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Archive for November, 2009

Yoga Equipments for Practicing Yoga Poses | Yoga Mats | Yoga Clothing

yoga
Guest Author: Alien


Yoga Equipments for Your Yoga Practice

Yoga equipments can be a great help for the people who want to practice yoga as they help the yoga practitioner get deeper into the yoga poses. Yoga is the way to unite the body, mind, and the spirit.

In these days, yoga practice is becoming popular and lots of people are practicing yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation. Yoga helps the people to maintain their body in shape and makes them feel better and healthy. And it is one of the reasons of practicing yoga by most people.

There are different yoga poses and yoga postures that make your body fit and well. The best way to relax the body and mind is to practice the yoga routine. Yoga practice helps you to keep your body in shape and this might be the best exercise for you.

Whenever you are starting yoga practice, you have to know the basic yoga equipments for a yoga class. Yoga can be practiced by people of all ages and if you have an idea about the basic yoga equipments that are required for practicing yoga then it can be possible to do anywhere.

Basic Yoga Equipments – Yoga Clothing

For yoga practice, the most essential yoga equipment would be comfortable clothing. You should wear comfortable clothes that will make an ease to breathe. Your clothes should be loose enough, not to interrupt you in your yoga sessions.

It is better to wear a more formfitting top because it will make you feel comfort and you will not have the problem of sliding down your top. A regular pair of exercise shorts or pants will do fine. Not to wear anything slick as some of the yoga poses could make you slip.

Shoes

Shoes are not compulsory for yoga classes. It will be the best whenever you are going to yoga class after work, as there will be no necessity for you to carry heavy athletic shoes. It is an optional thing to use socks or soft shoes for practicing yoga because traditionally it is practiced barefoot. In most classes, the yoga instructor may allow you to practice yoga with out wearing shoes.

Yoga Mats

Another one of the yoga equipments is yoga mats. They are useful both in gyms and in yoga classes. Using a mat for yoga practice is very common but when you are just starting, you may have to wait to buy your own.

Most classes will provide mats or will rent mats. The only disadvantage is that you can get smelly between the washes as many people can use the mats.

Some of the yoga equipments are optional. It also depends upon the type of yoga you are practicing. If you are following Iyengar style of yoga, then the props are generally used in order to keep the correct pose. They assist you to keep your body in alignment and also help you obtain the most out of your exercises.

Yoga Equipments – Yoga Blankets

Yoga Blankets are often used in certain poses and are useful when practicing the sitting positions or poses. They are also useful when you are in the cool down, relaxation period at the end of your practice.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga Blocks are similar to blankets and used as supports in order to improve your position and also makes it more comfortable for your body. They are great when practicing the standing poses where your hands or fingers are supposed to touch the floor and they do not fairly make it. Yoga blocks help you get the best results out of your yoga practice.

Yoga Straps

Yoga Straps, different yoga equipment, are useful for yoga poses where your hands have to meet, and also for postures that you need to hold on to your feet.

The above things are just props and there is no need of buying these yoga equipments unless you find that there is a need of them for your yoga practice at-home. Most of the yoga classes will provide these props.

Starting yoga and practicing it can be done on a little budget, whether you go to a yoga class or you practice yoga with the help of a video at your home. Just remember, the only things that you need for a regular yoga practice would be comfortable, breathable clothes, a top that is formfitting, regular exercise shorts, and no shoes.

Apart from these, you need to empty your stomach and make your nostrils dirt free and clean your throat before you start your yoga practice. It is better to start yoga practice with an empty stomach and also drink warm water 15 minutes before you start the yoga practice.

It will be fine if you try your yoga routine with just a folded blanket instead of a mat whenever you are practicing your routine at home.

Basically you don’t require all the above things for yoga practice. All you need is the desire and the attitude towards yoga and expanding your self-awareness. However this will not entirely eliminate the need for different yoga equipments.

The yoga equipments that you make use for yoga practice will assist you in doing your postures correctly. They support your muscles from getting any injury when performing some difficult yoga poses.

