Traditional yoga has always been big on Ashthanga Yoga. In order to make it easier for the Western people to adapt to Power Yoga it was derivative from Ashthanga Yoga. Ashthanga yoga is able to detoxify organs and muscles in the body through a series of different postures where people will practice synchronizing their breath. Between the postures and the proper breathing they will experience an internal heat that is rather intense, while producing a purifying sweat that starts the detoxifying.

Since Power Yoga is a slimmed down version of Vinyasa style yoga the classes will vary from one instructor to the next. It is still considered an approach that is fitness based while being performed vigorously.

People all around the world are using Power Yoga since it workouts the entire body with exercises for toning, building strength, doing flexibility, and using functional movements and the properties of elicits that a session of cardio or even aerobics can do. Weight loss paired with fitness goes together so yoga has been able to adapt the exercises and make them more current and even upbeat.

Power Yoga has Benefits

1. Calories are burned

2. The core and body will be toned while flexibility, stamina, and strength are increased

3. Metabolism is increased

4. While improving focus, tension and stress will be relieved

5. Muscles that are normally inactive will have an increase in strength and flexibility.

Cardio Compared to Power Yoga

When doing a cardio workout for a solid hour it is true a person could burn calories at twice the speed as yoga but, yoga is going to build lean muscles that are toned while the core is being work on and the muscles are being fed. There are two things that a person will experience when using Power Yoga. In order to experience weight loss the muscles will become leaner. By muscles being lean the metabolism is now increased and fat is actually burned quicker.

Even though a good cardio session will burn double the calories it does not mean the fat is being burned. If too much cardio is done then the risk of depleting muscles becomes a factor and weight loss will be harder to achieve.

Confused?

Power yoga can safely be added twice a week to the normal routine for burning fat and achieving weight loss. When doing cardio weight lifting will build muscle but, if a person has not started lifting weight then yoga will prepare the body by strengthening the muscles. Maximum results can be experienced if cardio and yoga are mixed together.

Muscles are contracted more if a person is a runner or body builds by lifting heavy weights. When using yoga it will actually lengthen the muscles by doing stretches which will help with the running and weight lifting. Yoga will help so one does not have to worry about getting cramps all the time since the muscles were not stretched properly to begin with. Yoga would be perfect to add with either routine and a person would not have to worry about losing weight since in this case yoga would help with the leanness and flexibility of the muscles.

Traditional yoga has always been big on Ashthanga Yoga. In order to make it easier for the Western people to adapt to Power Yoga it was derivative from Ashthanga Yoga. Ashthanga yoga is able to detoxify organs and muscles in the body through a series of different postures where people will practice synchronizing their breath. Between the postures and the proper breathing they will experience an internal heat that is rather intense, while producing a purifying sweat that starts the detoxifying.

Since Power Yoga is a slimmed down version of Vinyasa style yoga the classes will vary from one instructor to the next. It is still considered an approach that is fitness based while being performed vigorously.

People all around the world are using Power Yoga since it workouts the entire body with exercises for toning, building strength, doing flexibility, and using functional movements and the properties of elicits that a session of cardio or even aerobics can do. Weight loss paired with fitness goes together so yoga has been able to adapt the exercises and make them more current and even upbeat.

Power Yoga has Benefits

1. Calories are burned

2. The core and body will be toned while flexibility, stamina, and strength are increased

3. Metabolism is increased

4. While improving focus, tension and stress will be relieved

5. Muscles that are normally inactive will have an increase in strength and flexibility.

Cardio Compared to Power Yoga

When doing a cardio workout for a solid hour it is true a person could burn calories at twice the speed as yoga but, yoga is going to build lean muscles that are toned while the core is being work on and the muscles are being fed. There are two things that a person will experience when using Power Yoga. In order to experience weight loss the muscles will become leaner. By muscles being lean the metabolism is now increased and fat is actually burned quicker.

Even though a good cardio session will burn double the calories it does not mean the fat is being burned. If too much cardio is done then the risk of depleting muscles becomes a factor and weight loss will be harder to achieve.

Confused?

Power yoga can safely be added twice a week to the normal routine for burning fat and achieving weight loss. When doing cardio weight lifting will build muscle but, if a person has not started lifting weight then yoga will prepare the body by strengthening the muscles. Maximum results can be experienced if cardio and yoga are mixed together.

Muscles are contracted more if a person is a runner or body builds by lifting heavy weights. When using yoga it will actually lengthen the muscles by doing stretches which will help with the running and weight lifting. Yoga will help so one does not have to worry about getting cramps all the time since the muscles were not stretched properly to begin with. Yoga would be perfect to add with either routine and a person would not have to worry about losing weight since in this case yoga would help with the leanness and flexibility of the muscles.

Although a Hatha Yoga teacher must be able to teach a variety of poses (asanas), practice many forms of meditation, and understand the inner workings of Yogic breathing techniques (pranayama), one of the most difficult parts of the job description is observing the class.

It takes a combination of experience, knowledge, and intuition to share concise instructions and ensure each Yoga practitioners’ safety. Good Yoga teachers spend as much, or more, time watching their students as they do demonstrating techniques and postures.

While observation looks simple, it requires a fine balance of attention to individual needs, execution of postures, classroom atmosphere, and safety precautions. In order to have a well-rounded class curriculum, Yoga instructors must simultaneously consider all of these.

Why Observation Is Important in Yoga Classes

• Successful Yoga teachers share information with the entire class while meeting each student on a personal level. Ideally, every person should leave the Yoga studio feeling the lesson targeted his or her specific needs.

• Yoga instructors have a tremendous responsibility to see that every student is safe. This requires knowledge of personal health histories, the risks and cautions related to each activity, and an understanding of the capability of everyone in the class.

• Yoga teachers who are sensitive to students’ learning styles, personalities, and skill levels instinctively know which ones are hesitant to try new techniques and poses or take on new challenges. Some people like risks while others mentally and physically freeze if they feel rushed; some learn best by listening, and others are more adept at listening or observing.

• Yoga incorporates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, which can be a huge amount of information. Often, teachers are stronger in one of these areas than they are in others. A Yoga teacher who recognizes a student’s strengths is better prepared to offer encouragement and praise.

• Observation is the only way for teachers to monitor students’ progress, correct alignment, minimize the chance of injury, and establish a practice of good habits. Learning the proper techniques for Yogic breathing, meditating, and practicing asanas is a basic foundation of student growth and success.

Conclusion

For Yoga instructors, observation is much like mindfulness. When teachers pay attention and let go of the need to control or judge, the studio transforms into a place where students gain confidence, poise, and serenity. As a result, every person leaves thinking he or she was in a class designed just for him or her.

As teachers, we must strive for a balance between the controlling instructor, who has to assist everyone in the class, and the teacher who has a fear of leaving his or her mat. Observation by “walking the room” at times when you cannot see all of your students is the answer.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

Yoga started in India and has been around for 5000 years. It is a way for uniting the soul, body and mind for experiencing tranquility. There are different types of yoga, but they all are for doing the same thing. Rid the body of stress and bring peace to the mind while achieving optimal physical health.

There are yogas that can help a person rise out of their state of consciousness that they are in. If it is paired with relaxing music the senses concentrate on the music and the person is drawn to a whole new level of perceptions. When one is taken to this level, there is now state of harmony being experienced throughout the person.

Yoga teaches a person how to control their breathing. This is known as pranayama. When a person is breathing correctly the mind along with the body are going to feel strength and vitality. By bringing energy into the body the brain is able to develop in different parts. This can also keep some diseases away by making the immunity system stronger.

For reaching emotional bliss and eliminating one’s veil of life there is meditation. Spiritual insight can be reached by channeling the soul and mind through meditation. It is able to remove fluctuations in the mind and a person will experience blissful stillness. A person is able to concentrate better since calmness and peace has been reached. Music is a key for meditation and achieving this peace of mind. The music is able to submit a soothing and tranquil sound that helps the person relax and feel at peace.

Music has become a big part when practicing yoga. By listening to the soothing sounds a person will enhance their meditative mood within their self. Music stores everywhere are now offering DVDs and CDs for yoga. When listening to the music the body, soul, and mind will feel refreshed. For various music for yoga and meditation there are artists like Donna De Lory, Wah, Krishna Das, And Deva Premal to name a few. The listener is able to be taken to a mystic high because the deep spiritual connection is experienced with these artists.

Divinity can be found through meditation and yoga music which can easily be found on most online and some offline stores. When a person wants to learn more about Kundalini, Bikrama, Hatha, or any other type of yoga there are detailed yoga instruction books. The spirit on a person will be enhanced when listening to CDs of yoga music. Yoga devotees will discover a higher consciousness by applying different types of yoga asanas. A person will be learning to progress toward their own joyous journey from within. This is where the state of tranquility, peace, and harmony are reached. Refresh the inner self by practicing meditation and yoga. The Supreme will merge with the body, soul, and mind where a stage of unearthly composure and peace are reached.

Peace of body and mind can be infused with the spirit and achieved through yoga. There is music for yoga and meditation along with many accessories that can be used.

The National Institutes of Health says yoga is able to interact favorably with the mechanisms in the body and the brain for promoting mental and emotional health and thus helps with the over all physical health. Scientists have been studying yoga over the years while practitioners of mental health say it is a therapy that helps with relieving anxiety, stress, and even many eating disorders that adult and children deal with. If a person has HIV/AIDS or cancer, then yoga lends them the power for coping with the diseases.

About Yoga

Yoga comes from a region that is known as modern day India and actually dates back 5000 years ago. The exercises focus on holding varies poses, breathing deeply, and rhythmic movements for stretching the muscles. It is a way for joining discipline both physically and mentally in order to achieve mind and body peacefulness. It also helps in managing anxiety and stress levels by teaching you to relax. There are a variety of styles, intensities and forms with yoga. Traditional philosophy of yoga aims for a body that is free of pain while being flexible and strong., a nervous system that is healthy and autonomic with a person’s physiological system, like the digestion track, hormonal and respiration both functioning optimally, along with a mind that is tranquil, calm, and clear. Yoga is practiced for promoting a quality of life that is good and self improvement of a person.

Reduces Stress

An effective way for reducing anxiety and stress is by using yoga. In order to properly do the exercises it is required that a person is in a quiet place so they can focus on each movement. Since the focus is on the poses the mind forgets about the busy day that was pressure filled, and replaces the stress with calmness along with concentration, anger along with frustration is reduced which builds the confidence so any problem can now be tackled. Yoga helps with boosting self esteem which helps to stop stress from entering the body. Harvard Medical School in 2009 published a report saying the stress response system is modulated with yoga. The heart rate is reduced, blood pressure is lowered, and respiration is eased. All this conditions the body so it can better respond to stress.

Mental Disorders Experience Therapy

When people have a physical or mental illness yoga is used for their therapy. In fact the issue of Psychiatry in 2010 of August found findings that proved that Therapeutic yoga eases suffering, helps with rehabilitation, quality of life is improved and coping is much easier. Through research it has been proved that yoga can be effective when treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and disorders caused from eating along with anxiety. Yoga is able to stabilize and enhance a person’s mood. In a study where students were known for playing hooky they were asked to participate in Hatha yoga. Their tensions soon begin decreasing, along with their anger and fatigue which made them show in their classes more often.

Physical Health Problems get Complementary Therapy to help with Coping

In patients that have HIV/AIDS yoga is able to ease depression and promote a quality of life. The National Library of Medicine conducted research and was able to report that techniques performed with yoga helped reduce and feelings of depression and anxiety in HIV/AIDS patients. The body is able to create a sense of awareness that is deep while connecting to the inner self by doing exercises of breathing and meditating. When a patient has HIV/AIDS there are many different side effects from being treated with the medication. Yoga helps these patients handle their side affects better.

Studies have also been done that shows yoga is able to assist in treatments of diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and even asthma.

The National Institutes of Health says yoga is able to interact favorably with the mechanisms in the body and the brain for promoting mental and emotional health and thus helps with the over all physical health. Scientists have been studying yoga over the years while practitioners of mental health say it is a therapy that helps with relieving anxiety, stress, and even many eating disorders that adult and children deal with. If a person has HIV/AIDS or cancer, then yoga lends them the power for coping with the diseases.

About Yoga

Yoga comes from a region that is known as modern day India and actually dates back 5000 years ago. The exercises focus on holding varies poses, breathing deeply, and rhythmic movements for stretching the muscles. It is a way for joining discipline both physically and mentally in order to achieve mind and body peacefulness. It also helps in managing anxiety and stress levels by teaching you to relax. There are a variety of styles, intensities and forms with yoga. Traditional philosophy of yoga aims for a body that is free of pain while being flexible and strong., a nervous system that is healthy and autonomic with a person’s physiological system, like the digestion track, hormonal and respiration both functioning optimally, along with a mind that is tranquil, calm, and clear. Yoga is practiced for promoting a quality of life that is good and self improvement of a person.

