How Can Yoga Contribute Towards Clearer – Healthier Skin?

Exercise plays a big part in keeping our skin healthy and whilst there are many different forms, yoga is often one of the best you can participate in.

Yoga and its Benefits for the Skin

Long gone are the days when yoga was considered as strange and something that only few people practiced. Today, thanks to many celebrities, the practice of yoga is extremely popular and it is helping people everywhere to obtain a healthy mind and body. There are many reasons why yoga is good for the body and here you will find just a few of them.

Helping You to Relax:
Yoga is well known for its relaxation techniques and it really does help to reduce stress. Stress is a common factor in dull, tired skin, and by reducing that stress you will no doubt end up with clearer skin.

The reason stress contributes so much towards unhealthy skin is because it can cause blemishes and it can make us lose out on sleep. When you are constantly stressed, your mind is never relaxed. This means that you could potentially spend up to hours at a time, tossing and turning, trying desperately to sleep.

So, by participating in yoga the breathing techniques associated with the practice will not only help to keep your heart happy and healthy, but it will also cut down your stress levels, bring down your blood pressure, and help you to have blemish free skin!

Helping You to Sleep:
Not getting enough sleep is one of the most common reasons why people suffer from bad skin. It really is true that we need at least eight hours beauty sleep in order for our skin to repair the daily damage done to it and to prepare for the day ahead. If you do not get enough sleep your skin will often look dull and tired.

Yoga works every muscle in the body and that really can tire you out. So, when it comes to bed time you should be really tired. If not, another way yoga helps you to sleep is it relieves any tension built up within your body and it gets rid of stress.

Helping People Who Suffer From Acne:
Whilst many experts say that acne is often helped with exercise, it is not always true. Sweat can often irritate acne and so really active exercise is often ruled out. This is where yoga can come in.

Yoga is a really strenuous exercise which works every muscle in the body, however it is done quite slowly and so you do not really sweat as much as you would do with other more active exercises. This is great news for people with acne as it can often provide really good benefits for the condition, and it can sometimes also even clear it up.

Helping to Keep the Skin Firmer:
Yoga is by far one of the best exercises to keep the skin firm and supple and even people in their later years, enjoy the benefits of younger looking skin thanks to yoga.

As every muscle in your body is worked, it helps to keep them toned and that in turn keeps the skin firm.

Overall, yoga is excellent for the skin and it can also provide good benefits for people with blemishes and even acne. As well as benefits to the skin, yoga provides benefits for the whole body and it can be practiced by both males and females. So, if you are looking for an exercise to keep you in shape, decrease your stress and keep your skin looking healthy and toned no matter what your age, yoga is definitely for you!

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Secrets to get the Most out of Your Yoga Teacher Training Course

Yoga training for interns and teachers can differ, but so can the mindset of the participants. For some Yoga instructors, the initial training is a “spring board” toward future achievement.

There are Yoga teacher graduates who get more out of the same Yoga teacher certification program than others. So, what are the secrets to their success? The following are useful tips for interns seeking a Level 1 Yoga teacher’s diploma, but they will also be of value to existing Yoga teachers, who seek continuing education credits for re-certification.

Set realistic learning goals and deadlines. How much time do you really have? What are your other obligations, which take most of your time? It is difficult to manage a job, family, housework, evening classes at college, and studying to become a Yoga teacher. You need to assess your obligations and determine your free time. Knowing this will help you plan how many pages to read per night, how much time to practice, or how to plan your next assignment.

Never cram your studies. Be honest with yourself and get the most out of your Yoga certification course. If you study at the last second, your long-term memory will store very little of what you learned. Many students who cram cannot remember much of what they learned over the long haul. Permanently remembering facts is much different from learning facts for an exam – especially if last second learning is the method used.

Join Yoga teacher associations, Yoga instructor networks, and Yoga teacher forums. Some people wait until they become Yoga instructors to join any “clubs.” Do not put this off. You can always upgrade to a teacher’s membership at a later date. Use every learning resource possible, without causing “information overload.”

Do your own homework. This sounds simple and honest enough, but students of all vocations have been known to take “short cuts.” There is nothing wrong with getting help from a Yoga teacher, your tutor, a Yoga friend, or getting ideas from dependable Yoga sites.

However, if you turn an assignment over to someone else, you have short changed your own foundation of knowledge. The result is that your students will suffer from your lack of knowledge. It is true that we cannot learn 5,000 years of knowledge and scripture, in one lifetime, but we should learn what we can.

