Part III: Yoga teacher training tips for interns and practicing teachers. Learn how to assist Yoga students in seated forward bend (paschimottanasana).
Part III: Yoga teacher training tips for interns and practicing teachers. Learn how to assist Yoga students in seated forward bend (paschimottanasana).
By Sanjeev Patel, CYT 500
Many people and some fitness Yoga instructors believe that the Yogic teachings are similar to other exercise systems. Yoga is not just another fitness fad. This narrow view of Yoga was a mistake fitness experts made in the 1990s. Some Yoga teacher training courses had graduates who learned about 24 postures (asanas). This spawned a generation of teachers who were eager to learn the inner truth of Yoga’s teachings.
The fitness experts saw the postures and figured Yoga would rise and fall like the many other diets and exercise systems of the past. They were not aware Yoga has been around for thousands of years. This sacred practice changes people for the best. The following two aspects of Hatha Yoga are only the tip of the Yogic iceberg and barely scratch the surface in regard to the secrets of Yoga teachings.
I. Pranayama: Ayama means stretch, extension, expansion, length, breadth, regulation, prolongation, restraint and control and describes the action of pranayama. Prana is energy, when the self-energizing force embraces the body. When this self-energizing force embraces the body with extension, expansion and control, it is pranayama. Pranayama also denotes cosmic power, or the power of the entire universe, which manifests itself as conscious living being in us through the phenomenon of breathing.
II. Meditation: Before yoga poses had been established the practice of yoga was to meditate. Ancients highly valued the esteemed practice of meditation for its ability to heighten intuition, and access a new level of knowing/being. By consciously relaxing into ourselves we too can experience the depths of the mind to gain insights and clarity. Listening inward and focusing our attention on the now allows us to experience the truth of who we are (Self).
Paulji has taught me that no matter what your spiritual or religious beliefs are, the ultimate objectives of Yogic teaching are spiritual beauty, improved health, emotional well-being, and mental clarity. The path of spiritual growth is found when we learn to forgive and increase our spiritual awareness. This will result in the cultivation of compassion and insight. A good person has spiritual beauty, regardless of his or her religion.
If I have religion, but I am trained to hate others who think differently than I do, what do I have? Spiritual beauty is not intolerance, hate, and prejudice. If my religion teaches me to hate, I need a different religion that practices what it preaches. Some extremists say that Yoga is only for the Hindus. Yoga has spread too far and it is growing exponentially. Nobody can stop the worldwide proliferation of Yoga practice.
The average Hindu sees the ultimate objective of Yoga as the attainment of liberation (Moksha) from worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and death (Samsara). Yoga entails mastery over the body, mind, and emotional self, and transcendence of desire. It is said to lead gradually to knowledge of the true nature of reality. The Yogi reaches an enlightened state where there is a cessation of thought and an experience of blissful union. This union may be of the individual soul (Atman) with the supreme Reality (Brahman).
All people, from all walks of life, benefit from the many parts and forms of Yoga. A person who practices Yoga postures only will learn to become calm. Of course, physical mastery will be attained, but he or she will begin to think clearly and develop a beautiful heart of compassion. This heart of compassion is a spiritual awakening that changes the world for the best, one person at a time.
Hari Om Tat Sat
© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications
Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.
If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!
By Serena Morris
The spine is made up from 33 ring like bones also known as the vertebrae and they attach to the sternum and ribs to form the thorax. This boney cage protects the delicate organs within the chest and abdomen, and the vertebrae protects the delicate nerves and vessels. The spine itself has 4 gentle curves that ensure resilience and ensure a stable centre of gravity.
They consist of;
7 Cervical vertebrae C1-C7
12 Thoracic vertebrae T1-T12
5 Lumbar vertebrae L1-L5
5 fused vertebrae form the sacrum
4 fused bones form the coccyx
Each section of the spine differs to adjust to the different demands placed upon them.
C1 consists of a ring of bone and C2 a peg like shaped bone to permit the nodding of the head and side to side no like response.
C3-C6 are classed as typical cervical vertebrae and have two winged shaped processes, holes which allows arteries to pass carrying precious blood to the brain.
C7 is different and has a large spinal process which can be felt at the base of the neck and can be easily identified as the last moving bone felt in the nodding of the head.
The thoracic vertebrae are considered larger and stronger than the cervical vertebrae. In addition to this the spinal processes of T1 and T2 are long, laterally flattened and directed inferiorly. In contrast T11 and T12 are shorter, broader and directed to the posterior. In comparison to the cervical vertebrae the thoracic has longer and larger transverse processes. The main difference however is that they articulate with the ribs. The movement of the thoracic vertebrae are limited by thin inter vertebral discs and the attachments to the ribs. The lumbar vertebrae is the largest and strongest because of the amount of weight supported by the vertebrae increases towards the inferior end of the backbone. Their projections are short and thick and directed medially. The spinal processes of the lumbar are quadrilateral in shape, and are thick and broard and well adapted for the attachment of the large back muscles. The lumbar allows flexion, extension and lateral flexion of the spine.
The sacrum consists of 5 fused vertebrae. The inter vertebral discs are replaced by bone. The sacrum joins with the Ilium of the hip bone at the auricular surface forming the sacro- iliac joint. The coccyx consists of 4 tiny individual bones. The first being the most developed.
Between the C2 to the sacrum there is protection between the vertebrae in the form of inter vertebral discs that have a outer fibrous ring consisting of fibro cartilage called the annulus fibrous, and a inner, soft, pulpy, highly elastic substance. The discs form strong joints, permit movement and absorb shock. Under compression they flatten and bulge from the intervertebral spaces. These discs are prone to partial or full prolapsed also known as herniated disc. This most often occurs in the lumbar region due to weight and it being the region of most flexing and bending.
Ligaments between the spinal processes of the back stabilize and hold the vertebrae in alignment during movement. The posterior longitudinal ligament extends from the epistophues to the sacrum. All of the discs and edges of the vertebrae connect to this ligament.
The flexibility of the spine lessens around 30 and declines to 40 until 60 and over. This is greatly due to the tightening of ligaments.
There are also 8 pairs of cranial nerves C1-C8
12 pair of thoracic nerves T1-T12
5 pair of lumbar nerves L1-L5
5 pair of sacral nerves S1-S5
1 pair of coccygeal nerves
These nerves run throughout the spine through the vertebral canal which is the hole in the centre of each vertebrae surrounded by a sheath which makes up the spinal cord. The nerves emerge at regular interval along the spine. Along with the brain these nerves make up the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The nervous systems operate by sending signals to and from the brain, feeding all parts of the body with action or commands for the smooth function and maintaining homeostasis.
The muscles of the back and neck including those of the erector Spinae group, Splenius muscles, Scalene muscles, transversospinalis muscles, Rectus abdominis, external olbliques, quadrates lumborum, and internal oblique muscles all play a role in the movement of the spine and so their condition and amount of tension present affects the alignment of the spine.
Abnormalities of the spine include;
Kyphosis, this is an extreme curvature of the thoracic vertebrae creating a stoop or rounded back.
Lordosis is an extreme curvature of the lumbar vertebrae creating a concave in the lumbar region or sway back as it is often known. Typically the person seems more rounded at the stomach and buttocks protrude.
Scoliosis is where there is a lateral shaped curvature to the spine creating an S shape to the spine and thus creating uneven posture and various stress points along the spine. The shoulders often look uneven and also the hips.
In western medicine and today s modern world back pain is one of the largest problems causing a loss of attendance in the work place in addition to the cost of supplying pain killers or anti-inflammatory medication or anti-depressants as a remedy to ease the pain, and however also mask the real reason why the pain is present. We have already looked at the physical structure of the spine and so we can see the reason behind discomfort and pain due to abnormalities of the spine or in deed injuries caused to the spine, discs, surrounding ligaments and muscles.
However a high percentage of back pain is simply unexplainable by the western doctor and often put down to stress by at least those who do not connect the physical and emotional and mental and spiritual links and they prescribe the medications I mentioned previously often with undesirable side effects often occurring as a result.
From an eastern point of view the spine is seen much more than just the physical wonder that it is. Of course the ancient sages of thousands of years gone by knew from observation of the spines importance to health and longevity, and each and every posture or Asana takes into account the alignment of the spine. The spine being the main trunk of the body comes into play with all Asanas, and special attention is paid in keeping the spine, head and neck in an erect line. During a series of postures the spine is taken through flexion, extension, hyper-extension, twists and rotations creating strength and suppleness throughout.
The spine is encouraged to lift high from the hips during standing postures such as Warrior and Tree creating space between the vertebrae of the spine alleviating pressure upon the protective discs providing support against injury and pain. The rolling up of the thigh muscles or quadriceps allows the lower spine to naturally lift. It is of great importance in yoga to ground the feet and legs to provide a firm and stable foundation for a straight and erect spine. Regular practise of yoga often brings the spine into alignment curing disharmonies caused by pinched nerves with it.
In Downward dog the spine receives a wonderful stretch and extension.
During postures such as Cobra and Locust the lower back muscles are toned and strengthened again providing support against injury and pain. The abdominal muscles play also a very important role working antagonistic with the back muscles and in yoga the abdominal muscles are strengthened constantly especially with the practice of Recti isolation and lateral abdominal rolling, and Kapalabhati.
In Postures such as Cat and cow and spinal rocking the spine receives a massage. The nerves receive stimulation and tonifying benefits, whilst limbering all the muscles of the back
The practice of back bends help prevent kyphosis and valuable for those who spend much time in their work place forward bending. Supported back bends often provide relief from cold flu and fatigue, high blood pressure, menstrual cramps and lower back pain.
Twists such as reversed warriors, spinal twists in supine or seated activate the spine and surrounding muscles. They encourage circulation to the spine and nerve tissues.
Seated postures such as bound angle posture and lotus increase strength and flexibility, and lengthening of the lower spine and surrounding muscles as well as limbering the hips.
Inversions such as headstand and shoulder stand help reverse the effects of gravity and increase the circulation towards the upper spine and neck and head.
Persons with injury to their backs performing gentle and regular yoga no longer live in constant pain and learn to strengthen around injuries enjoying once again a level of healthy flexibility.
As I mentioned before from an eastern view not only is the spine seen as a physical importance but also they take the Astral energy of the spine into account.
There are 7 energy chakras or wheels that are located energetically along the line of the spine and head. These wheels of energy are fed with prana the life force needed for our every action and thought. The chakras are affected by physical, emotional and mental issues and thoughts so when out of balance affect the person on all levels. The spinal cord is represented energetically by the Sushumna Nadi. Either side of this channel lies the Ida and Pingala Nadis which all together are considered to be the three most important of over 72.000 of the Nadis within the energy of the body. The Ida and Pingala carry energy up and down entwining around the Sushumna Nadi and they correspond in the physical by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. They end and open into nostrils.
We can now see why the yoga breathing is considered beneficial to the spine and nervous system as insufficient prana would create a deficiency in the sushumna channel or the chakras. In turn this may create disharmony of the body or mind.
Through the regular practice of Asanas the chakras are activated, and through Pranayama breathing the body and energy of the body is richly nourished with Prana and along side through meditation and chanting the chakras are focused on and brought into perfect balance creating union of body an mind. As the yogi trains and brings the chakras in to balance it brings a rise from the Kundalini energy. This is represented by a coiled snake and lays dormant in the root chakra, through the disciplines I mentioned before this psychic energy raises piercing the centre of each chakra eventually reaching the crown where it is thought to bring Samadi, or pure consciousness, a connection with the supreme spirit, enlightenment or union with god. This brings a calmness and peace to the individual as they realize they are as one. Many ego issues disappear taking with it the stress involved in the mind and body.
In all we can see from both a western perspective the physical needs for the health of our spines and the western remedies of medications or physiotherapy applied, and from the eastern perspective for the need for physical and the emotional and spiritual care of our spines, and the remedies being a regular yoga practice with the use of meditation and relaxation and Pranayama breathing, everything being natural and preventative as well as healing leaving you to live a long and flexible and happy life.
Serena Morris is a certified Yoga teacher. She teaches Yoga classes in Alicante, Spain.
By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Most graduates of 200-hour Yoga certification courses have sufficient qualifications to teach Yoga classes. There is much emphasis placed upon knowing everything; yet, there is so much to know. If you are waiting to know everything, before you teach Yoga classes; you will never begin your teaching journey.
If you train in any profession, you have to start somewhere, while learning from continuing education and on-the-job experience. When one decides to become a Yoga teacher, 200 hours of study is entry level training. In comparison to similar fields, new Yoga teachers have a respectable amount of training and study.
However, with all the technical and philosophical training involved, many new teachers have no idea how to find employment. At the same time, interns spend much of their energy, and financial resources, with no guidance concerning how to find a Yoga teaching position. Therefore, consider the following questions and guidelines when you evaluate a course.
Does your prospective course contain any business or marketing materials? Someone may convince you that business and marketing is evil, but your Yoga teacher training is not free. There are reasons for sending a person up a creek, without a paddle, and none of them are good.
