Yoga in Practice - Ishvara Pranidhana
July 23, 2008
Ishvara Pranidhana is sometimes referred to as the last Niyama (restraint or moral observance). Ishvara Pranidhana means to surrender to a “Higher Power.” Some Yoga teacher training courses skim over this subject to avoid potential conflicts. Why should the concept of surrender to a higher power be a potential source of conflict? If you look at the principle closely, this is to put your faith and trust in a higher power’s hands. At the same time, there is a problem with describing... Read more »
Three Ways to Learn Hatha Yoga
July 23, 2008
Much like any other subject, there are three basic ways to learn Hatha Yoga. In order to effectively process information, it is best to understand our strong or weak points. Each of us learns Yoga in a different way, but it all comes back to the senses of sight, sound, and touch. Some students may have a dominant sense or two, but rarely are we attuned to all three. It is important for Yoga teachers to reach out to all three groups - even when he or she also has one or two senses that are weaker. Let’s... Read more »
Yoga in Practice - The Yama For Peaceful Co-Existence
July 23, 2008
Within Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, you learn many things, such as the Yamas and Niyamas. Yet, the moral ethics found within the Yamas and Niyamas are not always easy to apply to your daily life. The following is an example of using one Yama and applying it to your life. Some of us may work, socialize, or live with people who have very difficult personalities. For example: How do you handle someone, who sees compassion and a willingness to negotiate, as weakness? If you are trying to negotiate... Read more »
Yoga For Happiness and Prosperity
July 23, 2008
There are so many traditional and contemporary styles of Yoga, that it is hard to keep track of them. Yet, each of them shares, at least, one aspect in common. Each style of Yoga will help the practitioner to find happiness and prosperity by finding oneself, and by truly understanding the depth of Yogic teachings. It is interesting to note - some teachers feel Yoga has spread too far and too fast. No matter how much people try, Yoga cannot be controlled by humankind. Yoga is an evolving system, going... Read more »
The Single Greatest Way To Increase Flexibility & Decrease Body Pains
July 22, 2008
I wanted to comment further about Yoga because I have been doing it for almost a week… twice a day and already feel a lot better about my progress. Although I still feel stiff and wake up stiff, I instantly get a loose feeling when I start a 15 minute workout. I feel like I don’t have to worry about the majority of the women because they are probably already into yoga or would really like to be. The majority of the guys on the other hand probably think this is a waste of time and to... Read more »
Yoga in Practice - Cultivating Healthy Relationships
July 22, 2008
In Yoga meditation, we look for answers within, and open our self-awareness, but we still have to relate to those around us. Relationships are a mystery to some of us, while others handle relationships like an art form. This is not to say that quantity makes up for quality relationships. For example: It is possible for a social butterfly to have a large quantity of dysfunctional relationships. On the other hand, it is possible for someone else to be an introvert and have healthy relationships. The... Read more »
Yoga in Practice - Teaching Yoga With Humility
July 18, 2008
Yoga has similarities to many other philosophies in regard to humility. However, Gurus and Swamis traditionally chose their students. In fact, much like traditional martial arts students, Yoga students traditionally saw training with their teacher as a privilege. Prospective students would seek out a Yoga teacher, begging to be accepted for instruction. Now, we have the age of entitlement. No matter how many signs you put up, cell phones ring off in Yoga classes. No matter how many rules you have,... Read more »
Yoga in Practice - Three Steps to Tranquility
July 18, 2008
Students come to Yoga classes for a variety of reasons, but many are seeking some form of tranquility. Luckily, Yoga has many methods, which reduce stress levels and bring about inner peace. Let’s look at some methods you can practice to relax and live in tranquility. 1. Set and schedule a daily Yoga routine. Most people start to give me resistance on this, but anything worth doing requires practice. Everyone has ten minutes per day, which can be spared for Yoga or meditation. Look at your... Read more »
Yoga in Practice - Two Steps to a Clear Mind
July 18, 2008
Organizing the mind is just one of the many wonderful benefits of Yoga practice. Long-term students, of Yoga, manage to get the most out of each day, but is there a “system” to it? Yes, there is, and it requires clear thinking to determine a constructive course for the following day. Let’s look a little bit closer at Yoga’s approach to daily life. Have you ever awaken to a sluggish day? For some people, this is a continuous cycle in life. Their minds might be “jump started”... Read more »
Yoga in Practice - How to Get the Most Out of Your Mind
July 18, 2008
When you mention mental health, most people envision behavior problems, treatment, and counseling. In Yoga, mental health is approached from a pro-active mindset. Optimum mental health is the gateway to learning, self-worth, emotional stability, and communication with others. Let’s look at Yoga’s approach to getting the most out of our minds. In order to improve our mental functions, we must first see if the value of mental health is equal to, or greater than, physical health. Many people... Read more »
