The Secret to Improving Your Golf Swing is in Your Hands!

Golf is a physical sport that requires all of your major muscle groups to perform in one complete fluid action. If you truly want to improve your swing there are several ways to condition your body to make a huge difference in your game.

Stretching

Your muscle system needs to be flexible for your proper golf swing. There are many simple stretches that will achieve this. One is done with a Swiss ball that is perfect for your follow through. If you allow your major muscle groups to stay tight you will lose your range of motion on the swing. Our goal is improvement of our golf swing by being more flexible with our body.

Strength

The next way to improve your swing is by building up your strength. All of our core muscle groups are involved in our golf swing. You must have a regular work out program to keep your muscles in top form. Legs,arms,back and neck all play an important part to your swing. Remember the stronger your body is the harder and further you can drive the golf ball.

Mental State

Your golf game is not only physical it is also a mind game. You should have a simple way of being able to clear your thoughts and relax. Sometimes just a simple walk on the golf coarse is enough to do the trick. The component is to leave the mental distractions off the coarse when you play the game.

Yoga

The last 3 points could be all combined into a simple yoga class. You may laugh but until you tried it you would never believe how hard it really is. Not only does it stretch your muscles it improves balance and strength at the same time. The core muscle groups involved in yoga really can improve your whole bodies structure. The class will usually end with a form of relaxation to clear your mind and leave you in a state of peacefulness.

Your golf swing training starts with your ability to control your bodies motion. This can be done with stretching, strength building and the right state of mind. We are physical beings that require exercise and physical conditioning to stay strong. The best way start improving your golf swing training is with yourself. Once you have your conditioning started you can then further your improvement with golf swing training guides,aids analysis techniques. Remember the secret is in your hands.

Robert Weglewski wrote this article to help golfers improve their game by finding out about golf swing training. To get your FREE copy of golf tips and advise articles, go to [getgolfreviews.com/]

Fitness Yoga Accessories For Yoga Exercises

There are lots of accessories for Yoga workouts which will serve to make you a lot more comfortable, and help you achieve the most benefit coming from each and every Yoga posture which you achieve. Some of the equipment are considered to be props, but there are several mats which will show to be beneficial to. There are lots of books published on Yoga that would make ideal accessories to refer to while understanding and practicing Yoga.

The most popular accessories for Yoga will be the apparel and clothes that's used when going through the different moves of Yogo. Since Yoga is for developing a love of living by means of deep breathing and exercise, the apparel used for Yogo must be comfortable enough to be worn all day long. Yogo clothing is casual wear and for people that have hectic lives it can also be considered active wear.

There are spiritual charms which can be donned as accessories for yoga because the Yoga encounter is dependant on building the spiritual side of our own becoming. There are Yoga T-shirts which are designed to make you feel good regarding yourself as well as the changes that are happening both in your mind as well as your body simultaneously. Many of the Yoga pants are fashionable enough for wearing out around town.

The add-ons for Yoga workouts include blankets which can be put on the ground to help make the body comfortable. There are benches that you can use while meditating which provide for ease and comfort plus the cushions that are on the benches will also mold to your own body to provide a better barrier to lean against when any kind of stretching or deep breathing exercises are needed.

The straps used in Yoga are add-ons for Yoga exercise stretches, and when used properly the straps will also help a person keep a posture for an extended period of time than these people would be able to if they did not use this type of accessory. Some people prefer to use sandbags throughout their workout because they find the additional weight assists them to build up toned muscle groups faster.

The actual Yoga balls are usually utilized by people at home for their own personal exercise program. Using the Yoga balls will be difficult at first since they do have a tendency to roll when you least expect these to, but just like any Yoga exercise, controlling muscles takes time and with time, folks can balance and stretch out more with the balls than they actually have before.

All the accessories found in Yoga will squeeze into a Yoga bag. These kinds of handy bags have been designed to allow for the width of a Yoga mat and are designed with plenty of space to store smaller items. The Yoga mat provides a center stage for all exercise and it'll serve as a center point during all Yoga meditations and routines. There are massage accessories for Yoga which often helps your body to relax too.

