What Chair Yoga Teachers Need to Know About Teaching Seniors

Liz Franklin has taught chair yoga to seniors for several years now, so she really knows what to expect when leading a class for the 50+ crowd. Here is what she thinks is important to be mindful of.

Be punctual

Your students will almost all arrive with plenty of time to spare before class, so you better be there at least 15 minutes before it starts. Make sure you dismiss the class on time, too.

Never call your students "old"

The first baby boomers are starting to turn 60, and one boomer turns 50 every 8 seconds. So watch out - here comes the bubble of baby boomer seniors!

As boomers, we never really wanted to grow up, so we certainly are not even considering "getting old". Avoid using language such as "slowing down", "golden years", "elderly", or "aging". "Active adult" is regarded as pretty safe. What is wrong with that, anyhow? That is what you're hoping to accomplish by having them in your yoga class!

Expect many students to be hearing and sight impaired

Medical science continues to improve rapidly, but it is still common for seniors to have lost some acuteness in their hearing and/or eyesight.

Make sure you speak up at all times, even more so than you do in your other classes. If necessary, invest in an inexpensive PA system.

When offering them printed materials such as a class schedule or inspirational handouts, make sure the type is a fairly large. This applies to your web site, if you have one.

Be aware of health problems

Partial loss of hearing and sight is probably the most common thing to watch out for, but there are a lot of other conditions that may present contraindications for particular asanas.

You should always be ready to use props, modify poses, or suggest and alternative pose.

A complete discussion of this subject is a whole other article, but I will say that you should carefully quiz new students about health problems and physical limitations, and always recommend checking with doctor.

Some will be conservative in their manner and dress

Some of your students will wear workout clothes, but others will come to class in casual street clothes that you would not see in most studios. It is not uncommon for them to leave their socks on, and we have seen a few that do not even take off their shoes.

Be especially cautious about doing adjustments least you offend someone.

Liz does not invite them to spread their buttock flesh to make contact with the sits bones - after all, you do not touch that part of your body in public!

Do not say much about the spiritual aspects of yoga

There are some fundamentalist Christians that put forth the idea that yoga is the work of the devil. Liz had one class sabotaged by a woman who insisted that chanting OM was calling the devil. There is not much you can do to change people's minds about this, but you should be aware of this problem.

You also need to think about everything you say in class and decide if that could be misinterpreted as a call to change one's spiritual attitude. Most of your students will have established their religious outlook on life long before they start a chair yoga class. You probably shouldn't talk much about chakras, the Sanskrit names for asanas, awakening Kundlini energy, or any of the more spiritual aspects of yoga when teaching Yoga In Chairs.

Expect students to interrupt class with questions

Most of your chair yoga students will be new to yoga to start out with, and will have lots of questions. They may have health issues to ask about, and they sometimes just "don't get it" the first time around.

Be patient with your students when they interrupt class with a question. Your chair yoga classes simply will not be as solemn as other classes.

Try to stay in touch with your students

Despite the fact that chair yoga classes are not as solemn and thoughtful as most, your students will take their commitment to you and the class very seriously. You probably will have a lot of continuity in the composition of the group. Also, they will often feel like they need to contact you if they will not be in class, especially if they know in advance that they will miss several classes.

Likewise, if they are not in class, they will usually be pleased that you took the time to check up on them. Doing so will also help keep people from drifting away. Of course, pay attention to how they react to having you checking up on them, and if they seemed to be annoyed by that, then back off. I will say that Liz has not had a single case where she felt like she was being a pest.

Conclusion

Teaching chair yoga to seniors is definitely a different experience than you have in most classes. However, if you pay attention to the things discussed above you will be much more successful in starting and maintaining chair yoga classes. In doing so you will be tapping into a huge yet underserved market and do a lot of good in the process.

Mark Franklin enjoys telling people about Liz Franklin's Yoga In Chairs(r) because he knows it is helping people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. If you are a yoga teacher and you want to find out how you can build your practice while doing some REAL good in the world teaching chair yoga, visit yogainchairs.com/teacher.asp yogainchairs.com/teacher.asp.

The Benefits Of Using Pilates In Your Home Fitness Workouts

Oftentimes workouts at home tend to focus on aerobic and strength training exercises in order to improve physical conditioning, and there is no doubt that such a program can be effective for many. But another key ingredient of physical health can go unnoticed if you aren't careful and that is flexibility of the muscle groups of your body. Strong muscles that aren't flexible can be prone to injury, so pilates exercises help round out a good home fitness exercise routine.

In case you are wondering what pilates is, it's a system of strengthening the mind and body through a set of movements that emphasize proper breathing and posture. It was initially developed by Joseph Pilates almost 70 years ago to help him overcome some persistent childhood sicknesses. It worked so well that he began to teach others his system for personal exercises using body resistance. As others began to see benefits the word spread and now pilates has millions of adherents and practitioners who use it regularly to stay in shape.

When using a home gym you tend to focus on certain muscle groups and target them to the exclusion of others. There is nothing wrong with this but inserting some pilates movements into your daily workout routine can help make sure that all your muscles get the attention they need. It also helps insure that the muscles that you are building also retain a good measure of flexibility rather than just size alone. As we age flexibility becomes much more critical and so pilates works especially well in this area for people who are middle-aged and up.

If you want to build big muscles, pilates will not accomplish that goal. However, large muscles can make one susceptible to injury if they don't get the proper conditioning, so pilates exercises can even help the bodybuilding folks if it is used in addition to their muscle workouts. It helps elongate muscles instead of just build them up and places an emphasis on body movement and position. This leads to graceful body movement, and reduces sports injuries.

Pilates focuses on building a strong core in the stomach and back of the individual and so it has also been known to be very effective for patients that have lower back pain problems. Oftentimes, these back pain issues are aggravated by some muscles not being as strong as they should be and causing other muscles to be overworked as a result. Since pilates is so low impact and is usually done in lying or sitting positions it is also usually a very safe exercise to perform, but as always it is good to get a doctor's approval before you begin any new exercise routine.

If you have been using traditional exercise equipment in your home fitness workouts, maybe it's time to consider adding in a pilates exercise routine as well. To get started you can buy books and DVDs that can help you learn many basic pilates movements or you can also attend classes and be taught by a good instructor how to set up a pilates routine that will be best for you.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including fitness. You can find homefitnessconsumerreview.com/pilates-exercise.html free pilates exercises and learn about homefitnessconsumerreview.com/index.html pilates sample exercises by visiting our Home Fitness website.

Job Security for Three Decades

There is a growing need for more Chair Yoga teachers. Education about the mental and physical benefits of Yoga has spread like "wild fire" in the past couple of decades; but what about the needs of those who are not so young and limber? In some parts of the world, the number of seniors will outweigh the working population. Italy, the United States, and the rest of Europe, will see senior populations grow rapidly.

Within the United States, every seven seconds, someone turns 50 years of age. In 20 years, the number of people over 65 is projected to be over 60 million. "The writing is on the wall," and there are many opportunities for Yoga teachers, senior fitness specialists, and health care professionals.

Although government bureaucrats will not adjust for massive senior health care needs, until it is too late, that doesn't mean you can't do something about it. If you are currently a Yoga teacher, you should learn everything you can about Chair Yoga. Continuing education is a big part of teaching, so you want to learn about senior fitness, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, modifications, props, and contraindications.

If you are a Yoga student, who wants to teach seniors, you should learn everything you can, and get involved in a happinesslifetime.com Yoga Teacher Training program. Chair Yoga teachers should have a solid foundation in Yoga and/or be familiar with the physical abilities of seniors.

Physical therapists, and senior fitness specialists, could easily learn Chair Yoga concepts, as well. However, you must be honest with yourself in regard to patience and compassion. This type of class is not for the instructor who just wants to do his, or her, "workout."

Sure you can demonstrate, but you must also assist, modify, and cue those who cannot always hear so well. Therefore, patience, compassion, and safety, are of prime importance.

This is a direction of employment that could lead to 30 years of job security. Currently, I have been training local Yoga teachers, so they can work with seniors in the Providence area. The reason: As I have said before, "The demand for Yoga is far beyond what any one of us can do."

Think about the cost of medical services, prescriptions, and physical therapy. Then, consider the cost of Yoga instruction. This is a "no-brainer," but don't expect to see a big change right away. Nevertheless, senior centers, assisted living complexes, and nursing homes have already caught onto the fact that Yoga is cost effective preventative medicine.

This proactive mind-set has also infiltrated the medical community. It is not uncommon for Yoga studios to get medical referrals. Medical professionals have so many patients that they are advising many prevention methods, and Yoga is one of them.

Do you think all of the Chair Yoga classes will be in senior facilities, 20 years from now? My bet is some of these classes will be in "top name" fitness centers. The fitness industry will not want to miss the opportunity to tap into a 60 million plus membership market, that will visit them during "off peak" hours.

Therefore, look for Chair Yoga and senior fitness to explode, in popularity, for the next two or three decades. This age group will be looking at Yoga for longevity, so it won't be anything close to a "fad."

