Posts Tagged ‘yoga certification course’

Yoga Teacher Training – Finding Yoga Teaching Jobs

Saturday, November 27th, 2010

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Most graduates of 200-hour Yoga certification courses have sufficient qualifications to teach Yoga classes. There is much emphasis placed upon knowing everything; yet, there is so much to know. If you are waiting to know everything, before you teach Yoga classes; you will never begin your teaching journey.

If you train in any profession, you have to start somewhere, while learning from continuing education and on-the-job experience. When one decides to become a Yoga teacher, 200 hours of study is entry level training. In comparison to similar fields, new Yoga teachers have a respectable amount of training and study.

However, with all the technical and philosophical training involved, many new teachers have no idea how to find employment. At the same time, interns spend much of their energy, and financial resources, with no guidance concerning how to find a Yoga teaching position. Therefore, consider the following questions and guidelines when you evaluate a course.

Does your prospective course contain any business or marketing materials? Someone may convince you that business and marketing is evil, but your Yoga teacher training is not free. There are reasons for sending a person up a creek, without a paddle, and none of them are good.

Are there any Yoga teacher employment-seeking materials provided by a real studio owner? How to find employment is a vital skill that a Yoga teacher should know. With that said, Yoga is a unique field, where hard sell marketing tactics rarely work. In fact, people from all walks of life are often tired of hearing a hard sell. People hang up on telemarketers, and walk out of the room, when a commercial is on the television.

How to find a position as a Yoga teacher is not that difficult. Prepare yourself with the following tips, and you will find optimum success.

Design a resume and a cover letter, similar to the way you would construct one for the corporate world. Present yourself on paper the same way you would if you were seeking any other professional position. If you have difficulty, hire a resume writer or have your friends proofread your resume and a cover letter.

Create a position. Let’s face it; most studios do not hire graduates from other schools. Why would a Bikram school hire a Kripalu teacher and vice-versa? Schools often hire from within. It is much easier for an Iyengar school to hire Iyengar teachers.

So, how do you create a Yoga teacher position? Think outside the Yoga studio. There are many opportunities outside of the studios. The sky is the limit, when you consider networking with chiropractors, psychologists, family physicians, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, psychiatrists, businesses, schools, condo complexes, fitness centers, and many more opportunities.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

To see our complete selection of Yoga teacher certification courses, please feel free to visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/Teacher-Courses/

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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Become a Better Hatha Yoga Teacher

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

How can we develop a system to improve the quality of our Yoga classes? Why should we care about becoming the best Yoga teacher possible? Is a Yoga session to be structured for the student or for the style? Let’s review these questions, to look below the surface layer of the underlying issues, and search for deeper answers.

Developing a system, for improving the quality of Yoga classes, is more than quality control. This requires Yoga teachers to continually learn and improve the art of teaching. The issue here is more than continuing education. To improve classes, we must implement what we learn and listen to student feedback.

Implementing what we learn is applying what we absorb from Yoga teacher training courses to our classes. Attending the best intensives, or reading the best Yoga resources, mean nothing until we perform the practical applications in class.

At the same time, courses we take should benefit our students. There are so many directions to go in, but some are obvious. Some communities are older or younger. It makes no sense to take a Chair Yoga certification course, if we cannot apply it to any of our classes.

If you are receiving requests for a specific type of class – that is the direction that would make the most sense to go in. If we have no interest in becoming a Yoga teacher specialist, we might consider bringing in an instructor who can meet the needs of this group. Another option is to refer your students to another teacher who can match their needs.

The point being: We cannot be all things to all people, but our knowledge should at least point them in the right direction. Relationships, with our students, may be short-term or last for life. Either way, we should care enough about them to give them the best possible options to meet their needs.

Regardless of which style of Yoga we teach, we are obligated to make our classes safe. If a student has pre-existing health problems, some, or all, of their practice may have to be modified. If we understand nothing about modifications, it would be best to point students to a Yoga teacher who does.

At that point, we have an option to learn about modifications or teach students in our specific niche. If we choose to exclusively teach Yoga to young athletes – that is fine. However, we have to be honest about the athletic requirements of our classes with each new student that comes through our doors.

