...There is a myth, which makes its way around alternative healing circles. Basically, there is a massive proliferation of the belief that visualization and wishful thinking are enough to succeed in life. The words work, motivation, and action, are not "in style" or "politically correct." Sorry to say it, but motivation, action, and work, are required to be successful at anything, especially teaching yoga classes.

Motivation is a spark, which causes action and creates success through work. Yet, what if we have been taught that abundance and success are not spiritual pursuits? If you have that much abundance and success, you can always help others. There is no shortage of worthy causes, which need financial help and volunteers.

If success is still an issue, and you have taken a pledge to live in poverty as a reflection of your spiritual growth, there is still a reason to take action. Improvement in your actions and life skills i...more

Teaching Hatha yoga: My yoga Students Do Not Want to Meditate

...Recently, I received an Email from a colleague about local yoga students and their desire to skip meditation. It seems some Hatha yoga students find it appropriate to get up and leave before meditation starts. In the area, where he is located, in the western United States, no yoga studios have meditation as part of the curriculum.

Apparently, there is a lack of interest, and this would leave most yoga teachers discouraged. However, these same yoga students love Asana practice. They state that meditation is boring, and they could be doing something useful instead.

What can yoga instructors do, to explain the mental benefits of meditation? At this point, mentioning spiritual benefits would fall on deaf ears. When yoga students cannot a...more

What is yoga

...S prepare the body for meditation

Mental and spiritual exercises known as MEDITATION. There are various methods to gain 'peace of the soul' for example the old lady who sits by the fire knitting. Meditation is the practice of the constant observation of the spirit. If one is fully concentratoed the spirit gains peace. In yoga, through meditation exercises, one concentrates the spirit on objects known as Mantras to get calm.

Traditionally yoga consists of eight fundamental paths known as:

• 1. Ashtanga or Raja yoga
• 2. Bhakti yoga
• 3. Hatha Yoga
• 4. Jnana Yoga
• ...more
  

  Teaching Yoga for Stress Management - Lowering Stress Levels

  ...test our personal limitations without stress? If everything was handed to us, without any effort on our part, we would not be self-sufficient. We would be no different from a spoiled child, who receives an allowance for doing nothing.

  Therefore, in regard to stress, the goal of Yoga is to reduce it to a manageable level. High levels of stress can cause head, back, and stomach aches, anxiety, trembling, vomiting, panic attacks, fainting, and worse.

  Yoga teachers are equipped with many techniques to alleviate stress. Pranayama, mantra, japa, asana, meditation, mudra, proper diet, and relaxation, are useful aspects of the nine traditional branches of Indian Yoga. Coincid...more
  

  Certification Training Yoga