They chat away breezily between vaporizer tokes, sometimes veering off into conspiracy theories about the government or discussions of the healthiest way to smoke marijuana. Then the 12 yoga lovers extend their arms and breathe deeply. Yoga mats cover the floor. A guitarist strums chords as incense weaves its tendrils across the room.

As the light haze of pot smoke dissipates in the downtown Toronto living room, the ganja yoga session begins.

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I was terrified of Bikram yoga before taking my first class a few months ago. Even though I’ve practiced yoga regularly for about two years now, the idea of doing backbends and downward-facing dogs in such oppressive heat—Bikram rooms are kept at a minimum of 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity—sounded excruciatingly hard. But despite the difficulty of that first class, I made it through the entire thing in one sweaty piece. What’s more, I felt great afterward, as if I’d spent the last ninety minutes at a spa instead of doing asanas in a crowded room. My mind and body felt strong and rejuvenated. I mean, I practically skipped home. That’s a rarity.

Now that I’ve done it a few times since, I realize that not every session brings such euphoria. But a mild buzz is still surprisingly standard, and it makes me wonder how I’d feel if I did it regularly. Bikram’s Yoga College of India suggests that beginners practice every day for two months to see results, which sounds intimidating and possibly impossible. (I do have a life outside of yoga, after all.

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Today, in the United States, it is Labor Day. Originally created as a way to honor labor groups (AKA appease them politically), the current incarnation is one of barbecues and celebrating the last days of summer. Accordingly, I will be working (teaching two classes).

To teach these classes is my choice and I am glad to do so. Nevertheless, this blog is my pedestal and, dammit, I'm going to step up on it. You do not get into being a yoga teacher for the money. If you did, then A) You're probably a wack yoga teacher and B) Good luck to actually succeed. You teach because you love to do it, not because your labor is economically valued.

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Schools are taking special care of students appearing for X and XII board exams this year. An interesting measure that has been adopted is to expose children to Carnatic music to help them concentrate. Geethanjali Vidyalaya gives students an one-hour music class weekly which helps in building focus.

Yoga classes are also a big hit among these students. "Although students from Class V have yoga classes, we take special care for students preparing for boards. If required, we conduct it twice a week as against the schedule. We have had students who said it helps them to relax," said Aayeeshah, the yoga teacher in Delhi Public School.

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In Sanskrit, the word "Yoga" does not specifically mean to yoke or unite.  It carries at least six different meanings which are context dependent - "Yoga" can mean anything from "unite" to "machine."At the beginning of the above paragraph Yoga presented itself as four thousand years old. In the middle of the paragraph, Yoga became six thousand years old. Now, having the last word, I can state with absolute authority that Yoga is eight thousand years old, perhaps!

It appears that the cogent approach is a liberal one; we'll take what we have at the moment and run with it because the moment is all we have. Eight thousand years old is my final offer, maybe.

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f you've dismissed yoga as a chill workout that's just a bunch of stretching and deep breathing, consider this: A growing pile of research backs its many physical and psychological benefits. Want to slim down and reshape your body—and feel really freakin' good? Read on.

Secret Slimming Powers

Yoga calms your mind, but it can't possibly help you lose weight, right? Wrong. For starters, you'll sweat, blast calories, and tone and shape your entire body, especially if you practice a more physically active style of yoga, such as Ashtanga, Vinyasa, or Bikram (hot yoga). In fact, you can torch 400 calories in one Bikram class, roughly the same amount you'd burn by running for 40 minutes at a moderate pace—but with a lot less stress on your body.

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In humans, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone. Low GABA levels are associated with depression and other widespread anxiety disorders. To study the association between yoga and changes in mood and anxiety, researchers followed 34 Americans with no significant medical / psychiatric disorders, who were randomised to yoga or walking for an hour thrice a week for three months.

Mood and anxiety scales were taken at weeks 0, four, eight, 12, and before each magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan. Researchers compared the brain gamma-aminobutyric acids (GABA) levels of yoga participants with those who spent time walking. It was found that those who practiced yoga had a significant decrease in anxiety and greater improvements in mood than those who simply walked. The study suggests that yoga can be effective in improving mood and relieving anxiety.

Yoga A Perfect Activity For The Eco Minded:  With its principles of healthy, balanced living and an awareness of our body’s connection to the elements, yoga is a natural fit with sustainability. The discipline of yoga is based in a centuries-old Sanskrit tradition that includes principles like “ahimsa,” or “doing no harm.”

As a form of exercise, yoga can improve strength and flexibility and help manage stress. If you’re interested in trying yoga, look for a basic class at your gym or local community center, or ask around for yoga studio recommendations. It’s easy to practice at home once you learn the basics.

And yoga does require a few basics. Consider investing in a mat and other items that reflect the practice’s Earth-friendly ethos. Mind your mat A successful yoga pose depends in part on a mat that’s “grippy” enough to keep you from slipping around. It should provide some cushioning, but not so much that you lack stability.

Some people prefer rough-textured mats for added traction, while others find smooth mats more comfortable.

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Yoga Video- First Good Look At Miranda Kerr's Baby Bump: Miranda Kerr has unveiled her burgeoning baby bump for the first time since announcing that she and husband Orlando Bloom are expecting their first child. In a video to promote her organic skincare range Kora, the 27-year-old's growing tummy is perfectly evident as she is filmed practising yoga.

The Australian beauty, who is four months pregnant, promotes the benefits of healthy living in the clip – in particular the importance of exercise, relaxation and healthy eating. And judging by her virtuous lifestyle, Miranda will no doubt maintain her enviable figure throughout her pregnancy.

Speaking on the video, she says: "Kora is about nurturing your core, your inner and outer self – your mind, your body and your spirit. Kora is a choice in how we live our lives."Both she and Orlando, who married in secret in Anguilla last month, are advocates of eco-friendly living. In past interviews Miranda has said of the future: "My ideal situation would be to live on a farm in a solar-powered house with a hammock and a vegetable patch."

Soothies Yoga:  Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine have thrown yet more fuel on the fire which is sending up smoke signals saying that yoga is powerful medicine for mind and body. The researchers wanted to compare yoga to walking in terms of affect on mood. Walking is a wonderful exercise and we all know that time spent outdoors has a positive impact on mood. Time and again however, yoga is showing up as having effects beyond the physical and beyond the emotional; there seems to be profound changes in the whole being that result from yoga practise.

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