Posts Tagged ‘teaching yoga classes’

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Teaching Yoga Classes for Beginners

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

yoga teacherBy Faye Martins

One of the greatest things about yoga is that anyone can do it. Whether you are young or old, healthy or sick or agile or stiff, yoga will provide benefits to your body. The same does not hold true for teaching yoga. Just because you know the poses does not mean you are ready to teach a yoga class. Yoga instructors must think carefully about the students in the class, the type of environment they wish to create and how to best explain the postures and philosophies of yoga to their students. It might seem like a beginner’s class would be easy to teach, but in reality beginners can be one of the hardest groups of students to manage because they haven’t become comfortable with the poses yet. Teaching beginners requires planning as well as a healthy amount of sensitivity toward the students.

Ask Students to Let Go

New students undoubtedly have some type of idea of what a yoga class is like. They might be anxious or nervous about being able to perfect each pose. Some students might not even be aware of the breathing and meditative portions that are integral to a complete yoga training session. The Yoga instructor’s job is to help students let go of preconceived notions about yogic practices and experience the class without setting their selves up for failure. Instructors can encourage students to perform each pose in a way that feels good to them, to release anxiety with their breath or to focus only on their bodies during class. Remind students often that yogic methodology is a non-competitive journey. Postures will improve over time as they gain strength, flexibility and knowledge.

Stick to the Basics

There’s no need to “wow” the students with complicated or difficult asanas that they won’t be able to achieve. Students need to feel confident in their own abilities to perform the poses. Yoga teachers should show beginners a series of basic asanas, like mountain, downward dog, warrior I and bridge. Develop a routine that involves repetition to allow students to become familiar and comfortable with the asanas. As students gain in their abilities, you can gradually introduce new, more complex asanas.

Create a Pleasant Atmosphere

The ultimate goal is to provide a positive experience for all of your students. You want them to come away feeling that yoga is a good thing that they want to keep doing whether it’s in your class or at home. Speak kindly and gently, provide positive feedback and be patient with your students.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Teaching Yoga to Balance Emotional Flow

Monday, May 14th, 2012

online yoga teacher coursesBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga students come to our classes seeking practical solutions to life’s daily problems. If one becomes overwhelmed by negative emotional energy, this can cause chronic stress, anxiety attacks, and many more health problems.  When we decided to become a Yoga instructor, we realized that many people need help to reach optimum health. In the holistic sense, health is physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  Yoga is one of the oldest and most effective means of balancing the daily flow of emotions, and its benefits extend far beyond the mat or the meditation cushion.

Imagine the following scenario.

You are stuck in traffic, and you were supposed to pick up the kids at soccer practice ten minutes ago. To make it to tonight’s seven o’clock meeting and see that the homework is done, you are going to have to grab fast food on the way. You tense your muscles and hold your breath as negative thoughts race through your mind. You get angry and then you feel guilty. By now, you probably have an aching head and tight shoulders, and you still have not moved your car.

There is not much we can do to change our fast-paced lifestyles, but we can alter the way we react to stressful situations. Contemporary energy medicine is finally recognizing what swamis knew thousands of years ago. Our thoughts and feelings do one of two things: create blockages or enable the flow of energy throughout our bodies. It all depends on our reactions.

When faced with negative emotions, our first impulse is usually to suppress or deny them, but not expressing positive feelings can create problems, as well. Regardless of whether it is joy, fear, anger, or bliss, holding feelings inside makes it difficult to fully live in the present moment.

The Yogic Solution

Yoga training addresses this problem by synchronizing breath and motion. Flow Yoga, also known as Vinyasa, sometimes encompasses several Yoga styles and concentrates on accompanying each movement with either an inhalation or exhalation. Focusing on the breath also helps to gauge the length of time spent in each asana, or pose, and creates a dance-like synchronization of movements that prepares the mind and body for meditation.

Our mental, emotional, and physical health, are intricately connected to our breath. Our reactions to what we see, feel, and hear, are reflected by the rhythm of our breathing. We cannot disconnect our breathing from our senses, but we can use this to our advantage. When teaching Yoga classes, emphasize the power that pranayama and everyday breathing have over one’s emotions.