Yoga is constantly evolving, and we all need to keep our education up-to-date. Keeping current with safe methods is one of the biggest dividends of continuing education for Yoga teachers. Ultimately, Yoga students would be the ones to suffer the most, if Yoga was a “dead system.”

Patanjali, and Yogis of the past, recognized Yoga as an infinite system. Yoga teachers of the present will build on the foundations of past knowledge. The study of Yoga is a lifetime journey and cannot be learned in a single weekend intensive. The longer you study Yoga, the more there is to know.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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Costa Rica Yoga Vacation

A vacation is a time to rest, refocus, and enjoy, there is no better way to do all three than on a Costa Rica yoga vacation. A Costa Rica yoga holiday is more than just a trip away from home, it is a way to experience the practice of yoga in the peaceful, serene natural beauty of the rainforest. Take your yoga skills to the next level as you breathe the ocean air deeply and enjoy the sounds of the rainforest. While you’re at it, meet some of the inhabitants of the rainforest, your Costa Rica Yoga vacation will be an opportunity to reach within and embrace your true self while at the same time reaching out to embrace the iguana that’s sauntering by.

When you’ve achieved a peaceful state of enlightenment, trade your mat for a board and hit the waves because with more than eight hundred miles of shoreline, your Costa Rica yoga experience is just getting started! After some serious surf time use what you’ve learned during your Costa Rica yoga training to conquer your fears and head out to enjoy one of the many adventure activities. Kick your journey of self-discovery into high gear with the white water rafting, snorkeling, horseback riding, canopy tours, zip-lining, mountain biking, and even bungee jumping that makes Costa Rica synonymous with adventure travel.

If your Costa Rica yoga journey requires quieter pursuits, the jungle offers amazing opportunities for bird watching and hiking as you search for monkeys, toucans, parrots, and the reclusive rainforest sloth. A great yoga session will prepare your mind to concentrate on your swing as Costa Rica boasts world class golf courses and day spas. Of course the best way to cap off a perfect day of yoga is to take a dip in one of Cost Rica’s famed natural waterfalls. End your day of yoga and adventure by strolling on the beach at sunset, you’re at peace, you’re enlightened, you’re on a Costa Rica yoga holiday!!

For more information about Costa Rica yoga, visit the website at http://www.laescueladelsol.com.

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Which Yoga is Right For You?

It seems like yoga is everywhere these days. There are yoga classes in gyms, high schools, senior citizen centers, and strip malls, each with a different spin: gentle yoga, hot yoga, restorative yoga, pre- and post-natal yoga, power yoga, and mommy and me yoga, just to name a few.

Why is yoga experiencing such popularity? It might be because of the health benefits yoga practitioners say they experience, and the fact that yoga can be tailored to their specific needs.

I am a firm believer that anyone can benefit from a dedicated yoga practice. Yoga can improve your health and bring clarity to your mind. Your muscles become stronger, and you will gain more flexibility in your joints, something that doesn’t happen from working out at the gym.

In fact, many students have come to me with injuries sustained from working with weights or from years of running. You have to be careful if you have injuries, but that shouldn’t prevent you from beginning a yoga practice. You should never feel pain in a posture. There are always modifications to protect an injured area.

Students Report Benefits

Dedicated yogis report all kinds of benefits from practicing yoga, from improved health to reduced pain.

“I began yoga to become flexible and strengthen my body for running, especially my upper body,” says Suzanne Gentry of Eaton’s Neck. “The benefits I have gained are numerous. I have a lot of flexibility, tighter abs, stronger legs and upper body. I am more relaxed and sleep well. I am able to run like I did ten years ago. My hamstrings no longer hurt and my quads are stronger.”

Susan Noddle of Manhattan reports that yoga has reduced her pain from two herniated discs in her back that lie on the L5 nerve root and cause discomfort in her foot.

“I have practiced with this injury and while at times I have to modify or take it slow, it has not prevented me from practicing for any sustained amount of time,” says Susan. “I have had to take a week or a few days off when it flares up, but I am always able to return. I also have had surgeries on both of my knees. My surgeon recommends yoga for my knees.”

Monica Diamond-Caravella of Huntington tells of the positive effects of yoga on her chronic neck pain. “I suffer from chronic neck pain related to a motor vehicle accident. I’ve been through physical therapy twice, for at least nine months each, with traction. Yoga keeps my neck supple and flexible and the majority of the time I have no pain. If I don’t keep up my practice, my neck pain comes back.”

