mario

...Most people get a little bit too wrapped up in trying to decide which branch of Yoga that they should study. They read a brief synopsis of each type and then go about trying to discern which one is the most appropriate for them. The fact is that all branches of Yoga overlap. They do so very naturally. Yoga is very natural. Whether you choose to direct your energies to the study of Hatha, Raja, Karma, Tantra, Bhakti or Jnana Yoga - doesn't really matter. You should be more concerned with what Yoga means in general terms.

Yoga is the union of the mind with the body. If we become masterful in the direction of our thoughts, then we begin to grow in wisdom. All branches of Yoga have the direct aim to bring us into constant consciousness. We need to be aware of our bodies. We need to pay attention to our posture. We need to watch our words. We'll need to choose wise actions. We need to develop joint, tendon, ligament and muscular strength. We need to assist our bodies with its internal functions. We need to constantly check ourselves in order to ensure that we're being the people that we want to be. That's what Yoga is.

People have a serious misconceptio...more

Yoga Tips For Happiness Off The Yoga Mat

...e many. Pay attention to Pranayama practice, while you are in your Yoga classes. Many Yoga students do not learn the value of Pranayama.

Pranayama is the master of your mind. Pranayama is the fundamental link between mind and body. Pranayama will improve your health, but you should learn Pranayama from a Yoga teacher.

Kapalabhati Pranayama should be practiced daily, but Bastrika Pranayama is usually practiced daily prior to Kapalabhati Pranayama. Personally, I practice Bastrika for the first Pranayama of the day.

Meditation: There are many forms of meditation, but they all lead to the same end. Balanced thinking, harmony, and tranquility, are yours with a steady meditation practice.

You do not have to make all these changes at once, but do incorporate a few of them into your daily life, and you will be much happier.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Meditation to Envision Success

...It has been said that words, such as abundance, success, and achievement, have no place in Yoga. Now, consider these opposite words: Poverty and failure. Does anyone think poverty and failure are ideas, which we should meditate on? Pain is part of life. If you have a choice, why take the path of pain?

Any sequence of thoughts, whether positive or negative, can become reality when you constantly move toward the end result with faith. Therefore, I am is extremely important. Especially if you concentrate, focus, or meditate upon success. For the best results, in every day life, all of us should focus on the positive outcome more often.

When a Yoga teacher, or Guru, leads meditation, you are taught many methods, and visualization is...more

How Yoga Helped Me Navigate Choppy Waters

...hts on the initial ocean passage, there were plenty of sailors ready to stretch out there bodies and feel the power of yoga under the intense sun and cloudless blue sky of the Caribbean. What a journey! And yoga has been a full passport to the adventure in my life.

While the loss of a loved one, and in my case my marriage partner, can and will leave one in a state of confusion, Yoga has opened the window to a new beginning. It works. In addition to the personal loss; I experienced a rearrangement of my life through tremendous damage to my home from three major hurricanes in the past two years. When I lost my office addition because of flooding from a broken water line as the result of a fallen tree, I turned the space outside into a meditation and butterfly garden and the space inside became a yoga studio. I use my studio as a place of meditation and personal practice. I have collected all my favorite yoga books and memorabilia from my retreats in that space. I know that when one door closes, another opens. I have survived great loss and received great rewardthe yin and yang of life.

When I complete a practice with my students I always leave them with an affirmation. My favorite is

No matter how dark the tunnel, it always leads to light.more