Here’s a natural Yoga solution for a “pill popping culture” that does not take side-effects seriously, until they feel them, or worse. Male impotency has become a marketing Bonanza. Pharmaceutical companies are cashing in on middle-aged males. Even if you are not a male who is middle-aged, or older, your Spam folder is most likely full of “junk advertisements” for Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra.

This means there is a huge market of middle-aged men who could use a copy of the Kama Sutra and should learn some natural solutions from a qualified Tantra Yoga teacher. Tantra Yoga does not have a long list of side-effects, so there is much less, if any, risk. This might be expecting too much because this is pro-active behavior for better health.

Some men are taking these drugs and they do not even need to; it has become a strange “fashion statement.” What usually happens is a quick solution is mentioned by a Viagra commercial during a football game. Ever notice the simplest solutions are not really in the form of a pill? Half of the time consumed, in a typical Viagra commercial, is spent talking about the side-effects of taking the drug. The same can be said for Viagra’s cousins: Levitra and Cialis.

What the commercial visually shows is romance, and advertising firms have male behavior down to a science. Men are not listening to “common side-effect” warnings about headaches, blurred vision, bluish vision, upset stomach, facial flushing, or reactions to light. Keep in mind; these are only the common side effects of these drugs. There are a number of uncommon side effects - if you happen to be one of the unlucky ones.

Now, let’s get back to Tantra Yoga, a natural solution, which does not have any adverse side-effects. I admit it: Men do not listen very well. This is not “selective hearing;” we do not listen to other men very well either. You can get a man to pay attention to a copy of the Kama Sutra though.

Since most Yoga teachers and students, outside of India, are women, I am addressing Yoginis who know the value of their Yoga practice. You might consider giving the Kama Sutra to your “significant other” as a gift. The Kama Sutra has 36 chapters and 64 sex positions, so it will not be a short and quick read. Not everything in the Kama Sutra is for everyone, but there is enough material to keep you both interested for a lifetime. Therefore, the long-term solution is not in a pill.

Learning about Tantra Yoga, and Tantric sex, will improve male sexual health at any age. Middle-aged couples can improve their own relationship, on many planes, with the help of Tantra Yoga and Tantric Sex. This is a significant point, when you look around at soaring divorce rates.

Lastly, a copy of the Kama Sutra is very affordable, and it could be the best investment you make in a relationship. Who knows - this may even get more men interested in Hatha Yoga practice.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Bookmark to:

Is abundance just a disguised word for “money?” Can money be used for a good cause? Do you wonder why some Master Yoga Teachers, Gurus, and Swamis frown on the idea of Yoga teachers “talking up” the concept of practicing Yoga for abundance?

The reason is quite simple: Most people think of material wealth first. Why? This is an example of survival instinct, and money is a part of survival; but there are many more types of abundance for Yoga students to learn beside money.

Physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional abundance are worthy of note, but the desire for a better life, by acquiring material wealth, is hard to put out of your mind. Let’s look at each aspect of abundance from a Hatha Yoga student’s point of view.

Physical abundance could be seen as physical prowess. This is why Hatha Yoga has become so popular outside of India. When a new student becomes proficient in Hatha Yoga, he or she feels better almost immediately; sometimes to the point of ego bolstering and this is not a direction for Yoga teaching to take.

The physical senses are our most primal and can be realized without any difficulty. Your friends, family, and coworkers may even notice the changes that are happening to your body due to Hatha Yoga practice.

Mental abundance can easily be seen as intelligence. However, a person’s intelligence cannot be demonstrated, unless it is successfully projected and proven through the use of good communication skills. Union by knowledge, which we know as Jnana Yoga, will also require much more work than most people would initially think, and communication is a necessary skill required in order to share knowledge.

Sadly, spiritual abundance is becoming rare in some cultures. The spiritual connection to God cannot be seen, but can be felt. Unfortunately, we try to measure the spiritual world with scientific instruments from our physical world.

How can you measure prayer or the benefits of prayer? How does science explain miracles? Science often remains baffled or claims miracles do not exist. Science is useful, but has created the “virtual world” for a generation who may end up lost in computer games, obesity, poor health, and unconstructive use of time. However, we know the virtual world exists because we can see it.

Emotional abundance is most often taken for granted. Our family and friends provide security, but we wish for more material wealth. When death or illness knocks at our door, all the money in the world may not be enough.

If you have emotional abundance, you are truly rich. When you have material wealth, emotional abundance may be very hard to find because you do not know who your friends really are. Money attracts people, but those people might not have friendship in mind. Many of the financially wealthy are givers, and there will always be someone who wants to take advantage of it.

Now, you see that abundance is many things, but the most valuable treasures in life can be attained by the financially poor. If, or when, you mention abundance in a Yoga class, start with the most important forms of abundance first. If you find yourself with too much material abundance, give the excess to a worthy cause.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Bookmark to:

Here it is July and you’re probably wondering, “Is this guy nuts?” I mean, dude, it’s 90 degrees outside, not a snowflake in sight and he’s focusing on skiing! Well, you do when you love to ski and want to be ready when the time comes to throw the skis in the car and head for the hills. In Colorado, that happened in the first week of November last year.

Cross-training have become the buzzwords in sports the past couple of years, and they apply to skiing as much a cycling, baseball, basketball or snowboarding. Some cross training activities can only be done before your season begins; then focus changes to just the main activity. Yoga and skiing go together before, during and after the season.

As with cycling, yoga poses help keep your level of performance high while you reap year-round benefits. Skiing requires a lot from your body and even though a good hot tub, steam or massage can eliminate some of the sore muscles, yoga will keep you flexible and relatively pain free, if you apply it during the season.

In pre-season, as we now find ourselves, is the time to use yoga to strengthen the muscles used in skiing, and gain endurance and deeper breathing skills which will aid you when the season starts. I always laugh at the timing of articles in magazines touting: “It’s time to get into skiing shape” when the season has already started. Sure, a pre-season tune up on the body is needed, but that shouldn’t be a month after it has started; by then you are already behind the game and open yourself up for sore muscles, strains and possible injury.

Cross-training during the summer and fall months is invaluable and will give you a leg up when November arrives; swim, play tennis, bicycle, run to keep you in shape and interested in fitness through variety. Then, add yoga to improve flexibility and strength. Keep it up after the season has started to stave off any injury and fatigue for those tough, but fun, double black diamond days.

You can purchase yoga videos, take a local, weekly class or watch for special shows on cable often featured on FitTV and OLN. I like to take an occasional class and use videos, they both offer diversity, privacy and instruction.

Have a great summer; I’ll see you on the Colorado slopes in a few short months.

Keith Edwin Renninson is co-owner, along with Jeffrey Forman, of Golden Years Videos, LLC a production company dedicated to offering yoga and chair exercise videos for those over 50 or of any age who are rehabilitating from an accident or illness.

Renninson is an avid exercise and yoga enthusiast. Now in his late 50’s; he still races bicycles and regularly skis the black diamond runs in Colorado where he lives. For many years, a bona fide gym rat, Renninson still loves to lift free weights and use exercise machines.

You can contact Renninson or read more about his company and the videos they have available at: http://www.goldenyearsvideos.com

Bookmark to: