Beauty Health Fitness

If you are going to teach Hatha Yoga classes, there are many subjects to cover, but asana (posture) is often the starting point of most Yoga teacher training courses. It could be debated that we should follow the Eight Limbed Path, as explained by Maharishi Patanjali, by reviewing the first two limbs (Yama and Niyama) before asana.

However, let’s put this debate aside and discuss the details of teaching asana to the public. In the average 200-hour Hatha Yoga instructor training program, more than half of the course time is spent covering the intricacies of asana and pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques).

When a student is young, asana can change the body’s physical appearance within a year or two. Sometimes, results are seen at a faster rate. The body can develop strength and flexibility within months, but depending upon age and health, physical appearance can take a while longer.

On top of this, there is no fear of creating a huge muscular body by practicing asana. This is one of the reasons why Yoga has become so popular among women. In general, most women do not want a huge muscular body, but they do desire a physically toned appearance.

Beneath the superficial physical appearance of a toned body, the energy channels open, the nervous system’s functions are improved, and a natural detoxification process begins to take place. The reason so much attention goes into asana is because the positive results have made it very popular for students of every age.

Specific asana sequences can be recommended for particular ailments. If you have an ailment, illness, pain, or a pre-existing injury, and gradually receive positive results through asana practice, this physical aspect of Yoga can change your life without any side effects. To suddenly be pain free, after years of chronic pain, is a life changing event.

A competent teacher guides his or her students to avoid pain, common mistakes, and to master the best possible alignment. Each student’s skeletal body is different. As a result, students should be encouraged to do their personal best, but to avoid making comparisons to others or engaging in self-criticism.

Demonstrating, cueing, and assisting are some of the tools a Yoga teacher uses to help students focus on inner awareness, pranayama technique during asana practice, and alignment. These teaching skills are developed within the certification process, but they continue to be improved as a Yoga teacher matures.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Does Yoga have solutions for middle-aged spread? Are your knees, back, hips and shoulders begging for mercy? Restorative Yoga is a complete health maintenance system, and a low impact form of cross training, that will not cause premature wear in your joints.

Let’s be honest, have you noticed a spare tire around your mid-section? You could justify it by looking at teenagers. After all, it took you nearly 50 years to become overweight. Then, one day, you saw that spare tire in the mirror or a photograph.

Walking is a wonderful form of cross training, but if you carry a pedometer, you know that 10,000 steps per day is a “mission.” If your knees, ankles, plantar fascia, and Achilles tendons are fine, then an aggressive walking program will probably suit your body.

We have to do something, but this is not the time to abuse body parts. Walking is still a great form of exercise, but not to the point of pain. Luckily, Restorative Yoga is great for aches and pains. This is not a pass to abuse oneself with high impact exercise or over do it with excessive amounts of low impact exercise.

At middle age and beyond, everything is about moderation. In fact, moderation is a lifestyle for longevity. Restorative Yoga, walking, and a moderate diet are good additions for a complete health maintenance program.

“I don’t eat that much,” you say to yourself. The truth is - most people in middle age, often eat less than they ever did because we are much more aware of what we eat. An additional factor is that over eating is very uncomfortable.

Granted, there is always the exception to the rule. For instance: The “skinny guy,” who could always eat because of a quick burning metabolism, never seems to gain weight. The vast majority of us will notice our metabolism has slowed down.

According to Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., the director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, “Your metabolism slows by 5 percent each decade. Compared to age 25, you’ll burn about 100 fewer calories a day at 35, and 200 fewer at 45. Do nothing and you could gain eight to 12 pounds a year.”

For most of us, this is a “warning bell.” We have to burn additional calories, but our joints must be treated like gold. Again, a gentle and restorative form of Yoga is a logical solution.

In general, everyone burns calories at a different rate from an identical activity. The most common reason cited for the difference in calories burned is body weight, but there are many factors to be considered, such as metabolism and body fat.

For the sake of comparison, let’s look at a gentle Restorative Yoga session and the calories burned over the course of one hour. You could do this, without breaking a sweat, on your living room floor - about an hour or two before bedtime. You could also walk to a local Yoga studio depending on its location.

A person who is 150 pounds would burn an average of 178 calories in one hour of Restorative Yoga practice. A larger person, who is 200 pounds, would burn an average of 238 calories in one hour. Generally speaking, the larger you are, the more calories burned. Lastly, keep in mind - this is a very gentle style of Yoga.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

When we consider Yoga solutions for our hips, we often think in terms of physical tightness, which occurs over time. Our hips are largely ignored until we feel pain in them from excessive sitting, trauma, arthritis, or gradual joint wear. Yet, the hips are also a storage area for stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil.

Many different Yoga postures work toward releasing tension from within the hips. Due to differences in our body types, alignment, and joint wear, over time, the best postures for one person may not suit another.

The posture’s level of difficulty is also a consideration. With that said, almost every posture can be modified if a Yoga teacher has the compassion, motivation, and innovation to do so. For students of Yoga, selecting a teacher is a complex choice - especially if a student has a pre-existing health condition.

Once the practice of Yoga is taken home, we begin to discover a multitude of techniques, which give us relief from chronic pain. It is at the stage of self-discovery, when a student first realizes presence in practice.

This may happen with the guidance of a Yoga teacher, but it can also happen during your personal practice at home; becoming present in your practice and making discoveries happen in their own time.

