Facts about Successful Yoga Teachers (Part 2)

How do you define success for a Yoga teacher? Each Yoga instructor will have a different answer. What is important to one Yoga teacher may be of little importance to another. However, each Yoga teacher has the passion for Yoga within him or her.

This is the common denominator within all instructors of Yoga.

Is success measured by your contribution to the common good? If you are helping people through teaching Yoga, then it must be so. Yoga has many aspects, but all of them are for healing and helping people.

If you have a student who is financially unable to pay, would you turn him or her away? Most Yoga teachers would find a way to help a student in need, regardless of the finances involved.

However, there is a big difference between a student who cannot afford to pay you and one who does not want to pay you. The difference is the perceived value of Yoga and his or her present financial circumstances. The poor see a value in Yoga, if they need it, but cannot afford it.

Here is an extremely special case: There was a potential Yoga student who told me he was “financially strapped” and could not afford to pay for Yoga lessons, but he desperately needed them for his back problems. He explained his case and had me convinced that I should help him at an extreme discount.

Unfortunately for him, one of my students, (his neighbor), recognized him on the way out. My student was almost in tears holding back his laughter. He told me to look down the street for the poor man’s car. You could not see it from my office, but I made it to a different window in time to see his “brand new” Mercedes S Class drive off.

Upon further investigation, this potential student owned many luxury cars, a home with a garage the size of a house, a vacation home, and a thriving business. So, why did he do it?

Why did he waste my time with a fabricated story? It is quite simple: Although his character may be in question, he saw Yoga as worthless, of no value, and it was just something that might be fun to “steal.” In fact, he “toyed” with my compassion, my passion for Yoga, and my need to be needed.

This is an extreme case, and I am not trying to create cynicism. However, always be aware of the difference between those people who truly need you and those who see your time, contributing to the common good, as worthless.

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Remodeling Can Be A Very Costly Mistake A New Florida Home Is Cheaper

When buying a new Florida home, you have one basic choice to make: will you build a new home or will you purchase an existing home? One thing that all Florida home buyers should consider is that building a new home can save you a lot of money and hassle when it comes to expensive and messy remodeling projects.

Why building a new home is better

By building a new Florida home, you are instantly alleviating several of the remodeling and repair worries that may come with an older existing home. And when it comes to homes, age really does matter. Unless you are purchasing a home for its historical significance, you are always better off buying a pre-construction or newly constructed home.

With these homes, not only do you get a wealth of modern upgrades, you also earn an instant return on your investment in resale value alone. Nine times out of ten, newer homes are worth more money. But all of the other benefits aside, these homes save you money in remodeling costs.

Some common remodeling costs for existing homes

One startling statistic that many home buyers may not be aware of is this: most Florida homes that are over 20 years old are beginning to deteriorate and will likely need major renovation and repair. Of course, the older the existing home and the longer it has been since any remodeling has been done, the more it will cost you to bring the home up to date.

Some older homes have not been updated with central heat and air conditioning, and even if they have these features, the units may need replacement. Some buyers will want to upgrade older central heat and air systems to more modern systems with higher energy efficiency. With utility bills soaring, who wants to pay more to heat and cool their home because their central unit is out of date?

If you build a new home, you don’t have to worry about any of these things, because everything is brand-new, energy efficient, and not on the verge of deterioration.

Electrical and plumbing woes

Speaking of adding central air and heating, home buyers must remember that an older home which doesn’t have central air and heat may have outdated electrical wiring and fuse boxes that will need to be updated before the central heating and cooling systems can be installed.

Older homes often need to be wired for cable and internet, plus there are fewer electrical outlets in each room. If you build a new home, you don’t have to worry about outdated electrical systems, lack of power outlets, and the added expense of having your home wired for cable and internet. Your newly constructed home will be fully up to date in all areas of the electrical and wiring systems.

