Archive for March, 2007

Attleboro Yoga / Pilates FAQ’s

Aura Wellness Center in downtown Attleboro, at 21 Park Street, Suite 202, has Yoga and Pilates classes.

Below are some commonly asked questions and answers about Yoga benefits and history.

Is Yoga an exercise?

Yoga is a health maintenance system, which means that it contains exercises, but is much more than an exercise system. In fact, many exercise systems, and health maintenance systems are “spin offs” of Yoga. Pilates and most of the Asian martial arts can trace their roots back to Yoga.

Can I learn Yoga, if I am over 40?

Yes, in fact our Yoga teachers are all over 40 years of age. Age is a non-factor because each posture can be modified and Yoga props are available for all students at Aura Wellness Center.

I would love to learn Yoga, but I see the cover of Yoga Journal, and I am not a thin person. Would I be welcome in a Yoga class?

Yes, Yoga students at our wellness center in Attleboro come in all shapes and sizes. You will not feel out of place. You will feel welcome. We are all working toward being the best we can be.

Will Yoga help me lose weight?

Yes, any form of exercise will help you burn calories, but Yoga will cause you to make a life style change. You will become more aware of what you eat and drink. How much sleep you get is also important in controlling your weight.

So, there are many factors involved in controlling our weight. You will learn to look at, listen to, and feel your body. If you feel stuffed, bloated, and tired all the time, your body is sending you a message.

Unfortunately, many people are so busy, they don’t listen to their bodies. Yoga creates complete awareness.
This is not complicated, and the fact that you are interested in a Yoga class for the purpose of weight control, means that you, or loved one, needs to make a permanent change in life style.

How often should I attend a Yoga Class in Attleboro?

Optimum attendance is two Yoga, or Pilates, sessions per week, or more, but life can be hectic. You should consider scheduling some practice time at home, if you attend classes at our Attleboro studio only once per week.

How, when, and where did Yoga come to be?

Yoga started in the Indus Valley Region approximately 5,000 years ago. The Yogic scriptures date back 3500 years ago and artifacts have been discovered that date back earlier.

What is Pilates?

Pilates was named after Joseph Pilates’ original exercise method. Joseph Pilates was a Yoga practitioner and a martial artist, so there are some similarities to Yoga. Especially, movement based forms of Yoga such as: Vinyasa and Kundalini.

The Pilates Method breathing is a bit different, and you will learn to pull your stomach in during Pilates exercises.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – April Schedule
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Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts of Attleboro,

Below is our April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
*Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

*Saturday Yoga / Pilates class will end on May 19, 2007 for the Summer Schedule.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

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Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

You work hard every day and come home, “stressed out.” How do you find tranquility and inner-peace? The answer is: Take a Yoga class in Attleboro.

Yoga contains many physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional, aspects for the holistic health of mankind. Yet, how many real pro-active people do you know?

If you visit Aura Wellness Center in down town Attleboro, you will meet many like-minded people who take care of themselves.

Some of the more well known Yogic techniques taught at the Attleboro Yoga studio (Aura Wellness Center) are asana (postures), meditation, pranayama (breathing) and relaxation, but there is a lot more to Yoga than techniques.

It is the “Yoga off the mat,” which causes life changing results. For example: Let’s look at meditation a bit closer.

Many people practice Yoga meditation in the morning or evening, when the rest of their family is in bed. If you wake up early, the morning should suit you. However, if you go to bed late, then meditate at night.

This is the easiest way to develop a regular Yoga meditation routine, create a steady practice, and calm your mind.

It will take a few weeks to feel results, but they come from practice. What kind of results can you expect from meditation?

Some of the many meditation benefits include: happiness, emotional stability, creativity, and clear thought. You can also reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, moodiness, and depression, with a regular meditation practice. There are many more benefits from meditation, which can be measured on the physical and mental levels.

When you are not meditating, you can forgive others, give to others, be mindful, avoid judging others, show loving kindness, and do not seek rewards. You will see that rewards will come back to you, which is fine, but do not refuse loving kindness from others.

This is the Law of Karma. You perform an action and the universe responds with a reaction. You accept the universal reaction. You help people and people help you.

