Archive for June, 2008

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Karma Yoga is often overlooked by all of us. In most Hatha Yoga teacher training programs, we tend to highlight it, but move on toward the concepts of physical mastery. Yet, physical mastery alone does not deliver complete happiness. In fact, happiness occurs when our Yoga practice becomes part of our life off the mat.

We know that Karma Yoga is mentioned within the Bhagavad-Gita and the Ishavasya Upanishad, but many students outside of India are barely familiar with it. If you ask a class full of students about the meaning of Karma Yoga, you would be lucky to get an answer.

Karma Yoga is often translated as, “selfless service,” such as charity work or giving to others with time or money. Karma means “action or work,” so it requires effort. Yoga means many things. Most often, we hear Yoga means: Union, Unity, or a Tranquil State of Mind.

Yet, Karma is often referred to as negative. Bad luck is bad karma, but good fortune is often thought of as an internal effort within our control, which occurred because of our effort. The law of Karma is complex, but easy to understand. Our actions will have a negative or positive result.

An easy way to test this theory is to observe and experiment in the laboratory of daily life. How many people wait for someone else to greet them first? Then they feel lonely, unhappy, and depressed because nobody says hello to them. This is “karma in practice.”

Now, if the same person were to greet everyone one they meet, by waving, bowing, or shaking hands, with a smile – all of the energy created would be positive. The result of taking the initiative, with a friendly greeting, will be a state of happiness.

To go further, listening to others also makes them happy. How many people really listen to each other? The act of empathic listening costs us nothing, but it makes everyone happy when we listen. All that is required is to give a little time to someone else.

As we go through our daily routine of work and socializing with others, we cause small changes with our attitude toward others. When we are kind, charitable, and sociable, most people will naturally respond in the same manner.

There is no need to wait for someone else to be friendly first. By taking positive action, we are setting the wheels of karma in motion, and the end result is our own happiness.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When you mention mental health, most people envision behavior problems, treatment, and counseling. In Yoga, mental health is approached from a pro-active mindset. Optimum mental health is the gateway to learning, self-worth, emotional stability, and communication with others. Let’s look at Yoga’s approach to getting the most out of our minds.

In order to improve our mental functions, we must first see if the value of mental health is equal to, or greater than, physical health. Many people approach Yoga, and life, with a superficial viewpoint. Physical benefits and feats can be observed easily, but optimum mental performance quietly takes no credit.

If you speak to any elite athlete, he or she, will acknowledge the power of optimum mental function. You can visibly see a physical performance, but behind the scenes is a focused mind. With that said, a mind trained for a physical performance is not guaranteed to have fulfilling relationships or to cope with adversity.

A great deal of training is required in order to be productive in all areas of life. This is what makes Yoga such a unique system, because it contains a code of ethics, physical skills, and mental skills. If you look at the “Eight Limbed Path,” as described by Maharishi Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras, you will notice a road map to a trained mind.

Putting a code of ethics into practice is much more difficult than reading about it. This is why Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs. If you were in the middle of a silent prayer, and suddenly someone was rude to you, for no reason, would you be able to react rationally?

Most people can change from a peaceful attitude, to an angry mindset, within an instant. Survival instinct is the reason for this. When our ancestors gathered around a fire, in a cave, to stay warm, and a resident saber-toothed tiger suddenly attacked, there was a real need to instantly change mindsets.

Unfortunately, when the mind is challenged to react, logic does not always dictate our course of action. Yet, we still have Yamas and Niyamas to serve as our ethical guidelines. To put them into daily practice is a challenge, but it can be done.

To pursue the Eight Limbed Path a little bit further – Asana (Yoga postures) and Pranayama (Yogic breathing) are the next two limbs. In any part of the world, these are the most recognized aspects of Yoga because you can visibly see them.

You can gain much through physical self-mastery, and this alone may calm your mind, but as mentioned before, “A mind trained for a physical performance is not guaranteed to have fulfilling relationships or to cope with adversity.”

Mental health goes hand-in-hand with emotional growth and stability. If you want to get the most out of your Yoga practice, and your mind, you cannot skip by the Eight Limbed Path.

Finally, the last four limbs are meditative, and structured for mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. This does not mean that you should avoid them, until you have mastered the first four limbs. You should work with all of the Eight Limbs, by gradually putting them into practice; however, this is more than reading about them.

The final four limbs are Pratyahara (control of your senses for the purpose of quieting the mind), Dharana (one-pointed concentration), Dhyana (devotion to the Divine), and Samadhi (union with the Divine). The Yogic path to self-mastery is a journey for life, but you will get the most out of your mind by taking the Eight Limbed Path.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Organizing the mind is just one of the many wonderful benefits of Yoga practice. Long-term students, of Yoga, manage to get the most out of each day, but is there a “system” to it? Yes, there is, and it requires clear thinking to determine a constructive course for the following day. Let’s look a little bit closer at Yoga’s approach to daily life.

