Archive for November, 2007

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Among the many purposes of mantra, japa, affirmations, or prayer, is to keep the mind under control. When left unattended the mind can travel to many random thoughts, at the same time. It is guaranteed that an unattended mind cannot be fixed upon positive thoughts all the time. For some of us, the mind is programmed to default to negative thoughts automatically.

This can be a result of past experience; conditioning, heredity, or possibly this is an organic problem. In the case of an organic problem, professional help should be sought. Yoga therapy or Yoga sessions will still help, but a competent psychiatrist is still needed.

If the source of low self-esteem is in your past, you may be able to address it through self-analysis, meditation, or mindfulness. If it is too much to handle alone; a trusted friend, mentor, Guru, or counselor, may help you bury the past.

Meditation sessions should be spent pondering a positive solution. Meditation time should never be spent on negative thoughts, or rehashing past mistakes. We cannot change the past and we must realize what parts of our lives can realistically be controlled. There are situations in life, which are far beyond our control, and we have to come to a realization about the limits of our control.

We are responsible for our actions. So, forgiving oneself for past mistakes is a difficult task for most of us. Yet, if we do not forgive ourselves, we prevent our own happiness. Self-worth and happiness must start from within.

We must accept the past, our friends, and our family, as they are. This is the practice of Santosha: To be content with life as it is. We cannot change the past, and we only will frustrate ourselves, if we try to change people, but we can change our own thinking process for the best.

Look at mistakes only for their educational value. All of us make mistakes, because we are human, but with every mistake there is also a hidden opportunity. This is what separates successful people from those who spend their lives dwelling on the past.

How many times have we heard a Yoga teacher say “Be present for practice” or “Live in the moment?” Many Yoga students practice Asana, but how many are really present for their practice? As we roll the Yoga mat up, and go about our lives, we should be present for life. This is a state of “mindfulness” or non-judgmental awareness. If you really want to raise your self-worth, stop judging yourself.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts of the Greater Attleboro Area,

The Winter Yoga / Pilates Session starts on January 14, 2008.

Winter Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: Private Sessions by Appointment Only
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Friday: Private Sessions by Appointment Only

Private sessions in downtown Attleboro for Yoga, Stress Management, Holistic Weight Control, Chair Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Pilates, Life Coaching, Personal Fitness Training, and Yoga Teacher CEC’s for Yoga Alliance, must be scheduled by appointment.

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

Phone: 508-222-0092

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Yoga Teacher Training in Massachusetts
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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, Paul
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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

It is important to understand that attaining a Yoga teacher’s diploma is only the beginning of the long journey; toward becoming the best possible Yoga teacher, you can be. The teacher’s journey is a daily continuation of the study and practice of Yoga.

The vast majority of those who desire to become a certified Yoga teacher have years, or decades, of experience. Some certified Yoga instructors taught for decades without an official teacher’s diploma. Most people do not wake up one morning, and suddenly decide to become a Yoga instructor, without years of Yoga practice, training, and experience.

That said – how much time is sufficient for a Yoga course to take? Some Yoga teacher training intensives take a single weekend. The only way a weekend intensive would cover a complete Yoga teacher training is if all the attendants were already Yoga instructors.

This type of weekend intensive, for experienced Yoga teachers, does exist; but we usually cover one, or a few, related topics over the course of a weekend. For example: A weekend intensive about Pranayama, Bandhas, and Mudras, would be a good blend of related subjects. You could easily go beyond a weekend working with Pranayama, alone.

However, to cover an entire Yoga teacher training syllabus over the course of an entire weekend is not really possible. Consider this: A weekend intensive is usually 20 to 30 hours of study and practice. The average Yoga instructor graduate spends a minimum of 200 study hours, before successful completion of his or her Yoga teacher training course.

At our training center in Attleboro, Massachusetts, a graduate of our on-site program attends 18 weekend intensives, over the course of 9 months. Home work assignments are also part of the study. Keep in mind, some Yoga certification programs take years, so our training is moderate in length, but complete.

