How to Practice Yoga Asanas for Weight Loss

Most people wrestle with finding sustainable weight loss solutions over their entire lives. It's an ongoing battle for many of us. And no matter how much we are looking to lose, whether it be a significant amount of weight, such as 25 lbs or more, or just to rid our waistlines of those last 5 extra pounds, it's all many of us can think about it. A long term lifestyle management approach to weight loss has emerged that integrates both the foods you eat from a dieting perspective and the exercise you undertake to burn calories. The concept of performing yoga asanas for weight loss, which incorporates both strenuous and passive yoga poses, can be an effective element for weight control combined with a diet focused on natural foods. The primary goal is to work into a lifestyle change that supports an ongoing weight management method that can be sustained over time.

Generally speaking most people don't think of yoga as a type of exercise routine that burns calories and supports weight loss. But it can. Many power forms of yoga, such as Ashtanga and Vinyasa for example, work the body out by focusing on the development of large scale muscle groups such as the legs, shoulders and back. Gentler yoga routines, like Hatha, can also be just as beneficial. Whatever yoga asanas for weight loss that you practice, they must be combined with a healthy diet that incorporates natural, whole foods. This approach works together with a regular yoga routine to achieve maximum weight loss. Most importantly, this also takes into account both the physiological and psychological components of eating, exercise and motivation for successful weight loss and ongoing weight management. And it does if for the long term.

Practicing Yoga Asanas for Weight Loss

Yoga is a very easy exercise and physical fitness approach that anyone can start practicing. Aside from attending a local class or reading instruction books, there are now a wide variety of video examples you can view online. You do not need to go to a yoga studio to get started, although there is a benefit in attending an instructor lead class. It's also worth stating that yoga is a very low impact exercise so your body can get used to different yoga exercise routines at a comfortable pace. Here is some practical advice you can follow to begin incorporating yoga poses into a weight loss and exercise regimen:
While practicing any yoga pose or asana focus on how you feel physically. Don't worry about having to "feel pain" to see results. Simply by starting yoga you can begin to feel positive body changes that starts you down the path of losing weight with exercise.
Try as much as possible to be in the moment. Feel every movement you perform as this will get you into the process of actively listening to your body.
Be aware of the places your muscles feel challenged and make sure not overly exert them. You want to push your muscles without hurting yourself.
Listen to your body and rest when you are tired. Allow yourself to recover. This is often referred to as internal listening and is very beneficial in practicing yoga asanas for weight loss.
The effort your are making is worthwhile so praise yourself for it. You can keep yourself motivated by acting as your own personal cheerleader. You are developing a better you.
Yoga asanas can be practiced by all age groups over the long term. Regular practice also develops qualities like discipline, patience and self awareness, allowing you to develop both inside and out.


Diet Plays a Role in Yoga Asanas for Weight Loss

The other major component of any long term weight management approach is a diet that works in concert with exercise. Maintaining a regular workout is great but if you are not following a healthy diet and eating natural foods, no yoga asana routine will help you lose weight. On its own, a proper diet is very challenging for most people to embrace as part of their lifestyle routine. And there is so much competing advice about what makes for a good diet it complicates the goal of making weight loss more achievable. Never the less, those that focus on eating the right foods, preferably unprocessed whole foods, can dramatically increase safe and healthy weigh loss. This type of

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Stop Smoking With Yoga Breathing

Trying to stop smoking can be difficult for many people. It certainly seems a lot easier to start than it is to quit smoking. Yoga breathing techniques can be helpful in the process, enabling the lungs to clear out accumulated toxins, and also helping the smoker develop discipline and good health. The Yoga breathing system (known as pranayama) has survived for thousands of years because it is highly effective. Generations of yoga students have utilised pranayama techniques to help them calm the mind, and to detoxify and purify their bodies. The practice of yoga breathing also helps to develop self-control and heighten self-awareness.