Have you ever awaken to a sluggish day? For some people, this is a continuous cycle in life. Their minds might be “jump started” by caffeine, but they do not have a clear plan for the day or their lives. Let’s take two constructive steps toward clarity of mind.

One way to get the most out of your morning is to plan it the night before. Many of us stay up too late and fall asleep from exhaustion. While this is quite effective, it tends to leave us with a sleep deficit. Sleep deficits leave us in a foggy frame of mind, in the morning, and throughout life.

1. Write a list of projects for the following day and try to sort them by time lines.

By writing a “to do list” the night before, we organize the upcoming day, but we also let our mind do its job at night. We sleep, but the mind does not rest. By writing your tasks ahead of time, and leaving it in a place where we will refer to it in the morning, we have put the wheels of the mind in motion.

You do not need to worry about the following day. You can sleep in peace, so why not go to bed an hour earlier. As you sleep, you are free from the bondage of worry.

Even though your conscious mind might not remember each task, your sub-conscious mind has a crystal clear view of what you have written. While you sleep, your mind will sort, file, and organize the day ahead. This leads to the second step.

2. Be productive during the morning hours.

You may naturally begin to rise a little earlier and easier in the morning. If you begin to do this with regularity, and wake up feeling rested, you could set your alarm 30 to 60 minutes earlier.

When you wake up earlier, you will have time to go for a walk, read, meditate, practice pranayama, or something constructive, which sets the tone for the day and exercises the mind at the same time.

This second step is not to encourage you to “short change” your sleep patterns. When you naturally wake up early, it will be easier for you to have time for yourself. When one feels rested, and attains mental clarity, it is much easier to find true happiness.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Mind chatter is random – an obstruction to the ability to concentrate; and in many cases, it is full of negativity. The ancients were aware of this long before the industrial revolution took place. Yet, we often think multi-tasking is a fairly recent trend.

Since the industrial revolution, humankind has begun to “move forward” at a rapid pace. The price of rapidly moving forward, takes its toll on societies, families, and health. It makes one wonder, if progress is always productive.

As a result of progress, new problems are created that tend to make people feel helpless. Yet, there is a solution, which can be found in meditation practice. Let’s look at a meditation method, which has helped people cope for thousands of years.

Set aside five to twenty minutes for your meditation session. When you start your next session, look deep into a perceived problem for the purpose of completely understanding it. You want to learn the strength and weakness of a state of difficulty, in order to find a solution for it.

Look for a root cause and take complete possession of the obstacle. You may be asking, “Why should I want to own this problem?” The answer is simple: Once you take possession of it, you will not blame others, or karma, for the present situation.

To blame is to waste time, and offend others, without finding a solution. If you own a piece of property, you will clean, improve, and possibly build on it. This principle is the same when you take possession of a problem.

Your mind will move into solution-seeking mode, without judgment or emotion. You may have to practice this method more than one time. Fact finding, and discovering hidden truths, are an important part of preparation. This is time well spent, when you discover a viable solution.

After your session has ended, write a list of possible solutions. Even if an idea seems “silly,” enter it onto your list. Some silly ideas have been modified later on and become inventions, which we now take for granted.

Choose the best possible solution, and accept outside ideas, if you find them useful. This may be the point, in a “solution-finding process” when a perceived silly idea is modified and becomes reality.

Once you have come this far, allow yourself to be filled with enthusiasm. This will create effort and a determined state of mind, which will propel you toward action.

You might think the momentum of action would be enough to solve a problem. Sometimes, action alone is enough, but a determined mind will always finish a project.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

At a critical point in life, we may feel as if we are in a hopeless situation. This is when some people blame the moral law of cause and effect (karma), their family members, or someone else, for a current hardship.

We can apply the principles, we learn in Yoga sessions, toward our situation in life. There are things we cannot control, such as natural disasters and economic shifts, but we are not helpless. Let’s look at four steps to take control of your life.

1. Stop blaming someone or something else for your current situation. This is a disempowering method which takes away your ability to find a solution. Trial and error is a part of life. Would you place the blame on that object or person, if everything suddenly changed for the best?

Pick up the pieces, move forward, and seek solutions to your problems. It is a waste of time to blame yourself, people you know, or something else for past mistakes. Learn from your mistakes, find solutions, and apply them toward life.

2. Practice Yogic breathing techniques (pranayama). Many people see Yoga as a physical exercise only. Within some Hatha Yoga classes there is very little discussion of pranayama techniques. If you are in this situation, find a competent Yoga teacher, who emphasizes pranayama during class time.

If you think of Yoga as a physical exercise only, you are missing the point. On top of this, pranayama would still be the most valuable physical exercise because you cannot last long without air. Pranayama brings clarity and sound judgment to your thinking – resulting in a controlled mind.

