Yoga and the Christmas Spirit: Joy

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed

Although the holiday season is in full swing, you may not be feeling the joy of the Christmas spirit to its fullest extent if you are contending with negative emotions, such as fear, grief or sorrow. The holidays can be quite challenging for many people, especially if they have lost somebody they love during this time of year. Many people also become quite stressed by the financial strain of the holiday season. However, many of the joyous feelings that the holidays evoke can be kindled from within your own heart.  Nurturing the uplifting feelings of joy, peace and love is truly the essence of the Christmas spirit. 

When you feel joyous, peaceful and full, it is much easier to be generous and loving with the people in your life.  However, it can be difficult to feel these feelings if you are struggling with negative emotional states, such as fear, despair or loss. If this is the case for you, by practicing Yoga regularly you will be able to more easily shift out of these negative emotional states. As Yogis and Yoginis, by engaging in a balanced and comprehensive practice of Yoga postures, pranayama exercises, chanting, and meditation, you will be able to truly nourish the light within your own being. 

Back bending Yoga asanas are some of the best postures for releasing constriction throughout the front of the body, including the heart chakra area, throat, upper shoulders, and quadriceps. These are areas that often become constricted when we are experiencing loss, grief and sadness. According to the Bible, the opposite of joy is fear.  When we feel empty and sad, we often feel that things will never get better. This sense of fear prevents us from experiencing the divinity within our own hearts. In order to feel the fullness of your own being and offset this pervasive sense of fear, practicing back bending Yoga postures will help to facilitate the release of negative emotions that may be preventing you from experiencing the full joy of the Christmas spirit. 

* Bow pose or Dhanurasana

Bow Pose is one of the most profoundly effective back bending Yoga postures for releasing tension and stress throughout the front of the torso. It is particularly effective for opening up the entire heart chakra area, throat and upper shoulders. Additionally, practicing Bow Pose will release tension and muscular contraction throughout the quadriceps, which will free up the flow of your life force energy throughout your entire body. Bow Pose is usually practiced towards the latter portion of a Yoga class, after the body is fully warmed up with a series of Sun Salutations, standing Yoga poses and balancing postures. 

When your body is fully warmed up and you're ready to practice Dhanurasna, lie down on your Yoga mat and rest for a moment by turning your head and laying your right cheek on your mat. Take a moment to ground and feel the earth beneath you. With your next inhale, bend your legs and grasp your ankles with your hands. Place the palms of your hands on the inside of your ankles. If your torso and quadriceps are very tight today, it may be enough for you to just apply gentle pressure against your hands with your ankles, without actually raising your legs off the floor. If you would like to enter more deeply into Bow Pose, with an inhale expand your upper body by applying more pressure against your hands with your ankles, as you lift your heart off the Yoga mat.

You will feel a pronounced elongation throughout your heart area, throat, shoulders, and quadriceps. With each inhale; expand your body a little more fully. With each exhale, release the posture slightly, so that you can expand more fully with your inhale. Hold Bow Pose for three to five complete breaths, and then release the posture and rest with your left cheek on the Yoga mat. Repeat Bow Pose two more times, and then move slowly back into Extended Child's Pose, in order to release any tension that may have accumulated in the lower back. Practicing this Yoga posture will generate a feeling of ebullient fullness, which will help you to truly embody the joy of the Christmas spirit.

Yoga Liability And Other Business Considerations For The Exercise Instructor

By Faye Martins

Yoga instructors spend years perfecting their practice. They find enlightenment and peace through their practice. Its teachings inspire teachers to want to share that enlightenment and peace with others. Unfortunately, there are real world problems like yoga liability that can intrude on that desire to share.

Research

Potential instructors must do their research before jumping headlong into a business that traditionally has people teaching part-time instead of full time. That means most yoga instructors are not making a full time income from teaching students directly. Exercise instructors need to fully investigate their employment choices. Jobs in gyms, health centers, retirement communities and recreation centers might not be possible for someone just starting out in the field unless the community doesn't have many exercise instructors.