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

Do You Know the True Benefits of Yoga?

The practice of yoga is centuries old, because historically people have known the benefits of yoga. It is crucial, however, to keep in mind that there are around 12 different styles of yoga that are most most popular, and each style has its own identity with respect to the benefits you might expect to see from their practice. I have written a number of articles describing yoga for beginners which you can search for to explain these differences, but this article is written to explore what yoga can do for you. No matter if your focus is physical, mental or both, practicing yoga can benefit you enormously in many ways. Let's begin with the mental side first:

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

Improved Concentration: This one's hard to explain scientifically, but concentration improvements have been constantly enjoyed by most practitioners. I have personally experienced these improvements!
Increase in Feeling of Well-being: This is the result of a stronger mind-body connection and calmness, due to improved concentration, the reduction of hormones associated with stress and some introspection.
Depression Reduction: This is the result of several biochemical reactions, including increase oxygen levels in the brain, as well as the release of the associated "negative" energy.
Hostility Decreases: This is the result of the increased level of relaxation and control you learn through meditation.

Physical Benefits of Yoga

Increased Range of Motion: The series of yoga poses gradually stretches your muscles, ligaments, and tendons over time.
Cleanse: This stretching also massages your organs, and ensures optimal blood flow. This helps to release toxins.
Muscle tone: Often positions are held for a while causing the aforementioned stretching, but at the same time muscles are worked and strengthened as well.
Reduced Blood Pressure: This stretching and massaging provided by yoga also serves to lower your blood pressure, by increasing blood oxygenation and improving circulation.
Cardiovascular Efficiency Increases: The combination of lower blood pressure and increased oxygen levels increases your level of endurance.

Real Life Benefits of Yoga

Decreased Risk of Injury: Due to your new found improved range of motion, strength and blood flow improvements, your body will be better protected from future injuries and able to heal quicker.
Improved Coordination: Due to your improved mind-body connection and range of motion you will become more graceful.
Reaction time: This is a result of improved circulation and the better mind-body connection.
Endurance: Improved blood flow and oxygenation lead to better cardiovascular health and improved endurance. This is one of the many reasons endurance athletes like runners include yoga as a part of their training.

By the way, these are only a few of the benefits of yoga! As you've probably figure out by now, I am a true fan of yoga, and there a ton of reasons to get started with yoga today...

If you truly wish to succeed at being in the best shape of your life, then you must visit the world's best resource. Go to yogaandweightloss.com/runnersyoga Yoga and Weight Loss immediately, to see how easily it can be done with at home workouts!

Breathing the Unwind - Using Breath For Stress Relief In Combination With Massage Therapy

As I graduated from massage school years ago the director of the school gave us some parting advice, "Some of you will continue on successfully in this industry and some of you won't. If you are passionate about this and want to succeed, my recommendation is that you massage as many people as you can right away, more than what you have already massaged during your training."

I smiled the other day as what he said popped into my head. This after massaging a couple of clients where deeper realizations were experienced on both our parts. These weren't realizations that could be taught from a book or from a teacher in front of the room, it was these kind of realizations the massage director knew would come to us after years of dedicated massage practice.

Organic, raw realizations of being so present that you experience deeper universal truths of how amazing our mind/body truly is.

As I sunk my elbow deeper into my clients back muscles there was a point where my pressure could go no further. An internal resistance, which as a novice massage therapist years ago would have had me try harder and massage harder, many times hurting my own body. All while feeling how no difference had been made with my clients tight muscles.

When I met this resistance recently in a client, I do what I always do. I slowed down more and backed off in my pressure just a bit. This to give the muscles a little energetic message that it was ok to let go and relax. Sometimes in these cases the muscles are so wound up from internal stress, they do not let go and will not let go no matter how hard a massage therapist presses. I promise. In this case as I let up in my pressure, at that point the client himself realized he was not letting go internally. He internally felt how it was his mind that was affecting his muscles being tight.

I was so happy he realized that I let out a happy giggle. A joy for me to witness. He could feel that deeply in himself and his own internal awareness/resistance. He knew his resistance to his own relaxation was why he his muscles deeply tight. A beautiful moment for both of us. As he said he had never experienced his internal awareness like that before. Then I knew it would set the stage for him to really begin his healing process of awakening to deeper relaxation in himself.

The other amazing realization actually came when working on another client doing deep tissue massage as well. As I met his resistance I let up a little again. I asked him to be aware of what his breath was doing which is always a good thing to do with any type of massage. As I started to explain a little more about breath linking to internal resistance, I made the utter connection that if we can be aware of our breath as a conscious vibrating energy(and it is), that breath work can be like giving ourselves an internal deep tissue massage & deep inner yoga stretch at once. All from the inside out. Our energy gets bound up inside just like our muscles get bound up outside. Plus it is all connected as one. Breath is a bridge linking both. As I said it will not matter how deep I massage tight muscles. When we have inner bindings and stress in our soul and are not aware of it. We can learn to consciously let it go or we coil right back up to being tight.

As I made this realization during the massage, the client was also experiencing it internally while I was explaining to him. In combination together he used his breath to give himself the internal unwinding while I was doing the external unwinding with my hands. During which I was realizing how much I love what I do and am truly blessed. I realized it was exactly those beautiful moments of synchronistic, conscious connection that my massage director was talking about. I smiled in deep gratitude for the gift of wisdom he gave us.

advancedmassagesolutions.com Redding Therapeutic Massage and Redding Yoga

Searching for Massage Therapists and Yoga Instruction in Redding, CA? Advanced Massage Solutions and Yoga in Redding, CA by Cheri Davis. Cheri offers Professional, Therapeutic Massage Therapy and Yoga instruction. Cheri Davis of Advanced Massage Solutions and Yoga is a Certified Massage Therapist, Certified Yoga Teacher and Mind/Body Awareness Guide. Cheri Davis has 11 years professional massage and 13 yoga experience.

Advanced Massage Solutions and Yoga specializes in visionary and alternative healing solutions for pain relief, stress reduction, injury recovery and peace of mind. Advanced Massage Solutions and Yoga in Redding, CA offers deep tissue massage, spa massage, sports massage with an emphasis in helping clients heal from injury. Side by Side Couples massage is becoming more popular in Redding, CA and Advanced Massage Solutions and Yoga offers that as well as Couples Massage Private Instruction in her Redding, CA Massage Studio.

In addition Cheri Davis is yoga instructor who teaches private yoga instruction for people who wish to take their yoga practice to the next level and learn how to be deeply present in their mind/body. Advanced Massage Solutions and Yoga is located inside a downtown spa in Redding, CA. This Massage therapist massage studio is in The Spa Shoppes in downtown Redding.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga and Restorative Yoga

Bikram Yoga is a style of yoga for which you need to be very healthy and strong. It is done in a heated room to replicate the heat of India where this style originated. Like all forms of yoga it gives you a thorough workout, working through the body in a series of postures that strengthens and moves all muscle groups. Apart from the fact that it is done in a hot room the workout you get is designed to get you sweating and feeling like you have done a serious amount of work on your body. Said to be good for stamina, strength and weight loss this is a demanding style of yoga. In complete contrast the style of yoga called Restorative Yoga is slow, done in a temperate room where the body is comfortable and no strain is placed on the body at all. In fact a restorative class may have its students lying or sitting on sheepskin rugs in order to give a soft cushion for their postures. Restorative Yoga is for people who have been unwell, either through stress related illnesses or some prolonged period of illness or injury. It enables people who feel weak, but who want to be doing something good for themselves and their bodies, to gently begin to unlock their own healing processes and make steady steps towards the day when they will be ready to do more a more active Hatha yoga session.

The thing that is so important about yoga classes is that you have to find the style and the teacher that is right for you. Bikram Yoga is great for some people, but not all. Ashtanga Yoga with its constant movement and lovely flows of postures is not right for everyone - but suits others perfectly. Restorative Yoga is not right for everyone all the time but most people find it wonderful at periods of their lives when they feel fragile, but determined to be well again. As a person considering taking up Yoga it is important to know what style might be good for you and then to try and find a class where you can try it out. After that it is a case of whether the teacher suits you. happinesslifetime.com Yoga teacher training is precise and makes sure that yoga postures are taught safely and respectfully however every teacher brings their own personality to it and that makes a difference to the classes.

Have a look round and read up on the different styles and talk to people who attend classes while you find the sessions that are right for you. Dont be in a rush as yoga will be a great friend for you throughout your life if you yake the time to find classes that make you feel wonderful when you have done them and lead you to a quieter, stronger more balanced state of body and mind.

Restorative Yoga Workshops and more information about how to use this form of self healing can be found on restorative-yoga.net Restorative Yoga and yin-yoga.net Yin Yoga. The Fifty, Fit and Fabulous programme provides a step by step approach to wellbeing through holistic care and is outlined on these sites.

Write Articles, Keep Customers, and Get Repeat Sales

Closing the sale is the ultimate objective of high-quality article writing. Your articles will not usually close sales by themselves. This is why exceptional customer service is so important.

