The Purpose of Yoga - Aging Gracefully

Most Yoga practitioners, and teachers, begin to realize the anti-aging benefits of Hatha Yoga, within a short time. However, with all of the anti-aging scams in abundance today, most Yoga teachers hesitate to utter the words "anti" and "aging" in the same sentence.

The many benefits of steady Yoga practice, to all age groups, are enhanced, when we explore the physical limits of our bodies. There are times when we surprise ourselves with what we can, and what we cannot, do.

The more experienced students usually do not take risks. They have "been there and done that." New Yoga students are warned not to force, while they learn their physical limits.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Youth is wasted on the young?" When I first heard it, I was quite young, and the words were shouted at me by a man who was about the age of my Grandfather.

Unfortunately, I took offense because of his tone, and I did not understand his message. My reaction was silence, because of his age; he deserved respect, and I did respect him, completely.

In my mind, I thought, "I'm not wasting my youth." I really did not understand. His whole point was lost because my mind was not open to the message, and he did not explain it in depth.

Ten years passed, and I heard the words again from a mentor, and friend, named, Harry, but his tone was one of equanimity. He explained the words from an older person's point of view. When we reach middle age, most of us stop taking risks. These prospective risks can be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, occupational, or financial, but when we age, we tend to think, "Been there and done that."

Most children, and young adults, will come up with new and creative ideas, but older adults want to protect them from risks. Older adults want to keep their children and grand children safe from harm. Children can learn a lot from parents, but many parents could receive a refresher course on youthful living by observing and listening to their children.

Children are not afraid to learn new skills. Children often have more than one solution to a problem because they are not "set in their ways." We become conditioned with age to react to situations in a predictable way. We think "inside the box."

You see - it is the attitude, within us, which most often ages first. If we never take calculated risks from middle age on, we have "played it safe" for the rest of our lives.

Now, I am not suggesting that seniors should start sky diving, surfing, and hand gliding, next week, but the in the twilight of their lives, people often regret the opportunities they did not take advantage of. The thrill of a challenge makes life worth living. A calculated risk is a "breath of fresh air."

For example: The seniors who take Chair Yoga are the "mavericks" of their time. Most of them did not have the opportunity to receive Yoga instruction as children, but they are not afraid to participate and receive the benefits. Now, that is an inspiration to the rest of us.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. riyoga.com riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.

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

Yoga in Practice: Anger Management - Part 1

Yoga has been able to help many of mankind's ailments, but what about anger management? How can Yoga prevent rage and the burning desire for revenge? Many people say: "Don't get mad, get even." Is this what we are talking about?

As any Yoga practitioner knows, Yoga has nothing to do with "getting even." However, revenge has become "the special of the day." Many people feel revenge is justified, and we all know that revenge is a result of anger - whether it is slow burning or instant.

As I have mentioned before, Yoga does not stop when you roll up your Yoga mat. Most of what you take care of on your Yoga mat is the physical aspect of Yoga. This is a wonderful thing, but the rewards of your practice should be carried with you wherever you go.

Very few of us can say we have not felt anger. Many people, who know me, think I do not feel anger. However, that is pure myth. The fact is anger can be held in check, and managed, by using the following methods from Yogic philosophy and the many different styles of Yoga.

See attachment for what it is, and remove yourself from it. In reality, we own nothing. We are attached to money, possessions, relationships, and loved ones. Does this mean we own them or have control of them? Only on a temporary basis do you have control - if the universe permits.

What am I talking about? If you faced a catastrophic disaster today, you could lose some, or all, of your perceived possessions. Restrain your feelings of possessiveness for everything. You are only the temporary custodian of your possessions in this life. Once you clearly see this, you can prevent anger that is wrapped around attachment.

Be aware of desire. It is good to better yourself, but do not let reckless desire run your life. There is nothing wrong with the desire to succeed; this is healthy, but when desire incites anger, we must place restraints on our desires.

This task will take some self-observation, and we must be honest with ourselves. For example: We have the desire to get to work on time, but should we use our car as a weapon on the way?

At first, this may sound ridiculous, but many people risk their lives in a frenzy of anger, just to get to work on time. They also risk the lives of everyone else on the road. This is only one small example of how anger and reckless desire are linked.

© 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

Essentials of the Yoga Mat

The main goal of yoga is to train the mind and the body to be calm and relaxed. This will improve both spiritual and physical well-being. The goal of yoga is achieved with the help of yoga poses and meditations. In order to do the proper meditation and yoga positions, you will need the aid of a yoga mat.

During a yoga practice, you may need to do various yoga positions. For this, you will need the support of a yoga mat. The mat will give traction allowing you to get a grip of the surface in which you are putting your weight on. In addition, the changing of yoga poses will require you to shift your whole body weight, something that moves or slides easily will probably cause you to fall and suffer from bruises or injuries.