A smoker, particularly one who has done so for some time, will typically have lungs that are coated with tar, oxygen-deficient blood and a reduced lung capacity. This severely reduces their capacity to fully take part in many areas of life. For example, they may find that playing some sport becomes too difficult and they are left gasping for breath. This can develop into a negative spiral. Sport becomes too difficult as they can't breathe properly, so they stop playing sports, which in turn reduces the limited breathing capacity they already have.

Most smokers at some point realise that the habit is not healthy and decide that they want to stop. The motivation can be different - it may be save money, or to improve their health, maybe they don't want their kids to grow up in a toxic environment. Many smokers are looking for a "magic bullet", something to take to help them finally stop smoking. But the answers are not to be found on the outside, but are actually within. Stopping smoking is in part a matter of overcoming a physical addiction, but it is largely about letting go of a psychological addiction. For many, the failure to stop smoking highlights the tendency to not follow-through on promises and commitments they make to themselves, which can reduce self-esteem. This is where yoga breathing techniques can be a great help, as they cultivate the qualities of resolve and self-discipline.

One simple technique to that has a profound effect is to stand with knees relaxed and inhaling raise your hands above your head. Make sure you inhale through your nose. Once your lungs are filled, fold forward quickly from hips, powerfully exhaling through your mouth, making a powerful "Haaaa" sound as you do so. As you are coming down allow your arms to be heavy, letting them fall and hang like a rag doll. Do this exercise 7 times.

The primary effect of this breathing technique is to expel stale air and other toxins in the lungs. It also boosts the amount of oxygen in the body and gives you more energy. I recommend using it 3 or 4 times per day. This yoga breathing technique along with others is best combined with a regular practice of yoga poses and meditation. This is when you will derive the maximum benefit from the yogic system.

Most smokers find that they lack the necessary resolve and willpower to quit the weed. A balanced yoga practice can quickly build the inner strength necessary to beat the habit and set you on the road to vibrant health. Achieving quick results helps give you the motivation to carry on, confident that you have finally found it within yourself to stop smoking.

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How to Stay Motivated in Your Yoga Practice

Okay, so you've decided that this is the year you are going to get into shape, both physically and mentally - you've decided to take up yoga or to recommit to your current yoga practice. Maybe you've signed up for a new class or purchased some new yoga DVDs, or maybe you want to begin your daily yoga practice at home. You're feeling enthusiastic about making some healthy changes in your life, but how can you keep that motivation going throughout the year?

Right after New Years many people are motivated to start a new yoga program or some other type of fitness program, but within a few months give it up, succumbing to frustration or loss of interest. Many people don't know how to maintain enough motivation to get them through the inevitable decline in enthusiasm and plateaus of their practice. Below are some ways to help you maintain your motivation for yoga or any other fitness program.

To stay motivated in yoga:

1) Vary your classes. Try new instructors and new places. Add new postures to your home practice. Keep the tried and true postures, but add something new each week.

2) Use different props for familiar poses. This is another way to create variety. Learn different ways to use yoga straps, blocks and bolsters. Be creative and try new things.

3) Involve your friends. Human beings are social creatures. You're more likely to go to class if you have a friend meeting you there. Get to know some of the other people in your yoga class. Having friends in the class will motivate you to keep coming.

4) Learn about the specific mental and physical benefits of different yoga postures. The more you understand about how yoga is benefitting you, the more likely you will continue your practice.

5) Write down what you hope to get out of yoga. What would you like to change (i.e. more strength, flexibility, balance, peace of mind, etc). Below your goal write what the date will be in two month. When that date comes, complete the following, "Before I started yoga, my body and mind felt; since practicing yoga, my body and mind feel. What a difference." Keep this statement posted somewhere in your home as a reminder of why you started yoga and how it has helped.

6) Whether you take a class or not on a particular day, schedule 15 minutes each day for additional yoga practice at home. Everyone can find 15 minutes at some point during the day and by doing at least something everyday, it becomes a habit, and you increase the likelihood you with stick with it.

7) Create a yoga corner in your home. Carving out a symbolic niche for yoga in your home, makes your practice an undeniable part of your life.

