Personal Growth and Development

Personal Growth and Development — No Comments
16
Sep 11

Quotes about personal growth and development goals inspire yoga enthusiasts

Improving physical wellness with yoga is one thing, but expanding one's consciousness is quite another. After all, personal growth and development goals can be just as important as a hale and healthy physique.

Even though many Americans use it as little more than an exercise regimen, yoga began centuries ago as a holistic regimen dedicated to discovering truth and ultimate unity.

For those taking California yoga classes, here are a few inspirational quotes to get your mental juices flowing. Some are about yoga specifically, while others are about illumination or vision, but all of them revolve around the exaltation that comes from spiritual pursuits.

"Be as a cup, and the universe flows into you. Be as an arrow, and the universe retreats from you." -Zen proverb

"I know myself now; and I feel within me/ A peace above all earthly dignities,/ A still and quiet conscience." -William Shakespeare, King Henry VIII

"The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but is, rather, the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity." -Glenn Gould

"Peace is always beautiful." -Walt Whitman, The Sleepers

"Thought is deeper than all speech,/ Feeling deeper than all thought;/ Souls to souls can never teach/ What unto themselves was taught." -Christopher Pearse Cranch

"It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the enlightenment, or the courage, to pay the price… One has to abandon altogether the search for security and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to embrace the world like a lover, and yet demand no easy return of love." -Morris West, The Shoes of the Fisherman

"…and the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home." -Christopher Columbus

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Personal Growth and Development — 1 Comment
01
Aug 11

People of all stripes wear uniforms while reaching personal growth and development goals

When you think about the phrase "wearing a uniform," you may visualize members of the U.S. Armed Forces, workers in medium-wage jobs, or Boy and Girl Scouts. Narrowly defined, the word "uniform" covers little more than the coordinated outfits of these individuals, but in a broader sense of the term, a uniform is any ensemble shared by a group of individuals.

Studies have shown that wearing common attire can add to one's personal growth and development resources. For instance, a researcher from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi found that high school students who wore uniforms tended to academically outperform their diversely dressed peers.

The report, published as a dissertation for an EdD, determined that students who regularly wore coordinated outfits tended to do slightly better on reading-based performance exams.

A similar study, conducted by Seunghee Han of the University of Missouri, determined that elementary and middle school, students who wear uniforms tend to display milder problematic behaviors and to incur fewer disciplinary measures than peers who are allowed to dress freely.

The paper, which appeared in the International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, noted that this effect occurred primarily among pre-high school students.

However, the benefits of yoga do not stop there. A study presented at the 2010 Sigma Theta Tau International Conference noted that nurse's uniforms can influence the anxiety levels of pediatric patients.

Specifically, the investigation determined that children respond most positively to nurse's outfits that are uniformly blue or pink. Likewise, the study found that other colors do not cause anxiety, and that children did not associate white uniforms with any negative emotions.

In many yoga classes, white uniforms are standard attire for community classes. The holistic regimen often employs a basic, two-piece outfit as a way to engender a sense of unity and calm. The loose, long-sleeved, natural-fiber shirt and pants worn by enthusiasts give them an unfettered range of motion while keeping them cool and making their personal growth and development activities easier.

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Personal Growth and Development / Yoga and Weight Loss / Yoga Exercise — No Comments
08
Jun 11

Middle-aged adults may come to terms with bodily changes through yoga

Personal change is something that yoga can contribute to, whether you are 20 and in prime physical condition, or 40 and starting to notice changes in your body, ones that you are not especially happy with.

A new study published in the International Journal on Disability and Human Development tackled this issue head on by asking how yoga can help middle-aged adults come to accept the changing physical constraints of their maturing bodies.

Conducted by researchers at Indiana University and Purdue University at Indianapolis, the study found that the holistic mind-body program appears to help middle-aged Americans negotiate the changes they are experiencing by inducing a sense of calm and relaxation in them.

Of course, yoga has other potential benefits, too. Aging adults need not worry so much about their bodies because yoga may be able to help keep a person's physique trim and at its target weight.

A study published in the journal Alternative Therapies found that of more than 15,000 healthy adults aged 30 to 45, those that practiced yoga gained an average 3.1 fewer pounds over a four-year period.

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Personal Growth and Development / Yoga Exercise — No Comments
24
May 11

When I Was a Child recounts inspirational WWII story

One of the aims of practicing Dahn yoga is to experience self development. Many people have also used yoga as a means of overcoming obstacles and hardships and to regain a sense of life balance.

A new book by writer T.L. Needham called When I Was a Child is the story of a family that overcame unbelievable odds in order to build strong and loving future generations.

The story is based on historical facts starting in the mid-1920s. An accident leaves a family of six children with only one parent and the Great Depression soon follows. Years later, Louis Pfeiffer – one of the sons – begins to fight in World War II as a paratrooper. Louis becomes a prisoner of war and the story follows "the bravery that gets a person to the other side and to the wisdom and strength earned from that experience."

In the end, When I Was a Child is a story about inspiration and family. The author, T.L. Needham's own family on his mother's side lived through the hardships of 1920s and 1930s America.

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Personal Growth and Development / Yoga Exercise — No Comments
20
May 11

Tangled is an inspirational tale for young women

People interested in dahn yoga are also often inspired by stories of personal growth and personal development.

