mario

...way from the ego, and the ego may have to take a back seat.

Happiness is not for children only. If you want to raise your spirits, just watch children. Simple things bring about feelings of joy within children. Despite all the technology, children have fun with balls, hand made creations, paper, and crayons.

Adults can afford to learn from children, because the simple pleasures in life are there for us to appreciate. Adults, who have little material wealth, must avoid becoming cynical and depressed, but the rich have their problems too.

Who is happier, the child with just enough or the child with every technological toy known to man. You already know the answer. People will not embrace a spoiled, arrogant, and miserable child. Remember the fifth Yama, Aparigraha, and avoid selfish behavior.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publicationsmore

The Heart of a Yoga Practice: Dedicating Your Efforts

...ven to it or how it is incorporated. Yoga was built on the idea that there is a force greater than ourselves, and yet we are still connected to it. This is the idea of Oneness, and the idea is more than fairly comforting. Others who are religious fear a conflicting of faiths by believing in the spirituality of yoga; however, swami Satchidananda said, The Truth is one, the paths are many. Therefore, people of any faith or belief can practice yoga. Even if a practioner of yoga does not believe in any form of divinity, this does not present a problem. They must simply recognize that the nature of all beings is joy and try to connect with that.

now that weve gotten that sticky subject out of the way, I want to explain this idea of dedicating your practice in greater detail. Its not even so much about dedication as it is relinquishing or letting go of everything whether they be worries, fears, misunderstandings, or hang-ups. My teacher, Sharon Gannon, always promotes the idea that Youve got to get down to get up. What she means is that you need to be rooted in the here and now and be able to let go of all the fruits of your actions. Why, you ask? Why shouldnt you just keep on doing yoga to perfect your chatturangas, balance longer in tree pose, and get that yoga butt? The answer is a simple one. What are all those things going to get you in the lo...more

Yoga Styles For Beginners

...sed on meditation and breathing, and is very spiritual in nature. Its plan is essentially to get your blood circulating though the body more easily, training your muscles to strengthen slowly and healthily, and calming your mind in the process.

Some are finding that as their jobs become more and more stressful, they need something to completely counteract the stress, and for many, yoga is the answer. As more people seek yoga for relief, more yoga styles are also being sought. I have provided a few of the different styles you have to choose from.

Yoga Styles

Ananda Yoga - Ananda Yoga is a class that helps you learns to quiet your body before meditation. You work to move your energy to your brain by aligning your body. Then you control your breathing to calm yourself for your meditative practice. This is great for a person who is not only trying to start as a beginner yoga participant, but also beginner in meditation.

Bikram Yoga - This is one of the more popular yoga styles, ...more

Ten Reasons to Attend a Yoga Retreat

...igned for your retreat. A yoga retreat allows ample time for extended yoga practice. Often you will receive more hours of yoga instruction during a retreat than a whole session of weekly yoga classes! Extended yoga practice allows more time for the body to unwind, release, let go, and find peace in your body, mind, and spirit.

(4) The People

The people I have met on yoga retreats are some of the most enlightened, intelligent and thoughtful people I have come to know. Yoga retreats are an amazing venue to form lasting friendships and deepen existing ones.

(5) The Location

Retreat centers are often located close enough so that it is a short drive and far enough to free yourself fr...more