Yoga Mats Are For Every Style

You are likely going to need some yoga mats, regardless of what kind of yoga it is that you are planning on doing. Mats are generally made of foam rubber and offer a slender layer of protection between your elbows, knees, hips (and any other body part) and the floor.

Most people do not know that there are different types of yoga that you can do. It is kind of comparable to swimming. In swimming, you can swim the backstroke, the breaststroke, freestyle, the doggie paddle, etc. Likewise, when people practice yoga, they can do it in a variety of styles and methods.

The fact is that there could be a new type of yoga created on yoga mats as you read this. The fact is that any teacher can create a new style of yoga if he or she is creative and has a solid background in traditional yoga styles.

There are many types of yoga, but there are a handful of styles that are much more popular than most other kinds. Here are some of the types of yoga that you may have already done, or could be coming to yoga mats near you soon.

Gentle yoga: Some of the people who practice gentle yoga on their yoga mats also refer to this kind of yoga as "hathe yoga." For those who participate in gentle yoga, they already know that the focus is on long stretches and flexibility. Slow, deep breathing is also vitally important to this kind of yoga. This is the traditional kind of yoga that most people tend to think of when they hear the word "yoga."
Kundalini yoga: Kundalini yoga is something a bit different for those people who have never experienced any kind of yoga before. This type of yoga works on the premise that the body has eight chakras and through the breath of fire (rapid breathing) a person can systematically heat body from the bottom up. As you are doing this breathing on your yoga mats, the time will come when you will be able to raise kundalini. This essentially means that the person practicing yoga is able to achieve a feeling of high enlightenment.

Power yoga: This is also known as vinyasa yoga. Vinyasa is a Sanskrit term that refers to a rapid series of movements that quickly flow from pose to pose. Power yoga, as you might have guessed from the name, is a very active type of yoga. Your yoga mats will definitely get a good workout along with you. In this type of yoga, the person basically moves from one pose to the next in quick succession. If you are looking for a workout, this is the kind of yoga you will likely want to try. It will make you work up a sweat and give your muscles a slender, toned appearance.
As you are trying any of these exercises on your yoga mats, it is best to pay attention to how you feel as you do each exercise. By paying attention to your body and your spirit, you will better understand how to continue yoga practice and progress in your practice.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and health and fitness. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on yoga, please visit Yoga Supplies, home of articles about yoga mats, yoga clothing, and more.

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Novice Guide To Yoga

For many people in the west, yoga can seem like a very strange practice. Doing yoga has many benefits and as you read this article, you will learn more about yoga and the benefits of beginning yoga.

Points I cover in this article:

* History of yoga

* Benefits of yoga

* Beginning yoga

History of Yoga

The history of yoga dates back to the Upanishad's. The Upanishad's a part of the Veda's and form part of the Hindu scriptures was written before the 7th century BC, which makes it one of the oldest texts known to man!

For many people in the west, the meditation aspects of yoga is known, however, there is more to yoga. Doing yoga for many people practicing yoga, is also a way to spiritual growth, and spiritual enlightenment.

Benefits of Yoga

When you start to do yoga, you will find many benefits, not just spiritual or physiological, but also psychological, and biochemical, not to mention the many more benefits of you doing yoga.

Some of the benefits of yoga, you may be able to get are your mood improves and subjective well-being increases, your level of Anxiety and Depression decreases, sleep improves, pulse rate decreases, and your weight normalizes. This is only a very small handful of the benefits of doing yoga.

For people who may be looking for the health benefits which can help heal certain ailments, you may be glad to know glucose and sodium levels in the body go down because of doing yoga. So the steps you are taking now can greatly benefit your health in a positive way.

As always, remember to get these health benefits from yoga, you will need to remember to keep to practicing yoga regularly. If you have old health issues, then also make sure you speak to your doctor before embarking on any new healthy health exercise regimen, such as yoga.

Beginning Yoga

Beginning yoga is much easier today, thanks to the major interest in yoga over the last few years, more and more yoga classes are being started. The first step in beginning yoga, is to decide to start! At this point, most people may wonder if they have what it takes to start yoga, what will be involved etc. Relax, yoga classes can teach you from beginning, even if you do not know the first thing about yoga.