Yogafit has a lot of very informative advice in all aspects of yogafit.com yoga poses, training, and everything else. She also has a number of yogafit.com yoga conference meetups several times a year and is known yoga guru and mogul around the world.

The Four Paths of Yoga

It is important to know yoga and the significance of each pose. This is very symbolic and is shown in what gurus call the four paths of yoga. The following are the examples:

1. Karma Yoga - The path of non selfish service & offering. This particular includes charity and service work as well as community service. The way by which we realize our divinity by means of works and duty.

2. Jnana Yoga - The yoga of knowledge and intelligence. The acknowledgment of our own divinity through knowledge.

3. Raja Yoga - Deep breathing. The realization of our own divinity by means of power over the thoughts.

4. Bakti Yoga- Faithfulness. Worship. The acknowledgment of divinity through a loyalty to, and love of, a Personalized God

Yamas & Niyamas:

The Yamas and Niyamas are generally guidelines for living a yogic lifestyle. Because Yoga encompasses so much more than just the bodily postures. For individuals who wish to expand their knowledge, yoga is a path, with a wealthy viewpoint. Yamas as well as Niyamas are 10 guidelines for leading a more joyful, much healthier and much more conscious life. Many people look to the Yamas and Niyamas as a simple and suitable method to live their own lives and be within the world. In times of tension or turmoil, they're an excellent tool for referrals. Recommendations for how we work together along with the outer world. Interpersonal procedures to lead us in our own associations with other people.

Ahimsa then symbolizes the paths to non-violence, kindness, absolutely no harm in your actions. Awareness and gentleness in action, thought and conversation. Violence comes up from fear, frustration, uneasiness and selfishness. Practice: compassion, love, understanding, endurance, self-love, and worthiness. Non-violence in actions, thinking, or words with other living creatures, or in the direction of ourselves. Ahimsa reminds us of the Yoga total body essence hearing the body. As we listen to the body, we grow of helping not harming ourselves in our yoga exercise.

On the other hand, Satya is about reliability. It is also known as the reliability of speech, thinking as well as deeds. One needs to exercise trustworthiness, having feelings, loving conversation, assertiveness, providing constructive suggestions, forgiveness, non-judging, releasing of masks. " This is shown by the essence of yoga by jeading at our very own rate, being truthful about what that pace is actually.

Asteya is also know as non-robbing, of not coveting and not getting envious. When one exercises, use items the right way, proper personal time management. Cultivate sense of completeness, self-sufficiency, let go of urges. Within the right Yoga fit mindset and substance, there should be no levels of competition and zero judegment. Whenever we let go of opposition and comparision we all release jealousy.

Lastly, Brahmacharya is known as moderation, of channeling Emotions, of moderation in most things and of self-containment. There should be no overindulgence of mind, intelligence, speech or physique; moderation upon all amounts regarding sex, food, and all facets of everyday life including the environment. Exercise: not repression, but management of sensuous desires. All of these are important in finding the right balance, equality and the right mindset.

This girl has a lot of very informative advice in all aspects of yogafit.com yoga DVD poses, training, and everything else. She also has a number of yogafit.com yoga teacher training conference meetups several times a year and is known yoga guru and mogul around the world.

Running Tips: How to Reduce Your Personal Best for the 5k, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon

Reducing your race time by as much as physically possible should be a major goal for all serious runners in training. Knocking a few seconds off your personal best in a 5 kilometer race, or minutes off your half marathon or marathon record, can help your motivation to keep improving, and depending on your level will help you jump up the finishing leaderboard.

As a runner you are no doubt putting in the miles on a weekly basis. This is great, but I have found that the majority of runners overlook two essential ingredients in their training plans - strength and resistance. By adding these to your existing training program (without over training) you could see dramatic results. Below is a 4 exercise workout which I suggest you complete once per week minimum for 12 weeks prior to your race(s):-

ONE-LEG SQUATS (3 sets of 10 repetitions - each leg) Description: Hold a barbell,without weights, across your shoulders. Raise your left leg out directly in front of you,then lower down until your butt is level or below your knee. Slowly rise up to start position. Do this 10 times, and on the 10th rep hold the position for 5 seconds. Alternate legs doing 3 sets of 10 reps on each leg. This exercise will blitz your glutes, giving you the explosive power you previously lacked.

