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Sometimes, Yoga instructors are asked to teach classes for free; there is nothing wrong with giving your time for free, but this brings up many more underlying issues. Are “true Yogis” obligated to teach for free because anyone who would accept payment is violating the fifth Yama: Aparigraha?

What is a “true Yogi?” What is Aparigraha?

The term, Aparigraha, can mean many things, but the definition can range from voluntary poverty, to limiting your possessions, to only what is necessary. So, are Yoga teachers who receive payment for services “pseudo-Yogis?” After all, a true Yogi should never receive payment to teach Yoga - Right?

Wrong - In fact, dead wrong. The people, who talk this foolishness, do not teach Yoga, but will accept your services for nothing. They may accuse you of greed, covetousness, and hoarding. Yet, they accept payment for their livelihood.

So, here’s the logic: For a Yoga teacher to live with no money, and no material possessions, is fine because we have all taken a vow of poverty by the act of giving or teaching. If you believe this, please wake up. You live in a modern society, and you need to earn a wage in order to survive.

Unless you live under the protection of a fellowship or charitable trust, you have to consider food, clothing, and shelter a priority. What is your family supposed to live on, or should you give up the right to have a family too?

After you decided to become a certified Yoga teacher, it was only natural that people would want to receive lessons, sessions, or classes. Most of your students see a value in what you do, while a rare few do not.

There are always a few people who manipulate their way through life looking to get everything for nothing. In fact, they are practicing greed, covetousness, and hoarding, but will gladly take anything you have for nothing.

There is nothing wrong with giving, if you can afford to give your time or money. Karma Yoga is selfless service and it is goodness for all humanity, but do not feel guilty for accepting student tuition fees. How can you feed your family otherwise?

Please observe and learn from the fitness industry. The masses consider fitness to be physical torture. As a result, some health clubs charge less than ten dollars per month. The cost of a daily shower is more than $10 per month. Fitness centers also give a free month membership, in hopes that will lure new memberships.

How can they cover equipment, building lease, utilities, taxes, wages, and liability insurance costs? On top of this, health clubs run each other out of business by giving everything away for free.

The truth be known, the fitness industry is hanging on by a very thin thread, and that thread is about to break. Yoga is not fitness, we do not teach people who join for a New Year’s resolution and quit by Valentine’s Day. Yoga is a lifestyle, and changes are clearly seen over the long haul.

Every Yoga certification course should teach interns about marketing, networking, communication, business, and advertising. This is an essential part of surviving in any economy. Yoga teachers cannot give their time freely, unless they have the means to do so.

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

Today’s lifestyles define the word, “stress.” More than 19 million Americans suffer from some from of anxiety on a regular basis. Part of what contributes to the increase in stress, and anxiety, is that very few people know how to manage their stress.

Some of those, who know how to manage stress, fail to create a plan of action. In a nutshell, Yoga can provide the means to cope and reduce stress. Allowing stress to become chronic, or permitting anxiety to take over one’s life, can be seriously detrimental to a person’s health.

Stress can cause a variety of health problems. Existing conditions, illness, and ailments, are worsened, if they are allowed to thrive through stress. Anxiety and stress can lead to a paralyzed existence, or inability, to function.

The good news is that yoga works to loosen the tension in the mind, body, and spirit. Even the medical community has begun to recognize what yogis have known for hundreds of years.

The core goal of yoga is to reach a state of tranquility, completeness, and peaceful union, of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Is there a better way to calm your worry?

The methods of breathing, and focused meditation, draw your mind away from stressful distraction. Visualization during breathing, and the performance of yoga postures, plant your mind in a place of calm.

These practices are designed to give you a place to heal, a path to move forward, and the ability make progress. Without first allowing you a place to rest or heal, you cannot move forward from anxiety and stress.

There are several different types of yoga practices. Yoga styles vary in philosophy, approach, intensity, and format, but they all grant varying benefits on practitioners.

A calmer, slower, but physical type of yoga, is Hatha yoga; one of the nine main styles from India. This type of yoga is both designed to calm the student, and can be structured to meet the needs of anyone, of any age, or physical condition.

Hatha yoga also has several sub-styles, but all have the same three main focal points of controlled breathing (pranayama), postures (asanas), and meditation.

Yoga breathing is called pranayama. Pranayama (or “control of the life force”), also literally translated as, “breath control,” is just that. Controlled breathing in different styles has a detectable, and welcomed effect, on the psyche and the body.

