It can be a costly endeavor, however, especially if you hire someone to build the site for you. Building it yourself, on the other hand, can be time consuming, especially if you are new to web marketing.

Here are a few tips to help new and experienced yoga teachers and studio owners get the most from a web site.

1. Yoga business marketing starts with your web site’s domain name

Most yoga teachers and studio owners spend far too much time deciding on a domain name for their web site.

One of the first places search engines like Google look for keywords is in the domain name. So it makes sense to put words in the domain name that people will actually look for.

People most often search for yoga classes on the Internet by typing in the name of their city and the words ‘yoga‘ or ‘yoga class.’ Unless you or your studio have already established a well recognized brand name that people will actually search for on the Internet, it’s a good idea to incorporate the name of your city with the word ‘yoga‘ into your domain name. You can then register a second domain with the actual name of your yoga business that redirects to the first domain name.

Whenever possible, use ‘.com,’ for your site because it is the most respected top-level domain (TLD) and the easiest for people to remember.

2. Flash is the number one killer of yoga web sites

Flash is a powerful program that can produce stunning graphic displays and play music on web sites. Many web designers build beautiful yoga web sites completely in Flash.

Unfortunately, Flash can sink a web site’s chances of success before the site is even launched.

Search engines like Google can’t read text saved in Flash. If Google can’t read what’s on your site, it certainly won’t rank you very highly in search results — even if you offer exactly what people are looking for. And if Google doesn’t rank you on page one of its search results for key phrases related to your business, your site might as well not exist. People rarely scan past the first few search results.

The solution: Have your site built in HTML so that search engines can read your content. Use Flash sparingly for visual effects on part of your page, or not at all.

3. An ‘autoresponder’ is an effective yoga marketing tool, turning web site visitors into paying clients

Incorporate a sign-up form on your web site for a newsletter to send by email periodically. The best newsletter programs include automatic responder or ‘autoresponder’ capabilities, which send prewritten messages to subscribers at set time intervals.

For instance, when someone signs up for your newsletter, you can have a thank-you message sent automatically. The next day have the autoresponder send your class schedule. Two days later, send a message about the health benefits of yoga. On day four, your autoresponder can send a coupon for a class discount or private session, and so on.

It takes repeated contact to turn web site visitors into paying clients, building your yoga business slowly but surely. An autoresponder system is an inexpensive and effective method of automatically staying in touch with your prospects. Write your messages once and you’re free to concentrate on other things.

4. Slow and steady link-earning ensures long-term success of your yoga business’s online presence

Earning links from other people’s web sites will make sure that search engines recognize your site as an authority on whatever topic your web site covers.

In the past, people submitted their sites to ‘link farms,’ where all kinds of web sites were included with no organized theme. Next, people engaged in reciprocal linking schemes to trade links between two or more unrelated web sites in an effort to game the search engines.

These days the search engines are smarter, so increasing your yoga web site’s authority isn’t simply a matter of submitting your link here and there all over the Internet and getting links back.

The best way to get links is to earn them. This is a slower process of creating content on your site that other site owners will naturally want to link to, earning what is called a ‘backlink’ or ‘in-pointing link.’

Link from your site to other sites sparingly, and only link to sites related to your site’s theme. A rule of thumb is to consider whether the site you’re linking to adds value for your web site visitor. If not, don’t link to it.

For example, it may be a good idea to link to a site with a yoga article you want your site visitors to read. It may also be a good idea to link to a national or international yoga directory so that your students can find a yoga class when they travel. Even linking to your favorite local massage therapist or Reiki practitioner could be a good idea (so long as they’re not also yoga teachers — as a general rule don’t send hard-earned traffic to your competition) as these fields are complementary to your yoga business and may also get you some referrals from those businesses. These types of links add value for your visitor.

On the other hand, linking to a used car lot or your friend’s brother’s daughter’s baby pictures, cute as they may be, are not such hot ideas.

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As most of us know there is so much more to Yoga than mere flexibility, but how do you make a student aware of this in his or her first Yoga class? Do you really want to try? Some Yoga teachers jump through “flaming hoops” to appease a potential student who has natural flexibility. This happens much to the dismay of dedicated and established Yoga students who have been training for years.

