Changing Careers With Online Yoga Certification Programs

By Faye Martins

When people are looking for a way to change their life and make a new career for themselves, they often turn to something that they have enjoyed doing for many years that they never thought they could do as a career. Now, people know that they can use online yoga certification programs to become licensed yoga teachers. These teaching positions can change the way someone lives their life, the way they make their money and their quality of life in general.

Step One

The first step for any person who wants to get a yoga certification is for them to be proficient in yoga. While many people go to yoga classes all over the world, the person who wants to become a yoga instructor must already be pretty good at yoga. No one has to be an expert before they get their certification, but they do need to be familiar with the practice of yoga and how it works.

Step Two

The person who wants to change their life must make sure that they enjoy yoga. Yoga could be something that someone knows they are good at, but they will not want to change their career if they do not love yoga, teaching and the practice of this spiritual exercise.

Step Three
Online yoga certification programs give every student the information they need to improve their craft, learn the physical and biological information necessary to be an effective teacher and to pass the exam necessary to receive certification as a yoga instructor.

The courses can be taken at the leisure of the student. This means that some people can go through the course very quickly and get their certification just as fast as they can. Other people can go through the course very slowly as they plan to leave their current job or move altogether. Depending on the life plan of the person who is taking the course, there is a way for that person to go through the course and earn their certification without feeling overwhelmed or burdened.

Step Four

Taking the exam happens in front of a panel that will judge the student's practice of yoga. The practice is an art that must be judged by experts so that they can sign off on the skills of the person who is taking the exam. Rather than worrying about the exam, every person who wants to pass the certification should take the course and practice as often as possible to improve their skills.

When taking one of these courses, it is very easy for the student to get an idea of what it takes to become a yoga instructor. However, it is also a way for someone to change their career path, change their quality of life and change the way that they make a living. Becoming a yoga instructor could be the thing that someone needs to be happy in life, or it could be the way that someone gets into a job that they actually look forward to doing every day.

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA.  To see more articles about Yoga, please visit: https://delicious.com/aurawellnesscenter

What Is the Yogic Subtle Body?

By Faye Martins

In most cultures, people believe in a subtle life force that lies beneath the mind, body, and spirit connection. In Yoga, this energy is called “prana,” and it is centered in seven major chakras – or centers of spinning energy – that start at the bottom of the spine and extend beyond the crown of the head. These chakras, and the energetic pathways - or nadis - between them, make up the subtle body.

Defining the Yogic Subtle Body

According to “Mosby’s Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine,” Tibetan medicine defines the subtle body as “a network of energy channels that transport energy derived from oxygen, sensory, and food derived nutrients. This network lies parallel to the blood vessels and nerves in the body; it facilitates and coordinates the movement of the flow of blood and neural impulses. It is not an anatomical system, such as the cardiovascular or nervous system and cannot be view conventionally. Instead, it is accessed through practice of imagination and visualization that can be accomplished through meditation.”

The Chakra System and Physical Anatomy

The chakra system overlaps the spine and roughly corresponds to the endocrine system. Although it is not necessary to understand the chakras in order to practice Yogic exercises, the knowledge can be helpful. Each chakra symbolizes a specific part of the body; an energy blockage in any chakra can affect physical, mental, and spiritual well-being related to that anatomical area of the body.

The Seven Main Chakras

·       The first, or root chakra, is found at the base of the spine. It relates to survival, trust, and stability.  Its Sanskrit name is Muladhara.

·       The second, or sacral chakra, is related to pleasure, creativity, and joy. Imbalances may lead to problems with emotions, boundaries, hormones, or addictions. Its Sanskrit name is Svadhistana.

·       The third chakra, or solar plexus, is the seat of personal power and core vitality. When balanced, it represents spontaneity, purpose, and vitality. Its Sanskrit name is Manipura.

·       The fourth, or heart chakra, connects us to the universe and symbolizes love and compassion, for self and for others. The Sanskrit name is Anahata.

·       The fifth, or throat chakra, represents communication, creativity, and self-expression. Singing, chanting, writing, deep breathing, or expressing feelings help keep this center flowing freely. In Sanskrit, it is called Vissudhi.

·       The sixth chakra, or the third eye, is linked to intuition, perception, imagination, and clear sight. Poses, meditations and visualizations help to balance the third eye, also called the Ajana in Sanskrit.

·       The seventh chakra, or the crown chakra, is represented by a lotus and correlates with connection to the higher self, universe, and God. It is the center for awareness, bliss, and connection. In Sanskirt, the crown chakra is called the Sahasrara.

The greater our awareness of the subtle body, the greater is our ability to recognize and deal with energy blockages before they affect our general well-being and happiness. Music, colors, poses, breathing exercises, and meditation are just a few of the many ways to keep prana flowing freely through our chakras.

© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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