Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Yoga and Christianity a Conflict?
Being a practicing Christian myself, there are very few things in Yoga that conflict with Christianity. Some critics argue that Yoga and Christianity cannot co-exist, and yet we know that Yoga is not a religion.
However, that depends on your opinion. Recently, I was reading about someone who claims Kundalini is new age witchcraft. Sorry to say, another person recently stated, Good Christians should avoid the devils exercise, in reference to Yoga.
Are the Salem witch trials still so close to our hearts? These claims are interesting because ministers and priests have been practicing meditation for centuries, without any complaints.
I suppose, if someone devoted enough time to meditating on bad thoughts, meditation would be a bad experience.
To be honest, it depends upon what you meditate about; and in truth, within some schools of Yoga, Hinduism, or Buddhism is taught. For me, this has always been a conflict, as I love Yoga, but have no desire to change my faith.
The many teachings of Yoga and meditation, are non-sectarian. Now, if Yoga were a religion, which would it be? The principles of Yoga are universal.
The Yamas and Niyamas are similar, in principle, to the Ten Commandments, but as a Christian you have the right to pick and choose what you want from Yoga. You also have the right to avoid sectarian ashrams.
Yoga practice, and meditation, give many Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Moslems, a closer connection to God, but there will always be someone who feels tempted to change their faith.
Lets be honest, the people who worry about a sudden change of faith are, for the most part, rooted in two distinct camps of thought.
1. Someone who is on the fence about their own religion and not quite sure where they really stand.
2. Severe intolerance of any idea that is new or might result in opening the mind.
Lets stop the intolerance now. When you are driving in your car, waiting in line, or come face-to-face with someone who is different from you, please set an example for your children and give the other person a break.
Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, north Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Fitness Rx Yoga And PilatesImprove Your Golf Swing for More Club Head Speed
For the club to apply all of the energy we put into it into the golf ball it must swing freely through as if it were a pendulum.
Using the standard roll over fore arm actions this requires great timing, since the downward un-cocking of the wrists must be coordinated and timed with the rolling over actions of the forearms.
Due to this type of arm action only those who have been blessed with excellent hand eye coordination are able to learn it easily. These people could learn to juggle or do a similarly difficult skill quickly, where those who are not blessed with these skills from birth must labor long and hard to learn it if they ever learn it at all.
Golf instructors and driving ranges love this since those struggling to improve their play (most players) need guidance and practice to make small slow progress.
When the wrists are allowed to hinge freely without rolling the forearms amazing things happen, the ball goes far and flies straight.
This type of release allows the total transfer of the energy we put into the club into the back of the ball.
The ability to allow the club to swing freely requires a relaxed grip and the correct application of the right hand hit.
This hit can best be described as a tossing action of the right hand as it passes between the left hand and the ball. The right hand must not roll over the left hand, rather it rolls under it.
Done this way all of the energy goes into the ball instead of some of it actually hitting ourselves. This hitting of ourselves is a result of the club and left arm getting into a too straight line vertically as the left wrist reaches the bottom of its travel.
Often this causes pain in the left elbow area (of right handed players).
Dan Shauger
Dan Shauger is the Master instructor of the aperfectswing golf method. He is assisted up by many accredited instructors both here in the USA and in many countries around the world. He has written 2 books, How to Kill the Ball, and The 21st. Century Golf swing as well as 6 DVDs on the golf swing with another DVD soon to be released. He also does seminars and clinics.
Dan has trained several champion long drivers and countless golfers who simply wanted to learn an easier on the body yet extremely powerful golf swing. Many of Dan's students are senior players who need increased distance to be competitive or players who simply want more power and accuracy to play an attacking game rather than a defensive one.
His book How to Kill the Ball is soon to be released in a Japanese language version in Japan, this book and his other works will also be translated to many languages to allow everyone the opportunity to learn this method.
Dan is currently accrediting golf instructors all over the world to assist him in teaching this revolutionary method.
Find Dan at http://www.aperfectswing.com
G Spring Texas Yoga BallTry a Slow-Carb Habit
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as well as vegetables, fruit, tofu, beans, and dairy - provide the body with the most efficient fuel for energy production and brain activity. They're nutritionally essential, a principle currently downplayed by the "low-carb craze".
What is important to understand is that not all carbohydrates have the same "fuel efficiency". Many carbohydrates - termed "refined" or "simple" - cause blood sugar highs and lows which can result in a period of high energy followed by a period of extremely low energy, often leaving the person craving more of the simple quick release carbs.
Examples of these "refined" carbs are regular pasta, white bread, snack foods and baked goods. The weight loss plans that advocate eating less or none of these foods are on the right track, except they tend to throw out the GOOD carbs as well. We'll call these "slow carbs", and here's why:
After you eat them, the carbohydrates in foods are broken down and released as sugar units (glucose) into your bloodstream. "Slow carbs" are foods that release glucose at a slower rate.
Typically, these foods are "whole foods"; that is, they contain the fibre and minerals that are often removed in making their refined, "quick-release" counterparts. (Such is the difference between whole wheat bread and white bread.)
Choosing "slow carbs" over refined carbs helps keep your blood sugar balanced (positively affecting your hunger level, mood and mental concentration, among other things). Fibre also promotes regularity and helps maintain healthy blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Examples of "slow carbs" are whole grain breads and crackers, potatoes with their skin, beans & legumes, brown rice, oats, and whole grain pasta.
Here are five tips for creating a "slow carb" habit:
1. Whole Foods - Eat as close to natural as possible. Vegetables, fruits, beans and lentils are whole foods that contain all of their original nutrients (fibre, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates for energy).
2. Grains & Breads - When it comes to grain products such as breads, crackers, cereals, and pasta, choose "darker", whole grain varieties. This can be done in restaurants as well as the grocery store.
3. Snacking - Fruit is an excellent snack. Consuming the whole fruit provides the slow-release carbs and will sustain your energy for longer, as opposed to fruit juice, which provides the body with a quick release of fruit sugar into the bloodstream. Another great snack to try is sliced red peppers with hummus (made from chickpeas).
4. Take the time (you're worth it!) - Seeing as some of the slow-carb options take longer to cook (e.g., brown rice versus white rice), make them ahead of time, and make extra to freeze for future meals. Brown rice is very versatile; try it in soups, casseroles, stuffed vegetables, or for breakfast (warmed) with cinnamon, raisins, chopped nuts or ground flaxseed.
5. Read labels - "Whole wheat" (or other "whole" grain) should appear before any other flour in the ingredient list. White flour can be disguised as "wheat flour", enriched flour", "unbleached flour", or "grain flour", to name a few.
Working at substituting "slow carb" foods into your lifestyle will ensure that you have ample energy, proper nutrition, and that you maintain a healthy weight. Of course it's also essential that you find some ways to be active and that you limit high fat and high calorie snack foods as best you can.
(c) Copyright 2005, Genuine Coaching Services.
Susan Baker, B.Sc.,RHN, RNCP is a registered nutritional consultant who supports individuals on their path to optimal healing through nutrition consultations, with a special interest in digestion and food sensitivities.
Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, is the author of The Everyday Self-Care Workbook. To receive one of her free monthly newsletters, subscribe at http://www.genuinecoaching.com/newsletter.html
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