When it comes to learning meditation, one requires to learn several important techniques in order to achieve success and obtain maximum benefits. Remember that effective meditation includes a lot of techniques.

The techniques of meditation vary from one culture to other. However, the art of meditation is one. It is universal. These techniques have been developed to suit different personalities.

You would find that certain techniques demand concentration, focus and attention. There are also other techniques that are expansive. ‘Vipassana’ form of meditation is such a technique. It allows one to enjoy free flow of thoughts in conjunction with observation.

Here are some of the most common techniques used in:

a) Mantra meditation:

A mantra can be defined as a grouping of different sound vibrations that have an effect on the physical as well as mental consciousness. Traditionally, these are given to a student by a Teacher or ‘Guru’. However, in the absence of a Guru, the practitioner or the student can opt for his own mantra.

One needs to follow an important rule when selecting a mantra. According to this rule, one must choose a mantra that appeals to the mind fully when spoken verbally. When chanting mantra, powerful vibrations are created. These are said to be directed to the appropriate ‘Chakras’ in order to attract certain divine forces.

This technique works towards healing the physical, spiritual and psychological body of the practitioner. One must fully enjoy the rhythm of the mantra when it is chanted. It is also necessary to surrender oneself to the whole experience.

b) Steady gaze or Trataka:

This is a simple but very beautiful technique of meditation. You need to use a regular candle for this technique. Some people prefer using other objects of their choice. You should set up the candle at an arm’s length. It should be placed in level with eyes.

Perform steady gazing with eyes open first. After a while, you can close your eyes and gaze at the after image of the flame. This should be gazed at the eye brow center. Do not move through out the practice. Now, relax your breath and lengthen and deepen it. Repeat the process for sometime.

c) Chakra meditation:

Charka meditation refers to a simple way for neophytes to explore the charkas via self help. This helps in providing a sense of awakening in them gently. This is done in a balanced integrated manner.

You can perform it either sitting or lying. You need to close your eyes, adjust your body and clothing. Let your breath relax, slow and then deepen. Do not make an attempt to control it. Once you are settled down, begin with Ujjayi pranayam and do this for sometime.

Bring awareness towards the spinal passage. Do it for a few minutes. Ascend with inhalation and descend with exhalation. Try to locate charkas within that channel. Don’t locate the exact location. Only focus in general area. Feel the location of these charkas and repeat its name mentally as you pass by it.

You need to mentally repeat from Mooldhara to Ajna and then reverse the order. Prior to finishing, let go of breath sound and then names. Now, chant mantra ‘Om’ for about three times.

About the author

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about MEDITATION and YOGA please visit MEDITATION BUZZ and YOGA TIPS

The Truth About Making Money as a Yoga Instructor

Author: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

There is no shortage of teaching opportunities in yoga. This is where being a yoga instructor can be lucrative and fun. By getting in with a great health spa, or opening their own studio, a highly skilled instructor can sculpt their own program. Yoga has so many aspects, and applications, that the range of classes is only limited by imagination.

Besides yoga for physical fitness, you can also teach spiritual yoga classes, emphasizing the connection between the body’s well-being and the soul’s health. Perhaps you’d like to offer prenatal yoga for expecting mothers? Maybe yoga for seniors, couples, or kids, is more your style? By designing and offering your own programs, you can interject your personality into yoga instruction.

Depending on your location and marketing skills, you can make a great living as a full-time yoga instructor. If you’re in a location where a large number of people are looking for a yoga instructor, then the sky’s the limit.

If this isn’t the case, you need to develop some marketing skills. In order to get students, you must be able to make yoga instruction appealing. You have to let them know that you can make them healthier with your teaching. It’s going to take a bit more work, but if you’re dedicated to improving the health of your community, then you’ll succeed.

Yoga is one of the greatest examples, of an ancient discipline, remaining relevant in the modern age. Whether you’re looking to focus on the spiritual or physical aspects of the art, being a yoga instructor can be a profitable career path. If this is the path you want your life to take, then get off your yoga mat and take the necessary steps to start teaching!

Yoga instructors are a rare commodity, in high demand. The popularity of yoga has gained momentum, especially with people seeking low-impact fitness routines. A certified yoga instructor can use this time as a career springboard.

What kind of money can you make as a yoga instructor? It all depends on a few factors, with the most important one being experience. Yoga isn’t a discipline that can be taught without extensive knowledge and training.

The extreme nature of many positions, and stretches, could cause serious injury in the hands of a lesser teacher. A yoga master can charge much more for his/her safe instruction than a novice instructor.

