Vinyasa Yoga Alliance|Yoga Teacher Training|Yoga Instructor Training: 2014-01-26

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Yoga Intensives - How to Maximize Your Experience

Whether you teach Yoga, or not, there are a few methods to help you get the most out of your experience at a seminar, retreat, or an intensive training. When planning to attend any kind of Yoga intensive, here are a few tips to help you get the most from your learning experience.

Make eye contact with the instructor - especially when she or he is talking. This may seem obvious, but for some of us, it has been decades since we attended school or college. Not only is eye contact a genuine sign of interest, but it helps you learn visually, as well.

Audio learning is beneficial, but when you combine listening with visual learning, you have a better chance of learning. It is impossible to listen and talk at the same time. For this reason, keep talking to a minimum, unless you have an important question.

It goes without saying that electronic devices can be a distraction. Some people sit through lectures while text messaging everyone who is not present. Not only is text messaging disrespectful, but you are having mental conversations about a variety of subjects, which make it impossible to comprehend new ideas in the present moment.

For the above-mentioned reasons, the use of electronic devices is often discouraged at Yoga retreats. If you have permission to carry an electronic device, a digital recorder would be a very useful learning tool. The value of recording information cannot be overstated; for this reason, it is always wise to carry a notebook. Although it is "old-fashioned" to write things down by hand, it is guaranteed not to be a distraction to your attention or those around you.

When you ask questions, think them through carefully, before stating them out loud. Unfortunately, we have all seen the one student, in the crowd, who disagrees with the lecturer and, who, unwittingly, stirs up controversy. Although we might see these things more often in an academic setting, they also occur at Yoga teacher trainings, retreats, and Yoga intensives.

I remember attending an intensive at an ashram and seeing the beginnings of a husband and wife spat. At the time, the guest lecturer stifled the argument and asked the couple if they wanted to settle their domestic dispute outside. I'm sure that some of the students, in attendance, had been surprised to see the "strong-motherly side" of the guest lecturer, however, her action was absolutely necessary. Bad behavior cannot continue unchecked.

On the other hand, I have seen a Yoga intern turn a Yoga teacher training, upside down, from the very beginning. Eventually, the instructor managed to re-establish control, but this was not before the disgruntled intern had attempted to divide the entire training into factions.

Although these situations may sound unique, it must be remembered that people are only human; and sometimes, we make mistakes. With that said, when you ask questions at a Yoga teacher training intensive, be careful not to create bad feelings, if you disagree with the lecturer.

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

Yoga For Your Health

Yoga has been practiced in parts of the world for thousands of years, and for good reason. Its regular practice provides numerous benefits physically, mentally and spiritually. Not only can it help you get into better shape, it has been shown to help players of all types of sports from tennis to football.

Yoga is a tradition of stretches, balancing poses, breathing techniques, meditation and relaxation techniques and so much more. In it's beginning stages, yogis will learn basic postures to increase flexibility, balance and strength. Proper technique and posture is imperative to your wellness, therefore it is necessary for the beginner to get proper instruction. While you can learn from a video, it is not really advisable. You are better off finding a trained yoga instructor who can work with you to perfect posture and stance as well as to determine what positions should or should not be done. When you begin each session, you should let them know about any long standing physical issues or new ones that have just developed. For example, doing a pose that puts stress on your shoulder when you have a shoulder injury will make things worse.

While yoga strengthens and elongates the muscles of the body, it serves to support the organs as well. Different types of yoga poses stimulate or "massage" the inner organs, helping to improve all sorts of conditions. It has been shown to help everything from IBS to kidney or lung issues. Because the inner organs are effected, if you are pregnant, make sure that you work with an instructor who is trained in pregnancy yoga and check with your doctor before hand to make sure that it is alright for you to practice.

Yoga is also great for reducing stress and anxiety. The breathing techniques and meditation allow you to get into a state of deep relaxation. This has been shown to lower blood pressure and as stress has been shown to exacerbate just about every disease and health issue, lowering it will make great strides for your health.

Yoga is a wonderful, low impact way to get in shape and improve your overall health and well being. If you are involved in other sports, it will increase your flexibility, allowing you to perform better and will improve your focus, a skill which is important to every game on the planet. Start out with a beginner class, you may be surprised just how much you are able to accomplish.

Sydney Garrison is an avid cyclist and sports enthusiast. She is also a partner in an online bikecarrierdirect.com bike rack store.

Yoga Health Benefits - What it Can Do For You

It is most likely that you have heard a lot about yoga health benefits. Practicing yoga requires much patience, flexibility, and inner quiet.

The advantage to the time of practicing yoga is that at some point you will be able to notice the effects of exercising and practicing each pose. If you lie in a forward bend over your right leg with your left foot up in a half lotus position between your thigh and your hip, after 5 or 10 minutes you will notice that your leg will start to go to sleep because the arterial blood flow that would normally pump down the femoral artery into the foot is dammed up.

The blood damming can activate and put additional pressure on the low organs and glands, especially down in the lower abdominal area. You will soon grow to understand more about the yoga poses, what they were doing in your body and how they felt when you were really in them.

But at some point, your body will get strong enough and will not need that much pressure and strengthening anymore. When it moves into such poses, our body keeps a memory of them and can go right back to this memory as we tend to move in and out of this pose. If we manage to learn and structure these poses the proper way, our well-trained and fit body will allow each pose to evolve into the next pose or fold out of it when needed.

Still, a yoga practice based more on movement might require some time of traditional yoga practice first. With the right training and guidance, the body is able to find the right position even without a need to hold it for a long time. Indeed, holding for long periods may be the more difficult method because the body is so dynamic. The body wants to move, and the breath is the impetus.

Yoga consists of a series of poses and counterposes that move naturally with the inhaling, expanding, arching, then exhaling and finally contracting flow of the body in which each pose can set up the next poses and a kind of smooth and life-bestowing and strengthening dance; all this creates a new kind of dynamic, cardiovascular (of the heart and lungs), movement- and breath-based practice that helps the body function better. You are able to stand better, breath better, and feel overally healthier.

Mohamad is a personal trainer and has been an online marketing entrepreneur for several years, you can check his latest websites yourbodyisyourgym.com bodyweight training articles and besthometreadmillreview.com Treadmills on Sale.

How Yoga Helped Me Navigate Choppy Waters

"You are average, Melanie." How could I be average? I had been practicing "hot yoga" for nearly five years when my husband of 32 years passed away. I started adding more days to my weekly practice to heal and meditate...to release anger and frustration...to handle the stress of separation and it worked. Was I really average?

I was 56 years old and I found that I fit the statistic of the average age of widowhood. I felt too young to be a widow and as my practice improved I knew that the door to a happy life was not closing. Yoga helped me see that the possibility of a healthy and full life was ahead of me and that there were no limits to my flexibility. Because each posture addresses so much of the "inner mind", my adjustment to this new chapter was enhanced by a positive focus and a consistent practice.

After a few months of reflection, I decided to participate in my yoga teacher's first Yoga Teacher Training along with sixty other yogis from around the world. While I was not the oldest, I was close to the oldest enrolled for five weeks of intense training, six days a week from 7am until 9pm or later. I did it...I completed my training and while I was not convinced that I would be teaching, I wanted to share my knowledge. With a body that was more toned than ever, I began sharing the message wherever I traveled. "Yoga can change your life!" became my theme song.

With meditation and concentration, I sent a message out to the universe that I wanted more than ever to "participate" in this new life; explore my new freedom and challenge my fears. The following year I attended yoga retreats in Brazil, North Carolina and Costa Rica and later Santorini, Greece. I took advanced yoga training and began to teach privately and as a substitute at my regular studio. I attended yoga conferences in Canada and Arizona and I supplemented my yoga training by visiting an assortment of yoga studios in California and New York. I was asked to teach at a Day School in Miami Beach and in preparation for that assignment I attended training for Kids Yoga in Italy along with 20 others. I was the only American!

Along with the yoga exploration I began sailing....I wanted to experience the taste of the sea and the mystery of its lure. After assorted sailing classes and day sails with a sailing club, I participated in my first ocean passage with 55 other sailboats from Virginia to the British Virgin Islands. Yes, I meditated and I relied on my Yoga to get through a major storm under very challenging circumstances for ten days on a 55 foot Schooner. Each day of the voyage I contemplated my position in the scheme of life...Peeling away at my personal layers of protection; I entered a place where fear and the unknown hold hands. It was a scary time. As the height of the waves increased and the speed of the wind mounted, my mind began to let go. I realized that my contribution to the globe was not as significant as my contribution to the three other members of the crew on the sailboat. Being present, being alert and aware of the moment to moment traverse across the body of water that seemed endless, was my focus. Taking care of the direction of my thoughts and my energy helped my crew and helped me to find a peaceful presence. There is a wonderful sense of freedom in the middle of the ocean. It is that exhilarating feeling of "anything can happen here" sense that draws the soul. Knowing how to ride the wave of anticipation and fear; adventure and the unknown take their place in your heart center and fill you up. What a sense of accomplishment when you finally reach land! There is just no feeling that can measure up to that first leap from the boat to the dock!

And once I hit the dock, I began to teach yoga on the beaches of the British Virgin Islands. With the crew members of over 50 yachts on the initial ocean passage, there were plenty of sailors ready to stretch out there bodies and feel the power of yoga under the intense sun and cloudless blue sky of the Caribbean. What a journey! And yoga has been a full passport to the adventure in my life.

While the loss of a loved one, and in my case my marriage partner, can and will leave one in a state of confusion, Yoga has opened the window to a new beginning. It works. In addition to the personal loss; I experienced a rearrangement of my life through tremendous damage to my home from three major hurricanes in the past two years. When I lost my office addition because of flooding from a broken water line as the result of a fallen tree, I turned the space outside into a meditation and butterfly garden and the space inside became a yoga studio. I use my studio as a place of meditation and personal practice. I have collected all my favorite yoga books and memorabilia from my retreats in that space. I know that when one door closes, another opens. I have survived great loss and received great reward...the yin and yang of life.

When I complete a practice with my students I always leave them with an affirmation. My favorite is...

No matter how dark the tunnel, it always leads to light.

Melanie lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she is a community activist and civic leader. She has served on numerous arts boards and been involved in fundraising for worthy causes for over three decades. She has her own publishing company. She consults for authors and edits manuscripts for submission to publishing houses. Melanie also prepares marketing plans for authors. She is a certified yoga instructor and ?KidsYoga? associate teacher. Melanie is writing a book of yoga tips and affirmations from her travels around the world. Go to artfulyoga.com artfulyoga.com for a preview of Melanie?s book and an example of her art

Teaching Hatha Yoga - Balance Ajna Chakra and Intuition

If one is able to balance the Ajna chakra, this will promote intuition, awareness, and self-mastery. The Ajna chakra (third eye) is the sixth main chakra within the seven chakra system. One way to activate this chakra is to practice Udgeeth pranayama.

The seed sound, which we know as "OM," is said to awaken and balance the divine eye. This chakra balancing technique can be approached in a similar way, through mantra meditation or through practicing a form of Ajna chakra meditation. In fact, there are many ways to balance and awaken chakras. If one is new to Yoga practice, it would be wise to practice under the supervision of a competent Yoga teacher or Guru.

Let's be honest - if you survey students in your classes about their home Yoga practice, very few will say they meditate at home. Many students practice asana independently, but they usually do not think beyond their bodies, unless they have been practicing Hatha Yoga for years.

Below are two techniques for students, who wish to enhance their powers of intuition. These intuitive enhancing techniques can be practiced any time of the day; and a student does not have to be concerned with meditation, mudras, pranayama, posture, or seed sounds.

Associate with people who see the good in everything. There are many people, who default to negative thinking. One of the reasons why people feel so pessimistic is that bad news travels quicker than ever before. Now you can read, hear, or view a video about a traffic fatality, on the other side of the earth, at any time of day or night.

If you are feeling too optimistic, a sure remedy is to watch the news. Your mood could easily change to remorse, sorrow, anger, or depression in an instant. Negative thoughts and positive thoughts balance each other throughout the day. The object is to be aware of your mind's energy balance and train your mind to avoid judging. This clears the mind to see life as it is, and enhances one's powers of intuition.

Speak positively or do not speak at all. I am not sure who first said, "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all." This is the hardest task for most of us to endure. Jumping in on negative chatter is so easy to do. To take the high road, in conversation, is a daily struggle; and many of us may find it an hourly struggle.

The reason why the above two tips will enhance intuition is due to the clarity of thought, which will result from practicing them. After trying above-mentioned techniques, students will often admit that Ajna chakra meditation is much easier, but the value of clear thought cannot be over stated.

Companies, investors, and governments employ people who have good intuitive skills. In this day of technology, computers, data, and complex reports, world powers still value intuition. For the average person, intuition may determine one specific path among many.

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.org/index.html Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. 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/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Why Combine Astrology, Reiki and Yoga?

I combine them because I believe that we are essentially divine energy vibrating at various frequencies. By working with and understanding our own frequency and how it changes through time- we can evolve beyond what limits our divine expression.

Astrology goes far beyond just your daily horoscope and your sun sign. It studies the specific relationships and frequencies of the planets of this galaxy at the time you were born. Basically, I believe the natal chart is the soul's map for evolution in this lifetime. That does not mean that you cannot transcend, or evolve beyond what is in your chart. But a natal chart reading gives you a good idea of what you came here to work on and what you are essentially working with.

Reiki is an ancient Tibetan healing art. It is the transmission of divine energy for the sake of healing and enlightenment. Mahatma Reiki (what I am trained in) is specifically tuned to help move you forward on the soul's path. It's frequency brings you into alignment with your soul's purpose and reason for incarnating on this plane. So the frequency of Mahatma reiki is of attunement with your divine purpose or assignment.

Yoga is more than just asana or postures that are practiced in a room full of strangers. Yoga is an amazing tool for enlightenment and transcendence. Yoga helps break up stagnant ideas in the bodymind and infuse you with divinity. In other words yoga moves and breaks up the energy that no longer serves you and brings you to a different place. Yoga heightens and clarifies your frequency to one of integrity and divine connection.

I combine astrology with reiki and yoga because it is a good way to understand where the soul is aiming, what the soul is working on and help it to get to it's intended divine expression. Astrology creates a great foundation for seeing and healing present and past issues. Reiki and yoga help you work through these issues in a holistic manner. Not only are you physically breaking up energetic blockages and stagnancy with yoga, you are also correcting and healing the ideas and beliefs that caused them with reiki.

Although I prefer to combine all three methodologies, each of them are powerful in their own right. I do offer only astrological, yogic or reiki services upon request. But as with anything, nothing works completely unless you are completely ready for it to. So if you are curious about this journey, or ready to take it yourself, contact me at BlogThis!Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest

Friday, January 31, 2014

Intro For Yoga Aerobics

Yoga exercise aerobics is the way to go if you want to get your whole body in shape. It's one of the most widely used exercise layouts which you can use to get flexible and improve the power within your muscles. Yoga Aerobics will furthermore help you to increase your metabolism and have much more energy. There are several celebrity trainers that use aerobic routines and have yoga dvds that people can purchase and follow along in the house.When you are doing yoga aerobic exercises, you are making use of your main muscles which help to increase your heart rates. When doing aerobics regularly, the body will be able to utilize more oxygen and also have more energy. Your heart will be stronger plus your lungs will be optimized.

To be able to carry out cardio, you must have enough oxygen so that you can breathe correctly. There are different kinds of aerobic exercises. The most typical and popular yoga aerobic exercises are strolling, jogging, swimming as well as bicycling. There is also step aerobic exercise, which may be carried out at home or joining a class in the gym.

Aerobics is actually a terrific way to sculpt and reinforce your body. Your lungs are strengthened as you inhale and your heart muscle gets larger. The blood inside the body won't require a great deal to pump to your heart.

This also helps your blood flow and keeps your blood pressure level. Your red blood cell count will increase and your muscles could have more fat storage and more carbohydrates. This should help you have more energy which gives you a longer period of time to perform yoga aerobic exercises. Yoga Aerobics is one of the simplest ways that you could exercise in order to get fit. It can help you slim down and get rid of stress. People can do aerobic exercises at the very least 3 to 4 times per week for at least 30 minutes a day starting out. Next as they have more energy, they can increase the time limit.

Do not force yourself to the spot that you want to be. Take your time when doing yoga fitness. If you start out overdoing this, you can damage your joints and muscle groups.Before you start your exercise routine, you should always warm-up with stretches for about ten minutes. This is to ensure that your muscle tissues will not be stiff when you're ready to begin. After you have finished, cool-down with about ten minutes of stretching. If you are unsure about doing aerobic workouts, get together with your doctor for more consultation.

One of the primary reasons for aerobics is it may be used to burn plenty of fat from the body. You have to work most in the area in which you need to eliminate lots of fat. Strolling, jogging and riding a bicycle are some of the best ways to burn the fat from your body. You can perform any of these yoga exercises in moderation. Aerobics can only work for you if you are carrying it out at specific times. It can be done within the morning just before you eat or any time that you can fit in throughout the evening. In the morning prior to eating - be sure that you have drunk a minimum of twenty-four ounces of water before you begin. This will help you from becoming dehydrated. Doing aerobics in the morning will help you to burn more body fat than any other time during the day. There is nothing in your body to burn so aerobics affects where the body fat is stored to retrieve energy that is needed to get you moving.

Yogafit has a lot of very informative advice in all aspects of yogafit.com yoga exercise poses, training, and everything else. She also has a number of yogafit.com/CTGY/Training.shtml yoga teacher training meet ups several times a year and is known yoga guru and mogul around the world.

How to Meet Women at Yoga Classes

Exercise, aerobics and yoga classes are one of the hotspots where you can meet a lot of women. Now you know where to meet them, how to meet women at yoga classes and how to pick them up is the question at hand. In today's world, women are fitness freaks. They always want to keep a healthy body as well as a good figure. After all, everyone wants to be a "size zero" these days.