In the case of chronic pain, if it suddenly stops, you know you are on the right track. If it gets worse, you know you must change something in your lifestyle, talk to your doctor, or talk to your Yoga teacher.

The following list of Yoga postures are my personal favorites for relief from chronic pain in the hips. They can also be practiced to rid the body of tension, stress, and negative energy. If you had a hip replacement, you should seek the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher before practicing alone.

One-Legged King Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana): This is a classic hip opener. It is great for relief from excessive sitting. You should gently work this asana and be cautious if you have a pre-existing Sacroiliac injury.

Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana): Another great hip opener, which mildly stretches the inner groin.

Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana): Is also called “Cobbler” and “Butterfly,” but whatever you call it, Baddha Konasana is a wonderful hip opener with many additional benefits.

Also worthy of mention are the following postures.

Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana)

Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana)

Eagle Pose (Garudasana)

Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana)

Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana)

Half Lotus Pose (Ardha Padmasana)

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Within the training, practice, and scriptures of Yoga are many treasures for humankind. How many people completely understand the Yogic path toward a trained mind? How many students of Hatha Yoga call their practice a workout?

It is true that physical mastery will be realized through the practice of Hatha Yoga, but the mental benefits are usually not realized within an exercise class. If a student is not made aware of the true value of mental attention during practice, the mind-training benefits will still trickle through. Let’s look at daily steps you can take to train, balance, and get the most, out of your mind.

Within Hatha Yoga, there are many aspects, which will improve your mind, but meditation is thought of as a chore by some students. The reason: People are not at peace with themselves. To be alone with oneself is sometimes seen as a prison sentence.

Instead, look at solitary time as a chance to meet an old friend. Meditation does not have to be a chore. You can read, write, pray, visualize, walk, or practice mantra while you meditate. Consider this: Meditation is a matter of constructively focusing the mind.

Meditation should never be something to worry about. Many beginner students, of Hatha Yoga, begin to judge themselves for not being able to concentrate. This is why so many Yoga teachers place meditation at the end of the lesson plan.

The teacher’s strategy is to let negative energy, stress, and tension out of the body by practicing asana, pranayama, mudra, mantra, and other methods. In this way, the student will fully experience the benefits of a complete Yoga practice.

To begin to train your mind, start with planning the next day on the night before. Make a list of what you will do on the following day. Please do not make this into a stressful thing. This does not have to be complicated.

Just a simple “to do” list with five to ten tasks for tomorrow, will be fine. Then, leave it where you sit at the kitchen table. In this way, you will separate yourself from those tasks, sleep easier, and avoid needless worrying.

Upon rising on the first morning, take the time to read, write, pray, visualize, walk, or practice mantra. Just one task will do for five to twenty minutes. If you want to go longer, that’s fine, but do not make it a chore.

This is the first of many days of practice toward training your mind for stability, balance, maximum output, and longevity. As you greet people throughout your day, show them compassion, understanding, and listen to them.

Control your words. Do not participate in harmful, negative, or intolerant conversations. This practice alone is a challenge for most of humanity, but it is worth it. The fruits of your effort will be the cultivation of a focused and trained mind.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Every time you turn on the TV, have you ever counted how many ads or even shows have these great looking, slim, sexy people on there who look like they were just blessed with their toned bodies? Makes you wish, right? Well, you can stop wishing because that body is very attainable and getting those sexy abs is very possible. How did I know it was the abs you were eyeing?

Because everyone wants to have flat sexy abs! So the next thing is how to go about getting them. Well, just like with anything else worth working hard for, you need to have the right information but that is not the solution, just a first step. Keep in mind that it will require some hard work from you to achieve this sexy look.

The first thing you need to do is forget everything that people have told you about how to get sexy flat abs. Toned abs are not a result of hundreds of crunches or thousands of sit-ups or anything like that. Also, toned abs are not a result of using over-priced, useless ab machines.

There are a few gimmicky toys that come to mind but those are completely useless. If you fail to have the right foundation, no amount of hoping, wishing, or purchasing of silly gimmicks will get you those toned abs you desire. What will is learning about how to build on that foundation and then following through on that new knowledge. You must work to get these highly sought after toned abs. So here are some key points to think about:

- Eat healthy and stick to it. Your diet should include fruits, vegetables and high quality meats with no processed foods. Drink plenty of water, about 8-10 glasses a day to keep yourself hydrated. And no matter what, avoid processed foods, including fast food, otherwise you are stopping yourself in your tracks and wasting your own time.

- Excess body fat will stop you in your tracks. Lose the belly fat and reduce overall body fat and you will be well on your way to toned abs. But you must lose the excess fat to get there.

- Sleep and you will help yourself get to those toned abs. You should always get roughly 8 hours of sleep a night but even more so since you are working out. If you can, take small naps. This will help your body re-energize.

- Lose the ab exercises! Go with cardio instead. Running on the treadmill or on a track or even outdoors will greatly reduce your body fat, which is one of the keys to getting toned abs. Ab exercises were never meant to burn fat because they are not structured to do so. It is only through cardio workouts that you will be able to burn fat.

If you can stick to these key points, then you will be well on your way to having your own sexy toned abs. It is important to stick to it though, no matter how tough it may get or how much you might crave a certain processed food. Stay strong and stick to it and you will soon see those highly desired flat toned abs!

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