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I’ve just finished my meditation practice for the day in a nearby park. The weather and temperature were near perfect for an October evening.
My body now feels relaxed from head to toe. I was practicing the Falun Dafa exercises that so many have gained similar and greater benefits from.
As I sit here with this totally relaxed and awesome feeling, I notice how busy people are. It seems that everyone is in a hurry, tied up with duties, chores or the pursuit of their choice.
At this particular moment I’m feeling rather free from all of those concerns. I’m just here,in the moment, happy and content. There is no worry for me at this time.
Of course, I don’t always get to feel this way. My life gets busy too. However, whenever I do feel this way it is usually just after I have finished practicing the Falun Dafa exercises.
Sometimes, my body feels light, almost as if I could float right up into the air. Apparently my experience in this is not so unique as others have described similar experiences.
I can only hope that everyone will get to feel this way at least one time in their life. There is really nothing like it. This feeling can really change your outlook on life.
If only the world wasn’t so busy, so involved, so absorbed. I just know it could be much more than it is, much better than it is now. Perhaps in the future, conditions will be better, more refined and more enjoyable for everyone.
For now, I’ll need to settle for this great feeling and the near perfect temperatures of this mid -Ocober evening. And in this moment I wish everyone the brightest possible future.

Many people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness.  They recognize that yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility, but when it comes to increasing muscle fitness, they think it might be a little too ‘weak’ to do the job.  The fact is that yoga can definitely make you stronger.
A study was conducted at the University of California at Davis.  Ten college ‘coach potatoes’ adopted a yoga routine for eight weeks.  Each week, they attended from two to four classes during which they spent 10 minutes on breath control, 15 minutes of warm up exercises, 50 minutes doing yoga asanas, and then 10 minutes of relaxation/mediation.  At the end of the eight-week period, the researchers measured the students’ fitness and discovered that their muscular strength had increased by up to 31%, their muscular endurance improved by 57%, their flexibility increased by 188%, and their cardio respiratory fitness improved by 7%.  These results are pretty amazing when you consider that the study was only conducted for eight weeks.
How can something that seems so benign have such a major impact on muscle fitness?
MUSCLE STRENGTH – Unlike traditional weight building exercises, in yoga your body provides the resistance.  While you are not likely going to produce the bulked up muscles of some weight lifters, you will certainly increase your muscle strength.
Many poses in yoga are done very slowly or you stay in the posture for several breaths.  It is much more challenging to your muscles to hold a pose or do it slowly than it is to allow momentum to move you through an action.  I have been working out with weights for many years so my muscles are used to being strengthened.  Yet, I have practiced certain yoga routines during which my muscles screamed for mercy and I actually had to get out of the pose and then resume it because my muscles were so challenged.  I don’t often experience this during weight training sessions.
In addition, some balance postures such as Tree Pose and Shoulderstand require enormous muscle control in order to prevent you from falling over.  This helps to build and strengthen your muscles.
MUSCLE BALANCE – In weight training, you isolate a specific muscle as you perform an exercise and this leads to a short, tightened muscle.  The muscles you develop during yoga are more likely to be elongated, because while you are strengthening them, you are simultaneously lengthening them.  You also do not focus on an isolated muscle, but actively recruit the smaller muscle groups as well.  You truly work your entire body when you practice yoga.
Practicing yoga can help realign your muscles, so they are more balanced.  Since you are not overworking any specific muscle group, you are less likely to get injured.
In addition to all its other benefits, yoga can help you improve muscle fitness.  Whether you choose to use it as your primary means of strength training or you want it to supplement your other exercises, yoga can help your muscles grow fit, balanced, and strong.

Basic Mindfulness Exercises
A basic mindfulness exercise begins with sitting down, relaxing and breathing deeply. Close your eyes and pay attention to your breathing, following the breath in and out a few times. Then move your attention to your body, one part at a time, noticing any sensations of cold, hot, tight, sore or anything you can identify. After a few minutes, start listening to the sounds of the room, without judging, criticising or thinking about them. Just listen for a minute.
Open your eyes and look around as if seeing for the first time. Rest your eyes on any object for half a minute. Examine it without talking about it in your mind. Repeat this with another object, and then another, while still maintaining an awareness of your body and breath. Continue this state of mindfulness until you’re ready to get up.
When sensing your body, your breath, and your immediate surroundings, you are more fully “in the moment.” A mindfulness exercise like this  puts your mind in a receptive state while removing mental distractions that hinder clear thinking. It leaves you ready to work mentally. Do this before important mental tasks and you’ll find you have more focus and concentration.
Using Mindfulness For Daily Life
When you’re in the middle of a task and  feel  stressed, stop. Take three deep breaths, then carefully watch yourself until identify what is bothering you. Find everything you can. Are you expecting something bad to happen? Is an argument from this morning still going on just below the surface of your consciousness? Are you worried about something? Is some part of your body in pain? Note everything you find.
Now deal with these thieves-of-concentration one by one. Make the phone call that’s on your mind, take an aspirin if you need to, and apologise to someone if necessary. Take things from your mind and put them on a list for tomorrow (in writing). If all you can do is acknowledge that there’s nothing you can do right now – do that. After doing this mindfulness exercise, you’ll feel less stressed, and you’ll be able to concentrate more effectively on the tasks at hand. Try it now.