Yoga has sometimes been accused of having self-indulgent practitioners by religious fundamentalists. This is interesting because Yoga welcomes everyone and has practitioners from every religion. Yoga does not discriminate.

So, how do you find tranquility and inner-peace? Forgive the foolish because it will do no good to hate them and it is a waste of energy. Give to those who need because giving is the greatest reward in life. Become a “fountain” of loving kindness and good things will be magnetized to you.

Some will ask, “Why should you forgive, give, be mindful, or show loving kindness?” The answer is: Because it is right, and it is too much work to avoid helping those who need it.

Say good-bye to stress and anxiety; join a Yoga class in Attleboro.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – April Schedule
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Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts of Attleboro,

Below is our April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
*Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

*Saturday Yoga / Pilates class will end on May 19, 2007 for the Summer Schedule.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

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Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Todd Lavergne

Yoga works very well through meditation to gain tranquility and assists the mind to work in harmony with the body. Many times we are not able to complete our daily activities appropriately and in an acceptable manner because agitation and struggles in our mind put a great load on us.

Stress is the greatest factor that affects every single part of our emotional, physical and endocrinal system. Yoga can be used to correct many of these issues.

At the physical stage, the therapeutic practices of yoga have been verified to be very effective for various disorders.

There are many rewards to Yoga.

Rewards of Yoga 1: Your flexibility will increase by using Yoga. The positions that Yoga uses will activate a variety of joints in the body. Many of these joints are not stimulated during regular exercise.

Rewards of Yoga 2: The lubrication of tendons, ligament and joints will be maximized. Studies have proven that the ligaments and tendons get exercised in the body by the Yoga positions.

Your body may have been stiff when you started Yoga but research has shown that amazing flexibility is gained in parts of the body that you did not think was worked.

Rewards of Yoga 3: The organs of the body get a massage. Yoga is probably the single greatest exercise that can thoroughly work on your internal organs, along with the others that seldom are externally stimulated during our whole life.

Rewards of Yoga 4: Yoga is very healthful to many body parts. The organs are aroused and stimulated and this in turn assists us by making disease stay away and giving us a warning of a possible occurrence of the onset of disease or disorder.

A great benefit of Yoga is the remarkable feeling of awareness that it creates in the practitioner of a coming infection or health problem. This will allow the person to take preventive action.

Rewards of Yoga 5: Yoga can totally detoxify the whole body. It massages the different organs as the joints and muscles are stretched. Yoga makes sure the best blood supply is provided throughout the body.

This will ensure the toxins are cleaned out from every small part of your body as well as providing nutrition up to the last point. This will result in more energy, delayed aging and an increased passion for life.

Rewards of Yoga 6: It is a great way to tone your muscles. Muscles which are not firm will need to be excited over and over again to get rid of flaccidity and excess fats.

But these great rewards are just a “side effect” of this wonderful practice. Yoga will synchronize the body with the mind and this results in real benefits.

It is now openly known that the mind’s will has helped people to perform incredible physical feats which definitely confirms the body and mind connection.

In fact Yoga = meditation, because they work in harmony to achieve a common goal of peace of body, mind and spirit. This can lead to a very joyful experience that only Yoga can make you feel.

The different techniques used by Yoga will assist in acquiring a balance of your emotions through detachment.

This will create a wonderful peacefulness and a positive attitude, which provides great benefits for the body.

To find more great Yoga tips please visit:

http://www.YogaIsHealthy.com

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – April Schedule
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Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts of Attleboro,

Below is our April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Saturday Yoga / Pilates class will end on May 19, 2007 for the Summer Schedule.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

——————————————–
Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–

By Sharon Mirin

If you only had one choice, what would you do to keep yourself physically and mentally fit: breathe through yoga, or stretch through pilates? While nobody can deny the various benefits that can be derived from either teaching, haven’t you ever wondered which of the two is better in helping people achieve physical and mental health?

Talking about Yoga – The philosophy behind Yoga is purely a product from the East and places emphasis on the movement of energy throughout a person’s body. If the energy inside our bodies is able to move more freely, this is taken as an indication that our physical health is improving.

