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By Faye Martins There may not be a cure for AIDS, but there are steps that may be taken to slow the progression of this difficult disease. The best part is that these complementary alternative medicines may be used in conjunction with modern treatments to yield better results overall. For those with AIDS, stress is a main trigger in addition to the virus itself since stress causes a rapid increase in the destruction of CD4+ T lymphocytes. The disease's rate of progression is determined by the speed of the CD4+ T cell deduction. Any treatment that can safely reduce stress levels without side effects will be of great benefit for individuals suffering from AIDS, potentially lengthening the lifespan dramatically.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed Spring is upon us, and many Yoginis and Yogis alike are feeling the seasonal urge to detoxify after a long, cold winter. Well, the winter was long and cold, at least in the Northeastern United States. If you live in a warmer climate, the shift between winter and spring may not be as pronounced, but you will be most likely still be feeling the seasonal urge to wax your car, clean out your closet and plant some fresh flowers and herbs. Engaging in a seasonally appropriate detoxifying regime is one of the fundamental cornerstones of Ayurveda, Yoga's health-promoting sister science.

When painful and difficult emotional experiences are brought to the surface through the practice of the asanas and purifying pranayama techniques...

By Dr. Rita Khanna Tube lights require a certain voltage to come on. If the voltage is required to be 220 and it goes down to 180, what happens? No light. Air conditioners have a booster attached which completes the circuit so that they can continue to function even when the voltage is low. However, if the voltage is very high, say 440, the tube light and the armature in the air conditioner will burn out. Similarly, in our bodies there is energy, Shakti, which can be increased or decreased. When this Shakti is decreased, the mind-body and all of its functions are impaired.

By Bhavan Kumar One of the key elements to using Yoga as a therapeutic tool to heal traumatic memories is to remember to breath throughout your Yoga practice. If you forget to breath, you are still somatizing and freezing the feelings, memories and emotions in your muscle tissues. Somatization is often an unconscious protective mechanism for many trauma survivors. Unfortunately, it keeps the traumatic memories just below a conscious level and perpetually recycling in the mind and heart of a trauma survivor. Yogic pranayama exercises that teach you how to breath fully and deeply are very important for trauma survivors. Intermediate pranayama exercises that purify and energize the entire body/mind system are also very effective tools for releasing traumatic memories.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed. In an ideal world, the idea of practicing Yoga solicits feelings of calm equipoise, energy and vibrant health. However, for many people the idea of practicing Yoga in the context of a structured class can bring up feelings of apprehension and fear. There may be any number of reasons for this apprehension. Some of these reasons include being physically or emotionally fragile. This sense of being physically fragile can come from being injured or in the process of healing from a surgical procedure.

By Kimaya Singh, CYT 500 Pranayama - It's just breathing, right? How much harm could a little more breathing possibly do? You would be surprised. In some cases, we regard breathing simply as means to an end. It keeps us alive, and that is both the beginning and the end of its purpose.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP Pranayama is possibly the most overlooked aspect of Hatha Yoga. Every Yoga teacher training course includes a significant segment about Pranayama. Although B.K.S. Iyengar wrote detailed works on the subject, some Hatha Yoga teachers barely scratch the surface on the subject of cultivating vital energy through breathing. Why is this happening in Yoga classes?

By Azahar Aguilar Life breath, life energy, life force. Pranayama is the vital energy behind a yoga asana practice, and instructors have the opportunity in every class to make time for the basics, if not more advanced techniques as well. Wonderful moments exist at the beginning, middle or end of a practice, no matter the style of class, which offer space for the instructor to speak on the importance of pranayama, and the tools that guide prana energy.