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The Purpose of Yoga - Yoga for Stress Management and Relaxation

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:00:52 +0000

Many people are looking for stress management in Yoga classes, but cannot find it in the area where they live. If you are looking for relaxation techniques, it is unlikely that you will learn them in a room full of "young hard bodies," in which the room is heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

In truth, a hot room may do many of us some good, but for some people, a 105 degrees Fahrenheit Yoga class, may have just the opposite effect. Some of us are comfortable in warm weather climates, while others dislike the heat. In the end, Hot Yoga is a matter of personal preference.

When Aura Wellness Center was located in North Providence, there was a Hot Yoga studio just a few blocks away. We would often receive some of their students, who no longer wanted heat.

Many of them would tell us of students who vomited in the parking lot after 90 minutes of Yoga at 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Well, that’s one way to get the toxins out of your body, but there are less radical methods.

So, what do you do if the only styles you can find are aerobic, cardio, hot, or fitness Yoga? These days, many people may find initial exposure to Yoga in a health club. Yet, Yoga is still being taught in ashrams and Yoga studios.

Yoga teachers, in local Yoga studios, usually have, at least, two styles, which they teach to the public. If you have never heard of the style, or styles, at your local Yoga studio, you can still research the style in books or on the Internet.

What if there is nothing in your area to help in the area of Yoga for stress management? Then, it is time to visit your local book store or library. You should research Yoga books, stress management books, Yoga audio books, until you find the stress management course, which is right for you.

Yogic Relaxation Techniques can be practiced any time you need them, but most people practice them before sleeping or before meditation. Your body and mind need rest every day, but dreams do not allow your mind to rest.

Let’s discuss two Yogic methods for relaxation, which you will easily find in your books. One is the Stage-by-Stage relaxation technique and the other is a variation of the Body Scan Technique. Both of them incorporate breath awareness; we will focus on the body from the toes up.

You should take the time to decide which relaxation method is best for you, by practicing each method a few times, over the course of seven days.

Stage-by-Stage relaxation takes a bit more time, but each method could also be practiced before meditation, bedtime, or on nights when you experience insomnia. The worst that can happen is you fall asleep.

Do not judge yourself - Just practice, observe, and enjoy.

What Should You do With a Yoga Book?

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:49:53 +0000

If you are deciding which Yoga book to buy for your collection, choose a book that will captivate your imagination, and suit your needs. On the subject of reading Yoga books: It has been a life long passion for some of us. Yet, it is not the number of books you read, but how you apply them to your life and the lives of others around you, which makes a difference.

The practical application of what you learn is more important than the quantity of Yoga books you read. So, the question is: How will you put the knowledge you learn to good use? To take an extreme view: If a homeless man reads personal finance magazines every day, he has educated himself, but he has not applied any of the advice.

You would be surprised what the homeless know. I knew a man who was homeless, yet he was very familiar with the "ups and downs" of the stock market. How did he learn so much? He pulled the Wall Street Journal from the trash and mentally absorbed it. Unfortunately, he never applied the knowledge he learned.

This is a critical point to understand. Knowledge is like a bank savings account - You have to save, but you also have to put your savings to good use. In the words of Andrew Carnegie, "I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution."

To learn knowledge, without applying it to life, is a waste. It is not intentional, in most cases, but what a shame it is to know so much and not be able to help anyone with it.

Within Yoga, today, are so many books to read, which were not accessible to many of us a few decades ago. Some Yoga texts have been in existence for thousands of years, but local libraries did not have much on the topic of Yoga.

At that time, we did not have VCR’s, DVD’s, Internet access, e-Books, MP3 Downloads, or Yoga audio books.

So, what did we do? When we acquired a Yoga book, or any book, we analyzed it by hand, and read a little. We made sure it would suit our needs, before we checked it out of the library, or purchased it from a book store.

The reason is simple - If we buy or borrow any kind of a book, the value of our time is magnified by our complete comprehension and the ability to put it to practical use.

The Purpose of Yoga - Transforming Anxiety into Self-Mastery with Pranayama

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:48:13 +0000

How can Yoga help you convert anxiety into something positive? How can you take charge of your life and declare self-mastery? Can Yoga really empower you to master anxiety?

Anxiety can be created by any number of situations, including your alarm clock, the commute to work, being in a large crowd, or traveling to an unfamiliar place. Mild anxiety can help us mature, and learn when to speak up for ourselves, but severe anxiety can shorten our lives.

Therefore, Yoga can enable you to respond to anxiety with solutions to protect your body and mind from the harmful effects of excessive stress. One of the greatest benefits, of all forms of Yoga, is the ability to become "self aware." Self awareness is called by many things, but this state of mind is most often called self-realization.

Yogic self-realization is being present, and mindful, of the present moment. It also allows you to recognize minor stress from severe stress. Some people feel major stress going to work on Monday. Maybe their supervisor is chronically demanding, an influential co-worker is toxic, or the "high pressure atmosphere" has taken a toll on the health of their co-workers, deadlines are unrealistic, or their job security is threatened every waking minute.

In this case, self-realization makes us realize that we can take steps to find another job. You may think, "What else can I do?" "I have no other skills" or "Easy for you to say." In truth, family physicians often tell their patients that a job change may improve their health because excessive stress is a major cause of death.

Consider this: Would you rather leave your job, or die right now? Stress causes many heart problems, suicide, high blood pressure, and more. Excessive stress will lower your immunity levels - which invites an entourage of life threatening diseases. Have you ever noticed a co-worker who is out sick all the time? Unless that person loves to take time off, the odds are, that person has a low immunity level, due to excessive stress.

Stress and anxiety can disrupt vital organs and their basic functions. Excessive stress can also cause psychological problems, which may be seen as anger, rage, and temper tantrums.

In just one Yoga class, you learn "life saving breathing" techniques (Pranayama), which can help you control anxiety - before anxiety causes you serious mental and physical harm. Pranayama literally transforms anxiety to self-mastery, but it must be practiced daily.

Anxiety is nervous energy (fuel) - while Pranayama serves the body and mind, much like a furnace. Use anxiety as fuel, with Pranayama and regular Hatha Yoga practice.

The Purpose of Yoga- Yogic Walking for Anxiety

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:47:33 +0000

Let’s look at more solutions, which Yoga can give you, for anxiety and stress management. All of these solutions will take a bit of practice, and in some cases, you may need the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher.

After Pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques), there are still a large number of techniques to choose from. The next one that comes to mind is Asana (Yoga Posture). In a typical Hatha Yoga class, you will learn Asana on a mat, but you can learn to practice good posture all day long.

You can practice good posture in a chair, when eating a meal, standing, and walking. You can even use pillows to sleep in good posture. Most people prefer to multi-task these days, so Yogic walking is a wonderful way for those of us, who just have to do many things at once. This is not to be confused with walking meditation, which is an entirely different technique.

Put on good walking shoes, comfortable clothes, and begin to walk your course. Always watch the road, but keep your spine straight, and your gaze should be at eye level, while you visually take in the world around you. Close your mouth and breathe only through the nose. Breathe naturally, and do not force your inhales or exhales.

As you continue to walk, maintain your personal pace, and be mindful of your posture. The recommended time for Yogic walking is, at least, 20 minutes. Once breathing is natural, and not strained, some practitioners of this method practice walking meditation or silent Japa (Prayers).

This is a complete mental, physical, and spiritual practice, but you must pick a safe course and be ready to react to traffic, animals, and other pedestrians. Just because you meditate, or practice Japa, is not a reason to ignore people who wave or say hello.

Some people carry dog snacks for dogs and squirrels - while others may stop and chat to friends in the park. To accept life, people, animals, and the changes around us, without judging everything, is a treasure of life. If you can avoid judging everything, while you go for your walks, your health will change for the best in a multitude of ways.

Yogic walking is good aerobic exercise and prevents many diseases, anxiety, and depression. Your heart, vital organs, bones, joints, connective tissue, and muscles will benefit from Yogic walking. You may control, or lose weight, by practicing Yogic walking.

Maybe you were only looking to reduce your anxiety levels, but you are now convinced that Yogic walking is the way to go. Talk to your physician and get advice, which is specific to your body. Choose your course wisely and have fun.