The answer to emotional distress does not comes through detachment, but through allowing and observing emotions. To become the observer, allows one to seek a rational solution, rather than be buried by waves of emotion. Through Yoga meditation, we can become witnesses to our thoughts and actions, allowing our emotions and our lives to flow more freely.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Secrets to Becoming a Successful Hatha Yoga Teacher

Monday, February 21st, 2011

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

To each Yoga teacher, the word “success” means something different. Some teachers would like to train elite athletic students. Others want to train students, who contribute higher qualities, to the rest of humanity, such as: compassion, understanding, and loving kindness. Success is all a matter of perspective.

With that said, what is failure defined as, when we consider teaching Hatha classes? The easiest way to define failure of anything is when we reach a state of mind that causes us to give up. When some interns spend years of study, and thousands of dollars, how is it possible to give up?

Below is one case among many, where a graduate met every requirement in the Yoga teacher training intensive  course, but managed to fail at finding a teaching position. When a graduate quits teaching Yoga, due to being ill informed, it is a loss to the lineage, as well as a missed opportunity for the graduate.

Ben trained in many deep rooted sub-styles of Hatha Yoga, for over ten years, before deciding to become a Yoga teacher. He chose carefully and decided upon a course, which taught him many aspects of Hatha. Upon graduation, he began to approach Yoga schools within 30 miles of his local area.

Most of the studios informed him that they promoted teachers from within their own studios. A few put him on a list to be a substitute teacher, after he taught a free class, as part of an audition process. Once in a blue moon, the phone would ring with a last second substitution for a teacher who had car problems.

He was prepared to teach classes on short notice, and had a bag prepacked for last second opportunities, just like this one. Ben would rush down, and teach a class at the last second – hoping the management would recognize that he put his heart and soul into his classes, and he was hungry to teach full time.

Eventually, the phone stopped ringing. Later, he found out, through the grapevine, that the teacher with car problems had been replaced by a graduate who came from within that studio. It seemed that the window of opportunity was closing. Maybe, there were no opportunities to teach in his area; and he gave up for nearly a year, until he found online Yoga teacher education to show him marketing techniques and business tips.

What was Ben doing wrong before? He was doing what he was taught. The problem here is Ben did not know or see all of the potential opportunities there are for teaching Yoga. He was not prepared to look for teaching positions in the corporate world, at hospitals, at fitness centers, or any other places in his area.

He was completely oblivious, as to the dozens of opportunities, within a fifteen minute drive of his home. He had not thought of the local hotels, with small fitness centers, who were seeking to network with a local Yoga teacher like him. Success can be measured in many ways, but to see opportunity as a tiny sliver of a small pie is a recipe for failure. He now knows the opportunities are infinite.

© Copyright 2011 – Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Teaching Yoga Classes – Modifications for Shavasana

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Yoga teacher trainingBy Gopi Rao

How do your students set up for Shavasana?  Most Yoga teacher training courses don’t bother with modifications for such an “easy posture.”  What about students with back problems?  It seems easy enough, but there is a set up procedure for this asana, which is often practiced at the beginning or end of many Hatha Yoga classes. Shavasana is the ultimate relaxation pose, but may have to be modified for Yoga students with lower back problems.

One way to modify this Yoga asana is to elevate the knees. This elevation will bring the lumbar spine into a neutral position. If you feel Shavasana tightens your student’s hamstrings, or causes them discomfort in the knees, place a bolster under both knees. There is also an additional option, if one is having discomfort with the lower back to place a smaller bolster long ways under your lower back.

Sometimes, Paulji has students elevate the knees in a partial recline position or by bringing the lower legs to rest on the seat of an open back chair. You could also modify this posture by using a combination of blankets, bolsters, blocks, or a wall.

How to practice Shavasana without props:

1. Sit in Dandasana. Push the flesh of your

buttocks out to the sides, distinguishing your weight

equally on both buttock bones. Breathe evenly.

