Top 4 Ways To Keep Your Voice From Sounding Tired

A stockbroker recently asked me, "Does speaking in a pitch that is not your natural pitch make your voice more likely to get tired and scratchy at the end of the day (or is that just from the whiskey and cigars!)? I think I also tend to lapse into a monotone if I speak in my natural pitch."

Actually, a healthy, energetic voice depends on:

1. CORRECT PITCH

All voices are beautiful if properly played. Some of us are flutes and some of us are cellos. Speaking in a voice that is too high or too low for your particular instrument for any length of time puts tremendous strain on the voice and can definitely make you sound tired and scratchy. We all have an optimal pitch, the place where your voice sounds its best. Speech pathologist Dr. Morton Cooper tells us humming is the best way to find your optimal pitch. Simply hum a simple song like "happy birthday" and then speak. Your speaking pitch and your humming pitch should match. Use a tape recorder or enlist the help of a friend to check your pitch.

2. CORRECT TONE FOCUS

If your voice still tires easily, the problem could be that you are speaking too far down in your throat. The throat alone does not have the power to resonate or project the voice. For your voice to stay healthy and sound its best, it should resonate evenly between the nose, the mouth, and the voice box. This area is known as the facial mask. To find your facial mask and focus your voice, simply say "um-hmm." When you feel a slight buzz in your lips and nose you will know your voice is properly focused. Practice saying um-hmm throughout the day to keep your voice in focus.

3. GOOD BREATH SUPPORT

Make sure you are breathing correctly. When inhaling, your chest should remain relaxed and not rise. Your waistline should expand when you inhale and contract when you exhale. Unless you are panting from exertion, this movement is small and almost imperceptible. To feel the muscles used for breath support, place your fingertips just below your ribs. Now make a quick short cough. The muscles you feel contracting against your finger tips are the muscles you use for breath support. Breathing for good speaking does not require a lot of effort. If you generally feel relaxed and healthy you are probably breathing correctly. If not, a yoga class can be extremely helpful.

4. CLEAN LIVING

My financial friend may joke about the whiskey and cigars, but I want to reiterate how bad this is for the voice. It's commonly believed that a low, sultry voice can be a woman's most attractive and fashionable feature. That's fine if you're born with it. But I have actually met women and men who smoked and drank to acquire that low sexy voice artificially. I'm all for having a good time but I just want to go on the record as saying that these people are just plain stupid. In addition to putting your health at serious risk, heavy drinking and smoking harms the vocal chords through dehydration and irritation.

Speaking in your natural pitch shouldn't make you sound monotonous. It should make you sound great! The average pitch range is quite adequate for interesting speech. It's very hard to hear ourselves as others hear us. Call a few friends and ask them what they think. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised.

(Note: a persistent sore or scratchy throat or a chronically weakened voice could be the sign of a serious medical condition. If you suffer from any of these symptoms please get it checked by a doctor).

Susan Berkely is owner and writer of greatvoiceco.com greatvoiceco.com which is providing professional voice recording and professional voice over service for call centers. We are also providing telephone business, greatvoiceco.com voice training, and many more voice services.

What Equipment Do I Need to Start the P90X Program?

When considering P90X the cost can be a concern for some especially when they realize that buying the program may be just the beginning. The ads emphasize that very little equipment is required to do the program but what does that really mean? What is absolutely necessary and what can you live without when you're starting P90X?

While it's not ideal you actually can get started and do a lot of the program without any equipment. You will definitely miss out on a few things but, you can get still great workouts. I'm assuming that you have certain things already like a small towel, and a chair for triceps dips and a few seated exercises. The cardio workouts truly do not require any equipment at all.

A mat is a good idea for Yoga, Stretch and Ab Ripper.

The X Stretch program doesn't really require equipment either as long as you can have a floor with a little padding. If you only have a hard floor available then you will want to have a mat. The same goes for Ab Ripper X.

Yoga X could be done without equipment but, you will be much happier if you have a yoga mat. The reason is that a yoga mat, also known as a sticky mat, helps keep your hands and feet from slipping while doing the various poses. This means that you can focus on good form and getting the most from the workout rather than constantly trying to keep your hands and feet from sliding out from under you. A mat will give you both comfort and safety.

The strength training workouts will require some equipment.

There are exercises in the strength workouts that you really can't do unless you have some form of resistance. Examples of this type of exercise are: lawn mower, pull-ups, skull crushers. You can use bands, dumbbells or even kettle bells for resistance. If you don't want to buy any of these things you can use any heavy item (e.g. jug of water, bag of coins) as long as you can get a secure grip. Whatever you use you'll want to have a couple of options to go heavier or lighter in order to challenge the different muscle groups sufficiently. In order to do pull-ups you either need a pull-up/chin-up bar or resistance bands and a sufficiently high enough spot to anchor them. Again if you can find a way to improvise this some other way that's great. Just make sure whatever you're using is sturdy and that you can get a secure grip.

You will want a couple of things for the nutrition plan too.

Measuring cups are a must. I also highly recommend a digital food scale. Especially when you are using the Portion Approach, a scale will take the guess work out and help you make sure that you're getting the right portion sizes.

The list of necessities is actually pretty short.

In summary, you need a way to do or simulate pull-ups, some form of resistance in at least a couple different weights or levels, a mat (yoga mat and possibly a more cushioned mat), measuring cups, and a digital food scale.

There are plenty of things you can add down the line as you get into the program and get a better idea of how various tools and equipment would support your progress. The good news is that they can wait until you're ready. So, go ahead and get started.

Live better through fitness. Visit besteverfitness.com/ehf.html besteverfitness.com/ehf.html to learn more about how to get in the best shape of your life.

Practice Yoga for Anxiety Relief

Could Yoga have all the answers to anxiety? Why is it that anxiety, stress, and unhappiness take over so many people's lives? If you listen to a "doubting Thomas," nothing works, but if you read below, you will see some solutions.

In fact, all forms of Yoga are good for our mental health. This does not mean that anxiety will disappear, but Yoga gives us the tools to put anxiety in the "back seat," while we determine a positive direction in life. The struggle for direction is within our minds. We must be aware of the struggle from within.

Pessimistic thought is not productive, yet there are many pessimists ruled by "the dark side." For them, nothing will work because they already have the "Why me" attitude. Everything is against them, or so they think, and that is where the problem lies.

Unless you can master your thinking, you will not suppress negative thoughts. How does Yoga do this? The principle is simple. Let's use 21st century jargon to give you a clear picture. Yoga is an ancient, but constantly evolving, science of life. The Yoga practitioner "reprograms" his or her thoughts.

Your mind is your best friend, and your worst enemy, at the same time. When you attend Yoga classes regularly, under the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher, your mind and body become charged with positive energy.

If you look at the facial expressions of Yoga students after a class, you will notice they are in a state of bliss. If this is not the case, they have not found the right place yet. There is no need to be discouraged. We find what we seek in life.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. riyoga.com riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

P90X - The Basics of Getting Through Yoga X

Yoga is in a class by itself in the P90X program. It's not strength training or cardio. It's not strictly stretching either. Here are some tips for the longest (over 90 minutes!) and in some ways the most challenging and, from what I've heard, the most dreaded of the P90X workouts.

First of all, I can't imagine doing yoga without a yoga or sticky mat. They're often called a "sticky" mat because they help keep your hands and feet from sliding when you're doing poses like downward dog. This yoga routine is hard enough without slipping and sliding all over the place. Use a sticky mat to keep you in place and let you focus on getting the poses right.

Getting the poses right is another issue. If you have some experience with yoga or if you have really good kinesthetic sense you will probably be OK. Otherwise you may want to try and get a mirror that you can place on a wall next to where you'll be doing this routine. Alternatively, enlist a friend to go through it with you and let you know if the positions your body is in look close to what Tony and the kids are doing.

Regardless of how you get your form on track or how long you've been doing yoga, keep checking yourself. When you're holding a pose or going through a vinyasa keep asking yourself if your arms are in the right position, are your hips and shoulders lined up properly, are your legs straight or bent enough, are you leaning too far forward or back, is your head at the right angle, etc.

Balance is an area that is tough for a lot of people when doing yoga because it's often subtle things that throw your balance off which is hard to correct when you don't know what to look for. The first thing to check is your hips. For example in Tree pose, if you are holding one hip higher than the other it will throw you off balance. If you find you're having trouble balancing in the Warrior poses it may be that your stance is too narrow laterally. In other words, if you've got one foot directly in front of the other like you're walking a tight rope that's going to make you unstable. The next thing to check is the shoulders. You generally want your shoulders pulled back and down and as level with each other as possible. You also want to think about where you're holding your shoulders in relation to your hips. Lastly, focus on your gravitational center. This is more of a visualization than a specific physical adjustment. Imagine a line running right through your center and down to the ground. Imagine settling your weight in toward that mid line and toward the ground.