Business Considerations

The first step of becoming an instructor is to learn how to teach others, but the next step can take the longest time and be the most difficult to accomplish. The newly accredited instructor has to figure out the type of business he or she wants. Will the instructor teach students out of his or her home? Will the teacher instruct students with videos online?

Yoga Liability Insurance

It's a real concern, and instructors need to have coverage in case a student trips and falls in the studio. Teachers can't be sure the venue will cover them in the case of a legal problem. The liability coverage needs to cover the instructor and should be a personal policy. It can help cover defense funds, lost time from work while defending against a suit or a variety of other considerations. The policy type depends on the business model of the teacher. Every instructor should have a detailed business plan in place. It should have details such as marketing strategy and lead generation plans. The type of company detailed in the business plan will help when picking insurance coverage.

Full-Time or Part-Time

When first starting out, the new instructor has to be realistic. There might not be full-time positions available at the local gym or rec center. The teacher will have to decide how much money is needed for living expenses and use that marker to influence the choices made in teaching events. Many teachers have a few events where they instruct on a daily basis. Other teachers participate in personal instruction in their home.

Marketing and Lead Opportunities

Every teaching instructor has to get their name out into the public's mind. This is done in a variety of ways from yellow page advertisements to offering free classes at a local community center. The type of yoga taught will help influence the opportunities and leads generated. Senior practice would be taught at retirement community centers while children's exercise classes would be taught at a family oriented location.

Instructors need to focus on the business side of their teaching like yoga insurance, their business plan and various revenue streams. If it's approached like a business initially, the instructor will be able to enjoy the process of teaching others and leading them on the path to a more fulfilling life without worrying about potential problems in the future.

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA.

Choosing The Right Online Yoga Certification Programs

By Faye Martins

People who have considered pursing a career as a yoga instructor should note that they now have the opportunity to study online. There are an abundance of online yoga certification programs that afford individuals the opportunity to gain the education and experience they need to succeed in this vocational sector. However, many people are relatively unfamiliar with the world of online learning and feel that they do not possess the knowledge necessary to select the right certification program. Yet by implementing the tips and tricks that follow, anyone in search of the ideal internet-based yoga certification program will be able to find it. 

1. Identify Your Needs. 

Every online yoga certification course will be different, and aspiring yoga instructors shouldn't waste time pursuing programs that aren't suitable. For example, an individual who wants to specialize in teaching yoga to seniors should search for a certification course that offers information and advice regarding how to excel in this endeavor. When aspiring instructors select certification programs that are geared towards their needs and interests, this activity will help steer their careers in the right direction. 

2. Identify Qualifications/Credentials.

People who want to pursue a career in yoga instruction should select certification programs that possess the right qualifications and/or credentials. For example, the individuals who teach the course should possess a substantive amount of education and experience in the field. Additionally, it's a good idea to learn whether the program officials have won any awards for excellence in teaching or something similar. 

3. Compare Costs Of Several Programs.

As many educators are now realizing, online education can be much cheaper than traditional modes of learning. However, this does not mean that you won't have to pay a substantive amount of money in order to earn a yoga certification. Since this is the case, you should take the time to compare the costs of numerous program providers before making your final selection. 

4. Keep Your Options Open.

Oftentimes, people learn about how convenient and cost-effective online learning programs are and then rule other options out. This is not a good idea. Why? Because in some situations, a traditional form of learning may be more advantageous. This can be the case in a situation where the aspiring yoga instructor is looking for hands-on experiences that cannot be offered by the online yoga program. Those who plan to become yoga instructors should also consider the value of hybrid classes in which there is a combination of online and in-person instruction. 

Conclusion 

People who are preparing to begin exciting careers in the field of yoga instruction should know that doing so can help lead to a personally and professionally rewarding lifestyle. Additionally, obtaining one's yoga certification online is a great way to get the knowledge and experience necessary to excel in this vocational sector. By following the tips and tricks outlined above, aspiring yoga instructors can take an important step toward attaining the education necessary to accomplish their vocational dreams.

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. 

