How to Have a Healthy Dog

Why are dogs now experiencing the same illnesses, diseases, and issues that humans have?  It is disconcerting to me that dogs of all ages and breeds now have reserved for them a shelf in the medicine cabinet. 

As dogs age, it is understandable they will experience arthritis, kidney and heart problems, and other accepted aches and pains that go along with getting older.   They may need to take something - aspirin, naturopathic treatments, etc.  As more and more humans are diagnosed with stress related, anxiety- based illnesses/diseases, it makes sense that our dogs will eventually be affected. 

Most of you have heard that what the human feels travels down the leash.  Cesar Millan speaks of it so clearly when he talks about dogs as Beings of energy.  They feel what we feel and then some.  If you are anxious and nervous the dog feels that.  If you are overly excited, they feel that.   Are we inadvertently giving them more than they can process?  While we go to a yoga class, are we forgetting that the dog may be internalizing our negative energy and what we should have done is both gone for a long walk or run? 

I believe that humans are responsible for the development of  the diseases now being discovered in our dogs.  Do they travel down the leash?  They do, so to speak.  Humans have the ability to shut down to  feelings.  Our bodies manifest diseases (dis-ease) because of it.  We take medications, over the counter and otherwise to help us keep going.  If we live in this state of unrest for too long, it affects everything and everyone around us.  Why not our dogs?

Think of it from a dog's perspective.  Dogs are excellent at being dogs.  They lack the ability to overwork,  to worry excessively about things they can't change, or to wonder if and when they can retire from a job they hate.  Humans, however, can and do all of the above.  We are even generous enough to share this stress with our best friend - our dog.  Soon, we find that the dog has issues with anxiety, depression, and worse cancer.  I'm not saying that dogs aren't predisposed to illness depending on their breed and genetic factors.  However, dogs are now experiencing human illnesses and disease like never before. 

Statistics also show that being around a furry friend can have a calming affect and even contribute to lowering  blood pressure.   Dogs aren't in our lives to take on our stress and spend endless hours in the vet's office and on medication.  If you are stressed after a hard day, take your dog for a long walk.  Remember that you are sharing your feelings with them - good and bad. 

Gayle Cousineau

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Dog Training and Behavior Modification for Dogs and Their Humans

Iyengar Yoga For Stress Relief - 5 Questions You Must Ask to Find a Great Yoga Teacher

Iyengar Yoga provides great stress relief and other health benefits. The Mayo Clinic recommends yoga for stress management and relaxation, and medical journal articles have proven that you can use Iyengar Yoga for stress relief and to treat serious medical conditions such as arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression and multiple sclerosis.

How do you make sure that you get the great stress relief and other benefits of yoga? Easy! Ask any yoga teacher the questions listed below. If the answers you receive closely match the ideal answers, you have found a great teacher.

Question 1: Do You Practice Yoga Now?

Ideal Answer: Yes, I practice yoga every day.

If you wanted to learn to ride a bicycle, would you take lessons from someone who wrote a book about bicycles but had never actually ridden a bike? Only if you wanted to find the quickest way to fall off the bicycle! No amount of reading or theoretical knowledge will enable you to understand how to ride a bicycle. Sooner or later you have to get on the bike. The same is true of yoga. Only someone who is currently practicing yoga can safely and effectively teach you how to do yoga.

Question 2: Are You Currently Taking Lessons With a Yoga Teacher?

Ideal Answer: Yes, I study with a qualified teacher in a recognized yoga teaching style.

Even your yoga teacher needs a yoga teacher. Why? Yoga is a process, and there is always more to learn. Everyone learns more about yoga by getting feedback from a great teacher. You want your yoga teacher to be aware of the latest discoveries on how to teach yoga. The best way for your teacher to do this is to take lessons with another yoga teacher.

Question 3: What Type of Yoga Do You Teach, and How Did That Style of Teaching Yoga Develop?

Ideal Answer: I teach "y" style of yoga which has existed for at least 10 years.

If a yoga teaching style has existed for at least 10 years, the teachers in that style know the best ways to teach and the pitfalls to be avoided. In addition, if a situation comes up that your teacher does not know how to handle, your teacher will be able to ask a more experienced teacher in that teaching style for advice.

Question 4: What Type of happinesslifetime.com Yoga Teacher Training Have You Had?

Ideal Answer: I have completed (or am currently enrolled in) a 500 hour teacher training program which includes classes, examinations and apprentice teaching.