Even though you may focus on one or two styles, a highly skilled yoga instructor has the combined knowledge of many styles of yoga. A rudimentary knowledge of yogic philosophy also helps. As a yoga instructor, you’ll deal with many different personalities, so it’s important to have patience and compassion.

Many certified yoga instructors choose to teach part time, while keeping a day job. This gives them the flexibility they need, at the same time that they are bringing in extra income. It also keeps them in great shape as they are teaching.

You can choose whether you want to teach a class or prefer providing private instruction. The rates you charge will vary, depending on the situation and your students needs. Private instruction can run anywhere from $30 an hour to $150 an hour. The highest rates are usually from teaching clients in their home or office.

Private clientele can range from office working professionals to professional athletes, and everything in between. Private clients are looking for quality yoga instruction and are willing to pay for it. Teaching classes to groups, costs a bit less per student, and is usually priced around $15-$20 each for a drop-in rate.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/the-truth-about-making-money-as-a-yoga-instructor-410316.html

About the Author:

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. He is an author of many books on the subject of Yoga and has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Some Tantric Exercises to Increase General Well-Being and Sexual Abilities

A healthy anal and genital area is of great importance both for the general well-being and for the sexual abilities. The same is thrue about a healthy respiratory tract and breathing apparatus. Here are presented two poses and three breathing exercises that have the following effects when done together in a series:

-They stimulate the physiological functions of the genital and anal area.

-They correct muscle weakness and anatomical problems of the anal and genital region.

-They increase the sexual drive and abilities.

-They produce a stimulating response that spreads upwords along the spine and revitalizes the whole body.

-The exercises are very good to start each day with, or to do before going to bed in the night.

POSE 1
Stand on your hands and knees upon the floor.

Kneel backword so that your buttocks go backword and down towords your feet and stretch your arms foreword.

Breath out and then take a deep breath in, filling your lungs totally with air. Hold your breath with the air inside.

Squeeze your anal muscles and pull your anal opening as deeply inword as you can. However do not strain when squeezing. This exercise shall not be exhausting.

Relax your anal muscles compleetely again.

Repeat the sqeesing and relaxing 3-5 times, but not so long that you go out of oxygen in your body.

Empty your lungs.

Rize up on your hands and knees again.

Relax a while in this position and then repeat the exercise.

POSE 2
Lie on your back upon a carpet on the floor.

Breath out completely.

Swing your armes in an arch over your head and down to the floor over your head so that your whole body is stretched from top to toe.

When swinging your arms, take a deep breath filling your lungs totally with air. Hold your breath with the air inside.

Squeeze your anal muscles and pull your anal opening as deeply inword as you can. However do not strain when squeezing. This exercise shall not be exhausting.

Relax your anal muscles compleetely again.

Repeat the sqeezing and relaxing 3-5 times.

Swing your arms back at the same time as you empty your lungs.

Relax some while and then repeat the exercise.

BREATHING EXERCISE 1

Sit upon a pillow on the floor with your legs crossed and the back streight.

Empty your lungs completely.

Breath in counting to 4. When breathing in, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other:

-Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves out.

-Then fill further by using your chest muscles.

-And then complete the filling by using the muscles around your shoulders.

Hold your breath counting to 16.

Then breath out counting to 8. When breathing out, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other:

-Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves in.

-Then empty further by using your chest muscles.

-And then complete emptying by using the muscles around your shoulders.

BREATHING EXERCISE 2

Sit upon a pillow on the floor with your legs crossed and your back streight.

Take 10 rapid deep breathes in and out after another, but not so rapid that you get strained or breath uncompleetely.

When breathing in, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other:

-Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves out.

-Then fill further by using your chest muscles.

-And then complete the filling by using the muscles around your shoulders.

When breathing out, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other:

-Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves in.

-Then empty further by using your chest muscles.

-And then complete emptying by using the muscles around your shoulders.

After the last in-breath , hold your breath with your lungs filled counting to 10.

Then breath out.

BREATHING EXERCISE 3

Sit upon a pillow on the floor with your legs crossed and your back streight.

Empty your lungs completely.

Close your left nostril with the fingers of one of your hands.

Breath in through your right nostril counting to 4. When breathing in, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other:

-Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves out.

-Then fill further by using your chest muscles

-And then compleete the filling by using the muscles around your shoulders

Hold your breath counting to 16.

Then close your right nostril with your fingers.

Then breath out through your left nostril counting to 8. When breathing out, try to do it in three stages that proceed smoothely into each other:

-Use first your diafragm so that your stomack moves in

-Then empty further by using your chest muscles

-And then complete emptying by using the muscles around your shoulders

When you have breathed out, repeat the exercise, but this time begin by closing your right nostril first.