Now it may be very awkward for many men for joining yoga classes, but look at it in this way. If you're really desperate to get a girl, this is the best place to do it and you can even stay fit in the process. Some men argue saying that they do not want to join yoga classes, as they do not want women to see them stretched out in weird positions.

Well if you want a girl, you should suck it up and just join one, or you could just sit at home and sulk. You can rest assure that most women going to these courses are definitely lady like and have a beautiful mind, body as well as soul. Another plus point is that, ladies want men who are health conscious, so you prove to them that you are by going to this class.

But then you need to pay attention and relax in class and when you are concentrating about women, everything gets mixed up and the actual purpose of yoga is lost. So this turns out to be a disadvantage. But if you are someone who is just joining the class because of the girls, then you might not have a problem.

Apart from yoga classes you can also try the gym. You find women who have well trained bodies out here. But going up and talking to them turns out to be a ruckus. So the easiest way is to meet women at yoga classes. Here they tend to be relaxed and calm and this is the time when their guard is down the most.

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A Gym Has Immense Health Benefits

Many illnesses and other health concerns are closely related to two main factors: insufficient or absence of adequate exercise and improper eating and sleeping habits. This kind of lifestyle either leads to or is a major cause of obesity and other chronic ailments. Some people do realize the need for regular exercise and either join a gym for this purpose or have a home gym. A traditional gym has many benefits over the home gym such as access to a variety of high quality equipment, the presence of professional trainers and a chance to socialize and increased motivation.

Gyms provide a number of benefits. One, gyms are equipped with a variety of machines and equipment used for exercising and toning of all body muscles. Two, gyms have a well trained and qualified staff. These trainers advise the most appropriate exercise and fitness sessions suited to your body structure and weight. They also advise and plan a particular diet set for you to follow along with the regular exercise. Three, joining a gym builds in more self confidence. As your body starts to shape up in the organized time period, you, your friends and colleagues start to appreciate the impact. Also, you are able to interact with more people at the gym and improve your social network. This interaction is also a source of motivation for all those attending a gym and encourages you to work out religiously. Four, joining a gym ensures more consistency. Since you have paid for the membership, you are more likely to attend the gym on a regular basis rather than having regular work out sessions at home. Five, going to a gym is much more fun than exercising at home. There are usually various classes such as yoga offered that are arranged in a fun yet structured way and encourage you to attend regularly.

There are also many benefits if you have a certain special condition. For instance, if you are an athlete or play a certain sport, the trainers at the gym are able to guide you better on how to improve endurance for your game. Also, if you have met an injury or undergone an operation and are now in the recovery stage, the trainers will advise you with best exercises to help you recover fast.

Regular and proper exercise, good eating and sleeping habits are all essentials of a healthy living. Gyms are an excellent resource for attaining a healthy lifestyle and that perfect body shape.

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Classical Yoga Traditions

The wisdom of Yoga is respected as one of the classic schools of Indian philosophy. Although the knowledge is for the universal spiritual benefit of us all, the practices have become integral in Hindu culture. Having considered their value, many yoga exponents all over the world have chosen to retain the principles in their personal practice as well as group teaching.

It is interesting to know something of the background and the lifestyle of Indians who lived in a manner that allowed the ancient spiritual teachings of the Vedas to endure throughout the centuries to benefit us in our present age.

Practice of Yoga was usually a part of the life of domestic life from childhood. In the community Centres of teaching called Ashrams was opportunity for spiritual training and meditation, similar to the monasteries of the west. Part of their function involved healing through herbs, food, and yogi practices.

Serious spiritual motivation commences with each individual at different ages and times. But it was considered regular in India that after a period as householder it was customary for a mature person to seek a spiritual Guru to serve as a guide and mentor. This denoted a new phase in life of the aspirant which would sometimes require disciplines such as renunciation of material efforts and values before the search for the truths of existence.

In addition to faith in his own intuition, this heightened spiritual goal was anticipated to be realised both through philosophic studies and the guidance of the Guru, a spiritual teacher wiser than himself.

Until recently there were no formal yoga classes nor was Yoga taught in the schools in India. Parents serve as the initial spiritual guides for children as they do everywhere in teaching ethical and moral principles. However with an explosion of interest in Hatha Yoga all over the world there is a general need to remind aspirants of the reason for the traditions and the spiritual purpose of the practices demonstrated beyond the home.

Practising Hatha Yoga has certain requirements in physical preparation an in choice of environment -

Physical preparation includes attention to hygiene ensuring that bowels, kidneys and stomach are empty

Clothing is as light as possible and of cotton or natural material

Barefoot when entering the ashram or place of practice - symbolizes temporary dissociation from worldly activities and respect for the environment

A natural environment is preferred either in the fresh air if possible, or in a room with natural ventilation (no air conditioning)

A personal mat made of natural fibres placed upon the floor, or directly on the earth to represent your private space. This is important particularly in group classes.

Following physical exercises and asanas the position taken for relaxation is by lying prone in North/South polarity in tune with the magnetic currents of the earth.

Meditation is generally experienced positioning oneself East or North

Mala A string of beads or mala is a classical tradition when under personal tuition of a Guru. The Guru magnetizes or impregnates the beads with his energy and influence as a link or gift to assist his student. After this, no one else touches the beads. They are considered sacred. In western practise this tradition is modified and used for personal spiritual attunement, prayer and meditation, similar to the rosary.

A natural environment is considered ideal, preferably near water but indoor environments can be provide a helpful atmosphere by the use of flowers, incense and candles, and objects of beauty and inspiration..

Traditional Hours for Yoga Practice are recommended as dawn, midday, sunset and midnight. Alternatively, 6 am, noon, 6 pm and midnight. Individuals vary this of course but the rule is to try to be regular with meditation and practice times.

If suffering illness - herbs and foods and water are traditionally taken as Ayurvedic medicines. Further healing is extended to physical treatment and massage. Surgery is the last resort.

Vegetarian diet is obligatory for all earnest spiritual aspirants who appreciate the reasons and benefits, both physical and spiritual. The first reference is the ethic of non-violence applied when no killing or spilling the blood of creatures is involved.

Fasting at special times and prior to spiritual festivals is a universal custom regardless of religion.

Reading and studying the wisdom teachings and sacred writings is advised for personal understanding

Group gatherings - here chanting, song and music are encouraged - but harmony, melody and beauty are the essentials. (Drum beats, cymbals and raucous electronic sounds are the antithesis)

Formal greeting of the Guru or Acharya is the hand gesture of general courtesy and respect traditional throughout Asia. It signifies gratitude for the instruction at conclusion of a class and many westerners choose to adopt the tradition in modern schools.

Tributes to the Guru are in the form of flowers, fruit or food to sustain the life of their Teacher. In western practice this has been replaced by professional fees rendered. But as a natural 'thank you' flowers and tributes to a teacher are always welcomed, as are any kindnesses.

A seeker is usually called a Sadhaka.

A teacher is an Acharya.

An accepted pupil of a spiritual Master is a Chela.

A spiritual teacher who inspires and is responsible for spiritual guidance is a Guru.

The pervading spiritual philosophy of the Vedas demonstrates a deep respect and love of the Creator and of all natural life created. This is shared by our western poets and mystics who describe Nature as the outer, visible 'garment of God.'

Great Nature and the natural environment are integral in the spiritual life of us all with the realization that All life is One.

Sally Janssen is a writer, health educator and Yoga teacher well known iboth in Australia and abroad for her skill in demonstration of the Hatha Yoga practices and her wisdom in applying the principles of Raja Yoga -the study of the mind and consciousness. More details at essence-of-yoga.net essence-of-yoga.net

Her book "Mental Fitness: A Complete Self-help Guide" explains the principles of mental fitness that can be applied by us all. The book may be found here: mentalhealthandfitness.com/blog mentalhealthandfitness.com/blog

Is Astrology a True Science? Part II

This is a very deep and vast subject and you will not find these answers at your local book store, or from a collection of the National Enquirer. These words come from a line of Spiritual Masters whom spoke from a state of cosmic consciousness to teach us divine strategies.

All things in the universe attract one another either by strong or weak gravitational electromagnetic impulses. Thus the influences of the planets is nothing but ones environment which is dependent upon your own karma. It is you who attracts such influences as a certain husband, wife, friend or family. You draw a specific person born to a specific sign. There are planetary influences where you have a hard time getting along with specific people who are there to teach you specific attitudes. You must understand that anything that happens to you in life sub serves a divine purpose. You may say "oh I have the wrong wife, oh I have the wrong husband." They are there attracted by your own inner environmental magnetic field which I will further explain. When you let yourself be governed by the environment to which your karma has magnetically drawn you, you are ruled by the vibrations of that particular planet.

Astrology is the mathematics of our life and the mathematics of our actions. So how are we going to disconnect ourselves from the stars which have great power to affect us. Well actually it is quite difficult to do so especially if we do not meditate, here is why, according to the masters in the science of astrology you very quickly realize you are not dealing with ethics, moral codes or constitutional rights, but with cosmic laws and magnetic forces few people are aware of and we find the relation of the stars to the body and mind are very subtle.

Putting aside the mundane type of astrology of charting horoscopes from the testimony of clocks and calendars, let me tell you about a deeper science. Spiritualizing the twelve signs of the zodiac is a science so advanced it speeds up man's evolution. It is a true science practiced by great masters and their disciples using two special techniques, known to the practitioners as Hong-Sau and Kriya Yoga.

The Kriya Yoga technique is always preceded by a special breathing technique called Hong-Sau. These are powerful techniques. One hour of Hong-Sau is equal to going into a Trappist monastery, entering into a cell and remaining there for twelve hours praying unceasingly. Now, one hour of Kriya Yoga is equivalent to twelve hours of Hong-Sau. Why? The master explains that the natural evolution of mankind, the unenlightened masses will be enlightened through thousands and thousands of incarnations automatically as the earth rotates around the sun in three hundred and sixty five days going around the twelve signs of the zodiac. A similar occurrence takes place in your body. Your spiritual eye is the sun and the twelve signs of the zodiac are your six chakras, six up and six down and by polarity that makes twelve. It will require one million revolutions of the current going up and down the spine until every cell of your body has the proper frequency to receive the final charge of cosmic consciousness for enlightenment to come to you as a cosmic flash of light.

The masters devised a technique duplicating the cosmic motion of nature in exactly thirty one seconds causing a motion of current going up and down the spine giving you one year of evolution each time you do one Kriya technique, like the time machine of H.G. Wells, and if you can do one million Kriyas in one lifetime you can attain cosmic consciousness. There are thousands of people quietly practicing these sacred techniques all over the world and only those with good karma end up actually getting Kriya as you must practice the technique of Hong-Sau for several months to condition your body before you can practice Kriya Yoga. A full explanation may not be given to the general public because of certain yogic injunctions, but it can be given from an authorized instructor of Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles or Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. However a broad explanation must be sufficient. For more information see chapter 26, "The Science of Kriya Yoga" in the book Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. This book has transformed the lives of thousands seeking the spiritual path.

There is a relation of our spinal plexus to the signs of the zodiac. We have an outer and an inner universe working together. We have the sun and the earth rotating around the signs of the zodiac. Attraction and repulsion causes these currents in the spine to move up and down the same way the earth rotates around the sun in twelve months. These currents, at the same time, are moving through our spine every year charging our thirty thousand billion cells with higher frequencies. However, we immediately waste them away with either too much sex, disease, over eating, drinking or smoking; we overdo everything except when we meditate. The coexistence of a loose emotional life and the great science of yoga will never work. Instead we are constantly depleting ourselves of properly charging our chakras with energy by putting it into our five senses. The repulsive cosmic illusion (maya) brings our consciousness downward from the heart-center to the sub-conscious.

Most people don't meditate so when we allow our feelings to reside in the three lower chakras of the spine it causes forty two physiological and emotional imbalances such as suspicion, criticism, gossip, resentment, worry and everything else that hurts is all located in these lower chakras. The energy located in the lower chakras is weak because it is not yet awakened to help us when our consciousness is there. The great magnet called kundalini or coiled-energy has not being properly distributed in every chakra to harmonize itself; the energy is all locked up at the base of the spine ceaselessly dragging us downward like a gravitational wave hence here is the power of repulsion which brings us into the five senses of maya, the cosmic illusion, the great power of attraction.

The masters tell us there are two sets of powers we have to face. All parts of creation are linked together in interchanging influences. The balance and rhythms of the universe are rooted in reciprocity, that is as long as our consciousness is in our lower chakras, we must go through that balance, the duel scale of maya where every pleasure is balanced with a pain. Now if we can lift that great cosmic energy in the spine to the spiritual eye and we function in the higher chakras, we can be in the world with every sphere of consciousness and still be uninfluenced by the world. The first force we must deal with is the tumult within our being caused by the mixture of earth, water, air, fire and ethereal elements. These elements are uncontrollable inharmonious stirred forces of the lower chakras and are the ones constantly affecting us. These magnets draw upon us positive and negative attraction so each time we feel worried, anxious or fearful we are living in these lower chakras which gradually impregnate our subconscious mind with negative magnets and every fear, worry and the like get drawn back toward us. Only we can balance our chakras through yoga-meditation or the spiritual masters, but they are not allowed to do so.

Cosmic energy is constantly fed with positive electromagnetic energy from outer space and it enters into the medulla oblongata through the lower back of the head where we have a positive and a negative antenna in both sides and when it enters the medulla it forms a number of magnetically attracting centers of energy, chakras and consciousness. Each human being carries a bundle of these magnets which draw positive or negative attraction according to their strength. Our inner spine is actually our magnetic field and we attract to ourselves that which is good or bad. Our thoughts determines what kind of energy goes into our chakras. Thoughts are not energy, they are portions of consciousness. Our thirty thousand billion cells are thirty thousand billion portions of ourselves and when our thoughts go down our consciousness goes down with it, straight into our sub-conscious mind. Here, in the realm of the sub-conscious, our consciousness encounters the great library of multi-personalities of about five hundred thousand past incarnations and according to our current mental environment various personalities begins to manifest in the conscious mind. For instance, modern psychiatry is a bit lost in accepting multi-personalities but we do indeed have multi-personalities. We have had countless sub-conscious video taping from incarnation to incarnation from the diversity of people we have met and the many situations we have lived which influences our brain daily but we are unable to perceive how we change and affect our bodies and minds with our actions and how these changes affect our chakras in the spine. These centers are directly correlated with the twelve sings of the zodiac and hold great electrical currents with millions of volts locked up inside.

No matter what the environment we live in, all the surroundings rays of earth and the universe react upon our bodies. As we respond to these rays, there is a reaction between them and the stars around our bodies. These rays around our bodies are what we call aura. The aura is the radiation emitted by our thirty thousand billion cells. Certain negative or destructive vibrations radiates from the stars due to the attraction of past karmic blueprints in the computer of our sub-conscious mind. These specific destructive vibrations begin to shed their rays upon us and if our shield is strong there will be no reaction because we will be impervious to their rays. The cosmic rays will have power to affect us only if our biorhythms are low or if our mind and immunity are weakened by lack of exercise, too much sexual activity or wrong eating. As long as we train ourselves to keep our bodies in shape, fast regularly, watch our diet, never eat pork (that's right) , pork can be deadly, be cautious with eating beef and very careful not to weaken our aura by letting disease or destructive forces enter our magnetic field to affect us, we can develop a strong protective shield.

The inner spine is the most important part of our being. It is alright to run, jog and train the body to keep it fit but we must put the same amount or even more efforts in meditation so to develop the power of attraction toward God until it becomes more powerful than the repulsive attraction of consciousness to the human body because we can have a perfect body in this lifetime but if our chakras are not awakened, forget it, as long as we have human desires we shall have a human body. Only when we have no more human desires we will have no more forced reincarnation in a human body.

Every part of the ego that has been given to us has been given to mislead us. Burton Russel once said, "Oh Lord, if you will forgive me for the little joke I did to you, I will forgive you the big joke you did to me" and what does that mean? It means the moment God gave us ego-consciousness we live in a state of amnesia as spiritual paraplegics and this is what the masters refer to as the spine becoming spiritually paralyzed. We need to walk in the state of intuitive awareness. The great masters and yogis are souls walking with a body (aware of its divine nature) and we are bodies walking with a soul. That makes a world of difference in the kind of perception we have around us. We must all become spiritual paratroopers and not be afraid to jump into the infinite.

Do you believe there is a divine plan for every life? One is an astrological plan and the other is a divine plan. The first has everything already written about us and our ego-consciousness as puppets of destiny in a marionette show. The latter gives us an opportunity to change and bypass the show. God's divine plan gives us the opportunity for free choice. Read " Is Astrology A True Science" (Part 1)

Copyright 2008 Gary Zalben. You may reprint this article as long as the source is kept intact. For more information about the author and self-improvement writings see howtoselladeadhorse.com howtoselladeadhorse.com

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Home Bodyweight Training - Simple Workout For Fat Loss at Home

A few months ago, I canceled my gym membership because I was paying for a service that was not effective for my goals. I immediately began looking for an alternative way to workout at home. One day, I suddenly had an idea while I was at a friends house watching the Olympics.

Gymnastics was on, and I marveled at how incredible their bodies were, despite not lifting any weights. The next morning, I started training with only my bodyweight. After dropping almost 15 pounds within a few months, I realized that bodyweight workouts are one of the best, most fun ways of working out at home.

I began watching and learning more about how these athletes move, and soon began to incorporate some of their movements into my regular training. As my bodyweight exercises evolved and I became stronger, I realized that one of the main reasons why gymnasts were so lean was not just because they performed bodyweight movements, but it was because they trained their bodies through a variety of motions.

Basic pushups, pullups, and bodyweight squats are a great place to start your bodyweight training. However, these movements only train your body to go up and down. Your body can move in so many different directions including side to side and front to back.

Hence, its time to think beyond just basic pushups, pullups, and bodyweight squats. Jump, twist, turn, sway, and rotate your body through as many directions as possible for complete fitness. Start looking at how athletes such as gymnasts, dancers, and yogis (people who practice yoga) move their bodies.

One of the best programs out there which combines dance, gymnastics, and yoga to design incredible fat loss bodyweight programs is Bodyweight Blueprint for Fat Loss. You can read a full review of this program on my site, workoutwithoutweights.net WorkoutWithoutWeights.Net

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Yoga Workouts - Walking Gear and Accessories

If you're a night walker, wear light clothing and use reflective tape if you're sharing the street with vehicles. They will be able to see you. Very few people stroll in the evening, but if you do, get a companion. It is dangerous to walk by yourself whenever it is dark.

Strolling sneakers - When you begin walking, you would like to feel comfortable. Your strolling shoes must be lightweight and durable. Get a pair which uses a rounded heel and are breathable. Waterproof sneakers are great if you will be walking in different kinds of weather.

Having a pedometer will help you determine your walking distance. It's easy to use. You just program it and attach it to your belt or perhaps waistband. Once you have finished strolling, you will know the length you have walked in that period of time.

While you're walking, you should find out what your own targeted heart rate is. It is important to know that so that you can either decrease or increase how quickly you're strolling. There are many gadgets you can use for that purpose:

? Ankle weights

? Hand weight loads

? Wrist weight loads

In order to calculate your pulse rate, you should get your age and take out that number from two hundred and twenty. Then you would take the difference and multiply it with the proportion you are planning to shoot for.

Another fantastic equipment is Toesox Yoga which is really quite interestingly fashioned with 5 slots for the feet. Aside from the wetness, the individual toe pockets also develop the strength and flexibility of the actual toes by isolating them from one another. With better flow of the bloodstream, there's a reduced chance of any form of injury.

Toesox Yoga furthermore usually has a smooth design, plus a heel portion that has been purposely contoured to ensure a really comfortable fit. Authentic Toesox Yogas are produced with organic cotton, which demonstrates that Toesox has definitely become much more interested in conserving the surroundings. Socks made with natural materials are wonderful environmentally-concerned alternatives for the traditional socks which athletes these days keep using.

Another thing which the toe isolation allows customers to perform is always to vibrate their toes while they are practicing their yoga moves. Foot alignment is very important, particularly for individuals who would like to try doing yoga and fitness exercises. It is a fortunate thing for Toesox Yoga buyers since the horizontal stripe features function as a visual cue for that proper or accurate alignment of the feet. These kinds of stripes are usually placed at the top of the metatarsal of each foot.

Toesox Yoga is additionally an effective item for developing the sense of balance or equilibrium, particularly when looking to stand in straight poses while widely spreading the toes. In such position, the balance is usually stated on the ball of the foot.

>Yoga professionals should always understand that the broader the base becomes, then the more secure the stance is.

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Stretching By Power Yoga

Have you dabbled in martial arts? If you ask this question to most people, they will give you some answer resembling "I took a Tae Kwon Do class at the YMCA, or I took Karate back in high school." Now, don't get me wrong; there's nothing bad about this. I am just bringing it up because it's such a norm in America. On the other hand, this minor experience isn't worth much in the real world either. In fact most people don't really have a clue what most self-defense and fighting arts are really like. Nor do they understand the hardcore training that's necessary. Take yoga for example. This is commonly thought of as a calm and relaxing regime that involves a lot of stretching. Does that sound about right? Well, you've probably never encountered power yoga or the real deal as some call it. It can be an overwhelming workout.

It's time for some power yoga, folks. This is a great way to get in shape. Not only does it offer exercise for the entire body, it also promotes blood circulation via stretching. This is a great way to stay in good shape as you age. Remember you want to age gracefully; not quickly. With power yoga comes a lot of devotion. This goes the same for any decent fitness regime or martial art. I have known a lot of martial artists in my day and most of them definitely do not train to fight or defend themselves. Now you may be wondering what I'm talking about. Maybe you take a particular martial art and think you've got skills. Well, let me ask you a few things. Do you train daily? Are you in good shape? Do you always work to improve and avoid becoming complacent? Do you spar with other regularly? Do you spar realistically with practitioners of other arts regularly? If you don't do these things, then you're probably not too effective with your art. That's just reality. If you don't put it to use, and instead just go through drills in a dojo or kwoon, you're probably not very good. How can you possibly know you can do it for real? This is why I always emphasize taking it to the next level. The same goes for boxing, Muay Thai, karate, judo or power yoga [HEALTHCARE-KNOWLEDGE.COM].

Learn all you've ever wanted to know about power yoga on the World-Wide-Web. You can even acquire DVDs on power yoga now days. Learn from the pros while you practice these regimes with your friends and family. Contemporary power yoga will definitely keep you in good shape.

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Exercises For Women - 4 of the Best Exercises For Women Who Want to Lose Weight Fast

Need some of the best exercises for women available? Look no further. On this page you will discover some of my favorite exercises for women that have helped me lose more than 50lbs in the space of less than 4 months. Exercising is a pre-requisite if you want to lose weight and because us women have a lot more trouble losing weight than men it is essential that we use the right exercises to maximize the process.

1.) Interval Training.

Interval training is basically a cardio workout performed in stages and is undoubtedly one of the best exercises for women looking to lose weight fast. If your chosen form of cardio is jogging for instance, instead of your usual 45 minute jog you would utilize short bursts of higher intensity work in between moments of low intensity - essentially you are working out in intervals. This form of training has been shown to be extremely effective at burning fat, more so than traditional long and slow cardio workouts and can be done in half the time, your average interval workout lasting only 25 minutes!

2.) Resistance Training.

For some women the thought of adding weights into their fitness routine brings images of the Incredible Hulk to their minds. If you are worried about using weights exercises for women then please don't - women have great difficulty putting on significant amounts of muscle mass even when using drugs so when you are on a calorie restricted weight loss routine you have absolutely no chance. Using weight will simply tone and shape your figure and may even help you burn more fat!

3.) Yoga.

Yoga helps to tone the body in a uniformed manner, will increase your flexibility and may well help you lose weight. Some of the yoga asanas stimulate sluggish glands to increase the amount of hormones they secrete, one example of these glands is the thyroid which affects our metabolism and our weight. The deep breathing that is performed during yoga sessions helps oxygen uptake into the body and fat cells which makes for more efficient fat burning making yoga one of the very best exercises for women.

4.) Pilates.

Whilst we are on the subject of great exercises for women we must not forget pilates. Pilates exercises works your core muscles - those responsible for balance and posture around your midriff which when strengthened will stabilize your body and help protect the spine. And pilates isn't just for balance and posture - it is also great for burning calories and you may well be surprised at the end of your first session just how worn out you feel.

Well there you have it, 4 superb fat burning exercises for women which will see your weight loss go from strength to strength. Integrate these into your own fitness routines and you will lose more weight, more quickly than you thought possible. But don't stop there, check out these superb exercises for women [weightlosswomen.org/exercises-for-women/] tips which when combined with these 4 great exercises will maximize your fat burning results.

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Understanding Yoga and Pranayama

Yoga is a scientific system of physical and mental practices that originated in India more than 3000 years ago. It is not just physical fitness training. Yoga is an ancient Indian philosophy that enhances personal growth and well being of the practitioner. It is extremely powerful stuff and is part of the Hindu religion and a way of life.

Yoga is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian Philosophy. It is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years. Yoga is anything but aerobics, not gymnastic. There are those who think Yoga is nothing else but standing on one's head or sitting somewhere in a Buddha-like posture without moving. Or they believe it is a religion. Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. A male who practices yoga is called a yogi, a female practitioner, a yogini.

Yoga philosophy consists of eight limbs. Ashtanga which basically means asth (Eight) and Anga (limbs) or eight parts of yoga. Which includes, Yum, Niyam, Asana, Pranayma, dyana, pratyahar, dharana and samadhi.

In my first series of articles, We'll discuss Pranayama.As Yoga exercise is incomplete without purification of your internal Soul. You can treat Yoga as purification of body and Pranayama and other limbs as purification of soul.

Pranayama is the science of breath control. Pranayama is the fourth limb in Astanga Yoga. Considering the physiology of Pranayama, Swami Niranjananda of Bihar School of Yoga has classified Pranayama as hyperventilation and hypoventilation.

Pranayama can be called the singular most important aspect of yoga as they are means to purify the subtle energies flowing through the body. Pranayama is an important, yet little known part of Yoga. Pranayama establishes regular breathing patterns, breaking this negative cycle, and reversing the process.

Any Yoga classes should normally include practice of pranayama (breathing techniques, Dhyana (meditation), yoga nidra (psychic sleep or deep relaxation), and philosophy and practice of yoga. Pranayama will focus on various forms and practices of nadi shodana pranayama to balance the nervous system and cultivate prana.