Tension, stress, anxiety, and other similar emotions however represent obstacles to the free movement of energy. This is where yoga comes in. Yoga teaches people how to maintain the flexibility of the body by various movements, body positions, and stretching techniques. Through yoga exercises, people will be able to prevent their bodies from being rigid and consequently, making it easier for energy to flow throughout our body.

The body positions taught in yoga have a secondary purpose, and this is to improve mental health. No, it naturally doesn’t make a lunatic suddenly sane. Instead, such body positions will help people achieve better mental clarity and composure.

Talking about Pilates – Pilates on the other hand is an idea born from Western culture, or more specifically, the mind of Mr. Joseph Pilates.

Pilates exercises were created because of his intention to improve the rehabilitation program for casualties of the First World War. He proceeded on to making various machines that will help injured soldiers regain their physical abilities by stretching, strengthening, and stabilizing key muscles.

Pilates exercises take several forms. Stretching exercises, for instance, are preferred by dancers because of its notable effectiveness on helping them be more in tune with their bodies. Through pilates exercises, dancers are better able to understand their bodies and move gracefully. The use of machines in pilates exercises, on the other hand, is very much similar to weight training. And last but not the least is the latest fad in pilates and which involves the use of mats.

When doing either yoga or pilates exercises, it’s best that a person find a private room to work out. Wear comfortable clothes to allow yourself a wider range of movement. Use a step-by-step approach for both exercises. Attempting advanced techniques can easily lead to physical injuries.

Be sure that every one of this tow exercises method can help you improve your life, and keeping the most valuable thing that you have – your body.

Educate yourself with new Methods of Yoga and learn what is the Pilates basics at the Yoga guide at http://yoga.zupatips.com

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – March Schedule
——————————————–

Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts of Attleboro,

Below is our March / April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Saturday Yoga / Pilates class will end on May 19, 2007 for the Summer Schedule.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

——————————————–
Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–

By James C

Yoga is a great exercise to take up if you are looking to get in shape and deal with stress. It is an exercise that anyone can do for the rest of their life. If you are considering taking up yoga, keep reading and learn the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Can I still do yoga if I am not very flexible? Yes you can, yoga is not just about flexibility. It is about relaxation and holding poses. Through yoga you will find that you also will become more flexible just do not push yourself too hard. It takes time.

Do men do yoga? Yes of course. In fact yoga has become much more popular for men over the last few years. Men get all of the same benefits that women do such as increased flexibility, strength and stress reduction.

Where and when did yoga originate? Yoga is thousands and thousands of years old and originated in India. If it has endured this many years here must be something to it.

Will yoga help me lose weight? Yes yoga can help you lose weight. It will give you the discipline to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eliminate temptations to eat junk food and will help ease stress. Stress causes you to gain weight and reducing it might help you reduce your weight.

How often should I do yoga? A good start would be to go for a 60 minute class twice a week. It is hard to overdo it however and if you could do 30 minutes every day you would be in good shape. A little every day is better than a lot all at once.

Hopefully this article has answered your questions on yoga. If you need more information you should contact a local yoga studio in your area. Try out a class or two, you won’t be disappointed.

Learn about Hatha yoga studios at the author’s website on yoga and pilates http://www.yoga-studios.com

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – March Schedule
——————————————–

Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts,

Below is our March / April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Saturday Yoga / Pilates class will end on May 19, 2007 for the Summer Schedule.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

——————————————–
Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–

By Diwakar Vashist

If anybody has to practice yoga at a young age, people would remark, “Yoga, so early?” Even now many people still think that yoga is only a pastime for retired people, but I always felt that yoga has more to do with the evolution of the human mind and the human body.

Mind preparation for yoga
When you want to prepare a garden, grow flowers and trees, what do you do? Do you just sprinkle seeds? Many people might do that, but nothing would grow. First you have to prepare the soil, make it soft and pull out the weeds. Then you can sow the seeds and they will grow into nice flowers and fruit-bearing trees. The same law applies to the human mind. The mind has to be prepared for accepting the seeds. The mind assumes many stages. There are certain stages where nothing goes into the head. Surely you have met such people in your life. Whatever you tell them falls on deaf ears; nothing penetrates their brain. They are like hard soil, and the best of seeds will not grow there. No matter

how much you work at it. Then there are some people who are like soft soil. When you tell them something, they are completely responsive. These people have what are called receptive minds. Therefore, what is important in yoga is that we try to transform the quality of consciousness. They everything can be planted in the mind without any obstruction.

