What Should a Yoga Certification Course Teach About Pranayama?

May 11th, 2012

yoga instructor trainingBy Faye Martins 

Pranayama refers to various breathing techniques used during meditation and yoga. When you breathe correctly, the lungs and diaphragm fill up, causing new blood and oxygen to flow throughout the body to the vital organs. Fresh blood to the brain can renew your thoughts and energy levels. Pranayama is an extremely vital part of any yoga teacher training program, because breathing is a vital process of life. A yoga instructor should know the benefits pranayama provides, the foundational techniques, and the safety guidelines associated with each technique. 

Benefits 

Breathing keeps us alive. As we go about our day, our minds become busy with thoughts, tasks, worries, and decisions. We often “forget” to breathe. Most people let their bodies take over, but that results in shallow breathing. Deep, intentional breathing will bring fresh oxygen into the body and help it thrive. Shallow breathing will merely keep us alive, but deep breathing will keep us alive and healthy. Pranayama affects our overall health and wellness, decreases stress and anxiety levels, focuses and energizes the mind, and can cure illness. 

Techniques 

When you are new to pranayama, it helps to have some basic techniques to fall back on. Yoga instructors can teach a few basics to their classes so students can start to create an understanding of pranayma. The first thing students need to know is how to achieve a complete, deep breath. Begin the breath by slowly pulling in air to puff up the abdomen, then the chest, and then gently keep inhaling until you cannot inhale anymore. Let the breath out slowly and controlled. Let students practice several times to get the feel of their entire abdomens and chest cavities filling up with air. It is helpful to place the hands on the belly or chest to feel it rising and falling with each breath. 

Alternate nostril breathing is a common pranayama. Close one nostril by pressing the thumb to it, inhale deeply, then hold the breath for a second or two while releasing the thumb and closing the other nostril by pressing a finger to it, then exhale and repeat. The breath will bring energy and vitality into the body. 

Breath of fire is also a common pranayama that involves pushing the air out through the nostrils forcefully. Each person’s rate of expulsion will differ, depending on his or her experience and capacity. Instruct students to inhale naturally, and then exhale quickly. Students might do about 20 or 30 expulsions at first, and then gradually increase as they gain experience. 

There are many foundational pranayama techniques taught at Yoga certification schools; among them are: Ujjayi, Udgeeth, Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, Brahmari, Dirgha, and Sheetali. Whether you choose an onsite or online yoga school, you will learn these techniques and many more.

Safety 

Advise your yoga students to see a doctor before beginning pranayama practice. Make sure to practice in a place with clean air, free of smoke or other toxins. During class, remind students to relax and not focus too hard on the breathing. If they become dizzy, or breathing becomes laborious, tell them to take a break. Pranayama practice should be slow and gentle.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

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Can Kids Yoga Help Relieve Stress?

May 9th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Kids live active, stressful lives. They attend school, do homework, participate in competitive sports, play video games, and meet their friends at the mall. In addition, they deal with divorce, new schools, tough neighborhoods, illnesses, bullying, and pressure to get excellent grades. Whatever the burdens might be – kids need to learn how to manage stress. Yoga is a practice often cited for helping adults cope with stress. Can Yoga help kids, too?

Positive Results of One Study

According to a 2011 article, published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, researchers at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health say: “Yes.” They studied 97 fourth and fifth graders, half of whom participated in a 12-week Yoga program. The researchers found that the students, who practiced Yoga, demonstrated improved overall behavior and ability to concentrate. In addition, the Yoga kids were less likely to ruminate on negative thoughts or engage in a brooding contemplation, often associated with depression and anxiety, than those who did not participate in the Yoga program.