© 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

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Restorative or Chair Yoga Certification for Experienced Yoga Teachers – FAQs

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

I have been comparing your Chair Yoga teacher certification course to the Restorative course and have questions. I am still deciding whether to take the Chair Yoga course or the Restorative Yoga upgrade course; as to the latter, I have already both books which come with the course.

I have the opportunity for working with older people as clients, who are not very flexible, and have different ailments. In fact, one of my clients, who I work with, has great difficulty with hero’s pose and Dandasana.  Although I use props, she still looks so uncomfortable.

Q: I do have BKS Iyengar’s, ”Yoga, the Path to Holistic Health,” which does give good information about using props; however, I would like to further my knowledge and gain certification. Would you advise one, more than the other?

A: Both are good courses, but the Chair Yoga course focuses on the chair as the main prop. The reason being: Seniors, from chair-sitting societies, tend to be at risk of falling, when they get up or down from the floor.

Q: I would be more apt to the Chair Yoga course and have watched your videos. Could you give me further information about the exam papers on each course?

A: Information, about the Chair Yoga teacher’s upgrade course, can be found at:

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/-Upgrade-Version-Chair-Yoga-Teacher-Certification-Course.html

There is an essay and a practical exam video for the Chair Yoga upgrade course.

The Restorative Yoga upgrade has a written anatomy exam, a written modification and props exam, and a practical exam video.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/-Upgrade-Version-Restorative-Yoga-Teacher-Certification-Course.html

Q: Are these two courses included in the level II Yoga teacher training course?

A: The Restorative materials are part of the Level 2 Yoga instructor training course. The Chair Yoga course is not part of the Level 2 course.

Q: I have also envisioned the other upgrading courses. If one has some of the material, would the course be discounted for the elimination of such?

A: To avoid duplicate materials – we can eliminate Yoga study materials from any course and give you a discount. Our discount is our wholesale buying price. Let us know which materials you do not want, and we will send you a coupon for the online shopping cart. Also, we can also process orders over the phone.

Q: Just the last question - how long does one have to complete either of the courses I mentioned?

A: Usually, it takes approximately three months for the completion of either one of these two courses; but you have one full year to complete your studies. After that, you can always apply for an extension.

© 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

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Posted in Chair Yoga | 1 Comment »

Yoga Teacher Training – Why is Pranayama Underrated

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

By Sanjeev Patel, CYT

Some interns and Yoga teacher trainers believe the heart and soul of Yoga is asana practice. This may be so in some fitness oriented Hatha Yoga styles, but it isn’t the case for all of Yoga. Many Yoga styles are designed for the maintenance of your mind on a spiritual, mental, and emotional level.

If you read the Yoga Sutras, you will find many Yogic principles. Among them are the Eight Limbs of Yoga, which are detailed by Patanjali. A very important Yogic principle is pranayama. Many people today do not breathe properly and have lost the ability of using their respiratory muscles and lungs correctly. This results in shallow high-chest breathing. Through faulty breathing the bloodstream is not being properly purified and oxygenated, nor can food be properly burned for energy use.

Therefore breathing deeply has to be learned again, pranayama is the mastery of proper breathing. This means breathing fully and rhythmically using all of, not part of your lungs and therefore increasing the intake of oxygen, and at the same time removing stale air. Yogis feel that we should breathe air of the highest nutritional value, as it is our most essential food. Air is the most important resource that we absorb so therefore we should work towards achieving the maximum amount of inhalation and exhalation of air when we breathe.

Fifteen to twenty minutes a day should be spent on pranyama. This regular session increases vital capacity, energises and exercises the lungs, and respiratory muscles, oxygenates and purifies the bloodstream, removes phlegm, cleanses the sinuses and nerve channels, soothes and tones the nervous system, improves thoracic mobility and broadens the chest, improves digestion, massages the abdominal area.

Breathing correctly is a way of learning how to absorb extra oxygen and oxygenate the blood more efficiently Pranayama can be both calming and energizing depending on the type of breathing exercises performed. Control of the mental state, through calming and focusing the mind is attained through regular pranayama practice.

