Several Methods of Physical Exercise - Which Will Help Us Improve Shape?

Playing golf requires physical fitness, ability of concentration and also positive thinking and attitude. Here are methods of exercise, which will improve your physical fitness, and positively affect strength, shape and manner, in which you employ the abilities of your body, and also the mind and emotions.

1. Aikido practice is dominated by pursuit of physical development and learning proper ways of breathing. Emphasis is placed on relaxation and concentration of energy.

2. The Pilates system emphasizes improvement of posture and body balance. Muscles are also strengthened. Proper use of muscles in everyday activities will improve functioning of the entire body, and will also enhance mental performance: your concentration ability and clarity of thinking will benefit. As Pilates grows in popularity, Pilate classes are being offered not only at specialized studios but also at gyms, health clubs, spas, rehabilitation clinics, senior facilities and community centers around the world.

3. Hatha Yoga: Performing positions, which allow for attainment of perfect body functioning, leading to better control of the mind and emotions.

4. Judith Aston therapy: The purpose of this therapy is to assist people in determination and recognition of habitual movements, developed due to stress, and subsequently to use body "intelligence" to find easier and more effective behavior models.

5. Tai-chi: Art of motion-related meditation; covers the physical and mental sphere. Exercises improve powers of concentration, provides grace, relaxation and ability of concentration.

The benefits of Tai-chi are realized on several levels: as a physical exercise for fitness and health, as a tool to relieve stress, as a spiritual exercise.

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Philip Vermer

Letters to a Yogi - Questions About Existence and Purpose

The longer we practice Yoga - the more we will see the meaning in the concept of uniting the mind, body, and spirit. No matter what our religion is, or if we practice Yoga, many of us ask the same questions regarding our spiritual, physical, and mental existence. Ever since humans learned to communicate with one another, there have been three common questions people ask.

(1) Where are we from? We know that each of us is an energy field, and the same atoms and molecules, which make us up, are also part of the stars, planets, moons, etc., which make up the universe. Even after we die, the energy within us will transcend into something else, because energy fields exist in all objects, gases, and fluids.

The miracle of life needs more than a scientific explanation, but the case could be made that an energy field is also a soul or our spiritual existence. Science is a wonderful thing, but science cannot fully explain the spiritual world.

(2) Why are we here? We are here to do no harm. This is a very difficult task, but we should do our best to leave this earth in good condition. We should not harm another being mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. This requires us to behave according to the Niyamas and Yamas.

This is why we should leave good memories in the minds of anyone who we meet. Every moral code in existence will agree with the Niyamas and Yamas. Good behavior is a universal concept.

(2) Where will we go after death? Nobody has the answer to this question. I had a near death experience, when I was 17. As luck would have it, my life was saved, which left me with a very deep sense, and vision, that I was going to a good place.

That experience was more than 34 years ago, at the time of this writing, but it left a deep impression in my mind. It was not my time to leave this earth, but if we treat this world, and the beings on it, with respect, we will go to a good place.

We cannot instantly change old habits, which we have practiced for years and decades. Yet, if we become mindful of our effect on others, and this world, we can take corrective action for the common good. If all of us practiced mindfulness, we would leave a peaceful planet behind, and continue our journey to complete bliss.

© 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 Teaching Courses

Yoga is becoming more and more popular around the world. The need for trained instructors who have completed a qualified yoga teacher training (YTT) or yoga teacher certification (YTC) program is also increasing. (Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Teacher Certification mean the same thing, the title of the program depends on the preference of the school.)

To fill this gap to get more certified teachers, there are more and more training programs offered at studios and schools, both near home and internationally.

What to look for in a yoga teaching course

1. The most important thing to look at when researching programs is, who is the director of the teacher training? Have you studied with this person and do you like their style? Does their philosophy resonate with you? Are they easily accessible? Do they live by the words they speak, or at least try to?

2. Next, look at training dates for the training. Do the dates fit your schedule? Some certification programs offer the whole training at once, some offer it on weekends only, and others offer weekend trainings in combination with some yoga teacher training requirements through the week.

