At the heart of personal yoga practice, regardless of whether it is Hatha Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, lies yoga sets. The building block for these sets are, of course yoga poses and exercises, and how to put them together in order to design effective sets and routines is a key aspect of yoga as well. In this article I would like to give you six important guidelines on how to construct these sets.

6 Guidelines for Designing Kundalini & Hatha Yoga Sets:

1. Who Should Design Yoga Sets:

Do not try to design a set if you are just beginning yoga practice. Attend some classes first and develop your personal practice before tying to design your own routines and sets. The last thing you want to do is practice yoga and create more injuries and imbalances for yourself.

2. Yoga Sets Should be Balanced:

This is one of the most important aspects of a yoga set. By balance here I mean that the poses that twist and stretch you one way, should at some point be balanced with poses that twist and stretch you the other way. Similarly, you should design sets that stretch both arms, both legs, etc, equally if possible. In addition, rotations done in one direction should be followed by rotations done in the other direction.

So if in your set you have a backward bending yoga posture, then at some point it is wise to have a forward bending yoga pose as well. As an example, if you employ Cobra Pose early in your set, you can balance it with the Forward Bending Pose sometime later. This will ensure that you don’t end up creating sets after which you feel out of balance and un-centered.

3. Chakras Work Should Be Done Low to High:

In general the rule to follow, especially for Kundalini Yoga Kriyas, is to start working on the lower chakras first and then move up towards the higher chakras. So you would tend to do an exercise like Crow Pose, which works on the Root Chakra, early in the set and do Stretch Pose, which works on the Navel Chakra, sometime after that. This helps to sequentially increase the vibration of the energy higher and higher.

4. Yoga Breathing Guidelines:

For most exercises and postures a corresponding breath is indicated. In most cases, there are several options available that allow you to breathe at a level which is comfortable for you. So advanced practitioners might do Breath of Fire, while a beginner might do Long Deep Breathing with a particular pose.

One rule with yoga breathing though, is that generally you should inhale when expanding the chest and abdominal region and exhale during the movement which contracts these regions. This allows for maximum benefit from the movements and exercises.

5. Rest Periods:

It is wise to design specific rest periods within a set. The one important aspect though of rest, which should be included in every Kundalini Yoga kriya, is a period of relaxation at the end of the kriya.

This relaxation time is critical to allow the body to assimilate all the energy that has been awakened by the yoga exercises. It is during this time, the body heals, grows and nourishes itself.

6. Warm-Ups:

If your set consists mostly of difficult yoga poses and exercises only, make sure you do a warm-up set first before jumping into advanced postures. If you plan to do your set only, then ensure that it first starts off with simple yoga postures and movements, so that you are properly warmed up, then moves on to the more challenging exercises. Warm-ups and not overdoing it are your best defenses against injury.

Summary of Making Your Own Yoga Sets:

The sciences of Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, etc, are tools to help you in your own unique path to spiritual awakening. Designing your own Yoga Sets, to help you overcome your personal challenges, I think is a valuable skill to learn. I hope the guidelines above help you maximize the benefits from your personal yoga practice.

Tension management actions are very crucial for aiding people boil down or cope with the tension in their own personal lives. All have their own way of handling stress like taking the dog for a nice walk, spending time with friends, exercising out at gym, gardening, playing sports or taking up a hobby. Others get involved in life-damaging habits which are very destructive when they’re pressurizing or handling with stress. They include excessive alcohol use, overeating, and drug use.

Meditation is a stress management activity which gives you an affirmative way to boil down tension. It aids people to reach a steady state, decelerates your breathing and pulse rate down, improves the resistant function, normalizes your pressure, increases creativeness, and acquits your mind. The Meditation costs zero money, doesn’t require an instructor, is exceedingly effective for long-run health and tension reduction and acquires welfares almost at once. It does take a bit of sweat and time to acquire the knowledge of meditation but the tension and other wellness benefits it offers is surely worth the exercise. This is one among the tension management actions that people with numerous types of physical limits can frequently do; it takes no special gear, has no added effects, and is a superior, natural way to boil down stress. Meditation implies acquitting your mind when being at ease sitting posture. Some people concentrate on a sound which they make during meditation, while others concentrate on nothing or their breathing. It’s helpful to have 5 to 20 minutes of silence and privacy but many full-fledged mediators accept no trouble doing these anywhere.

