...Yoga often helps us to carefully examine logical and illogical mind chatter. Fear can be caused by either, logical or illogical, thoughts. Sorting out our fears, and categorizing them, will give us a rational view of, an often, irrational emotion.

Logical thoughts, which strike fear into us, have been learned over time, such as: Putting our hands into a fire. We have all learned to respect extreme heat, because of our life experiences, but this is a logical reaction.

Illogical thoughts, such as phobias and unreasonable fears, which we perceive to be real, can program us for failure, or cause a state of panic. The reaction to phobias and unreasonable fears can raise the pulse rate, shorten the breath, increase perspiration, result in trembling, and in extreme cases, cause death.

If someone you know is suffering, as mentioned above, from phobias, counseling should be sought. Reactions to phobias can become an automatic conditioned response. A person who suffers with extreme reactions to phobias may no longer be able to control his or her response to it. This is why counseling will be so helpful.

In the ca...more

What Are the Benefits of Yoga?

...ontented mind, because the mind doesn't grow old with the physical structure if the correct precautions are adopted and if the blood supply to the brain is maintained.

This is common knowledge to all doctors, and the Yoga system of rules allows for this and has exercises for keeping the brain provided with blood. There's nothing strange or unnatural in this. In the dim and distant past, when the progenitor of man trotted about employing his hands as supports, very much like apes do, his head was lower than his heart, and gravitational force sent the blood speeding to the brain with comfortable ease, and kept it fit and responsive during the process of evolution. Walking upright, as we do now, gravity doesn't transport this blood to the brain, and the heart pumps up a reduced amount through the carotid arteries.

...more

Yoga Myth - Yoga is Not a Spiritual Practice

...It is true that there are some Hatha classes, which resemble "exercise classes." There has been some mixing of Pilates and Yoga, within the past two decades. In the West, some styles of Hatha Yoga, teach very little about Pranayama, mantra, Japa, Mudras, Bandhas, Meditation, Shatkarmas, Doshas, the Subtle Body, the History of Yoga, or Yogic Philosophy.

As a result, some Yoga classes have become more like calisthenics classes. So, why has Yoga changed so much, when it left India? Why is the practice of Bhakti so popular in India, and is scarcely known in the West?

Quite simply, Yoga has transcended cultures, and it is going through another evolutionar...more

Yoga Teachers Lead by Example (Part 2)

...re needed.

Getting back to discrimination in general: The largest problem with bias is our history of war crimes, holocaust, atrocities, and slavery. Discrimination cannot go unchecked, and it has no place anywhere, especially in a Yoga studio or ashram. If you teach Yoga to a specific religious sect, that is fine, but do not speak harshly of those who are not present.

It comes down to the golden rule, which is very universal to most of the worlds religions, and I will conclude this part with a quote. Most of you will recognize a much similar quote within your own religion. It does shed light on the wisdom of our ancestors.

This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. Mahabharata 5,1517<...more

Manduka 71inch Yoga Mat Black