HAMSTRING BALL CURLS (5 sets of 10 repetitions) Lye on a mat placing both your feet (heels) on a gym / yoga ball. Keeping your shoulders flat against the mat, lift your body off the floor by pressing against the gym ball with your heels (thus using hamstrings).Pulling your legs towards your back, roll the ball towards you and then back.This is one repetition. Complete 5 sets of 10 reps. This exercise will strengthen your hamstrings, key to running correctly with the correct stride length.

WEIGHT LIFTS (5 sets of 20 repetitions) Complete alternate dumbell curls at a fast speed, but with good form and a comfortable weight. keep your arms in front of you and complete straight smooth curls. 5 sets of 20 curls to be completed in each workout. Runners often neglect arms, but your arm speed is directly linked to your leg speed. Create the driving strength in your upper body which will perfect your running style.

STEPPING-UP (5 sets of 90 seconds each) Using a bench or raised surface, step so your knee is at a 90 degrees. Bring the other leg up to the same position, returning to the start position in the same order. Do this non-stop for 90 seconds and repeat 5 times. This exercise, done regularly, will activate crucial nerves which are used in the motion of running, thus reducing the risk of injury.

Remember to add the above workout into your regular training plan and complete a minimum of once a week, ideally 2 - 3 times. Keep track of your progress and times on a free fitness training plan site such as konkura.com/CategoryHome.aspx?category=ac9e5e66-e170-4cdd-b2b9-c36f27d8b94e Konkura Running.

Take part in konkura.com/CategoryHome.aspx?category=82cd0558-0024-4247-a146-f1470e1195cd Fitness challenges and compete against friends from all over the world.

Strong to the Core

When you ask a business what their "core business" is, without hesitation they can tell you straight away. Why? because the "core" of their business is their number one purpose, it is central to everything they do......if this is weak then the business will fail.

Lets suppose for a moment that your body is your business, you have assets and liabilities that wear and tear over time (and yes we all would love to get rid of those liabilities!) . In the corporate world as your assets depreciate you replace them, if you do not replace your assets your business will fail and die. Supposing then our body is our business, we cannot just replace our body assets however did you know that our cells are actually working constantly to renew and regenerate each day? Environmental effects and wear and tear impact on how well our cells regenerate and this is where we all see the affects of aging. It's not only what we do on the inside to combat these effects but also on the outside and creating a strong body is just one of these.

So what is the core of your body business?

If you think of the human body for a moment where would you think the core might be? Your spine runs from your tail bone to the base of your skull. I want you to be mindful for a moment of what shape your spine is currently in, straight or curved over and to what extent? We've all heard the term "sit up straight" and the majority of us would correct our posture on hearing this, wouldn't it be cool to have the correct posture without having to think about it?

Why sit up straight? Why strengthen your core?

Hunching over when sitting or standing creates compression by stretching some ligaments too much and others not enough. The body gets thrown out of balance. By sitting up or standing straight we enable our body to naturally flow. The internal organs are not crunched up, breathing is easier because our lungs have more room to expand and blood can flow properly. Your core contains the majority of your major organs and one thing they simply need is room to operate efficiently.

Your muscles need to be strong to hold your spine straight for periods of time. We can all have good intentions and try to sit up straight, however it will not take long to return to a slumped posture once we are no longer thinking about it. The answer is to strengthen our muscles to a level so they automatically hold us up without strain. How do we go about strengthening our muscles? You could go to a gym and workout to tone and strengthen those muscles however strong muscles won't do it alone, we need to train our muscles to hold and support us in the correct position otherwise we will still need to think about it!

Did you know muscles have memory?

When we repeat movement over and over the end result is a physiological change such as an increased level of accuracy. This applies to all sports where you are training through repetition to increase accuracy and basically not have to think about the "how". One example is hitting a ball - you've hit it so many times you could basically shut your eyes and still hit it. This brain-muscle memory or motor memory is commonly called "muscle memory".