3. Develop an attitude of contentment (Santosha). Be grateful for all of the good things you have in life. Write a list of all the blessed gifts you have. Look around you and be thankful for the good relationships, your ability to reason, your health, and your position in life. There is always someone in a worse situation. Be thankful for sunshine, fresh air, food, and the sounds of life.

4. Take the time for self-realization. Become aware of your presence in each moment. Learn to observe yourself without judgment. At first, this may seem to be a pointless exercise, but you will notice particular behavior patterns, which lead to success of failure. Once you know yourself, you can correct your course in life.

Reacting instantly on negative thoughts will usually result in a mistake. Therefore, when negative thoughts occur, you might want to find a rational solution or push them aside for the moment. This is much easier said, than done, but it is possible with practice.

Most people will make an excuse to avoid changing their lives. It is easier to go on living life the same way. However, applying these four Yogic steps costs nothing, but the time to practice.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Has your Yoga practice ever challenged an established belief? Have you ever had your belief system turned upside down? For children, or young adults, to see a role model fall from grace, is painful; but adults base their beliefs on decades of experience. Let’s look at solutions for keeping our integrity intact.

Recognize the guru from within. If you have been practicing Yoga, on a steady basis, for any length of time, you begin to hear a voice from within. There will always be a point in life, when our guru, swami, or Yoga teacher, is not around for advice.

This is a critical point, when we must seek answers from within. There is nothing wrong with seeking out another Yoga teacher, but we are not as young and impressionable as we once were. When we are younger, we want to fit in, and that puts us at risk of being psychologically manipulated.

This is not meant to make light of youth, but the need to belong, and find meaning in one’s life, can be exploited by a teacher, who does not have your best interests at heart. Therefore, it would be prudent to search for the guru within your own being. Each of us has the ability to achieve self-realization.

There is some room for debate on this point. In some Yoga circles, it is believed that an enlightened guru is the only one who can pass knowledge of the self (Atman Jnana) to his or her followers. If this is the case, each of us must spend our lives searching for an enlightened guru with a pure heart.

Have you ever met a perfect guru, swami, or Yoga teacher? If so, you have managed to meet one of the few enlightened individuals, who are living on this planet, at this particular time. This is truly like finding a “needle in a hay stack.”

There is a simple path for you to take, and it is based upon logical thought. Who would know more about you than anyone else? The answer is: You and God. Atman Jnana literally means: Knowledge of the self or soul.

You can find this knowledge through meditation, self-analysis, prayer, pranayama, studies, and by applying the principles of Yoga toward daily life.

It is true that a person, who is not mentally balanced, will not be able to achieve Atma Jana. For example: If we spend our lives doing harm to others, and other beings, our level of consciousness is “handicapped.”

This is unfortunate because the first Yama (restraint) we learn is “Ahimsa,” which most of us forget quite frequently. If we are to take one constructive step forward, it is to avoid harming others with our words, thoughts, and deeds.

Lastly, when we make a mistake in our actions, or failure to act, we must do our best to make amends, forgive ourselves, learn from our mistakes, and move forward without harming others.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The benefits of Yoga practice are obvious to those who have a firm commitment to take positive action. The difference between empowerment, and failure, is that successful people never give up. Yoga is a mechanism by which practitioners gain mastery over their lives.

Once this is realized, you can take responsibility for your path in life. Never doubt your success by depending on others to take responsibility for you. It is true that we need others, so we should recognize that we are interconnected, but we should still take responsibility for our own lives.

In the words of John Donne:

“All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness….No man is an island, entire of itself…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

It should be remembered that we do not reach our fullest potential in isolation. However, it is also worth noting that we will not thrive while in the company of pessimists and negative influences. Yoga teaches us to look within and find solutions.

With that said, a negative influence is easy enough to recognize, but we also have to put some distance between us and negative energy. This is easier said, than done, because our negative influence may be a co-worker, relative, friend, or a spouse. Maybe we have tried to let him or her know that pessimism is dragging us down, but the message never gets through.

A little bit of distance, away from a negative influence, can do wonders for your mindset. If you cannot get away, a steady routine of positive affirmations, prayers, or mantras, will also create positive energy from within.

If you are in the company of an eternal pessimist, and he or she refuses professional help, you have some hard decisions to make. One question to ask yourself is: “Will I be able to control my own sanity, in the company of this person, who is refusing help?” The answer will come from within.

Finally, take a look at your short- and long-term goals. Some people say there is no room for goals in Yoga. Tell that to a Chair Yoga student who manages to get out of his or her wheelchair because of setting goals.

Since when were goals bad? The scriptures of every religion, and philosophy, were written by people who made it a goal to complete their writing. Most of the world is free, because freedom and democracy were the goals of free societies.

© Copyright 2008 – 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
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