Ayurveda and Yoga, Ancient Sister Sciences

Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences that have been united for thousands of years for the sake of healing body, mind, and consciousness. Generally speaking, Ayurveda deals more with the health of the body, while yoga deals with purifying the mind and consciousness, but in reality they complement and embrace each other.

The ancient rishis (seers) were the original masters of all Vedic sciences. They understood that good health is a great asset on the path toward Self-realization. If the body is neglected it can easily become an obstacle to spiritual practice. Anyone who has practiced meditation for any length of time would agree to how difficult it can be to sit still for long periods of time without feeling discomfort and fatigue. Both yoga and Ayurveda are mutually supportive and offer many ways to prevent and heal various disorders as well as to cleanse and rejuvenate the body.

Besides sharing a philosophical foundation, both systems have many similarities in relation to attitude, nutrition, diet, hygiene, exercise, cleansing practices, as well as spiritual practices. Traditionally, a student of yoga would first live close to and serve the guru for many years, during which time he would learn healthy habits. The basic Ayurvedic principles for health and longevity were past on in the lineage in oral form to serve as a foundation for a life of sadhana (spiritual practice).

Nowadays, the teachings of yoga are easily available to all, and whether prepared or not we can leap headlong into its practice. This has its blessings, in the sense that more people can be turned on to the teachings, although much is often lost without the parampara, or close guidance at the feet of an accomplished master. With this in mind, modern yoga practitioners would most certainly benefit from a basic knowledge of Ayurveda to help establish a healthy daily routine and adjust their practice according to the constitution, dosha imbalance, season, and so on, to prevent disease and promote longevity.

First, let's take a look at the similarities between yoga and Ayurveda:

* Both are ancient Vedic teachings. Yoga originates in the Yajur Veda, while Ayurveda originates in the Atharva Veda and Rig Veda.

* Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is vital for fulfilling the four aims of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

* Both recognize that the balance of doshas (humors), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) is essential for maintaining good health.

* Both share virtually the same metaphysical anatomy and physiology, which consists of 72,000 nadis (subtle channels), 7 main chakras (energy centers), 5 bodily sheaths, and the Kundalini Shakti (energy).

* Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer, puja, and rituals for healing the entire being.

* Both encourage physical health as a good foundation for mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

* Both share the same view on psychology. Ayurveda embraces all six of the main schools of philosophy including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Vedanta (a non-dual philosophical and spiritual path). They both understand that the attachment to the body-mind complex is the root cause of all suffering and that the ultimate state of health is experienced when we abide in our true nature, which is total peace, regardless of the state of the physical body.

* Both use cleansing methods for the body, all of which encourage the removal of waste products and toxins through their natural routes of elimination. Ayurveda has panchakarma (five cleansing actions) and yoga uses Shat Karma (six purification measures).

Ayurvedic approach to asana practice

The use of asana, pranayama, and meditation for healing is known as Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy and has been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic and yogic adepts. In Yoga Chikitsa, a group of yogic exercises are chosen that will best support the individual and are practiced daily. This can be done over an extended period of time in conjunction with an Ayurvedic regime and herbal and dietary therapies. Yoga Chikitsa also plays an integral role in the Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation process known as panchakarma.

For a well balanced personal yoga practice, it is important to take into consideration the individual's body structure, prakruti (original constitution), and vikruti (present constitutional imbalance). The following are general recommendations according to the predominant dosha.

Vata predominant individuals should remember to focus on calming, grounding, stillness, strengthening, and balancing while doing their practice.

Precautions for vata:

* Vinyasa or flow styles of yoga tend to move too quickly from one pose to the next and can aggravate the hyper-mobile quality of vata over time. Flow sequences can be made to be more vata pacifying if they are not excessively long, the length of time poses are held is extended, and transitions are done slowly and consciously.

* Those with lower back problems may find that bending the knees in standing forward bends can prevent discomfort.

* Back bends should be done slowly, carefully and within one's own limits.

Pitta individuals should maintain a calm, cool, and relaxed intention while doing asanas. Pitta types may benefit from trying to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness, and of surrendering or offering the fruits of their practice to the divine of to those in need of positive healing energy. Because asana practice tends to generate heat in the body, it is best to do them at cooling times of the day, such as dawn or dusk. Also, it is useful to place some emphasis on poses that help to release excess heat from the body, such as poses that compress the solar plexus and poses that open the chest like.

Kapha types tend to be sedentary and often dislike vigorous exercise. For this reason, their practice should be energetic, warming, lightening, and stimulating, providing they are physically capable. Vinyasa or flow style yoga is good for kapha because it is dynamic and moves quickly from one pose to the next, it induces sweating and gets the heart pumping.

Yoga poses that address specific doshic problems can be easily added to an Ayurvedic regime and integrated into an existing yoga routine, or they can be organized as a small session with the help of an Ayurvedic clinician who knows each individual case well and can help set up a well balanced program according to the needs of each client.

Ayurveda also offers Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy, for specific doshic disorders. It is advised to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for an individualized regime.

Ayurvedic Approach to Pranayama (breathing techniques).

The ultimate goal of pranayama is to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. It also has a therapeutic effect on the physical body as well. It is not essential to do a pranayama practice according to dosha, but knowing its effects on the body is a valuable tool for management of the doshas. Below is a general list of pranayama and bandha exercises according to dosha.

Vata: Nadi Shodhana, Kapala Bhati, Agnisara Dhauti, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Pitta: Sheetali or Sitkari, Nadi shodhana.

Kapha: Bastrika, Agnisara Dhauti, Kapala Bhati, Ashvini Mudra (contracting and releasing Mula Bandha), Ashvini Mudra, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Furthermore, the Four Purifications taught in our workshops is an ancient method from the Ashtanga Yoga for purifying the gross and subtle body in order to prepare it for more advanced practices. They are tridoshic and safe for everyone, providing they are performed correctly.

Meditation According to Dosha.

These spiritual paths and their meditation techniques can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their prakruti. This list is only intended to give an idea on how dosha can support or influence one's spiritual practice. Many traditions of yoga blend various aspects of the paths listed here.

* Vata: Kriya Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga and other structured techniques help to keep vata stabilized and focused.

* Pitta: Jnana Yoga and Vedanta are good for pitta types because they often have sharp intellects and have a keen interest in self-study (Atma-vichara).

* Kapha: Bhakti yoga is natural for kapha types because they are often loving and devotional by nature.

Ayurvedic and Yogic Diet.

Ayurveda is more concerned with food being constitutionally balanced, while Yoga promotes a diet that is sattwic (light and pure). A combination of both aspects is the best choice for a yogi or anyone wanting to make real progress on a spiritual path.

Ayurvedic diet:

* According to dosha.

* Primarily vegetarian (meat is used as medicine, mainly for extreme deficiencies).

* Primarily cooked (raw food in moderation, especially for vata types).

* Containing six tastes.

Yogic diet:

* Sattwic vegetarian diet.

* Easy to digest.

* Simple meals (to limit desire).

* Both cooked and raw.

* Foods recommended in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika consist of rejuvenating substances such as wheat, whole grain, white basmati, corn, raw milk, raw sugar, butter, ghee, honey, dried ginger, mung beans, pure water, vegetables.

* Fruits, roots and nuts.

* Avoiding excessive hot, sour, salty, fermented, and fried foods.

* Avoiding tamasic (dulling) foods like meat, onions, garlic and mushrooms as a regular part of the daily diet.

Cleansing in Yoga and Ayurveda.

Ayurveda and Yoga both emphasize cleansing of the body for health and support of spiritual practices. Their methods are similar and work by expelling excess dosha and ama, or toxins, using the body's natural routes of elimination.

The yogic method is known in the Ashtanga tradition as Shat Karma, or six cleansing measures. These are:

1. Neti (nasal cleansing):

Jala neti (salt water flushing of the sinuses).

Sutra neti (nasal cleaning with string).

2. Dhauti (washing the GI tract).

Teeth, tongue, eyes, ears and forehead.

Agnisara Dhauti.

Vamana Dhauti (vomiting salt water).

Vastra Dhauti (washing with a cloth).

Varisara Dhauti (washing with water for purgation).

3. Basti (enema).

4. Trataka (forehead wash, gazing into a candle flame).

5. Nauli (intestinal washing, abdominal rolling).

6. Kapala Bhati (skull shining).

The Ayurvedic method for cleansing and rejuvenation is known as panchakarma (pancha karma), or five cleansing actions. This program is usually done for a week or two, but can also be done for longer periods depending on the case. The five actions of this method are:

1. Basti (Enema).

2. Nasya (Nasal application of herbs and herbal oils).

3. Vamana (Therapeutic vomiting).

4. Virechana (Purgation).

5. Rakta Moksha (Blood letting).

It is obvious that Ayurveda and yoga not only complement each other. Both sciences actually embrace each other as they share similarities and fundamental principles on many levels. Ayurveda and yoga should go hand in hand if we want to achieve optimal health, peace, and longevity.

