Fun During Yoga Retreats

Yoga Retreats are an opportunity to deepen your practice or even begin your practice in an intimate and nurturing environment. A weekend of yoga with delicious meals, wine and laughter. Students should be light minded and they’ll enjoy all of the comforts and amenities that you love. The yoga should be for all levels, with modifications given for newer practitioners and options for those who would like more of a challenge. Yoga Retreat should be catered specifically to students. Many students come on their own and make new and lifelong friends, some come with girlfriends, co-workers, sisters, college roommates, mothers or daughters to take a break from their busy life, laughing, relaxing and sharing stories.

The yoga workshop should be for all levels. New students come to learn more and to begin their yoga practice, while many who have gotten away from a regular practice come to renew their commitment. If you have specific injuries that may compromise your ability to do certain poses, Theresa will set up a one-on-one session for you shortly after your arrival, so you can address any concerns you may have.

Karma Yoga

                      Karma yoga works on the attitudinal part, preparing to change the perception of selfish activity into selfless activity. It tries to change the influence and effects of the activity from being self-oriented to globally orient. This attitude has to be applied not only logically but in practical life. Karma yoga is relating with activity, not going ahead of the activity, because then the ego of a human being comes in. The ego of a person can say, “Why should I do that? Others can do it!" but in karma yoga the attitude of selflessness becomes more dominant. By actual nature karmas are selfish. When yoga word was added to karma, it changed its quality from selfish to selfless. This is the reason why it is said that selfless karma is karma yoga. Seva is different. There does nor exists any word in English which really defines seva. Service is not seva. Seva is serving and helping other people with compassion, serving not for personal benefits but to uplift others.

                    If you have a yoga business, your goal should be the most complete Yoga site. You can advertise your business, sell your yoga products, and advertise your yoga classes and retreats.

                   Seva Yoga does not mean meeting your own aims, it means offering that service as a homa, as an offering in the yajna of the life. Seva contains the best which is there in you. When it is offered to another human being and it consists of your best thoughts and feelings, your love and affection, sympathy and compassion, then that action becomes a blessing in disguise to uplift another human being. That is seva.

Yoga Therapy On A Ball

A primary benefit of exercising with an exercise ball as opposed to exercising directly on a hard flat surface is that the body responds to the instability of the ball to remain balanced, engaging many more muscles. Those muscles become stronger over time to keep balance. Most frequently, the core body muscles — the abdominal muscles and back muscles — are the focus of exercise ball fitness programs. Some people recommend sitting on an exercise ball instead of a chair. This is based on the theory that the abdominal and back muscles are constantly engaged and active in order to maintain proper posture and balance on the ball. A very effective form of Yoga Therapy.

Humble Yourself With Seva Yoga

                 “There’s only one thing which will bring happiness to you. When you humble yourself and serve others, then God will fill in the gap and shall serve you. People say to me, ‘I have a light.’ People say to me, ‘I have a dharma.’ People say to me, ‘I have happiness.’ I don’t believe any of this. The test of a happy man is when he comes out and serves those who are unhappy. Only that man knows God. It is the highest privilege and honor bestowed on an ordinary man. There’s no other way on the planet to free your soul unto the destiny and unto God but by serving those who need a hand—smiling at them, wiping away their tears, forgiving them.” 

                The moment you serve with heart and head, and without grinding any ax, you win the person forever. You deliver another person facing difficulty to their own strength. You save the person in the face of calamity. You protect him in the face of non-reality and bring home the reality. In any form, shape, or projection, if you can elevate a person’s consciousness, his spirit, his self, his environments, his life, and then it is seva yoga.”

FeathererdPipe Yoga Therapy

Feathered Pipe is dedicated to providing a place for learning and serenity.  Everything we do – from the teachers we host, the service projects (seva yoga) we support, the yoga travel tours we plan, and the food we prepare – is done with the intention of cultivating our guest’s comfort.

For nearly 38 years, the Feathered Pipe Foundation has offered educational programs through our retreat and travel programs featuring the leading lights in yoga therapy, meditation and personal growth in optimal settings that inspire learning and the creative exchange of ideas. You are invited to join us on this journey of personal evolution whose purpose is to bring about the change we wish to witness in ourselves and the world.

Whether it’s within the pristine, natural, retreat settings of the Feathered Pipe Ranch here in Montana, Haramara and Blue Osa retreat centers in Mexico and Costa Rica, or via our other world yoga travel tours throughout India, South America, Southeast Asia and Europe, you are certain to find opportunity and opening to explore your potentialIn the spring we offer yoga workshops and yoga travel experiences in Mexico, Costa Rica and South America. From late spring through early fall, we are at the Feathered Pipe Ranch in Montana. Sign up for our mailing list to stay up-to-date on all our upcoming retreats and travel programs, including our yoga therapy offerings.

Downward-Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Downward-Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
This posture is great for building resistance in the abdominal muscles, along with strengthening the spine.

Step One
Rest your body on all fours, with your hands underneath your shoulders and knees aligned under the hips.
Step Two
Keep your hands and feet on the ground and push your hips outward, keeping your feet straight.
Step Three
Balance your weight on the forearms and fingers and keep your head hung low.
Step Four
Balance your weight in such a way that the bulk is removed from the arms, thereby reducing muscular strain.
Step Five
Keep your legs as straight as possible and your heels flat on the floor.
Step Six
Exhale as you relax your posture and gradually sink to your starting position.
Rest for 5 counts and repeat.

Bridge And Wheel Pose

Bridge Pose 
This pose is very helpful in burning the belly fat as well as building the muscles of the abdomen. Lie flat on your back on your yoga mat. Bend the knees and keep your feet apart from each other. Your arms should be straight by the side of your body. Now lift your torso off the ground, leaving your head, arms and feet planted right where they are. Maintain the position for a few seconds, before gradually lowering the body back on the mat. Repeat.

Modified Wheel 
Another tremendous yoga posture, this one is great for reducing belly fat too. Lie flat on your back on your yoga mat. Bend the knees and keep the feet a little apart from each other. Keep your feet and palms flat on the ground. Now lift your hips and torso up towards the ceiling. Maintain the position for a few seconds. Gently lower the body back to the ground. Repeat. Regular practice of some or all of the above positions s bound to flex our abs muscles and burn the extra flab around the belly.Repeat

Hand to Foot Pose (Padahastasana)

Hand to Foot Pose (Padahastasana)
This posture renders spinal flexibility and muscular strength along with incredible abdominal toning.

Step One
Stand straight with your arms touching your ears and stretched outward.
Step Two
As you inhale, gradually lower your torso and hands, to touch your toes. Take care not to bend your feet or knees during this process. Keep your legs straight and distribute the body weight over the balls of your feet.
Step Three
Bend as low as you can, in your attempt to touch the toes. The ideal position would have your palm flat against the floor and your torso as low as possible.
Step Four
Lower your head as close to the knees as possible.
Step Five
Exhale as you release your muscular grip and gradually rise to your starting position. Lower your hands to the sides of your body and relax for 5 counts before you begin again.

The key to master this posture is in holding the position for as long as you can. You can do the side stretches, you need to stand straight. Keep your feet apart, at the shoulder’s width. Raise one arm over your head and lean to that side as far as possible. Repeat this with the other arm. You should feel the strain on the side of your belly, since that is where the fat burns off, with the help of this exercise. Lie down straight on your back, on a yoga mat. Place a thin book or other block between your inner thighs. Now, slowly, bring your legs straight up, with the feet pointing toward the ceiling, and without the knees bending. Keeping the back pressed to the ground, maintain this position for a few seconds, before bringing the legs down without bending. Repeat.

Power Yoga

                    Power yoga is a general term used in the West to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga. Most power yoga is closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice. The term "power yoga" came into common usage in the mid 1990s, when several yoga teachers were looking for a way to make Ashtanga yoga more accessible to western students. Unlike Ashtanga, power yoga does not follow a set series of poses. Therefore, any power yoga class can vary widely from the next. What they have in common is an emphasis on strength and flexibility. The advent of power yoga heralded yoga's current popularity, as people began to see yoga as a way to work out. 

                The advantages of power yoga:-

a. It increases lean muscle tissue, which means improved calorie burning, reduction in your body's fat percentage and increased BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). This makes for a stronger you, leaving you with strength for your everyday life.

b. It works your stomach and back muscles constantly, increasing your core strength. This increases the heartbeat harmoniously.

c. Power yoga, like the traditional yoga, helps reduce stress and relax your body.

d. It also helps improve concentration, which is particularly good for students.

                          Yoga Retreats provide one with of the best ways of Power Yoga.

Yoga Retreats

Yoga Retreats are an opportunity to deepen your practice or even begin your practice in an intimate and nurturing environment. A weekend of yoga with delicious meals, wine and laughter. Students should be light minded and they’ll enjoy all of the comforts and amenities that you love. The yoga should be for all levels, with modifications given for newer practitioners and options for those who would like more of a challenge. Yoga Retreat should be catered specifically to students. Many students come on their own and make new and lifelong friends, some come with girlfriends, co-workers, sisters, college roommates, mothers or daughters to take a break from their busy life, laughing, relaxing and sharing stories.

Yoga Therapy Training

                     

     

                     Many yoga teachers are motivated by their own experiences with the health benefits of yoga to help others by deepening their skills through yoga therapy training. Yoga therapy is an emerging alternative healing modality, which is becoming increasingly widespread as research continues to highlight the many health benefits of yoga. Because the systematic application of yoga for therapeutic purposes is of relatively new origin, there are many different types of yoga therapy training, all with different merits.

