The Yoga rules

What is Yoga? Why do some religious fundamentalists fear Yoga? What is the objective of Yoga? These questions about the true purpose of Yoga always arise, but the answers are not quite clear. So, let's get to the heart of the matter.

Yoga is many things and there are many forms of Yoga. For example: Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of devotion) is commonly practiced in India, but is rarely practiced in the West. The most popular form of Yoga in the West is Hatha Yoga (Yoga of physical mastery).

It is understandable that Hatha Yoga and its many sub-styles would take hold in the West, especially on the American continents. Physical mastery, in and of itself, is much easier to absorb than over 5,000 years of Indian culture. The physical aspect of Yoga is the easiest to master, but the study of Yoga is a long journey.

Bhakti Yoga, as mentioned earlier, is the Yoga of Devotion and more emphasis is placed on spiritual and mental health. Religious practices, of any faith, will be much more pronounced within a group of Bhakti Yoga practitioners.

To put it simply, Yoga is the union of mind, body, and spirit for complete health. There are far more benefits to be realized through the constant practice of Hatha Yoga, or any other kind of Yoga, but this is the foundation of "unity." Physical mastery is constructive and, at the very least, keeps us healthy.

Please bear in mind that all forms of Yoga may overlap in aspects of complete and whole health, but the emphasis within each style will be different. For example: In a Hatha Yoga class, physical, mental, and spiritual mastery may be practiced. The aspects taught depend on the curriculum, the exact style of Hatha Yoga, and the Yoga teacher.

Once a Yoga practitioner embarks on the path of unity, self realization and tranquility are acquired. The Yogic path is filled with many steps before self realization, tranquility, and oneness with God. The following are some of the steps we should take toward self-improvement.

Purify your inner being by freeing yourself from vanity, intolerance, anger, attachment to material, and the ego. We are only human and self-perfection is a difficult road to travel, but we must keep going one step at a time. What do we do when we make a mistake or sin? We pick ourselves up, learn from our mistakes, and amend our behavior.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Article Source: http://articles-galore.com

With Kegal exercise, your pregnancy can be more comfortablebefore, during, and after your baby is born. With the properkegal exercise, you can strengthen the vaginal muscles and allowfor smoother pregnancy. Kegal exercises strengthen your pelvicmuscles, which become weakened during childbirth. This couldlead to bladder control problems.

To find the correct muscles to target, pretend that you aretrying to stop urinating. Squeeze those muscles for a fewseconds and then relax. Repeat this every few seconds. It's assimple as that. Nobody even has to know that you're doing them.Just make sure you breathe while doing the kegal exercises.

It's important that you don't overdo your kegel exercise in thefirst few weeks after birth. Otherwise, you may become verysore. Three sets of ten repetitions per day is probably ideal.

So, What are some other healthy exercises that can be performedduring pregnancy? Some of the best ones are listed below.

Swimming: Many doctors and fitness professionals profess thatswimming is the safest exercise for pregnant women. Swimmingkeeps your body tone without stressing your joints. This is asafe cardiovascular exercise that can help keep you tonedthroughout your pregnancy.

Walking: Walking is one of the best exercises overall andespecially if you are pregnant. It's safe for your body and itcan keep you in great shape. Be sure to stretch thoroughlybefore hand. Set attainable goals and always wear good shoes.

Yoga: Yoga has a reputation for relieving the stress andpressure in your body. Most forms of yoga are safe when you arepregnant as long as you avoid the more rigorous ones. Some Yogainstructors even offer special classes for pregnant women. Whiledoing yoga, avoid lying flat on your back and try not to overstretch.

With proper kegal exercise and safe cardiovascular workouts, youare well on your way to a healthy pregnancy.

About the author:GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com- Where you can explore thousands of unique and unusual babynames. Read articles on parenting, family, home andgardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

Initially, enlightenment is living in the present moment andaccepting your situation as it is. That is a pretty heavy taskfor anyone in any time. It is often said that an enlightenedperson cannot be angered by small talk or negative energy.

Many people are humble and believe that they will never beenlightened in this life. They also believe: The goal ofenlightenment is too vast for the average person to achieve.However, should you just give up? What can you do to attainenlightenment?

You should meditate daily: This will help you connect to theworld around you. This is an awareness of plants, animals,people and many things around you that are often not appreciatedor overlooked.

Meditation will enhance awareness of yourself, everything aroundyou, and the connection between the two. This will bring out theability to see reality as it is - with the ultimate goal ofreaching a state of "pure consciousness."

Understand the value of prayer, mantras, and singing. Even ifyou only practice in your mind, this will strengthen positiveenergy within you. Many people resort to theses practices; togain comfort in times of need. This is a shame because you cangain the positive benefits of prayer, mantras, and singing, anytime.

Remember, enlightenment is not a race: You would be shocked atthe number of people who put pressure on themselves to be"instantly enlightened."

It is good to have goals in life, so creating a log to trackyour progress is a beneficial practice. Your log may track yourmeditation sessions, your ability to deal with, or diffuse,negative situations, your ability to create positive energy andproject it to others, and your ability to see reality.

If you continue the process of keeping and maintaining a log,your results will be encouraging. You may also want to join agroup with compatible religious beliefs, search for a teacher,or share your practice with a friend on the same path.

Lastly, do not be frustrated by uncertainty and learn to acceptwhat you cannot control. If all humans could maintainenlightenment, we would experience world peace. We could allaccept each other, despite differences of culture, nationality,color, sex, religious beliefs, or any other thing humans canfind to develop a pre-conceived notion about each other.

About the author:Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teachertraining at Aura Wellness Center in North Providence RI. He hasbeen a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a masterinstructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, andfitness to children, adults, and seniors in Providence. Recentlyhe wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yogastudents, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.