Most of the yoga equipments are prepared to relax your body and mind and also helps you to concentrate on the pose or practice the pose in a proper way.



Mother Nature’s Magic Pill
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Which Type of Yoga is Right for You?

yoga
Guest Author: Jay Franco


If you haven’t practiced Yoga before then you might be confused by the many different types of Yoga practices that are out there. Before deciding which type of Yoga is right for you it’s a good idea to attend a class of each style that interests you so that you can try out each style to see which you prefer. Here’s a brief overview of the most popular types of Yoga to help you get started:

 

Hatha Yoga – This is by far the most common type of Yoga practiced in the West. Hatha Yoga is a slow paced Yoga practice that focuses on both mind and body. If you’re just starting out you will probably find Hatha Yoga to be the best fit for you.

 

Vinyasa Yoga – Vinyasa is a type of Yoga practice that focuses on the breath and how breathing affects your body and mind. The physical practice of Vinyasa Yoga is more active than the physical practice of Hatha Yoga

 

Ashtenga Yoga – Ashtenga Yoga is also commonly called Power Yoga. This form of Yoga is fast paced and very physical. If you are looking for a Yoga practice that will provide a good aerobic workout then Asthenga Yoga is the best choice for you.

 

Iyengar Yoga- Iyengar Yoga is the best Yoga practice for people who have old injuries or chronic illnesses and want to start a Yoga practice that will help them become more flexible and agile and will help them heal. Iyengar Yoga allows the use of props like blocks and straps to help people align their bodies properly to do the movements. 

Kundalini Yoga- Kundalini Yoga is focused primarily on the breath and its effect on health. Kundalini Yoga focuses mostly on rapid, repetitive movements rather than on drawn out poses. There is also a lot of meditation practiced in Kundalini Yoga.



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Help for Those Who Ask, "what is the Best Anti Wrinkle Cream?"

wrinkle cream
Guest Author: Laurel Levine


Suppose that you were an older adult, an adult who was about to blow out the candles on a birthday cake. What would you wish for? Maybe you would wish for help, help with answering this question: “What is the best anti-wrinkle cream?” Of course, if you relished the chance to appear older and wiser, then you might wish to find the answer to this question: “What is the best wrinkle cream?”

How should anyone go about finding the answer to either of those questions? He or she might plan to study carefully the product label, the label on the various skin care items that line the pharmacy shelf. Common sense would indicate that anyone who is asking “What is the best anti-wrinkle cream?” should be familiar with the ingredients that are most often found in a product that has been designed to prevent wrinkles.

Frequently such a product contains something called “naked minerals.” In fact, a product with a label that said “naked mineral free” would probably qualify as the answer to the question “What is the best wrinkle cream?” A product without naked minerals would do a poor job of preventing wrinkles.

What are “naked minerals?” They are minerals that have only a passing effect on the cells that make-up what is referred to as the “surface skin.” Once they have been applied to the skin, “naked minerals” begin their journey down to the deep skin cells. Naked minerals penetrate past aging skin, the skin on the outermost layer of the body. Naked minerals do not try to perform “a miracle” on the aging and dying cells that the body looses each day.

Naked minerals go to work on the deep skin cells, the cells that will eventually rise to the surface. Supplied with naked minerals, a top quality skin care product nourishes the deep skin cells. By nourishing those cells, the naked minerals prepare those deep cells for their trip up to the surface of the skin.

At this point, a thoughtful reader might wonder why skin cells would need to be nourished by a skin cream. Wouldn’t a healthful diet supply the body with vitamins and minerals that have the ability to nourish the deep skin cells? In the past, the answer to that question would have been “yes.” In the past adults could obtain from available fruits and vegetables the vitamins and minerals that were needed by their deep skin cells.

Today, however, even the most healthful diet does not always nourish the deep skin cells to the extent that it should. Today, the growing use of insecticides and pesticides has reduced the number of minerals in the available farm-raised products. That fact explains why the makers of skin care products now put “naked minerals” in their wrinkle-fighting creams.

