Starting your day off with a short Yoga session, can change your outlook for the entire day. Yet, there are some people who manage an eternally optimistic view of life and have never consciously practiced Yoga. If, or when, they visit a class, they will find themselves surrounded by like-minded positive energy.

How many people do you know who really enjoy life? Take the time to observe their common qualities. You will notice how they look forward to each day. They wake up each morning, anticipating the best possible day. Passion for life fuels positive energy and creates a long-term state of enthusiasm.

In Yoga, positive visualization, and positive affirmations, are taught in order to create a healthy frame of mind. One could naturally be an optimist, but it is nice to have the formula for optimism so close at hand. A Yoga class can also help on those occasions when we feel less motivated.

Once the mind is positively charged, we can look forward to each opportunity the day presents to us. This is in stark contrast to those who see life as an endless trail of tasks, with problems around every corner.

Unfortunately, the negatively-charged mind will drain itself of energy and naturally, work toward draining the energy out of anything surrounding it. You can recommend Yoga, but a pessimist is very uncomfortable when surrounded by enthusiasm, optimism, and self-improvement.

If it is possible for a pessimist to continually practice Yoga over the course of months, you will begin to see a change in him or her. It will not happen instantly, but he, or she, will begin to anticipate opportunities in life. You may even notice that goal-setting skills will follow this person's new found positive outlook on life.

Yogic breathing techniques, (Pranayama), are unconsciously practiced by everyone. Have you observed people sigh, yawn, or huff for natural reasons? Some people, who have never heard of Pranayama, take a deep natural breath every time they feel stressed.

In Yoga classes, we practice Pranayama to link the mind and body. Pranayama helps us be more present in our practice, but it can be a life saver, and a mood changer, in daily life. Try to focus exclusively, and purposely, on drawing out a natural breath, if you are near a conflict.

Once you have managed to breathe slow, steady, and smooth, during a crisis, you will notice that you are not swallowed up into the conflict. Your opinions should be even-handed, and constructive, as a result of Pranayama.

In Yoga, this is a form of breath awareness, which is nice to learn in a classroom setting, but much more valuable, when applied toward daily life situations.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications