Archive for the ‘Yoga Teacher Training’ Category

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Q: I have a concern; a student, who has been studying with me for a while, came to me and said that she experiences pain on the inside of her knees when sitting cross-legged, also in Sukasana forward fold.

I have suggested to avoid this pose and switch to sitting on her heels instead. Was not sure, though, what could be the cause of this pain and what ideas I could give her to move away from this discomfort.

A: Hatha Yoga can be the remedy for pain, or the cause of it, in some cases. This student should see her family physician or a specialist. We can guess what the source of pain is, but an MRI will tell the real story. A good modification is preparation for Sukasana.

One leg remains straight, while the other leg is bent at an angle where the knee does not encounter pain. Obviously, if the knee is bent into a sharp angle, the student will experience pain in the preparation pose. Therefore, this preparation should be practiced carefully, with a wide angle on the bent knee. This same principle holds true for any asanas where the knees are bent.

Q: I have a query from a student who wants to attend my Yoga classes. She is an older women, in her late 50s, but she had a bunion removed about 5 months ago on her foot – would it be advisable to come to class?

Or, shall it be only private Yoga practice? Also, what would be your idea, in terms of therapeutic practices; and which asana would she need to avoid?

A: You might want to schedule a private session first – just to do an evaluation. You won’t know much until you see her.

Bunion surgery is usually the procedure to remove the bone of the big toe and foot. The procedure varies and recovery does as well. Bunion surgery reconstructs the big toe bone and may require screws and plates to be placed in the bone during recovery.

All that said: Any postures that put pressure on the big toe, or roll the big toe under the foot, should be practiced carefully, or avoided altogether.

She should be observed in private to see if she can modify them for regular classes with other students. Have her go easy and carefully.

Q: There is something I would like to find out from you. Many of my students, after class – as they are beginning Yoga (but some also that stick to the mat for a while) do say that they feel stiff, some even lightly sore. I do use intelligent sequencing and pay special detail to injuries and modifications.

What would be my best reply if they mention they are stiff afterwards (although it’s an antidote as they come to Yoga class to become more open and work on their flexibility)?

Beside that they are loving the classes, they do feel very relaxed and centered. I want to be in their best service, so I want to be able to explain to them what is actually happening to their bodies and the reason why they feel stiffer then beforehand.

A: My guess is they feel sore in the legs. This usually happens when students’ bodies are not prepared for a standing series. If they give Yoga a chance, the soreness will disappear in a week or two.

If they still feel pain, you may want to reduce the standing series practice time, and gradually increase it over a period of months. However, if students do not attend regularly, or practice at home, their bodies will never adapt to the standing series.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

By Sanjeev Patel

According to many experienced Yoga teachers, meditation is the ultimate end of a Yoga class. That may be, but how does a Yoga teacher show beginner students how to calm their minds? The answer is: Teach your students to relax before breath observance or awareness meditation session. Here is how I learned to practice this form of relaxation, while training at Aura Wellness Center.

Stage by state relaxation is a sequence which begins by lying on your back in Shivasana, or Corpse pose. The breath is observed for a few minutes, with no aim of controlling it. This is followed by two deep inhalations and exhalations, letting the abdomen swell out on the inhalations and drawing it in towards the backbone on the exhalations. After two breaths, let the abdominal wall relax completely. Now observe the breathing until it becomes quiet and smooth, then let your attention move over the body in the following sequence, looking for tension in each part and releasing any tension so the muscles rest with all their weight.

Careful attention should be noted as to the feeling of tension, and the feeling of relaxation. The sequence is: left foot, left calf, left thigh, front and rear; right foot, right calf, right thigh, front and rear; pelvis; abdomen; lower back; chest; upper back; left hand; left forearm; left upper arm, front and rear; left shoulder; right hand; right forearm, right upper arm, front and rear, right shoulder; throat; neck; jaw; lips; tongue; eyes; brow; scalp. Remember to relax fingers and toes so they feel limp, when relaxing the hands and feet. After going over the entire body, return to observing the breath for several minutes.

