Yoga – A Different Philosophy

Contortion? A very recommendable strategy of preventive health, actually.

By Danitza Crosby*

If I had to explain what Yoga means by a gesture, I’d smile because from many aspects, we found Yoga is not just exercises and asanas. It goes much beyond and a smile also expresses it very much.

Some people have the notion that Yoga is about contortion. Perhaps that’s why few attend to Yoga centers, but the picture is clearly different in other countries.

As much as I remember, I went out at six o’clock in the morning to Colombia and Venezuela parks, where I could watch crowds who attend to practice some sports,  like exercises, tai-chi, Yoga, walkings, etc., from the youngest to the oldest. The truth is very pleasant to see population and government entities of those places interested in health.

We, from Piura’s JñakandaYoga Cultural Center, are 51 years giving this great service to the community and there are many who attend daily to our Yoga centers worldwide. It is about 51 years of hard work, years of setting up Yoga system in Peru and many upcoming years to continue teaching generations those truly live it.

As Dr. Serge Reynauld de la Ferriere says on his book Yug Yoga Yogism, “Yoga in this sense is not a simple philosophy anymore, and I pledge the grace to be the translator of great masters of ancient times for defending the pure thinking of spiritual elevation what yogism is.”

Then, Yoga leads us to look for perfection throughout methods, needed disciplines to educate again our pphysical, mental and emotional being, not stopping only in contortion exercises but looking for balance what respects natural rules of evolution, which we have close our eyes down.

Body is conscius

However, our being is smart. How many times are we sat down before aa fatty food dish and we have felt not to eat it?

The hard belief of feeding three times a day does not pay attention about our body knows consciously what hurts it and when and what it must eat. Only that, sincerely, because  an accostumed  laze, we do not make it right and even we challenge our health with so many bad costumes those just feed a bag of diseases we could prevent if we would. Many of them threaten us by a constant stress.

Learning  an adequate breathing and psyco-physical exercises plus yoga could reduce them significantly to us. Only the will to begin now is needed and to choose to care our health in the present.

I ever amaze to see elder ladies practicing Yoga, having an enviable Health and a walking that some 27-year-old or less guys would have for ghood because they have decided to change toward a healthy and natural lifestyle.

Every June 21^st we say “Happy International Day of Yoga!” Many thanks to every Yoga teachers who give this great service to our communities around the world.

• Teacher of Piura’s Jñacanda Yoga Cultural Center (link goes to a fanpage in Spanish).

Read also: The dance of life

Post-producido por Sheyla Benavente

5 Tips for a Bodybuilder When Posing as an Artistic or Advertising Model

Bodybuilding is not just about achieving maximum physical development, but also about how to use that achievement to open new opportunities in life. For many bodybuilders, one of those opportunities is posing as a model, whether for advertising campaigns or artistic projects.

 

However, before accepting an offer of this kind, there are key aspects you should consider to protect your image, health, and finances. Here are some tips for you.

 

First: Evaluate the Project as a Whole

It is crucial that before accepting any proposal as a model, whether for an artistic session or an advertising campaign, you thoroughly analyze the project. Ask yourself the following:

• What is the purpose of the session?
• What image is being projected?
• Who will you be associated with?
• Does the company or artist have a good reputation?

 

A project that damages your image or is linked to companies of questionable reputation can have long-term negative consequences for your career.

 

Second: Protect Your Image

As a bodybuilder, your image is your main asset. Make sure the use of your photos is clearly defined in a contract. Do not allow your images to be used in contexts that you have not previously approved.

 

Consider including protection clauses to prevent your photos from being reused without your permission or manipulated in a way that could harm your reputation. You need to be selective and set clear boundaries on how your photos will be used.

 

Third: Take Care of Your Health

Bodybuilding is a sport that requires a lot of physical and mental effort. When you accept modeling sessions, you could be exposed to conditions that affect your health, such as prolonged sessions under intense lights, poses that require you to hold uncomfortable positions for long periods, or even proposals that lead you to drastically modify your diet or training routine.

 

You must ensure that the photo sessions do not interfere with your health or performance as a bodybuilder. Remember that taking care of your body is essential.

 

Fourth: Negotiate Your Fees Fairly

Do not underestimate the value of your work as a model. Evaluate the fees offered to you and make sure they reflect the effort and time you will invest in the session. While some opportunities may be tempting for the exposure they offer, it is important that you do not sacrifice your income for visibility.

 

Make sure that the contract covers all financial aspects, such as additional fees for the prolonged use of images or their dissemination across different media.

 

Fifth: Consult Professionals

Before signing any contract, it is advisable to consult with a lawyer specialized in image rights and contracts. This will help you understand all the clauses and protect yourself from potential abuses. Additionally, having the advice of a representative or agent can facilitate negotiations and ensure you get the best possible terms.

