What to Look for When Hiring a Yoga Teacher (Part 1)
What to Look for When Hiring a Yoga Teacher (Part 1)
How can you tell which Yoga teacher is the best fit for your health club, ashram, spa, or wellness studio? Does it depend on a particular diploma, style of Yoga, or does it depend on who their Guru was? Let’s go over a bit of credential history and a checklist for finding the ideal Yoga teacher.
Lately, there has been a scramble amongst Yoga teachers to gain higher credentials. This is understandable because Yoga became much more of a mainstream pursuit. As Yoga became more and more popular, many experienced Yoga teachers found themselves “out of the loop.”
Some Yoga teachers, with decades of Yoga teaching experience, had no credentials, diploma, or “paper trail.” The “paper chase” was on, and when it came to credentials, a new “playing field” had been created.
With all the liability suits out there, credentials have become very important, even in Yoga. Credentials make liability insurance much easier for Yoga studios to get. Therefore, all Yoga teachers have to jump through the new “flaming hoops.”
What Guru or Yoga Master trains the best teachers? Competence has little to do with who a Yoga teacher’s Guru – is or was. The Guru is not teaching this Yoga teacher’s class. The real question is: How will this Yoga teacher perform within your facility?
Have you ever met a graduate from an “elite” college who was an under achiever? Of course, and we have all seen over achievers from colleges, which are not as prestigious. You might also want to think about the many over achievers who never went to college.
Is there a particular style that trains Yoga teachers the best? Not really, most Yoga teacher training programs, of all styles, produce competent Yoga teachers. To credit one particular style, would take away the credibility of the rest. However, if, for example, you are looking to establish a Yoga class that is vigorous, you might seek out teachers from particularly vigorous Yoga styles.
Most Yoga teachers do a very good job of teaching, but students of any subject will always think more fondly of a particular teacher. This is human nature to make comparisons, but there are much larger issues when it comes to teaching skills and making your best selection.
The real issues, and skills, that count when hiring a Yoga teacher, are safety, compassion, communication, assisting, alignment, listening, modifications, ethics and continuing education.
© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He’s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches that along with fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who want to be a teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
What Else Should a Hatha Yoga Teacher Know About Teaching Yoga Classes?
What Else Should a Hatha Yoga Teacher Know About Teaching Yoga Classes?
Yoga teacher ethics should be thoroughly covered in all Yoga certification programs. With the current laws about harassment, all Yoga teachers, and anyone who works with the public, should beware.
The less said, in your Yoga class about trivial matters, the better. Your personal beliefs should not be part of the Yoga class lesson plan.
Just like many Yoga teachers often say to their students, “Stay in the moment.” Within your class, “it’s all about Yoga” and anything else beyond that can be open to misinterpretation. Walk the middle path, be mindful, avoid extremes, show loving kindness, and maintain a standard of professionalism within all of your Yoga classes.
Communication should be clear at all times. You must demonstrate, communicate verbally, and assist, if you have permission to do so. Always ask permission before making a physical assist during Asana practice.
Chakras are the energy centers of the physical and energy body. Yoga teachers know about balancing and cleansing them. Most Yoga teachers are familiar with the seven main Chakras, but there are more. Chakra balancing and Chakra clearing are safe practices for Yoga teachers who have been trained to perform these methods.
However, no one should play with “Chakra Awakenings,” with out guidance from a Guru. Most Gurus will frown on the idea of Chakra Awakening techniques; since these are considered unsafe short cuts.
Bandhas are the many locks, but Hatha Yoga teachers should know Mulha Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, and Jalandhara Bandha very well. These are the three main Bandhas.
Mudras are gestures and they are often integrated with specific Pranayama techniques for healing. Not all Mudras are performed with the hands. In Sanskrit Mudra means “seal.” There are many Mudras and learning this is part of a Hatha Yoga teacher’s continuing education.
Kriyas or Shatkarmas are the six hygienic “deeds” or “actions.” A Yoga teacher should be clean in mind, body, and spirit. Every Hatha Yoga teacher is familiar with these six Kriyas.
Meditation is a part of each form of Yoga. It is a tool for clearing, calming, and focusing your mind, but there are also many methods of meditation. Each path of meditation leads to tranquility. All Yoga teachers should practice meditation twice per day. Guiding Yoga students is one thing, but a Yoga teacher’s meditation practice should be regimented.
A Yoga teacher should also be familiar with relaxation methods, specially, stage-by-stage relaxation. This relaxation method should be practiced privately, and Yoga teachers should make their students familiar with this technique.
With all of the above points mentioned, you can now see why the jump from Yoga student to Yoga teacher will take some time and serious practice.
Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Yoga Posture Adjustments and Assisting: An Insightful Guide for Yoga Teachers and Students
This is the first comprehensive guide for yoga teachers and yoga students providing all the details on how to adjust or assist someone while they are performing a yoga posture. With yoga’s recent worldwide popularity, this book is invaluable to millions who teach or practice yoga. The book goes beyond just the physical aspects of yoga – it deals honestly with some touchy matters that affect yoga teachers and students alike. The book’s clear instructions and generous supply of photos make it easy for yoga teachers to learn how to adjust or assist their students. Yoga students can use this book to enhance their personal practice by working with a partner. Yoga Posture Adjustments and Assisting: An Insightful Guide for Yoga Teachers and Students demonstrates and explains adjusting techniques for over 65 postures and contains over 200 photos. You can learn:
• How to adjust or assist someone who is performing a yoga posture
• How to perform the yoga adjustments using effective body mechanics and leverage
• Multiple variations for adjusting a posture
• How to use yoga props
• Verbal cues to help your yoga student or partner
• Ways to accommodate different body types
• How to safely take your students deeper into the yoga postures
The book also features a thought provoking section on how to navigate the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of being a yoga teacher or yoga student. It candidly discusses topics such as:
• Dealing with difficult emotions before, during, or after class
• Coping with thoughts that can surface during yoga class or home practice
• Managing expectations and judgments about ourselves, our teachers, and our students
• Dealing with unusual situations in the classroom
• Handling competitiveness, jealousy, nervousness
The international yoga community will greatly benefit from this book.
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