Nevada, Jan 12 (IBNS)

A US based Hindu group has criticized British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for labeling yoga as fad.

BBC News-World website posted a video on January 10 under its Watch/Listen, which was titled as Man behind yoga and other new age fads.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), pointed out that terming yoga as one of the fads, which was introduced and nourished by worlds oldest religion Hinduism, was very insensitive and belittling of the entire community.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that BBC Director-General Lord Tony Hall and Trustees Chairman Lord Patten of Barnes should immediately apologize for this inappropriate terminology and hurting the feelings of about one billion Hindus and publish it on BBC website.

He noted that although under its our values, BBC claimed we respect each other and celebrate our diversity, but describing yoga as fad, which was usually referred as a living fossil and whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, was highly disrespectful.

"Was calling yoga as 'fad' BBCs way of educating and informing the world correctly; whose 'mission' was listed as: 'to enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain'?" Zed asked.

Few months back BBC labeled Hindu festival of Holi as filthy festival to which it apologized later. In an email to Zed, BBC News Editor On Demand Mark Barlex then wrote: we apologise for any offence that was caused.

Founded in 1922, headquartered in Westminster London, and established under the Royal Charter; worlds largest broadcaster BBC (autonomous public service broadcaster) has reportedly been blamed in the past for racism, imperialist stance, Indophobic bias, anti-Hindu bigotry, anti-American bias, etc. Helen Boaden is Director of BBC News Group and Diane Coyle is Trustees Vice Chairman.

Yoga, a world heritage and liberation powerhouse, was a mental and physical discipline handed down from one guru to next, for everybody to share and benefit from.

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US Hindus upset at BBC calling Yoga "fad"

Coming up, yogis head to San Francisco's renowned Yoga Journal Conference featuring celebrity yogi Rodney Yee and author and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra.

Yoga Journal Conference San FranciscoJanuary 17-21San Francisco, California, USA

US yoga publication Yoga Journal will offer more than 100 classes taught by more than 35 master and celebrity yoga teachers, including Rodney Yee, Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, and Ana Forrest, with a special talk featuring Deepak Chopra. Workshops and intensive classes will be offered, catering to both industry professionals and students. The conference also takes place later this year in New York, Colorado, and Florida, with each drawing crowds of around four thousand. http://www.yjevents.comWatch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ME1qG_z1jI

Arab Health Expo January 28-31 Dubai, UAE

Now in its 38th year, Arab Health Expo is an international business networking event among healthcare, medical, and science professionals held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. The event expects to draw more than more than 830,000 visitors from 142 countries, including pavilions for Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. http://www.arabhealthonline.com

Ski Industries of America (SIA) Snow Show January 31- February 3 Denver, Colorado, USA

The SIA Snow Show at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, is the largest, most concentrated trade event in the snow sports industry, attracting more than 20,000 industry professionals and unveiling new products and gear. After the show, attendees will head up to the mountains for the On-Snow Demo/Free-Ride Fest at Winter Park Resort and Devil's Thumb Ranch, where industry members will get together to demo the gear they've just seen at the show. http://siasnowshow.snowsports.org

73rd ISPO February 3-6 Munich, Germany

ISPO is one of the biggest events in the world for sports goods manufacturers and suppliers. Over 2,000 exhibitors are participating in 2013, and the event expects to draw more than 80,000 visitors from over 100 countries. The event features an ISPO Healthstyle expo center, as well as sections devoted to eco-friendly products and snow sports. In 2012, a sister event happened in Beijing, as did an ISPO Bike expo. ISPO Beijing will also take place February 27-March 2, and ISPO Bike is set for July 25-28. http://www.ispo.com

BioFach & Vivaness February 13-16 Exhibition Centre, Nuremberg, Germany

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Health and fitness agenda: Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco

Multitasking might offend yoga purists, but a new DVD combines traditional poses with light weights for a workout that's more burn than bliss.

Kimberly Fowler, the self-proclaimed creator of "hybrid" yoga, recently released "Yoga + Weights," a fast-paced, 30-minute workout using 3-pound hand weights. She is the founder of YAS Fitness Center, which combines spinning with yoga, and has a studio in Costa Mesa.

In a calm, steady voice, Fowler offers instruction for the yoga poses, which range from push-up style planks to downward facing dog. Weights are used for the majority of the sequences. If your legs burn while squatting back in chair pose, imagine the added intensity from hand weights stretched overhead.

But as the super-toned Fowler says, yoga comes first, weights come second. Form matters most. The workout can be done without weights, and Fowler says to put them down at any time. She emphasizes slow control of movement and breath.

The easiest weight segment involves alternating biceps curls from a lunging crescent pose. One of the toughest was holding both arms out at shoulder level in warrior two and lifting 2 inches for five reps. I also felt a burn in my quads and my arms when kneeling in hero's pose, and then rising upward with weights in hand and my arms stretched overhead before leaning back down onto my knees.

My only complaint is the short duration. I prefer a 60-minute workout, and based on a vigorous Yoga Pump class that 24 Hour Fitness used to offer, I know that much more can be done to combine yoga with weights.

Fowler is fairly stoic in her style. She keeps the commentary to a minimum and moves the workout fluidly between poses and from standing to mat. At times, the DVD cuts to a room full of participants, who are clearly real people of varying ages and body types. The choreography is distraction-free, and unlike most fitness DVDs, there is no music.

"Yoga + Weights" costs $14.95 and is available at amazon.com.

Contact the writer: cperkes@ocregister.com 714-796-3686

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'Yoga + Weights' DVD strong but short

Yoga for You, Tips & Techniques for Everyone by Prahlada Reddy, head of Toronto's Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center and Shameem Akhtar, acclaimed Mumbai-based yoga instructor, is a book for yoga aficionados that covers a range of poses and in-depth advice for practicioners.

By way of an excerpt, we bring you part of Chapter 1:

Sirsasana (Headstand)

This is one of the most exciting poses, both to teach and learn oneself. In fact, learning it pins one's discipline on the mat more firmly. That is why, unless the practitioner has a health issue for which headstand is contraindicated (see below), this pose must be taught. Also unlike other poses which may be taken for granted with practice, this pose continues to be a challenge even when mastered the student is led into increasing the duration in the pose, adding variations of it which challenge other muscle groups, even learning different ways of entering the pose. All of this ensures that the student' time on the mat is never boring.

***

Since this pose puts a lot of physical pressure on us, leads to a blood gush in the brain, and has a direct impact on the nervous system, it is believed to relieve us of anxiety and negativity. No wonder the headstand is celebrated as the king of all poses!

***

Method

-- To do the headstand, kneel on the ground, cup your hands at the elbows, the thumb and index finger of each hand flaring over the inner elbow of the opposite arm.

-- Place the locked elbows on the mat.

Visit link:
Yoga: Learn how to do a headstand

Downtown Macon is home to a new yoga studio. Dean Baker just opened Pure Balance -- Yoga + Wellness a couple of weeks ago at 505 Second St. Dean, who holds a Ph.D. in nursing, is an associate professor at Georgia College & State University.

I have never owned a business before so this is a little scary, Baker told Mechel McKinley, Main Street Macon manager. I wanted to keep yoga alive in the Macon community, so I bought the business. Yoga is our main focus. I plan to offer prenatal yoga, yoga for cancer survivors and other specialized yoga classes.

McKinley said the addition is a good one for downtown.

Yoga is a great element in an overall wellness plan, McKinley said in a news release. With new loft housing on the way, it is important that we have these types of services available to downtown residents and employees.

63rd Robins chamber meeting features awards

The Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding its 63rd annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Museum of Aviation.

One of the event highlights is the presentation of awards to local business people.

The awards include the Charles K. Shaheen Small Business of the Year Award for outstanding business achievement and exemplary service to the community; the Edward Bayer Employee of the Year Award presented to one of 2012s Outstanding Employee of the Month recipients; the Charlie L. Jones Memorial Award presented to the communitys most outstanding citizen; the Sherrill Stafford Good Government Service Award, presented to an elected or appointed official or employee of any governmental agency; the A.C. Dick Walden III Chamber Person of the Year Award; and the Heide Hubbard Ambassador of the Year Award presented to the ambassador who has shown exemplary support of chamber events.

The cost to attend is $40 per person for chamber members and their guests and $55 for non-members. A table seating eight people is $320.

Call (478) 922-8585 for more information or e-mail rsvp@robinsregion.com.

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Yoga studio opens in downtown Macon