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The highly anticipated Xbox 360 video game exclusive makes its way to the public. For those three people who are unaware of Halo 3, here is the breakdown. Halo 3 is a first person shooter that transpires after the events of the Xbox smash hit Halo 2. Master Chief is reprising his role as the protagonist all the way through the entire game, and he is accompanied by the Arbiter. Those who played Halo 2 will remember that the Arbiter is now an ally of Master Chief. The storyline in Halo 3 starts with Master Chief and his men fighting against the Covenant. The plot is definitely the best in the series, and it answers all of the unanswered questions from Halo 2. In terms of gameplay, Halo 3 is eerily similar to the previous iterations of Halo and Halo 2. Avid Halo fans should have no problem picking up the controls of Master Chief or the Arbiter. Gamers will not be surprised with the assortment of weapons.

These entail the handgun, assault rifle, sniper rifle, shotgun, energy sword, grenades, bubble shield, and so much more. I seldom utilized the bubble shield, but it is still a nice touch. A grenade in an opponents mouth is my preference. The most grandiose part of the multiplayer is the cooperative gameplay. Gamers can enjoy the whole Halo 3 experience with three other players. That means a total of four people can play the game from start to finish. One player will be in control of Master Chief. Another will be in control of the Arbiter. The final two players will be in control of two soldiers that fight alongside Master Chief and the Arbiter. The visuals in Halo 3 are not impressive.

The game looks adequate; however, nothing anyone sees will make their jaw hit the floor. Some of the environments appear to be next generation. On the other hand, there are a few character models that look downright dreadful. Maybe I have been spoiled with the graphics from video games like Heavenly Sword, BioShock, GRAW, Killzone 2, FEAR, and Gears of War. But I was disappointed with the graphics in Halo 3. For the most part, the graphics look exactly like the multiplayer beta. I might have high expectations, nevertheless I would have appreciated it if the visuals were better than the final product (especially for a next generation console like the Xbox 360). Another blunder with Halo 3 is the artificial intelligence. All of Master Chief's allies act like asinine children. Fortunately, the frame rate runs smoothly throughout the duration of Halo 3. The audio in the game is amazing. All of the dialogue is rich and full of life; furthermore, the voice acting never seems to be insipid. The sound of gunfire and recoil gives a fairly immersive atmosphere.

There are even a few comedic aspects with your teammates. The musical score is one of the best I have heard in a video game. A live orchestral musical score has a flawless amount of crescendos and decrescendos. It significantly enhances the gameplay experience. The Covenant artificial intelligence adjusts accordingly to your every move, so do not expect to see all fights to be identical. The wide selection of vehicles is limitless. Some of them are reconnaissance vehicles, tanks, aircrafts, transport automobiles, and most notorious of all the Warthog. There are also some original vehicles to the Halo universe. Most notably, the Mongoose ATV (who the hell comes up with these absurd names?) is a vehicle that has a motorcycle-like feel to it. The multiplayer features up to sixteen players and eleven different maps. It is not as engrossing as the 32 player multiplayer that Warhawk supports, but sixteen that is not bad.

There is also a level and video editor. The video editor is like making your own Halo 3 movie. Even though Halo 3 is only a succinct ten hours, the game is still worth playing for the gameplay. The final verdict on Halo 3 is that fans of the Halo series will enjoy Halo 3 for months to come. Overall, gamers should believe in Halo 3 and finish the fight.

Who are some of the best teachers a Yoga instructor could have? The answer should not surprise you, but it is our Yoga students who create the best Yoga teacher from within us. Consider this: Random questions develop complete knowledge of any given subject.

Yoga students are full of questions, so let them ask, and you will find. Yoga students often have a fresh view of Yoga. We cannot easily absorb new ideas with a preconceived perspective of a given subject. Yoga students have no set of preconceived notions about Yoga

Socrates once said, I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance. If he could be such a humble teacher about the subject of life, who are we to feel so comfortable with our knowledge on the subject of Yoga? Allow Yoga-related questions during class time, and everyone will be richer for the experience.

It is true that some Yoga teachers have found their niche by suppressing student thought, but this is not Yoga, and it is all about control. The sad fact is - Yoga students, who seek out abusive teacher / student relationships are magnetized to dogmatic personalities and have voluntarily chosen to be in the relationship.

These same primal behavior patterns run parallel to their relationships at home, in work, and in their social lives. This is unfortunate, but all of us have a place in this life, and some people crave the negative attention of an alpha personality. If you observe a wolf pack, you can see much similar behavior.

Getting back to communication skills - Yoga teachers, who masterfully explain concepts through cueing, voice inflection, demonstration, and assisting, have taken the time to practice the art of communication. Seasoned Yoga instructors are not good at what they do by accident. Time spent in front of a crowd, or a mirror, causes us to look within and communicate effectively.

Knowing the audience is a valuable skill every Yoga teacher should take the time to learn. What are the interests of your Yoga students? What parts of the lesson plan raise their level of motivation? Do you feel a stir of excitement or anticipation at certain points in your Yoga class? Even if none of them says a word, you can still read body language.

When students feel the beneficial aspects of your Yoga class, it is written all over their faces. Develop your intuition, but do not drive yourself crazy. If you are still not sure what motivates your students, it is time to ask them some tactful questions.

A sample question, about one subject, might be: Do you see the benefit of practicing Revolved Triangle now? If they do not give you an answer, you can list the skeletal benefits to the hips, spine, shoulders, and legs. You can list the muscles, which are strengthened and stretched.

You could also mention the particular internal organs, which are massaged and cleansed. Revolved Triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana), like many Asanas, has many physical benefits, but it develops mental strength, as well. The student / teacher relationship is a think tank. Allow your students to participate completely, and the proficiency level of your entire school will be raised.

Ponder these words of Jesus: Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. The answers to all of our questions are right in front of us, if we remember this.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html