So what is the problem and why do we worship exceptional flexibility and physical prowess? The problem stems from the Yoga teacher who has forgotten what the prime ingredient is within the exceptional Yoga student. That ingredient is “perseverance” and that is what separates the “flash in the pan” from the Yoga student who may well evolve into a Yoga teacher. The student who shows up to Yoga class and tries to do his, or her, best should never be taken for granted.

Perseverance is a true guarantee of success for Yoga students and Yoga teachers alike. When you think about your life, perseverance has always played a major role in your past achievements. How many people will tell you that teaching Yoga is not a good career move? Plenty will, but you must have the fortitude and perseverance to pursue your own desire, in the first place.

In order to make any achievement in Yoga, you need a formula for success. Here is a list of ingredients that you must have in order to succeed at teaching Yoga or anything else in life. Firstly, you need desire and passion to become a Yoga teacher. If you don’t have it, that’s no problem, just find something that you feel passionate about. Do not waste time pursuing any goal without passion.

Secondly you must have a dream that you can visualize. If you can picture yourself teaching Yoga, and feel the joy of your journey, you are fine. However, if you cannot see yourself becoming a Yoga teacher, it just might not be your “calling.” Whatever the goals you choose to pursue in life, you will need both desire and the ability to visualize your dreams, in order to proceed to the next step.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Today, most of the people are experiencing back pain. The reasons for getting problem are several. However, yoga for back pain may be beneficial as it comprises of physical movements, but it may also put forth benefits through its effects on mental focus.

Your back is one of the most fundamental parts of your body and is a sensitive part with a mass of nerves, bones, tendons, and muscles. It supports the trunks, guards the spinal cord and the spinal nerves.

Thus any strain to this is painful. Some times, this back pain leads to paralysis or disability. Back pain is work related and it affects both men and women of all age groups.

People can relieve from back pain with in a shorter period of time but sometimes the pain also can become chronic. These back pains may appear in the form of sprain, strain, herniated disc, sciatica, scoliosis, osteoporosis or bone and joint injury.

Practice Techniques of Yoga for Back Pain Relief

There are a lot of things that you can do in order to relieve it. Yoga for back pain is one among them. However, the most important thing is self-care. Back pain, however, is avoidable through yoga exercises for back pain.

People with back pain will always feel that practicing yoga for back pain is highly impossible. They even seem to be painful for someone with severe aching back. The good thing is that it can be possible and yoga for back pain can relieve this problem.

It is better to consult a doctor before you start any new exercise program. Ensure that your aching back is not a serious problem. After getting an approval from your doctor, start practicing yoga for back pain.

Remember that you are trying these yoga postures to ease your back pain not to increase it. Inform your yoga instructor regarding your problems when practicing the posture because they will be able to observe your posture and the way you are practicing the yoga asanas and will make changes if it is required. Try to make yoga routine, once you have started practicing yoga for back pain.

Get moving, remember that if you have to stand or sit in one position for a longer time, then try to change the position at least every 15-20 minutes. Stretch, though you cannot sensibly go away from your position or desk, change your positions, try to stretch your leg or move around in a different position.

Relax, identify when you are letting your muscles tense up, and take a breath and relax your body. Go easy on yourself; you don’t have to be perfect.

Precautions to be taken for Avoiding Back Pain

Your back can continue to be healthy and strong by a regular practice of yoga for back. Work out the poses even if you are not experiencing any back problems. Keeping your back healthy is the best way to prevent low back injury.

Only self-care cannot help you manage and relieve back pain, it can help you prevent it.

For instance, when you’re picking up something heavy, never try to lift objects that are too heavy for you. Lift by bending your knees, not your back. Keep your back straight and your head down and lined up with your back.

Keep the object close to your body, dividing the weight evenly throughout your body as you lift. Never twist your body when lifting.

You should practice techniques of yoga for back pain regularly, and low-impact exercises like walking, swimming a day can enhance muscle strength and flexibility. Yoga for back pain helps in enlarging and strengthening muscles and also improves postures.

Stretching before and after you finish yoga for back pain will help your back. Be easy on yourself and your back will thank you for it.