Now, back to whether 90 days is really enough time to become a Yoga teacher. The answer is “Yes,” but the candidate must be experienced in the practice of Yoga, and disciplined enough to study independently. The ability to take initiative is a quality every experienced Yoga instructor must have to be completely competent.

How much experience should a Yoga teacher intern have before applying for a Yoga certification course? A minimum of two years of practice, before joining a Yoga teacher training course, is wise. The reason for this is the terminology used in Yoga teacher certification courses.

Just like any other subject, Yoga has its own language. Sanskrit is the common language heard in Yoga classes around the world. A student who desires to become a Yoga instructor should have, at least, a basic understanding of Sanskrit terms used in the average class.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Dear Yoga & Pilates Enthusiasts of the Greater Attleboro Area,

The Winter Yoga / Pilates Session starts on January 14, 2008.

Winter Class Schedule:

Monday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Tuesday: Private Sessions by Appointment Only
Wednesday: 6 PM – 7 PM Pilates/ Body Sculpt
Thursday: 6 PM – 7:15 PM Beginner / Gentle Yoga
Friday: Private Sessions by Appointment Only

Private sessions in downtown Attleboro for Yoga, Stress Management, Holistic Weight Control, Chair Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Pilates, Life Coaching, Personal Fitness Training, and Yoga Teacher CEC’s for Yoga Alliance, must be scheduled by appointment.

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

Phone: 508-222-0092

——————————————–
Yoga Teacher Training in Massachusetts: http://www.riyoga.com
——————————————–
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, Paul
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By Thomas T

The meaning of Ashtanga is “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, and refers to the eight limbs of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Ashtanga Yoga was taken from a very ancient text called the Yoga Korunta. The Yoga Korunta described an exclusive system of Hatha Yoga developed by Vamana Rishi.

With this form of Ashtanga Yoga, there are six different series through which a student progresses at his or her own pace. This type of Yoga entails daily Vinyasa flow practice, using Ujjayi breathing, Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, and Drishti.

Ashtanga Yoga is known to help realign the spine, as well as detoxify the body, and also builds strength, flexibility and stamina. In addition, it can strengthen the nervous system.

With Ashtanga Yoga there are three different levels. The main series is the first and its goal is to align the body and help get the toxins out. The second series is used to clean and open the energy channels, which help cleanse the nervous system. The last series is for those who are advanced and is used to measure power and grace.

Ashtanga Yoga is an extremely popular style of Yoga. It is an energetic, athletic method of practice, and is a form of Yoga attractive to those who like a sense of order and who may also like to do things independently.

Practicing Ashtanga Yoga has shown to provide many benefits, including relieving the pain of stiff and sore muscles, as well as joint pain. Your muscles become more flexible and toned which adds to the overall good of your health.

The physical benefits of Ashtanga Yoga are great, but there are also mental and emotional benefits as well. When practicing this form of Yoga you built on your ability to focus mentally and release negative energy. The final result is that you are rid of bad tension, both physically and mentally.

If you have been looking for the right Yoga for you, Ashtanga Yoga may be exactly what you have been searching for. This form of Yoga is therapeutic and rehabilitative and can be practiced at your own pace, at your own fitness level, therefore making it perfect for both beginners and those who are advanced in other types of Yoga.

If you are unsure if Ashtanga Yoga is right for you, try observing a class or renting an instructional video before committing to joining a class. It may also be advisable to talk with your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise routine.

With the proper precautions, you will find that Ashtanga Yoga is a fantastic way to get into shape and improve your health.

Thomas T is the owner of Yoga-Instruction.NET. Free information about Yoga Instruction.

http://www.yoga-instruction.net/yoga-instruction.asp

http://www.yoga-instruction.net/hatha-yoga.asp

http://www.yoga-instruction.net/ashtanga-yoga.asp

By Maria Ward

Are you spending too many hours hunched over your computer? Did you just get off the phone with a difficult client? Have you become entrenched in office politics? Are you nervous about an important meeting or presentation? Have you been concentrating on a difficult subject for too long of a time period? Instead of stressing out and causing your body to go into a fight-or-flight type of chemical reaction, which over time may lead to a feeling of dis-ease or worse, take a couple of minutes to release some tension.

