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Teaching Easy Yoga Practices

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Sangeetha Saran

If you have taken a Yoga teacher training intensive, you might have forgotten what it was like in the beginning of your journey. Maybe you teach gentle restorative classes for therapeutic purposes or maybe you teach hot vinyasa classes to students dripping in sweat. Either way, Yoga instructors need to look into the mindset of a typical beginner, who might have been physically inactive for years, might want to shed some weight and might not be an olympic athlete. Let’s look deep inside the beginner’s mind.

Inside the Mind of a New Student

If you think the practice of Yogic posturing (asana) is all about flexible, thin bodies, you might feel intimidated by the thought of giving it a try. Well, think again. These days, classes can be found everywhere from senior centers to preschools, and medical doctors are recommending it to their patients as a complementary means of reducing stress and promoting healthy lifestyles. That doesn’t mean that one’s asana practice can’t be strenuous and advanced, but it does mean there’s a place for everybody, regardless of age or physical condition.

While most people associate it with the practice of poses, The Yoga Sutras have Eight Limbs that embrace everything from spirituality and clean living to exercise and meditation. Even the practice of asanas, or poses, varies from gentle and easy to vigorous and complex. Within any given category, there is still room for a wide range of levels and styles. There are many “easy” Yogic practices, and not all of them are the same.

Three Easy Steps to a Yoga Practice

 • Breathing is a function of our autonomic nervous system, but that doesn’t mean we should take it for granted. The art of pranayama teaches Yoga practitioners to become more aware of the breathing process and to increase the vital energy, also known as prana, coming into the body. Alternate nostril breathing is one of the most common and popular techniques.

• Relaxation of the mind and the body is a big part of any Yoga training session. Poses relax muscles, remove toxins and prepare the body for meditation. Restorative postures provide gentle stretches that prepare beginners for more advanced exercises, but they can also be adapted to suit students with physical limitations and challenges. Among these are Child’s Pose, Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose and simple, supported inversions.

• Yoga sessions often end with meditation, sometimes in seated asanas, but frequently in Corpse Pose. More difficult than it looks, the goal of this posture is total relaxation. While meditation and poses can be practiced separately, they also complement each other. Meditation increases awareness of the body and seeks to join the mind, body and spirit.

Easy practices often involve beginners or people with specific needs, consulting an experienced instructor before starting is a necessity. For people who are unable to attend regular classes, learning the correct procedure in the beginning will eliminate injuries and guarantee maximum benefits. Please consult your medical doctor before beginning the physical practice (asana and pranayama) of Yoga.

Side Notes for Teachers

If you teach Yoga to new students in a gentle and compassionate atmosphere, you are doing fine by keeping them safe. If you are a fire-breathing boot camp minded Yoga instructor: Instead of wishing you were a drill sergeant in your real life, just recommend the students who don’t meet your physical demands to a compassionate teacher. If you are an instructor who can teach everyone: There aren’t many teachers who can teach both extremes, but they exist and I salute you!

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training and continuing education courses for specialized Yoga certification, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free report, newsletter, videos, podcasts, and e-Book: “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio owner, 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!

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Teaching Yoga to Seniors

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

chair yoga teacher trainingBy Rachel Holmes

A chair yoga teacher training course is an eye opener, but to go out into the world teaching students is an awakening. As a result of its promise for low impact activity that both strengthens the body and makes it more flexible, yoga is becoming ever more popular among seniors. In fact, most people past middle age acknowledge how important to their health a regular activity is, and medical research demonstrates the necessity for body weight strength exercises that build muscle and can help reverse bone loss, as well.

Yoga’s appeal to seniors is clear: regular practice can improve physical health, soothe aches and pains that are common during the aging process and offer calming strategies for anxious or fearful minds.

Yoga instructors should be aware that a class aimed at seniors requires careful planning and plenty of flexibility. Physical limitations can make it difficult for many to students to do a pose completely, so instructors need to be prepared to make modifications whenever appropriate. I keep the following ideas in mind when I begin planning to teach yoga to seniors.

Know Thy Student

Due to the fact that some classes have older students who are strong, in shape, and sometimes even advanced yoga practitioners, teaching them can be invigorating and insightful. On the other hand, I have also taught classes where many students are just being introduced to asana practice or have injuries or medical issues that can be severely limiting to their practice. Whenever I meet a new student, I make sure we talk about his or her physical health and that I have a clear idea of any problems or pain that might throw up a red flag. Knowing a student’s medical history can be incredibly important during the planning process, as well.

Plan Modifications

Once you know what your students can and cannot do, you must plan your yoga sequences accordingly. For example, one student I work with regularly has a weak hip and accompanying lower back pain. We modify poses for him by using a chair to keep him off the floor and to keep pressure off his hip. Planning ahead of time ensures the yoga sequence still flows smoothly without breaks or delays.

Utilize Props

There is nothing wrong with a student using props to do his or her personal best asana practice. I know some instructors who shy away from using props because they worry that those beginning students, who start out using props, will never completely master an asana or sequence. The problem with this mindset is that many students need to begin with props, and as they become more flexible, they might begin to phase off the props. Planning to utilize them from the beginning can help protect seniors who need to ease into poses and, hopefully, help convert those students into lifelong practitioners.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training and continuing education courses for specialized Yoga certification, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free report, newsletter, videos, podcasts, and e-Book: “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio owner, 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!

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How to Teach Yoga to Golfers

Saturday, October 20th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Kimaya Singh

Golf centers, courses and retail stores can be found almost everywhere. Golf is a popular game that seems to involve hitting a small ball into a small hole. True golfers know it is much more than that. It’s a game of great skill and precision, great concentration and focus. Many golfers complain of lower back pain due to the twisting of the spine during each swing. Yoga training can be an effective way to strengthen the core, loosen the spine and improve any golfer’s focus. Private yoga sessions for golfers might be the key to their success on and off the course.

Focus and Visualize

One of the most important aspects of golf involves being able to focus, visualize and block outside stimuli while making your shot. Golfers rely on the body’s memory of the perfect swing to perform for each hole. When golfers are distracted by noises, anxiety, the weather or other distractions it affects the way they swing. Yoga instructors can teach them important breathing techniques to reduce anxiety or meditation and visualization techniques to use each time they make a shot.

Stretch the Low Back

Many golfers complain of lower back pain due to the repeated twisting of the spine during a swing. Yoga teachers should plan a routine that includes plenty of stretches targeting the lower back and hamstring muscles to provide relief.

Balance the Body

A golfer’s swing involves continual twisting of the spine which causes the muscles on one side of the spine to develop more than the other side. Asana practice can help golfers by providing a balance to each side of the body. Stability and flexibility in the hips and spine will help the golfer’s overall game.

Strengthen the Core

Core strength is a key component to athletes engaging in many sports including golf. Since the spine is worked quite heavily while swinging, a strong core will keep the spine straight and also help to take some of the burden off the spine. Yoga instructors should make sure to include poses that will strengthen the core muscles.

Stay Focused on the Golfer

When teaching private yoga training sessions to golfers; remember that they have specific goals and desired outcomes related to better performance on the golf course. Unless the client has specified other needs, keep the routine focused on poses that will help them perform as a golfer. As clients make progress and see the positive results, perhaps they will approach you with the desire to enhance their yoga practice even further.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training and continuing education courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free report, newsletter, videos, podcasts, and e-Book: “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio owner, 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!

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Teaching Yoga to Golfers

Monday, September 3rd, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins 

Most graduates of yoga teacher training courses don’t get any tips about where to find a teaching position.  Why?  The organizers have no intention of sharing that knowledge because they see a finite pie of yoga teaching opportunities.  They don’t want to train you well enough to teach yoga across the street.  Luckily, some us were trained to see the infinite opportunities for yoga instructors.  Networking with your local golf center or country club is such a huge opportunity that I have to share it with you.

Yoga encompasses as much mental work as physical. Golfers rely on physical strength and movement to perfect their swing and stroke. But each time they approach a hole, each time they take that back swing, it is essential to put conscious thoughts away and let the subconscious memory take over. Perhaps Chevy Chase said it best in “Caddy Shack,” the classic movie released in 1980: “I’m going to give you a little advice. There’s a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball.” 

Some golfers become so frustrated by the mental aspect of the game that they never succeed in the sport. Even if they have the fundamental movements down, the feelings of nervousness and self-doubt creep up each time they play, causing them to throw off the game. Others find ways to overcome the mental barriers, finding peace and satisfaction with the game. Some golfers have found that pairing their game with a few yoga techniques helps to calm the conscious mind and rely on the subconscious to make the hole. 

