Posts Tagged ‘yoga instructors’

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Yoga Instructor Training: Joint Pain

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Faye Martins

Joint pain seems to be more apparent the longer we live. In any yoga instructor certification program, the issues relating to skeletal diseases, pain, and remedies are discussed. Young yoga teachers may not feel the pain, but are made aware of the importance of optimum skeletal health.

For thousands of years people have been practicing physical forms of yoga to relieve joint pain as an alternative to traditional medicines. It can be quite depressing to feel dependent on prescription medication to handle day-to-day routine.

With regular practice many find that there is no need for any other methods to help them handle the everyday aches associated with afflictions like Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel, and Fibromyalgia. Even if you do not suffer from these serious conditions, stress, work, and even a sedentary lifestyle can cause serious joint pain.

Ideal Asanas

There are asanas for every type of joint pain. Many have the mindset that moving around would be the last thing to prevent pain, and initially it may be more painful and difficult to practice yoga. However, as with any form of exercise the longer it is practiced and the more routine it becomes, the easier it will be.

Yoga instructors should be encouraging and positive towards those who are in class for the specific purpose of joint pain relief. Also, they should remind students that this is their own session, and they can take it as slow as they need to in order to be comfortable. From head to toe, here are some ideal asanas to not only decrease pain but also increase flexibility in problem areas.

• Shoulder, elbow and wrist pain: Wall plank, Dolphin, Eagle Arms, Child’s Pose.

• Neck pain: Bridge Pose, Forward Fold, Reclining Twist, Cow and Cat, Corpse.

• Hip pain: Triangle, Warrior 1, Downward Facing Dog, Locust, and Happy Baby.

• Back pain: Pigeon, Downward Dog, Child’s Pose, Triangle, Cat, and Forward Fold.

• Knee pain: Warrior, Butterfly, Child’s Pose, and Knees to Chest.

Other Recommendations for Students

Yoga instructors can also recommend additional holistic treatments like hot and cold therapy, massage, and a healthy diet that includes plenty of water. Strangely, the toxins in spicy and oily foods as well as alcoholic beverages have been found to contribute to joint pain.

So a good rule of thumb is to stick to anything fresh and light (Sattvic diet). Before long your students are sure to be singing your praise for helping them improve their health standards. As a Yoga instructor, student satisfaction is one of highest rewards of teaching.  One of the best ways to stay at the top of your game is to take specialized yoga teacher training courses, which address the needs of your students.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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Posted in Yoga for Skeletal Health, Yoga Teacher Issues, Yoga Teacher Training | No Comments »

Teaching Laughter Yoga for Cancer Patients

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

yoga teacher trainingBy Faye Martins 

Laughter Yoga – are you serious?  Many Yoga teachers don’t even consider it.  Yoga is a serious art, science, and way of life.  Should we make it into a joke?  Paul Jerard often says, “we have to learn to laugh at ourselves.”  In fact, taking life too seriously could kill us.  Next time you think about adding a new class to the schedule, you might want to smile while you’re doing it.

Evidently, laughter really is the best medicine. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, known for its innovative research and cutting-edge technology, recently added an unexpected weapon to its arsenal of complementary care alternatives. Laughter Yoga, a technique developed by an Indian doctor in 1995, provides a light-hearted, healthy break from the grueling pace of medical procedures and offers patients a chance to play and connect with each other.

Already growing in popularity, the use of laughing Yoga in the medical field gives additional credibility and exposure to a practice that can potentially help cancer patients deal with anxiety and find support. Consisting of three techniques, laughing Yoga engages practitioners with chanting and clapping, laughter, and meditation.

A study based on results from 20 people at the University of Maryland suggests that laughter might be as effective as aerobic exercise in keeping arteries healthy. According to “Psychology Today,” humor has far-reaching emotional and physical benefits:

• It increases creativity and problem-solving abilities.

• It creates a sense of connection and synchronizes brains within a group setting.

• It increases pain tolerance.

• It lowers blood sugar levels.

• It increases the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain.

• It strengthens immunity and regulates blood flow.

• It provides support by bringing people together.

“Science Daily” reported in 2008 that health care workers who care for terminally ill patients say that constructive wit is the key to coping on a daily basis, and evidence shows that students learn more quickly when humor is part of the lesson. At Swedish Cancer Hospital in Chicago, laughter Yoga accompanies chemotherapy, potentially helping patients and caregivers at the same time.