Now begin the sequence again, from feet to head, and continue for fifteen to thirty minutes. The entire body should be relaxed, and free of tension, and the mind should be peaceful.

This is what I learned while studying with Paulji. I also learned many more forms of relaxation and even more forms of meditation, while training at Aura. The modern mindset has become much like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or AD/HD), which is a common neurobehavioral developmental disorder of the 21st century.

Knowing this, every Yoga teacher training course should break down the meditation process for teaching beginners with mind calming building blocks. This enables teachers to take the average person from relaxation and transcend into higher forms of meditation as each stage of training the mind is mastered. It’s one thing for interns to understand how to clam their minds. It’s quite another matter to take people off the street and enable them to train their minds.

© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Who fits the profile of a future Hatha Yoga instructor? Do you envision a perennial spiritual seeker, a specific body type, or an athlete for life? Yoga teachers come from all walks of life, with a variety of life experiences and the desire to help others. The three following examples are not the most likely, and their names have been changed for their privacy.

Joe the Yoga Teacher

This is not “Joe the Plumber” from the 2008 US Presidential Election. Joe had a challenging childhood, grew up in poverty, and fell through “the cracks of society.” In his teens, he became a homeless drug addict. After years on the city streets, he became acquainted with Hatha Yoga, while going through drug rehabilitation.

Joe states: “Up to the point where I began to study Yoga, I never considered having anything like a life purpose. My life was full of painful memories and all I wanted was my next fix.” The change from drug abuse to Yoga enthusiast was not instant; but during this visit to drug rehabilitation, his life direction changed. Now, Joe teaches Yoga to people in his old neighborhood, who are seeking a better life.

Jayne the Yoga Instructor

Jayne is a single mother of three, who was exposed to Yoga in a corporate fitness center. She began to practice independently with books, magazines, DVDs, and while searching the Internet for more information. Although she has limited funds, she found affordable methods for studying and for obtaining her Yoga certification.

At the same time, she also taught her children Yogic values. Jayne said, “Meals are healthy, we eat together, we practice together, and we study together. My children are able to prioritize, see improvements now, and look to a brighter future.” Not surprisingly, on nights when Jayne teaches, Jayne’s children can be found in a Yoga class or studying in the waiting area.

Ben the Yoga Instructor

Ben lived a middle-class childhood, went directly to college from high school; his parents will have their 50th wedding anniversary next year. Ben worked in business management after college, continued to attend college part-time during evening hours, and life seemed like a stream of financial success. Suddenly, the 21st century arrived, and the job market squeezed him into unemployment four times in eight years.

Ben practiced for 16 years, with three different teachers, but never considered Yoga teacher training. He states: “I was always too busy with my job, working toward my master’s degree, or spending time with my family, to think about teaching Yoga classes.” The last time Ben found himself unemployed, he decided to become a Yoga instructor. Now, he teaches full time as an independent contractor.

Who really fits the profile of a Yoga teacher? It all depends on where we are in life, and what we consider to be important. One common thread is that, every person who teaches Yoga classes, has the desire to make a difference - by helping others become aware of a better way of living.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When you think about teaching Yoga classes, you always see the positive side of your life experiences. Every Yoga instructor realizes that the act of organizing, and teaching classes, becomes a life mission. Yet, life has “ups and downs” for all of us. There are days when students are seriously ill, you feel ill, or worse.

What is one to do? There is a belief that Yoga teachers, gurus, and swamis, should be in good health at all times. If we deeply believe that we are something beyond mere mortals, we are in for a “reality check.” Life has good and bad times. No matter who you are, you have feelings; and you can become ill. The best we can do is prepare for life’s many challenges.

There are Yoga teachers who are blind, deaf, have ailments, are in a wheelchair, or are experiencing grief. The following is a strategy for the obstacles we might encounter in life. No matter what we encounter, please remember that a positive mindset, and the power of prayer, can help in the worst of times.

Accept and Plan for Life’s Challenges

Each one of us looks at life from a different angle, but we cannot deny that life is full of challenges. Worrying or complaining about an obstacle will not make it go away. Look at challenges as a learning experience – to solve problems based upon your personal practice.

