Can Yoga Reduce Domestic Quarrels?

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Domestic quarrels and disagreements often stem from egocentric attitudes, where we view our opinion as more valuable than another's opinions or feelings. Quarrels can occur as a result of miscommunication, unwillingness to change, or when one partner does not listen to the needs and desires of the other. Yoga is known for improving a number of different physical ailments, from high blood pressure to insomnia, but can it affect behavior as well? When practiced on a regular basis, Yoga can indeed change the demeanor, behavior, and attitudes of a person. Over time, domestic quarrels can decrease.

Inner Peace

After practicing Yoga on a regular basis, many people feel an inner peace. When you practice Yoga, you become accustomed to stilling your mind and living in the present moment. You begin to realize that stress can be released through physical movement, positive meditation, and through a conscious effort to breathe out negative thoughts and emotions. The more you feel inner peace, the more likely you will be to stay calm and rational during misunderstandings, disagreements, and potential confrontations. The people around you might also sense your feeling of wellness and peace, causing them to back down from a potential confrontation or quarrel.

Compassion

When you feel compassionate towards others, you are able to truly understand how they are feeling in any given situation. In order to understand others, you must understand yourself. Yoga nurtures compassion by giving you the chance to find your inner peace and compassion for yourself. As a result, you can be more compassionate toward others. When domestic quarrels occur, you are more willing to try to see the issue from the other person's viewpoint, as opposed to sticking stubbornly to your own feelings and opinions.

Tolerance

Yoga also helps you develop and practice tolerance, or the ability to accept differences. Sometimes domestic quarrels result from personality differences. One partner might be neater than the other, or one partner might be more outgoing and social than the other. Yoga teaches us to accept and celebrate these differences, instead of wanting everyone to act the same as we do.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to live moment-to-moment, instead of constantly thinking ahead to what is coming, or remembering previous events and feelings. When you are mindful, you appreciate each moment as it is happening. If you practice mindfulness during a Yoga session, it becomes easier to do throughout the rest of the day. Remaining mindful during a misunderstanding will allow you to remain calm and focused on the issue at hand, instead of bringing up past feelings or emotions.  In fact, mindfulness alone will prevent confrontation.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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Restorative Yoga for Cancer Patients

By Faye Martins

Recently, a friend passed a brochure to me from the oncology building at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.  To see Restorative Yoga on the schedule for women going through chemotherapy made so much sense.  As Yoga instructors, we may often feel like we’re speaking to a wall, when addressing the medical community, but real progress is happening - right now.

Restorative Yoga, with its gentle stretches and assorted props, looks deceptively simple; studies, however, show that it evokes powerful results. Easing the physical and mental bodies into what seems almost like a moving meditation, the practice induces a deep state of relaxation and renewal. While restorative poses are often part of the cool down in rigorous Yoga routines, they are particularly appropriate for people with health problems and physical limitations.

Much of the research into the field of Restorative Yogic techniques involves cancer patients. As a complement to traditional care, restorative poses relieve stress, reduce pain, improve mood and boost immunity.

Scientific Evidence Supports Use of Restorative Yoga for Cancer Recovery

• A 2009 study at Wake Forest University found that breast and ovarian cancer patients who practiced Restorative Yoga for ten weeks were less stressed and more energetic than members of the test group who did not participate. Depression decreased by 50%, and feelings of calm increased by 12%.

• In 2005, results of nine studies completed at the University of California suggested that cancer patients who practiced Yoga had less anxiety and insomnia, fewer cancer-related complaints and an increase in feelings of general well-being.

• In 2007 and 2008, Canadian researchers at Queens University examined the effect of Yoga on the psychological health of cancer patients. Although modest positive results were noted over the course of ten studies, scientists indicated the need for further tests to determine which interventions were most effective and which patients might receive the greatest benefits.

• In 2009, Harvard University released findings favoring the use of Yoga for pediatric cancer patients and recommending additional research into the field.

• In 2006, information released by the Research Council for Complementary Medicine in London endorsed the use of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of cancer patients and recommended further exploration of the topic.

• At Stanford University Cancer Center, Yoga teachers say that Restorative Yoga reduces fatigue, restores calm and aids in the recovery process. They also recommend the practice for caregivers.

Although most studies have been small and limited in scope, the general consensus suggests that Restorative Yoga enhances the lives of cancer patients and warrants additional research. As its value has become more evident, so will its role in complementary health care.