How to use "muscle memory" to improve your posture:

To improve our posture we need to: 1) Strengthen the muscles around our core and; 2) Do enough repetitions to create "muscle memory" to sit or stand up straight without having to think about it. The following two exercises are a good start to helping improve your posture:

Exercise 1)

o sit on the floor with your legs out straight in front of you.
o Pull your toes back so your feet are pointing up and straighten your back - do not lean against anything.
o Rest your hands palms down by your side so they are just touching the floor - do not use your hands to hold your body up. Do this exercise when watching TV instead of sitting in a chair or anytime you are required to sit on the floor! This exercise will strengthen the muscles that hold up your core and produce the muscle memory necessary to retain the posture.

Exercise 2)

o lay down on your stomach on the floor.
o Rise to the push up position (do a push up, but don't come down again!) Note: In yoga push up's are slightly different to what a lot of us may have learned at the gym etc. Elbows are held in close to the body and once you push up your hands should be positioned shoulder width apart directly beneath you. (Make sure your back is not rounded). This is what is commonly termed the "plank position". Stay only as long as comfortable without putting strain on your lower back. Repeat and as you get stronger hold the position longer. A variation to this as you become stronger is to come down to rest on your forearms and hold the position there. A important point to remember is to keep your back straight - if you feel any undue pressure on your back do not continue.

So give it a go, two exercises each day and see how strong your core will start to become. Remember, your body is your business, your greatest asset, so invest some time in looking after it!

Lisa runs "Khata" supplies "gifts of significance" for those special people in your life that have an interest in Eastern Arts , philosophy and culture.

She believes that utilising physical movement to understand about your body and self is a powerful tool for" self development". She also supports and promotes the various forms of physical exercise and movement in eastern culture such as Tai Chi, QiGong, Yoga and Martial Arts. You will find lots of articles of interest on her "articles" page in these areas a: khata.com.au khata.com.au

Hatha Yoga Myth - Losing Weight

Those, in search of the latest weight loss secrets, have started to look deeper into a 5,000 year old science of life (Yoga) for solutions to obesity. Does Yoga really have solutions for those in search of a remedy to lose weight, or is this all just a bunch of "hype?"

Firstly, Hatha Yoga was not designed for an inactive culture. Thousands of years ago, most people worked very hard to survive. Physical labor was a regular part of daily existence. People gathered, hunted, and cultivated, for survival. The possibility of starving to death was very real, and still is, in some parts of the world.

However, the average amount of daily physical activity, which people participate in, has drastically changed over the past 20 years. Many jobs now require computer skills, instead of physical labor. It is normal for children, and adults, to be less physically active in the evening and weekends, as many activities revolve around a home PC or television.

All of this has led to worldwide obesity in developed countries. The formula is simple: More abundant food, and less active humans, creates a larger person. Can Hatha Yoga evolve fast enough to help humankind's present weight control needs?

Yoga is a man-made creation and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of people, regardless of the time period. There are many forms of Yoga, and all of them have evolved over the centuries to meet the needs of people. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, is a classical text, which was written by Swami Svatmarama. Within its pages, Swami Svatmarama discusses dietary suggestions.

The foundation of the Yogic diet (Sattvic diet) is moderation. Yet, every New Year starts with a parade of fad of diets. By the middle of the year, the voice of reason comes back to moderation and the Yogic diet quietly takes its place of honor, even if someone changes the name.

So, what does the Yogic diet consist of? The Yogic diet, mentioned by Swami Svatmarama, contains a balanced combination of whole grain breads, vegetables, fruit, nuts, whole grains, legumes, and dairy products. Please bear in mind that allergies can eliminate, or change, the consumption of these foods. There are also low-fat choices for dairy products, which were not available in Swami Svatmarama's time.

