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	<title>Yoga Teacher Training Blog &#187; Yoga Teacher Issues</title>
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	<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org</link>
	<description>For the continuing education of Yoga teachers</description>
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		<title>Yoga for the Infrequent Practitioner</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/02/09/yoga-for-the-infrequent-practitioner/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/02/09/yoga-for-the-infrequent-practitioner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:10:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[form of exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hatha yoga classes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hatha Yoga is]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parivritta trikonasana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reverse triangle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11952</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Only familiarity with the muscle range allows yoga students to know how far they should push; the temptation to "take it to its limits...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-7757" title="yoga teacher training" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/MD002582-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga certification" width="150" height="150" />By Jenny Park</strong></p>
<p>According to US News &amp; World Report, baby boomers with sports injuries, mostly &#8220;weekend warriors,&#8221; or those who exercise only once a week, are now the number two group coming into doctor&#8217;s offices, behind only those with colds. Their injuries, caused by taking any exercise too far when practicing infrequently, can also be problem in Hatha Yoga classes.</p>
<p>Injuries caused by pushing the muscles too hard, such as tears or over extension, are more common with infrequent exercisers. Only familiarity with the muscle range allows yoga students to know how far they should push; the temptation to &#8220;take it to its limits&#8221; should be avoided. Regular practice also builds muscle memory and allows practitioners to assume the correct posture and position naturally.</p>
<p>Mentally, infrequent practice makes concentration more difficult. Only when the mind is focused does Yoga provide full benefits. &#8220;Yoga in the Workplace,&#8221; a book by Shameem Akhtar, stresses that regularity is more important than lengthy, infrequent practices. Yoga fights stress and muscle aches accumulated over hundreds of hours during the week- expecting a one-hour class attended irregularly to be up to the task of counteracting these issues is not reasonable.</p>
<p><strong>Yoga Teachers Can Make a Difference</strong></p>
<p>As an instructor, infrequent practitioners should be carefully observed and reminded to make sure appropriate modifications are made when needed. Tight hamstrings are a very common problem and affect poses like Downward-facing Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana, Triangle pose or Trikonasana, Reverse Triangle or Parivritta Trikonasana, and even seated poses like Staff pose or Dandasana. Office workers in particular carry a lot of tension in their neck and shoulders, which may translate into lack of flexibility in those areas.</p>
<p>Moving at one&#8217;s own pace should be emphasized, and the misconception that Hatha Yoga is an easy form of exercise should be dispelled. Pre-existing repetitive motion injuries may be more common in our Yoga classes, simply because people without much experience expect anything good to hurt a little. They come to classes thinking it’s easy and push past injuries without thinking. In fact, we know that Yoga should not hurt at all.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t allow classes to become too crowded, as this prevents direct observation and correction of alignment if needed. There have even been cases of students in crowded classes injuring other nearby practitioners by falling over in a pose.</p>
<p>Encourage infrequent practitioners to spend time on restorative poses, as well as those that challenge their bodies. Yoga is not a competition, and he who forces himself into a pose or finishes first is not the winner.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
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		<item>
		<title>The Optimum Yoga Teaching Style</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/02/03/the-optimum-yoga-teaching-style/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/02/03/the-optimum-yoga-teaching-style/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:19:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[knowledgeable yoga teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[optimum yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching style]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching yoga requires]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[type of yoga class]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teaching style]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11915</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The optimum yoga teaching style is think and solve problems based on reliable research and common sense.  There has to be a logical reason...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10998" title="yoga teacher training" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/94320725-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga certification" width="150" height="150" />By Faye Martins</strong></p>