2. Bend your knees and bring your heels closer to the

buttocks. Hold the tops of your shins and press your

buttock bones down onto the floor. Check that your

back is straight.

3. To lower your torso toward the floor, place your

forearms and on your elbows. Do not move your feet,

knees or buttocks.

4. Lower your torso to the floor, vertebra by

vertebra, until the back of your head rests on the

floor. Turn your palms to face the ceiling. Close your

eyes, then straighten your legs one by one.

5. Relax your legs, allowing them to drop gently to

the sides. Ensure that your kneecaps drop to the sides

equally. Move your arms away from your torso without

raising your shoulders off the floor, Push your collar

bones out to the sides, Keep your eyes closed and

focus on your breathing. Stay in this posture for 5-7

minutes.

© Copyright 2011 – Gopi Rao / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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How to Pass Your Yoga Teacher Training Exams

Friday, July 30th, 2010

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The following is a brief compilation of tips that will help anyone taking Yoga certification exams. Generally speaking, Yoga teacher courses are composed of three basic parts. These parts may be your written exams, essays, and practical exams. There may be one, or more, of these parts involved during the examination process.

Written Exams: Usually, written exams are based upon foundational Yogic knowledge. The points, that the examiners may be drawing you to, are valuable for anyone, who will be teaching Yoga classes. In other words, this is knowledge that you should have been mastered, before you began teaching a class.

Written Exams may be based upon one, or more, books which are part of the curriculum. When referencing books, it is always best to reference the book, author, and page number of the information you are presenting. In this way, you support your answer with concrete evidence.

At the same time, there is nothing wrong with having a personal opinion that agrees, or disagrees, with the author’s point. In this way, you also show evidence that you are able to think for yourself. The exception to this is if the examiner requires you to give an answer that is based only upon the author’s opinion.

Essays: One of the biggest mistakes to make on an essay is to cut-and-paste writings by various authors, and then try passing it off as your own work. If you quote an author, you should also give credit to that author by stating the author’s name, the book or website, and include the page number or URL.

When using any quotes by authors to support your essay, you would want to provide a page of references – whether a separate “References” page or Footnotes at the bottom of each page where the quote is included within the text of the page. Also related to this: Limit the number of supporting quotes, to about 20 percent, of your work. The examiner is looking for your thoughts, not a complete compilation of another author’s thoughts.

Practical Exams: This is usually considered the hardest part of the testing. However, preparation is going to help you pass this hurdle. Interns, who spend time teaching mock classes, recording their classes on video, and practicing teaching techniques, will pass much easier than someone who puts little thought into how to conduct a class.

Teaching a Yoga class is composed of cueing skills, observation skills, showing modifications, and assisting when needed. You never want to turn your back on your students and “do your own Yoga practice.” It is a wonderful thing when one can perform a technique, but a teacher is being tested for his or her ability to lead a class.

One last point about the Practical Exam – if you find yourself facing away from your students, it is probably a good time to get off your mat and walk around the room. It always seems to be that, when you turn your back to your students, there is a mental disconnect between you and your students.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Three People Most Unlikely to Become a Yoga Teacher

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

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

Joe the Yoga Teacher

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

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

Jayne the Yoga Instructor

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

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

Ben the Yoga Instructor

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

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

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

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Teaching Yoga Classes – Showing Gratitude

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Teaching Yoga ClassesBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When one decides to become a Yoga teacher, designing lesson plans is part of the daily routine. When teaching Hatha Yoga, lesson plans may consist of a mix of techniques and their practical applications to daily life. There are many lessons we learn in life, but how often does the average person make practical use of them?

When you go to a public place, observe how people stand, sit, and walk. As a whole, do most people have good posture? This is a visual example of the practical application of asana toward real life situations. Some skeletal conditions are not preventable, but some conditions are due to years of poor posture and neglect.

How many ways can Yoga affect health? If you look at any person, Yoga can change mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health – for the best. Let’s look at how gratitude can create good health. Have you ever met someone who does not appreciate what they have?

