Yoga for Beginners

What is yoga?

Often associated with Hinduism, yoga actually is older. It is the oldest physical discipline in existence. The exact origins of yoga are unknown, but it is thought to be at least five thousand years old. The earliest evidence of yoga can be traced back to about 3000 B.C. The original purpose of the postures and breathing exercises was to bring stability and relaxation so practitioners could prepare for the rigors of meditation, sitting still and alert for long periods of time.
The word yoga has its roots in the Sanskrit language and means to merge, join or unite. Yoga is a form of exercise based on the belief that the body and breath are intimately connected with the mind. By controlling the breath and holding the body in steady poses, or asanas, yoga creates harmony. Yoga is a means of balancing and harmonizing the body, mind and emotions and is a tool that allows us to withdraw from the chaos of the world and find a quiet space within. To achieve this, yoga uses movement, breath, posture, relaxation and meditation in order to establish a healthy, vibrant and balanced approach to living.
Modern scholars have defined yoga as the classical Indian science that concerns itself with the search for the soul and the union between the individual, whose existence is finite, and the Divine, which is infinite.
Yoga is one of the original concepts which today would be labeled as holistic. That means that the body is related to the breath; both are related to the brain; in turn this links with the mind, which is a part of consciousness.
The essence of yoga is to be in the driver's seat of life. Control is a key aspect of yoga: control of the body, breath and mind.
The secret of yoga practice lies in a simple but important word: balance. In every area of our life, yoga represents balanced moderation.

What is Hatha Yoga?

The system of yoga used most often in the West is called Hatha yoga. The word Hatha is a composite of Ha, which means sun and Tha which means moon. Yoga is the union between them, suggesting that the healthy joining of opposites - in this case, the mind and body - leads to strength, vitality and peace of mind.
Hatha yoga is the physical aspect of the practice of yoga. Hatha yoga emphasizes asanas (practice of postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) and dhyana (meditation). It aims to balance different energy flows within the human body. As a form of exercise, hatha yoga consists of asanas or postures that embody controlled movement, concentration, flexibility, and conscious breathing. About half of the nearly 200 asanas are practiced widely in the West. The postures range from the basic to the complex, from the easily accomplished to the very challenging. While the movements tend to be slow and controlled, they provide an invigorating workout for the mind and body, including the internal organs.
Yoga exercises are designed to ease tense muscles, to tone up the internal organs, and to improve the flexibility of the body's joints and ligaments. The aim of proper yoga exercise is to improve suppleness and strength. Each posture is performed slowly in fluid movements. Violent movements are avoided; they produce a buildup of lactic acid, causing fatigue.
Hatha yoga is a complete fitness program and will release endorphins in the brain as well as any regular exercise program. Yoga postures stretch, extend, and flex the spine, while exercising muscles and joints, keeping the body strong and supple. When done in conjunction with breathing techniques, hatha yoga postures stimulate circulation, digestion and the nervous and endocrine systems. As a workout, yoga can be intense, easy, or somewhere in between.
It can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age, to achieve a more limber body, increased physical coordination, better posture, and improved flexibility without incurring the potentially negative effects associated with high-impact forms of exercise. Hatha yoga remains different from newer or more modern types of exercise. It does not aim to raise the heart rate (although variations such as Ashtanga, Power Yoga, or the flow series taught by Bikram Choudhury may) or work on specific muscle groups.
Overall, the postures release stiffness and tension, help to reestablish the inner balance of the spine, renew energy and restore health. Some postures provide the added benefit of being weight-bearing which helps sustain bone mass (very important for women). Relaxation and breathing exercises produce stability and reduce stress and put you in touch with your inner strength. In addition, regular practice of hatha yoga can promote graceful aging.
Whether you are learning yoga singly or in a group, it is a good idea to be supervised by a qualified teacher. A teacher will demonstrate how to ease your body gently into and out of the yoga postures. He or she will ensure that you do not strain your limbs and will help you align your body in the asanas.
According to a recent Roper poll, six million Americans now practice hatha yoga. Furthermore, yoga's visibility and viability as an effective exercise program has been increased by the endorsements of celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Sting, Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Keaton, Kareem Abdul Jabar and Evander Holyfield.
Yoga also is increasingly embraced by the medical community. Popular health practitioners who possess mainstream medical credentials and are open to alternative practices include Andrew Weil, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., Joan Borysenko, M.D., and Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. Such practitioners have long encouraged patients and clients to take up yoga. Yoga is also an integral part of many stress management programs endorsed and paid for by HMOs and insurance companies. In fact, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center includes gentle yoga postures and breathing techniques to aid the recovery of patients with heart disease.
Yoga asanas can be practiced by young and old alike. While there is no one who should be excluded, you should check with your doctor before you begin a course if you suffer from a medical condition or have any doubts. If you have any concerns about your health or fitness, consult your physician, qualified health practitioner or yoga teacher before undertaking a yoga practice, especially with these specific health problems: high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, back or neck injury or recent surgery.

Is Yoga a Religion?

Yoga does not meet the traditional definitions of a religion. Rather than broadcasting a philosophy or doctrine of its own, hatha yoga is a physical and psychological discipline that combines the learning and practice of asanas, pramayama, and meditation.
Because of its roots in Eastern religion and mythology, hatha yoga has often been associated with the Hindu religion. While both Hinduism and yoga have their roots in India, yoga is an independent tradition. Its separate physical and psychological processes have no connection with religious beliefs. Additionally, dedicated hatha yoga practice has been found to enhance the religious practice or beliefs of practitioners, whatever their current beliefs.
While yoga is not a religion, there are, however, a set of ethics associated with it which complements the practice of hatha yoga. This set of yoga ethic principles include five yamas which are: non-violence; truthfulness; non-stealing; chastity; and non-greed. Also there are five niyamas which are: purity; contentment; self-discipline; self-study; and centering on the Divinhttp://www.yogaforbeginners.com/branches01.htm

ANNALS OF GERIATRIC EDUCATION AND MEDICAL SCIENCES/ http://www.agems.in/index.php/aGEMS/about/editorialTeam

It is free to open access journal for all. http://www.agems.in/index.php/aGEMS/about/editorialTeam

Aging is inevitable. What you can change is your attitude about what aging means to you. Geriatric Care is defined as the medical care of older or elderly people. The scope of the care has changed to include not just the medical needs, but also the psychological and social needs of seniors. More than ever before, geriatric care encompasses a holistic approach to coping with aging and its effects. 

Some factors remain unchanged. The body ages over time and use. Body systems may begin to show their genetics and other signs of aging. One will experience the signs of aging such as loss of muscle mass and wrinkling. Try as you may, ones body still feels the effects. But more experts believe that people can modify their mental approach to aging and somewhat control when the more physical aspects manifest themselves. Today's seniors are more educated than ever before about things such as alternative medicine, senior rights, and health care. One has more opportunities to learn about the available options for medical care and assistance if necessary. Also, family members have access to more resources to help elders make good choices for their care. 

It used to be that when a person "got old", the only thing waiting for him or her was the nursing home. The stereotypical associations were anything but pleasant. Today, seniors can choose assisted living or they can employ a caregiver to help them with tasks that they may find difficult. The challenge is for people to make their own assessment of ones health and medical needs. Certainly we have the information and tools to maintain good health. All it takes is embracing the here and now and choosing to take charge of your life.

Dr. Sushila Kataria  Managing Editor, AGEms Associate Director Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics MEDANTA Hospital, Gurgaon, India Email: sushila.kataria@medanta.org      Email2Editor: sushila@agems.in

Dr. Anurag Sharma Managing Editor, AGEms Attending Consultant Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics MEDANTA Hospital, Gurgaon, India Email: anurag.sharma@medanta.org    Email2Editor: anurag@agems.in

100 Interview Questions for Library Professional and Other

While there are as many different possible interview questions as there are interviewers, it always helps to be ready for anything. So we've prepared a list of 100 potential interview questions. Will you face them all? We pray no interviewer would be that cruel. Will you face a few? Probably. Will you be well-served by being ready even if you're not asked these exact questions? Absolutely.

Basic Interview Questions:
• Tell me about yourself.

• What are your strengths?

• What are your weaknesses?

• Why do you want this job?

• Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?

• What's your ideal company?

• What attracted you to this company?

• Why should we hire you?

• What did you like least about your last job?

• When were you most satisfied in your job?

• What can you do for us that other candidates can't?

• What were the responsibilities of your last position?

• Why are you leaving your present job?

• What do you know about this industry?

• What do you know about our company?

• Are you willing to relocate?

• Do you have any questions for me?

Behavioral Interview Questions:

• What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?

• Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.

• Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?

• Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?

• Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?

• What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?

• What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?

• If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?

• What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?

• Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?

• What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?

• Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.

• If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you do?

• If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?

• What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?

• What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?

• Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.

Salary Questions:

• What salary are you seeking?

• What's your salary history?

• If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?

Career Development Questions:

• What are you looking for in terms of career development?

• How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

• What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?

• If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?

Getting Started Questions:

• How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?

• How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?

• What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?

• If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?

More About You:

• How would you describe your work style?

• What would be your ideal working environment?

• What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial?

• Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.

• What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?

• If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?

• Tell me about your proudest achievement.

• Who was your favorite manager and why?

• What do you think of your previous boss?

• Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?

• What kind of personality do you work best with and why?

• What are you most proud of?

• What do you like to do?

• What are your lifelong dreams?

• What do you ultimately want to become?

• What is your personal mission statement?

• What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?

• What negative thing would your last boss say about you?

• What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?

• What are three positive character traits you don't have?

• If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?

• List five words that describe your character.

• Who has impacted you most in your career and how?

• What is your greatest fear?

• What is your biggest regret and why?

• What's the most important thing you learned in school?

• Why did you choose your major?

• What will you miss about your present/last job?

• What is your greatest achievement outside of work?

• What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?

• Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?

• How do you feel about taking no for an answer?

• How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?

• How do you think I rate as an interviewer?

• Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.

• Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.

• What kind of car do you drive?

• There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

• What's the last book you read?

• What magazines do you subscribe to?

• What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?

• What would you do if you won the lottery?

• Who are your heroes?

• What do you like to do for fun?

• What do you do in your spare time?

• What is your favorite memory from childhood?

Brainteaser Questions:

• How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?

• How would you weigh a plane without scales?

• Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.

• Sell me this pencil.

• If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?

• Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?

• If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?

• If you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid of and why?

• With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.