Until mankind learns that all of the limbs mentioned by Patanjali are important, Yoga certification courses and teacher trainers must get the message out. Thus, it is up to competent Yoga teachers to deflate the myth that asana alone is the only sacred Yogic practice.

© 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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Growing the Yoga Teacher Within

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Each Yoga teacher is different, but from the core of these differences, is the style from which we are rooted. The foundational Yoga teacher training, of each style, is the core of our Yogic knowledge. It is important to have a firm foundation of knowledge.   At the same time, this is why it is difficult to absorb innovative thoughts, philosophies, and approaches to the same problem.

When working with a student who has an ailment, your style may have all the answers, or it may not. When you find that your foundational training does not contain all the answers, do you feel challenged? Of course you do, and so did every Yoga teacher who walked the earth before you.

However, we live at a time of instant communication. As a result of the Internet, knowledge can be sent to any part of the world in an instant. At this time, the only problem with finding answers may be that we feel strange about asking for help. This may stem from our pride or previous training.

When considering pride, and ego, the reality of needing help will push us to make a decision. Do we stay where we are, or move forward and help our students? One other problem is cloning, which can take place in the foundational Yoga teacher certification course.

Perhaps, the trainer has led you to believe all the answers are contained within one form of Yoga. This creates a form of tunnel vision because Yogic knowledge evolves and expands daily. Granted, we should take pride in our roots, but all of the answers will not be found in a single book, style, or room.

Continuing education is the key to expanding on a firm foundation. With mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health in mind, there are so many directions to go in, that most Yoga teachers develop some specialist knowledge. There is nothing wrong with referring a student to a Yoga teacher specialist.

It will be in a student’s best interest to visit a medical doctor, Ayurvedic doctor, or counselor – when the situation arises. In the interest of each Yoga student, there are many times when cooperation with other styles, and fields, is better than isolation.

Always remember that the ego is a hindrance. Although it may not be classified as one of the five classical hindrances, the ego is an obstruction to progress, in its purest form. For a Yoga teacher to evolve into an innovator, he or she must purge the ego, and reality will expose itself.

© 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

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The Seven Chakra System of Hatha Yoga

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

By Samantha Grayson, CYT

There is much more to Hatha Yoga than asana practice.  Every competent Yoga teacher training graduate knows about the major, minor, and lesser chakras.  Every Yoga certification course worth its weight teaches graduates about the subtle body of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Chinese medicine.

There are many different beliefs regarding the number of major chakras in the Yogic subtle body. It seems the most common theory is seven or eight major chakras or nerve centers in the subtle body. Each chakra is described with a color, flower with a specific number of petals, personality characteristics, a corresponding part of the body and an element.

Not all Yoga systems or Gurus completely agree on the exact characteristics of the seven major chakras.  Each chakra also has a corresponding mantra sound to awaken it. In Kundalini yoga there is a serpent (the Kundalini) at the first chakra and the serpent can be awakened as it moves through the seven main chakras. As the chakras are balanced, under the guidance of a competent Guru, a Yoga practitioner can reach deeper levels of consciousness.

1. First Chakra, Muladhara - this is a yellow chakra with four petals. Its element is earth and its mantra sound is LAM. The body part associated with this charka is the base or root. Its is associated with being grounded and balanced characteristics are roundedness, physical health, being comfortable with your body, stability, safety, prosperity and being present in the here and now.

2. Second chakra, Swahisthana – this is a white chakra with 6 petals. Its element is water and its mantra is VAM. The body part associated with this chakra is the abdomen and reproduction. It is associated with moving and its balancing characteristics are gracefulness, ability to embrace change , emotional intelligence, being nurturing, ability to set boundaries and enjoy pleasure, passion and sexual satisfaction

3. Third chakra, Manipura – This is the red chakra with 10 petals. Its element is fire and its mantra is RAM. It is associated with Directing. The part of the body associated with this chakra is the solar plexus. Balancing characteristics are Full voice, good communication and listening skills, good sense of timing and rhythm.