Changing Thinking Patterns

Yoga may help kids on different levels. Practicing physical postures (asanas) can increase the production of endorphins, which generate feelings of well-being. Breathing techniques (pranayama) help regulate the nervous system by activating parasympathetic (relaxation) neurons and calming sympathetic (flight or fight) neurons. Guided relaxation techniques benefit kids by giving them an alternative way to respond to the stressors in their lives. Instead of responding with anger or anxiety, kids learn to relax and breathe through their negative emotions. Yoga students also learn how to manage the mind and perceive stressful situations in a different light. They begin to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Teaching Yoga Life Skills to Children

Teaching Yoga to kids, however, is not like teaching adults. The biggest challenge may be keeping their attention. Songs, music, and games all help keep kids focused on learning Yoga. In addition, kids love to move and make sounds, and they can make noises while in the poses; for example, kids bark while holding Downward Facing Dog pose or squawk while in Eagle pose. The poses help relieve physical stress, while making sounds, which also help to relieve stress on the emotional and mental levels.

Learning Yoga at a young age, can give kids a set of tools for managing stress in a positive way, for the rest of their lives. Non-competitive in nature, Yoga teaches children compassion and collaboration, rather than anger and divisiveness, which are valuable instruments for navigating the stresses of life.

Opportunities for Yoga Teachers

Yoga instructors reach out to many different age groups. If, or when, we decide to teach Yoga to children, we create a positive impact on global society. Children need valuable life skills to progress and cope with an ever-changing world. Children gather in schools, clubs, and sports leagues. It is easy for local Yoga teachers to reach out to these groups and give the next generation skills that will last a lifetime.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

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Teaching Yoga to Young Athletes

May 8th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins

Yoga can be of great benefit to young athletes, particularly for its ability to connect mind and body. Athletes, especially those in high school and college, tend to use and often to abuse their bodies. They do not realize that their bodies are absorbing the entire trauma of sports and lifting and conditioning, yet yoga helps connect athletes to their bodies in a way, which enhances appreciation and relaxation. Yoga also increases flexibility, which aids in injury prevention, and improves static strength, which complements an athlete’s training routine. The deep stretching of muscles and joints an athlete will practice in a yoga session can also ease pain associated with physically challenging practices.

Five Tips for Teaching Yoga to Young Athletes

1. The first thing instructors must emphasize is that yoga is not a competition, but rather it is an opportunity to heal and strengthen the mind-body relationship. Athletes’ competitive nature might push them to try poses before they are ready to, so yoga teachers should encourage athletes to focus on pose and technique mastery before advancing.

2. Yoga instructors should also expect athletes to achieve correct form, where flexibility allows, faster than an average student. Athletes, especially those who are young, have a strong kinesthetic intelligence and so are naturally better balanced with better hand-eye control than non-athletes. Their relationship to sports has also prepared them for the need to practice good technique in order to receive maximum benefits of practice.

3. Flexibility, especially in knees and lower back, will be an issue in athletes. Teachers must be willing to adapt yoga poses and encourage students to continue pushing to touch toes despite tight hamstrings and inflexible hips.

4. Yoga teachers should also be prepared to teach deep breathing techniques, working with athletes closely until their breathing synchronizes with their movements. This can be a difficult process for the students, especially given the fact that they have been taught to breathe differently while lifting weights or doing activities related to their respective sports.

5. Relaxation will be a new experience for athletes, and it may be one they resist. Athletes are required to push their bodies until the end of practice or conditioning or strength training. It is very common for them to ignore the needs of their body once out of the gym or off the field. Their cool-down stretches might be minimal, especially if their pain is limited that day. Teachers will want to emphasize the necessity of relaxation poses to encourage in young athletes the balance and mind-body awareness that yoga offers.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Can Power Yoga be Practiced as Therapy?

May 7th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Faye Martins 

Power yoga is a generic form of physical yoga that tends to emphasize physical fitness over yogic philosophy and wisdom. However, although power yoga attempts to be a challenging series of poses that even the most in-shape or athletic beginners will struggle with, part of achieving and maintaining physical fitness means that most power yoga instructors incorporate poses to balance the mind with the body. Often power yoga, despite its focus on the practice as exercise, does concern itself with personal transcendence, a form of self-actualization. 