Even More about Communication Skills for Yoga Teachers

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:46:24 +0000

Who are some of the best teachers a Yoga instructor could have? The answer should not surprise you, but it is our Yoga students who create the best Yoga teacher from within us. Consider this: Random questions develop complete knowledge of any given subject.

Yoga students are full of questions, so let them ask, and you will find. Yoga students often have a "fresh view" of Yoga. We cannot easily absorb new ideas with a preconceived perspective of a given subject. Yoga students have no set of preconceived notions about Yoga

Socrates once said, "I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance." If he could be such a humble teacher about the subject of life, who are we to feel so comfortable with our knowledge on the subject of Yoga? Allow Yoga-related questions during class time, and everyone will be richer for the experience.

It is true that some Yoga teachers have found their niche by suppressing student thought, but this is not Yoga, and it is all about control. The sad fact is - Yoga students, who seek out abusive teacher / student relationships are magnetized to dogmatic personalities and have voluntarily chosen to be in the relationship.

These same primal behavior patterns run parallel to their relationships at home, in work, and in their social lives. This is unfortunate, but all of us have a place in this life, and some people crave the negative attention of an "alpha personality." If you observe a wolf pack, you can see much similar behavior.

Getting back to communication skills - Yoga teachers, who masterfully explain concepts through cueing, voice inflection, demonstration, and assisting, have taken the time to practice the art of communication. Seasoned Yoga instructors are not good at what they do by accident. Time spent in front of a crowd, or a mirror, causes us to look within and communicate effectively.

Knowing the audience is a valuable skill every Yoga teacher should take the time to learn. What are the interests of your Yoga students? What parts of the lesson plan raise their level of motivation? Do you feel a stir of excitement or anticipation at certain points in your Yoga class? Even if none of them says a word, you can still read "body language."

When students feel the beneficial aspects of your Yoga class, it is "written all over their faces." Develop your intuition, but do not drive yourself crazy. If you are still not sure what motivates your students, it is time to ask them some tactful questions.

A sample question, about one subject, might be: "Do you see the benefit of practicing Revolved Triangle now?" If they do not give you an answer, you can list the skeletal benefits to the hips, spine, shoulders, and legs. You can list the muscles, which are strengthened and stretched.

You could also mention the particular internal organs, which are massaged and cleansed. Revolved Triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana), like many Asanas, has many physical benefits, but it develops mental strength, as well. The student / teacher relationship is a "think tank." Allow your students to participate completely, and the proficiency level of your entire school will be raised.

Ponder these words of Jesus: "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you." The answers to all of our questions are right in front of us, if we remember this.

The Purpose of Yoga - Getting Rid of Negative Thoughts

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:34:02 +0000

Tranquility of mind is one of the main objectives within all forms of Yoga practice. It is amazing how many Yoga students, from physically challenging forms of Yoga, have not yet learned this. To practice Hatha Yoga as an exercise is a "small piece of the pie."

Exercise is a wonderful thing, and it can help us purge negative thoughts. Yoga helps us attain our best emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical state. No exercise alone can help us attain optimum holistic health in this way. Some martial arts are close, but Yoga is the mother of all health maintenance systems, and Yoga has many more healing aspects.

The next time you dwell on a negative thought, try to be a realist, and consider the real problem. The real problem is we worry ourselves sick about the unknown. Sometimes, change causes us to worry. We anticipate the worst, and most of the time, it never happens.

Here is a strategy for the next time you fear the unknown. Make it a point to plan and prepare for the unfamiliar surroundings, which cause you anxiety. Mentally see yourself solving the problem. If you are going to spend time on a problem, you must transcend worry, and work on a solution.

Here is an example: If you have fear of public speaking, you must practice your speech. You could also go to the stage ahead of time. Most auditoriums are open well ahead of time and most maintenance crews do not mind.

This same principle is used in competitive sports. How often do you see professional players practicing hours before game time? Why do you think they are on the field so early?

"Practice makes perfect" is a very wise saying. Practice builds confidence, as well. The visiting team cannot wait to go practice on the opposing team’s home field before game time. Visiting teams are not familiar with the turf, and they will also face hostile sports fans. Even professionals have to "get the bugs out."