Office yoga can be done at your desk, in the break room, at the copy machine, or wherever you are comfortable. There is no need to change your clothing or fix your hair afterwards and you only need a couple of minutes to leave you feeling more centered, alert and feeling good.

Please remember that all movements should be comfortable. You want to feel the tension releasing and the muscle lengthening; however you should never push yourself to the point where you feel pain. If you have any physical limitations, be sure to make proper modifications. An integral part of yoga is to be present in your body and be aware of how you are feeling, so put your problems aside, at least temporarily, and be present in the moment. (It is amazing how perceived problems sometimes just seem to work themselves out when we get out of our own way.)

Here are a couple of simple stretches that you can do without leaving your desk:

Grounding & Centering:

From a seated or standing position, lengthen your spine so your head is over your heart, your heart is over your hips (if you are sitting, your feet should be flat on the floor – if you are standing your hips are over your knees and your knees over your ankles) and take several long, slow, deep breaths. Inhale through your nose and let your belly expand, then exhale through your nose and allow your belly to contract as if you were pulling your navel to your spine. *This posture will hereinafter be referred to as neutral position.

Side Stretches:

From a neutral position, take a deep breath in and bring both arms overhead. Clasp your left wrist with your right hand and use your right hand to assist in a stretch of the left side as you bend to the right. Hold for a couple of breaths, come back to center and then repeat on the opposite side. Exhale as you allow your arms to return to your sides.

Neck Rolls:

Starting in neutral position, bring the chin to the chest. Inhale and bring the right ear to the right shoulder. Exhale and bring your chin back down to your chest. Inhale and bring your left ear to your left shoulder. Exhale and bring your chin back down to your chest. Repeat several times on each side and return to neutral position.

Shoulder Roll Sequence:

Roll both of your shoulders several times forward and back. Ultimately bring your arms behind your head so that your hands are clasped and supporting the base of your skull. Lengthen your spine and open back by turning your chin toward the ceiling, being gentle on your neck and squeezing your shoulder blades together. Hold for several breaths. (*This will help off-set some of the postural distortion caused by a computer monitor that is too low or hours of looking downward to do paperwork, however, avoid the spinal extension portion of this stretch if you suffer from a bulging or herniated cervical disc.) Then lengthen the spine back to center and gently bring your chin down to your chest using your hands to apply a pressure that is comfortable for you. Hold for a couple of breaths and then return to neutral.

Spinal Twist:

From a seated position with a long spine, reach both hands to the right side of the chair (holding onto the arm of the chair is ideal) and allow the lower, middle and upper back to twist to the right. Look over your right shoulder. Elongate your spine as you increase the twist and make sure to breathe deeply in this pose. Come back to center and repeat on the other side. (*This pose is very nourishing to the spine but in the event of a spinal injury or if you are in your second or third trimester of pregnancy this should be practiced with due care.)

Back Roll Up:

From a standing position with feet about hip width apart, bend the knees – keeping the knees pointed in the same direction as the toes – and place your hands on your quadriceps. Starting at the lower back, inhale and roll the spine up, one vertebra at a time, neck is last. Repeat several times.

Standing Forward Bend:

From a standing position with feet about hip width apart, lengthen the spine and bend forward, coming out of the hips. Hold onto your elbows and lean forward. Hold this stretch at the level that you are comfortable. It is okay to bend the knees if you are less flexible. Otherwise try to straighten the legs and lengthen through the spine. You should feel a lengthening of the muscles of the back of the legs (the hamstrings). You may also feel a release of tension in the upper back. Gently shake your head to allow a greater release. Make sure to breathe fully and deeply as you are nourishing the brain in this inverted pose. If you would like to increase the intensity of the hamstring stretch, grab the back of your legs or even your ankles and pull your torso toward your legs. Remember, first lengthen the spine and then bend.

