Saturday, July 12th, 2008
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Spice Up the Winter Doldrums With a New Yoga Program and Watch the Pounds Come Off
It is always so much fun to watch people scurrying about at the beginning of the year, busily setting diet and exercise goals. As is often the case, they set heart-felt goals, but never accomplish them. The root cause for this is two-fold: 1. The goal is to lose more weight than is possible in a short time frame, and thus, discouragement sets in. 2. They start out too hard and are sore for days and discouragement sets in. Do you see a pattern here? Unrealistic goals and unrealistic exercise routines will set you up for very real failure. Why not set proper goals with an exercise regime that will assure success and the body and the level of fitness you desire? The reason I recommend Yoga as the exercise of choice for the beginner is because it is easy on the body, joints and mind. You can take a 30-minute class with an exercise video or at a Yoga studio three days a week, which will put you through the basics and give you a well-balanced program. Once you are better condition, add weight lifting, aerobics, running, or cycling to improve on the foundation you’ve built. Yoga isn?t something you rush into anyway; it?s meant to be done slowly, with purpose and give you peace of mind while getting you in shape. People often say that Yoga isn?t aerobic, therefore it won?t help you lose weight, but this isn?t the case at all. Any exercise speeds up your metabolism, which helps your body burn more calories and thus lose weight. Of course, you must watch the food you eat so that you consume less that you burn off, that?s the key to weight loss, but that is a whole other article. For now, use Yoga to get started, and remember, you don?t have to be good to start, you just need to start to be good. Every new exercise routine requires a learning period, so give yourself a few months to become really proficient at the basic positions. If you are taking a class at your local recreation center or health club, introduce yourself to the instructor and tell them of your goals and ask for help, they will be more than glad to offer tips to assist you. One of the keys to keeping your cherished New Year?s resolution is: consistency. Make a date with yourself to workout three days a week at the same time each day and for the same length of time. After a month of this you will find it easier because it?s becoming a habit that your body likes. The second key is to take a class with a training partner or friend. You become accountable to each other for showing up and doing a good job. Plus, you can brag together to your friends who aren?t losing any weight or getting into good shape when the two you really begin to make significant gains. Weight loss is often more noticeable at the beginning, so you should see immediate results. Several weeks into your program, you may plateau and not lose as much for a while and then lose a lot?many people experience this type of roller-coaster weight loss. Don?t get discouraged if you go through a period of time when not much weight is lost, this is normal; just pay more attention to your diet during those times and you will see your body adjust. Yoga has become so mainstream that classes and videos are very prevalent anymore. The classes are offered at many times during the day for beginners, intermediate students, as well as, advanced yoga practitioners. Give yourself a wonderful gift this year, the gift of good health and prolonged life; you?ll be glad you did, no matter what kind of exercising you do. Good luck! Keith Edwin Renninson is co-owner, along with Jeffrey Forman, of Golden Years Videos, LLC a production company dedicated to offering exercise videos for those over 50 or of any age who are rehabilitating from an accident or illness. Renninson is an avid exercise and yoga enthusiast. Now in his late 50?s, he still races bicycles and regularly skis the black diamond runs in Colorado where he lives. For many years, a bona fide gym rat, Renninson still loves to lift free weights and use exercise machines. You can contact Renninson or read more about his company and the videos they have available at: http://www.goldenyearsvideos.com
By: Keith Edwin Renninson

Friday, July 11th, 2008
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Soul Sciences Its Mysterious Philosophy And Worship Method
Within the peel of an onion lies another peel. Within the second peel is a third one. In the same way if banana leaves are removed they come out one after another. The smallest unit of matter is an atom yet although the atom appears single it is not so in actuality. Because within it there is a nucleus and there are neutrons, protons and revolving electrons. The solar system is a circumference but within its limits revolve 9 planets and 43 satellites around their axis. The atom too is like a solar system. Within it is activity akin to the solar system. If a pile of mud is kicked a little bit of mud gets scattered but if the nucleus of an atom is attacked the energy that it emits can bury one huge mountain. So it is clear that the more gross substances are made subtle, the more powerful they become. There are millions of living cells in our body and the genes that are hidden in every cell have a prototype of one single creature. In this manner within a human body, like the cosmic world, millions of creatures dwell in it. Amongst them only one of them has a chance to enter the mother?s womb during sexual union. Thus one embryo is formed which starts the creation of its separate body and bodily energy. In 9 months the embryo matures and roams in the world after coming out of its mother?s womb. Within this newborn babe one finds bodily and mental qualities of its parents, grandparents and scores of ancestors. These special qualities in the form of Vibhutis (divine glories) are so subtle that despite the subtle-most disintegration of genes and the life vital force, one cannot understand contemporary circumstances. The situation manifests when the child grows up and gives us a clear indication of its special qualities. This means that those special qualities known when the child grows up is not known in its immature state. By only analyzing the child we cannot know its ancestral nature. Only on its face and skin is there some perceived idea. Subtleness for a long time is maintained in the immature stage and when it starts maturing it gives us an indication of its state and existence. There is such a big prelude of the subtle in the subtle that the example of the onion peel within an onion peel and the leaves of banana, appear to be very ironic. If a pile of seeds of different tree varieties are gathered a very minor difference is perceived as far as its color, weight, form etc. is concerned but when the seeds are sown, major differences are perceived right from the shoots, leaves, branches, flowers, fruits etc. There is an obvious difference between mature full grown trees. There is so much difference as far as the shape of flowers, its fragrance and taste of fruits is concerned. Hence all these can be classified differently. This difference is extraordinary. Its differences are veiled in the seed stage and hence cannot be seen in that stage. The ordinary shapes of the sheaths of