Slow the heart rate, feel less out of breath, and relax your muscles, beginning with your breath. Research has shown that yoga breathing techniques are beneficial treatment for stress and stress-related problems. The mind is calmed, and the judgment is clearer, as yoga breathing is practiced on a regular basis.

Yoga breathing involves a range of deep, slow, rhythmic breaths. If you pay attention to your breath, when you are stressed, it will be irregular, shallow, nervous, and jagged. This happens involuntarily as a response to stress, but this rapid, shallow breathing actually amplifies stress levels.

The result is a vicious cycle that can climax into a panic attack for those with anxiety disorders. Practice controlled breathing, daily, as a stress management technique. This breathing can be done anywhere, at any time.

Breath control, combined with Hatha yoga poses, stretches and strengthens the muscles of the body. Stress often triggers muscle clenching, spasms, and an overall aching discomfort in the body. Poses, such as the mountain pose, supported bridge pose, child’s pose, and happy baby pose, are all excellent for relaxation and stress relief.

Depending upon the lesson plan, each session of Hatha yoga can involve from 10 to 70 poses. Yoga instructors often end each class with Sivasana (Corpse Pose). This pose finishes up many classes because of the relaxing properties.

Through regular yoga practice, the body is also better supported, throughout the day, in posture, strength, and flexibility. Yoga relieves fatigue and helps you feel more energized. When a person feels physically stronger and more able, the emotional benefits are extraordinary. It’s much easier to go out and face the day and put stress on the “back burner.”

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

Yoga was a big thing during the 60s. However, it soon began to drop in popularity. People undertaking yoga as an exercise soon lost patience with the activity, due to its slow but steady results, and turned their interest to a faster pace of exercise such as aerobics. However, yoga has turned once again in the popularity ratings and become a very attractive form of exercise for people who are interested in working out rather than working towards a spiritual goal.

You will find that yoga is a great stretch and flexibility program. It is being used increasingly by those who have trouble balancing their work and personal life. The personal lives of modern day executives are affected by a stressful working environment and a frantic schedule, so they turn to yoga to help them bring a little peace to their mind and to adopt a perfect work-life balance.

It is also agreed by many runners, weight trainers, and aerobic dancers that exercise regimes do in actual fact add more stress to their lives rather than reducing it.

Many people use their lunch hour to work out, forcing themselves to keep up their exercise regime, and then return in a rush back to work. Yes, maybe this is good for them, but it is just an added pressure. Well, yoga is much less competitive, less stressful, and it gives you a wonderful sense of being.

The key to its renewed popularity is almost certainly its healing aspect. When people push their fitness levels they are bound to suffer with strained knees, aching backs and neck pains which are generated not only by the physical power that they put into it, but also the stress of making it a competitive world. Yoga is nowadays being recommended to patients by many orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, and neurologists as part of their treatment plan.

The ancient practice is growing in interest in the mind-body connection and it is also boosted by research that suggests that it can reduce stress and blood pressure, as well as improve work performance and even slow down the effects of aging.

Mainstream hospitals and business are now teaching several techniques. This is being done using books, discussion groups, and even using the Internet.

The Army is even interested. It has requested that the National Academy of Sciences study meditation and other new age techniques that may enhance soldiers’ performance.

Details do differ. However, a common theme is relaxing the body while the mind is kept alert and focused, whether it is on an object, sound, breath or body movement. If the mind wanders, and it generally does, you can gently bring it back down and begin again.

Stress related problems do in actual fact account for 60% to 90% of U.S. doctors visits, whilst mind-body approaches are very often more effective and cost effective, than drugs or surgery. For instance, 70% of insomniacs become regular sleepers, 34% of infertile patients become pregnant within six months, and visits to the doctor are reduced by 36%.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of My-Personal-Growth.com, a site that provides information and articles for self improvement and personal growth and development.

Are you interested in meditation, however, never really tried to meditate? Is meditation something new to you, and don’t know how to begin? In this article, we will take a look at some beginner’s meditation techniques.

In this article, you will learn:
* The Point Of Meditation
* Meditation Is Medication
* The Question Of Time
* Basic Meditation Technique For Stress
* Basic Meditation Technique For Mornings And Before Going Bed

* The Point Of Meditation
What is the point of meditation? Meditation is a subject which is only becoming popular in the west, only recently. Meditation has taken the west by storm, because we understand the importance of centering ourselves. The fast paced world, in which we find ourselves don’t provide that peace of mind.

