Posts Tagged ‘teaching yoga students’

Teaching Yoga Students About Relaxation

Tuesday, January 1st, 2013

yoga instructor certificationBy Kimaya Singh

What is the greatest gift a yoga teacher can present to her students? As you learned when you decided to become a yoga instructor: Each student is different, but all of them need to learn when, how, and why to relax. Some students don’t want to relax initially. They might be so wired up that it feels unnatural to chill out. Relaxation or meditation is an integral part of all yoga practices. Usually, deep relaxation is done at the beginning or end of the session. This allows us to journey to a place of focus, or reflect upon what we’ve accomplished and get back to ourselves and to our center of being. However, many find benefit in practicing stage-by-stage, body scanning, deep pranayama relaxation, or nidra on its own.

There are many positions you can take to execute yoga nidra. The most common position is Savasana (copse pose), which is simply lying on your back with your arms at your side, palms up. Others desire the use of a pillow under the head, rolled blankets for comfort, or even a sitting position. The bottom line is you want to be relaxed and comfortable in whatever position suits you best. At that point, you will take turns tightening and relaxing different parts of your body while deep breathing. Tighten in the inhale, and relax on the exhale. All focus should be on the particular body part whilst working it.

You may choose to work from the head down, which includes gently stretching the face, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Continue with opening the chest, flexing the abdomen, and moving down through the hips, legs, and toes all the while continuing your breathing. You may implement any other elements you wish including candlelight and soft music; whatever it takes to create a sense of peacefulness. Once in a completely calm state, you can send your mind messages. It can be whatever you like to strengthen your mental state of being in order to improve upon your psyche. For example, you could say “I am a strong person, who can accomplish whatever I like.” It is amazing what our minds and bodies are capable of achieving.

The benefits of yoga training are unlimited. Too often as busy individuals, we forget to take time out for ourselves. This takes us to a state of calm, relaxed focus on our own state of being. It can help with depression, stress, insomnia, headaches and addiction among other ailments. It is so important to cleanse or minds and bodies of the negative energies that we may have brought on ourselves, or received from an outside source. Many people will allow them to fester within, and grow. A few worthwhile minutes can erase them and keep us in a state of well-being.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Teaching Yoga to Students with Parkinson’s Disease

Monday, June 4th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins

Among our Yoga certification requirements should be and ethics agreement that should contain a message about ahimsa (non-harming). I’m sure most Yoga teacher training courses have a form similar to the ethics agreement that interns in my class signed. Ahimsa is so important that you can’t have compassion for others without it. When teaching Yoga students who have any neurological disorder, the instructor must show compassion.

We all know that Yoga helps to prevent disease and maintain agility, but anecdotal evidence shows that it may be useful in treating Parkinson’s disease, too. A brain disorder that causes tremors and makes walking difficult, Parkinson’s usually strikes people over 50. Although common among senior citizens, it can also affect younger adults.

Common Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

• Problems with balance

• Stooped posture

• Lack of facial expression or excessive blinking

• Muscular pain and rigidity

• Difficulty with walking or other forms of movement

• Changes in handwriting

• Shaking, or tremors

• Speaking slowly or in monotones

• Autonomic dysfunction, such as low blood pressure or sweating

• Emotional and mental problems, such as depression, anxiety and dementia

Early treatment helps to control the severity of symptoms and the progression of the disease, but there is no cure. Paul Zeiger, Yoga instructor, retired engineer and Parkinson’s sufferer, says that Yoga is one of the best ways to fight the disorder’s neurological damage.

Benefits of Yogic Exercise in the Fight against Parkinson’s

• Addresses physical symptoms, such as stiffness, balance and movement

• Works with the mind-body connection to improve overall well-being

• Reduces muscle atrophy caused by lack of use

• Helps to restore deep breathing and reduce panic caused by physical symptoms

• Strengthens mental alertness, increases circulation and augments flexibility

• Uses meditation to improve mood and autonomic nervous system function

• Provides supportive environment for patients to share information

To avoid fatigue and injury, people with Parkinson’s disease should practice Yogic exercise regularly but with moderation. Using chairs for support makes it possible for almost anyone to participate, and twist-like poses increase range-of-motion and ease daily tasks. Restorative Yoga, in general, renews energy, decreases insomnia and enhances the quality of life.

