Power yoga involves performing a series of yoga poses without breaks or stopping. It is a form of rigorous and intense exercise that focuses on breathing techniques as a person transitions rapidly from pose to pose. Like other forms of intense exercise, power yoga can increase endurance and physical strength.

Just as classical yoga is more than a good cardiovascular workout, power yoga is the same. It focuses on both physical and mental power and aims to connect the body and the mind. Many people feel very strongly that without yoga they feel unbalanced in every part of their body.

Because of the impact this form of yoga has on improving stamina, flexibility and muscle imbalances, it is often used in aerobics courses as a transition from warm-up to aerobic activity. Many athletes incorporate power yoga into their training regimen for various competitive sports.

What Westerners call “power yoga” is actually transitioned from Ashtanga yoga, and was given the new name by an Ashtanga yoga instructor. Power yoga is to be done in a heated room and provides a much more rigorous cardiovascular workout than classical yoga. Because of its rigorous and demanding nature, it should not be done by those who have injuries or chronic illnesses. This stamina-building form of exercise is designed for those who are already at a relatively high level of physical fitness.

Those interested in learning more about this activity should inquire about courses or introductory sessions at their local gym. Even those who are already at a high level of physical fitness should be familiar with and have some experience doing classical yoga poses and breathing exercises before taking the leap into this more advanced form. Those considering power yoga should also have an interest in more than a vigorous workout, as the focus on the connection of mind, body and spirit is a critical element of this activity.

For those with some experience who would like to make it a part of their workout regimen but do not have the time or interest in going to the gym, there are exercise videos and DVDs available. Traditional yoga attire and equipment, such as a yoga mat, are required for those interested in doing power yoga at home.

In yoga, breathing is everything. Breathing is more than just an intake of oxygen. It is also a way of cleansing the body and restoring equilibrium. But, in order to gain high quality results from the breathing that you do, you must do them correctly. There is no quick way to learn the right technique, but here are a few pointers to bear in mind while starting out with yoga breathing.

Kapalabhati- basic yoga breathing. In this method, you learn to breathe in order to purify the body. It is one of the six different Kriyas practices. Your breath is short, strong and fast. The lung acts as a pump that expels the waste from it. Here, you are deliberately breathing faster while breathing through your stomach and not your chest.

Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique- This is another basic yet fundamentally important type of breathing technique. Here, you will breathe through one nostril, hold your breath and then exhale through the opposite nostril. The ratio of inhale:hold:exhale is 2:8:4.

Brahmari- This type of less used yoga breathing is done by partially closing the glottis and then inhaling through both of your nostrils. Your lips are closed and the palate will vibrate due to the nasal airflow.

Sithali, Sitkari- This is a rarely used type of yoga breathing. It works in a different manner. Here you stick your tongue out a little and then softly curl the sides of the tongue up. Now, start inhaling through your mouth.

Yoga exercises are fundamental to the breathing work that you do. In any type of session, you will be taught the fundamentals of breathing. This is due to the simple fact that it is the source of life. It is essential to cleansing the body. It is one of the central focuses of successful, effective yoga.

Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.yoga-made-ez.com/ On his website he provides free yoga exercises and more information about the different types of yoga.

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Yoga. An associate of mine from the US remembers his days as a young kid watching "Yoga For Health" and "Lilias Yoga and You," both on PBS channels. He remembers how he used to think "How in heaven's name do they bend like that?" After trying some of the positions he saw he thought he would end up in traction.

So why would anyone want to put themselves through that kind of torture, unless of course you're triple jointed? Well, we're not going to try to answer that burning question in this article but instead trace the origin and a little of the history of yoga.

Yoga is an ancient form of movement that goes way back to Indian culture and philosophy. The practice of yoga involves a series of motions that are believed to be essential to achieve a sense of physical and emotional well being. Contrary to what a lot of people think, yoga is not a religion. It is actually a part of a series of Indian systems. The Indian "Darsana" or "sight, way of seeing" is composed of six systems. Yoga is simply one of them.