Breathing 

During intense moments of anxiety, a few deep breaths can work wonders. Golfers should always check in with their physical bodies during a game, sensing any discomfort or fear hidden away inside. To release the anxiety, discomfort or fear they can breath deeply, filling up the entire abdomen, lungs and chest. A slow, gradual release of the breath will immediately calm a person. 

Visualization 

Golfers can also benefit by visualizing their swing or where they want the ball to go. As Chevy Chase would recommend, golfers can truly “Be the ball.” By opening up the mind and visualizing the desired outcome, golfers are able to release from conscious thoughts and feelings. Relying on intuition and the practiced movements that are ingrained in the subconscious, a golfer will find greater success. 

Mantra 

Another yoga technique that golfers can use is positive affirmations and self-talk. Repeating a short, positive mantra will help instill confidence. The mantra can be anything from, “I succeed at golf,” to “A hole in one.” By repeating this over and over between holes or just before a swing, the golfer is letting go of doubts and worries and giving in to positive thoughts. 

In addition to mental benefits, yoga postures can also provide relief for golfers on the physical end. Postures targeting the arms, shoulders and core help to release muscle tension or soreness that builds up over time.

Teacher Tips

Golfers have no worries about private sessions or classes with a yoga instructor.  Many of them take private instruction for golf and personal fitness training.  At the same time, they are dedicated and easy to work with.  If your yoga instructor training course didn’t have the option available for networking and marketing your skills, stay tuned and I’ll give you more. 

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free Report, Newsletter, Videos, Podcasts, and e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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How to Teach Yoga: Neck and Shoulders

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

yoga teacherBy Faye Martins

How often do your yoga classes emphasize releasing tension from upper stress joints? Every hatha yoga instructor training course contains vital information for proper care of the neck and shoulders. Yet, do we give our yoga students all of the tools and information needed to maintain their upper body joints?

General Information for Your Students

In today’s world there are many elements that can cause stress, especially with the state of the economy and other changes that can affect personal lives in many ways. There is a reason that people use the saying, “weight of the world on my shoulders.” Due to the fact that when we carry that “weight” it definitely affects the neck and shoulders, this area of the body needs special care.

Not only that, the neck and shoulders get a lot of use each day, injuries to these areas are among the most commonly suffered ailments. When you have a stiff neck or sore shoulders it can inhibit you from performing at your best each day. A regular scheduled hatha yoga practice can cure any stress on the neck and shoulders and also help melt away that daily stress.

When it comes to physical yoga practice there are many asanas that can be practiced at a scheduled time, but there are also many modified moves that you can do as you’re getting ready for work, at your desk, or right before bed that will help as well. Even with a busy schedule you should still try to practice at least an hour, and at least three times a week. The following are just some of the recommended asanas and modified poses to relieve neck and shoulder pain.

Modified Asanas and Warm ups

• Ear-to-Shoulder – Gently drop the ear to the shoulder at each side.

• Chin-to-Chest – Pull the chin into the chest and inhale deeply.

• Shoulder Circles – Raise the shoulders up, back and down while breathing deeply.

• Neck Roll – Inhale as you slowly roll the head forward from left to right, exhale back from right to left. Do not tilt your head back, while practicing neck rolls.

• Side Stretch – With feet hip width apart, stretch both arms to the ceiling and take turns pulling one arm gently to the side at a time.

• Open Chest – Lace your fingers behind you as you sit forward on the chair, palms facing in. Gently lift arms and place them on the top of the chair, gently press the chest forward.

• Chair Twist – Sit forward in a chair and bring both thighs to the right side. Place the left hand on the right knee and the right hand on the back/left side of the chair and stretch. Repeat on the opposite side.

