From parties, to shopping, and traffic, Thanksgiving and Christmas mark a period of increased social activity in America. As the holiday season quickly approaches, this year promises to be much different than in recent history. The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression threatens to add to the stress that many people already feel during the holidays. Dealing with this stress will be crucial to your ability to enjoy whatever upcoming festivities you have lined up.

When I was growing up, I loved Nintendo. I was in love with my console. Whether it was Street Fighter II or Final Fantasy, I would log hours on end gaming. My mom hated it (even as she would unsuccessfully challenge me to a match of Street Fighter) and would often say, “video games are good for nothing.” Well…a lot has changed since 1991. Gaming consoles became an integral part of my generation’s life. Instead of shedding consoles as we grew up, we just bought different games.

Change is on the horizon. That much is evident. This past Tuesday marks not only a change in the American regime, but a fundamental shift in the way this country is viewed from the outside, as well as the inside. Barack Obama’s election brings hope, and with it, an understanding that that hope must be buried in firm socio-economic platforms to see any tangible results. Obama himself stated that it might even take more than one term to achieve real, meaningful change. As a side note, one could make the argument the charismatically savvy democrat has started his re-election campaign before he even sets foot in the Oval office. Get ready America. This is definitely a man with a plan.

When I first started doing yoga, I noticed that breathing is an integral part of the yoga process. Also, the proper technique of exhaling and inhaling is vital in order for you to withstand various stretches and poses for a lengthy period of time.

I distinctly remember a piece of advice from the movie, “The Karate Kid,” where Mr. Miyage would often preach “Breathing. Very Important!”

Recently, I read an interesting and informative article about arthritis. According to the article, 46 million Americans are affected by arthritis, and the number is expected to reach 67 million by the year 2030. Unfortunately, even in today’s well-developed medical society, there is no known cure for the debilitating disease.

Ever since I started doing yoga, I’ve noticed that a good yoga mat makes all the difference in ensuring a good workout.

Safety has always been my number one priority because I’m always hearing stories about people who have yoga mats that slip underneath them.

For those of you who have been following my blogs, you know that during my recent visit to Japan, I decided to find a yoga studio so that I could continue to practice my yoga.

This particular yoga studio that I went to has two practice rooms on the 3rd and 5th floor of a building in downtown Sapporo. It’s actually located in the center of downtown, so there were many people in business suits and work clothes.

In Part 1, I wrote about how my girlfriend and I decided to try yoga in her hometown of Sapporo, Japan. I’m now going to continue by telling you how my first class went.

As the class gathered together in the studio, I started to get excited about trying my FIRST ever yoga workout in Japan. I was interested in finding out how similar or different the yoga practice would be and how good the instructor was.

Here I was, back in Sapporo, my hometown, and at the yoga studio. I deliberately arrived 15 to 20 minutes before class so that I could get accustomed to the environment. Immediately, a receptionist came and asked if I was there to sign up to become a member. I told her that I couldn’t decide at the moment but would consider it. But she persisted, suggesting that I might be interested in joining because otherwise I’d have to pay $30 for a single class.

The thought of going to a yoga studio in Japan NEVER crossed my mind. But when my girlfriend looked up yoga studios in her hometown of Sapporo, I became interested in finding out how people in Japan do yoga.

When we arrived at one of the yoga studios in Japan, the first discovery my girlfriend and I made was that we couldn’t just drop in on the day and attend a class.