A lot of people are pleasantly astonished to know that gardening is a stress management activity that’s a self-generated way to relieve strain. Whether you’ve a large area or barely a small terrace or balcony to beautify, planting, tending, and then sitting by relishing the results of arduous work, boils down stress and adds peace. Working in garden outside and acquiring fresh air and sunshine is good for wellness, mood, and level of stress. Stress management activities which get you very closer to the great outdoors and the nature, makes people blank out their problems and every day life stresses. Most of them expend the most of their time indoors and blank out how beauty of a garden or nature forms them grin and at once experience easier and carefree. Acquiring your own part of nature will surely lessen your stress level.

Astrology is philosophical as Evolutionary Astrology is used by philosophers and Seers. To discern the evolutionary status of the native, Evolutionary Astrology is used.

The four functions of Mind are Manas, Buddhi, Chitha and Ahamkara.

Manas is the processing Mind

Chitha is the storage of impressions in the Subconscient

Buddhi is the intellect

Ahamkara is the Ego

In Astrology, Manas is ruled by the Moon

Chitha by by Venus

Budhhi by Mercury and Jupiter

& Ahamkara by Mars, Sun and Saturn

The ten heads of Ego (Ravana) symbolically are

Kama – Lust

Krodha – Anger

Mada – Pride

Moha – Avarice

Matsarya – Jealousy

Raga – Attachment

Manas – Processing Mind

Buddhi – Intellect

Chitha – Subconcious Mind

Ahamkara – Ego

We have to remove the ten heads of the Ego to attain to Self Actualisation.

The Self is Bliss Absolute ( Ananda ), Absolute and Infinite ( Poorna ) &

Non-dual ( Advaya )

Some Important Yogas in Astrology

Sakata Yoga – This is a negative yoga. When Jupiter and the Moon are in 6/8

or 2/12 positions, Sakata Yoga is caused. Sakata means wheel and the native

will have vicissitudes or cyclical upheavals like the wheel !

Kalyana Sakata Yoga – In the Sakata Yoga, when Jupiter is angular, Kalyana

Sakata Yoga is caused. This is a positive yoga as it cancels Sakata Yoga.

The native is longlived and prosperous and handsome.

Nisva Yoga – This is caused when the 2nd lord is in the 12th. This is a

negative Yoga.

Lakshmi yoga – This is caused when the Ascendant lord is strong and the Lord

of Fortune is angular and powerful

Moola kendra thirkoneshu bhagyake paramochake

Lagnadhipo baladye cha Lakshmee yoga udeerithah

Duryoga – This results when the 10th lord is in the 12th. The native becomes

unlucky as afar as profession is concerned.

Anabha Yoga is caused by planets in the 12th from the Moon.

The Anapha Yoga caused by Mars is excellent- the native becomes aggressive,

with business talent, with beautiful body and highly skilled.

There is another Prosperity Yoga called Vasumath Yoga. Vasu in Sanskrit

means prosperity. Vasumath Yoga results when the Upachayas, that is 3,6,10 &

11 Houses are tenanted by benefics.

Lagnath Atheeva Vasuman Vasuman Sasankath

Soumya Grahe Upachayopagathe Samasthai !

16 types of Raja Yogas are formed when Jupiter, Saturn and Mars gets

exalted, in angles !

Swachcheshu Shodasa Nripa Kathithaika Lagne !