Holding the poses in Yoga X is tough and very different from other types of exercise and you will probably find it very challenging at first. Yoga is valuable in building up your endurance (as well as your balance and flexibility) and you will get stronger over time. Keep pushing yourself to do as much as you can. However, if you need to come out of a pose, straighten your legs, drop your arms just do it. It's OK to allow yourself a break when you really need it and then jump back in when you're ready.

Laura Lawson is a certified personal trainer dedicated to helping people live better through fitness. Visit besteverfitness.com besteverfitness.com where you'll find the tools and information you need to help you reach your fitness goals.

Achieving Spiritual Development In The Face Of A Materialistic World

In the past times, people primarily used their intuition as well as their psychic skills as a way to understand the world and exist in a way that they can entice good energy all the time. However, it has become a completely different situation these days, particularly that people right now reside in such a materialistic world wherein scientific technologies and discoveries rule how we live. Despite the fact that these things help to make the existence of human beings incredibly easier and manageable, they have also unfortunately, made a barrier between all of us and a thing called spirituality. With such blockade limiting our thoughts and hearts, we're then limited to whats we can only sense and so, stop us from achieving spiritual development.

Defense From Temptations And Damaging Energies

Truly, it's very important that we are able to attain spiritual development in our lives, especially on the planet that we are now living in. Basically, it can be our tool in protecting all of us from the temptations and negative energies that the modern life offers to us. With a developed spirituality within us, it can therefore be a lot easier for all of us to disregard materialistic dreams and desires and worries coming from the active and stressful demands of the world. What is more, when we have ultimately attained a developed spirituality, it only implies that we have separated ourselves from becoming victims of the bad energies that encircle us. In other words, we can always make a move to protect ourselves from things that can harm us; not only to our physical bodies but also our mentality and balance as well.

Auras Emanating From Inside Ourselves

All of us have an inner spirituality and energy which usually emanate from the body. This is what lots of people call our aura. Generally, our aura comprises of the things which the body retains such as our physical, mental, emotional and religious being. An individual with a radiant aura may simply indicate that he is satisfied with all the beings existing inside him. When an individual emanates a negative aura, it signifies precisely the other way around. However, auras are not only derived but may also be shared with another person. This means that if a person exudes a negative aura in him, he can certainly impact other people's aura into being in the same condition.

Negativity Making It Worse For People

In addition, it's true that our society these days is full of such negative auras and harmful lure. A lot of people tend to be missing out on spiritual development simply because they are preoccupied by the many materialistic things which they feel are indispensable to live. And what is more, rather than making individuals satisfied and happy with their lives, these materialistic stuff only make it worse for them. And so what goes on is that they are ushered into seeking more which makes them far more concerned on materialism rather than on building their own spirituality. Obviously, as long as a person does not recognize that having a completely developed spirituality is essential, he can certainly not be satisfied and pleased with his existence.

Consequently, once you feel unsatisfied about yourself, you have to instantly fight that vulnerability to be drawn to all of the bad energies surrounding you. Such a state is extremely tough to handle especially if you don't like to open up your mind and heart to creating your own spiritual development. One thing is for sure, for as long as you stay in a bad state, you will certainly end up being aimed at having involved in poor and negative routines as well as experiences.

Spiritual growth has always been integral to an individual's sense of well-being. And to some people, this can be achieved with the practice of yogafit.com yoga. Through yogafit.com yoga exercise, trainings and conferences, one can truly improve his quality of life. With Yogafit, you'll definitely have all the information you need to start on your quest.

What Is Yoga?

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a science of health and spirituality that originated many thousands of years ago in India. The ancient yogis sought to harmonize the body, mind and soul in an effort to achieve health, long life, and ultimately, enlightenment. Thus, the Sanskrit word yoga means union with or to join. This union with the divine is achieved through the disciplined practice of specific exercises, meditation and breath work.

Yoga is essentially a lifestyle, dealing with all the aspects of our being. The physical postures, or asanas that are widely perceived as yoga, are just one aspect of a very profound science of life. The Eight Limbs of Yoga, articulated by C.E. Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra, describe the eight aspects of a yogic lifestyle. These aspects guide the yogi on a path self-development to harmonize the body, mind and spirit and attain enlightenment.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

The first limb, yama, focuses on one's behavior in the world and attitude towards those around him or her. The five yamas are: ahimsa or nonviolence, satya or truthfulness, asteya or non-stealing, bramacharya or non-lust, aparigraha or non-possessiveness.

The second limb, niyama, refers to one's behavior and attitude towards oneself. There are five niyamas: sauca or cleanliness, santosha or contentment, tapas or austerity, svadhyaya or study of the sacred text and of oneself, and isvarapranidhama or living with an awareness of the divine.

Asanas or physical poses are the third limb. Asanas are designed to bring strength, vitality and relaxation to every bodily system.

Pranayama, or breathing exercises, encompass the fourth limb. Through disciplined regulation of the breath-the duration of inhalation, retention and exhalation, one strengthens and cleanses the nervous system. The result is increased life-force and a calmer mind.

The fifth limb is prathayara or withdrawal of the senses. One's focus goes inward, losing awareness of what is going on outside of oneself.

Dharana, or concentration is the sixth limb. One trains the mind to focus without distractions.

Dhyana, or meditation is the seventh limb. In meditation one practices constant observation of the mind, stilling the mind in order to heighten one's awareness and oneness with the universe.

The final limb, the ultimate goal of yoga, is samadhi or enlightenment. It is the achievement of oneness with the universe in which one experiences a state of peace, utter contentment and completion.

Yoga as it was designed and practices by the ancient yogis encompasses all these aspects of the self and of life. It is a spiritual path and a lifestyle meant to lead the student towards health, self-knowledge, and union with the divine.

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The Purpose of Yoga - Is the Path Toward Prosperity Un-Yogic?

Since the humble beginnings of humankind, we have prayed for prosperity, abundance, and happiness. Why have so many Yoga teachers scorned the path of prosperity? Many people equate prosperity with material possessions. Too much material abundance has created the desire for more and more possessions.

Consider these words by the Buddha: "To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance." The clear problem with material prosperity is greed and selfishness. The purest form of prosperity is a loving family, friends, and a trained mind.

At the time of this writing, the world economy is experiencing the largest collapse since the Great Depression. In the second week of February of 2009, some U.S. bank executives gave testimony to Congress, under the spotlights, denying that they are raising credit card rates.

In fact, they claimed credit card rates were being lowered. Did you notice any of your credit card rates being lowered? You see - large sums of money do strange things to some of us. Somehow, money makes us forget that we should help each other.

The purpose of government-sponsored bank bailouts was to make credit available for small businesses and average people. Yet, there are very few loans available. Some of the same banks, who were given huge sums of money, have helped to create an economic environment, where many average people have migrated to the unemployment lines.

Should we stop praying for prosperity? Is the path toward prosperity filled with greed, selfishness, lies, and larceny? Consider these words from the Holy Bible located in Proverbs 11:24-25. "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

This is an "age old" universal principle, which runs parallel to the concepts of karma and Yogic philosophy. Our actions, words, and thoughts, create a boomerang effect. Our non-actions and silence do the same. If we can easily help someone, but turn them away, it will always come back to haunt us.

Do not give to others because of guilt. Give because it is the right thing to do. If you desire prosperity, and receive it, do not forget the poor souls who need help. It is true - there are more open hands now than most of us can ever remember, but each act of sharing is never forgotten by those in desperate states of need.

© Copyright 2009 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. aurawellnesscenter.com aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Your Beautiful Mind

What if you could think whatever you want whenever you want? What if you felt joy, love and peace all the time, or even just most of the time? Can you think of some old feeling that you would rather not be carrying around, or a behavior that just doesn't serve you anymore and you would like to let it go? Now is the time. Your mind thinks as it was trained to. Over the years you have downloaded from your senses various thoughts, feelings, opinions and beliefs that rule over your life. Some of them may be quite helpful to you while others may be keeping you from realizing your full potential, or just being happy and prosperous.

You can consciously decide how you want your brain to work, and if there is something in your mind you no longer want to think you can now change it. Your own mind may not believe this, and may even fear the idea, but if you would like to change what goes on in your mind and body the first step is in realizing that you can...absolutely. The second step in this process is in realizing what your thoughts and feelings are and how they are affecting your life. What thoughts serve you and which ones don't? The next step is to consciously decide in what ways you want to think and which ways you don't. The clearer your mind is as to what you want it to think, the easier it is for your mind to think it.

Once you have gained clarity as to what you want your mind to think it is simply a matter of programming your mind to think that way. This is where I can help you. Just like learning a language, as you repeat ideas and feelings they become ingrained into the neuro-physiology of your brain and become adopted into your own personality and behavior. Thought-forms can be created in your mind and firmly established so your mind becomes the perfect servant to your own consciousness. Where there was negative you create positive, where there is fear you create courage and strength, where there is discord you create harmony.