We live at a time when voice mail, Email, and faxes, have a "fair chance" of receiving a reply. This translates into lost business for any company, which does not return calls, faxes, or Email, from prospective customers.

If you call another company, by telephone, you usually go through a gauntlet of obstacles, before you are allowed to finally talk to a live human being. If you, or your company, are aggressive about sales volume, a personal touch will close more sales, and result in repeat business.

Voice mail is a necessary evil because a "hot prospect" should not be left out in the cold by your phone messaging system for long. This requires you to check your voice mail often.

The old saying, "Get them while they're hot," is so true. Have you ever tried to close a sale, when the "trail has gone cold?" This occurs when the prospect did not get a reply for hours or days.

The sales person, or customer service representative, within your company, who answers your calls, should have good social skills. He or she should be pleasant, trained, and really care about the customer.

In a small business, this person might be you. Many small business owners often answer the phone, but everyone who answers the phone should be thoroughly trained.

Remember that closing the sale is only the beginning of customer relations. You must keep your customers satisfied and maintain customer interest. Your articles can also help captivate your customer's imagination. Never take any customer for granted, especially those who give you frequent business.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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

Do Yoga & Pilates Have a Place in MMA Training?

Wait! Keep reading. Yoga and pilates may not sound like the type of gym rage, throwing weights around, blowing through whole stacks on machines or concrete block smashing workouts that you love so much and keep you pumped all day. However they still may offer that missing something you have been looking for to give you the edge and take you to the next level in your mixed martial arts training.

Firstly, unless you have actually tried yoga or pilates you shouldn't knock them. These forms of exercise are far from new fads and definitely have years of science and development behind them. You must avoid plateaus in your martial arts training and MMA workouts. Once you have been training for a while, there are really only so many combinations of routine you can perform in the gym and you must look elsewhere. Certainly picking up an extra class or two of a totally different kind is one of the best solutions and you may even be surprised to find your martial arts instructors or personal trainers there taking part as well. If you are hell bent on a serious workout then go for the harder forms of these exercises.

Power yoga is certainly not the weak. Power yoga sessions are performed in sweltering 80 degree heat and are practiced at a much more challenging pace than other forms. Expect to leave your first few sessions sore and sweaty, though you can definitely expect to be developing much stronger core, arm and leg muscles, develop a superior level of balance that is crucial in the octagon and be further on your way to getting ripped.

Pilates also offers a range of levels of difficulty when it comes to training and is used by many successful athletes and martial artists to build a stronger core and foundation for faster and bigger growth for the rest of the body. Women will love the sexier abs they can build and the guys will love the gains they see coming faster in the gym. Don't think it's hardcore enough? Try the 'killer' level workouts and once you can hold the plank position for 5 minutes and crank through a set of 25 upside down push ups then you can say it's easy.

Certainly you can pick up a couple classes for free, so try it out. You ought to find you are certainly adding more power and balance which will directly transfer to better performance in the octagon and any MMA competitions.

Todd Schankleighter is an independant content writer who specializes in the martial arts. Todd's passion is in the mixed martial arts as he is working for The MMA Zone as the online themmazone.net martial arts supplies store. Shop The MMA Zone for great prices on all your MMA gear!

The 10 Most Important Pregnancy Exercise Tips You Will Ever Read

1. Pregnancy Exercise- How Much is Too Much?

Pregnant women have often asked me if it's safe to exercise during their pregnancy, and if so, how much is too much? As long as you have the go ahead from your doctor (meaning you have a healthy, normal pregnancy), you can do most of the things you did prior to getting pregnant. The only exercises to avoid are where you could fall and potentially harm your baby (i.e., such as rollerblading, riding a bike, skiing, etc.). Be sure to listen to your body. If you ever feel light headed, dizzy, or out of breath, stop what you are doing, sit down and drink water. If you are listening to your body you will probably not get to that point. Just think of all the benefits of exercising- more energy, healthy weight gain, better sleep, and you'll lose the baby weight so much faster!

2. Pregnancy Exercise- Weight Training

I've been asked several times if it's ok to lift weights when you're pregnant. As long as you have given approval to workout by your doctor you can continue the exercises you did prior to getting pregnant. Of course, you should refrain from lifting heavy weight. Be sure to listen to your body. If anything ever feels uncomfortable stop what you are doing.

Here's a great exercise to tone your shoulders: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, pelvis tucked under, and chest and head lifted. Place one weight in each hand and rest them with your arms straight on your upper thighs. Keeping your arms straight (only a slight bend in the elbow), lift your arms up so your arms are parallel with the ground and your wrists are even with your shoulders. For best results use 2-3 lb. weights and work up to 2-3 sets of 15-20 reps.

3. Pregnancy- Emotions You Experience First Trimester

When you're pregnant you're likely to experience all kinds of emotions, especially as your belly grows. In the beginning you may experience fear- "Will the baby be ok? Will I be a good mother?", you may also experience excitement and joy, or regret that it happened too soon. Whatever you are experiencing, you are not alone. I highly recommend that you join a support group of new moms so you can share your experiences and feel supported along the way.

4. Pregnancy Nutrition- Feed Your Baby

So many pregnant women are concerned that they're going to gain a bunch of weight and never lose it. Some even count calories. This is not the time to diet. The key is to focus on nourishing your baby and yourself. Visualize your beautiful, healthy baby in your arms. The food that you eat goes to your baby and will help him or her grow, so eat when you are hungry and chose foods like whole grain breads, cereals, pastas, fruit, and greens.

5. Pregnancy Exercise- Firm Your Buttocks

Who says you can't tone your booty when you're pregnant? Here's a simple exercise you can do to firm your buttocks. Standing hold onto the back of a chair. Extend your right leg straight back behind you- your right toe is pointed and touching the ground. Inhale then exhale lift your right leg up straight as high as you can without leaning foward. As you lift your leg tighten your buttocks. Work up to 3 sets on each side-10 slow lifts, 10 pulses, 10 slow lifts.

6. Pregnancy- Eat Healthy Snacks

When you're pregnant there may be times when you ate a couple of hours ago and you're hungry again. Listen to your body and EAT! Just chose healthy snack foods like a few handfuls of Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal, or carrots, or grapes with cheese. When you listen to your body, you're nourishing yourself and your baby and that means you'll have more energy, better mood, and you'll lose the baby weight quicker.

7. Pregnancy Exercise- Tone Your Thighs

Here's a simple pregnancy exercise you can do to tone your quads (top of thigh) and inner thighs. I call the exercise "Squat and Sweep". How to do the move: Hold onto the back of a chair with your feet approximately 3-4 feet apart and your toes slightly turned forward. Bend your knees into a pilee squat (make sure your knees never go over your toe) and keep your back straight, head lifted. As you press back to stand bring your weight towards your left leg and slide your right foot on the ground (i.e. "sweep") so it crosses over your left supporting leg. Next sweep your right foot back into a pilee squat. As you press to stand, sweep your left foot across your right leg. Repeat 10-20 reps each side.

8. Pregnancy Nutrition- Fuel Your Body!

When you're pregnant it's really important that you focus on nourishing yourself and your baby. When you listen to your body and eat healthy food there's no need to worry about gaining excess weight that's hard to lose. Always bring healthy snacks with you to avoid getting over-hungry. My favorite on the go prego snacks include: nuts, raisins, (walnuts and raisins together are yummy!), granola bar, and string cheese.

9. Pregnancy Exercise-Swimming

When it's summer, it's hot and it's the perfect excuse for pregnant women to be in the pool! Swimming is great for pregnant women because you'll feel light and bouyant. Try this simple exercise to tone your inner and outer thighs. Standing in the shallow end step or lightly jump your feet apart then bring your feet back together. Work up to 3 sets of 15-20 reps. In between sets walk from one side to the other.

10. Pregnancy- Calming Your Fears About Having a Second Baby

When you get pregnant the second time you may wonder, "How will I take care of two when one child is already challenging?" or "How will I be able to spend time with my first child?" or "Will I love this baby as much as the first?" As a mom of two I can tell you that I had these same fears. However, after having my second baby everything was soooooooooooo much easier! Because you have the experience of having a baby before, you're more relaxed and thus enjoy each phase. Yes, even the sleepless nights went faster because I was more relaxed and I knew it was only temporary. The first child still gets plenty of attention and learns how to share and "take care of" another person he or she loves. And as far as loving your second child as much, not even question of who I love more, there's plenty of room in a moms heart. From a mom who was unsure about making the step to have two, I have to say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

My name is Sara Holliday, and I have created a line of fitness DVDs for pregnant woman. You will learn all about fitbysara.com pregnancy yoga, and how to do a proper pregnancy workout.

I have created two new mom networks. The first is on Facebook called ?Ahhhh New Moms?. Feel free to join me, and all New Moms On this Facebook group. I also created, ?Wanna Be a Fit Momma?? on MySpace. Join by clicking here: groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupProfile&groupid=106511276&Mytoken=1B49BD0A-7282-4A77-97287B6099535E4A67747932 Fit Momma.

