The right path? « Yoga Teacher Training Forum

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The right path?

(14 posts) (12 voices)

Started 4 years ago by astrid
Latest reply from laparadis

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astrid
Member

Hello Everyone

THANK YOU firstly for this fantastic site and forums. This is most informative.

I am seriously thinking about becoming a Yoga Teacher because of the incredible benefits I have received since starting Yoga only a couple of years ago.

So much has happened since that first class that I really want to help others.

There is so much to yoga that I feel inadequate to even think I could teach it to others after such a short time learning it myself.
What are you thoughts? That is my first question
the second one is about being properly trained and registered (for the peace of mind of future students) as I have attended a few classes and found some truly awfully dangerous direction being given by the Teacher during the class itself.
Kindly advise me.

Many thanks
Kind Regards
Astrid
London UK

Posted 4 years ago #
vanessabrewster
Member

Namaskar Astrid,

You bring up many good points. It's a good experience to recognize good yoga teachers from not so good teachers. In this way, you already know what you would and would not do. But poor yoga teachers can hurt you, so it isn't worth your while to keep training with a teacher who might cause you to be injured.

Your modesty: Keep it because modesty is a beautiful quality, but if you feel you could teach better than some of your teachers you have some thinking to do. You may have a natural talent for teaching yoga.

The right path: There is no single path. All yoga teachers are students for life. We learn everything we can. But it is easier to learn from the mistakes of others. It dsn't hurt as much. Although we never forget our personal mistakes.

Certification is a good start for yoga teachers. In that way, you can begin to develop your teaching skills. Also, you should get sports or yoga liability insurance.

Registration: It's optional in most parts of the world.

Om Shanti,

Vanessa

Posted 4 years ago #
Jeanné
User

Hi Astrid,

You have come to the right place to get really great information. One of the most important things a yoga teacher can possess is enthusiasm. I can tell by what you have written that you already love yoga and would have an incredible passion for teaching.

By taking the Aura teacher training course, you will learn what you need to teach responsibly and be a mentor to your students. I may not be the most experienced yoga teacher, but I care about my students and love to teach. I am always willing to listen to them and learn what changes they would like to see in class.

You are well on your way. I wish you the best.

Namaste,
Jeanne

Posted 4 years ago #
astrid
Member

Hi Jeanne and Vanessa

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kind and insightful words. They have given me even more encouragment to really go for it.

As a qualified swimming teacher and working as a professional Nanny in the UK I have some understanding of the importance to promote safety and being aware of the importance of promoting the duty to learning How to take care of one's life towards self-realisation in a small way. Learning to help someone feeling better about their body and soul would be a dream. even if I only affect one person;s life. That would be fantastic to me.
The only thing that troubles me is my real lack of of confidence in myself. But that is another matter. I always feel a FRAUD. In the sense that : if I dont know all about the Yoga world and someone asks me a question i am not able to answer "I will be found out as a Fraud and not really a PROPER Yoga Teacher for example.

Ds this make sense to you?

Actually since stumbling across this site I have felt so elated and fearful at the same time. odd I know but with tears rolling down my face (even as I write ) I really want to make a difference.

I have so many questions. Is there anyone in UK who has qualified with Aura that I could get in touch with?

I live in South West London and would love to speak to someone, I am not too used to conversing on internet like this and feel a little strange, especially since all your posting as so positive, I would not want to dampen this wonderful site by asking silly questions.

Looking forward to your hearing back from you

And thank you again for your kind words

Kind Regards
Astrid Pearce
London UK

Posted 4 years ago #
Jeanné
User

Hello again Astrid,

Please do not feel as if your questions are silly. We are all here to help one another and no question is off limits. As for feeling like a "fraud", I used to feel very unsure of myself when I first started teaching as there were so many more experienced teachers out there. Whenever I had a question I could not answer, I would e-mail Paul and he would always respond promptly. Yoga is like anything else in your life, the more you practice, the more comfortable you feel doing it.

I do not know of anyone in the UK that you could chat with - sorry. However, I would encourage you to stay here and learn as much as you can. There are so many wonderful and experienced teachers here.

As I said in my last post, your passion really comes across and that is such a vital part of teaching. Proper form, class organization, insurance - all these things are important, but I truly believe passion for yoga tops that list. Without it, it is impossible to be a good teacher. You are already in possession of the most valuable asset a yoga teacher can have!

Namaste,
Jeanne

Posted 4 years ago #
Gator
Member

Hi Astrid,

Thank you for being honest about your feelings. Yours are true heart felt posts about becoming a yoga teacher and real life experiences. This is another amazing thread. At least you took the step forward to communicate your true feelings. Jeanne' is one of the most loved Yoga teachers on the forums. She is respected because her heart is in the right place. When she was sick they put a get well card on the forums. She gives honest information straight from the heart. Vanessa also gave you solid information and advice.