Whether you want the spiritual benefits of yoga or the physiological benefits of yoga, you can get them by doing yoga at a yoga class. It is best to go to a yoga class to learn how to correctly do yoga. There are many great books and videos about yoga, and they can be beneficial. However, a yoga class can help you get the right yoga postures, and get the full benefit of yoga.

Finding a yoga class can be as easy doing a search online to find local classes. Perhaps speak to someone who you know who has an interest in yoga, check local adult education institutions. As more and more yoga classes are available, you can find a local yoga class.

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Yoga Past and Present

Yoga's history has many places of anonymity and ambiguity due to its oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. But the roots of Yoga can be traced back to more than 5000 years.

The Past

The earliest reference to Yoga was found when archaeological excavations where made in the Indus valley. Where old carvings depict a figure that some archaeologists think represents a yogi sitting in a traditional cross-legged yoga pose with its hands resting on its knees meditating.

Yoga's long rich history can be divided into four main periods of development: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.

Vedic Period

The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas contains the oldest known Yogic teachings and as such, teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is portrayed by rituals and ceremonies that try to go beyond the limitations of the mind.

During this time, the Vedic people relied on rishis or dedicated Vedic Yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony.

Pre-Classical Yoga

The creation of the Upanishads marks the Pre-Classical Yoga. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the Vedas.

Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism that we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of Meditation and the practice of physical postures.

Later, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to Yoga and has confirmed that it has been an old practice for some time. Just as the Upanishads further the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads.

Classical Period

The Classical Period is marked by another creation - the Yoga Sutra. Written by Patanjali around the second century, it was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. Patanjali's Eightfold path of Yoga also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga. These are:

1. Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;

2. Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;

3. Asanas or physical exercises;

4. Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation;

5. Pratyahara or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;

6. Dharana, which is about concentration;

7. Dhyana, which means Meditation; and

8. Samadhi, which means ecstasy.

Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter and spirit; he believed that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit - a direct contrast to Vedic and Pre-Classical Yoga that imply the union of body and spirit.

Patanjali's concept was prevailing for some centuries, so much so that some Yogis focused exclusively on Meditation and neglected their Asanas. It was only later that the belief of the body was sacred was revived and attention to the importance of the Asana was revitalized.

Post-classical Yoga

A great number of independent yoga schools and forms that where developed during the period after the Yoga sutras. As opposed to Patanjalis's Yoga, the Yoga of this era was, very much like the post-classical and Vedic traditions, characterized by the unification of body and mind.

Yogis of the past had not paid very much attention to the (physical) body, as they focused all their energy on contemplation and meditation. The new generation of Yogis however, developed a system where different exercises - in conjunction with deep breathing and meditation, would help keep the body young and prolong life. This also paved the way for the creation of Hatha Yoga, and other branches and schools of Tantra Yoga.

The Present

Modern Yoga is said to have begun by the young Swami Vivekananda from India made a deep impression on the American he introduced to. Yoga masters began to travel to the west, attracting attention and followers. In the 1920's, Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India with the life long work of T. Krishnamacharya . Krishnamacharya traveled through India giving demonstrations of yoga poses and opened the first Hatha Yoga School.

During the 1950s one of the foremost Yoga teachers of his time, Selvarajan Yesudian, wrote the book "Sport and Yoga", and it was through this book Yoga entered the world of sports. Today we can observe many athletes and sports teams that has incorporated Yoga in their injury reducing, strengthening and focus oriented training regimens.

In the middle of the 60s, Yoga got a real promotional boost when the Yogi Maharishi Mahesh taught Yoga to the famous pop-stars in the Beatles. Many other artists and musicians where influenced to take up Yoga as well.

Yoga became especially popular in Hollywood when Russian born Indra Devi, opened a Yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947. She taught movie starts like Gloria Swanson, Jennifer Jones and Robert Ryan, as well as educating hundreds of Yoga teachers.