If you do not have a stage or a field to practice on, you still have your mind. In Yoga meditation, you are taught to visualize. Therefore, you should visualize success. Do not approach a negative thought as a victim. Instead, look at your problems as a victor would. Forget the worries and focus on the solutions.

Some of my Yoga students have said, "But what if I fail?" In truth, no adventure in this life is a failure, unless you quit. If you never give up, you are still working on a positive outcome.

Yoga and the Gift of Communication

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:36:09 +0000

Yoga teachers are some of the best "story tellers" of our time. Telling stories, and capturing the imagination of a crowd, is an art. In ancient times, this was the way news traveled from village to village. Cultures differ, but stories, prayers, and songs, were a big part of ancient communication.

We live at a time, when Internet communication is instant, but social skills are hampered by technological advancement. It is unfortunate that with all the tools at hand, for brilliance, some of our children, and young adults, are growing up socially handicapped. The gift of communication has been taken for granted - but why?

There is an old saying, "The best things in life are free." This saying was also the title of a movie, and later, a song. Does the world listen? Absolutely, not! Let’s look at a short list of free things the world takes for granted.

A smile, a laugh, good health, loved ones, real friendship, intelligence, innovation, the ability to communicate with each other; all of these comprise a brief list of things, which are taken for granted, and cost us no money. Yet, we value machines, which break down.

Now, let’s look closely at communication in modern Yoga. Whether you are a student, or you teach Yoga classes, communication is important. In some of the physically active forms of Yoga, a Hatha, Kundalini, or Ashtanga Yoga student, should be able to let a teacher know when physical limits have been reached.

No matter how much knowledge a Yoga teacher has - he or she cannot feel what is going on in a student’s body. Students should not feel guilty, or remorseful, for limited range of motion or having an "off day."

In addition to this, students should never be harassed, due to their limitations, by a Yoga teacher. This is a clear signal to find a competent and compassionate Yoga teacher. Never stay in an abusive relationship. Life is too short to waste and to be taken for granted. Students should be able to ask Yoga-related questions during a Yoga class. Without communication, Yoga classes become militaristic exercise classes. This is fine, if military exercise is what you want; but why not take part in a martial arts class instead?

Martial arts have a wonderful physical and mental health value, but the militaristic view point is not hidden. Why would a Yoga student seek to study Yoga from "a wolf in sheep’s clothing?" When a Yoga teacher becomes a strict disciplinarian, the ultimate goal of Yoga is lost.

More Communication Skills for Yoga Teachers

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:35:58 +0000

When Yoga teachers gather in a workshop to hear a lecture about communication - what is the first topic that comes to mind? Is it cueing skills, voice inflection, or when to ask a student for permission to assist? Those are important issues for anyone who teaches Yoga, but let’s take a look at many more areas that could use some work.

Communication is a two way street. How can we exchange ideas if students are made to feel "stupid" for asking questions? Granted, Yoga classes cannot operate like an open forum, if you have a lesson plan in mind, but a student who is experiencing pain should not have to feel bad for asking about it. Nor should he or she have to wait until the end of class to ask an impatient teacher about his or her pain.

Listen Empathically: When a student asks a Yoga-related question during class time, the Yoga instructor present, should listen to all of the details. There are times when a Yoga student asks questions, which are on the mind of many more classmates.

For some Yoga students, it takes a lot of courage to ask a question in a group setting. Some students ponder questions for days before asking them. Their heart rate may rise because it took courage to ask the question.

With all this said, listening is a primary communication skill. As a Yoga teacher, you are respected by your students, so do not violate a trust by bolstering your ego. The key is to listen intently, because you may have questions of your own, which will result in a deeper answer.

Who becomes a Yoga student’s best teacher during Hatha Yoga practice? His or her body, and mind, must eventually be the best Yoga teacher. If not, we have failed to give our students the gift of self-realization. To go further: Yoga students must learn to think for themselves. If they are dependent on a Yoga teacher, all the time, then our teaching method is flawed.

Why do I say this? If a student is not present for Yoga practice, we must make him or her gently aware of it. There is no need to make students dependent on us. Good students will always return to Yoga class.

Yoga must still be practiced after our students have rolled up their mats. Breathing, walking, talking, eating, posturing, and acting with mindfulness, is the sign of a Yoga practitioner. All of the amazing physical feats are nice, but any flexible Pilates student, dancer, gymnast, or martial artist, could do the same.

The Purpose of Yoga - Character

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:35:35 +0000

Yoga classes, of any style, require persistence and fortitude. Many students try a class, but they do not stay long enough to learn that Yoga is deep, and can be very rewarding, beyond the physical level. Many Yoga instructors have been teaching so long that they forget to mention the character building components of Yoga training.

Good character is a "skill set," which a Yoga student can carry around for life. Unfortunately, aging is a major factor in our physical appearance and we do not always maintain complete control of each health situation, through out the course of our lives. If that were possible, we could "cheat death."

The character building components you should be learning from your Yoga teacher are the foundation of good health. If we cannot sleep well at night because of guilt, envy, or greed, this will have an adverse, and possibly a long-term, effect on our physical health.

It is obvious that our mental, physical, and emotional health will be improved by good character, but it can also be said that our physical health will be improved? How can this be? Feelings of fun, gratification, kindness, happiness, and forgiveness, are just plain healthy. The opposite feelings will cut our life spans short.

The building blocks of good character are integrity, patience, tolerance, respect, and compassion. If your Yoga teacher does not have these qualities, you should consider finding one who does. Why would any of us want to waste our precious time with a cruel, sarcastic, arrogant, greedy, and impatient, Yoga teacher?

If we feel the need to be around a powerful negative influence, we are on the short path of self-destruction. Some of us are magnetized to negative energy. A compulsive need to be around dominating and negative personalities is counter productive to improving our lives.

Psychological counseling and therapy can steer us in the proper direction, before it is too late. If, for some reason, it is not possible to receive professional help, we must still get direction from a trusted friend, or relative, who is of noble character.

Integrity, patience, tolerance, respect, and compassion, are more than "hollow" keywords or sales slogans to building your character. To have control of any one of them is a major feat. Each character-building aspect is an avenue toward our higher purpose in this life. All of them contain gratification and rewards. The most obvious reward is that you will influence others toward a better life.

The Purpose of Yoga - Affirmations to Tranquility

Jerard Jr. Paul M. — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:35:28 +0000

Many Yoga classes end on a positive note. Some of the methods a Yoga teacher might use, to end a class, are relaxation, meditation, affirmations, or a reading of profound philosophy. These methods may be used separately, or in combination with each other, but let’s take a closer look at the power of positive affirmations.

Once upon a time, a business associate told me, "You can’t just put on rose colored glasses and wish the world to be a good place." My answer was, "You have to start somewhere." An eternal optimist will cause more positive changes to the earth than a perennial pessimist. Yet, we must realize that affirmations are much more than wishful thinking.

Yoga teaches us to develop a healthy mind, and positive affirmations will do just that. Physical, emotional, and spiritual health are enhanced with the use of affirmations. Many elite athletes, politicians, and successful business people, have used positive affirmations to visualize an objective.

What is the purpose of a positive affirmation? Affirmations cause a form of manifestation from within. When you make a sincere declaration of intent to change from within, you make a quantum leap forward toward your goals and aspirations. Affirmations create subconscious programming, whether they are good or bad.

So, why not make sure your affirmations are positive? You will sleep much better at night. The worst that can happen is you will be accused of wishful thinking and being optimistic.

Here are a few examples of positive affirmations: "I attract kind and loving people into my life." "I freely give and receive the universe’s bounty without effort." "I show loving kindness to others and love always comes back to me."

In each case, you are reinforcing self-worth and appreciating life for what it is. You are accepting people, the world, and the universe, without conditions.

Affirmations run parallel to Yoga practice, in that, they bring about a state of tranquility. You can use the power of affirmations to enhance mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health. Here are some tips for practicing affirmations.

Much like mantra practice, you should repeat your affirmations often. This is a form of mental programming. Therefore, make sure your affirmations are always positive. Focus only on positive outcomes to situations, when practicing affirmations. Never practice affirmations to wish suffering on others.

Be very specific about your affirmations. You should mentally be able to see, feel, and touch your affirmations. Experience the positive emotional lift of heart felt affirmations and your passion will manifest itself. Realize that affirmations must be followed by progressive action on your part.