Vishnu Dass, NTS, LMT, CAyu, is an Ayurvedic practitioner and educator and the Director of the Blue Lotus Ayurveda Center - Ayurvedic Clinic and School, in Asheville, NC, where he offers health consultations, panchakarma, rejuvenating therapies, diet and lifestyle counseling, yoga and yoga therapy, therapeutic massage, educational programs and workshops, and more. For more information, visit: http://www.bluelotusayurveda.com

How to Have 25+ Romantic Honeymoon Trips a Year, for a Lower Cost Than the Price of One

As our wedding anniversary looms near... and this one will be our twelfth! It occurs to me that up until now, we have not taken a romantic vacation since our honeymoon. Shame on us!

With work commitments and growing kids. Extra bills that pop up and rob the cookie jar, time has just flown by without putting exotic vacation dreams into action.

I wonder if other married couples have traded in their fun times for a life of bills, mortgages and filling holiday days with chores around the house?

I am so excited today because we are about to change our stagnant situation and get back on the 'honeymoon' bandwagon. This will be our 2nd honeymoon and looking at the stats, we will not be spending anywhere near what they say honeymooners are spending these days!

Honeymooners are spending on average around $4,000 on that one trip. That is more than the average U.S. adult spends on a family or leisure vacation.

There are many options available that will provide, perhaps a cheaper way to achieve a dream-come-true trip. But, why would someone settle for just one trip, when they can have over 25+ per year for life, for the same amount of money?

There is a way for newlyweds, or anyone looking to travel for that matter, to have the trip of a lifetime, every year, over a lifetime!

Coastal Vacations Travel Club; a club with a 10 year track record, offers its members the opportunity to take 25+ free to almost free vacations per year, for life.

In fact, Coastal Vacations partners with over 30 different licensed and bonded travel providers, and in doing so, offers the lowest priced vacations anywhere.

These are full vacations. Unlimited week long condo stays in over 200 international locations, at 5 star hotels, resort and condos for less than $400 a week, with no time-share presentations, or ownership obligations.

There are hundreds of bonus vacations of 2 night-3 day stays at popular travel destinations around the world. And, they are offered at wholesale rates of up to 85% off retail prices.

Hotel, condo and resort rooms that usually rent for $300 per night can cost as low at $300 for a week's stay. And in most cases, members are just required to pay the daily room taxes of around $8 per night.

These vacations in the Coastal Travel package are to the top destinations the stats say that newlyweds are traveling to.

10 percent of newlyweds take cruises for their honeymoon.

37 percent of honeymoon trips are to domestic locations; 63 percent are foreign. With the leading destinations being Las Vegas, Hawaii, Jamaica, and the Bahamas.

40 percent of honeymooners will stay at a resort vs. 27 percent at a large hotel vs.10 percent at a small hotel.

*[Sources: Association of Bridal Consultants, Bridal Guide, Cond? Nast Bridal Group, Fairchild Bridal Infobank, Mediapost.com, National Bridal Service, National Center for Health Statistics, "You're Getting Married," The New Yorker, 4/21/03, Travel Industry Association of America.]

Coastal Vacations Travel Club membership also provides unlimited cruises on Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. And, recently they have added some all-inclusive vacations that include alcoholic drinks as part of the package!

The Coastal Vacation Travel Package also includes 20 membership cards that entitle members to discounts on hotels, dining, car rentals, roadside assistance service, ski lift tickets, golf cart access, water park access, plus a whole lot more.

Coastal Vacations travel package is worth well over $15,000 travel industry cost, however, the package can be purchased for a one-time cost of $1,295, which is much less than one would pay for just one of the cruises offered in the package.

Coastal Vacations has allowed our family to change the way we spend our vacation time. These vacations are ours to go on, or to give as gifts. And we take pride in being able to give some of them aways to friends who are getting married! And, we can go on any one of them through the year, and for our lifetime!

There is a big smile on my face as I see 2nd, 3rd, 4th.... honeymoons at a savings of 85% on the horizon and in the very near future!

You know what else puts a huge smile on my face? The fact that the Coastal Vacation Travel Club also offers us a way to generate money to spend on our trips without taking away from our family time.

