Thanks to: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com.
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Many thanks to: www.yoga-teacher-training.org. By Shadona Rani Das
Becoming a yoga instructor is more than just teaching yoga in a class. You must be an effective instructor who will provide up-to-date, correct, and safe yogastrategies to help your students learn safely. The best way you can be an effective yoga teacher is to first become a certified yoga instructor Learn a Specific Type of Yoga and Get Certified Possibly the first thing that you need to do is to train for a particular type of yoga. Just like any kind of teaching practice, specialization is important. You can deliver high-quality teaching when you concentrate on one or two forms of yoga. The certification process usually takes time; as an intern, you will be required to complete assignments. When possible, you should attend yoga classes and participate in classroom activities, as well as on the spot training under the guidance of a master teacher. Learn from Senior Instructors Aside from getting certified, you should still continue to learn new techniques, safety protocols, and strategies for running classes. Today, it is possible to have workshops and lectures from senior trainers or instructors online or by traveling. To gain more knowledge, you might attend classes in your area, watch videos, read books or e-Books about the subject that interests you the most. Improve your Self-Confidence One thing that a yoga teacher overcomes is the feeling of awkwardness in front of people. Yoga classes are run as a group activity, and you will absolutely develop self-confidence and poise over time. You can do this at first by teaching small yoga groups, until you are able to feel comfortable in larger groups. Practice is a great way to perfect any skill. Teaching groups, big or small, is a great way to jump start your self-confidence. Group Size When you have overcome your uneasiness in front of people, it is time to find out if you are, indeed, a capable and efficient teacher, by teaching larger groups. In teaching of any kind, you can fine tune your teaching methods to suit your students’ needs. For instance, if you have specialist training, a specialized yoga class could be a class for pregnant women, yoga for seniors, yoga for school age children or yoga for couples. On the other hand, you might not have a specialist certification and you teach specific groups with a common goal. These types of students can be found in anymartial arts school, dance academy, or in a sports league. By specifying exactly what group you are to teach, you can teach effectively and more directly. Teaching Your Classes You are now a certified teacher and you have proven yourself as an able and competent instructor. It is time to teach professionally, and the first thing that you must consider is if you would like to be a part of a company (studio, health club, or corporate center) or if you would like to personally look for clients. Joining in a company has a lot of benefits; you have a training area, a consistent number of students to teach and the possibility of employee benefits. Working on your own also has its benefits: you are your own boss so you have full control of your schedule, you get to teach in different venues and you get to keep your compensation. Some teachers work with private clients exclusively. Weigh the benefits of the two employment options and do not be in a hurry to make a decision. You may want to consider working on your own for a few months and then working in a company later, just to test the waters. A professional yoga teacher minds his or her students above all and will be able to efficiently teach yoga, no matter where he or she may be. Thanks to: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
With the advent of the warmer weather, many Yogis and Yoginis incorporate a diversity of outdoor athletic activities into their fitness regime. Some of these activities may include rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking. Other popular summertime activities are swimming, jogging and tennis. According to sports physiologists, it is important for an athlete to cross-train because by engaging in a variety of differentsporting activities, he or she will strengthens different muscles groups in the body.Additionally, by becoming involved in a competitive sport, an individual will experience a clear sense of purpose and will easily formulate a set of concrete fitness goals to strive towards. Participating in team sports also provides an individual with enhanced social contact and engagement in one’s community. However, as we set athletic goals for implement vigorous and challenging training routines and ourselves in order to meet those goals, many Yoga practitioners may experience sports-related injuries. These injuries run the gamete from pulled hamstrings, to torn rotator cuffs and strained wrists, to name only a few! Clearly, the type of injury that a Yoga practitioner may experience when cross-training in other sports depends on which sports he or she has chosen to participate in. All aerobic activities will improve cardiovascular health. However, many sports shorten and tighten muscles and ligament throughout the body. This is particularly true of the leg, hip and shoulder muscles and ligaments. By incorporating a regular, balanced practice of Yoga poses into your exercise program, you will be able to offset the potential risk of sports-related injuries. Practicing Yoga poses several times a week will help to keep your muscles and ligaments flexible and strong, so that you can safely and enjoyably reach your fitness goals. Fire Log Pose: Agnistambhasana Fire Log Pose is a very powerful and effective hip opening Yoga asana. It deeply releases tension in the hip area, as it stretches out the groin muscles. This pose also relieves stress, anxiety and tension. It is both a hip opener and a cooling seated forward bending pose. Agnistambhasana is also known as Double Pigeon because it deepens the hip stretch initiated by Pigeon Pose. This is a wonderful cooling Yoga asana to practice after you have finished the aerobic portion of your workout. Agnistambhasana, or Fire Log Pose, is usually practiced after a series a Sun Salutations, standing poses, backbends and inversions. In other words, towards the end of a full Yoga practice. However, if you are short on time, you can also practice Fire Log Pose as a “stand alone” Yoga asana or in the context of a series of cooling seated forward bends after your workout. To practice Fire Log Pose, coming to a seated position on your Yoga mat. If your hips are tight today, you may wish to have a folded blanket or a Yoga block nearby, so that you can use a prop for additional hip support. When you are ready to practice Agnistambhasana, take a few deep breaths, remembering to exhale completely and fully. With your next inhale, take your right foot and place it gently on top of your left knee. Stack your two lower legs on top of each other like the logs in a fire with your lower legs parallel to the front of your Yoga mat. If your knees, ankles or hips are very tight, or you experience pain or a sensation of pinching in any of these areas, place a folded blanket or bolster underneath your right hip. This will modify the intensity of the stretch in the hip and relieve pressure on the knees and ankles. If you are still experiencing any pain in the knees, ankles or hips, modify the posture further by placing your lower right leg directly in front of your lower left leg on the mat. Place your hands one to two feet in front of you with your hands in a cupped position. With your next exhale; bend forward gently until your reach the point where you feel a nice stretch in your hips and groin muscles without pain. Hold Fire Log Pose for five to ten breaths, and then slowly release the posture and come back to Easy Seat at the front of your Yoga mat. When you are ready, repeat Fire Log Pose on the left side. Another informative article taken from: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org.
Special thanks to: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com By Faye Martins
There are many resources available that suggest how to teach yoga students. But if students don't return for the second day, it's all a waste of time. An instructor has just a couple of hours to convince their students that this will be a life-changing experience and that they are the person that can guide them there. Understanding this keeps classes full of curious and dedicated students. Make a Connection An instructor that can express how yoga has improved their life gets students interested. It doesn't need to be a story of cancer survival. It could be that yoga helps concentration while in college. Perhaps it calmed anxieties around relationships. Or it even could have been a way to better health. A connection is made with the instructor when the students hear that yoga has the potential of helping them in their everyday lives. Less Talk and More Doing The classroom contains a variety of students. Different physical attributes, backgrounds, cultures and experience levels are present. Each student has different questions that will take the entire session to answer. They all share one thing - they are there to do yoga. After a short introduction, show them a breath or warm up technique and "hit the mats." Target the Beginners When the class has multiple levels of experience, focus on the beginners. The experienced students know the limits of their bodies. They know how to match their breath with the pose. Help the beginning student master the basics. It will motivate others in the class to perfect their techniques. Everyone Will Be Successful When an instructor looks at the class with this thought, they work with the strength of each student. One student may be quick to pick up on a breath exercise. Another may adopt the Mountain pose perfectly the first time. Some students will succeed just by having tried all the exercises and made it to the end of the class. When each student feels that they have had a successful yoga session, they will be back. Give Them Something to Take From the Class Students with little motivation to think about yoga after the first class may not be back for the next one. Give them a simple Pranayama exercise such as abdominal breath or alternative nostril breath to do at home. Show them Child's pose and have them do this every morning. Give them something to remind them of yoga each day before the next class. They will be back to see what else they can take away and use in their lives. Perfection Comes from Practice However well the students follow the exercises on the first day is perfect for them in that session. Don't be concerned about perfect arm and leg positions. Don't suggest that yoga is not really being done properly until they do attain perfect control of their bodies. Encourage the students to practice. Praise them for having a successful first class. Every student wants to hear "You did great today and you'll do even better in the next class." Be the Student Learning how to teach yoga students is something an instructor continues doing throughout their career. Each student provides different challenges. Each student learns differently. The instructor who recognizes this is flexible, adaptable and always asking themselves how they can improve their teaching skills. Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. Thanks to: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com By Junaid Ghouri
