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By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Since most headaches are caused by tension, which is caused by stress, Yoga should be at the top of the list of headache relief and prevention strategies. Most people carry their tension in the back, shoulders and neck, and this can create a contraction of muscles around the neck and jaw as well as reduced blood flow to the brain. The result is often a tension headache.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 All too frequently, I am asked by middle-aged or senior students, who aspire to become a Yoga teacher, "When is the best time to become a Yoga teacher?" Has the window of time passed for this opportunity, and is a younger Yoga instructor better suited to teach Yoga to the public? Some of these veteran Yoga students have decades of experience, but feel intimidated by the "young hard bodies." This is a deep subject, so let's take a closer look at what holds some of us back from becoming a Yoga teacher.

By Natalie Clee Vinyasa refers to a series of yoga movements synchronized with the breath. The poses flow with rhythmic variations through each inhalation and exhalation. The breathing style used is called Ujjayi, which is a relaxed diaphragmatic breath with the sound coming from the back of the throat like the sound of the ocean. Vinyasa and Ujjayi together create internal heat, which purifies the body through increased oxygen, circulation and sweat. This breath helps take in fresh oxygen, build energy, and clear toxins from the body. Ujjayi is also said to aide in self - awareness and staying grounded and present during your practice, which is also helpful during meditation. Improved circulation can help ward off illness and aide in recovery of sickness and repair of injury.

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 Shahid Mishra Is Yoga for weight loss possible? Practicing Yoga postures on a regular basis will help you to strengthen and tone your entire body. A regular Yoga practice will also increase muscle mass, which will in turn increase your metabolism. Engaging in a Yoga practice that flows from one pose to the next through a series of postures based on the Sun Salutation will really get your blood pumping and leave you feeling exhilarated, strong and light as a feather. In the West, this type of Yoga practice is known as Power Yoga. Incorporating arm balancing postures into your Yoga practice will further tone your arms, back and torso. Challenging arm balancing postures will also increase your heart rate and metabolism further supporting your weight loss efforts.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column that puts pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the openings where spinal nerves leave the spinal column. The condition typically occurs with age, as a person's spinal disks become drier and begin to shrink. Symptoms include numbness, cramping, or pain in the back, thighs, buttocks or calves, neck, shoulders, or arms.

By Sabine Crackle When did the relationship between Yoga and health begin? No one knows exactly when Yoga began, but it certainly predates written history. Stone carvings depicting figures in Yoga positions have been found in archaeological sites in the Indus Valley dating back 5,000 years or more. There is a common misconception that Yoga is rooted in Hinduism; on the contrary, Hinduism's religious structures evolved much later and incorporated some of the practices of Yoga. (Other religions throughout the world have also incorporated practices and ideas related to Yoga.)

By Amruta Kulkarni, CYT 500 What are ski postures? After a challenging day on the slopes, it is important to stretch out your muscles and ligaments. Yoga poses that help to elongate and release tension in the muscles and ligaments are critical to preventing injury and stiffness after an exhilarating day of skiing. Your level of skiing ability does not impact the necessity of keeping your muscles, joints and ligaments flexible and pliable. Our bodies work hard to provide us with a perfect run down a favorite bump run or a fast time through the gates on a GS race course. Practicing Yoga asanas that stretch out the hamstrings, quadriceps, lower back and shoulders will help to keep you feeling loose and flexible.

This pose can be an eff ective tool to control urinary disorders. The pelvis, abdomen, and lower back receive additional circulation. The kidneys, prostate, and bladder are kept healthy, and the occurrence of sciatica and hernia is reduced.

It relieves stiffness in shoulders, neck, back. hips, and knees, and strengthens ankles and knees. In most instances, it improves the sense of balance and builds stamina in the legs and arms.

This pose aids digestion, reduces gas, tones the lower back muscles, relieves discomfort from long periods of sitting, realigns the thoracic spine, and reduces tension in the shoulders and neck.

It relieves lower back discomfort from sitting for extended periods of time, aids elimination, and reduces constipation.

This pose is excellent for the digestion. It relieves lower back discomfort from sitting for extended periods of time. It aids elimination and reduces flatulence and the frequency of constipation. It increases flexibility in the hip joints and increases circulation in the torso, pelvis, and limbs.

This pose is very benefi cial for the liver, spleen, and gall bladder. The back muscles, which become fl accid due to the shape of the chair and prolonged sitting, are strengthened. This pose works against osteoporosis.

This pose can be an effective tool to control urinary disorders. The pelvis, abdomen,and lower back receive additional circulation. The kidneys, prostate, and bladder are kept healthy, and sciatica and hernia are reduced. There is the added benefit here of permitting the brain to relax. Tension in the neck and shoulders is reduced. The pose reduces agitation and nervousness, thereby lowering stress.

How does Yoga decompress the spine? Our backbone is made up of vertebrae and intervertebral disks, which work as cushions between vertebrae. As time...

By Sarah Fisher After graduating from Yoga teacher training, I look back at where I was when I went to my first class. I was so stressed that it was difficult to get up for work. I was starting to make excuses to avoid leaving my home. Jobs are stressful, but these days, you want to keep the one you have. At the same time, I needed to get some physical activity. Luckily, my friends got me out of the house and into a fitness-based Yoga class.

By Kimaya Singh Golf centers, courses and retail stores can be found almost everywhere. Golf is a popular game that seems to involve hitting a small ball into a small hole. True golfers know it is much more than that. It's a game of great skill and precision, great concentration and focus. Many golfers complain of lower back pain due to the twisting of the spine during each swing. Yoga training can be an effective way to strengthen the core, loosen the spine and improve any golfer's focus. Private yoga sessions for golfers might be the key to their success on and off the course.

The sitting postures of Hatha Yoga are important as ideal postures for a correct practice of Pranayama and meditation, apart from limbering legs and hips, strengthening the back and improving the posture. They are the most efficient postures of the body to allow psychophysical energy to flow freely with maximum relief of tension.

There are some things that each of us learn after yoga instructor certification. As a teacher, you've got to wonder from time to time what it is that keeps your students coming back day after day or week after week.