All about Yoga

Yoga is known for being one of the oldest practices for self development known at the moment. It originated in India and dates back approximately 500 years. By using Yoga, you can obtain information and benefits on mental, physical as well as emotional and spiritual nirvana. It’s also a great idea to focus on your personal capabilities and self-awareness.

There are many forms and methods of Yoga around today. Some of which include breathing controls, meditation as well as good breathing control. Yoga is commonly used to tone and sculpt your body as well as improve one’s general health. Yoga is told to be a series of steps that should be militantly followed, but a process that evolves. Those who practice it cleanse and aware their personal being. This will help his or her outtake on life improve drastically.

With Yoga, you can practice or even improve your body. You can also practice your breathing exercises and self control. You can also attain the capability to direct your mind and to use it with the object of correlation. However, it takes a large amount of dedication to master the art of Yoga.

Yoga is now becoming a much more common practice and has become part of millions around the world’s daily routine. Classes are groups are found all around the globe. At this time Hatha Yoga is the most popular and frequently taught class around the world. This form of yoga involves body coordination and breathing controllably. This form is used for relief and blood circulation improvement.

With yoga you are also able to improve your flexibility, strength and vitality. Hatha is only a single form of yoga however. There are multiple other forms other than that. Some are great for aerobic workouts and some are strong styles for the fitness junkies. There are also great styles for the elderly and those who just prefer the more focused and gentle workout for healing.

Yoga is open to anyone in any age range, lifestyle and faith. You don’t even need to pay for a personal trainer or attend a yoga class either. There are thousands of books and other reading materials in which you can use to self-teach yourself the style of yoga you wish to learn. It is mandatory that you do choose which form of Yoga you wish to venture into. This is because each form of yoga has its’ own style of meditation. Newer forms of Yoga are always being developed now as well.

There are also DVDs as well as VHS videos available from your local movie store that will help guide you as a newbie. There are supplies that are available when you apply or perform physical Yoga activities as well. There’s tapes for any type of workout you’re looking for, from yoga for couples to yoga for the hardcore athletic types. There are also many different equipment pieces you may ope to use or purchase while you are in a session of Yoga. Mats, belts, straps and blocks are just a few of the more common supplies for yoga.

Mats help protect as well as act as a cushion when you are performing Yoga on a harder floor. You may also opt to use straps and blocks as well if you are unable to do some of the exercises without them. In addition, it’s optimal that you choose clothing that will allow you to move freely, so you can stretch as well as making your workout more safe from danger.

In this article I will help you understand what Yoga is and how it can help you. Achieve a balanced happy and useful life. Yoga is more than exercise. Yoga is spiritual and gives you much more than just a healthy body. It helps your mind and your spirituality as well.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” meaning to yoke, join or unite. Yoga is meant to combine your physical, mental, and spiritual being to attain more out of life.

Yoga originated in India where they consider it part of classical philosophy that combines your soul with the universe. But according to the website iyengar-yoga, “The origins of yoga are believed to be much older than that, stemming from the oral traditions of Yogis, where knowledge of Yoga was handed down from Guru (spiritual teacher) to Sisya (spiritual student) all the way back to the originators of Yoga, “the Rishis,” who first began investigation into the nature of reality and man’s inner world.”

Legend has it that knowledge of Yoga was first passed by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati and from there into the lives of men.

There are many parts of the Yoga family or many different forms. Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga are all well known forms of Yoga, but there are many more.

According to Wikipedia, “Karma yoga, or the “discipline of action” is one of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner.”

Raja Yoga is different and involves psychophysical meditation techniques to attain experiences of the truth and finally achieve liberation.

Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha.

Jnana in Sanskrit means “knowledge”, and is often interpreted to mean “knowledge of the true self”. To say, “I am Brahman, the pure, all-pervading Consciousness, the non-enjoyer, non-doer and silent witness,” is jnana. To behold the one Self everywhere is jnana.

Okay, so those are the definitions of some of the forms of Yoga, but how does it help me? How do I decide which form of Yoga is the one for me?

A lot depends on what you are trying to achieve. There are more forms of Yoga than just those I mentioned and it is a good idea for you to search for the definitions of all forms of Yoga before deciding which one is right for you.

I am using these four types of Yoga as examples to give you an idea of the things you need to consider when choosing a form of Yoga to study and participate in.

Using the examples above and just the short definitions given to us there, you can see they are distinct and each has a different purpose or goal.