Yoga today

Yoga today has gained tremendously in popularity and has a following over 30 million people from all over the world and is the most rapidly growing health movement of today. From celebrities to the common man everybody is now aware of the health and mental benefits of yoga, in fact many doctors recommend yoga especially for stress and relaxation. New studies have shown a high success rate up to 73 percent for treating depression with sudharshan kriya, a pranayama technique taught in the U.S. as "The Healing Breath Technique."

People's attitude towards health, spirituality, way of life and our place in society have changed quite radically. As we suffer more and more from physical and psychological stress, and fight with new and old diseases, yoga seems if not the answer a friend indeed.

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Yoga - Misunderstood So Far

Yoga is the only methodology available with the humanity which has anatomized the human existence without opening a human body. It is the oldest and the deepest psychology of the human existence. It is unlike the present day psychology which studies only the mind of the subjects. Yoga is not constrained to the personality, mind or any aspect of mind of people; rather it gives a complete description of the whole existence of the humanity, its mental fabric and a methodology to transcend it.

Yoga in itself has been a diverse field. In Indian philosophy many a schools attach themselves to Yoga. Ashtangik Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra Yoga and Tantra Yoga are a few schools attached to Yoga. This article constrains itself to the Ashtangik Yoga only. In this article term Yoga will refer to the Ashtangik Yoga as propounded by Patanjali in Yoga Sutra.

Whatever practical about a human being can be said about his physic, psyche, mind and Chetna (in English no better word than awareness is available for this) is there in Yoga Sutra. Yoga Sutra starts with the proposition that the mind's expositions (Vritti) are attracted to the worldly objects (Vishayas) and by confining mind's expositions from being attracted to the worldly objects a seeker can realize his existence and hence liberate himself from this world's afflictions.

The difference in the approaches of the Indian Yoga and the modern psychology is because of the differences of visions of the two schools. The modern psychology begins with the hypothesis that the Psychology is the science of the mind; that the human mind is the most complex machine on Earth; that it is the source of all thoughts and behaviour. The modern psychology believes that there is a mind and it has to be in consonance with some prototype mind. The modern psychology believes that the mind can be and usually is sick; its sickness can be cured. The real minds have tendencies. These tendencies of a real mind can be molded. A mind can be trained and can be taken to some sort of proximity of that prototype mind.

Yoga views the mind differently. For it a mind can not be infected by sickness but it is a sickness in itself. It cannot be cured because it has this form of sickness as an essence for the physical existence. Physical existence is not possible without the mind. Yoga does not speak of 'a mind' rather its subject matter is 'the mind'. Modern psychology studies, treats and cures an individual mind while Yoga is for the generality of mind. Psychology is particular in approach and it discovers generality from particularity. In Yoga the mind in general is explained and a particularity approached from the generality.

For Yoga the mind is an obstacle in the path of self realization. This obstacle of mind is very much intrinsic and an essential ingredient of the creation (the Srishti). To attain your absolute state you have to transcend the mind. Yoga does not prefer wasting its time in curing a sick mind to make it healthy. There is nothing like a healthy mind in Yoga's vision.

Yoga's vision starts with a proposition - confining mind's exposition from being allured by the worldly objects is Yoga i.e. Yogashchitvritti nirodhah. For the self realization, the Yoga has proposed an Eight Fold Path called Ashtangik Yoga. Its Eight Fold Path consists of: Yama, Niyama, Aasan, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi. Non Violence (Ahimsa,), Truth (Satya), Not stealing other's property (Asteya), Not retaining the surplus things (Aparigrah) and a good Sexual behaviour (Brahmcharya) are five Yamas. Practicing these five Yamas makes your surrounding healthy and peaceful. By and large these five Yamas are the five cures of basic ulterior tendencies which cause disputes in your neighbourhood. Yamas provide a calm and serene environment around you. Next it is the Niyama. Hygiene (Shauch), Contentment (Santosh), Effort (Tapah), Introspection (Swadhyaya) and Surrender to God (Ishwar Pranidhan) - these five are the Niyamas. Once a calm environment is attained by practicing Yamas, the next step is the personal purification through these five Niyamas. The Yoga proceeds step by step.

First it prescribes for a healthy environment and then for the personal purification of the seeker.