RELAXING AT THE END OF THE SERIES

When the series is done, then lie down upon a carpet on the floor and relax for 2-5 minutes. This relaxation will increase the effects of the exercises and make you recover if the exercises have made you tired. Concetrate upon relaxing your legs first, then your lover body, then your upper body, then your arms and shoulders, and at last your head and face. When the whole body is relaxed, try not to think about anything, and relax your whole body even furter. Then lie some time in this relaxed state without thinking about anything.

At these link you may find other articles about health topics:

http://www.panteraconsulting.com/salg2.htm

http://www.abicana.com

Written by Knut Holt. The author is a freelands web-designer and translator of web-content between Scandinavian and English. His speciality is scientific and medical content. He also market health item on his domains. He also is experienced in practising sport and yoga.

Hot Yoga - Bikrams Twenty Six

Even though the world population has shifted from mainly rural to mainly urban in the last decade, there are still lots of folks like me who live in the sticks. Doing things like taking a yoga class becomes a different thing in our case from driving to the neighborhood gym. Since I live 40 miles from the nearest town large enough for yoga studios, when I decided to take a class, I was more interested in the schedule than I was the type of yoga. I couldn’t afford to be picky if I preferred not to wait around for a couple hours after getting off work. So I looked in the phone book, and didn’t pay attention to anything but the schedule. There it was: M-W-F at 4:00. Perfect. I don’t know what rock I’d been living under, but the word “Bikram” writ large across the ad in the yellow pages didn’t trigger the term ‘hot yoga’ in my mind, and that left me in for a big surprise.

I showed up with a comfy pair of sweatpants and a long- sleeved t-shirt. As the woman at the desk was giving me a little orientation information - explaining that the room was heated to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit - I realized that my concept of yoga clothes weren’t going to work here. Apparently, I wasn’t the first to make this error. Susie told me they had loaners. Now, it’s been a while since the last time I wore hot-pants, so when she handed me the little scrap of shorts, I thought, “No way.” She said, “Trust me, you’ll fit right in.”

Susie continued, giving a few more orientation tips, which started to seem like a set of warnings. “Our first-time students are encouraged to rest whenever you feel you should - kind of take it gradually. The instructors just ask that you do your best to stay in the room for the entire time.” What? Were we still talking yoga here? I’d seen pictures. Sure, I might not be able to balance on one leg while holding the other one over my head at my first try, but come on. How hard could it be to stretch as far as I could go and stop there? Why would I get desperate to leave the room?

Her next suggestion: “OK, I see you brought a bottle of water. That’s good, but you’ll be tempted to drink a lot, and I recommend you just drink sips - not too much at a time.” Hmm. What was I getting into here? It sounded like I was facing some kind of ordeal - not what I had in mind at all since I was thinking of yoga as a peaceful, low- impact way just to stretch and keep my aging body flexible and strong.

Once I was dressed in the little bit of shorts, I opened the door to the yoga studio and was met with a rush of hot, stultifying air. Oh goody. I walked to an open space, spread my mat, lay on my back, and understood exactly what she meant by asking me to at least stay in the room. I was already dripping sweat, and we hadn’t even begun the class.

Ninety minutes and twice through the 26 poses later, I was indeed still in the room. In the non-competitive, supportive atmosphere I had been completely guided to go to my edge, but not so far that I would be turned off by struggle. In fact, I was exhilarated. I lay on my back at the end, eyes closed in the peaceful, very hot room, and knew I’d be back for more.

Carina Snowden is a contributing author to Apex Yoga News the leading resource for yoga information. Visit Carina’s archive of articles at http://www.apexyoga.com/

Yoga for Fun and Profit

Stress levels around the world are on the rise. In order to deal with this, relaxation and stress reduction therapies have sprung up from everywhere. Yoga instruction is no longer just a fringe population idea. It is now a mainstream fitness methodology. Yoga certifications are now available from many places in North America. As a result of this, yoga instructors are now available everywhere. Each gym now offers yoga classes from certified yoga instructors. It’s time we understood what this is all about and where we are going with respect to the fitness industry.

The word yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning joining or union. What are we joining? The human being consists of several entities commonly referred to as body-mind-spirit. An integrated human being is the goal of yoga. We are joining the different pieces of the human being to make an integrated, holistic being that is attuned to one goal. The body, mind and spirit are all integrated with a common attitude and viewpoint. This is different from the state of being where the body wants to satisfy one need and the mind another and the spirit yet a third. This is the state during which mental storms occur and the body responds in turn with a manifestation of that mental vortex.

Yoga seeks to align the human being using its own tool of breathing. When we breathe rhythmically, our body is more in tune with itself. We function better as an integrated being in a holistic way. Yoga was invented in India, about 5000 years ago, precisely to achieve the goal of integration. When our being is aligned our interaction with the world will be more efficient. We perform better at work and in our home life. Rela-tionships become easier. This is what yoga achieves.

In India, yoga is taught and researched as a science at a place in Bangalore called the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusamdhana Samsthan (SVYASA). This means Yoga Research Institute. One can obtain intensive instruction in yoga and therapy techniques using yoga. Recently, I completed a month long certificate course for yoga instructors at this institute. The yoga that is taught here is not just about the physical poses. The idea of yoga from the original meaning is to really integrate the whole human being. This involves all of our activities in life. We must be aligned and integrated during all of our tasks during the day. All of our activies can be divided into several broad categories. All actions like going to work, eating breakfast are classified as Karma yoga. All philosophical discussions are classified under Jnana yoga. Any devotional activities such as the singing of hymns or prayers are considered part of Bhakti yoga. The physical poses of Western ideas of yoga are a part of Raja yoga, which includes other methods for gaining mastery over the physical body. This is the original concept of yoga from India and is taught in that form at the SVYASA Institute.

The institute is named after Swami Vivekananda who was a monk and scholar of Indian philosophy. In 1893, Swami Vivekananda was invited to speak at the Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago, on the topic of Hinduism. His speech became famous for explaining the unity of religions as many paths to God, and that Hinduism in its original sense encompassed that view. Swami Vivekananda wanted the Western world to understand Indian spirituality in the correct view, as a synthesis of the four types of yoga, which ultimately leads to the goal of spiritual evolution. SVYASA is dedicated to the education and research of yoga in this context. The school retains strict attention to the original sources of yoga from Sanskrit scripture.

The teaching styles of the school and environmental factors do not cater to the Western lifestyle. Those who come from abroad must acclimatize themselves to the pure Indian way. Meals are served on the floor and must be eaten using the hands. Vegetarian Indian food is served. No cutlery is provided. Footwear must be left outside of all classes. Be prepared to literally be on your feet for long amounts of time. While the majority of the students are comfortably able to sit on the floor during the long lecture sessions, chairs are available for those who will not be able to survive in that position. The philosophy of discipline is everywhere, starting from the boot camp like nature of the roll call before each session. Students who miss a portion of the attendance will not receive their certificate. Attendance is considered a very important factor of the study. In addition, a strict code of uniforms is enforced. Women must wear the Indian dress of salwaar kameez, which is a tunic, and pant set made of 100% cotton. This dress could be modified to be more forgiving for yoga poses. Men must wear loose fitting track pants and t-shirt. This is more conducive to rigorous physical activity. It must be noted that everywhere the students of the yoga instructors course can be identified by their uniform.

As attendance is strict, so is the keeping of students on the grounds. While exceptions can be made for justifiable reasons, students cannot usually leave the campus for any reason after the start of the course. The campus is 32 km north of the major city of Bangalore. Fortunately, Bangalore boasts many amenities including an international airport. The city of Bangalore itself is very multicultural. One can find the modern world mixed with the original flavour of India everywhere. The SVYASA institute has a city office in Bangalore from where a bus is arranged to take travellers to its campus outside the city in a place called Geddallahalli. The name of the campus is Prashanti Kutiram, which means abode of peace. While the name is very amenable to yoga studies, I found that one needs to practice yoga in sincerity to find the true peace, which is only inside the human being.

For further questions on yoga or SVYASA Institute, please email Shanti Consulting at speaksamskrit@yahoo.ca.

A variety of personal interests and professional paths have led the author to her current role as a personal trainer and lifestyle consultant with over 20 years experience. Siva is an author, lecturer and Can-Fit-Pro certified personal trainer who specializes in body-mind-spirit consulting and training women. Currently she is writing a book entitled Body, Mind, and Spirit Fitness, which discusses her particular style of training the complete being, rather than just the physical body.

Siva is a yoga instructor, an expert on East Indian Philosophy and teacher of Sanskrit. She holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Toronto and has balanced her time between personal training and engineering for over 20 years. In February 2005, Siva spent an intensive month studying a course for Yoga Instructors, at the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Institute in Bangalore, India to further her interest in yoga as a science of holistic living and not merely as yoga postures.