Benefits of Voice Power Training

Your voice is really your personal and professional business.educationeasy.net business card. The benefits of voice power go beyond knowing what it is you want to communicate; it goes to the level of HOW to orally execute your message in the most effective way. This includes having specific training in oral skills through a process from preparation, to effective presence, and finally to an "awesome" performance.

How many of you have gone to an Ontario beach to enjoy the cool lake on a beautiful hot summer's day? Do you usually enter the lake by first testing the water's temperature with your big toe, then little by little you step deeper into it until you have to finally take that last plunge to become totally wet. Then once you're in you feel comfortable and wonder why you just didn't plunge right in from the start. Now, some of you do take a risk immediately, and charge at a run, splashing all the way into the lake, or you may even take a flying dive.

Now, this is the same approach that many people have, when it comes to preparing to speak in front of a group, or doing a presentation. Most of us who have come through the experience find it wasn't so terrible, and some of us love the thrill of it. Achieving Voice power has its benefits and is very similar to finally getting into the lake to swim, go underwater, snorkel, play around, float, relax, let the waves carry you, surf the waves, or get pulled on water skis - whatever adventures await you, will depend on your skills, passion, and follow-through.

In the water you prepare your skills to swim, breathe, control your breath underwater, or tread in deep water. It's the same way when you use your voice to communicate a message. There are four keys that you need in order to unlock your Voice Power: Breath, Resonation, Enunciation, and Expressive Delivery. These keys will open the lock to each room so you can pick up a specific voice power skill.

So, with the first key in hand you need to open the preparation door to breathing by using the diaphragm, just like swimmers, actors, and singers do. This will give you the maximum effect of how much air to use and how much to control or to conserve for later, with a minimum of effort.

Also, your diaphragmatic techniques for breathing help you relax and avoid nervousness. Relaxation is the foundation to Voice Power - for you need a balance of physical relaxation and mental relaxation as preparation to achieving vocal power. If you already take Yoga or know the Alexandra method of breathing then you already have a key. In addition to supporting your entire voice power package another boost of the diaphragmatic breathing technique is to allow you to project your voice to the listeners in the back of the room. It pumps the air out in the direction and distance you want it to land.

The second Key is the room where you will learn how to find your true voice or sound, resonating from within your chest, not simply in your neck or throat, or mouth areas, to produce your best tonal quality- a warm, rich, resonant and relaxed sound. Did you know that your voice improves as you age just like a good bottle of wine?

However, drinking anything with caffeine in it just before you need to speak will dry out your vocal folds and cause you to cough a great deal. Stress or tension in your muscles can be the worst enemy of your vocal sound. It will make your vocal folds tighten which raises the pitch level. For example, just as a swimmer in our beach scene may have his or her arm or leg strokes slightly off, a speaker can have stressed or tight muscles which will send the pitch level up to an annoying sound. There could be other speech challenges within how the sound escapes through either your mouth or nasal passages, and many other individual concerns. However, these things are fixable. Having voice power means you have the keys to find your optimal pitch level or true voice.

With your third key you will open the room to tongue twisters galore! Remember, a swimmer needs to know how to use his arms & legs to swim forward or backward; so, a person with Voice Power needs to take the time to exercise the speech muscles: the tongue, teeth, upper palate, and jaw- so there is never any miscommunication. Unlock the room to enunciate each word you speak. Drill yourself with tongue twisters for exact articulation so the beginning, middle, and end of the words are distinctly heard. Mumbling and speaking too quickly is becoming a Canadian habit, I think. I find the best time to do a quick warm-up is in the morning just after brushing my teeth: I say to myself as I look at my groggy early morning self in the mirror: "A big black bug bit a big black bear" 3 times,( go ahead you try it) then try this traditional classic: "Speak with the lips, the teeth, and the tip of the tongue" Now if that doesn't perk you up and get you going in the morning - at least you did your warm-up.

The fourth key opens the biggest room where presence and performance process takes place. This is the total package where you have your adventures in the water. With Voice Power training you have the benefit of knowing how to adjust pace, utilize pause, and "colour" your words to paint the picture for the listener. Inflection, which is the rise and fall of your voice and the use of emphasis that you place on the words, is critical to achieving Voice Power. Emphasis does not necessarily mean that you will say a specific word louder, it could be quieter, or even pause before or after a specific word to make a dramatic effect. Voice Power develops your picture in a 3D format by the art and skill of the sound and delivery of your voice, the passion, the authenticity, energy, and focus of your story. Part of Voice Power training will transfer skills from the actor's training so the listener enters into the world of your story, the characters, and the emotional impact.

For instance, it takes a person with drama techniques to interpret the writer's intentions through using his or her voice to bring those words to the very soul and emotional center of the listener. American President Obama has re-awakened our attention on voice skills which can transform an entire world to admire and motivate others to his vision of working together. With voice power you can persuade the listener to empathize or help your cause, because they can hear and see your passion and honesty in delivering your message. In my latest book it was important for me as a drama teacher to set out a series of effective drama strategies and tips to help speakers apply these to their vocal training to achieve a higher level of Voice Power.

So, what can you achieve when you have voice power? The nuances of Voice Power do not happen in isolation of each of the skills that I have mentioned. Rather, Voice Power is the icing on the cake, or the joy and adventure of playing in the lake. You will have the listener's attention and focus; you will have a personal passion and energy within yourself to engage some depth of thought or emotional connection to stir the listener in mind or action. This is not simply a speech; this is Voice Power! Learn how to tap into the power of your own voice as a source of personal expression and creativity, and as an enjoyable experience -have fun in the water!

Written by Brenda C. Smith

Did you find this article helpful? Check out our coaching services, and other online classes for speech, drama, podcasts, and voice power. Our e- book "Ten Steps to Unlocking Your Voice" gives you a complete system with bonus tips and exercises to improve your voice. We love helping professionals get to the next level in their career with our unique speech and drama techniques. Please take time to explore our website voicepowertraining.com voicepowertraining.com today, and contact us with your special concerns.

Stress Meditation, Yoga and Namasmaran

Can we feel relaxed simply by meditation even as we are in the STRESS of paying about 30 percent income tax (apart from sales tax, property tax etc.) without knowing how it is spent?

Can we feel relaxed by sheer practice of meditation; even as we have to undergo STRESS of taking such decisions under some pressure and against your conscience?

Can we feel relaxed just by meditation; even while taking the suffering of STRESS from all such decisions; lying down?

Can we conquer the STRESS of commuting irrespective of the crowding and other traveling menaces; merely by meditation?

Can we conquer the STRESS of lack of housing, water, electricity, education, medical care etc. by meditation alone?

It is true that various practices of meditation and yoga, are "marketed and sold" or "bought" by many of us so as to conquer STRESS. In contrast; NAMASMARAN is not directly sold and can not be sold.

It is true that the fashion, fancy or whim of meditation and yoga, which can be "marketed and sold"; has greater potential to cheat and get cheated financially. Whereas; NAMASMARAN is free and hence there is no scope for financial cheating or getting cheated; directly.

(Many self styled gurus and cults organized around them; can sell the "specialization of giving or advising name of God"; though NAMASMARAN as such is not directly marketed or sold)

But the question in common is; "Can the practice of MEDITATION, YOGA and/or NAMASMARAN "help" the leaders, policy makers, decision makers, planners, administrators and the sufferers amongst us; to evolve and transform the scenario, and if yes; when?" Or is the philosophy and practice of MEDITATION, YOGA or NAMASMARAN a mere "running after the mirage of STRESS MANAGEMENT"?

Are these questions erratic, irrelevant or heretic? Is it arrogant to think; that it is "self inflicted spiritual castration; to neglect every evil in self and the society and keep practicing MEDITATION, YOGA or NAMASMARAN; without any reference to the objective material conditions"?

The answer provided is that; all religious precepts, spiritual endeavors, spiritual disciplines, festivals, celebrations and a variety of rituals including MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; are basically meant for evolving objective or holistic perspective and working in accordance with it.

If we take the analogy of the body functions, then the MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; constitute the biochemical, biophysical and bioelectrical activities in brain; and holistic international perspective, policy making, programs and implementation at ground level; constitute intellectual, emotional, instinctual and physical manifestations.

MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN never were, never are and never would be sterile in terms of individual and global blossoming; but when marketed, sold or freely distributed, if they are cut off from ground realities; and devoid of the holistic solutions, then they are merely the caricatures of "MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN" and hence sterile and often counterproductive!

Looking at from another angle; MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are actually the states of being when we are connected with our true selves or our innate core; in as much the are procedure or methods! As the methods; they are really incomplete and inadequate; without certain essential prerequisites. In other words; MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN as methods; are like breathing OXYGEN and are essential for life; but incomplete and inadequate without other physiological activities required for optimum health; so as to reach the ultimate enlightenment; the states of culmination of the practice of YOGA, MEDITATION and NAMASMARAN.

Let us remember that as methods; YOGA, MEDITATION and NAMASMARAN are NOT complete and certainly NOT the ENDS in themselves.