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As with most authentic weight loss practices, yoga does not offer instant results. It gradually brings the body into a state of balance and optimal weight that makes it healthy and beautiful too.

Some schools of yoga are more geared at a purely physical fitness oriented work out than others. Some of those are

1. Hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga

Hot Yoga is done in a room at 105 F temperature with 40% humidity. Excess water weight in the body is eliminated almost instantly in the form of sweat. This style of yoga, if practiced regularly also promotes great toning and reshaping of the body, burning fat and eliminating toxins.

2. Flow Yoga

Vinyasa or Flow Yoga is a series of movement based yoga, where sun salutations (among other postures) are done in a constant moving fashion. This increases heart rate and seems like an aerobic work out. Holding positions for longer also improves muscle tone.

3. Power Yoga

Power yoga is modeled on the ashtanga style but has more of a fitness emphasis to it. There is very little chanting or meditating – there is more focus on a rigorous physical work out.

Deep Breathing

Though breathing seems too simplistic to be a weight loss solution, deep breathing brings more oxygen to the cells of the body, increases metabolism, reduces stress and prevents the body from being a store-house for stress hormones that aid accumulation of fat. Deep breathing is an integral part of yoga and can greatly aid in creating a healthy body and a stress free mind, in addition to aiding weight loss.

Some hormone imbalances or malfunctioning of the thyroid or pituitary glands result in a lot of weight gain. By regulating the body’s internal hormone balance and the endocrine system, yoga, being highly therapeutic, can help in both the cure of the disease and shedding the extra pounds by tackling the root of the problem.

Yoga is one of very few physical exercises that leaves the practitioner more energetic than before. This keeps lethargy at bay and helps keep metabolism high. So yoga practitioners can burn more calories even when not practicing yoga. It also helps tone the muscles and shed excess fat with constant practice. Even the most relaxing form of yoga can aid re-shape the body.

Yoga can be tailored to fit any kind of fitness regimen. The practice can be as restorative or as intense as desired or different every day. Its inexpensive enough to practice at home without special equipment, once some basics are learned. Yoga is more than a great way to gain flexibility, its also a healthy way to be at the right weight.

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The term yoga refers to a collection of spiritual and physical practices intended to integrate the mind, body, and spirit. This integration or union’ (the meaning of Yoga in Sanskrit) is the goal of all yoga practices. The roots of yoga can be traced back over 5000 years in India and it played a significant role in the development of the Buddhist and Hindu religions. Yoga is not a religion in itself, but a spiritual practice that can be incorporated into any belief system.

Yoga can be thought of as a series of exercises and breathing techniques, which in turn have numerous physical and spiritual benefits. Yoga can improve flexibility and joint mobility, tone and strengthen muscles, and improve posture. Yoga has been known to decrease blood pressure, increase circulation, boost immunity, and benefit many other chronic conditions. Through breathing and focus, yoga practice is also aimed at calming the mind. Through practice, yoga can teach us to become better attuned to our environment, enhance concentration and mental clarity, and reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga can help us feel more relaxed and less anxious while simultaneously energizing us with enhanced mental clarity. Yoga can also fuel spiritual growth by emphasizing harmony, health, and universal energy.

Getting started with yoga is simple – you will need to choose a yoga style, pick a class or video, and get equipped with the proper clothing and equipment. Although all yoga styles have the same emphasis on breathing and exercise, they do vary on how they are taught and practiced. Hatha yoga provides a good start for learning the essential poses of yoga. Hatha yoga focuses on breathing and slow and gentle movement. Bikram yoga, another popular form of yoga, is a style of yoga consisting of 26 yoga poses and 2 types of breathing techniques. Bikram yoga is also known as Hot Yoga‘ as it is practiced in a room kept at 105 degrees F and with a humidity of 40%. There are many other types. Some are more focused on breathing such as Vinyasa and some, which are more focused on powerful movements such as Ashtanga. Yoga classes can be found in most cities and usually advertise by type of yoga. You can also check to see what your yoga teacher training was in so you can choose your class accordingly.