In 2002, clinical studies in Denmark indicated a 65 percent temporary increase in dopamine levels of Parkinson’s participants during meditation and Restorative Yoga. More recently, researchers at the University of Virginia, Stanford University and Kansas State University are conducting trials to support its use in the management of Parkinson’s symptoms and the possible delay of its debilitating onslaught.

Once again, the healing arts of the ancient eastern world are proving useful in the technical world of western medicine.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Yoga Students with High Blood Pressure

Friday, September 30th, 2011

become a yoga teacherBy Sangeetha Saran

Yoga is great for reducing stress, and this makes it a wonderful practice for individuals with high blood pressure. Teaching yoga students with high blood pressure can be very worthwhile, but these students have a few special needs that should be taken into consideration.

High blood pressure is often accompanied by a hardening of the arteries. The arteries are hardened by a build up of plaque which accumulates over time. As the plaque increases, the arteries become more and more narrow, making it harder for blood to flow properly. In response, the heart must work much harder in order to maintain proper blood circulation throughout the body, and this creates a higher than normal resting blood pressure.

If dislodged, arterial plaque can also completely block other smaller arteries, leading to stroke or aneurysm. In addition, the constant strain of increased blood pressure wears down the delicate cardiovascular tissues long before their time. The challenge for those with high blood pressure is to find an effective exercise regimen that doesn’t inflame or increase these underlying issues in the body.

Because of this, it is best to avoid most inversions when teaching these students. Mild inversions such as Downward Facing Dog are usually fine, but more extreme inversions such as Shoulderstand should be avoided entirely. Inversions encourage a rapid increase in blood flow and pressure to the cranial region, and this could prove dangerous for those with higher blood pressure.

Teaching these yoga students can be made much easier by simply remaining mindful of the heart itself. If the heart is higher than the head or the legs higher than the heart during any given pose, that pose should be avoided entirely.

The teaching style for those with high blood pressure should be calm and relaxed, with a focus on restoration and peace. As long as inversions are avoided, those with high blood pressure can safely participate in all aspects of a typical yoga class. Hip openers and leg stretches are excellent for these students, since they increase overall flexibility and provide a challenge without significantly increasing heart rate. Seated Forward Bend, Easy Pose, Corpse Pose, Reclining Big Toe Pose and Head-to-Knee Forward Bend are just a few examples of poses that are excellent for students with high blood pressure.

Students that are fortunate enough to have a good yoga teacher to work with will reap the benefits of yoga practice, including decreased levels of stress and increased levels of strength and flexibility. This leads to a much higher quality of life overall.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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Yoga Students with Pre-existing Injuries

Monday, September 26th, 2011

yoga certificationBy Bhavan Kumar

New students are often drawn to yoga practice as the result of a profound life change, and injuries are no exception. What could be a better motivator than an injury, especially when it reduces an individual’s quality of life? These types of students can present a unique challenge to yoga teachers, particularly if the student fails to inform the teacher of the pre-existing injury on their own.

Conducting an interview with new students before they participate in group practice is an excellent way to evaluate their physical ability in addition to identifying any pre-existing injuries that the individual may not have disclosed. Simply having them move through a few asanas should prove quite enlightening. Most students will be upfront about their physical condition, but some may fear that they will be turned away if they admit to having a history of serious back problems, a torn ACL, or some other major issue. If the yoga teacher is warm and encouraging, most people will be forthright.

If the pre-existing injury is a serious one such as a ruptured disc or whiplash, making contact with the student’s doctor or physical therapist may prove to be a wise decision that benefits everyone involved. Medical professionals often do everything possible to help a patient cope with a painful injury, but only so much can be done during a typical appointment. A competent yoga instructor can provide valuable insight regarding the condition of a patient on a more frequent basis, which in turn makes yogic methodology a powerful form of complementary medicine.

The biggest concern while teaching yoga students with pre-existing injuries will be avoiding contraindicated asanas. A student with pre-existing injuries might still be a candidate for a typical class provided that the teacher is able to assign them alternative asanas without disrupting the rest of the class. Having multiple students with serious pre-existing injuries may prove to be more than a single yoga teacher can handle. It’s best not to have too many special students in one class, but if it’s unavoidable, the teacher has the option of educating each individual student about their own limitations and leaving the responsibility of substituting alternative asanas to them. Giving each student a crib sheet with alternative poses to use in place of contraindicated asanas is usually effective, and allows them to be part of a normal yoga class.