Look how enslaved most people are to their mental and emotional conditioning. There is absolutely no reason to stay in a contracted mental or emotional state, you can start shifting and reprogramming your mind once you decide to. This choice is the power that makes it happen. Your spirit is guiding you to make those choices, just as it guided you to be reading these words. I will be conducting a series of three one hour teleconferences this month called The Enlightened Mind Series (selfawareness.com/YourEnlightenedMindCDSet.html). During these teleconferences I will guide you into deep states to access your subconscious and provide you a series of templates for your mind to consider and adopt if you choose. Emotionally, physically and mentally let us create those thoughts and feelings that bring greater prosperity, happiness and peace into your life and to those in your life. Why settle for anything else?

From the heart, Steven S. Sadleir

"Who decides what state you're going to be in?"

Steven S. Sadleir is the Director of the Self Awareness Institute and is recognized as a Shaktipat Master in two lineages. He has developed powerful distance learning programs for people of all cultures and faiths, trained thousands of people from all over the world, and welcomes all of you who are ready for full Self-Realization.

Visit [SelfAwareness.com] for FREE guided meditation mp3s and ebook!

4 Ways to Tone Your Body Fast

Many people who think that they are overweight are in fact at an average weight for their body build and height, but the reason that they believe they are fat is because their bodies are not trim and toned. The easy solution to this is simply to start work on toning your body, but if you want to tone your body fast it is helpful to know which exercises were created with just this goal in mind. While cardio and daily stretches can be a great way to stay in shape, it will take some more focused exercises such as the list below to tone your body fast.

Weight Training

Weight training is usually recognized as the best way to tone your body fast since weight training involves building lean muscle while burning fat. Thus, while you are busy trimming the fat away from your arms and legs you are replacing it with muscle and tone which is your overall goal anyhow. Although weight training can be more work than any of the below exercises, the payoff is that you will notice your body appears toned in a much faster fashion and you will reduce your weight overall after a few months of regular exercise.

Exercise Ball stretches

Many people enjoy using an exercise ball to tone your body fast due to the fact that it is a small purchase and can be used to tone all areas of the body. You can buy an exercise ball for ten to twenty dollars at any local retail store such as a Walmart of Target and get started right away by searching online for some simple exercises. The trick is to get a routine down that focuses on all areas of your body such as the arms, back, legs, abs, and thighs. By keeping steady with your routine you will notice the results within a month most of the time.

Pilates

Pilates were the rage about five years, but even though they are not as fashionable as they use to be as and exercise they are still an excellent way to tone your body fast. Plenty of gyms offer regular Pilates class or you can purchase a video or search for one online. The nice part about Pilates is that once you know a routine you can perform Pilates just about anywhere.

Yoga

Yoga is the final way to tone your body fast due to the fact that they are also a great way to relax your mind. Thus, you can not only tone your body but take a nice peaceful break from your life for about half an hour each day which is something that most people will look forward to. The perk is that if you enjoy the form of exercise you choose to use to tone your body fast you are more likely to keep up with your regime.

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Practice Yoga with the Best of Intentions

Of course, you practice Yoga with the best of intentions. Now, your thinking, doesn't everyone practice, learn, and teach Yoga with the best of intentions? In a few words: No, they do not.

Some Yoga teachers over-step their boundaries. We have Yoga students who were abused verbally and physically, before they came here. Some were picked on for being overweight, insulted for their lack of flexibility, and one of my current students had her back jumped on by her former Yoga instructor, while holding Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). By the way, this student had told this Yoga teacher, she had back problems, before she took her first Yoga class.

We've all heard stories of different cases of abuse, by anyone in authority. The problem is not the training - it's the inherent lack of common sense and compassion. Most people grow into a Yoga teaching position just fine, while a rare few develop "petty dictator syndrome."

It's amazing what people will justify, and then, insist their acts were done with the best of intentions. My Grandfather used to say, "Hell was made with good intent." Ponder that for a while, and you will come up with many ideas.

If you think of the worst atrocities known to man, you will find someone who can justify them. Do you think Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Hitler, and Stalin thought they were wrong? They would all justify their intentions.

Now, on a much smaller scale, going into your Yoga class, with a competitive mind-set, is not the best of intentions. You will eventually injure yourself. All of us age, and we will not get the same results, from our body, every day. Your body is not a machine and if it were, a machine would show signs of wear too.

A competitive mind-set will bolster your ego and that has nothing to do with Yoga. Your mind, body, and spirit cannot become healthy, when your ego is in "the driver's seat." There is no tranquility, harmony, peace, mindfulness, or loving kindness within the ego. To the ego everything is a perceived threat, to its existence.

Leave your ego at the door, with your shoes, before going into Yoga class. When you practice Yoga, savor each lesson, and take it out into the world, for practice. When you leave the ashram or Yoga studio, practice is applying what you learn to real life. So, it does not end, when you roll up your Yoga mat.

Be courteous to everyone all the time. You are projecting loving kindness and being mindful of life in the present, and practicing the unity of mind, body, and spirit.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

The Purpose Of Yoga - Anger Management Secrets Of Mindfulness

In Yoga, mindfulness is a basic principle for rational thinking. Mindfulness is when you are intentionally aware of your surroundings. You are "in the moment," and judgment or intolerance will not distort your view.

Many people make excuses for temper tantrums and fits of anger. In some cases, there is a medical reason, and the services of a competent physician, or psychiatrist, should be sought as soon as possible.

However, the vast majority of people do make excuses. Here is an example of how people make excuses in regard to anger management. Let's say, you are a dog lover and your dog is your most loyal friend in the world. You come home one day, and your dog ate your favorite suit.

Your particular reaction determines the amount of emotional control you really have. People will forgive their pets, loved ones, and their children for many things, but they will not control their anger out in public. They drive through traffic daily, with the mind set of a battle-hardened war veteran, and an "us against them" survivalist mentality.

Now, if you would have physically beaten your most loyal friend in the world for eating your favorite suit, you really do need professional help right now. This is a simple concept because your suit can be replaced, but a valuable friendship cannot be replaced so easily.

Anger, without control, will destroy friendships, families, and much more. You could even find yourself in prison over one fit of anger. Mindfulness teaches us to see the "big picture," and the consequences of our actions.

Emotional health is addressed in Yoga classes, and a good emotional state exists in harmony, with physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. riyoga.com riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

? Copyright 2007 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Couples Yoga - Reconnect Without Words

During my happinesslifetime.com yoga teacher training I was delightfully captivated one weekend by the beautiful unspoken dialogue that occurred as I partook of a partner yoga session. At the start of the class I sat back to back with my partner and we were asked to simply observe the other's breath flowing in and out and just feel the rise and fall of inspiration and expiration. Wow....there is so much going on when you cease the words! I was blown away by just "being" in the presence and aliveness of another human being. It brought me to tears as I realised that love is just sitting there waiting to be felt...it was so simple. I could really tune in and forget the world outside..a meditation for two indeed! My mind was quietened and all I could hear was both bodies singing their tune. We were encouraged to keep words to a minimum and to keep eye contact wherever possible feeling the flow of movement as a meditation.

Breathing flowed into pranayama (breathing exercises), again sitting back to back and from there followed a sequence of asana or posture work where it quickly became obvious that trust was a large element in knowing that my partner was going to be there to support me. After an hour in class, we were all rosy cheeked and vibrant. I felt such warmth and kindness towards my partner and I had a huge amount of fun. We literally belly laughed when we did the "tree" balancing posture, trying and falling again and again.

It got me thinking that physical connection is such a critical element in any relationship for its healthy functioning but it doesn't have to be about sex. Does having sex make you feel connected? A mixture of responses I guess. In many instances it doesn't, because there can be a mine field of issues around being comfortable with your body, "pressure to perform"..the list is endless. Partner yoga, or as I have come to rename it, couples yoga, can be a way of injecting that much needed vitality back into your relationship through physical exploration without the pressure of intimacy and it offers a way to heal disconnection. Many couples complain that they don't spend enough quality time together. Couples yoga provides a new hobby and journey to new chapters in your relationship. All outside "doings" and daily stresses can be left at the door and all you need focus on is the person you have chosen to spend your life with.

One of the things that struck me the most was the clarity of the current dynamic of your relationship and where you are in terms of openness for connection. I experienced couples yoga with a friend and noticed through self observation where my blocks are to being touched, held and supported and how much I like to be in control. Very amusing! Every glitch in your relationship is apparent as is the level of harmony by which you flow through the class.