According to the teachings of yoga it is a method for helping us see and know our inner selves. The word "Yoga" itself means "unite." Thus yoga is a means of uniting the mind and body into one. The yoga exercises themselves are meant to unite your soul with the universe as well. Quite a system. It is regarded as a divine science, again, not as a religion but as a means of obtaining inner peace.

The earliest signs of yoga actually date back to 3000 BC in the Indus Valley, at least according to archaeologists. These signs are in the form of yogic postures found on ancient walls and artefacts. The Vedas, which is actually a collection of ancient Indian scriptures, dates back to 2500 BC mention yoga. Yoga is also mentioned in the Upanishads which actually provide the main foundation of yoga teachings. Even the Mahabharata, which is an epic of Indian mythology, has instructions from Lord Krishna to Arjuna in yoga to help him to achieve liberation by fulfilling one's duties in life. The science of yoga started at the beginning of human civilization and slowly evolved and was developed by ancient sages from all over the world. There are some traditions which believe that yoga was a divine gift that was given to mankind to help realize it's divine nature.

In a future article we'll cover the various types of yoga which are broadly classified into 8 categories. They are Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Tantra Yoga and Hatha Yoga, which by the way is the kind of yoga that was taught on those PBS shows mentioned earlier in this article. You may still be able to find them somewhere in syndication or possibly on video. Because of the amount of material involved in the 8 categories an in depth analysis of each will not be possible but hopefully after the next issue you'll have at least some idea of what is involved with each.

Stay tuned.

Michael Russell

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Here is an example of an interview I gave before our last course which we give both in Spain on the Costa Brava and in Rosario in Argentina.

"I was meeting a nice girl of 28 this morning here at our center in Rosario. She is a Psychologist but has fallen out of love with Psychology because although it explains things intellectually it gives no TECHNIQUES apart from talking to change anything internally, particularly in herself. You can see how effective Psychology is by looking at Woody Allen.

I connected with her base chakra and her inner child showed me all her chakras and blockages one by one. A very interesting experience. First the Base chakra, one fear and security blockage which I removed very quickly. Then the second, a pain filled relationship blockage which I also removed. Then all the chakras solar plexus, heart etc, feeling the general dirtiness of the psychic body usually cleaned with The Grounding of Negative Energies but no major blockages.

Then the head, two blockages, one a person who had just died, very deep and negative. I removed the first blockage but the other one was more difficult and stayed with me, absorbed by my psychic body, for a day before I sent it on.

She felt the movement of energy blockages in the head and in the body as my mind and energy was working on her and told me that she normally got a lot of headaches. She was interested in my exposition of Energy Enhancement as all the while I was working on these blockages I was also talking to her.

Such openings show an educated psychic body, one with talent. Not everyone who comes to the Guru has similar experiences. Some also get more. She and I felt that with training she also might be able to help her clients in a similar way. So, she is coming back tomorrow to try out the process, to get her first Initiation in Energy Enhancement."

"The first day Satchi taught me how to sit. By moving the position of my posture slightly I could feel the flow of energy from the center of the earth into the center of the universe. Satchi explained that what I was feeling was Kundalini Energy. If I followed it, he said, It would lead me to Enlightenment."
From the testimonial of Energy Enhancement Student Carla, Jan 2004

Siva Samhitã, iii, 10-19: "Now I shall tell you how easily to attain success in Yoga, by knowing which the Yogis never fail in the practice of Yoga. Only the knowledge imparted by a Competent Teacher through his lips is powerful and useful; otherwise it becomes fruitless, weak and very painful.

And this is why - by coming into the Buddhafield of Energy surrounding Energy Enhancement Satchidanand obtained through many years of meditation with many enlightened masters, you obtain Shaktipat- an infusion of energy to help you get into a permanent state of meditation.

Swami Satchidanand is Director of Energy Enhancement Synthesis of Light which teaches 28 ancient and effective techniques to enable you to achieve control of your mind, an enhanced IQ, control over all your negative emotions, anger, fear, depression on the path of the ultimate Samadhi and enlightenment itself.

Energy Enhancement techniques have catapulted people years in their meditational experience in weeks. Some 5 years, some jump 10 times further! It helps people worldwide reach further than they EVER thought possible, FASTER!!!

