Thanks to www.yoga-teacher-training.org By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 The dark exists everywhere and so does the light. The dark side of human personality is in all of us. Unfortunately, Yoga teachers, priests, politicians, and police are human too. We are not perfect. Some people try to make business look dirty, but business alone cannot be dirty without unethical behavior.
With that said, there are many caring Yoga teachers who spend their time working with seniors, fibromyalgia groups, alzheimer patients, and many more people in need. They don’t get front page billing on Yoga magazines or Time Magazine, for their efforts, but they do get gratification. Very often, I advise Yoga teachers and studios in regard to disputes, between a teacher and the studio ownership. Each side will call the other self serving and greedy. Some Yoga teachers become a perceived threat to the studio for a variety of reasons, and find themselves out of a job. The most common reasons for dismissal are: “Money is tight,” the Yoga teacher was networking to steal students, or an ethics violation. An ethics violation is a “no-brainer” and the studio, ashram, or health club has to take swift action. Especially, if this were in relation to a potential harassment case, where the management would find itself in, the middle of, a lawsuit. About Business: Yes, everything in this world is business, to some degree, but ethical business practice is much different from greed. Some thriving Yoga businesses actually contribute to many charities, help the community, and spread the word of living a quality life. Personally, quality Yoga teachers are hard to come by, and studios should prepare for “seasonal slow downs.” Below is some advice I recently gave a Yoga instructor who is very skilled, but was permanently released by an ashram, due to the “summer slow down.” “Your ability and creativity to use props is a valuable skill. Very often, in lectures, I refer to knowledge of body mechanics, as a major asset, and the ability to teach every student, who walks in the door as priceless. You have the ability to teach, any student, at any level. Although, the director of your ashram overlooked your value, you should not be discouraged, at all. There is a saying: “knowing is enough.” Keep developing your skills, help people, and good karma will help you. The best we can do is, change the world for the better – one person at a time. If we can do more – that is good too. Don’t be disheartened – always look at what good can be done, in response to any given situation. Your passion for Yoga can help everyone you come into contact with.” For those studio managers that worry about losing students to, a Yoga instructor, you could design a non-competition agreement, for your protection. I still do not have one at my center, but I do know what it is like to create an idea, find a teacher, advertise, and cultivate a class; only to have a teacher take the class home. So why do I still not have a “contract” for Yoga teachers, on my staff? Did I learn from my mistake? Yes I did, but the relationship between studio ownership and independent teacher is all about trust, character improvement, and cultivating mutual respect. This is what makes it a bit different from the corporate world. Lastly, if you are a studio or ashram owner that has been “burned,” in the past, by staff or employees, it doesn’t hurt to review your hiring process. Hiring good technical Yoga teachers is not enough, if you can’t trust them. We did overhaul our interviewing process, preliminary requirements, and hiring practices, without implementing a non-competition agreement or contract. Make sure candidates are interviewed more than once, by different people. This will “weed out” those you can trust, from those you have doubts about. By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed Ok, so you may be wondering, “What do daffodils, Yoga and the Manipura Chakra have in common?” Well, the color yellow, of course! Daffodils are one of the first flowers to peak their heads above the earth during springtime. They represent the continual process of regeneration and the optimism of new beginnings. In the east, daffodils are symbolic of wealth and abundance. In China, the daffodil is strongly associated with good fortune and is culturally associated with the Chinese New Year. In many cultures throughout the world, the color yellow represents lightness, energy, wealth, and the optimism of new beginnings. The Manipura Chakra is the third chakra or energy center of the body, according to Hindu tradition. It is located at the level of the solar plexus. This chakra is primarily associated with the color yellow and is known as the resplendent gem. This fiery chakra governs the digestive fire, self-esteem and initiative. When the Manipura Chakra is moving freely, an individual’s sense of self-direction and self-esteem are strong. When initiative, self-esteem and the fire to follow through on one’s goals are strong, wealth often follows. However, when this chakra is closed or hampered in some way, a Yoga practitioner may find it more difficult to generate the initiative to start new projects and work towards personal and professional goals. This sense of determination, energy and optimism may be dulled by the heaviness of the winter season. As springtime arrives, many Yoga practitioners find that there is a new sense of energy and hope that arises from within them. Practicing Yoga asanas that help to dispel inertia and generate more warrior energy will in turn support you in starting new projects and manifesting your dreams. A healthy Manipura Chakra will also make it easier to speak up for yourself, assert your own will in different situations and generate a sense of vitality and warmth in your belly region. Surrounding yourself with the color yellow, whether it is in the form of a bunch of delicately scented daffodils or yellow pillows and curtains, will also help to nurture a healthy Manipura Chakra. Additionally, offering selfless service