Now if a reader of this article chooses to stop reading at this point, and to look for a product that contains naked minerals, he or she should realize that that search has little chance for discovery of the perfect anti-wrinkle cream. Those who are asking “What is the best anti wrinkle cream?” need something more that a product with naked minerals.

While naked minerals do fuel the creation of healthy skin cells, a cell that receives naked minerals does not get an automatic signal, a signal that calls for production of a certain vitalizing protein. Healthy skin cells contain a chemical that can stimulate the production of particular proteins. A product that fails to stimulate production of such proteins could be put forth as an answer to the question “What is the best wrinkle cream?” Such a product would encourage the formation of wrinkles.

Such a product would not qualify for designation as a “top quality skin care aid.” Such a product would not stimulate skin cells to produce collagen and elastin. Those two proteins are found in all healthy skin cells. As skin cells age, however, they loose their ability to make collagen and elastin.

A top quality skin care product helps cells to regain their natural ability to make collagen and elastin. Once cells manage to produce collagen and elastin, those cells regain their natural firmness and their natural flexibility. The face that has been treated with a quality skin care product has few wrinkles. The skin on that face copies an appearance of a more youthful visage.



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Weight Training and Safety

weight training
Guest Author: Alien


Weight training is very safe to perform when it is done under proper guidance in slow, careful and controlled manner. But the improper execution of weight training may lead to injury. When the exercise is difficult to execute at the end of the exercise set the tendency to use other muscle groups to assist the method is quite common. This might result in involvement of the weaker muscles that cannot bear the weight. This results in serious injuries. So weight-training exercises must be performed in a proper way under proper guidance.

Whenever a pain is felt during the exercise should be stopped. But all discomforts do not necessarily mean that there is injury. Weight training exercises should be brief and intense. Not many people can accustom them with weight training. The expression ‘no pain, no gain’ is quite apt here and it indicates working through the discomfort resulted from vigorous effort. But negligence of extreme pain is dangerous as this might be the sign of soft-tissue injury.

Muscle Fatigue in Weight Training

Discomfort during weight training can result due to other factors. The trainee who repeats the set of exercises again and again can experience burning sensations in their muscles. This is not resulted from lactic-acid build up, as is believed popularly. In these cases a sense of swelling in the muscles may also be experienced due to the increased blood flow. True muscle fatigue involves the motor unit of the nervous system rather than only the muscle fibers. Temporary muscle failure may result in extreme neural fatigue. Most of the athletes experience muscle failure during their career from time to time.

Safety Measures during Weight Training

To maintain the safety during weight training beginners are recommended to build up slowly during the weight training program. The individuals who do not take weight training might have comperatively stronger muscles than other. If the primary muscles are stonger than the stabilizing muscles in an exercise, this might result in injury. So slow building up is recommended as this help to develop the muscle strength as well as minimize the delayed onset of muscle soreness. A sudden start to a weight training program can lead ti significant amount of muscle soreness. Weight trainers should spend five to twenty minutes of warming up and aerobic exercises before the original workout to avoid injury. The muscles should also be stretched after the exercise. The exercises should be performed at even pace. At least two to four seconds are needed to avoid jerks in the muscle leading to their damage. This provides more safety during weight training.



Fountain Of Youth
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Have You Reached the Point in Your Life Where You are Looking Into Anti-aging Skin Cream ?

anti-wrinkle
Guest Author: Albrecht Bracher


If you have reached the point in your life where you are looking into anti-aging skin cream, the best anti-aging skin creams can be found at Xtend Life, where the philosophy is “love life, live longer.”

As we get older, we cannot escape the effects of time and the environment. Usually, these ravaging effects first begin to manifest openly on our skin–especially the skin of our faces and hands, which tend to be the parts of us most often exposed to the sun, wind, dirt, and the like. As our skin begins to show signs of age thanks to oxidation, loss of moisture, mineral depletion, and perhaps wounding, anti-aging skin creams become more and more desirable and necessary to stave off or even reverse the aging of our largest organ, the skin.

But when you are looking for an anti-aging skin cream, it’s important to consider everything about what goes into it. At Xtend Life, the scientific team has spared no expense to research and develop only the best anti-aging skin creams. Why can they be said to be among the very best? Because besides the fact that they work with great results, they only contain ingredients that could literally be eaten without any ill effects.

This kind of rigorous quality standard has been applied to their anti-aging skin creams because whatever we put onto our skin we, in time, eat as it gets absorbed into the skin and then into the blood. And most of the bigger name skin cream brands use ingredients including parabens (a group of esters widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries because of their antimicrobial and antibacterial powers, but which industry research suggests may cause cancer and interfere with the body’s endocrine system, while at once also being able to cause allergic reactions or skin rashes), petroleum-based glycerines, “fragrances” which are made up of harsh industrial chemicals and are known to cause allergic reactions, and other potentially toxic chemicals.

Not only that, but the best anti-aging skin creams such as those at Xtend Life don’t use fillers, which is mostly what goes to make up the bigger name brands of anti-aging skin cream; the best ant-aging skin creams are made up of holistic, all natural, and mainly active ingredients so that people actually get their money’s worth and really get anti-aging results, leading to greater longevity and healthier, sexier looks.

Another trait that places these among the very best anti-aging skin creams is the fact that they are scientifically formulated so that all of the ingredients are synergistic–that is, they all act together and interact so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And these synergized ingredients are chosen from among only the best manufacturers in the world–mainly companies in Europe, where the fair-skinned population has been carefully developing anti-aging skin cream products for centuries or even longer.

So, if you want to buy only the best anti-aging skin creams, consider Xtend Life’s all-natural creams.



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Getting No Results From Cardio? Try a Weight Lifting Muscle Building Program Instead

cardio
Guest Author: Jeff Kalhoon


If you are finding it difficult to get the body you desire by doing cardio alone, you might want to look at beginning a weight lifting muscle building routine. You can actually improve your body’s fat burning ability and add muscle mass by starting an effective weight lifting program. Let’s look at why adding lean muscle mass is so important and sought after.

Why Lean Muscle Mass Is Crucial

The desire for men wanting to add muscle mass is well known.  A great looking physique with big shoulders and big arms is desired by most men and admired by women. Unfortunately, most women avoid adding muscle mass, fearing that it will make them appear bulky or huge. This is utterly not the case. Adding lean muscle makes women look toned, sculpted, and lean. Instead of thinking about looking like a female bodybuilder, you should picture the body of an athlete or fitness model.

It is possible to add roughly one pound of muscle per week to your body. Because muscle burns more calories than fat, adding this one pound means that you will burn approximately 50 extra calories a day just while resting. It’s a shock to most to discover that while sleeping or resting your body actually burns calories. The amount of lean muscle mass on your body plays a huge factor in the amount of calories that you burn. Over the course of a few months you can see how this can truly add together.

You’ll Look And Feel Wonderful

In addition to increasing your fat burning power and your appearance, a weight lifting muscle building routine makes you feel good!

You’ll be in a brighter mood and have a more positive outlook on life in addition to the increase in energy and strength. This effect also grows over time. You’ll have increased motivation and more amazing and quicker results based on the amount of effort you put in.

Imagine feeling fantastic every singe day both mentally and physically! This is possible for anyone to accomplish and is the ultimate goal.



You Can Do it!


You can be on the route to a new body both physically and mentally by starting a weight lifting muscle building plan. I invite you to give a weight lifting routine a shot if you are not happy with your current exercise and cardio plan. I guarantee that if you stick with it you’ll not only feel great, but will look better than you ever have before.



