Posts Tagged ‘hatha yoga’

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Giving of Dakshina on the Bhakti Yoga Path

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Kimaya Singh

Outside of India, Hatha Yoga is well known.  Hatha is one of the original fitness oriented styles from India. Yet, the most common form of Yoga inside India is Bhakti.  Bhakti is clearly different from Hatha for many reasons.  Hatha Yoga schools in the west tend to charge for lessons, materials, and other services, while Bhakti schools run on donations and volunteers.  Some members of Bhakti ashrams give everything they have (work and money) for their Guru and ashram.  On the other hand, Hatha schools in the west would be extinct if they depended on donations and seva (Volunteer work; selfless service or work offered to one’s Guru).

The giving of Dakshina or financial support to one’s Guru and the activities he or she supports is a very powerful practice on the Bhakti Yoga path. Bhakti is translated in Narada’s Bhakti Sutras as intense love for one’s teacher or Guru. This divine love and longing to merge with the teacher propels the Bhakta through all sorts of difficult obstacles on the spiritual path. Inherent on the Bhakti Yoga path is the element of active participation in the practices and community of that particular path. This participation can come in many forms such as worship, meditation, selfless service and mantra repetition. Active participation on the Bhakti Yoga path may also come in the form of financial support of one’s Guru and the retreat centers that disseminate his or her teachings.

The practice of Dakshina is a bit uncanny. At first, this practice may feel like an obligatory donation during the holiday season to your local charity organization. However, truly offering Dakshina to a living saint, the teaching facilities of that saint, as well as the spiritual community at large, immediately connects you with the divine grace of that lineage. The feeling is palpable and the effect is instantaneous. A feeling of deep protection and abundance are often experienced by a Bhakta who offers Dakshina to his or her Yoga teacher. As you circulate money into your Guru’s activities, more abundance will most likely flow into your life. However, both the path you have chosen and the Guru or teacher you have chosen to learn from must be “true,” or the practice of Dakshina will not bear the same fruit in your life.

The practice of Dakshina is common throughout the world. In Christian circles, it is called tithing. Generally, a church member is expected to tithe or give 10% or his or her income to the church. In Eastern spiritual traditions, there is a similar expectation. Just think of the roaming Buddhist monk who must beg for one meal a day from the “householders” in the area. The Buddhist monk traditionally offers teachings to the local people, and they in turn offer physical sustenance to the monk. It is believed that supporting the spiritual path that you are on, if it is a true lineage and resonates deeply with you, will bring a feeling of fullness, peace and abundance into your life. A word to the wise, only give what you are able to give while respecting your own needs. In this way, you will maintain balance, respect for yourself and a deep connection to your Guru and the profound blessings of divine grace within your own life.

Conclusion

Yoga teachers and practitioners sometimes have a misconception about money.  Energy comes in many forms.  Money is a form of energy, which can be used for good things or bad things.  It is the way we use it that defines our true motives.  To expect a local Yoga studio to run without supporting it is wishful thinking at best.  To sacrifice everything for a Guru, who does not deserve it, is foolish thinking.  Choose the moderate path and be aware of your Yoga teacher’s actions.  Sheep are led by a shepherd or a wolf.  If you allow yourself to blindly “follow the leader,” you might hope your Yoga teacher has the best of intentions.  It is best to develop a relationship with a teacher who encourages you to think for yourself.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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Learning to Calm and Center Yourself With Yoga

Friday, October 7th, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins 

Learning to calm and center yourself with Yoga is literally a lifesaver. People die from stress, anxiety, and depression every day; so learning to center one’s self is really a matter of life, misery, or death.

Our lives are often increasingly busy. Many of us have numerous responsibilities placed on our shoulders by employers and families. Sometimes we say yes to added projects at work, even if we don’t really have the time. We might become irritated more easily or find ourselves feeling tired and generally run-down. Although staying busy isn’t necessarily a negative thing, it can often cause added stress. Learning to calm and center yourself with Yoga can be the first step on the road to a more positive outlook on life.

Yoga is a very accessible form of exercise. It allows the body and the mind to stretch and grow as you move through the poses while concentrating on your breathing. Focusing on the movement of the body through the various asanas and calming the mind with meditation can help to relieve stress. As with many other types of exercise, practicing Yoga can help to release endorphins that will also help with relaxation and a better overall sense of well being.

Busy lives often go hand in hand with busy minds. The result of that can lead to a number of unhealthy conditions, including insomnia, high blood pressure and changes in appetite. Using Yoga is a natural way to reverse unhealthy habits and increase positive changes. There are a number of different schools of thought in regards to finding the best Yoga practice. Some people enjoy the gentle flow and meditation of Hatha Yoga. Others may appreciate the physicality of Power Yoga. The beauty of the Yoga is that there is something for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level or experience.

Learning to calm and center yourself with Yoga can help to ease tension and build more awareness of what it means to be healthy, mentally and physically. It can often help people who might be floundering with the burden of too much stress. Take the time to listen to your body and pay attention to the signals it sends. Reducing tension can help to alleviate emotional, mental and physical issues before they start causing too much damage. Your body needs to stay balanced in order to operate in a consistent manner and Yoga can help to achieve and maintain that balance.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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The Problem with Teaching Yoga Fitness Classes

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

yoga certificationBy Sanjeev Patel, CYT 500 

“Whiz, zing, whoosh!” Those three little gibberish words sum up the pace of life these days. In fact, most people seem to be addicted to speed and things that work quickly always seem to win out – including high-energy, maximum-loss exercises classes.

In other words, if you’re a yoga instructor looking to engage students’ in both the physical and spiritual aspects of practice, you may have a tough time attracting students.

These Days, Speed Trumps Patience 

Our cultural commitment to efficiency has definitely led to valuable, groundbreaking discoveries; but it’s also made us less patient as a whole. Today, people expect results – pronto. And sometimes that “need for speed” presents a problem for yoga instructors. After all, working with fitness-minded students who don’t care about mindfulness and just want to keep slim can be frustrating.

Evangelizing On Behalf Of “Mom”

While hatha yoga is an exceptional form of exercise, you won’t see considerable weight loss in the first two months – a fact which many beginners find frustrating. After all, many of today’s “fad” diets, like Atkins and South Beach, boast of dramatic results within the first couple of weeks! And let’s not be coy, nowadays, in popular culture, the terms healthy and skinny – for better or worse – are nearly synonyms.

There’s also the issue of yoga’s sometimes-languid pace. Between spinning and step classes, kickboxing and Zumba, today’s exercise trends, just like our lifestyles, tend to be of the high-energy variety.

For the Yoginis out there: Remember when you were younger, and your mom wanted you to take ballet, but you really wanted to twirl it up in jazz? In many ways, yoga instructors are still fighting mom’s battle. So in a society that values the quickest route from A to B, it’s tough for constant reminders of mindfulness to compete with hip-hop music and rapid-weight-loss workouts.

More than ever, yoga has established itself as a standard in the exercise milieu. The job of introducing yoga to westerners is complete, and now it’s time for instructors to shape their personal teaching styles. Which way will you go? To keep up with the ever-increasing pace of life, will you focus on “power”  or fitness yoga styles? Or will you incorporate some of the more esoteric aspects of practice in the hopes of guiding students to a more mindful – and often slower paced – workout? The choice is yours; the only requirement is a genuine belief in your methods.

© Copyright 2011 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

 

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Hatha Yoga to Tone the Arms

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

yoga teacher certificationBy Amruta Kulkarni, CYT 250

Hatha is a general term used to describe a wide range of yoga styles. Its name is derived from two words meaning ‘sun’ and ‘moon’, representing the balanced union of two opposites. Hatha yoga classes usually include a mixture of gentle stretches, controlled breathing, and meditation. Although poses are designed to integrate the mind and body, movements can target specific areas.

Hatha yoga stretches are effective for toning the arms and can often be done by people who have limited flexibility. The upper body can be exercised from both seated and standing postures, and the degree of difficulty can be adapted to suit individual needs or skills. Toning the arms can be a goal in itself, or it can build strength in preparation for challenging yoga postures.

Arm poses should always start with light stretches order to open the chest area, warm up the muscles, and release tension. Equipment – such as blocks or bands – may be used for support, especially for beginners. A few of the postures that stretch the neck and shoulders are the following:

• Neck shrugs

• Eagle pose

• Sun salutations

• Elbow stretch

• Shoulder stretches

• Threading the needle

• Cobbler’s pose

Weight-bearing poses that focus on the upper body aid in strengthening and toning the arms and shoulders. Chairs can be used to modify yoga poses, if needed. These postures range in complexity and should be approached gradually:

• Cobra pose

• Plank pose

• Upward facing dog

• Downward facing dog

• Supported headstand

• Supported handstand

Although there is always overlap between poses, there are specific postures that help to create balance and coordination in the arms and upper body:

• Plank pose

• Elbow balance pose

• Dolphin plank pose

• Side plank pose

• Limbed staff pose

• Extended hand-to-big-toe pose

While Hatha yoga is useful for toning the arms, its benefits are best realized when these poses are part of an entire practice. Combined with meditation and breathing, the development of upper body strength provides the stamina and coordination needed for challenging Yoga poses.

Finally, let’s not confuse any form of yoga with other exercise systems. Yoga is not merely an exercise system.  Although Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Power yoga will tone one’s body, these systems were designed for the health of the entire body and mind. Every exercise system borrows methods from yoga, but none of them is a complete maintenance system for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

 

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Pet Yoga and Downward Facing Dogs

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

yoga teacher courseBy Faye Martins

According to a 2004 BBC article, New York City-based yoga teacher Suzi Teitelman invented doggie yoga, or “doga” as it’s sometimes called. As an instructor for the fitness chain Crunch, she had an inspiration and decided to include her cocker spaniel in the class, since he frequently joined her on the mat during her home practice and “Ruff Yoga” was born. Since then, a flood of doga classes have emerged across the United States. There’s even a book, called “Doga: Yoga For Dogs,” by Jennifer Brilliant and William Berloni.

What is “pet Yoga,” and can it honor the real practice of yoga? Formats vary, but practices typically last 30 minutes, rather than a full hour or more, to honor the pets’ shorter attention span. Asanas done are standard hatha yoga poses, adapted to include the pets. This may mean a standing forward bend holding the dog’s hind legs, as he performs a wheelbarrow pose. Standard yoga mats are used, but no other props, perhaps to avoid tempting the canine participants. Doga classes start with setting an intention and can end with savasana, modified to rest the human’s head on her canine partner. Some studios even provide bubbling water “fountains” for the dogs to drink from after a practice.

Teitelman claims that after four years of practicing with her, her dog is more flexible, calmer and can go into poses more deeply. Others claim that their pets become more focused and that older dogs’ joints benefit from the practice. Animal therapist Dan Thomas at London’s Pet Pavilion company claimed that “after a few minutes, even the most unruly of participants appeared to chill out, relax and become calmer,” and he also noted that the dog’s breathing seemed to be in synch with the human yoga practitioners.

Whether or not pet yoga can provide all the benefits of standard yoga, there is no doubt that pet owners want to incorporate their companions in every aspect of their lives. According to the 2011-2012 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households own a pet. That means 72.9 millions homes have a pet, and the spending on these furry friends tops $50 billion annually. At least 16.5 million Americans practice yoga, according to statistics available from NAMASTA, the North American Studio Alliance, giving these two industries much overlap. Should you choose to incorporate a pet yoga practice at your studio, training videos are available online.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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The Importance Of Breathing In Yoga

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga is so much more than just fancy postures. Strength and flexibility are only two small parts of the Hatha Yoga practice. Breath is something perceived as so mundane, that it is taken for granted. Yet, mastering the breath through pranayama practice is truly one of the pathways to inner peace.

“When the breath wanders, the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed, the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.”

~ Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika

When are we aware of our breathing? Rarely, if ever, are we inclined to give attention to this most basic life giving force, which is drawn in and out of our bodies, every living moment of our lives. In many traditions throughout history, the breath was thought to be linked to the soul. Sadly, most of us were not taught how to breathe, and without that basic knowledge, we lose the ability to simply be, as well.

One of the primary principles of Raja and Hatha Yoga is called pranayama, which is the art and science of controlled breathing. In everyday life, people tend to breathe from the chest, instead of from the belly. Deep breathing from the belly is healthier and deeper.  Watch a sleeping baby, or kitten, and you will find that their breath seems to fill their belly. Perhaps it is our modern fixation with thinness, or the type of clothing we wear, but for some reason the inherent knowledge of how to breathe deeply is lost as we age.

These low, shallow breaths fail to fill the lungs, and the lung capacity is greatly reduced. Fast, shallow breaths are also associated with fear and panic, and studies show that breathing in this manner will actually raise blood pressure.  Deep, slow breaths lower blood pressure and raise resting rates of oxygen in the blood, along with releasing carbon dioxide from the body. The end result is increased health from the inside out. Practicing Yoga and pranayama, on a daily basis, improves heart health and lung function. Each posture is designed to guide the breathing.

To look at pranayama simply: We inhale and exhale for a specific ratio, getting valuable oxygen and stress reduction. This is often enough for most people, who barely realize that their breathing has been altered by situations, which naturally occur during the course of a day.  However, serious Yoga practitioners may wish to go deeper into pranayama itself. For these practitioners, it is essential to find good and reliable information. Pranayama, while very beneficial, can be harmful if practiced improperly. Some of the dynamic pranayama techniques can cause hyperventilation, which may do more harm than good. Through gaining control of the breath, one gains control of one’s inner self by truly connecting the mind and body.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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How Long Should You Hold Hatha Yoga Poses?

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Many practitioners of Hatha Yoga often wonder how long each pose should be held. During the process of holding Yoga poses (asanas), there is actually no definitive amount of time that should be applied to each move. The asana should be held as long as it is comfortable and does not cause any pain or discomfort. In addition, it should be quite easy to breathe deeply and fully while holding each Yoga pose.

There is a misconception that pain should be felt during these poses. However, it is best for the person, who is practicing, to only hold them as long as there is no pain, and they are fully comfortable. As long as your body is comfortable, the asana can be held for minutes at a time. In fact, for restorative purposes, it is recommended to hold the poses for intervals of 60 seconds, while deep breathing is practiced. Deep breathing helps open up the ribs and helps stretch the spine.

Another way to determine how long to hold the position is to breathe in and out, up to five times during the process of holding an asana, but only if the position can be held without discomfort. Remember, the main focus is to be able to accomplish the pose while maintaining a comfortable position. Understanding safety during physical Yoga practice is vital to accomplishing these asanas, without causing any damage to the body. It is crucial to understand that Hatha Yoga is not a race, and taking the time to do the asana correctly is much more important than holding a pose for a long amount of time.

There are some asanas that are not meant to be done for minutes at a time. It is not always true that holding a pose for an extended amount of time is better. For example, the Peacock Pose (Mayurasana), the Eagle Pose (Garudasana), and the Crow Pose (Kakasana), are asanas that might not be executed for very long time, due to their ability to cause internal or external strain.

All of the meditative poses, however, can be held for longer periods of time, without any complications. For these types of postures, it is actually beneficial to retain the asana without needing to take a break. These poses include the Easy Pose (Sukhasana), the Corpse Pose (Shavasana), and the Thunderbolt Pose (Vajrasana). Asanas are meant to strengthen the mind and spirit, while toning the body, in a safe progressive manner.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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How to Lengthen Your Spine through Yoga Moves

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The spine is one of the most important parts of the human body. The nervous system gathers, stores, and controls the body’s information through this key highway. The spine allows the body to analyze itself and initiate the proper response, which the central nervous system sends to the other parts of the body. When the spine is misaligned, it can throw the entire body into disarray. Through Hatha Yoga postures (asanas), you can lengthen, strengthen, and stretch your spine back into alignment, which brings one’s back into a proper state of health.

Many people do not realize that the spine can stretch and lengthen in two directions. The sacrum and the tailbone can move downwards while the lumbar spine and everything else extends upwards. By learning the natural curves of these two separate directions, the spinal column can be stretched to its maximum length.

Back injuries are the most common type of work-related injury. It may come from lifting a heavy object too quickly or without proper form. Additionally, one may experience pain, as a result of sitting with bad posture, or from sitting for long periods of time. Too many people think that this spinal pain is something that they just have to push through. In cases where there has not been extreme damage, Yoga may be extremely helpful in alleviating this pain, while preventing it from occurring regularly in the future.

Practicing Yoga poses, in order to stretch the spine, works in a multitude of ways. First, the poses strengthen the muscles around the spine, preventing injury in the future. Second, because the spine itself is more limber due to the stretching, the blood flow to the area is increased. This decreases the stress and pain within the area.

Suggested Yoga Postures for Spinal Health:

Forward Bend

Camel Pose

Half Chair Pose

Fish Pose

Seated Twists

Triangle Pose

Proper instruction, from a certified Yoga teacher, is advised before practicing independently.

Finally, Yoga that focuses on the back and spine promotes a healthier posture. In some cases, sitting too long can cause serious compression on the entire spinal structure. What this means is that people need to get away from sitting before major skeletal problems occur.

Problems, due to sitting too long, happen slowly; and most people do not realize it is happening until they begin to feel pain from it. After a couple weeks or months of Hatha Yoga sessions, it is possible that you may even gain a little height from stretching your spine.

When performing Yoga poses to stretch your spine, be sure to use caution. You do not want to push your body passed its limits. When Hatha Yoga movements and postures are performed responsibly, this gives a second life to one’s spinal health.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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How Can Yoga Help to Release Shoulder Tension?