<p>Teaching Yoga requires knowledge and awareness about the practice, including the principles behind it and how it has evolved. Yoga is many things to many people. It is a form of exercise, a way of life and a way to help people enhance their lives and bodies. Yoga provides a sense of calm for some people and offers a way to stay in shape for others. The optimum Yoga teaching style is often a mixture of many different influences joining together in order to provide knowledge and awareness for both teacher and student.</p>
<p>Many practitioners of Yoga find their practice tends to change and grow over time. Some people that practice on a regular basis find themselves doing the same routine; others like to change it up. A Yoga teacher’s style must always seem natural and should be an extension of his or herself. If not, the teacher can risk alienating students. It is important to be able to dispense advice and lead the class without seeming condescending. If you are teaching a gentle flow class, care should be taken to make sure your instructions and guidance are strong yet relaxing.</p>
<p>Students that are taking a more physical type of Yoga class also seem to respond to strong yet encouraging guidance as you lead them through the poses. Many students like to be told the names of the poses and the areas of the body those poses affect. Of course, there is also plenty of time for silence as poses are being held. Your style should reflect your knowledge but at the same time must be flexible enough to handle the unique challenges that some students will represent. A Yoga teacher should be able to encourage his or her students to go places (mentally, physically or emotionally) that they might not otherwise get to – all without seeming harsh or over the top.</p>
<p>The practice of Yoga entails much more than knowing how to execute poses and direct students on proper breathing techniques and body placement. Knowledgeable yoga teachers are aware that learning is a journey that is truly never ending. Finding the optimum Yoga teaching style can be accomplished by gathering knowledge through practice and then sharing that knowledge and awareness with others around you in a relatable manner.</p>
<p>Over the years, I have met many different instructors who reflected nothing more than the initial indoctrination of their guru or a specific type of yoga teacher training. Some people call these teachers parrots or clones. They don’t do diligent independent research and they refuse to look outside the dogma of their leader.  The optimum yoga teaching style is think and solve problems based on reliable research and common sense.  There has to be a logical reason why one yoga technique works and another one doesn&#8217;t.</p>
<p><strong>Food for Thought</strong></p>
<p>If a guru taught you to lock the knee in a balancing pose, openly accept people on high blood pressure medication into a hot yoga class, and to ridicule students who have difficulty with learning yogic principles; you should do some research before teaching one more class. If a yoga teacher doesn’t see the dangers of the above-mentioned scenarios, he or she should enroll in a continuing education course for anatomy or common sense. All Yoga teachers are obligated to be kind, safe, and learn for life.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/%20%20" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Teaching Yoga: The Power of Observation</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/02/01/teaching-yoga-the-power-of-observation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/02/01/teaching-yoga-the-power-of-observation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:42:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga instructors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers share]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers spend]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11900</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although a Hatha Yoga teacher must be able to teach a variety of poses (asanas), practice many forms of meditation, and understand the...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-7699" title="yoga teacher training" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/76746901-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga teacher" width="150" height="150" />By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500</strong></p>
<p>Although a Hatha Yoga teacher must be able to teach a variety of poses (asanas), practice many forms of meditation, and understand the inner workings of Yogic breathing techniques (pranayama), one of the most difficult parts of the job description is observing the class.</p>
<p>It takes a combination of experience, knowledge, and intuition to share concise instructions and ensure each Yoga practitioners’ safety. Good Yoga teachers spend as much, or more, time watching their students as they do demonstrating techniques and postures.</p>
<p>While observation looks simple, it requires a fine balance of attention to individual needs, execution of postures, classroom atmosphere, and safety precautions. In order to have a well-rounded class curriculum, Yoga instructors must simultaneously consider all of these.</p>
<p><strong>Why Observation Is Important in Yoga Classes</strong></p>
<p>• Successful Yoga teachers share information with the entire class while meeting each student on a personal level. Ideally, every person should leave the Yoga studio feeling the lesson targeted his or her specific needs.</p>
<p>• Yoga instructors have a tremendous responsibility to see that every student is safe. This requires knowledge of personal health histories, the risks and cautions related to each activity, and an understanding of the capability of everyone in the class.</p>
<p>• Yoga teachers who are sensitive to students’ learning styles, personalities, and skill levels instinctively know which ones are hesitant to try new techniques and poses or take on new challenges. Some people like risks while others mentally and physically freeze if they feel rushed; some learn best by listening, and others are more adept at listening or observing.</p>
