Look up at your hands and hold the pose for a count to ten. Then exhale and slowly return to the standing position with your hands back on top of your head. The effect of this spine-stretching exercise will be multiplied if you mentally "feel" the stretch releasing all the tension and bringing your spine back in alignment. Repeat the exercise ten times.

2. Lie face down on a hard surface like a carpet on the floor or on a hard bed. Prop your chin up with your hands, elbows on the carpet and making sure that you are comfortable but feel the spine stretched. Then adjust your position so that you feel the main pressure of the stretch on your mid back, not the lower back. Hold this position for five or ten minutes. This is an excellent exercise for the spine and for backache relief and can be repeated as many times as you like during the day. It is suggested that you repeat it at least twice daily.

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Christian Yoga? This Sounds Like an Oxymoron

Christian yoga is a new form of yoga that incorporates Christian beliefs with the physical practice of yoga. Many Christians with an interest in yoga are often put off by the Hindu beliefs associated with it. Christianity is the most practiced religion in the United States so in order to include non-Hindu participants many studios have begun to completely cut out the spiritual aspect of yoga.

As many of you know the purpose of this exercise is to get the body and mind in sync. Without a spiritual aspect yoga is merely a series of positions to help increase flexibility and tone the body. This is the main reason why there is a renewed trend to incorporate the beliefs and values of Christianity with yoga practice.

Although yoga originates with the Hindu people, yoga poses are actually quite universal and often coincide with many forms of religion. The poses, exercises and meditations that define yoga are a perfect workout for spiritual reflection. The focus of Christian yoga is more about changing personality when comparing to the Hindu center it is more about becoming humble and letting go of the ego.

Many patrons of Christian practice have likened their journey of Christian yoga to that of Jesus Christ's own journey in the New Testament. It is a spiritual journey of complete transformation in an attempt to become closer with God. Some Christians believe that yoga will lead people away from God toward an "I am God" doctrine proposed by some eastern religions. It has also been stated that yoga and Christianity are incompatible because it blends these two opposite belief structures.

Christian yoga is a great way for people of different spiritual beliefs to experience the benefits of yoga as a universal method to unify their body, mind, and soul with God. Yoga when combined with spiritual meditation is an incredible enlightening tool to help better understand yourself, your world, and your God.

There is a whole lot more to learn about the natural way -Natural Health Techniques

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Raja Yoga

It is important for the human psyche to have a concept or perceptions of our origin and our ultimate life destination. This motivates the study of psychology.

What is missing in the more material purposes of western psychology, are the components of the soul and spirit of a human being. Yet the spiritual life purpose is as important as a material one. It is a Truth to be sought and remains one of the main focal points for Vedic scholars and philosophers as for the genuine seeker for understanding of human being.

Although Indian scholars of Vedic lore will be capable of more profound discussions of psychology and analyses of human nature, most of us wish to use the tenets of Raja Yoga philosophy and teachings to help us towards the spiritual goal by relying upon the three simplest definitions of the psyche as an adjunct to what is already known to us through western psychology.

Consideration of these components serves to guide us through the labyrinth of information about the human mind and personality to illumine a clear path towards a higher destination. This spiritual path or Marga is known and highly regarded as that of kingly purpose in discovering life's truth, hence its name Raja Yoga. However, it is a royal status that must be earned.

There are many successful exponents of Hatha Yoga who have achieved good health and balanced nature through the practices concentrating upon the body. Those who by nature have directed a strong stream of emotional development towards devotion rather than self satisfaction have succeeded in the spirit of Bhakti no matter what religious ideas they use to channel their full devotional energy - or if they follow no formal spiritual system at all. Those who explore the realities of human nature and are motivated by a search for truth are practising Raja Yoga and will find much to discover.

The simple tenets of Raja Yoga direct us to learn all we can of the three clear spheres and functions of human intelligence. They have been similarly identified by wise philosophers and leaders of mankind throughout the ages. Recognition followed by study of these three aspects of ourselves allows us in time, to integrate them.

Personality - consisting of the body and brain, emotions, and thoughts

Soul - the inhabiting intelligence, wisdom or sum-total of life experience

Spirit - the spark of life that links us with the Divine light, power and energy that has created and animates all living forms - and has entrusted us with the gift of life and free will.

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BKS Iyengar Yoga

Anyone today considering the practice of yoga has a wonderful variety of styles to select from. This is similar to deciding which college class to take in the upcoming semester or finding the right dress or suit to wear for a friend's Christmas party. Yoga styles have spread and will more than likely continue to grow in the future as college classes and styles of clothing have grown. For example, today one will find Iyengar yoga as a prominent form or style of yoga practice.

This yoga form and style was mostly developed by living yoga master B. K. S. Iyengar. This form of yoga encourages and involves the use of props to assists with the movements and body positioning. The props may include blankets, blocks, chairs, pillows, and straps used by students and teachers. The form focuses on proper alignment of the body. He was born in 1918, and studied with yoga guru Krishnamacharya in India. Iyengar suffered from tuberculosis and studied and practiced yoga in an effort to cure his health issues.

He perfected his style and form of yoga and started teaching yoga in 1936. He is well sought after today in his practice. His son, Prashant, who is an accomplished violinist and director of the Ramamani Memorial Institute, and his eldest daughter, Geeta, who is also a director at the institute also assist him with his teachings. The Iyengar Memorial Institute is located in Pune, India with branches throughout the world. Like their father, both children are recognized as leading authorities in the practice of yoga. Naturally, this shows that family tradition in the arts or profession is still relevant today and runs in the family over generations.

Several books are available regarding the practice of Iyengar yoga from which to study and learn. For example, Light of Yoga, published in 1966, delineates hundreds of yoga positions and a variety of breathing techniques. Iyengar has also published Light on Pranayama which concentrates on the breath. Another wonderful book by B.K.S. Iyengar is entitled, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which is an interpretation of Yoga Sutras. This translation and interpretation assisted Iyengar in developing his philosophical framework for his method, style, and practice of yoga. Light of the World, which is his most recent book, digs deeper into the mental and spiritual perspective of yoga and its applications.

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