1. Aura Announces
   
   
2. Teaching Hatha Yoga for Injury Prevention
   
   
3. Continuing Education and Free Resources
   
   
4. Get our Yoga Business Success Kit - FREE
   
   
5. Featured Course

I'm pleased to present two articles written by me, one article about Injury Prevention in Hatha Yoga classes; the second one is about free resources for continuing education.

I'm also excited to announce our Reiki Touch Draw. Qualifying purchases made between July 22 - Sept 30 will be eligible to win.

We're also giving away our Yoga Business Success Kit in an unprecedented sale of our Camp-in-a-box for Two.

Purchase a qualifying course between July 22, 2008 and September 30, 2008* and you will be automatically entered into our draw to win - "The Reiki Touch" - an interactive course about using Reiki for energy healing.

Qualifying courses are:

• Restorative Yoga Course
• Regular Camp-in-a-Box
• Camp-in-a-Box Gold

About the prize:

The First Comprehensive Training Program for Reiki - with DVD, Audio, Music, and Written Instruction

• 60 minute DVD, featuring instruction on hand positions, conducting healing sessions, scanning techniques, and advanced use of Reiki to see auras and past lives
• 3 guided meditations on CD to strengthen your Reiki energy, deepen your healing experience, and invite a spiritual guide
• 30 illustrated Reiki cards that can be used as a divination tool to discover which hand positions, symbols, or techniques to use for healing specific conditions
• 100-page workbook, including advanced practices for creating energetic boundaries for your spiritual protection, enhancing your creativity and problem solving skills, and much more
• 79 minutes of heartfelt music on CD ideally suited for treatments

* One prize will be awarded - the winner will be notified by email and announced in the October issue of our Announcements Bulletin.

Many of you have asked if you can distribute my Yoga for beginner's articles as handouts for your students. You are welcome to distribute my articles to your students. My only requests are that you do not alter these articles and leave my copyright on the work.

Simply provide us with the credit information described here.

Please do not send Hi8 video tapes; they are easily de-magnetized by security equipment.

Due to the volume of exams, please expect a two week delay before your exams are marked.

If you're planning to change your email address, remember to update it in our subscription system before your old address expires. It's easy to change your Email address by using your personal subscriber link at the top and bottom of each of our newsletters. Once you click on the link you can click on "change details" and enter your new Email address.

Remember to do it before your address changes, because when our system sends mail to an inactive address, that address is automatically deleted and will no longer be able to be updated.

If you want us to do it for you, please let us know, at least, 30 days before your Email account expires, but if we do it for you, you will be sent another verification email that you must respond to in order to complete the update process.

Introduction to Teaching Yoga

Preparation for aspiring yoga teachers

This is a 50-hour Preparatory Yoga Course, for those who aspire to teach Yoga, but do not have a strong foundation in Yoga. This course will prepare you for the Level 1 Yoga teacher diploma course. Introduction to Teaching Yoga is also recommended for personal trainers, group fitness instructors, and Pilates instructors.

You will learn over 170 asanas (Yoga Postures), four practice sequences, Pranayama, bandhas, The Yoga Sutras of Maharishi Patanjali, and how to develop a lesson plan.

With this course you will receive two books, my beginners Yoga lesson plan for teachers DVD, and my e-Book "So You Want to Teach Yoga" (a $20 value) as a bonus.

Upon successful completion of this 50 hour preparatory course, you will receive an Associate Yoga Instructor's certificate, which is suitable for framing.

Requirements: Written exam and a one hour video.

Introduction to Teaching Yoga cost: $197 plus shipping.

Complete course information

Order online now or choose another option below.

 

Yoga is often thought of as a method for preventing injury. How could injuries occur during Yoga classes? How are the postures and pranayama presented during a class? Are postures thoroughly explained or strung together in a sequence and presented "on the fly."

If the time is taken to know each student's condition of health, there is, at least, one student present who needs a full and complete explanation of the posture. This includes a demonstration, cueing, and possibly, a modification or an assist.

When classes are too large, it becomes difficult for teachers to monitor every student and make adjustments properly. Unless a Yoga teacher has assistants present, the pace of a class has to slow down when the number of students present goes up.

Each Yoga teacher has a mental picture of how many students he or she can effectively teach within a class. If that number is surpassed, there are solutions: Slow down the class, place a limit on your numbers, or have experienced helpers present to monitor, adjust, assist, and modify.

Teachers should know the potential for injury in each posture. For example: When performing Matsyasana (Fish Pose), students should also know of the potential to hyper-extend the neck. If a student has pre-existing migraines, high or low blood pressure conditions, or a history of neck and back injury, this pose may have to be by-passed.

Again, referring to Matsyasana, how many teachers realize it can cause insomnia? How many students have learned this from those few teachers who know? This posture might not be the best for an evening Yoga class.

A blanket would make a nice support, if it is rolled up or folded under the back. Do teachers explain this? Are blankets or assistants available for students who are about to practice Matsyasana? Did the Yoga teacher explain that the throat should be soft, at all times, when performing Matsyasana?

Were preparation or substitute poses offered? For example: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog) would make a nice substitution or preparation posture for Matsyasana, but it also has a list of cautions for students who have headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, a back injury, or who are pregnant.

The intention here is only to point out poses that are often taken for granted. I personally enjoy Matsyasana, and it can be modified to suit most students. This requires time and patience. If you ask around, most Yoga students do not realize the potential for injury in any posture, unless it is thoroughly explained.

Yoga classes cannot be compared, in any way, with aerobics classes. There should not be a feeling that unless we do this many "moves" today, it was not a "good class." What is a good Yoga class? Everyone should learn something, be safe, and feel relaxed, as a result of the classroom experience.

The deeper learning experience is part of the reason why people come to Yoga classes. When we do not take the time to completely explain the method, preparation, alignment, modification, and potential for injury, we are putting students at risk.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Where could you learn about the contraindications of asanas and pranayama techniques? You could take a notebook to a week long exotic Yoga vacation. You could schedule a private Yoga teacher training intensive with me.

You could search through piles of Yoga DVD's and books. You could go through online Yoga video archives and surf through hours of material. The problem is -you need the information before you teach your next Yoga class.

You have a new student with Glaucoma. Which asanas are off limits? Which techniques may help this student? The short answer is: Inversions are absolutely not suggested. Calming pranayama and tratak may be useful.

Where can you find this information within a day or a few hours? You should visit the Yoga teacher forum. At this site you can get advice from Yoga teachers around the world. You can learn about Yogic applications for children, adults, elderly students, and Yoga for a variety of health conditions.

Anything you have a question about, in regard to Yoga, is being discussed on the Yoga teacher forum. I invite you to make use of this resource. Visit us, sign up, introduce yourself, and feel free to ask any Yoga-related questions.

You will notice that experienced Yoga teachers have a variety of approaches to the same problem. The Yoga teacher forum is a great place for teachers to share information about asanas, ailments, modifications, regulations, styles, and health solutions for students - or anything else related to Yoga.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Buy the Camp-in-a-Box for Two and we'll give you the Yoga Business Success Kit for no extra charge (you'll pay only shipping)

If you and a partner would like to train together, this is an unprecedented and unbeatable offer.

You'll get our:

• Camp-in-a-Box for Two
  (2 complete copies of the camp-in-a-box = 2 x $497)

and our:

• Yoga Business Success Kit ($227)

All for just $797

This is the first time this offer has ever been made!
The Yoga Business Success Kit is a $227 Value!!

The Yoga Business Success Kit will be automatically added to your shopping cart when you select the camp-in-a-box for two.

Order online now or choose another option below.

To introduce our latest e-Book, we're giving it away when you buy selected courses*

"The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga"

This beautiful edition has been edited into a comprehensive format.

Swami Mukerji first wrote this text in 1922. "The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga" is still a timeless masterpiece. Do not be surprised if you read this book more than once. Much of this information would help any of us as we continue to develop toward our full potential in life.

For those who have not yet found their true purpose in life, this book may well reveal the hidden potentials, which exist within each of us. Yoga is truly the oldest existing form of personal development known to mankind. It is up to us to pick up the pieces and build a better life.

Yoga does contain many answers, which will give us enough direction to transcend average thought. To go beyond our perceived limitations, requires us to study, look at the infinite possibilities, cultivate the positive energy from within, and project it out into the world by helping those who need it.

Every effort has been made by the editors to keep the integrity of Swami Mukerji's work intact. His writing style is one that Americans might refer to as the "King's English." His work is complete, with practical Yoga philosophy, meditation exercises, physical exercises, positive affirmations, and much more valuable information.

If you want to help yourself, and your students - read, practice his exercises, and enjoy Swami Mukerji's wonderful book.

103 pages / PDF e-Book
This e-Book is a $19.97 value.

* Get this wonderful e-book as a bonus when you purchase any of the following (you'll also be entered into our Reiki Touch Draw):

• Restorative Yoga Course
• Regular Camp-in-a-Box
• Camp-in-a-Box Gold

Use Bonus Code: DPY
Please enter code in the online shopping cart when it asks you to:
"Add Comments about Your Order"

 

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Where applicable, the above offers are good only while stock is available.