Reduces Stress

An effective way for reducing anxiety and stress is by using yoga. In order to properly do the exercises it is required that a person is in a quiet place so they can focus on each movement. Since the focus is on the poses the mind forgets about the busy day that was pressure filled, and replaces the stress with calmness along with concentration, anger along with frustration is reduced which builds the confidence so any problem can now be tackled. Yoga helps with boosting self esteem which helps to stop stress from entering the body. Harvard Medical School in 2009 published a report saying the stress response system is modulated with yoga. The heart rate is reduced, blood pressure is lowered, and respiration is eased. All this conditions the body so it can better respond to stress.

Mental Disorders Experience Therapy

When people have a physical or mental illness yoga is used for their therapy. In fact the issue of Psychiatry in 2010 of August found findings that proved that Therapeutic yoga eases suffering, helps with rehabilitation, quality of life is improved and coping is much easier. Through research it has been proved that yoga can be effective when treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and disorders caused from eating along with anxiety. Yoga is able to stabilize and enhance a person’s mood. In a study where students were known for playing hooky they were asked to participate in Hatha yoga. Their tensions soon begin decreasing, along with their anger and fatigue which made them show in their classes more often.

Physical Health Problems get Complementary Therapy to help with Coping

In patients that have HIV/AIDS yoga is able to ease depression and promote a quality of life. The National Library of Medicine conducted research and was able to report that techniques performed with yoga helped reduce and feelings of depression and anxiety in HIV/AIDS patients. The body is able to create a sense of awareness that is deep while connecting to the inner self by doing exercises of breathing and meditating. When a patient has HIV/AIDS there are many different side effects from being treated with the medication. Yoga helps these patients handle their side affects better.

Studies have also been done that shows yoga is able to assist in treatments of diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and even asthma.

There is much debate with menstruation and performing yoga. Depending upon who you talk with some say it is okay while others say do not do it. There will still be others that say it is okay to do inversions and restorative asanas while someone else will tell you it is not a good idea to do either.

Menstruation is handled differently by all women. Some experience no changes during this time and it is just like another day of the week. While others have extreme cramps, massive mood swings, so tired they are fighting sleep all day, bloating of the stomach, and so on. Depending upon how bad the symptoms are the woman might just spend a few days in her bed. Since all women handle menstruation differently some simple guidelines should be followed before doing yoga. During this time of month a woman knows what her body can handle. Listen to the body and it will be your guide.

There are a million emotions that are experienced at this time of month. Just the thought of bending over might trigger the emotions to be even worse.

A woman experiences much more sensitivity during menstruation. Yoga can help to relieve the pain that is being felt, smooth out the emotions, and help calm the mood swings. It will help her find tranquility and peace within herself.

Avoid particular asanas

When on the menstruation cycle stay clear of inversions. It will overstretch the broad ligaments while causing more bleeding along with vascular congestion. It could even cause some reproductive problems.

When there is pain in the pelvic area the last thing a person wants is to add more pain from stressing the area. This is why a woman should skip over doing any backbends, types of arm balances, and body twists. There will be a lot of energy that is required for doing these exercises properly, so it is best to wait until all the strength is back in the body.

However, yoga can have great benefits during menstruation if performed for the purpose of meditation and relaxation of body. There is no reason for pushing and straining instead, performs the poses that are gentle and just hold them a tad longer. Breathing and relaxing poses are the best for this time and can generally be practiced by almost any menstruating woman. Inner strength comes from being grounded with practicing the proper positions.

Professional development is an important aspect of any career. Professionals from all disciplines seek to gain more knowledge, or to develop knowledge in a specific area of their field. Doctors, teachers, business people, and other professionals, know the importance of staying current with industry related trends and developments. Yoga teachers are no exception. It is important for Yoga instructors to stay abreast of any changes in the field of Hatha Yoga, as well as to educate themselves on the various aspects of living a Yogic lifestyle as a path to wellness and personal development.

Fortunately, there are many opportunities available for Yoga teachers today. Instructors can take on-line classes for convenience, take distance-learning Yoga teacher courses, or seek out a local workshop, seminar, advanced Yoga teacher training, or an intensive class. Since there are so many options, there really is no excuse for not keeping yourself knowledgeable and current. Some certifying Yoga organizations give a list of subjects that teachers should research further.