Most important, remember that procrastination and frustration often come with any new venture. Resistance doesn't mean that it's time to throw in the towel. If you keep persisting and ask for help when you need it, you'll push through the plateaus and find a whole new way of health and vitality.

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Three Yoga Tips For Self Motivation

In Yoga, we often talk about making changes from within. These small changes affect the world around us. To make a change from within is a difficult task. No matter how much you change, it might seem as if the world around you lacks motivation.

The truth is - Yoga is not for everyone because it requires commitment. These days, making a commitment, in any phase of life, is a rarity. Yet, everyone you know has dreams of achievement at something. Even a low achiever dreams about something better. Let's look at three ways to raise your motivation with Yoga.

Surround yourself with self-motivated people. The most obvious place, to find motivated people, is in groups. If you visit a Yoga class, health club, or support group, you will find people who strongly desire to make a positive change. There is no guess work here.

On the other hand, pessimists can easily be found. It is easy to spot them. They will tell you, the weather is always bad and nothing ever works right. Whenever it is possible, find your way back to a group of optimists. This will change your attitude and life dramatically.

Permanently adjust your perspective. Look at the happy side of everything. Stop looking at life with a cynical viewpoint. Enjoy your life by living a Yogic lifestyle. Proper eating, breathing, exercising, praying, and sleeping, can be altered much like a prescription.

After awhile, you may feel like you need a vacation from living a healthy life. You do not have to give up everything you enjoy. For example: If you enjoy chocolate ice cream, you can still enjoy it in moderation. "Sauca" is sometimes referred to as cleanliness and moderation in diet. One of the keys to a happy life is in walking the middle path of moderation in our deeds, thoughts, and words.

Set realistic goals. Anyone, who thinks goals are bad, needs some professional guidance. Humankind would have achieved nothing without goals. Without goals, we would still be drawing on cave walls. Then again, our species might have become extinct because primal humans had to have goals to survive.

With that said, do you remember your first Yoga class? There had to be a number of techniques you considered to be almost impossible. Yet, you found the fortitude to move forward. This same principle applies to Yoga, in every form, and to life itself - do your personal best and keep trying.
© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Finding Good Information On Prenatal Yoga

By Adriana Noton

Becoming pregnant is one of the most exciting times in the life of a woman. With all the joy and preparation leading to the birth of a new baby, it is extremely important that a woman takes care of her well-being during this time. Prenatal yoga is a great form of exercise that will help keep a female healthy and ready for labor.

During the three trimesters of a pregnancy, your body goes through a number of changes. These are emotional, mental, physical and physiological and can affect every women differently. Prenatal yoga can help the body cope with all the different changes and adjustments. This form of exercise focuses on different areas of the body and mind helping to strengthen and stretch muscles, align the spine and improve breathing and blood circulation.

Pregnancy not only puts a lot of physical strain on a body, but it can create a lot of stress for women. Exercise will help the body adjust to the weight gain and new strains. Also, meditation is an important part of prenatal yoga. Through meditation, your body and mind learn to relax and relieve stress.

If you live in an urban area then you will probably have a number of places that offer prenatal yoga. Taking a yoga class and taking a prenatal yoga class are two different things, so be sure that the studio you are going to offers classes for pregnant mothers. You will want the instructor to not only be certified, but also have experience working with pregnant females. You can always ask for a trial class before signing up for a number of sessions.

If there are no classes offered in your area, then you can do the exercises in your own home. If you have any complications or worries during your pregnancy, be sure to consult your doctor to determine a healthy exercise plan. There are certain poses that are easy to do on your own like the butterfly pose, the cat stretch and the dog pose. The butterfly pose works on your posture by sitting tall with the bottoms of your feet together and your knees as close to the floor as possible.

The cat pose has you on your hands and knees. Curl your back up like a cat by tucking in your tailbone and dropping your head forward. You do this pose while you are exhaling. When you are inhaling, the dog pose is performed by lifting your chest and chin upwards, so your back arches lifting up your tailbone. These poses help stretch the spinal muscles and decrease the pressure on the uterus.

