Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP According to the wisdom of Kundalini Yoga, repeating a sacred mantra internally, or externally, shifts the energy in and around you. The more you repeat a sacred mantra, the stronger the vibration becomes and the more able the vibration is to activate your chakras and cleanse the mind of any negativity. As we begin to regularly practice mantra repetition, the mantras begin to vibrate at a deep energetic level.
At the beginning of class, fairly bright lighting should be used. Once students have completed their warm up stretching and the instructor is satisfied that each individual is capable of performing the poses correctly, atmospheric lighting can be used. Likewise, all students should have soft mats, which will allow them to complete the session without injuring their backs or necks.
There are a few yoga postures and breathing exercises that will help prevent nausea or alleviate the symptoms. Nausea can be an unwelcome…
As yoga studios begin to overpopulate, many jump onto whatever the latest trend is that will set them apart from the masses. The flavor “du jour” just may be aerial yoga. Sporting names like “Fly” or “Defy Gravity,” these unique specialty studios are offering something new and exciting for yoga practitioners.
Hatha yoga provides movements and postures, also known as asanas, which will not overemphasize one muscle over another. People who practice yoga become aware of their own bodies strengths and weaknesses. This awareness will make it easier to detect injuries before they become severe. People of any age group can take up yoga. There is a focus on multiple muscle groups, improvement in flexibility, and a broader range of motion in joints for practitioners of yoga.
The typical path to becoming a Yoga teacher is to take a 200 hour certification course. In this type of course, students usually learn how to teach Yoga, correct alignment for poses, Sanskrit names for postures, yogic philosophy and functional anatomy. Students who graduate from a 200 hour level training program are ready to teach at a studio or gym.
The asanas also re-align the spine, which helps to increase the free flow of prana or life-force energy throughout the entire body. Stress and muscular tension often cause us to feel more tired than we really are and contribute to mental tension as well. As the tension is released, optimal spinal alignment is restored and energy flows more freely. At the completion of a Yoga class a student will feel that the sensation of tiredness and stress is eased and replaced with a feeling of lightness, expansiveness, and complete well-being.
Certain asanas put a great deal of pressure on the gliding joints, which are the wrists and ankles. Offer props to students with weak wrists to relieve some pressure in weight-bearing poses like downward dog. Also, explain that not all the weight should rest on the heels of the hand. Advise students to press down with their knuckles and spread their fingers. The lotus pose is the clear winner for ankle discomfort. Suggest to students with weak ankles to practice a modified lotus pose.
Raja Yoga places a high value on what some people refer to as “breathing.” Yet, pranayama is actually the systematic cultivation of prana (energy). When one practices pranayama, the ratio of breath is important for controlling the amount of energy one draws in.
The process of Yoga is to stretch and strengthen muscles. When considering Yoga for hip dysplasia, or any hip pain, be mindful of the method of Yoga you choose, in addition to being attentive to the individual Yoga moves. It’s important to move slowly and gently when building the muscles to support hip joints. Therapeutic Yoga, restorative Yoga, gentle Yoga, basic Hatha Yoga, or Anusara Yoga are examples of styles that hold postures. Unfortunately, Power Yoga, Flow Yoga, and Vinyasa, with their focus on a faster paced movement, are not advised.