Karma is meant to help you attain salvation through your actions. To humbly serve in this life so you can be served in the next. Everyone has heard of good and bad Karma. The saying comes from this style of Yoga. If you do good things, good things will happen to you if not in this life, in the next.

Raja Yoga is the control of your own mind. Not allowing it to be modified by events that have happened to you in your past. The belief here is that every event that happens in your life modifies your mind and how you perceive things. By practicing Raja Yoga, you can keep your mind from being modified by these events and get to know your true self.

Bhakti Yoga is selfless devotion to GOD. The belief that GOD is the supreme being that created the universe. The 9 principles of Bhakti Yoga are;

1) Hearing about the Lord – singing & chanting God’s names (japa), hearing stories from scripture. 2) Glorifying the Lord – describing God’s all-attractive features. 3) Remembering the Lord – internal meditation on the Lord’s form, activities, names or personality. 4) Serving the lotus feet of the Lord – providing a form of physical service. 5) Worshiping the Lord – deity worship (arcana) is a popular form of this within India. 6) Offering prayers to the Lord – any form of prayer offered to please God. 7) Serving the Lord – offering a service for Lord’s pleasure, such as preaching activity. Building a friendship with the Lord – having an internal, loving relationship with God. 9) Surrendering everything unto the Lord – surrendering one’s thoughts, actions and deeds to God.

Jnana Yoga incorporates the fundamental belief that there is no dualism, that the universe is all one entity. A good way you may have heard this explained is to become “one with the universe”.

Using these explanations, you can see what the general goals are for each Yoga form. These definitions are far from complete and there is much more to be learned about each of the forms I mentioned here. As I said before there are also other forms of Yoga you should research. There is even sub-forms of Yoga within each of these I mentioned and others.

I suggest you choose the path to enlightenment that suits you if you are considering starting Yoga. Find one that has goals that are appealing to you and stick to that discipline so you can achieve your goals.

It is invariably undeniable that one of the most popular and sought-after exercises nowadays is Pilates. In fact, this exercise has become a common household name, pushing back to ten years ago. Before, it started as a routine mainly composed of body movements that promote agility, proper body coordination, leaner muscles, and flexibility, among others. Now, it has been almost like a fad as people from all walks of life from celebrities, sportsmen, socialites have joined the Pilates bandwagon and decided to hire personal trainers, buy videos, or enroll in a pilates program.

And with the increase of its popularity comes the demand for pilates equipment and accessories like Swiss balls and mats, as they become regular items in any gyms or even household. Nevertheless, the typical man has never actually stopped in its venture of continuously seeking better pilates technique that will further enhance its positive contribution to our body. He has conducted research, talked to people, and gathered vital information just to achieve his endeavor. He employs the help of scientific breakthroughs like spinal research studies and the application of the principles of biochemistry, as well as the latest state-of-the-art equipment. It is in his quest that he has developed another variety of pilates called metodo pilates.

Commonly known as contrology or simply the pilates method, metodo pilates was initiated by Joseph Pilates almost twenty years ago as a new fitness regimen. Its philosophy is simple. Joseph Pilates believed that in order to acquire peace of mind, he must also have a healthy body. And it was this belief that allowed the robust man to live his life in forced internment when he was captured in Germany in the middle of the First World War. His imprisonment, moreover, provided him an opportunity to share his techniques to the other inmates. Altogether, they were able to withstand all worst conditions in the concentration camp.

The routines of the traditional metodo pilates promote muscular strength as well as body flexibility. For convenience and for maximum results, these exercises are also performed together with some pilates equipment such as balls and mats, all designed by Joseph Pilates.

What sets metodo pilates apart from other exercises is the principles that govern each pilates movement. There are a total of 8 philosophies or foundations that technically govern Pilates. It is a mixture of both Western and Eastern traditions. These are (1) concentration, (2), alignment, (3) breathing, (4) precision and control, (5) centering, (6) integration, (7) relaxation, and (8) fluidity.

Before actually starting any pilates exercise, one must do breathing exercises one of the most important processes. Breathing permits you to remove all forms of tension as well as helps you to perform the exercises with optimum power and efficiency. Moreover, focus is achieved with proper breathing. In pilates, you need to imagine your movements to be interconnecting, producing perfect interrelationship and balance of your mind and your body. If you are not fully concentrating, you are practically vulnerable to probable join or muscular misalignment.

