Why Does the Western Public Desire Pilates?

As a Yoga teacher, and a Pilates instructor, it is very noticeable that Pilates and Yoga reach two distinctly different groups of people. The typical Pilates student does not want to learn about meditation, Pranayama, Sanskrit, bandhas, mudras, or doshas. In the mind of a Pilates enthusiast, all of these Yogic aspects are considered secondary to the physical workout.

In a Pilates mat class, the emphasis is on precise movement, to gain maximum benefits and results, for physical appearance. Although Yoga and Pilates are often categorized as mind and body exercise, Pilates focus is much more about the physical body than Hatha Yogas holistic approach to overall health.

Hatha Yoga, which is union through physical mastery, is a complete health maintenance system for mind, body, and spirit. Pilates is an off shoot of Hatha Yoga, but it is a unique, complex, and extremely complete exercise system.

Therefore, most forms of Hatha Yoga are not simply exercise classes. A complete health maintenance system, such as Hatha Yoga, took thousands of years to develop and evolve. The Pilates method is close to a century old, but it has already started to evolve in its own different directions.

So, which is better Yoga or Pilates? Neither - The truth is, the student makes an individual choice, based upon his or her specific needs. many Yoga students enjoy the holistic approach, which Yoga takes toward health, but for some students, japa (repetition of mantras), or meditation, may feel very uncomfortable.

Lets look at this situation closely. Some people feel uncomfortable because japa is commonly practiced in Sanskrit, and they do not comprehend the words.

Swami sivananda said, Repetition of any Mantra or Name of the Lord is known as japa. japa is an important Anga of Yoga. It is a spiritual food for the hungry soul.

japa is a spiritual aspect of Hatha Yoga. japa is commonly practiced in Bhakti Yoga, which is deeply spiritual and the most popular form of Yoga in india.

Some Yoga students would rather not sing, chant, or pray out loud. Some people do not trust anything or anyone who is spiritual. Unfortunately, there have been a number of holy men who have violated the publics trust.

In the United States, anything spiritual has become politically incorrect. There is a movement to take, In God we Trust off US currency. The irony of this is, a few loud voices have caused the public to be hesitant about anything that could be considered remotely religious.

Hence, the Pilates instructor only has to focus on precise physical techniques and making sure students experience the physical health benefits of the Pilates Method.

Copyright 2006 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He is a Pilates instructor and 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

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Thoughtful Golf Gifts For Golf Lovers

If any of your friends or family are golfers, you may wonder what kind of present you could give them. It can be hard to choose, but, if you know how interested the player is, and how experienced they are, then you can make the selection process a little easier.

There are some golf gifts that any golfer will appreciate. If you can get someone vouchers for a round at their favorite course, then they will most certainly enjoy that. Usually, vouchers are good for a round of 18 holes, but many courses will allow them to be used in batches of 9, making them ideal gifts for even casual golfers. If you are buying vouchers, make sure that you buy them at the right rate if your friend qualifies for a certain discount, often vouchers will be available at that rate too.

Another great gift for golf lovers are golf balls. golf Balls are another of the many golf gifts that most players will enjoy. bear in mind that the recipient may be partial to a specific brand ball. Nevertheless, if you give someone the gift of golf balls, there is an excellent chance they will appreciate them and use them. You should know that there are different compression ratings for golf balls and they are used in different weather, but these details may not be crucial for your weekend hobby golfer. Just make sure that you don't buy your male friends what may be considered to be women's golf balls.

Let Them Choose

If you are thinking of buying golf clubs, then perhaps you should reconsider. They are a very personal choice, and most golfers would prefer to test out the clubs themselves, and select them based on their own preferences. A gift certificate for a sports store would be much better than spending money on clubs that are unlikely to get used. Either ask them what set of clubs they would like, or give them a gift certificate, and let them choose their own.

Another golf gift that would be most welcome would be a towel that hangs on their bag to wipe their hands or club heads. A ball retriever would also be generally acceptable by everyone. They can be very handy and are used when fishing balls from water hazards. And for youngsters who may want to surprise dad with a golf gift, a bag of wood tees would always be welcomed by any golfer.

You could also think about getting them a range finder, a stroke counter, or some other score keeping device, or some golf clothing such as gloves or a cap. There are lots of great golf gifts out there, you just need to find out what they already have, and what they may be interested in. The fact that you have chosen to take an interest in their hobby and selected an interesting gift for them will stand for itself, and they are sure to appreciate whatever you pick out for them.

Visit http://vacation.every1loves2travel.com for great golf vacation destinations, and helpful articles and tips about golf holidays.

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