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Painless Facial Resurfacing and an Anti Aging Wrinkle Cream

wrinkle cream
Guest Author: Stephen Cauldry


Let’s face it (no pun intended), aging is a natural progression of the life cycle. It’s will happen whether we like it or not. Many of us who are beginning to show signs of aging don’t like it one bit. Fortunately, the ingenuity of human kind has given us options in battling the tell-tale signs of aging: age spots, dark circles, bags under the eyes, fine lines, crows feet, furrows, creases, and wrinkles.

Two of the most effective treatments for aging skin are pain-free facial rejuvenation and an anti aging wrinkle cream. Together, these treatments help produce and maintain more youthful-looking skin. For you, the consumer, it is important to know how these treatments work and what to expect. We will begin with facial resurfacing.

Facial resurfacing employs the use of a laser that strips away the outer layers of damaged skin leaving a newly exposed layer to heal bringing about a smoother, more youthful, and more evenly pigmented skin tone. It’s important to specify the type of facial resurfacing that you may want to undergo is called “nonablative”. Nonablative facial resurfacing doesn’t remove the outer surface layer of the skin.

“Nonablative” facial resurfacing has become increasingly more popular because it’s fast, noninvasive, and affordable. In fact, the procedure is so quick it can oftentimes be completed during a lunch hour without showing any signs of undergoing a powerful anti aging treatment. You may be wondering how it all works, since “nonablative” facial resurfacing does not remove the surface layer of skin. That is the beauty of this breakthrough anti aging treatment. It rejuvenates the skin from within. The results are undeniable: younger-looking skin, with increased collagen synthesis and improved elasticity.

Whether or not you choose to have this type of skin treatment, following a daily skin care regiment with an anti aging wrinkle cream is a great way to improve and\or maintain your skin’s appearance. With so many anti aging products competing for your attention, it may be difficult to choose the right one. There are six breakthrough anti aging ingredients to look for in an anti aging wrinkle cream formula.

1. Silicone Dioxide

This ingredient is highly effective against fine lines and wrinkles. It comes in the form of billions of microscopic three-dimensional crystals that fill vacant spaces caused by wrinkles. In doing so, these crystals refract light causing the wrinkle to vanish.

2.Dithiolane-3-Pentanic Acid (D3PA)

D3PA is a naturally produced compound in the body, but as we age its levels drastically diminish resulting in the bodies inability to fight off collagen-attacking free radicals. An anti aging wrinkle cream possessing this ingredient will stimulate the body’s production of D3PA.

3. Idebenone

Independent studies have shown that this antioxidant helps protect the skin from environmental damage, diminishes the appearance of fine lines, and smoothes the skin’s texture.

4. Ascorbyl Palmitate

This compound is formulated by joining vitamin C (super antioxidant) and palmitic acid. The newly created compound stabilizes the effectiveness of vitamin C in fighting free radicals. Avoid creams that just contain vitamin C rather than the aforementioned combination. Alone, vitamin C is a harsh skin irritant.

5. Deanol

When applied to the skin, this ingredient causes the skin to firm while toning the muscles underneath. Hollywood has been applying deanol to the lips for years resulting in increased bloodflow to the area giving the desired appearance of fuller lips.

6. Acetyl Hexapeptide-3

Finally, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 has been touted as the ultimate botox alternative. It has been shown to produce similar effects as Botox without injections or paralysis of the treated area. Rather than paralyzing the treated area, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 merely blocks nerve signals that control facial muscle contractions.

An anti aging wrinkle cream possessing as many as the above ingredients will do wonders for your skin. There is one product that remarkably contains all 6 ingredients. It’s called LifeCell. In conclusion, “nonablative” facial rejuvenation and an anti aging wrinkle cream, like LifeCell, are a perfect one-two punch against the signs of aging. Now, get in the ring and repair some skin damage.



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Yoga Mat – How to Choose One

yoga
Guest Author: Bertil Hjert


A yoga mat is useful for both beginners and experienced. It is the best accessory one can have when it comes to practicing yoga. There are several reasons for it.