The third stage of Yoga is Aasan. An Aasan is a posture in which your body becomes stationary. These days various gurus are available in the market, who prescribe these Aasans for a weight loss program. Yoga did not have any idea of weight loss in its conception. During the period the Yoga was compiled surplus calories was not a problem before the seeker. The problem of surplus calories is the problem of modern life style. The originator of Yoga would have not given a solution to a problem which was unknown to his time. The Aasans are meant for a more subtle purpose. In Aasan you sit with your fixed and stationary body. Through these Aasans the Yoga master wanted you feel the presence of a restless thought process inside that stationary body. Aasan is the most suitable form of practice which encounters you with the duality present 'within you'. It makes you realize that you are not a body alone; that you are not limited to your physical dimensions; that "something" more subtle, more live, more pervasive is there inside your visible body. Thus Aasans for the first time makes you visualize your inner self.

Then it comes the Pranayam. The chief proponent of Yoga, Patanjali says - tasmintsati shvasprashvasyogargativichheda pranayam i.e. visualizing inhale and exhale separately and distinctly is Pranayam. Different forms of Pranayam made available by the modern Gurus were never described by Patanjali the great master. Pranayam is the beginning of the internal journey going to be attained through Yoga. Patanjali had a unique approach to go inside. He chose the easiest route through breathing. The seekers who practice Yoga must have experience the relationship between your breaths and your thoughts. When you inhale your thoughts are more itinerant than you exhale. When a new seeker starts meditation and goes inside deeper often he feels his breathing as being stopped. This is the conjunction between your breathing and your thoughts. Yoga has termed your breathing as your Praña. Pranayam is the visualization of Praña. Hence it is the visualization of your itinerant thoughts.

Upto the end of this fourth stage Yoga has completed one half of the journey; the outer journey. Henceforth the Yoga enters inside the seekers. Next stages of Yoga are meant for an internal transformation. Pratyahar, Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi are four milestones on the internal highway. The part of mind which is enchanted to the outer worldly objects has been named as Chitta in Yoga. Chetna meaning something near awareness in English is derived from this Chitta. As body is the subject matter of the outer expedition of Yoga, Chitta is the subject matter of internal exploration through Yoga.

Eyes are to see, ears are to hear and so on. Yoga says it is the nature of the eyes to see the things in the world. It is the nature of the ears to hear the sounds from the world. The same is true for the other senses. The senses have a natural tendency of being attracted by the worldly objects. This is an outward flow; an outward flow of your Chitta. This is the tendency or affinity of Chitta which flows from inside you to the objects; the Yoga calls it the Vritti. Yoga says that the mind has a natural tendency or affinity to be attracted by the worldly objects. This outward motion of your mind creates a bipolarity with you at one end and the world at the other. The Chitta is an abstract entity and is not perceivable as are the worldly objects. Hence out of the bipolarity only the worldly objects are visible. The viewer i.e. the Chitta forgets himself and keeps remembering only the vision i.e. the visible objects. The Chitta starts living in thoughts.

These thoughts are nothing but either your memories or your imaginations about future. Thoughts originate either from your past experience or from your mental permutations - combinations of your imaginations. The past is passed and is not existent. The future has not happened so far and hence it is also not existent. Both the past and the future are non existent. You live, through your thoughts only in past and the future. You try to exist in non existent entities. This is the only fallacy of the mankind from which Yoga wants you to get rid of.

You are never in your present. You usually do not observe you because of your sleep. You have forgotten of yourself. You are not aware of yourself. You know yourself only as much others know about you. You know your name; a few relationships; your office; your money and your thoughts etc. At night when you sleep all these particulars of you are forgotten but you still remain alive. It shows that you are more than your name, your relationships, your office, your money and your thoughts. What is that more? What is your essence? You are not aware of it. You are in deep sleep about your existence nevertheless your eyes may be opened. Yoga awakens you towards you.

It its early phase of journey, Yoga has shown you that in your common life, in your unawakened life you exist as a dichotomy or a bipolarity (as used in other articles in this section).