One of the most important reasons to participate in this form of exercise while you are pregnant is to prepare you for labor. No woman knows beforehand how long and strenuous labor can be. Through the exercises and relaxation techniques that yoga offers, a woman can use these practices during labor.

It is important to find healthy exercise to do while you are pregnant. Participating in prenatal yoga is a great way to reduce stress and receive many of the health benefits that will help you cope with your changing body.

About the Author:

Looking for a facility to provide London Ontario prenatal yoga? We provide support for those starting a family. Whether Prenatal yoga London to other holistic approaches, we are there to provide support and care.

Five Reasons to Become a Yoga Teacher

Some Yoga teacher training interns have no intention of teaching, while others cannot wait to get their business cards printed. Some want to give, and others want to open a business as an independent contractor or own a Yoga studio.

There are as many reasons to become a Yoga teacher, as there are to attend a class. Below are five of the most common reasons why students decide to become a Yoga instructor.

Yoga Teacher Training as a Life Quest: Some interns are looking for a challenge. The type of challenge could be physical, mental, or emotional. A competent Hatha Yoga instructor should learn mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional self-discipline from his or her foundational training.

Giving back to the Community: Social workers, counselors, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors, and school teachers commonly study Yoga to give their students, clients, and patients the gift of Yogic knowledge for self-maintenance.

The above-mentioned professions attract "givers." These are people, who help or guide others, to self-manage their lives. Yoga, in all of its forms, will guide a practitioner to a life with less suffering. As simple as it sounds, less pain and suffering is a blessing.

Self-Mastery: Some teachers make the claim that Yoga is not a self-improvement system. Yoga is an art, science, practice, lifestyle; and every modern self-improvement system has borrowed Yogic techniques. If Yoga is not a self-improvement system, it is the mother of all self-improvement systems.

Healthy Lifestyle: Yoga gives us a realistic view of holistic health. It is really hard for us to be perfect. Diet and exercise can challenge us every day, if we set unrealistic goals. Have you ever met a person who was irritable because of a demanding diet? Hatha Yoga offers a path of moderation for exercise and diet.

Teaching Yoga as a Craft: Some graduates cannot wait to work for themselves. Maybe they had employers, who did not appreciate their talent, experience, or intelligence. Some Yoga instructors teach two classes per week, while others teach more than one class per day.

Conclusion:

Yoga gives us a better quality life, and we decide to share this knowledge with others.

Whether a teacher identifies with one of the above-mentioned categories, or not, is unimportant. If a Yoga teacher's heart is in the right place, that is all a student could ask. Safe Yoga classes, led by one who demonstrates loving kindness, patience, compassion, and tolerance, is the ultimate objective of the teacher trainer.

© Copyright 2011 - Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

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The Truth About Making Money as a Yoga Instructor

There is no shortage of teaching opportunities in yoga. This is where being a yoga instructor can be lucrative and fun. By getting in with a great health spa, or opening their own studio, a highly skilled instructor can sculpt their own program. Yoga has so many aspects, and applications, that the range of classes is only limited by imagination.

Besides yoga for physical fitness, you can also teach spiritual yoga classes, emphasizing the connection between the body's well-being and the soul's health. Perhaps you'd like to offer prenatal yoga for expecting mothers? Maybe yoga for seniors, couples, or kids, is more your style? By designing and offering your own programs, you can interject your personality into yoga instruction.

Depending on your location and marketing skills, you can make a great living as a full-time yoga instructor. If you're in a location where a large number of people are looking for a yoga instructor, then the sky's the limit. If this isn't the case, you need to develop some marketing skills. In order to get students, you must be able to make yoga instruction appealing. You have to let them know that you can make them healthier with your teaching. It's going to take a bit more work, but if you're dedicated to improving the health of your community, then you'll succeed.