My belief is that couples yoga has enormous benefits, not least in un-doing some of the negative experiences that have been created through too many words. You can find:

Deeper Trust - Posture work requires varying degrees of letting go and relying on your partner to support you as you both move through the sequences and trust is essential in knowing that your partner is going to be there to help you get into and out of the postures!
Bonding - Some of the breathing exercises require you to sit side by side or back to back with your loved one. The simplicity of feeling the aliveness of the other person as they breathe, can be deeply profound. Just feeling each others heart beat brings you to a state of non-mind awareness and will allow heart centred communication to flow.
Connection - How well do you know your partner's body? Partner yoga will help you explore the deeper aspects of physical union and will help you notice your partner in different ways. This can lead to a greater ability to listen with intent and communicate with the heart rather than the head. Such a joy!
Fun - couples yoga is so much fun and provides a platform for bringing joy back into your lives. Laughing is a great way to relieve stress and tension and can make problems seem far less important.#
Greater Intimacy - Couples who experience disconnection at a sexual level during a difficult phase of their relationship can often feel pressure to "perform" when they don't really feel close. Yoga can break down this barrier by creating a non threatening environment in which to explore each other without it having to lead to sex. With couples looking for deeper connection, yoga can and will help you improve your sex life. Yoga is ever changing as are our bodies and our human need for new things can be satisfied with this form of union.
Balance - Postures require balance in order to work properly, therefore you experience greater awareness of what it takes to create balance in your relationship. Having practised with friends and partners I am always aware of my own balance.
Communication - in partner yoga, expressing your needs is a sign of strength and by articulating where you need to be held or put will help you "talk" to your partner in a different way.
Quality time - our world is always hectic and to be able to find time and get fit together, couples yoga ticks both boxes.

I am a relationship educator and motivational speaker on the subject of love and a qualified Unity Hatha Yoga teacher specialising in partner yoga, teaching couples how to re-connect through the very powerful use of non-verbal dialogue. I am also a natural therapist offering spiritual guidance and healing tools as a way to discovering the true self and healing from the past. I am not a counsellor or psychologist but I would say, an expert in falling in love and getting hurt. I have a 25 year portfolio of experience in love relationships, which I often fondly reflect on and am now the proud owner of. I don't have any major sob stories to tell you, but it is true that I have allowed my heart to take a beating a few times. I wanted to know why I was so strongly attracted to the "wrong" men that were non-committal and dangerous for the female heart. During a trip to India in 2007, someone said to me "You must become the person you want to attract Gina". It was a revelation. I set about self education and reading all the books I could get my hands on about love and why we do the things we do. The result? It is ALL about me and what we give out we get back. Seems so simple but how many of us REALLY know what to do about it?

Web consciousunion.co.uk consciousunion.co.uk
Blog ginahardy.blogspot.com ginahardy.blogspot.com

Yoga Teachers Lead by Example (Part 1)

During the course of a lifetime, most of us have heard the saying," Do as I say, not as I do." We see this kind of leadership everywhere we go. All politicians, religious leaders, police, sports professionals, parents, academic teachers, and Yoga teachers, lead by example, even if the example displayed is not a good one.

So, how does this concern you? You may not be a public figure, but your students, and the general public, know who you are. Some may even know more about you than you would like. As a Yoga teacher, you want to keep your health, behavior, and your ethics at a high standard - if you are going to be in the "public eye."

As far as health is concerned, you should maintain your Yoga practice and meditate daily. This is an irony with many Yoga teachers because your time is also consumed with the business of Yoga, maintenance of the studio, advertising, and many more aspects that keep a business going.

My personal estimate of time that I spent on vacuuming, cleaning, and maintenance of the Yoga studio is thousands of hours before I hired someone else to do it. This does not account for any of the time spent on many other duties that go into running a Yoga studio.

The average Yoga student has no idea of the preparation and support services involved before they come to a typical Yoga class. In reality, you want them to feel relaxed, so you don't want your Yoga students to feel stressed out over the bookkeeping, marketing, and maintenance of your Yoga studio.

Therefore, you have to put your best "game face" on during class time. This is one very powerful reason for taking the time to develop your own personal Yoga practice. You still must expand your depth of understanding Yoga's many facets.

Why do, or did, you want to be a Yoga teacher in the first place? The most common reasons for becoming a Yoga teacher are your passion for Yoga and to share the gift that has changed your life. Your health and your personal Yoga practice are an integral part of the Yoga teaching vocation.

Maybe you don't have a staff and you are busy all the time preparing for the next Yoga class. What can you do? Budget your time and make a personal Yoga, or meditation session, for yourself. Spending thousands of hours on bookkeeping, marketing, cleaning, and maintenance is part of many Yoga studio owners' lives, but you must also make the time to become a better Yoga practitioner.

You can also offer reduced rates to volunteers or "work for trade" programs to those Yoga students who help you with "domestic chores." You should consult your accountant to make sure everything is legal and "above board." You don't want to violate any child labor laws or set yourself up for any legal problems, so make sure you are following the law "to the letter." Remember also, that laws vary depending upon your location.

It's too easy to let the business of Yoga become your new reality. The business of teaching Yoga is more time consuming than any of us can imagine as Yoga students. If you are spending so much time working on your Yoga business, that you have little time to practice, you must re-evaluate your reason for teaching Yoga.

Make time every day to expand your knowledge about Yoga's many aspects. If you don't take the time to be a Yoga student and engage in learning, continuing education, and nurturing your passion for Yoga, you risk burn out. The best Yoga teachers are students for life, who love to practice this wonderful discipline we know as Yoga.

When your Yoga studio, Yoga teaching position, or ashram becomes a daily burden, and you cannot expand your knowledge; the end result is no different than any other job. As a Yoga teacher, you owe it to your students to keep your "internal flames of passion" for Yoga going.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Yoga Is Ideal to Sculpt the Perfect Martial Arts Body

Here's an interesting fact, the most efficient height for the human body is five foot six. That's the height which has the length of bone over which the muscles do the maximum pull for the skeletal structure. And if you're like me, not five foot six, then you've already missed out on having the perfect martial arts body.

Well, maybe not. There are a lot of factors going on here. After all the bumblebee is not aerodynamically sound, and he does a pretty good job, so perhaps we should look at how to make the most out of what we've got, and maybe break a few conceptions in the mix. To be specific, there are three misconceptions on this idea of creating the best martial arts body.

The first misconception is that the size of the muscle makes for the best muscle. With respect to body builders everywhere, this is just plain wrong. Large muscles, when it comes to the execution of martial arts technique, can be a detriment.

For some reason people have equated muscle building with large, but when it comes to combat, you don't want to go in large. The simple fact is that large weighs more, and is harder to move around.

I am not making that old accusation that large is musclebound, I am just saying that for maximum efficiency, over a period of time, one has to sculpt the exact right size muscle for the specific job undertaken.

Yes, if you can end a fight in one punch, large might be the trick, but how long do fights in the ring last? And, you will notice that not all champs are candidates for muscle building competitions. Champs, for the most part, have found out that they are most efficient in their actions when their muscles are dense.

Not large, lean is okay, but dense.

Now, I wouldn't be so foolish to say that a person should do no weightlifting in their martial arts training. But, I would say that the bulk of their training should be aimed at body weight calisthenics.

It is a body weight that you are attempting to pummel or toss around in the ring, and it is your own body weight that has got to do it, so body weight calisthenics makes sense.

Now, having said all that, let's look at the second misconception...no pain no gain.

This is one of the most ridiculous and downright harmful concepts ever to be foisted upon the unwary.

You're saying that if I hurt myself during training, if I risk damaging my body during training, I'll be able to be a better fighter.

No, I'll be a crippled fighter, and that's the facts.

Yes, it's fun to push oneself, but at the slightest sign of pain, you should be backing off. And, you should learn where the pain starts, so you can learn how to not get so close to it in the first place.

The third misconception is that you don't get better with age. Yes, you will hit a peak sometime in your life, but generally, you should be able to become stronger all the way through your life, right up to the last couple of years. This is not a fantasy, but an actuality.

So consider yoga. In the first place, it is a body calisthenic, and a rather unique one. Instead of no pain no gain, one nudges the body up to the threshold of pain, but before the pain starts, he relaxes. That not only doesn't enter into pain, but, as the person becomes more able, he raises his tolerance without ever entering into. This is going to make for a body that can train harder and longer. Furthermore, in doing Yoga one achieves awareness, balance, relaxation, and all the other things that a truly great fighter needs.

Most important, you can work out all day long. Serious. After the break in period, you could do yoga ten hours a day, and feel refreshed.

And this is the point of it all. Physically working, all day long, will trim the fat, dense the muscle, and make the body into the perfect Martial Arts body, and this perfect structure will last through the ring, out of the ring, and through the years to the end of days.

If you are interested in sculpting the perfect martial arts body go to monstermartialarts.com/Yogata.html monstermartialarts.com/Yogata.html Yogata has been expressly designed for the martial artist on many different levels.

Yoga Alignment Methods for Insomnia Solutions

Yoga contains many natural solutions for a variety of life's daily problems. So, what can Yoga do for you when you are having a restless night? Let's look at common causes, and a Yogic alignment method for insomnia.

Although insomnia can be caused by a variety of reasons, restless nights seem to become more frequent when we worry. When you are in the company of adults, over the age of 40, very few will tell you they always sleep sound. The common reasons are a variety of worries about their parents, their children, college expenses, relationships, employment, finances, and more.

You do not have to be over 40 years of age to experience insomnia, stress, and worry, but problems commonly seem to pile up at this point in life. Therefore, the following methods could be used by anyone, of any age, to prevent or to deal with bouts of insomnia.

