At one time, or another, we all think, “Why am I here?” Sometimes we think, “Why do I even bother?” Thinking about giving up is a temptation for all of humankind, but we continue to pursue our goals just like our ancestors did.

My wife, Marie, puts it bluntly, “You have two choices, push forward or give up.” Sometimes, it is a joy to sit in the back of her Yoga classes, so I can listen to a candid approach to life and teaching Yoga.

Look at how far we have come as a species in regards to Yoga, art, holistic health, medicine, technology, and much more. It is easy to look at the downside of humanity, but a lot of our ancestors did not give up. In fact, they recorded past failures and achievements from which we could learn.

As a Yoga practitioner, or Yoga teacher, you have the
ability to learn a complete health maintenance
system, “loaded with archives.” The archives of Yoga are so plentiful that none of us will be able to study, digest, and practice it all in one lifetime. We know that knowledge is power, and Yoga will improve our lives exponentially.

In getting back to making excuses: Everyone makes them now and then. Some Yoga practitioners have stated they are too old, too stiff, and too weak to continue practicing with intensity. Most Yoga students, interns, and Yoga teachers, will admit to being distracted by life. Sometimes, this is a good thing because your body, or mind, needs a rest, and
a little change is harmless.

However, this is not an endorsement to avoid the benefits of steady Yoga practice. Also, this is not an endorsement to become a “couch potato.” Having worked with Yoga students who have a variety of physical disabilities, Yoga can be practiced on your couch, on the floor, in your bed, or sitting down.

Granted, some of the vigorous styles of Yoga would have to be modified, but there is still no reason to abandon Yoga practice for long. Having seen the improvement of Yoga students in wheelchairs, and hospital beds, there is no reason why the study of Yoga should be, “put on the back burner.”

There is a saying that, “Seeing is believing.” This is true for most of the world, but the evidence of improved health, from steady Yoga practice, is obvious. If you want to worry less, become stronger, become more flexible, or clear your mind, Yoga does all of these things and much more.

There is no excuse for keeping the gift of Yoga to
yourself. If you have seen Yoga improve your life, you are a “witness”, and you have the ability to help others improve their lives. Almost every obstacle that life throws in front of us can be overcome, unless we give up.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He’s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. www.yoga-teacher-training.org

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Meditation is a simple mental practice, which looks like thinking, but goes far beyond the process of thinking. Meditation is a heightened state of awareness. The practice of meditation can be seen in ancient religious texts (Christian, Muslim and most importantly Hindu scripts). The most widely followed meditation is Yoga meditation. Yoga was part of ancient Indian (Hindu) life and is still widely practiced. Yoga also suggests a few asana (yoga poses) for meditation and there are poses that are not suited for meditation.

Meditation, as a religious ritual was practiced for over 5000 years. The most developed form of meditation is from India, the yoga meditation. Originally proposed as a religious practice, yoga meditation is now widely practiced in the western world for its curative and pacifying effects. This kind of medicine is proved to have positive effects on both physical and mental health. Conditions like high blood pressure, insomnia, stress, etc are effectively cured with guided yoga meditation.

The goal of meditation can vary. Initially, meditation can be practiced just for relaxation. Meditation gives a relaxed and peaceful mind. Meditation can also give you greater focus and concentration powers. Meditation involves meditating of a single point or idea. This concentration passes on to all other aspects of your life. Ancient yoga practitioners of India aimed spiritual awakening through meditation. Buddha was originally meditating under a Bodhi (ficus) tree, when he achieved enlightenment. Sikhism, Taoism, Jainism, etc have meditation as an important part of their religious rituals. Similarly, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc also have disciples of meditation at varying levels.

Eastern martial arts like Karate, Kung fu, etc required the practitioners to meditate, to increase concentration and for better performance.

The first stage of meditation is choosing a calm location, free from distractions of all kinds. In the ancient times, Indian sages went to forests, away from other the civilization to meditate and they meditate for several years. And they mostly meditated while in the lotus pose of yoga practice. They also meditated while standing on one foot.

Meditation includes first stopping your mind from wandering into distractive thoughts. The only way you can do this is by first observing the thoughts that come to your mind, without making any effort to control or stop the thoughts. After a few days of trying, there will be only a few dozen thoughts coming to your mind, as against the hundreds of thoughts that pestered you while you started your attempt of meditation. Further attempt of a few more days will help you control your thoughts and put your focus on just one thought or idea.

One easier way to control the excess of thoughts is to just listen to the rhythm of your breathing, without controlling it. Soon you can contemplate on one thought or no thought at all. When you can fully concentrate, without the knowledge of the outside world, you have achieved the conditions of meditation. Even if you approach it as a means of fighting stress and a means of achieving higher levels of concentration, meditation will soon help you experience a spiritual bliss – no one else can explain it to you.

For meditation videos and articles, visit www.onmeditation.tv now!

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You would have to be living in isolation to have missed the big hurrah about exercise or medicine balls. These plastic, giant balls are often used in workout routines to help the body get fit and toned. The New Year is here, yet have you stuck with your resolution to workout more or to get in shape? With a medicine ball you can and if you really want to up the ante on your workout and feel great you need to combine it with On the Ball With Sara Ivanhoe: Yoga Workout for Beginners.

On the Ball With Sara Ivanhoe: Yoga Workout for Beginners incorporates the use of a medicine ball with the stretches and exercises associated with yoga. The ball is extremely useful in keeping your spine aligned and also provides a great foundation to do some of the core exercises. It definitely makes you aware of where your center is and how to improve your balance.

For those not familiar with medicine ball training, it is a giant rubber ball that you use to help you isolate certain muscle groups. It has been around for a while now and most gyms even use them in their classes. The ball is fantastic for targeting your abdominal muscles without straining your neck or back due to improper technique. The ball forces you to assume the correct position and helps cushion your spine.

When you add in yoga to traditional medicine ball exercises you uncover a realm of new techniques that can help you strengthen your muscles and learn the poses often associated with yoga classes. But do not worry about the DVD being too advanced. It is specifically designed for beginners.

The ball, in conjunction with the yoga workout, is really practical and can help you learn balance. That is fundamental for learning yoga. Sara Ivanhoe takes the time to teach you the proper techniques and also how to modify them, if you are not able to maintain a particular position or stance. That is extremely helpful for those completely unfamiliar with the various poses and exercises used in yoga.

All in all, if you are looking for a great beginner’s workout DVD that focuses on yoga, then this is the one for you. On the Ball With Sara Ivanhoe: Yoga Workout for Beginners is terrific for those who may have limited abilities due to an injury or are just not coordinated enough for other DVDs. You will have to purchase the ball separately but those are relatively cheap.

Being a professional, Matthew McMillan only recommends the best genital warts remedies. His methods are highly recommended and information curing genital warts can be found at TreatmentForGenitalWarts.com.

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While meditation is an important spiritual element of major religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, it’s used every day by millions of people who meditate purely for it’s health benefits. Western medicine recognizes mediation’s positive, calming effects, with doctors advising patients who suffer from stress, high blood pressure and chromic pain to take a few relaxing minutes each day to meditate.

It’s like a trip to the gym for your brain – by focusing the mind on a single thought or image, even for only 10 or 20 minutes each day, you’re body relaxes, our mind becomes clear, and stressful problems become easier to manage.

Why meditation has a measurable effect on mind and body

To understand how meditation works, it helps to understand how the brain functions. The largest part of the brain is the cortex, divided into left and right hemispheres. The left side of the brain is usually dominant, controlling speech, logic, calculation and writing. The right hemisphere controls creativity, imagination and emotions. Researchers believe that when we meditate we create a connection between the two hemispheres. When subjects hooked up to ECG machines meditate, researchers can measure the intensity of alpha waves – the brain waves when we’re in calm, relaxed state – produced while meditating. During meditation, alpha waves are far stronger and more consistent between both hemispheres that during other forms of relaxation – even sleep.

When the brain is in an alpha state, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over – the part of the nervous system that conserves and restores energy, slows blood pressure and heart rate, and controls the digestion and absorption of nutrients by the body. When the parasympathetic nervous system takes over, the high-stress “fight-or-flight” response – which is accompanied by secretion of stress hormones like adrenaline, plus tension in the head, neck and lower back – is overruled, and the body releases other, more positive hormones that promote relaxation and healing.

Proof that meditation works

Medical researchers have done a great deal of study into the benefits of meditation. Studies show it encourages better brain function, improved circulation in the extremities, increased cerebral blood flow and lower levels of stress hormones. A 1987 found that people who practiced Transcendental Meditation – on where subjects used focused breathing and a repeated mantra, or sound) made less than half the number of visits to doctors and spent 50 percent less time in hospitals than people who didn’t meditate. than those who did not.

There are countless ways to meditate, and you can teach yourself how to do it from, books, tapes, or via the Internet in a very short time. There are often classes available at local community centers, holistic health centers and even community colleges, as well. Among the most popular methods of meditation are:

Mantra meditation: A word or phrase – your mantra – is repeated over and over, either out loud or in your head. You can choose a phrase that relates to your personal beliefs, one that’s a positive statement, or a one-syllable word-sound like “om” or “eng.”

Breath awareness: You concentrate on rhythmic breathing, possibly counting each breath in and out, often breathing in through the nose and out the mouth.

Object meditation: You focus on a specific object, noting each detail of its shape, presence and color.

Active meditations: Using rhythmic movements, like walking, swimming, t’ai chi or yoga to focus the mind.

A simple, 7-step meditation anyone can do

1. Set aside 10 to 20 minutes, once or twice a day.

2. Find a place that’s quiet where you are unlikely to be disturbed, and sit down. You don;t need to sit cross-legged, or in any special posture – a comfortable chair is fine. Wear comfortable clothes, and arrange your arms and legs in a relaxed posture.

3. Set an alarm so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of time. If you’re concerned that it may startle you, place it in another room or under a cushion, so the sound will be muffled but audible.

4. Breathe slowly and rhythmically, consciously relaxing your feet, legs, torso, on up your body until all your muscles are loose.

5. Choose a word to repeat to yourself. The classic mantra is “Om,” the Sanskrit word for perfection. Or you could choose a simple word that reflects what you hope to achieve in your life, like “calm,” “happiness” or “energy.” You could also, instead, count your breaths from one to 10, then over again and again. If thoughts drift into your mind, allow them to float gently out again as you re-focus on your word or breathing.

6. When your alarm sounds and you’ve finished, don’t jump right up – allow yourself to slowly open your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and rejoin the world in a relaxed manner.

7. Stretch your arms and legs, and stand up slowly.

Most people who start meditation find they have trouble motivating themselves to meditate, and letting go of the Western tendency to constantly think, think, think about every little thing. This is one reason why you might consider taking a class or using tapes – in can be valuable to have a guide to take you through meditation your first few times. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find meditation is simple and effective – and you can move on to more advanced techniques as you find yourself progressing.

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