Director Satchidanand, is one of the leading teachers of Meditation.
He helps people worldwide reach further than they EVER thought possible, FASTER!!!

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Non-practitioners often accuse Yoga practitioners of too much self-indulgence. The common concern is that too much self-awareness will cause the Yogi, or Yogini, to worship the inner being. Before you get too excited – you and I know this is not true, but the world needs some time to adjust to Yogic philosophy.

You are thinking: “How can the world need more time? Yoga has been around for over 5,000 years and that is plenty of time for people to adjust. The answers must be found within, and then projected outward.”

This is true, but warfare, ignorance, and intolerance have been around longer than Yoga. As a species, we have become much better with systems for the common good of humankind, but we have also become more efficient at suppressing our neighbors and killing each other.

What can a Yogi do to help? Allow friends, family, and associates, their space, and do not speak harshly of any religion or culture. We know that Yoga practitioners are from many religions, and some have no religion at all. It would be fair to say the majority of today’s Hatha Yoga practitioners are not Hindus.

However, all branches of Yoga are perceived as religious insurgency by religious fundamentalists. You cannot stop fundamentalist philosophy. Much like the ego, within us, fundamentalism spends most of its time protecting itself from perceived threats. It does not matter whether the threat is real or pure fantasy.

As a Yoga practitioner, you are an ambassador of Yoga to any non-practitioner. Therefore, try not to judge, look at issues from at least two sides, and listen. Listening with empathy is the beginning of truly understanding your neighbors.

Recognize the right of another to defend himself or herself. Do not back someone into a corner with your philosophy, morality, or religion. Be tolerant and seek diplomatic solutions to problems before retreating into self-defense mode.

If you push hard enough, even a mouse will bite back. Therefore, do not push your religious or political ideas on others. World peace is not just a catch phrase. It can be attained through knowledge, mutual understanding, respect, courtesy, diplomacy, and tolerance.

Every act of intolerance, no matter how small, sets an equal chain reaction in motion. This is the law of Karma. Look at the prospect of world peace today. We desperately need more people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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While doing Yoga, one should always keep in mind the comfort and the level of stretch one can go through. To be able to achieve that level one should be wearing really comfortable clothes which can be determined as the need of the hour. Clothes have become an important accessory which cannot be overlooked or undermined. As yoga has become part of your life these clothes just become as important as any other things in your life.

The clothes which are used for doing yoga are made of different materials making it as popular as ever to all kinds of people for whom it will be very useful. One should see to it that these clothes should be very comfortable as it should allow free movement of your various body parts because while doing yoga you have to stretch a lot to get the proper benefit from it. These yoga clothes are very trendy and in vogue with the current fashion. Different design and designers have come into picture to make yoga not centuries old but a 21st century thing.

There are clothes available for women, men and kids too. You can wear comfortable which should restrict you while doing any kind of asanas but also be very stylish. Pants should be such a kind which would provide you free movement and enough flexibility to get all the poses right and accurate. You can wear shorts, camis, halter tops, t-shirts, tank tops and pants. You should see to it that these clothes are sweat absorbent, just do not go for the looks. It should make your presence feel but if it does not serve its purpose then there is no point in having it.

Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz, where you will find information on some of the basics of yoga and know more about yoga which can be done in office and at home and the use of yoga clothes to have full benefit.

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Yoga as we all know is becoming very popular and with its increasing popularity you can make yoga a little easier. This can be done by including different accessories to it, as to get the synergy right to gain all the necessary value and energy from it. Even though it’s been centuries old it can create miracles by doing the right poses according to your body.

These blankets or rugs as they are called are very useful while doing the yoga poses. By folding the blanket or rug it give you the extra height to do your pose, your sweat is absorbed by these blankets and lets you maintain the pose which sometimes can be tedious for many.

These can be padded, rolled up, a support for your back, neck or legs which is very essential for doing most of the poses. They come in different sizes depending which size you would be need. It will be very useful for relaxation asanas, Bikram and Ashtanga asanas.