Quad stretch:

From a standing position, shift your weight to the left leg. Bend the right leg behind you, trying to touch the heel to the buttocks. Your right knee should be pointing toward the floor. You will feel a stretch in the front of the right leg (the quadriceps). Hold the stretch and take a couple of breaths and repeat on the other leg.

Try to take a couple of minutes, several times a day, to incorporate some stretching and relaxation into your daily grind. It will leave you feeling refreshed, revitalized and more productive.

Maria Ward is a yoga instructor and Licensed Massage Therapist located in Miami, FL. Additional information and articles may be located at http://www.vitalityexpressed.com

By Pratap Shree

Yoga is the only methodology available with the humanity which has anatomized the human existence without opening a human body. It is the oldest and the deepest psychology of the human existence. It is unlike the present day psychology which studies only the mind of the subjects. Yoga is not constrained to the personality, mind or any aspect of mind of people; rather it gives a complete description of the whole existence of the humanity, its mental fabric and a methodology to transcend it.

Yoga in itself has been a diverse field. In Indian philosophy many a schools attach themselves to Yoga. Ashtangik Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra Yoga and Tantra Yoga are a few schools attached to Yoga. This article constrains itself to the Ashtangik Yoga only. In this article term Yoga will refer to the Ashtangik Yoga as propounded by Patanjali in Yoga Sutra.

Whatever practical about a human being can be said about his physic, psyche, mind and Chetna (in English no better word than awareness is available for this) is there in Yoga Sutra. Yoga Sutra starts with the proposition that the mind’s expositions (Vritti) are attracted to the worldly objects (Vishayas) and by confining mind’s expositions from being attracted to the worldly objects a seeker can realize his existence and hence liberate himself from this world’s afflictions.

The difference in the approaches of the Indian Yoga and the modern psychology is because of the differences of visions of the two schools. The modern psychology begins with the hypothesis that the Psychology is the science of the mind; that the human mind is the most complex machine on Earth; that it is the source of all thoughts and behaviour. The modern psychology believes that there is a mind and it has to be in consonance with some prototype mind. The modern psychology believes that the mind can be and usually is sick; its sickness can be cured. The real minds have tendencies. These tendencies of a real mind can be molded. A mind can be trained and can be taken to some sort of proximity of that prototype mind.

Yoga views the mind differently. For it a mind can not be infected by sickness but it is a sickness in itself. It cannot be cured because it has this form of sickness as an essence for the physical existence. Physical existence is not possible without the mind. Yoga does not speak of ‘a mind’ rather its subject matter is ‘the mind’. Modern psychology studies, treats and cures an individual mind while Yoga is for the generality of mind. Psychology is particular in approach and it discovers generality from particularity. In Yoga the mind in general is explained and a particularity approached from the generality.

For Yoga the mind is an obstacle in the path of self realization. This obstacle of mind is very much intrinsic and an essential ingredient of the creation (the Srishti). To attain your absolute state you have to transcend the mind. Yoga does not prefer wasting its time in curing a sick mind to make it healthy. There is nothing like a healthy mind in Yoga’s vision.

Yoga’s vision starts with a proposition – confining mind’s exposition from being allured by the worldly objects is Yoga i.e. Yogashchitvritti nirodhah. For the self realization, the Yoga has proposed an Eight Fold Path called Ashtangik Yoga. Its Eight Fold Path consists of: Yama, Niyama, Aasan, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi. Non Violence (Ahimsa,), Truth (Satya), Not stealing other’s property (Asteya), Not retaining the surplus things (Aparigrah) and a good Sexual behaviour (Brahmcharya) are five Yamas. Practicing these five Yamas makes your surrounding healthy and peaceful. By and large these five Yamas are the five cures of basic ulterior tendencies which cause disputes in your neighbourhood. Yamas provide a calm and serene environment around you. Next it is the Niyama. Hygiene (Shauch), Contentment (Santosh), Effort (Tapah), Introspection (Swadhyaya) and Surrender to God (Ishwar Pranidhan) – these five are the Niyamas. Once a calm environment is attained by practicing Yamas, the next step is the personal purification through these five Niyamas. The Yoga proceeds step by step.

First it prescribes for a healthy environment and then for the personal purification of the seeker.

The third stage of Yoga is Aasan. An Aasan is a posture in which your body becomes stationary. These days various gurus are available in the market, who prescribe these Aasans for a weight loss program. Yoga did not have any idea of weight loss in its conception. During the period the Yoga was compiled surplus calories was not a problem before the seeker. The problem of surplus calories is the problem of modern life style. The originator of Yoga would have not given a solution to a problem which was unknown to his time. The Aasans are meant for a more subtle purpose. In Aasan you sit with your fixed and stationary body. Through these Aasans the Yoga master wanted you feel the presence of a restless thought process inside that stationary body. Aasan is the most suitable form of practice which encounters you with the duality present ‘within you’. It makes you realize that you are not a body alone; that you are not limited to your physical dimensions; that “something” more subtle, more live, more pervasive is there inside your visible body. Thus Aasans for the first time makes you visualize your inner self.

Then it comes the Pranayam. The chief proponent of Yoga, Patanjali says – tasmintsati shvasprashvasyogargativichheda pranayam i.e. visualizing inhale and exhale separately and distinctly is Pranayam. Different forms of Pranayam made available by the modern Gurus were never described by Patanjali the great master. Pranayam is the beginning of the internal journey going to be attained through Yoga. Patanjali had a unique approach to go inside. He chose the easiest route through breathing. The seekers who practice Yoga must have experience the relationship between your breaths and your thoughts. When you inhale your thoughts are more itinerant than you exhale. When a new seeker starts meditation and goes inside deeper often he feels his breathing as being stopped. This is the conjunction between your breathing and your thoughts. Yoga has termed your breathing as your Praña. Pranayam is the visualization of Praña. Hence it is the visualization of your itinerant thoughts.

Upto the end of this fourth stage Yoga has completed one half of the journey; the outer journey. Henceforth the Yoga enters inside the seekers. Next stages of Yoga are meant for an internal transformation. Pratyahar, Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi are four milestones on the internal highway. The part of mind which is enchanted to the outer worldly objects has been named as Chitta in Yoga. Chetna meaning something near awareness in English is derived from this Chitta. As body is the subject matter of the outer expedition of Yoga, Chitta is the subject matter of internal exploration through Yoga.

Eyes are to see, ears are to hear and so on. Yoga says it is the nature of the eyes to see the things in the world. It is the nature of the ears to hear the sounds from the world. The same is true for the other senses. The senses have a natural tendency of being attracted by the worldly objects. This is an outward flow; an outward flow of your Chitta. This is the tendency or affinity of Chitta which flows from inside you to the objects; the Yoga calls it the Vritti. Yoga says that the mind has a natural tendency or affinity to be attracted by the worldly objects. This outward motion of your mind creates a bipolarity with you at one end and the world at the other. The Chitta is an abstract entity and is not perceivable as are the worldly objects. Hence out of the bipolarity only the worldly objects are visible. The viewer i.e. the Chitta forgets himself and keeps remembering only the vision i.e. the visible objects. The Chitta starts living in thoughts.

These thoughts are nothing but either your memories or your imaginations about future. Thoughts originate either from your past experience or from your mental permutations – combinations of your imaginations. The past is passed and is not existent. The future has not happened so far and hence it is also not existent. Both the past and the future are non existent. You live, through your thoughts only in past and the future. You try to exist in non existent entities. This is the only fallacy of the mankind from which Yoga wants you to get rid of.

You are never in your present. You usually do not observe you because of your sleep. You have forgotten of yourself. You are not aware of yourself. You know yourself only as much others know about you. You know your name; a few relationships; your office; your money and your thoughts etc. At night when you sleep all these particulars of you are forgotten but you still remain alive. It shows that you are more than your name, your relationships, your office, your money and your thoughts. What is that more? What is your essence? You are not aware of it. You are in deep sleep about your existence nevertheless your eyes may be opened. Yoga awakens you towards you.