Taking example from day to day life; all of us know, that as a rule; we have to finish, primary, secondary and college training before we take up the study or research of Ph D. Similarly; we have to; as a rule; go through; physical, psychomotor, productive, instinctual, emotional, intellectual, creative and spiritual study and practices; for our inner growth and blossoming; and arrive at, understand and practice the holistic solutions in the fields of health, education, agriculture, education, industry, environment (schools, colleges and universities) and reach their culmination the final enlightened states of TOGA MEDITATION and NAMASMARAN (Ph. D.);

What we practice under the guise of "meditation" in absence of such solutions is harmful and a schizoid and knowingly or unknowingly hypocritical and hence detrimental activity of trying to convince ourselves and preach others; that we are ATMA. SOULS, BRAHMA, YOGIS, SACCHIDANANDA i.e. the eternal bliss personified etc; when in fact we are in agony and misery.

MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are actually the evolved states of being as we blossom; in the process of active efforts to implement holistic solutions to individual and social problems! The validity of this statement can be verified through our experience; but NOT merely by a casual approach and casual enquiry; without any study and practice.

One more problem is that of fear; but not of death, disease, dejection, debility etc; but of depersonalization; i.e. living without a particular identity; such as lawyer, artist, scientist, and farmer; because of MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN.

This is paradoxical! Every identity has some capability, some skills, some influence. But during STRESS the power becomes less, and the drawbacks and liabilities of the identity start mounting. Thus; a lawyer may lose his/her practice, artist may not lose his/her popularity, scientist may fail in his/her experiments and the farmer may suffer loss due to drought.

The reason we suffer and build up our STRESS; is not merely because of the financial loss; but due to the unbearable burden of the liability of our identity! Our identity is a part of our ego. Since the identity becomes a liability; our ego is hurt, which produces unbearable STRESS!

The solution to this problem is to retrieve the strength from the deepest core that is beyond our ego and identity.

Naturally most of the traditional and rational stress management experts advise the practice of MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN, which help us disperse the clouds of our identity and ego (akin to depersonalization); which is essential and inevitable for reaching our core; the source of light and power!

But since we are habituated or addicted to live with our identities; egos or personalities; we find it dreadful and insecure to live without them. We question; "How to (and also why) forget ourselves; in MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN? Isn't it frightening to forget ourselves? Moreover, isn't forgetting ourselves voluntarily; almost impossible? Besides isn't it akin to a defeatist state of total self effacement, self denial, escapism and cowardice?"

This question is asked; especially because; MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are devoid of any tangible assurance or support! They do not provide any sensory pleasure. They are neither pleasant to look at nor melodious to ears! Neither they have haunting smell nor do they have gustatory charm. Neither they are a matter of sexual excitement nor are they a matter of melodrama. Neither do they satisfy intellectual urge nor do they produce any humor! Neither do they bloat our ego nor do they provide any emotional solace.

When we begin the practice of MEDITAITION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; we are afraid of this life without any identity, ego; and without any concrete security and support! This appears like death!

We have to appreciate that; even as this peculiarity of MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; makes them dreadful; this very peculiarity itself makes us capable and empowered to live without any support! It is this peculiarity that makes them the most sought after and cherished treasure for the seekers of truth; through millennia and through out the world.

Let us understand that this "supportless living"; without the clouds of identity and ego; empowers us to be support ourselves! This life is not the same as; (in fact quite different from) debilitating depersonalization when we becomes oblivious to our personality due to dementia, unconsciousness or ignorance as well as state of getting excited, elated, disturbed, agitated or unhappy in a variety of situations due to our identities or ego.

In this state there is forgetting of all individual and subjective doubts and suspicions; while we are engaged in satisfactorily remedying the situations from the root cause! In this state; we are focused on; as well as active and in harmony with the controlling center (which is beyond the concept of change and often referred to as BHAGAVANT or PARAMATMA) of all situations, which are ever-changing and illusive (and hence often referred to as MAYA in Indian literature).

In other words; in this state of "being the support ourselves" we do not think that "we need support", or "we provide support" as we feel when we are caged in our identities, egos and personalities. In this state of empowerment we have outgrown them! There is no "kick of doing"; but in stead; there is "ecstasy of being harmony"; with nature or God.

But mere intellectual explanations; and theoretical discussions, arguments and deliberations and controversies on the intricacies involved in stress management; without actual experimentation; are NOT useful. They do not reach the seeds of our being; the seeds of our happiness! The practice and propagation of NAMASMARAN; however; reaches and nurtures these seeds of our being and the happiness blossoms!

We need not believe or disbelieve in any of this blindly and impatiently! It is better accept provisionally; think over, study and give TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (the core of which is NAMASMARAN) a fair trial, if and when we feel the urge!

Yoga in Practice: Anger Management - Part 2

The next obstacle is self-righteousness or delusion. This is the belief that you are right, even though the universal laws of morality say you are wrong. How can genocide be justified? How can one race, or religion, justify alienating another? How can innocent civilians be slaughtered for retribution?

Sorry to bring up such extremes, but self-righteousness and delusion are the tools of intolerance. Intolerance always justifies itself, no matter how many martyrs perish. If you want to control anger, please discard intolerance and judgment of others.

Very often, anger is created within the ego and is a response to imaginary threats. This is most ironic, when a full blown conflict erupts over a perceived threat, which did not really exist. So how can this violent chain of events, within the mind, be prevented? How can the ego and intolerance be controlled? - Through self-realization - also known as, "Vichara." This is not meditation, but a realization of "I am." This is rational or logical thought, but true self-analysis requires time. For mankind to grasp collective sanity is a never- ending battle, but there is another way around this impasse.

This is the path of compassion or "Karuna", forgiveness (Kshama), loving kindness, and friendship. Most people will respond in a similar fashion, but always be prepared to defuse hostilities with those who want to take every advantage and mistake kindness for weakness. This is another form of awareness, so be vigilant and observe others around you.

It is believed that when your brain becomes hot, you will not think logically. Drinking water and Pranayama will cool your brain. You may also want to engage in regular practice of Japa, meditation, prayer, and eat Sattvic food.

What about Hatha Yoga for anger management? In my experience, adolescent males have the greatest difficulty with anger management, but vigorous asana practice or Vinyasa helps them deal with rage and anger much better.

For two years, I taught Yoga classes within a local juvenile correctional facility. Some members of this group had serious issues with rage and anger. At first, there was some outright resistance to learning Yoga, even though they knew it would improve their lives.

Pranayama, relaxation, and meditation were difficult to teach, under these conditions, but they immediately caught on to Vinyasa. After the first two months of Vinyasa Yoga practice, many were able to relax and did meditate on their own.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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

Is a Distance Learning Yoga Instructor Certification Right for You?

There are many factors, which affect our choices in choosing the right happinesslifetime.com Yoga teacher training program. We could join an on site program, at an exotic resort in Bali, but what about our responsibilities? Obligations at home, on the job, or in college, are also part of our decision-making process in choosing the best happinesslifetime.com Yoga certification program.

Consider this: If you took a solo vacation whenever you wanted - would you be employed, would you finish college, or would you have a family waiting for you, when you came home again? We all know someone who lives life to the beat of their own drum. This is fine, but we should not expect our employer, family, relationships, and obligations, to stay on hold.

Now, if we are financially independent, and we have no obligations or relationships to hold us back, then we can take a solo vacation any time we please. There are windows of time, in our lives, when we do not have obligations or relationships.

There is also the drain on your finances to be considered. How much are you prepared to invest in an on site certification program? Will you be able to recover your investment in the next year, or will you be paying for it the rest of your life? These questions may not seem Yogic, but you are the only one who finances your education.

We have come full circle. Obligations and finances are part of life, so we have to consider them any time we make an investment. The goal to become a certified Yoga teacher can be taken in small steps; it is just a matter of putting your plans into action.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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

Yoga Questions and Answers

What is Yoga? Yoga is a very old way of life that came from India that encourages personal health, spirituality and wellness. It doesn't clash with any religion but does have an influence on our spiritual path. What Yoga is not: a religion, a circus act, looking intently at a candle in roomful of smoky incense, or just for adolescents who are flexible.

To practice correctly you need discipline, concentration and attentive breathing. The effect of serious Yoga practice is an excellent union of mind, body and spirit. No matter your age, knowledge, body shape, or physical skills can implement a Yoga program.

Hatha based or alignment Yoga has been around for approximately 5000 years. More and more medical practitioners and therapists are using Yoga as a remedy for many kinds of poor health conditions. The rewards of Yoga practice are numerous and consist of increased strength and flexibility, cardiovascular vigor, healing injuries, produces mental clarity and emotional balance.

Most significantly, it's a complete exercise. Yoga practice can replace various exercises such as:

.

1. Weight lifting drills for strength.

2. Jogging or aerobics for cardiovascular workout.

3. Tai Chi for building awareness of balance and harmony.

4. Stretching exercises for flexibility.

5. Meditation for relaxation and tranquility of the mind.

Yoga is more than a stretching and relaxation system, it's the ideal test for your mind and body.

