Yoga and Complementary Treatments

There is a philosophy, which claims: If you give something away, and people find a value in it - they will react positively to your kindness, with repeat business. This is all well, and good, but the major fast food chains seem to be the only businesses to profit from it. Maybe that is why we call it “junk food.”

The public cannot establish a perceived value of Yoga, when you initially give away a week or month. The word “Free” is often associated with “junk” or “stuff.” If you want to give something away free, develop a comprehensive handbook for your Yoga students, give them a music CD, or a Yoga mat, as a bonus for signing up.

If enough Yoga teachers give away free classes, we will depreciate the value of Yoga lessons – then, asking you to teach Yoga for free will become second nature for the average Yoga student.

Using Yoga to Relieve Anxiety and Depression

Think about this: When was the last time you could go to a deli and ask for a “free introductory package?” What do you think you would get for an answer? After all, you just want to try them out, see if you like it, and maybe you will come back. If you see no value in them, you could go to another deli, and try them out, until they get tired of serving you “free lunch.”

Although Yoga instructors do not make sandwiches for a living - this is one good lesson for any Yoga teacher to learn. Yoga teachers can learn from parallel comparisons to similar fields. Let’s look at some mistakes, which the fitness industry has made and learn from them; before any Yoga teachers experience similar financial ruin.

What to Wear When Taking a Yoga Class

Fitness is preventative health maintenance, and good health is very valuable.Anyone who is in good health should “count their lucky stars.” If you are not in good health - your poor state of health is all you can think about.Yet, I just heard a radio commercial that offers the rest of 2006 free, if you sign up for a 2007 membership.

The fitness club owner is “prostituting” his or her business.More than likely, the fitness club’s third party billing service thought up this “gimmick.”What is the average life of a member in the fitness industry? What can a health club do if a member defaults on a contract? When you consider these options, it makes no sense to give members months of service for free.

More Information on Ashtanga Yoga

This week, I noticed a fitness club that offers memberships for $9.95 per month. How can that fitness club stay open? The overhead costs must be incredible, when you consider paying for all of the equipment, insurance, utilities, and rent.Do you think that fitness club owner sleeps well? Do you think he or she is drawing a salary? I guarantee the owner regrets the day he or she opened that health club.

Let’s get back to teaching Yoga classes. You put your time in as a Yoga student, went through Yoga teacher training, and now you keep your credentials up to date. So, why should you “sell yourself short?” Each style of Yoga has mental, physical, and spiritual health benefits, to offer the public. That is why we continue to practice and teach Yoga.

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Two Popular Yoga Breathing Exercises to Improve Your Yoga Practice

Have you noticed that when you practice yoga, your yoga teacher constantly reminds you to 'stay focused on your breath', 'to relax and breathe into the pose' or simply 'be still and observe your breath'? As you are aware, yoga breathing exercises are an essential part of your yoga practice. Your breath is the source of all your energy. Have you noticed that when you are stressed, anxious or worried your breath is shallow, or when you are excited you breathe faster?

However, if you take deep breaths when excited you become calmer and your heart rate slows down. Yoga is a journey and the more in tune you are with your breath the easier it becomes for you to regulate and control your emotions. Learning to breathe well is vital in your quest to live a healthier, richer life. When you breathe well you radiate and fill your body with abundant energy, if the breath is shallow and poor, your energy is restricted and you lack motivation to achieve the things you wish to do.

From a yogic perspective, your breath is the link between your mind and your body. When you learn to control your breath your body becomes steady and you are able to calm your mind and feel at peace. There are many yogic breathing exercises you can practice to bring about this state of union between your mind and body. Two of the more popular breathing techniques are Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing). As with all exercises, please consult your doctor before starting these breathing exercises and exercise caution and patience when practicing them.


If you feel light headed, dizzy or unwell, please stop, rest and return to normal breathing. Two Popular Yoga Breathing Exercises to Improve Your Yoga Practice

1. Kapalabhati - Shining Skull. Although a breathing exercise, Kapalabhati is considered a yoga kriyas (cleansing) exercise. However Kapalabhati is regularly practiced in yoga classes. This exercise uses rapid breathing, which encourages a fresh exchange of oxygen rich air whilst cleansing the entire respiratory system.

Kapalabhati consists of a series of rapid "pumpings"/exhalations and passive inhalations, followed by retention of the breath. This clears stale air from the bottom of the lungs and pumps oxygen into the bloodstream. It is an energizing yoga breathing practice which leaves you feeling energised and alert yet calm.

Sit in a comfortable upright sitting position and take a couple of deep breaths. Inhale and breath out quickly, pulling your abdomen in sharply. Repeat this pumping action for 20 - 40 breaths. Inhale slowly and deeply. Exhale completely. Inhale and hold your breath for as long as you feel comfortable. Slowly exhale. Repeat this sequence 2 - 3 times.


2. Anuloma Viloma - Alternate Nostril Breathing.

This is a very calming breathing practice. It helps to balance the energies between the left and right sides of the body. As it balances the flow the flow of energy in the body Anuloma Viloma helps to purify and cleanse the nadis. Each round of Anuloma Viloma is made up of 6 steps.

Begin by sitting in a comfortable upright position. Using your right hand, tuck your index and middle fingers into your palm. Place your thumb on your right nostril, and your ring finger and little fingers on your left nostril. Rest your left hand on your left knee.

Close your right nostril with your thumb, breathe in through your left nostril for a count of four. Close both nostrils and retain the breath for a count of 16.

Breathe out through your right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed with your ring and little fingers for a count of 8.

Breathe in through your right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed for a count of 4.

Hold the breath, closing both nostrils again for a count of 16.

Breathe out through the left nostril, keeping the right closed with your thumb for a count of 8.

If you are new to Anuloma Viloma, just spend a few rounds getting used to breathing in and out through your nose using the different hand positions. Regular practice of Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma will encourage full deep breathing which over time strengthens your ability to hold and maintain your yoga exercises and prepares you to sit for longer periods of meditation. If you have any questions, please contact me.

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