The asanas consist of gentle stretching, balancing, and resistance movements and involve nearly every muscle of the body. Unlike stretching or fitness, Yoga is more than just physical postures. Though it is very easy, but Please consult with your doctor before beginning a stretching or yoga practice, and listen to your own body and its limitations.

Yoga is a practice, a celebration of joining together mind and body. Traditional yoga is also safe, since it avoids any straining of the body. This is why yoga is becoming more and more popular worldwide.Yoga is the perfect prescription for mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

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Teaching Hatha Yoga - Steps to Professional Development of Yoga Teachers

Over the past two decades, professional development of Yoga teachers has grown, in parity, with the volume of new students. Let's look at some easy steps any Yoga instructor can take toward taking his or her knowledge and teaching skills to new heights.

Before you make a decision toward developing your skills, you may want to compile a list of areas where you feel you might want to go. Consider your performance reviews, feedback from program coordinators, students, or colleagues, and the input of your mentor, if you have one.

Ultimately, it is your decision to choose which direction of development or education to go in. If you have a wide variety of needs, you have to decide which ones are a priority - based upon a mix of rational thought and intuition.

Assess all of your options before choosing a path toward continuing education. When it comes to education, some of us are like kids in a candy store. We have difficulty making a decision about which course to take or which direction to go in.

Yet, there is a simple way to decide your direction. What are your students' needs? After you become a certified Yoga teacher, your decisions are based upon the needs of your students. If your students are a particular age, have similar health conditions, or there is a predominant ailment among them, this may be your calling.

On the other hand, if you cannot see a particular need, there are many training methods, and many areas of Yoga, where we could use improvement. Some skills are on the fringe of teaching, such as communication, public speaking, and marketing. One teacher may feel these skills are not necessary, while another may see a value in improving areas, where he or she needs help.

Most importantly, choose an option that suits your specific situation. Finances and time should be given consideration. Do you have the means to travel, a budget for continuing education, or the time needed to attend an intensive for Yoga teachers? Are you a self-starter, who can learn from books, DVD's, CD's, and online sources?

This brings to light a variety of choices Yoga instructors have when taking courses to enhance their education and professional growth. While training intensives are an option, so are home study, independent study, online courses, and correspondence courses.

No matter which direction you choose, professional development will be the end result.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Yoga For Runners and Joggers

Yoga for runners and joggers has become a vital factor in the training regimen of most track and field athletes. As with all sports suppleness and flexibility are essential for the well being of muscle and joints in the body.

Now, because running and jogging is so tough and hard wearing on the joints, it is imperative that athletes take extra care with their training routines. You will never see a serious athlete move straight into a race or competition without doing warm up exercises.

A lot of time and thought goes into the exact type of exercise required for a certain activity. The athlete will know intuitively what is required and will do their warm up accordingly. Most athletes do their yoga exercises in the dressing room for at least a half hour before an event. This is done well away from the public view, so we do not see the real preparation that goes into their warm up routine.

I was watching very recently the British ladies open golf championship and one of the lady golfers seemed to tweak a muscle a little awkwardly and it became obvious that she was in some discomfort and pain. She immediately lay on the ground and began a routine of yoga long stretching exercises. She continued doing theses for about five minutes and then got up and resumed with taking her fairway drive, the muscle problem was gone and she continued on without any obvious discomfort to finish her game.

This is a clear indication to me of how much the practice of yoga has become part and parcel of athletic training.

The yoga method of exercising of course is no secret, as we all know it has been around for centuries, but it is only in the past forty to fifty years that westerners are beginning to realise the importance of the exercises.

There are thousands of testimonies from people from all walks of life, Movie stars, athletes, clergy, ordinary business people, right down to the ordinary man and woman on the street. who are convinced that yoga training has changed their lives.

They have found a well being and richness from yoga that has changed their lives for good. Once one decides to practice the art of yoga they very seldom stop doing it. It becomes a life changing force and a fantastic motivation and feel good every day factor which runs right through every strand of their life.

Change your life habits right now for good, and start doing yoga.

Your friend in sport,

Noel.

Too look at life is a poets way of living life. To live life is the successful persons fulfilment. To have good health and an active life is a blessing from God, we must not squander away these riches we must improve and develop them everyday of our lives. novouniversal.com/index.php?c=5&n=1000&i=1591790905&x=The_Essential_Qigong_Training_Course_100_Days_to_Increase_Energy_Physical_Health_and_Spiritual_Well_Being Yoga Spirit Health To me the fulfilment and happiness comes from my dedication and disciplined practice of yoga. This wonderful gift awaits all those who are ready to embrace it. Are you ready to make the change of your life? If you are then begin now to find your path to a wonderful new life. It is waiting for you with open arms.

Discovering Yoga - The Beginning of a Wondrous Journey to Harmonious Life

To discover yoga is to discover your true self. Once you have embarked upon this wondrous journey, you will find it to be the source of greater physical and mental wellbeing. It will provoke a deeper understanding of your true self, raising some questions that can change the course of your life forever. One of the greatest sciences of our time, Yoga is a practice that can be integrated into your everyday life at home or take it with you absolutely anywhere you go. Yoga means different things to different people. For some it is about the physical exercise and fitness it brings; for others it is a precious time to just sit in silence, away from the overstimulation of the outside world; and for the committed student it is quite simply, a way of life.

Yoga is designed to bring balance into your life. Through continuing dedication to the practice of yoga you, will naturally begin to engage in the many other elements of yoga. You will start ot view life in a more proactive state as you become less reactive to all of life's many challenges. Practice brings about the goals of greater self-development and self-realization.

Yoga loosens up large muscles, so they aren't stressing smaller muscles and bones which could result in injuries. It also loosens up joints and improves circulation, which is great for overall health and wellbeing.

Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India many thousands of years ago, and is the oldest system of personal development in the world encompassing the entire body, mind and spirit. It is said that it is the union between a person's own consciousness and the universal consciousness.

The Ancient Yogis perceived the physical body as a vehicle, with the mind as driver, the soul as man's true identity, and action, emotion and intelligence as the three forces which pull the body-vehicle. Taking into account the interrelationship between body and mind, the Yogis formulated a unique method for maintaining this balance - a method that combines all the movements you need for physical health with the Breathing and Meditation techniques that ensure stillness and peace within the mind.

Medical science is gradually proving that what the Yogis or Yoga practitioners have been experiencing for thousands of years. The classical techniques of Yoga date back more than 5,000 years. In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, Health and long life, and heightened self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise which has since spread throughout the world. The word Yoga means "to join or yoke together," and it brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience.

We live in a world that is fiercely competitive and materialistic. Incorporating yoga into your daily life brings about an ability to deal with this way of life as we acknowledge that peace and happiness do not come from external sources but from within.

Yoga poses are also designed to tone and exercise the muscles of the body to eliminate excess fat, and make it more flexible and stronger. If you would like more information about the various forms of yoga and what the practice can do to improve your life, or simply to try yoga out for yourself in the comfort of your own home, visit ==>> yogareviewer.com yogareviewer.com

More About Yoga Therapy for Increasing Self-Worth

Among the many purposes of mantra, japa, affirmations, or prayer, is to keep the mind under control. When left unattended, the mind can travel to many random thoughts, at the same time. It is guaranteed that an unattended mind cannot be fixed upon positive thoughts all the time. For some of us, the mind is programmed to default to negative thoughts automatically.

This can be a result of past experience, conditioning, heredity, or, possibly, this is an organic problem. In the case of an organic problem, professional help should be sought. Yoga therapy, or Yoga sessions, will still help, but a competent psychiatrist is still needed.

If the source of low self-esteem is in your past, you may be able to address it through self-analysis, meditation, or mindfulness. If it is too much to handle alone, a trusted friend, mentor, Guru, or counselor, may help you bury the past.

Meditation sessions should be spent pondering a positive solution. Meditation time should never be spent on negative thoughts, or rehashing past mistakes. We cannot change the past, and we must realize what parts of our lives can realistically be controlled. There are situations in life, which are far beyond our control, and we have to come to a realization about the limits of our control.

We are responsible for our actions. Therefore, forgiving oneself for past mistakes is a difficult task for most of us. Yet, if we do not forgive ourselves, we prevent our own happiness. Self-worth and happiness must start from within.

We must accept the past, our friends, and our family, as they are. This is the practice of Santosha: To be content with life as it is. We cannot change the past, and we will only frustrate ourselves if we try to change people, but we can change our own thinking process for the best.

Look at mistakes only for their educational value. All of us make mistakes, because we are human, but with every mistake, there is also a hidden opportunity. This is what separates successful people from those who spend their lives dwelling on the past.

How many times have we heard a Yoga teacher say "Be present for practice." or "Live in the moment?" Many Yoga students practice Asana, but how many are really present for their practice? As we roll the Yoga mat up, and go about our lives, we should be present for life. This is a state of "mindfulness" or non-judgmental awareness. If you really want to raise your self-worth, stop judging yourself.