What is Yoga Therapy? 

Yoga therapy aims to heal the body of any physical, mental, emotional or psychosomatic ailments by identifying the root of a dysfunction and practicing a set of techniques (asana, pranayama, meditation or relaxation techniques) intended to address the problem. It seems obvious to yoga teachers that people who suffer from problems ranging from persistent lower back pain to depression have been flocking to our classes in an attempt to alleviate their symptoms. 

For example, a person suffering from intense lower back pain as a result of a ruptured disc might see a physical therapist and come away with some exercises that help stretch the back and correct any misalignments. Similarly, someone who sees a yoga therapist for the same problem will likely come away with a series of yoga techniques to practice in order to accomplish the same purpose of stretching the back and correcting the body’s bad habits. The difference is that physical therapy is truly focused on the physical, whereas yoga therapy works holistically to address the health of entire person on all levels of existence.  In turn, student become more aware of methods to reduce or prevent pain.

This self-awareness is also a reason that people with psychosomatic ailments like depression or anxiety try yoga. Not only are there physical and hormonal benefits derived from the exercise part of yoga, but achieving personal balance and more complete awareness can lead to the improvement of problems rooted in the psyche as well as the body.

Can Power Yoga be Practiced as Therapy?

Due to the fact that power yoga is a physical challenge, the answer to whether it can be used as therapy depends on the problem as well as the approach of the instructor or therapist. Many therapists prefer to work through poses at a slower pace to allow for more concentrated effort on each pose, but some advocate power yoga for certain cases. Clearly, because of the individualized nature of yoga therapy, power yoga can also be used as a form therapy, or adjunct therapy, for mental and emotional balance.  However, it is not always the preferred school of yoga for cases where students have physical ailments.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

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Yoga Poses to Nurture the Air Element

May 6th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins

An awareness of the air element is one of most fundamental principals in the practice of Yoga asanas and pranayama techniques. Although there are five different vayus, according to ancient Yogic texts, the two main vayus, or movement of vital winds in the body, are prana vayu and apana vayu. Prana vayu is the expansive, outward moving quality of the breath, whereas apana vayu is the contacting, downward, expelling movement of the breath. Different Yoga poses and pranayama exercises cultivate each vayu to varying degrees. Some Yoga asanas and breathing exercises cultivate the balance of prana and apana vayus. Restorative Supta Baddha Konasana is one such pose.

Restorative Supta Baddha Konasana

To practice Restorative Supta Baddha Konasana, you will need a Yoga mat, a bolster or a blanket and an eye pillow. If you do not have an aromatherapy eye pillow, an easy way to make one is to fold a wash cloth lengthwise and place it in the freezer for five or ten minutes prior to your Yoga practice. If you have a calming essential oil, such as lavender or rose, you may wish to sprinkle a few drops on your washcloth when you take it out of the freezer. If you do not own a bolster, roll a soft blanket around two foam blocks into the approximate size and shape of a Yoga bolster. When you are ready, come to Easy Seat on your Yoga mat.

Take a few full breaths and then bring your legs into a diamond shape on your mat with the soles of your feet touching. Place the bolster or rolled blanket on the mat behind you, so that the bottom of your shoulder blades will be supported by the blanket or bolster. Gently lie backwards over your bolster or blanket. Adjust the bolster or blanket if necessary. When you are comfortable, place the eye bag over your eyes. Draw your attention inward and begin to focus on your breath. Feel your heart expanding as you inhale fully and feel the downward movement of your breath through your pelvic floor as you exhale completely.

