Tips Guides Resources

There are a variety of vedic books on yoga that inform the reader how to recognize their own destiny in life, but when an individual joins a yoga class, then they are able to get a much better understanding of what yoga really represents. Yoga is self realization of finding your own self and getting it all together basically.

Sometimes an individual may be in the middle of an environment that is completely full of negative energy, which may be caused by their spouse, room mate, co-worker, parent, or friend. For the individuals’ very own health they should remove themselves from this type of situation, but often times they are drawn to this person simply because they care for them. For a situation such a this the true source of negative energy within this personal needs to be located, then it needs to be addressed.

One of the many benefits of the practice of yoga is empowerment and in the Bhakti Yoga empowerment is a type of ritual that a guru gives bestows an enlightened presence to bless the mind and soul of a student that has been devoted. There are times when a student has been so devoted throughout life that a deity is called upon to bless and nurture the student, then as a result of this blessing the student is able to help and teach others. In some parts of the world today, this type of empowerment is still practiced today.

Students to learn how to overcome their obstacles that get in their way each day instead of becoming overwhelmed with them. They need to learn how they can draw on the source of power within themselves when they feel alone and learn that the most powerful tool to empowerment is through power. The constant pursuit of knowledge, especially with the many sources available with modern technology is a source of empowerment. Finally, building your own natural talent to the best of their ability will build your self esteem and become a source of empowerment as well.

Yoga classes are devised to teach students how to survive mental, emotional, and physical hardships when faced with them. While these students are prepared for these types of situations, they become role models for others who would become overwhelmed when faced with the same obstacles. These students are capable to keep a positive attitude due to the fact that they have had the motivation in the past to change themselves.

Many individuals find that contentment is unreal or that it is simply a fantasy, but for individuals that practice yoga know that everything that brings them true contentment is right in front of them such as their family, friends, health, and what ever is close at hand. The true purpose in life must be felt within ones heart and our natural talents are our own destiny. If an individual purchases something at the store, then they will not be happy with it, but if the individual makes something with their own skills and talents, then they will truly be happy and content.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about used books, autographed books, and Vedic books. When shopping for books, we recommend only the best bookstores for used books, autographed books, and yoga classes.

At the heart of personal yoga practice, regardless of whether it is Hatha Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, lies yoga sets. The building block for these sets are, of course yoga poses and exercises, and how to put them together in order to design effective sets and routines is a key aspect of yoga as well. In this article I would like to give you six important guidelines on how to construct these sets.

6 Guidelines for Designing Kundalini & Hatha Yoga Sets:

1. Who Should Design Yoga Sets:

Do not try to design a set if you are just beginning yoga practice. Attend some classes first and develop your personal practice before tying to design your own routines and sets. The last thing you want to do is practice yoga and create more injuries and imbalances for yourself.

2. Yoga Sets Should be Balanced:

This is one of the most important aspects of a yoga set. By balance here I mean that the poses that twist and stretch you one way, should at some point be balanced with poses that twist and stretch you the other way. Similarly, you should design sets that stretch both arms, both legs, etc, equally if possible. In addition, rotations done in one direction should be followed by rotations done in the other direction.

So if in your set you have a backward bending yoga posture, then at some point it is wise to have a forward bending yoga pose as well. As an example, if you employ Cobra Pose early in your set, you can balance it with the Forward Bending Pose sometime later. This will ensure that you don’t end up creating sets after which you feel out of balance and un-centered.

3. Chakras Work Should Be Done Low to High:

In general the rule to follow, especially for Kundalini Yoga Kriyas, is to start working on the lower chakras first and then move up towards the higher chakras. So you would tend to do an exercise like Crow Pose, which works on the Root Chakra, early in the set and do Stretch Pose, which works on the Navel Chakra, sometime after that. This helps to sequentially increase the vibration of the energy higher and higher.

4. Yoga Breathing Guidelines:

For most exercises and postures a corresponding breath is indicated. In most cases, there are several options available that allow you to breathe at a level which is comfortable for you. So advanced practitioners might do Breath of Fire, while a beginner might do Long Deep Breathing with a particular pose.

One rule with yoga breathing though, is that generally you should inhale when expanding the chest and abdominal region and exhale during the movement which contracts these regions. This allows for maximum benefit from the movements and exercises.

5. Rest Periods:

It is wise to design specific rest periods within a set. The one important aspect though of rest, which should be included in every Kundalini Yoga kriya, is a period of relaxation at the end of the kriya.

This relaxation time is critical to allow the body to assimilate all the energy that has been awakened by the yoga exercises. It is during this time, the body heals, grows and nourishes itself.

6. Warm-Ups:

If your set consists mostly of difficult yoga poses and exercises only, make sure you do a warm-up set first before jumping into advanced postures. If you plan to do your set only, then ensure that it first starts off with simple yoga postures and movements, so that you are properly warmed up, then moves on to the more challenging exercises. Warm-ups and not overdoing it are your best defenses against injury.

Summary of Making Your Own Yoga Sets:

The sciences of Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, etc, are tools to help you in your own unique path to spiritual awakening. Designing your own Yoga Sets, to help you overcome your personal challenges, I think is a valuable skill to learn. I hope the guidelines above help you maximize the benefits from your personal yoga practice.