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

Advanced Yoga Can Challenge Your Body - How to Push Your Body to Another Level

If you have mastered beginner, and intermediate yoga, you may be ready for advanced yoga. An advanced class requires more strength and flexibility then a lower level class and you want to be sure that your body and skill level is ready for this. An advanced course will push your body to another level and you want to make sure that you have the training needed to take it to this next level.

When you sign up for advanced yoga you may have to take the lower level courses before you can sign up for this type of class. You want to make sure that you do not hold the class back and this is why you may want to invest in these lower level courses, even if you need them as a refresher, before you sign up for an advanced course.

When you take advanced yoga you may find that you become stronger after every class. You will be pushed very hard in this type of class and this can help you to increase your strength and flexibility even further. If you are looking for a challenge then this is what an advanced class should offer you. If you feel as though you are not being challenged, you may want to speak with your yoga instructor and see if there are any things you can do to help give yourself a challenge.

You will want to practice advanced yoga at home also. This will help you build strength and will learn things faster. If you practice at home you will be ready for your next class and you will not have to worry about falling behind. Yoga is all about building upon the next skill and it is important to master all of the things you learn and this can be done with a lot of practice.

If you want to learn at your own pace you may consider using a DVD or online resource to help you learn advanced yoga. You may not have as much time as you would like and when you learn from home, you will be able to go at your own pace and master each move before moving on to the next.

Advanced yoga can help you take your skills and build upon them. You will be able to reach your full potential and this can help you get the most out of your yoga activity.

Now Pay Close Attention

Yoga is something that should not be taken lightly. While it can help you attain physical strength and a calm and centered mindset, there are things you must be wary of when first starting out.

Know more about yogaguidereview.rev-u.com advanced yoga and be filled with information, details and tips to follow along from beginner poses to the most advanced poses out there by visiting: yogaguidereview.rev-u.com YogaGuideReview.rev-u.com.

What Athletes and Pregnant Women Have in Common

What do athletes and pregnant women have in common? Both anticipate an event that will be challenging emotionally and physically, but, one that will be extremely rewarding at the finish line.

First let's look at what athletes do.

Athletes train for an event. They are known to employ coaches to help build their "mindset" for recognizing past accomplishments, and building confidence in their strengths, talents, and abilities. They learn to trust and believe in their capabilities. Athletes use techniques such as visualization to "see" themselves doing their training perfectly, winning, succeeding in their goals, and celebrating their accomplishment. Athletes train physically for hours, for days, weeks, and months to be in "shape", while increasing endurance, stamina, and be physically fit for the competition. Athletes eat well for strength, get enough rest, and stay well hydrated.

Let's recap. Athletes:

1. have coaches for emotional support

2. build positive "can do" attitudes and visualize success

3. learn to trust and believe in their skills and strengths

4. practice, practice, practice

5. take care of their body by eating well

6. prepare for the event

Pregnant women have a lot in common with athletes. They know a physical and emotional challenge is coming - the birth of their baby. They know they need to eat well because they are "building" a baby. They prepare for birth by enrolling in childbirth classes. They enlist the support of family members and their partner. Some women learn visualization techniques to prepare for birth.

The difference of course is athletes are usually not pregnant! But what if pregnant women started developing an athletic point of view for preparing for birth? If they did, it might look something like this:

From the first day a woman finds out she's pregnant she goes into "training" for pregnancy and birth doing the following:

1. finds a health care provider immediately - a midwife or a doctor

2. starts an exercise program appropriate for pregnancy: swimming, walking, etc. to build physical strength, stamina, and endurance and does it daily. Health care provider approves program

3. hires a birth coach, Doula, or builds a strong, positive, support group

4. enrolls immediately in a relaxation program and uses it throughout the pregnancy. For example, pre-natal yoga

5. learns how to meditate daily to develop a "mindset" for birth, using birth affirmations, and positive visualizations

6. learns to trust her personal strengths and abilities based on past challenges and successes

7. eats healthy for "building a baby" not eating for two, takes prenatal vitamins, maybe sees a nutritionist

8. researches childbirth education classes and takes the one that meets her values and interests

9. learns about pregnancy changes of the body and fetal development

10. reads books on parenting

11. accepts pregnancy and birth as normal events in life

12. focuses on her own pregnancy experiences, turns off the TV, doesn't listen to negative stories about birth

13. receives and celebrates her "prize" at the finish line - her baby

Pregnancy "training" is a great way to prepare for birth from day one. Waiting until the last few months to prepare can add stress to the experience. Starting from day one creates time to "grow" with the pregnancy emotionally. Time is needed to discover methods of relaxation and breathing for labor that work the best for the physical challenge of birth. More important, with time and preparation you can have the kind of birth and experience you want.

Be a pregnancy "athlete"! The training is worth it.

Lesly Federici is an RN experienced in labor & delivery and has been teaching childbirth education to expectant parents for over eleven years. She wrote the e-book "The Quick What To Do During Labor Guide" available as an Amazon.com Kindle download, and on her website. Lesly is also the founder of Smartbirth, an online childbirth social network dedicated to providing free childbirth education to women world wide. She is also known as the Green RN. Lesly is certified in the following areas: Lamaze, Calm Birth, hypnosis, and is a Reiki Master. Lesly also hosts and produces her own radio show.

leslynotes.com leslynotes.com

Wii Fit - Reinvents the Workout

From the release of the game "Dance Dance Revolution", in 1998, the world got the taste for the "Exergames" and more and more games from the fitness genre were developed. One such game is the Wii Fit which was developed by Nintendo for the Wii console.

Released for the first time on December 1, 2007, in Japan, Wii Fit tries to be a solution to the fact that only in USA almost 1/3 of children are overweight. The game offers 40 different activities grouped into 4 categories of games / exercises: aerobic exercises, balance games, muscle workout and happinesslifetime.com yoga training. It's important to mention from the beginning that all the exercises presented shouldn't be considered a real workout, but a mere warm - up. It's also true, that more games you play, more games you unlock and the difficulty rate gets higher and quite challenging for the inexperienced player.

The success of Wii Fit doesn't consist in the difficulty of the elements presented, but in the merge of fun elements with some fitness exercises designed for the entire family to play. The game comes together with a "Balance Board" which is able to communicate wirelessly with the console and to provide it with information on your BMI (Body Max Index), plus other accurate measurements on your time of reaction, speed and power. Practically, this system is similar to the ones used in rehabilitation and for sportsmen training.

Also very useful is the ability to set goals, to check on your progress and to benefit from a personal trainer. The interactivity with the games is done through the Mii avatars which you can personalize and which are a mirror image of yourself. The games are very fun to play with family and friends and you can easily get engrossed and forget that your are in fact doing exercises.

The Wii Fit kit comes together with the game software, the balance board, instructions and 4 AA batteries at a price of almost 90$, depending from where it is bought. Because the demand for such a game remains quite high, Wii Fit is still hard to find in stores.

Wendy Brighton is a freelancer writer that activates on tuvabox.com tuvabox.com and is passionate about travelling, music and gadgets.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Yoga Teachers & Styles - Choosing the Right Yoga Teacher & Style For Your Health

When choosing a yoga teacher, it's important to determine what yoga style you are most comfortable with. Think about what you plan to gain from your yoga class. Are you looking for a more vigorous class that builds strength, or a more gentle class that will help you to relax? Is meditation or spiritual focus important to you? Is yoga only part of your cross-training, or do you plan to use it as your main exercise focus? You also want to take injuries or other health problems into consideration to make sure that the class you take is not too strenuous.

It's also a good idea to observe a class before participating in it to get a better idea of what you will be up against. Some yoga teachers and classes allow drop in students to come and try the class out before committing to the class. Health clubs often have classes included within your package so you can try yoga in a familiar setting. It's a good idea to try different style classes to determine what will work best for you.

It's also very important to choose your yoga teacher carefully. There are a few questions you can ask to help determine what's right for you.

Do they practice themselves and how often? - A teacher that is dedicated will practice yoga on their own as well. Typically a good teacher will practice yoga about 3 to 4 times a week.

How long have they been practicing yoga? - Yoga teachers will a good amount of experience will be able to help their students the most. Three years is the minimum experience they should have. They should be extremely familiar with the exercises and routines to prevent injury to their students and to maximize the effectiveness of the class.

Could your yoga teacher become a mentor? - It's important to know whether or not your teacher is willing to spend the extra time with you. Teachers who are willing to do this tend to be more passionate about yoga in general and are willing to help their students become in shape and healthy.

Yoga offers a lot of variety and it's important to know what you are seeking. You may find, after trying several styles, which style you enjoy the most. Take the opportunity to attend workshops and seminars to become more familiar with yoga. These can help you expand your horizons and broaden your vision.

Zade has experience writing articles online for 2 years now. He specializes in many subjects inluding dieting, web design, exercise, and electronics. You can also check out his latest website on electricpoolheaters.info electric pool heaters which also reviews the electricpoolheaters.info/swimming-pool-solar-heater.html swimming pool solar heater for cold season swimming.