the human body are virtually identical but within there are so many mysteries that one is amazed on getting corresponding information about them. The material scientist is researching into only the gross aspect of this analysis unlike spiritual seers. The anatomists to some extent have studied the eugenics of the different movements of bodily sheaths and how they carry out their different functions. On its basis they carry out medical investigations and surgery. And they also measure the potential and possibilities of the life force of a human being. But one should deeply look into the fact that the human embryo is not made up of matter only. It is not merely an admixture of chemicals. Because one important aspect of it is consciousness and it is called human electricity. In spiritual parlance it is called Prana or vital force. By itself vital force is one yet because it targets various organs it is named variedly. In the head it functions as faith, hope, habit, thought etc. Its management and analysis is made in the form of mind, intellect and psyche. This very principle, in the organs of knowledge takes the form of shape, taste, smell, touch and sound. In other organs of the body it works digestion, emission, bodily might etc. Through the genitals it tastes sexual passion and thus procreates. The fibers and tendons of every muscle have their own specific function and nature. Both power and wisdom are interwoven in it. After knowing and understanding the inert and conscious form of the body one concludes that just as the entire tree is potentially found in the seed, so too the entire cosmic principle i.e. the macro is inherent in the body i.e. the micro. We may be able to see only the present form of the cosmos and the body yet the past and future are firmly conjoined to it. The body is like a mirror. If we can fathom its subtle mysterious depth we can only be amazed on understanding and seeing that where, how and to what extent this cosmic pervasive matter and conscious principle is conjoined to the human body. In reality the small body of a human being is filled up with so many things that one can only say that in comparison to all divine powers put together, man alone is most powerful. But the only problem is that this storehouse of divine energy is in a latent state. In order to experience these powers man needs to undergo intense austerities. If these penances are not carried out these powers will always remain latent and thus he will be incapable of carrying out any higher activity apart from those mundane ones that can be carried out by beasts too. Hence in order to excel spiritually one should follow the path of spiritual penance. On subtly analyzing bodily sciences one finds all divine glories embedded in every human being. By activating these divine potentialities one can obtain Divine Powers (Sidhis). In the subtle body the 6 Chakras are well-known. They are 1) Mooladhar 2) Svadhishthan 3) Manipur 4) Anahat 5) Vishudhi 6) Ajna. All these are within our body but at a subtle level. Over here the head region is overlooked. Within the scalp is the Sahasrar (1000-petalled lotus) Kamal. If you add this then there are 7 Chakras. Thus you are introduced to the grandeur, i.e. 7 subtle pilgrim spots for pious endeavor in the subtle world. The only requirement is the activation of these subtle Chakras. When the embryo is nourished in the mother?s womb it grows up as a baby and is born later. If a seed is locked up in a room it will not sprout. Only when it is given water, sun and fertile land will it grow into a tree that first bears flowers and then luscious fruits. The Merudand (subtle spinal cord) is called the royal pathway. It is also called the Devyaan Marg that takes us to heaven from earth. Within this journey are 7 Lokas (subtle worlds). The 7 Lokas in between God and the individual soul are spots of rest. To cover large number of miles during one?s journey, rest is a must. Hence on the way there are rest-houses. A train stops at many stations on the way to replenish the train with coal, water etc. These resting spots of the bodily energy are the 6 Chakras. The Chakras are depicted in 2 ways, one as obstructions and the other as benefactors. In the Mahabharat is the story of a Chakravyuh (an array of soldiers in a complexly designed square or a circle). Abhimanyu was trapped in it. Because he did not know how to come out of it he died. In a Chakravyuh there are 7 ramparts of a fort. Symbolically this incident can be taken as an individual soul being trapped in the 7 Chakras of the body. The Chakras are also said to be the 4 walls of the palace in the form of material attachments, delusions and distortions. Hence a method is given so as to overcome it. There is a story in the Bhagwat Mahatmya with reference to Dhundhukari?s ghost tearing the 7 knots of a bamboo within 7 days so as to become a divinely embodied being. Symbolically this is the journey from one Chakra to the next one. In spiritual practices the individual has no power of his own. The only special thing is that he is working hard to awaken his latent divine powers. Here one?s own energy is very little and if the austerities are very ordinary it cannot achieve much. An animal instructor of a circus takes only those animals in his troupe whom he thinks are shrewd. All spiritual practices are artistic. It flowers on the foundation stone of devotional sensitivity. Hence a man entering the path of spirituality has to master the viewpoint of his devotional emotions. Also he has to purify and focus his thinking and character. This is the primary condition which must be fulfilled. Which spiritual practice should be carried out for what time span? The answer is not the same for everyone. Because it depends on each individual?s mental state. If the personality of any individual overflows with soul force, he very quickly, without much effort attains great spiritual benefits. But those pious actions that give all these activities tend to be used up too. This divine power is used for raising the fallen ones, decreasing sorrow, saving those who are drowning and helping all to climb up the ladder of a material life rooted in spiritual values. Instead of austerities one?s pious deeds increase. Thus the balance is maintained and a Yogi / spiritual aspirant leads a pious Sattvic life. His attitude is heavenly and behavior is like one who is spiritually liberated in this very life (Jeevan Mukti). The soul is realized as soul glory and continuously with the help of divine insight he beholds the Lord in every particle of the cosmos. This is the very state as a result of which a person is called supreme amongst men and thus becomes God himself. But if one?s thoughts and character are not pure, if there is vileness in it and if such a person obtains divine powers, he becomes demonic and arrogant. He carries out such vile actions that he can only be labeled a demon. If wealth, might, grandeur, power are not utilized properly it can lead to a person?s downfall. When grapes deteriorate they are converted to wine. In the same way even if you attain divine powers and if the same is not utilized for pious activities the only alternative remains is that it will be utilized for destructive purposes. If spirituality does not follow the Dakshin Marg (pious path) it will lead to one?s downfall. Vile