4. Fourth chakra, Anahata – This is a green chakra and has 12 petals, its element is air and its mantra is Yam. It is associated with loving and is associated with the lungs, heart, pericardium upper ribs, inner arms and hands, Balancing characteristics are caring, compassion, empathy, acceptance, self loving peaceful centered and contentment.

5. Fifth Chakra, Vishuddha – This is the sea-blue chakra that has 16 petals. Its element is ether and it mantra is Ham. It is associated with expression and is referred to as the throat chakra connecting the neck, shoulders, mouth and jaw and related to the thyroid gland. Balancing characteristics are full voice, communicates and listens well, good sense of timing and rhythm and creativity.

6. Sixth chakra – Ajna – This snow white chakra has two petals. OM mantra is OM. This chakra is about seeing both internally and externally, It is associated with the eyes The balancing characteristics are strong intuition, insight, imagination, memory, dream recall, visualization and has a guiding vision for life.

7. Seventh chakra – Sahasrara – The thousand petal chakra corresponds to the Absolute. When the serpent, kundalini reaches the seventh chakra the yogi attains Samadhi or super consciousness. The crown charka is the most important it is the consciousness of all other chakra. It is associated spiritual connection, wisdom and mastery, intelligence, being open minded, ability to question, assimilate and analyze information.

Samantha Grayson is a certified Yoga teacher.

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Online and Distance Yoga Teacher Certification Courses

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

Yoga - Tree PoseBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Have you been considering an affordable Yoga teacher training course?  Many people would like to advance themselves in life, but they see a “road block” ahead.  Fortunately, life’s obstacles can also be new doors to many different opportunities.

Sometimes, an obvious solution to continuing education is not well known. Online and correspondence education programs have been in place at many universities worldwide.  There is no need for anyone to turn their life upside down to advance their education.

In fact, there is no need to pay large sums of money for education. Instructional television training programs, for teachers, have been around for decades. In the Chicago area, these programs started in the 1960s. Accredited universities have also offered college courses, with the help of local public television stations.

If you can earn a degree from an accredited college online, you can also earn a Yoga teacher diploma. Online study, to become a yoga instructor, is flexible and allows you to study at your own pace. There is no extended travel, and you do not have to put yourself in debt in order to earn your Yoga teacher’s diploma.

You could study for your certification anywhere a Wi-Fi network is set up and you could do all of your studies within your own home. However, if possible, it is always good to network with local Yoga teachers. By learning from local teachers, while studying to become a Yoga teacher, you will gain much knowledge from the experience.

At the same time, anyone considering a correspondence course in advanced Yoga studies, should also realize the importance of self-motivation. A self-starter has a big advantage – when finishing assignments pertaining to Yoga certification.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga Teacher Certification. FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.” http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

On-Site or Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

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 Hatha Yoga – Developing The Art of Communication

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Teaching YogaBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

If you ask any Yoga teacher if he or she needs improvement in communication techniques, you will receive a variety of answers. After all, Level 1 Yoga teacher training courses usually cover cueing, demonstrating, and assisting; so how much more can there be to optimizing your communication skills in a Yoga class?

Let’s review a few issues that should have been covered in your Yoga certification course. When you teach classes, are you listening? Some of us make the mistake of talking and explaining, so much, that we do not really listen to our students.

Worse yet, some Yoga teachers do not allow questions at all. There is a belief that questions “will interrupt the flow of the class.” To prohibit Yoga-related questions during class is extremely unsafe.

What if a student is experiencing pain, while he or she is performing a Yoga technique in your class? Should he or she keep quiet about it? Should a student wait until after the class is over to mention his or her pain in your class?

Yoga teachers should be listening and observing their students at all times. To do otherwise is extremely unsafe. There is no room for unsafe habits in Yoga teaching methodology. One unsafe teacher shames all of us.

When teaching a Yoga class, we must be able to see two sides of every issue. Each situation, which comes up, must be governed by logic, compassion, and ethics. These guidelines are essential for us to build trusting relationships with our classrooms.

This requires each of us, who teach Yoga classes, to take the time to know our students, in an atmosphere of mutual trust. Seek to understand, and recommend solutions, to each student’s obstacles with complete integrity.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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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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