Yoga is a holistic practice that has been around for thousands of years. There are many of us who have given up of the spiritual side of the yoga exercise program, and have used its methods to embrace many physical, emotional, and mental advantages. You will notice that there are ways in which you’ll be able to use the stretches and strength building exercises for you to improve upon your self-image. You may be able to reduce body fat, increase your flexibility, and additionally build muscles. Yoga can train your body and mind with respiration techniques that can prepare you for exercises in other activities. It additionally helps minimize and stop injuries; as a result, yoga permits you to discover your physical limitations. Practicing yoga postures (asanas) with the wrong approach will cause you to sustain injuries and disrupt your exercise regime. Asanas were created with an aim to supply strength, flexibility, and relaxation to the entire body. However, if the postures are performed incorrectly practiced with excessive amount of force, or there is a lack of proper technique, the body may be injured. As a result, you could need rest from yoga practice, or in some cases, you might need medical attention. The body is most ordinarily injured due to incorrect alignment, pre-existing injury, or repetitive motion. This commonly affects the wrists, knees, hips, and shoulders in the form of sprains. Teachers must emphasize the importance of avoiding, forced twisting and straining during practice sessions. Here are some suggestions teachers can make students aware of and you’ll be able to educate your students about injury prevention in the process: • Yoga includes a sophisticated set of practices that ought to be practiced under the supervision of a competent teacher. Attempting yoga postures on your own could result in improper technique ensuing into injuries. Make certain to search out a qualified teacher before you start practicing • Developing student physical awareness: Many students (especial beginners) are typically unaware of their physical limits and range of motion. To prevent injuries, make sure the beginners’ are smaller in order to able to keep an in-depth eye on all students. • Avoid overexerting yourself. Remember, yoga is some thing that you will learn and develop over an extended amount of your time. Enable enough time for the body to develop the desired flexibility and strength before attempting advanced yoga postures. • Continuously bear in mind to warm up before your yoga session. Never skip a warm up session. Warming up is of utmost importance because it is an injury prevention program for the body. • Use props – Props are very important in preventing injuries. The unfortunate issue is that several students do not use them. You ought to additionally make sure that you utilize the props yourself. Once you try this, your students will presumably feel comfortable once they use them and this reduces the probabilities of students injuring themselves. When teaching, you ought not label entirely different poses as basic, intermediate, or advanced. Once you label poses, you are sure to have several injuries. Massive numbers of student are aiming at reaching the advanced levels quickly, which can create a mindset of competitiveness and result in injuries. As a tutor, you ought to clearly justify the importance of precaution and do not expect your students to discard their egos no matter how many times you tell them that yoga is not a contest. • Separation of the sacral-iliac ligament joint and lower back ligaments are among the common injuries in yoga. The injury can happen by attempting a forward fold the cause with straight legs and forcing. By merely bending your knees you can decrease the force and the potential for injury. Students with pre-existing medical conditions related to the sacral-iliac ligament joint and lower back ligaments should approach twisting and bending with extreme caution. Conclusion: These are the measures that you simply ought to take in order to minimize injuries in the growing field of yoga. Even when taking the required precautions, you could possibly encounter an injury, while practicing. In such case, don’t ignore the symptoms of rising pain in any part of your body and in some cases you may have to seek medical help. Resume your yoga session solely based upon your doctor’s recommendation. Thanks a lot to: www.aurawellnesscenter.com By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
Summer is often the time of year when many of us pursue a variety of outdoor athletic activities. The balmy weather entices many Yogis and Yoginis to engage in a diversity of outdoor recreational sports including bicycling, rock climbing, swimming, and running. The abundance of available outdoor athletic activities is almost endless during the warmer months of the year. However, so is the potential for sports-related injuries, such as torn Achilles tendons, shoulder sprains and lower back injuries. This is particularly true if you are engaging in a new athletic activity or in a favorite athletic activity at a much higher intensity level than usual. For example, you may jog a few miles several times a week over the course of the year, but in the summertime you decide to embark on a training program that will enable you to compete in your first ten kilometer race. If you increase both the frequency and duration of your running time quickly, you may also experience tight hamstrings, quadriceps and Achilles tendons. In turn, this muscular tension can lead to strained and torn muscles. By practicing a balanced assortment of Yoga asanas as a complement to your other athletic activities, you will lessen the chance of injury as you develop more muscular strength, balance and flexibility. During aerobic activities such as running and bicycling, you may find that your shoulders become hunched over and your neck muscles tighten. When this happens, you may also experience a tight lower back, which can put pressure on the large muscles of the buttocks, the hamstrings and the other muscles in the mid and upper back regions. Including a regular Yoga practice into your weekly training routine will help you to ameliorate the risk of developing a sport-related injury. Incorporating back bending poses into your Yoga practice will help to elongate your spine, increase your overall energy and release tension in the throat, neck and shoulders. There are an assortment of back bending asanas that are accessible to most Yoga practitioners. Modified Cobra Pose is a very effective beginning Yoga pose that releases tension throughout the upper back, neck and shoulders. * Modified Cobra Pose Cobra Pose is usually practiced in the context of a series of flowing Sun Salutations. If you are not familiar with the postures that comprise the Sun Salutations, please refer to a reputable Yoga teacher training website or seek out the personalized instruction of a professional teacher at a Yoga studio in your neighborhood. Modified Cobra Pose can be practiced as an alternative to Cobra or Sphinx Pose during your practice of the Sun Salutations, or just after you have completed a series of standing Yoga asanas and are ready to transition to the floor for additional back bending postures, inversions and forward folding poses. It is important to make sure that your body is warmed up before engaging in back bending Yoga asanas. This will help to ensure that your practice of these energizing asanas is safe and enjoyable. When you are ready to practice Modified Cobra Pose, come to a prone position on your Yoga mat. With an inhale, place your hands palm down 8-12 inches away from your shoulders. Keep your hands in a cupped position and your fingers pointing toward the front of your mat. Your gaze should be resting softly at a point approximately a foot in front of you on the mat or floor. Exhale, and with your next inhale push your torso up with your hands. Keep your gaze steady. Remember that it is not uncommon to only be able to raise your torso 6-12 inches off the floor. This is fine. Do not force the pose. The effectiveness of the posture is in maintaining the correct alignment with your hands in a direct line with your shoulders. When you have raised your torso up as high as you can while maintaining the integrity of the pose, pause and hold Modified Cobra Pose for three to five complete breaths, then release the posture and rest with your check on the Yoga mat. Repeat this pose two more times, alternating the resting cheek. By alternating the check that you rest on, you will in turn alternate releasing muscular tension on both sides of your neck. When you have completed your practice of Modified Cobra Pose, you may wish to move gently into Child’s Pose to release any tension that may have accumulated in your lower back before continuing on with the rest of your Yoga practice. Another great article I got from: www.aurawellnesscenter.com. By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
As we rapidly approach the zenith point of the Summer Solstice, the temperatures are rising steadily and the deep-green color of the leaves is expanding into its fullness. By aligning yourself with the expansive and abundant energy of summer, you will feel energized and rejuvenated. The warmth of the sun’s healing rays also helps to increase the function of the immune system, lower inflammation throughout the body and boost your mood naturally. By exercising out in nature under the warmth of the sun’s rays, you will increase the benefits of your exercise regime substantially. Of course, it is always prudent to wear an appropriate sun screen if you are out in the mid-day sun and to stay well hydrated when the temperatures are high. Taking care of yourself during the summer months also includes maintaining a strong awareness of your body during and after your training sessions or recreational outdoor activities. It is not uncommon for many Yoga practitioners to increase their level of physical activity during the warmer months of the year. When we increase our physical activity level, the risk of sports-related injuries often increases. This is especially true of vulnerable areas of the body, such as the Achilles tendons, hamstrings and lower back. The shoulders and wrists are also quite vulnerable to repetitive sports-related injuries, hence the phrase “tennis-elbow.” The type of injuries that a Yogi or Yogini may experience usually depends on a combination of personal history and the kind of activity he or she is engaging in. For example, if you tend to have tight leg muscles, the likelihood that you may experience a tight lower back is also quite high. To improve your athletic performance by offsetting the risk of developing a sports-related injury, incorporating a consistent practice of Yoga poses into your training routine will help to keep your muscles limber, strong and resilient to injury. A wonderful Yoga asana for keeping these areas limber is Downward Facing Dog Pose. This is one of the most fundamental Yoga poses practiced during any Yoga class. It is one of the primary connecting poses of the flowing Sun Salutation series of asanas, which warms up the entire body. The benefits of practicing Downward Facing Dog include stretching out the entire back of the legs, including the Achilles tendons and the hamstrings. This Yoga posture also strengthens and elongates the wrists, arms and shoulders and releases tension throughout the upper back and neck. Additionally, Downward Facing Dog is an inversion. As you hold the posture for several breaths, fresh blood and oxygen will circulate throughout your brain, which will help to dispel cognitive sluggishness. * Downward Facing Dog Pose To practice Downward Facing Dog Pose, come to an Equal Standing Position at the front of your Yoga mat. Bring your hands into Namaste or Prayer Position at the front of your Heart. Bow your head briefly and solidify an intention for your Yoga practice. When you are ready, take a deep inhale and raise your hands overhead with your palms pressing against each other in Prayer Position. With an exhale, bring your hands down alongside your torso and place them next to your feet with your fingers pointing toward the front of your Yoga mat. With your next inhale, look up slightly and with an exhale jump or step your feet approximately 4-5 feet behind you, so that your body makes the shape of an inverted V. Keep your palms flat on the mat and parallel to each other. Keep your drishti or gaze on your belly button or on a point just in front of the line of your hands. The stretch in your upper back and shoulders will increase if you roll your elbows