Musical Meditation and Yogic Therapy Camp

I am grateful to have attended H.H. Yogiraj Dr. Omprakash Hi Maharaj's Musical Meditation and Yogic Therapy camp this past week. What a wonderful reminder of the many physical, emotional and mental illnesses yoga therapy addresses.

Pranayama is energy and breath, it is also said to be controlling the breath. Swamiji says, "Control your Prana, Control your Mind!"

There are many different pranayama excersizes that benefit the body and mind in so many different ways. Swamiji led us in pranayama for about an hour each day. Personally, the effects of such a practice have been wonderful! I have been filled with energy and motivation. I feel positive, happy, relaxed, yet energized at the same time. I have felt physically healthy (have even lost a couple pounds) and am experiencing clarity of the mind. This experience affirms my belief (as well as the available research proves) in the power of yogic relaxation techniques to improve memory, focus, concentration, self awareness, and to relieve depression, anxiety, and hyperactiviy.

Swamiji also led many physical poses, or asanas at the camp. These poses combined with deliberate breath are capable of relieving just about any physcial discomfort or ailment one may be experiencing. We have the tools to manage our health, to heal our ailments and diseases, all through the practice of yoga!

Some of the disorders discussed were:
cervical & lumbar spondolitis, back ache, sciatica, digestion disorders, constipation, gestric disorders, obesity, skin diseases, diabetes, liver, kidney and heart disorders, asthma, respiratory disorders, joint pain, arthritis, gout, gynecological disorders, depression, anxiety, migrain, hypertension, insomnia, epilepsy, and stress management

I am so grateful to have attended this camp. What a special opportunity it has been to meet Dr. Maharaj, and to learn how to use yoga for healing. I look forward to using this information to serve my yoga students including adults, pregnant women, mothers and children, and children with special needs. I also look forward to continuing my daily pranayma practice.

I leave you with a beautiful poem describing the joy and bliss of pranayama:

Om Prana, you are my Mother,
Om Prana, you are my Father,
Om Prana, you are my Sister,
Om Prana, you are my Brother,
Om Prana, you are my Guru,
Om Prana, you are my Brahma!

If you would like more information on Dr. Maharaji or his hopsital in India, please visit www.omyogsansthan.com

Using yoga techniques to improve student’s academic, behavioral and physical success

More and more, news stories and articles of “yoga in the classroom” are being reported. Teachers report the multiple benefits children experience from the practice, and students report the pleasure and self confidence they experience from practicing yoga!

Why yoga?
Yoga is simultaneously developmental, preventive and corrective, and therefore, appropriate for children at any stage of development. Children in yoga programs experience multiple benefits. Mastery of poses helps children to develop self-confidence while experiencing success. Poses help children to focus inward, drawing their attention to parts of their body, helping them to gain self-awareness. Physical poses (Asanas) promote muscle tone & flexibility. Breathing exercises develop concentration, breath coordination, increase memory, attention span, verbal and motor skills. All of yoga encourages positive reinforcement of self monitoring behaviours into daily life.
The Yoga therapy approach is recommended for children with: Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Microcephaly, Learning Disabilities, developmental delays, AD/HD, and other disorders. Yoga is particularly helpful for children with special needs, as the relaxation and meditation practices help children to focus, decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. It also improves academic achievement, increases attention span, and improves communications and interpersonal relationships.

What does this mean to teachers and schools?
By integrating a daily yoga practice into the classroom schedule, whether it is for 2 or 10 minutes, teachers will students display the benefits yoga has to offer. Students will perform better academically through increased concentration and memory, self confidence, and the ability to monitor their own behaviours.