Should you practice Yoga? All persons from couch potatoes to world class athletes can profit from the exercise of Yoga. Purna Yoga requires the perfect positioning of your body as you hold the poses you develop your physical strength and stabilize your emotional and mental condition. This does not happen overnight, if you are looking for a fast solution to a health problem you are better off looking for another type of exercise.

Yoga will be your preferred exercise if your long term goal is to reclaim your energy, health and dynamism. Yoga exercise is a perfectly balanced program that can be started by anyone above the age of eight. Your practice can be made more challenging as you progress or take it easy on days which you are fatigued.

Familiarize yourself with the various Yoga styles to have a better understanding of the classes that are offered in the Yoga schools near you. You need to be able to choose the correct Yoga style which will match your practice goals and your level of physical fitness.

No matter why you are interested in learning more about starting a Yoga practice, you will certainly profit from the self-control, breathing techniques and the physical exercise you get while practicing Yoga.

Daisy Pascual writes about yoga [yoga.value-guides.com] to encourages personal health, spirituality and wellness particular for [yoga.value-guides.com].

Yoga Travel Reviews - Agama Yoga in Thailand

Yoga Travel Destination: Agama - Thailand

Known for its friendly people, amazing food, and abundance of yoga centers, Thailand ranks high on our list for yoga travel destinations. The beautiful Thai island of Koh Phagnan hosts the flagship site of the international yoga school Agama Yoga. Basing its foundations on ancient lineages of Tantra Yoga, Agama created an authentic practice center in a tropical paradise, making it a popular destination for yoga travelers.

Koh Phagnan is a small island made famous for its legendary full moon parties. Once a month, on the full moon, Koh Phagnan erupts with an influx of party seekers. As the party-goers return back to the mainland, the island calms down to its natural, peaceful equilibrium.

Like everywhere in Thailand, the people are extremely friendly and conversational. Thailand is widely known as "The Land of Smiles."

The food is tasty and affordable, usually costing around $2-$4 per meal. Being an island, the restaurants and food vendors of Koh Phagnan have access to incredibly fresh seafood. The crab fried rice was delicious! Vegetarian fare is somewhat available in restaurants and through limited street vendors. Not so friendly for the yogic diet, Thai street vendors love to BBQ and fry their meat. One option is to purchase your own veggies at the Thongsala market, and cook it yourself.

To reach Koh Phagnan there are a couple of options. The large, neighboring island of Koh Samui is reachable by plane from Bangkok for a cheap price. Travellers would then take a short ferry ride over to Koh Phagnan. Alternately, one can take a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, a port town in the south of Thailand. Then you would take a 3 hour ferry ride directly to Koh Phagnan.

Our impression of the Agama yoga style is that the practice boasted an extremely authentic and devotional energy. The asana practice was intensive in its physicality as mantras were repeated throughout. The school kindly offers a free class to first timers, so if you're on the island, give it a try. A description of Agama yoga from their website:

Agama is a unique international school offering its students the secret spiritual path of true Integral Yoga in a modern form. Based in the authentic, esoteric lineages of Indian and Tibetan Tantra Yoga, Agama provides an updated and upgraded self-development system whose theory includes comprehensive university-level teachings, combined with those of other sacred traditions from East and West (such as Taoism, Gnostic Christianity, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sufism).

Agama hosts many retreats and workshops throughout the year. Check their calendar and you will find that there are rotating classes of Tantra, meditation, Anusara yoga, detox programs, and yogic healing. My friend attended their detox program and said that it was difficult but "life changing." If you really enjoy the Agama style and want to take it to the next level, the school offers happinesslifetime.com yoga teacher training programs.

Accommodations are not available though Agama, however there is a partner resort (Ananda Wellness) which gives discounts for Agama students. Guesthouses and bungalows are incredibly cheap in Thailand. Usually, your room will be cheaper than your meals, which is cheap! Depending on the quality, you can find something as low as $8/night, depending on the season and the proximity to the full moon party. Be sure to negotiate and let the owner know that you are staying for multiple days. There is a whole art to negotiation in Thailand which is beyond the scope of this article, however we must mention your best tactic will be to keep smiling.

If you decide to take a yoga travel adventure to Thailand, be sure to come back to tell us about how much you enjoyed it. I could talk Thailand all day!

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Matt C. Elmore is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Internet Marketer, and Electrical Engineer. His passions include health, love, the pursuit of happiness, yoga, dance, and travel.

yoga-traveler.com Yoga Travel Blog

yoga-traveler.com/yoga-travel/yoga-travel-agama-thailand Yoga Travel: Agama - Thailand

A Premium Yoga Teacher Course For An Affordable Price

Does an affordable happinesslifetime.com Yoga teacher training option, for interns, exist anymore or is it pure fantasy? With the price of everything, except a house, going up; how can we expect to find a reputable training for an intern, who wishes to become a yoga instructor, at a reasonable price?

Some interns apply for "seva" programs (community service) in the larger ashrams. Any large facility needs cooks, housekeepers, office help, and a maintenance crew, so this is a good arrangement for the student and the ashram.

Seva is a form of selfless service, where one may be asked to perform a variety of tasks that will maintain the ashram. In some Yoga ashrams, all students seek to perform "guru seva," in the spirit of selfless giving toward the head teacher and the facility.

This exchange of work for housing, meals, and learning, is a traditional one. The idea of giving of one's self to a larger cause is noble and a form of Karma Yoga. Not every applicant is accepted, and some centers do not have seva programs at all.

Yet, it should be realized that a seva agreement between a student and his or her guru may last years. If you have obligations, such as children, spouse, family, job, or a significant other, the concept of seva may not fit your lifestyle.

Interns, with obligations, may seek a happinesslifetime.com Yoga certification course, which gives them the independence to meet their obligations at home or on the job. In this case, a

home study option is your most affordable and flexible choice.

Correspondence courses have been around for years. With technology advancing to its present level, every skill can be studied at home. If you are not sure about techniques, and desire some hands on experience, you may want to seek out a local Yoga teacher or search for a mentor.

Some interns have years of previous experience. This is obviously significant, when approaching any intensive learning program. Therefore, experienced Yoga students will progress much faster, than those who have less experience.

The Internet has made it possible for anyone to learn about Yoga instantly. Just a few decades ago, you would be lucky to find a Yoga book in a small town library. We now live at a time when any subject can be learned in an instant.

With the use of CD's, DVD's, e-Books, streaming video, and the ability to ship anywhere, learning to become a Yoga instructor, at an affordable cost, is much more common than in the past.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.

aurawellnesscenter.com aurawellnesscenter.com

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive 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

How to Build Stamina

Your body can certainly take a beating once you get too immersed in your workaday world. Your body may be dragged into all kinds of discomfort especially if you stay in the office for too long or if you exhaust yourself in sports or any other physical activities.

Stamina level may differ from one person to another depending on the state of body and other factors such as age, sex, current ailments or injuries. If you lack stamina, it is a cinch that you will feel lethargic and fatigued. Stamina decreases as you get older so it is important to take the necessary steps to increase your endurance. Here are some amazing ways on how you can build your stamina:

Running

One of the most common methods used to improve cardiovascular health and stamina is running. Set an achievable distance at first and try to jog early in the morning. You can increase the speed and distance as you progress. Invite a couple of friends for a morning jog. You can even ask your special someone to walk your pet dog on weekends while you do your rounds.

Weight training

You can build your stamina by lifting weights. It is usually advised that you get a trainer if you are a newbie but if you are already a regular gym member, feel free to use free weights, weight machines and even your own weight in sculpting your muscles while drastically increasing your stamina.

Swimming

Jumping into the water like Michael Phelps will greatly increase your stamina since each and every muscle in your body gets exercised and toned up.

Yoga

Stay fit and take your endurance to a new level by practicing yoga. Bikram for instance is a type of yoga that can provide an intense cardiovascular workout. You will be asked to stay in a room that is 110 degrees while being instructed to do 27 postures and stretches that will surely test your pain tolerance. Once you get used to it though, you will be able to hit your goals and build more stamina.

Hiking

By exploring the great outdoors, you will not only be able to build muscles and do some cardio, you will also be surrounded with oxygen-giving trees that can be vital in the improvement of your stamina. You should be prepared though since this activity can really be exhausting and can require lots of power and energy since you will also be carrying heavy camping equipment.

Pilates

If you want to focus on strengthening the core of your body, you might as well try pilates. This type of exercise focuses on the lower back and stomach and works in improving posture and body alignment. This may prove to be a grueling physical activity but it will surely provide less stress on joints and tendons while building your stamina.

Sleeping softly

Aim to sleep for at least seven to eight hours each night. Relaxation is important since your body needs to do some very crucial restorative work. You can also do some breathing exercises or get a 30-minute nap to rest both your brain and body.

Make love

Having sex is one of the best ways to pamper your body and increase stamina. Start cuddling your loved one today and prolong not just your life but also your stamina.

You can easily measure your overall wellness by keeping track of your stamina. Try these exercises and be the envy of your office mates as you regularly take that flight of stairs with confidence instead of the elevator!

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Stress Management Tips

Stress management tips are simple cost effective methods to effectively check stress. They can be practiced anywhere and at anytime.