A yoga mat works towards providing the best of grip to you when you require to perform certain complicated steps. Second, exercises that need to be done while lying down require good support. It provides you full back support and does not let you slip. It even absorbs a good amount of sweat that you tend to expel from your body when performing yoga.

A yoga mat is a must-have for those who are serious about pursuing yoga. Once you have decided to purchase a yoga mat, it is very important to learn certain things that would allow you opt for the best.

A) Here are certain steps to guide you on choosing the best yoga mat in order to facilitate you perform all the ‘asanas’ without any difficulty:

a) Avoid the cheapest

The most common mistakes people tend to make when purchasing a yoga mat is that they go for the cheapest. It is a blunder. Yoga supplies are not very expensive when you compare with expensive modern exercising machines. Don’t ever go for standard plastic yoga mats.

These are very thin and do not provide the type of cushioning that you require for performing yoga. It will smell of chemicals and not let you breathe pure. These mats are made of phthalates. Leaving this mat inside a car is also harmful as it tends to expel harmful chemicals when hot. Additionally, plastic yoga mat is not environment friendly.

b) Jute mats

Cork or Jute yoga mats are environment friendly. However, these end to absorb sweat when you start practicing yoga. This result in a bad smell that may distract you while practicing. Additionally, these tend to get weak over a period of time.

c) Rubber yoga mats

This can be a real money saver and environment friendly yoga mat. It is available widely across the globe. However, if you are allergic to latex or rubber, you need to go for another option.

d) Pilate mats

These are also an excellent source for performing yoga. These are thicker and provide you the kind of grip that you require. It will prove beneficial in saving your hips, elbows, shoulders and spin from certain contact injuries.

B) When choosing a yoga mat you need to consider the crucial points provided below:

a) Carefully consider whether the yoga mat you are purchasing can hold up to repeated washings.

b) The yoga mat you purchase should lay flat on the floor.

c) An ideal yoga mat should be able to shake off lint and dust easily.

d) Make sure that the yoga mat prevents your feet from slipping.

e) The grip should be maintained in the same even when you sweat.

f) The yoga mat should be light weight and ideal for carrying around.

g) Cork for the durability

h) The length and width of yoga mat should suit you ideally.

i) Personal comfort level is the most important thing. You need to test whether you are feeling comfortable when lying or practicing on a yoga mat.

Keep the points mentioned above in mind and you will be able to purchase the best of yoga mat available across the globe.



The French Women’s Beauty Secret
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The Baseball Weight Training Program

weight training
Guest Author: Kyle Oxenham


If you know baseball, you know how hard the training in baseball is and how innovative it is to perform weight training which is incorporated in a baseball training program, you would know how effective this training is in competitions. There are a number of persons though who say that baseball could be a dangerous method in weight training than when you do it slow and accurately in the gym or a fitness center. Many say that most of the coaches commit serious errors that cause traumatic bodily stress or injury in a person who is into a baseball weight training program.

1. Weight training through baseball should take into consideration the limitation of players – Even slight errors in baseball training can already cause injury to an individual. The truth though is that it is not really the training that does not work but it is the coaches who do not understand fully this kind of weight training program. There are many caches of baseball players who just want to increase and increase the strength and stamina of their field players but who do not think of the limitations of these athletes. Often times, the injury comes after severe and successive training in preparation for the upcoming competition. Least they know that their players are already over stressed and over trained.

2. Train but do not strain through overtraining. You should know that overtraining is not good because it not only causes injuries and severe muscle damages on the body but likewise, it defeats the very purpose of an exercise. You should know that like ordinary weight training exercises, the baseball weight training program should observe the same basic principles in weight training such as rest. Rest is as important as exercise and progression. In fact, you cannot progress if your body can no longer tolerate the load that you are putting on it. Challenge is a lot different from damage and that is what you want to avoid.