Look at your sleeping posture, as closely as you would an Asana (Yoga posture), in a Hatha Yoga class. Get a good firm mattress, a good pillow for your neck, smaller pillows - for your alignment, and comfortable linens. Consider them night time Yoga props. Some people spend thousands of dollars on a bed and mattress; while they invest nothing in pillows.

If they sleep, at all, you can be sure they will wake up the next morning with a neck ache or a backache. There are many different pillows to choose from, for a variety of reasons. There are also chiropractic and orthopedic pillows.

Invest wisely in your sleep time. You should be getting close to 8 hours of sleep per night, in order to be ready for the following day. The quality of your pillows, and mattress, are an investment in your skeletal health and alignment.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. riyoga.com riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Replenish the Body With Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Health and fitness is a big concern for almost everyone across the Globe. Machines having taken most of the hard work that required human labor; Human beings are getting obese with each passing day. Many techniques to keep the bogy fit have been developed over the years. Some of them which are really doing well all across the world are Yoga, Pilates, High Intensity Training, Aerobics etc.

Apart from the sedentary lifestyle food products with low nutrition value, laden with inorganic ingredients are playing havoc with human health. The body's requirements for nutrition are not met and as a result the immune system may become weak inviting many a diseases and problems that will easily attack the human body.

One needs to keep the body replenished with essential ingredients that are required to keep the body processes running in the right condition. You need t have carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals in the right quantity as a deficiency of any one of them can cause severe health concerns which may sometimes be beyond medical cure.

Vitamins are quite essential to run the body processes and are found in majority fruits and vegetables. But you one is unable to measure how much vitamin is going into the body, if the body's requirement for vitamins has been fulfilled or not. Multivitamins come into play at this time. Multivitamins are intended to replenish the requirements of vitamins and minerals. Multivitamins can be had in the form of tablets, capsules, powders or liquids.

They form an essential part of diet especially for a person who is working out in a Gym or is undergoing intense physical activity as the body requirements increase due to the loss in the form of sweat and wear and tear of muscles. Almost all physical trainers worldwide recommend the use of multivitamins and other supplements to keep the internal system in a good shape.

Thus if you are doing strenuous work or exercises like HIT training or are going to a Gym multivitamins has to a part of your diet.

The mainstream bodybuilding regime has it all wrong. Learn thehitguide.com HIT intensity training and thehitguide.com H.I.T. training to start building more muscle now.

Yoga Techniques

Yoga is considered the most effective way to stay fit and healthy or to get healthy again. A major advantage of yoga is that you can practise it any time of the day and anywhere you wish.

Yoga techniques are helpful in maintaining your muscles, your joints and even your glands and other inner organs.

The five yoga techniques include:

1. posture

2. Movement of Joints

3. Deep, controlled breathing

4. Relaxation

5. Meditation

Each technique has it's own role and function. Some techniques support each other or prepare the body for one another.

1. Postures

There are many different postures from easy to highly demanding. The essence is not to judge oneself, but to observe oneself. A less demanding posture, standing, sitting or lying executed with dedication is always more preferable and effective.

2. Movement of Joints

To achieve a certain posture, supplety of the joints is a necessity. The joints are trained, albeit in a gentle manner, to perform these postures. This training includes, amongst others, the neck, the hands, the arms and the legs and not forgetting very importantly the back.

3. Deep Breathing

Postures and movement of the joints are supported throughout by deep, controlled breathing. Let your breath flow whilst practising yoga. Remember - certain postures/movements are performed during inhaling whilst others are performed whilst exhaling. You should never hold your breath. The longer one exhales the calmer one gets.

There are also breathing techniques such as pranayama which can be executed in an upright sitting position. 'Prana' or breathing, supplies the body with new energy.

4. Relaxation

Relaxation after exercising is equally as important as the exercise itself. This releases the tensions built during the exercise and allows one to mentally relive the exercise.

5. Meditation

After preparing your body through posture, movement of joints, deep breathing and relaxation the spirit is ready for meditation. The yoga techniques help to increase the awareness and one can focus on concentration. Through concentrating the thoughts on one subject, the spirit calms down and as a result one feels contentment.

Stuart Perryman Yoga: Body - Mind - Spirit [yoga.alluneedtoknow.info]

Power Yoga - East Meets West

An ancient Indian holistic health discipline, is what best defines yoga. However, the system has often been associated with the older generation in yester years. Most gym goers have been rubbishing the concept of yoga, until lately the entire world seems to have woken up to its benefits. This is mostly due to the discovery of 'power yoga' and its various advantages.

Yoga combines the traditional yoga asana with weight training, in order to create dynamic exercises that have known to produce phenomenal results. Yoga centers are mushrooming all over the globe. Those who have adopted the system claim to have benefited in more ways than one. The system does much more than simply target weight loss, though weight loss is a huge bonus that comes along with the other benefits.

Immune system: Yoga helps tremendously in building the immune system and is therefore highly recommended for those who may suffer from frequent bouts of fever or common colds. In fact, doctors highly encourage their patients to undertake power yoga, especially if they are unable to follow the other systems of exercising.

Strength building: Right from the body builder to the pregnant lady, power yoga helps everyone build their strength quotient. The combination of flexibility and resistance training is a great mix for the body muscles and ensures that they do not suffer from stiffness.

Body toxins: One of the most crucial advantages of power yoga comes in the form of release of body toxins. The asana help in expelling toxins from the body and cleansing the system thoroughly. This release also helps control stress in our body and allows tensions and other similar negative vibes to flow out of the system.

Spiritual gain: It is wrong to imagine that the body can thrive while the mind suffers. Power yoga understands this concept well and therefore adopts a holistic approach to achieving good health. The mind is therefore also given full attention by power yoga teachers, who help their students understand the spiritual aspects of life too.

Weight loss: Though not the most important advantage of power yoga, weight loss is definitely the most desired one. Power yoga helps loose weight without any side effects and ensures that the body is not damaged in any way during this process. Indeed, this is one of the main reasons that the discipline has achieved such fame.

While weight lifting is not recommended for growing children and the older generation, cardio does not do much for women who may suffer from osteoporosis. Amazingly, unlike other exercise concepts, power yoga works for everyone. Power yoga has no gender, age or ailment restriction. In fact even women who are pregnant can join power yoga and reap its benefits.

Do keep in mind that like other exercise routines, power yoga also demands a trained teacher who knows the various techniques and asana and can deliver customized solutions to the students.

Kelly J. DiLauro, a former corporate executive and holistic health care provider, is not only the founder and CEO of her own supplement company but also educates and counsels local women on how to achieve more balance, peace and harmony in their lives on all levels for optimum health care results. She is certified as a massage therapist-including Integrative Manual Therapy, Master Reiki Healer, and nutritional counselor. Founded in 2004, Dedicated Woman offers a line of dietary supplements catered specifically to women. The company offers an array of different products to address women's top health concerns, such as bone health, immune, metabolism, body image and weight loss. Manufactured according to exacting quality standards, Dedicated Woman supplements are available for purchase on the company website: dedicatedwoman.com dedicatedwoman.com or by calling 1-800-513-6672. Women change the world every day, and we want you to do it feeling your best. To learn more about Dedicated Women, visit dedicatedwoman.com.

How to Detect When Covert Persuasion Or Hypnotic Influence is Used on You

Ever since the human language came into being, hypnosis has likewise surfaced. It was utilized in a lot of different forms even though it was unintentional. Nevertheless, the same hypnosis techniques continue to be used even today.

Through the years of continuing practice, hypnosis experts have realized that the willingness of the subject and his participation is vital for the hypnosis session to turn out successfully. Yet, it doesn't follow that the subject is fully aware that he is being hypnotized. Turns out that oftentimes, some subjects are made readily participative even when what is being used on them is the covert persuasion or hypnotic influence.

Research and careful study shows that the hypnotists have already unraveled effective and cunning techniques to find a detour towards the subconscious mind thereby evading the conscious mind. The subconscious normally just reacts to the given commands without exhibiting the critical capability of digesting and evaluating the given information. So when the hypnotist tries to work with his subject, he directly talks to the subconscious mind. As a result, the participant readily agrees without realizing what risk is at stake. It may only be after a few minutes when the conscious mind is activated once more that he discovers what has happened.

You see, the critical mind is that which screens and analyzes the given information, compares it with the existing values, and determines if it is worthy to be acted upon. If it has been decided to be worthy of an action, the conscious mind then passes the command to the subconscious which executes the action. The latter is designed to be nothing but the actor or carrier of a pre-programmed chore.

A professional who implements covert persuasion or hypnotic influence on a subject is generally widely aware of his intention. He creates a particular state in a person's mind that puts the subconscious mind over the conscious region so that the subject is not able to repel the command but instead automatically acts on it. It is like a screen is used to shield the critical analysis to be exercised by the conscious mind to stop the subconscious region from executing the command.

In this time and age when life is hectic, some covert hypnotists make use of various cunning techniques to hook their participants. The situations may come unexpectedly, but there are ways you can at least repel them.

Practice the application of critical thought. They say that practice makes perfect. If your mind has been programmed to exercise critical thinking even when making decisions over the minutest things, then your mind will automatically function in the same way that it has been trained or programmed when a covert hypnotist approaches you. This normal reaction and function of the mind will protect you from making hasty and less critical decisions.

Know how covert hypnosis works. By feeding your mind with the relevant information regarding the working of covert hypnosis, then you will readily recognize when the techniques are being used on you.

Covert persuasion or hypnotic influence is often used with all types of intentions. Learn more to see how you can make use of it, and how to protect yourself from it at the same time.

A. Thomas Perhacs, is an Expert Author on Covert Persuasion & Hypnotic Influence. He has just released (2) two new books on Hypnosis & Mind Force Secrets. To Claim Your 1 hour audio seminar, report & Video Series go to: mindforcesecrets.com mindforcesecrets.com

Which Type of Yoga is Right For Me?

With the popularity of yoga rising throughout the western world, you have probably heard about it's healing powers by now. However, you still aren't sure exactly what kind of yoga may be right for your lifestyle. Chances are, you have probably asked everyone you know who practices yoga. While they may have a few suggestions, they may be bias in their decision making when it comes to which type of yoga you should choose.

Iit is fairly simple to find the right kind of yoga for you. Especially if you have all of the information there is to know about yoga. First and foremost you should try to consider why you are planning on entering the yoga lifestyle. Whether it was suggested to you from your doctor for medical treatment, or if it is a means for you to reconnect with a healthy lifestyle.

Just remember that you aren't alone. Many people struggle with trying to find the right yoga class for them. Some can spent years jumping from class to class, type to type, or different yoga teachers before finding the right match. You may find yourself drawn to the names of each yoga class, often times witty and inspiring. However, I would suggest making your decision on more than just the location or name of your yoga class. Instead taking the time to sit down with each of the teachers, and getting a feel for their technique of teaching.

It may be helpful if you can find a teacher that will allow you to sit in on each type of class. This will give you a first-hand view of what would be expected of you during your yoga class. While some may promote the use of props, and focus on slow and controlled movements. Others may focus on spirituality, or exercise. All of which are beneficial to many different people in their walks of life. However, power-yoga may not be the best choice if you suffer from chronic back pain. For this reason, you should take care in choosing the right type of yoga.

Before we look into the different types of classes and what you can expect you should first remember that as with any exercise program; you should first consult with your doctor. This is especially true if you have any diagnosed health problems that reduce your range of motion.

Once you have begun to visit the many different yoga classes available in your area, you will find that there is a common denominator among them all. That of which is that they are focused on bringing oneness to one's life. A unity between body, mind, and soul. Regardless of the fact that this oneness is all something we hold inside of ourselves on a daily basis. However, most people will find that it can be difficult to reach this place in our own selves without a little help.

Unfortunately there is no real way to answer the question of "what type of yoga is right for me?". It is more or less an moment of inspiration that you will find enter your mind once you have found the right class. As with so many things in life, yoga is specialized. However there are many different options to choose from. No one yoga class is going to be right for everyone who practices yoga. Just like no one yoga prop or work out wear will be right for one person. Think of it as a "fitting" for your lifestyle. Try your yoga class on for size, if it doesn't fit your lifestyle, your schedule, or your medical needs; then you should probably try to find something different.

While it is a common misconception among newcomers to yoga. You don't need to have a particular religion or belief to practice yoga. Just as you don't need to be of any one shape, or size to practice yoga. Everyone can and will benefit from the healing nature of yoga. It is even common for families to practice yoga together. If this is your plan, then finding a low-impact yoga will be imperative for younger children. Which will allow all of you to relax while getting healthy together. This of course is one of the many reasons that yoga has become so popular in the western world. As we all fight to keep our lifestyles healthy in a stressful and fast-pace lifestyle. We find that there just isn't enough time to run from one yoga class to another. Instead finding one class that will fit as a whole with your group of yoga friends, or family will help to keep your schedule relatively un-scathed.

The different types of yoga can be fairly difficult to differentiate. However, there are a few key differences that can help you choose which yoga is right for you. Whether you are looking for a high-impact yoga to help you drop pounds quickly; or simply trying to find relief from arthritis, or other chronic pain. There is a yoga that will be the perfect fit for you!

Hatha yoga (of which means union) is a term for yoga that employs both physical, and breathing exercise to calm the mind. This is only one of eight branches of traditional yoga, which has been passed down for generations in ancient Indian philosophy. It is thought that this style of yoga can help to attain enlightenment. Among these types of yoga that have stemmed from Hatha, you will find Raga, Mantra, and Tantra. All of which are considered to be philosophical styles of yoga, which are focused on elevating a person's mental state. It is common for Hatha yoga classes to ask their practitioners to follow a certain dietary conservation as well as ethical codes of living.

There are several different disciplines that you will find practiced in Hatha yoga. However due to it's popularity, some classes may even teach a fusion of several different styles of yoga. Including Hatha yoga. Most of these hybrid yoga classes (especially those that include Hatha yoga) are often times the best for beginner yoga practitioners. Simply because they will offer a wider range of poses, breathing, and physical elements. All of which are needed to practice yoga safely and get the most out of your workout.

While Hatha yoga has increased in popularity within the western world. There are many other kinds that can be found here in the United states alone. Ashtanga Viniyasa is one of the most increasingly popular forms of yoga in the last few years. It is a physical and mentally challenging form of yoga. Of which focuses on the unity between movement and breathing. However, this form of yoga can be fairly taxing and shouldn't be utilized for anyone with severe medical conditions. If you are a beginner, it is imperative to join a beginners Ashtanga class, so that you are able to learn at your own speed without posing an injury risk to yourself.

Along with Hatha and Ashtanga Viniyasa yoga's you will find a few other choices to choose from. One of which being Sivananda yoga. Which is based around as little as twelve postures. One such posture sequence includes the sun salutation. Of which focuses on breathing and meditation. This is one of the most well-rounded yoga classes that can be found today. It is especially suitable for all levels of expertise, ages, and physical abilities. Making it one of the most family friendly forms of yoga available.

Another popular form of yoga is Viniyoga. Of which is known for it's personalized touch. Each session of Viniyoga is tailored specially for the individual practitioner and their needs. These classes can vary from as short as fifteen minutes to two to three hours. However it is one of the best one-on-one yoga training that you can find. This is especially wonderful for anyone who might find it difficult to follow an instructor within a large class. This class is particularly well suited for children and those with medical conditions. Simply because it is so personal, and allows the trainer to keep your body, health, and physical limitations in mind when creating your routine.

The last form of yoga that is commonly practiced in the western world is Iyengar. Which is a slower and more precise means of practicing yoga. It is by far the most practiced yoga throughout the world (spanning not only in the western world). It plays in important role in one's bodily alignment and posture. This is particularly well suited for those with back-pain or any other severe or chronic pain. This form of yoga is also particularly suitable for seniors, as they practice with many different props to aid in their posture progression.

Remember, as with any new workout regiment that you should always know your own body's limitation. This will help you to choose the right style of yoga class for you. There is no right or wrong answer, simply knowing what you can and cannot handle is key. Regardless of the class, you should become prepared once you have chosen the right type of yoga for you. Your yoga instructor will be able to give you a list of the items you will need, whether it be yoga mats, blocks, blankets, or any other prop. It is best to come prepared!

The three popular types of yoga you may have heard of are hatha yoga, power yoga and bikram yoga. Hatha yoga is the style of yoga most practiced today. It is what you will think of when you think of yoga in general. Power yoga is a more aerobic-style yoga, with an emphasis on cardio. Bikram yoga is a style of yoga performed in a heated room to accelerate detoxification. Universal Yoga sells everything you need to practice these and other forms of yoga, pilates and meditation including universalyoga.com/yogaclothes.html cropped yoga pants, universalyoga.com yoga mats, workout clothing, meditation cushions, yoga bags, uplifting apparel, spiritual jewelry, and yoga DVDs.

Should I Consider a Yoga Teacher Training Class?

A lot of people are looking for ways on how to live a healthy lifestyle and one of them is through attending yoga classes. If you have been practicing yoga for quite some time, you might have probably thought of becoming an instructor of yoga.

Yoga is a good way of maintaining a healthy body, but aside from that, this can also provide you a good job, especially if you are a dedicated advocate of yoga. A yoga teacher training class is all you need so that you can land on the career of becoming a yoga instructor. You are also able to maintain good health while enjoying what you are doing; however, you should be aware that becoming a yoga instructor will not provide you that much of earnings like what others are expecting.

Advocates of yoga or those who have been practicing this for many years would truly benefit if they are going to complete a certification course so that they would be able to teach yoga. However, you should know that becoming an instructor of yoga would require you time and of course, some investment. Yoga is not just a plain exercise but it deeply involves the mind and the spirit. With yoga, your views in life might change.

Apparently, there are numerous training courses being offered to become an instructor of yoga. Whatever course you choose, it will definitely be a wonderful learning experience because that is what truly matters in yoga. Keep in mind that yoga helps not only in maintaining a healthy body, but it also helps in enhancing your way of living and your views in life.

Thus, if you have already been practicing yoga for quite some time, then you should consider attending a training course for you to be able to teach yoga and become a certified instructor.

As mentioned, there are numerous teaching courses being offered on becoming an instructor of yoga. It is in your discretion to choose the appropriate training for you, but you should also keep some things in mind and make necessary considerations before making your decision. It would be best to choose a class where there are limited students so that it would be much easier for you to learn. Also, it would be ideal to choose a class wherein real life experience is given more importance, rather than plainly focusing just on the theories.

There are also some classes that offer faster ways to finish the certification program. It is really quite tempting to finish the entire training program faster but it wouldn't be enough to learn and to experience all the necessary things that you need to become a certified instructor. Always remember that it will not do you any good if you are going to take the minimum hours required or if you are just going to focus on the theories rather than on the actual experience itself. Thus, it is best to choose a training school that is accredited and is well known to provide a good training class for aspiring yoga instructors.

Learn more about byronyoga.com yoga teacher training courses and become a certified yoga teacher.

Emotional Intelligence, Reading Faces, and Meditation

Concealed emotions, also called facial "microexpressions", are the fleeting expressions that, believe it or not, you make when consciously or unconsciously trying to hide your true emotions. In conscious microexpressions you may be trying to lie, while with unconscious expressions, you may not even be aware of what they are truly feeling.

Paul Ekman, Ph.D. has made a study of these microexpressions. According to Ekman, "These expressions tend to be very extreme and very fast. Eighty to 90 percent of people we tested don't see them."

Ekman was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco for 32 years. His original focus was on "nonverbal" behavior, and by the mid-60s, he concentrated on the expression and physiology of emotion. He has developed a secondary interest in interpersonal deception as well. Perhaps his most famous publication is the The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) which is used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies everywhere, as well as parents and therapists who want to be able to understand people around them better.

"With my children, spouse, friends and work associates, if I don't understand how they're feeling - either about me or about (things) that may have nothing to do with me when we interact - then I'm not going to have a very useful exchange with them," Ekman said.

He has conducted extensive research on identifying emotions through facial expressions. As part of that research, and as part of the power of discipline and training, he learned how to consciously manipulate 42 facial muscles, including many that in most of us are beyond our control, and even awareness.

In the 60s and 70s when Ekman began looking into the universality of facial expressions, all the major contemporary social scientists, like Margaret Mead, believed that expressions were culturally learned, not innate. He proceeded traveled all over the world with pictures of people making distinct facial expressions and found people in cultures everywhere, from modern to stone age, agreed on the emotion behind the expression. He then turned to studying the production of these expressions and the 43 facial muscles that can create 10,000 expressions, which form the basis of his training.

He found seven universal emotions with unique facial expression. The emotions are: anger, fear, sadness, disgust, happiness, surprise, and contempt. At least five of these are shared with non-human primates as well. Interestingly, the smile is the easiest expression to recognize, and the easiest to identify from afar. These emotions have a specific trigger, come quickly without thought, and interact with your physiology - meaning merely making the fear expression will create a fear response in your body as well. With fear, neurons will signal your body to prepare to flee by sending blood to the large voluntary muscles in your legs. In anger, on the other hand, your brain signals your body to fight by sending blood to your hands. Try practicing on yourself: can you feel a change in your emotional state by making changes in your facial expression?

Emotions have distinct triggers and learning those triggers is an important step in understanding your own emotions and why you respond the way you do. To date, the best way to learn to recognize the the impulse that was triggered before the awareness of the emotion is contemplative practice (meditation). Also, an important point to clarify, emotions are not moods, which are longer affective experiences have an unclear trigger (you may not be sure what sparked the mood you're in) and tend to filter your view of the environment.

Based on primary and secondary research, he found that there are seven emotions expressed in the face in universally consistent ways: Sadness, Anger, Surprise, Fear, Enjoyment, Disgust, Contempt.

Even more interesting: according to his research, feelings and facial expressions influence each other. This is, not only a sad person will naturally look sad, but a person who intentionally smiles will feel more content than a person who doesn't.

Now, would you please smile ...

Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO and Co-Founder of SharpBrains.com, which provides the latest science-based information for Cognitive Interventions and Mental Training, and has been recognized by Scientific American Mind, MarketWatch, Forbes, and more. Alvaro holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford University, and teaches The Science of Brain Health at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute. You can learn more at sharpbrains.com sharpbrains.com/

Hatha Yoga - Idyllic Way To A Stronger Spirit

As the five-thousand ancient system, Hatha yoga is celebrated utilizing to increase the whole body, awareness and spirit. Folks who perform Hatha Yoga fuse together the stretching workouts of asana in their exercise. It lets in the psychic immersion and breathing methods.

The Indian lotus pose from Asana touches on following poses utilized in Hatha Yoga.

The aim of doing Hatha Yoga is exactly the similar of practicing different forms of Yoga. It aspires to fuse the mortal spirit on the tranquil spirit of the cosmos. On this exercise, the individual executing the Yoga workout gains their spiritual, genial, corporal and affection wellness and aspect.

Executing Hatha Yoga consecrates you peace of mind while celebrating your surroundings, and the cosmos every bit in unison. Successfully performing yoga, letting in every last cases of concentration in yoga is the origins or primary component for a productive yoga session.

Every last remaining types of meditational Yoga bears a few similarities in same manner or otherwise. The principal focal point of Hatha Yoga constitutes the training of the physical structure to yield itself in order for the disembodied spirit shall be competent to assimilate and fulfill its charge. The spirit is accountable in elevating and enlightening. As the spirit is disenchanted, the psyche is unbent and it casts off out every tension and hurting. The physical element acts as well.

Excessively a lot of masses become confused since they do not realize that whenever your organic structure is not in good shape and crippled; your inner core cannot successfully fulfill the chore. Indeed, the main end product of Hatha Yoga is idealized to practice whenever your emotional state is feeble.

Hatha Yoga will facilitate boost your body as it affects and encourages it positively as a result the spiritual aspect shall be competent to function the right way. Your emotional state and human anatomy needs to react positively in order for the mind to be able to maintain on an adept concentration.

Once folks get word of the phrase Hatha Yoga, Yoga shall bear on their heads initially. Hatha Yoga is fashionable in that it is the best-selling aspect of Yoga. As a matter of fact, the some other methods of yoga specifically Power Yoga, Ashtanga, Kundalini and Bikram has started from none other than Hatha Yoga.

This ancient Yoga technique is recognized for being the deliverer for the mortal soul. It constitutes being accountable for getting the flesh and the soul into the cosmos. Merely, picture surging to the cosmos and experience zero gravity in the least bit. That is simply indeed unwinding and tantalizing.

Concentration matches something that is grueling to sustain and regain. Whenever you encounter yourself well disturbed from outside coerces, Hatha Yoga could function to oppose them.

The most effective thing in doing this type of Yoga is it aids you to discover for yourself that in that respect follows a ecclesiastic light which radiates in you. Not solely will it shed light on you but it could assist you to turn firmer, decompressed and limber.

The practice required in executing Hatha Yoga grants the spiritual vitality to stream by the exposed energy canals. This will be achievable whenever the psyche, physical and spirit is forging good and delivers harmony. Naturally upholding a fit body is the most valuable of all. Whenever your body is frail, your judgment and emotional state is moved as well

Once you do Hatha Yoga, you are able to easily manage ahead on tension and alleviate any annoyance and stress. Occasionally, employment leaves you haggard and depleted so you want to unwind now and again. Hatha Yoga is the most beneficial cure to let go of that pain in the neck and stress.

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The Ideal Clothing for Pilates Exercise

We live in an age where everything that can be automated has either already undergone automation or is semiautomatic. Some things that had no business being automated are also automatic. We walk less, we run even lesser, our diets are a mess, and nearly everyone is overweight. Two generations ago people ate more non-organic foods, smoked and drank more and yet they were far healthier than most of us.

According to some studies that were conducted recently, it was found that 60% of Americans are not doing the minimum daily exercise needed. Furthermore, the study discovered that out of this population, over 25% were such that their physical movements were almost negligible.

However, since our lifestyles have grown to be such that our paychecks come from sitting in an office chair all day, most people need some sort of alternative that does not ask them to spend 9 hours a week in the gym.

This is the reason for the recent popularity of Pilates exercises. These exercises are simple so that anyone, in any physical condition, and of any age can perform them without the need of fancy equipment or lots of spare time.

Just as you would wear different apparel when going to weight training or an aerobics class, you should also pay attention to what you wear during Pilates exercises.

Make sure that whatever you wear is comfortable even if it is not fashionable. Pilates exercises can ask you to twist and contort your body into some awkward positions initially and the last you want is to be discomfited by your clothes.

Wear clothes that hug your body. As with all exercises, the clothes you wear during a pilates workout should permit easy breathing and movement and should not be susceptible to flapping around. Also make certain that the clothes do not weigh too much. Some track pants material can be downright heavy. The lighter your Pilates exercise costume the better it will be for you.