The first stress management tip is to understand the root cause of your stress. No one understands your problem better than you do. A few minutes spend to recognize your true feelings can completely change the situation. During this process, identify what triggered stress. If someone close to your heart is nearby share it with the person. If you are overstressed and feel you are going to collapse, take a deep breath and count till ten. This pumps extra oxygen into you system and rejuvenates the entire body.

When under severe stress meditate for a moment and pull out of the current situation for a little while. Stand up from the current position and walk. Stretch yourself. Soon you will find that the stress has lessened. This is because you have relaxed now and relaxation is the best medicine for stress. Smiling is yet another way of stress management. If you are at the work place, just stand up and smile at your colleague in the far corner. You will see a change in your mood. Learn some simple yoga or mediation techniques.

You can also invent your own stress management tips. The basic idea is to identify the cause of stress and to pull out from it for a moment and then deal with it. Taking a short walk and looking at objects in nature is another stress reliever. Drinking a glass of water or playing small games are simple stress management techniques. The whole idea is change the focus of attention and when you return to the problem, it does not look as monstrous as you felt before.

If you feel you are in need of help, do not hesitate. You might not be correct always; the cause stress might be for no reason. Someone else might solve it easily. Understand your limitations and it can relieve stress to a large extent.

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Be Able To Move Tomorrow By Stretching Today

The body is designed to be flexible. If you dropped anything to the floor, you should be able to bend and get that thing back. That novel on the top shelf should be able to be easily attained by you.

For most people those are uncomplicated movement. Not a big deal about them since you barely need to stretch out.

However, if you face complication in performing such basic motions then you have to push the boundaries of your stretching limits and this article will give you an introduction into stretching program.

The action of extending your body to its entire maximum length or even a part of it is known as stretching. This exercise involves stretching or straightening the build or the limbs.

To execute stretching is quite easy. As mentioned above, it is involved in our daily activities and can be performed by anybody no matter what is their age.

The difference though is that the amount or magnitude of stretching and flexing are unique to each individual. The array of joint mobility can be limited and thus preventing a more active lifestyle.

So as a person aged, they will realize that bending and flexing motions are minimized. This is the reason that you need to incorporate stretching as an important part of your routine.

Basic stretches can be practiced everyday and it will easily gel with your daily tasks and lifestyle without taking much of your time.

Stretching has a critical role in any training program or sport and are advisable for you to perform it before any strenuous sessions. By stretching your body and limbs you will be in better shape for a more rugged activities.

You can observe that some athletes would perform the sit and reach whereby they sat on the ground with their legs extended and start reaching for the tip of their foot using the tip of their hand.

Such stretching activities are demanded by athletic coaches before of their games or training sessions.

The optimal length of time to do the stretching is 10 minutes. By giving it that much time, you allow the body adequate opportunity to flex the muscles and put it into motion. This will help the body to adapt better for more rigorous and elaborate movements.

However, fitness experts would not recommend going too far beyond 10 minutes. If you do stretching for 30 minutes or more, your body will already grow weary. This would not be a good idea If you are preparing for a competition.

There are many benefits in performing stretching consistently.

You will get to increase your range of bodily motions. As you perform your stretching exercises regularly, the length of the muscles and the tendons are extended.

This way the limbs and joints are able to maneuver, way before an injury can occur and you will absolutely be able to count yourself as physically fit.

Your ability to carry out a certain skills will be boosted. The various range of movement that you possess will allow you to do more activity.

You can leap higher and when you land back to the ground, you will not feel any discomfort in your body. You can take up a new sport or sharpen your skills better in your current sporting activities. This ensure that you maintain an active lifestyle.

Stretching is known to help avoid injury to joints, tendons and muscles. Having a well-flexed muscles and tendons will maintain them in good working order.

It promotes rapid recovery and will help minimize any soreness. The muscle of the body will be able to absorb strenuous and rigorous motions with low chance of being injured.

Your muscle are less like to contract due to regular workouts and stretching and this can reduce muscle tension. Any muscle pain or complications can be avoided.

With stretching, you will discover that your body is capable of performing many things that seems impossible before. This will motivate you to participate in new activities in the future and thus enhancing your energy level.

Prolonged stretching like yoga are proven in research to be effective in the reduction of cholesterol in the body. It works best with a diet of healthy food.

Such activities like yoga could also stop and even reverse the hardening of the arteries that can cause some coronary disorders.

You will get to enjoy a lot of things in the future if you integrate stretching into your daily lifestyle. The benefits are something nobody can say no to.

It is not a hassle at all since it can be activities that you do as you go about your everyday life like bending and flexing. Go ahead and do what it takes to maintain a healthy body as fitness is everything.

Danial Dawood is involved with various companies and individuals in the area of information management and unique learning resources.

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Yoga Vacation

Many Yoga practitioners go to retreats, ashrams, or intensives, while they are on vacation. Travel expenses, and a dull economy, are keeping many Yogis closer to home this year. No matter what you decide to do, your vacation days should be memorable and filled with fun.

A sudden jump in fuel costs may alter your vacation plans, but it is important to get away from your regular working routine. Let's look at options you can do during vacation, without costing you "an arm and a leg."

Challenge yourself by doing something different. Most of us have a comfort zone, and we do not get out of it much. This does not mean you have to take up sky diving tomorrow, but look at your routine to see what you could do that you have never done before.

The challenges we overcome, put our fears in their place; and it is important to realize that fear often holds us back from making progress in life. For example: A person, who has never learned to swim, might consider swimming lessons with a qualified instructor, while on vacation.

The results of this challenge could be life changing. It takes regular practice to become a competent swimmer, but the basic skills can be learned in a short time. The result is a feeling of empowerment, a positive attitude, and accomplishment.

We all know a friend who would like to visit a Yoga class, but never does, due to an inner fear. Even though there are many forms of Yoga, our friend claims that he or she would feel embarrassed. At first, we might think that this is just an excuse, but on further observation, we realize there is a deep rooted fear.

For example: A friend believes that she must lose weight before attending a Hatha Yoga class. You might try to convince her otherwise, but she has seen pictures of difficult poses, performed by slim, young women. Her mind's eye pictures herself being in a class, surrounded by slim, young women, who are performing difficult poses.

We all know the feeling of embarrassment, and very few of us learn to laugh at ourselves. Someone else's fear may seem silly, but each of us has our own worries. Fears of criticism and judgment are often the root of inaction.

The results of overcoming a personal challenge are a newfound form of optimism, which stem from self-confidence. These are priceless qualities, which will carry you far throughout the rest of the year. Your vacation should be an adventure, but the good memories, and new life skills, could last a lifetime.

? Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.

aurawellnesscenter.com aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

The Popularity Of Yoga

From celebrities to athletes to court judges, yoga has become so popular that everybody is already indulging to free their minds from the bondage of stress. It is not only a good exercise, but one can also learn how to practice meditation when doing yoga.

All over the continent, Americans run from the pressure of their jobs and listen to the calm yet firm voice of an instructor softly goading them to 'solder a union' connecting the body & the mind. 15 million Americans bring in some manner of yoga in their exercise routine. Several in these classes are not looking internally but externally, they want to improve parts of their bodies. But others have high hopes of finding remedies for their conditions.

Oprah dedicated a single episode to the advantages of yoga with special appearances by celebrities, testimonies about quitting smoking, saved marriages, improvements on attitudes & grades, beating insomnia, etc.

But can yoga cure cancer, or protect against heart attacks, and can the alleged benefits pass measurements by known standards of medicine? To put it in another way is yoga a science? With this question, we are challenging a worldview that is different from ours. The Indian practice treats these things as mystical developing ways of depicting the body as it is undergone, from the inside to the outside. The Western practice looks at the body from the outside going inside, unwrapping one coating at a time, measuring and testing thru experiments, believing only in concrete things. The East cures the individual while the West cures the condition. Here we refer individuals to various specialists to patch up the different parts of our bodies. The Eastern practice is more holistic; it integrates the mind with the body.

The results of some studies look bright; a group of people with coronary heart disease used some yoga exercises coupled with a vegetarian diet made the blockages in their arteries stable, it even reversed it in others. Another study, still halfway through, includes males who have prostate cancer. So far the results are heartening. This ancient way could turn out to be the medical phenomenon of the future.

Yoga became popular in the US in the late sixties as Mia Farrow and the Beatles trekked to India to learn from the yogi Maharishi Mahesh. Through the years it evolved from cleansing & rebirth of the spirit to a method of prevention & management of stress. We are already at the latest wave of evolution which is about fitness of the body as well as the mind.

You can become a yoga instructor by enrolling in a SchoolYogaInstitute.com yoga certification course. You can find out first hand the effects of yoga on the body by taking this SchoolYogaInstitute.com yoga training course.

Yoga Travel Retreat: Prana Del Mar, Mexico

For those seeking a new yoga travel destination, we've found a wonderful option at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. Prana del Mar, is a deluxe, oceanfront resort and wellness center that places special emphasis on yoga retreats, yoga vacations, spa holidays, and happinesslifetime.com yoga teacher trainings. This new center, which just opened last winter, is located on a beautiful beach on the Pacific coast. It's only twenty minutes from the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, but you feel as if you are a world away.