In Pratyahar Yoga speaks of getting rid of the psychological addictions of senses. A mirror shows you your image. It shows when you rose up from the bed in early morning, it shows when you are untidy, it shows when you comb hair, it shows you after your make up. It shows you all the times without any hesitation, without adding anything in you or subtracting from you. It has no hesitation of time, frequency or any other factor. You come in front of it and it shows you in return. No deference, no disdain; no temptation no escape simply a reflection. Yoga says your senses should reflect the world in the same way with No deference, no disdain; no temptation no escape simply a reflection of the world. This is Pratyahar.

Some thinkers have described it otherwise also. They say that seeker is to renounce the world. He has to withdraw his senses from the worldly objects. He has to take his sense away from the world. This view is difficult to be appreciated. Whenever you open your eyes they will receive the sensation of light. In jungle you may not be having houses, roads and vehicles but tress, grass, birds would be there. Sky is there. Your limbs are there. Yoga does not prescribe mutilation of senses. It speaks of non addicted senses. King Janak and Lord Krishna would have not attained the absolute knowledge (Brahamgyan) if this theory of mutilation of senses is resorted to. Pratyahar speaks of unaddicted vision.

This unaddicted vision i.e. Pratyahar liberates you of the dichotomy. You clearly see yourself and the world as two distinct and separable entities. Now the Yoga speaks of the potential of unification existing in you. Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi are the stages of existence. Dhaarna, Dhyan and Samaadhi are different in degrees and not in kind. The main difference among them is regarding the duration for which a seeker can stay in that state of existence. Therefore this article will discuss them under the common name - Dhyan. (However Patanjali has used a term Samyam for this)

To be continued...

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Yoga Misunderstood So Far.

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Teaching Hatha Yoga - What Do Hatha Yoga Students Want?

At this point in time, Yoga has gone "global." Most Yoga students, outside of India, have heard of three of the nine main types of Yoga; the most commonly known are Hatha, Raja (Ashtanga), and Kundalini Yoga. Of these three, Hatha Yoga, and its many sub-styles, have received the most publicity.

In general, the public perception of Yoga is classified as a "mind and body exercise." When you ask the average person what that means, he or she will respond by saying, "Some sort of exercise." Hence, the reason why Yoga can be found in many health clubs is that Yoga becomes an exercise class, which is categorized with Tai Chi and Pilates.

With that said, beginner students, with little knowledge of Yoga, have the perception they are entering an exercise class. Their reasons for coming to a Yoga class differ greatly. The main reasons for beginning Yoga practice are: Weight loss, weight control, stress management, low impact exercise, or pain management.

Notice that beginners do not often seek enlightenment, meditation, mantras, Pranayama, or to change their lifestyle. In fact, the classification of Yoga levels is easy to understand, but it is inaccurate. Terms such as, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, are all based upon the physical difficulty of performing an Asana (Yoga pose). Again, the physical challenges are presented as the major aspects of Yoga practice.

So, what do Hatha Yoga students want? To put it simply, they want some sort of mind and body exercise. Beginner Yoga classes could be presented as an exercise class, with much more to learn on the horizon. To guide beginner Yoga students on the path toward the study of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, is a lesson in futility.

Many beginning Yoga students do not know what they are looking for. Most beginning Yoga students do not want to hold Asanas for long. They are so used to stimulation from technology, that short attention spans are common place. This is why Flow Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, and Power Yoga, are so popular with beginners. To ask them to practice Pranayama and meditation is a big challenge. This would require the mind to focus.

There is an old sales and marketing saying which goes like this: "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Let's look at the old saying and how it pertains to teaching Yoga classes. After 5,000 years of research, Yoga is a very deep subject, which cannot be covered in one class. If a student enters your class, or studio, looking for fitness - So be it.

Label a few classes on the schedule as: Beginner fitness Yoga, Yoga fitness, fitness Yoga, or Yoga exercise. Start with warm-ups, teach Yoga postures, mix in a few breathing techniques, and end with a five minute body scan relaxation technique. On your schedule, write descriptions of all your classes, and give them options to go deeper into the subject of Yoga.