Tangled is a cartoon movie based on the story of Rapunzel and it is an inspiration to young girls as well as to all those who find themselves metaphorically "stuck in a tower" from time to time.

Rapunzel is a princess by birth but she has been kidnapped by an evil woman who wishes to take advantage of Rapunzel's golden hair. In the Disney movie, Rapunzel's hair and her singing abilities confer youth and endless life to the evil woman who kidnaps her and raises Rapunzel as her own daughter.

Rapunzel grows up into a beautiful young woman, but her life is confined to a tower with no stairs. A tiny window at the top of the tower allows the golden-haired girl to look out at the world which she can never inhabit.

Rapunzel asks the evil woman for permission to leave the tower, but she is rebuked. Finally, a handsome stranger finds his way to Rapunzel and through the girl's determination and passion for the world outside, Rapunzel convinces him to take her out of the tower.

Throughout the story, it is Rapunzel's focus and determination to pursue personal growth and challenges outside of her storied confinement that pushes her to escape. In the end, she finds her birth parents and regains her birth-right as princess all due to her inspirational self-determination.

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Personal Growth and Development / Yoga Exercise — 1 Comment
19
May 11

Secretariat is an inspirational movie based on real life events

Dahn yoga emphasizes personal growth as well as personal development. Secretariat, a movie about a championship horse, is such a story.

The Disney film is based on real life events, in which an unlikely horse named Secretariat went on to win the Triple Crown – all three major horse races in America.

The story is not just one about a surprising horse champion, but also about the horse's owner, a woman named Penny Chenery.

In the movie, Penny is played by Diane Lane, who portrays a housewife with four children and a lawyer husband. Early on in the film, Penny learns that her mother has died, and she returns to her childhood home to find a grieving father, aging and unable to care for the horses that the family used to love and raise together.

It is up to Penny to grow as a woman and rediscover her love and talent for horse racing. She believes in herself and the ability of a new-born horse to win the championships, even when her own husband and brother have doubts.

Penny risks many things in order to pursue her dream and a life of her own. She succeeds in the end, and her name goes down in history as the owner of a horse who still holds many record times. Secretariat's winning times at the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes are unsurpassed to this day.

Penny succeeded in inspiring her own children as well, through her determination and self growth. 

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Personal Growth and Development / Yoga Exercise — 4 Comments
01
Apr 11

One with Your Body

Becoming one with the body is never easy especially when our social life has taken over our personal life. Many people have trouble  “focusing inside.” They think they’re focused, however thoughts still linger and many get lost in those thoughts. In Dahn Yoga, we’ve learned how to stay in our body while moving the body and using energy to help heal the body. You see, we have the ability to heal ourselves, without taking medicine. If we were to trust ourselves, trust our body and trust the power within us, we are able to connect inside and fully be aware and heal ourselves.

One member truly connected with herself and with a 3 month process (and on going…) she was able to feel the changes and see the changes as well. She indicated, “…someone cared enough, and that compassion got me focused and how it got started was [discovering] the ability to heal myself.” She was able to focus on her body inside and out and with the help of her teacher, guide, she is moving forward into a healthier and happier life and never looking back!

 

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Personal Growth and Development / Yoga Exercise — 3 Comments
01
Apr 11

Dahn Yoga classes focus on position therapy

Stretching and breathing properly can reduce stress and inflammation, and a new aspect of Dahn Yoga workshops aims to increase relaxation in just this way. Called position therapy, this enhancement of the traditional classes given by Dahn Yoga and Health Centers is being offered in Fremont, California, as well as numerous centers across the U.S.

At root, position therapy takes its self healing techniques from tai chi, yoga and basic meditation. To begin, an instructor – in Fremont, it will be acupuncturist Banya Lim – analyzes one's typical body positions.

Postures that cause aches or put stress on the skeleton or joints are gradually made up for through movements calculated to ease tension and account for bad positional habits.

The therapeutic workshop can help practitioners feel less stressed, concentrate better and access previously untapped creative resources.

Dahn Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years in one form or another, and its beneficial techniques currently include tai chi, guided meditation, stretching, deep breathing and brain wave vibration, which is a form of moving meditation that can help realign body and mind.

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Personal Growth and Development / Yoga Exercise / Yoga News — No Comments
28
Mar 11

Explore Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach

A great place to use Dahn Yoga meditation techniques is Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach, California. The scenic views and natural beauty of the west coast landscape are sure to help visitors enhance their inner peace and relaxation.

Those who are heading to the area on vacation, or just visiting from a nearby town, will certainly enjoy the vibrant Pacific shoreline, which stretches for three miles. The sands are a great place to sit and absorb the serene atmosphere and an even better place to practice the poses one has learned in yoga classes.

There are also a number of adventurous activities to participate in if a little adrenaline will help guests achieve personal satisfaction, including scuba diving, surfing, fishing, mountain biking and hiking. The latter two choices provide the opportunity to discover areas of the park that cannot be accessed by car.

Crystal Cove is open from 6:00 a.m. until sunset, so it is quite simple to enjoy an entire day in the area. Visitors should make sure to check out the wooded canyons, open bluffs and the intriguing underwater park.

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