* Meditation Is Medication
Meditation is simply amazing. If anyone you speak to finds that meditation is something only Buddhist monks perform, and is taboo, then it can be hard finding your space to meditate. However, there are big reasons to meditate. Centering yourself provides amazing possibility to find more spirituality in life, and bring your mind into balance.

The fast paced world has made a lot of stress on people. We need to adapt. Luckily meditation has always been here for our aid. Meditation brings peace of mind. It helps balance the needs of mind, body, and soul. Thus I term meditation as medication.

* The Question Of Time
The first problem you will find is being able to perform meditation for any length of time. Your first attempt could see you trying to stop within the first minute! Meditation to be effective needs at the most minimum 5 minutes, and at least 15 minutes. More advanced people into meditation can go for 30 minutes or hour. And some Guru’s have been known to go for days! Though you will never need to go for such long periods.

* Basic Meditation Technique For Stress
Though meditation is only effective when done for over 5 minutes, and ideally 15 minutes, you don’t have to go to such lengths. Sometimes stress is a problem. You feel your about to burst and need something now. You may be in an office, and sitting and meditating is not always the best option!

Try to get out of the box. Get out of the place you are in, preferably in nature. Then take a deep breath. Hold and then push out, get the air out of your lungs. Then hold for 5 seconds. You want to do this 10 times. You will clear your mind, and can get back to what you were doing. You will find that you are much more able to tackle what is in front of you.

* Basic Meditation Technique For Mornings And Before Going Bed
Meditation can be done walking, sitting or while lying down. Follow above procedure. Then close your eyes. Be silent. Don’t talk mentally, and when you do, just get back to the silence. Over time, you will get better and better. Though there is much more to meditation and there are many techniques, you don’t need elaborate ways to meditate.

Here are some yoga and new age information that can help you in your quest:
* Find yoga classes
* Discover yoga meditation techniques
* Read more articles at USA Today Articles

Parkinson’s disease affects motor and speech skills and is characterized by muscle rigidity and tremors. This degenerative disease is also chronic, meaning life long and progressively crippling.

People with Parkinson’s disease often appear stooped and move slowly as the disease progresses. Age is a factor, as is evidenced by a great deal of the older population showing symptoms. Their walk is often a shuffling gait with very short steps. The person has trouble lifting their feet. Arms don’t move, or move little, when the person is walking. Range of movement is impaired and their hands shake. This palsy is the most telltale sign of Parkinson’s.

Other symptoms that develop can be even more debilitating. Problems with speech, and swallowing, cause an inability to communicate. Fatigue and depression are present in nearly half of Parkinson’s cases. Parkinson’s disease affects distal muscles first (muscles farthest from the body, like hands and feet). As the disease progresses, proximal, or the muscles closer to the trunk of the body, become affected.

This disease often is attributed to having no cause. Some factors can play a role, such as head trauma, drug use, toxins, or genetic predisposition. While there are several pharmaceuticals on the market, some of them seem to become counter-productive, but there are new and encouraging development trials.

At present, there doesn’t seem to be a break-through drug to stop the advancement of Parkinson’s disease. However, physical activity and therapy can alleviate some symptoms. The more the body and mind are active, and work together, the more successful treatments are for patients. Yoga works to unify the mind, body, and spirit.

Yoga practice engages the mind and clarifies focus. In the process, the postures, breathing, and movement, stimulate the nervous system and improve health. Pharmaceuticals, in conjunction with Yoga practice, seem to be the best option for students with Parkinson’s disease.

Yoga instructors, working with students that have Parkinson’s disease, must respect the limitations and goals of these individuals. As with any number of physical and neurological ailments, the effective postures and routines will vary. As a general rule, asana practice might require modifications, props, extra support, or assisting for students with Parkinson’s disease.

Balance is something that the unconscious mind controls for most people. A benefit of moving personal balance to the conscious mind is the result of more stability. In the mind of a person with Parkinson’s, these unconscious functions have been damaged by the disease. Students with Parkinson’s should focus primarily on bringing the functions of the body, to the forefront of the mind, during yoga practice.

The strength-building postures improve range of motion and balance, which is essential to effective yoga therapy. Despite the fact that movement is difficult, people with Parkinson’s, are highly encouraged to participate in regular, gentle activities. Yoga is a perfect program because of its low impact nature and unifying, nurturing atmosphere. Students should be challenged in a comfortable way that allows for growth.

Yoga improves the overall sense of well-being, and worth, for the yoga student. Any chronic disease can wear you down emotionally. Many people, with Parkinson’s disease, begin to feel helpless, as they lose independence. The highly positive and healing environment of the yoga classroom, adds to the physical benefits, but also encourages emotional balance.

Postures, recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease, include the cow pose, cobra pose and camel pose. All poses can be modified to meet any student’s needs. Also suggested are the boat, bow, and bridge poses.

The bow pose increases muscle strength in the back, upper legs, hips, and abdominal muscles - improving the center of balance. The camel pose also strengthens the back and increases flexibility of the spine - complementing the bow pose. Each of these poses strengthens the body, or stimulates the nervous system, in a way that will benefit a practitioner with Parkinson’s.

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. He is an author of many books on the subject of Yoga and has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Anyone with weight loss goals has to consider that there are many variables. Diet, genetics, activity levels, stress levels, and personal mindset, all play a role in weight control. Yoga can help you lose weight by improving all, or several, of these factors.

If you consider the physical aspect of yoga only, it is true that many forms of Hatha yoga are low impact in nature. Low impact exercise, alone, does not burn as many calories per hour as high impact aerobic activity.

Yet, weight loss does not depend solely on burning off as many calories as possible. Pushing the body’s limits, by working out aerobically, in a high impact mode, puts stress on the body, and can cause premature wear in the joints. In order to truly make strides in weight loss, one must look at his, or her, lifestyle through a holistic viewpoint.

Yoga is more than just exercising. Yoga is an intentional union of the body, mind, and breath, to reach a better level of existence. Key points of focus are body balance, core strength, and flexibility.

By centering yourself with yoga postures, and yogic breathing (Pranayama), you will begin to pay more attention to the body. Weight loss should not be simply about looking slimmer. Permanent weight loss is a result of a lifestyle change.

Short term weight loss goals lead to short-lived success. To really reach, and maintain, a weight that is optimal for your body, you must focus on optimal functioning of your body.

Weight loss, resulting from yoga, will never be as extreme as that caused by a crash diet, weight loss drugs, or hardcore aerobic workouts. The reality is, that at least two of these methods, will throw the body’s balance off, and can lead to poor health conditions. If you abuse your body, there is a price to be paid.

Traditional yoga practice incorporates a change in diet, along with the health benefits of yoga practice. To lose weight, you have to eat wisely. Starving yourself actually lowers your metabolism and prevents the body from properly absorbing and using nutrition.

Yoga nutrition focuses on whole, fresh foods, with little processing, and high nutritional density. When the body gets what it needs, there is less need for the hunger impulse to trigger.

Many students of yoga have found a correlation between the day they decided to steadily practice yoga and their life long decision to improve their health. Students report that they made healthier food choices, due to feeling uplifted and centered from yoga practice. This comes from a sense of focus and mindfulness of the body, which results from regularly practicing yoga.

Yoga postures are sometimes held for periods of several minutes each, depending on ability level. Beginners, who are overweight, may initially have difficulty holding postures. They should not be discouraged by this and work to the best of their ability. Skilled yoga instructors create classroom atmospheres that are encouraging to students at every ability level.

As yoga students progress in ability, they will notice a higher degree of strength and mobility throughout their body. When the muscles are sufficiently toned, more calories are burned on a regular basis throughout the day, even when a person is not exercising. After a period of regular yoga practice, yoga students should begin to see, and feel, a difference in the makeup of their bodies.

Pranayama, or yoga breathing exercises, eliminate stress. Stress is a huge factor in weight gain and stubborn fat. Learn to relax and calm the nervous system with breathing. Eliminate tension within your mind and your muscles, and you will have a higher drive to care for your body. Breathe in the inspiration to change your life in a positive way. Exhale the dark feelings and anxiety that perpetuate a cycle of poor diet and health.

The most common cause of being overweight, for many people, is simply overeating. This often stems from an emotional need for food beyond what is necessary for the body to use. While there are many reasons people eat too much, emotional eaters often have a low sense of self-worth.

A benefit of yoga, which is not talked about by specialists concerned with calorie burning, is the sense of emotional and spiritual significance. Yoga focuses on more than just moving around on a mat and breathing; people learn to find a peaceful place within their being.

Through yoga practice, one affirms his or her spiritual significance. By enabling this sanctuary, yoga practitioners can find a peaceful place to begin their weight loss journey.

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. He is an author of many books on the subject of Yoga and has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html