to your community and laughing are both said to increase the energy of the Manipura Chakra. In terms of a Yoga practice, incorporating poses that specifically release tension and generate energy in the solar plexus will help to dispel inertia and invigorate your entire being. This invigoration will help to fuel the process of initiating new projects, speaking up for yourself and following through on the many tasks that must be accomplished, in order to make your dreams and goals a reality. If you are a Yoga teacher, teaching a sequence of Yoga posture during your class that help to generate energy and warmth in the area of the Manipura Chakra will support your students in feeling the warrior energy within their own beings. Likewise, if you are a Yoga practitioner, including Yoga asanas into your practice on a regular basis that nurture the energy and freedom of movement in the solar plexus region will help to dispel any inertia that may have settled into that area of your body during the long, cold winter months. Practicing Warrior I, Warrior II and Warrior III poses are some of the quintessential Yoga asanas aimed at increasing warrior energy throughout the body. Additionally, practicing twisting postures also helps to release inertia and “stuck energy” in the solar plexus region. Yoga poses such as Eagle Pose, Seated Spinal Twist and Revolved Crescent Lunge all help to generate energy and warmth in the Manipura Chakra. These twisting postures release deep-seated tension in the shoulders and the thoracic spine, which will increase the flow of prana or life force energy throughout your being. A regular practice of Yoga postures that includes many of these poses will be sure to increase your warrior energy and fill you with new vitality and optimism, which will in turn support you in initiating and manifesting your goals, dreams and desires. For detailed instructions on how to practice these postures, please refer to a professional Yoga teacher training website or visit a Yoga studio in your area to receive personalized instruction Thanks to this site: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2005/11/11/communication_skills_for_yoga_teachers/ By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Here is an oxymoron for you: Some of the best Yoga teachers are great listeners. This is a general guideline for students who aspire to teach Yoga some day. Listening skills, in Yoga, start when you take your first class, as you learn by hearing, watching, and doing. The Yoga student who learns predominantly by listening will be able to verbally communicate the finer techniques to others in the future. This is not to say that other methods of learning have less value, but a skilled Yoga teacher must be a communicator and be able to reach into each individual student’s mind. Therefore, not all Yoga students can learn from you in the same way. Some will learn by listening carefully to your cues, others will gain more from an assist, and some will be able to copy just by watching. As a Yoga instructor, you still have to be a good listener when it comes to all of your students’ questions. Most Yoga teachers do a good job with handling student questions. However, here is something to think about: Do you try to clarify why a question is being asked? Consider that your student may not be clear in his or her communication skills and you need to “get to the heart of the matter.” The motivation behind a question is more important than the question itself. You don’t want to waste your time giving unrelated information before, after, or during a Yoga class. So, get a clarification about what you are being asked, and learn why your student is truly asking you this question. This will benefit the both of you and avoid wasting your student’s time, as well. If a student asks you a simple question, with a “yes” or “no” answer, you can still find out the motivational source by saying, “Yes, but why do you ask?” This technique is really that simple, and you may find the question is much deeper than you originally perceived. Another mistake some teachers make is handling a question defensively. Your student thinks enough of you to ask for your opinion and is interested in your answer. If he or she had no respect for you, your opinion would not be important. Now, whether you perceive an objection or not, you should ask for a clarification before answering. There is a positive side to all of the questions your students ask, but you must clearly see the motive behind the question in order to give the best answer. The bottom line is: Even though you are now at the front of the class, your listening skills must be better than your best listeners in your class. Thanks to this wonderful site: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/2011/08/21/meditation-for-controlling-emotional-flow/ By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Everyone experiences emotions – whether positive or negative. Strong feelings, such as joy, fear, or anger can control our thoughts and actions. During times of emotional stress, it may seem as though your feelings are controlling you; but the fact is, you can learn to choose and control your emotions, rather than let them take over your mind. Meditation is one of the most effective tools to train yourself to keep your emotions in check; and if done well, it can give you the ability to change the flow of your emotions entirely. It is a fact that our actions are primarily influenced – not by our conscious mind, but by our subconscious. Meditation provides a gateway to our subconscious mind, and with regular practice, the subconscious can be molded to favor more positive emotions and actions. Regular meditation has been shown to provide mental benefits, such as improved focus and mental clarity, which can prove beneficial in your day-to-day life. Carve a bit of time out of your daily routine, to practice meditation, and receive the full benefits. During your sessions, focus on ridding your mind of any negative feelings (anger, resentment, etc.) and