Place of Super Mind

In fact, millions of years ago pineal gland played an active role in the development of the human brain. Therefore, people of those times has greater psychic and spiritual qualities and better control over their emotions, but with the passage of time the pineal gland has followed a course of degeneration.

In yoga, the pineal gland is said to be the physical correlate of ‘ AJANA CHAKRA’. Mystics and occultists refer to it as the third eye and philosophers call it the super mind. The pineal gland is very active in children, but by the time they reach the age of eight or ten it begins to calcify, and in elderly people it has little or no role to play in life.

This is very unfortunate because in yoga the pineal gland is considered to be the controlling and monitoring station in the brain. Just as an airport has a control tower. The human brain also has a directing, regulating and blocking tower, which controls all the faculties of the brain. In yoga we call this control station ‘AJANA CHAKARA’ ; the word ‘AJANA’ itself means monitoring, ordering or regulating.

When the pineal gland starts to degenerate, the pituitary gland comes into action and the action and the emotions shoot up. This is the reason why so many children become emotionally unbalanced and disturbed during their adolescent and adolescent years.

Adrenal glands have a very important role to play in the child’s moral behaviour. Usually, those with criminal tendencies have a overactive adrenal system.

Yogic system of education
There are various processes through which knowledge can be implanted in the human brain. During the last few decades many methods have been introduced into the educational system. The oldest method, of course, is teaching in a classroom with a cane. When the child is intelligent give him high mark, and when he is dull give him a big zero. The teacher gives a lecture, writes the points on a blackboard and the student is expected to understand. If he does not then give him a cross. This is a system of teaching, but not a system of education.

At every moment of our lives, right from birth, we are constantly receiving impressions, but these are not registered in the same form as when they went in. they are registered in the form of symbolic vibrations. Have the educators developed a system to teach children which works like this?

Geography, history, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, botany or anything can be taught through symbolic methods. This is the form of education which has to be used for the dull type of student. You can explain a certain concept to an intelligent child and he will understand it, but the dull child will not know what you are talking about because his conscious brain, his intellect, is incapable of receiving the knowledge that you are giving him. Therefore, you will have to transmit the knowledge in a symbolic form directly into his subconscious mind. This is precisely the system of education in yoga.

Author Diwakar vashist is a senior consultant of Institute of vedic science, New Delhi, India. he is working on the ancient vedic sciences i.e. vedic astrology, vedic vastu, hatha yoga, meditation etc. for more related informations visit http://www.shreevedic.com.

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – March Schedule
——————————————–

Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts,

Below is our March / April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Saturday Yoga / Pilates class will end on May 19, 2007 for the Summer Schedule.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

——————————————–
Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–

By Jake Kennedy

The answer to the question in the title of this article, ‘Will Yoga Help Weight Loss?’, is a resounding ‘YES’. Yoga WILL help weight loss and has been proven to do so. Yoga will work on both your body and mind to provide a new and leaner you.

Yoga is well known for it’s abilities to create a wonderful state of relaxation in the practitioner which has been proven to lower blood pressure and many other physical ailments. It is also a great way to remove that access weight that has been plaguing you for months or years.

The reason that Yoga is such an effective way to lose weight is that it burns calories at a much faster rate. It increases one’s metabolism, thus speeding up the rate at which calories burn.

There are many forms of yoga. Some practices, like power yoga, is a much more active form which will burn calories much faster than other yoga practices like ashtanga yoga. Power yoga though is NOT for the faint hearted. Like all forms of exercise you should check with your family doctor before setting off to engage in a new fitness regime.

It is becoming more and more recognised that overeating is related to our emotional state and our minds. Thus, a quieter mind, brought about through yoga practice will make it less likely that you will reach for that cream cake every time you get the urge.

This is not to say that you have to diet on celery and lettuce leaves. The idea of weight loss through yoga is to become relaxed about this area of your life that it causing you problems. That way you are in a better state to deal with it.