Yoga is one of the greatest examples, of an ancient discipline, remaining relevant in the modern age. Whether you're looking to focus on the spiritual or physical aspects of the art, being a yoga instructor can be a profitable career path. If this is the path you want your life to take, then get off your yoga mat and take the necessary steps to start teaching!

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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The Peaceful Mindset - Yoga and the Art of Making Money Online

If you are thinking about making money online, or if you're already making money online and want to make more, you should think about studying yoga. Now I know there's a certain number of you out there who would dismiss this thought out of hand.

"Business is combative and stressful," they say. "Yoga is just the opposite." My answer to that would be, "Of course. Very true."

"Business is highly competitive and requires aggressive action and relentless follow through," they continue. "Yoga is just the opposite." My answer to that would be, once again, "Of course. Very true."

That is because these opposing tendencies, these opposing philosophies, are precisely what makes Yoga the perfect complement to business success. In fact, properly and consistently practiced, yoga can catapult your earnings-whether online or in the brick and mortar world-into the stratosphere.

I believe that I am well qualified to comment on this, by the way. I am an Internet marketer, and making money online is my new profession. I used to be a mortgage broker, but that's a different story for a different time. I'm also a 60-years-young Renaissance man who has practiced and taught yoga for decades. I'm a vegetarian, I meditate, and I'm a fitness buff. And I'm also very successful at making money online.

Many people seem surprised at this. They feel that the peaceful mindset that accompanies a true yoga practitioner is contrary to the combative mindset that they believe is necessary to succeed in business. It's not.

T.K.V Desikachar, a renowned yoga master, says that one meaning of the word yoga is "to attain what was previously unattainable." He continues to say that the starting point for this thought is that there is something that we are today unable to do; when we find the means for bringing that desire into action, that step is yoga. So now consider, if you will, how I as a yoga teacher with no prior Internet experience was able to begin making money online. I was not a technical person and knew virtually nothing about making money online. Nothing.

How did I do it? The answer is both simple and straightforward-my yoga training, my peaceful mindset, had everything to do with it. Now, I'm not suggesting that everyone interested in making money online should take up yoga. But I will also tell you that doing so will help you immensely in your quest.

You see, making money online is fun, but it can also be stressful. Yoga provides the balance you need to lead a happy and fulfilled life. Yoga helps you to condition both your mind and your body. And unlike some forms of physical activity, anyone can practice yoga just about anywhere they happen to be.

Almost by definition, making money online means that you need to sit in front of a computer all day long. I can tell you unequivocally that human beings were not designed for this practice, nor for the stress that accompanies it. That's where the yoga comes into play. By devoting a hour or so a day to clear your mind and invigorate your body, the process of making money online becomes far less arduous. And a lot more fun.

Making money online is the means to an end. It's not your goal-at least it shouldn't be. Making money online simply allows you to fulfill your other dreams and goals. Yoga can help you to do exactly the same thing.

You've probably never considered the study of yoga as a step in the process of making money online, or in business in general. Perhaps you should.

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Yoga Instructor Salary - Is Money Evil?

How often have you heard that money creates power, and power will corrupt you absolutely? Some Yoga instructors sincerely believe they do not deserve to make money from their teaching skills. After all, earning money will make you less spiritual - right?

Once you become a Yoga teacher, you have to come to grips with reality. Is it true that the wealthy are greedy? Many of them give to charity, but some do not. Therefore, having more money does not affect the behavior of giving. Many of the poor give to charity, and some do not.

Is money (earning a living) the root of all evil? If this is true, then we should give up and do our best to live a poor life of bad health and starvation. Wait a minute: Yogic philosophy is about ending suffering, not creating it.

So, where did all of this negative talk, about a earning a salary as a Yoga teacher, come from? I have no idea, but if you want to teach free classes, there will be a never-ending line to your studio door. The trouble is: How will you keep the lights on and the doors open?

If you think it is bad to take money for teaching Yoga, that's fine. Please save yourself the trouble of opening a Yoga studio, because you have to take student tuition to keep the doors open. You can work full time, for an impossible-to-please boss, at a job you do not like, and teach in your basement for free.