Are there any Yoga teacher employment-seeking materials provided by a real studio owner? How to find employment is a vital skill that a Yoga teacher should know. With that said, Yoga is a unique field, where hard sell marketing tactics rarely work. In fact, people from all walks of life are often tired of hearing a hard sell. People hang up on telemarketers, and walk out of the room, when a commercial is on the television.
How to find a position as a Yoga teacher is not that difficult. Prepare yourself with the following tips, and you will find optimum success.
Design a resume and a cover letter, similar to the way you would construct one for the corporate world. Present yourself on paper the same way you would if you were seeking any other professional position. If you have difficulty, hire a resume writer or have your friends proofread your resume and a cover letter.
Create a position. Let’s face it; most studios do not hire graduates from other schools. Why would a Bikram school hire a Kripalu teacher and vice-versa? Schools often hire from within. It is much easier for an Iyengar school to hire Iyengar teachers.
So, how do you create a Yoga teaching job? Think outside the Yoga studio. There are many opportunities outside of the studios. The sky is the limit, when you consider networking with chiropractors, psychologists, family physicians, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, psychiatrists, businesses, schools, condo complexes, fitness centers, corporate wellness centers, and many more opportunities.
© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
If you are a Yoga teacher, Yoga studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!
By Amruta Kulkarni
A warm up incorporated in the yoga class is very valuable that the postures are easily attained. The joints are loosened and the muscles warmed by stretching and by increasing the circulation of blood warm ups also reduce the risk of pulling muscles or injuring a joint during the yoga class warm ups also reduce the risk of stiffness in the muscles and joints after a yoga session.
The palm tree posture in this posture the body is help upright like the trunk of a tree back straight, head is level with the legs and feet together the arms are raised straight up alongside the ears the backs of the hands are facing each other, inhaling deeply, raise high on the toes, stretching the arms and body upwards as far as possible holding the stretched up position for a few seconds then lower the heels to the floor exhaling completely.
The head roll: This exercise can be performed standing or sitting keeping the back straight and the neck muscles as relaxed as possible. Never tilt the head back in this exercise. Picture the head on a clock dial, but never tilt back to 6 o’clock and turn backward. Start your forward rotation at 6 o’clock, slowly roll the head loosely in a clockwise direction, stop at 6 o’clock, and then reverse in an anticlockwise direction, carefully keeping the rotation of the head very slow, and smooth inhaling deeply exhaling completely during the movement the head roll removes stiffness from the neck muscles.
Helicopter standing (also called arm swings): You can start with feet hip width apart, raise the arms slowly, swinging both the arms across the upper body one way then the other way the heel lifts of the ground when the arms sway to the opposite side of the body twisting only the upper part of the body keeping the hips steady one way looking all the way behind you if you can depending on each individuals flexibility. Now, go the other way breathing deeply and exhaling completely starting slowly with arms and gradually increasing the tempo gently tap at each side of the body this is a gentle and effective a stimulating massage to the kidneys twisting the spine and neck warming up the upper body.
© Copyright 2010 – Amruta Kulkarni / Aura Publications
Amruta Kulkarni is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.
See our testimonials to find out what our graduates have to say about our selection of affordable yoga teacher certification intensive courses.
If you are a teacher, yoga school manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!
Part II: Yoga teacher training tips for interns and practicing teachers. Learn how to assist Yoga students in seated forward bend (paschimottanasana).
Yoga teacher training tips for interns and practicing teachers. Learn how to assist Yoga students in seated forward bend (paschimottanasana).
By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Disciplining the human mind has been a documented challenge for centuries. Some people have the perception, that the only method to train the mind, requires intensive study in groups and classrooms. While this is true for children and students, who need to learn the fundamental building blocks of a subject, it is entirely another matter for one who is capable of absorbing new information and knows the basics.
Some will say Yoga is strictly a “hands-on” learning practice. If that is so, then Yoga practice should be just like a personal training session, with a micro-managing teacher, in face-to-face situations – constantly correcting every possible flaw of our practice.
Heaven forbid that any one of us could be capable of reading, viewing, listening, and researching Yoga, while being free from external control. Should we consider Yogic independent study, or a path of self-study? If we are incapable of learning without a teacher present, then we should not practice Yoga at home.
In fact, if this over-handling philosophy were true, Yoga would have ceased to exist after the first generation of Yoga teachers passed away. The reason being: The second generation of teachers would have been completely lost without a guru to show them the answer to everything.
