The Practice of Yoga and the Cultivation of Forgiveness

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The practice of Yoga goes far beyond simple physical exercises. The term “Yoga” is literally translated to mean union or yoke to the divine. In order to become one with the divine energy that pulsates through all of creation, we must go through a process of releasing and purifying the heavy, negative emotions that can naturally accumulate over time through difficult life experiences. As we let go of negative thought patterns and behaviors that keep us separated from the wonderment and joy of life, we will be able to embody and radiate peace, contentment and fullness to those around us. 

One of the primary stumbling blocks that prevent many of us from experiencing the love and joy of the divine presence in our own beings is an inability to forgive both ourselves and others for transgressions of many sizes and degrees. When we hold onto negative life experiences, we frequently embed these experiences somatically in our bodies. If we keep rehashing the same event over and over again in our minds, we will keep recreating the same negative emotional states, such as anxiety and anger that were the hallmark of the original experience. 

On one hand, thinking about the experience over and over again gives us the opportunity to possibly find the key error that may have created an unpleasant situation. More likely than not, repetitively analyzing the situation only keeps us in the same loop and lodges the negative emotional states associated with the event more deeply into our body and mind, creating a lot of muscular tension and stress. Yoga poses that help to release deeply held tension, reduce anger, and relieve anxiety will allow us to move out of the denseness of a painful and upsetting experience. 

Yoga poses that are particularly effective for releasing tension from unresolved emotional experiences include heart-opening backbends, twisting poses, hip opening poses and a variety of standing asanas. In addition, incorporating Bhastrika and Ujjayi Pranayama techniques into your Yoga practice will help to relieve anxiety, reduce anger and balance your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. These breathing exercises will also help to free you from the repetitive cycle of negative thoughts and beliefs. As you release and resolve painful issues in your life, a new found freedom and ease will allow joy to naturally arise from within, bringing you closer and closer to the experience of expansive oneness with the divine energy that pulsates in your own heart.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Yoga for Raising Peaceful Children

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Whether they are passing state-mandated tests, making honor rolls, or coping with class bullies, children do not have carefree lives; nor do they always have good role models. Raising peaceful kids in a chaotic world is not easy, but teaching them how to cope with stress gives them a running start.

We have all heard the saying “it takes a village.” Research shows that Yoga studios can be integral parts of that village. Not only does the practice of Yoga help children feel better about their own bodies, but it helps them to respect and get along with others, too. Belonging to a community builds empathy and increases feelings of connectedness, lowering anxiety and depression for all generations.

The earlier we learn the rules to healthy living, the less conflict we have as children or adults. Imagine not having to “unlearn” the bad habits we acquired during our younger years, not to mention the psychological and physical benefits of the early training.

While parenting theories change, some truths are absolute. The way we see the world and treat other people determines the quality of our lives. Negative thoughts create anger, fear, and isolation.  At the same time, good deeds and positive thinking lead to happy hearts and minds.

Yoga and Peaceful Children

It is hard enough to remain calm and centered in our busy world, with time for children's soccer schedules and homework competing against each other. Add to this, it is difficult for busy parents to be completely present for others.  As children grow, there comes a time when children are more likely to listen to someone else. What better person for the role than a competent Yoga teacher?

Yoga teaches kindness, patience, and service, while honoring individual traditions and personal beliefs. In a world where competition and acquisition are commonplace, Yogic philosophy encourages cooperation, service, builds self-esteem, self-care, and contemplation. The ability to persevere, to live a balanced life or to look inward is something most of us take decades to learn.

Yoga’s health benefits are obvious, but they also spill over into other areas of children’s lives. Kids who are happy and healthy have fewer behavioral problems, learn more easily, and exhibit stronger social skills.

There is an old Native American belief that the actions of one generation affect the next seven generations. If so, childhood Yoga lessons have the potential to change the future in a positive way for generations to come.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Yoga for World Peace: A Pipe Dream?

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

My grandfather used to say: If you want to cheer up, take a break from watching the news. In those days, television had two channels to watch and both of them carried the news at the same time.  However, he did succeed in getting us to play outside.  Nevertheless, the news is often filled with shamefully violent tales.

Ancient Vedic scriptures tell us that the world is our family. Great teachers and philosophers still agree, and some scientists admit there is evidence to support the claim. Why then is the world filled with such animosity and strife? What can we do about it? Great teachings share central themes of compassion, love, and connection, but we can't seem to agree on how to achieve these goals. In fact, the controversy often leads to animosity and violence. Are our intentions so different from those with whom we disagree, or do we see new ideas as threats to our own belief systems?

Yoga science provides a comprehensive path to changing the things we can and making peace with those we cannot. Through breathing, poses, and meditation, we learn to accept our limitations and care for our spiritual, emotional and physical needs. When we know who we are, we become more tolerant of others. When we become more tolerant of others, our lives become more peaceful. When our lives collectively become more peaceful, so do our community, our country, and our world.

Research shows that groups of people with positive intentions can produce states of coherence that increase compassion, reduce violence and create feelings of oneness. The Global Coherence Initiative, using sensors to measure the effect of widespread emotions on the earth's magnetic field, found that empathy and compassion increased globally after the 9/11 tragedy. The organization now coordinates events that allow participants to join together in an effort to promote world peace.

A recent news story shows how we are all connected. Lawrence Anthony, known as the elephant whisperer and recognized for saving large numbers of the animals in Thula Thula (a private game reserve in Zululand), died unexpectedly at the age of 61. After his death, two herds of elephants formed a procession that came from miles away to pay their respects to the man they loved.

If animals have the awareness and empathy to honor their protector, imagine what we could accomplish. As anthropologist Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Yoga for World Peace

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

In a peaceful world, diverse societies would recognize and respect the needs, values, and responsibilities of others. People would put their selves in the shoes of others to solve important issues. Men, women, and children would learn how to sacrifice from time to time, in order to do what is best for society as a whole. Conflict has been thriving around the globe since the beginning of time, making world peace seem nearly unattainable. The idea of world peace has to start with each individual. Every person must find an inner peace that allows him or her to feel calm and centered. Every person would need to operate from a place within that is not egocentric, but rather empathetic, loving, and compassionate.

Inner Peace

Those who practice Yoga know that it is a powerful tool for creating inner peace, one individual at a time. Yoga is a tool to release daily stress, worry, and annoyance. It urges you to focus on your body and breathing, as opposed to letting your thoughts run away, creating more stress and worry. The meditative portion of Yoga practice helps you live mindfully, or within the present moment. It helps you be thankful for the little moments in life, that we often let pass by because we are thinking about something in the past or future. When you are thankful and present in the current moment, you are able to bring peace to yourself.

Empathy

As inner peace begins to wash over you, it is much easier to start considering the needs and feelings of others. When you start using empathy to impact the decisions in your life, people start seeing you as a compassionate person. Compassionate people resolve conflicts by putting the needs of others before their own, resulting in a more peaceful situation for everyone. If everyone in the world acted with compassion and empathy, conflicts would be reduced and we would be on the path to world peace.

Encourage Service

Another basic principle of Yoga involves service to others. Helping others while asking for nothing in return makes people feel good on the inside, increases self-confidence, and improves interpersonal relationships. Yoga encourages you to help others in a way that is meaningful to you. When people act in the interest of others, instead of constantly pursuing selfish goals, the world becomes a more peaceful place.

Yoga can indeed bring world peace, if everyone gets on board. Regardless of our differences, if everyone follows a path to total enlightenment, the world will be affected in a positive way.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Yoga for Conflict Prevention in Schools

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga classes are popping up in schools around the world. Studies have shown that Yoga can reduce students' stress, improve concentration and grades, and help students form healthy, lifelong habits. As students learn the benefits that Yoga can provide, they begin to practice the poses and breathing techniques independently. Yoga can also be an effective tool for reducing conflicts between students, among students and teachers, and within the teaching and administrative staff. When schools choose a proactive approach to conflict prevention, the students and staff can focus on more important aspects of education.

Philosophy of Yoga

Along with learning Yoga postures and breathing methods, students learn the underlying philosophies. These philosophies are based on the idea that the body, mind, and spirit should be living in harmony with each other. Yogic philosophy includes taking responsibility for your actions, while treating others with kindness, respect, and empathy. Yoga recognizes suffering and pain, but it encourages us to dwell on the positive, not the negative. People who adhere to the ideals of Yoga, learn to live mindfully, from moment-to-moment. They learn to appreciate the little gifts of joy we are given each day if we pay attention. When conflict occurs, we learn to handle it with integrity and understanding.

Yoga teaches us to strive for a sense of inner peace and calm. Those of us who can achieve that feeling will have a better ability to resolve conflicts, because we are not out to prove ourselves right or better than others. Yoga nurtures self-confidence, which helps us live according to our inner values, not according to what others tell us to do or think. Since these attributes are developing in children and teenagers, Yoga can provide a positive example to follow.

Just Breathe

Sometimes all it takes in the heat of the moment is a nice, deep breath. Deep breathing calms the mind, while bringing clarity to the situation. If we teach kids to stop for a moment before they react, they can learn to think before they act or speak. Deep breathing in Yoga means filling up the entire abdomen, belly, and chest cavity by breathing in through the nose. Then, we slowly let the breath out. After a couple of deep breaths, new air renews circulation and blood flow throughout the entire body.

Teachers can easily take a few minutes during class to teach deep breathing. Students can then use it before a test, after a lecture, or during a conflict with friends or teachers.

Conclusion

Sometimes the most simplistic solutions work.  The Yogic method for prevention of conflicts has proven itself for thousands of years.  Once a person practices Yoga techniques, self-realization begins to take place.  Self-realization leads to mindful and peaceful actions.

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Meditation for Prevention of Conflicts

By Amruta Kulkarni

Meditation provides a wealth of benefits, both physical and mental. Physically, meditation increases blood flow within the body, bringing new oxygen to all of the body's organs and systems. Increased oxygen flow can result in a number of other healing benefits, such as reduced stress and anxiety, or advanced healing within the body. Psychologically, meditation brings peace, calm, and confidence. It can increase overall mood and happiness. Meditation allows you to see the bigger picture in life instead of dwelling on all of the little, unimportant things. Meditation can also be effective when it comes to conflict.

Personal Conflict

Sometimes the most excruciating conflicts are within ourselves. Maybe you've made personal choices based on the needs of others, instead of what you really want. Perhaps a job has left you unsatisfied and restless. Maybe a personal relationship is leaving you unfulfilled. This type of internal conflict can start as an uneasy feeling in your belly and grow into something much bigger over time. Through meditation, you can release the stress caused by the conflict, and gain the perspective and confidence necessary to overcome it. Meditation increases your self confidence, allowing you to take action in your life. You will gain perspective on the importance of living as your true self, and you have the courage and understanding to make necessary changes.

Interpersonal Conflict

Other conflicts in life result from interactions with others. Maybe you disagree with a colleague on an important business decision. Perhaps a discussion got heated, and you said some things you shouldn't have said. Sometimes conflict is the result of misunderstanding or miscommunication. Regardless of where the conflict originated, it can cause unpleasant feelings between people. Although meditation is personal, it can help with our relationships with others. When we meditate on a specific problem or event, we can often see it more clearly. You might be able to see that you were out of line, and an apology is in order. Conflict can cause your blood pressure to rise, and your thinking to become unclear. If you stop and give yourself time to calm down, sometimes the answer appears at the forefront of your mind. Meditation allows you to slow down, bringing clarity and reason to the conflict.

Prevention of Conflict

When meditation is practiced on a regular basis, it can be a powerful tool for conflict prevention. Your brain and body learn to slow down and breathe when conflict is approaching. This allows your thoughts to become more clear. Meditation lets you put things in context of a larger picture, allowing you to see the smallness of the current problem.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!