Whenever, a Yoga teacher is interviewed about the effects of Yoga, discussion of the Yogic diet is generally ignored. The media wants to know about physical feats of strength. Hence, Yoga has developed labels. For example: Vinyasa Yoga has also become known as Power Yoga. This is not a bad thing, but maybe this repackaging of names would help people to realize the voice of reason, in dieting, has been around for a long time. Maybe we should call the Sattvic diet, "The Secret Yoga Diet." We know it is not a secret, but changing the label will help millions of people to eat correctly, while living a healthy, happy, and longer 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

Finding a Yoga Teacher Training Course on a Tight Budget

There are a variety of different ways to enroll in a Yoga teacher training program, even if you are on a tight budget. One of the ways is to study under the auspices of an online Yoga teacher training program. Another way to save money is to cut down on travel expenses and the cost of accommodations, by studying for your certification at a local Yoga studio.

You may even be able to offer to do some work exchange for the studio in order to lower the overall cost of the teacher training program. Additionally, there are a number of partial and full scholarships available to aspiring Yoga instructors through educational institutions and different Yoga-related websites.

Online Yoga teacher training programs offer Yoga students a great depth of information and knowledge about the art of teaching Yoga. A good online program will cover the basic elements of teaching a safe and effective Yoga class, including information about asana sequencing, postural alignment, and modifications.

In a good online Yoga instructor course, you will also receive an in-depth education in the philosophical foundation of the practice of Yogic techniques. The cost of an online program is by far thousands of dollars less than a traditional studio-based program.

Studying for your Yoga certification at a local studio or health club will cut down tremendously on the expense of traveling to a training course and paying for room and board while you are in the program. If you enroll in a local training program, you might save up to $2,000 in expenses over the course of the program.

However, it is wise to evaluate the caliber of the different Yoga instructor training programs. If the local program is only bare bones and does not include several of the components of a month-long residential program, you may want to consider spending the extra money for the residential program.

You may also be able to pursue a partial or full scholarship through a holistic educational institution. Sometimes these institutions have endowments for their teacher training programs and sometimes offer scholarships to aspiring Yoga teachers. There are both full and partial scholarships available to attend these programs, although it is much more probable that you will be offered a partial scholarship based on your financial need.

There are also partial scholarships available through Yoga-related websites. These scholarship funds are a wonderful way to be able to afford a high-priced Yoga teacher training program at a discounted rate of up to fifty percent.

? Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: aurawellnesscenter.com aurawellnesscenter.com/

Perfecting the Pistol

Performing a perfect pistol is a skill. It is the essence of Hardstyle...by combining strength, mobility, and internal focus the master of the pistol creates a movement that looks effortless and crisp. Like kettlebell drills, the pistol is athletic and powerful. It is a must have for those who wish to be ultimately capable, resilient, and possess strength that is matched by mobility. Pistols are a perfect blend of balance, raw strength, and discipline. With that said, they must be earned.

Just like more advanced kettlebell drills, such as bent presses and windmills, pistols that are simply done to "see if I can do it" are dangerous and sloppy at best. As Pavel put so eloquently, most American's bodies, including athletes, are pretty "jacked up" to begin with. There is no question that the individual who can perform a perfect, smooth pistol without needing a counter-weight has an advanced set of physical and mental skills. This is exactly the reason why we take the time to master this movement.

After talking to Pavel at RKC II, I realized that my preparation for the Beast Tamer Challenge lead me to a unique and simple protocol to master the mechanics necessary to knock off a clean body weight pistol, especially the eccentric portion of the lift. Now, a "naked" pistol has become so easy and my joints feel so strong that pistols feel more effortless than pushups. Weighted pistols are even easier until a certain point. Perfecting the subtle difficulties of the pistol by being patient and having discipline leads to an uncommon combination of assets that directly translate into highly functional movement. Let me explain.

First of all, the obvious stuff. Don't even attempt a pistol if you don't routinely practice goblet/front squats. Without standard corrections such as creating space and length in the spine and hips at the bottom of your squat, stepping up to the pistol too soon will almost certainly lead to back and knee injuries. You need to feel comfortable, very strong, and confident that you can get your butt to your calves and keep an engaged lumbar spine with a wide stance and two legs before even considering trying a to squat down on one leg without the luxury of a wide knee to hip angle. Disciplined breath and cadence also play a huge role. Spend a lot of time perfecting front squats. I can't emphasize this enough.