Aura does have graduates in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all over the world. If you look through the testimonials you should find a UK based yoga teacher. Some of the testimonials leave their websites. That can help you contact a live body

I know that Mark Jones in Spain is an Englishman. He is around the fourth page. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/te ... als-4.html At Aura there are many yoga teachers from around the world. They have guest teachers from Canada, England, Holland, Turkey and Egypt.

One thing - About Confidence and Fraud: Everybody questions themselves. That part of life is very real and it is hard to stare self doubt in the face. But it can be done and you took action by writing to this Yoga forum that has a fair share of yoga instructor traffic.

Whatever you do in life move forward with a real purpose and a plan to be the best you can be. Don't let fear freeze you into procrastination. You will always regret inaction. Best of luck to you in 2009 and Happy Christmas.

Peace,
Gator

Posted 4 years ago #
shobhita03
Member

i would really appreciate your though of teaching yoga to others. u wish to share what ever knowledge you have. but i think u should also consider the fact that the knowledge what you share should be the right one. so practice perfectly and thn go ahead.

All The Best.

http://in.88db.com/bangalore/html/image ... /yoga.html

Posted 3 years ago #
lea
Member

Namaskar shobhita03,

I agree with you to a point. The path to perfection can lead to many pit falls. And if I practice perfectly will that make me a better yoga teacher? To transcend from student to teacher is not a path of perfection. We are all humans and we make mistakes.

There are many reasons for mistakes. If I am perfect in my practice, will I lack compassion for my students? Will I demand that they all be able to practice yoga the same as I do? Will I demand that they eat as I do? Sometimes it happens that the student who ds everything perfect isn't a good yoga teacher at all.

Many times the teachers who are best have learned by observing their mistakes and the mistakes of others.

Peace,

Posted 3 years ago #
yoga
Member

It is interesting to consider the "right path" of Yoga teaching. What is it? Kundalini, Mantra, Yantra, Raja, Bhakti, Hatha, Tantra, Karma or Jnana? There are many paths and many combinations of paths. There is no single right path, but there are many good paths.

Posted 3 years ago #
Starlight
User

Namaskar Dear Ones:

Yoga makes a good point. Which is the right path? Which is true yoga? If a path isn't right for you, don't take it. A style that is popular, might work for somebody else. The yoga that reaches your heart, mind, and soul is the true yoga for you. We learn that hatha yoga is a multi-dimensional practice, in that the practice of asana, is a part that unites the aspirant with the universal consciousness.

In contrast, Bhakti is a style of spiritual yoga concerned with devotion and prayer. What does this style of yoga have to do with the physical practice most of us have been learning? Bhakti and Hatha seem completely like separate practices! How can they be related to each other?

There are many different forms of yoga, including some that might not incorporate the practice of yoga asanas. Among these types of yoga are different paths to the ultimate goals of inner harmony, samadhi, enlightenment or self-realization. Within each yogic path are many different branches or styles of yoga.

Some of these paths of yoga attempt to transform an individual. One might become confused by observing yogis in India practice Bhakti yoga. There is no one path to enlightenment, the path that is right for you, is the right path. If a path does not work for you, do not take it. Do not take a path because it is popular, or because it works for someone else. Only do what speaks to you. This is true yoga.

Yoga paths can be physical, spiritual, or both. They can be focused on devotion to God, service to other people, or physical mastery and then spiritual enlightenment. With many different forms of yoga it's common to be confused,

Om Shanti,

Posted 3 years ago #
mtnsol
Member

Pranam,

Well said - Starlight. I'm not sure that Astrid was thinking about the right path in this way, but this is a deeper Yoga topic that should be mentioned.

Peace

Posted 3 years ago #
classyoga
Member

Pranam,

There is only one path of Yoga. The path of the Hindu is the only right path! Yoga teachings are for Hindus only. No need to read or talk further on this matter. You aren't welcome for your theft of Yoga. Non-Hindus can practice stretching because you will get nothing else out of our sacred practice. You westerners can rename it "stretch and flex." Westerners can stop stealing from the Hindu culture anytime.

Sincerely,

Swami P

Posted 3 years ago #
dilipji
Member

Namaste,

Swami P: You are speaking for yourself. Fortunately, your viewpoint is in the minority. People need to work together to correct all this misinformation that you spread. We have better things to discuss than your minor objections. We are all wasting precious time by reasoning with narrow minded people like you. Most of us in India share the vision of the benefits Vedic culture can give society.

Hari Om,

Posted 3 years ago #
laparadis
User

Namaskar!

I guess we are still discussing the right path. As I can see by the posts above there are many paths and many views. This is what makes yoga so endearing to my heart. A Buddhist might say the Noble Eightfold Path is the right path toward self-realization. A devout Christian might say - Jesus led us to see the way of compassion. A Hindu might say The Eight Limbs described by Patanjali is the right path.

What do these principles have in common? They were said or written by good people. They are moral codes of mutual respect. Understand this: Yoga is a path where a Jew, Hindu, Muslim, Athiest, Hindu or Buddhist can walk together in peace. No Yogi wants to change your religion. If they do - get away fast because they are not a true Guru.

Hari OM

Posted 3 years ago #

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