<p>• Yoga incorporates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, which can be a huge amount of information. Often, teachers are stronger in one of these areas than they are in others. A Yoga teacher who recognizes a student’s strengths is better prepared to offer encouragement and praise.</p>
<p>• Observation is the only way for teachers to monitor students’ progress, correct alignment, minimize the chance of injury, and establish a practice of good habits. Learning the proper techniques for Yogic breathing, meditating, and practicing asanas is a basic foundation of student growth and success.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>For Yoga instructors, observation is much like mindfulness. When teachers pay attention and let go of the need to control or judge, the studio transforms into a place where students gain confidence, poise, and serenity. As a result, every person leaves thinking he or she was in a class designed just for him or her.</p>
<p>As teachers, we must strive for a balance between the controlling instructor, who has to assist everyone in the class, and the teacher who has a fear of leaving his or her mat. Observation by &#8220;walking the room&#8221; at times when you cannot see all of your students is the answer.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/%20%20" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Kinesiology Education for Yoga Teachers</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/31/kinesiology-education-for-yoga-teachers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/31/kinesiology-education-for-yoga-teachers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:59:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aspects of hatha yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hatha Yoga is]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kinesiology education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[study of kinetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga instructor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11888</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since Hatha Yoga is based on movement, it makes perfect sense that someone specializing in teaching a physical form of Yoga would be...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1106" title="yoga teacher training" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/trikonasana-assist-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga certification" width="150" height="150" />By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500</strong></p>
<p>Kinesiology is the study of movement. It includes the study of all of the physiological mechanisms of the body. The study of kinetics is important in educational disciplines such as rehabilitation therapy, sports medicine, exercise, biomechanics, and orthopedics. Since Hatha Yoga is based on movement, it makes perfect sense that someone specializing in teaching a physical form of Yoga would be knowledgeable about the kinetics of the body.</p>
<p>More specifically, kinesiology is the scientific study of the body&#8217;s bones, joints, tissues, nerves, and muscles. The practice of Yoga focuses largely on moving the body into positions, which will strengthen and lengthen the joints and muscles. It seems that kinetics and Yoga go hand in hand. When you are teaching Yoga, you are teaching your students how to safely move the body into specific postures for specific results. A Yoga teacher must be knowledgeable about the way the different parts of the body work in conjunction with each other.</p>
<p>Imagine a scenario where you are teaching a class full of beginners how to perform Triangle pose for the first time. You will make sure that students get into a wide stance with proper alignment, and then turn the toes out to the proper degrees. Then students must focus on their hips, keeping them squared forward, and practice moving from the hips as opposed to leading with the shoulders or another body part. Once the hips are in place, students must reach with top arm upward, shoulders down and back. Finally, the Yoga instructor must convey how to reach out and down toward the front foot, while reaching up to the ceiling, opening up the chest, and cast the gaze upward.</p>
<p>That one pose covered nearly the whole body, from toes to head. As students learn to go into the pose, the Yoga instructor needs to be able to understand student limitations and adjust bodies accordingly. This not only requires knowledge of the pose itself, but knowledge of how the body works. If a student experiences pain or discomfort due to a pose, it is the Yoga instructor&#8217;s job to tweak the body to alleviate the discomfort. This requires knowledge of body kinetics.</p>
<p>Kinetic knowledge is crucial background information for Yoga instructors. Although you might not always teach your students about specific tissues or joints, it is important in forming a general understanding of how human bodies work. One of the aspects of Hatha Yoga is to become more in touch with our bodies, so it just makes sense that a Yoga teacher should know the scientific ins and outs of the body.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Yoga Teacher Training and Internet Technology</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/30/yoga-teacher-training-and-internet-technology/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/30/yoga-teacher-training-and-internet-technology/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:28:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher course]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[become a yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[become a yoga instructor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher certification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher training program]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11879</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Internet technology has made it possible for many more Yoga practitioners to participate in a Yoga teacher training program in their own...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3558" title="teaching yoga classes" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/gjs050700175-150x126.jpg" alt="yoga teacher training" width="150" height="126" />By Bhavan Kumar</strong></p>
