Yoga is a science that aims at the harmonious development of the body, mind, and soul. It is a methodical way of attaining perfection, through control of the different elements of human nature, both physical and psychic. It is a process of continuous transformation. Inner perfection comes about gradually.
What if it’s obvious to you that the place where you’re seeking teacher training already has more than enough instructors? If your favorite hometown yoga studio is a small operation that already has a stable of part-time and/or full-time instructors, you probably shouldn’t plan on getting a job there when your training is finished.
Leave your own mat when possible. Do not stay at the front of the class the entire time, but rather walk through your class. Offer suggestions to your students’ poses such as modifications or advanced moves when the poses allow. Remember that all of your students will progress through the poses at their own pace and may require modifications based on their own needs. Your students will thank you for the individualized attention you can give them during the class.
Some Yoga teachers forget the need for instruction at the beginner level. Recently, I have been guilty of that, as well. Many of your Yoga classes should still be geared toward beginners.
As a Kundalini teacher, you are a vessel, not a creator. You will learn yoga asanas that have been developed over thousands of years and passed down from Yogi Bhajan to you. Sharing these teachings with your students is a solemn duty. You cannot cut out meditation because it takes too long or eliminate pranayama because you don’t like it. You must share the original, sacred teachings. In Kundalini yoga, your individual preferences are not important; only your students matter.
By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP What should you know about teaching Vinyasa Yoga classes? Let’s look at this subject from the basics and up. Vinyasa Yoga has become increasingly popular in the past few decades. Anyone who wants to stay healthy knows the importance of frequent exercise, and certain forms of Yoga provide the vigorous …
Practicing Yoga within the privacy and comfort of your own home after a busy day at work can definitely be relaxing. Many people do it directly before bedtime as a way to cleanse their minds and stretch their bodies. Others practice at the start of the day when their bodies are stiff from sleep. There is no right or wrong time to do Yoga; it is up to you to decide when you will get the most benefit from it.
Practicing the art of Yoga on a regular basis helps to eradicate a sense of individual separateness and lack. The comprehensive art of Yoga is not just limited to physical asanas, it also includes breathing techniques, which increase the circulation of prana or life force energy, in addition to meditation and contemplative practices that help to ease anxiety, depression and an abiding sense a separateness.
Do you know why students come to your classes? Do you ever ask? You might think stress or weight loss and you might be right, but the truth is there are many different reasons. Some students want to belong and some want a sanctuary from anxiety, depressed feelings and the pressure of life. Yoga teacher training has equipped instructors with the tools to offer a haven where students can recover and restore emotional health.
If you have the time and they seem relaxed, you may offer to give them a 10-minute quickie introductory sample class, which includes one or two postures and a breathing technique. During this process, explain the benefits of what you are showing them. It is much easier to digest information by doing than by telling.