Those suffering from painful pre-existing injuries often have their pain compounded and prolonged by losses in physical strength and definition as a result of decreased physical activity. Yoga teachers who are willing to work around their limitations are able to prevent this loss from happening, which greatly speeds overall recovery time. In short, a good yoga teacher makes all the difference.

© Copyright 2011 – 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 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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Teaching Students About Karma Yoga

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

karma yogaBy Gopi Rao

Almost every Hatha Yoga teacher training course covers the significance of Karma Yoga. Students often ask about the Law of Karma and there are many different views concerning interpretation. This is usually based upon where our religious instruction originated.

A Christian and a Hindu look at karma a little differently, but karmic debt is akin to original sin. If one has no religious beliefs, karma may be explained as, “What comes around, goes around” or the Law of Cause and Effect. Either way, there is a way to find liberation (free yourself) through right action.

Right action is universal. It is simply doing the right deed at the right time. The standard of right behavior is no different from one side of the Earth to the other. In Matthew 7:12, it is stated: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Over time, this has been said in many ways, but it is right action, no matter, which religion you practice. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” is the golden rule and we all know it is right.

Karma is action and some of us could make a case it is the law of action. Nothing in nature is static, and giving is an action. When you give to others, you also are receiving, which is the law of nature. If you do not give to others, you are stopping the flow of life energy which acts like a road block.

When you are circulating the flow of life energy you are in direct harmony with the law of nature. This in turn, is beneficial to you. This should leave you in constant flow of abundance. With abundance, you can help others. This is what abundance is for.

There is much baggage associated with Karmic debt. In other words: Some of us believe we owe for the sins of the past and we can never truly be forgiven for them. Almost all religions preach this message in one way or another.

According to some experts, you can pay Karmic debt in a number of ways. There is the eight limbed path of Patanjali’s Raja Yoga. There are also possibilities of transcending or transforming the Karma. Below are three possible options for paying karmic debt.

1. You could attain moksha (liberation from samsara) through the practice of Patanjali’s Yoga. The eight limbed path is detailed within the Yoga Sutras. All eight limbs are important and none of the eight limbs should be overlooked.

2. When you transcend karma; you will likely do this in meditation practice. This is not for a novice. When in deep states of meditation, one can practice going beyond the thinking mind, beyond the ego, and activate one’s dormant true Self, which is beyond the ego, beyond the thinking mind from were one can abolish Karmic debt.

3. When one transforms Karmic debt, one can ask oneself what can I learn from this experience and how does it affect people around me. Hopefully, when reflecting and introspecting, one is able to imprint the learned lesson and broaden one’s consciousness.

Conclusion

In all cases, the practice of Karma Yoga (selfless service and giving) is recommended. Volunteering for a good cause and giving to charity are strongly advised.

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

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Teach Hatha Yoga – Teaching Yoga Students How to Practice Vajrasana

Friday, August 13th, 2010

By Sanjeev Patel, CYT

Thunderbolt Posture is also known in English as Vajrasana. When teaching students how to perform Vajrasana the Yoga practitioner begins in a kneeling position with knees and toes together; hips directly above knees and tops of feet lay flat on the ground.

Next, the student allows the heels of the feet to fall outwardly so that they may bring the sit bones in contact with the inner edges of the feet. To finish the pose the student places each hand palm facing down on top of each corresponding knee; left hand on left knee, right hand on right knee.

In the advanced performance of this pose the knees and shins are spread slightly apart and the sit bones are brought in contact with the floor. In both variations length and erectness of the spine are maintained while the student breathes deeply, evenly and gently through the nose.

Sitting in Vajrasana helps one to quiet or calm the mind and nervous system, conditions the legs, makes the knee joints more flexible, and improves posture by strengthening the erector muscles that are located on each side of the spine.

Vajrasana is also known as seiza position by Zen meditation practitioners, martial artists, and the Japanese. You can easily modify Vajrasana with a bolster, pillow, kneeling, with the sit bones resting on your up turned feet, which will create a natural cushion. You can also use a blanket, bolster, block, or pillow to keep the weight off your feet and ankles.

There is no need to suffer from knee or foot pain, while practicing Vajrasana.  My Guru, Paulji, has a short web clip, which shows modification methods using two blocks rolled up, inside a blanket, to keep your spine straight and eliminate pressure from your feet and knees.  To see his video please click on the link below.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2010/08/09/modifications-for-seated-postures-part-1/

© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications

Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.

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

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Additional Methods for Teaching Yoga Students How to Cultivate Positive Energy

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The most advanced techniques, in Yoga, are based around training the mind. Patanjali mentions eight limbs in the Yoga Sutras. All eight limbs will train the mind, but the last four limbs are especially for balancing and training the mind.

Prathayara (Withdrawal from the Senses): During Yoga practice, we become focused on the tasks at hand. Prathayara is a state of mind that gives us the ability to think inward, and avoid common distractions, which occupy the mind during most of the day.

Dharana (Concentration): This is the ability to focus on a single point or thought and hold our attention there. Some practitioners see this as a mental or spiritual exercise. Dharana can give the practitioner mental and spiritual benefits, by training the mind, and developing spiritual beauty from within.

Dhyana (Meditation): This is the state of internal awareness, which occurs when our attention is focused on one point or thought. To some, Dhyana is a major awakening of the mind, as this method opens the door to contemplation.

Samadhi (Complete Absorption): This is a state of complete bliss and the highest form of meditation. There are different forms of Samadhi, but it is often characterized as the most complete state of internal bliss.

Training your mind is taken for granted, until we see a friend lose his or her sanity. Mental and emotional health should never be taken lightly. Without sanity, one cannot enjoy the fruits of good physical health. Endless negative thoughts can take a toll on our health. Pranayama, meditation, mantra, and asana can help anyone take control of the mind.

The objective is to flood the mind with waves of positive thought, by practicing Yogic methods, which replace negative thinking. Some people default to guilt, doubt, and fear. They wake up each morning to worry about something that may happen. Sometimes, they worry and trouble themselves over events that have gone by.

How can you practice Yogic methods in public – when you may need those most? To mentally practice udgeeth pranayama, mantra, or affirmation is to find peace during the day. You could be in a crowd, and practice udgeeth, in complete silence. Just inhale, and as you exhale, draw out the word “OM” to match the timing of your exhale.

This is just one of many examples of methods, which can be applied to control the mind. Remember that Yoga is with you all day long, and can be practiced anywhere, at any time.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Three Methods for Teaching Yoga Students How to Cultivate Positive Energy

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Students often attend Yoga sessions for relief from a constant barrage of negative messages during the day. If you listen to the news for ten minutes, you are likely to feel puzzled as to why so much social injustice still exists. Anyone can change the world for the best, by cultivating positive energy, and teaching others how to do the same thing.

Just like anything else, cultivation of positive energy requires a plan of action; otherwise, we will spend the vast majority of the day reacting to bad news. One method is to visualize and plan the day ahead. Some people feel they have no control over their lives. In fact, they do not have control over their lives because they have envisioned it.

Visualize Tomorrow

This requires a little time on the night before, but it is much similar to packing your lunch for the next day. Another way to make visualization more real is to write down your tasks and objective, while allowing some time for the unexpected surprises that life gives us.

Avoid Energy Drains

Unfortunately, there are people who sap energy from everyone else. One person I know refers to them as “time bandits.” They manage to fill the day with self-created obstacles, engage in lengthy pessimistic conversations, or talk about the flaws everyone else has.

You could compare them to human land mines. You can be hurt, the longer you spend time with them. You feel the energy being sapped away from you as their list of grievances grows. You may have tried to help before, but their goal is to complain about everything.

In reality, you choose who you associate with. If you associate with someone who drains your energy, you have to make some decisions to improve your life, or stay in a life boat with an energy drainer, drifting aimlessly through oceans of pessimism.

It is not easy to turn your back on anyone. However, if you show someone there is light at the end of the tunnel, and they refuse to see it, you have to move forward or allow someone else to hold you back.

Define Your True Self

In Yoga, we learn to identify one’s true self. Some call the cosmic self: “atma.” We also learn to avoid judging ourselves and others harshly. It is true that we are not our thoughts, but our thoughts have a way of defining us – in the form of self-criticism, regret, and negative thoughts.