Contrary to other popular exercises that encourage repetition, pilates gives more emphasis on the techniques quality over quantity (repetition). Repetition of movements is not the technique encouraged in metodo pilates. Whats more important is the proper execution, which is usually characterized by the slow but accurate movements of the legs, body, and hands. It also emphasizes the need to use your bodys strong parts such as the abdomen, pelvic regions, and the spine. Overall, these slow-but-precise movements eventually aid your body to function with balance and efficiency. It is also necessary to properly perform Relaxation, after all, is what Joseph Pilates wants, not injuries.

Yet despite of the wide acclaim it has attained, the pilates method was never spared from the prying eyes of skeptics and critics. A couple of them thought that the whole regimen itself do not support exact discipline of physical fitness, because it doesnt put too much emphasis on cardiovascular endurance. It does not also help in promoting muscular strength, primarily because Pilates method produces low-power, low-impact output. Medical experts, meanwhile, are concerned of its impact to a persons health, since it is thought that it can contribute to the abnormal growth of an individuals organ.

Nevertheless, it is undaunted. After all, it has proven its worth to millions of people for such a long time.

Is abundance just a disguised word for money? Can money be used for a good cause? Do you wonder why some Master Yoga Teachers, Gurus, and Swamis frown on the idea of Yoga teachers “talking up” the concept of practicing Yoga for abundance?

The reason is quite simple: Most people think of material wealth first. Why? This is an example of survival instinct, and money is a part of survival; but there are many more types of abundance for Yoga students to learn beside money.

Physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional abundance are worthy of note, but the desire for a better life, by acquiring material wealth, is hard to put out of your mind. Let’s look at each aspect of abundance from a Hatha Yoga student’s point of view.

Physical abundance could be seen as physical prowess. This is why Hatha Yoga has become so popular outside of India. When a new student becomes proficient in Hatha Yoga, he or she feels better almost immediately; sometimes to the point of ego bolstering and this is not a direction for Yoga teaching to take.

The physical senses are our most primal and can be realized without any difficulty. Your friends, family, and coworkers may even notice the changes that are happening to your body due to Hatha Yoga practice.

Mental abundance can easily be seen as intelligence. However, a person’s intelligence cannot be demonstrated, unless it is successfully projected and proven through the use of good communication skills. Union by knowledge, which we know as Jnana Yoga, will also require much more work than most people would initially think, and communication is a necessary skill required in order to share knowledge.

Sadly, spiritual abundance is becoming rare in some cultures. The spiritual connection to God cannot be seen, but can be felt. Unfortunately, we try to measure the spiritual world with scientific instruments from our physical world.

How can you measure prayer or the benefits of prayer? How does science explain miracles? Science often remains baffled or claims miracles do not exist. Science is useful, but has created the virtual world for a generation who may end up lost in computer games, obesity, poor health, and unconstructive use of time. However, we know the virtual world exists because we can see it.

Emotional abundance is most often taken for granted. Our family and friends provide security, but we wish for more material wealth. When death or illness knocks at our door, all the money in the world may not be enough.

If you have emotional abundance, you are truly rich. When you have material wealth, emotional abundance may be very hard to find because you do not know who your friends really are. Money attracts people, but those people might not have friendship in mind. Many of the financially wealthy are givers, and there will always be someone who wants to take advantage of it.

Now, you see that abundance is many things, but the most valuable treasures in life can be attained by the financially poor. If, or when, you mention abundance in a Yoga class, start with the most important forms of abundance first. If you find yourself with too much material abundance, give the excess to a worthy cause.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

It wasn’t so long ago that exercising was a necessary evil. The benefits of exercising were known, but it was difficult to get motivated. In large part, this lack of motivation was due to the boredom of exercise routines that were available. Often the only exercise options that were available were biking, walking, use of the treadmill, jogging, weightlifting, etc.

Then it seemed that fitness centers became popular. Often the fitness centers would try to incorporate entertainment such as television viewing or the availability of personal trainers. These features and services were designed to make exercising more popular and motivate the individual to develop a daily routine.

Today, there is an exercise regimen that not only makes it fun to exercise, but also provides an excellent aerobic exercise workout. This exciting new program is a dancing aerobics exercise routine.

History Of The Aerobics Exercise Routine

The aerobics routine has evolved from the original dance oriented exercise programs of the 1980’s. These earlier exercise programs, that incorporated dance movements, were comprised of dance routines that were often complicated. In addition, these routines utilized movements that were fluid in motion and did not necessarily provide much in the way of physical benefits.