It its early phase of journey, Yoga has shown you that in your common life, in your unawakened life you exist as a dichotomy or a bipolarity (as used in other articles in this section).

In Pratyahar Yoga speaks of getting rid of the psychological addictions of senses. A mirror shows you your image. It shows when you rose up from the bed in early morning, it shows when you are untidy, it shows when you comb hair, it shows you after your make up. It shows you all the times without any hesitation, without adding anything in you or subtracting from you. It has no hesitation of time, frequency or any other factor. You come in front of it and it shows you in return. No deference, no disdain; no temptation no escape simply a reflection. Yoga says your senses should reflect the world in the same way with No deference, no disdain; no temptation no escape simply a reflection of the world. This is Pratyahar.

Some thinkers have described it otherwise also. They say that seeker is to renounce the world. He has to withdraw his senses from the worldly objects. He has to take his sense away from the world. This view is difficult to be appreciated. Whenever you open your eyes they will receive the sensation of light. In jungle you may not be having houses, roads and vehicles but tress, grass, birds would be there. Sky is there. Your limbs are there. Yoga does not prescribe mutilation of senses. It speaks of non addicted senses. King Janak and Lord Krishna would have not attained the absolute knowledge (Brahamgyan) if this theory of mutilation of senses is resorted to. Pratyahar speaks of unaddicted vision.

This unaddicted vision i.e. Pratyahar liberates you of the dichotomy. You clearly see yourself and the world as two distinct and separable entities. Now the Yoga speaks of the potential of unification existing in you. Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi are the stages of existence. Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi are different in degrees and not in kind. The main difference among them is regarding the duration for which a seeker can stay in that state of existence. Therefore this article will discuss them under the common name – Dhyan. (However Patanjali has used a term Samyam for this)

To be continued …

http://www.lightinlife.com/

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga practice has been an aide to mankind for thousands of years. In those thousands of years, many brilliant people, who had a lack of self-worth, have taken their innovative ideas with them to the next life. Their ideas could have advanced our species at a faster rate, but they did not take a chance.

You see – the most brilliant minds do not reach full potential, if they lack self-worth. Most of us are not born with self-confidence. Self-confidence and self-worth are usually a result of a particular learning method, and Yoga training is the 5,000 year old mother of all of these methods.

Right now, a lack of self-confidence could be critical to our species, as we keep heating up the planet by burning fossil fuel. If an inventor finds an environmentally safe solution, but lacks the self-esteem to follow through, a brilliant idea remains “locked up in the vault” of his or her mind.

Yoga has many solutions for restoring or creating self-worth. Yoga practice enables millions of practitioners to safely stabilize their mental and emotional health. Let’s look at mantra, japa, affirmation, or prayer, for building self-confidence and self-worth.

Depending upon which type of Yoga you study, you may learn mantra, japa, affirmations, or prayers, in class. These are very powerful filtering tools for the mind. When you practice mantra, japa, affirmations, or prayers, you allow only positive messages and images to enter your mind

If you learn to practice any of these methods in your mind, your self-worth is restored, because they instill hope. There is always hope, if we are willing to look for it. Look at a depressed person, and you will see an inner lack of hope, which reflects outward. If we say to ourselves: “I cannot do it,” how can we build our self-worth? Why should the outside world believe in us?

Here is an example of an affirmation for self-worth: I will change today with my first step. I will take chances. I will not fear criticism.

An inherent fear within all humans is the fear of being criticized. This one fear prevents brilliant ideas from becoming reality. Even some of the most brilliant minds had to overcome self-doubt. Yet, they believed in themselves, despite criticism from others.

There are many forms of mantra, japa, and prayer, but all of them develop self-empowerment. Each of these practices is different from the other. Through these practices, you can purge negativity, balance your emotions, build self-worth, and lower your stress levels.

If one practices mantra often enough, a state of “Mantra Siddhi” becomes realized. Mantra Siddhi results when the power of the mantra has come to fruition. It is said that 125,000 repetitions of a mantra will result in Mantra Siddhi.

To say the very least, the repetition of any idea, would result in positive action, on your part, toward your objective. Action, on your part, is required to build or restore self-worth.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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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, Paul
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By Leena Patel

Teachings are everywhere – we only have to be open enough to see them as such.

I recently led a yoga and meditation retreat at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara. One of the many rich and beautiful moments was when I was sitting with my student by the ocean. It was not a ’scheduled’ session time but in a single moment I looked out at the ocean and he turned to me with a quizical ‘what are you thinking?’ expression on his face and right there the teaching, the yoga, emerged. Sitting by the ocean’s edge gazing into infinity with the soft ocean breeze brushing against my skin and my sun-kissed arms absorbing the nourishment of this bearer of light, I watched the tide moving in and out unfailingly dancing to its own rhythm. I observed how a single wave was its own entity and yet part of the entire ocean. It was impossible I observed to feel any kind of separation when we see ourselves in the same way. We are the wave and the ocean. The Self and Atman. Everything was contained in that one moment just like it is contained in this moment. We are re-creating ourselves each moment anew. Just as we cannot bathe in the same ocean water twice so we are not the same as we were last year, or last month or yesterday.

The lesson here is that yoga does not just happen on the mat. The asanas (yoga postures) are a vehicle to understanding more about who we are and what we are capable but it never stop there. The asana is the question not the answer. It is the place from which we start, not the end that we aspire to.

My vision of yoga these days is about aligning with my most authentic self and supporting others in doing the same. And whether I learn it balancing in Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand), chanting a mantra, sitting by the ocean’s edge watching the wave relaxing into the ocean or sitting in traffic and giving the person who aggressively cuts in front of me a silent blessing instead of a curse… it is all yoga. It is not enough in this day and age to do yoga- the question is are we doing it well? Are we embodying Yoga? Are we living the teachings? Are we in the Flow?

Be the wave… continuously re-creating yourself in the Now. And enjoy your ocean-ness… infinite possibilities exist in all dimensions and are only limited by your imagination.

Leena Patel has written numerous articles on health, yoga and spirituality and leads yoga retreats and workshops nationwide. She is currently based in Las Vegas where she teaches yoga and meditation to Celine Dion and A New Day.

She can be reached at http://www.leenapatel.net/index.php

By Leena Patel

The term sadhana in Sanskrit means practice. Committing to practicing yoga on a regular, if not daily, basis, reaps immeasurable benefits. Students often tell me that they cannot commit to an hour a day- they simply do not have the time. In such cases, I recommend deciding the time frame you can realistically commit to each day, even if it is just five minutes. Much better to do this than to practice for two hours twice a week. Experts say build a routine and you are more likely to stick to it. I agree. After a while, missing a practice begins to feel like neglecting to brush your teeth or shower daily. It just does not feel right if you do not do it.

As the classic 15th century Sanskrit text The Hatha Yoga Pradipika tells us:”The young, the old, the extremely aged, even the sick and the infirm obtain perfection in Yoga by constant practice. Success will follow him who practices, not him who practices not. Success in yoga is not obtained by the mere theoretical reading of sacred texts. Success is not obtained by wearing the dress of a yogi or sanyasi (a recluse), nor by talking about it. Constant practice alone is the secret of success.” (Ch.1, v. 64-6)

… by the way, do not belittle the value of doing ‘flossingyourteethasana’. Anything that you do mindfully and with your full attention is yoga. If you are thinking about something else, you might as well be doing that something else.

Practice staying fully present in each moment. Whether you are driving, washing the dishes or doing a Sun Salutation- be fully engaged in the task at hand. Then you are truly in Yoga, in union, with the Self.

