By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How important is Yoga for children with asthma? Nearly 9 million children in the United States suffer from asthma, and studies have shown that Yoga can make it easier for them to cope with the illness. Asthma is a chronic condition that triggers inflammation in the airways, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty with breathing, and tightness in the chest. Due to the fact that children have smaller airways than adults, their asthma attacks are often more serious.

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 Jenny Park What should teachers know about power yoga benefits? Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, making its way around the planet to help millions of people. Through the years it has evolved into a number of different types of practices. Power yoga has emerged as one of the most physically demanding yet exhilarating forms of exercise. Power yoga benefits include strengthening muscles and increasing flexibility, while also helping to focus the mind. This style is not for the faint hearted and is definitely a full body workout.

By Faye Martins Over the past decade, yoga has exploded in popularity. Some people use yoga as a way to stay in shape. Others use it as a method for relaxing and relieving stress. No matter where you live, there is a good chance there is a yoga class going on nearby. If you are a yoga instructor, there are many ways to go about passing on your knowledge to the people in your class. Let's take a look at some tips that deal with how to teach yoga students:

By Loretta Nemeth It would seem only natural for me to write the required paper for certification on Yoga for people as they age, since that is what encouraged me to go beyond practicing and enroll in the Teaching Certification process a year ago. I am interested in how the aging population can benefit from practicing Yoga and want to share the Yoga message with them. I am 58 years "young". I have always been a physically active individual who walks the talk of exercise, healthy eating habits, and the importance of quality of life. However, it is amazing as we creep into the 50's, our bodies do not seem to understand that message like they use to. I started attending a Yoga practice and within a very short period of time received benefits. I had more energy, I had a longer attention span, I was connected to myself and my emotions more… the list is endless.

By Faye Martins Laughter Yoga has been clinically shown to be an effective practice for relieving symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Chronic stress has long been known to lower the functioning of the immune system. A compromised immune system leaves an individual open to a variety of diseases and chronic health problems. Laughter Yoga practitioners claim that not only does Laughter Yoga lighten their mood, it also energizes them and boosts the functioning of their immune systems. Many of the "club" members also report a lower incidence of respiratory infections and a quicker recovery time if they do catch a cold. With a regular practice of Laughter Yoga, a participant can anticipate better mental and physical health as well as a more optimistic outlook on life.

By Gopi Rao Regular exercise helps to build strength and stability in our muscles. Cardiovascular activity helps to strengthen our hearts and therefore, our bodies. Power Yoga combines the concepts of strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system. Although strength training is very important, cardiovascular workouts can help take our fitness levels to higher levels. They can help to burn calories and build endurance levels. Walking and running are just two of the many examples of cardiovascular exercises. The cardiovascular benefits of Power Yoga include the ability to burn calories, improving the mind-body connection and helping to maintain a healthy weight.

By Jenny Park Yoga has become more popular worldwide in the last two decades, with classes popping up in gyms, and fitness and community centers across the country. Its popularity is exciting to those of us who have been reaping the benefits for years and want to "share the wealth." However, along with its newfound popularity comes an increase in yoga-related injuries. In some cases, inexperienced students might be pushing themselves too far, and in other instances yoga instructors might not be doing the best job of educating participants on potential risks of each pose. Both instructors and students need to make sure they are doing all they can to prevent injuries when practicing yoga.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 It is well known that Yoga is extremely beneficial for adults, but it can also be a great activity for children. Starting a Yoga practice, early in life, can give a child a head start on his or her health and well being. Some of the early benefits are conquering stress and obesity to set the foundation for a healthy adult life. However, Yoga can sometimes be seen as merely a 'grown-up' activity, so teaching it to children can come with some challenges.