In contrast, the dancing aerobics routine of today is comprised of minimal dance steps and the movements are more athletic in nature. This shift in focus has made the dance aerobics exercise routine more popular today. In fact, because of the athleticism involved, the popularity of the aerobics exercise routine has spilled over into the professional athletic arena.

Popularity

The popularity of the dance aerobics exercise routine has increased due to many factors. One of these factors is the music that is typically part of the program. This music has a very strong beat and is uplifting. These factors blend together to motivate the participant to perform the aerobics exercise routine as well as looking forward to each session. These two resulting benefits are the keys to the success of any exercise program.

Stages Of The Routine

There are three different stages that can be part of an aerobics exercise routine. In particular they are the low and high impact type or a combination of the two types.

The low impact type is designed to lesson the stress placed on the lower extremities and feet. Specifically, the steps are designed so that either one of the feet remains in contact with the ground at all times. Through this process the likelihood of injuries such as shin splints are minimized. However, being of the low impact type, the aerobics exercise routine is not as vigorous and therefore does not increase the heart level to the optimum rate.

A high impact aerobics exercise routine is the exact opposite. This routine seldom calls for any movements that require one foot to remain on the ground. In addition, these routines are very aggressive and increase the heart rate so that a maximum aerobic workout is achieved. The caution in doing a high-impact aerobics exercise routine is the possibility of being injured. Injury may result from the impact experienced when the feet hit the surfaces of the exercise area. This risk can be minimized through the use of good aerobic footwear as well as exercising on specially designed floors that absorb the shock.

The best aerobics exercise routine to participate in is that routine that combines the high impact and the low impact exercises. This combination of impact exercises is the most popular as it combines a warm up period for the participant performing the low impact exercise and then increases the heart rate through the high impact routine.

Music is a wonderful way to energize the body through aerobic workout. An aerobics music workout is a great exercise program if you love music. There are a number of different types of aerobic exercises that work well with the addition of music. Any physical activity that is continuous motion will be termed as being aerobic. Adding music to your aerobic routine can increases the intensity level. But there are advantages to adding music .An aerobics routine consisting of aerobic music will involve a great deal of fast movements, jumping as well as leaping for extended periods. Some benefits of adding music to your workout include the focus, motivation and beneficial exercise.

Focus

Adding music to your aerobics workout adds the benefit of allowing you to focus on something other than the exercise regimen. You focus on the enjoyment of the music. This focus also pushes out the day’s activities and allows you to be in the moment.

Motivation

A person who is involved in an activity that is enjoyable and is beneficial will want to continue that activity. The reverse is also true. If an action is rewarded with a negative feeling or experience, that action or experience is not repeated. Therefore, if a person does not like to exercise, but combines the pleasure of music with exercise, they are more likely to continue.

Beneficial Exercise

The major benefit of adding aerobics music to your workout is the cardiovascular workout you receive. A good music workout will stimulate the heart, increase the blood flow and your breaths. Other benefits are the possibility of weight loss and weight maintenance.

It is important to remember that each of us is different. Those different factors include our age, general health and the condition of our body. Therefore, the heart beat that you wish to attain during your aerobic workout will vary.

Variety of Music

There is nothing as exciting as aerobic exercising to the tune of your favorite music. The variety to choose from includes top 40/dance to disco to Broadway hits. Some of these aerobics music albums feature perfect 32 count and offer variety to suit the musical tastes of everyone and all age groups. It should be noted that the speed of aerobic music should be between 118 to 122 Beats Per Minute.

Also, the genre of music selected can be a highly motivational factor. Generally aerobics workout music designed to give a full workout. It begins with a slower tempo to allow the body to warm up. The next stage is generally more upbeat and provides a quicker moves. The final phase is a cool down where the music returns to a slower paced tempo.

There is also another well known aerobics workout known as Jazzercise. The instructor teaches the exercise steps as well as choreographed routines that help the exerciser in his or her quest for better fitness accompanied by aerobic music.

Choreographed Videos

There are many different maneuvers in aerobics for any one person to complete them. There are notations, floor maneuvers, step maneuvers as well as a combination of floor or step maneuvers. You can find different videos and DVDs that are sure to satisfy your needs. The varieties include Step Showdown that lasts for 120 minutes. It is a type of step aerobics and dance combined, using choreographed music.

Another, Aerobic & Dance Showdown is another aerobics video that lasts 140 minutes presenting aerobic and dance choreography accompanied by hot music. It includes low impact aerobics mix. Dance Off video is packed with choreographed steps.