It is said that ‘what we resist, persists’. So, stilling the mind through yoga will certainly give you a more positive outlook on life and lead to a calmer mind and body.

Now, on to the physical aspects of yoga for weight loss -

It is not difficult to see that yoga exercise will burn those stubborn calories that you have been trying to rid yourself off. Have you watched some of the asanas or poses? Any physical activity at all will help you lose weight but the turning and twisting of yoga helps to break up the stores of fat and rid them through the body’s natural processes.

Don’t let the gentler forms of yoga fool you either. It looks very serene to watch those that have been practicing it for years. It almost looks as though there isn’t much going on. Believe me, you will be surprised at how much perspiration is generated by these simple poses. When I first started off on a half hour yoga regime of simple poses, I was absolutely surprised at how much workout I had actually achieved at the end of it.

Things do get easier as you progress and the feeling that yoga gives at the end of a workout is second to none. You WILL get a feeling of achievement and relaxation that you may have never felt before.

Keep at the yoga regime and the calories will surely burn off like you wouldn’t imagine.

For More Great Tips on Finally Ridding Yourself Off Those Stubborn Calories Through Yoga Check Out Will Yoga Help Weight Loss? and Healthy Body Diet

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – March Schedule
——————————————–

Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts,

Below is our March / April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Chakra Workshop is Friday, March 30, 2007 – 6 to 9 p.m.
Cost: $30 – Only 3 spaces left!

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

——————————————–
Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–

By Michael Russell

Yoga may be as old as 5000 years, according to some. One of the six schools of Hindu philosophy and very much a living tradition today, it antedates other major religions of the world. Its wisdom is timeless and its perspectives on health and wellness prescient.

Yoga, like all major religions and religious philosophies explores the relationship of mind, spirit and body. The Bhagavad Gita (“Song of the Lord”), written perhaps between 400 and 100 b.c.e., defines four major branches of yoga. Each is focused on an aspect of mind, spirit or body and explores their relationship from a different perspective.

* The first, Karma yoga, is the yoga of action in the world.

* The second, Jnana yoga, is the yoga of wisdom and intellectual endeavor.

* The third, Bhakti yoga, is the yoga of devotion to God.

* The fourth, Dhyana yoga, is the yoga of meditation.

Hatha yoga, a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama of the 15th century is based on the yoga of Patanjali, who wrote sometime between 200 b.c.e. and 300 c.e. Patanjali’s eight-step yogic system is a form of Raja yoga, meaning it presents meditation as the path to the ultimate goal of enlightenment.

Hatha yoga is the style most well-known in the West today. It focuses on purification of the physical as the path to purification of the mind and prana (vital energy). In this respect, it is very different from Patanjali’s yoga in that Patanjali’s yoga focuses on the purification of the mind as the path to purification of the prana and body.

In viewing the body as the path to the mind and spirit, yoga is similar to those western religions: which emphasize ritual practices as the path to spiritual understanding.

Hatha yoga practices Yoga applies a broad holistic approach that teaches people a different way of being in the world. Hatha yoga teaches this approach by way of a series of asanas, or positions. Asanas should be “steady but comfortable, firm but relaxed”, according to the teachings of classical yoga. A first step is to learn rhythmical yoga breathing (pranayama) and to maintain this rhythmical breathing throughout a posture.

For this reason – that is maintaining good breath – one of the first postures that is taught is savasana, or “the corpse” pose. Savasana is a supine asana. Lying on the back, one lets the arms and legs fall naturally at about a 45-degree angle from the body. Starting with the toes and moving upward through the body, one concentrates on each body part, feeling the rhythm of the blood moving through that part. The effect is to produce alert relaxation and regular deep breathing.

Asanas include standing exercises, sitting exercises, exercises which start from a position lying on one’s back, exercises which start from a position lying on one’s stomach and twisting exercises. Each position is held for a few moments. Early on in the practice of yoga, there may be a tendency to become so relaxed that one falls asleep. The proper state, however, is one of relaxed alertness. While doing the exercise, one should check that breath remains rhythmical throughout – and also that muscles which are not the current focus of the stretch remain relaxed.