actions by Tantric Aghoris, Kapaliks etc. become demonic like Maran (killing people with Mantra chanting), Mohan Vashikaran (hypnotism) and Ucchatan (distracting a person?s mind by incantation). Demons generally are the attacking types and kidnap innocent people. Examples of such demons are Vritrasur, Hiranyakashipu, Mahisasur, Kansa, Ravan etc. Their family members like Khar-Dooshan, Kumbhkaran, Meghnad, Hiranyaksha, Jarasandh and Raktabeej too behaved demonically. The demons harassed the demigods. They looted the wealth of the demigods and drank the blood of the Rishis. They just harassed their subjects and for a little bit of selfish gain they performed many vile actions. There are 2 classes of demons. One class is unruly, attacking and of the terrorist type. The other class uses deception, cunningness, illusory black magic power etc. The attacking demons show off their daring and the black magic demons praise their art of deception. The attacking demons are looked down upon openly but the black magic demons are hidden behind the veil of facades. In fact the shrewd demons behave like saints externally. One such example is Kalnemi. Although he was a family member of Ravan he never attacked anybody externally. Instead he would induce the intellect of others via black magic to perform vile actions. Such people could not only fail to ward off a downfall but that they would drown deeper into the quagmire of lowly deeds. One may gather divine powers but if they are not used for pious deeds (like Kalnemi) one will carry out subtle demonic activities. In it there is no fear of being defamed in spite of terrorist activities because under the pretext of being saintly externally one escapes defamation albeit for a certain span of time. Hence modern demonic behavior in the field of Kundalini (Divine Serpent Power) is available in the bazaar under the ?trademark?of Kalnemi and is sold as basketfuls within minutes. True soul power can only be generated if one is on the sacred path of righteousness. In it lies the well-being of all individuals and thus the entire world. The true philosophy of soul science is that although one carries out spiritual austerities whatever divine power manifests in the form of Sidhis must be used only for righteous purposes and world welfare. Grossly one should understand that circumstances influence the state of our devotional sentiments. We are influenced by all that takes place in the external world. But the ideology of Spiritual Science has delved more deep into this and it says that the individual consciousness influences nearby and far off worldly situations. Man is the author of his own destiny, but the fact is this that in an advanced spiritual state he is the director of cosmic activities too. Regarding this it can definitely be understood that one can cast the equipments related to the inner and outer areas according to one?s psyche. In a very advanced spiritual state such a person can even direct cosmic movements. This is called extrasensory power or ESP. This is the Super Mind state which is ordinarily present in all beings but in a latent inactive state. How can it be activated? How can it be empowered? And how can it be utilized for various tasks? This is called Soul Science. It is also called Brahmavidya. Kundalini practice is executed so as to activate our soul force. In a forest near Lakshadweep dwelt 4 sages. For begging alms they crossed the ocean waters and gave spiritual discourses to the householders. One among the 4 sages was very shrewd. He had learnt how to walk on water by pasting his feet with some potent herbs. The other 3 sages swam in water but this shrewd sage would walk on it. People who saw the latter sage thought him to be a realized saint. Hence people would listen to his talks only and gave him costly presents. Slowly the secret was divulged. The shrewd devotees insisted that they would wash the feet on the 4 sages with hot water. Thus the herbal paste on the so called ?great? saint was wiped off. He did not know how to swim. Hence out of shame he left he group of sages and ran away. Moral: Facades never last long however shrewd. AUTHOR: Shriram Sharma Acharya: founder of the International Gayatri Family: was a great Yogi: seer and incarnation of God who wrote volumes of scientific literature mainly on spiritual subjects for world welfare and peace. For more scientific e-books visit: http://www.shriramsharma.com/ (GOOGLE PR 4) and http://www.awgp.org/ (Google 5) KEYWORDS: Kundalini Yoga Gayatri e-books biography Guru world peace mind psyche god nerve subtle consciousness soul divine trance endocrine glands ESP Chakras plexus meditation concentration intellect prophecy thought thinking Cheiro Nostradamus Aurobindo bliss brain Vedas solar sun energy sacred pure sense organs Prana Avatar Upanishad light cell hypothalamus pituitary transformation futurist prediction serpent power life human ethics integrity character vagus Tantra Mooladhar atom neutron proton DESCRIPTION: Free e-books on Future Scientific Religion: Gayatri Science & Kundalini Yoga correlated to Neurosciences-ESP, Psychology for world peace.
By: Shriram Sharma
Friday, July 11th, 2008
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Some Yoga DVDs to Help You Through Your Pregnancy
Yoga For Your Pregnancy A 45 minute DVD broken up into two segments, Yoga For Your Pregnancy, is designed to limber up women who are expecting a child and revitalize their energy level. Yoga Journal’s DVD is great for beginners, featuring alternate poses for women who can’t stretch, and doesn’t expect you to be a Yoga guru. The first section, entitled “Energizing and Stretching,” is 30 minutes long and is designed to create strength and stamina. The goal is, of course, to prepare you for the intense efforts required during labor. It is also, however, meant to help you cope with your constantly changing body. Section Two, “Relaxing and Rejuvenating,” is focused on meditation and concentration. It is designed to help you relax and learn how to breathe in preparation for labor. This section also contains a Lamaze interview. While this DVD is likely to disappoint regular Yoga practitioners, it is great for women who are looking for physical relief during their pregnancy and labor. With clear explanation and a relaxing teacher, Yoga For Your Pregnancy is a wonderful way to reduce the pain and stiff muscles you experience as a pregnant woman. However far along you are, you are certain to find some poses and techniques that relieve some of your problems. Prenatal Yoga A fantastic Yoga DVD designed for women experiencing pregnancy. This video is broken up into three 45 minute sessions, each corresponding to a trimester of your pregnancy. Each session is hosted by a different women and is set to some nice, flowing music to really get you in the Yoga mood. The poses are specially modified for your changing body, so you’ll be able to follow the DVD through without worrying about hurting yourself or your baby. If you’re an experienced Yoga master, this DVD might not be your cup of tea. For those pregnant woman who are looking for a way to keep fit and relieve some of those new aches and pains, give this DVD a try. Ian Byrd runs yogaondvd.com, a resouce for helping you find the perfect Yoga DVD for you. Read more reviews of Yoga DVDs for Pregnancy.