You can also get started with yoga by purchasing one of the numerous yoga videos out there in the market. A video can teach you the basic yoga poses while in the comfort of your own home. You will also need to invest in some basic yoga equipment. A yoga mat or sticky mat is necessary. The mat provides traction for your hands and feet and provides some cushion from the hard floor. It is also important to wear comfortable, breathable, slightly form-fitting clothes while you practice yoga. There are some great yoga apparel companies, such as Prana, that provide an entire line of yoga appropriate clothes. As your practice develops you may find a need to purchase various yoga props such as straps, blocks, and blankets but to get started you just need a yoga mat, a class or video, comfortable clothes, and an open-mind. Namaste.

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The most important thing to remember, as a yoga teacher, is that you are helping to shape the well-being of your students, through your instruction. Respect the place that you occupy as a teacher. Instructors have to keep a tenuous balance that can be quite difficult. A balance must be found between healthy objectivity and the role of transcendental guide.

Each student is on his, or her, own path to wholeness. This wholeness involves a gestation of physical and emotional matters, often leading to charged feelings in the students. The focus of the yoga instructor should be to allow students to seek, and find, solutions to their own needs, in the learning process. Instructors must not focus on their own desires; otherwise, the growing process of both the students and the instructors will be stunted.

The nature of a yoga class is intimate. There is a great deal of focus on the body and opening of the body and a measure of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual release. Instructors often must touch their students to assist or correct a physical posture.

All of the students are paying close attention to the movements of the instructor. Some students will become infatuated, or attached, as they associate their release of tension, and spiritual growth, with that person. A compassionate yoga instructor is a guide, who shows his or her students, that the true teacher is already within each student.

The mission of a yoga instructor should be to serve the needs of the students in the class. That cannot be accomplished if intimate relationships are being cultivated with students, and unhealthy emotions blur the student-teacher boundary.

Some instructors are not prepared to guard against the ego in these situations and may give into the temptations presented to them. This not only dominates the nature of the classroom, but also damages the purpose and reputation of yoga practice.

Ego also gets in the way of yoga instruction, when instructors do not recognize the point where they are not trained enough to assist yoga students with their needs. On the other hand, instructors should not abandon or neglect students.

Students should always be referred to another instructor, or class, to allow them to get the most from their yoga instruction. The yoga studio needs to be a safe place for everybody, regardless of where they are in their own lives. The instructor is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe environment.

The yoga sutras, which are at the core of yoga ethics, have eight branches, or arms. The personal and social ethics that apply most substantially to yoga instruction are yama and niyama. These ethics require peacefulness, honesty, acceptance, truthfulness, temperance, and restraint.

Niyama sets forth the goals of purity, contentment, self-study, and dedication to holiness. These essential ethics cannot be upheld if instructors do not seek them. Ahimsa, peacefulness, requires us to do no harm. One cannot get personally and intimately involved with a student and not inflict some grief.

Unfortunately, in today’s environment, it is commonplace to see that the “exercise” portion of yoga is often separated from the rest of yoga. The classes tend to be body-centric and avoid, or eliminate, altogether, the importance of ethics, philosophy, and spirituality, which have been a part of yoga for its 5,000 year history.

Without the ethical, philosophical, and spiritual elements, the complete benefits and true core of yoga are missing. The same can be said of actions taken by yoga instructors that selfishly put the needs of the teacher first.

Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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The word hatha yoga is a Sanskrit word, introduced by the sage Yogi Swatmarama, in India, in the fifteenth century. It is also referred to as hatha vidya. It is the physical preparation that makes the body fit for higher meditation. (1)

The science of hatha yoga is derived from the word ha, referring to the sun and the word tha, which represents the moon. Placed together, they mean forceful. Yoga, as the yoke, joins the sun (masculine, active) energy and the moon (feminine, receptive) energy together. This is believed to create balance and increase one’s power. (2)

While the text for hatha yoga is Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which relates the yogic experiences of Yogi Swatmarama, it is originally considered to be derived from older Sanskrit texts. (3)