If we regularly practice pranayama, asana, meditation, and teach Yoga classes every day, but fail to handle our emotions during a crisis, is it a sin? No, but it does indicate that our Yoga practice did not prepare us for the emotional challenge we encountered. Life is the area where we apply the Yogic knowledge we learn and practice. If something needs to be improved, life and reality will let us know.

Have a Game Plan

Some people say life is not a game. Please explain that to my cats. To them, life itself is complete entertainment. They are mindful of every little thing, but not too serious about anything. Children also have this quality, and each of us does, as well. We all have an “inner child,” starving for a game, a laugh, and the desire to have fun.

When we become adults, we suppress the inner child and start to become rigid in our thinking. The mind is just like the body. So many people focus on training the body, but how many focus on training the mind? The key is to be flexible in the mind and prepare yourself for the twists and turns on this journey of life.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

AOL Delivery

It has come to our attention that more than 90% of our AOL subscribers did not receive last week’s newsletter. Aura has been in contact with AOL; however, AOL has stated that there is no block on our newsletters. Our suggestion is if you have an alternate Email, such as Gmail, Yahoo, etc., please switch your subscription preferences to use that address. This problem is unique only to AOL and no other ISP/ Email provider.

If you keep your newsletter preferences (with AOL being your Email address), you will most likely receive the newsletters, but the delivery will be sporadic; you may not receive updated information about the latest news, articles, video, and offers.

I am also an AOL member, and my newsletters are being blocked, as well. This does create a situation, where my mail is being screened, without my permission. Many Yoga Teacher Training Interns contact me at my AOL address. While this will continue, I will be adding an alternate Email address for student support. The reasoning being – that I want to ensure you are able to reach me, and I am able to reach you, without interruption. My new Email address will be paul@yoga-teacher-training.org

Although my AOL address will still be active, I encourage all of our Yoga Teacher Training Interns to contact me at the new address.  General questions can still be answered, by replying to the newsletter, or contacting info@yoga-teacher-training.org directly.

Exams

Unfortunately, no matter how many exams we grade per day, we can never complete the grading of them all. Typically, 5 – 9 exams arrive each day, which has kept our turnaround time at about 3 weeks. There are a number of issues that will help us improve the time it takes to process exams. Please enter your name, address, Email, and telephone number to the heading of any written work. When submitting your DVDs, please enter all of your contact information, on the DVD, or on the case.

From this day forward, exams submitted without contact information, will not be graded. The time it takes to research our files, and make an educated guess, as to which exam belongs to which student, has taken a large segment of time that could be put to better use by grading exams. We are confident this will be an effective solution to help reduce our turnaround times.

2010 Yoga Back Care Intensive at Aura Wellness Center in Attleboro, Massachusetts

With Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Aura will be hosting a specialized summer intensive, “Yoga for Back Care.” This intensive will begin on Friday, July 30, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. and conclude on Sunday, August 1, 2010, at 12:00 noon.

Some of the subjects covered will be, but are not limited to:

• What structures make up the back?

• What are the common causes of back pain?

• What conditions are associated with back pain?

• How Hatha Yoga is effective for back pain.

• How Hatha Yoga can prevent back pain.

• Quick Yoga tips for a healthier back.

• Back pain research.

Classes will meet at the following times:

Friday, July 30, 2010, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 31, 2010, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (We will break for lunch at 1:00 p.m.) *

Sunday, August 1, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

*A Saturday lunch will be catered by Panera Bread (Included).

Accommodations are not included. For details about lodging in the Attleboro area, please visit the following link:

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

Some of our visitors stay in the Providence, RI area – which is close to tourist attractions and the TF Green International Airport.

Upon completion of this intensive, you will receive a Yoga Back Care Certificate and Reference Letter, stating that you have completed 14 contact hours.

The cost of this intensive is $750 (USD) per person.

If payment, in full, is made by May 15, 2010, the Early Registration Fee is $650 (USD).

To sign up, please visit: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/Yoga-for-Back-Care-Intensive.html

To save $100, please use discount coupon code is: EBDISCOUNT

Registration must be submitted by July 01, 2010. Late Registrations will not be accepted. The course has a limited number of participants, therefore, please reserve by July 01, 2010.