Non-traditional videos include Latin and Jazz infuse a passion in the moves. Aerobics exercisers enjoy them for increasing movements and learning new dance styles. Using choreographed aerobics music videos are useful for beginners with little or no experience as well as intermediate and advanced level users.

Sometimes, there is nothing to beat entering a gym where the fitness class is working out with aerobic music. It helps set the mood for the exercisers. It’s impossible to imagine a step or spinning class without the correct music to provide the right rhythm. Adding music to your aerobic workout is a fun experience, gives you motivation to continue and offers healthy benefits.

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 Yoga class? When can the stability ball fit into a Hatha Yoga 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.

As a result, the ball was “nick named” the Swiss Ball by Americans for decades. The first balls we used at Aura Wellness Center were made by Gymnic Balls in Italy. We tried many brands, but my personal ball is an old Gymnic Ball, which has taken more abuse than it deserved.

Now, these balls are commonly referred to as stability balls, exercise balls, or balance balls. They are used in physical therapy, Pilates, Yoga, and health clubs. Many elite and professional athletes use them for coordination.

Is the stability ball a legitimate Yoga prop or just an exercise marketing gimmick for equipment sales? Any piece of equipment can be termed an exercise marketing gimmick, but the stability ball has hundreds of uses.

In Yoga, you can perform a standing warm up, Sun Salutation, seated series, prone series, table series, supine on the ball series, and supine on the floor series.

Who could benefit from the use of the ball in a Yoga class? Beginners can use the stability ball for many poses. For example: In wheel posture (Chakrasana), holding this position is not for everyone, but the stability balls, and a wall, make it possible for everyone. With a stability ball, beginner Hatha Yoga students can gain the benefits of Chakrasana for minutes.

Just this one pose is fantastic for improving elasticity of the spine and your daily posture. It is also said that this posture gently stretches the heart, pancreas, liver, and kidneys.

Yet, this posture is classified as an inversion, and may not be advisable for Yoga students with high blood pressure. Students with back problems should get their doctor’s permission and study under the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher.

When can the stability ball fit into a Hatha Yoga class? To be completely safe, you should consult a physician before entering a Yoga class where Yoga postures or Yoga exercises are practiced. The same warning applies to the use of a stability ball in any class.

With that said, Yoga ball videos are great for Yoga teachers, but can be risky for the unsupervised public. So, if you want to learn to use the stability ball in your Yoga practice, you should join a Yoga class and seek the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Let’s face it, Yoga teachers who live in Northern climates have been looking forward to a break from the “winter chill.” Your Yoga students have also been looking forward to the warm weather and they want to take a vacation. What can Yoga teachers and Yoga studios do to compensate for the “Summer Slow Down?”

You have taught your Yoga students about empowerment all year, but some students may not return to your regular classes, without a reminder. Many North Americans take a couple of weeks off in July and some summer vacations will be planned for August. Most of my friends in Europe take August off, therefore, Yoga teachers are looking at a minimum of one month during the summer that is predominantly slow, depending on your exact location and culture.

Some Yoga teachers in the Southern United States will experience a slow down, if the temperatures rise too much and too soon. Yoga classes can become sparse, especially if the temperatures jump to the 90’s Fahrenheit during late spring or early summer. So, what action can Yoga teachers take to deal with this vacation season?

How about special classes? Did you ever think about teaching Yoga classes in a pool? What about testing Yoga classes that you had not considered during a busy season? What about an “Introduction to Hot Yoga” or a Vinyasa style Yoga class that is a little warmer than usual? What about testing a short-term Pranayama class or Yoga meditation workshop as a “pilot class” for the busy season?

Once again, I ask you to enlarge your vision and “think outside the box.” Do enough ground work and research to become an innovator, rather than “follow the crowd.” Even if your Yoga classes do slow down a bit, you can cater to your “regular students,” who are with you “through thick and thin.” Ask your Yoga students for feedback.

One last major point to bring up: Make sure you are working on “reminders” to your Yoga students who regularly attend classes during cooler weather. It is best to use this time to get a list of all of your Yoga students and prepare for a mailing in late August, or early September.

This is the time when children go back to school, and family plans are made for the fall schedule. If you teach Yoga for a living, your first priority is to thank your students for their past participation and remind them that you still teach Yoga.