Learning the basics is a fundamental requirement toward mastery of any subject, but making people dependent, stifles creativity and innovation. Yoga is a science, and an art of living, that constantly evolves. There are many forms of Yoga, and all of them are continuing to grow exponentially.
Just within Hatha Yoga, there are many sub-styles, and all of them are constantly growing. If a guru tries to control a Yoga system, by limiting techniques, refusing to modify techniques for needs, strict dogma, and cloning teachers to become parrots, some teachers will eventually abandon the practice and grow independently.
Humans were designed to believe in independence. Religion, politics, philosophy, and language have many varieties. People do not easily accept absolute control over life’s details. It is only natural to expand the mind through independent study, when one has mastered the basics.
Yoga is much like any other subject – we learn the basics in the classroom and apply them to real life situations. Each of us learns different subjects in a variety of classrooms, but the real test is when we apply a technique, and take note of the results.
In the case of Yoga teacher training online: Some web sites have so much free information available, in the form of videos, articles, MP3s, newsletters, forums, and Blogs, that this truly looks like the “Golden Age of Independent Learning.”
© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
See our testimonials to find out what our graduates have to say about our selection of distance learning yoga teacher training courses.
If you are a teacher, yoga school manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!
By Sanjeev Patel, CYT 500
There is so much disinformation being spread around about Yoga and Yoga teacher training that the air needs to be cleared on some issues that often spring up in casual conversations. It is amazing when someone listens to one point of view, does no research and spouts off about the intricacies Yoga.
Myth 1: “You have to stand on your head to teach Yoga.” Who started this one? Little kids can stand on their heads with no problem. The person who started this absurd tale should take credit for it. The person who believes it should think twice before repeating it. It is a complete fabrication that defies logic.
Head stands are not recommended for everyone for so many health reasons including, but not confined to: blood pressure, heart problems, glaucoma, aneurysm, previous stroke, detached retina, epilepsy and many more reasons that would consume this entire page. If the particular certifying body requires head stands for the practicum, their view of Hatha Yoga is extremely limited.
Myth 2: “Yoga teachers cannot accept money.” Really – Then what will the guru eat and where will the guru sleep? Do not tell me “Indian gurus don’t take money” I lived in India. Everywhere people need money to live. In many parts of the world, a Yoga teacher has to make money, or eat from dumpsters and freeze in alleys, until one night when he or she finds the path to a premature death.
Myth 3: “Yoga teachers answer to the recognized governing body of Yoga.” Who recognized the alleged governing body? This is a purposeful deception because this myth is most often started by organizations that don’t represent the government at all. Their agenda is to make money on fear of not belonging to a flock. Yoga instructors have to learn how to use their intuitive skills. These organizations will resort to propaganda to make the public think they are the appointed governing body of Yoga. Here is a fact: The governing body of everything is your government.
If the government chooses to make us pay a Yoga tax, we have to pay it. If the government chooses to throw Yogis in prison, we will live behind bars. Do you think your government will give away any power to a third party organization? Governments don’t give power away easily, without a struggle of some kind. Governments don’t hire Yoga organizations to take money for registration, membership, and applications, on their behalf.
Myth 4: “Yoga is a physical exercise only and it is not a spiritual practice.” Yoga changes people mentally, physically, and spiritually. If you practice a physical exercise only, then you practice “exercise.” No problem, but that’s not Yoga. Yoga consists of many aspects as pointed out by Patanjali centuries ago. If you never heard of Patanjali before, then you probably don’t practice Yoga at all.
Read the Yoga Sutras and discover the Eight Limbs of this sacred practice. Yoga creates spiritual beauty from within. Spiritual beauty or growth is not religion. Spiritual growth is, as my guru says, “Doing the right thing.” Doing the right thing may not be popular all the time, but it can easily be identified as: forgiving, tolerance, compassion, and loving kindness.
Hari Om Tat Sat
© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications
Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.
See our testimonials to find out what our graduates have to say about our selection of distance learning yoga teacher certification programs.
If you are teaching a yoga class, a yoga school manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!
Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 speaks to you in this short lecture about Yoga Teachers learning Sanskrit and best practices.
Looking for The Language of Yoga Book Mentioned in the Video? Click Here
The Original Yoga Teacher Training Camp-in-a-Box GOLD also includes this Sanskrit Book/Audio set