Unleash Your Physical Strength - 3 Tips to Get a Strong Body by Body Weight Strength Training

Want to get a muscular figure? Craving for a strong and good-looking body? Dissented with the results of typical workouts and dieting? Body weight strength training is the perfect solution for you to get the muscular body of your dream. You can get started for a fit body-line by following 3 simple steps.

Step #1 - Lower Body Workout

You can simply begin with toning your lower body. And to do so you might consider reverse lunges to tone up your legs or isometric exercises like wall sit up to put stress on the entire lower section. Squats are also effective to strengthen the lower body and get the figure in shape quickly. These exercises will give you a strong lower portion with a muscular shape.

Step #2 - Upper Body Toning

To get a fit upper body the body weight strength training must include exercises like pushups and triceps dips. These exercises are meant to give you muscular arms with attractive biceps and triceps of your dream. Yoga moves like downward facing dog is also a good option to get your upper torso fixed and look sexy.

Step #3 - Abdominal Workouts

A flat tummy with ripped off ab muscles can make your body-line look more attractive and fit. To build up abdominal muscles you should perform exercises like basic crunch, bicycle crunch and reverse curl. These exercises will place direct stress on your ab muscles making those tight and toned. As a result you will get the ripped off abs of your dream within a short time.

If you follow these 3 steps of body weight strength training then attaining the strong figure of your dream will be lot easier for you. But while practicing these workouts you must be careful about following the correct way. And the best way to ensure that is going through instructions from workout experts who will let you know about the correct way to perform these workouts and tell you pros and cons also. To get detailed information please click here and get in touch with the professionals [fatloss-exercise-workout.info]

A Leverage Home Gym is the Right Choice For Strength Training

When you are buying a home fitness gym it is necessary to do some introspection which will enable you to make the right choice. Similar to choosing a house pet, your character and personality will play a large role in what type of animal you will be compatible with. Will it be a pit bull or tabby cat? In the realm of the home gym this is the same as asking whether your fitness objectives are power lifting or yoga. I don't know much about yoga equipment, but for the strength trainers out there an often overlooked viable option is the Body Solid leverage home gym.

When you are shopping around for your new home fitness gym you must take into consideration how much you can accomplish in the amount of space that you have available. Usually home workout space is limited so you want to get as many workout options as possible in as small amount of space as possible. The Body Solid SBL460P4 leverage home gym provides just that. In the amount of space that usually would make up a small bedroom you can perform over 40 basic exercises and we don't even need to get creative to fill out the list. From flat, incline, decline bench to squats, leg curls and even wrist curls; its all here. The size dimensions of the machine are as follows: Basic unit (without bench) 83"H x 104" x 107" Bench: 32"H (53" Inclined) x 74" x 28". In this relatively small amount of space you are able to facilitate what a health club would need an entire gym floor to accomplish.

But the compact size and exercise applications are not the only home gym considerations that the Body Solid Leverage system meets and surpasses. Another aspect that exercise enthusiasts (especially strength trainers) must take into consideration is safety. With the leverage system, the self spotting mechanisms will allow you to max out at every station and prevent you from getting pinned under heavy weight loads.

In addition, the strength of all the equipment components sets the standards in the fitness market. The extra large and extra strong steel mainframe with all four side welded construction is the strongest in its class! The Durafirm pads and upholstery are guaranteed for life to never bottom out on you. Both of these considerations will be important in your long term home gym power lifting endeavors.

If strength training is your objective you need to take safety, affordability, exercise options and space into serious consideration. The special attributes of Body Solid leverage home gym package make it an easy choice for the strength training enthusiast. Dont settle for other lower priced options such as the Powertec Leverage System which only facilitates about 20 exercises when you can get over 40 with the Body Solid system. You would save a couple of bucks but then you will have to drive all the way to the health club to finish the other half of your workout, which just costs you more in the long run. Believe me - with home gym equipment you get what you pay for and the Body Solid team makes it all accessible at a very affordable price.

Article by Edwin McKean
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Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga is the royal Yoga. It explains how to develop and release our hidden powers of our minds so that inner harmony, peace and a sense of self-mastery may result. The path or Marga is called the Royal Road because of the supreme difficulties that are encountered in cultivating the mind to be a friend rather than an enemy, and in developing the unique skills that are required in attempting to understand the human mind.

This is the path that requires mental discipline and is a preparation for the discovery of the deeper soul nature. The elementary levels are easy to comprehend and to execute but more difficult tests are faced when having to use your own mind to control and direct your own thoughts appropriately.

The basis of the training in Raja Yoga is the system of Ashtanga accredited to Patanjali, that is, the 8-fold teaching stages, or levels of self-discipline. They commence with the moral, ethical principles called Yamas/Niyamas, with its first two ethical principles having close correspondence to the 10 Commandments of the Christian faith.

Yamas - refers to the negatives which must be constantly weeded out or eliminated. It involves elimination or catharsis, both physical and psychological, and the rejection of any emotional and mental negative habits or weaknesses in the individual.

Niyamas - the stage of positive body building through exercises, diet and health practices as well as development of positive character traits or virtues. It reminds us to substitute an evil with a good quality.

These are then followed by 6 other stages......

Asanas -Correction of basic body postural habit is important as is the ability to assume some of the 84 classical yoga poses, each designed for physiological and psychological purposes. They teach mastery of both strength and flexibility, balance and will.

Pranayama - the science of breath control is established for health purposes both physical and psychological. Breathing plays a very important role in maintaining a strong link between body and soul, and for the purpose of elevating consciousness towards the spiritual spheres.

Pratyahara - demands the appropriate use of the physical 5 senses under control of the mind. Also extending their development and sensitivity when exploring the non material spheres.

Dharana - Concentration - focusing the power of the mind. This is one pointedness of thought. We are free to choose anything which our minds can conceive. We have absolute freedom to develop the mind according to our own programming, which requires care.

Dhyana - is the conscious elevation and expansion of the mind in peaceful states of meditation. Meditation links the intuitive or higher mind with the lower rational mind and integrates the two levels of thought. We are capable at such times, of greater insights and extended perceptions.

Samadhi - is the name of the state of Oneness in consciousness which is the supreme reward for prior efforts, study, exercise, breath control and concentration. This eighth stage comes as a result of spiritual grace or an unknown factor, not by conscious command. When it comes, it results in degrees of spiritual enlightenment of the soul in ineffable states of bliss in God Consciousness or Spiritual Realization.

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Picking Your Weight Training Equipment

Around the gym locker or in fitness magazines you might have heard weight training equipment referred to as resistance equipment. If your lifting a weight then the weight is providing resistance against your muscles. You can think of resistance as an opposing force, like the weight, gravity, a rubber band type device; your muscles will get stronger by working against the resistance. Calling weight equipment resistance equipment is actually a more accurate term, because you don't need weights at all to build muscles. There is some exercise equipment out there that weighs less than a pound, but you can build muscle through the resistance provided by these devices.

Throughout this article I will use resistance training and weight training interchangeably.

Knowing how to weight train is a new skill set. Just because you have a body doesn't mean that you know how to train it. If you are just beginning to lift weights I highly suggest that you find a professional whose advice you can benefit from. Understanding how to properly use equipment is the first step in this overall process. In the sections below I will break down the different types of training equipment available to you. Depending on your age and fitness level one type of training may be better for you.

Training equipment can be described many different ways:

1. Free weights: Free weights are just as the name suggests. These are weights that are not attached to a machine and can be moved around. This type of weight includes free weight plates, dumbbells, and kettlebells. Free weights come in many different weights and materials.

2. Machines Weights: Generally when you think of a weight machine your think of machines with a seat which have different exercise stations with adjustable weights, cables and pulleys. These machines can come in different designs and configurations. Newer models may even be computerized with vocal feedback.

3. Rubber bands and Rubber Tubes: Resistance bands and tubes are very mobile and light, so they provide the ability to work out anywhere. The bands are similar to rubber bands and are flat and wide. The tubes are round and hollow. These are similar to the rubber tubes used in hospitals for taking blood. If your a frequent traveler this is the type of equipment you should purchase. If you have allergies you can look for the latex versions.

4. Rollers and Balls: These items are great for adding instability into your exercise routine. By adding instability you require your body to use the smaller stabilizer muscles which provide a greater workout and burn.

5. Your own Body weight: People usually don't associate their own body as a training tool, but it can be great for exercises such as pushups, sit-ups, squats and lunges.

6. Pilates and Yoga: Pilates and yoga as weight training? Not really. But many of the moves associated with these disciplines are very challenging and do promote muscle growth and flexibility. Many of the movements and postures associated with Yoga and Pilates encourage the development of balance, coordination and strength.

Whatever exercise you choose get professional advice prior to embarking on a new workout routine. Also it has been shown that changing your routine periodically and targeting different muscles groups will provide the most benefit over the long run.

Lee has been writing articles for over 5 years. Come visit his latest websites over at humidifiercoolmist.com Humidifier Cool Mist and filterlesshumidifier.org Filterless Humidifier. These sites help consumers find the best products and information they are looking for when doing product research.