Four Great Strategies For Teaching Vinyasa Yoga

By Faye Martins

Yoga teachers who have recently gained interest in vinyasa yoga may be interested in learning about strategies for teaching vinyasa yoga. By reading the information found below, you can gain the foundational knowledge necessary to excel in this craft.

1. Speak Slowly

Speaking slowly is a big key to success when you're teaching others vinyasa yoga. In most cases, it's a good idea for the teacher to speak slower than they think they should. This is so for several reasons, including the fact that many new teachers are enthusiastic about sharing their new knowledge with others and this excitement precipitates a sense of nervousness. Once this happens, the teacher will likely succumb to speedy cueing and breathing. This can negatively impact the entire dynamic of the class, making people feel fitful and jittery rather than calm and relaxed.

In recognizing the negative impact that speaking too quickly can have in teaching yoga, it is important to master the art of speaking slowly. To do so, aspiring teachers should practice speaking in the privacy of their own homes. They should also take the time to record their own voices and listen to them in order to gauge if they're still talking too rapidly. To gain a sense of timing, it is sometimes helpful to tap one's foot quietly. In short, aspiring yoga teachers should incorporate whatever measures are necessary to remain fully conscious about their speaking speed given that it helps create the mood of the class. 

2. Be Patient With Yourself

The first few months of teaching this form of yoga can be very challenging. During this time, it will be quite normal for teachers to make mistakes. Additionally, they may receive a bit of negative feedback from students who aren't receptive to their mode of instruction. Rather than taking any of these realities personally, yoga teachers should concentrate on learning from the mistakes they make so that they can operate in a dimension of excellence and efficacy.

3. Observe
In many cases, those who teach vinyasa yoga have a proclivity for practicing the movements in unison with their students. However, it's important to note that teachers are more useful to students when they watch them carefully to ensure that things such as form and transitional movements are executed with precision. For this reason, it's a good idea for teachers to develop simple sequences so that they don't have to perform them with the class in order to remember them.

4. Create Great Space

Environment is important at all times and in all places, but it has specific significance within the world of yoga. Given that yoga is about the integration of mind and body for the purpose of producing a sense of holistic life and health, it is important that the student's surroundings be conducive to the cultivation of this psychosomatic state. With this idea in mind, yoga teachers must remember that it is their goal and right to create a student-specific ambience that will yield the desired results. For this reason, vinyasa yoga teachers should make strategic, detail-oriented use of things like music, temperature, and lighting.

Conclusion 

As many wellness experts know, vinyasa yoga is a highly beneficial physical practice that can help optimize health while inducing feelings of joy and tranquility. Individuals who have opted to become vinyasa yoga teachers should note that there are several strategies they can implement in order to maximize the student's learning experience and growth process. By utilizing some or all of the aforementioned tips and tricks, aspiring teachers can help their students make the most of their minds and bodies.

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. 

Keeping Student and Teacher Relationships Professional in Yoga

By Eleanor Bartel

While yoga teachers have dozens of students in all their classes, students may only have one or two teachers. This means that as an instructor, you hold a prominent position in the lives of your students. Students may want to develop a deeper relationship with you outside of the studio. It will be your responsibility to maintain a professional relationship with them. As a teacher, it is important to keep all relationships with students professional and focused on the practice. Inappropriate relationships between teachers and students can not only effect the healing practice, but it can also lead to legal and ethical issues in the studio.

Respecting the Practice

When your students are in your class, they should be totally focused on their own practice and their body and mind. Starting a personal relationship with a student can lead to awkwardness in class and a distraction from the actual yoga. In order to allow your students to focus on what is truly important - the yoga - you should always remember that your primary, most important role in the studio is that of a teacher. Your students look to you for guidance throughout the practice, and by creating personal relationships with students, you may make it difficult for them to trust and respect you wholly in the studio. This can cause your students to have a negative experience with yoga, leading them to give up the beneficial practice. If you truly feel as though you want to have a relationship with a student outside of class, it is best to suggest that the student find another teacher first. This way, the practice of yoga will still be the most important aspect of the student's sessions.

