Now, let’s cover the next issue of Anti-Aging and Yoga. With regular Yoga practice, your health will be the best it can be. Joints are lubricated, muscles are toned, bones have to bear weight in strengthening postures (asanas), and internal organs are massaged. This activity also aids the immune, digestive, and elimination systems.

However, the physical aspect of Yoga is often considered to be the lesser of the three main aspects, when compared to the mental and spiritual aspects. Yoga styles - such as, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Jnana Yoga, offer much more in relation to the spiritual and mental facets of Yoga

Selfless service, or Karma Yoga, is the ability to give and help others without expectation. You give and forgive people because it is right to do. If good things happen to you as a result, this is fine, but you do not seek rewards for giving.

Jnana Yoga: Union by knowledge - requires a Yogi who is pure of heart and the intelligence to find the “real truth.” The real truth may not be “politically correct.” This is especially true when history is most often recorded by the victors.

Meditation creates rational thought and is one of the keys to Jnana Yoga. This will also aid you in your connection to spiritual health. Meditate on God long enough and you will realize our petty human differences are an illusion held together by the ego.

The multitudes of religions that worship God are worshiping the same Supreme Being. It does not matter if you call this God, Allah, Brahman, Jehovah, Yahweh, or something else. However, this is truly ironic when we choose to kill others in the name of God.

Therefore, let’s get back to other ways that Yoga teachers and Yoga practitioners have changed, and will continue to change, the world. It is by becoming living examples of tolerance and non-judgment. If all you do is display loving kindness, forgiveness, and mindfulness to others, you are a living example of integrity.

Yoga teachers have the ability to influence humankind toward world peace on a small scale. When you are kind to others, you set a chain reaction into motion. Loving kindness is contagious and makes the world a better place.

Much like the counter-culturists of the past; Yoga teachers and Yoga practitioners do not have to operate within the confines of a system. A social worker or school teacher may feel like, “their hands are tied by the system,” but Yoga teachers have much more freedom to change the world - one person at a time.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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In the West, there was a time when practicing Yoga was kept secret. When I was a child, it was considered, “a bit strange.” During the 50’s and 60’s, Yoga practice was associated with being part of counter culture movements, such as living the life of “beatniks” or “hippies.” Interestingly, I was told by a school teacher that I would some day grow up to be a beatnik.

Well, time has passed and Yoga has “come out of the closet” in a giant wave. Yes, Yoga has gone “Global.” The world society, as a whole, has been affected positively by Yoga classes and Yoga teachers.

Let’s look at some of the ways Yoga teachers, Yoga classes, and the many styles of Yoga have gently changed the world today. There is much more to Yoga than “meets the eye,” at first glance. In fact, there is a Yoga style for every need, purpose, and personality.

When you consider the number of Yoga students, who want to change their lives on the physical level, union by physical mastery (Hatha Yoga) is easy for most students to grasp.

This is why you are seeing so many people gravitate toward Hatha Yoga, but I predict that Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga will become more popular in the near future. So, there is much more to Yoga, beyond exercises; but let’s continue with the benefits Yoga teachers make available in a typical Hatha Yoga style

Pranayama, or breathing techniques, are commonly taught in many Yoga classes. Yoga students learn to take control of their lives and regulate their health, just by breathing correctly. This is a form of preventative medicine, when you consider proper breathing as a practical deterrent to panic attacks, high blood pressure, chest pains, and many more stress-related ailments.

Yoga and Ayurvedic medicine address dietary needs based upon your “dosha” or constitution. If a Yoga student wants to pursue this subject further, he or she can take a dosha test and develop a sensible, practical, and moderate Ayurvedic diet.

Kriyas or Shatkarmas are traditional Yogic cleansing techniques for detoxifying the body. Detoxification is needed more than ever - with so many unnatural foods available. At the very least, students of Yoga should be consuming eight glasses of quality water per day.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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