Pilates involves a lot of stretching and bending. At times like these and during certain postures, the obvious clothing items like extra buttons, zippers, beads can become a pain when they intrude between folding muscle layers so avoid those and wear plain clothing.

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You can find more great Pilates information at pilates-class.com pilates-class.com Check out some of the comments by top pilates instructors.

The Stratospheric Rise Of Yoga Brings Opportunities And Challenges

Over the last 20 years, the popularity of yoga has increased from nearly no interest to being one of the most popular exercise regimes around. To match the increasing demand for yoga, more and more yoga centers are opening all the time. For those of us looking for something new, or just starting out for the first time, the choices can be daunting.

There are many different schools and styles of yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, power yoga, Bikram (hot), Kundilini, Viniyoga to name just a few. Although all of these schools of yoga essentially teach the same Hatha yoga asanas (yoga postures), the objectives of the class and the way the postures are performed and taught are very different for each.

In addition every yoga teacher has their own characteristics, emphasis and approach to teaching which affects the class and learning experience.

While so many choices can be daunting, it also means that there's so much diversity, we're bound to find a style and a teacher that we like. If we don't like a school of yoga, or a yoga teacher - we can try something else.

While personal preference will guide much of our selection process both for the school of yoga and the teacher, finding an experienced and high quality teacher is the most important consideration.

Yoga teachers are not all created equal With the increasing popularity of yoga the demand for teachers and peoples desire to take their practice to the next level means that thousands of people take some kind of certification or registration each year. But with so many new teachers around, it's impossible for them all to be to be of the highest standards.

In addition, the absence of formal regulation of the training and certification for yoga it's difficult to know before a class how good a teacher will be. Without formal standards, an individual can become a teacher with very little personal yoga practice and experience. Experience is important for overall understanding but the amount of and quality of teacher training is also important. The quality of happinesslifetime.com yoga teacher training courses and certification varies enormously. Currently certification can take from a year or more for some specializations to merely a 1 or 2 day intensive program. A 200 hour program of learning and supervised teaching practice is quite standard. What's more the format can vary from retreats with formal examinations to correspondence courses and certification over the internet.

With the teacher being so important, and the options on teacher training so varied, the responsibility for selecting a high quality yoga teacher is passed to the students and should not be taken lightly.

So what makes a good teacher? The yoga instructor is elemental in setting the tone of the class. The teacher, their style of yoga and their approach to teaching, can not only determine whether you enjoy a session, but whether you like yoga at all. But more than that the yoga teacher, the routines they teach and the quality of their teaching will control how much benefit we get from the practice.

While there are many complexities that determine whether we enjoy a class, there are two things a yoga teacher must always do.

The teacher must guide our practice on a macro-level with a well rounded practice. It is important that we develop our bodies in a balanced and uniform manner which means in a single session we should develop strength, flexibility to all muscles and joints without over emphasis on one area that could lead to strains and injury. On top of this it's important perform balancing poses that improve body co-ordination and improve concentration. Finally every pose, particularly the flexion and compression of the back, has a counter pose. A well designed yoga routine takes this into consideration to prevent over straining muscles and reduce soreness.

The yoga teacher must guide our learning on a micro-level with correct technique and alignment to increase our abilities without injury. Firstly the teacher needs to provide demonstration and detailed instruction on how to safely enter, hold and exit the poses. The descriptions should include details about correct steps to enter the pose as well as key points to consider such as alignment and muscles to use.

In addition the teacher needs to quickly gauge each individual's abilities so they can advise on more basic or more advanced variations as appropriate. Then the teacher needs to observe how we are performing each pose helping to correct errors that may lead to injuries. Correction of poses can include verbal descriptions or by physical assistance and repositioning.

How to find a teacher that works for us? The best way to choose a yoga teacher is by giving their class a try. We usually know before the end of the first class whether we're going to be able to follow this style of yoga and the teacher.

However, if we have less experience of yoga, attending a new school of yoga or a new teacher may be more intimidating. In this case it's worthwhile talking with the teacher before taking their lessons, to find out more about them and tell them about ourselves. Things to consider may include:

The school or style of yoga they teach.
How long they have been practicing yoga, and how long they have been teaching yoga.
How they got into yoga, and what they get out of it, why they continue to practice. Why did they want to teach yoga to others?
How they structure their classes. Whether they focus on any particular aspect such as strength, flexibility, balance or meditation.
Whether they give demonstrations or just verbal descriptions.
The size of classes and whether they focus on individuals, how they help with correcting poses, through descriptions only or physical contact to realign (in which case gender may become a factor).
If we are attending a new yoga class for a particular health reason such as treating back pain, high blood pressure, stress or breathing problems then it's important to know if the teacher has any experience in these treatments
There are a couple of other "tells" that may help you judge whether a teacher is sufficiently experienced. Firstly, does the teacher talk as if they are genuinely enthusiastic about yoga, it's benefits for the body, mind and spirit and sharing that with their students? Secondly, do they come across as being genuinely knowledgeable about yoga? Such as knowing and using the Sanskrit names of the yoga poses. While it doesn't guarantee that the teacher is experienced or good at teaching, it does at least indicate they have spent some time learning their practice.

If you don't find the right yoga style or teacher right away, then keep looking. With so many options you're bound to find something soon enough. The health benefits of yoga are worth the search and you'll learn plenty about yoga, your body and yourself along the way.

TotalYogaPractice.com yoga teachers are North India natives, with yoga in their heritage and their blood. Starting their yoga practice at childhood, they have dedicated their entire lives to learning and teaching yoga. Using their 20 plus years of yoga experience they know how to structure yoga practices that deliver strength, flexibility and balance, helping their students to feel well exercised but also calm, relaxed and energized in mind and body.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jez Heath is helping real people learn yoga online so they can make the commitment necessary to improve their yoga and their health - mind, body and soul. Learn how TotalYogaPractice.com yoga streaming video can help you transform your life

Endurance Cycling - Recovery Techniques For Training and Racing

Part of the puzzle that is endurance cycling is how to improve recovery. Whether during a multi-day event or during your training week, how well you recover will dictate how well you do. Learn to maximize your recovery as see a big improvement in your performance.

The following tips will help you speed up recovery. Remember you don't get fitter and faster during training, your gains come when you recover from training.

Hit the Glycogen Window

Immediately after training or racing down a recovery drink containing carbohydrates and protein. This can be a pre-package recovery drink powder which is convenient as it only has to be mixed with water. Products like Hammer Nutrition Recoverite or Endurox can be found at many cycling and running shops. The other choice that has been shown to equally effective in clinical studies is chocolate milk. If you have a way to keep it cold and you aren't lactose intolerant, then this is an effective and inexpensive recovery drink. The key is to get carbs and protein in the system within 60 minutes of finishing exhaustive exercise. A good starting point is to consume 80 grams of carbohydrates and 20 grams of protein within the hour after your cycling event or workout.

Don't worry about recovery drinks for you short workouts but the long rides and races deplete muscle glycogen so this will speed up recovery. An hour or two after you can resume eating normal meals.

Stretch

Stretching after exercise helps keep the muscles loose and the light contractions help move blood and waste products the help the body recovery. Yoga is a great form of stretching as the movement patterns helps the body stay limber and increase blood flow, hence speeding up recovery.

Massage

This can be done by a professional or you can use self massage. If you are using self massage, lay on the floor with your legs up on the wall so they are at a 90 degree angle to your body. Knead the muscles you can reach for 15 minutes. Having your legs up helps drain waste products from the legs, so when you sit up, fresh blood full of nutrients flood the legs speeding up the healing process.

Sleep

Don't stand when you can sit down, don't sit when you can lay down. When not training, get off your feet. Take a nap if you can. Make sure to get a good nights sleep each night. One bad night of sleep can mess up your training week as it is hard to make up for lost sleep.

Hot Bathes/Dry Sauna

A good soak in a hot bath or 15-20 minutes in a dry sauna has been shown to increase blood flow and increase recovery. Stretching in the sauna is a good use of time as the muscles respond well in the heat.

Recovery rides

Recovery rides are important both after an event and on rest days. When you are done an event, stay on the bike spinning very lightly for 20 minutes to flush out the legs. You don't want to stop and have the waste products produced during the ride just pool in the legs. On days after hard rides or races, 20-40 minutes of super easy spinning will let you recover quicker than complete rest. The increased blood flow to the legs helps get important nutrients to the muscles and flush out waste products without being so hard as to need recovery.

Overview

Pay as much attention to recovery as you to your workouts. You won't get any stronger if you don't recover from your workouts and races. Keep your ego in check and make your easy days easy. You will find developing a recovery plan that you follow consistently will speed up your progress.

It's in you to become a better cyclist. Helping you get there is my number one goal. Equipment, riding skills, fitness and nutrition all have to be dialed in to reach your potential. To take your next step on that journey visit cyclecambridge.com cyclecambridge.com.