in towards each other slightly. Take three to five full breaths as you hold the posture. If your Achilles tendons are particularly tight today, you may wish to pedal your feet until your muscles begin to warm up and release. If you tire during the practice of Downward Facing Dog, simply drop to your knees and rest in Child’s Pose on your Yoga mat until you are ready to continue. When you have completed holding the pose for three to five breaths, release the posture and return to an Equal Standing Position at the front of your mat. Pause briefly to feel the effects of the pose before continuing on with your Yoga practice. Thanks a lot to: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Pranayama is possibly the most overlooked aspect of Hatha Yoga. Every Yoga teacher training course includes a significant segment about Pranayama.Although B.K.S. Iyengar wrote detailed works on the subject, some Hatha Yoga teachers barely scratch the surface on the subject of cultivating vital energy through breathing. Why is this happening in Yoga classes? Proper breathing is most likely the most important physical aspect of Hatha Yogatraining. Yes, proper breathing is more important than fancy Asanas. Should this lack of attention to the importance of Pranayama, within the Yoga class, be corrected by those groups who certify Yoga teachers? Why do some educated, and competent, Yoga teachers “skip by” Pranayama during a Yoga class? When an intern goes through his or her Yoga teacher training, the teacher trainer does cover many Pranayama techniques. For many Yoga teacher interns, this is a review. Each intern, who becomes a Yoga teacher, knows in detail the value of proper breathing, but when a Yoga teacher graduate goes out into the world, he or she finds that the student audience wants to learn “fancy tricks.” This performance of fancy tricks has taken on a whole new identity and has become “advanced Yoga” in the minds of those who forget that Yoga is for the union of mind, body, and spirit. At no time is the ego part of any union. The ego does not want to share anything. The ego wants everything, especially credit for beauty, material rewards, and feats of strength or flexibility. This is the reason why some beginner students are “bored” by Pranayama. However, without Pranayama, we are not practicing Hatha Yoga. Therefore, students at all levels should learn all of the aspects of Hatha Yoga. The reason is simple: Hatha Yoga is not a gymnastics event. Gymnastics is a wonderful sport, but if that is what a Yoga student wants, he or she should pursue that path. The fact is – Yoga is not a sport. Although Hatha Yoga is physical, it has many components, and all of them should be presented with the same enthusiasm as impressive physical feats. Hatha Yoga teachers should still take the time to explain the laws of Prana to new students. Prana is more than just air, but proper breathing is the best method for cultivating it. If a new student has difficulty grasping the theory or philosophy of Prana, and Pranayama, at least he or she will learn how to absorb extra oxygen andoxygenate the blood much more efficiently. Thanks to: http://yoga-teacher-training.blogspot.com By Faye Martins Becoming a certified yoga instructor can help you make a career out of something that you enjoy. If you are interested in increasing your physical and mental fitness, teaching a yoga class enables you to do both in a single setting. Additionally, you can meet new people and develop friendships that can last for years. How could online yoga certification programs help you earn your spot as a yoga instructor? Learn at Your Own Pace The best reason to take any type of class online is that you can learn at your own pace. Instead of having to take time off of work to get to class or have a set schedule for completing papers and tests, you can do your coursework when it suits you. This can be particularly convenient for those who have kids or a busy social life outside of work. Online Programs May Cost Less In most cases, an online program will cost less than a traditional program because there is less overhead when conducting a class over the Internet. Therefore, the company that runs the certification program can pass the savings on to you. However, there may still be mandatory fees that you will have to pay no matter when or where you get your certification. Online Programs May Take Less Time to Complete Do you want to get your certification as soon as possible? If time is not on your side, you may want to consider an online program to help you get your certification in a matter of weeks instead of months. Depending on where you live and what you plan on teaching, you may be able to start your own class while you are taking the online program. Take Classes From Anywhere If you are planning on taking a trip in the near future, you won't have to choose between giving up the trip and giving up on your certification training. All you need to do is ensure that you have a working Internet connection wherever you happen to go. As long as you have an Internet connection on your smartphone, tablet or computer, you can do your coursework on the beach, in your hotel room or even on the plane as you travel. Choose From a Larger Number of Instructors When you take classes from local instructors, you could be limited to the number of people who you can choose to work from. When you take your class online, you can choose from hundreds of instructors who have the credentials and teaching style that best fit your needs. This makes it easier for you to pass your class and learn as much as possible in the process. Taking an online yoga certification course makes it possible for you to earn your dream job without a lot of time or hassle. If you have a busy work or social life, you don't have to choose between going to class or having fun with your friends. Instead, you can get your work done when you choose and finish your program in less time. Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. |
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