Yoga teaches us to honestly look inside, to see the good and the bad. We can change today for a better tomorrow, but we cannot change anything until we stop engaging in self-criticism.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

To join our free online Yoga community of practitioners and teachers, or to learn more about our Yoga teacher training courses, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

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Teaching Yoga Students the Art of Relaxation

Friday, May 14th, 2010

By Sanjeev Patel, CYT

If you studied to become a Yoga teacher in an ashram, or a local studio; you learned the art of Yogic relaxation. How well did your Yoga teacher training prepare you for the levels of chronic stress you see within your students?

Many people do not know how to live with a relaxed mind and body. The frantic pace of life has made us forget that relaxation should be the norm, not stress and agitation. Our minds and bodies are inextricably linked, if the mind is worried, then the body is also out of sorts.

Many of us are used to living with constant tension. This tension causes great discomfort depleting energy causing tiredness and poor health. Yogic relaxation is therefore a very necessary part of a Yoga class. As proper relaxation, releases tension, calms us and refreshes the whole system.

A relaxation period allows the mind and body to work in conjunction. This teaches us to let go of stress, reduce it, and leaves one feeling refreshed and energised. Relaxation involves letting go, not doing anything, relaxing the whole body, and allow the breathing to become deep and slow.

During this time, physiological changes occur. There is a reduction in the amount of oxygen used, carbon dioxide is eliminated, and muscle tension is reduced. Proper relaxation however, has three stages: physical, mental and spiritual.

Mental and physical relaxation is never complete without spiritual relaxation, in order to achieve this we need to detach ourselves from the body and mind. This helps us reduce the feelings of fear, worry, anger and sadness.

During spiritual relaxation, we become merely a witness to the body and mind. The we can identify with the Self or pure consciousness. Only through this spiritual relaxation can we be truly free and at total peace.

Even a few moments of Yogic relaxation reduces worry and fatigue much more effectively than hours of disturbed sleep. Relaxation does not end in the Yoga class, but it also carries over into daily activities and work, enabling us to conserve energy and release fear or worries, which cause stress.

© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications

Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.

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

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

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

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Teaching Yoga Students about the Importance of Sleep

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

NatarajasanaBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

What is the value of Yoga Nidra (sleep of the Yogis)? Deep relaxation techniques, taught in Yoga classes, can become life savers outside the class. Although we should not take sleep period short cuts, Yoga Nidra is effective for bringing the mind and body to a state of rest, while the mind maintains awareness.

How many people wish they could work longer and get something accomplished instead of sleeping? How many times is the relaxation or meditation segment of a Yoga class taken for granted by students? Many will remark at how they feel a state of bliss or how mentally rested they feel after class.

Yet, how many students take their relaxation practice home? Very few Yoga students understand the benefits of relaxation and meditation. One way to drive the point home is to design a pamphlet, or a flyer, which discusses the consequences of sleep deprivation and the benefits of relaxation.

Now is a time when many people work all day and night. They work at home, after they have left their jobs, and some have second or third jobs. Many people readily admit that when they wake up, they answer Email or do research on the Internet in the middle of their sleep cycle. After an hour or so, they go back to bed.

For some of us, broken sleep cycles do not bother us. However, some people really need a solid sleep cycle to function properly on the following day. Broken sleep sessions seem to work fine for my cats, but many humans tend to function better on eight solid hours of sleep.

The results of sleep deprivation are tricky. Each of us may respond with a slight difference. Some of the many symptoms, due to lack of sleep include: inability to concentrate, nervous behavior, irritability, sleeping during meetings, lack of motivation, reduced decision-making skills, and an appearance of tiredness.

Worse still – sleep deprivation can cause automobile accidents, depression, and heart disease. The need to relax and sleep is a matter of survival. With that said, Yogic relaxation techniques are more than temporary rest, to be experienced once per week, in a Yoga class.

Yoga Nidra, stage-by-stage relaxation, body scanning, and relaxation through visualization, are basic tools for mental and emotional survival. In the worst of times, people are tested by stress and lack of sleep. Yogic relaxation techniques and meditation are valuable methods for enhancing the quality of life.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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