Health effects of yoga practice: Yoga concentrates on the spine, which we know today is the sheath, which protects the central nervous system and thereby controls all parts of the body as well as mood and mental functioning. Indeed, manipulation of the spine for the benefit of health is the basis of chiropractic, with which many in the West are very familiar.

In a survey conducted by Yoga Biomedical Trust in 1983-84, 3000 individuals who engaged in yoga to treat a particular condition were asked how beneficial the treatment was. It was reported as most effective for back pain, benefiting 98% of respondents. It was also reported to be 96% effective in cases of nerve or muscle disease. In regard to heart disease and anxiety, respondents reported 94% improvement. And finally, with regard to alcoholism, respondents reported a whopping 100% improvement.

Based on chiropractic information, we can safely assume that yoga might be directed toward treating specific physical issues like, for example, thyroid dysfunction. If the T6 (thoracic) vertebra is affected in such a way as to impinge on the nerve that goes to the thyroid, it will affect thyroid function. Conversely relieving this stress on the nerve, if appropriate yoga practice is introduced early enough, can reverse the problem.

Yoga nutrition

Yoga nutrition emphasizes foods that promote prana, or vital energy and to eat them in such a way that these foods have the maximum opportunity to do their work. This means that, according to yogic principles, one should eat small quantities of the best quality foods – those that produce the minimum of toxins and in quantities such that the body is not overtaxed through the process of digestion. These foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

According to yogis, the best food is fruit, which contributes most to life force. It is a source of energy, which, all else being equal, does not produce toxins in the process of digestion. Yogis emphasize freshness and raw foods. A food, which must be approached with great caution, is meat, which does produce toxic waste products as it is metabolized in the body.

Interestingly, these principles are those which modern medical science is demonstrating are valid today. Drs. Roizen and Oz, in The Owners Manual Diet, recommend eating when hungry, not famished and including at least two snacks. Foods to eat on a daily basis and the foundation of the diet are fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. This diet goes hand-in-hand with a program of physical activity directed toward flexibility and strength, as is the yoga “diet”.

Conclusion

On a recent Oprah show, Dr. Roizen indicated that the next important medical development will be a greater focus on “energy” medicine, bringing us full circle to the perennial puzzle, the one with which we began: the connection between mind, body and spirit and how we integrate between them to reach our fullest potential as human begins. This is the question that hatha yoga addresses, and the teaching is that by learning to speak with our body, we address our minds and souls, increasing the clarity and strength of each.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Yoga

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – March Schedule
——————————————–

Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts,

Below is our March / April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Chakra Workshop is Friday, March 30, 2007 – 6 to 9 p.m.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

——————————————–
Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–

By William Sonia

Among practitioners of Hinduism and Buddhism, yoga is practiced as a means on enlightenment; while in the West, yoga is now practiced as both an effective physical and spiritual routine. However, contrary to popular belief, yoga is not considered a form of exercise because unlike the the speedy motion required in an workout, yoga involves very slow and steady movements.

But still, regular practice of yoga provides great health benefits, as it tones the muscles as well as relieves stress, strengthens concentration, and reduces the aging process. There are prerequisites to yoga that you should follow to attain its maximum benefits. Please follow our guide to attain maximum benefits.

Practice yoga everyday – Make yoga a habit for at least 30 to 45 minutes.

Know your body limits – Try not to overextend your stretches. If you push too hard, you could hurt yourself in the process.

Consult your physician first – People with certain medical conditions should practice yoga minimally to avoid worsening of their ailments.

Yoga is best practiced during early mornings – If you have to do yoga in an afternoon or evening, remember to have an empty stomach. Consume solid foods 3 ½ hours before yoga, while liquids should be drank one hour before practicing.

Choose the right yoga space – Practice yoga on a spacious, clean, airy, and bright area, away from much disturbances. And don’t forget your yoga mat or other comfortable mat that you can use during postures that require lying down.

Wear comfortable clothing – Make sure your garments are loose and clean. Undergarments are necessary.

Pregnant or menstruating women should avoid practicing yoga – This routine involves several body bends and pressures on the back, which could affect pregnancy and menstruation.