The more serious Yoga students will take the path to study more about Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, but there some who will choose to exercise the body, only. This is not a problem. Remember this: A little bit of Yoga is better than none.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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Teaching Hatha Yoga - The Ultimate Yoga Teacher

Is "ultimate" too strong or competitive of a word to describe a Yoga teacher? After all, there is a lot of competition for Yoga students in some geographic areas. In San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, there seems to be a Yoga studio on every block.

Yet, many potential Yoga students do not know the difference between Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Restorative Yoga, or Pilates, for that matter. How could these same people make an educated judgment call on who is the "Ultimate Yoga Teacher?"

Some new students want to be physically, mentally, and verbally abused by the "Ultimate Yoga Teacher." They crave the abusive attention and search for the reincarnation of the Marquis de Sade. Sorry to say - this is true, but very rare.

Now, with that said, this clearly makes you realize that new Yoga students do not know what they really want, and some are "confused children."

So, what are the qualifications for the title of "Ultimate Yoga Teacher?" Is it teaching Yoga to the rich and famous, gaining a lot of loving students, owning a lot of profitable Yoga studios, making many Yoga videos, performing physical feats, or owning a Yoga patent?

All of these things could make you famous, but none of them seem to completely fit, with the image of a Yoga Guru. What standards set one Yoga teacher above the rest? The truth is great Yoga teachers are good examples of ethics, giving, integrity, patience, and living a holistic life.

There is so much confusion, in regard to this topic, because many times it is not the teacher, but the Yoga style, that a beginner student does or does not like. For example: If a teacher is excellent, but the room is too hot, some of those new students will never be back.

Yoga student retention often depends upon the particular Yoga training, which students seek. Do students want to meditate, sing, pray, move through postures, learn Yogic philosophy, hold Yoga postures (Asanas), work on their breathing (Pranayama), sweat in a 105 degree Fahrenheit room, or study Yoga with a Mommy and Me class? There are so many types of Yoga to choose from.

This is only the tip of the "ice berg," as new contemporary styles of Yoga are springing up all the time. So how can you guide potential Yoga students in your direction? One way is to state what makes your particular teaching method unique.

Some Yoga teachers specialize in specific areas. For example: Hot, Prenatal, Therapeutic, Restorative, Power, and Chair are contemporary prefixes to Yoga. It is fine to be a general practitioner, but having a niche, or two, will draw students into areas of Yoga, which you are enthusiastic about.

When Yoga teachers are enthusiastic, they demonstrate patience, and they "glow" with praise for their students. No two Yoga students are alike, but Yoga teachers should still be the best visible examples of ethics, giving, integrity, patience, and living a holistic life.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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The Stratospheric Rise Of Yoga Brings Opportunities And Challenges

Over the last 20 years, the popularity of yoga has increased from nearly no interest to being one of the most popular exercise regimes around. To match the increasing demand for yoga, more and more yoga centers are opening all the time. For those of us looking for something new, or just starting out for the first time, the choices can be daunting.

There are many different schools and styles of yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, power yoga, Bikram (hot), Kundilini, Viniyoga to name just a few. Although all of these schools of yoga essentially teach the same Hatha yoga asanas (yoga postures), the objectives of the class and the way the postures are performed and taught are very different for each.

In addition every yoga teacher has their own characteristics, emphasis and approach to teaching which affects the class and learning experience.

While so many choices can be daunting, it also means that there's so much diversity, we're bound to find a style and a teacher that we like. If we don't like a school of yoga, or a yoga teacher - we can try something else.

While personal preference will guide much of our selection process both for the school of yoga and the teacher, finding an experienced and high quality teacher is the most important consideration.

Yoga teachers are not all created equal With the increasing popularity of yoga the demand for teachers and peoples desire to take their practice to the next level means that thousands of people take some kind of certification or registration each year. But with so many new teachers around, it's impossible for them all to be to be of the highest standards.

In addition, the absence of formal regulation of the training and certification for yoga it's difficult to know before a class how good a teacher will be. Without formal standards, an individual can become a teacher with very little personal yoga practice and experience. Experience is important for overall understanding but the amount of and quality of teacher training is also important. The quality of yoga teacher training courses and certification varies enormously. Currently certification can take from a year or more for some specializations to merely a 1 or 2 day intensive program. A 200 hour program of learning and supervised teaching practice is quite standard. What's more the format can vary from retreats with formal examinations to correspondence courses and certification over the internet.