There is nothing wrong with this, until you run yourself ragged. How can a poor, stressed out, and over-worked teacher, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, be a good example of the benefits that Yoga has to offer?

The truth is: Everyone needs money to survive. If it is that easy to make so much, please give it away to the homeless on the street. You will be creating good karma and setting a good example, as a Yoga teacher.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Teaching Hatha Yoga - Methods for Improving Student Motivation

Many times, a lack of student attendance has nothing to do with the Yoga teacher. For example: When students experience job changes, divorce, illness, a death in the family, or an automobile accident - these are circumstances, which are beyond the control of a Yoga instructor.

Yet, student motivation is an area where we can definitely help. The following are some methods for raising the motivation level in our students, in anyone we meet, and within oneself.

Record keeping, or documenting goals achieved, is a great way to measure our progress toward our objectives. When students have a track record of all their successes in life, they become inspired and motivated. This not only applies to Yoga, but to life itself.

It is easy to lose the will to go on, if we believe we are not worthy of anything. One's inner vision can easily become so distorted, that we believe we are failures, and we do not deserve to succeed. If we believe anything about ourselves, it should be positive, inspiring, and raise our spirits.

Yoga must become a lifestyle for students to experience complete health. Students should be constantly reminded to practice Yoga at home, while traveling, or in any place they go. Sitting up straight, walking tall, and standing erect, are every day examples of correct posturing and proper alignment (asanas). Good posture can be practiced at any time.

The same can be said for Yogic breathing techniques (pranayama). We breathe all day; therefore, why not make a conscious effort to breathe correctly? Bastrika, Udgeeth, Nadi Shodana, Shitali, Ujjayi, Dirgha, and Kapalabhati pranayama can be practiced throughout the day. Granted, we may not want to practice all of them in a public place, but breathing correctly, and fully, will increase the quality of our lives.

Are students learning anything about Yamas and Niyamas in your classes? They do not have to learn them all at once. You could briefly cover one aspect, over the course a week, at the end of your class, or after meditation. This would give your Yoga students motivation and encouragement.

Mantra and Japa can be practiced mentally, at home, while traveling, or in between tasks. Regardless of religion, prayer is a universal concept. We live at a time when people say they are too busy to pray. They are busy working and making money. While it is true we need money to survive, it is false to claim we have no time for prayer.

Most Hatha Yoga classes do not discuss religion or prayer. In fact, praying and spiritual growth are not covered in detail, because there have been many conflicts over religion. Yet, the concepts and benefits of prayer are universal to all religions. Praying is good for spiritual health and motivation.

Making quiet time for a short meditation is something very few people do. Meditation can help us in many ways, but mental focus also brings about a new state of awareness, and the motivation to make positive changes.

Yoga teachers should also develop a handout - to cover living a Yogic lifestyle. This would provide information about the benefits of developing a "home Yoga practice." Students can then make healthy changes gradually, as a result of the information you provide.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga Teacher Training Aspect - The Motivation to Improve

There is a myth, which makes its way around alternative healing circles. Basically, there is a massive proliferation of the belief that visualization and wishful thinking are enough to succeed in life. The words work, motivation, and action, are not "in style" or "politically correct." Sorry to say it, but motivation, action, and work, are required to be successful at anything, especially teaching Yoga classes.

Motivation is a spark, which causes action and creates success through work. Yet, what if we have been taught that abundance and success are not spiritual pursuits? If you have that much abundance and success, you can always help others. There is no shortage of worthy causes, which need financial help and volunteers.

If success is still an issue, and you have taken a pledge to live in poverty as a reflection of your spiritual growth, there is still a reason to take action. Improvement in your actions and life skills is a major part of spiritual growth.

The first step in improving our practice as Yoga teachers is to read. This requires all of us to read daily. Reading more about Yoga, holistic approaches to health, and inspirational views of life, will improve our performance as a Yoga instructor.

There are more Yoga magazines and books than ever before. It was not that long ago, when public libraries had only a few Yoga books on hand. There are also many audio books available. Some people download MP3's from the internet for use during the day.

The audio learning option gives you much more flexibility than ever before, because you are not wasting time in commuter traffic, in transit, while waiting in line, or while waiting at the doctor's office.

You will be much more patient during what is perceived as "waiting time," than ever before, because you are learning and improving any time you wish. You are turning waiting time into "fun time."

Waiting commonly causes stress, anger, anxiety, tension, and tends to wear us out physically, emotionally, and mentally. With the use of audio books, you can turn this time into an incredibly positive experience.

As a result of the way you take advantage of waiting time, your health is improved, and you will be motivated when reading or listening to inspirational materials. There is no limit to the topics you can choose.

Affirmations are useful, but what if you could find a book full of them? What if you could find an audio recording full of them? The result would be an overwhelming wave of positive energy.

Lastly, visualization is powerful; especially, after reading a book or listening to an audio book. Once you have reached this level of motivation, you should act upon it or write your intentions down. You are guaranteed to bring motivation with you anywhere you go.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga Classes As Motivation

Naturally, the only way that you'll get good at yoga is to attend yoga classes. If you've never tried yoga before and would like to find out how to get started, yoga classes are a great way to motivate you to learn. You don't need experience before you start yoga classes. All you need is the desire to learn and the motivation to continue. No special equipment is required neither do you need to be an athlete or exceptionally flexible. A person of any age can enroll in yoga classes and successfully complete them. With proper instruction from an expert, you'll become adept at yoga in no time.

Choose Between Home And Attending Classes

If you're brand new to yoga, it's better for you to take yoga classes so that you can learn how to do the basic poses correctly. Once you know the basics, you can try to do the poses at home. But before you do this, you need to be sure you know all the proper techniques. You need to be sure that you'll be able to perform the exercises on your own the same way they were taught in yoga class. Once you've internalized this knowledge, you can explore the option of doing your practices at home.

If you would prefer to do yoga at home instead of continuing with yoga classes, you need to make the decision of the type of yoga you'd like to practice very carefully. The yoga form you practice should meet your individual needs and skills. Don't be afraid to be aware of your limitations. Scheduling also has a big affect on yoga home practices. Decide a time that works best for you and stick with it, just as you would if you went to any out-of-home yoga classes.

Those who prefer to take yoga classes should choose a class that best suits their needs and aptitude. It helps if you enjoy working with the instructor as well. You never want to end up in a yoga class you can't perform or one where you detest the instructor. If you have any health issues or concerns, it's important to let your yoga instructor know this. He or she may be able to cater to your needs and guide you in the poses that are best for you.

Do not do anything that hurts you when you attend yoga classes. It's important not to push yourself beyond your capabilities or acceptable limits for your body. Yoga classes are not always meant to be seen as a challenge, but should be a way for you to work with what your body will allow you to do. Do not overstep your limits otherwise you will hurt yourself. It's not necessary to do what everyone else is doing.

When you attend any yoga classes, dress comfortably. Stretchable clothes are important. Also be sure to remove your shoes and stockings. At home, dim the lights to create a peaceful atmosphere to help you relax.

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The Purpose of Yoga - Motivation for Better Health

Yoga, in all of its forms, creates positive energy. Positive energy will cause you to become successful, and live a life where powerful visions become reality. Your complete health will improve exponentially, as a result of regular Yoga practice.

Yoga has so many good health aspects for a person to benefit from. Yet, some people see it only as a "workout," and as a result, Yoga has become classified, in the west, as an exercise. Although Hatha, Kundalini, and Raja Yoga contain many breathing exercises (Pranayama) and postures (Asanas), Yoga is not merely another physical exercise system.

Hatha Yoga is the most popular form of Yoga outside India. Hatha Yoga is also known as the unity of mind, body, and spirit, through physical mastery. The initial results of regimented Hatha Yoga practice are physical fitness, motivation, clear thought, and increased energy.