If you can, follow a vegetarian diet – Most practitioners of yoga are also vegetarians since yoga slows down the metabolism. If you have difficulty venturing to vegetarianism, try consuming lesser foods.

Begin by breathing deeply – The yoga poses (or asanas) usually start in breathing slowly and deeply as you concentrate your mind and make yourself centered. Remember that your body movements and breathing must be coordinated until such time that they are united. Your breathing also serves as your guide on when to start or stop the yoga position.

Move gracefully – In yoga, movement flows like air. Come into a pose slowly yet gracefully, hold that pose for several minutes, and come out of it with the same graceful and continuous movement.

Visit http://freediets.com for more information about yoga, diets and weight loss by Sonia William

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – March Schedule
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Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts,

Below is our March / April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Chakra Workshop is Friday, March 30, 2007 – 6 to 9 p.m.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

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Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Michael Hawkins

What are the health benefits of Yoga? Well, to answer shortly; they are very great and work in countless of ways – but that would have been a too short an article.

Stress is the number one cause troubling every section of our emotional, endocrinal and physical system. But with the assistance of yoga these things may be corrected.

At the physical level, Yoga and its cleansing practices has been demonstrated as extremely substantial for various health problems.

Discussed here below are just a selection of the benefits of Yoga that you can get.

Healthy Joints and Body

Yoga is known to increase flexibility; yoga has positions that work on the specific joints of the body. Counting in those joints that are not stimulated with ordinary exercise systems.

Yoga similarly promotes the lubrication of joints, ligament and tendons. The carefully studied yoga positions develop the various ligaments and tendons in the body.

It has likewise proven to be true that the body which may have started doing yoga as a rigid one can produce a quite astonishing flexibility all things considered – even in locations of the body which have not been intentionally put effort into.

Yoga grants a definitive detoxification of the body. It gently stretches the muscles and joints while massaging the various organs at the same time. It also ensures optimal blood flow to various parts of the body.

This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every little crevice of your body as well as offering nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as slowed down ageing, higher levels of energy and a formidable appetite for life.

Yoga moreover massages all organs of the body. Yoga is possibly the only exercise that can have effect on your internal organs in a thorough demeanour, along with those that hardly get externally stimulated over an entire lifetime.

The health benefits of yoga act in various ways on the different parts of the body. The revitalization and manipulation of the organs for example, in turn helps us by repelling sickness and providing a forewarning at the first conceivable instance of a most likely outbreak of disease or health problem.

An example of the complex benefits of Yoga is the uncanny sense of mindfulness of an imminent infection or ailment, that it develops in the practitioner. This consequently makes possible for the person to take pre-emptive curative measures.

The most under trained muscle – your mind

Yoga is in addition a fantastic way to tone your muscles. Muscles that have been powerless and ill-defined are stimulated over and over to drop excessive fats and flaccidity.

But these awesome physical benefits are just a “side effect” of this effective habit. The stuff yoga does is harmonize the mind with the body and this is what produces the real quantum benefits.

It is nowadays an open secret that the will of the mind has enabled people in general to accomplish bizarre physical feats, which beyond doubt demonstrates the mind and body connection.

In fact, Yoga = meditation, seeing as how both of them work in tandem in reaching the common aim of unity of mind, body and spirit which can lead to an feeling of boundless joy that you can only feel through Yoga.

Although this may sound quite abstract in a very “hippie-flower-power” kind of way, it is very beneficial in order to maintain emotional balance – something that is getting harder and harder with the pace of our modern society.

As it is quite clear, also from the aspect of western medicine, that the physical and mental health go hand in hand a calm and harmonious mind can definitely be said to be one of the greatest health benefits of Yoga.

To learn more about the many benefits of Yoga visit Michael Hawkins website, where you can download a Yoga book that clearly outlines all major benefits that this practice has to offer.

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Attleboro Yoga & Pilates Classes – March Schedule
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Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts,

Below is our March / April 2007 – Yoga / Pilates Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yoga / Pilates Body Sculpting

Chakra Workshop is Friday, March 30, 2007 – 6 to 9 p.m.

Aura Wellness Center
21 Park St.Suite 202, 2nd Floor
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092

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Attleboro Yoga Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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