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.

Should a Yoga teacher take money for classes? How do you define success for a Yoga teacher? Is it your contribution to the common good? Is it by producing successful teachers? Is it by technical prowess? Is it by how many students you have? Or, is it a combination of these factors?

First things first: Are you "selling Yoga?" If you accept a fee for teaching Yoga, no matter how small or large, you are selling Yoga. If you do not like my frank approach to this issue, then teach Yoga for free. This is not a problem, and that is good Karma Yoga.

However, do not open next to a commercially aggressive Yoga studio or ashram. If you decide to do this, you will see your finances "crash and burn" - while your students flock to the wealthy Guru down the street. Yoga students often think that free Yoga is "junk."
Once upon a time, I taught free Yoga too. It is not easy to explain a passion to your family, which drains your finances and challenges the quality of your life on a daily basis. If you keep teaching Yoga for free, you will lose a lot of sleep, before you live on the street, with the homeless, or finally, start charging for Yoga lessons.

It is amusing when very wealthy Yoga Gurus claim Yoga is not for making money. My answer: "Excuse me, how did you acquire all that wealth?" Why would a rich Yoga Guru lead anyone to think that taking a payment for teaching Yoga is wrong?

This is why we should appreciate Bikram Choudry's candid remarks. He says what he thinks and makes no secret about living a life of luxury, due to teaching Yoga. At least, he is honest about his ideas, and he is not a hypocrite.

Therefore, if you accept payments from your students, be honest with yourself. You can always use the money to help others, but you need to pay your overhead costs, eat, and sleep with a roof over your head, first.

If you still feel bad about taking money for teaching Yoga, please open a studio down the street from my North Providence location. We will regularly donate toward your meals at the local soup kitchens. I hope you clearly see my point. So, please do not listen to anyone who tells you that taking money for teaching Yoga is wrong.

Whether a Yoga teacher is rich or poor, a successful Yoga teacher does not worry about money - the universe will supply it.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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

Meditation is often misunderstood by those who do not practice it. Very often, I hear meditation referred to as, "altered states of consciousness." That sounds more like intoxicants, rather than bringing clarity to a cluttered mind. Without going too deep into what meditation is, or is not, let's focus on one of the many things a daily meditation practice can do for you.

Meditation is commonly seen in many Yoga classes, but it has been practiced by a variety of cultures, including Roman Catholic priests, as well as Japanese Samurai, who practiced a form of Zen meditation. I mention this so you can see the full spectrum of meditation and its many facets.

There are many varieties and types of meditation, but the easiest form to learn is, "breath awareness meditation." Compared to many other meditation techniques, this will enable anyone to experience the benefits of meditation in much less time.

At this point, let's consider that meditation and Yoga teachers often compare the mind to a monkey. Many thoughts are running through your brain, at the same time, and it is hard to control all of your impulses - let alone, sit still and meditate. So why go through all this trouble?

Meditation has many rewards, and we will now consider one of extreme value. Through daily practice of meditation, you will release the unlimited potential of your mind. The ability to change, or alter the universe, starts as a single thought within your mind.

One human decided to harness the power of fire, and did he/she foresee the global warming effect? How could he/she imagine where we are now? This is just one of many thousands of examples of Karma

- the law of cause and effect. Therefore, one seemingly small change, of any kind, will have a ripple effect on the universe.

Some of the seeds to change the universe, rests locked up in your mind, but you have the ability to shape the future by any small changes that you make. Let's say you have a friend, family member, or associate, who cares for you deeply, but, up to now, you have always taken it for granted. Can you imagine what would happen if you take the time to groom that relationship? The answer is you would have a loyal ally and all you had to show was kindness or appreciation.

You have the ability to alter your own personality and affect the world around you. Hopefully, your personality will always continue to change for the better; if so, this will alter everyone around you for the best.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

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At times, everyone feels a little depressed about life, andchildren are no exception. Just like you, children oftenexperience "the same old grind." They get up for school, daycare, or camp to travel the same road each weekday. Somechildren even look forward to weekends in the same way theirparents do.

How can you put some excitement into life and teach your childto be successful? Sometimes, parents have to be spontaneous andbreak the routine up a bit for "family time." Make it a point toeat together and spend quality time doing new things.

Never say negative things about your life or how boring life isfor you. Children can really tune into this, and they alwayscopy their parents. They reflect negative thinking and can holdthemselves back by worrying about the risk of failure, just likean adult. Instead, teach them about the endless opportunitiesthat arise in every day life.

Life is full of challenges, and your child has to learn toovercome the fear of failure. This is where you come in - bymeasuring your child's progress. You should always point towardhis, or her, past successes for positive reinforcement.

Remember the story of the "Tortoise and the Hare?" Teach yourchild that slow and steady always finishes the race. As anadult, you know that finishing anything is a "bench mark" alongthe road to progress. A child will give up on a challenge, whenthey are too far out of their "comfort zone."

Giving up is a last resort. For example: Look down the road atthe many challenges your child will face in college, militaryservice, or at work. You want to establish a "track record" ofsuccess now.

Even when challenges and problems have your child in a state offear, you are obligated to encourage your child to move forwardand do their "personal best." Every successful person has had toface their own fear, in order to see the endless dailyopportunities that life has to offer.

Teach your child that life is full of excitement - by making thechoices of exploring and trying new things, as long as they arereasonably safe activities. The experience of learning is moreimportant than the chance of failure.

The end result will be that your child has positive memories ofaccomplishment, and the knowledge that he or she can alwayscount on you.

About the author:Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training atAura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yogateacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts.He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults,and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Rightfor You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new careeras a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violencearound us, due to intolerance, and many of us blame it onsomebody else. Parents teach their children, all the time, andwhen one of us displays "road rage," while our child is in thecar, we teach a brand new skill set.

Although, road rage is inappropriate behavior, at any time, andcan get you killed, most children who are exposed to it, willduplicate the actions of their parents, when they are old enoughto drive.

So the first step, is to set an example and, possibly, use someof these ideas, for yourself. Studies show that anger causesatherosclerosis, the build-up of plaques in the arteries, thatis a major factor in developing high blood pressure, heartdisease, heart attack, and premature death.

Also, during a "temper tantrum," adrenaline and blood pressurelevels rise beyond normal. This behavior is more dangerous toparent's bodies due to the normal "wear and tear" alreadyexisting.

Now, you may be convinced that anger can kill you, but let'slook at one more factor. You could hurt someone else, findyourself in prison, or get yourself killed due to incitingviolence against others. There are other people, who are havingdifficulty dealing with anger management too.

Back to our children: All children need exercise and they arenaturally full of energy. Look at any other species, and youwill see the same behavior. Should we drug our dogs, cats, andparrots, when they display youthful exuberance?

Children have to run, jump, and shout. So let them play in theback yard, in a park, and get them involved in sports, Yoga,dance, or martial arts. You will never regret letting your childenjoy life, constructively learn in the process, and just be akid.

For all of us, there is a time to be quiet and a time to shout.Children need years to learn this, so let's keep them active inthe process. Keep them away from the television, Internet, andvideo games, except for "rainy days." Coloring books, boardgames, and reading are also good activities for rainy days.

A heavy bag is a great tool for letting anger out. You and yourchild can use it together. You can learn to punch and kick it,for the aerobic benefits, as well. If you have a friend who is aboxer or martial artist, you could get some pointers. After justa 20-minute session, I guarantee you, and your child, will havedealt with anger - there will be little, if any, left.

Teach your child forgiveness, through your own example. I am notasking you to let people "walk all over you." However, letgrudges go; life is really too short to keep a feud going.

You can also control your child's "circle of friends," just bygetting him or her involved in, group activities such as: Leaguesports, dance, yoga, or martial arts. The parents who have theirchildren in these activities want the best for them and arewilling to sacrifice their time, or money, to get it.

This will keep your child busy, happy, and active, with apre-selected crowd of friends, who have parents that care. Thisis a "win - win" situation and well worth the investment.

This is not to say that every child you run into, at thesefunctions, will be perfect, but in the above mentionedactivities, all of them are structured, adult-supervised, andrules for behavior are in place. This form of organizationbecomes a habit, your child will follow these guidelines, andbring them home.

Here is another idea that will help. Have your child take careof a pet or a plant, every day. Children love to care foranimals or plants, but they still need supervision. The resultof this will be, your child learns compassion.

Compassion will keep anger "in check" every time.

About the author:Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training atAura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yogateacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts.He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults,and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Rightfor You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new careeras a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Having carried a sizable bump around for a very long, very hotsummer, I really wasn’t in the mood for a work out.

As Gwyneth Paltrow and all of my other coat-hanger thincelebrity peers snaked their way, all skin and bone about thetabloids, I scowled and knew that, even if the mood did evertake me as I sat covered in powered milk, I would just neverhave the time to get back in shape now that I always had my babyin toe. After all, its not as if I could balance Harry on therowing machine as I made for the nearest treadmill – I didn’tthink they’d like that down at the health club.

I did try the gym. Once. Inspired by Gwynnies size eight flatchestedness I did deposit Harry at my mums’, and went for oneswim amongst the well toned – but my self-esteem could just notcut it. Having been a large pregnant woman and having had adifficult birth, my body was not as it should be, and I didn’tstay for long. I’m sure no one cared about my having varicoseveins now, but I did, and I suddenly felt very much like a mum,and nothing else. Loosing faith in the idea that I’d ever have awaist again, I pooled my NCT friends to see if they had any tipson how to regain a good shape, without the embarrassment.

There was no way I was doing yoga. It turned out after speakingto the girls that they already had a fitness plan, and weremeeting to go to some yoga class the following week. I’d onlyever seen yoga on television, and I wouldn’t have evenconsidered trying it pre-Harry – I was never that skinny andstealth. The women all looked like they hadn’t eaten for atleast five years, and there was no way I was ever learning howto be a ‘delicate lotus’ with all of the cellulite I’daccumulated now. I lied and told them I couldn’t get ababysitter…

Turns out you can take your little ones to baby yoga. I wasworried it would be new agey, but our first session soondispelled all the worries I had about that. Friendly and chatty,the class was only for parents, and I met a whole gaggle of newlocal mums. We chatted about our babies, their first rolls,nappies and missing socks, and Harry played merrily with theother tots that were there – something which really made mesmile as he’s an only child and I was worried that when it cameto mixing with other babies he’d wouldn’t cope. Turns out he’s abit of a socialite – that’s my boy!

A qualified baby yoga teacher, our leader, Sue, started us offwith some very simple stretches, which were fine for anyphysical type.

Her training with Birthlight means she knowsexactly what our bodies have been through, and so nothing wastoo much. I was petrified that Harry would cry when it came toincluding him in the work out (the baby isn’t put under anystress either by the way – there’s just lots of great, gentleskin to skin contact and muscle stimulation, no sun salutationsjust yet!) but he just smiled. It must feel good, after all, tohave the shouty tired woman who’s been harassing you for allthis time give you some proper, physical warmth and lavishattention.

The stimulation that babies receive doing yoga releasesendorphins in the brain, and so they clearly glow after asession, just as we do after a turn at the gym. It was great toknow he felt so cared for.

As time went on, our classes did become more adventurous. Thestretches we learned started to actively include our babies(they are fabulous weights!) and we all became far lessinhibited, and felt happy to move onto the more complexmovements.

To calm the babies, Sue introduced music into the classes, whichsoothed them no end – in all the time I’ve been going now, Idon’t think we’ve ever had a baby have to be taken out forcrying. After Harry’s bath, I often do yoga with him at homenow, and the heat of my hands and the slow, rhythmic nature ofthe movements send him to sleep with much greater ease than asimple cuddle and a song tape ever could. He started sleepingthrough the night months before a lot of other babies that weknow, and I’m in no doubt that that has sonething to do with ouryoga.

Being an enthusiast now, I’ve read up on the later benefits ofwhat baby yoga can do and I’m excited. It’s clear from the facthe rolled early that Harry has good spatial awareness, andplenty of confidence in what his body is capable of. When wetook him for his eight-month check my health visitor told me hewill miss out crawling stage – his spine is strong, and havingbeen made aware of the limitations of his body through yoga, hedoesn’t need to go through the exploration that crawling allows.

As well as the very evident physical benefits of baby yoga, it’salso been a lifesaver for me. On maternity leave I was a bit ofa lonely mum, and now I have something of a network. Size tenagain and happy, there is never a morning goes by when Harry andI do not have a play date. It’s turned things around. I thinkill go down the gym tomorrow…

To find details of Baby Yoga activities in your area visitwww.busylittleones.co.uk

About the author:Lucy is an avid sailor and writer and has been involved in childcare for many years.

Parents are struggling to find methods for instilling self-confidence within their children. As adults, we know that the repercussions of poor self image can result in anxiety, depression, and a huge list of bad scenarios.

With this in mind, there are a number of positive actions that parents, teachers, physicians, and Yoga teachers can take to build solid foundations, within a given child’s character. By seeking solutions, we can give our children a positive view of life. In turn, children will develop into successful adults by building strong relationships and by exceptional performance, within his or her career.

Let’s look at the positive aspects for children within a typical Kids Yoga class. Although, Yoga is a vast subject, and there are a number of topics to discuss; children are better off being taught to focus on four components within a Hatha Yoga class.

These four components are posture, breathing, relaxing, and meditation. A child will find all four of these subjects easy to grasp, but all of them are a challenge. For many kids, the relaxation and meditation are easy to understand, but mastering them is another matter.

Now, let’s look at how a Yoga class for a child can have a profound and positive impact on his or her self-image. One of the first lessons a child walks away with is self-acceptance. Every child learns to appreciate being the best he or she can possibly be. This is achieved by understanding that other children may excel in one area of Yoga, while other children may be exceptional in a completely different area.

For example: One child may be able to relax or meditate; another child may demonstrate balancing skills in Eagle Pose; while another child is exceptionally strong in the Warrior Series. In this case, it is up to the Yoga teacher to give out praise equally to all the children present in a class.

How can you accomplish this? As teachers, we always praise the exceptional, but since this is a Yoga class you can afford to praise every child who tries his or her best. It is natural for children and adults to seek praise. This is why the world has so much competition for every little event.

However, competition should be “brushed aside” in a Kids Yoga class. The Yoga studio, or ashram, should be a nurturing place for children and adults to master life skills. Yoga literally means “unity,” and competition bolsters the ego. Therefore, this is not the way Yoga was designed for children or adults.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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