...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 r...more

5 Important Yoga Tips For Everyone

...Tip #1: Why are you practicing Yoga?

The first step is to figure out why you want to practice Yoga. What are your goals? Do you want to practice Yoga daily, weekly or bi-weekly? Does your schedule allow for a few minutes everyday, or you can take a 2 hour class once a week? Are you completely clear about your purpose for doing Yoga? Answers to these questions will help you determine what style of Yoga would best fulfill your goals. There are many styles to choose from and many types of teachers to learn from. Yoga studios and fitness gyms offer a variety of classes to fit your unique needs.

Tip #2: Talk to your doctor or other competent medical professional

This is probably, the most important step for you to take before starting any Yoga program. As with any exercise program, including Yoga, the advice of a professional is important for your safety. Yoga can be enjoyed by the vast majority of people provided they are aware of the limits of their capabilities. M...more

The Yogic Approach for Coping With, and Preventing, Panic Attacks

...ld be practiced daily for prevention of panic attacks. This requires a person to take preventative action and to attend Yoga classes on a consistent basis.

Lastly, if you, or someone you know, have panic attacks, preventative action is the largest part of the solution. You should consult with your family physician, which will result in your road to recovery. Your family physician may have a list of preferred Yoga teachers in the area.

Ignoring panic attacks will not make the situation go away. If you decide to make prevention a lifestyle, regularly attending Yoga classes will be a cost-effective solution. Visit and talk with your local Yoga teacher and explain your needs.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publicationsmore

Yoga and Ethics

...The word yoga brings to mind, especially in the West a system of exercises or meditation to keep the body and mind healthy. But yoga is actually a philosophy, one of the six ancient schools of philosophy in India. The literal meaning of the word is union and the aim of yoga philosophy is the union of the individual soul and the Super-soul usually called God. The goal is to evolve the individual human being to spiritual perfection following a long and arduous path of self-discipline. The most authoritative book on yoga is Yoga Sutra of Paatanjali who expounded the philosophy. Yoga is also a science as most of the concepts discussed in Yoga Sutra are rational and even compatible with the views of modern science.

The system of yoga described in Yoga Sutra has eight components and thus it is called ashtaanga yoga. The first two components are called yama and niya...more

Yoga Positions Postures