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By Gopi Rao How are happiness and the art of yoga connected? In the search for perpetual happiness, many men and women are turning to yoga classes a few times each week. In fact, certified yoga instructors will be able to help their students gently coax their bodies into various flexible positions. When the blood flows through the muscles in just the right way, peace and serenity can be restored to both the mind and the soul. Here are three yoga poses that will leave students ready to confront anything and everything that life can throw at them.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed The practice of The physical postures of Yoga is a wonderful tool for increasing our awareness of The way we move in The world. When we are practicing Yoga postures, The subtle nuances of how we move our bodies, our habitual thought patterns and a commitment or lack of commitment to The postures becomes strikingly evident. With an increase in self-awareness, it is much easier understand how The obstacles we are encountering in our life are generated by our habitual ways thinking and moving in The world.

By Faye Martins The practice of yoga is meant to calm both The body and The mind. With slow movements and a focus on breath, we learn to quiet The mind and focus on The present moment. Most often, we need to be calm enough to handle The stresses of daily life, regret over past actions, and worries about The future. It is easier than it sounds to think only of The present moment. Our minds wander quickly, and thoughts tend to "snowball" toward worst case scenarios.

By Faye Martins After successfully completing yoga teacher training, many people ask about remedies for every type of pain and ache. There are many pains that humans feel, but headaches might be one of The most common. Among The various types of headaches is migraine. In 2007, a study published in The scholarly journal Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain concluded that migraine sufferers who practiced yoga for three months were significantly more likely to report a reduction in headache severity, frequency and related symptoms like anxiety or depression. The authors of The study noted, too, that more research was warranted on The subject, and since Then, several more studies have published results supporting The conclusion that yoga training can bring headache and migraine relief.

Is there any job security these days? there is a growing need for more Chair Yoga teachers. Education about the mental and physical benefits of Yoga has spread like "wild fire" in the past couple of decades; but what about the needs of those who are not so young and limber? In some parts of the world, the number of seniors will outweigh the working population. Italy, the United States, and the rest of Europe, will see senior populations grow rapidly.

By Azahar Aguilar Life breath, life energy, life force. Pranayama is the vital energy behind a yoga asana practice, and instructors have the opportunity in every class to make time for the basics, if not more advanced techniques as well. Wonderful moments exist at the beginning, middle or end of a practice, no matter the style of class, which offer space for the instructor to speak on the importance of pranayama, and the tools that guide prana energy.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Where did this ball come from? Is the stability ball a legitimate Yoga prop or just a marketing gimmick for equipment sales? Who could benefit from the use of the ball in a class? When can the stability ball fit into a Hatha class? Where did this ball come from? Stability balls have been around since 1963, originating in Italy. the first time I saw a stability ball, we called it a, "Swiss Ball." Yet, the Swiss Balls at that time, were all made in Italy. American Physical therapists saw the ball, in use, within physical therapy Swiss units.

By Kimaya Singh The Internet is a creative tool that has made life easy or complicated. It is now easier to pay bills, link with friends and family members, purchase products and even learn The course of your choice. Yoga teachers, on The oTher hand, have found much relief through sending information online. First of all, teachers can reach as many students as possible and send Them The latest newsletter to stay in touch. When it comes to Yoga teacher education, The main factor to consider is The manner of how you intend to absorb all of The new information within your field.

By Faye Martins Recently, I attended a Yoga boot camp class that was physically invigorating, but it was an enlightening experience as well. The class objective was clear and There were no misconceptions about The class being physical. The room was hot, The asanas were challenging, and The students were barked at like raw military recruits. An abusive dog owner had nothing on this instructor, who took on The role of pseudo dominatrix. The audience (students) loved it as she verbally abused Them like a wolf in a hen coop.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Is Yoga for shaping and strengthening the core muscles realistic? Hatha Yoga practitioners benefit physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually from many different Yogic techniques (poses, breathing exercises, and meditation, etc). One of the physical benefits experienced by Yoga practitioners is the shaping and strengthening of the core muscles. Yoga for shaping and strengthening, in turn, helps to maintain correct posture and prevents heart-related conditions from developing. Shaping the core muscles is not about developing a six-pack to show off. It is, instead, about developing a healthy physique, as a result of taking care of the body.

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 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 The following are questions that Yoga teachers still need to answer, despite overwhelming evidence that Yoga is "The moTher of all health maintenance systems." Mainstream thought is finally catching up, with The progress Yoga is making, but it has taken 5,000 years for us to get this far. Seriously, How Can Yoga Make You Lose Weight? Finally, some of The "Yoga and Weight Loss" studies have come in, and even, a little bit of Yoga is much better, than none, for weight control, but There are a number of reasons why. Yoga is a lifestyle change that includes a safe diet; exercise, adjusting posture, breathing, and a whole lot more. Most of The practitioners, I know, consume more water, eat more moderately, and take more care of Their bodies, in comparison to The many who don't want to leave The couch.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Kinesiology is the study of movement. It includes the study of all of the physiological mechanisms of the body. the study of kinetics is important in educational disciplines such as rehabilitation therapy, sports medicine, exercise, biomechanics, and orthopedics. Since Hatha Yoga is based on movement, it makes perfect sense that someone specializing in teaching a physical form of Yoga would be knowledgeable about the kinetics of the body.

By Bhavan Kumar How can we improve our ability to protect yoga students? As a yoga instructor, our primary duty is to ensure the continuing safety of our students. One of the easiest ways to do this is through the use of safety guidelines. these guidelines transfer the burden of student safety from being the sole responsibility of the yoga teacher to the students themselves. A well-written set of guidelines helps us protect yoga students to ensure their own safety, which in turn gives teachers peace of mind.

By Jenny Park What can you do to boost your metabolism? Is there an optimum time of year for you to boost your metabolism? Many people set weight loss goals for themselves at the beginning of the New Year. This is one reason why so many new faces show up to Yoga classes every January. A regular practice of Yoga asanas combined with a healthy diet, restorative sleep, and a program of stress reduction, will all help anyone reach his or her weight loss goals. A healthy diet consists of a balance of lean protein, whole grains and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. the more colorful your selection of fruits and vegetables is, the more variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your diet will contain. Dietary lean protein may come from a diversity sources. If you are not a strict vegetarian, wild caught fish, such as salmon and mackerel, have a high level of Omega 3 fatty acids that help to protect the health of your heart and brain. Omega 3 fatty acids are also found in flax seeds, flax seed oil, hemp products and eggs. A sufficient amount of Omega 3 fatty acids helps the body function well and the metabolism to work at optimal levels.

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.

This pose gently moves the abdominal organs and stretches the hamstring. It also tones the kidneys and rejuvenates the whole spine. It improves digestion. By supporting the hands on the seat of the chair, this asana creates a sense of peaceful quiet.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed. There are many different forms of meditation practiced in The world today. The contemplative practice of coming to a still point in one's mind is found in every religion throughout The world. Although The outer forms of meditation may vary among spiritual traditions, The essential nature of The practice itself remains quite similar, regardless of The outer form.

We know that when pain is apparent in the back area the cause can often be due to tightness or strain in other areas of the body. Sometimes tight hamstrings, the neck or shoulders are to blame. Yoga teachers should explain this important concept to the client as they provide them a variety of stretches that focus not only on the back specifically but also on the limbs and core.