Yoga For Any Age, Any Level of Ability

People of any age can practice yoga. My students are all ages: from teenagers to 70-year-olds. Not only is practicing yoga possible at any age, you don’t have to be able to touch your toes or bend like a pretzel to do it. Flexibility is a byproduct of practicing yoga. It’s one of the benefits.

If you’ve “tried yoga and didn’t like it,” I would encourage you to take a class with a different teacher or try a different style. Yoga is so beneficial on many levels, no matter what your age. Don’t give up because you didn’t like the teacher, or you felt the class was too difficult, or too easy. There’s a yoga class for everybody!

A Guide to the Types of Yoga

Not sure where to begin? Here are brief descriptions of some of the different types of yoga available in our area:

VINYASA FLOW – “Vinyasa” means “to move with the breath.” In some vinyasa-style yoga classes you will flow in and out of postures without having to hold one pose for very long. In others, the teacher may instruct you to stay in the posture longer, which may be more challenging. Anusara, Ashtanga, Jivamukti and Power Yoga are all vinyasa style practices.

ANUSARA – Founded in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara is a vinyasa-style practice that emphasizes heart-opening through backbending and alignment and includes the use of props. Anusara means “flowing with Grace” and the practice aims to look for the good in all things. This class is good for students of all levels.

ASHTANGA – This system, passed on by Pattabhi Jois, involves linking movement to breath in a series of postures designed to detoxify, align and strengthen the body. In this type of yoga, the room in usually heated to 85 degrees. Many people find this a challenging practice.

JIVAMUKTI – Jivamukti means “liberation while living.” This type of yoga was founded by David Life and Sharon Gannon and incorporates chanting, yoga philosophy and meditation along with postures and breath.

POWER YOGA – Similar to Ashtanga, power yoga synchronizes breath and movement. These classes are designed to build strength and flexibility and can be quite challenging.

BIKRAM YOGA (or HOT YOGA) – Named after its founder, Bikram Choudhury, this type of yoga is practiced in a room heated to 100 degrees or more. Prepare to sweat. A lot! This method consists of a set series of 26 postures with each posture repeated twice in 90 minutes. Wear light clothing, bring a water bottle and a very big towel.

HATHA – A hatha yoga class is a good place for beginners to learn the basic standing, seated and balancing postures of yoga. These classes generally move at a slower pace.

KUNDALINI – Kundalini yoga is designed to free energy in the lower body, allowing it to move upwards, awakening the seven charkas. This class consists of rapid, repetitive movements done with breath or holding a pose while breathing in a particular way. Classes include chanting and can be physically intense.

IYENGAR – This style is named after its originator, BKS Iyengar, and is characterized by precise attention to alignment in each posture. You will more than likely hear the teacher direct your attention to your feet, knees, hips, spine, sternum, neck, head, and other body parts in just about every pose. The use of props such as blocks, straps, bolsters, and blankets is encouraged.

RESTORATIVE – These classes focus on relaxing the body in postures that are comfortable, usually using props such as bolsters and blankets.

One way to make sure your instructor has been properly trained is to see if they are registered with Yoga Alliance, a national registry for yoga teachers. This indicates that the teacher has completed a standard course of study. A poorly trained instructor may inadvertently cause injury by forcing a pose or allowing a student to try something the student isn’t ready for. Yoga Alliance’s national registry is available online at www.yogaalliance.org.

Yvonne Suzuki Licopoli, Registered Yoga Teacher
Northport, New York

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Secrets of Successful Yoga Studios

What will happen if you are a competent, talented, and compassionate Yoga teacher, without enough dedicated students? Here is a simple answer: Don’t quit your “day job” and don’t open a Yoga studio of your own. Sorry to be so blunt, but you need time to grow your following.

When, or if, you develop a following as an independent contractor, then and only then, think about opening a Yoga center. This is not meant to be harsh, but there are enough Yoga centers with poor business skills to go around, and you don’t need to lose every penny you saved without developing sound business plans.

Therefore, please take time to develop a Yoga business plan with goals and estimated time frames. Unfortunately, I have seen too many Yoga studios open with a “one month plan.” Can you imagine opening an ashram without a telephone, getting caught up in zoning board complications, or just hoping for the best? One poorly organized Yoga studio makes all Yoga teachers look bad, and leaves the public thinking every Yoga studio is like that.

How do you feel when you go to a deli for the 20th time and the counter help tries to avoid you? Do you feel like going back again, when, half the time, they get your order wrong? Where am I going with this?

Every Yoga studio should have an appointed person for customer service and public relations. Yoga teachers should know all of their students’ names “by heart.” If you ignore your Yoga students, there is no reason for them to stay. They will feel unwelcome and unworthy. One of the worst ways to handle a student / teacher relationship is to ignore a Yoga student.

Be careful of perceptions that make you feel like you are better than your Yoga students. Remember that your students pay you to teach Yoga. You should treat them like your best friends. How many of your friends are paying for your meals, car, mortgage, or your vacations? Your Yoga students are “number one.”

Doing the “little extras,” keeps Yoga students. When a student has a question, it is your job to give an informed answer; and if you do not have one, consult with a senior or master Yoga teacher. If you are not a “people person,” do not become a Yoga teacher.

Make sure that the person who answers your phone loves people. You can’t keep a Yoga studio open with a grumpy receptionist. The receptionist is the initial “gate keeper” of a Yoga studio, and for Yoga students, that gate should be held open with a wide smile.

Each Yoga studio should be a haven for students to find what they seek, without putting up with inferior service. They face far too much of it, outside the Yoga class. You should know the needs of your students and promise only what you can deliver.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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Yoga for Men

All social categories and age groups can appreciate yoga as a relaxation method or even as a life style choice. Yoga practitioners investigated the physical and mental differences between men and women for a protracted time. In general, men are known to be less emotional than women and they frequently suppress their emotions. This can lead to stress and, eventually, to an increased hazard of heart problems.

A man’s greater level of physical strength is accepted by most committed yoga practices. This is why several of the poses recommended for men require additional muscle strength and endurance. Numerous male yoga practitioners have discovered that a mixture of yoga and weight training can equip them with the required levels of energy and positive thinking. In many cases, the balance between mind and body is broken by various harmful exterior factors such as stress, pressure, social problems and so on. The tight link between body and soul can be regularly seen in such cases: if the spirit is defeated, the body will often get ill and debilitated.

This is why the more physical aspects of yoga are greatly recommended for men. Society imposes certain standards – and keeping fit and looking good are just two of them. In order to possess self-confidence and respect for your own self you need to take care of your body correctly. Some of the yoga poses you will read about further on in this article are fabulous for keeping the body in perfect physical condition, particularly when a balanced and healthy diet is adhered to. Needless to say physical yoga training greatly reduces the likelihood of several illnesses such as lowered blood pressure, heart attacks and osteoporosis.

Yoga also favors meditation and relaxation as some of its most effective shields against stress. Half an hour of stretching your muscles and deep breathing can take any yoga practitioner into a condition of serenity and relaxation that gives both mind and body the opportunity to renew their vitality. Particular yoga poses such as the head stand are superb for assisting circulation and allowing the heart rate to drop. This type of position also “forces” you to breathe deeply, thereby improving brain oxygenation. Another comparable pose would be the shoulder stand, which enhances the positive effects of breathing by improving the lung’s capacity to process oxygen. Both these poses are beneficial to the spine as well, as they allow it to stretch and relax at the exact same time. The plough pose may also be tried in order to strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles. Savasana, also known as the corpse pose, is excellent for relaxing the body between asanas.

The above-mentioned poses have to be accompanied by some specific breathing techniques. The Anuloma Viloma technique balances the prana levels in the organism and is recommended for use while doing physical exercises. The Ujjayi breathing method clears the nasal passages and throat of phlegm and allows for a superior air circulation. This technique also works well for improving the responses of the nervous system.

To find out how yoga can be beneficial for you, check out http://www.infoaboutyoga.com.

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How Yoga Positions For Fertility Can Help Couples Conceive

With more and more women delaying having children until later in life, there are a growing number of couples having difficulties conceiving. From their mid thirties onwards, women’s chances of getting pregnant drop dramatically and many are turning to medical intervention to assist them in having a baby.

Trying to conceive can be a very stressful and emotional experience, particularly when it involves undergoing fertility treatment or IVF. Many doctors are now recommending women use yoga in conjunction with their medical treatment, both to assist them in de-stressing and to enhance their possibilities of becoming pregnant.

A Harvard based study found that women who were trying for a baby were three times more likely to conceive if they took fertility focussed yoga courses than those who did not. But what is it about yoga that prepares the body so well for conception and pregnancy?