The beauty of independent study is that you can study exactly what you like, on your own time, and at your own pace. If there is a chunk of knowledge that you are already quite familiar with, you can skip it, moving on to new information. You can work at your own pace, squeezing it in at night, early in the morning, on weekends, or whenever your schedule allows. Independent study gives you the flexibility to advance in your career without causing you to rearrange the rest of your life.

Yoga teachers might consider going into a more specialized area of Yoga. If you like working with kids, perhaps children’s Yoga is an area to explore deeper. Maybe you recently had a baby, realized the benefits of prenatal Yoga, and would like to continue helping expecting mothers. Perhaps your interest lies in the meditation and pranayama (Yogic breathing) aspects of Yoga, and you would like to learn how to help others heal through breath and meditation. Wherever your interests lie, seek out a way to increase your knowledge and continue to grow as an instructor.

Students are drawn toward Yoga teachers who are knowledgeable, and can answer any questions or concerns that come up during the course of study. Seeking inner peace and joining the mind, body, and spirit are all part of the basic Yogic philosophy. Instructors will find that they are on a true path to achieving their spiritual goals when they seek to improve themselves as teachers of Yoga. Independent study is a simple, but important, step toward becoming the best Yoga teacher you can be.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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.

More specifically, kinesiology is the scientific study of the body’s bones, joints, tissues, nerves, and muscles. The practice of Yoga focuses largely on moving the body into positions, which will strengthen and lengthen the joints and muscles. It seems that kinetics and Yoga go hand in hand. When you are teaching Yoga, you are teaching your students how to safely move the body into specific postures for specific results. A Yoga teacher must be knowledgeable about the way the different parts of the body work in conjunction with each other.

Imagine a scenario where you are teaching a class full of beginners how to perform Triangle pose for the first time. You will make sure that students get into a wide stance with proper alignment, and then turn the toes out to the proper degrees. Then students must focus on their hips, keeping them squared forward, and practice moving from the hips as opposed to leading with the shoulders or another body part. Once the hips are in place, students must reach with top arm upward, shoulders down and back. Finally, the Yoga instructor must convey how to reach out and down toward the front foot, while reaching up to the ceiling, opening up the chest, and cast the gaze upward.

That one pose covered nearly the whole body, from toes to head. As students learn to go into the pose, the Yoga instructor needs to be able to understand student limitations and adjust bodies accordingly. This not only requires knowledge of the pose itself, but knowledge of how the body works. If a student experiences pain or discomfort due to a pose, it is the Yoga instructor’s job to tweak the body to alleviate the discomfort. This requires knowledge of body kinetics.

Kinetic knowledge is crucial background information for Yoga instructors. Although you might not always teach your students about specific tissues or joints, it is important in forming a general understanding of how human bodies work. One of the aspects of Hatha Yoga is to become more in touch with our bodies, so it just makes sense that a Yoga teacher should know the scientific ins and outs of the body.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

Yoga mats are available in a large range of shapes and dimensions to look after all of your physical and spiritual needs. There are so many options available when it comes to buy a mat and sometimes it can be difficult. In this article you will find very useful information about these mats that will help you getting most out of these mats.

There is no doubt that yoga mats are one of the most popular yoga products and accessories on hand. These mats have now become a significant part of yoga. A good strong yoga mat will provide you support and grip as well as providing you cushion from the floor plus it will also help with improving the balance.

Before buying a yoga mat it is very important to know about what kind of mat you are looking for. You need to know what kind of yoga you want to occupy and which kind of ground you will be practicing on. A right type of mat will help your stability and provide comfort during your yoga exercises so it is very important that you choose right type of pad for doing your yoga in order to get most benefits from it. For traction upon slippery surfaces, cotton yoga mats could be backed with natural rubber, and may also be padded by helping cover their natural padding like made of wool and buckwheat hulls.

Natural or organic yoga mats are produced using natural rubber, and all sorts of natural plant extract materials for example cotton, hemp, jute along with other “floating” fibrous grasses. The manufacture connected with one of these organic mats will furthermore not contain any non biodegradable chemical compounds most of the growing or production processes.

These mats are available in numerous size versions, though most typical is 24 inches wide by 68 inches long, thickness can differ from only a couple of millimeters to 400 millimeters which are more comfortable of mats.

Yoga exercises do not need much equipment apart from a yoga mat and when it comes to buying a mat, there are lots of options to choose from. In addition to different dimensions you also have choice of choosing from numerous designs and materials. The price depends on the material and size and you could be searching at a variety of between $30 for any average pad as much as almost $200 for any top quality mat.