We often see pictures of Hatha Yoga practitioners performing physical feats, but we cannot see pictures of a trained mind. There is a Chinese proverb, which states, “A picture’s meaning can express ten thousand words.” It seems to have been loosely translated into English as: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Nevertheless, we are moved by pictures and movies that stimulate thoughts with incredible feats, action, and special effects. Meanwhile, training the mind through meditation, Yoga, or self-study is often ignored because it does not sell as many copies.

Yet, we live in the real world. After we are released from the virtual world, when a game or movie is over, we must use our minds for work and studies. The power of the mind can be wasted when we fail to take action on our own behalf. A good example of this is health prevention and awareness of what we can control.

How often do you see someone carry a child, purse, package, or laptop out of balance? Do you realize what will happen to the spine over time? This person will likely be in chronic pain, if he or she carries anything out of balance over an extended period of time.

We see the same thing happen with eating habits. Unconscious eating has already caught up to less active young adults. Take a look at the size of graduates at a local university near you. This is a bad omen, because these young people are in their physical prime.

The window of opportunity for good health is not equal for all of us. You can be born into poverty, with a genetic defect, or three months too early. What a shame it is for young people, in the best years of their lives, to take their good health for granted. Luckily, all is not lost – Yoga has grown in popularity.

Yoga, in its many forms, allows one to become aware of daily habits in posture, eating, and breathing, by constantly training the mind. All forms of Yoga require self-discipline. We become aware of many situations that can throw the body out of balance.

How do we sit, stand, walk, eat, and drink, during the course of a day? While some may say: “Who cares?” It is wise to observe oneself and make corrections. It is easy to criticize others, but we have more control over our own health. To ridicule others, over bad habits, is usually a waste of energy and time.

To become an example of a trained mind, and good health habits, is the best a Yoga practitioner can do. If we are successful, others will follow.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Let’s learn an excellent Kundalini Yoga technique for cleansing your body of toxins and help you detoxify your entire system. This technique can be added to the end of any yoga set and should be done prior to the final relaxation period. As with all yoga techniques, don’t overdo this exercise and build up your capacity slowly.

Even though this exercise is a little strange, I strongly suggest not to hold back and do it with full dedication and force. Remember all the wonderful benefits it is bestowing upon you.

Yoga Exercise to Detoxify & Cleanse:

a. Practice Instructions:

* Sit up on your heels in Rock pose. Rock pose is when you sit back on your heels with your back straight, except for this technique lean forward slightly and rest your hands on your knees.

* Now open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out as far as it will go. Now begin to pant like a dog. Remember what I said above and don’t hold back. All the breathing should be taking place through the mouth.

* Emphasize the exhalation, and with every exhalation your stomach should be contacting in towards your spine sharply. The pace should be fast, just like a tired dog panting.

* If you feel a metallic taste emerging on the back of your tongue, this is toxic heavy metals being release and cleansed from deep within your tissue, keep going!

b. Duration:

* Start with 15 seconds and slowly build up to 5 minutes.

c. Benefits:

* Detoxifies and cleanses your system of garbage, toxins and heavy metals.
* Strengthens and tones your abdominal muscles.
* Builds your respiratory capacity.
* Promotes good health and longevity.

d. Practice Tips:

* Like I mentioned above, you can add this exercise to the end of any Yoga set. It helps your system purge itself of any toxins that have been released into the blood stream as a result of the set.

* After doing this cleansing exercise, I also recommend drinking plenty of water once your yoga session is completed, to further help wash out any released toxins.

* Given the amount of pollution in our air and water, we can’t afford not to incorporate this powerful technique into our routine from time to time. It will really help detoxify and cleanse your entire body.

Anmol Mehta is a Yoga & Zen Meditation expert. For Free Online Yoga & Guided Meditation Classes visit http://www.anmolmehta.com/blog/classes-online hosted on http://www.anmolmehta.com. For help & insights on Meditation, Kundalini Yoga, Chakra, Tantra, Zen & more visit http://www.anmolmehta.com/blog.