Suppose a pipe burst in your house and sent a fountain of water gushing through your kitchen. Uh-oh, you need a plumber! There are two plumbers in your neighborhood: Plumber Smith and Plumber Jones. Plumber Smith used to be an electrician but took a one weekend plumber certification course and is now a plumber. Plumber Jones enrolled in a year long plumbing certification course at a special plumber training school, passed the plumbing certification exam, and apprenticed for one year under a master plumber. Which plumber would you choose? Since yoga can have an enormous impact on your health, it would probably be a good idea to take as much care in choosing a yoga teacher as you would in choosing a plumber.

Your yoga teacher should be enrolled in or have completed a happinesslifetime.com yoga teacher training course that lasts at least one year, and includes classes on how to do yoga, classes on how to teach yoga, apprentice teaching under a certified and experienced teacher, and certification exams. One of the most comprehensive happinesslifetime.com yoga teacher training programs in existence is the Iyengar Yoga Teacher Certification Program. If you are new to yoga, or suffer from a disease or injury, or want to use Iyengar Yoga for stress relief, I strongly recommend that you seek out a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher.

Question 5: Does Your Yoga Teacher Have A Kind and Empathetic Heart?

Ideal Answer: Yes.

Only you can determine if the answer to this question is yes. A kind yoga teacher really cares about his or her students. This doesn't necessarily mean that a teacher is quiet or a pushover. A teacher may speak loudly because your attention has wandered off and he or she is trying to get your attention back. A kind yoga teacher will carefully watch what you are doing, and guide you into doing yoga more correctly. Find a great yoga teacher, follow his or her instructions, and the health and stress relief benefits of yoga will be yours!

Need stress relief? Visit funnypath.com/17.html Iyengar yoga for stress relief now to find out exactly how Iyengar Yoga will give you stress relief and other health benefits. Get started right away with a coupon for a free yoga class at funnypath.com funnypath.com

Yoga Teacher Training - 5 Steps To Discover The Most Profitable Yoga Products To Sell

Outcome: Sell profitable products at my classes or online.

Purpose: Making a decent living from teaching yoga classes is extremely difficult unless you have 5 or more full classes each week. Selling yoga products will help increase your income.

Steps

Step 1: Get in the mindset of NOT thinking you have to sell generic yoga products such as mats, blocks, etc as seperate items. There are countless thousands of yoga sites offering that sort of stuff.

Step 2: Use your imagination to come up with some orginal, creative yoga products.

Examples of Creative Yoga Products

* Sell themed kits (e.g. Lazy Yoga: block, tie, eye bag, bolster, Bolster DVD).

*Sell yoga holidays/retreats even if you personally don't have a yoga holiday/retreat. Contact someone who does and ask for a commission per person you send there way.

*Sell personal development courses (contact someone who has a great looking course and ask for a commission per sale).

*Sell unique clothing. Whatever you do, you must stand out from the crowd. Do not sell run of the mill yoga clothes. This can be a great excuse for going on holidays. My mum taught me this. She used to own a jewellery shop and would take 2 or 3 holidays abroad every year searching for new products for her shop.

*Sell yoga products that are utterly unique. When you do that you're far more likely to attract customers from all over the world.

Step 3: Sell on eBay. eBay is still the greatest online platform for selling. The great thing about eBay is that the people are buyers. Whereas on the web 99% of people are searching for free stuff.

Step 4: Sell on your website.

Step 5: Find other outlets to sell your unique yoga products!

George Watts is a former business consultant and full time yoga teacher living in the UK. If you're a yoga teacher and would like to tap into the 7 main income streams for yoga teachers, please test drive my 'Yoga Teacher Business Kit' for free.

For a FREE test drive of the Yoga Teacher Business Kit, nip on over to my site. georgewatts.org/yogateacherstore georgewatts.org/yogateacherstore

Stay In Shape - Top 10 Ways

It's essential to keep the body active and healthy to protect it from various diseases and routine illnesses. Keeping in shape enhances our age and keeps the body healthy for a longer life. There are 10 easy steps to keep your body fit.

1. Nutrition

Nutrition is the most important part in keeping healthy. Never deprive the body of healthy food. Healthy nutrition should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and 8 glasses of water regularly.

2. Take 4 to 6 meals

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should never be skipped because it enhances the metabolism. Your nutrition should consist of a schedule including of 4 to 6 meals depending on your appetite. Doing so allows you to have a balanced diet and controlled metabolism. Taking different meals allows varying nutrition intake.