Legal Repercussions

Because of sexual harassment issues in yoga studios lately, it is never a good idea to start a romantic relationship with a student. Even if you feel a deep connection with a student and want to date, it is always best to first find them another class with a different teacher. This is because even if things start out well, a relationship can always go south. When you end a personal relationship with a student, it can affect far more then just your personal life. An angry student can make accusations about your relationship that can harm your reputation and lead to legal repercussions. In order to protect yourself, it is best to always keep your personal and professional lives separate, even when your professional career involves something as personal as the practice of yoga.

Ethical Dilemmas

As a yoga teacher, you hold a position of power in your studio. Often times, you are a role model and inspiration to your students. This can lead to students becoming attracted to you or having a crush. It will be your responsibility to handle this common issue professionally. Never take advantage of the situation by using a student's attraction to you as a means for personal gain. Remind your students that your role in their lives in one of a teacher, and treat all your students equally and fairly.

The relationship between a yoga teacher and student has often been compared to the relationship between a therapist or doctor and their client - a sacred, safe relationship that needs to remain professional in order to preserve the integrity of the work. As a trained yoga instructor, it will be your responsibility to maintain the sanctity of the practice by always remaining professional and respectful. Make it a priority of your own ethics to remain focused on the yoga, and make sure your students understand the reasoning of your position.

© Copyright 2014 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

Tips for Inspiring Yoga Students

By Avalon Hicks

In order to stay interested and committed to anything is it important to have high levels to inspiration to keep going. There are a lot of ways to find this inspiration, which can come both from within and from outside sources.

The following are some of the ways that can be adopted or at the very least explored in order to provide this said inspiration:

·      

   The environment where the yoga session is being done should have a welcoming and calming aura. If these very basic elements are not felt and there is no comfort in this environment, there will eventually be a lot of excuses as to why there is no longer a commitment or a strong “pull” to attend yoga sessions. The idea of looking forward to going to class must be dominant at all times because once this is lost, the problems of skipping sessions starts and this may eventually result in giving up yoga altogether.

·      Creating and presenting yoga in an exciting manner is also important to keep the inspiration going. Simply performing all the various yoga movements will not help to inspire the individual to continue for very long in this endeavour. Learning to think of yoga as more than just body contortions and movements would be a good starting point. There should be a meeting of the mind and body and only then will positive energy flow and release all the necessary inner reactions that will facilitate a comfortable and relaxed aura.

·      Understanding the various different yoga movements and how it benefits will also help to inspire an individual to continue to stay active in practising this art. With understanding comes the inspiration and zest to embrace discipline and enjoy each session attempted. Yoga no longer becomes simply a session of performing various different exercises and poses, but now takes on a whole new deeper meaning and joy.

·      In order to reach a level where yoga becomes a “love” more than just a practice, there has to be some level of excited commitment tagged to the overall mindset of an individual. Looking forward to each session is important and to ensure this, it would be wise to have the yoga sessions in groups. Likeminded people will always help to be an inspiration to one another. Participating in group yoga sessions will help to keep from becoming lazy and ensure a more consistent level of commitment. This is especially crucial during the initial stages, when the yoga sessions may seem a little more difficult than anticipated.

·      Exposure to more advanced sessions where there is an opportunity to see the benefits and capabilities of experienced yoga practitioners, is another way to keep being inspired. Watching others make yoga look so simple and relaxed and having first-hand knowledge of the effectiveness of yoga is an excellent form of inspiration. It is akin to “seeing is believing!” There is nothing better than seeing happy and relaxed people enjoying a yoga session to keep a person inspired and continue to commit to their own yoga practices.

·      Finding a good yoga instructor is also important. Good yoga instructors are able to help design yoga sessions that are suitable for beginners using techniques that are not too overwhelming. Good yoga instructors are experienced enough to be able to feel the lack of enthusiasm or if a beginner is having difficulty in keeping up with the yoga poses. They will then try to help find ways to make the sessions more enjoyable and doable.

In the end, inspiration is something every individual should actively work toward finding him or herself.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division