With a full calendar of upcoming yoga retreats taught by a wide range of acclaimed international teachers, Prana del Mar offers quite a selection of options, depending upon what you're seeking. There are yoga travel retreats whose primary focus is on deepening your yoga practice via concentration on asana, meditation, and pranayama. There are others that are more of an adventurous vacation, mixing twice-daily yoga classes with opportunities to take surf lessons, go whale-watching, or head out horseback-riding on the beach. Still others integrate additional components that will broaden your experience - say, kirtan, philosophical and mythological discussions, or classes on Ayurveda - with dedicated yoga practice. For those interested in exploring even more deeply, there are also happinesslifetime.com yoga teacher training courses offered a couple times per year.

The accommodations are much more luxurious than what one pictures from a standard retreat center. All of the15 guest rooms and suites feature travertine-tiled floors, custom-made teak furniture, pillow-top mattresses, organic sheets and bath towels, large terraces and balconies with ocean views, organic personal care products, and more. Their two-room suites even feature complete stainless steel/granite kitchens and spacious living room areas.

Beyond the guest accommodations, the center features a central community building with full restaurant, swimming pool, hot tub, spa treatment rooms, lounges, a rooftop deck, and a meditation room. They offer a variety of spa services - including massage, body wraps and scrubs, and more. There is also a large, airy yoga studio that overlooks the ocean, five acres of desert gardens, a stone labyrinth for walking introspection, and a nearly-empty, golden-sand beach at the front of the property.

All of the above remain in harmony with the natural environment due to Prana del Mar's commitment to environmental stewardship. All electricity is solar-powered, the vegetable and herb garden is organic, the pool is solar-heated, wastewater is treated on site and reused for the xeriscaped gardens, sheets and bath towels are all organic, and more.

Combine all of this with delicious, healthful cuisine and a warm, welcoming staff, and you have an inviting place to spend a holiday - getting healthy, deepening your yoga practice, and exploring a bit of Baja.

With the Sierra de la Laguna mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the desert all around, Prana del Mar is the perfect place to escape for a true retreat setting - a tranquil yoga travel getaway where one can relax, refresh, and rejuvenate.

Matt C. Elmore is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Internet Marketer, and Electrical Engineer. His passions include health, love, the pursuit of happiness, yoga, dance, and travel.

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Why Power Yoga is So Effective at Burning Fat and Building Muscle

Power Yoga sounds so uniquely American. We tend to want to do everything quickly and we want results now. This form of yoga was developed to help people gain physical strength and flexibility. Hatha Yoga, which Power Yoga is derived, is a challenging workout with athletic movements that help you energetically flow from one posture to the next. The system provides a challenge for both beginners and advanced students alike. It's an intense invigorating workout where you can burn up to 800 calories in one class!

Power yoga combines strength, movement and mental focus to keep you in the moment. It works effectively on many levels. There is the physical power generated by the kinetic action; this develops the strength and endurance. There is the mental power generated by the intense focus on breathing and balance. Last is the spiritual power that drives the physical and mental effort with emotional force.

These three aspects to Power Yoga are designed to strengthen your entire body, fortify your mental outlook and develop your will power. By working out at a vigorous pace, you develop strength and flexibility with an emphasis on abs, back, hips and pelvis. Our other section is called Soul of Strength which is a fast-moving program with a distinctly different set of challenges.

Power yoga describes a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga. Most practices are closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice. The term "power yoga" became popular in the mid 90's, when U.S. yoga teachers wanted to make Ashtanga yoga to be user-friendly by American practitioners.

These classes can vary widely from teacher to teacher. However, it will most likely appeal to people who are already quite fit, enjoy exercising, and want a minimal amount of chanting and meditation with their yoga.

Power yoga is accessible through technology. It can be practiced in your own home through use of videos and books. The first step is to create a personal working space where you can stretch out comfortably without interruptions. You can also employ soothing music or appropriate scents to augment your yoga workout. This is the way to gain an understanding of yoga if you cannot make the studio.

To be a complete workout you need to do strength training as well as raise your heart rate for an extended period. Power Yoga will build strength and raise your heart rate enough to make it a viable form of all-around exercise.

If you plan to make Power Yoga your primary form of exercise for weight loss, you must perform a daily 45 minute session six days a week or a vigorous 90-minute yoga class at least three times a week. To reach your weight loss goals you need to eat at least 6 small meals daily and consume calories below your daily requirement.

Maintain your consistency by performing at home on those days when you can't make a studio class. Work out with a video or audio if you are a beginner. When you are ready to plan your own workouts, use these yoga sequencing ideas to help you come up with yoga sessions of varying lengths that will fit your schedule.

Power Yoga is a great way to get stronger, boost your energy and lose the fat. For more information on combating disease and getting fit with yoga, visit our website. yoga.didarticles.com yoga.didarticles.com/

Yoga For Children

The philosophy and practices of classical Yoga are for application by adults and it can be anticipated that parents will naturally transmit appropriate information to their children.

However as Yoga offers a total education ranging from physical culture to mind training and spiritual awareness it is understandable that there are many aspects which can be contributed by the professional Yoga teacher and used to complement present educational systems that are found wanting. To help towards this end I dedicated many years pioneering in this field. In many parts of the world where I have travelled and presented ideas and techniques designed to adapt classical yoga teachings for children they have been enthusiastically received, serving to attract more teachers to this particular specialization.

In spite of disciplinary measures in education being at present unpopular in western countries, self discipline and self confidence nevertheless go hand in hand. Children must not be deprived of the benefits derived from early training whether the disciplinary measures relate to physical training or to character. It is well evidenced that discipline demanded from any teacher provides the initial basis for the student's subsequent self discipline. Young Yoga students tend towards advanced intellectual development and a surprising number of them have become aware of spiritual life through their direct experiences of the power of love and goodness and the early awakening of their own intuition. All are encouraged to live a life of high ethical and moral standards.

Teenagers as they mature, generally find it of interest to learn more about themselves and their own physical, emotional and mental nature. They also have an innate interest in learning about all the natural philosophies and sciences, particularly over the last years as environmental issues have brought attention to the inter-relationship and inter-dependence of the various natural life kingdoms, confirming the very Oneness which is the essence of Yoga.

Direct benefits offered to children who learn Yoga generally include the following -

Greater understanding of their bodies and the need for maintaining health

Better muscular control over their physical bodies through exercise

Health improvement through correction of minor symptoms

Ability to experience self commanded muscular relaxation

Improved physical posture and mental attitudes

Instruction about healthy eating habits

Improved respiration and relief from complaints such as asthma and hyperactivity

Interest in drugless methods and encouragement towards natural remedies

Awareness of the need to build their own self image & confidence

Greater self awareness and psychological understanding

Mutual respect between the sexes - seen as equal but opposite

Increased and positive use of imagination and other mental faculties

Improved concentration and studies

Willing obedience and respect for parents, teachers, and elders

Greater resistance to damaging habits such as drugs, alcohol

Understanding of the importance of the principle of non-violence in thought and deed

Acceptance of greater self reliance and responsibility

Increased joy in living

Parents benefit in several ways by having children disciplined through Yoga classes. Well disciplined children become more amenable and co-operative. Parents benefit also as children improve in behaviour, politeness and respect and are able to develop natural creative enjoyments and enterprises rather than spending too much time with electronic toys and TV.

The ideal situation is that parents are students of Yoga themselves and therefore support the teachings in the home. Otherwise the simple principles discussed in classwork are like seed ideas which may sprout and grow in the child's awareness in time, regardless of the degree of parental example or encouragement.

However, it is important that the Yoga teacher relates to parents. There must be a mutual line of communication so that the teacher can reinforce the ideas and support the methods used by the parents just as parents must agree with or be free to discuss the ideas introduced by the Yoga teacher. With careful guidance, infants from as young as 3 years of age benefit from interesting and well balanced classwork.

The qualified yoga teacher offers children a vital system of education complementary to the existent system in schools and teaches a practical way of building total health of mind and body. All fine yoga teachers, although maintaining their own unique style, adapt the classical teachings by specialised study and application of techniques modified for those of young age. Both the classical cautions and those which arise from more modern health research must be embraced to avoid over-stimulation or unbalancing natural physiological processes.

Teaching children is like gardening - and we sow seed ideas and concepts in their consciousness. These ideas will be nurtured should the child choose to cultivate them, to provide personal encouragement and simple spiritual direction to their lives on a sure foundation of self confidence.

The principles inherent in Yoga are gradually being incorporated in general training programmes and business management and will in time enrich all education by total awareness and training of each individual. This can be done by presentation not only of the physical and psychological health rules but by reminders of the universality of cultural and spiritual principles.

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.

Teaching Yoga to children is an important specialization. Teachers modify the classical disciplines adapting the techniques for young people through their teaching art, Yoga is a very beneficial training and complements western teaching methods.

Her book Mental Fitness: A Simple 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