3. Can you afford the yoga teacher training, or are there payment plans or scholarships available to make your training more manageable?

4. Is the yoga training offered at a Registered Yoga School (RYS) through the Yoga Alliance? The Yoga Alliance is the most respected yoga organization in the country. If you're serious about learning and teaching, then do yourself a favor and go for a 200-hour Yoga Alliance-recognized program at a Registered Yoga School.

When to do your training locally

Unless you want to be part of a lineage of like Ananda, Kundalini, Kripalu, Sivananda, Kriya, and so on - where you will need to go to a yoga center or ashram outside of your area to study - it is a good idea to study in the area you intend to teach.

Why? Because your local yoga school will have insight into how to reach people in the area, how to market to them, and how to attract people to your classes once you graduate from your training. If the yoga teacher training has a service project as part of the requirements, some of the people you meet in your community classes may very well become your first clients. Not to mention, a director from the area will have a list of connections for places you can contact and possibly teach once you graduate from the YTT. You'll also get support from the people you go through training with once the program is finished, because most of them will live in the area. You'll become lifelong friends with many of your fellow trainees.

For more information about yoga training, please visit David Morgan's yogateachingcourses.net yoga teaching courses website. There you'll find teacher training videos and frequently asked questions.

The Similarities and Differences of Pilates and Yoga

You can barely turn on the TV nowadays without hearing about Pilates or Yoga. When you take up a magazine, you are bound to find articles about these two exercise methods and it seems like everyone is doing either one or the other. What is all of the excitement about? Why are these techniques so special? What are the differences and similarities between Pilates and Yoga?

Yoga aims to unite the body, mind, and spirit. The person who aspires to do Yoga views that the body and mind are one. They believe that if the body is given the right tools and is taken to the proper environment then the body can find harmony and will be able to heal itself. Yoga is considered to be therapeutic. You will have a heightened awareness of your body's alignment, posture, and patterns of movement. Yoga tends to make your body more flexible and it will help you to relax even if you are in the middle of a stress stricken environment. Therefore, one of the most important reasons as to why people start practicing Yoga is that they want to feel more energetic, be more happy, feel more fit and be at peace.

One performs Yoga mainly in a group setting on a special Yoga mat with the help of a Yoga instructor. You use your body's own weight for resistance. You must also focus a great deal of your attention to the flow from one posture into that of another. Yoga styles are varied and there is not one style that is considered to be better than another. These styles also vary in their emphasis, and the style you choose is a matter of personal preference.

Pilates also seeks to reach many of the same goals as does Yoga by way of a series of movements that are very controlled. The major difference between Pilates and Yoga is that while doing Pilates exercises not only makes use of a mat, but it also incorporates work on different Pilates machines. The main thrust of the Pilates exercises is to improve posture, strengthen the abdominal muscles, improve balance, lengthen and stabilize the spine and improve overall strength. Pilates will tend to give you a leaner, longer, dancer-like line.

A Whole Body Workout

Unlike a variety of other training programs, Pilates makes an effort to work the whole body and places its emphasis on precision, control, and concentration in both the body as well as the mind. There is no attempt made at doing many repetitions at a time in a rapid, haphazard fashion. Instead, the focus is placed on quality and not the amount of reps you do. The "powerhouse" that consists of the lower back, abdominal muscles and the buttocks are at the center of all movement and this allows the rest of your body to move fluidly and freely. When one focuses on core stabilization, it makes the student stronger from the inside out.

This is critical for the advancement of the Pilates student. Pilates is low impact by nature and, therefore, it is ideal for the prevention of injury and for rehabilitation. Pilates has six guiding principles - concentration, centering, flow, control, breathing and precision. These principles train the body to move more efficiently while placing minimal impact on the body. With Pilates, there is a definite balance between flexibility and strength that creates a vigorous, symmetrical and health workout for all of the different muscle groups, which will result in a more balanced, leaner, and stronger body.

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The author, Steven Giles is a 55 year old former accountant who has been suffering from back pain for several years and has found that Pilates provides relief from this. He lives in Greater Manchester in the North-West of England.