3. Walking

Jogging and mild walking is definitely good for the health. It keeps the body active and metabolic activity normal. Jogging for 2 miles regularly can have a significant change on health, for those who want to walk, they can walk between 3 to 5 miles. It does sound much but starting with shorter distances can radically increase mileage.

4. Muscle Training

Exercise is not limited to cardio, weight training is equally important to stay in shape. More muscle in the body means a better metabolism. Muscle training should be regular but not all 7 days of the week, there should be a 4 or 5 day routine followed by a break.

5. Cardio

Cardio is equally important to weight training. Like weight training, cardio is essential to keep in shape. Cardio routines should be mixed up with different types of exercises, not just cycling and jogging. You should try different machines.

6. Core exercises

Core exercises are a good way to loosen the body and keep the abdominal muscles and back from fatigue. Core exercises strengthen muscles and relax them which eventually helps in avoiding injuries.

7. Stretching

Stretching is necessary before any workout. Stretching allows the person to warm up your muscles before a workout and cool muscles down after workout. You should stretch 10 - 15 minutes before and after the workout. Often people consider doing Yoga exercises for flexing their muscles.

8. Get proper sleep

Getting proper sleep is immensely important to stay in shape. After the day's work the body needs to relax and revitalize with at least 6 hours of proper night's rest. A tired body will always feel unhealthy and incapable of doing routine exercise.

9. Relax and take time off

After following your routine on a regular basis, take time off. Eat what you want and enjoy, but rest properly. After a few days rest, get back to your healthy routine so you don't lose your commitment and health.

10. Think positive

Tiring exercises, strict routines and diets will make you go crazy. Never think negative, always push yourself towards positive thinking. Set your goals on achieving good health, achieving things at work and develop interesting hobbies.

To find out more on how to stay in shape go to: start-burning-fat-now.info start-burning-fat-now.info

How to Recession Proof Your Yoga Practice

Is your glass half full or half empty? If you've been doing your yoga and meditation practice, you'll probably find it a lot easier to keep optimistic about life in and around you. However, this can be hard when the media keeps reminding us that we are in the middle of the worst recession for nearly a hundred years.

However, when I've talked to Yoga teachers from around the country, I've found that they are very optimistic about their current situation and their future. Their yoga classes are bursting at the seams. Companies are demanding workplace yoga classes to help staff deal with anxiety and stress. So how are these yoga teachers keeping their inner balance and peace despite the doom and gloom? Easy - they've recession proofed their practice! And here are some great techniques to do this.

Get your joy from inside

When everything outside that seemed secure seems to be falling apart, it's time for a journey inside to what's real and unchanging. Yoga's flowing movements,? meditation and lifestyle techniques help us touch the still place inside the heart centre where we can never be disturbed, which we call Druvam. It's like finding an inner sanctuary where we can be completely at peace. A local government officer from Yorkshire, who is training to become a Yoga teacher, said 'Yoga has helped me to look at life in a different way. My response to stressful and difficult situations is now calmer and I'm more aware of my emotions and what I need to do to balance myself again.'

Touching the inner peace

Meditation is the best thing I've found for touching some inner peace. Just 5 minutes is all it takes - ideally when you first wake up. Just sit up in bed and focus on your breath coming in and out of the nose. Keep it relaxed and slow, while still being completely comfortable.

Care for your body

At this time it's extra important to take care of yourself. One totally free way of coping with stress is simply to get enough sleep! Most of us make do with too little rest, which can make us irritable and less able to deal with challenges. Try going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, making sure that you get around 8 hours if possible. Keep a balanced diet with good quality food, with supplements and plenty of fruit, vegetables and water. Having a very compassionate attitude towards yourself is extra important when things around you aren't easy!

Make the most of nature

I've found that nature has the most healing effect on my body - and doing yoga outside can be a very profound experience. It even works in the rain - so don't be a fair weather yogi! Sequences which work best outside are standing ones, and I find that a Surya Namaskar performed in nature is doubly energizing than one done inside. Even in a park, tiny balcony or patch of grass can be large enough for standing postures - tadasana, vrksasana, or the Dru Earth Sequence.? Studies have also shown that children who are surrounded by nature have longer attention spans - so a quick walk will help keep your mind clear.

Value your health and wellbeing

When the money gets tight, it's time to prioritise your wellbeing. Your health is priceless - and so is your state of mind. According to a recent report on CNN, more people are valuing the investment they make in their health and so are continuing their yoga classes even though they may drop other so-called luxuries. My students sometimes compare how they feel after a Yoga class to the feeling after a week in the Greek islands. Now that's value for money!

Invest in what's real

If you build your life and happiness around the perfect job or relationship, then you might become devastated if either changes. Yoga philosophy teaches us to invest in what's unchanging - our own self-development. Nurturing qualities like compassion, tolerance and self-acceptance may not seem terribly fashionable, but if you suddenly have to cope with a crisis, these qualities will see you through the darkest of times. Patanjali's niyamas are a great place to start, or read Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita (slokas 1-3). When a friend became ill and died recently, so many people commented on how well I was dealing with what could of being a very distressing time. I felt that years of meditation and self-development were coming to fruition!

Get the right attitude

Some of the happiest yoga teachers I know haven't had easy lives. Many have coped with traumas so terrible that others would have become embittered for life. But these yogis have developed the attitude of gratitude and appreciation which has enabled them to see the best in difficult circumstances. One friend who suffered from polymyalgia, a very painful disease, decided to treat her body with patience and compassion, being grateful for small things that were going well in her life. Using visualization, Dru Yoga and meditation, she was able to heal herself in a fraction of the time conventional approaches would take. She feels sure that having the right attitude made all the difference. Try it now. Take a few minutes to think of all the things you're grateful for. Friends, health, a creative mind, the changing seasons - create a list and put it up where you'll see it!

Crisis or opportunity?

In Chinese, the character for crisis is the same as that for opportunity. It's just a question of how we see any situation. If you're made redundant, maybe it's a chance for a career change? If your relationship breaks down, maybe it's an opportunity for an even better match in the future. As Helen Keller said, '"When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don't see the one that has opened for us." Today, try to see your situation in a very objective way, looking for the opportunities which you have for making life even better. if this is hard, practise some yoga, then try again!

Jane Clapham is a Dru Yoga and Meditation teacher, and trains people to become meditation teachers in the glorious surroundings of Snowdonia, in North Wales, UK. She also leads meditation retreats and holidays in the celtic mountains of Wales and worldwide. Contact her at

What is Yoga in America?

What is yoga? I was once told you get out of yoga what you want from it. I don't remember what yogi told me that. It has stuck and I have found that to be true. Not only for myself but for the students I have taught. I myself started taking yoga as a matter of curiosity not only for what yoga is but as an interest in finding a form of exercise that I can do that doesn't create migraines for me.

I started yoga back in the late 90's while I was working and going to graduate school. I sat down for the initial meditation of class and had to hold back the tears. I was so incredibly stressed out yoga was exactly what I needed. I kept up with it as a way to manage my stress levels. Eventually I started taking more and more classes and found that my physical body was changing.

I was getting more fit and healthy. My needs for yoga began to change. I liked how I was looking and feeling. I wanted more form yoga, I wanted to sweat and feel like I had pushed my body to the edge each and every class. My instructor kept encouraging me to teach. I wasn't ready for that. I wanted to learn more and understand what yoga was about before I took on that role of all knowing teacher. I gradually began to enjoy, even look forward to meditation. Especially at the close of class with savasana.

My first few yoga instructors were Anusara instructors. From there I worked with a few Vinyasa instructors, Iyengar, and Vini instructors. As an instructor, I am a combination of all these forms. Recently I took classes from an instructor that taught from the Dynamic Yoga perspective. I continue to learn. Yoga has so much to give. There are so many schools of yoga to try. I started branching out and taking workshops with yogis outside of the St. Louis area. These yogis pushed my internal boundaries of comfort and knowledge. My wants from yoga became that of what can I actually do with my physical space and how deep can I get into my internal space to clear out old junk and debris? I found yoga to be extremely healing.

In fact around 2001 I had a nasty car accident where I was rear ended by public transportation bus. It left me with some spinal issues that I was struggling with even under the care of a physical therapist and chiropractor. After an emotionally grueling workshop I went home crying. That night I had a sensation I can only explain as tingling up and down my spine. When I woke up the pain I had been unable to release for months was gone. I went back to the workshop renewed and excited. I continued to utilize the grounding powers of yoga to help me manage my stress levels as I graduated from graduate school and started out in the work force.