These blankets or rugs are made of different materials like wool, cotton, polyester blend, acrylic and many different other types too. As the materials which are used are easy to maintain, you don't have a problem in maintaining these materials as they are easy to wash and clean.

These blankets or rugs also come in different colors to match your liking such as green, red, blue, purple and some very different shades. Many of these blankets are hand woven giving it a more personal touch and value for your money for the good quality of blankets. Most of these mats are basically used for being placed on the yoga mats, so go shopping for something worthwhile for your yoga.

Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz , you will find information on different types of yoga which are practiced in office, home and some of the accessories used such as yoga blankets, yoga mats etc.,

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There are different kinds of yoga kits which are very useful for people who are ardent yoga followers or for those who may follow it someday. These kits are segregated in different manner so as to choose as per your requirement. These kits give a helping hand to the yoga followers. As each kit would be significant to the relevant customer depending on what basic advantage that person would be getting it for. There are yoga kits for kids, beginners, basic kit, standard kit and many more. These are some of the very popular kits which help makes it a good companion for one and all.

For many of the yoga asanas you may not just be happy with what you have seen on the TV or some poses shown by your friend. This kit may give all the guidelines on how to start about with the yoga poses as well some videotapes or CDs which help you to do all the yoga poses correctly. There are ball kits which are used by people who have been doing yoga poses for a long time and would like to take to go to the next level. These are some of the best used kits which are offers some of the biggest and exercise equipment. Most of these kits include straps, yoga balls, and foam blocks, all of them help in attaining the proper pose and also the level of concentration will be helpful in creating more healthy body.

Some of the most common kits are

Basic Yoga Kit
Children’s Kit
Maternity Kit
Yoga Ball Kit
Traveler Kit
Toning Kit
Ultimate Yoga Kit
Yoga Starter Kit

Kevin Pederson is the webmaster for Yogawiz where you can find information on yoga basics, different yoga asanas, poses, yoga kits, and other accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Pederson

Practicing yoga is very easy provided one does the yoga according to ones capabilities. It wouldn't be advisable for a 50-year-old person to attempt yoga for the first time and start doing poses which are done by 20-year-olds. So if you want to get yoga poses right then there are some things which will be handy for you such as mats, straps, physio balls, yoga foam blocks and many more. For all these things to be in one place there are different types of bags which can be helpful. These bags make your life easy and much more comfortable if you are juggling too many things.

Some of the different bags which are used in market

Nylon Zippered Yoga Mat Bag
These bags are very sturdy and are used for carrying yoga mats which are an integral part of practicing yoga.

Cotton Drawstring Yoga Mat Bags
This is made of 100% cotton with a strong strap to hold your yoga mats which have a drawstring closure.

Cotton Zippered Yoga Mat Bags
Made of 100% cotton, the difference between this bag and the drawstring bag is that it has zipper closure with two pockets.

The Journey Bag
With the hectic schedule everyone keeps traveling and many do not want to miss their practice of yoga which can be very easy to carry on while you are traveling.

The Cargo Bag
These bags are specially designed to carry the extra load which can be easily carry the load of your yoga accessories.

The H2Om Bag
To quench your thirst this bag has small pocket which can carry a bottle of your favorite drink or water, so that's the reason for the name of the bag.

Deluxe Yoga Duffel Bag
Urban Yoga Bag
The Overnighter Yoga Bag
The MatPack Backpack Bag
The Mat Tube
The Sling
Vinyasa Strap Bag
Tapas Harness
Blanket Bag

There are many more bags in the market which are available and very easy to find.

Kevin Pederson is the webmaster for Yogawiz where you can find information on yoga basics, different yoga asanas, poses, yoga bags, and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Pederson

Any exercise when done correctly would help in getting the proper results. Every part of the body would be rejuvenated by getting your exercise right. The yoga blocks used for doing yoga asanas would create extra strength which you need. This helps in doing most of your asanas without strain. Some of the asanas which can be done with the help of this foam is Pincha Mayurasana (Feathered Peacock Pose),or use it to ground your lower hand in standing poses as well as a good support for your hips in bridge pose. The foam would reduce the distance of your hand from the ground making it easier to do the asanas easily.

