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 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.
When teaching classes, almost every yoga instructor agrees that focusing on the breath is the easiest way to help students focus. Depending on the age of the yoga student, teaching children to be aware of their breath can be just as effective as teaching the practice to adults.
Another new emerging concept is the teacher owned co-op studio. The tricky aspect of this is finding enough teachers with the same types of goals that work well together. One way to work out expenses is to figure out space cost per hour, and work out a plan around that.
Yoga posturing is a practice of the body’s core and limbs which work alongside the breath. In a Vinyasa style class, as students move from one position to the next, the yoga instructor will note whether to breathe in or out, for example: “breathe in, upward-facing dog, breathe out, downward-facing dog,” and so on. Breathing in this way with each position allows the body to flow easier and gentler through the positions. This method is especially valuable for beginners who may feel that some of the movements are difficult to master at first. Adding the breath makes each position flow into the next and provides a fluidity that could not be achieved otherwise.
By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP When considering teaching Yoga as part of your future, you might ask yourself, “Why do I want to start a Yoga teacher training course?” The beauty of Yoga is that your practice is constantly evolving as you progress along life’s journey. Each of us walks a unique path. …
If you are already a Yoga teacher, you can see a lot of potential to help others, but Yoga is not all you teach. Everyone teaches someone…
Good yoga teaching encompasses a wide range of skills and knowledge. The best yoga teachers are often “naturals,” having an innate ability to reach students in a positive, uplifting manner. However, many important teaching skills and methods can be learned. The most successful teachers are constantly self-evaluating, observing peers, and continually striving to make themselves more effective. Observation in itself is somewhat of an art, with different methods appropriate for various situations. When evaluating other yoga instructors, it is important to focus the observation on a particular skill or method.
By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP There is much to consider when thinking about teaching Hatha Yoga classes. Yoga has become increasingly popular among people looking to improve their health and well-being. Many doctors and health experts have noted that Yoga has been proven to alleviate depression, back pain, arthritis, and other common issues. …