By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

What is Jnana Yoga? If you ask your Yoga teacher, for an explanation of Jnana Yoga, you may receive answers like: The path of knowledge, the Yoga of knowledge, or union by knowledge. The common denominator here is the pursuit of knowledge. Jnana is a style of Yoga, which endorses questioning, learning, meditating, and contemplating, as a path toward Samadhi or enlightenment.

Have you ever met a person who refused to learn? Some children do this because they are challenging the structure of their family or society. If, for example, a child dislikes math, he or she may resort to hiding homework assignments from parents. Eventually, this child’s grades are exposed and some form of disciplinary action will result.

Yet, there are adults who refuse to learn, because they no longer have to answer to their parents, in regard to the constant pursuit of knowledge. They may hold jobs that do not require continuing education. It is the personal responsibility of an adult to train his or her mind. If we choose to be uneducated, our parents can do little about it, when we become adults.

In every language, there are uncomplimentary nicknames for being uneducated. Intolerance is often a result of not being exposed to new ideas. Questions are a normal part of human behavior. To believe that constructive questions, and education, are harmful is to stifle our progress as a species. Faith is a wonderful quality, but many leaders, of all kinds, have misused the public trust.

As Yoga teachers, we must be ethical at all times. We must engage in the pursuit of knowledge and be sure not to pass flawed ideas onto our students. Intolerant dogma can do more harm than good. Spiritual Yoga teachers should be living examples of tolerance, awareness, and mindfulness. At the same time, Yoga teachers from physical-based styles should be learning more about anatomy, physiology, sports medicine, and kinesiology.

Anyone who teaches Yoga classes should consider the safety of students to be the primary objective. The importance of student safety is sometimes forgotten by Yoga teachers. Our personal aspirations and ambitions are secondary to the welfare of our students. The safety of our students is the reason why we pursue continuing education. Knowledge, that we give our students, should be based upon the best available facts at this time.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

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