Plumbing systems and bathroom features are another area that can rack up large remodeling bills. Installing new pipes, bathtubs, vanities, fixtures, and removing old linoleum flooring can get very messy as well. If you build a new home, you will have modern plumbing systems, luxurious bathroom features and fixtures, and brand new tile floors.

Layout and design

Older homes are often darker, with smaller rooms and a lack of closet space. Today’s Florida home builders offer an array of light, airy and spacious floor plans, all of which offer plenty of closet space. Older homes may have lead paint or just plain horrible paint colors that need to be redone (a messy project indeed). Not so with a brand new home. You get to choose your palette of high quality paint colors, and the risk of lead paint exposure is eliminated.

Older homes may have smaller kitchens that contain old, outdated appliances. Cracked linoleum or tile flooring may need replacement, fixtures may be old and stained, and cabinetry that is either deteriorating due to age or inferior quality will need to be replaced. If you build a new Florida home, your kitchen will be luxuriously appointed with all of the latest appliances, cabinetry and fixtures. Appliances are brand new and top of the line.

Building a new home is the best way to buy in Florida

When you are deciding between building a new home and purchasing an existing home, don’t fall into the trap of thinking your existing home is a great bargain when it needs major remodeling and/or repair. The time, money and hassle you save by building a new Florida home makes building new the best choice for today’s Florida home buyer.

Tom Beaty a Florida home builder and Florida real estate broker. Specialize in new homes in Palm Coast, Flagler and Volusia County. Visit me at: Florida real estate or Florida home builder

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Choose Plants For Your Garden The Easy Way

We often buy plants on impulse and then find there is nowhere in the garden that is suitable for them. Before buying plants examine your garden with a careful eye to guage how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is windswept or sheltered.You’ll then be more than satisfactorily equipped to go and shop for the best plants to suit your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-loving ones for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas, which may be either sunny or or in the shade, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained areas.

There’s still one vital thing to do before you go on that plant-shopping trip though: test your soil first, to determine its pH level and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acidic or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that require alkaline soil to grow. It is possible to alter the soil’s pH level, but a much easier strategy is to choose plants according to the soil you already have.

You have tested your soil, and bought suitable plants, so you are almost ready to start planting. There remains, however, one more consideration. Are you going to plant singly, or in groups? If you take an eclectic approach and buy one of everything you see, your garden may seem rather disorganised. Group plantings are organised, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest. Planting in groups makes your garden seem much more harmonious and integrated, but you can still vary the types of plants you group together to maintain a sense of variety.

Before planting, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to get an idea of how they will look when in place. This way you can rearrange them until you find a look you are pleased with. Alternatively, you might consider container gardening, which allows you to move your plants around with ease, while still looking great.

Grouping plants in odd numbers, usually sets of threes or fives, gives off an overall better effect than planting in groups of even numbers. Ensure that you have an interesting and varied combination of colors and textures. Tall plants should be planted to the rear, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Keep your plants away from trees, if possible. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture you intend for your flowers.

The right color scheme is one way to maintain harmony in your garden. To avoid mistakes, try to imagine the color of the flowers when they are in full bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. The color of the foliage is also important. Many flowering plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still very attractive even out of blooming season, and so have added value for your garden.

Take your gardening to new heights with my FREE gardening reports. Click Here To Get Them Now

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Combining Strength Training and Diet to Lose Weight Safely and Steadily

People who go on a diet do so for a few main reasons: to lose weight, to improve their overall well-being or both. Many people who diet for weight loss fail to lose weight or, if they do lose, fail to maintain the weight they lost.

As any fitness expert will tell you, losing weight comes down to two main factors: consuming less calories and exercising. This is so true that if someone significantly increases the amount of exercise they do but maintains the same caloric intake, they will almost certainly lose weight anyway. Forget all that you’ve heard about fad dieting – the safest and smartest way to lose weight is through combining diet with exercise.

One of the best forms of exercise to perform if you are trying to lose weight is strength training. Contrary to what you may think, strength training may be more important than aerobic exercise for weight loss because although it increases muscle tissue, strength training burns more fat than aerobic exercise. Of course, this is not to say that people who are overweight should not perform aerobic exercise – as aerobic exercise has its place in any exercise routine. However, strength training should also be included in your routine as well.

Many people – particularly women, shy away from strength training exercise as they think that strength training will cause them to “bulk up” and look unnatural. The image that many people have about strength training is probably an unrealistic one for most people. Unless you are a serious bodybuilder, you will probably not gain the amount of muscles mass that most bodybuilders have. It is important to emphasize, therefore, that if you are trying to lose weight, strength training exercise will help you to maintain the lean muscle mass that you already have underneath your body fat while you are in the process of losing weight. In the end what you will have is a greater proportion of lean body mass to body fat. This means you will be thinner but you will have the muscle and strength that you had when you were overweight.

Unfortunately, many people who go on rapid weight loss programs will usually lose a good deal of their muscle mass along with the fat they lose. It’s important to note that a significant loss of muscle mass can lead not only to lowered metabolism and a loss of bone density as well.

Conversely, strength training exercise will not only speed up the rate at which you lose weight, it has numerous other health benefits as well, including:

1) Builds and strengthens your bones – which protects you from osteoporosis

2) Increases your endurance – giving you more energy for your activities

3) Tones and sculpts your muscles – giving you a better looking physique

4) Increases your self-confidence – the better you look the better you feel!

If you are considering beginning a strength training program, don’t think, however, that you need to workout in a gym for hours at a time to get the benefit that strength training offers. Significant benefits can be gotten with consistent workouts lasting about 30 minutes each time and performed 2 -3 times per week. An easy way to begin is to train with simple weights in your home.

The most important thing you will need to keep in mind about weight loss is if you want to lose weight effectively and keep it off, including some form of strength training exercise in your routine is essential not only to your overall weight loss program but also to your general health and well-being and the way that you age as well.

Furthermore, by combining strength training exercise and taking full control of your eating habits, you will begin to lose weight the best way possible – safely and steadily.

Patricia has been interested in health and fitness since the early 70’s and takes a no nonsense approach to weight loss
Strength Training & Fitness

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Pug Care and Breed Information

Pug dogs are perky, small dogs that have a short, sleek coat and cute inquisitive face. These loyal dogs are extremely smart and sensitive to commands. They are sturdy and rugged, love to play and are fantastic with kids. They are not yippy like some small dogs tend to be and are great for a small house or apartment. They typically are outgoing and sociable with humans as well as other animals. They do need attention, like any other pet, and will reward you with their loyal companionship.

History

Pug dogs are an Ancient Asian breed. In the sixteenth century Pugs were all the rage in European high society and a Pug is rumored to have saved the life of William, Prince of Orange when the dog barking gave them notice of the Spanish invasion. Many pugs were found in Chinese Imperial palace in the mid 1800’s. The AKC recognized pugs in 1885.

Breed Standards

Pug dogs should be 12 to 14 inches tall for males and 10 to 12 inches for females. They grow a short coat in black, fawn, apricot or silver. These dogs are stocky with a round eyed face, prominent eyes and curly tails. Pugs should weigh in between 13 to 20 pounds.

Medical Concerns

Pugs often have respiratory and skin related problems. Their “button” ears which fold overcan create a friendly environment for mites – therefore their ears should be checked frequently. These little dogs have flat faces with protruding eyes which might make them prone to ulcers on the cornea. Pugs are also prone to colds and should avoid harsh weather- either very cold or very hot.

Grooming and Care

Bathing pugs is recommended but care should be take to be sure you dry them completely after bathing as they can catch cold easily. Care must be taken with Pugs to insure their ears do not harbor pests and the folds of skin on their faces should be cleaned. Pug dogs are rather easy to care for and groom because of their short hair.

Pugs make loving and loyal companions but like most toy breed dogs do take extra care and attention. Before you adopt a pug, you need to make sure that you can provide him with a proper home. Pugs should not be kept outdoors for any length of time so you will need to provide suitable housing inside the home. Also, make sure you have the time to devote to your dog as he does require your attention.

Lee Dobbins writes for Subject Monster where you can find more information on a variety of subjects.

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Facts about Successful Yoga Teachers (Part 3)

Do successful Yoga teachers produce more successful teachers? The short answer is, “Yes, they do.” Tirumalai Krishnamacharya produced many good Yoga teachers, but how many of us could match his accomplishments? Among his many Yoga students are four Master Yoga teachers: Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, and T.K.V. Desikachar.

Therefore, most of the Hatha Yoga sub-styles of today have been affected by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. His legacy has cast a long shadow, and his accomplishments may never be matched. To some, this is success and to others, success is simply helping people with health and well being.

While others, might consider Bikram Choudhury, to be the most successful Yoga teacher of our time. It is said that his style produces, in the neighborhood of, 900 Yoga teachers per year. Not bad, considering he had a serious knee injury as a teen and made quite a come back. He aggressively markets his style of Yoga, has patented his asana sequence, has been in the American “lime light,” and lives a very wealthy life.

So, this is a very different form of success. In his own right, Bikram Choudhury is one of the most successful Yoga teachers of this time, and he has produced many more successful Yoga teachers. Success means many things to many people, and we each have a different viewpoint of the meaning of success. Success can be easily classified into physical, mental, spiritual, and material categories.

What about Yoga teachers who demonstrate technical prowess? Yes, a Yoga teacher who understands alignment should be successful. Unfortunately, perfect alignment is not abundant. The human body has many imperfections, and this can be a struggle if a Yoga teacher becomes a perfectionist.

This can sometimes affect the ego of a Yoga teacher for the worst. The teaching style should still be compassionate – when assisting or demonstrating Yoga techniques. When an instructor of Yoga becomes arrogant and self-absorbed, he or she will start to lose students, among many other things.

Is success measured by how many Yoga students you have? To put it simply: “No.” Many successful Yoga teachers have small schools, but their agenda is not materially based. They enjoy helping others and improving the lives of their Yoga students. This is definitely success and gratification.

However, if you want to earn a living – have financial obligations, or just want to be comfortable, your life will be much easier, when you have more Yoga students.

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Facts About Successful Yoga Teachers (Part 4)

In the last part of this series, let’s pick up where we left off about success as a Yoga teacher. With regard to attracting, and keeping your Yoga students, it is not easy to do both. Many Yoga teachers focus on bringing new students in the front door, without considering the more important needs of their “established students.”

Do you have survey forms for your Yoga students? You should – and also give them a reward for their participation. They are helping you learn what they want, and this is something you cannot afford to speculate on. This is one of the many ways your Yoga students become your teachers.

Once you sit at the front of the class, and begin to teach Yoga classes, you can no longer visualize a class as a student. This is why I like to visit classes that are taught by my staff. This gives me a unique viewpoint, and I can better understand what a student may require from his or her Yoga instructor.

However, this is not enough; and many of us need some true feedback to clarify what is needed within the Yoga studio or ashram. You are not really a client or a student anymore, so it is difficult to visualize their point of view.

In turn, tell your students the truth about everything. Tell them about the realistic expectations of Yoga practice. Let your students know what is expected of them. Yoga students should know that they have to practice regularly. Yoga is more than a once a week commitment. How could any of us expect to make significant progress by attending a Yoga class once per week?

Keep your classes interesting. If you get a stale feeling, and feel like you are in a rut, then your students probably feel the same way.

Lastly, when you travel around town, and someone asks what you do, what do you say? If your answer is, “I’m a Yoga teacher,” it may mean nothing to a person who knows very little about Yoga.

Do you teach meditation, stress management, work with kids, work with seniors, help people with ailments, teach a very physical style, or something else? What makes your method of teaching Yoga different from the rest? You are better off explaining the benefits of your particular style, than to label it “Vinyasa Yoga,” for example.

If you say you are a Vinyasa Yoga teacher, you may have just said two words that a prospective student does not understand. They might ask you, “What is Vinyasa Yoga?” Also, they might just sit there nodding like they understand you, and walk away without asking, for fear that they will seem unintelligent.

Tell people what you do in descriptive terms, and make sure they understand the particular benefits of the Yoga you teach.

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Detox Is Not a New Concept: Did Our Ancestors Know Better?

Detox, a term previously used exclusively in connection with coming off alcohol, or “substances” withdrawal, has become the health buzzword of the 21st century. It’s a favourite topic amongst the cognoscenti in the global alternative health community, where it is hailed as a major breakthrough in the human race’s relentless quest for vibrant health, fitness, renewed energy and longevity.

Detox as perceived in alternative medicine circles is not recognised as necessary by the traditional medical profession. It’s even sneered at and treated as just another fad.

Come to think of it, how can a traditional doctor recognise detox when he or she constantly prescribes toxins in the form of various chemical tablets and pills?

Between one extreme and the other, one has to look at hard facts in order to determine whether detox makes sense on a personal level, especially now that symptoms of toxicity are well recognised. Headache, digestive problems, bloating, IBS, muscular pain, cough, gastrointestinal problems, depression, immune system weakness and fatigue can all be attributed to toxic overload.

Do you suffer from any of the symptoms above?

Here is a fact for you. The majority of people who undergo detox report a feeling of extreme well being as a result. They feel healthier, slimmer, cleaner, purer, more energetic and more focused. Surely all this cannot be imagined?

Louis Kuhne, a naturopath from Leipzig, Germany -hailed by his contemporaries as “a genius in the Art of Healing”- was a pioneer of the detox concept back in 1883. His doctrine of the Unity of Diseases stipulates that all diseases are caused by an accumulation of toxins in the body. He devised an ingeniously simple healing panacea based on hydrotherapy -specially featuring his famous friction sitz bath- accompanied by a wholesome, strictly vegetarian diet.

Using these simple methods, Kuhne achieved phenomenal success in healing a wide spectrum of previously incurable diseases, and helping his patients recover and maintain good health.

M.K Gandhi (the Mahatma) praised Kuhne’s baths in a correspondence
to Nehru on January 17th, 1929 saying: “I utterly distrust doctors’ reports, I strongly recommend Kuhne’s bath and sun baths.”

The Detox Bath is based on Louis Kuhne’s friction sitz bath. It is a tool that nature generously provides us with, to help us maintain our health and body in optimal condition.

According to Kuhne, internal body heat -generated by movement, digestion, stress or shock- pushes excess fat and toxins out to the body’s periphery where they deposit and can no longer be eliminated. The Detox Bath working principle is to cool down the core area of the body, i.e. the groin and genitals. by applying cold water for ten to twenty minutes daily, or at least 4 times a week (depending on your initial condition and the results you seek to achieve). This action provokes a vibration in the fascia, (interconnecting tissue covering all internal organs) which produces a roll- back effect that drives excess fat and toxins back into the intestines, where they can be eliminated.

The Detox Bath is an ancestral healing method that will help you flush toxins, excess fat and cellulite out of your system on a daily basis. Practiced regularly it will boost your mood and energy. It will encourage better and more restful sleep, help your body stay slim and toned and give you a beautifully clear skin and radiant complexion. It uses nothing but water to help eliminate fat and toxins and maintain a healthy, fit and toned body.

Learn the Detox Bath:
pureinsideoutdotcom/articlemarketer-learn

Randa Khalil
Author
Detox Bath
Ebook published by Dream Team Publishing UK
Visit pure inside out:
pureinsideoutdotcom/articlemarketer-index
to discover easy and natural ways to detox your body and your mind.

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