By Dr. Rita Khanna It is believed, by many Yoga practitioners, that a Yogi should take milk, fruit, and raw vegetables. However, this is not totally correct because there are certain foods which are not meant for the human body at all. If you analyze the secretions in your digestive tract, and the secretions from your gums, teeth, and saliva, and also, if you examine the strength of the mucus membranes throughout the alimentary tract, and the length of the small and large intestines, and make a comparison with other carnivorous animals, or those animals who live on fruits, you will find there is an absolute difference.

By Faye Martins Just 40 years ago, it was common to see children playing sports like baseball, soccer, and football in vacant lots. These unorganized games were competitive, but they had no adult intervention or supervision. This "adult free" atmosphere had positive and negative benefits. As children, we learned to sort matters out amongst ourselves without competitive adult coaching. On the other hand, there were times when we could have used a sage for guidance.

By Faye Martins How to open a Yoga class is a unique craft, but it is not that complicated. Yoga students need to unplug from the world around them first. The Yoga teacher is a guide on the path to inner peace and the opening is the first step on this path.

By Shahid Mishra Yoga props are a helpful and useful way to introduce beginners to yoga and allow them to hold the correct pose without an excess of difficulty. A prop is anything that is used to aid in the practice of posturing. Some of the more common props are mats, blankets, yoga bolsters (shaped pillows), belts, chairs and sanded wooden blocks.

By Faye Martins Vinyasa Yoga takes the idea of flowing breath and synchronicity to a new level. Movement is literally synchronized to each breath, and it is oftentimes called Flow Yoga because of how well it corresponds to every inhale and exhale. This technique, or term, is oftentimes used in all types of Yoga, and teaching it effectively is key to seeing success in your students. Since Vinyasa Yoga can be taught in multiple forms, using it in your classes helps you develop them better and more effectively. Use these tips to start teaching Vinyasa Yoga more effectively.

By Kimaya Singh We all know the potential for yoga as a practice in the life of adults. We have experienced such positive changes in our own lives, through incorporating yoga into our daily or weekly routines. The same benefits can regularly be seen in our classes, and it is one of the more fulfilling aspects of teaching the discipline. When it comes to children, could yoga hold the key to improving their physical and emotional health?

By Faye Martins According to the National Osteoporosis Association, the cost of medical care for fractures related to the disease will reach $25 billion by 2005. More prevalent in postmenopausal women and in men over 70, the disorder is associated with the loss of estrogen in females and testosterone in males. Due to the fact that Hatha Yoga is a low-impact exercise that strengthens bones and balances hormones, it is one of many techniques being used in the fight against osteoporosis.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Why should anyone care about the development of a top-quality kids Yoga app? Within the past few years, we started to develop educational 3D videos specifically for Yoga teachers who wanted to develop creative flowing sequences. The resulting positive feedback and the video viewer numbers has led us to this point where we are currently developing a series of videos for families and children.

By Jenny Park A new niche in the field of Yoga instruction is working with trauma survivors. Since trauma survivors often experience residual physiological effects from a traumatic experience, body based healing modalities are becoming more and more important for therapists, counselors and other practitioners who work with trauma survivors. The practice of Yoga asanas, breathing exercises and meditation techniques offers healing practitioners a wide range of therapeutic tools for this population.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed In every living being on the earth, there is an internal pulsation of expansion and contraction, which is linked to the breath. This pulsation of life is deeply and inexorably connected to the resonant rhythm of the earth itself. By teaching Yoga outside, you will support your students in aligning themselves more fully with the natural rhythms that surround us all the time. When we are more aligned with the expansion and contraction of natural energy throughout the day, we are more deeply able to relax and feel supported by the earth.

By Sangeetha Saran Twisting Yoga poses help the body to detoxify and re-energize. Twisting Yoga poses gently compress the internal organs. This compression helps to move freshly oxygenated blood throughout the entire body. Physical sluggishness and mental cloudiness are both indications that the body is carrying unnecessary toxins and waste substances. A well-rounded practice of Yoga poses will help to invigorate and detoxify both the body and mind. Twisting Yoga asanas are particularly effective for increasing digestive health. They also help to relieve tension and increase your energy level.