Continue this breathing practice for several minutes, expanding with each inhale and releasing the prana through your pelvic floor with each exhale. In this way, you are cultivating a balance between prana and apana vayus. When you are ready, remove your eye bag and roll to your right side. Pause for a few breaths and then push yourself gently up into Easy Seat. Feel the expansion of your heart area as the prana moves more freely throughout your entire being. Feel the apana vayu through the openness of your pelvis and the grounding of your sit bones on the mat. You may wish to meditate for a few minutes before returning to the rest of your day.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

 

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Mindfulness Meditation to Suppress Anxiety

May 5th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins

Many studies have recently shown, much to the delight of the yoga community, that mindfulness meditation is scientifically verified to help reduce anxiety. It is sometimes called mindfulness-based stress reduction, or MBSR, when studied in a scientific setting, but it is a mindful form of meditation through and through. These studies show particular promise for mindfulness meditation in the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD, and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy. Hybrids between cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation have even been developed, called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Participants who undergo mindfulness-based cognitive therapy are found to have a reduction not only in anxiety symptoms, but also depression symptoms.

Research into the effect of meditation on social anxiety has revealed a mindful form of meditation can actually change the self-image of participants. In one study headed by psychology researcher Philippe Goldin, participants meditated and then were told to select adjectives that described them. After meditation, they were more likely to select adjective such as “admired” or “loved” but less likely to pick adjective such as “coward” or “afraid.” In fact, participants showed favor toward all positive words after meditation. This suggests a mindful meditation actually bestows a feeling of well being on the practitioner, with radical psychological consequences, rather than simply raising awareness or giving the practitioner more tools.

The effect of self-knowledge and awareness certainly shouldn’t be underestimated either. Long touted as the primary psychological benefit of being mindful during meditation, it has far-reaching consequences, particularly for social anxiety sufferers. Since anxiety is formed from negative emotions in the past and unhelpful projections into the future, bringing awareness to the moment cuts off the main mechanism of social anxiety, and indeed anxiety in general. Those who practice mindfulness meditation learn to see their thoughts for what they are, simply thoughts and not necessarily truths. This helps anxiety sufferers detach from the spiral of negative thoughts that so often causes anxiety, freeing their emotions to respond to other things. Eventually, this can stop the habitual cycle of self-defeating thoughts all together.

To practice mindfulness meditation only takes ten minutes out of your day. Some meditate for longer periods, and some meditate for shorter periods, but ten minutes is the recommended time to help with psychological issues. Simply find a quiet place to sit or lie down, and close your eyes. Concentrate on each breath. Thoughts will arise; simply observe them. With continued practice, you’ll learn much about yourself and improve your quality of life. Though this form of meditation really is as simple as that, it can help to have a teacher or course as a beginner if only for your own confidence.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga for Heart Health

May 4th, 2012

yoga instructor trainingBy Faye Martins

Very often, teachers are asked about Yoga for heart health.  Now, we have some medical and scientific research to reference.  According to the American Heart Association, diet and lifestyle are crucial to preventing heart disease, and Yoga shows promise in dealing with both. A way of life that is thousands of years old, while it incorporates body, mind and spirit; Yoga is far more than physical exercise, and western science is confirming what swamis knew long ago. The ancient healing art has the potential to fight disease, improve quality of life and save millions of dollars spent on health care each year.

Ten Ways Yoga Helps to Prevent and Manage Heart Disease

1. Lowers blood pressure

2. Eases palpitations and other symptoms

3. Facilitates recovery

4. Balances the metabolic system

5. Lowers risk factors

6. Improves breathing and increases circulation

7. Reduces anxiety and depression

8. Improves balance and reduces risks of falls

9. Strengthens immune system

10.Helps to maintain stamina and agility

Evidence that Yoga Helps Fight Heart Disease 

Researchers at the Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention in Iowa, in conjunction with the Medical College of Wisconsin, followed a randomly chosen sample of African American patients with heart disease for five to nine years. One group practiced meditation for 15 to 20 minutes a day in addition to taking medication for hypertension, and the other received only medication. Researchers found that the group who practiced meditation had half the chance of dying of strokes, heart attacks and other causes when compared to the group who took medication alone. The meditators also showed considerable reductions in stress levels and blood pressure. 

