Dr. Paul Jerard E-RYT 500 (Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Aura Wellness Center) Speaks to you in this short lecture about the disadvantages of using notes while teaching your Yoga class.
Dr. Paul Jerard E-RYT 500 (Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Aura Wellness Center) Speaks to you in this short lecture about the disadvantages of using notes while teaching your Yoga class.
By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
To become a Yoga teacher is a milestone for many of us; yet, there are times when we might want to suddenly become someone else, or disappear. One example is a new student, who has not taken a bath for a month – showing up to your Yoga class. Sometimes, teaching Yoga has its awkward moments. Would you like to have someone else tell this student to get out of your class?
When we consider Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), we may also think about the danger of having a split personality. This is not the state of mind a Yoga teacher wants to create during classes, but consider the ability to create a social mask for specialized teaching situations.
Why should a Yoga instructor consider changing his or her personality when teaching? Most of the time, teaching Yoga is very rewarding; but In some cases, adjusting your personality may help you cope with the problems of others. How many people does one typical certified Yoga teacher help in a day, week, or month? Many students have a variety of problems, and Yoga teachers help them find solutions.
The cumulative effect of seeing so many people in physical, emotional, and mental pain can be trying. Talk to anyone who gives counseling sessions, and they will tell you similar stories. There is a common link teachers have with counselors and medical professionals. That being – all of them graciously share their time with others who need them.
This is not to imply that we should become more self-centered, but when you help others, you also need to take time out for yourself. No one can work non stop, without thinking about time off. Within each of us are opposing forces that can push and pull at our personalities.
Moderation is a key to the quality of life. To avoid extremes, we sometimes resort to a state of mind that pulls us back toward the middle of the path. Some may call it DID, alter ego, or split personality; but it may also be a survival mechanism – for times when we find ourselves on the extreme edge.
© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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
By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Most Yoga teacher certification courses offer some tutoring, or contact, with a mentor. This form of contact is possible, regardless of whether you have chosen an on-site or correspondence-based Yoga certification course. It seems impossible to believe that an in-person training would not have tutoring for interns – but it does happen.
Why do interns settle for a Yoga teacher training that has no support? Sometimes, an intern is trying to do his or her best to save on costs. Some people want to become a Yoga instructor, but they run into a variety of extra fees. Some of these fees include: tutoring fees, application fees, test fees, material fees, membership fees, and the list goes on.
These hidden fees can double, or triple, the cost of the training to become a certified Yoga teacher; that is not including the cost of time away from work, travel, lodging, and meals. There is a way to filter out the extra fees. One method is to ask the director of teacher training what the extra fees are. Some programs have no extra fees at all. Also, beware of agreements that have a back page full of fine print.
Fine print often indicates that an organization has much to hide. When an agreement has print, that is less than 10 point font, it hurts your eyes to read it; and this is an initial warning sign worth taking note. Is the purpose of fine print, in written agreements, meant to deceive or confuse?
Is the institution a member of the Better Business Bureau, and what is their track record with graduates? Are graduates, of the prospective training center, successful and happy? Satisfaction among graduates is the bottom line if you have decided to become a Yoga teacher.
Interestingly, some online Yoga certification programs have unlimited tutoring by Email and telephone. On top of this, there is no application with small print to endure. Interns can also take advantage of using Yoga teacher forums to get guidance from experienced teachers in every part of the world.
The educational resources on web-based Yoga training sites are free for the public to use. Archives are often filled with research, translations of Yogic philosophy, and video lectures or demonstrations. This access to education makes web-based education an attractive option for Yoga teacher interns.
Yet, there is still some concern about online training. Is online training a good form of education? Almost every university in the United States has online, correspondence, or night courses. Does anyone think an online course from Harvard University is inferior? Harvard is a well-respected Ivy League college, and it has a great online education program.
Online education is a wave of the 21st century. We can ignore it, or embrace a flexible option, for the education of Yoga instructors worldwide.
© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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
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
By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Did you ever question your devotion to teaching? Have you ever internally questioned the devotion of another Yoga teacher? It is only human to question and make comparisons. Making comparisons, and judging, has kept you alive up to this point. Every step in life requires you to make some form of judgment or a decision.
You can freely decide to become a Yoga teacher. You decide whether to get out of bed, or not, each day. You choose to eat breakfast, take a shower, meditate, watch television, or anything else, after you wake up. To choose, or decide, is a form of judgment. So, how did we get the idea that judgment should be restrained?
Our judgments, and pre-conceived notions, concerning ourselves and others, can be self-destructive. Prejudice and intolerance have led humankind toward the path of hate, and narrow-minded thinking, throughout history. We have also learned that harsh judgments of others hold us back as a species.
This is why non-judgment is praised as a higher quality. Tolerance and mutual respect, over our differences, gives us the power of collective thinking. When we communicate with others, who have different thoughts; we collectively learn from the experience. This ability, to accept differences in others, is the path to progress for humankind.
Due to Internet communication, television, and radio, we have access to new ideas every day. This does not mean all outside ideas will be easily accepted, but we have come a long way since our cave dwelling ancestors. New ideas are subject to practical application and time. This is why any fresh ideas are worthy of “air time.”
In judging ourselves too harshly, we waste time wishing we could change the past. This is a mistake that can lead to feelings of regret, depression, and self-contempt. The experience from mistakes, helps us learn more about what we are made of. We are better off to learn from our past mistakes, try to correct them, and move forwar – enriched by the experience.
Many interns join Yoga teacher training courses as a quest for self-discovery. The journey of understanding your true purpose in life is a noble path, but it is not the end of the path. If you are lucky enough to understand yourself, and you know your unique purpose in this life, you should help others who are seeking answers.
Each Yoga student has unique abilities, skills, and talents that contribute to the better good of your community. Yet, some students feel they are not worthy of praise. The best Yoga teachers help students reach their optimum potential in life.
© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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
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
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
By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
To become a Yoga teacher is rewarding, but it is contains daily challenges. Below are three different challenges that Yoga teacher interns should put to rest. Even if these challenges do not apply to us personally, it is good to be aware of them for our personal health and that of others.
The Perfection Trap
None of us is perfect. The longer we live, the more imperfections we find within ourselves. A mild case of being a perfectionist can strain or destroy relationships. An excessive case can become a form of excessive compulsive disorder. This can cause behavior that makes one feel compelled to constantly check for potential mistakes that might reveal his or her personal imperfections.
One of the basics in our foundational Yoga training is to let go of judgment. Yet, how many of us can let it go? If we are programmed to be perfect for 30 years, can we stop today? Letting go of the excessive demand for perfection is a gradual process, which may require professional counseling.
There is nothing wrong with wanting life to be perfect; however, you can tell when it is getting out of hand, when the relationships around you are suffering because of it. In this case, it may require counseling for a family or a couple.
On the other hand, a person, who lives in complete disorganization, is apt to create frustration with people who have organized lives. There is a delicate balance between the desire to improve and the demand for perfection.
Fear of Relationships
Each of us has life experiences which occur, due to vulnerability that is part of the relationship-forming process. When we extend ourselves toward another human being, we open ourselves up to the rewards and consequences of negative or positive emotions.
This can happen in any type of relationship. In the teacher/student relationship, the teacher’s feelings should be more reserved. There should be a “mental” line drawn between a professional relationship and any extension of emotional attachment.
Helping Everyone but You
This is like the carpenter, who repairs everyone’s home, but never has the time to fix his or her own house. This desire to help everyone first happens to professionals and trades people of all kinds. With that said – the most common reason people teach Yoga to others is to share the gift of being able to help others help themselves.
Yoga is a method of self-healing that requires each of us to invest time in our personal practice – regardless of how many years we have been practicing.
© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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
By 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
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
By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Traditional Yoga teacher training requires years of direct face-to-face study with a competent Guru. An essential part of learning how to teach Yoga is to maintain a bond with one’s Guru for life. Within many Yoga schools, the Guru has the final say in most matters. He or she decides when a student is ready to ascend to Yoga teacher.
The Guru’s competence level is never in question, because it is accepted that he or she is always right. If one seeks to become a Yoga teacher, by studying under the most accomplished Guru, this process could take years to be recognized as a formal student.
This step of formal Yoga study is taken, before consideration is given to any aspirations of teaching, on the part of the student. Due to the many social changes around the world, and within India, the traditional process of teacher training has evolved over time.
In fact, what we westerners might label “traditional” today did not exist 60 years ago. One did not study a form of Yoga for a month, with a Guru we never met before, learn a few dozen postures (asanas), become a certified Yoga instructor, get back on a jet, and open a teaching practice at home.
The study of Yoga is a much deeper process. A teacher of Yoga is a student for life. Some of us spend hours studying, practicing, and networking with other Yoga teachers – every day – for life. To safely teach students with different health profiles is not accomplished, unless we see the value of continuing education.
There is nothing wrong with the evolution of teacher training, but the traditional form of training took many years and is much less common today. There are many reasons for this. Family, work, and financial obligations, often top the list. Travel to India, to live in an ashram, may also tax one’s pocketbook and time.
With a variety of Web 2.0 tools, applications, and technologies, the ability to enhance one’s education has expanded opportunities for Yoga enthusiasts, students, and teachers – worldwide. No matter how far you live from the nearest town, you can find high-speed Internet access via satellite.
While some may criticize online Yoga training, it should be noted that many respected institutions and colleges have Internet-based education programs. To spread education worldwide, can only help humanity. People are learning more about languages, history, science, and many other subjects.
Therefore, the volume of Yoga education, training, and information will continue to grow in the future. It is almost a magical experience to see the present and future opportunities available for the education of humanity.
© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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
By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Do you have a burning desire to take part in an intensive course? Do you feel you could make a positive contribution to society by teaching Yoga? What is your reason for waiting to become a Yoga teacher? If it has to do with learning the basics, that’s understandable.
Yet, there are many capable students with ten, or more, years of experience who wait to be recognized by their teacher. They believe in the formality of an apprenticeship and the traditional Guru / student relationship. Unfortunately, years go by, and they are not recognized as worthy of consideration to become an apprentice.
Some people naturally feel they are unworthy of recognition. They believe others deserve success, happiness, and bliss. “Luck” never seems to work quite right for them. The flaw in this mindset is that happiness is right in front of us. The same can be said for success or luck.
An optimist wakes up happy and looks for every possible opportunity for success. There are not many eternal optimists. By some calculations, less than two to five percent of the people in this world are qualified to be labeled, “eternal optimists.”
What are the qualifications? You wake up every morning with positive energy in your mind and a song in your heart. This sounds simple enough, but when you try it, you will notice how many people are “down in the dumps.” The saying, “Misery loves company” is so true.
An eternal pessimist seeks pleasure in making everyone else miserable. The worst thing anyone can do is count on an eternal pessimist for guidance or praise. In Yoga, we seek the truth in all matters of life. If you have been practicing for years, you should be able to see reality.
One point of reality is that we are all worthy. If we make mistakes, we learn from them and move forward. This does not mean life will be a fairy tale and we will live happily ever after. Learning from mistakes, and developing solutions, makes us stronger. We discover that we should not waste time crying over the past.
Self-realization is simply the experience of being. To be in harmony with our true nature, and to realize that we create our own reality, is self-realization. While it would be nice if everyone loved us for who we are, we must first love those around us. This is extremely difficult. However, when you give, you will receive. They key to progress, in all matters, is to look for solutions within and do not hold yourself back.
© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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