Posts Tagged ‘Yoga teacher certification courses’

Yoga a Path to Happiness

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Lotus flower in summerBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There are many paths to happiness and Yoga is one of them. Within all forms of Yoga, we learn the principles tolerance and acceptance. To avoid judging ourselves, and others, is a key to finding contentment. Let’s look at how the practice of Yoga can be your path to happiness.

When we learn to accept ourselves, and others, at face value we have made a major step toward contentment. How many people want to change the way a friend, spouse or partner lives life? Maybe we want to change others for the best, or possibly we just want to micro-manage someone else’s life.

You have to wonder how relationships survive, if one side of the relationship constantly struggles for change and control. If we constantly judge, over handle, and refuse to accept differences in friends, we strain the entire structure of a friendship.

Yoga teaches us that compassion (karuna) for all beings is a moral action. Karuna is not simply pity; it is the action of compassion for others. If we have compassion for loved ones, why do we choose to judge them or struggle for dominance in our relationships?

Granted, there are times when we should help a person we see who is on a path of self-destruction. For example: Our children cannot guide themselves until they are adults. As parents, we would like to see our children responsibly take control of their own lives. Once a child becomes an adult, we are best to think carefully and be controlled in our advice.

With all of this said, the moderate Yogic path is the best choice in building relationships of unity. Loving relationships are difficult for many of us to maintain, but we can put forward our best effort. It is not an easy task to accept people the way they are, but we will be much happier when we learn to appreciate the positive aspects of our relationships.

© 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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About Chair Yoga After 65

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Seniors often remark that some of their peers are much more mobile than the rest. This usually depends on a person’s track record of mobility. For example: If you have been used to going to the floor and getting up without any difficulty, you will not have much difficulty in a regular Hatha Yoga class.

On the other hand, if you have run into circumstances, which changed your mobility, such as – trauma, illness, or you have not been on the floor in years, you are likely to have more difficulty getting up from the floor, than you would have going down to the floor. The old saying, “If you don’t use it – you lose it.” applies to any of us, who have neglected our mobility.

In the case of trauma, illness, or being wheelchair bound, life can throw us a few curves that just can’t be avoided. One of many examples is a person who is in their car, stopped at an intersection, waiting for the light to change, and suddenly, gets rear-ended. There are so many possible injuries that change one’s life in an instant.

Nevertheless, Chair Yoga has become extraordinarily popular. The benefits go far beyond the many physical improvements that students initially notice. It only makes sense that anyone, who is new to any form of Yoga practice, will feel the physical benefits first.

Stimulating the mind gives one a reason to be alive. With that said, the emotional benefits that students experience, gives them a feeling of self-worth. As one ages, and friends pass on, it is easy to feel alone. Being part of a group that pursues a positive activity is bound to result in a more balanced emotional state.

© 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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The Direction of Yoga Teacher Training in the 21st Century

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
 

Physical Assisting in Hatha Yoga

By Sanjeev Patel, CYT

The following is Part One of an interview with my Guru, Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, at Aura Wellness Center in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Q: Do you feel there are advantages, for Yoga instructor interns, who take online and correspondence courses; and if so, what are they?

A: To begin with, most people who take Yoga teacher certification courses have many other responsibilities. Among them are obligations to family members and job security. It is extremely difficult for anyone to drop his or her responsibilities, in order to further his or her education. This is why so many respected universities, around the world, have evening classes, correspondence courses, and online continuing education.

This desire, to further one’s education, is also why so many learning institutions have extended library hours and online resources. Yoga is a vast subject, but is no different to learn than any other subject. All of these beautiful resources mean nothing, if we do not practice or apply the methods and principles we learn.

The time to study, practice, and apply Yoga to our lives is a personal quest. Training online, or by correspondence, gives interns and experienced Yoga teachers, time to mentally process pieces of information or practice Yogic principles at home. At the same time, interns should attend local Yoga classes to see other teaching methodologies. Past experience, continuing education, outside resources, and one’s creativity are valuable tools to help each of us to become the best possible Yoga teacher.

Q: So, it seems that you are not opposed to teacher interns learning from outside resources and attending classes in their local areas. Do you think this could be confusing?

A: Each Yoga teacher must have an independent mind. There is nothing wrong with setting a foundation of knowledge, but I do not want to train a flock of parrots. Each of us needs foundational information, but all Yoga teachers will progress further when we become innovators. Creativity is a good quality, and we can learn from each other, as well as learn from within.

New methods are tested by studies, research, time, and student safety. Any Yoga technique, that looks as if it will compromise student safety, is subject to public scrutiny - regardless of how popular it may be. By learning from different Yogic schools of thought, Yoga teachers are already making rapid discoveries and improvements.

© 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

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Yoga Teacher Certification Courses – The Importance of Yoga Anatomy

Monday, May 31st, 2010

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Recently, there was a discussion related to the importance of anatomy in a Yoga teacher training course. Some teachers are taking anatomy courses for the sake of continuing education, but they don’t know why. When considering teaching Hatha Yoga, we should design our classes to be as safe as possible for each student.

This is the main purpose for pursuing knowledge in relation to Hatha Yoga and anatomy. Granted, Hatha Yoga is much more than a physical exercise class; but teachers should be aware of contraindications, faulty alignment, and unsafe practices that have been going on for centuries.

One example would be Tree Pose. How often have you seen a picture of a group of Yoga students, with one foot placed against the inside knee of the balancing leg? All you have to do is visit a few different Yoga web sites, and you will see a similar photograph.

Placing pressure against the side of the knee is unwise and invites injury. If pressure is applied with the foot that is against the inside knee, of the balancing leg, this can push your knee out of alignment while your knee is trying to bear the weight of your entire body.

Add to this fact, that a new student may have a pre-existing knee injury. In such a case, a Yoga teacher would want to help a student avoid making a bad situation worse. Students are supposed to feel better after the class – than they did when walking into the class.

During an anatomy for Yoga class, one learns that the knee is a hinge joint. It is not made to take weight, or pressure, from the side. For that matter, the knee is really not designed to take much pressure from any direction. It is also not designed to rotate in circles.

This is the type of knowledge, which is discussed within Yoga anatomy courses. The purpose is to make our Hatha Yoga classes safe for our students. It should be noted that those, who become proficient in anatomical jargon, share their knowledge, with their students, in an easy-to-understand manner. The reason is that, dedicated students will practice, independently, and should know how to avoid injuries.

Yoga anatomy not only applies to asana, but also applies to pranayama and bandha techniques. It goes without saying that bandha, or pranayama, practiced unsafely can cause harm to a Yoga practitioner.

© 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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Yoga Certification – The Gateway to the Job of Your Dreams

Monday, October 27th, 2008

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When discussing teaching Yoga for a living, you might not think you deserve to be happy, while performing work. This seems to be the main objection to a rewarding career: “It’s not a real job, unless you are suffering miserably.”

This same “undeserving” mentality, which surrounds the workplace, also dominates fitness and medicine. Remember: “Feel the burn,” “No pain, no gain,” and “Medicine has to taste bad to be good.” Some people inherently want to be told that they do not deserve grace, merit, or reward.

In Yoga, we are often familiar with the universal law of karma and the universal law of attraction. To envision unhappiness is a path toward misery. Why not learn to master the power of envisioning our paths in life? No one has to resign himself or herself to failure.

If your job situation looks bleak today, will it be the same tomorrow? Life has many twists and turns, but it only seems to make sense in hind sight. The only way we can control the direction of life is to visualize the future with optimism. By taking the “high road,” you are more likely to react to an opportunity, when one arises.

The difference between someone, who is a successful Yoga teacher, and someone who wants to be, is the ability to recognize an opportunity. The path of teaching starts with the study of a specific subject. This is completely true if the subject you want to teach is Yoga.

You can dream all you want, but you must take action in the form of study and practice. After a period of time, you can take an intensive course. There are many choices for Yoga teacher certification courses. There are correspondence, onsite, and online Yoga teacher training courses, to choose from.

However, a 200-hour Yoga course will prepare you for many things, but it will not prepare you for everything. There are too many aches, pains, ailments, and illnesses for one course to cover. This is why almost every Yoga teacher participates in continuing education.

There is no “magic bullet” Yoga training course. Yoga has been documented for thousands of years. One course may be very comprehensive, but a single course is a gateway to many more doors of knowledge and opportunity.

The job of your dreams is in your mind, and the path you choose is ultimately your decision. It does not have to cost you an “arm and a leg” to get started, but the path toward success and happiness starts with your first step in that direction.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga Teacher Certification Courses
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos.
Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
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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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Two Questions Yoga Teachers Do Not Want to Answer

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Like everyone else, Yoga teachers get to hear plenty of questions, but some questions come up often enough to develop a standard response. Some teachers do not want to answer them at all. In this case, read on, and you can develop your own canned response.

1. If you teach Yoga on a daily basis, do you want to be involved in the, “quick weight loss,” advertising fad? Sometimes, you might be best to point potential students to a professional first. This will save valuable time for you and a prospective client.

Q: I want to lose weight with Yoga. I am ready to make a life change. When can we get together and discuss my goal of losing 40 pounds instantly?

A: Yoga does help people change their lifestyles, but it is not a “get thin quick” scam. Rapid weight loss is often gained back just as quickly, when a client goes back to his or her regular lifestyle again.

Although Yoga students often see results with body weight, it does not happen quickly. Losing a pound, per week, is realistic and the weight will likely stay off, but this is more than showing up to Yoga class once or twice per week.

2. This leads to the second question Yoga instructors often answer. The concept of changing one’s lifestyle manages to evade common sense. Remember that there are 168 hours in a week.

Q: What do you mean – I have to come to Yoga more than once a week? I thought I could come to Yoga class once a week and go about life as usual.

A: Let’s say, you practice Yoga for two hours per week, but the rest of the week you refuse to exercise, have irregular sleep cycles, eat too much, and eat poorly. How could you think that any health maintenance system could stand up to 166 hours per week of negligence?

Once upon a time, I had a client who managed to walk 600 pedometer steps per day. We know that many walkers try to get a minimum of 10,000 steps per day for health maintenance. This client was easily able to walk more than 600 steps per day, but it was not part of her lifestyle.

She eventually began to lose weight slowly because of a lifestyle change on all fronts. She began to make wise dietary choices, she increased her pedometer steps, she came to Yoga classes more often, and everything fell into place gradually.

If a student manages to change his or her life by practicing Yoga only once a week, I have to wonder what changes are being made for the other 167 hours. It’s just a matter of math, but lifestyle changes add up over the long term.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga Teacher Certification Courses
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos.
Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
——————————————–
On-Site Yoga Training: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com
——————————————–
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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