Likewise, Yoga helps to control heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of the heart’s response to changes in the autonomic nervous system. Indian researchers examined the electrocardiograms of 42 healthy Yogis and 42 people who did not do Yoga. Participants ranged between 18 and 48 years old. Findings showed that Yoga practitioners not only had greater autonomic control over heart rate; they also had healthier hearts. 

Other research suggests that Yoga helps to control the most common form of irregular heart rhythm, (atrial fibrillation 0r AFIB), significantly decreasing the risk of strokes. Based on research presented to the American College of Cardiology, participants who took three Yoga classes per week experienced half as many episodes of AFIB as they did before taking up the practice. The study measured results over three months. Depression and anxiety decreased, as well. 

Finally, good news from the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India raises the possibility that Yoga might actually be capable of reversing heart disease in addition to reducing cholesterol and anxiety. In spite of the fact that these studies may have been small, they leave little doubt that the practice of Yoga is good for the heart and the soul.

Conclusion

While these studies look good, it’s too early to say the word: “cure.”  The results indicate Yoga can improve and prevent heart health problems. When talking to your students, citing studies is one thing, but never give any medical advice unless you are a physician. 

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Chair Yoga for Social Interaction

May 3rd, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins

Many people think Yoga in a chair is specifically designed for seniors. While chair Yoga is popular among seniors, it must be remembered that lack of mobility or flexibility are the primary reasons why students come to our classes. Automobile accidents, sudden trauma, and neurological disorders also top the many reasons why someone may be using a chair as the main prop in a Yoga class.

With that said, it must be remembered that a lack of mobility will make one’s world smaller. If I sit in a wheelchair during my waking hours, my level of social activities may not be optimum. There are exceptions, but most of us need some bonding time with others.

Yoga teachers who work with disabled students in classes, private sessions, or in their homes are aware of the time it takes to do tasks that most of us take for granted. Yoga in a chair has such a profound impact on mental health that it would be a huge mistake to view it as a purely physical practice.

While the emotional and physical benefits of seated yoga are widely known, one may be surprised by this activity’s positive impact on the social side of things as well. Chair yoga classes offer a great opportunity for the socialization necessary for high levels of self-esteem and happiness. This is quite valuable since getting the social interaction one needs can be quite a challenge, especially for the aging or disabled.

For most people, relationships seem to be forged automatically, but in reality they are the direct result of the activities we do on a daily basis. Work, one of the most time consuming of all activities, provides the average individual with a large portion of their social contacts. Seniors and certain disabled individuals may lack that golden opportunity for human interaction on a daily basis if they aren’t employed.

Yoga in a chair offers individuals a great method for socializing without anxiety, nervousness or awkwardness. Everyone is focused on the teacher so no one needs to feel self-conscious, yet everyone in the group is united in reaching a common goal, which gives a sense of unity to all involved.

Individuals may be uncomfortable with performing chair yoga in a group, but the practice of yoga itself will help relieve this anxiety naturally. Yoga in a chair activates the parasympathetic system, which is the polar opposite of the fight-or-flight response. When individuals have bouts of anxiety-induced social panic, the sympathetic system is to blame. The breathing during Yoga classes counters this and allows people to truly connect with others, which prevents baseless negative emotions from getting in the way.

One of the ways humans learn about themselves is through observing how their own innate strengths differ from those of others. Chair yoga classes are a perfect platform for this type of group social interaction. The non-competitive atmosphere honors the uniqueness of each individual, which gives them a comfortable space to be in and provides people from different walks of life an opportunity to become part of something that constantly improves the quality of life. Studies show that being a part of a group increases emotional stability and happiness, while chair Yoga is a comfortable group activity that can easily be added to any lifestyle.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga Distance Learning Education

May 2nd, 2012

yoga teacher certificationBy Faye Martins 

With the advent of the Internet, the opportunities to advance your learning have increased more than anyone could have imagined 20 years ago. You can find distance learning education classes on almost any topic, including yoga teaching. Taking these classes off-site has many benefits. Two of the biggest benefits are saving money and having more quality time with distance learning education.

