Teaching Hatha Yoga: My Yoga Students Do Not Want to Meditate
... popular demand, in order to keep our Yoga studios open? Should we create a new Yoga hybrid without a soul?
There are many new and interesting ideas to develop the mind and body connection, but Yoga teachers should not be discouraged. When most of our Yoga students get a mind and body connection through asana practice, this is a small start for the evolution of Hatha Yoga in western culture.
We live in a culture of Attention Deficit Disorder, and it is difficult for people to focus and unplug from distractions. Most of our Yoga students are totally addicted to multi-tasking. Some Yoga students quietly refuse to shut their cell phones off in class. No matter how many signs you post, there will be a Yoga student who will leave his or her cell phone on, and it will ring off.
No wonder, Bhakti, Jnana, and Karma Yoga, never got a serious foot hold here. Although Yoga teachers spend time on daily meditation - a deep meditation session may not be "popular" with your students, if a lot of nervous e...more
Kriya Yoga And The Nature Of The Journey
... terms with everything around you. The aim in combining them was to "purify" the mind and soul, and proponents of kriya yoga believe they can achieve self realization more quickly this way than following the other disciplines.
Kriya Preparation
The first step in Kriya is to 'prepare' your body, and that is done in one of a couple of ways. For many, Hatha yoga is the perfect preparation exercise. For others, though, who may not be as flexible, alternatives are provided.
Next in Kriya, the mind is prepared. General conduct is studied as part of the mental process in this discipline, so ensuring your mind is correctly focused is essential. Additionally, the Kriya yoga technique pushes you to study ove...more
Teaching Hatha Yoga - Principles of Human Advancement
...When teaching Yoga classes, there are times when you have to be a "cheer leader." What do I mean by this? There are many interconnected aspects of life, and we all play a small part in them. Each student's level of success, in life, depends on constant positive reinforcement during the day.
When you see an accomplishment, do not hesitate to praise your students. This does not have to be artificial praise or flattery. A heart felt compliment is much different. Far too often, people in general, and some of our students, feel they do not deserve praise, or that they have a right to succeed in life.
Every Yoga teacher knows students...more
Yoga: Three Reasons You Should Not Do Yoga Posture - The pigeon
...e can be done comfortably by nearly everyone who has healthy knees. Moving into the preparation of this posture the simple pigeon deeply works the hips and helps to release tension in this region of the body. It requires steady balance while curving backward.
The One-Legged King pigeon posture affects the whole body as it strengthens, stretches, and tones the spinal column, stimulating the nerves around the spine.
It stretches the thighs, the muscles of the groins and hip joints, abdomen, shoulders, and the neck. It stretches the chest a...more
