mario

... prepare for one of the two options. Physically, this is manifested through an instantaneous heart rate increase, together with a high ascent of blood pressure. Breathing gets shallow and the muscles tense in anticipation to the following action. Internally, this response reduces the blood flow to internal organs and processes that are not essential in that particular moment (such as digestion and elimination) are shut down. This state of increased awareness and readiness is beneficial on a short term, preparing our body to react to the outside interventions and stimuli. Both in a fight and in a flight situation, the body is physically and mentally prepared to act. The problem arises when long-term exposure to similar stress takes place. This fight or flight response is only meant to help on short periods of time the longer it is activated the less resources will the body have to function normally.

There is a natural countermeasure for the fight or flight response. It is called the parasympathetic nervous system or the relaxation response. It is automatically activated when the elements that caused the stress are gone but it is also poss...more

Yoga for kids

...animals and plants. When children are given the opportunity to imitate the movements and sounds of nature, it is not only very enjoyable, but it also gives them the chance to experience, for example, the power of the lion, the grace of a swan, or the grounding of a tree. This introduces kids to the true essence of yoga: union, expression and honor for oneself and others.

In teaching yoga to children, instructors have found that an interactive, multi-disciplinary approach works very well. The yoga asanas can be expanded upon to playing and imitating various plants and animals. This can be further explored with storytelling, games, picture drawing and playing musical instruments. The children can appreciate the use of their bodies and minds and how they can interact in play. Their natural tendency towards creativity and curiosity makes these classes fun and effective.

Yoga classes for children that take this multi-disciplinary approach are indee...more

Kriya Yoga And The Nature Of The Journey

...Kriya yoga has found a place in some people who are looking for a deeper, more spiritual relationship with their lives. It is a kundalini oriented yoga and meditation technique, that also teaches certain spiritual and esoteric principles. Unfortunately, like many similar "spiritual" power structures, it teaches you that essentially your power lies outside of yourself - that is, that you need a 'guru', or 'master' to access your own innate spirituality.

Kriya yoga has some aims which sound both appealing and promising. They aim to eliminate "obstructions" and "obstacles" from the mind and body. Point of view is a very interesting thing here, however. Because what is an obstacle or obstruction to one perso...more

Tantric Yoga

...e most other forms of Yoga. The focus is on such a broad scale, such a massive possible format, that it surpasses all other forms in its point of purpose.

Though actually putting the purpose of this age old art in words is difficult, it could possibly be summed up best as "The ways and Means for solution of all forms of conflict from two viewpoints, on all scales." In non-technical language, the focus is to destroy any non-duality, be it from the focal point of the inner psyche, a wife and a husband, or even a parent and a child.

Though it is a hard concept to truly grasp, it can be made simpler by a look at how we phrase things. In one aspect, you have a man with a wife and two children. In the sought after teachings of Tantr...more