Next, switch over to body weight, narrow stance front squats to work on the bottom position and the concentric portion of the pistol. Start with your feet touching and descend with straight arms until your butt touches your calves. Hold for a full second, and then come back up without rocking forward. This exercise will let you know if you are anywhere near ready to be safe in the bottom position of the pistol.

If you cannot keep your balance at the bottom, spend a couple weeks using a wedge under your feet and hold a light kettlebell or med ball while descending as far as possible. The wedge and counter-weight will help you feel comfortable and engaged in the bottom position. Hold downward dog position (yoga pose) or a supine hamstring stretch with a straight spine for 10 breaths/30 seconds before your next set. Never let your lower/mid back disengage to get down lower. If you have rock forward to get out of the hole, you went too low. You will get there with practice and patience. Developing the mobility needed in this position may take months, but these improvements will translate beautifully to injury prevention and athletic movements.

Once you feel good and comfortable with this exercise, alternate kicking one leg straight at the bottom of each rep without jumping. Work up to practicing a couple one leg concentric reps, but save the descent for the next step.

Lastly, work on the eccentric portion of the pistol (the descent). The biggest mistake a trainee can make when attempting the full pistol is recklessly dropping to the bottom position, destroying the knee in the process. Trust me; your knees will rebel if you don't take the time to gain control and strength. Here is what I did to learn to control my descent:

? Find something you can stack that is between 1.5-2 inches thick. I used puzzle mats that I use to teach BJJ on. 2x4 inch lumber works great as well.

? Stack them high enough so that they are at least up to mid-thigh. You will be doing 5 sets of 5 pistols per leg. Starting height depends on your starting strength, balance, and control.

? Perform 5x5 pistols/leg on week 1. Your descent should be as slow as possible and your butt should just "kiss" the stack. None of your weight will rest on the stack, but hover at this position for a full second before coming back up. You will feel all the muscles in your quads and glutes firing, improving your holding strength, and preparing your for the more difficult ranges of the pistol. Reach forward with straight arms as you descend, but don't lean forward. Pull yourself down with your hip flexors and make sure to reach the crown of your head toward the sky. Flex the quad of your opposite leg to signal your hamstring to release and keep your leg as straight as possible.

? Each week remove one piece of your stack, unless your form is anything less than perfect for all your reps. If your form, balance, or control gets sloppy, stick to that same height for another week or two. Maybe even work up to 5x5 by starting with 5x3 if you hit a sticky spot. Finish your pistol workout with at least one set of close stance front squats and hamstring and hip stretching. Your patience will be rewarded in the end.

? You will find the range of the pistol that is most difficult for strength will be about when your butt is even with your knee and +/- 6 inches. When you feel ultra comfortable in this range of motion, you are really making progress.

? Work down to the point where no stack is needed for 5x5. Make sure you never bounce at the bottom. Pretend like your calf is the stack...kiss, and then ascend. To your delight at this point, you will find holding a light to moderate sized kettlebell will make the pistol even easier!

Practicing the pistol in a safe manner will improve the health and injury resistance of the knee. Any variation of proper full-range squats will teach the trainee how to stay engaged while increasing the range of motion of the knee joint. The pistol is the most advanced variation, naturally. This sort of training is much safer and more effective than passive stretching that uses gravity and weight to force the knee joint closed.

The pistol is a must for any athlete that needs exceptionally strong legs. The proprioception, balance, and deep engagement will stimulate neurological and muscular adaptations that will literally "program" the athlete to use more power through a huge range of motion when necessary. These individuals will "feel" the benefit of the pistol the most. It is also a must for athletes that are regularly in crouching type positions. For example, wrestlers use a "penetration step" to initiate takedowns. Rock climbers will especially benefit from the pistol.

The aforementioned protocols enabled me to work toward a smooth pistol with the Beast. Once I had the bodyweight pistol down, adding weight was easy and building up my strength was a matter of weeks. I distinctly remember the lift feeling effortless and felt tons of control on the descent. The bottom position felt balanced and rock-solid. The Beast stayed glued to my chest throughout the movement, down and up. What a feeling! Give these protocols a shot and keep me posted.