Professionally I have chosen a stressful job, I work as a licensed counselor. I found that teaching my clients how to use simple techniques such has pranayama, to be helpful to them as well to manage their own emotional issues. Of course I eventually began teaching yoga as well. As the Universe does the students who sought me out tended to have emotional issues, and hopefully they had their own therapist outside of their yoga mat. Yoga taught me boundaries. Boundaries to have with my clients and my students. Yoga helped me accept the type of yoga instructor I am.

I am a great intermediate and advanced instructor. I am a fair to good beginner instructor. This caused some struggle with my personal instructor whom I taught for. She allowed me to be the instructor I was and gave me space to learn and grow. Without yoga I would have just given up and left that studio all together. My students found that I was challenging and I enjoyed seeing where the edge of everyone's yoga practice was. They knew they could count on a physically challenging class as well as fun and laughter to fill the studio.

What I have stated numerous times when you try yoga try different instructors. We're all different, you'll learn new things from each of us and find those you really connect to and some you don't. And that's OK. When my students became comfortable with me as a person and with their yoga practice they would ask for what they wanted and needed in class. Some moved on to other instructors. Some are instructors themselves. In fact one student moved back to Europe with her happinesslifetime.com Yoga Certification in hand. Many students came to class wanting to relax, some came via requests of their PCP, physical therapist, or chiropractor for physical reasons.

Those students that I was blessed to have with me for a long time also found their need from yoga changed and evolved. The one constant in life is change, and thus yoga changes as well.

From my counseling career I became a Certified Professional Coach, a fancy way of saying I'm a trained Life Coach. I have meshed my yoga in with my coaching as well and have co-facilitated workshops that included both, with great success. It was wonderful to watch students take their yoga to a new, deeper, emotional and spiritual level that allowed them to move forward in life with more ease and satisfaction. I continue to enmesh my yoga into my coaching practice. In fact I specialize, as a Life Coach, in coaching yogis with creating balance throughout their entire life.

I currently am fusing my yoga with parenting. Breathing and meditating can make a toddler's temper tantrum seem like a minor thing. As a student I'm not sure what I want from yoga right now. It's just an old friend whom stays with me no matter what path I choose. As an instructor I want to continue to fuse yoga with coaching and have on-going workshops as well as individual sessions that bring more balance to my clients and the planet.

So the original question was What is yoga? In America it's very different from what it originated as in India, a way to get closer to God. Yet if you stay with yoga it will likely bring you closer to your spiritual self, emotional self, and physical self. It is not a form of religion unless you want it to be. It is not a cult. From my perspective it is plainly what you want it to be.

Tara S. Dickherber, M.Ed, CPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Professional Coach, ScreamFree Parent Leader, and yogi. She has practiced yoga for over 12 years and taught for 10 years. Tara currently specializes in coaching individuals who seek to incorporate their yoga practice throughout their life to create balance for life. She also specializes in coaching parents who want to overcome their own past issues to be the best parents they can be. To learn more about Tara go to mylifecoachtara.com mylifecoachtara.com

Locating the Best Yoga Classes

A lot of people find yoga classes intimidating, especially if they have never taken one before. As always, there are quite a few things to take into account before signing on for a class like this. Yoga is both difficult and an excellent form of exercise at the same time, which can explain its popularity.

Before you sign on for a this type of exercise class, make sure that it offers training at the level at which you can handle it. Beginners should start with the kind of class designed for them. If you have had some training in yoga before, a more advanced class may be suitable for you. Do make sure that you work out at the level comfortable to you, otherwise you may not stick with it.

These classes are frequently offers in all kinds of neighborhoods, so check around to see if you can find one near where you live. If it's a class that you enjoy going to, you are more likely to stick with it. Are there yoga schedules in your area? If so, do check them out for fit and ease of attendance.

If there is a school near you, their gym may be another source for a venue for a class on yoga. Other types of gyms do charge for membership, but they are usually worth it. And it's easy to keep up with them as time goes by.

If you would rather stay home for yoga exercises, then do consider a DVD. You can also find such classes online, and this may be your best bet, should you prefer to learn yoga at home. This way you don't have to go to a gym, but can learn yoga in the safety of your own personal space at your own personal pace.

Your classes soon show results in your body, which is one of the reasons why people find this kind of exercise so popular. With yoga, the body of your dreams may not be far off in the future.

To get all your questions answered about Yoga, visit bestyogaguides.com/specialreport.html Selecting Yoga Classes and claim your free page Special Report. See more helpful articles by Bing Wang at bestyogaguides.com Yoga Mastery.