Anmol Mehta is a Yoga & Zen expert. His Free Guided Meditation & Kundalini Yoga Website offers amazing Tantric Yoga Techniques and many Chakra Meditation Techniques.

An empty stomach - Yoga pays a lot of emphasis on core conditioning. Hence it is a good idea not to eat a heavy meal a couple of hours before your Yoga class. It will only leave you feeling stuffed and may even result in indigestion or stomach cramps. If you’ve decided to indulge in a heavy meal just before your class, consider skipping the class instead.

Reach a couple of minutes early
Yoga is not just another workout. It is a form of exercise that places a great deal of emphasis on centering yourself and breath-control. If you rush in at the last minute, gasping for breath, you are defeating the entire purpose behind practicing Yoga. Instead, try to reach a couple of minutes early, take a few deep breaths, calm the mind and empty your mind of all extraneous distractions.

Warm up
Like any other form of exercise, warming up plays an important role in Yoga too. Warming up ensures that you are able to perform the many stretching exercises that are a part of Yoga without straining your muscles.

Take your time
Do not allow your Yoga class to become a race to the finish line. It is more important to take the time to breathe properly while properly performing the various postures and remain centered at all times. You do not have to keep up with the rest of the class.

Quality is better than quantity
All the different Yoga postures have a specific purpose. Performing an exercise half-heartedly or not performing it properly completely negates the benefits of the exercise. Take the time to learn the various postures properly and ensure that you perform them in the correct manner.

Do not proceed on auto pilot
Yoga is not like running on the treadmill. You cannot watch television and perform Yoga at the same time. Yoga seeks to bring the mind and body in harmony with each other. This can only happen when you fully concentrate on each and every exercise.

Shut out the outside world
A Yoga class is your opportunity to shut out the outside world and recharge your mind and body. Leave all your worries outside the Yoga class and concentrate on performing the postures correctly. Live in the moment and for the duration of your class let your thoughts dwell only on your body and how the exercise is making you feel.

Breathe
It is easy to lose track of your breathing techniques while performing Yoga postures. Do not let this happen. Focus on your breathing and ensure that you are inhaling and exhaling as taught. Breath control is an important part of Yoga and skipping it will nullify all the beneficial effects of Yoga.

Do not overstrain
Yoga is not a competition. You do not have to compete with anyone else or yourself. If you get tired or feel pain, stop and rest until you feel better. If you feel continuous pain while holding a posture, inform your instructor. You may be doing something wrong.

Relax
Ultimately, Yoga is about relaxation and peace. Once the exercises are over, lie down with your eyes closed and feel your entire body relax itself. Let the mind also revel in this brief period of relaxation instead of making mental notes of the things you have to do after your Yoga class.

Kevin Pederson, webmaster for Yoga Wiz, your online guide for Benefits of Yoga, Power Yoga, Yoga Poses and Massage Therapy Yoga is an ancient form of exercise and everyday people are sharing their wonderful experiences and tips on health benefits of Yoga.

Within the training, practice, and scriptures of Yoga are many treasures for humankind. How many people completely understand the Yogic path toward a trained mind? How many students of Hatha Yoga call their practice a workout?

It is true that physical mastery will be realized through the practice of Hatha Yoga, but the mental benefits are usually not realized within an exercise class. If a student is not made aware of the true value of mental attention during practice, the mind-training benefits will still trickle through. Let’s look at daily steps you can take to train, balance, and get the most, out of your mind.

Within Hatha Yoga, there are many aspects, which will improve your mind, but meditation is thought of as a chore by some students. The reason: People are not at peace with themselves. To be alone with oneself is sometimes seen as a prison sentence.

Instead, look at solitary time as a chance to meet an old friend. Meditation does not have to be a chore. You can read, write, pray, visualize, walk, or practice mantra while you meditate. Consider this: Meditation is a matter of constructively focusing the mind.

Meditation should never be something to worry about. Many beginner students, of Hatha Yoga, begin to judge themselves for not being able to concentrate. This is why so many Yoga teachers place meditation at the end of the lesson plan.

The teacher’s strategy is to let negative energy, stress, and tension out of the body by practicing asana, pranayama, mudra, mantra, and other methods. In this way, the student will fully experience the benefits of a complete Yoga practice.

To begin to train your mind, start with planning the next day on the night before. Make a list of what you will do on the following day. Please do not make this into a stressful thing. This does not have to be complicated.

Just a simple “to do” list with five to ten tasks for tomorrow, will be fine. Then, leave it where you sit at the kitchen table. In this way, you will separate yourself from those tasks, sleep easier, and avoid needless worrying.

Upon rising on the first morning, take the time to read, write, pray, visualize, walk, or practice mantra. Just one task will do for five to twenty minutes. If you want to go longer, that’s fine, but do not make it a chore.

This is the first of many days of practice toward training your mind for stability, balance, maximum output, and longevity. As you greet people throughout your day, show them compassion, understanding, and listen to them.