Asanas for Neck and Shoulders 

• Dolphin Pose

• Eagle Arms

• Forward Fold – gently turn head side to side and use gentle nodding movements during

• Downward Dog

• Cat and Cow 

Teacher Tips

Teach yoga students to maintain their bodies at home. If you know your students don’t practice outside of your studio, it might be best to produce a handout that gives them tips for practicing yoga at home. One example is: 15-minute yoga training sessions. Sometimes, our students need a gentle nudge in the right direction to live the best possible life.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free Report, Newsletter, Videos, Podcasts, and e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga Teacher Training: The Quest for True Self

Saturday, August 18th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Jenny Park

To some, the quest for anything may sound similar to the title of an action movie. However, the quest for true self, when it comes to yoga teacher training is filled with much less peril. It is filled with plenty of adventure though. This journey is one that will affect your entire life. It will teach you a wonderful way to get to the deeper root of the problem and heal yourself naturally from the inside out. We have what are considered blocks, which prevent us from becoming the whole person we are meant to be. They block our minds from connecting to our physical body, but yoga training clears those obstructions and allows us to live up to our full potential.

How to Connect to the True Self

In order to reach ones “true self” through yoga training, environment is very important. Where you practice will allow focus, an inner peace, and most of all comfort. If a yoga student is uncomfortable they will not let go of themselves, and in turn they will not flourish. As the student practices, learns to control breathing, gains focus, and really feels each movement they will encounter limitations. It is in those limitations that the true self is discovered.

Origins

Many spiritual traditions include meditation of some kind and stress the importance of finding one’s self. For hundreds of years, yoga asana have been practiced by different cultures for this sole purpose. So many, especially in today’s age are over concerned with their outward self. This is the self that everyone sees, judges, and experiences. Many try to live up to the standards seen in the media when it comes to wealth, looks, and success. When practicing yoga training one can let go of all preconceived notions that others expect, and they expect of themselves. They can focus on their true self, and how it affects the world around them. Creating connections to everything else allows them to free themselves from the prison of trying to be what is expected and becoming who they are destined to be.

Before or after you teach yoga class, take a moment to just breathe. Mentally offer yourself to the universe as an open vessel willing to take everything in. Everything around you is interconnected in some way. Open your eyes and appreciate it all, as it is, in its true form of beauty. Include yourself in this acceptance and begin your journey to find your true self.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free Report, Newsletter, Videos, Podcasts, and e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga Teacher Training: Anxiety Disorders

Sunday, July 29th, 2012

yoga teacherBy Faye Martins

If you practice and teach Yoga daily, you probably have a handle on anxiety.  One intern in a Yoga teacher training intensive had entered the course to master a method that would reduce or eliminate his anxiety.  A few years later, he let us know that it had worked for him.  His objective was self-mastery first and possibly to teach Yoga classes down the road. 

Depending on our outlooks and our life styles, we all have some degree of stress in our lives. Some people, however, are so afraid or anxious that these feelings hardly ever go away. Around 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders like panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and phobias every year. According to the April 2009 edition of the “Harvard Mental Health Newsletter,” Yogic exercise helps us to master these conditions.

Regardless of its cause, every real or imagined threat we encounter activates a series of physiological changes in the body, most of which occur simultaneously.

• The brain signals the adrenal glands to release harmful hormones into the bloodstream, preparing the body to flee or to fight.

• Breathing speeds up, and the body releases fats and glucose to supply energy to fend off the danger.

• The heart beats up to five times faster than usual, and blood pressure rises.

• Blood vessels constrict and direct blood and oxygen away from the organs and to the muscles and brain.

• Muscles contract as they prepare for action.

Anyone familiar with Yogic methodology will notice that the body’s reaction to stress is exactly opposite of its reaction to deep breathing, meditation, and asana. While medication and psychotherapy are a vital part of care for some people who suffer from anxiety disorders, Yoga can be an important complement to traditional treatment. It may even reduce the need for medication, but no one should stop taking medication without consulting a professional.

Any pose that calms the nervous system, relaxes muscles, or improves circulation will also reduce tension. While a regular Yoga training is always the best option, there are specific poses that reduce anxiety.

15 Asanas for Anxiety Disorders

1. Easy Pose

2. Bridge Pose

3. Child’s Pose

4. Staff Pose

5. Bow Pose

6. Cat Pose

7. Camel Poses

8. Cow Pose

9. Fish Poses

10. Downward-Facing Dog Pose

11. Extended Triangle Pose

12. Head-to-Knee Forward Bend

13. Seated Forward Bend

14. Half Moon Pose

15. Prayer Pose

In 2007, researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine conducted brain scans of participants immediately following Yoga training sessions and found elevated levels of a feel-good neurotransmitter called GABA. Since a shortage of GABA is linked with depression and anxiety, results look promising for the use of Yogic methodology as an effective intervention for anxiety disorders.