Yoga Teachers - Seven Ways to Support Your Inner Well Being As You Develop Your Yoga Business

As a newly qualified yoga teacher, you have invested a lot of time and effort to become a yoga teacher. The next step, is to step out and teach yoga. Starting your own business can be a daunting prospects. You may be thinking of teaching yoga classes in your local yoga centre or offering yoga to businesses. Maybe you wish to own your own yoga studio and develop an on-line business selling yoga clothes, yoga bags and yoga mats.

Starting your own business can be challenging. As a yoga teacher, your focus may primarily be to develop your teaching skills and provide a safe and nurturing programme and environment for your students.

However to build a successful business you also need other tools and skills. For example, you will need to design business.educationeasy.net business cards and flyer's to promote your services, specialist marketing.educationeasy.net marketing information to target clients, a book keeping system to help you manage your finances, plus a level of IT competence to email potential clients and set up a web presence. All of this takes time, energy and love.

To Grow a Wealthy Yoga Business You Must Look After Your Inner Well Being

Learning to balance the physical needs of your yoga business with your personal and spiritual values can be a delicate act to sustain. Some yoga teachers feel it is unethical to earn money from teaching yoga. However, you may be like me and have teenage daughters, plus a mortgage and utility bills to pay. Some times, you may be so busy teaching and planning yoga classes, you do not have time to care for yourself. If this is the case, it is essential you take the necessary steps to balance the demands of teaching with caring for your inner wellbeing and spiritual growth.

Follow the seven tips below to ensure you have the time and energy to nurture your self and give your best to your clients.

1. Care for your health. As a Yoga Teacher, it is vital you are strong and healthy. Your students expect you to mirror what you teach. Therefore, take time to eat well, drink lots of water and rest during the day. You will attract more clients if your energy is clear and vibrant.

2. Honour yourself. The more you care and value yourself, the easy it is for you to set a fair and realistic price for your services. Negotiation is a skill. Making money, earning a living from teaching is a fair exchange for your time and effort. Money enables you to invest in further training, maybe employ a virtual assistant to cover routine administrative tasks. This frees you up to share your spiritual wealth to a wider audience.

3. Be passionate about your work. Live and breathe yoga. Greet your students and potential clients with a smile and twinkle in your eye. Let them feel the beauty of yoga as they talk with you. Your energy and vitality will encourage clients to sign up and personally experience your joy.

4. Be creative. Seek out creative ways to work with clients. Instead of running weekly yoga classes in a yoga studio, you might be interested in teaching in less traditional settings; perhaps you could approach local businesses and offer lunch-time or after-work Stretch and Relax Classes; or your local hospital may allow you to run Gentle Yoga Exercise Groups for patients and staff. I teach children in local schools and also run classes for a Community Mental Health Team and at a prison for Prison Officers.

5. Communicate regularly with clients. A regular newsletter, either in print form or on-line is an ideal way to let people know about you. Your newsletter can cover topics such as yoga postures for different ailments, breathing techniques to help you sleep and even a question and answer forum. Set up a blog, sign-up on any of the social networking sites, or send out a regular Inspirational Quote via text message are all useful ways to connect with others.

6. Keep a vision board and use it to help keep you focused on your goals and intentions for your business. Remember your business is a reflection of your inner well being. So, make sure you include lots of colourful and rich images which nurture your inner core.

7. Commit to your daily yoga and spiritual practice. Regular self practice keeps you in touch with the essence of yoga and reminds you that everyone is a "student." The more in touch you are with yourself the greater your capacity to give to your students and potential clients.

Building your business takes time. As a yoga teacher, it is important to make sure you look after your inner health to ensure the success of your business. Let me know how you get on - I would love to support you grow a healthy yoga business.

Ntathu Allen, Hatha Yoga Teacher designs personal yoga exercise programmes for beginners. She helps you learn easy yoga postures which improve your flexibility, breathing practices to release stress and meditation techniques to soothe and calm your mind. To find out more go to: yogainspires.co.uk yogainspires.co.uk and sign up for your free monthly yoga and health newsletter, "Healing for the Soul," full of wellbeing and holistic healing tips and; yoga exercises to energise and nurture your soul.

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