                            If you are a yoga teacher or health professional thinking of expanding your skills to include yoga therapy training, it can be confusing to decide which type of yoga therapy certification to get training in. Here are a few guidelines to help you begin the process of looking through yoga therapy training programs to see which one might be the best fit for your interests, temperament, and background.

                            Most forms of yoga therapy certification can be divided into two parts: Generalized and specialized. Generalized yoga therapy trainings seek to give a broad yoga therapy certification, enabling yoga therapists to apply yoga therapy to a wide range of specific conditions. Specialized forms of yoga therapy certification focus on training yoga teachers to deal with one specific condition, such as yoga for depression, yoga for mental strength, or yoga for back pain.

                         Additionally when researching yoga therapy courses, reflect on your personal yoga experience and educational background. You want to pick a yoga therapy training program that will be aligned with your interests and strengths, and also one which supports your further professional training and yoga teaching practice. If there is a particular population you’d like to work with, look to see if there is a yoga therapy program that specializes in this population.

Yoga For Diabetics

                 As more and more people are developing Type 2 diabetes they turn to heavy medicines and workouts. A best alternative to medicine is Yoga. Though Yoga is a slow method, regular yoga practice can led to short-term improvements in fasting glucose and cholesterol levels. Yoga stimulates the organs, and that improves metabolic activities.  That makes a person’s metabolism function more efficiently. Though there are many Yoga exercises available, not all are safe for diabetics. For instance poses which involve sitting down can constrict blood and oxygen supply to the legs and feet.

                  Asanas are beneficial in treatment of diabetes. Important aspect of this is stability and comfort experienced in the position. After attaining the position, one needs to relax all the muscles and try to maintain the positions for long. Due to various twists, stretches and strains in the body, the internal organs are stretched and subjected to strain. This increases the blood supply, oxygen supply to the organs increasing the efficiency and functioning of the organ. Stretching various glands result in increased efficiency of the endocrine system.
                   Practice of meditation is especially useful in management of stress. Relaxed and Concentrated state of mind is the aim of any form of meditation which creates calming effect on nervous system, brings balance between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems. Initially meditation may be difficult, and one can practice Chanting, concentration on breathing. Concentration on pancreas during the meditation practice has shown positive effects on sugar levels. One can even visualize the proper functioning of pancreas, proper insulin administration in the body can help in treatment of diabetes.

                  One of the basic preparations for Pranayama is alternate nostril breathing. this type is found useful in diabetes as alternate nostril breathing has calming effect on nervous system, which reduces stress levels, helping in diabetes treatment. Increases oxygen levels and reduces carbon dioxide levels in the blood. In bhasrika Pranayama, the abdominal muscles and diaphragm are used which puts pressure on the internal organs. But before practicing these Pranayama, one must learn and practice deep breathing, fast breathing, alternate nostril breathing. Hence Yoga Therapy is good for a Diabetic.

Quitting your job and travelling abroad

                    Over the course of this past year, Sarah and I have met many travelers just like us—those who quit their jobs and sold their things to travel the world. Apparently, a lot of people are doing it, so now we don’t think it’s weird, or scary, or crazy. We’re just part of a growing population of people who are taking an extended period out of their “normal” lives to see the world. I made the decision to quit my job with a Fortune 500 real estate brokerage company, get rid of my belongings, and move to Montreal to learn blogging and spend more time in nature. My life has been an adventure these past 1.5 years. I’ve met new friends, experienced new cultures, and have seen some spectacular things, but I’ve also discovered this lifestyle is not for me in the long run. It’s hard. It’s tiring. And it’s not often glamorous.

                 Leaving your usual daily routine is a personal decision, but it also affects your job, friends and family. I feel blessed to have a family that supports my decision and friends who still care about me even though I’m not there to celebrate certain milestones.Traveling long term is much cheaper than you think. Travelling costs a lot of money. If you don’t a have debt, it doesn’t take much money to make a change. IT’S BETTER NOT TO HAVE ONE.
                  We even attended a Yoga Travel Workshop as Sarah was insisting. Was a cool experience. Advice everyone to attend a Yoga session at least once in their lifetime whenever they travel. The relief that you get cant be put into words.

Yoga Types

                      Yoga is divided into 8 types. Following are the different types of Yoga that can work wonders if followed well. Though there isn't much difference between them still there is a difference in performing them.

Yoga Types

1) Ashtanga Yoga

2) Hatha Yoga

                 

                                                                            3) Power Yoga

4) Jnana Yoga

5) Karma Yoga

6) Kundalini Yoga

7) Mantra Yoga

8) Purna Yoga