Historically, it is suggested that Lord Shiva, gave the knowledge of hatha yoga to Goddess Parvati, on a deserted island. A fish, by the name of Matsya, heard the discourse, although no one was supposed to be listening. Lord Shiva made him into a Sidddha, called Matsyendranaatha. In turn, he taught hatha yoga to a limbless man, by the name of Chaurangi, who received new limbs, when the Siddha looked at him. In turn, he went on to teach others. (4)

More modern schools have risen from the teachings of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya,

a man who taught hatha yoga, from 1924 to 1989. It is understood that his students brought hatha yoga into the western world. Another teacher was Swami Sivananda (1887-1963). (5)

More traditionally, hatha yoga is a holistic practice with moral discipline, physical exercises and meditation. In the west, it is mostly the physical exercises called postures, or asanas that are practiced, in conjunction with meditation. The postures teach poise, balance and strength and help to improve one’s physical strength. They are also used to clear the mind of one who is preparing for higher levels of meditation, which then lead to enlightenment. (6)

Some schools teach that hatha yoga has only six limbs, unlike other schools of thought that teach eight limbs. (7)

While this is a very condensed version of the history of hatha yoga, it does give a brief introduction of this practice into our western world.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H atha_yoga

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H atha_yoga#Origins

(3) Ibid.

(4) Ibid.

(5) Ibid.

(6) Ibid.

(7) Ibid.

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If the mind’s eye image you have of yoga is a roomful of people sitting cross legged or doing headstands chanting “ohm” you are doing yourself out of the opportunity to challenge your body and gain many important health benefits. Yoga, in all of its forms, can be practised by children, adults and seniors. There are many good DVDs, websites and local exercise classes devoted to the practice of yoga. Both your mind and body will benefit from regular yoga practice you even have the potential to decrease any wrinkles you might have.

Physical Benefits of Yoga

If you practice yoga regularly (for instance 2 or 3 times a week for between 60 90 minutes a session) you will notice improvements in the following areas:

* Muscle Strength

With regular practice, you will find that your muscles become stronger as yoga poses are a form of resistance exercises. Resistance exercises require you to carry weight while you are completing the exercise. For example when you are in the cobra pose and you are lying face down on the floor and then lift your chest off the ground, you are asking your abdominal muscles to hold the weight of your upper body.

Any improvement in your muscle strength will improve your overall fitness and make your day to day tasks, like carrying shopping or hanging out washing, much easier.

* Flexibility

Another physical benefit of regular yoga practice is increased flexibility. Over time, your muscles will become used to the positions that you are putting them into and you will find that you are able to stretch a little further each time.

In your day to day life, you will notice that increased flexibility means that you can now bend over and pick something up off the floor more easily or that you can stretch to reach something up high that you could not reach before practising yoga regularly.

* Pain Relief

Regular practice of yoga has been found to assist with the management of chronic pain including lower back pain and menstrual cramping.

The relaxation effect of yoga also assists in relieving pain.

* Aerobic Conditioning

Yoga is a total body workout and although it is practised in a slow, rhythmic and precise manner, your body gains aerobic fitness benefits. Increased aerobic fitness will again allow you to undertake your day to day life tasks with increasing ease.

A research project studying college students found that undertaking a 50 minute yoga class twice a week

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It is thought that the word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word yog meaning union or yoke. This is thought to refer to the ultimate aim of Yoga, which is a union. That union is supposed to be the union of body and mind, reaching a state of higher mental being or spiritual awareness.

Yoga was originally a spiritual undertaking, designed for the improvement of the spiritual being. It is much more commonly practiced today for it’s relaxation and health benefits, and because it is a fun pastime, but it was originally a spiritual quest.

It is known for it’s physical exercises which in turn facilitate with increased flexibility. It can also be extremely useful to facilitate meditation. Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years.

Some Yoga devotees claim that Yoga history starts with a carving of a man sitting cross legged with outstretched arms which as found on a seal which itself is thought to be around 8000 years old.

And some see the beginnings of Yoga to be found in the old Hindu writings known as Vedic Shastras. This would put Yoga at around 4000 years old.

Yoga as a discipline of that name can be found in the Upanishads which gave life to the Bhagavad Gita. This is considered to be the original writings on Yoga and sets out clearly the basis for the self realization which was Yogas goal. It also sets out the 3 main branches of Yoga known as Karma, Jnana and Bhakti.

There are now many streams of Yoga. Most are most closely related to Hatha Yoga which is younger than some other forms, thought to go back around 700 years. The Swami Swatamarama set out the major tenets of Hatha Yoga in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and this form is followed by millions of Hindus as a way of life.

It is clear that the history of Yoga is not clear. That does not though detract from the fact that Yoga, particularly as practiced by more western adherents, is a relaxing and enjoyable pastime that has substantial health benefits. Whatever the history of Yoga, it is now practiced by many people in our society and is constantly growing in popularity.

If you’d like to see what Yoga is all about then give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

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Yoga increases flexibility and strength, balance and range-of-motion, while at the same time reducing stress via steady breathing and concentration. The same elements that one can find in a typical yoga class: warm-up, breathing concentration and yoga postures (which focus on body-stretching, body-relaxation and visualization) can be accomplished whether you’re scrubbing a toilet, sweeping a hallway or changing a light-bulb.

But first a little background: the yoga postures which comprise the physical part of yoga are referred to as HATHA and the practice of these postures is called ASANAS. Yoga breathing techniques are called PRANAYAMA and Yoga meditation is referred to as DHYANA. The aim in successfully practicing yoga — in the home or out — is to incorporate elements of all the categories (controlled movement, concentration, flexibility, and steady breathing) — while accomplishing daily cleaning chores in the home.

So just how do you incorporate Yoga into your daily housework? Steady breathing is perhaps the easiest part followed by slow and easy stretching. Your kitchen can be a great place to start!

Let’s say you’re doing the dishes. So why not try the Yoga side-straddle. Grab both ends of a spatula, rolling pin or dish towel and raise it above your head. Keep your elbows straight and lift your arms up to the ceiling while at the same time relaxing your shoulders. This is a two-part movement: inhale and stretch up, then when you exhale — and without bending your arms or legs — slowly bend to your right. You want to lean neither forward or backward only slowly stretching as far as can to the right. Inhale as you slowly return to center and repeat the process while you lean and stretch to the left.

This basic yoga posture — the side stretch or straddle — can be incorporated in pretty much any household activity. The internet offers many yoga resources for beginners. One of the best is called – you guessed it – yogaforbeginners.com. This site (and many others like it) provides great tutorials on basic yoga postures than can be incorporated while doing a variety of household chores such as mopping.

Consider the following:

Mountain Pose: This is the basic standing pose and is the foundation for all subsequent Yoga postures. Stand with your feet together — pointing forward and with your arms at your sides. Relax your shoulders; your face forward. Breathe rhythmically and exhaling. Raise your arms overhead while inhaling with your hands clasped together above your head. Now stretch upward so as to feel a stretch in your spine and under your arms. Pause for the count of 3. Now exhale and lower your arms to your sides. The main benefit of the mountain pose is that it will strengthen the back by keeping your spinal column straight; it will improve your core strength while at the same time increasing your stamina.

Half Moon: Stand straight with your feet spread at shoulder width apart, with your arms down and hanging at your sides. Slowly inhale and raise your arms up from your sides while clasping your hands or fingers straight above your head. Sound familiar? The Half-Moon is the technical term for the kitchen-stretch discussed earlier! The Half-moon stretches and tones the sides of your body and can be incorporated with most household tasks.

Standing Forward Bend (SFB): Stand with your feet at least hip-width apart, arms relaxed at your sides and knees bent slightly. Inhale while stretching your arms out to your sides and overhead. As you exhale, lean forward while keeping your back flat. This posture is also known as the forward lunge. The important element here is to remain RELAXED. Bend your knees till your fingertips touch the floor. Can be done while mopping, dusting and sweeping. The SFB is a great way to release tension in the lower back while at the same time stretching the spinal column and hamstrings.

Other postures such as the CHEST EXPANDER, STANDING TWIST and CHAIR POSE can round out a basic Yoga agenda. Refer to these specific stretches on your favorite search engine for illustrated examples.

Yoga in the home while doing housework may never replace organized Yoga classes, but with these basic Yoga postures under your belt you’ll be improving yourself physically, mentally and spiritually while at the same time cleaning your home.

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