It is very easy for anyone to forget their priorities, and Yoga students are no exception. Yoga teachers contribute to the well being of their student’s mental, physical, and spiritual health. When you see inactive Yoga students around town, they often thank you for what they have learned from you.

Therefore, do not take a summer slow down personally. This is a season that you should make the most of by taking action and testing new ideas for your Yoga classes.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

There is plenty of competition to go around in this world. If you are a Yoga teacher, you should not encourage competition within a Kids Yoga class. This is not easily done. Each child wants praise, but this can be accomplished by making your Yoga class a nurturing event, where every child who participates, can feel a sense of self-worth.

This atmosphere, which is designed by the Yoga instructor, will develop a child’s character “from the ground up.” Each child is unique and special in his or her own way. Children have to be taught to appreciate themselves as they are. Self-worth cannot be calculated by the skill of one single activity, and Yoga is the sum of many different activities, within a given class.

When I first started teaching Yoga to children, I began to integrate Vinyasa Yoga into the warm-ups of our children’s martial arts classes; some parents wondered why? Soon, some of the children, who had Attention Deficit Disorder, and other attention span problems, became more focused for the rest of the class. Still, other children, who regularly practiced Vinyasa Yoga warm-ups, started to develop a more pronounced muscular appearance. This may have been due to many factors, such as the cross training involved in practicing Vinyasa Yoga and martial arts, on a regular basis – while many other children, who attended these integrated classes, went home, did their homework, and slept better.

Eventually, we established a pure Kids Yoga class, and it was scheduled between two children’s martial arts classes. The children were enthusiastic and the parents were, and still are, very supportive. In the above-mentioned examples, different children gained different benefits from learning Yoga.

As children continue to learn Yoga, they should also be taught to refrain from comparing themselves to other children in the Yoga class. This is not easy for a Yoga teacher to do, but can be accomplished by teaching children to accept themselves as they are, and that trying their best is really good enough.

Regular attendance to Kids Yoga classes is the key to getting rid of emotional baggage. Children must be taught to appreciate themselves in a positive way, and the study of Yoga can give any child self-empowerment. When children gather and participate in Yoga instruction on a steady basis, they also make new friends. The parents who send their children to study Yoga sincerely care.

Therefore, any child who learns Yoga is surrounded by children of “like-minded” parents. Yoga training for children is, in essence, a controlled atmosphere – even though the Yoga class setting is relaxed.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga is “preventative medicine” for children and adults. Yet the world does not often embrace preventative action. Just look at hunger, global warming, health care, and poverty. Now you see that some people do take action, but many do not.

Educating the public about the many benefits, which children experience from Yoga practice, is a full-time job for some Yoga teachers. Although most of the public thinks of Yoga postures as a “mild” form of exercise; there are many more different aspects to Yoga practice.

Yoga is a complete holistic approach to health. Yoga teaches proper breathing, dieting, exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, and many more natural solutions to health problems.

Yoga and Ayurvedic medicine have dieting practices based upon a person’s constitution or dosha. This same classification can be made for exercise routines. An Ayurvedic doctor will, most likely, recommend specific exercises based upon a patient’s dosha.

The entire approach of Yoga and Ayurveda is based upon preventative measures. There are also solutions for “damage control,” when a person has an existing ailment, but any doctor can agree that many of today’s health problems are preventable.

Let’s look at global obesity. The public is very tired of hearing about obesity. Your spam filters are working overtime to pull all of the “Instant weight loss” methods out of your Email box. If you read through the spam, you will notice that spammers want to sell you pills, not permanent solutions to obesity. The spammer’s approach is to make quick money off the public.

When the majority of our population refuses to exercise, the easy money is in selling pills, instant weight loss, and “snake oil.” There is a solution, but most of us will not like it. Yogic diets are full of fruit, vegetables, and natural food. Even in India, it can be observed that diabetes is on the rise, when people eat “junk food.”

As the Indian economy has improved, so has the “middle class appetite” for processed food. This runs parallel to western social and economic patterns.

What does this have to do with Yoga for kids? Yoga is a lifestyle and the earlier you expose children to good health habits, the better your child’s health will be.

As parents, we have many choices, but establishing good health habits, within our children, is an obligation. We also have to eat properly, and exercise, with our children. If you cannot go to a Yoga class, you can always take your child out for a walk. Parents are role models, and any child will copy the image, which you create for him or her.

Yoga classes for children are a parent’s gift of good health. Yoga gives kids a better chance to develop good habits, handle stress, find natural solutions to good health, and live a quality life.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications