One of the oldest and most beneficial exercise routines in the world is an art that was first created in the Asian sub-continent. It’s an activity that can be performed by both the young and old, in almost any location, for many reasons and at any time of day. Yoga is a wonderful way to improve one’s physical and mental health, but it is important to do it properly, and be taught it by an expert. This is because manipulating one’s limbs and joints, and holding these positions for long periods of time can be rather dangerous. The internet, where you’re reading this at the moment, is a wonderful source of information and advice, as well as entertainment. However, with anything regarding health (for example, diagnosis, treatment and therapy) it is vital to visit and spend time with an expert, at least at first. People can take yoga courses in cities and rural areas all over the world, but it is surely best to do it as near as possible to the place where the art began. Yoga teaching in Nepal is done at yoga centres in good English and other languages by both the locals and some experienced foreigners. 

It is not at all important at which level the student is. The best yoga centers are able to offer courses for all levels and at varying degrees of intensity. Some people want to just do half an hour a day, whereas as others are absolutely dedicated to do as many hours as their bodies and instructors permit. Like many physical and enjoyable activities, it is not difficult to do too much too early and cause yourself problems for the next day or days. One must always follow the advice of the expert they pay to instruct them. Some people prefer to fully relax in the fresh mountain air of a country very near to the birthplace of yoga. Therefore, for one of the most popular destinations to learn yoga Nepal is an obvious choice. It is visited by enough students to ensure that there are lots of well-qualified instructors wanting to work there. These instructors and the centres they work for are able to offer yoga courses at many levels and in several languages. 

Nepal is not the only place to learn yoga, but it is certainly one of the best. It offers so many advantages for both the yoga itself and also for general travel happiness and convenience. The cost of living is low, the quality of air and food high, and there are very little distractions. All in all ensuring a wonderful all-round experience.

In the past, many people who had enough free time took up some kind of hobby. Nowadays, with technology and other distractions, hobbies are far less popular. However, some people still collect, make or study things just for fun. One popular kind of hobby is any form of exercise, as it improves one’s health while also giving them a break from daily life. There comes a time in one’s hobby life when they consider taking the next step and making more of the activity than just a hobby.  It is not always a success, but if it does work, that person can then lead a very fulfilling lifestyle. For example, to go from a novice or low level in something like yoga, to actually making a living out of it. Now, living yoga might not be every yoga fan’s cup of tea, as it may be oversaturation and therefore no longer a hobby. But for most it would be wonderful to enjoy one’s work so much.

Imagine doing something that is so beneficial and relaxing for an occupation. To take up yoga teaching would involve more than just quitting a job and starting yoga courses for your customers. It would require reaching a high level of the art in advance, and also performing pure yoga for a reasonable length of time. Then, once the appropriate level has been reached, one can start to teach. Living yoga really would be a great lifestyle in circumstances allowed it. Of course, there are other hobbies which can lead to careers. For example, scuba diving is for most people a sport that can be practised just once or twice a year. But there are also plenty of people who become addicted to it quite quickly and want to move up the ladder of different levels, until reaching Divemaster or Instructor.

Normally, making a hobby into a career is a big step and it is usually only possible if that hobby can be taught or instructed. Yoga and scuba diving are just two simple examples, but there are plenty of others, such as hang gliding, golf, mountaineering or climbing. Of course, one must bear in mind that to maintain a constant income one needs to have regular customers and this can often require moving away from one’s home town or country. In addition, after a year or two, many people become bored of the activity that they once loved.

Exercise has become even more important in recent times, mainly due to our lifestyles and diets. Many years ago we didn’t have escalators or lifts or 12-hour days working in offices. In addition, our diets contained far fewer substances that cause the build-up of fat. Combined, these factors cause the need for more exercise. However, exercise is often not fun, can cause injury and is mostly inconvenient. Swimming is the best, but it requires a pool, time to prepare, swim, and shower and change afterwards. Jogging is a good cardiovascular workout, but damages knees and other joints. One of the best solutions was created thousands of years ago in what is now known as India. Yoga is proven to be a wonderfully healthy and effective form of exercise that can benefit experts and beginners alike. Moreover, it can be performed at any time of day and in almost any place where there are two square metres of floor space. For the beginner yoga may appear rather intimidating, but with good advice, some respectful training and a little patience, one can advance swiftly to become proficient, and at the same time healthier.

Unfairly, yoga is often regarded as a woman’s activity, or only performed by men who are less masculine than those in the gym or on the football field. Those men who are broad-minded enough to at least give yoga a try will soon realize the benefits and be able to perform in the gym, on the football field, or even in the bedroom much more effectively in a very masculine way. Nowadays courses and rooms that focus purely on yoga for men are becoming more available and more popular. Beginner yoga lessons are gentle on the muscles and joints, and do not leave the new students with any form of ache or pain. The improvement process is smooth and gentle and one does not become an expert overnight. Those who try too hard too early will only set themselves back further. This could also be said for any other form of exercise. 

Of course, one needs to learn a little about the activity before trying to arrange their feet behind their head. A good teacher will be patient and understanding. A good school will have plenty of yoga pictures showing examples and a list of yoga workouts for all levels to practise. 

The biggest step, especially for men, is the psychological one that restricts the taking up of yoga. The stigma of being thought of as a leotard wearer or a hippie is far from easy for any man to swallow, but that first hurdle is the only one that is difficult to pass. After accepting that it is beneficial in so many ways and discovering that other men, real men, are already performing yoga to help their performances in other, manly, activities, one can relax and enjoy a long and healthy life.

Spain looks to be great value this summer and a four-week trip can easily include a relaxing (I think) three-week break at a Yoga resort. There are several stages to learn and perform Yoga, from beginners for fun or just to try it out, through advanced, instructor and level-two instructor. Like many activities such as this, there will always be those who try it once or twice and give up, some who make it a hobby, and others who go all the way and make a career out of it. To be honest, I can’t see myself becoming a level-two Yoga instructor, well at least not this year. However, if anyone wants to learn to teach Yoga in Spain (TTC) then there are several options of professional Yoga training centres, specifically and surprisingly on the island of Ibiza. It is important to use a training centre that has a reliable and easy-to-check set up and history, especially in Asia, near the roots of Yoga. Additionally, a place that doesn’t have too many students on each course, to enable each one to get lots of good attention and plenty of personal instruction is essential before you part with over one thousand Euros.

So, Spain it is, and probably Ibiza, although I will have to exercise a lot of self control to get myself safely past all the bars, clubs, parties and sexy bodies distracting me from the beach. I hope that my joints are up for a bit, no a lot, of stretching. It has been a while since I last sat down and did any serious meditation or Yoga. The course to become an instructor is my main goal this time, but I am still not quite sure how far I will get, nor how beneficial the career move will be. However, the price is good, including accommodation, and the physical and psychological benefits that I will receive are going to be priceless.

What a contrast! A peaceful, spiritual activity such as Yoga performed, even taught on a loud, buzzing and energetic party island that is Ibiza. Well, firstly, it's absolutely true and secondly it is not as ridiculous as it may seem. If you have ever heard of Koh Pha Ngan in the Gulf of Thailand, you will know that it is famous for its wild full-moon parties, rife with hard and soft drugs, and strong local whisky mixed with Red Bull. Well, in fact, this madness only happens every two to four weeks (they also have new-moon parties, which are not as big) and only happens on a small peninsular at the South West tip of the island. For the rest of the month, Koh Pha Ngan's party beaches are quite peaceful, and the rest of the place is serene and unaffected all year round. It's an ideal place to take the family, have a romantic break, or lose yourself in your own company on a deserted beach. However, I digress. This is about Ibiza and learning Yoga there.

Ibiza is about twice the size of Koh Pha Ngan in Thailand and, as everyone should know, is located in the West of the Mediterranean Sea. Yes, it has a reputation as a hub for party goers aged between 17 and about 30, but there is a lot more to it than that. Its size, and party revellers' apparent inability to travel far from wherever they finish drinking or dancing and to wherever they fall in an unconscious heap allow Ibiza to offer so much more than what most of us are aware of. Now, some may question the likeliness of a person who is keen on Yoga going to such a place as Ibiza, but there are plenty of reasons, opportunities and evidence. Yoga is a wonderful way to wind down and clear one's mind (and possibly one's) body of the nasty things that a night out can inflict. However, there are valid professional reasons to go there and perform Yoga, too. For example, someone who has already completed level one as a Yoga instructor, say in Nepal or other parts of Asia may be looking for somewhere nearer to home or a different climate to do the 300 hour course for level two.

Learn to Teach Yoga in Ibiza (Yoga TTC), and you will become certified and proficient within just a few weeks. The best training centres will accommodate you within their complex and keep class sizes down to a maximum of twenty students to ensure the personal touch.

It really is a wonderful island, there are always good deals for flights to get there, and the quieter parts of the island are as idyllic as you can ask for anywhere with an airport. Now, Yoga enthusiasts can learn to improve their skills, become a level one teacher, or make the step from level one to level two all in Ibiza, Spain.

Of all the ways to relax and improve our general health and well-being, there is one activity, therapy, call it what you like, that has proven effective over hundreds of years. For some reason, in the Western world it is done by women much more so than men. It originated in India and can, on extreme forms, appear impossible for physically normal humans. However, anyone can do it and start at any age they like. What is it? Yoga! There are various levels of yoga, and probably as many reasons why people do it, but there is no doubt that it can help them. Also, there are some alternatives that may, or may not, be helpful.