We get over-stressed now and then. It’s a natural response under certain conditions. We need to be concern when our stress is getting out of hand and interfering with our lifestyle. What problems can too much stress cause?
· High Blood Pressure · Colds and the Flu · Allergies · Diabetes · Damage Relationships · General Bad Health
The list goes on….
Getting over the stress is what we want to strive for. How can we go about this? Taking the natural approach is probably the best way to start. Here are a few ideas to begin with.
Exercise: It may be difficult to begin an exercise program but once you start it will become easier. Exercise helps to blow off steam and gets rid of excess stress. So you benefit by reducing your tension and obtaining a workout as well. Of course talk to your physician before beginning an exercise program.
Relax: Yes it is hard to relax when you are stressing. Try taking in a deep breath slowly. Now as you breathe out picture all the stress leaving you. You may find that doing relaxation techniques on a regular basic when you aren’t stressed out to be beneficial.
Learn relaxation techniques such as: · Meditation · Yoga · EFT · Z-Point · Bio-Feedback · Listening to some soothing music. · Prayer · Asking for Assistance · Joining a Support Network
Look into what causes your stress: You may not know what is inducing you stress. Try to understand where the source is coming from if possible. Once you understand what is causing your stress you can try to modify these problem areas. If you can’t, can you substantially reduce them? Maybe you can look at these stressors in a different way.
Have a Positive Attitude: Always look on the bright side of things. Don’t think about what may go wrong. Take positive steps to improve yourself, your business and your spirit. Work on your ambitions. Find methods to enhance your routine activities. At the end of the day understand that you have done all you can to maintain a healthy lookout on life. Now you can relax and enjoy the remainder of the evening either by yourself or with family and friends.
Nutrition: A healthy diet with the proper nutrition is one key to balancing you physical, mental and emotional health. Frozen TV dinners or Big Macs are not good choices. You need to consume as much unprocessed food as possible. Try to eat as much organic products as possible to eliminate pesticides from your diet. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, raw if possible, and some fruit. Drink plenty of clean water to keep those brain neurons communicating.
Get Enough Rest: Getting enough sleep at night is crucial to keeping stress at bay. Try to relax the best you can in the evening. Exercise early so that you aren’t all wound up. If you watch a movie ensure it’s not too violent are exciting. It may be better to watch a comedy, read something soothing or listen to soft pleasant music.
If your stress is so severe and you can’t seem to find relief regardless of what you try then you may desire to request professional help.
So there you have six ideas that will help you reduce stress and enjoy life more. Don’t delay. Start on these recommendations right away. Don’t stop there. Keep looking for new ways to manage your stress and genuinely enjoy life once more.

We get over-stressed now and then. It’s a natural response under certain conditions. We need to be concern when our stress is getting out of hand and interfering with our lifestyle. What problems can too much stress cause?
· High Blood Pressure · Colds and the Flu · Allergies · Diabetes · Damage Relationships · General Bad Health
The list goes on….
Getting over the stress is what we want to strive for. How can we go about this? Taking the natural approach is probably the best way to start. Here are a few ideas to begin with.
Exercise: It may be difficult to begin an exercise program but once you start it will become easier. Exercise helps to blow off steam and gets rid of excess stress. So you benefit by reducing your tension and obtaining a workout as well. Of course talk to your physician before beginning an exercise program.
Relax: Yes it is hard to relax when you are stressing. Try taking in a deep breath slowly. Now as you breathe out picture all the stress leaving you. You may find that doing relaxation techniques on a regular basic when you aren’t stressed out to be beneficial.
Learn relaxation techniques such as: · Meditation · Yoga · EFT · Z-Point · Bio-Feedback · Listening to some soothing music. · Prayer · Asking for Assistance · Joining a Support Network
Look into what causes your stress: You may not know what is inducing you stress. Try to understand where the source is coming from if possible. Once you understand what is causing your stress you can try to modify these problem areas. If you can’t, can you substantially reduce them? Maybe you can look at these stressors in a different way.
Have a Positive Attitude: Always look on the bright side of things. Don’t think about what may go wrong. Take positive steps to improve yourself, your business and your spirit. Work on your ambitions. Find methods to enhance your routine activities. At the end of the day understand that you have done all you can to maintain a healthy lookout on life. Now you can relax and enjoy the remainder of the evening either by yourself or with family and friends.
Nutrition: A healthy diet with the proper nutrition is one key to balancing you physical, mental and emotional health. Frozen TV dinners or Big Macs are not good choices. You need to consume as much unprocessed food as possible. Try to eat as much organic products as possible to eliminate pesticides from your diet. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, raw if possible, and some fruit. Drink plenty of clean water to keep those brain neurons communicating.
Get Enough Rest: Getting enough sleep at night is crucial to keeping stress at bay. Try to relax the best you can in the evening. Exercise early so that you aren’t all wound up. If you watch a movie ensure it’s not too violent are exciting. It may be better to watch a comedy, read something soothing or listen to soft pleasant music.
If your stress is so severe and you can’t seem to find relief regardless of what you try then you may desire to request professional help.
So there you have six ideas that will help you reduce stress and enjoy life more. Don’t delay. Start on these recommendations right away. Don’t stop there. Keep looking for new ways to manage your stress and genuinely enjoy life once more.