try to keep your mind open to draw in positive feelings (serenity, happiness). By doing this consistently, you can train yourself to have more natural positive feelings. Many studies have proved meditation as being able to severely cut stress in one’s life. Stress, as you already know, can block the way to positive thinking and damage every aspect of your life. Practicing deep breathing techniques, during meditation, can help you achieve a level of calm that stress cannot alter. Even after the end of your meditation session, try to hold on to that feeling of calm, as you live your life and return to it, if you ever find yourself in a stressful situation. Use those meditative, deep breathing techniques, while in a tough situation, to avoid negative emotions surfacing in your mind. Being in complete control of your emotions is not an easy feat, nor does it happen overnight. Practicing meditation, however, is certainly a giant step in the right direction. Not only does it help you achieve mental harmony, and peace throughout your life, you will also greatly improve your health and quality of living. Additionally, the people most important to us will be thankful for the time we spend regulating emotional flow with meditation. None of us is perfect. Even the kindest people can be overwhelmed by too much work, anxiety, stress, or depression. The first person to respond to your negative feelings may be the person closest to you. For this reason, meditation is much like medication for balancing one’s emotional flow. Thanks to this wonderful site: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2005/10/31/yoga_teachers_lead_by_example_part_1/ By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 During the course of a lifetime, most of us have heard the saying,” Do as I say, not as I do.” We see this kind of leadership everywhere we go. All politicians, religious leaders, police, sports professionals, parents, academic teachers, and Yoga teachers, lead by example, even if the example displayed is not a good one. So, how does this concern you? You may not be a public figure, but your students, and the general public, know who you are. Some may even know more about you than you would like. As a Yoga instructor, you want to keep your health, behavior, and your ethics at a high standard – if you are going to be in the “public eye.” As far as health is concerned, you should maintain your practice and meditate daily. This is an irony with many Yoga instructors because your time is also consumed with the business of Yoga, scheduling clients, maintenance of the studio, advertising, paying the bills, and many more aspects that keep a business going. My personal estimate of time that I spent on vacuuming, cleaning, and maintenance of the studio is thousands of hours before I hired someone else to do it. This does not account for any of the time spent on the many other duties that go into running a Yoga studio. The average student has no idea of the preparation and support services involved before they come to a typical class. In reality, you want them to feel relaxed, and you don’t want your students to feel stressed out over or aware of the bookkeeping, marketing, and maintenance of your studio. Therefore, you have to put your best “game face” on during class time. This is one very powerful reason for taking the time to develop your own personal practice. You still must expand your depth of understanding Yoga’s many facets. Why do, or did, you want to become a Yoga instructor in the first place? The most common reasons for becoming a Yoga teacher are your passion for Yogic methodology and to share the gift that has changed your life. Your health and your personal practice are an integral part of the Yoga teaching vocation. Maybe you don’t have a staff and you are busy all the time preparing for the next class. What can you do? Budget your time and make time for a personal practice or meditation session for yourself. Spending thousands of hours on bookkeeping, marketing, cleaning, and maintenance is a natural part of many Yoga studio owners’ lives, but you must also make the time to become a better practitioner and teacher. You can also offer reduced rates to volunteers or “work for trade” programs to those students who help you with “domestic chores.” You should consult your accountant to make sure everything is legal and “above board.” You don’t want to violate any child labor laws or set yourself up for any legal problems, so make sure you are following the law “to the letter.” Remember also, that laws vary depending upon your location. By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
Shiva is one of the most well-known Hindu deities. He is known in India as Parameshwara or the Auspicious One. He is considered to be the supreme lord in Shaivism, which is a tantric branch of Hinduism that originated, several thousand years ago. Shiva is also renowned as one to the primary three gods in Hinduism, referred to as the Trimurti. The Hindu Trimurti is comprised of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Additionally, Shiva is considered to be the guiding deity of the creative arts and Yoga. Shiva also wields the power of creation and destruction with ease and grace as seen in the stories of his divine dance throughout the classical Yogic texts. The portrayal of Shiva in his divine, dancing form is known as the Cosmic Dancer. In this portrayal, his is exemplifying his profound ability to dance within a ring of fire as he destroys all that he has created. This action is similar in nature to the Tibetan Buddhist monks who create exquisitely designed sand mandalas over a period of days, only to reverently brush the colorful sand particles back into an unformed pile at the end of the creative process. This ability to truly enter into a creative process, and then release that particular creation when it is appropriate, is one of the corner stones of Yogic witness consciousness. Shiva is also worshiped as his unchanging, transcendent, formless nature. The symbol of his formlessness is known in Hinduism as the Shiva Lingam. This divine lingam encapsulates the very powerful, male essence of Shiva. Throughout our lives, many of us experiences situations and experiences that are difficult, painful and confusing. Some of these experiences are so disturbing that they may remain undigested or unresolved for many years. In more extreme cases, painful experiences and memories may become lodged in the body and mind and, in turn, generate mental and physical illnesses over time. Visit www.yoga-teacher-training.org to know more about The Transformative Power of Shiva – Emotional Clarity. By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Some people find the term, “monkey mind,” upsetting, derogatory, and insulting. This is a shame, as the point is lost, the ego is involved, and a natural human defense goes up. After all, we are supposed to be the kings of the primate family, aren’t we? The first time I heard the expression, monkey mind, in regard to Yoga meditation, I thought of Swayambhunath Stupa, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Sometimes, this is named, “the monkey temple,” and it made me laugh inside, as monkeys need supervision in human settings. The picture of unsupervised monkeys got into my head, and I was suppressing laughter during a serious conversation. Some of my friends from India do not find monkeys so amusing and consider them pests. To make a parallel comparison: In Attleboro, we have squirrels and we might find a squirrel to be “cute,” but a few squirrels can quickly destroy your home. Monkeys can also be nuisances, when allowed to roam without some guidance, and it is the same with the untrained mind that runs from topic to topic, without getting much accomplished. So please do not waste time being offended by the term, and try to look at the comical side. When you allow yourself to enjoy life, and try not to take anything too seriously, you can see that monkeys do not have it so bad after all. Very often, the human mind spends too much time defending, worrying, posturing, influencing, fearing, and feeling embarrassed, to enjoy life to its fullest potential. Visit www.aurawellnesscenter.com to know more about Yoga Meditation and the Monkey Mind. By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
There is a growing need for more Chair Yoga teachers. Education about the mental and physical benefits of Yoga has spread like “wild fire” in the past couple of decades; but what about the needs of those who are not so young and limber? In some parts of the world, the number of seniors will outweigh the working population. Italy, the United States, and the rest of Europe, will see senior populations grow rapidly. Within the United States, every seven seconds, someone turns 50 years of age. In 20 years, the number of people over 65 is projected to be over 60 million. “The writing is on the wall,” and there are many opportunities for Yoga teachers, senior fitness specialists, and health care professionals. Although government bureaucrats will not adjust for massive senior health care needs, until it is too late, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it. If you are currently a Yoga teacher, you should learn everything you can about Chair Yoga. Continuing education is a big part of teaching, so you want to learn about senior fitness, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, modifications, props, and contraindications. If you are a Yoga student, who wants to teach seniors, you should learn everything you can, and get involved in a Yoga Teacher Training program. Chair Yoga teachers should have a solid foundation in Yoga and/or be familiar with the physical abilities of seniors. Physical therapists, and senior fitness specialists, could easily learn Chair Yoga concepts, as well. However, you must be honest with yourself in regard to patience and compassion. This type of class is not for the instructor who just wants to do his, or her, “workout.” Visit http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org to know more about Job Security for Chair Yoga Teachers By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What is happiness? Is it something acquired from sources outside of the self, is it something found within every human being, or is it something carefully developed within us? Studies on happiness over the years have questioned where this feeling comes from: Does it come from obtaining material possessions or from a place within the brain, mind or soul? The results primarily point toward happiness as a feeling coming from within a person. Although certain material possessions can cause brief bouts of happiness, these feeling are usually temporary. Happiness grows within a person, resulting in a deep kind of life satisfaction, no matter what outside circumstances occur. Most of us yearn for this true happiness and contentment throughout much of our lives. Recent studies have shown that practicing Yoga can help nurture happiness in individuals. Some components of happiness are actually physiological, coming from the brain. Happier people have larger prefrontal cortexes than other people. Practicing Yoga encourages changing your consciousness to promote positive thinking and self-affirmations. Over time, this will indeed cultivate feelings of overall happiness and life satisfaction. Yoga encourages people to focus on their inner selves, while breathing, meditating, and stretching. It allows us to slow down from our busy lives for a time, to consider what really matters: our health and well being. Instead of focusing on all of the negative aspects of life, Yoga teaches us to revel in the positive, take each day one at a time, and cope with a variety of stressful situations. People who practice Yoga on a regular basis find it easier to release negative feelings and replace them with optimistic thoughts. Visit http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com to know more about Practicing Yoga for Happiness. |
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