Yoga comes from several religions in the area, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Its name also has different meanings in several languages. And, as mentioned before, there are plenty of reasons for doing it. Traditionally, believers in whichever religion perform yoga to discipline their minds and bodies and become closer to their god or gods. Nowadays, the activity happens in modern air-conditioned gyms and is taught and performed by those from all walks of life including professionals and housewives. In Buddhism, for example, it is used in some mild forms when meditating. In Thailand, there are plenty of people who do yoga, on a serious or very relaxed basis, to improve their health or even just as an easy thing to do at the fashionable gym. Thai massage the lazy person's yoga, is maybe an extreme way of doing nothing while having your body put through some gentle therapy and exercise. It would be wrong to totally disregard Thai massage as a therapeutic, easy exercise, as there are plenty of benefits of a good Thai massage, but one needs to make sure it is administered properly. Otherwise, there could be no benefit, or even some negative affects.

To call Thai massage a lazy person's yoga would probably be fair for those who know what they are talking about, but the phrase should not be overused to make Thai massage appear either a waste of time, or a viable alternative. Yoga is a very old, religiously traditional activity. It has been so popular in the East that those in the West have taken it up. Thai massage has also been around for hundreds, maybe thousands, of years and it too is connected to religion with its use in Buddhist meditation. One of the main differences being that one you can do alone, and it probably stimulates blood flow and improves discipline more than the other, which requires a masseur or masseuse and the recipient can relax, do nothing or even sleep.

"That can't be at all comfortable," "It's just for girls," "Have you found your other self yet?" and "Have a wash, you hippie," are all phrases that could be unfairly said to those people who practise Yoga. However, it could probably be guaranteed that the vast majority of the people making those remarks have never taken the time to do a little research or even ask a few questions about exactly what Yoga is. Originally from South-Central Asia and dating back several thousand years, Yoga helps to control the discipline of one's physical body as well as the mind. Yoga has proven benefits for the mental and physical health of those people who practise it properly on a regular basis. For people who just do it for fun, or in an attempt to keep up with the latest craze, there are minimal benefits, but rarely is any harm done, as long as the Yoga is performed properly.

Nowadays, Yoga is practised in Asia, and all over the rest of the world. It would probably be fair to say that its roots are still firmly in the Indian region, where it is used in Hinduism and Buddhism. A little further east is an extremely popular place to study about Yoga for both recreational and spiritual purposes. For example, many people learn Yoga in Thailand. Thailand is conveniently situated between the Andaman Sea and the South China Sea. Thailand has islands with pristine beaches, mountains and good shopping, to complement its warm year-round climate and wonderful cuisine. To learn Yoga in Thailand requires little more than some preparation and plenty of open-mindedness. Some learn it to help them relax, others learn it to aid recovery from some kind of ailment, and others still just learn it for something to do. There are also financial benefits. In the West, fees for professional and qualified Yoga teachers are not unsubstantial and there is a growing market. Therefore, as a career move, there is a lot of sense in wanting to learn Yoga in Thailand, while enjoying a beach or trekking holiday, or meditating in a temple. Going home to Europe, America or Australia could be the beginning of a new business venture or an extra service of a present practice, such as massage or acupuncture.

Of course, there are plenty of reasons to visit Thailand, and probably as many reasons to learn to practise or teach Yoga. Added together and bearing in mind the wonderful holiday opportunities as well as the low cost and new experiences, and it is easy to see how beneficial it can be to learn Yoga in Thailand. You never know, it could result in a whole new you!

I am currently based in Bangkok and live a relatively simple life. Work is easy enough, and very flexible. Finances are never enough to be extravagant, but I'm comfortable. Although in a semi-serious relationship, I have total freedom to either leave for a while, or take my partner and go overseas with me. After having recently seen a few television documentaries and done some research, I decided to have a quick go at Yoga in my local fitness center. Now I didn't really enjoy the experience a great deal, but not for reasons that one might first think. The thing that made it less than enjoyable was my instructor. Not only did the language barrier cause some misunderstandings, but he also appeared to not really understand Yoga for what it is.

Therefore I am looking to learn Yoga in Nepal properly and have a vacation at the same time. I want to go somewhere special, close to Buddhism and quite out of the way and spiritual. Even though Yoga originated in India, I don't want to go there again. I have decided to learn Yoga in Nepal. I appreciate that there are still going to be some language issues, but believe that the better techniques of the instructors and the serene environment will help us both. Nepal is not India, but let's face it, when Yoga was first created, practised and established several thousand years ago India as a nation didn't exist in its present form. Also, with all the hustle and bustle that one gets in India, I truly believe that Nepal has the best balance of spirituality, ease of relaxation, peace and fresh air, and competent instructors.

I will miss Bangkok. But I am so eager to become proficient in Yoga that I think it is the perfect opportunity to get away from the traffic and the sweltering Thai summer months. After doing some research, I have discovered that with the right mindset and some ability to meditate, one can become quite good at Yoga within just a few weeks. My biggest hurdles are going to be switching off the pain because I am far from lithe, flexible or athletic, and turning my mind off from worldly interruptions. Nepal is peaceful, yet it has a half-decent infrastructure for public transport and the people have relatively good English skills. The food is something that needs getting used to, but I don't foresee too much of a problem there.

The biggest decision to make, now that I have already decided to learn Yoga in Nepal is whether or not to take my partner. Freedom and loneliness are good commodities when trying to clear the mind, but doing things together is more fun and less expensive.