There are many more benefits from long-term Hatha Yoga practice. If I could make a "Hatha Yoga Pill," I would be a billionaire! When some people hear the words, "physical fitness," they think of torture, so they avoid Yoga of any kind.

Yet, the masses will gladly spend billions of dollars on ineffective, over the counter drugs, fad diet products, ineffective exercise gadgets, and life endangering pills, to try to manage their body weight.

So, a Hatha Yoga pill, with no side effects, would "sell like hot cakes."

However, the Hatha Yoga pill is only part of my imagination and the dream of "couch potatoes." Yet, couch potatoes do not have to worry because Yoga is not physical fitness, but it is complete health on the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional planes of existence.

The benefit of motivation from Yoga practice is what makes Yoga so different from all other health maintenance systems. Yoga can become a lifestyle because there is no torture.

Why do most diets fail? Why do most exercisers quit? Lack of motivation is the reason for diet and exercise failure. People already know they should eat better, walk more, exercise, and drink more water, but they need to maintain their level of motivation, without "burning out."

In Yoga practice, positive energy is all around the classroom. Positive energy creates motivation and creates powerful visions of success. The next step is to believe the powerful visions of success, which you see.

Some people have a fear of success. Maybe they inherently feel a lack of self-worth, but Yoga also works on improving this aspect of life. It is normal for people to feel apprehensive about change, but change is often one of the gateways to success.

Lastly, regular Hatha Yoga practice will lower stress levels, allowing you to sleep better, and feel energized the next morning. No wonder Yoga teachers and students are so full of motivation.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/579372

Yoga for Depression: Motivation and Trust

Yoga is an excellent motivational tool. When you consider starting your day with Yoga meditation, Pranayama, Japa, Yoga postures (Asanas), warm-ups, Sun Salutations, or a combination of any of these - Yoga offers many useful motivation techniques for all of us.

However, some of us like to sleep late, skip work, unplug the phone, and wonder where the day went. This lack of stress can cause depression. This is not an endorsement of a stressful lifestyle, but the reality is: We all require a little daily stress to stimulate, strengthen, and motivate ourselves.

How could an early morning Yoga meditation create motivation for the entire day? There are many types of meditation to choose from, but you could choose a form of positive visualization to raise your level of motivation.

This will require you to set aside a little time and solitude. You could start with a 15 minute Yoga meditation session and allow your mind some forgiveness - if it wanders. Do not judge your mind or any distractions around you.

This is a key to Yogic meditation, and Yoga in general: Be mindful, be kind, do not judge anything, avoid extremes, and live life in moderation. The purpose of your meditation will be aided - if you write down your goals, for the day, and meditate.

With this form of Yogic meditation, you will be pleasantly surprised with how often you accomplish your daily objectives. Keep in mind that Yoga meditation is just one technique to stimulate motivation. Pranayama, Japa, Asana, and Sun Salutations, all work well for stimulating the body and mind.

Another factor, which causes depression, is lack of trust in others, and from deep within our inner being. We must believe in ourselves before we have faith in others. This lack of trust can cause a form of scaring to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Can Yoga turn any of us into "eternal optimists?" The answer is, "maybe." Most eternal optimists are born that way; but optimism can be conditioned, and you have the power to harness it, if you want to.

A Yoga student asks, "Teach me about self-empowerment." The lessons are within all forms of Yoga, but you will find more answers within Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Karma Yoga.

Most Yoga students, outside of India, practice Hatha Yoga sub-styles. This is fine - but are you learning anything beyond the physical aspects of Yoga? Yoga is a vast topic, with solutions to many of today's health problems.

However, can the world learn to trust a 5,000 year old health maintenance system, with a proven track record of success? On a global scale, most of the world's population still seeks short-term health solutions in the form of pills.

Sometimes prescriptions are required; especially, in the case of severe depression. It is promising that Western medicine now embraces Yoga as an alternative therapy. This will create an evolution in health care which will improve the quality of life for humanity.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/337415