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Meditation During Childbirth

By Gopi Rao

Few people would dispute childbirth as the reigning champion in the area of human pain. Modern medicine has come a long way and pain medications are fairly effective in alleviating the pain of giving birth, but there are some unpleasant side effects for the mother and baby both when these are heavily used. For this and other reasons, more and more mothers are looking to give birth in a more drug free manner. Meditation is a powerful method for pain tolerance during childbirth.

In order for meditation to be effective during childbirth, it is necessary to establish the habit earlier on while the mind and body are relaxed and free of pain. Stress has a profound effect on the growth and development of an unborn child, so meditation is a beneficial practice throughout pregnancy due to the stress relief it provides. Simple mindfulness or following the breath meditation methods is highly recommended.

With a foundation of mindfulness to work from, when the first contractions arise be mindful of them. Childbirth will be painful; there is no denying this. Resistance will only bring stress to the situation, and stress will in turn bring about a release of negative stress hormones and a tightening of the muscles within the body. Muscular tightness and rigidity is not beneficial for childbirth. Become the observer of the pain and progress of the childbirth, and remember that the pain is something the body is experiencing right now. It is not a part of your Self. The pain will pass eventually, but until it does, give it your utmost attention.

Many people think that it's their duty to provide the laboring mother with distraction from the pain, but attempting to ignore something this monumental is an exercise in futility, and is usually counter-intuitive. Having clear expectations set beforehand with those who will be allowed to visit the mother during labor is essential and saves the mother from feeling like she has to cater to guests during a time when she should be allowed to focus solely on her labor experience.

The deep breathing of meditation prevents both the mother and baby from becoming deprived of oxygen, and counters the natural instinct to take small, shallow breaths during painful contractions.

Giving the pain of childbirth the full attention also turns discomfort into valuable communication between the mother and her body. If at any point the pain takes a turn towards becoming too great, the mother will be the first to know, and this is valuable for women who have opted to use some medications for controlling pain during childbirth. A mother does not need to choose between medication and meditation entirely; meditation may be used in conjunction with pain medications to reduce the amount needed to be effective.

Listening to the body during labor through focused meditation removes the fear many mothers have of labor pains and gives the control back to the mother, where it belongs. Being deeply grounded in inner stillness leads to a calm and serenity that carries through the entire labor experience and beyond. 

After facing that level of pain and fear head on, is there anything a woman cannot handle? In this way, childbirth becomes one of the most powerful forms of meditative practice, and serves to prepare the new mother for the adventure of parenthood. For this reason, pregnancy is one of the best times for a woman to begin the practice of daily meditation.

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Teaching Self-Mastery Through Yoga

By Faye Martins

How can we teach our yoga students about self-mastery? Ultimately, our students need to find  the teacher within.  The heart of yoga is spiritual. Before being introduced to the West during the past few centuries, yoga was virtually unknown outside of its culture of origin. The term “yoga” arose in ancient India and often referred to Patanjali’s school of philosophy. When used in this sense, it is sometimes called Raja yoga to distinguish it from the schools that arose later. There are writings that make the distinction between Jnana and Karma yoga to denote a style based on knowledge and a style based on action, respectively. The yogic influence didn’t stop in India, however; it also is woven through many cultures in every part of the world. For centuries, yoga was inseparable from the other practices of Eastern mysticism.

True to its meaning, yoga seeks to unite. It unites the body, mind and spirit through its physical and contemplative practice. The body — its form, its energy systems, and its flesh — is used as a vehicle for enlightenment. Properly aligned, the body serves as channel to balance a well-trained mind, engaging the entirety of a person in seeking divinity.

Unity is itself a journey toward enlightenment. The process of such a spiritual journey seeks to break down the barriers between self and whole and between form and emptiness. Each breath is an expansion and a step closer to raw perception. Every concentrated pose as the practitioner relaxes into her form is another lesson on the inner workings of the mind. It reveals the mechanisms of feeling, thought, emotion, creativity and perception. It is a lesson repeated through a lifetime with the goal of its true internalization and the use of this knowledge for self-betterment and the elimination of suffering.

Through yoga, practitioners come to deeply and experientially understand themselves. Like mindfulness meditation, it provides a profound glimpse into the process by which the mind forms its thoughts and self-conception. A practitioner can use this information to find peace in their everyday life through understanding the fleeting nature of reality. Understanding one’s mind gives one unimaginable control and mastery over its processes. The possibilities of a truly mastered mind are endless. Yoga also provides the element of the physical. A deep and intimate knowledge of one’s body is gained through the practice of yoga. To truly feel and embody our whole selves is a rare feat in the modern world, but it is exactly what we teach our yoga students.

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Pet Yoga and Downward Facing Dogs

By 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.

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Hypertension and Yoga

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

To function properly, the human body must maintain sufficient blood pressure, to allow blood to be pushed to all extremities and flow throughout the body. However, when the blood pressure is very high, it is known as hypertension. The heart must work hard, and strain, to pump the blood volume. Hypertensive patients are at high risk for organ damage, including damage to the retina, brain, heart, and kidneys.

Yoga is shown to lower blood pressure, and those who regularly practice a Yogic lifestyle, usually enjoy lower rates of hypertension than the general population. Practicing Yoga, to control hypertension, has been proven effective – without the side effects experienced with medication. However, proper instruction with a competent Yoga teacher and a medical professional are strongly advised.

Note: Anyone with hypertension should discuss their treatment with a physician, including any Yoga practice they intend to pursue.

B. K. S. Iyengar, one of the world’s foremost experts on Yoga and a teacher for 75 years, offers a number of suggestions regarding the practice of Yoga to reduce hypertension. B. K. S. Iyengar’s book, “Light on Yoga,” details the asanas, which regulate the blood pressure. Forward bends, supine positions, sitting positions, and inversions all help blood pressure, with forward bends being the fundamental asanas recommended.

Note: The above mentioned inversions are recommended for the purpose of “regulating” blood pressure – but may not be advised for those individuals who have high blood pressure.

B. K. S. Iyengar recommends the following Yoga poses (asanas), in particular, for the management of high blood pressure: Savasana (resting pose), Virasana (hero pose), Uttanasana (standing forward bend), Janu Sirsasana (head to knee pose), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog), and Baddha Konasana (cobbler or bound ankle pose).

These poses relieve stress and relax the sympathetic nervous system, allowing blood pressure to drop. There are also several asanas that should be avoided by people with high blood pressure. Vrksasana (tree pose) should be practiced, without the arms raised overhead.

Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose) should be modified, by turning the head to gaze downward, leaving the hand at the waist instead of raising it upward. Virabhadrasana 2 and 3 (warrior two and three), Adho Mukha Vrksasana (full arm balance) and Sirsasana (headstand) should not be practiced at all by those with hypertension.

The definitive study on Yoga and high blood pressure is considered to be Chandra Patel and W.R.S. North’s research – published in the journal, “The Lancet” in 1975 – in which 34 hypertensive patients participated. They were assigned to either to Yoga relaxation methods with bio-feedback, or given a placebo therapy (general relaxation) for six weeks.

As a fully randomized study, the results were highly significant, with blood pressure in the Yoga group falling from 168/100 to 141/84 mm. (Normal blood pressure is generally considered to be 120/80 mm.) There is every reason, for those with hypertension, to explore Yoga as a complementary treatment.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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How to Improve Your Eyesight with Yoga

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Over time, Yoga has proven remarkably beneficial for nearly every part of the body. However, the question lingers: “Can Yoga be used to actually improve eyesight?” Though solid research is lacking, there are at least three types of Yoga, which appear, at least circumstantially, to do just that.

Bates Method

Dr. William Bates, who died in 1931, was an American physician and ophthalmologist, who developed what is now called, the Bates Method for better eyesight. The method improves vision by relearning a supposed habitual strain to see. His theory, which proposes that the eye focuses, by elongating the eyeball, rather than by changing the power of the lens, was not upheld by his peers and remains unproven today.

Nonetheless, the founder and director of the Center and School for Self-Healing, in San Francisco, Meir Schneider, avows that the practice of consciously relaxing the eyes in a Yogic method, in accordance with the Bates Method, allowed him to see again after being pronounced blind at age 6. Schneider teaches Yoga for eyes, involving palming, massage, blinking, and shifting the eyes, and a number of happy students credit him with the return of vision they thought was gone forever.

Dahn Yoga

Dahn Yoga, from Korea, also offers exercises to strengthen the eyes and potentially improve eyesight. According to Dahn practitioners, the eyes are connected to the liver meridian, and exercises that stimulate the liver, help eyesight. According to the U.S. Dahn Yoga website, meridians, or energy pathways, for all organs flow through the abdominal area. By stimulating the abdomen, the energy center will develop. To stimulate and provide warmth in the dahn-jon (energy concentration in the abdomen), the practitioner should rub, press, and tap, the area around the ribs, on both sides. The liver, spleen, and gall bladder meridians are all focused in the area, and eyesight should improve.

Trataka or Drishti

Trataka, or the “uninterrupted gaze,” is a method that is said to cleanse the eyes and their passages. The technique is usually taught with a candle flame, but students may also use any item with a positive connotation. The center of the candle is the focus for the gaze, and complete awareness of the flickering nature of the candle is held.

The gaze is kept steady, and the eyelids are kept open, for as long as possible, without blinking. The practice stimulates the tear glands and tears appear after about 10 minutes, having a cleansing effect on the eyes. Eye rotations, and rapid eye movements, done without moving the head, can also be practiced, focusing on moving objects, such as one’s thumb. Trataka relaxes the mind; and as mental stress, headaches, and eyestrain are combined, the overall effect is improvement of vision.

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

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Relax Yourself by Taking Yoga

By Jesus Smith

Think about how much better you feel after you have taken a deep breath during a busy day and calmed yourself down for just a moment. That feeling of relief can be wonderful for reducing stress during the day and for getting that moment to simply regroup and focus on what is important to you. Yoga can be the method you can use to achieve this feeling of deep relaxation each day to calm you down and have a more productive day to follow.

Yoga utilizes that same breathing feeling previously described to not only help your mind begin to meditate, but to also help you control the movements while practicing the yoga poses. You may feel refreshed after just one yoga session and be hooked for life! It used to be very common for women to practice yoga frequently, but in recent years the benefits have been so well publicized that men and children are also reaping the goodness that yoga can bring. You do not need to be a fitness master or extremely athletic to engage in yoga which is one of the reasons it is so popular currently. Any age range can participate as long as you can move your body into a few basic positions you can begin starting to enjoy yoga.

Once you progress along with the yoga instruction, you will not only begin to see results quickly, but you will also notice how well your body is adjusting to the poses and you can begin to take more advanced instruction as well. The longer you begin to hold to the poses in your yoga class, the more toned and conditioned your body will become. This is a wonderful achievement and something to be quite proud of when you can reach an advanced level of practicing yoga. Your body becomes very defined and you are not experiencing all of those minor aches and pains that you once were. Better sleep at night and a feeling of being more alert during the day are two other key benefits to practicing yoga. After you have started the instruction, you will notice your body will begin to crave the yoga more and more. Each day you can attempt to hold your poses a little bit longer and after even just one week, you will begin to get stronger and truly advance your yoga skills.

Naturally, if you begin to eat a more health conscious diet you will reap the benefits of your yoga classes even faster. Drinking lots of water and ensuring you are wearing comfortable clothing for your yoga classes will also greatly improve your ability to advance. You can research the many different types of yoga you can practice on the internet as you will find there are several different options. Do not take an advanced form of yoga to start with and start off slowly if you like by taking one or two classes per week until you feel at ease with your new fitness routine.

Jesus was looking at buying a new LG 42LD450 television. He looked at 42LD450 prices and they didn't seem too bad. It had the size screen that he wanted, it does 1080P which is great quality and it was easy to wall mount. He bought it and is very happy about his purchase.

Yoga as a Health Practice

By Sabrina Smith

Yoga has been revered for centuries by many countries of Asia for its ability to heal and promote health and wellness. Some of the countries have derived medical practices that revolve around the key concept of yoga: balancing the mind body and spirit to achieve their goal of health and wellness. India, one of the Asian countries that has been at the heart of yoga for many years, developed the practice of Ayurveda. Yoga and Yogic practices such as meditation, and postures are key to its medicines. Aside from this form of traditional medicine Yoga has been proven to be very beneficial in modern day, curing such ailments like depression, decreasing the risk of heart attacks, stimulating irregular bowls and creating healthy eating habits, helping to release your body from addiction, as well as promote a healthy physical, mental and emotional body.