Leena Patel is currently based in Las Vegas where she teaches yoga and meditation to Celine Dion and the cast of A New Day. She has written numerous articles on health, yoga and spirituality and has taught across the US, Canada and in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria and the UK. For more information, visit http://www.leenapatel.net

By Jeffrey Meier

More and more people are inquiring about the benefits of yoga than ever before. It seems as we get older as individuals we are looking for ways to become more productive in less time and take better care of ourselves. This leads to many different ideas on how to do that and has leaded us to yoga as a way to accomplish this.

Maybe one of the most overlooked benefits of yoga is the psychological effect it can have in our lives. It seems in today’s world many things tug at us from our work to the kids to just everyday life. By using this method of atonement we can increase our concentration which many times are lacking in our everyday lives. Concentration is one of the keys to be successful in many things in life. Yoga has the ability to decrease anxiety and depression. These two things are some of the biggest problems that people face today. With the world it seems changing every day around us depression and anxiety keep creeping and trying to root itself deeper into our lives.

The physiological benefits maybe the biggest benefits that is associated with yoga. During your lifetime you will have many different ailments that aren’t life threatening, but sometimes can cause you problems in your life. By getting more in attuned with your body you will be able to slow these ailments down and control them much better without the needs of medicine in your system all the time. This is one advantage that many people love about yoga.

Biochemical benefits are many and include hemoglobin increases and vitamin c increases. People sometimes forget all the things that yoga can do for you. It does more than just work your mind it also helps your body in many area’s that people need the most. Today’s world has plenty of things that go on that give people trouble, by having something that can relive these pressures from your everyday life is very important. As you get more familiar with its principles and how to utilize it to your advantage than you will see more success at a much quicker rate.

Yoga has been around for many years and will be around for many years to come. The key is getting all parts of the system down and seeing what it can do in your life. Sure it will take some time to learn how to do it, but once it’s accomplished the rewards can be endless.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers information articles on a wide variety of subjects including Yoga at http://www.jam727.com/yoga/yoga_articles.htm

By Jeffrey Meier

Yoga has been touted over the years for the many things that it can do for you. Many people don’t realize though it can also have a hand in help you lose weight. Yoga is defined as the union of a person’s own consciousness with their universal consciousness. This in easy terms is becoming aware with themselves and things that unite their body, mind, and spirit together. Once people realize and reap the benefits of it they never seem to ever stray from it.

Losing weight is never an easy thing to do, but there are ways to make it easier and one is the use of yoga. To lose weight you must eat right and exercise to burn calories, but that doesn’t mean that you can use other ways to get it done. Holding poses for a number of minutes will actually improve muscle strength and posture. Many people think that you must go to the gym and work out for an hour or two each day. This just isn’t the case all the time. If you corporate a yoga workout with your everyday routine you will see a noticeable improvement in the months ahead. It takes time just like anything that you want in life.

Stress is a very important element in our lives that can cause us many problems when we talk about our weight. Yoga is used to reduce stress and in turn helps us lose weight by lowering our stress level. When we are less stressful, we tend to eat less and feel better about ourselves. Our self esteem gets higher and we have an easier time taking weight off. As you use it as a part of your weight loss program you’re more likely to keep it off because you are losing small amounts. If you lose big amounts with your diet, it usually tends to be harder to keep off. This is why losing weight should be taken slowly and worked at. There are no quick fixes when we talk about weight loss.

If you’re just starting out in yoga and weight loss it’s probably best to take a night class at a local college or recreational center. Most cities have some wonderful programs that will show you how yoga and weight loss can work hand in hand. Don’t get discouraging if you don’t see success with the weight loss right away. It will take time and you shouldn’t be in any rush. Remember it took time to become overweight so it will take time to lose it.

This is a great vehicle to lose weight and become more attune with your body and the world around you. People are now starting to realize that yoga can be used for more things than just meditation and it’s really growing a following. The more time people take to learn the proper way to use it the more benefits they are seeing from it. Just like anything that has been around for a very long time many misconceptions will be out there about it.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers information articles on a wide variety of subjects including Yoga at http://www.jam727.com/yoga/yoga_articles.htm