Note: This intensive is subject to cancellation if the above requirement for minimum participation is not met.

You must be 18 years of age, or older, to participate in this Intensive.

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There comes a day when each of us “takes up the torch” from the preceding generation. For some of us, this event may happen in our family life, at work, with the passing of one’s Guru, or after a Yoga teacher training course has concluded. We learn valuable lessons from the generation ahead of us. Then, we initially tend to copy the ways of our teachers, before we become creative Yoga teachers.

Build a Yogic Foundation

It is good to have a solid foundation of knowledge before we become innovators. On the other hand, some restless souls cannot wait to “reinvent the wheel.” Creativity is a wonderful thing, but who wants to spend years creating something that was created hundreds of years ago? For this reason, each Yoga teacher should spend time researching the classic texts.

Let the Gurus of the past be your guides, through their writings and your independent research. Let the written works, and videos of today’s most innovative Yoga teachers, be your path toward becoming the best you can be. There is no need to travel the teaching path alone or to recreate what has already been created.

Remember the saying: “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” Why should any of us spend time creating a solution to something that has been solved years ago? This is why education, research, and building a foundation of Yogic knowledge, is so important for all Yoga instructors. Yet, there are many written works by Yoga teachers from the past and present. In fact, the book shelves contain more literature than a lifetime of reading could consume.

Social Networks for Yoga Teachers

At this time, there is no need to teach Yoga without peer support, unless you choose to. There was a time when teachers visited their Guru, and it was a great journey. It may have required a pilgrimage, mountain climbing skills, or traveling by ship half way around the world. At his point in time, we have teacher networks, air travel, and Internet Yoga teacher communities.

If you live on a secluded island, but have Internet access, you can trade ideas with Yoga instructors from any part of the world. When answers cannot be found within, it is time to look outside for fresh ideas. At the same time, it should be noted that not every new idea may be applicable to your classes or students. Each Yoga school is unique, and the same can be said for the students within a given school.

It is always best to test new methods and see which methods are a good fit for the greater body of students. When absorbing and testing new methods in your Yoga classes, it never hurts to network with related fields. Chiropractors, physicians, nurses, holistic healers, physical therapists, and personal trainers have practical knowledge in regard to safety and methods from within their professions.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The more we know, the more we realize how much more there is to learn. In Yoga, and in life, each day is a new lesson. Some interns think that, the material they learn in a 200 hour Yoga teacher training will be the “end all” to their education.

After a month into teaching, most of us of us develop a method for expanding our continuing education. The following five tips will help any Yoga teacher gradually reach maximum potential, while living a multi-faceted life.

1. Determine your exact direction. This may depend on the needs of your students or your own quest for personal growth. Whether you are considering training toward the 500 hour level, or becoming a Yoga teacher specialist, you want to draw up a plan to stay on course – without getting “side tracked.”

2. Move forward with purpose. Do you think you can make a habit of studying Yoga for one hour per day? It seems reasonable enough. Imagine how much you could learn in one year. After one year, you will have 365 hours of independent study – in a direction that you can apply toward your student’s needs, your personal growth, or both.

3. Take a realistic look at the pace of your progress. Even when we have a deep passion for Yoga, we must realize that independent study is not a race. Not everyone can study for seven hours per week. Some will study more, but most will study less. It is best to set a steady pace and enjoy life along the way.

4. Reflect back on your progress. It is easy to start a journey, but many can become discouraged along the path. Stop to think about how much you have accomplished. If we invest just four hours of study per week, we have 52 hours of study after three months. Your own continuing education program is a big help to students who depend on your knowledge.

5. Make continuing education a regular part of life. Education, in a subject that we find fascinating, is stimulating, and makes life worth living. As Yoga teachers, we realize that we are students for life. There are many benefits that come with a Yoga teaching position. The lifestyle is healthy. The continuing education stimulates your mind. Your students adopt a less stressful lifestyle. You feel the rewards of watching your students improve their lives.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

To become a Yoga teacher is rewarding, but it is contains daily challenges. Below are three different challenges that Yoga teacher interns should put to rest. Even if these challenges do not apply to us personally, it is good to be aware of them for our personal health and that of others.

