Yoga Workshops worldwide from Jetsetters Magazine www.jetsettersmagazine.com

WORLDWIDE YOGA WORKSHOPS Compiled by Lena Hunt Mabra Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent; Send your Yoga news to Lena: wmabra@hotmail.com Explore Wai Lana's world of Yoga: your complete source of information & products for yoga: Videos, CDs, Mats & Accessories, Relaxation, Meditation, Diet, & Healthy Living.

Yoga means "unity". Unity of the mind, body, and spirit. By calming your mind through proper breathing techniques, using the entire diaphragm, and by learning to focus on one thing at a time, you can achieve optimum health and wellness from the inside out. The mind is always racing, consistently working so to keep it healthy you must slow it down. The body is usual inactive and in order to keep it healthy, you must move it. This is the balance of mind and body to relax the spirit. This is the definition of yoga.

As you calm your mind and slow down your breath through yoga, the central nervous system (CNS) relaxes. When the CNS relaxes, then symptoms of anxiety and tension will be relieved. Quick shallow breathing is how most people breathe in our hectic society. We don't even have time to breathe properly! Shallow breathing is a mild form of hyperventilating and does not allow for the waste products (carbon dioxide, lactic acid, etc.) to be exhaled. This means that the cells are storing in toxins and don't have enough room for fresh oxygen. It's as if you are functioning on 50-80% of your lung capacity! When this happens, all systems of your body do not function properly. Because of lack of oxygen and stored waste products, your metabolism can slow down, your circulation can get sluggish, and so on.

Calming the mind, or focusing on what thing at a time, also teaches you proper form during your workouts because you learn to focus on what you are doing at the moment. Being in the present is a rare thing these days. How many times have you done sit-ups or crunches only to find that you have hurt your neck? Focusing also teaches correct form and quality in your daily life and work. How many times have you played with your child and yet your mind was a million miles away thinking of things that you need to get finished? And focusing allows quality of life.

If your mind is racing, your breath will be shallow and quick. Your body will carry tension, stress, and inactivity in certain areas such as your joints, in the form of headaches, neck pain, stomach problems, lack of flexibility, insomnia, depression, allergies, relationship problems, and addiction to bad habits. Smoking, overeating, anger, alcohol, medications and drugs, depression may be ways of trying to relieve the symptoms of an imbalance of mind, body, and spirit.

Yoga helps to naturally release stress by allowing time to take care of YOU. We often do everything for everyone else so balance this out by making time for you. If this balance is not achieved, it will show up in the form of stress. You will be amazed to find how stress plays such a big role in the number of crimes, marital issues, financial problems, etc. And stress is how you react to something. If you are calm and don't react negatively to a situation, then it is not considered stress to you. Yoga teaches you how to PROact by being prepared for any situation that comes your way instead of reacting in

an attempt to survive.

In the western world, Hatha yoga is the most popular form because it does not focus on some Eastern religion but on the poses and the breath. Your breath is the connection between the mind and body.

To understand how our breathing has gotten so shallow and incorrect, take a deep breath in and then exhale. How long were you able to inhale before you started t exhale?

Now inhale again but this time, breathe through your nose only (lips are closed) and try to continue inhaling for at least five seconds. Then exhale and make your breath even longer than your breath in. Focus is placed on breathing out the air because if you do not exhale all the waste products, as mentioned earlier, then there is not enough room in the cells for fresh oxygen. You will find that it is very difficult to breathe in such a slow and deep manner. We are too hurried to even breathe properly

Have you ever heard a baby cry and cry and think that he would eventually tire out and fall asleep but instead he continues on? This is because as infants, we were born with the ability to breathe properly using the chest, rib cage, and stomach. This three-phase breath is the proper breath that God gave us when we were born. As we grew older, more hurried and stressed, we learned to breathe quick, shallow breaths using just the top of our lungs. So we go day by day, year after year breathing in this manner and we continue the cycle of anxiety and ill health.

Do remember that your breath is the connection between the mind and body so the three-phase breath is essential to your yoga practice. You can be lying on a couch watching television or reading your favorite magazine and yet, if your breath is quick and your mind is racing, you will still not be able to fully rest. You may look as if you're relaxing but inside is another story!

To practice the Three-Phase Breath:

Close your eyes and start to think only of your breath (what you are doing at the moment) in order to slow down the mind
Take in a deep breath through your nose. Lips are closed. Breathing through the nose allows the nasal membranes, passages, and hairs to cleanse the oxygen you take in. This is a natural filtering system. Inhale every last bit of oxygen that you can before exhaling.
Now exhale through the nose, breathing out completely before inhaling again. So you are taking in the breaths very slowly and deeply through the nose.
As you inhale and exhale, say the word "ahhh" with the lips closed. This will sound like a groan in the back of your throat. The groan is there so that you can focus your mind on the sound and strive on thinking of nothing else.
This breath will be used throughout the entire yoga class and anytime you feel stressed, hurried, or imbalanced.
Now place your right hand on your stomach, left hand on the rib cage, and you will notice the chest rising and falling with each breath. You are now using all three with each breath. This is the Three-Phase Breath.

You have just learned to breathe with your entire diaphragm and not just with the tip of your lungs..

Yoga is for everyone and there are different levels to meet your needs and desires. When doing yoga, remember to listen to your body. Your body knows best what you can or can't do and what you are or aren't ready for. Challenge yourself but listen to your body.

The best way to learn the correct form and breath is to take a yoga class, workshop, or attend a retreat. This way you will have access to instructors and other members who can help you develop or improve your yoga practice. From there, you may wish to continue practicing with others or you can add a video or DVD into your yoga routine. Make time for YOU and enjoy a more healthy, balanced life!