3. Incorporate variations in the training program. There have be variation in the types of routines that you do and in the intensity of the routines. It would be better to incorporate other exercises that similarly work to strengthen your muscles. Say for example, basketball routines may be incorporated in the baseball routines in order to enhance the flexibility of the body which is much required in the baseball game. There has to be variations as to the speed of your routines in the program. This is one form in which the progression principle can be incorporated in the program.

4. Force = Mass x Acceleration Principle in baseball – Lastly, you should know that the most important aspect in the weight training program in baseball is the force produced. Aside from the strength of the leg muscles and the hand and leg coordination, the program also develops extreme force particularly when one swings the baseball bat. Imagine what huge force you need in order to swing a bat at 90 mph. The very reason why most coaches incorporate weight training in baseball is because force requires mass times acceleration. The acceleration is defined as the speed at which the bar is moved while the mass is the weight on the bar.

This explains exactly how a baseball weight training program will help you achieve – greater force.



Secret of Youth
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Yoga Teachers Lead by Example – Part 1

yoga
Guest Author: Paul M. Jerard Jr.


During the course of a lifetime, most of us have heard the saying,” Do as I say, not as I do.” We see this kind of leadership everywhere we go. All politicians, religious leaders, police, sports professionals, parents, academic teachers, and Yoga teachers, lead by example, even if the example displayed is not a good one.

So, how does this concern you? You may not be a public figure, but your students, and the general public, know who you are. Some may even know more about you than you would like. As a Yoga teacher, you want to keep your health, behavior, and your ethics at a high standard – if you are going to be in the “public eye.”

As far as health is concerned, you should maintain your Yoga practice and meditate daily. This is an irony with many Yoga teachers because your time is also consumed with the business of Yoga, maintenance of the studio, advertising, and many more aspects that keep a business going.

My personal estimate of time that I spent on vacuuming, cleaning, and maintenance of the Yoga studio is thousands of hours before I hired someone else to do it. This does not account for any of the time spent on many other duties that go into running a Yoga studio.

The average Yoga student has no idea of the preparation and support services involved before they come to a typical Yoga class. In reality, you want them to feel relaxed, so you don’t want your Yoga students to feel stressed out over the bookkeeping, marketing, and maintenance of your Yoga studio.

Therefore, you have to put your best “game face” on during class time. This is one very powerful reason for taking the time to develop your own personal Yoga practice. You still must expand your depth of understanding Yoga’s many facets.

Why do, or did, you want to be a Yoga teacher in the first place? The most common reasons for becoming a Yoga teacher are your passion for Yoga and to share the gift that has changed your life. Your health and your personal Yoga practice are an integral part of the Yoga teaching vocation.

Maybe you don’t have a staff and you are busy all the time preparing for the next Yoga class. What can you do? Budget your time and make a personal Yoga, or meditation session, for yourself. Spending thousands of hours on bookkeeping, marketing, cleaning, and maintenance is part of many Yoga studio owners’ lives, but you must also make the time to become a better Yoga practitioner.

You can also offer reduced rates to volunteers or “work for trade” programs to those Yoga students who help you with “domestic chores.” You should consult your accountant to make sure everything is legal and “above board.” You don’t want to violate any child labor laws or set yourself up for any legal problems, so make sure you are following the law “to the letter.” Remember also, that laws vary depending upon your location.

It’s too easy to let the business of Yoga become your new reality. The business of teaching Yoga is more time consuming than any of us can imagine as Yoga students. If you are spending so much time working on your Yoga business, that you have little time to practice, you must re-evaluate your reason for teaching Yoga.

Make time every day to expand your knowledge about Yoga’s many aspects. If you don’t take the time to be a Yoga student and engage in learning, continuing education, and nurturing your passion for Yoga, you risk burn out. The best Yoga teachers are students for life, who love to practice this wonderful discipline we know as Yoga.

When your Yoga studio, Yoga teaching position, or ashram becomes a daily burden, and you cannot expand your knowledge; the end result is no different than any other job. As a Yoga teacher, you owe it to your students to keep your “internal flames of passion” for Yoga going.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications



How French Women Stay Young
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