How has the Yoga teacher community managed to flourish so quickly? It seems to have occurred around the time the web made rapid advancements in technology. There is no coincidence in the timing of the popularity growth of Yoga and Internet video technology. Here is what happened and why.

Until recently, most Yoga practitioners were dependent upon training with their Guru, in small groups, or training alone with a book. Without constant stimulation, feedback, or guidance, most students did not participate in Yoga long enough to experience the long-term benefits of regular practice.

Words like “self-realization” and “transformation” can be a mystery, if you practice Yoga without ongoing support. This is where Internet-based Yoga education has been so crucial in the global popularity of Yoga. At this time, any student or teacher of Yoga, can find resources which help one sustain a steady practice.

In turn, the global Yoga teacher community has made web-based resources available for the public. Anyone can learn how to practice Yoga for preventative health, pain management, ailments, physical rehabilitation, or reduction of chronic stress levels.

Evidence, in the form of benefits experienced by long-term practitioners, can be seen in the current economic crisis. Instead of resorting to alcoholism and drugs, a large portion of the public has opted to practice Yoga in classes with like-minded people.

This is in stark contrast to the numbers of people, in the past, who engaged in substance abuse the moment times got tough. This is also an indicator that the long-term benefits of Yoga practice have been realized outside of India. Constant reinforcement, of clean living and a healthy lifestyle, has begun to show its true worth.

These positive changes, in the behavior of societies, worldwide, will contribute to a global economic recovery. People need to think clearly in order to find viable solutions. For example: The pursuit of clean energy solutions will help us now, but future generations will thank us for it. This is only one example of how the Yogic mind-set has managed to influence the global community.

To think clearly, to let go of greed, and to train the mind, are basic principles of Yogic philosophy. This is why online resources, for Yoga education, are so important. We sow the seeds today for a brighter future tomorrow. Instead of plundering the earth for every natural resource, we can logically approach problems with solutions that will permanently help future generations.

Consider the alternative: Our past history, as a species, has shown we make some terrible mistakes. Yet, we have managed to advance despite ourselves. Imagine what good we could accomplish if we work together. This is why the online Yoga teacher community exists. All we have to do is keep spreading the message.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

How can Yoga help someone cope with loss? Surely, Yoga must have its limits for healing one who has experienced loss or grief. Yoga teaches us to accept what we cannot control. Yet, we are not made of stone. Humans have emotions and we do not want to expose them for public display.

As each of us knows, there are different levels of grief and loss. Yet, that does not explain the level of misery someone may feel. The loss of a friend, spouse, parent, child, and pet are relative to the relationship, situation, or personalities involved.

There are more forms of loss which should be taken seriously. Grieving over the loss of a job, divorce, home, way of life, financial loss, or suddenly becoming handicapped are hardships which test each of us. One person may lose a job and laugh, while another person may consider suicide.

There are many people who are hurt by unemployment and financial hardships. Whole families can become homeless as a result. It is easy to consider the loss of a pet as nothing serious, if the pet is not your own.

It reminds me of something my grandfather would say: “I can’t feel it from here.” He was a general contractor, and builders do receive bumps or bruises during the course of work. If someone complained about their pain, he would gently say, “I can’t feel it from here,” with a smile on his face.

The lesson is we cannot feel anyone’s pain, but we can show compassion; regardless of how large or small we think a problem is. If you teach Yoga classes, you see many people in the course of a week. Sometimes, you may attend a funeral, wake or memorial service, out of respect.

Yet, we can only recommend, if we are asked. Here is a point to mention, if someone is having a very bad time with coping – it is wise to recommend counseling or Hospice. Counseling is extremely valuable and important during bereavement. Additionally, Yoga is practice for the difficult times in life, and for healing after those times have passed.

Recommending specific asanas, meditation, and pranayama, still depends on the student’s general health. However, if someone is on the path of recovery, asanas, which challenge strength, will help drain some of the negative emotional energy.