A yoga mat will give you an even surface that is good for maintaining a perfect balance. This will allow you to perform even the most complex yoga pose. In choosing the yoga mat to use, you may want to take in consideration how much you sweat. If you perspire a lot, chances are it will drip down to the mat creating some slippery spots. For this, the mat that you should be using is the one the one that can absorb liquids well.

A cotton yoga mat is a good suggestion. Being made out of cotton, the mat can absorb much sweat giving you surface that is not dangerous to practice yoga on. In addition, a cotton mat has a cooling effect. If you are lying down on the mat, the mat will quickly absorb the perspiration from your body. However, you need to wash the cotton mat after every use to prevent odor.

The padding of the yoga mat is another feature that you should look into. The most comfortable mat is the one with the most padding. A comfortable can allow you to maintain a yoga position for a very long time without putting any strain on your body. A well-padded mat is also advisable who are into yoga but has some disabilities
or injuries.

The size of the yoga mat is another feature that you may want to take into consideration. The most appropriate mat for you is the one that can cover your body, from head to foot, when lying down. This is to prevent any part of the body to be exposed to the hard floor when you are performing the savannas pose.

The composition of the yoga mat is also important. Experts say that the best health friendly mat is the natural mat. This type of mat for yoga does not contain any harmful components that may produce adverse reaction to the skin due to prolonged contact. Be wary of the mat that you are going to use because of the mats today has PVC contents.

To sum it all, you can use various mats depending on their purpose. The things that you have to ensure in a yoga mat are its size, composition, padding and traction. Just remember these things in choosing the mat that you are going to buy and you will surely get the one that best suits your needs.

Robert has extensive knowledge on the yogamodel.com yoga mat, and also provides information on yogamodel.com/yoga-mat-bag yoga mat bags.

The Real Reasons Yoga is Ideal For Your Wellbeing For Ages

Yoga does not seem to control the same type of regard from present day society as it used to in the past. Globalization has a damaging impact on this historic concept. To make it simple for the common man to comprehend, the whole philosophy may be lowered to a simple concept.

It is unwise to achieve a superficial knowledge about a diverse topic and yet talks about it from an expert's viewpoint. The West tends to pay attention to the physical aspects of yoga. The abundant philosophies driving yoga exercise have been lowered into a basic form of art which concentrates merely on accomplishing inner balance and peace.

It is among the six schools of Hindu thoughts has roots deep within the pages of the Hindu Holy Scriptures. Indians understand that is not a mere physical activity, but yoga is a part of a spiritual development that is recognized by having a thorough and disciplined physical approach. It is unlucky that the traditional western world would approach yoga like a mere physical activity. Yoga with its odd looking symbols may seem mystical to the average Joe, is usually enough to improve a considerable degree of fascination with the invisible aspects of this ancient practice, but unfortunately, they are usually misinterpreted.

This discipline is used as a popular sport. Additionally, people who desire inner tranquility would usually see this practice to be useful. The attraction of yoga as an effective way to realize inner peace and balance has beckoned many to accept this activity as well.

The so called experts in this sector have been quick to use these claims and people are intrigued. There's a good amount of evidence to show that yoga has been mistakenly executed in the West. Different groups practicing yoga have its own cultural structure which influences are accountable for those fatal errors detected in the concept of this ancient art.

The fast paced lifestyle in the western civilization left no chance to enable them to have pleasure in peaceful, introspective times to actually understand this idea. Occasionally, the most important part of this particular practice is ignored, for instance the essential meditation. The Hindus use a different group of value system which is not the same as the west, and places low significance in the mere accumulation of physical wealth. Unless of course these beliefs are changed, it is impossible for westerners to achieve the actual wisdom and enlightenment as based on the parameters of the Hindu religion.

To achieve maximum benefits from each and every meditation session, one needs to spare time and exercise tremendous endurance in doing each essential part of the practice. The westerners do not place a high level of importance in the attainment of philosophical wisdom, as it does for the build up of substantial wealth and gaining power.

Yoga has been accepted as a fashion. It is easy to practice yoga anywhere you want. There are plenty of components for you to pick from that are promoting this activity as a form of sports activities. Even fake gurus have assistance using their adoring disciples. These followers have grown to be the pillars helping the expansion of this false and wrong philosophy.

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

Yoga Instructor Salary - Is Money Evil?

How often have you heard that money creates power, and power will corrupt you absolutely? Some Yoga instructors sincerely believe they do not deserve to make money from their teaching skills. After all, earning money will make you less spiritual - right?

Once you become a Yoga teacher, you have to come to grips with reality. Is it true that the wealthy are greedy? Many of them give to charity, but some do not. Therefore, having more money does not affect the behavior of giving. Many of the poor give to charity, and some do not.

Is money (earning a living) the root of all evil? If this is true, then we should give up and do our best to live a poor life of bad health and starvation. Wait a minute: Yogic philosophy is about ending suffering, not creating it.

So, where did all of this negative talk, about a earning a salary as a Yoga teacher, come from? I have no idea, but if you want to teach free classes, there will be a never-ending line to your studio door. The trouble is: How will you keep the lights on and the doors open?

If you think it is bad to take money for teaching Yoga, that's fine. Please save yourself the trouble of opening a Yoga studio, because you have to take student tuition to keep the doors open. You can work full time, for an impossible-to-please boss, at a job you do not like, and teach in your basement for free.

There is nothing wrong with this, until you run yourself ragged. How can a poor, stressed out, and over-worked teacher, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, be a good example of the benefits that Yoga has to offer?

The truth is: Everyone needs money to survive. If it is that easy to make so much, please give it away to the homeless on the street. You will be creating good karma and setting a good example, as a Yoga teacher.

© 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

Two Benefits of Yoga Meditation

In a typical Yoga session, you may practice meditation at the beginning of class, at the end of class, or both. There are many methods of meditation, but Yoga practitioners usually learn breath awareness, visualization, or focusing on an object.

All forms of meditation lead to a tranquil and trained mind, so to claim that one particular style of meditation is superior to all of the rest, would not be correct. Some methods may be more "user friendly," than others. This could lead to opinions about one style of meditation being better than another, but opinions are only a matter of preference.

If there is one solid benefit that we can observe from a meditation session, it is a state of concentration during meditation, and a state of relaxation after the session has ended. How can this be useful to a person and the community at large?

A mind that is trained by meditation will tend to concentrate on finishing tasks during the course of an average day. With all of our technology, attention deficit disorders flourish. Diet and lifestyle also play a role, but gadgets put everyone "on call."

Meditation and Yoga classes make it possible to unplug from all of the technical hardware and software we encounter on a daily basis. Yet, there is one very important and powerful way in which Yoga lessons and meditation can help all of us.

What is the number one cause of a poor quality lifestyle? In a word, it is "stress." High levels of stress can cause long-term health problems and premature death. With that said - the combination of Yoga and meditation, work toward creating a tranquil mindset within each of us.

We know that emotional problems can cause illnesses. Clarity of thought allows one to make rational decisions during stressful times. Let's face it, you cannot have a life without stress, but with meditation, you can learn to solve problems, which are stress-related.

Once a person learns to meditate, there is much less reason to consume intoxicants, which are often used to cope with high stress levels. If you talk to any addict, he or she will often admit to abusing alcohol, tranquilizers, and illegal drugs, as a result of overwhelming levels of stress.

This may not seem to be a rational solution, but look at the number of customers, who go to a liquor store in the course of a day. Compare that number to how many students attend a Yoga class in the same day. Keep in mind: This will only track alcohol consumption. There are many more ways to numb the senses.

The bottom line: Yoga and meditation offer rational solutions with no negative side-effects, but the community at large has to be educated to see the value.

© 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

Yoga in Mysore, India

Mysore has gained a lot of fame recently for its yoga traditions and the world famous teachers. It is a city located in southern India's state Karnataka. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the maestro of yoga, who initially introduced the Ashtanga in Mysore in the 1930's, is considered to be the Guruji of yoga. Due to this reason, often times, Mysore is referred to as the Ashtanga city. Guruji, who passed away this year in May, has left a legacy behind, which teaches its students to achieve high levels of meditation based on the breathing techniques that allow maximum utilization of the lungs. These breathing techniques called Vinyasa are linked to a series of postures to accomplish serenity, flexibility and stamina.

Yoga lovers know and consider Mysore as the primary place to gain training that will let them follow in the footsteps of Guruji Jois. A vast majority of yogis travel to India to seek the conventional yogic preaching that Guruji taught at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in the town of Lakshmipuram, Mysore. This Institute is commonly referred as the yoga shala and was opened by Guruji in 1948. The institute offers a variety of classes for all, starting from the beginner's level and moving to the advanced level. Classes at the shala commence early in the morning, as yoga is not just about exercise, it is about improving the way and quality of life.

A normal class consists of 25 - 30 students with an instructor available to help them through various routines. One of the key points of Ashtanga is that it is not instruction intensive. It encourages its students to meditate and accomplish different poses at their own pace. At times, a newcomer feels that an Ashtanga class is full of chaos as all the students are doing their own thing. However, on close scrutiny, it becomes obvious, that the class is actually more like a choreographed dance, where people follow a set pattern and breathing technique.

Guruji Jois has established an organization which is superior in all aspects of teaching. Each student learns the cycle of poses at his or her own personal pace. For new student, or for people facing problem with their routines, special assistance is available at the institute. Yoga lovers pay a monthly fee of $350 and a registration fee of $250. To obtain maximum benefit from the training, a three month stay is advised by the institute. After enrolling at the shala, students are required to discontinue all other forms of yoga training from teachers outside of the Institute during their stay in Mysore.

Mysore is a fantastic and intriguing city full of splendor. Its landscape is peppered with temples and palaces. Guruji Jois himself had the pleasure of working with the Maharaja of Mysore in the 1930's. Mysore has become the yoga tourist capital of the world. Americans and Europeans find this destination to be a place where they can gain a potent mixture of culture and spirituality.

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