"Love is the beauty of the soul."Saint Augustine
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Bhakti Yoga - The Science of Devotion
Bhakti means devotion to the Almighty. Bhakti yoga deals with devotion to God and achieving the union with him. This is the easiest of all yoga types. This branch of yoga teaches the relation between the devotee and the divine. It does not involve any ...
Yoga for Every BODY
We all want to feel loved, open, free and peaceful. We all desire to let go of the ideals and expectations of the "world" and be simply still. What if you had permission to be anything your heart wanted you to be? What if there was no right or wrong way ...
Yoke Hatha Yoga with the Raw Foods for Superb Health
Since writing my two books, Beautiful On Raw: UnCooked Creations and Your Right to Be Beautiful: How to Halt the Train of Aging and Meet the Most Beautiful You, about my exploration and acceptance of the raw food lifestyle, I have added another important ...
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Of course, you practice Yoga with the best of intentions. Now, your thinking, doesn't everyone practice, learn, and teach Yoga with the best of intentions? In a few words: No, they do not.
Some Yoga teachers over-step their boundaries. We have Yoga students who were abused verbally and physically, before they came here. Some were picked on for being overweight, insulted for their lack of flexibility, and one of my current students had her back jumped on by her former Yoga instructor, while holding Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). By the way, this student had told this Yoga teacher, she had back problems, before she took her first Yoga class.
We've all heard stories of different cases of abuse, by anyone in authority. The problem is not the training - it's the inherent lack of common sense and compassion. Most people grow into a Yoga teaching position just fine, while a rare few develop "petty dictator syndrome."
It's amazing what people will justify, and then, insist their acts were done with the best of intentions. My Grandfather used to say, "Hell was made with good intent." Ponder that for a while, and you will come up with many ideas.
If you think of the worst atrocities known to man, you will find someone who can justify them. Do you think Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Hitler, and Stalin thought they were wrong? They would all justify their intentions. Now, on a much smaller scale, going into your Yoga class, with a competitive mind-set, is not the best of intentions. You will eventually injure yourself. All of us age, and we will not get the same results, from our body, every day. Your body is not a machine and if it were, a machine would show signs of wear too.
A competitive mind-set will bolster your ego and that has nothing to do with Yoga. Your mind, body, and spirit cannot become healthy, when your ego is in "the driver's seat." There is no tranquility, harmony, peace, mindfulness, or loving kindness within the ego. To the ego everything is a perceived threat, to its existence.
Leave your ego at the door, with your shoes, before going into Yoga class. When you practice Yoga, savor each lesson, and take it out into the world, for practice. When you leave the ashram or Yoga studio, practice is applying what you learn to real life. So, it does not end, when you roll up your Yoga mat.
Be courteous to everyone all the time. You are projecting loving kindness and being mindful of life in the present, and practicing the unity of mind, ody, and spirit.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
About the author:
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. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
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 Giants' stars among yoga devotees - ESPN.com
"NFL Live's" Mark Schlereth (left) and Trey Wingo (right) demonstrate yoga techniques in ESPN's Health and Fitness center under the watchful eye of yoga instructor John Dorsey. It hasn't been the easiest of seasons healthwise for some of the NFL's ...
ECU offers free sample yoga class - Ada Evening News
ADA — Adults in Ada can sample a free yoga class Monday at East Central University. The Center of Continuing Education & Community Services will offer the one-hour class at 5:45 p.m. in Science Hall, Room 318. No experience or equipment is ...
Russell Brand ‘builds yoga gym in London home’ - Now Magazine
Russell Brand is said to have converted an entire floor in his north London home into a yoga gym. The comedian got hooked on the fitness regime while living in LA. ‘He is obsessed with yoga, and he vows it helps him in the bedroom by getting into ...
University offering fitness classes - Shelby Reporter
MONTEVALLO — Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is easier said than done, which is why the University of Montevallo Department of Continuing Education is giving a gentle nudge of encouragement. The department is offering four physical fitness classes ...
Shilpa Shetty Reveals Her Secrets - Himalayan Times
Yes, Yoga is definitely one of the major factors … the driving force behind Shilpa's sexed up self. But the leggy lass says there's more to her being sexy and sassy! The sexy Shetty revealed some of the lesser known aspects of her life on her blog ...
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