Although researchers are not sure exactly how laughter works, some theorize that it may increase feel-good endorphins or stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the walls of arteries. Clinical studies conducted in India, Austria, Bangalore, and the United States, however, claim their studies offer proof that Laughter Yoga lowers levels of stress hormones and decreases the likelihood of helplessness and depression.

People who have cancer live with stress and uncertainty, states that foster negative feelings. Laughing offers emotional and physical relief that can improve the quality of their lives and possibly allow them to live longer.  Sometimes, Yoga instructors need to have a sense of humor.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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What Should a Yoga Teacher Know About Anatomy?

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There are a few Yoga teacher training programs that do not view anatomy as a priority. This may be true if the Yoga teacher certification is based upon teaching a style without movement. For example: The practice of Bhakti, Karma, or Jnana has little to do with asana (posture). Our view of what Yogic methodology is can be very different from our colleagues.

Movement

The essence of Hatha and many contemporary styles of Yoga is movement, with each part of the body moving in relation to a counterpart for optimum “body balance.” Yoga instructors need to know how body parts are connected, in order to be able to help students adjust, when they feel discomfort. Anatomy is defined as the study of the structure of the body. When you study anatomy you learn the names of all the bones and how they are connected, as well as how the joints, ligaments, muscles, and organs, work within the body. All of these concepts are crucial to an understanding of how the body moves, the benefits of proper movement, and the dangers of incorrect movement. Yoga teachers do not need to be experts of human anatomy to be good instructors, but basic understandings of alignment, skeletal compression, and tension, are helpful.

Human Skeletal Structure

Understanding Yoga anatomy, in the most basic sense, means knowing the names, location, and purpose of the bones within the human body. Yoga instructors should know the difference between the femur and the fibula. You do not have to use those terms with your students, but they should be a part of your knowledge base. When students ask questions about specific poses, you will be prepared to answer them intelligently. Keep in mind that most students are out to achieve an overall sense of the mind-body connection and total relaxation. They do not necessarily desire to be confused by scientific information during class.

The Relationship Between the Human Body and Asana

Perhaps the most important anatomical information Yoga teachers need to understand is the relationship between the body and the poses.  Instructors must be aware of which parts of the body are affected by each asana, and how certain parts of the body work together while a student is holding a posture. You must always provide guidance, safety information, and cues for your students in order to protect themselves from injury. A Yoga teacher without any knowledge of anatomy might not fully understand the dangers of improper alignment.

Dangers of Speculation

Since most Yoga teachers are not anatomy experts, make sure you do not act like one. If a student asks a question that you do not know the answer to, advise him or her to seek help from someone who knows. Give advice only about matters, which you are familiar with. Many students come to our classes for relief of back pain, neck pain, headaches, or other chronic issues. Instead of speculating about what could possibly be going on within the body, offer advice only about techniques that should relieve the issue. Always advise a student to consult with his or her physician.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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Posted in Yoga Anatomy, Yoga Teacher Issues, Yoga Teacher Training | 2 Comments »

The Dangers of Pushing Kids in Physical Yoga

Sunday, April 29th, 2012

teaching yoga to childrenBy Faye Martins

Yoga teachers are often considering the development of new programs for adults, seniors, and children. Sometimes, we consider giving children the opportunity to get the level of exercise needed to rid extra energy. This extra energy needs to be released in a positive way, but children need proper guidance and yoga instructors need to make sure classes are safe.

Power and vinyasa are generic physical styles that often derive their roots from the Ashtanga school of yoga. These generic styles emphasize the physical practice over the mental and spiritual practice. They are often offered at gyms as a form of exercise that can build strength and help with weight loss while encouraging flexibility and stress relief.

Additionally, more and more families are realizing that these health benefits are not lost on the younger generation.

It is important to note that despite being an advantageous way to stay healthy and fit, yoga can also present its own challenges to safe practice. With this in mind, parents should expect that there might be dangers in physical yoga for kids, and should refrain from pushing their children too hard.

The Risks

Power, vinyasa, and other physical forms of yoga can be risky for kids for several reasons.

First, children’s developing bodies and immature attention spans pose a special challenge for yoga instructors or parents who wish to guide youths through the refreshing practice of physical yoga. To prevent injury, students should take pose progression slowly, starting first with only the most basic postures and working on each pose series until the technique is nearly-perfect. Moving on to the trickier poses too fast can put a young person beyond his or her strength and flexibility capacities. As part of this idea, yoga teachers must keep an eye on balance and stress the importance of paying attention. In this way, children can avoid falls or muscle strains from incorrect posture. Practicing creative teaching can also make this challenge a lot easier by engaging kids’ attention in more lasting ways.

Second, even poses that children have mastered can present dangers. Inversion poses, for example, can place stress on the spine and neck, and abrupt forward bends are known for aggravating or causing back pain. With these risks common among adults, instructors should be careful not to place undue amounts of stress on young people’s immature musculature.

Third, there is a difference between pushing children to fulfill their potential and pushing children beyond their abilities. Some instructors or parents become impatient with children who struggle with pose alignment, but it is important to maintain an encouraging and supportive role during a yoga session. While some kids may need more guidance than others, continuing to assess the student’s abilities during a difficult pose is absolutely necessary. Remember that baby steps will get a person to the goal just as well as steps that over-reach.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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Teaching Yoga: Become an Example of Mindfulness

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When you are mindful, you are alert and active. You recognize the thoughts coming in and out of your head, while noticing how your body is moving and feeling. Mindfulness is a total body and thought awareness that comes with deliberate consciousness. Mindfulness is an important part of Yoga practice because it allows you to let your thoughts come in and out, without focusing too heavily on any one thought. It allows you to be completely present as you move your body, stretch your muscles, and bring a fresh oxygen supply to your organs. Yoga instructors should always model mindfulness for their students.

When we spend too much time on any one thought or worry, it grows. The mind is a powerful tool for creating something rather large out of something possibly insignificant. Being mindful can help, because it allows us to take life one moment at a time. We can sit in the present moment and appreciate it for what it is. Mindfulness fosters gratitude and appreciation for all of the “small” things in life. Yoga is an opportunity to take a break from daily routines and stresses to be mindful of our bodies, our spirits, and our deeper purposes in life.

Yoga instructors can teach the concept of mindfulness during meditation practice. Students should sit or lie in a comfortable position, breathing deeply into the belly and chest. As the students breathe, ask them to acknowledge each thought as it passes through their mind, then let it go. Guide the students to become aware of each part of their bodies, then move on to the next. Start with the toes and feet, move up to the calves, knees, and thighs. Keep traveling up the body, asking students to acknowledge the body part, release and relax any tension, and move on. This exercise will help your students learn to reach a state of mindfulness.

During Yoga class, instructors can remind students to be mindful by giving specific cues for each pose. Ask students to move specific parts of the body, and pay attention to how their bodies feel. Ask them to recognize any discomfort and adjust accordingly. Ask them to go deeper into the stretch, by breathing and feeling the moment, for exactly what it is. When Yoga teachers make a choice to consistently discuss, remind, and practice mindfulness, our students will begin to implement it into their own practices with ease.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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Locking Joints in Yoga Will Cause Premature Wear

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

You have heard it a thousand times: “Don’t lock your knees.” or “Keep your elbows soft.” Locking joints, while performing Yoga, means you are overextending the joint and putting yourself at risk for potential injuries. When you lock your knees, the muscles surrounding the joint become passive in the pose, which puts the strain on the ligaments instead.

By continually putting extra strain on the ligaments, cartilage, and connective tissues, instead of the muscles, they will begin to wear faster than they should. Yoga practitioners must be careful to keep all of the joints actively engaged during poses, to avoid premature wear and tear.

Some Hot Yoga teachers have caused a bit of confusion involving the term, “lock the knee.” If you have ever taken a Hot Yoga class, you probably heard the instructor encouraging students to “lock the knee,” while you are in a balancing posture. Perhaps, you wondered why you would be encouraged to put extra strain on the joints.

This is a classic misunderstanding between teacher and student. What they actually mean when they tell students to “lock the knee,” is to tighten the quadriceps muscle of the leg, which slightly draws the kneecap up. This actively engages the muscles surrounding the knee and provides great support for the rest of the body during standing poses. This can take a bit of practice to get it just right, but once you figure it out, without locking the knee joint, it will not cause harm. However, the knee joint itself should have a very slight crack when using this technique and is never to be locked. A Yoga teacher, who feels it is fine to hyper-extend any joint, needs to attend anatomy classes immediately.

Once you damage a joint, the domino effect begins to take place within the body. Joint capsules hold the lubricant, which allow the joints to move freely and smoothly. When a joint becomes injured, the body sends a message to the muscles that control the joint to contract. This results in a locked joint. If the locked joint is in the back, other joints around it will begin to overcompensate for the injured one. This can result in further wear, and undo strain, on those surrounding joints. Over time, this domino effect can also cause osteoarthritis.