Or when two of them are exalted and Ascendant lord is angular and powerful

Dwiakasirtheshu thadai prathame vilagne

Swakshetrage shashini shodasa bhoomipasyu

Prosperity Yoga or Lakshmi Yoga

Lakshmi Yoga results when

If the 9th lord is powerfully posited, either in exaltation or own house and

is angular or trinal

If the Ascendant lord is powerful

Moola kendra thrikoneshu bhagyake paramochhake

Laganadhipo baladyecha Lakshmee yoga udeerithah

Results of Lakshmi Yoga – one has appreciable affluence and is always above

want. Respectable,

learned,noble, wealthy, will be handsome in appearance and will possess all

the comforts of life.

Learning Yoga or Vairincha Yoga

This is a philosophical Yoga. Vairinchi means Saraswathi and this is a yoga

for learning.

This yoga results when Jupiter and Saturn are powerful and angular and the

Lord of the Ascendant is also angular and powerful.

Expounder of Absolute Knowledge, genius, of the nature of Veds,

Jovial, never moving away from the Righteous Path, with disciples galore

Gentle, with wealth and with lustre divine

Long-lived, with mastery of sense organs, bowed by all, such is the

Vairincha born !

Yoga for the Eightfold Prosperity ( Ashta Laksmi Yoga )

If the North Node ( Rahu ) is in the 6th

And if Jupiter is angular

Then this Yoga is formed

This combination for Eightfold Prosperity !

Shashta sthana gathe Rahu

Lagna Kendra gathe Gurau

Ashtalakshmee samayuktham

Madhyavan Keerthiman Nara

The Eightfold Prosperity, whose symbols are the Eight Lakshmis, the Ashta

Lakmis, the Ashta Vasus are

Dhana Lakshmi – Wealth as prosperity

Dhanya Lakshmi – Agriculture as prosperity

Dhairya Lakshmi – Courage “

Vijaya Laksmi – Victory “

Adi Laksmi – Power “

Vidya Laksmi Learning “

Gaja Lakshmi Will Power “

Santhana Lakshmi Children as prosperity

The native born under this yoga, enjoys the Eightfold Prosperity. Rahu and

Jupiter should be powerful, however, to confer the full benefits of this

yoga.

Sexual harassment is a form of illegal sex discrimination according to both federal and California law. Sexual harassment takes different forms. Most people realize that if an employer, supervisor, or co-worker touches a female employee’s breasts, this is sexual harassment; but there is much more to it.

What is Sexual Harassment?

The following are all examples of illegal sexual harassment:

Propositioning for dates or sex Telling inappropriate sexual jokes or making inappropriate sexual remarks Bringing into the workplace pornographic pictures, materials, or images Touching inappropriately including, in some cases, hugging, kissing, rubbing against someone, caressing one’s shoulders or back, or other unwanted physical contact Requiring employees to wear certain suggestive clothing Gawking or leering Making inappropriate comments about an employee’s appearance Making statements that women are inferior to men (or vice-versa) Attempting to use one’s position as a supervisor to obtain an employee’s acceptance of sexually inappropriate behavior or an employee’s romantic affections

Although it is usually men who sexually harass women, sexual harassment can also include women harassing men, men harassing men, or women harassing women. The perpetrator may be a heterosexual or a homosexual. In the end, sexual harassment occurs whenever someone is subjected to sexually inappropriate behavior because of one’s gender.

What should I do?

If you’ve experienced sexual harassment on the job, you have a responsibility to inform your employer of it (i.e., complain). Doing so is important because, under the law, if employers do not know about the harassment, then they can’t take appropriate and immediate steps to remedy the situation. If they haven’t been given that chance, they may not face liability for the conduct even if it is proved that it occurred.

What if my employer retaliates against me?

An employee has an absolute right to complain about harassment without fear of retaliation by his or her employer. Even if it is found that the conduct did not rise to the level of “harassment,” an employer cannot retaliate against an employee for having brought the complaint. Retaliation may include a termination close in time to the complaint, denial of promotions, pay raises, work assignments or leaves of absence, heightened scrutiny of performance, or other similar detrimental action.

What if the sexual harassment continues?

Before you can sue, you have to file a complaint with either the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Both agencies are charged with investigating such complaints. This is designed to give the employer time to remedy its conduct prior to being sued.

Do I need a lawyer?

If you believe you have taken all the necessary steps and are still unsatisfied with the result, you may need to seek legal counsel about the feasibility of filing a lawsuit. Both Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act give employees a right to sue an employer for violations of their rights and permit recovery of past lost wages and benefits, future wage loss, emotional distress damages, attorney fees and possibly punitive damages, if a violation has been found.

Are you considering a career in nursing? Before you enter nursing school, there are a few things you should know. Most of them have to do with getting to know yourself, and a few have to do with understanding the nursing profession. If you are thinking of entering nursing school, here are some of the things you should be considering.

What nursing field do you want to specialize in?

There are many different fields within the nursing profession, and most of them have very specific requirements for education and licensing. If you’re dreaming of being a Public Health nurse, for instance, there are licensing requirements and special courses that you’ll need to take. Knowing those things will make your decision of where to go to nursing school far easier, you can eliminate any nursing school that doesn’t offer the required courses.

If you do not know what kind of nursing you want to do, or even whether you really want to be a nurse, there are many different ways to get some practical experience in nursing before you start nursing school. Volunteer in a hospital or nursing home to see what nurses do first hand. Talk with neighbors and relatives who are nurses and learn more about their jobs. Ask specific questions. Find out what they like about their positions, and what they would like to see improved. Becoming knowledgeable about these aspects, yourself and about the career as a whole will make it easier for you to start planning your education and your career.

What are your short term and long term career goals?

One of the advantages of choosing a career in nursing is that you can often work your way up the career ladder while you gain more advanced degrees. Setting up a plan to do that will make it far easier to take advantage of opportunities like tuition reimbursement. It’s fairly easy these days to get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, which is your first step on the career ladder. That ADN will be your main requirement for a job in nursing, which will often include tuition reimbursement and other assistance from your employer in pursuing a more advanced degree. That kind of advance planning can help you decide which schools to attend, which ones your company will reimburse, and which courses to take. You may also find that your job experience gives you a leg up on your practicum that’s required to advance in some nursing courses.

Do you intend to get an advanced nursing degree?

If you already know that you intend to get an advanced nursing degree, find out what is exactly required to reach that level before you start your nursing school education. It is far easier to map your education from the end backwards, so to speak, because you will be able to plan your courses and classes to fulfill as many requirements along the way as you can. You can also use that knowledge to try to arrange work in the field where you want to end up. If you know that you’ll need to do a turn on a med-surgery floor as part of your requirements for a degree next year, you can try to arrange that in advance through your work. If you know that a class you want to take in two years has a prerequisite, you can try to take it before you even enroll in nursing school.

The three major nursing degrees are:

LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse – An LPN program is a diploma program that takes about a year. As an LPN you’ll be able to do some patient care under the direction of doctors and registered nurses.

ADN – Associates Degree in Nursing – An ADN typically takes about two years to complete and is generally given at a community college. As an ADN, you will often be able to apply for licensing and registration in your state and will be able to do direct patient care in most settings.

BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing – A BSN is a four year program that prepares you to work in most care settings. If you intend to eventually get a Masters in Nursing, or would like to get into nursing management, a BSN is your best choice.

What kind of nursing degree do you need to do the work you want to do?

Find out the requirements for the kind of nursing that you want to do. Will you need a BS in Nursing? Can you learn what you need in a hospital certificate program? Is an LPN course right for you? Once you have figured out which degree you want to get, you can start looking at nursing schools that offer that degree. Some things you might consider when choosing are:

- Am I academically equipped for this program?

- Can I get financial aid for nursing school?

- Can I get tuition reimbursement from my employer for nursing school?

- Is the school you’re considering accredited?

- Do you want to attend nursing school online?