By Gopi Rao Yoga can help a practitioner with releasing fear from every level of his or her mind and body. Fear resides in the body and mind in the form of anxiety. Anxiety is fueled by adrenalin and cortisol. A constant state of undifferentiated anxiety can lead to continually high levels of both of these stress hormones.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Many teenagers, today, struggle with a degree of anxiety and depression unknown to previous generations at the same young age. There is a great deal of pressure on teenagers from their parents, teachers, and work obligations. In addition, there is a substantial amount of peer pressure surrounding many teens - both at school and during extra-curricular activities. Some of these causative factors of anxiety and depression have not changed much from generation to generation.

By Faye Martins Sometimes, you read that yoga helps everything. Is all of this "good yoga talk" a bunch of hype to market classes? Here's the truth: Yogic breathing techniques and some postures (asanas) that open the chest are a big help to someone who can't breathe. About hype: Maybe somebody promises cures, but I can't give promises because even a medical prescription doesn't work for everybody.

By Kathryn Boland Many people set New Year's Resolutions with optimism and a good plan in place. Some of the most common are to lose weight, quit smoking or drinking alcohol, or even to improve one's relationships with loved ones and/or friends. Unfortunately, however, come February, several of these individuals find themselves struggling to keep with their resolutions - and their best intentions are left behind, to return to business as usual, not long after.

By Gopi Rao What is the true purpose of restorative yoga? If you are someone who suffers from constant fatigue and illness, then restorative Yoga might be for you. Restorative Yoga will help you relax completely which will boost your immune system. It is a great stress reliever for those times in your life when you are pushed to your limits.

By Faye Martins There are currently hundreds of Yoga teacher training programs for instructors throughout the world. Many of these programs offer 200 hour and 500 hour levels of teacher certifications. Despite a lagging economy, or perhaps more accurately because of the lagging economy, more and more people are turning to the restorative and stress-reducing practices learned in Yoga lessons.

By Bhavan Patel What has caused the attraction of vinyasa yoga classes? Vinyasa yoga is an active and flowing style of yoga. Vinyasa refers to movements that are synchronized with breath. This type of yoga uses a breathing technique called ujjayi pranayama. This breathing technique is performed by keeping the mouth closed and slightly constricting the throat. The effect is less air passing through which increases its force and speed.

By Faye Martins When attending a yoga teacher training intensive, Paul gave a lecture about pain that I could never forget. Basically, he said: "We usually take life for granted, when we are healthy, but when we are in pain, we can think of nothing else." Yogic science directly addresses suffering and does its best to let us enjoy a pain free life. As you know, there are no guarantees in life, but we can be proactive toward living the best possible life during each precious moment.

By Kimaya Singh Yoga offers many ways for coping with anxiety. Anxiety is a huge problem in our society. Many people struggle with daily anxiety over a variety of problems and in doing so, often exaggerate those problems. Some of the areas that produce the most stress for people are fear over losing their jobs, health issues, their own personal concerns about the probability of a solid financial future, as well as concerns over the current economic state of the world. People also struggle with having an overly-packed schedule with many obligations to attend to on a daily basis.

By Bhavan Kumar One concern that many people have with Yoga is that certain positions (asanas) could actually be harmful. Depending on the type of body one has, any posture could be beneficial or harmful. This is especially true with headstands. The truth is, you should talk with your doctor about your Yoga practice and this is very important. While there can be a risk, the danger can be removed or modified if you understand your body and perform the pose correctly.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How can Yoga improve the state of health for children? Hatha Yoga is an ancient series of physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques, which help to balance and rejuvenate the entire body-mind system. Practicing Yoga, on a regular basis, can tremendously support children's health, both physically and emotionally. A regular practice of Yoga, in the range of one to five times a week, has been shown to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, heighten self-esteem, and lower stress and anxiety levels that can contribute to the development of depression.

By Amruta Kulkarni, CYT 500 Although the benefits of yoga training are becoming increasingly more well-known, its effects on specific illnesses are still being researched. One area of debate is yoga's effect on bone health, especially osteopenia and osteoporosis. Both terms apply to bone density, which decreases with age, but the two conditions differ in degree.

By Faye Martins There are a variety of different ways to enroll in a Yoga training teacher program, even if you are on a tight budget. One of the ways is to study under the auspices of an online Yoga teacher training program. Another way to save money is to cut down on travel expenses and the cost of accommodations, by studying for your certification at a local Yoga school.

By Faye Martins We often hear that asana is just one of many Yogic aspects, but a 200 hour Yoga teacher training program may focus on asana for 100 hours. Yoga asana is essentially a deep internal massage. As you move through a series of postures the muscles, bones and organs bend, twist, flex, contract, lengthen and release with each other. In manipulating the body this way, energy blockages are released and the internal organs massaged.

By Faye Martins Have you had a student ask, "Will Yoga help fibromyalgia." Although fibromyalgia is a common disorder, its cause remains a mystery. Symptoms may begin after physical or emotional trauma, stress, or illness; but its onset may also be gradual with unknown triggers. Researchers think that it results when the body amplifies pain signals to the brain, causing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and tension headaches.

By Faye Martins What should yoga teachers know about pregnant students? Pregnancy is a wonderful experience for women, but it comes with its fair share of discomfort and pain. Few things are as taxing on the female body as creating and supporting another life. Yoga practice is an effective way to strengthen and eliminate stress in the pregnant body, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind when teaching pregnant students.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 There are many different Yoga techniques to relieve sciatica, and there are many factors that cause sciatica. Sciatica is a painful condition that is often caused by the compression, or irritation, of one or more nerves. Often, this compression is felt only on one side of the body, depending on which nerve is affected by the compression or irritation. Sciatic pain is often felt in the buttocks and lower back. Sciatic pain can even run all the way down the leg and into the foot. Sciatica is very uncomfortable and can limit mobility and even make sleeping difficult.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Many practitioners practice Hatha Yoga poses, but often wonder how long each pose should be held. During the process of holding Yoga poses (asanas), there is actually no definitive amount of time that should be applied to each move. The asana should be held as long as it is comfortable and does not cause any pain or discomfort. In addition, it should be quite easy to breathe deeply and fully while holding each Yoga pose.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 "We can never get a re-creation of community and heal our society without giving our citizens a sense of belonging." - Patch Adams Chair Yoga classes create special bonds for practitioners. From birth to old age, the desire to be accepted is an overwhelming prerequisite for happiness. For people who suffer from chronic illnesses or disabilities, however, the difficulty of participating in social or physical activities often hampers their ability to establish bonds or to feel like part of a community. This complicates already existing limitations and frequently leads to additional physical and emotional barriers.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 We often talk about the benefits of Yoga we enjoy in our daily life "off the mat." However, there are also plenty of Yoga techniques we can do off the mat to make sure our practice improves! Here are some easy to incorporate exercises that will help deepen your daily Yoga practice.