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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 Faye Martins Yoga is growing in popularity every single day as one of the best ways to get in great physical shape and rejuvenate the mind and body. However, due to the physical demands of yoga, it is important for every yoga instructor to emphasize yoga student safety in all yoga classes.

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 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 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 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 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.

Are you facing a problem with your gut? If yes, it's a sign that something is not going right. Yes, with wrong we mean that you might be suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Not only this disease causes the gut problem but also prolonged abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and abnormal bowel movements, which includes constipation and diarrhea.

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.

Outside of India, Yoga for men's health is a new concept, but medical and scientific studies are breaking new ground with results, which...

Now, thanks to new and continuing scientific research, we can more readily identify why Yoga for cardiovascular health is a good idea.

By Kimaya Singh Many of us struggle with the discomfort of accumulating neck and shoulder tension throughout the day. Neck and shoulder tension can be caused by too much time on the computer or behind the wheel of a car. Neck and shoulder tension may also be caused by anxiety, stress or bottling up our emotions. Tension in this area can easily block of the flow of chi or life force energy and leave us feeling uncomfortable, drained and exhausted. The optimal alignment of our spine and neck may also be compromised.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 The term "flow Yoga" is an abbreviated form of the phrase "Vinyasa Flow Yoga." This form of Yoga is based on movements synchronized with breath. The word 'flow' refers to the way the poses are strung together gracefully, and how the Yoga practitioner moves with each breath, while the sequence of movements come together like a dance. Even though it is seen in many Hatha style classes, one of the most popular sequences of Vinyasa Yoga is Surya Namaskar (the Sun Salutations). Many Yoga practitioners know this series, and its many variations, quite well. For anyone who wants to add flowing movement into his or her asana routine, this can be a great starting point. Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutations) may also be of interest for anyone looking to go further into Vinyasa flows.

By Gopi Rao Childhood obesity is a condition that is becoming far too common. Parents and healthcare practitioners often wonder what can be done to alleviate the issue. Yoga for obese children could be a natural starting point when facing the problem. It is widely known that moderate exercise and healthy eating habits are just a few of the ways the childhood obesity can be treated, or better yet, prevented. However, overweight children might not have the strength or energy levels needed for many different types of exercise. Yoga, however, can be used to help kids get up and start moving.

By Jenny Park Where are the best job opportunities for yoga instructors? A lot has changed in the yoga movement over the past two decades. Some developments have been welcome, while others have not, but the sheer volume of job opportunities for yoga teachers is something to celebrate. Today's certified instructors don't have to rely on their local studio for employment. Yoga is now so integrated into the western exercise world it seems that everywhere you look new employment opportunities present themselves.

By Faye Martins What is pet yoga all about? According to a 2004 BBC article, New York City-based yoga teacher Suzi Teitelman invented doggie yoga, or "doga" as it's sometimes called. As an instructor for the fitness chain Crunch, she had an inspiration and decided to include her cocker spaniel in the class, since he frequently joined her on the mat during her home practice and "Ruff Yoga" was born. Since then, a flood of doga classes have emerged across the United States. There's even a book, called "Doga: Yoga For Dogs," by Jennifer Brilliant and William Berloni.

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 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 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 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.