The Perfection Trap

None of us is perfect. The longer we live, the more imperfections we find within ourselves. A mild case of being a perfectionist can strain or destroy relationships. An excessive case can become a form of excessive compulsive disorder. This can cause behavior that makes one feel compelled to constantly check for potential mistakes that might reveal his or her personal imperfections.

One of the basics in our foundational Yoga training is to let go of judgment. Yet, how many of us can let it go? If we are programmed to be perfect for 30 years, can we stop today? Letting go of the excessive demand for perfection is a gradual process, which may require professional counseling.

There is nothing wrong with wanting life to be perfect; however, you can tell when it is getting out of hand, when the relationships around you are suffering because of it. In this case, it may require counseling for a family or a couple.

On the other hand, a person, who lives in complete disorganization, is apt to create frustration with people who have organized lives. There is a delicate balance between the desire to improve and the demand for perfection.

Fear of Relationships

Each of us has life experiences which occur, due to vulnerability that is part of the relationship-forming process. When we extend ourselves toward another human being, we open ourselves up to the rewards and consequences of negative or positive emotions.

This can happen in any type of relationship. In the teacher/student relationship, the teacher’s feelings should be more reserved. There should be a “mental” line drawn between a professional relationship and any extension of emotional attachment.

Helping Everyone but You

This is like the carpenter, who repairs everyone’s home, but never has the time to fix his or her own house. This desire to help everyone first happens to professionals and trades people of all kinds. With that said – the most common reason people teach Yoga to others is to share the gift of being able to help others help themselves.

Yoga is a method of self-healing that requires each of us to invest time in our personal practice – regardless of how many years we have been practicing.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul

By Paul Jerard, R-RYT 500

When should Yoga teachers consider specialist training? The answer lies within the needs of students with whom you work. Whether it is a specialized group, or an individual student, each Yoga instructor has his or her limits when considering helping students with special needs. Below is a case, where networking and continuing education are the keys to the therapeutic application of Yoga.

Q: I teach Hatha Yoga in a rural area. A few students have asked me for private lessons for back issues. One couple, in particular, both had back surgeries and their doctors recommend Yoga. I’ve got a Mayo Clinic back care Yoga DVD and a couple of older back care yoga books, but I was wondering if you have any advice or recommendations – or if I should say “no.”

From my location, it is a long way for my students to travel for any other Yoga instruction. I am the most experienced “local Yoga teacher” and would love to create a “private practice” or get more experience and exposure, but definitely want to do the right thing. Again, any ideas, advice, recommendations?

A: About working with students who have special needs: If you are the only Yoga teacher in town, research the ailment, and see if you feel comfortable with your knowledge. Consider networking with local doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors. Be honest about what you know and what you do not know.

Tell your students what they should realistically expect from a private session with you. We know that a steady practice of Hatha Yoga sessions will help students, who need to take care of their backs. In fact, there is a need for back care basics for most adults. In areas where adults sit at home, in transit, and on the job, the need for back maintenance is compounded.

Regardless of where we live, the aging process is a reality. As we age, our muscles tighten, bones decrease in density, the range of motion within joints becomes shorter, muscle mass decreases, tendons and ligaments shorten, and articular cartilage degeneration occurs.

However, when practicing asanas, the movements within typical Hatha Yoga sessions lubricate the spine. The spinal discs begin to absorb nutrients. Many of us do not realize these discs are composed of a soft inner core and a tougher outer portion. The composition of discs may be figuratively comparable to a jelly doughnut or a pillow.

A gentle Yoga practice works as a maintenance program for the spine. With all that said – if you do not feel confident that you can meet their needs, you should recommend that they travel to a specialist for Yoga, chiropractor, or physical therapist.

If traveling is a hardship, continuing education, through online Yoga teacher courses, will help you and your students. If you need to learn more about therapeutic applications of Yoga, anatomy, or working with students, who have special needs, a correspondence course will enable you to help the public.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: 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, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul