By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What is the importance of warm ups in Yoga Classes? Yoga asana practice, like all other physical activities, requires the practitioner to challenge and stretch the muscles, while creating safe space in the joints. Since an integral part of most physical Yogic practices includes meditation and breathing exercises, many practitioners feel that Yogic exercise provides a "gentle workout" and skip the vital warm up session to tackle more challenging postures as soon as possible. This can be very dangerous, since warming up the body before attempting these more challenging postures can prevent injury.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How can a practitioner perform a physical practice after rotator cuff surgery! pAccording to conservative estimates, in 2008, nearly two million people visited a doctor because of rotator cuff injuries, within the United States. Some estimates claim higher numbers and it makes one wonder about the global statistics. The rotator cuff, which provides stability to the shoulder, is particularly vulnerable to injuries in sports like swimming, kayaking, tennis, and baseball.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What is the key to motivating students? Teaching Yoga, and maintaining student interest, is an art form. Although the benefits of Yogic practices are indisputable, it is not unusual for students to become discouraged, or bored, every now and then. Whether progress has reached a plateau, or personal problems make getting to class more difficult, it sometimes becomes difficult to maintain one's level of motivation. With a little persistence, and the help of a well-trained instructor, the problem is usually short lived and easily remedied. There are, however, a few things for both Yoga teachers and students to consider when the doldrums strike.

By Clyde Granger Reasons for inflexibility are many. Repetitive motion, time of day, skeletal compression, pre-existing injury, and tensile tension head the list of reasons. Yoga teachers, who have exceptional flexibility, may have difficulty understanding why students have a difficult time with asanas, unless they also struggled with inflexibility.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Approximately 1 in every 3 adults in the United States has high blood pressure, or hypertension. Often called the silent killer because it produces few symptoms in its early stages, the condition can damage blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. Lifestyle management is one of the primary keys to prevention and management, and a Yoga practice can be the key to making important changes. Genetics is also a major factor in the cause of high blood pressure (HBP). While lifestyle can be a family culture in itself, it is also possible for someone who exercises and eats right to have elevated HBP readings.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What are group dynamics and how do they apply to Yoga classes? "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." The sentiment rang true when Aristotle said it; and it's still true today. Many of us have experienced it in class: The dynamic energy of a room full of Yoga practitioners, all practicing together on a day when every student's practice is going well. It is an exhilarating sensation. Yes, but how can this mindset be cultivated?

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How can we inspire our students? Did you ever consider how much impact teachers have on the lives of their Yoga students? Years can go by, and you meet an old student at a local market and he or she tells you how much your classes changed his or her life. Within a month, that same student resurfaces in your Yoga class. It does not always happen like this, but a Yoga teacher's impact on the community has a lasting effect.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How can Yoga help pre-existing injuries? As the benefits of practicing Yoga, to cope with chronic health concerns and pre-existing injuries, becomes more well known, the need to choose an experienced instructor and appropriate class is more important that ever. Yoga is more than a physical exercise; it is a healing art that is good for the mind, body, and spirit.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Yoga has many facets for healing. At the top of the list is meditation. Although Yoga postures help people cope with life's daily problems, the body is being adjusted to bring about states of inner calm. Yoga meditation preserves this feeling of calm by teaching the practitioner how to control the mind. Controlling one's mind is a life saving skill.

By Gopi Rao, CYT 500 What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? The carpal tunnel is a narrow channel in the wrist, which encases tendons, bones, and the median nerve. When inflammation or injury - such as repetitive use - causes tendons to swell, the median nerve is compressed. Pressure on the nerve results in numbness, tingling, or pain in the hand, wrist, and arm. Although this is not a new condition, it has become more common as both children and adults spend increased hours slumped over computers and videos games.

By Amruta Kulkarni, CYT 500 How does Yoga help one to channel anger? According to Buddha, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." For centuries, Swamis, Gurus, and Buddhist monks have been teaching spiritual practices for overcoming anger, and recent research has affirmed the validity of these ancient teachings.

By Bhavan Kumar Depression is a scary thing. Pouring medication on top of the depression can result in more fear and side effects such as weight gain, insomnia, and fatigue. Thankfully, Yoga therapy can help treat depression with side effects such as weight reduction, better sleep, and increased vitality. Many studies have agreed that Yoga is a safe alternative to drugs and is a healthy first step in trying to regain the part of yourself that depression has stolen.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How important are class sequencing skills for teachers? There are many ways to sequence Yoga classes. The placement of particular pranayama, asana, meditation, and relaxation techniques changes the experience for your students. Instructors, who attend a Yoga teacher training, which did not allow for creativity, are the most challenged, when students commonly leave due to boredom.

By Faye Martins Is yoga for attention deficit disorders like ADD/ADHD a sensible solution? ADD and ADHD are on the rise, and experts fail to agree on a reason as to why this is. Whatever the cause, the fact remains that having a complete inability to focus is a major problem throughout life. School, work and social settings can become a personal hell if one is completely unable to control the attention of their mind. Tension between everyone involved can run high, damaging relationships and having a negative impact on the self worth of the afflicted individual.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Yogic music can be exhilarating, uplifting, inspiring, or gentle and soothing. There are advantages and disadvantages to listening to music during your own practice or while teaching a Yoga class. Some types of music, such as rock and roll or rhythm and blues, may invigorate your practice or class or may become a distraction to the dharana or one-pointed focus of the practice. On the other hand, music that is gentle, ambient, and soothing may add a mystical and relaxing element to a Yoga training session, but it may also dampen or calm the energy of the practitioners down too much if this type of music is played at an inappropriate time during a class.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How serious should teachers be about student safety precautions? Yoga is considered healing for injuries, but that does not mean the potential for damage does not exist. Accidents and injuries are possible in every Yoga class, and instructors must be aware and take steps to minimize these problems. Beginner classes are especially fraught with potential for injury: Students unfamiliar with any particular movement have the potential to push themselves too far, fall from an unstable position, or try to compete with the practitioner on the next mat.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How can Yoga and meditation help people with chronic insomnia? Results of studies, released by the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, in 2009, show that meditation "may be an effective behavioral intervention in the treatment of insomnia." The research looked at 11 healthy participants, between the ages of 25 and 45, who suffered from chronic insomnia. Findings show, that the subjects who practiced Yoga during the day, had fewer sleep problems at night.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Extreme stress-related health problems are so prevalent in our society, that the United States Public Health Service has actually set a goal to see that changes are made. While some stress can be motivating, no one benefits from long-term anxiety, extreme stress, and chronic worry.

By Faye Martins How can yoga help children coping with anger? Children are at a stage in life where they are still trying to learn to manage and control their emotions. Any challenging situation, which frustrates them, can lead to anger; and before they, or their parents, have a chance to prevent it, they can fall into a full-blown temper tantrum. Learning to manage intense emotions, and to control their reactions, will help children face challenges, without frustration and anger. Yoga is one tool which can help them manage their lives with less emotional turmoil.

By Faye Martins What are the challenges of Yoga Nidra? Nidra is one of the most complex of the Yogic disciplines with frequent challenges to those who wish to master it. Fortunately, the benefits more than outweigh any difficulties the practice presents. The most obvious difficulty lies in simply falling asleep. The ideal conditions for a successful nidra session are exactly the same as those for entering a deep, peaceful sleep. In the beginning, students will likely just fall into a deep state of rest, and this must be accepted. Given time and persistence, the desired state will occur.