Control your words. Do not participate in harmful, negative, or intolerant conversations. This practice alone is a challenge for most of humanity, but it is worth it. The fruits of your effort will be the cultivation of a focused and trained mind.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Does Yoga have solutions for middle-aged spread? Are your knees, back, hips and shoulders begging for mercy? Restorative Yoga is a complete health maintenance system, and a low impact form of cross training, that will not cause premature wear in your joints.

Let’s be honest, have you noticed a spare tire around your mid-section? You could justify it by looking at teenagers. After all, it took you nearly 50 years to become overweight. Then, one day, you saw that spare tire in the mirror or a photograph.

Walking is a wonderful form of cross training, but if you carry a pedometer, you know that 10,000 steps per day is a “mission.” If your knees, ankles, plantar fascia, and Achilles tendons are fine, then an aggressive walking program will probably suit your body.

We have to do something, but this is not the time to abuse body parts. Walking is still a great form of exercise, but not to the point of pain. Luckily, Restorative Yoga is great for aches and pains. This is not a pass to abuse oneself with high impact exercise or over do it with excessive amounts of low impact exercise.

At middle age and beyond, everything is about moderation. In fact, moderation is a lifestyle for longevity. Restorative Yoga, walking, and a moderate diet are good additions for a complete health maintenance program.

“I don’t eat that much,” you say to yourself. The truth is - most people in middle age, often eat less than they ever did because we are much more aware of what we eat. An additional factor is that over eating is very uncomfortable.

Granted, there is always the exception to the rule. For instance: The “skinny guy,” who could always eat because of a quick burning metabolism, never seems to gain weight. The vast majority of us will notice our metabolism has slowed down.

According to Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., the director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, “Your metabolism slows by 5 percent each decade. Compared to age 25, you’ll burn about 100 fewer calories a day at 35, and 200 fewer at 45. Do nothing and you could gain eight to 12 pounds a year.”

For most of us, this is a “warning bell.” We have to burn additional calories, but our joints must be treated like gold. Again, a gentle and restorative form of Yoga is a logical solution.

In general, everyone burns calories at a different rate from an identical activity. The most common reason cited for the difference in calories burned is body weight, but there are many factors to be considered, such as metabolism and body fat.

For the sake of comparison, let’s look at a gentle Restorative Yoga session and the calories burned over the course of one hour. You could do this, without breaking a sweat, on your living room floor - about an hour or two before bedtime. You could also walk to a local Yoga studio depending on its location.

A person who is 150 pounds would burn an average of 178 calories in one hour of Restorative Yoga practice. A larger person, who is 200 pounds, would burn an average of 238 calories in one hour. Generally speaking, the larger you are, the more calories burned. Lastly, keep in mind - this is a very gentle style of Yoga.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Do you want to develop successful students? Of course you do. Every Yoga teacher is proud of their students. The student who overcomes a disability, and the student who changes his or her life for the best, are stories which make all of us feel satisfied that we became Yoga teachers.

How do we point students toward self-development? When a student takes responsibility for his or her own practice, this is the beginning of empowerment. It is wise to inspire your students to, at least, perform a short practice at home.

We have all had a phone call from a potential student who can only come to class once a week. This is fine, if the student takes the practice home. What about the student who tells you he or she cannot meditate alone? What about the student who has no time?

Your answer might make them laugh. Here it is: Do you have three minutes per day to spare for Yoga? If that is not possible, their problem is time management or procrastination. In reality, who cannot spare three minutes in the morning or evening?

Next, ask your students to try one minute of meditation, at home, per day, in the morning or evening. Ask them to observe only and not to judge. Breath awareness is fine for new students, because it is easy for home Yoga practice. Keeping their eyes open, or closed, does not matter, but they should try both methods.

The next student task for home is pranayama (Yogic breathing). Anyone can find one minute to spare for pranayama practice. Let’s be honest, our students breathe all day, but some self-discipline is required to breath with rhythm for only one minute.

Any method will do, but Bastrika, Brahmari, Ujjayi, Udgeeth, Nadi Shodana, Dirgha, or Kapalabhati pranayama, are good choices. Obviously, it would be best for students to choose one or two methods for a one minute session.

Now, you can guide your students toward a one minute asana home practice session. This would be two postures, which are counter-poses of each other.

However, I often suggest they try seated pelvic circles, which are practiced in many Hatha classes, but you see them, most commonly, in Kundalini Yoga practice. This practice massages the vital organs, eliminates toxins, is good for skeletal health, and stimulates internal energy.

Students can sit in Sukasana (Easy Pose) or on a chair. Then, they would slowly rotate the torso 360 degrees, in slow and gradual circles. The spine should be straight, as possible, the entire time. After 30 seconds, they should rotate in the opposite direction.

So, now you have it: A three minute Yoga session. You will discover that some students have a procrastination issue, but most of your students will tell you they continued to practice Yoga for many more minutes. Between us, three minutes for Yoga is better than none at all, but the true purpose is to create a “spark.”

It is up to our students to “keep the fire going.” Yoga at home will improve their lives, but they have to get a taste of it, in order to realize the deeper joy of the practice.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html