Side Notes for Yoga Teachers

Although one Yoga teacher training course may be enough for one person, it should be noted that our students need to understand that daily practice is the real key.  Even the most emotionally stable people can become overwhelmed by anxiety if they don’t have a solution for dealing with it.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training and continuing education courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free report, newsletter, videos, podcasts, and e-Book: “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio owner, 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!

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Teach Yoga Students to Manage Back Pain

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Faye Martins

When you teach yoga classes, how often do students ask about techniques to reduce back pain?  Study after study shows that yogic exercise helps significantly with managing back pain in conjunction with medical treatment. Yoga strengthens and balances the body while it grants students more control of their minds. Each of these factors alone become huge benefits, when dealing with back pain, but together, they feel like a miracle. Participants of one study reported a decrease in pain,  functional disability, and depression. Sixty-eight percent of the participants of that study assigned to practice yoga training also continued to practice the art after the study concluded. Even though chronic back pain can be one of the hardest common conditions to live with and treat, yogic exercise can significantly improve the quality of life of back pain sufferers.

One form of yoga commonly practiced to deal with back pain is Restorative yoga; it has specifically been shown to improve mood as well as lessen the pain. Restorative is a therapeutic form of yoga. It strengthens muscles and brings the body into alignment. It is exercise, and like any exercise, it releases dopamine, which vastly improves the mood of the person exercising. This effect is so strong that exercise has been found in scientific studies to be a more effective treatment for depression than drugs in all but the most extreme cases. It is the ultimate mood-booster and promoter of well-being.

Restorative is a contemporary form of yoga specifically developed for therapeutic purposes and many studies have reported excellent results with its use. Viniyoga and Iyengar yoga, are also used to treat back pain, these methods place emphasis on proper technique and form in order to bring the body into alignment. By bringing the spine specifically into proper alignment, many symptoms of back pain can be relieved. Certain branches of chiropractic medicine also believe that bringing the spine into alignment can solve other health problems. According to these philosophies, because there are energy meridians or channels running along the spine, proper alignment allows for optimal flow — and therefore, ideal health — in all areas of life and the body.

Yogic methodology’s strong emphasis on not just the body, but the mind, is also theorized to be a huge help in the treatment of back pain. By quieting and controlling the mind, many things are possible. First, relaxation is widely known to have an impact on pain. Anxiety causes tension, and tension causes pain. Secondly, a conscious control of the mind can help greatly in managing pain by directing attention elsewhere. The pain may still be there, but you don’t necessarily have to focus on it. Some have even claimed greater control of the mind has helped them consciously harness the placebo effect to help alleviate their pain.

Continuing education courses for yoga teachers have many directions to venture into.  When considering the direction of one’s education, it might be worth considering your student’s needs.  When we encounter so many people with back pain, it might be prudent to learn more yoga techniques that can help them.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Yoga teacher training and continuing education courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

Free report, newsletter, videos, podcasts, and e-Book: “Yoga in Practice.”

If you are a Yoga Teacher, studio owner, 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!

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Yoga Practice and Positive Psychology: Cultivating Gratitude

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Positive Psychology places much emphasis on what makes individuals happy and how communities thrive. In order to support an individual in manifesting his or her greatest potential, therapists, counselors, and teachers who utilize the techniques of Positive Psychology focus on the innate talents, gifts, and skills of that particular individual. Positive Psychology focuses on what is going well in your life and why, instead of what is going wrong. In this way, employing the paradigm of Positive Psychology to yourself will bolster your sense of self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth.

As Yoga practitioners, we often have the opportunity to witness the negativity in our own minds as we practice Yoga asanas, pranayama exercises, and meditation techniques. Yoga practices allow us to slow down and give us the time and space to witness our own thoughts. It is often the case that we Yoga practitioners become aware that we are hard on ourselves. We can be negative, critical, and judgmental, when we analyze our own tendencies and perceived limitations. According to the tenets of Positive Psychology, engaging in negative thinking about ourselves only undermines our own sense of well-being and happiness, in addition to the cumulative effect on our self-esteem and self-confidence.

Cultivating Gratitude

One of the primary recommendations of Positive Psychology is to cultivate a deep sense of gratitude. Cultivating gratitude cuts negative thinking at its roots. For example, if you are having trouble getting into your favorite balancing asana one day, and you are internally berating yourself for being so inept, gently shifting your inner perspective to one of gratitude will immediately halt your negative internal dialogue.

In order to shift your thinking to a more positive frame of mind, you may wish to contemplate all of the things you have to be grateful for today. If you are physically able to practice Yoga, you are blessed. If you have the time to practice Yoga, you are blessed. If you are able to walk into a Yoga studio, you are blessed. In this way, you can cultivate gratitude for the abundance in your life, which will uplift your own heart and free your mind from the cycle of damaging negativity.

If you teach Yoga, you should be a classic example of gratefulness. As a Yoga teacher, there is much to be thankful for. To be able to help others, to witness the accomplishments of our students, and to be a messenger of quality living in the local community, are blessings we cannot afford to take for granted.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

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!

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Liability Insurance for Yoga Teachers

Friday, July 1st, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

If you teach Yoga, you may have always assumed that if anything happened to one of the students in your class, the studio’s insurance would take care of it. More and more Yoga instructors, however, are considering whether they need liability coverage; and if so, how much? While many facilities do not require instructors to carry their own policies, it may be worth it in the long run.

There have been a number of lawsuits against instructors in the past few years. In May 2008, a Chicago-area student filed a lawsuit against a Himalayan Institute – trained teacher of Yoga, after receiving “severe and permanent injuries” during one of the instructor’s classes in November 2006. The student attended a class at Northbrook YMCA, during which the instructor apparently “grabbed and maneuvered her,” causing permanent injury. The YMCA was also blamed for not reviewing the instructor’s qualifications before hiring her.

In December 2008, a Boulder, Colorado studio was sued by a student for a teacher’s “unsolicited physical manipulation,” which resulted in a torn medial meniscus requiring surgery. The student alleged that the studio should be held responsible for employing teachers who adjust clients’ postures without permission, and create “hazardous conditions.”

Should you decide to pursue coverage, there are four general areas of coverage for Yoga teachers to consider.

Professional liability insurance (malpractice)

General liability insurance (trip and fall)

Product liability coverage

Rental damage coverage

These cover situations where harm has been done, due to an alleged lack of skill or competence of the instructor; due to a product used on or by the client; due to general negligence or if the rental area is somehow damaged. Some policies also cover identity theft, allegations of molestation or sexual misconduct. Coverage is typically capped at $4 million total, but higher or lower limits are available.

Insurance is available through a number of sources, including magazines, publications, and web sites.  This insurance coverage is tied to the Yoga instructor. This allows the teacher, who works at a number of studios, to be insured in every location. Some of the resources offer professional memberships, as well as coverage, with premiums ranging from $159 to $404 annually. The National Association of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is one provider of coverage, offers a handy chart, comparing coverage from various insurance companies on its website. Some providers also offer reduced rates for instructors, who teach part time. Insurance costs may be deductible for instructors who are self-employed, as well. Complete your research before purchasing a policy, and enjoy a safety net beneath your mat.

Additionally, teachers should establish the following guidelines for themselves, students, and classes.

1. Establish firm safety guidelines for students and Yoga classes.

2. Make sure you are familiar with each student’s current health situation.

3. Design application, informed consent, and waiver of liability forms.

4. Do not assist a student without permission.

5. Never allow students into your classes once the class has begun.

6. Each new student should be interviewed before entering a Yoga training session.

7. Make sure your Yoga certification is up to date.

In comparison to many activities, Yogic practices are reasonably safe.  The fact that anyone of us could be injured while shopping is also a reality, but should we give up on walking? Therefore. we know that it is possible to be injured during any activity.  With this in mind, we need to establish safety protocols for every possible situation.  In the case of some pre-existing health conditions, such as pregnancy, a Yoga teacher specialist is required.  This is just one example, among many, but teachers want to make sure students leave class feeling better than when they initially walked through the door.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

The following link will take you to a forum thread, which gives you teacher liability insurance options from Yoga Insurance Plus, YJ, and Alternative Balance.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/forum/topic.php?id=18#post-27

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

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