Maybe this person has a good spouse, relationship, child, or friend; but he or she does not see the value of being loved. Taking good relationships for granted is a mistake many people make. When we take relationships for granted, we set a pattern of behavior in motion, which is unhealthy for us, and everyone we know.

Our mental, and emotional state of health, is something we should take control of when it is possible. There are specific mental and emotional conditions, which require professional help in coping with the situation. These are times when professional counseling is your best option. One example of this is: Coping with the death of someone who is very dear.

However, gratitude can help us with everything, including loss. When we are grateful for past and present relationships, we see the value of our connection to others. It is hard to deal with the loss of friends, family, and pets; but we should be grateful for the special times we had together.

When we carry this principle to the present, it makes living in this moment special. Showing gratitude, every day, will change the world around you. This is a form of Karma Yoga, because you create good feelings in others through your appreciation of them. There is a view that you are creating good feelings within yourself, as well.

Some people take the view that each positive action we take is, in fact, self-centered. Even if this were true, the alternatives of taking negative action, or no action, are not going to help relationships. Therefore, with your action of showing gratitude to others, you can change the world with positive energy.

When teaching others about the benefits of Yoga practice, we should always remember the practical applications of Yogic philosophy.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Teaching Hatha Yoga – Beware of Unbalanced Praise

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Yoga ClassBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

What is unbalanced praise in a Yoga class? If you teach classes, you may have learned about “unbalanced praise” in Yoga teacher training; but let’s go over the basics. Essentially, unbalanced praise is favoritism when one student is praised, above all others, by the teacher. There is a flaw in this method in that the teacher does not see the big picture.

By “the big picture,” I refer to the full scope of what the teacher is doing. As teachers, our words and actions create “chain reactions.” Unbalanced praise can make one student feel less worthy, while another student begins to have an inflated ego. This ultimately brings the whole class out of balance. It is only human to seek approval of our worthiness.

Who is the class for? Yoga classes are designed to enhance the lives of every student in attendance. We want students to become self-aware, but Yoga teachers should be examples of complete consciousness. We must understand the Law of Karma and the principles of cause and effect, at all times.

Imagine teaching Yoga classes and reading the following statement:

“I currently attend Yoga at a studio and as often as I try to not be bothered by this, it seems my Yoga teacher always praises certain students and often times, completely leaves others out. I happen to be one of them who are left out. I always stay present, reminding myself that I am not there to receive praise.

I would like to believe that I am not dependent on the teacher’s praise. However, because this happens often and many times, it seems I am the only one the teacher does not praise; it’s hard to not at times take it personally. I often feel that my teacher’s actions send a message to those that are left out, ‘you’re not doing well enough.’

This bothers me because I believe teachers should always find ways to encourage students, that no matter where they are in their practice, they are doing a good job, too. Also, the message to those who regularly receive praise is ‘you’re great,’ which in my opinion, could also lead to performance and competition.

I would rather be on the side that I am on because it does challenge me to remember my reasons for practicing Yoga, and it keeps my ego in check. I am just curious how you could help me see this from a perspective that would enhance my practice and keep me from becoming frustrated with my teacher, at times.”

What is the objective of teaching Yoga? The objective of teaching classes is to end suffering or to reduce it. If I received a letter like this from one of my students, I have completely missed my objective. When a student feels welcomed, during and after a Yoga class, he or she will realize this is the right place to be.

If every student is doing his or her personal best – that is worthy of praise. Just making an appearance is better than most people do. When you praise students, make sure it is spread around the entire group.

If you are a Yoga student who feels left out, you may want to seek out another teacher or speak honestly to your current teacher. Although, there is a possibility that any suggestion from student to teacher might not be accepted, some teachers encourage open dialogue. No matter who we are, the ego can throw constructive suggestions aside.