You can get these blocks in different colors to suit your personality as well as according to your needs. These blocks are of great purpose as some of the poses which many may find it hard to do can be modified as it will get the floor closer to you. These are very lightweight and can be used on regular basis. These are easy to grip making it easy to handle the block. There are blocks made of cork too which are very durable and made of natural materials which make it environment friendly. These provide the comfort and support which is required for doing the asanas.

There are foam wedges which are also very important for doing the asanas. It is mainly used for keeping it under your heels while squatting or under the hips while doing forward bends. These foam wedges make the exercise easy and equally manageable. One can also use this to avoid the overstretching or pressuring your joints for poses such as facing dog or upward bow.

Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz , where you can find information on yoga basics, different yoga asanas, poses, and accessories like yoga block and bricks to make it easier .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Pederson

As with everything in life, yoga is effective but it will only work if you 'work it'. For results with Yoga, as with any program, one needs to learn two simple rules; dedication and persistence. You have to be dedicated and follow the practices on a regular basis if you really want to get results. If you have bought some books on yoga and meditation, don't let them gather dust while you plan and hope you will start the practice one day.

Yoga postures and basic meditation exercises are simple enough to learn, even for a child. The major problem with most yoga 'drop outs' is not getting the techniques right, as most people have aligned their minds to believe, but the ability to establish the habit of following the practices through on a regular basis. The following tips may help you to do your yoga and meditation on a daily basis.

Determination: Start your yoga with a firm determination to see it through. Yoga begins and ends with the mind, if you can convince yourself you really want to do it, then you should be able to keep the spirit. The problem with most people is that they rush into everything that sounds interesting before they are sure of whether they want it or not. These people will usually dump a program before they even really begin it. Close your eyes, search deep within you, "is yoga really important to me?" Decide you will give it a fair try and stick to that determination. There are days when you feel low and won't want to do your yoga, remember your initial soul deep determination and you will always find the right spirit to go ahead.

Be organized: Things go smoothly and are more interesting when they are well organized. Make a regular schedule for your yoga practice and stick to it. The mere fact that you will always look forward to the period of your daily yoga practice will always keep it in your consciousness. You will get best results from yoga if you do your practice daily. No matter how busy you are, keep some time free during the day and reserve this time for your practice of yoga and meditation. It is better if you can get up early in the morning or late in the evening, when there will be fewer distractions.

Free your Mind: It is not enough to reserve a time for yoga if you can't put your all into the practice. When you decide to do your yoga practice and meditation, remember that the next couple of minutes have been reserved for the development of your mind and personality. It would be pointless, if your body were doing the practice while your mind were busy sorting out some other worries. Once you begin your daily yoga practice all other worries and responsibilities should be tucked somewhere else until you are through.

Add Some Color: Learning how to give and share is an important part of the personality yoga seeks to create in you. Add some color and fun into your daily yoga practice by involving your friends who would also benefit from practicing yoga. The enthusiasm of others would rub off on you any day you feel low and don't want to continue with your practice. Yoga is not what you keep to yourself - bring in one or two friends.

Learn Patience: It took you several years to build up your present personality and physical structure. You can't change it overnight. Although, with yoga you don't have to wait for that many years to change yourself because the regular and systematic practice of yoga postures and basic meditation can help you to make great changes within the shortest possible period. It's being human, sometimes you feel like you are getting results and other times, you feel like nothing is changing. You shouldn't worry so much about the short-term effects, what really matters is the ultimate goal you want to achieve. It takes a little time, but with dedication and persistence, your most profound yoga dreams will be achieved.

Michael Russell

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As a Yoga practitioner, you should be aware of your personal health and that of planet Earth. Why should you care, or take action, for a healthier and cleaner planet? With acid rain, toxic waste, mercury, and PCP’s in our backyards, where do we start the clean up?

What can one Yogi do about the planet’s health? We must all take action together, in order to be truly effective. It should be a concerted action.

Eating for a better environment is a reality. If vegetarians were the majority, this would change our environment and feed all the people of the Earth with grain that is used to fatten livestock.