<p>Internet technology has made it possible for many more Yoga practitioners to participate in a Yoga teacher training program in their own homes, at their own pace and in an affordable fashion. Traditionally, Yoga teacher training programs required the dedication of a substantial amount of time and money. An aspiring Yoga teacher may even have traveled to India to study with a Yogacharya such as B.K.S. Iyengar or Patti Jois, one of the founders of Ashtanga Yoga, for a substantial length of time.</p>
<p>With the advent of Internet technology, a Yoga practitioner may engage in learning the art of teaching Yoga in their own home. With all of the obligations and commitments we all juggle on a daily basis, it may not be possible for an individual to take time out of his or her life to participate in a residential Yoga teacher training program of thirty days or longer. It may be even less possible to travel outside the country for an extended stay in an ashram or monastery to learn the finer points of Yogic philosophy. Internet technology, including video and audio classes and conferences, makes it possible to engage in the study and practice of Yoga teaching from any location throughout the world with Internet access.</p>
<p>The utilization of Internet technology in venue of online Yoga teacher training programs also makes it possible for a Yoga practitioner to study the art and science of teaching Yoga at his or her own pace. Every individual who is aspiring to become a Yoga instructor has a unique story. This story may be one of great physical training and prowess or profound physical challenge. Regardless of an individual&#8217;s level of physical mastery of the asanas, studying to become a Yoga instructor through an online program will allow that individual to perfect the asanas within the context of his or her own life and physical ability.</p>
<p>Residential Yoga teacher training programs can also be quite costly. The tuition alone may be several thousand dollars. When the tuition and the fees for room and board are combined, the cost of a residential program may be beyond the means of many aspiring Yoga teachers. The use of Internet technology to disseminate ancient Yogic teachings to aspiring Yoga teachers allows many more individuals to pursue a Yoga teacher certification. In combination with some weekend workshops at a local Yoga studio and student teaching hours, an online Yoga teacher training program will give you a firm foundation to begin a career as a teacher.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Ethics Education for Yoga Teachers</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/27/ethics-education-for-yoga-teachers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/27/ethics-education-for-yoga-teachers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:05:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ethics education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[For Yoga teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga instructors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher training program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11851</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ethics education for Yoga teachers makes perfect sense.  Whether we like it or not, Yoga students tend to judge their teachers, or have...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9995" title="yoga teacher training" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/94320725-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga certification" width="150" height="150" />By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500</strong></p>
<p>Ethics training is an important component of any career. Business students must learn how to ethically do business, when dealing with finances, accounts, and employees. Doctors must understand the ethics of healthcare and serving patients in a way that fulfills a moral obligation. Service providers must be willing to follow a code of conduct to ensure the trust of their clients. When it comes to teaching Yoga, ethics are no exception. Yoga instructors must adhere to certain lifestyle choices, and stick to a code of ethics for teaching.</p>
<p>When you are a teacher of anything, you tend to end up living in a fish bowl of sorts &#8211; where everyone watches and judges your actions in and out of class. When there is a contrast in behaviors from what people see inside the classroom, as opposed to outside of it, questions of character arise. Who is this person, really? A Yoga instructor, seen guzzling beers every Friday night at the local bar, for example, will be looked upon differently when teaching class. Yoga teachers, who date their students, are opening up many potential problems. Of course, Yoga teachers are people too, and perfection is not the expectation. However, Yogic philosophy encompasses certain principles for living a balanced life, and it is important for Yoga instructors to make those principles inherent to their lifestyles.</p>
<p>The ethics of Yoga include &#8211; treating students with respect, honoring other Yoga teachers, and welcoming all students into the class. Yoga instructors must practice truthfulness in their relationships. They should live a life of integrity and honesty in the classroom and the community. Those of us who choose to become Yoga instructors are obligated to make healthy choices in all aspects of life. Teaching Yoga is more than a job; it is a way of life. It means embracing Yoga&#8217;s philosophies at all times.  In fact, it is not that difficult to &#8220;walk the talk.&#8221;  Teachers should have no difficulty understanding the Yamas and Niyamas.  The Yamas and Niyamas are the guidelines for ethical behavior of all Yoga practitioners &#8211; especially teachers.</p>
<p>Ethics education for Yoga teachers makes perfect sense.  Whether we like it or not, Yoga students tend to judge their teachers, or have certain expectations for us, to display ethical behavior. When a Yoga teacher meets students&#8217; expectations, it puts students at ease. When a Yoga instructor says or does things that do not meet students&#8217; expectations, they are at risk of losing the respect of students. Ethics education is a crucial component of a Yoga teacher training program. It helps produce well-rounded Yoga instructors who know the importance of living an authentic life.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
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		<title>Teaching Yoga: Benefits of Yoga Props</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/26/teaching-yoga-benefits-of-yoga-props/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/26/teaching-yoga-benefits-of-yoga-props/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:59:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[yoga props]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[benefits of yoga props]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hatha Yoga is]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga injuries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga instructors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga poses]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11844</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Narendra Maheshri There is an attitude that a few Yoga teachers have in regard to the use of props. This attitude is based on intolerance for new students and students with special needs. Maybe the Yoga teacher has not received in-depth training of anatomy, or a compassion chip, but arrogant yoga instructors should label [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-7870" title="yoga teacher training" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2005/10/78430201-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga instructor course" width="150" height="150" />By Narendra Maheshri</strong></p>
<p>There is an attitude that a few Yoga teachers have in regard to the use of props. This attitude is based on intolerance for new students and students with special needs. Maybe the Yoga teacher has not received in-depth training of anatomy, or a compassion chip, but arrogant yoga instructors should label their craft accordingly.</p>
<p>Some suggestions would be sauna stretch, extreme stretch and torture, hardcore boot camp stretching, or no pain no gain stretching. By discarding the word “yoga,” there is no deception. A new student would realize that there is as much risk of injury in a class with these yoga teachers as there is in a boxing ring.</p>
<p><strong>Why Yoga Props Make Sense</strong></p>
<p>Newcomers to yoga will find certain props invaluable, especially in the beginning when muscles are tight and rigid. At first, there may be a significance dependence on props that will decrease as flexibility increases. The greatest benefit to using yoga props, is they improve the quality of the pose which creates a better stretch.</p>
<p><strong>Yoga Mats</strong></p>
<p>A mat is probably the most useful of all yoga props. The purpose of a yoga mat is to provide a non-slip surface to stand on while performing yoga poses. A yoga mat protects feet from unwanted movement or slippage while holding a pose. This is instrumental in avoiding injury from slipping. A yoga mat may be used to cover another prop, like yoga block, to provide a non-slip surface. The importance of a yoga mat is creates a safe foundation when practicing yoga.</p>
<p><strong>Yoga Blocks</strong></p>
<p>Yoga block are extremely useful props, especially for beginners who don’t have much stretch and extension at first. A well-placed yoga block can extend the reach of an arm reaching to touch the floor when performing a wide leg stretch with a forward bend like in a triangle pose. Using a yoga block can create a deeper stretch without fear of injury. A yoga block can help maintain balance while posing, give support in a seated twist, or help maintain balance during a pose.</p>
<p><strong>Yoga Straps</strong></p>
<p>Yoga straps are indispensable when performing a seated forward stretch to the toes. Tight hamstrings may make it too difficult to reach the toes. Feeding a yoga strap around the toes and holding the ends of the strap in each hand will aid and enhance the stretch gently until the hamstrings loosen. Placing the strap around the toes anchors the yoga strap so the ends can be pulled to increase the stretch from the hips bending forward. A yoga strap aids stretching and holding yoga poses without straining. This makes it easy to push limits and improve yoga poses resulting in greatly improved flexibility.</p>
<p><strong>Yoga Blankets</strong></p>
<p>A yoga blanket may be used to comfort and support the body with a variety of yoga poses. The blanket can be folded and used to sit on to ease the strain of several seated poses, allowing the pose to be held longer with a deeper stretch. A yoga blanket can be folded or rolled to support the back or neck with poses that stress those areas. This is a versatile prop because it can be folded and shaped to suit almost any pose.</p>
<p><strong>What are the Benefits?</strong></p>
<p>Practicing asana, meditation, and pranayama without an injury is what we want for our students.  Some people cannot sit with their legs crossed on the floor.  In that case, we have to find a solution.  As Paulji often stresses, &#8220;Hatha Yoga is adapted to the needs of the individual student.&#8221;  Our students take yoga classes to have better health and props insure the experience is a good one.  Our objective is no yoga injuries at all.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
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		<title>Teaching Yoga and Finding a Mentor</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/24/teaching-yoga-and-finding-a-mentor/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/24/teaching-yoga-and-finding-a-mentor/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:02:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best yoga teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skilled yoga instructor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[younger yoga instructor]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11825</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Teaching Yoga requires a complex set of skills, knowledge, and methods that are best learned through practice. The best Yoga teachers...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-8335" title="yoga teacher training " src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/100151872-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga certification" width="150" height="150" />By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500</strong></p>
<p>One of the ways that Yoga teachers grow, and learn, in their profession is by finding a mentor. A mentor teacher is usually someone with a few more years of experience; someone who excels at what they do; and someone wishing to enrich the teaching skills of a younger Yoga instructor.</p>
<p>Teaching Yoga requires a complex set of skills, knowledge, and methods that are best learned through practice. The best Yoga teachers improve, and progress, as they gain experience in the studio or ashram. A mentor teacher can provide valuable advice and knowledge to less experienced instructors, and a place for the new Yoga teacher to voice frustrations and concerns.</p>
<p>Find a mentor that you admire. Usually, you can spot mentor-worthy Yoga teachers by the way they run their class, the way their students feel about them, or by the way they make you feel when interacting with them. Approach a potential mentor by letting them know how you admire their teaching methods, and how you aspire to be able to teach in a manner that is similar to theirs. Ask if they would be interested in mentoring you, as you begin your journey as a Yoga instructor.</p>
<p>You might begin by asking to observe their class. Focus your observation on one thing at a time. One class you might hone-in on is how your mentor interacts with students, and during another, you might consider the cues given for each pose. Take notes as you observe, noting methods or comments you liked, and any questions you have for your mentor. Spend time after class discussing ideas. Have an open mind, and try to absorb all the advice you can. Although you won&#8217;t use all the ideas your mentor gives you, eventually, you will assimilate all of these skills with your own Yoga practice.</p>
<p>You can also ask your mentor to watch you, in action, while teaching. Ask him or her to note anything that didn&#8217;t quite work, or any concerns they see in your practice. Be willing to take criticism and advice &#8211; knowing that it will help you become a better teacher in the long run.</p>
<p>If you approach a skilled Yoga instructor about being a mentor, and they are not interested, just find another. It is important for the mentor-student relationship to be a willing relationship on both parts. The mentor must be willing to spend extra time with you &#8211; to nurture your growing skills as a Yoga teacher.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
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		<title>Interpersonal Skills of a Yoga Teacher</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/21/interpersonal-skills-of-a-yoga-teacher/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/21/interpersonal-skills-of-a-yoga-teacher/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:09:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interpersonal skills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[knowledge of yoga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skills of a yoga teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga class]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga instructor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga instructors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11805</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The actions and words of a Yoga teacher should convey respect toward the students. Instructors should never boast, or demean students in...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-7892" title="vinyasa yoga class" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2005/11/78428498-150x150.jpg" alt="yoga teacher training" width="150" height="150" />By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 </strong></p>
<p>Students attending a Yoga class expect to find a calm, comfortable environment; a warm, inviting space, soft music, and quiet voices. They expect to be greeted with a smile by the Yoga instructor, as well as the other students. Yoga students often form relationships, based upon the mutual interest in Yoga and wellness. This entire atmosphere is created and nurtured by the instructor. The Yoga teacher sets the tone for the entire class through his or her own methods of interpersonal communication.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is important that the Yoga teacher has a set of interpersonal skills that are role model worthy. Although Yoga teachers spend much of the class talking by giving cues, information, and reminders, it is also important for them to be active listeners. Teachers need to tune-in to the needs and personalities of their students in order to serve them well during class. Students want to feel like valued members of the group, and Yoga teachers can support this need by listening.</p>