Danny Clark, RKC II

How to Feel Better With Exercise

Exercise and stress

Most people are aware that exercise helps them lose weight, improve muscle tone and builds great physiques. What they may not know is that exercise is perhaps the best stress buster out there, and it is as good for the mind as it is for the body.

Almost any kind of exercise, whether it is aerobics, weightlifting or swimming, can relieve stress. From athletes to those who are badly out of shape, exercise can aid stress management significantly.

The connection between exercise and stress becomes evident when one explores the various benefits of exercise on the body.

1. Exercise produces endorphins: Increased physical activity increases the production of endorphins, the feel good neurotransmitters in the brain. These are what make people feel great after they have had a game of tennis or a hike in the mountains. Thus, exercise really gives people a high!

2. Improved concentration: Exercise is called moving meditation because the mind is clearly focused at the time of exercise. When people lose themselves in a game of cricket or in swimming several laps in the pool, the tensions of the day naturally slip to the back of the mind. As people successfully shed their tensions through physical activity, they start concentrating more on the task at hand. The resulting optimism and positive energy can make the mind clear and calm. In this way, regular exercise can prevent stress from creeping into life.

3. Killing the blues: Regular exercise brings about a sense of accomplishment and general well being. Exercise gives people a toned appearance, and this increases enthusiasm and self confidence. These positive feelings kill anxiety and mild depression. Thus, regular exercise brings a sense of control and perspective into the lives of people.

4. A healthy outlet for stress: Everyone handles stress differently. While many turn to binge eating to handle stress, others may starve themselves. Unfortunately, these techniques have damaging effects on the body. On the other hand, high energy exercises like martial arts and weight training can provide positive outlets for stress, turning negative emotions into the desire to improve in life. Calming exercises like Yoga can discipline the mind while strengthening the body.

5. A good distraction: Typically, most people exercise in a place that is removed from stress. There is often a change of scenery, like a park or the pool or even a gym. Thus, exercise proves to be a great distraction and allows people to get out of the ruts in their daily lives. Imagine what an activity like mountain biking or cross country hiking can do to distract the mind!

6. Social activity: People often exercise with others. Exercising with friends and acquaintances is a pleasurable activity that effectively kills stress. When people play a game of baseball or perform aerobics, they feel motivated and happy.

7. Health benefits: Finally, exercise improves the overall health of the individual. Good physical fitness keeps illness at bay. It also keeps the mind sharp and clear. Improving general health is in itself a great way o thwarting stress.

Thus, it is clear that exercise not only strengthens the body, it also brings focus and clarity to the mind. In an age where people are battling with stress at home and in the workplace, exercise could be one of the best stress busters of all. However, care must be taken to choose the exercise wisely. If exercise is not pleasurable and feels too much like hard work, it could be one more pressure point in life. Fortunately, with so many kinds of exercise to choose from, everyone can find the one that is perfect for them.

If you are interested in health and fitness, visit weight-training-tips.net Weight Training Tips to learn about weight training, nutrition and equipment to include weight-training-tips.net/weight-training-equipment/weight-lifting-chalk weight training chalk.

Secrets to get the Most out of Your Yoga Teacher Training Course

Yoga training for interns and teachers can differ, but so can the mindset of the participants. For some Yoga instructors, the initial training is a "spring board" toward future achievement.

There are Yoga teacher graduates who get more out of the same Yoga teacher certification program than others. So, what are the secrets to their success? The following are useful tips for interns seeking a Level 1 Yoga teacher's diploma, but they will also be of value to existing Yoga teachers, who seek continuing education credits for re-certification.

Set realistic learning goals and deadlines. How much time do you really have? What are your other obligations, which take most of your time? It is difficult to manage a job, family, housework, evening classes at college, and studying to become a Yoga teacher. You need to assess your obligations and determine your free time. Knowing this will help you plan how many pages to read per night, how much time to practice, or how to plan your next assignment.

Never cram your studies. Be honest with yourself and get the most out of your Yoga certification course. If you study at the last second, your long-term memory will store very little of what you learned. Many students who cram cannot remember much of what they learned over the long haul. Permanently remembering facts is much different from learning facts for an exam - especially if last second learning is the method used.

Join Yoga teacher associations, Yoga instructor networks, and Yoga teacher forums. Some people wait until they become Yoga instructors to join any "clubs." Do not put this off. You can always upgrade to a teacher's membership at a later date. Use every learning resource possible, without causing "information overload."

Do your own homework. This sounds simple and honest enough, but students of all vocations have been known to take "short cuts." There is nothing wrong with getting help from a Yoga teacher, your tutor, a Yoga friend, or getting ideas from dependable Yoga sites.

However, if you turn an assignment over to someone else, you have short changed your own foundation of knowledge. The result is that your students will suffer from your lack of knowledge. It is true that we cannot learn 5,000 years of knowledge and scripture, in one lifetime, but we should learn what we can.

Yoga is constantly evolving, and we all need to keep our education up-to-date. Keeping current with safe methods is one of the biggest dividends of continuing education for Yoga teachers. Ultimately, Yoga students would be the ones to suffer the most, if Yoga was a "dead system."

Patanjali, and Yogis of the past, recognized Yoga as an infinite system. Yoga teachers of the present will build on the foundations of past knowledge. The study of Yoga is a lifetime journey and cannot be learned in a single weekend intensive. The longer you study Yoga, the more there is to know.

© 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 e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

The Sitting Trot

If you have trouble sitting the trot you aren't alone. Many riders who are learning the sitting trot have trouble getting an independent seat, and some riders find that their seat bones aren't anywhere near the saddle when they should be! Well, with a few simple tricks you'll be able to sit the trot in no time.

First of all, because the sitting trot uses the word "sit," many riders make the mistake of thinking that the action is passive. Hardly! You don't just sit there during the sitting trot. If you think of the sitting trot as an active process, you'll be well on your way to improving it!

A bad sitting trot is something that builds on itself and gets progressively worse. In most cases, it starts during the down motion. As the saddle drops down, the rider doesn't move with it. Instead, the rider drops down just as the saddle is beginning to move back up. The result? The rider's seat slaps the horse's back. A horse who is having his back slapped will stiffen up and drop his back, and once he does this, the trot is just about impossible to sit.

In order to correctly sit the trot, you must be able to follow the saddle as it moves down. And to make this even more challenging, you need to do it quietly one seat bone at a time.

The good news is, you don't need to make your horse suffer while you master the sitting trot. You can make a hard wooden chair suffer instead. Straddle the chair with the back in front of you, making sure that both of your seat bones are in contact with the chair. Tighten and relax each seat bone, one at a time. Keep alternating sides so that when one seat bone is lifted, the other is dropped. If for some reason you can't do this, you may have weak muscles in that area, or your hips and back might be tight. Strengthening, stretching, and yoga or pilates will all do wonders to making this area stronger and more supple.

Once you've mastered the chair, time to move on to your horse! Sit up nice and straight so that your back is directly over your hips and seat, and alternate one sit bone at a time, following your horse's movement. Don't round your back, and be sure to keep your hips flexible and soft so that you can follow the movement of the horse. If your body is in correct alignment, your legs will be relaxed and your knees will be down and back. Your spine will absorb the bounce.

Okay, so let's say you've mastered the sitting trot but for some reason, it still isn't working. And let's say you've determined that the reason is that your horse is still dropping his back and stiffening up. If your horse isn't ready--if he isn't relaxed and engaged, with his back lifted and swinging--don't sit the trot. It could be that his back isn't strong enough yet. You can help him develop the right muscles for the sitting trot by alternating sitting and posting. Sit until you feel him drop his back, and then post until he is relaxed and ready again. Pay attention, and be sure to post when your horse shows signs of discomfort. This is a good way to build his strength without souring him on the sitting trot.

For more great horse training tips, just click one of our links in the resource box below . We hope you will stop on by and say hello.

Ron Petracek - Raised in southern Idaho, Ron loves horses and the outdoors. If you would like to join in and learn from the vast resources at our equine forum please visit horsechitchat.com/equineforums horsechitchat.com Looking to buy, sell or trade something equine realted? Just visit our huge network and get 12 sites for Free! Click here => Click4equine.com/network.php Click4equine.com