As we have already mentioned, stress can be a major problems when a couple are having trouble conceiving. Stress can interfere with a woman’s menstrual cycle and delay ovulation, as well as reducing sperm production in men. The emotional release of yoga can ease stress and anxiety, enhancing a couples chances of conceiving.

This is most effective if both the male and female participate, and a couple might consider partner yoga in this situation. As well as deepening and strengthening their relationship, partner yoga can teach them how to cope together with the strain of trying for a baby.

There are numerous other ways that a fertility focussed yoga course can help a woman to conceive. In yoga the body is seen as an energy system, with a number of different areas or chakras. Certain yoga positions focus on increasing the energy flow in the second chakra, known as the seat of creation, which is where the reproductive organs can be found.

There are many yoga positions that increase energy in the second chakra. Certain restorative poses are perfect to prepare the body for conception. They can help to soften the abdominal region and remove any tension from the area of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. Reclining poses are used to elongate the abdominal region, allowing more blood flow to the reproductive organs.

There are also specific yoga positions that a woman can use after sex to increase her chances of conception. One of the most popular is a legs up the wall pose, known as Viprarita Kirani. This ensures that the sperm remain in the optimum position for fertilisation for as long as possible.

A final way that yoga can assist conception is by correcting irregular hormone levels that may be limiting fertility. Certain yoga positions can improve glandular function, which helps to normalize hormone levels.

Although nobody would claim that yoga alone can make you pregnant, following a course of fertility focussed yoga can significantly reduce the stress and emotion of trying to conceive. Used in conjunction with medical treatment, it can prepare your body and mind for pregnancy and greatly increase your chances of creating that longed for baby.

For more information on the best prenatal yoga exercises, click here. Rebecca has an online yoga site suitable for beginners here.

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How Yoga Retreats Can Change Your Life

Yoga retreats enables a person to take time out from their everyday stresses, imposed by their normal living conditions and their working lives. The period of time spent there, permits them to spent quality time on themselves and to reconnect to their mind, body and spirit.

A yoga holiday is an ideal way to relax and recharge. It can also help to physically tone up the body externally and internally. Plus, they give a person the opportunity to enjoy scenic surroundings, as many yoga retreats are located in beautiful locations around the world.

Yet another important benefit of taking a yoga holiday is that time spent there encourages relaxation, by learning the art of yoga and meditation. This has long lasting affects because of being able to take away the knowledge of how to perform different Asana’s yoga positions and techniques.

There is also the opportunity of enjoying a wide range of Holistic treatments which further encourage good health, plus physical and mental well-being.

Other activities, such as walking, cycling, excursions and the prospect of meeting like minded people are also accessible at yoga retreats. This adds to the opportunity to de-stress, revitalize and ‘just be’.

Stress contributes to 70% of the world diseases, according to the The World Health Organisation (WHO). Many doctors now realise the benefits of yoga and by attending a yoga retreat or yoga holiday, you learn techniques which will lessen the likely-hood of a stress related illness.

The emotional benefits are also highlighted here, as stress is known to cause an emotional imbalance in an otherwise level headed person. By practising Yoga a person finds it’s a great way of harmonising both mind, body and emotions.

Therefore, participating in a yoga retreat and in fact, even going on many different yoga retreats whenever possible, really does have both short term and long term benefits.

These specialist types of holidays are a fantastic way to recharge, retreat and then re-enter your everyday life, revitalized and with a great feeling of well-being, both mentally physically and spiritually

For the number one stress buster, you should definitely consider spending time at one of the many yoga retreats which are available.

But, do you want to spend your valuable time in a yoga retreat with a teacher who loves to share and communicate the ancient knowledge of Western and Eastern traditions through the healing power of yoga and meditation within her classes and her treatments?

If so, consider this gentle teacher, who encourages and supports you in her teaching and holistic therapy work in one of the most relaxing yoga retreats.

Lucy was drawn to the practice of Hatha Yoga and the yoga philosophy while studying holistic therapies professionally in London in 1989. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, then in her twenties, she travelled independently in Nepal, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Sudan and the USA, where she broadened her studies of yoga, Eastern philosophy and the healing arts, including the American Indian tradition and philosophy.

Lucy, a qualified Holistic Therapist and international Yoga Teacher, has treated and taught hundreds of people from around the world, healing therapies and yoga for the last 20 years. Click the link to visit one of the most welcoming of yoga retreats

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