<p>Yoga instructors also need to work on their tone of voice. They should deliver material in a voice that is calm and even. It must be loud enough for everyone to hear, but not so loud that it changes the calming atmosphere of the room. Many Yoga instructors deliver cues in a lilting voice that can encourage students to go deeper into a state of relaxation. It is fine to laugh and have fun during Yoga class, while keeping the structure of class intact.</p>
<p>Body language is an integral part of non-verbal communication. Instructors need to convey a welcoming spirit through body language. They should avoid crossing their arms, instead placing them loosely at their sides when talking with students before and after class. It is also important to maintain eye contact when speaking individually with students, and always scan the room making eye contact with students while teaching class.</p>
<p>The actions and words of a Yoga teacher should convey respect toward the students. Instructors should never boast, or demean students in any way. A modest approach is best, where the instructor imparts his or her knowledge of Yoga while remaining humble.</p>
<p>Even if these skills do not come naturally, they can be developed and honed by Yoga instructors who are eager to succeed. It can help to watch more experienced instructors during their classes to observe how they interact with students. Allow your own personality to shine as well, but make sure you are always communicating in a way that is open, comfortable, and friendly.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
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		<title>Advice for New Yoga Teachers</title>
		<link>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/20/advice-for-new-yoga-teachers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2012/01/20/advice-for-new-yoga-teachers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:33:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new yoga teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new yoga teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga classes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yoga teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoga Teacher Training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/?p=11797</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a new yoga teacher, you may feel like you need to always have all the answers all of the time. Instead, view teaching as a learning...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1084" title="yoga instructor training" src="http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/beach-group-150x133.jpg" alt="yoga teacher training" width="150" height="133" />By Sanjeev Patel, CYT 500</strong></p>
<p>When all the training and preparation is complete, the final step to becoming a full fledged yoga teacher is to successfully teach that first class. Even with all the groundwork laid out, the first classes can be daunting. Paulji once told me, “Embrace this moment, soon you will be so busy teaching your students that you will forget to be nervous.”</p>
<p>The first thing is to keep the focus on the students, not you. At the end of the day it&#8217;s not about you; it&#8217;s all about them. By keeping the right attitude and paying the utmost attention to being of service to others, a lot of pressure to perform perfectly is eliminated. This leads to classes that are satisfying and fulfilling for the students that will hopefully make up your long term clientele.</p>
<p>In addition to always keeping your focus on being of service to others, also strive to be genuine. There are lots of yoga classes out there and the thing that&#8217;s going to set yourself and your class apart is the unique perspective and style that you as an individual yoga teacher have. No one sees your students in quite the same way as you do, and for some people your insight and perspective is going to fit their physical, spiritual and emotional needs perfectly. Not everyone is going to find your own personal brand of yoga to be a good fit for them, and that&#8217;s okay. You want to attract a clientele of students who are like minded and share the same goals and style as you do. You can&#8217;t make a class fit everybody, and if you tried, your teaching style would be generic and uninspired. Be yourself, and let your students do the same. This builds up a clientele that&#8217;s like a supportive community!</p>
<p>As a new yoga teacher, you may feel like you need to always have all the answers all of the time. Instead, view teaching as a learning opportunity for yourself as well. Looking at your time with each student as an opportunity for learning keeps teachers from becoming rigid and makes them more open minded. It also makes the teacher seem more confident and capable as well, because only those who are confident and self-possessed will be open to learning from their own students. You might be all nerves inside, but your students will see you as a confident and capable instructor who is self-assured and secure in their knowledge. Talk about getting off on the right foot!</p>
<p>Completing your yoga teacher training is not the end of your educational experience by any means, and as a new yoga teacher your first classes will be rich opportunities for learning and growth as an instructor. This part of your career only happens once, so be sure to live in the moment and enjoy it! If you&#8217;re having a good time, you can bet your students are too.</p>
<p>© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division</p>
<p>To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/" target="_blank">http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/</a></p>
<p>FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”</p>
<p>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!</p>
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