mario

The Qualities of a Great Yoga Teacher

...re about the training and guidance they are receiving.)

Besides his experience and credentials in traditional Hatha yoga, he has degrees in science and business, and was an executive for pharmaceutical company based in India. From this connection to the scientific community, he participated in scientific research studies of the affects of yoga on the body and immune system. This experience gives him a unique perspective, one based on both the traditional Eastern philosophy of Ayurveda and Yoga, and the science based Western philosophy of show us proof and we will believe.

Admittedly, it may be very hard to find a teacher that happens to have this unique combination of experience, background, and credentials. And to begin studying yoga, you dont necessarily need someone as qualified as my teacher.

The important thing is that the yoga teacher has some verifiable training or certification that can vouch for the fact that they know both the theory and application of what they are teaching. Ideally, this will be someone that has valid certification as a teacher. Whether your teacher attended free classes at the local community center for long enough to absorb a good foundation, or paid lots of money to attend every certification program and yoga retreat available, they both are valid paths to teaching. How qualified they are depends on the individuals natural talent, the time they spent training, and how qualified their teachers were.

2.Character and Motivation
This might be even more important than point 1 above. With the very best of credentials, if the person you are considering as a teacher has alterior motives outside of helping people advance both as students of yoga, and on their journey towards (yes, I am going to say it) enlightenment, then it could be a red flag.

Now, I am not claiming that yoga teachers should only teach from the goodness of their heart with no eye towards creating a viable business and livelihood for themselves with their teaching endeavors. What I am saying is, if their motivation is inappropriately slanted towards personal gain (whether financial, sexual, or otherwise) or if they are overly obsessed with a power dynamic associated with being in the role of a te...more

California Yoga Certification

... youll be hitting the books. The yoga mat is where you belong now!

The benefits of yoga are many. But did you know it can also benefit your life in a bigger way? Whether youre a young person looking for a fun, yet rewarding, career or someone looking to make a major career change, there is a place for you in the yoga instructor field. You owe it to yourself to get your California yoga certification!

Discovering The History And Concepts Of Different Branches of Yoga

...History of Hatha Yoga: The history of hatha yoga goes back in the fifteenth century India when Yogi Swatmarama, a sage during those times, introduced it as a form of "a stairway to the heights" of Raja Yoga which is the preparatory stage of physical purification that makes the body fit for the practice of higher form of meditation. Hatha yoga is also known to be called as "hatha vidya" and the word "hatha" is a combination of the words, "ha" which means sun "tha" that means moon and they are said to refer to the prinicipal "nadis" or the energy channels of the body and must be fully operational to attain the state of "dhyana" or a certain aspect of meditation.

Some people may link that the origins of hatha yoga which dates back in the tenth or eleventh century with Goraknath, a yogin during those times. However, the oldest surviving text about hatha yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by yogin, Yogi Swatmarama. The text is said to be taken from old Sanskrit writings and personal yogin experiences of the yogin himself. The text relates about shatkarma, asana, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras among others.

Concept of Hatha yoga: The total concept of the traditional hatha yoga is a holistic yogic path comprising of moral disciplines, physical exercises, breath control, and meditation. The hatha yoga that is widely practiced and popular in the western countries mainly composed of the "asanas" or postures and other exercises.

hatha yoga is only one of the two concepts of yoga that concentrates on the physical culture and the other yoga is the Raja yoga but both of these are referred to as Ashtanga yoga. The main difference is that the Raja yoga concentrates more on the "asanas" or postures to get the body ready for a prolonged meditation that c...more

How Yoga Reduces An Individual's Stress

...stress.

Medical science has only recognized yoga's principles a few decades back. Medical professionals now have established the link between mind, body, and spirit.

The management of stress can be achieved through yoga. You will learn a great deal of things on how yoga reduces stress. All it takes is self determination and self discipline. Soon enough, you will experience a big lifestyle change and will live a happy and longer life.<...more

posted by 85793 @ 11:18 AM