Ayurveda has been very much a common medicinal practice in India working hand in hand with yoga and it has most recently been made popular by Deepak Chopra, M.D. Chopra explains the methodology of Ayurveda, and its view of the human body as a quantum mechanical device, that is not easily fixed through the prescription of magic pills. But can return back to a balanced state once the body’s energies begin to function in harmony. He explains Ayurveda uses Yogic techniques of mediation to heal the emotional issues such as depression. In his book Perfect Health, Chopra tells a story of a young man whose parents had divorced causing him to fall into a deep depression. When he went off to college the symptoms worsened, causing him to suffer from blindingly severe headaches, acute pain, dizziness and vomiting.

He dropped out of college before the end of the first semester, his father sent him to see a therapist that prescribed him an array anti-depressants. But nothing worked very good or for very long. After a few years of dealing with the depression and thoughts of suicide he had heard about meditation from a friend. The young man began to employ the techniques he learned. He began to find the place deep down inside of him where the headaches and the depression did not dwell. Through continued meditation his small island of awareness slowly became larger, and slowly he began to see his true self that had been hidden underneath the depression and pain (Chopra, 160-63).

The yogic practice of meditation can also reduce the risk of heart attack among those who suffer from borderline hypertension, and high cholesterol. A study conducted at Harvard medical School in 1974 studied twenty-two hypertensive patients. The study showed that the average reading dropped from150/94 to 141/88 it was enough to bring the diastolic pressure (the bottom number) down from borderline to a normal range. However the systolic pressure (the top number) was not lowered enough to be considered normal. However any elevation in blood pressure for an extended period of time can take years off one’s life. So, one might consider the experiment a success (Chopra, 164). Similar experiments to this one have been done regarding patience with high-cholesterol.

Meditation has been used in a study done by two researchers in Israel, M.J. Cooper and M.M. Aygen showed that employing meditation could lower cholesterol. The researchers took a group of 23 patients with elevated cholesterol, twelve were taught meditation and eleven were not. At the end of eleven months they screened their cholesterol again. The twelve that meditated dropped their levels from an average of 255 to an average 225 (the expectable number in the U.S. is 200). This same team did the same study with patience that had normal cholesterol numbers as well. The study showed that cholesterol could be lowered in people who had a normal cholesterol number (Chopra, 164-165). The mind is a powerful device in Yoga and meditation is a showcase of its power at work. However it is not the only device that is activated through yogic practices.

The postures used in Yogic practice as well as the Yogic diet can help to stimulate irregular bowels. Yogic postures give a gentle message to the abdominal viscera, postures like the cat and the plow help to correct constipation, aid in digestion and bowel action (Hewitt, 222 & 244). In regards to the yogic diet, “overeating and underrating are alike detrimental to success in Yoga. A Yogic rule is that one should finish a meal feeling that a little more could have been taken,” (Hewitt, 398). A Yogic diet is considered lacto-vegetarian, not eating meat for ethical as well as health reasons. The yogic diet is further broken down in smaller food groups.

There are particular food groups in the Yogic diet that are considered to influence the human personality, sattvic “pure” food, rajasic “stimulating” food, and “tamasic” impure food. The “pure” foods consist of milk, butter fruits, vegetables and grains. “Stimulating” foods are foods that are stimulating to the nervous system like, spicy, strong tasting foods, meat, fish eggs and alcohol. “Impure” foods are foods that have been putrefied, overripe, rotten or impure in some way (Hewitt 154.) Much of the modern diet consists of these “impure” foods, especially for those who consume meat and processed food.

Have you ever wondered how come meat is not hard and stiff due to rigor mortis, it becomes tender again due to putrefaction, or the decaying process. Much of all food that comes pre-packaged will fall into the category of “impure” due to the additives and preservatives that grace the ingredient list.

According to the Bhagavad-Gita these “impure foods make a person dull and lazy. Their thinking capacity diminishes and they sink almost to the level of animals or bushmen. They have no high ideals or purpose in life; on a physical side, they suffer from chronic ailments of the body,” (Swami Vishnu-devananda, 209). Throughout the practice Yoga one opens themselves up to a new level of awareness in regards to what they put in their body and how it affects them.

“Pure” foods are said to bring purity and calmness to the mind and are soothing and nourishing to the body. Rajasic or “stimulating” foods arouse the animal passion in man and brings a restless state of mind (Swami Vishnu-Devananda, 209).

Beyond the food that we put in our body there are substances that are not only physically harmful to our bodies but are very detrimental to our Being. For instance drugs and the addiction that accompanies them, ranging from nicotine to narcotics cause not only physical harm but disrupt the chemical patterns in bodies. For many, addiction is a hard pattern to break free from. Addiction is like when you manually over ride a program to make it do something out side of its memory. The body has a memory of how the body is suppose to work in a healthy pattern, but the addictive pattern has taken over. Yoga can be used to help restore and remind the body of what the healthy pattern is.

When one begins to practice yoga they begin to open up the chakras in the body, freeing up the energy flow within the body. Yogic postures that are specific to the particular chakra where the addiction is held can be extremely helpful in freeing the body from the addictive pattern. For instance if the addiction rest in the Root Chakra or Muladahar, one would want to practice an asana that would ground them, consisting of seated postures, supine, as well as prone. It is good to have a well rounded set of asana’s so that the chakras do not become over or under stimulated but when you have areas that need focus it is good to give them the attention that they need.

This attention does not only have to be in the form of the physical asana, as mentioned before the mind is a very powerful device and through meditation addictions pattern can be broken as well. This can happen unintentionally. A study done in 1972, by physiologist Robert Keith Wallace, showed that a group of 1,860 mostly college students that began to practice meditation decreased their drug use significantly. After twenty-one months of practicing their drug dependency in the areas of narcotics, barbiturates, hallucinogens, marijuana and amphetamines decreased so much that most had stopped using all together.

Marijuana was still used by about twelve percent and all the others ranged from one to four percent of users. The most interesting part is that they were not part of a rehabilitation program, they were not asked to quit, and the researcher did not follow their progress, nor reward them for abstaining (Chopra, 201-202). It was the mediators’ body coming back into sync, and no longer being part of the addictive pattern.

Yoga as a whole promotes a healthy lifestyle. Yoga makes you more aware of what you are putting in to your body, how you are. Whether you are exercising or not exercising, healthy and un-healthy habits that you have developed in your life, or habits that you hope to develop. Yoga can be used to encourage healing within the body whether it is physical, mental or emotional. This is often through meditation but not limited to meditation. Yogic postures and diet play an integral part in Yoga as a “health practice.”

Work Cited

Chopra, Deepak M.D. “Perfect Health.” New York, Three Rivers Press; 2000.

Hewitt, James. “The Complete Book of Yoga.” New York, Schocken Books; 1977.

Vishnu-Devananda, Swami. “The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga.” New York,

Three Rivers Press; 1988.

Sabrina Smith is a certified Yoga teacher. She teaches classes in the Oakley, California area.

Teaching Hatha Yoga – Two Yoga Poses for Stress

By Sanjeev Patel, CYT

It is slowly nearing the beginning of fall in North America. Officially, the fall season will begin on September 22nd, but for some who dislike cooler temperatures, anxiety or stress may follow the summer season. The following two Yoga asanas are easy to practice and help students to release stored energy, which can create bad moods.

Half Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)

This posture is sometimes called “Half Lord of the Fishes pose.” The name can be traced to Sage Matsyendra. Ardha Matsyendrasana can be confusing to some, but it releases physical tension within the entire body. Physical tension stored at a desk, in a car, and on the couch is a recipe for stress overload.

Directions: Sitting, bend the right knee and place the right foot with the heel against the left buttock. The sole of the left foot belongs on the floor on the outside of the right knee. Bend the left arm behind the back and look out over the left shoulder. The right arm presses on outside of the left thigh and knee, the right hand grasping the inside of the left foot. The twist begins and the sacrum and climbs gradually up the spine to the head. Butt stays firm on the ground, feet stay flat on the floor, toes spread. Spine is straight. Then, alternate sides.

This twisting posture prevents backache and keeps the spine flexible and young. It massages the internal organs, aiding in digestion and detoxification. Like all twisting postures, it has the mental benefit of reminding us that we have the power to unravel ourselves in all kinds of unhealthy situations.

Lion Pose (Simhasana)

Sometimes this asana is called, “Roaring Lion Pose.” For many people, the lion is a favorite Yoga pose. You can perform it silently, but I like to be loud and roar. Sitting with spine straight in Thunderbolt Posture, hands on knees, come slightly forward, roaring and exhaling the lungs completely, while opening the eyes wide (rolled back) and opening the mouth as wide as possible, protruding the tongue out and down as far as it will go.

Hold this position on the exhale for as long as possible (6 seconds) keeping the body tense the whole time. Relax and return to the upright thunderbolt position; breathe normally. Repeat.

This asana tones the muscles of the throat and face, bringing fresh blood and new vigor to those areas. In addition, the psychological effect of this pose cannot be underestimated. It is playful, bringing lightness to the mind when overburdened. It is tense, which leads to better relaxation upon release. It is loud and therefore self-expressive, discouraging shyness.

© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications

Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/

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Hatha Yoga for Personal Growth and Empowerment

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

In Yoga, many students consult their teacher, Guru, or Swami for general advice. These consultations are not always related to Yoga. For the student, the problem is finding reliable advice. He or she listens to the teacher for knowledge and helpful advice. Where can you find concrete advice?

Advice, in and of itself, is a form of connecting personal opinions, personal belief systems, and personal values into a recommendation. Therefore, if you obtain the advice of another, it is his or her personal opinion.

In some ways, each of us would like to resign decision- making to some one else. We want someone, who has all the answers to the riddles of the universe, but we want to have control over our lives. This creates an internal conflict, as most of us want to establish our independence.

Why do we seek the advice of a Yoga teacher, Guru, or Swami? A Guru is a person who is regarded as having great wisdom or knowledge, and uses it to guide others. A Swami is one who knows and is master of herself/himself. In general, these are usually, but not always, Hindu titles of deep respect.

If we think in terms of personal growth, and empowerment, how does one become the knower of herself/himself? To become the master of oneself requires daily regimentation. What you eat, what you read, your daily physical exercise, the time you spend meditating, and much more, are strictly controlled by you. This type of lifestyle requires absolute self-discipline.

Yet, let’s be honest – how many people will ever be able to control themselves at all times? The answer is: Very few. All is not lost if we change, what we can, gradually. To sustain a lifestyle change, requires some planning and to learn to forgive oneself for making mistakes.

Therefore, if you plan to make a big change, start with a few smaller changes, which lead to your eventual goal. For many students of Yoga, they do not see a big change unless they look back in time. The reason is: They started practicing Yoga, adopted healthy habits, and eventually realized the rewards of small steps forward.

To suddenly change everything, all at once, is a shock to your entire being. This is like eating meat and refined “junk food” all your life; then suddenly eating raw vegetables, whole grains, and fresh fruit. The usual result of sudden changes is that we change back to what we were before. To make permanent changes, we must take a moderate and gradual approach.

© Copyright 2009 - 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

Yoga Therapy For Chronic Back Pain - The First Step Toward Relief

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When considering Yoga therapy for chronic back pain, you should have the endorsement of your physician or medical specialist. Reducing the back pain in your life can be a team effort. It is important to realize that many forms of therapy work well in harmony with medicine and each other.

In the case of Yoga therapy for back pain, one should feel a reduction in pain, but this does not mean you should discard your prescriptions, or the advice of your doctors. Most people, who constantly suffer from back pain, try medical or chiropractic solutions, prescriptions, and a variety of physical or alternative therapies.

After trying a variety of solutions, most people tend to continue with anything that helps them manage, or eliminate, pain. With that said, Yoga therapy sessions, or Yoga classes, are often part of a larger solution for pain management; and in some cases, the complete elimination of back pain.

Does this mean that every Yoga teacher has solutions for backaches and serious back pain? No, because there are a variety of Yoga styles, and many of them address mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Mental, emotional, and spiritual health are important in any healing process, but you want to be sure treatment of the physical body is included in your Yoga therapy.

A smaller, but very popular, group of Yoga styles are off shoots of Hatha Yoga (union by physical mastery). Does this mean that Hatha Yoga is purely physical in nature? No, because depending on the teacher and the sub-style, Hatha also covers mental, emotional, and spiritual health, in various degrees. The variation among Hatha Yoga's sub-styles covers a wide spectrum of knowledge and approaches toward health.

From the Hatha style, modern Yoga therapy has sprung. Among the therapeutic Yoga systems are: Viniyoga, Iyengar Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and other forms of Yoga therapy. This short list is where a person in chronic pain should begin to seek pain management solutions.

This will also require an extensive search for the right teacher, school, or Yoga therapist. The right teacher, or therapist, is knowledgeable, competent, gentle, understanding, and has time for you. You can easily make an assessment in one consultation, private session, or over the phone.
Generally speaking, Yoga schools do not have group therapy sessions for the same ailment.

There may be a specialized workshop for back pain, but these are rare. Therefore, it would be wise to schedule a private Yoga session with the most qualified teacher or therapist you can find.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga.

He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at:

Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit:

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