 

Posing as a model can be a great opportunity for a bodybuilder, as long as the necessary precautions are taken. Remember that your image is your best presentation card—protect it!

 

The featured model in this post is César Quispe Estela. | Follow us on X | WhatsApp | chulucanasgym@gmail.com 

The right weight

Grandma was reasonable in everything but this.

 

It’s not a game. Obesity has begun to charge very expense bills to our communities. Only in Piura Department, the medical statistics establish it is the first cause of heart diseases (stroke, arteriosclerosis) and diabetes. In fact, it occupies the second place across Peru in this condition prevalence, that treated out of time can be mortal.

 

The diet and the lack of physical activity are the recurrent causes, according to specialists. The usual food is ever made of rice, tubers, and fried or boiled meat and much spices, and beverages with much sugar and colorants that have replaced to the natural juices and refreshes.

 

Growing besides

In the other hand, the new lifestyle consists in spending long hours in front of the TV or the PC, many times interacting with other pairs virtually but forbidding spaces and moments of physical encounter. This frame is not supposed.

 

The medical doctors coincide that during the teenage, instead growing upside, we are growing besides. Also, they point out that the problem gets worse if we have haven a bad or deficient nutrition during our childhood, so we don’t gain enough height and the body trends to accumulate fat instead of mass.

 

The most optimistic medical forecast is that before 40 years old, many of us already will experience our first stroke or, at least, will have blood stream problems. And the problem is in rural and urban ccommunities, as well.

 

The lifeguard plan

There are actually ways to reverse the frame, and everything depends on a strong personal commitment with your health. Here we present you some useful ideas:

1. Eat according to your real energy requirement: Not all the people need the same wear, so a nutritionist (or specialist in nutriology) can advise us what we have to eat, how much quantity, what time, why and how to combine it in a healthy way.
2. Do exercise: World Health Organization suggests that, at least, 30 daily minutes at home, a park, or the gym, are ideal to improve all the body functions including the slow down of the cell aging.
3. Set your mind free: encourage yourself creatively to take out the stress by doing an activity that take your brain out of the routine, but that enriches it.
4. No vices: If you don’t find a way (or even if you have it clear), don’t run to the alcohol, the tobacco, the drugs, or something that generates you damages for your remaining lifetime. If you think it convenient, visit a mental health specialist for having a guide.
5. Try not to stick to the technology: It’s actually possible to live without it. It seems hard but what the advertising doesn’t say us is the continuous dependence to the electronic devices causes us sedentarism, so problems with our weight. The other part that the advertising doesn’t say us is that a kind of techno-addiction is developed.
6. Appreciate yourself: The key to be happy is loving because of who you are, not who you look like. But this doesn’t mean you uncare of yourself.
7. Choose a medical consultation: If the physical body has problems, or it doesn’t respond like it should, the best is looking for a medical doctor. The friends and relatives –unless they have a diploma in Medicine and be competent—can give ideas but not a professional opinion that can save our live. However, ever look for second and third recommendations to go to the right place.
8. Research and share: On the Internet, there is everything, and especially the information that will open you up a positive perspective to care your health. If you access those contents, study them, file them, discuss them, and share them with your people. Who knows – the fact that can improve the life of somebody else could come from you.

 

The model featured on this entry is André Verona and the photographs are © Marco Mejía.

 

Fundraising your sports career

11 advices to move among the public, the media and the sponsors.
By ChulucanasGym Team

A good sportsperson doesn't get an optimal performance only. Almost inmediatly, gets public recognizement for the goals, the personality or a combination of both.  And that's key when you look for funding your sports career.

Although many have been prepared to defeat their own physical and mental limits for reaching excellence (what is gotten the most of times), they suffer big defeats when managing their public image. The explanation is very simple: almost nobody prepares you to face the people.

At an abundant information age, getting yourself out the public discussion is committing suicide, especially if you're beginning your career, for a simple reason: if nobody knows you exist, nobody will have you in mind.

One of the more frequent difficulties that most sportspersons passing through much in Peru is funding their training, trips and competitions. The difficult increases if your sport or discipline is few popular, no matter how many medals you receive. If you need to have a sponsorship, you have to make public.

The same way you practice your sport, opening your path amid the so-called information society needs to learn good every move, repeating consciously until perfectioning it, and knowing when to use right. In other words, you require a strategy, an accurate guide and a system allowing you how much you're going forward or not.

Coming up, some practical advices for your fight to a sponsorship and public recognizement to be so triumphant as your place or medals as well.

1. Use your social media intelligently
The first place where a potential sponsor is going to look for you are your social media accounts. Generally, will want to know how many people follow you, how you are announcing your goals, what they are responsing on you, and how you are highlighting from other people in your same sport or discipline.

Think twice before posting anything. Ask yourself what effect it could create in your followers and who could sponsor you as well. 

If you're doubting about what, when and how to post, ask a reliable media proffessional (our parent website can offer advice on Facebook). 

Never be careless about technical details as a photo & video quality, text grammar as well. Everything enters through the eye. 

Oh! Never and never post something when you're angry. It's possible you have to sorry or even apologyze as well because of an overreaction or an exageration.

2. Be unique
Remember all the cats are equal at night unless just one decide to look like quite different. No matter if 100 people practice your same sport or discipline, work hard not to be similar like anyone else, fin your own identity, develop it, show it. 

It's better they imitate you instead of you imitate them. "Keeping your essence is key for sculpting the path to the objective you've chosen," Piura-based psychologist Bryan Luzuriaga recommends.

Being unique may ave many differences, but in your case, bet to be  a possitive newsmaker in your sport or discipline. Become your name an excellence, personality and transcendance brand in your favor and favoring what you do.

Don't pretend to be who you're not. Be yourself. This doesn't mean to hold your defaults but potentiate your advantages. 

If you're stil doubting about that, your true friends (who say you bad and good things directly) could advise  and help you, or a mental health advisor could be helpful.

3. It's worthy to be honest
One of the most stupid things somebody does in public and for the public is lying. At a time when it's easier to verify everything you say, just a lie is necessary to bring down all your career, even having you out of rule very serious as happened to many sportspersons.

Be who you really are, not most not less but the right. And that 'right' is what you must outprint       on everybody.

ever update your sports resumé, be aware the data you put it on can be verifiable. If it's not possible to verify, don't put it on. Some coaches can help you to customize your information.

4. Run away who flatteron you... who denigrate on you too
If cheers can get us oproud, insult can hurt us psychologically. The right is leaving apart, holding the balance at least.

If you're congratulated or rejected, ever say 'thanks'  and follow up your life. Never argue, don't let you be mistreated. But ever enjoy a triumph's joy keeping on your feet when the chance gets really good.

Ever hold a smile on your face - it's a lethal weapong against discouragement, it's an antidote against conceit.

5. Keep your lane (no matter others')
Although your sport career is actually opinable as well the career of others you follow, know, or face to , try your opinion keeps in terms like "I think it's OK", "I think it's bad", "I think it can  be improved", or "go up for better".

Never use your right to opine for talking awfully about another people. Although that puts you on the spotlight (so publicity), it also automatically tag you as 'untrustable'.

"It's important having tolerance to frustration because people will remind you to speak out criticizing the good or the bad you do," psychologist Bryan Luzuriaga remarks.

If you don't like a person or you're having an argue or a scrub, keep it inside you or process it with a mental health advisor, but never and never express it in public or tell it face-to-face respectfully, instead.

"If we learn to control our temperament, we'll ride the bull easily," psychologist Luzuriaga points in.

If somebody talks badly on you, don't response in the same terms and mean. There are usually another much effective mechanisms including legal, what can put things right... and even  give you some extra money.

6. You decide if you wanna be a sex-symbol
Doing sports means keeping fit, keeping fit means having an appeal, having an appeal means envy, admiration or desire. Feeding or discouraging  people's desires is something you control, so even you're not looking for that, never underestimate your own potential for becoming a sex-symbol.

The best way to have an appeal and surviving untroubled is assuming it as the most natural thing in the world, not fearing muchly that seems that everybody overwhelms you neither much vanity that you become your own sketch.

As much as you have a natural, healthy relationship to your own body, being a sex-symbol is going to keep in the background. If you have problems about this issue, it's ghood to visit a 
mental health advisor, but this picture can be very useful for you: you are who sculpt your own masterpiece, only who reach mastership are who go forever. Don't be afraid to transcend.

7. Do a nude if you want, but be careful about the impact
A consequence about the prior advice is that your physical development can also deserve your offers to pose nude partially or totally. Let's put on the spot removing taboo - many sportspersons receive regarding proposals many times.

Is that good or bad? Answer: it's relative. Why? Because it depends just on you and it should depend only on you to accept or reject those offers.

Nobody else has right on your body but you, so you also have the control about saying Yes or No.

If you say No, nothing happens, you don't lose points (perhaps money), the world won't end neither.

If you accept, you have to measure very good the consequences of your decision, then the response and attitude you'll adopt when releasing to public opinion. As people's education is diffferent, you'll find someones indifferent, someones amazed, someones angry.

Remember that doing a nude is legal only when you're legal age.

Something useful for you is sharing the proposal to a person you trust so much (open-minded too)  who helps your to analyze the possitive and the negative without overreaction. The final decision is yours, you're responsible about it.

Ask your coach or federation if there are written, clear rules those don't allow yo to do a nude.

8. If you are a prostitute, your health and integrity are on top risk
In places like Peru, where it's difficult to live only practicing sports (unless you're a pro soccer player), most sportspersons have to get a job for living and funding their career. In some cases, who have an entrepreneur spirit create their own job positions and can combine them to their career succesfully, even coaching  more sportspersons.

who don't fit the last or don't have enough money could be in prostitution for paying their bills, we mean receiving any payment in exchange of having sex with one or more persons. 

Discounting moral assumptions, getting this kind of job has some legal requirements: you must be legal age, you must follow a strict medical control because you're exposed to sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS as well, conditions uncovered by any health insurance.

If you're fundraising your career by offering sex, you should learn all the procedures to prevent you or your client can be infected. You can request for this information as a free & confidential advisory at all Peru's public health centers, where you inclusive can be provided with protection methods. 

Be careful about who offer you to recruit in agencies or bring you out another places, or pay you big money amounts. Many times,you can become a human trafficking victim, a crime under international enforcement. Get informed about, don't put your career in risk.

You should keep in mind that if you become popular but you were in prostitution, somebody could make it public or face it to you directly (the same, of course). It's actually an evident double moral, but it is also a possibility. Then, if you were gutsy to be into that stuff, you also have to build a strong attitude for getting on your feet, knowing how to response the blames even if they're hard.

If you're not ready to face what they say, the best will be you say a round No when you are solicitated for the first time - No means No.

 
9. everything written, nothing spoken
What's the difference between a sponsorship offer and a formal sponsorship offer?The first one is ever said but never complied and there's no way to demand it beyond the frienly field because the wind blows the words. The second usually is a printed or electronic written offer addressed to you, where it's specified what is requested from you and what you receive in exchange.

Say 'thanks' to first ones, the second ones need you take some time  to read them, study them, and even write an also-written counteroffer so you pass to something called negotiation.

Warning! This game consists in knowing to gain and give, it's not common you get the perfect deal the first time. Then, the best will be your first negotiation exercises be professionally advised by someone reliable - lawyers are perfect for this point.

Yes, you maybe have to invest on your lawyer but see it this way: there will be more expensive in the future when you realise what you considered as a benefit, harm you instead.

File all the offers you receive, the counteroffers you do, contracts you sign on (inclusive draft versions), payment tickets... actually, every document that proves a negotiation.

In the beginning, you also have to be your own accountant. You'll have to register every cent you receive and explain the way how you manage or use it. No matter nobody is claiming you about your accountability - it eases your control.

If the money you receive comes from a donation, sponsorship or prize, that control could save lots of troubles in the future in case the funs source be illegal.

Yes, it's tricky but it's a discipline you have to workout too.

10. Use the media in your favor
This is the funny part of every sportperson who wants to get recognizement for getting a sponsorship: uses to run away the media. Do you have an idea about what enterprises can put closer to the public, give certain  publicity and reach the ones what can fund your career?

When you see a microphone, a camera or an audiorecorder, don't run away but get close, introduce yourself, say what your assets are, answer clear and serene, try to identify where your charisma is, connect to the audiences, ... don't forget turning on and keeping charged your mobile in case somebody calls at you for helping or sponsoring.

Be proactive, don't wait for the media to discover you. Knock its door so confident. Don't forget the media like a lot the outstanding stories, so keeping in mind all what we advised you until this line, order your ideas so any editor or journalist can't give up to tell your story when you tell it. 

Remember that in ChulucanasGym we are looking for stories like yours (no matter if you don't speak Spanish), we advise about how to make it more attractive, and we publish it for the world knows you exist. eventually, we can connect to friends in other media we know they'll want to cover on you too.

Learn to hol this kind of professional relationship because if the media is trustable, makes you trustable.

If the media publishes on you, post it as much as you can on your social media, file all media excerpts in a folder which you use everytime you knock the door on the sponsors.  as they use to work as advertising clients on the media, the chance to cross-check the data reliability is inmediate.

In some cases, if you want to invest much more, bet on so-called 'books', those use to be advised and produced by advertising agencies. 

11. Never refuse to keep humble
If somebody advised once that to be the most important among everybody you have to serve everybody, obbey. 

As higher as you climb up, keep your feet anchored to the soil, never forget how you started, because of who you were going up, what works and sacrifices you might took, even what mistakes and hits you had.

Give thanks on the good and the bad you have, share your experience to other people ever when you're required.  You don't know how many can get inspired by your example and change their lives!  Inclussive, they can save them because of you. Are you clear about that?

If you have the chance, give back a portion about you got to any organization that is working to solve a social problem. Don't be happy about donating money or supplies but  be motivated to participate actively to solve those issues.

Don't wait until the life slaps on you to understand why you have to connect with the humankind. If you can give the first step, go ahead. Posting it? Analyze it carefully. If that helps a problem to be solved , it's an option to have in mind. 

For more specific questions, write us down at chulucanasgym@gmail.com