There are more styles of yoga available today than there has possibly been ever. Some represent a continuation of older traditions, that are relatively unchanged. This includes hatha yoga, and styles by Desikachar and Iyengar. Others represent a synthesis of different methods, even whilst being shrouded in mystical origins. For example, some have suggested that Ashtanga yoga is not derived from the yoga Korunta, but from a synthesis of traditions that may have included early acrobatics!

Some styles of yoga are very modern, and evolved more out of an adaptation to the West. Bikram yoga is a good example of this – and perhaps a very extreme one, given that Bikram copyrighted ”his” yoga poses and they way they were taught, despite yoga being essentially in the public domain.

Most people who train as teachers in yoga do so in a discipline that they have been practising already. This does make logical sense, as it’s important to be passionate about what you do for a living. There is the additional experience that people will have with a particular style of yoga that no doubt makes it easier than starting from scratch in a different style.

But other issues may come into play when choosing a yoga school. Is the style of yoga you like well supported in your area? Is there sufficient demand for that style? Understanding who these particular styles of yoga appeals to will help later on when you set up your own yoga business, as it will guide your marketing, choice of location, logo, and business identity. It’s worth thinking a little bit about these things before you make a time and financial commitment to getting qualified.

Finding out whether your course is accredited nationally and internationally is an important step. There are various governing associations at different levels around the world. For example, in the UK there is the British Wheel Of Yoga. In Australia, the government keeps a list of accredited training courses through the Australian National Training Authority. For a yoga specific association, try the Yoga Teachers Association of Australia. Globally, there is the International Yoga Teachers Association, which is available in many countries. There is also the American Yoga Association, Yoga Scotland, and the European Union Of Yoga.

Each of these organizations may have different standards by which they measure courses. But they do provide a good guideline for selecting providers with a minimum level of professionalism, integrity, and quality. You could look at contacting teachers who have gone through their training to find out what they thought of the course, and perhaps go to a few of their classes to get a feel for what is being taught.

Before going into any course, it’s a good idea to have some sense of the bigger picture. For example, are you looking at combining yoga with other healing modalities, such as massage, nutrition, meditation, or some combination of all of these. There are some teaching colleges that integrate yoga with other modalities, both locally and abroad in India. For the sake of continuity, and ease of integration, it may be easier to look at this before any study is actually done. It may prove easier to study with an all-in-one provider who will provide a clearer way to integrate these different aspects of health.

Tags : Choice, Training Courses, Yoga

One of the most limiting concepts of modern science is the idea that our mind and body are separate entities. Unfortunately, it’s not just scientists who live by this false notion. It stands true for all of us. When your child suffers from difficulty in concentrating, is behaving badly or is struggling to read, does the thought of him/her being poorly nourished strikes your mind? If it does not, it is time to wake up. All these characteristics and behavior traits are governed by a network of complex, interconnecting brain cells, shaped by none other than what your child eats on a daily basis.

Fact is that most of our children are struggling to keep up. They’re living with perpetual tiredness; are difficulty in concentrating on their studies, behaving erratically or feeling anxious, stressful, irritable or depressed all the time. At such a tender age, they are experiencing sleeping problems. There is sufficient scientific evidence to prove, that too many children suffer from mental health problems ranging from attention deficit disorder to autism, hyperactivity and dyslexia; or they’re simply not achieving their full potential in school and at home because at times they don’t feel good about themselves resulting in difficulty to focus and learn. Some of these kids are simply not able to achieve their full potential in school and at home, solely because of the way they feel inside.

Fortunately, study after study shows that what you feed your child can and will increase intelligence, attention span, concentration, and problem-solving ability, as well as improve emotional response, mood and physical coordination. You, as a parent can make up for the loss, merely (by changing the child’s food habits. By doing all that, as suggested in the book “How to Increase Child’s IQ’ you will be able to fundamentally impact the way your child thinks, feels and behaves not just in the present, but also in the future as he/she grows up into a mature adult.

Tags : Brain, Child, Effect, Food