It is important to keep the joints active and strong to avoid these potential problems. When practiced properly, Yoga postures help keep the joints lubricated and smooth. Yoga instructors should always remind students to not lock the knees, or other joints, by keeping them slightly bent, or by engaging the surrounding knee muscles. Practitioners can also avoid joint locks by being extremely conscious and aware of their bodies and how they feel during each pose.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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Chair Yoga Precautions for Students

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

chair yoga teacher trainingBy Sangeetha Saran

Yoga is a practice that yields great benefit, no matter your age. Thanks to the rising popularity of chair yoga, even seniors with limited mobility can experience the conditioning and strengthening effects of this ancient practice. With modification comes new considerations, and there are some special precautions yoga instructors should keep in mind when teaching this style of yoga.

Chair yoga is still yoga, and many of the same contraindications may apply. The yoga instructor must be notified of health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis or joint problems in order to keep their students safe. Hip replacements are especially important for yoga instructors to be aware of prior to starting the modified practice. A senior may not give their artificial hip a second thought, but it will have an impact on their yoga practice.

There are a variety of different chairs out there that may be used for chair yoga, and this is part of the exercise’s appeal. However, there are certain qualities that make some chairs better props than others. In addition to being perfectly stable, the ideal chair will have just the right amount of padding in order to make sitting for a prolonged period of time comfortable. Chair placement is as important as the choice of chair itself. A flat, level, nonskid surface is ideal for chair yoga.

When seniors are performing chair yoga, teachers need to put extra emphasis on body awareness and grounding. We might not consciously realize it, but the possibility of losing our balance and falling over goes a long way to keep us aware of how our bodies are responding to an activity. When this threat is removed, it is easier to ignore the subtle signals the body gives.

Also, although I have never seen this happen, it’s completely possible to fall out of the chair itself. To prevent this, teachers should constantly remind their students to ground themselves in the chair. This will keep their weight balanced and increase stability.

The inherent support of the chair during chair yoga may tempt students to push further and move faster than they should. The muscles must be properly warmed and stretched, even when doing yoga in a sitting position. Putting special focus on the benefits of stretching is a good idea, especially with beginning students.

Another area for instructors to be aware of is the fact that breathing exercises may be pushed too far when students know they can lean back on the chair for support. Body signals such as dizziness, vertigo and faintness should not be ignored, even if there is no danger of a fall. Keeping a watchful eye on students during the breathing exercises is a good idea.

By taking the necessary precautions with chair yoga, yoga instructors can provide their services to a whole new segment of the population. Chair yoga is the safest way for seniors to get in on the restorative benefits of yoga practice.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

 

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The Benefits of Kids Yoga Stories

Saturday, March 17th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Stories fall naturally into the lives of children. Parents often begin introducing children to books and stories during infancy, and continue to share throughout childhood. Upon entering school, children find that stories continue to play a huge role in learning a variety of skills and concepts. Stories nurture the imagination, provide an outlet for discussing emotions, and make life a bit easier to understand for children. It would seem natural, then, to find stories in a Yoga class for children.

Yoga Stories Engage Interest

Stories often engage the children. Children love stories because they are a part of their everyday lives. When they realize that they are also a part of Yoga class, it helps to engage their interest. Yoga instructors often incorporate the asanas (Yoga poses) with stories, bringing both the stories and the poses to life. When poses are connected to stories, the children will have an easier time recalling new poses and perfecting old ones. Yoga teachers can also improve a wide range of literacy skills by encouraging children to make up portions of the story, re-tell known stories in their own words, or use props to tell stories.

Stories About Yoga Capture the Imagination

Yoga stories are a beautiful way to encourage children to use their imaginations. Children must visualize the characters and the setting, each coming up with unique versions. They will learn that their imaginations are limitless and can take them anywhere, anytime. When Yoga instructors encourage children to tell parts of the story on their own, they will exercise their imaginations and enhance their creative thinking skills, which makes innovative thought easier for them to develop over time. Innovative thinking will enhance creative writing skills, which will become valuable as one progresses through school and into the workplace.

Yoga Stories Improve Visualization

Along with exercising the imagination, stories about Yoga allow children to visualize. They learn that stories can come alive within their minds. Even when a Yoga instructor does not have a book with illustrations, stories can exist through visualization. This visualization helps during meditation practice, where children are asked to visualize breath or emotions within the body.

Stories About Yoga Improve Speaking and Listening

Speaking and listening skills play an important role in literacy education. Children learn to listen attentively to stories, especially when they are encouraged to listen for specific events or characters. Children can also work on important speaking skills when the instructor asks them to re-tell stories during class.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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Kids Yoga Games for Ages 6 to 8

Friday, March 16th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Faye Martins

Kids yoga classes must be structured a bit differently than adult classes in order to avoid boredom among the students. Kids yoga instructors can engage the students with interesting and fun games and activities. Teachers can use kids yoga games to introduce new poses and practice old ones. Yoga instructors might throw an impromptu game into class to spice things up, offer a game as an incentive at the end of each class, or begin the class with a game to get kids’ minds focused on yoga.

Add One

This fun game builds memory and concentration skills while reviewing many yoga poses. Stand in a circle. Begin by performing a yoga pose and asking the kids to mimic it. Ask the child to your right to choose yoga a pose to model, then everyone must perform the first pose that was modeled, plus add the second pose. Continue to work your way around the circle. Each person adds a new pose, and the class must perform all of the poses in the order they were added. If confusion ensues, ask the person who added the pose to show it again. You might also ask each child to incorporate a sound with the pose, or to name it.

Ball Pass

Work on core strength with this silly yoga game that uses a textured ball. Students should sit in a circle, with legs stretched out in front of them. Pass the ball from person to person by grabbing it with the feet and releasing it to the next person’s feet. As children gain strength and familiarity with the game, they can throw the ball across the circle to anyone.

Mirror, Mirror

Teach children a bit of cooperation by playing this game of mimic. Children should stand face to face with partner. One child initiates a movement, and the other child must try to mirror the movement as closely as possible. Teach kids to begin with simple movements, such as raising a hand overhead. Then, kids can progress to other movements, like climbing a ladder, facial movements, and yoga poses. After a time students can switch roles, giving the other child a chance to lead.

Musical Yoga Mats

Set up one yoga mat for each student in a circle, oval, or square shape. Place a yoga card on each mat. To begin, students should stand on the outside edge of the mats. Play energizing music as the students move around the mats performing a specified movement, such as skipping, hopping, walking backwards, or galloping. When the music stops, children must rush to the nearest mat and perform the given pose until the music starts up again.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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Improve Child Literacy with Yoga Stories

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 

Teaching Yoga to children is a non-competitive method for enabling them to gather many positive life skills. One life skill that is essential for success throughout life is literacy. Literacy includes reading, writing, speaking, listening, and a general appreciation of language. Children begin to work on literacy from the moment they are born, as they are introduced to the sounds of the language. As they grow, their ideas of literacy expand to books, songs, poems, and rhymes. The more children are exposed to rich language, creative stories, songs, and books, the more literate they become. Elementary teachers often focus the entire academic year around literacy activities. Yoga instructors can also help develop children’s literacy through stories.

While the concept of storytelling is rather simple, the concepts and skills children learn from a good story are simply priceless. Through stories, children learn valuable life lessons about virtues, feelings, emotions, conflicts, and resolutions. In a Yoga class, they can learn important Yogic principles, including respect for others, positive thinking, releasing negativity, and using your body to help you through emotional issues.

Children learn the basic components of a story through storytelling. They learn that stories have a beginning, middle, and end. They learn about characters, setting, plot, and conflict. These are all important literacy concepts. Yoga stories ignite the imaginations of children, exposing them to a variety of ideas and concepts. Stories show no discrimination, engaging kids with different backgrounds, prior knowledge, and learning levels.

Yoga teachers should use stories to help children learn and remember Yoga poses, and to teach important Yogic philosophies. Yoga stories can be interactive, where the students act out the poses as the story unfolds. Yoga instructors can also use props to add interest to the story, and to allow kids to use their imaginations, as they transform their bodies into various animals and objects.

The options, of learning through stories, are limitless. Yoga instructors can use books, or make up their own stories. They can allow the children to participate by adding bits and pieces to the story. Children also love when a story is familiar and take pride in being able to retell stories in their own words.

Children can make valuable connections when they realize that stories are a part of many different venues in life, including school, home, and even Yoga class. Share a story during your next Kids’ Yoga class and you might be surprised how well the children respond.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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

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

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

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