Yoga is revered for its power to relieve stress, increase flexibility, and build muscle tone. It is not, but, well known for promoting weight loss. So you might be surprised to learn that it can really help us burn calories.

Traditional yoga is not an extremely active pursuit. It works our muscles, but we rarely break a sweat just by holding a pose (unless it’s really hot in the room). But the muscle-building effects of yoga do allow us to burn calories more efficiently. So if we participate in a excellent aerobic workout, we will see greater results than we would if we weren’t doing yoga.

Yoga can also give us the discipline we need to stick to a diet and exercise program. It enhances the relationship between the mind and body, giving us the motivation to take better care of ourselves. Lack of motivation is a frequent problem among those who want to lose weight, so this is a very vital benefit.

New Incarnations of Yoga

Those who want to lose weight solely through yoga might find what they’re looking for in non-traditional yoga classes. There are a number of yoga styles that can give us the traditional benefits of yoga and a cardiovascular workout at the same time. These include:

* Vinyasa yoga – This type of yoga is based on movement from one pose to another while practicing yoga breathing techniques. Sun Salutations are frequently used, but other poses are usually included as well. This is sometimes done in a hot room to increase sweating.

* Ashtanga yoga – Ashtanga is a complex style of yoga that includes six different series of poses. Each serious is more complex than the previous one, so it is vital to start at the beginning and work your way up.

* Power yoga – This is an Americanized version of yoga. It combines quicker, more active movements with traditional yoga breathing techniques.

These types of yoga are more likely to increase our heart rate and work up a sweat than traditional yoga. While they may not give us as much of a workout as aerobics, they combine weight loss and cardiovascular benefits with the muscle building and flexibility training of yoga. And for those who do not have the time to participate in two separate workout programs, they can be fantastic options.

Other than being forms of exercise, yoga and aerobics seem to have small in common. But traditional yoga can enhance the effects of more intense workouts, and these newly well loved styles of yoga can give us the best of both worlds. If other workout routines have left you disappointed, adding or switching to yoga might be the answer you’re looking for.

By: Kanye Robin

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The beginning of September is a busy time for Yoga teachers and Yoga studios in North America. This is the time of year when children go back to school and parents make decisions about activities for the next nine months. Whether there are more resolutions, made during September or January, is a subject for debate.

Bearing this in mind, many Yoga studios design advertisements, flyers, brochures, mailers, and web sites for prospective students’ needs. In this time of plenty, after the “long lonely summer,” some Yoga teachers scramble to accommodate every perceived student need.

Some studios tie up crucial funds in Yoga mats and equipment. While it is right that you should have props available, there is no logic in buying Yoga mats for more money than your students will pay at the local retail store. Letting Yoga supplies sit in a closet, unused for five years, is a waste of space, time, and funds.

About new Yoga classes: Do design classes and workshops to meet needs that are in demand within your local community. If you live in a predominantly retired community, there may not be a large demand for Power Yoga, Kids Yoga, and Prenatal Yoga. On the other hand, if you live in the heart of a college neighborhood, there may be a limited demand for Senior Yoga classes.

This may sound like common sense, but sometimes we lack the information needed to know the niche markets within our specific communities. If you receive numerous requests for a specific type of Yoga, you should have a workshop, which meets one to three times, to see if there is a real demand for it.

We often confuse ourselves by thinking our studios should be structured like a general store. There is nothing incorrect with having a variety of Yoga styles to choose from, but there is no need for every program, if some classes do not attract students.

In some cases, the classes are in direct competition with each other. For example: If you have beginners, gentle, restorative, and rehabilitative on the list, you must give an in-depth explanation as to how they are different from each other. How will they help a student who knows nothing about Yoga?

It is vital to listen to the opinion of someone who knows nothing about Yoga. We often forget how we originally perceived Yoga. It must be remembered that the term “beginner,” is a reflection of a lack of knowledge. Therefore, we must design our brochures and classes for beginners.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

By: Paul Jerard

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