If a student comes back to your Yoga classes, soon after a major loss, he or she might want to “go easy” during practice, while emotions settle down. Just like physical pain, our students have to respond accordingly to emotional pain.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Do you wonder about the value of certifications earned on the Internet? How do you sort out who is reputable? When is a Yoga teacher correspondence course a viable option? How can anyone benefit from online certification? Will virtual training ever replace traditional face-to-face education of Yoga instructors? Let’s review these questions and sort through your options.

1. Is there a value in Yoga certifications or diplomas earned on the Internet? Many of the world’s Yoga registries, and Yoga certifying organizations, recognize the value of non-contact continuing education credits (CEUs).

Correspondence courses, and online courses, are a form of independent study in many fields, including Yoga. Distance learning credits may be applied toward re-certification or to keep a registration active.

2. How do you sort out which Yoga courses are reputable? If the certifying body specializes in Yoga, this is a major step. The certifying body should have a qualified Yoga teacher trainer on its staff. If the certifying body writes courses for aircraft mechanics and computer repair; you may want to shop around.

3. When is a Yoga teacher correspondence course a viable option? If a person is busy at work, has children at home, or has limited funds for a Yoga education, an online course may be the best option. If you live in a rural area or on an island, distance learning may be your only choice.

4. How can anyone benefit from online certification? Even a bad course would teach you more than you knew about Yoga. However, a well-rounded Yoga teacher course should give you new ideas, even if you have 10, 20, or 30 years of teaching experience.

5. Will virtual training ever completely replace traditional face-to-face education of Yoga instructors? Absolutely not. Yoga teacher education is an ongoing process. Over the years, teachers go through many stages of life. For example: The world economy will improve again. Instructors will have the funds for workshops, camps, and seminars in the future.

On the other hand, why turn away the chance for virtual online training? In comparison, it is much more cost effective than traditional face-to-face Yoga training. With the development of the Internet, and various forms of broadband technology, teacher trainers can now review interns, or established teachers, by streaming video.

This is only the beginning, because 3-D technology is about to make leaps forward within the next decade. Online Yoga teacher training will help instructors improve in an instant. Therefore, it will always be a valuable source of foundational training and continuing education.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Yoga has been called, or explained as, many things. There are many forms of Yoga, but all of them lead to clarity in our senses of judgment. Granted, there are some of us who do not listen to logical advice, but with age, comes the wisdom to absorb ideas, which become clearly apparent.

Yoga allows each of us to see the hidden truths in life. When something is clearly revealed to the mind, it seems as if we should have been able to see an obvious truth all along. Yet, some will say that life is a matter of lucky coincidences. Is life just a matter of being in the right place and time, or do we miss opportunities on a daily basis?

There is no luck involved, when our minds are trained to focus on the power of attraction. If we truly want to make a change, we must take the first step toward realization of a new path, which was not seen before. It’s time to look at life with an open mind. Opportunities are always around us; especially if we program our minds to look for them.

This is why the mental, emotional, and spiritual growth, attained during Yoga practice, is so valuable. Many people practice Yoga on the physical level, for years, without self-awareness. Then one day, they realize they have gone through a massive transformation since the beginning of practicing Yoga.

The benefits such as stress management, anger management, empowerment, and self discipline, have slowly transformed one’s personality and character with long- term Yoga practice. So what does transformation and self-realization have to do with the Law of Attraction?

For most of us, we may attain a finite state of awareness, but it is enough to realize that we must act on opportunities when they present themselves. It is not enough to for us practice wishful thinking. Focused thinking is more powerful, but it must be followed up with action.

Therefore, the Law of Attraction may attract situations where precise action is needed. This leads us to action and the Law of Karma, which is also known as the Law of Cause and Effect. A trained mind can recognize an opportunity that may not be apparent to one who sees the dark side of everything.

A trained mind realizes that there is a “window of opportunity” for action to take place; for any action we take, will be answered by an equivalent reaction.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html