However, the majority of the world’s population will not be vegetarian any time soon. This will contribute to a rise in the world’s temperature, as forests are cut down for ranchers. All forests serve us as the “world’s lungs.” Tree and plants naturally convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Combine this with a sudden increase in fossil fuel emissions, and you have a recipe for increased global warming. The green house effect is a natural way for the Earth to keep itself warm. Green house gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, naturally hold the heat and energy of the sun within our atmosphere.

The world would be a much colder place without the natural green house effect. Some say without the greenhouse effect, our Earth would be an “ice planet.” However, fossil fuel emissions, and deforestation, may tip the balance and cause a “global warming effect.”

What should a Yogi do? We have to write our legislators now and request action. If we keep quiet, all of our governments will stick with business as usual. Here are a few more actions we can take right now.

Buy or use organic products, when possible. Yes, it is more expensive, but you are sending a message to the agricultural industry that pesticides in your food, and in the food chain, are not acceptable. The world would be healthier without some of the chemicals we manufacture.

Support peaceful environmental activists, as long as they are ethical. Environmentalism is one thing, but violence is quite another. Greenpeace International is the current “front runner” of environmental action. They are not the only group, but this is a good one to start with.

We continue practicing Yoga to improve our own lives, but also that of our neighbors, family, and associates. When we clean up the world, this will make our planet, a more tranquil and healthy place.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Sri Aurobindo , the sage of Pondicherry, India once narrated his experience thus:

“While I was practicing Pranayam, I was doing it for about five to six hours a day, three hours in the morning and two or three hours in the evening. I felt there was a great accession of light and power in the mind. I used to write poetry in those days. Earlier, I could sometimes write only about 200 lines a month. After I began practicing Pranayam I could write 200 lines in half an hour. My memory was rather dull before. But afterwards I composed whenever I had inspiration and remembered ad seriatum the whole, till I committed it to paper at leisure”

R.R.Divakar has recorded this experience of the great sage in his book Mahayogi Shri Aurobindo.

By practicing yogic disciplines one could attain exalted mental state and high inspiration so that his/her creative power knows no bounds.
Pranayama means practice of breathing exercises to get control over vital forces.

This is the fourth limb of Yoga, the other seven being Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pratyahara,Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. The equivalent English meanings for these Sanskrit words are ethical restraints, ethical observances , physical poses for the practice of meditation, withdrawal of senses, concentration of mind, meditation and super consciousness, respectively.

One should learn all these yogic disciplines from a true Yogi. Doing on one’s own will
lead to disaster.
If properly practiced as prescribed by the Yoga sutra , one could attain eight psychic powers.

They are

Anima : Minuteness (one can become small)

Mahima: Heaviness (one can become big and heavy)

Laghima : lightness(one can become light)

Prapti :Attainment (one can approach distance objects)

Prakamya :Infallible desires ( one can have immense will power)

Ishittwa : Lordliness (one can get the power to create)

Vashittwa : Control (one can control all objects)

Kamavasaittwa : Highest Bliss ( one can attain the highest bliss)

Mind Development can be ensured by simple breath control exercises.

Pranayam ensures:

Increased efficiency

Functioning of both left and right brain.

Creativity

Enhancement of memory power

Positive mental attitude

Good health

Longevity

Daily practice of pranayam will be the first step to learn Yoga..

S.Nagarajan is a vehicle body engineer by profession. He has written more than 1300 articles in 16 magazines and published 18 books so far. He is revealing Eastern Secret Wisdom through T.V.Programmes, magazine articles, seminars, courses. His email
address is : snagarajans@gmail.com.

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The first thing to remember when depression hits during the Holiday Season is to remember that you are not alone. Many people encounter mood disorders during the festive season.

It is just too much. We are hit with advertising, swelling budgets for gift giving and other activitie with euphoria everywhere. It is quite unnatural to suddenly swell into a merry mood when the harsh reality of life is here as well.
Here are five ways to beat the seasonal affective disorder:

1. Breathe and stretch. Proper breathing techniques taught to you by a qualified instructor can relieve a lot of anxiety.