With the teacher being so important, and the options on teacher training so varied, the responsibility for selecting a high quality yoga teacher is passed to the students and should not be taken lightly.

So what makes a good teacher? The yoga instructor is elemental in setting the tone of the class. The teacher, their style of yoga and their approach to teaching, can not only determine whether you enjoy a session, but whether you like yoga at all. But more than that the yoga teacher, the routines they teach and the quality of their teaching will control how much benefit we get from the practice.

While there are many complexities that determine whether we enjoy a class, there are two things a yoga teacher must always do.

The teacher must guide our practice on a macro-level with a well rounded practice. It is important that we develop our bodies in a balanced and uniform manner which means in a single session we should develop strength, flexibility to all muscles and joints without over emphasis on one area that could lead to strains and injury. On top of this it's important perform balancing poses that improve body co-ordination and improve concentration. Finally every pose, particularly the flexion and compression of the back, has a counter pose. A well designed yoga routine takes this into consideration to prevent over straining muscles and reduce soreness.

The yoga teacher must guide our learning on a micro-level with correct technique and alignment to increase our abilities without injury. Firstly the teacher needs to provide demonstration and detailed instruction on how to safely enter, hold and exit the poses. The descriptions should include details about correct steps to enter the pose as well as key points to consider such as alignment and muscles to use.

In addition the teacher needs to quickly gauge each individual's abilities so they can advise on more basic or more advanced variations as appropriate. Then the teacher needs to observe how we are performing each pose helping to correct errors that may lead to injuries. Correction of poses can include verbal descriptions or by physical assistance and repositioning.

How to find a teacher that works for us? The best way to choose a yoga teacher is by giving their class a try. We usually know before the end of the first class whether we're going to be able to follow this style of yoga and the teacher.

However, if we have less experience of yoga, attending a new school of yoga or a new teacher may be more intimidating. In this case it's worthwhile talking with the teacher before taking their lessons, to find out more about them and tell them about ourselves. Things to consider may include:

The school or style of yoga they teach.
How long they have been practicing yoga, and how long they have been teaching yoga.
How they got into yoga, and what they get out of it, why they continue to practice. Why did they want to teach yoga to others?
How they structure their classes. Whether they focus on any particular aspect such as strength, flexibility, balance or meditation.
Whether they give demonstrations or just verbal descriptions.
The size of classes and whether they focus on individuals, how they help with correcting poses, through descriptions only or physical contact to realign (in which case gender may become a factor).
If we are attending a new yoga class for a particular health reason such as treating back pain, high blood pressure, stress or breathing problems then it's important to know if the teacher has any experience in these treatments
There are a couple of other "tells" that may help you judge whether a teacher is sufficiently experienced. Firstly, does the teacher talk as if they are genuinely enthusiastic about yoga, it's benefits for the body, mind and spirit and sharing that with their students? Secondly, do they come across as being genuinely knowledgeable about yoga? Such as knowing and using the Sanskrit names of the yoga poses. While it doesn't guarantee that the teacher is experienced or good at teaching, it does at least indicate they have spent some time learning their practice.
If you don't find the right yoga style or teacher right away, then keep looking. With so many options you're bound to find something soon enough. The health benefits of yoga are worth the search and you'll learn plenty about yoga, your body and yourself along the way.

TotalYogaPractice.com yoga teachers are North India natives, with yoga in their heritage and their blood. Starting their yoga practice at childhood, they have dedicated their entire lives to learning and teaching yoga. Using their 20 plus years of yoga experience they know how to structure yoga practices that deliver strength, flexibility and balance, helping their students to feel well exercised but also calm, relaxed and energized in mind and body.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jez Heath is helping real people learn yoga online so they can make the commitment necessary to improve their yoga and their health - mind, body and soul. Learn how yoga streaming video [http://www.TotalYogaPractice.com] can help you transform your life

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