Saturday, May 28th, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Whether it is from sitting at the computer all day, a difficult workout routine or just day-to-day activity and stressors, many people hold tension in their shoulders. It may feel like the side of the neck is actually getting shorter. In fact, it is often the levator scapulae, the muscle that attaches the shoulder blades to the neck, tensing up and pulling in an uncomfortable manner. However, this tension can be alleviated and eliminated through a Yoga routine.

Yogic Breathing – Pranayama

The breathing pattern changes when people are experiencing physical or mental stress. The breathing usually becomes more shallow and tense. Instead of breathing from the belly, people will start to take quick breaths from the upper chest. The result is oxygen deprived muscles, which tire quickly and tense up often.

While this will eventually occur to all the muscles in the body, it is especially true for the muscles in the chest, and shoulders, because they are used for this improper breathing technique. By changing the breathing pattern through Yogic breathing (pranayama), even for just a half an hour a day, those muscles will receive a break. With regular Yoga practice, the body can also retrain itself to breathe this way throughout the day.

Yoga Posturing – Asana

Yoga poses (asanas) work to release tension in the shoulders in a couple of different ways. First, certain Yoga poses stretch the muscles around the shoulders. By stretching the muscles, the shoulders can return to their original state of relaxation, and even gain some extra length, to prevent future tension. Postures, which will relax the muscles in the shoulder area, are Extended Child’s Pose, Half Downward Dog Pose, and Ardha Utkatasana (Half Chair Pose).

Strengthening types of Yoga asanas, such as Downward Dog Pose and Dolphin Pose, balance and stabilize the muscles around the shoulders. By strengthening the muscles, injuries can be prevented. Sometimes, people experience pain in their neck and shoulders and attribute it to stress, when it is actually a tear or joint problem. In such a case, medical advice should be sought. Non-surgical solutions may be possible, but one cannot forcefully exercise through joint problems.

Conclusion

Those, with chronic shoulder tension, can benefit greatly from incorporating Yoga into their daily routine. Some choose to take time out of their day to do a complete session before or after work, while others perform various postures throughout the day. Over time, Hatha Yoga practice will create a noticeable difference in the flexibility and strength within the neck and shoulders. With a little more awareness, one will improve overall posture, which will, in turn, reduce pains and aches.

© Copyright 2011 – Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our complete selection of Yoga teacher training courses, please feel free to visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/Teacher-Courses/

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

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

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Practicing Yoga and Coexisting with Unreasonable People

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

become a yoga teacherBy Kimaya Singh

Practicing Yoga can prepare one for many challenging situations in life. That it can be difficult to get along with everyone you meet goes without saying. Some of the people we encounter in the courses of our daily lives are wholly unreasonable, unable to compromise over the slightest issues, insisting on having their way about everything. These interactions can be trying because they test the limits of our patience and temperaments. We cannot reasonably hope to change others, nor should we try. Instead Yoga gives us a way to find life saving personal stress relief that doesn’t depend on outside influence, which makes our daily Yogic practice of paramount importance.

Practicing Yoga makes it easier to coexist with others around you by making it easier to exist within yourself. Scientific thought has long recognized that the body is an interconnected network of interdependent systems and organs. What seems like a single unified organism controlled by your personality is actually more complex. The sources of our anger, frustration, and happiness are not as simple as they seem, but all are rooted within our own bodies and minds.

When your health is in question, controlling your reactions to things is a tough struggle. You may not ever grow to truly like the negative things about some people around you do. By practicing Yoga and keeping yourself firmly grounded in feeling good on a consistent basis; you can avoid getting caught up in these transient interactions or altercations.

Regular Hatha Yoga practice targets various organs and bodily functions in an effort to ensure that you stay healthy, relaxed and at ease. While the benefits of flexibility and fitness cannot be denied, the increased ability for unrestricted blood flow, which practitioners often experience, is a blessing in itself. When your body’s internal nutrient distribution and cellular waste management systems work more efficiently, every organ they supply can perform at its peak, leading to a pervasive sense of overall bodily comfort. This, in turn, makes it easier to achieve a state of mental clarity, as one is far less influenced by negative physical feelings.

There’s some truth to the old adage about “straws breaking camel’s backs.” When you’re already in a bad place mentally, even small issues can completely ruin your day. Hatha Yoga puts people at an advantage so that they don’t need to battle through the trials of their day, while managing the excessive nervous energy commonly associated with physical discomfort. As such, Yoga practice provides an invaluable means of finding peace within an environment where factors beyond our control manifest themselves on a regular basis.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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