INTRODUCTION: TEACHING

Yoga

YOGA CAN BE DIVIDED INTO FIVE POINTS:

1 Proper Exercise (Asanas)

2 Proper Breathing (Pranayama)

3. Proper Relaxation (Shavasana)

4. Proper Diet (Vegetarian)

5. Positive Thinking (Vedanta) and Meditation (Dhyana).

Whenever you teach, make students aware that yoga consists of all these points.

THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF A YOGA CLASS CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:

. Initial relaxation

. Starting prayer

. Pranayama (breathing exercises)

. Preparatory exercises (eye and neck exercises, Sun Salutation, leg raises)

. Asanas (postures)

. Final relaxation

. Concluding prayer PROPER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE YOGA CLASS

. Be punctual; always remember to start the class on time and finish on time.

. Start and finish the class with a prayer. All this will help to connect to spiritual energy and to create a spiritual vibration.

. Wear your uniform to teach; this will help to create a positive impression in the minds of the students. White is the colour of purity. Students will feel this intuitively, as colours have a strong influence on the sub-conscious mind.

. The room in which you teach should be well lit, clean and neat. . You can also use some incense before class as the students arrive.

. Ask the students to remove their shoes and leave them outside the classroom. Preferably there should be no shoes in the room, as it is a place of spiritual practice.

. It better to have students lie in straight rows and facing in the same direction. It makes it easier for the teacher to see any mistake that a student may be making.

. Request the students not to eat for at least two hours before class.

. Loose comfortable clothing should be worn when practicing asanas.

. If students wear glasses or contact lenses, it is best if they remove them before class.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

1. Be positive and encouraging at all time.

2. Speak slowly and clearly. Explain everything in detail but do not talk too much.

3. Do not sit while teaching. Walk around the class, giving energy to the students, checking and correcting them. Keep your full attention on the students and the class. Make sure that they are following instructions. Do not walk in and out of the room.

4. The teacher should NEVER do the asanas along with the class.

5. Be sensitive to the students. Push only if they want to be pushed.

6. Demonstrate asanas as little as possible. Try to explain them and create a mental impression in the minds of the students so that they understand how these postures are to be done.

7. Sit for a while after the class; do not seem in a rush to leave. Many students are shy to ask questions, especially personal ones, in front of the class. If you seem open and approachable, they will feel comfortable in coming up to speak with you after the class.

8. Help and encourage students to at least try every pose even if they think it is very hard for them.

9. Keep reminding the students to breathe through out the class.

10. Remember to do Shavasana in between asanas.

11. Yoga is non-competitive. Students should not compare themselves to other people nor should they measure themselves on what they were able to do in the past.

12. Ask students to inform you about any injury or discomfort they have.

13. Emphasize the following during initial relaxation and maintain throughout the class: (a) Focus (b) Breathing (c) Relaxation

15. Suggest the students to focus on the breath and relax in the pose.

16. Never embarrass or single students out for criticism.

17. Appreciate any slight improvement. The necessary prerequisites for teaching yoga are sensitivity and humility. The knowledge which you have gained from your teacher should be corroborated by your own direct personal experience.

Frequently asked Questions:

• Can asanas help me to lose weight?
• Can I practice Yoga even when I am pregnant?
• Which form of Yoga is the best?
• How often should I practice yoga?
• Can I practice at home?

Questions:

Q1. What are the 'Five Points of Yoga'?

Q2. How do you set up the proper environment for the class?

Q3. What three things should be emphasized during initial relaxation and maintained throughout the class?

Q4. What are the qualifications necessary for a yoga teacher?