If you feel an honest talk will not go well, it may be best to sample some other Yoga classes in your area. It’s only human to feel hurt when we are not praised, while others are. If what you are receiving from Yoga class hurts, and is challenging your self-image, you would be better off practicing at home with DVDs, friends, or family members.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Why Become a Yoga Teacher? – Purpose

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Yoga PranayamaBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Just last week, I was asked, “At this point, what is your goal in life?” This question came from a respected colleague and fellow teacher. My answer came right away: “I want to spread the word about Yoga, because if everyone faithfully practiced it, we should be in a state of world peace.”

Maybe it is just my blind optimism, but Yoga has already done so much good for this world. Can you imagine a world, where Kim Jong-il began to practice Yoga, and peacefully sat down to negotiate with other countries? If you practice any form of Yoga, on a daily basis, you realize the changes within are gradual; but change for the best is a natural result of the journey.

You see the changes Yoga has made in the lives of practitioners around you, but imagine them on a global scale. Now, let’s consider your dreams, aspirations, and goals. Do you have a life purpose? Do you clearly know what your life goals are? Do you know what holds you back from pursuing your dreams?

Many people have a list of reasons why they cannot succeed in reaching their objectives. The most common reasons could be age, financial status, work obligations, travel, and responsibilities at home. Some of us believe we were born to fail.

It is this acceptance of doom, which some people feel they deserve, that holds the majority of us back from going after our dreams. In some families, the acceptance of doom becomes a state of pessimism or depression. One respected member of a family unwittingly creates a pessimistic “domino effect.”

This family leader unknowingly steers an entire family toward lives without purpose. The way we view life – is the picture we paint. Each of us has a choice, because the picture we paint is our visualization of life around us, and it becomes our reality.

This also happens in the workplace, where the mantra becomes: “That will never work.” It is part of human nature to take the sure bet. People believed the world was flat, flying is for the birds, and going to outer space was just science fiction fantasy.

The truth is: For anything to happen is either a matter of luck or planning. To become a Yoga teacher is not a matter of luck. It requires motivation, planning, and the desire to engage in studies, in order for one to develop the skills to teach classes. Most of all, teaching Yoga classes gives us a deep sense of purpose.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Teaching Hatha Yoga: Student Safety in Yoga Classes

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

yoga Instructor trainingBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Although the general public might see many different styles of Yoga, in a variety of locations, Yoga is often categorized as a form of physical fitness. Some might go a bit further by classifying Yoga as a form of wellness or a mind and body exercise.

If you speak to the average participant, most of them would consider the chance of injury, during Yoga class, unthinkable. They have heard of injuries in high-impact classes, but Yoga falls into the low-impact category. Yoga is considered so gentle, that most participants strongly believe it cannot cause harm.

Consider this: Compare one hour of step aerobics to Yoga and your body notices striking differences. At the end of both classes, you feel great, but that is where the similarity ends. There is much creative movement in a step aerobics class, but the feet and legs take a repetitive pounding.

After a typical step aerobics class, your knees, ankles, and toes feel the repetitive impact from the floor. This can result in knee inflammation, stress fractures, shin splints, metatarsalgia (toe joint inflammation), plantar fasciitis (an inflammation of the plantar fascia), sesmoiditis (inflammation of the two small bones below the first metatarsal – ball of the foot), bunions, or hammertoes.

However, none of the movements in a step aerobics class challenge the participant’s range of motion in the same way Hatha Yoga does. When you add movement or speed, to the equation, everything changes. When performing Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) or Vinyasa, Power, Ashtanga, and Flow sequences, there is much room for caution.

The following precautions are for teachers to implement for the safety of all students who participate in any form of Yoga with movement. Warm-ups should be practiced before the flowing sequences.

The older your students are, the longer a warm-up session should be. In general, students who are under 30 years of age should warm up from 10 to 15 minutes, regardless of their supposed expertise. Therefore, add some time when teaching students over 30 years of age.

When performing a flowing sequence, have your students perform the first round slowly. Make sure you observe all of your students carefully – even the students who gravitate toward the corners or the back of the room. Observing your students, at all times, in your class, is specifically for your students’ safety.

Your performance is for demonstration purposes only. When teaching Yoga classes, your responsibility is primarily geared toward student safety, and your personal practice is irrelevant.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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