Exactly how much money and time could you save by training to become a yoga instructor with distance learning? To calculate the monetary savings we need to look at gas expenses and tuition. For this example, we will use $4.00 per gallon as the cost of gas. We will also say your car gets 35 miles per gallon. You live 35 miles from campus. Using these numbers, each time you go to campus and back costs you $8.00 worth of gas. If classes meet twice a week you spend $16 per week, or $74 per month, just for gas.

When you factor in tuition for an on-campus program at about $2000 to $15,000, your costs only increase. A good quality distance learning programs to become a yoga teacher costs about $600. That is a minimum potential savings of $1400.

How much time will you save if you take classes at home? For our example, you live an hour away from campus, depending on traffic, and your classes meet twice a week in the evenings for three hours each time. That amounts to four hours of commute time per week, or 16 hours per month. Now add in the actual class time (for our example) of six hours per week or 24 hours per month. You will spend about 40 hours per month commuting and attending class! That is an entire workweek! And, we have not even included homework time, or possibly working a second job to pay for classes.

Clearly, you will have more quality time with distance learning education than if you attended classes on-campus. If you are like most people, you will spend the 40 hours you save taking classes at home with your family and friends. You will not have to worry about neglecting them and all the associated stress. They will appreciate that and probably be more supportive when you do have to study. Perhaps best of all, since there is less overall stress the time you do spend together really will be quality time.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Surrendering to a Yoga Posture

May 1st, 2012

yoga instructor trainingBy Faye Martins

When leading classes, yoga instructors often guide students toward “surrendering into a pose,” but what do we really mean?  A lot of the focus on yoga, around the world, highlights the physical benefits available to its practitioners. Modern versions of vinyasa practice include an aerobic style of yoga that encourages challenging poses and cardiovascular fitness. Ancient forms of yoga, however, emphasized a balance between the spiritual, physical and inner (mental) practice.

This ability to balance internal and external energy is rooted in meditation, breathing techniques and the focus on the chakras, or energy centers. Yoga practitioners can utilize asanas and pranayama to access the chakras.  Also, different poses and meditation techniques allow practitioners to concentrate on each of the seven energy centers. Synchronizing breathing with movements can also align energy channels to encourage release and relaxation.

Surrender

Surrender is not an easy practice for anyone. People who are able to exercise some control over their lives struggle with this principle of letting go of fear, anxiety, stress and worry. But as a practitioner works through a yoga pose, holding it through balance, breathing and inner focus or meditation, it becomes easier to let go of these negative emotions.

Surrendering to a yoga posture might be an alienating experience at first. It takes practice and discipline to continue releasing energy and control whenever tension occurs. Experienced yogis know that an encounter with physical tension requires a focus on breathing and letting go. Persisting in this type of surrender will soon enable practitioners to release the tension of an entire day through a yoga session.

Pose Variety

Although beginners might find it easier to surrender to a relaxation yoga pose like corpse, this is only half the battle. The internal and external balance that practitioners achieve in yoga also reflects a balance of contraction and release. Thus, learning how to surrender to the difficult, physically challenging poses is important, too. In discovering how to push through to deeper release even through external difficulties, yogis can achieve balance.

As individuals progress from beginner practice to regularly challenging themselves with more challenging asanas, it will take time for their bodies to respond with full relaxation. Because yoga’s physical practice is directly related to its philosophy about the inner life, yogis should approach a pose as an opportunity to work through life’s problems. When this is done, then practitioners can more fully realize the holistic benefits of surrender – a letting go of the inner struggle through a working out of physical struggle.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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