Now when we come home our vacations, our Coastal Vacation Travel Club membership business will have generated extra cash, and it will be waiting for us in our mailbox!

All I can think of is... what an awesome way for newlyweds to begin their life and future together!

A honeymoon investment that continues to give and give at savings of up to 85% off; for a lifetime. Plus an avenue for bringing in extra cash that can go towards the other nuptial bills you've incurred while creating the wedding of your dreams. Extra cash towards the downpayment on that new home you want to buy. For your kids clothes and education. Your future. Possibly early retirement! And, towards more and more honeymoon vacations! Now that's a headstart I wish I would have had, when I first got married!

Congratulations on your new lives together!

Tracey DePaoli is a homebased working Mom that got tired of building success at the expense of her family's time. She has a successful business now that allows her the time freedom to travel, play and spend precious time with her two young boys - 2 1/2 and 5 yrs and her honeymoon partner! She has been an avid Internet marketer and researcher of online trends for over 15 years. Discover more about how you can also earn while PLAYING at: http://www.TimeFreedomAndTravel.com

The Amazing Possibilities In Your Impossible Dream

There was this TV commercial a couple of years back that made me look away every time it came on. It was for some kind of a power saw and the premise was that there was this guy who built furniture for a living.

Somehow he lost his sight in an accident and thought he would have to give up doing what he loved most. But no way. It turns out this saw was so precise and reliable, even a blind man could operate it.

See where this is going? Suddenly they show the blind carpenter running a piece of wood through this super sharp, massive round blade, not even blinking an eye. Oh, it was just too much for me. It made my toes curl.

Still, as bone chilling as the whole scene was, I could see an underlying message beneath the touting of this impressive saw - there are amazing possibilities in our impossible dreams.

The power of self-belief can take us farther than we ever thought we could go. But it seems a law of nature that in order to see our dreams realized, we must meet up with the impossible and learn the secrets to conquering it.

If you're like me, there have been many times you've taken a good look at the course you were on and wondered if you would ever get where you wanted to go. Against my heart's desire, I spent years working as a secretary.

But in spite of the business suits that defined me outwardly as a professional working woman, I always envisioned myself as one who would one day be on stage in sparkly clothing, singing my heart out for my adoring fans.

If you consider my background, my musical aspirations seemed almost an impossibility. I was never one of those naturally gifted singers with perfect pitch. I would sing around the house when I was a kid and those who were in earshot let me know they weren't listening to anything pleasant. To put it bluntly, I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.

The short version of how this all wound up is that I eventually did become a professional singer and performer. I even spent 10 years teaching others the art of singing and stage performance, which in many ways prepared for the ministry I have today.

A situation that looked impossible on all levels became completely possible because I refused to give up on doing what I was born to do.

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you," Jesus told His followers.

If you haven't achieved your impossible dream, what are the obstacles that have prevented you from doing so? Was there a time you had complete faith you would see your goals realized and then something shook you up and off your path? Will you ever re-connect with the motivation you once had to be happy, fulfilled and prosperous?

The day finally arrived for me when I had to make a choice about where I was headed. I was sad, unhappy, restless and completely dissatisfied with what my life had become.

You might say God came knocking with a huge reminder that I was incredibly far off the road He set me on when I started out. But He was going to do whatever it took to set me straight again. He had already programmed me for success and fulfillment. I needed to believe it in order for my dreams to materialize

As I began to walk away towards my failed past and into the wonderful future that was my birthright, I searched the scriptures for edification and motivation. I was greatly encouraged by Luke 1:37 which says, "For nothing is impossible with God."

These are powerful and life-transforming words. Not only that, they are true words you can rest assured in. Write them down, paste them up where you can see them, think on them every single day until they sink into your spirit and become your personal truths.

Nothing, not even what we label an impossible situation, can stop God. It can't stop you either as long as you are connected to your Creator and tuned in to the dream He planted in your heart even before you were born.

Always remember that in every impossible dream, the amazing possibilities of what you can achieve are endless.

Luanne Hunt is a singer/songwriter and author of "Moving God, Moving Mountains!" Get a FREE subscription to Luanne's monthly newsletter, "Coffee and Donuts - The Ezine for those who hunger and thirst for Christ-centered fellowship." Visit http://www.luannehunt.com to sign up and also download a FREE copy of her CD "I'm So Happy!"

Lead Generation Sins - 7 Of Them!

I really just don't get it.

How can so many businesses be missing the lead generation boat by such a long country mile?

Billions of dollars in profits, flushed away!

Just because of 7 innocent, yet deadly, tactical lead generation errors. Its nuts!

Now before I continue, let me just say that some of you who read this might find it upsetting.

I'm going to reveal some controversial ideas here. And yes, some of them are likely to fly in the face of many of the things that you've probably read & heard about lead generation, and come to believe.

But I urge you to keep an open mind.

At the very least, weigh this article without prejudice. When you're finished reading, I give you full permission to thumb your nose, and go back to doing lead generation the way you've always done it.

"The 7 Sins"

Sales & Marketing on Separate Floors

This, my friend, is the cardinal sin.

Marketing guys sitting in an ivory tower, pontificating about company image & branding, and coming up with a bunch of award winning creative mambo that amounts to nothing more than pompous chest beating.

And everyone waxes poetic about how good the company looks, and finds an excuse for justifying the money pit with the orders that some dialing for dollars sales guys brought in against the latest "marketing promotion".

Nobody seems to notice that the marketing "campaign" is lame & useless, and that it's the sales force that is driving sales against the "promotion". And sales stay flat, because the promotion is really nothing more than another way of packaging a discount.

Meanwhile, in another part of the building, the sales force is struggling to meet their numbers, and spending 80% of their time generating leads by leaving voice messages, and battling to finesse their way by gatekeepers, and showing up in lobbies unannounced because they happened to be in the area. Why? Isn't that 6 or 7 figure marketing campaign supposed to put them in front of pre-qualified prospects, with a genuine need for what their selling, so they can help them to solve problems, and close business?

FACT, a real marketing program can actually do this.

Effective lead generation is just "Salesmanship in Print". Its primary goal should be to automate nothing less than the top two thirds of the sales funnel. Full Stop.

Salespeople are expensive. They should be spending their time interacting with prospects that are already pre-qualified, and pre disposed to doing business with you.

How much more profitable would your company be, if your salespeople were up to 5 times more productive?

"Content" Websites

Maybe you've head the expression "content is king", when it comes to web sites. Allow me to debunk this popular myth for you once & for all.

Do you want to win awards with your web site, or generate leads with your web site? Do you want to make your web site a really cool place for your prospects to hang out & push buttons, or do you want them to respond to your sales message in a meaningful way that advances the sales cycle?

Forget about cluttered web pages that offer too many choices. If you want to rock your prospects world, give them one clear & compelling message at a time; one that they can focus on without distraction. Ask them to do one or two things per visit. Simple.

In my humble opinion, the best way to format the page is in the form of a letter that addresses the title of the person you're most likely to be selling to. And it should have a bold heading that clearly trumpets the benefits of reading it.

If you must have a content page, fine, but don't drive traffic to it. When generating traffic, advertise a benefit, not your company, and direct traffic to a page that deals with just that. If someone wants to come back and visit you later, they can then visit your content rich home page, and browse for what they want.

Giving Away Intellectual Capital

Many businesses seem to realize at some level, that customers do value their expertise. So they publish whitepapers & ROI calculators, and reports, and make them freely available on their web site, off in the corner somewhere. They're just one more distraction on a content page that leaves the visitor wondering what they're supposed to do next. How about the back button?

All that a prospect has to do to obtain the report or the tool, or whatever it is, is to click on a link. Good Golly, Miss Molly, what a huge mistake!

I hope you're not making it.

Isn't a dose of your expertise at least worth having the customer tell you who they are?

And while they're at it, why not make it easy for them to subscribe to your newsletter, or a specialized course that you can deliver via email. Whatever you do, don't let them leave your website without introducing themselves. Good grief.

Sometimes it takes several exposures to your print persuasion before the prospect becomes comfortable enough to come forward and make personal contact. But when they do, you've got a live one!

And make no mistake. A prospect that convinces themselves that they need to talk to you by reading your problem solving story, is more than twice as likely to buy, versus one that you've cold called. Savvy?

Boring & Hard To Read Copy

Some people will tell you not to use a lot words in your promotional materials. Poppycock.

Prospects that are actively looking for what you're selling will read & read & read until they're red hot & ready to talk to you. But you have to know how to actively engage them.

If you bore them with product features, or vain puffery about your company, or just plain poorly written bafflegab loaded with techno-speak drivel, forget it.

If you want effective lead generation, grab them with a benefit riddled headline, jab to the solar plexus with a trance inducing opening, and bam, down they go, straight to the meaty emotional appeals & logic of your argument.

Black type on a white background, large text that's easy to read, and plenty of white space between ideas works best. Now you're cooking.

The more you tell, the more you sell, but only if you keep them awake.

No "Soft" Follow Up

Hi, it's Sally Sales, are you ready to buy yet? Is this your idea of follow up?

Don't you just love to hate this annoying little voice on the other end of the phone?

Just as with the initiation of the sales cycle, it remains critical to your odds of closing that you get the prospect to continue to be the one who initiates the lion's share of the communication.

It's a huge psychological advantage! You'll only achieve it by nurturing & caring for your prospect base with effective direct response follow up mechanisms. Things like newsletters, courseware, special reports, offers, tutorials, and the like.

When you continually spoon feed your prospects information that is genuinely useful to them, and that helps them to better understand the implications of the problem that you can help them to solve, they'll call you when they're ready.

Selling "Product" Too Early

If you want to really stand out from the crowd, and turn your lead generation hopper into the horn of plenty, don't sell your product too soon.

To catch infinitely more fish, drive potential prospects to your web site, and pitch problem solving information, in return for your prospects contact information, and permission to follow up.

More than ever, your prospect is interested in your experience & expertise, as well as your product. What better way to demonstrate it, than with a well-written whitepaper?

It's dead easy to write a whitepaper that automatically qualifies prospects, and graduates them effortlessly to the next milestone in your sales process. If you need a little help getting started, try this.

What your prospects are really looking for are results, not products. It's the "How To" that they crave.

Lame Publicity

Few businesses take advantage of good lead generation publicity.

There are people out there right now searching trade magazines & publications for ideas about solving their problems. They should be reading your articles. They should be reading case studies about how your customer's reached their goals with your help. They should be exposed to your press releases, announcing the availability of your problem solving whitepapers.

Just don't make the all too common mistake of doing these things without a carefully planned out system for harvesting prospect contact info & permissions.

Smart & highly choreographed publicity is stealth marketing. It slips right under the prospects sales resistance radar.

Since childhood, society conditions us to trust & believe things that we read in the media, and to distrust paid advertisements.

So publicity is a far more effective lead generation tool than traditional advertising!

But rare is the marketer that appreciates this, or knows how to do it.

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Daniel Levis is a top marketing consultant & direct response copywriter based in Toronto Canada. Recently, Daniel & world-renowned publicist & copywriter Joe Vitale teamed up to co author "Million Dollar Online Advertising Strategies ? From The Greatest Letter Writer Of The 20th Century!", a tribute to the late, great Robert Collier.

Let the legendary Robert Collier show you how to write words that sell...Visit the below site & get 3 FREE Chapters! http://www.Advertising-Online-Strategies.com/ad-strategies.html

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PR: Heres All You Need to Know

Above all, you need to know that the right PR can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors.

Especially when you create external stakeholder behavior change, the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.

And all because the core of your public relations lies in doing something positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours that MOST affect your operation.

The bottom line is, the right PR let's you persuade those key outside folks to your way of thinking, and help move them to take actions that allow your department, division or subsidiary to succeed.

And now, the bonus blueprint that gets everyone working towards the same external stakeholder behaviors, insuring that your PR effort stays focused: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

Such a blueprint can produce results like new community service and sponsorship opportunities; improved relations with government agencies and legislative bodies; prospects

starting to work with you; customers making repeat purchases; new proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; promotional contest overtures; a rebound in showroom visits; new thoughtleader and special event contacts; capital givers or specifying sources looking your way; membership applications on the rise; new feedback channels; stronger relationships with the educational, labor, financial and healthcare communities; and even enhanced activist group relations.

It should be a prime concern to you as to who carries out this PR plan for you. Just who is going to do the work anyway? Will it be your full-time public relations staff? Folks assigned to your unit by a higher authority? A PR agency team? Regardless of where they come from, they must be committed to you as the senior project manager, to the PR blueprint and its implementation, starting with key audience perception monitoring.

A cautionary suggestion. Simply because a specialist describes him/herself as a public relations person doesn't mean they've bought the program whole hog. You must be assured that those assigned to you believe deeply why it's SO important to know how your most important outside audiences perceive your operations, products or services. Insure that they buy the reality that perceptions almost always lead to behaviors that can help or hurt your unit.

Take the time to review the PR blueprint with your PR team, especially your plan for monitoring and gathering perceptions by questioning members of your most important outside audiences. Questions like these: how much do you know about our organization? Have you had prior contact with us and were you pleased with the interchange? How much do you know about our services or products and employees? Have you experienced problems with our people or procedures?

For the perception monitoring phases of your program, use professional survey counsel if your budget will allow. But keep in mind that your PR people are also in the perception and behavior business and can pursue the same objective: identify untruths, false assumptions, unfounded rumors, inaccuracies, misconceptions and any other negative perception that might translate into hurtful behaviors.

Now it's time to do something about the most serious distortions you discovered during your key audience perception monitoring. In other words, establish your public relations goal. And that could be to straighten out that dangerous misconception, or correct that gross inaccuracy, or stop that potentially fatal rumor dead in its tracks.

Naturally, you will need a good strategy, one that clearly shows you how to proceed. To keep things simple, note that there are only three strategic options available to you when it comes to handling a perception and opinion challenge. Change existing perception, create perception where there may be none, or reinforce it. Of course, the wrong strategy pick will taste like day-old fried eggs, so be certain the new strategy fits comfortably with your new public relations goal. Certainly, You don't want to select "change" when the facts dictate a "reinforce" strategy.

Now you need to hit members of your target audience with a powerful message. But persuading an audience to your way of thinking is hard work. Which is why your PR folks must create some very special, corrective language. Words that are not only compelling, persuasive and believable, but clear and factual. Only in this way will you be able to correct a perception by shifting opinion towards your point of view, leading to the behaviors you are targeting.

Pass your message by your communications specialists to assure its impact and persuasiveness. Then, sharpen it before selecting the communications tactics most likely to carry your message to the attention of your target audience. You can pick from dozens that are available. From speeches, facility tours, emails and brochures to consumer briefings, media interviews, newsletters, personal meetings and many others. But be sure that the tactics you pick are known to reach folks just like your audience members.

Since the credibility of a message is often dependent on how it's delivered, you should consider unveiling it before smaller meetings and presentations rather than using higher-profile means such as news releases. You'll soon need to provide progress reports, which will alert you and your PR team to get back out in the field and start work on a second perception monitoring session with members of your external audience. You'll want to use many of the same questions used in the first benchmark session. Difference this time is that you will be watching very carefully for signs that the bad news perception is being altered in your direction.

If the program lags, consider accelerating matters with more communications tactics and increased frequencies.

Yes, all you REALLY need to know is that the right PR can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors. Especially when you create the kind of external stakeholder behavior change that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 1130 including guidelines and resource box.

Robert A. Kelly ? 2004.

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to business, non-profit and association managers about using the fundamental premise of public relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communi- cations, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Columbia University, major in public relations.

mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net

Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

Send Your Child to College FREE!

College is one of the largest expenses through the course of your child???s life. It is also one of the main causes of debt in America. With today's rates of inflation, it is very hard to save for an event that will occur eighteen years down the road. However, capitalistic America has provided many ways to send your child to college without paying a single red cent. Below you will discover just how easy it is to reach financial freedom.

Property near college campuses has always been a prime investment arena. Now,it can be the key to funding your child's education. Three months before your son or daughter starts college, buy a well-maintained home within two to three miles from campus. When choosing a house, keep the following in mind.

- Make sure the home has at least four bedrooms. This creates a maximum rental and sell value.

- Take out the largest mortgage possible.

- Furnish the home from second-hand stores. (College student's aren't too picky. To find out, ask your nearest mother : )

Make your son or daughter the property manager of your rental property.

Making your child the property manager allows you to reap tax and business benefits, while also teaching your student about the business world. You could easily pay your child a small stipend to handle the responsibilities of a property manager. These include:

* collecting rent

* inspecting the property weekly for cleanliness and damage

* renting the property when there is a vacancy

* contracting any repair work that is needed

* reporting to you on the property's financial and physical condition

The salary you pay your child for being the property managemer is tax deductible. This deduction can go towards your student's books, supplies, or food expenses.

Save on gas money when visiting your child. Another perk to owning rental property is that you are allowed a tax deduction twice per year in order to inspect any out-of-town property. The primary purpose of your trip must be inspection and maintenance of your property. However, visiting your child may be a secondary purpose. Be sure to document all trips and their purpose.

Use the real estate Tax Deductions to generate extra cash.

The depreciation deductions you claim each year on your rental property give you immediate cash, which can be used toward college expenses.

Finally, your child has graduated and its time to sell your property. Use the profits from your investment to pay off your loans. At 8% per year appreciation, the property will be worth $ 20,000 - $40,000 more at the end of four years, depending on the original price.

Because housing in college areas is in very high demand, your property???s value should increase substantially. The best and easiest way to sell your property is to list it in the school and city newspapers with an ad that reads : Send your child to college free. Call me for details!??? Most likely, you will recieve calls in the first day or so. Inform your prospects of how rental property can finance their child's education. This key strategy will enable you to pay off any pending loans and leave your college student debt-free!

Alli Ross is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Sub-categories include Disney ,J.R. Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore names, and many names from the literary classics. Read articles ranging from parenting and family to home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

Full Body Awareness

Now that you're comfortable working with your breath it's time to bring the rest of the body in. Continue breathing as I've outlined in my article on Breathing. Now in addition to feeling your breath flow and your stomach and ribs expand, I want you to feel the energy that flows into your body with each breath. For me it feels like a lightness, or a very light feeling. It may feel different for you so take some time here and just open up and feel the energy.

Now when you draw the energy in can you feel it pooling at your center of gravity just below your belly button? Now as you breathe just let that pool of energy expand throughout your body. Can you feel it flowing down through your legs and up your back and down your arms? Take some time here and practice this feeling that energy pool expand through your whole body. Later we'll expand it out even further, but for now just let it flow.

This exercise should help you to feel rejuvenated and refreshed as you're drawing energy from an infinite pool. Do this exercise whenever you're depressed or down, and eventually as you progress you'll learn to do it all the time. It's a habit that you have to grow into.

Awareness and Intention

EVERYTHING is about 'Awareness' and 'Intention'. Now that you've begun to build an awareness of the energy, called Chi, Ki or Prana in some circles, you'll be able to do things with it and move it around in your (and other peoples) body.

We move energy with 'Intention', and this is a very important fact. EVERYTHING is energy! Our thoughts, our actions, our beliefs, everything around us and everything we see, feel, hear, think and do is energy. Intention is what we do with that energy.

We are all connected in a vast energy pool that encompasses everything that is, was and will be. It doesn't matter whether a person believes in it or can feel it; they still have the ability to affect it. How many times have you seen a person with a negative attitude who continually draws more negative reactions to himself? He's broadcasting his intentions through his attitudes with the result that he becomes a human 'crap magnet', drawing in all the negative feelings and emotions and experiences.

The other side of this is the continually positive person who always approaches everything from a positive attitude. This doesn't mean that everything always goes the way she wants it, but if you'll watch you'll see that even the bad times provide fuel for her growth and she tries to take every 'bad experience' as a lesson to help improve herself.

Just as our thoughts can influence Chi subconsciously, so can they move it around in our body. Energy follows thought, so when you think about moving energy then it will actually go where you send it. The important thing here is to stay out of its way. Energy moves in a spiral and at its own speed, so don't try to micro-manage it, just let it flow.

Now take some time and do the Full Body Awareness exercise again, and this time feel the energy go where you send it. You can also play with this a bit. Send it down to your feet, now bring it back to your center and this time just send it down to your left foot, now your right. Now send it up to your head, and down to your left elbow.

Now, the next time you're stuck in traffic, or impatiently waiting in line at the Motor Vehicles Office, just relax and start to play with this. Isn't this a neat toy?

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Robert Morgen is a Reiki Master who currently holds a Black Belt in Hoshin Roshi Ryu. He's the founder of the Kundalini Awakening Discussion Group, the Druids Circle Discussion Group and the (offline) Druids Circle in Lakewood, CO. You can find more info on all these at; www.druidscircle.info

He's also the founder and Executive Director of the Windhaven Foundation for Sustainable Living.

He writes a regular column on subtle energy for Fight Times Magazine and a twice monthly column on Kundalini Awakening at Alumbo.com.

In addition to teaching about energy work and Kundalini Awakening he donates time to teach about Renewable Energy, Alternative Building and Creating Sustainable Lifestyles in various Public Schools.

He travels and teaches as much as possible and you can find out how to attend one of his Kundalini Awakening seminars at his website at; www.windhavenco.org

His new book "Personal Mastery: Develop Your True Inner Power By Awakening Your Kundalini" is now available at http://www.lulu.com/RobertMorgen.