By: Ian Byrd
Friday, July 11th, 2008
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Some Tantric Exercises to Increase General WellBeing and Sexual Abilities
A healthy anal and genital area is of great importance both for the general well-being and for the sexual abilities. The same is thrue about a healthy respiratory tract and breathing apparatus. Here are presented three poses and three breathing exercises that have the following effects when done together in a series: -They stimulate the physiological functions of the genital and anal area. -They correct muscle weakness and anatomical problems of the anal and genital region. -They increase the sexual drive and abilities. -They produce a stimulating response that spreads upwords along the spine and revitalizes the whole body. -They stimulate the physiological functions of the respiratory tract and help against infections in the airways. -The exercises are very good to start each day with, or to do before going to bed in the night. POSE 1 Stand on your hands and knees upon the floor. Kneel backword so that your buttocks go backword and down towords your feet and stretch your arms foreword. Breath out and then take a deep breath in, filling your lungs totally with air. Hold your breath with the air inside. Squeeze your anal muscles and pull your anal opening as deeply inword as you can. However do not strain when squeezing. This exercise shall not be exhausting. Relax your anal muscles compleetely again. Repeat the sqeesing and relaxing 3-5 times, but not so long that you go out of oxygen in your body. Empty your lungs. Rize up on your hands and knees again. Relax a while in this position and then you can repeat the exercise if you wish. POSE 2 Lie on your back upon a carpet on the floor with your arms along your sides and relax. Breath out. Then breath inn deeply while relaxing all the muscles you do not need for the breathing. Then breath out. When breathing out, squeeze your anal muscles and pull your anal opening as deeply inword as you can. However do not strain when squeezing. This exercise shall not be exhausting. After having breathed out, relax your anal muscles again. Repeat the breathing in and breathing out whiile squeezing 3-8 times, but not som much that you get exhausted. Then relax again. POSE 3 Lie on your back upon a carpet on the floor. Breath out completely. Swing your armes in an arch over your head and down to the floor over your head so that your whole body is stretched from top to toe. When swinging your arms, take a deep breath filling your lungs totally with air. Hold your breath with the air inside. Squeeze your anal muscles and pull your anal opening as deeply inword as you can. However do not strain when squeezing. This exercise shall not be exhausting. Relax your anal muscles compleetely again. Repeat the sqeezing and relaxing 3-5 times. Swing your arms back at the same time as you empty your lungs. Relax some while and then you can repeat the exercise if you wish. BREATHING EXERCISE 1 Sit upon a pillow on the floor with your legs crossed and the back streight. Empty your lungs completely. Breath in counting to 4. When breathing in, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other: Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves out. Then fill further by using your chest muscles. And then complete the filling by using the muscles around your shoulders. Hold your breath counting to 16. Then breath out counting to 8. When breathing out, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other: Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves in.Then empty further by using your chest muscles. And then complete emptying by using the muscles around your shoulders. BREATHING EXERCISE 2 Sit upon a pillow on the floor with your legs crossed and your back streight. Take 10 rapid deep breathes in and out after another, but not so rapid that you get strained or breath uncompleetely. When breathing in, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other: Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves out.Then fill further by using your chest muscles.And then complete the filling by using the muscles around your shoulders. When breathing out, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other: Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves in. Then empty further by using your chest muscles. And then complete emptying by using the muscles around your shoulders. After the last in-breath , hold your breath with your lungs filled counting to 10. Then breath out. BREATHING EXERCISE 3 Sit upon a pillow on the floor with your legs crossed and your back streight. Empty your lungs completely. Close your left nostril with the fingers of one of your hands. Breath in through your right nostril counting to 4. When breathing in, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other: Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves out. Then fill further by using your chest muscles, and then compleete the filling by using the muscles around your shoulders. Hold your breath counting to 16. Then close your right nostril with your fingers. Then breath out through your left nostril counting to 8. When breathing out, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other: Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves in. Then empty further by using your chest muscles. And then complete emptying by using the muscles around your shoulders. When you have breathed out, repeat the exercise, but this time begin by closing your right nostril first. RELAXING AT THE END OF THE SERIES: When the series is done, then lie down upon a carpet on the floor andrelax for 2-5 minutes. This relaxation will increase the effects of the exercises and make you recover if the exercises have made you tired. Concetrate upon relaxing your legs first, then your lover body, then your upper body, then your arms and shoulders, and at last your head and face. When the whole body is relaxed, try not to think about anything, and relax your whole body even furter. Then lie some time in this relaxed state without thinking about anything. By Knut Holt At these link you may find other articles about health topics: http://www.panteraconsulting.com/salg2.htm Written by Knut Holt. The author is a freelands web-designer and translator of web-content between Scandinavian and English. His speciality is scientific and medical content. He also market health item on his domains. He also is experienced in practising sport and yoga.
By: Knut Holt
Friday, July 11th, 2008
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So Should I Do Yoga
What was once ridiculed as a bizarre fad in health has been widely accepted as a way of life for many people. This ?fad? however has been in practice for over 5, 000 years and is known as Yoga. Yoga is the most popular and fast growing exercise trend of all. Over the last few years this form has really taken off and more and more people are choosing it among all other forms of exercise. Yoga is healthy and it is fun. Your entire body will get a total workout for the body, mind and soul when you practice Yoga everyday. For an overview of what Yoga is, the word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as “union” or a method of discipline. Its ultimate goal is the union of man with God or the universe in one breath. Furthermore, it aims to liberate the spirit as the mind and spirit are equally involved in its practice. As far as some physical benefits are concerned, Yoga has shown incredible promise in treating and managing many illnesses. Moreover, it facilitates flexibility, and assists in the lubrication of joints, tendons, and ligaments. Many of the poses and positions work to massage the organs, thus stimulating the body’s detoxification process. Yoga has a reputation for flexibility, and deservedly so. But it can also develop strength. Developing strength is particularly important for women. Women tend to be more flexible than men, but not as strong, unless they have been involved in fitness regularly. But unlike many traditional forms of exercise, yoga also strengthens the inner muscles and organs in our bodies. It makes a great preparation for childbirth! There are different forms so that everyone can find just the right kind of yoga for them. The best way to get involved in this fabulous exercise regime is to try a few different kinds. Start slow and do not push yourself too hard. That is how so many people get hurt. Here?s a quote from a yoga teacher from Sydney, Australia, Eileen Hall, printed in the Australian Yoga Life magazine: “Yoga is not about relaxation, it’s not about losing weight, it’s not about learning meditation. It’s about discovering the divine being within ourselves.” So are you still unsure if Yoga is for you? Well, chances are it probably is, why not give it a shot today. In Friendship, Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. He invites you to visit his blog on Yoga for Beginners for more yoga tips today.
By: Foras Aje
Friday, July 11th, 2008
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Slow Down and Increase Productivity
Have you ever thought about getting a gym membership but thought “I don’t have time”? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. What some of us don’t think about, is that when you work out at the gym on a regular basis, your energy level goes up, stress is reduced, thought process is refined, sleep pattern is regulated and you have more confidence. In the long run, this will create more time in the day by allowing you to think faster, be more efficient, relaxed and happy, and trust that you are a together person. Now, we know that your probably still going to put off going to the gym, but what if a similar effect could be achieved at home in a more relaxing atmosphere? Try this one: Grab a yoga or Thai Chi tape and watch enough to learn three movements. Once you know these movements by heart, run a nice hot bath, take off your makeup and make a cup of tea. Light some candles around the tub (fresh flowers are a nice touch too) and put on some soothing music. Repeat your three movements for five to ten minutes, making sure to concentrate on your breathing. Hop in the tub with your cup of tea and add your favourite smelly bath treat. Lie back in the bath and concentrate on your breathing again. Let the world melt from your mind for as long as you can. Go to bed right after you get out and have a wonderful sleep. Wake up refreshed and ready to take on the world! You’ll be amazed at the difference. Ivy Mills has been researching chemical sensitivity and natural alternatives for over five years and has brought her knowledge to the marketplace in her company, Valhalla Essences. Her personal experiences have fed a passion to help others with the same problem. Ivy welcomes others to share their stories and experiences on her blog, Peaceful Power.
By: Ivy Mills
Friday, July 11th, 2008
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Sitting Fit for Everyone
Public enemy #1 for our bodies….the simple chair. Or is it how we use chairs that’s the problem? When I was a kid, my Dad asked me if I could design a chair for people whose knees bent backwards. I’m still working on that one. But since I began doing yoga, I’ve been working on designing a practice for those of us whose knees bend forward many hours a day. What do we do with bodies that ache because we sit, and sit, and sit? We’re a society of “chair people.” We sit for meals, sit for classes, sit in the car, sit at a desk, sit in meetings and movies. We sit to talk on the telephone and watch TV, sit at computers, on planes, on trains, in waiting rooms. Some of us sit due to accident or illness, weakness, or job requirements. Some of us sit because we just have a lazy life style. Do you ever feel that your life has become a series of transitions from one seated location to another? I don’t think our bodies were meant to live that way! Most chairs aren’t designed to support our bodies with healthy posture. They cause us to slump, curve our spines, push our heads forward or lean us back onto our tailbones. The worst back problem I ever had came after sitting in a seminar room for three days of lectures. Inactivity can cause stiffness, backache, weakness, constipation, poor circulation, mental dullness, nervousness, cramps, and degeneration. Depressing thoughts. Whatever the reason and wherever you sit, its possible to begin to become fit, even while sitting in your chair. Yoga, the 5000 year old gift of body/mind balance, can be adapted to a seated stretching program that can counteract the inevitable results of too much sitting. Body awareness, better posture, relief from aches and pains, as well as increased flexibility and strengthening, and a deep sense of relaxation can be achieved right where you are….are you sitting down? Although a consistent yoga program of standing, balancing, lying poses, and inversions is a more complete practice, yoga need not be relegated to the yoga studio or health club. The time commitment of hours per week can sometimes be difficult to fit in to a busy schedule. Doing a pose or two hourly throughout the day can give you some of the benefits of a yoga practice and help relieve the results of sitting too much. In fact, small efforts while sitting in various daily situations, can contribute greatly to our strength, flexibility, relaxation, increased circulation, stronger respiration, and clarity of mind. Yoga poses adapted to small bites may not have the same intensity as a full yoga class, but the benefits of yoga are readily available to those who nibble on yoga throughout the day. Those who are physically challenged due to age, illness, or who just can’t do poses on the floor, need not miss out on the many benefits of yoga. Invalids, those confined to wheelchairs or recovering from injury, with their physician’s approval, can benefit from their own adaptation of the breathing and gentle seated poses. Seated yoga can build the strength and flexibility, needed to progress to more and more challenging poses. Breathing, stretching and strengthening can be introduced at a slow pace, gently bringing bodies to new levels of fitness, increasing circulation and bringing in healing “life force” energy. “Sitting Fit” benefits all of us, regardless of our physical condition. Sitting needs to be balanced with moving, breathing and stretching, so try some of these simple poses for a “mini yoga break.” You’ll feel the difference and return your attention to your work refreshed, more relaxed and with a clearer mind. Sitting Fit Can Be Done in a Chair … Anytime, Anywhere Breathing Sit up straight on the edge of your chair, feet flat on the floor directly below your knees. Let your hands rest on your thighs. Take a long, deep breath, and exhale completely. Inhale deeply again, reaching for the ceiling with the crown of your head, lengthening your spine. Continue breathing with full deep inhalations and complete exhalations for 10 to 20 breaths. As you exhale, slide your shoulder blades down your back, dropping your shoulders away from your ears as you reach through your finger tips. Keep breathing deeply for 3 to 5 breaths. Exhale as you lower your arms. Shoulder shrugs Inhaling, bring your shoulders up tightly toward your ears. Roll your shoulders back, pressing your shoulder blades tightly together. Exhale as you press your shoulders down toward the floor. Inhaling again, bring your shoulders up again, roll them back and press your shoulder blades together, and release down. Repeat several times and don’t forget to breathe! Forward Fold Still sitting on the edge of your chair with your feet hip width apart, inhale as you bring your arms out to your sides. Reach forward with your chin as you rotate from your hips, exhaling as you bring your chest toward your thighs. Keep your back flat. With your next exhalation, allow your self to relax, chest on your thighs, arms and head dangling, relaxed. Take 3 to 5 deep, full, relaxing breaths. Inhale as you sit up slowly with a flat back. Knee Raises Sitting up straight, inhaling as you raise your right knee up in front of you. Grasp your leg in front of your knee with both hands. Keep your back flat as you exhale and draw your knee in toward your chest. Hold it there for 3 to 5 breaths. Release as you exhale. Repeat with your left leg. Susan Winter Ward, internationally recognized yoga instructor, author, and video producer, is the creator of Yoga for the Young at Heart?, a multimedia publisher which publishes an informative and inspiring collection of CDRoms, videos, audio tapes, books and television programs, as well as exciting vacation retreats. Her product line is available at: Yoga for the Young at Heart
By: Susan Winter Ward
Friday, July 11th, 2008
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Should an Obese Person Become a Yoga Teacher
There seems to be a stereotypical view of what a Yoga teacher should look like. Worse yet, there seems to be a preconceived notion about what a Yoga teacher should weigh. There are many reasons for this ? Athletes, doctors, and exercise instructors are expected to be slim and trim. Hatha Yoga teachers are also expected to be role models of good heath. This type of thinking will not change, but we can make the public aware that stereotypes are often wrong. Most of the adult population in the West is overweight. Some Yoga teachers also fall into this category. Many adults can identify with the daily struggle at the plate and on the scales. Does this mean a person should go through a ?weigh in,? before deciding to become a Yoga teacher? Consider this: Any style of Yoga causes lifestyle changes. Yoga students, and Yoga teachers, make gradual changes that result in weight control. These are not the changes of ?instant gratification? that we are so familiar with. We are not talking about, ?Losing 30 pounds in 30 days.? The many ?Yo-Yo? diets and weight loss pills can make those promises, but at what cost to your overall health? Life endangering weight loss products are a waste of money and an insult to your intelligence. Then again, teaching most people to drink more water, eat more fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains is not as easy as showing them the ?new ultimate diet pill.? The Yogic diet has been around for thousands of years, so it?s ?old news.? Remember the saying, ?Out with the old, and in with the new?? People fall for the ?new and improved,? more than old and proven methods, until the hard data comes in. This is why people, who said Hatha Yoga was just another fitness fad, were terribly misinformed. Yoga was around long before the Shaolin temple, and Yoga influenced the health maintenance of the Shaolin priests. Kung Fu was then created within the Shaolin temple, but the relationship to Yoga is still apparent. The exposure of Yoga to the West is only centuries old, but the Pilates method is one more example of a ?Hatha Yoga spin off.? This is not meant with disrespect toward any health maintenance system, but most of them have origins in Yoga. In the West, Yoga teachers have a responsibility to be role models for physical health. Therefore, if an obese Yoga teacher lost weight at a safe rate, that is a good thing. A Yoga teacher who takes positive action is a good role model; especially, since Yogic dieting methods are sensible, safe, and proven, in comparison to the many fad diets that come and go. Over the years, I have seen people lose weight from a Yogic lifestyle change, but it is a very gradual process. Lifestyle changes, like Yoga, also result in weight loss that stays off. Getting back to an obese person becoming a Yoga teacher; does the public feel that he or she should go on a diet first? We are all guilty of classifying and itemizing, until it affects our perception of reality. Tolerance is a daily challenge for all of us. There are many good Yoga teachers who carry a few extra pounds due to any number of different reasons. The idea that a Yoga teacher should only be a young, thin, very flexible, super model, with a background in gymnastics, is a pure myth. ? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
By: Paul Jerard

Thursday, July 10th, 2008
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Seven Biggest Mistakes Yoga Studios Owners Make In Their Business And What To Do About Them
Do you remember when you first started your yoga studio? Remember the excitement? Do you recall how it felt when the phone rang or someone walked in the door? First, let me commend you on entering a profession that is true to your passion, and furthermore, one that serves others. In this article, I?m going to share with you some of the common mistakes that yoga studio businesses often make. If you?ve fallen prey to one or more of these, it simply means that no one told you about them yet. Once you know, then you can focus on solutions. And, perhaps you?ll find that you are already entirely on track, and this may re-affirm that you are headed the right way. MISTAKE #1: In business, we ideally view the products and services we sell as generic ?black boxes? that either make money or don?t. Imagine you own a gas station ? the old fashioned kind that just sells gas and maybe fixes cars (no mini-mart inside). One day, a salesman comes to you and says ?Hey, I want to put a soda machine in front of your gas station. You can buy cans of soda at %ARTICLEBODY%.25 each and sell them for $1.25 each ? you make $1.00 on every can of soda someone buys.? He offers to rent you the soda machine for $100 per month as long as you agree to have him be the one you buy soda from. You agree and find that you sell 20 cans of soda per day, or 600 per month. In other words, you make $600 per month selling soda, then pay the sales guy $100 of that for renting you the soda machine. In the end, you make $500 profit each month. So, what does this have to do with running a yoga studio? You probably couldn?t care less about selling soda, may not drink it and may even emphasize how unhealthy it is for people. Exactly. And the gas station owner feels the same way. He couldn?t care less about soda or soda machines, but as a business owner, it?s a ?black box? that earns him $500 per month in cash. He puts some stuff into the black box (rents the machine for $100 and fills it with soda) and money comes out of it ($500 in profits). THE SOLUTION: For any business to be truly successful, the owner needs to be able to step back and view it as a collection of ?black boxes? that either generate money or support another black box in generating money. Evaluate each major method or strategy your company uses to make money. Let go of emotional attachment to things like favorite services or products ? if they don?t make money for you, change them so they do, or eliminate them. If you can?t bring yourself to do this, acknowledge that this is an area of charity or contribution that your company participates in. But whatever you do, be honest with yourself. Remember, if your studio doesn?t make money, it won?t be around to help anyone in the future. Keep it profitable! MISTAKE #2: Business usually takes time. Our society is so wrought with instant gratification, we often overlook the fact that things take time. Just as the farmer can?t plant crops too late in the season, then try to ?rush? them to grow, certain aspects of business take time. If you are trying a new type of advertising strategy, it might take three months before you can tell if it works or not. THE SOLUTION: Learn from someone else who has done it successfully before, and ask them how long they waited before seeing results. If we plan ahead and act early, we won?t be in such a rush at the end. For example, don?t think about holiday promotions in November, instead plan them in September in case some actions need to be taken early. We can often save money by starting early as well ? after all, have you ever been to a workshop that cost more if you signed up last-minute than if you registered a month or two in advance? (Hopefully you use this strategy yourself with any programs you offer.) As you get better at a particular aspect of running your studio, you?ll be able to do it faster, but in the beginning, it takes time. Be patient, evaluate your results and make changes as needed. MISTAKE #3: So often, we believe that with lots of ability in our art we will succeed. We assume that if we enhance our skills and have perfect form that this will make our business more successful. Sadly, this has relatively little truth to it in business. Technical skill alone is not the key to success, and in fact, technical skill is only a small part of success. If business is slow, we often tend to consider getting more training, another certification or something like that. The real solution usually lies somewhere in business skills and management. Ask yourself about these areas of your business: Marketing, Sales, Accounting & budgeting, Customer service. I certainly don?t want to minimize the value of your mastery of your field ? this is definitely important. Rather, I am emphasizing that in business, other things usually count more. I know it doesn?t seem right that someone who doesn?t have nearly the ability that you do should have all the clients, but that is generally the reality in business. Consider the example of the most successful restaurant in history, McDonalds. Could you cook a better burger than they do? Of course ? anyone could. It?s not their skill in making burgers that makes them such a success. They do the other stuff so well that people have learned to like their marginal food. THE SOLUTION: Just as you can watch someone?s form and point out specific errors that they are oblivious to, you also have the potential to see your business in the same way. With the right perspective and knowledge, a studio owner can very specifically identify a problem area and what needs to change. But only in rare cases is the problem actually the technical skill of services being delivered to the customer. MISTAKE #4: Sometimes we get so attached to an idea ? maybe one we created ourselves ? that we forget to do a logical analysis. I remember a small store that sold specialty food products. The owner loved spicy food, so decided to offer hot sauces from all over the world. He expanded the concept such that a great deal of his inventory was essentially hot sauce. For months, he didn?t acknowledge that his sales had significantly decreased, because he was so excited about the idea that people love hot food ? he loved hot food. Less than a year later, he was sadly forced to face the reality when he could no longer pay his bills and had to close the business. It?s always easy to see it in other people, but very hard to see in ourselves. Is there a class or service that you created, which for whatever reason has few sales? Consider areas of your studio business where you are being guided by emotions, not facts. THE SOLUTION: When we are emotionally driven in business, our strengths become weaknesses. Self-confidence becomes arrogance, ambition becomes ruthlessness, quick-thinking becomes impulsiveness, strategic risk-taking turns to gambling. And one clear sign that emotions are taking over is that in discussions of a given topic, there is a clear need to ?be right? instead of a striving to do what is best for the company. The solution is simply to back away and treat it like the ?Black box? we discussed earlier?it?s just a soda machine that makes money or it doesn?t. Another technique is to ask someone else for their honest opinion with the understanding that you will not interrupt them, or offer any feedback other than asking informational questions. Remember, successful business is driven by facts, not emotions. MISTAKE #5: This one is pretty straightforward. Any time you try something new, at least have a rough idea of what you will do if it doesn?t work. When an airplane flies toward it?s destination, before it even takes off, the pilot always selects an alternate airport in case he can?t land at the original destination. And, he makes sure he has enough fuel to get there. He doesn?t plan all the details, but just knows what the alternative is and that there?s enough gas in the tank to make it. THE SOLUTION: I encourage you to do the same thing with any new business tactic. If you take a lot of money to invest in new product inventory, expecting you can make a killing selling it, have a backup plan. What would you do if it didn?t sell? What if it was a total disaster? In a case like this, you might decide that you could sell it at half it?s value to a large retailer, but at least it wouldn?t be a total loss. You want to make sure that you?re not going to go out of business if an idea doesn?t work. Always have a rough idea of a backup plan. MISTAKE #6: This one sounds obvious, so let me clarify. This mistake is about having a plan for what needs to be done to create a successful business, but running out of money before it gets there. For example, suppose a new yoga studio owner has estimated that it will cost $150,000 to open the yoga studio, buy all needed equipment, supplies and inventory, and pay operating expenses for one year. After this point, the owner expects to have enough students, clients and customers that she will be able to cover the cost of all her monthly expenses (including paying staff and herself) and begin paying back the $150,000. However, imagine that getting things going ended up costing $200,000 and even at that, there isn?t much left for an advertising budget. After one year rolls around, she?s not even close to making enough money each month to pay expenses (in part because she didn?t have money for advertising), let alone repay the debt. She has run out of cash. THE SOLUTION: First, make your cost projections worst-case. A quick way of doing this is to figure out best-case, then double it. No kidding, you?ll be pretty close to the actual cost about 80% of the time. If you think it will cost $10,000, then make sure you have $20,000 available (but still try to do it in $10,000 and in fact, base your whole budget on $10,000). Next: Plan, Plan, Plan! So many people dive in without a plan, only to find out they spent lots of time and money on things that do not generate any return. Bottom line: Expect it will take twice as much cash as you think. MISTAKE #7: Lots of people (and companies) have opened and operated successful yoga studios for years. There are people who know the answers to questions that frustrate you and problems that cost you money. One reason franchises are so successful is that they give a business owner answers to nearly every question regarding running the studio. There are even yoga studio franchises ? do a search for them on the internet and you?ll find them. THE SOLUTION: So, don?t re-invent the wheel. I can?t emphasize this enough. There are people who know how to run a small business very profitably. Find them. Observe them. Talk to them. Model them. They may even be willing to actively mentor you. If you find a successful studio similar to yours in a non-local area (that is, they don?t compete with you), the owner may be more than happy to share. If you need to hire consultants for marketing, web site design, business planning, accounting, and so forth, then do it. It?s expensive up front, but once you learn the right way to do things, you can either take it over on your own or hire someone lower-priced and tell them what to do. Bottom line: If someone else has done it before successfully, learn from them before trying to figure it out on your own. IN CONCLUSION: There you have it ? the seven most common mistakes yoga studio owners make in business. Few of us ever had a class or mentor to teach us how to run a business or studio. Unfortunately, 8 out of 10 small businesses will fail because of this lack of experience. Do whatever you have to in order to do it right (remember, don?t re-invent the wheel!) Read books, get online courses, find a mentor, get a good business coach and model a successful business just like the one you?re trying to do. There are so many people who are really successful at running a studio. Learn from the experience of others and be one of the one?s who has passed the stage of hard work, and now enjoys doing just what you want to in your studio business. To your success! Al Lipper Website: http://www.CenteredBusiness.com Coach Al Lipper of ?Destiny: Success’ is a successful Yoga and T’ai Chi studio business coach that has been delivering a message of motivation, success, and personal fulfillment since 1991. Hundreds of people have worked with Coach Al on developing personal and business strategies that got them more free time, more money, and living their dreams. The amount invested was small compared to the results. If you’d like to learn more about his Yoga and Tai Chi studio business coaching services, including fees, go to: http://www.CenteredBusiness.com.
By: Al Lipper
OBSESSION WITH THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE OR THE PRODUCTS YOU SELL.
BEING IN A RUSH.
BELIEVING THAT TECHNICAL SKILL IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS.
BEING SO EXCITED THAT YOU ARE DRIVEN BY EMOTIONS, NOT LOGIC.
NOT HAVING A BACKUP PLAN.
RUNNING OUT OF CASH.
RE-INVENTING THE WHEEL.
Yoga Studio Business Coach
Destiny: Success
Email: coach@centeredbusiness.com
Telephone: (805) 544-3938

Thursday, July 10th, 2008
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Self Remains in Four States of Consciousness
Presently most Yoga Masters teach Yoga just as a therapy or as a means to keep body and mind healthy. to keep body and mind healthy is not everything; it is the base of Yoga. The apex of Yoga is to realise the true self(atman). According to the Indian Scriptures Atman is Brahman, the Ultimate Reality. So practitioners should try to understand the ’self’ first. Like all living beings, man has consciousness. For this he feels that he has existence. Dead matter has no consciousness and so it cannot know either its own existence or the existence of others. Since conscious man knows his existence, he has a Self. Self is intimately related to his consciousness. Consciousness awakens knowledge in him. This knowledge tells a man that he has a Self or has an existence in relation to others. According to the Upanishads, this Self remains in four states - waking, dreaming, deep sleep and true self(atman). The practice of Yoga is to move inwards of consciousness from waking through deep sleep to true self states. In the waking state, consciousness of man spreads everywhere through his sense organs. Self is knowledgeable about the gross body and the gross world outside. It is the enjoyer of this gross material world. It enjoys what it has imagined and created. Gross world has no real existence. If at all it exists, it exists in the consciousness of beings. Gross world is an imagination and creation of all beings. For this, in the waking state, Self is called Universal(vishva). In the dreaming sate, consciousness spreads inwards i.e. in the subtle dreaming world. Self is knowledgeable about its subtle body and subtle dreaming world. This world is its own creation and very much private. Through its own creation, it enjoys its own creation. The same mind and senses work here. The difference is everything is subtle here and everything is an illumination only. For this Self is called Illuminous(taijasa). When one goes to sleep, one passes from waking state to dreaming state. Body and world change from gross to subtle. But the same mind and senses remain active. For this dreaming world appears to be as real as waking world. However no world is real. When one enters into deep sleep state, mind and senses cease to function. For this one sees nothing or hears nothing. Mind and senses immerse in the consciousness. For this consciousness is pure here or Self attains purity. there is none other than the Self. For this one sees nothing or hears nothing. There is no dualism and there is oneness of all. Gods and Goddesses, beings and worlds, hell and heaven become one here. In the absence of dualism, there is neither virtue nor vice, neither joy nor sorrow; Self is intelligent and blissful. Brightness acts as a sense organ and through this Self enjoys only the bliss. For this after a deep sleep one remains blissful and peaceful. In the deep sleep state, Self is called Intelligent(prajna). This Intelligent Self is the God of all. It becomes the cause of all worlds. This is the state where creation, sustenance and destruction of all beings are determined. Waking and dreaming states are experienced by all, because mind is active in these two states. Effect of deep sleep is only felt and not realised. The fourth state is neither felt nor realised by all. Only a true Yogi may feel and realise third and fourth states. deep sleep may be realised by a Yogi through meditation when he has risen above body and senses. Throgh meditation mind enters the deep seep and realises it. Then in total concentration(samadhi) he may realise the fourth state again through the mind. In the fourth state, Self has neither the knowledge of the outside world nor of the inner world; Self is neither intelligent nor ignorant. Only there is the manifestation of true self(atman) which is peaceful, graceful and unique. Self is called soul(atman) here, which is the only thing to be known and to be realised in the whole universe. So practitioners should learn that Yoga from him, who clears all ignorance and shows true divine or spiritual path. Awake and arise and stop not till the goal is achieved. Author Premansu Chand practices and teaches Patanjali Yoga in its purest form. Those who want to know more about spiritualism and yoga may go through his book ‘Quest for Truth: the Spiritual and Yogic Way‘ published in USA. Please procure copies from bn.com or amazon.com and help the author in spreading true spiritualism and yoga worldwide.
By: Premansu Chand
