| Over the last 20 years, the popularity of | | | | designed yoga routine takes this into |
| yoga has increased from nearly no interest to | | | | consideration to prevent over straining |
| being one of the most popular exercise | | | | muscles and reduce soreness. |
| regimes around. To match the increasing | | | | |
| demand for yoga, more and more yoga centers | | | | The yoga teacher must guide our learning on a |
| are opening all the time. For those of us | | | | micro-level with correct technique and |
| looking for something new, or just starting | | | | alignment to increase our abilities without |
| out for the first time, the choices can be | | | | injury. Firstly the teacher needs to provide |
| daunting. | | | | demonstration and detailed instruction on how |
| | | | to safely enter, hold and exit the poses. |
| There are many different schools and styles | | | | The descriptions should include details about |
| of yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, power | | | | correct steps to enter the pose as well as |
| yoga, Bikram (hot), Kundilini, Viniyoga to | | | | key points to consider such as alignment and |
| name just a few. Although all of these | | | | muscles to use. |
| schools of yoga essentially teach the same | | | | |
| Hatha yoga asanas (yoga postures), the | | | | In addition the teacher needs to quickly |
| objectives of the class and the way the | | | | gauge each individual's abilities so they can |
| postures are performed and taught are very | | | | advise on more basic or more advanced |
| different for each. | | | | variations as appropriate. Then the teacher |
| | | | needs to observe how we are performing each |
| In addition every yoga teacher has their own | | | | pose helping to correct errors that may lead |
| characteristics, emphasis and approach to | | | | to injuries. Correction of poses can include |
| teaching which affects the class and learning | | | | verbal descriptions or by physical assistance |
| experience. | | | | and repositioning. |
| | | | |
| While so many choices can be daunting, it | | | | How to find a teacher that works for us? |
| also means that there's so much diversity, | | | | |
| we're bound to find a style and a teacher | | | | The best way to choose a yoga teacher is by |
| that we like. If we don't like a school of | | | | giving their class a try. We usually know |
| yoga, or a yoga teacher - we can try | | | | before the end of the first class whether |
| something else. | | | | we're going to be able to follow this style |
| | | | of yoga and the teacher. |
| While personal preference will guide much of | | | | |
| our selection process both for the school of | | | | However, if we have less experience of yoga, |
| yoga and the teacher, finding an experienced | | | | attending a new school of yoga or a new |
| and high quality teacher is the most | | | | teacher may be more intimidating. In this |
| important consideration. | | | | case it's worthwhile talking with the teacher |
| | | | before taking their lessons, to find out more |
| Yoga teachers are not all created equal | | | | about them and tell them about ourselves. |
| | | | Things to consider may include: |
| With the increasing popularity of yoga the | | | | |
| demand for teachers and peoples desire to | | | | - The school or style of yoga they teach. |
| take their practice to the next level means | | | | |
| that thousands of people take some kind of | | | | - How long they have been practicing yoga, |
| certification or registration each year. But | | | | and how long they have been teaching yoga. |
| with so many new teachers around, it's | | | | |
| impossible for them all to be to be of the | | | | - How they got into yoga, and what they get |
| highest standards. | | | | out of it, why they continue to practice. |
| | | | Why did they want to teach yoga to others? |
| In addition, the absence of formal regulation | | | | |
| of the training and certification for yoga | | | | - How they structure their classes. Whether |
| it's difficult to know before a class how | | | | they focus on any particular aspect such as |
| good a teacher will be. Without formal | | | | strength, flexibility, balance or meditation. |
| standards, an individual can become a teacher | | | | |
| with very little personal yoga practice and | | | | - Whether they give demonstrations or just |
| experience. Experience is important for | | | | verbal descriptions. |
| overall understanding but the amount of and | | | | |
| quality of teacher training is also | | | | - The size of classes and whether they focus |
| important. The quality of yoga teacher | | | | on individuals, how they help with correcting |
| training courses and certification varies | | | | poses, through descriptions only or physical |
| enormously. Currently certification can take | | | | contact to realign (in which case gender may |
| from a year or more for some specializations | | | | become a factor). |
| to merely a 1 or 2 day intensive program. A | | | | |
| 200 hour program of learning and supervised | | | | - If we are attending a new yoga class for a |
| teaching practice is quite standard. What's | | | | particular health reason such as treating |
| more the format can vary from retreats with | | | | back pain, high blood pressure, stress or |
| formal examinations to correspondence courses | | | | breathing problems then it's important to |
| and certification over the internet. | | | | know if the teacher has any experience in |
| | | | these treatments |
| With the teacher being so important, and the | | | | |
| options on teacher training so varied, the | | | | There are a couple of other "tells" that may |
| responsibility for selecting a high quality | | | | help you judge whether a teacher is |
| yoga teacher is passed to the students and | | | | sufficiently experienced. Firstly, does the |
| should not be taken lightly. | | | | teacher talk as if they are genuinely |
| | | | enthusiastic about yoga, it's benefits for |
| So what makes a good teacher? | | | | the body, mind and spirit and sharing that |
| | | | with their students? Secondly, do they come |
| The yoga instructor is elemental in setting | | | | across as being genuinely knowledgeable about |
| the tone of the class. The teacher, their | | | | yoga? Such as knowing and using the Sanskrit |
| style of yoga and their approach to teaching, | | | | names of the yoga poses. While it doesn't |
| can not only determine whether you enjoy a | | | | guarantee that the teacher is experienced or |
| session, but whether you like yoga at all. | | | | good at teaching, it does at least indicate |
| But more than that the yoga teacher, the | | | | they have spent some time learning their |
| routines they teach and the quality of their | | | | practice. |
| teaching will control how much benefit we get | | | | |
| from the practice. | | | | If you don't find the right yoga style or |
| | | | teacher right away, then keep looking. With |
| While there are many complexities that | | | | so many options you're bound to find |
| determine whether we enjoy a class, there are | | | | something soon enough. The health benefits |
| two things a yoga teacher must always do. | | | | of yoga are worth the search and you'll learn |
| | | | plenty about yoga, your body and yourself |
| The teacher must guide our practice on a | | | | along the way. |
| macro-level with a well rounded practice. It | | | | |
| is important that we develop our bodies in a | | | | yoga teachers are North India natives, with |
| balanced and uniform manner which means in a | | | | yoga in their heritage and their blood. |
| single session we should develop strength, | | | | Starting their yoga practice at childhood, |
| flexibility to all muscles and joints without | | | | they have dedicated their entire lives to |
| over emphasis on one area that could lead to | | | | learning and teaching yoga. Using their 20 |
| strains and injury. On top of this it's | | | | plus years of yoga experience they know how |
| important perform balancing poses that | | | | to structure yoga practices that deliver |
| improve body co-ordination and improve | | | | strength, flexibility and balance, helping |
| concentration. Finally every pose, | | | | their students to feel well exercised but |
| particularly the flexion and compression of | | | | also calm, relaxed and energized in mind and |
| the back, has a counter pose. A well | | | | body. |