2. Good posture is a must. When we stand and walk straight our backs will thank us. Also our breathing improves and we are feeling pretty good about ourselves.

3. See a personal trainer to schedule a fitness program that is tuned to your body, mind and spirit. Most trainers give free consultations.

4. Give yourself time off for good behaviour. It is okay to just sit at home and chill. Try to schedule down time.

5. Make sure you schedule your shopping trips when the population will be low. Most malls open early during the season. Try shopping first thing in the morning. The sales staff will be fresh too.

A variety of personal interests and professional paths have led Siva to her current role as a personal trainer and yoga instructor with over 20 years experience. Siva is listed in Who’s Who in the World and is an author, lecturer and Can-Fit-Pro certified personal trainer who specializes in body-mind-spirit consulting and training women.
Siva has helped many clients overcome anxiety in their lives through yoga through her company Shanti Consulting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Siva_Parvati

In the body two forces are working - one is known (jnata) and other is unkown (ajnata). Seeing, talking, walking, sitting, standing etc. take place knowingly. These actions take place by the wishes of mind. Mind has will power (ichha shakti) and this power compels eyes to see or mouth to speak or legs to walk. Here one should see that mind which is not matter, controls the material body. A non-matter controlling matter.

However there are other actions in the body which occurs unknowingly i.e. without the awarness of mind. Whether mind wishes or not, these actions go on incessantly. Breathing, heart beat, blood flow, digestion etc. are such unknown actions. From birth till death these actions never stop for a moment. The force which triggers these unknown actiond is generally called life-force(prana shakti).

People of all societies generally believe that this life force is nothing but a divine force(Ishvariya shakti). People accept everything that is beyond mind as divine. This divine force not only flows in the body but in the world outside. Body is a miniature world and for this there is little difference between material body and material world.

As blood flows along the veins, so water flows along the rivers; as air flows in the body, so air flows in the atmosphere; as heat in the stomach digests food, so heat of sun decomposes organic materials on earth surface. As body has magnetic poles, so earth has magnetic poles. The same divine force moves moon and earth, brightens moon and stars.

Now the question is can this divine force in the body be controlled or won? Yes, this force may be won through mind only. So long as mind or soul inhabits the body, all these known and unknown forces act together. The moment mind departs the body all these forces stop working. As an individual mind controls these forces in an individual body, so the collective mind of all beings controls the divine forces in the whole universe. This collective mind or soul may be called God.

In our own body, mind can control all known and unkown forces. For this we have to realise our mind of true self through the practice of Yoga. Through Pranayama we control our breath. Breath is life(prana). Breath should be controlled naturally. For this we should lie comfortably on a plane surface with chest upwards and hands and legs stretched. Then we should keep mind on the flow of air across the nostrils. Gradually breathing slows down and finally it stops. Then mind and breath become one. With this all activities in the body slows down or occurs in a subtle manner.

In this way when one controls activities in the body, when body sees nothing or hears nothing, mind meditates upon itself. This is true meditation. The aim of Yoga is to realise true self. When mind meditates upon itself, it realises true self or true conciousness. True consciousness is the true nature of a being. It is eternal and uncontaminated.

True consciousness is the blissful state of a being. One who realises this blissful state, does not feel pain and sorrow. Like unreal world, pain and sorrow has no real existence. So long as we accept the world as true, feel that we are nothing but mere mortal beings, we receive pain and misery.

We are nothing but a conscious mind. The blueprint of the body exists in the mind. Mind is the software, body is the hardware. When mind is weak or impure. it will effect the body and make it diseased. So through the practice of Yoga, we should realise our pure consciousness, which is uncontaminated. When mind is pure and uncontaminated, how come the body shall be diseased? Mind is original, body is just a copy of it. When original is pure, how a copied material shall be marked with disease? We should always remember that we are always pure, blissful and real. Then all unreal things like sorrow and disease shall disappear.

Author is desciple of Late Munishvar Shiv kumar Shastri. He has published a book 'Quest for truth: the spiritual and yogic way' in USA, priced at $17. Readers may go through this book for learning more about spiritualism and yoga.

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