All about Yoga

Stress is actually the number one killer of humans on the planet. Stress is a factor and cause of more physical and mental diseases than most of us can imagine. If you have any disease or ailment, stress will make it worse. If you are getting “stressed out,” it may bring on an ailment or disease.

Just look at what stress does to your blood pressure and heart. Cancer patients recover better when they are dealing with less stress. There are many reasons to worry, and none of us is without worry or stress. Too much stress can also cause an abrupt withdrawal from society and result in a possible depression.

Stress overload can cause job burn out, chronic fatigue, and nervous breakdowns. All of these conditions can result in long-term effects that can “sap” a person’s life energy, focus, and motivation.

Unfortunately, stress can also be caused by the ego, too much attachment to outcome, greed, jealousy, and hate. This is mentioned within the Yoga Sutras, by Patanjali, which has remained a timeless guide to human insight. Sometimes, we create our own stress and are our own worst enemies.

So, what’s the solution? Stress management programs are one answer. Have you ever noticed how many stress management techniques look like Yoga? To be honest, if something looks and sounds like Yoga; it’s probably “Yoga in disguise.”

I do not want to take away any credit, but Yoga is a 5,000 year old health maintenance system. You could call Yoga the “mother” of all health maintenance systems. Many of today’s health maintenance systems are “off shoots” of Yoga.

Hatha Yoga teaches you to stretch and strengthen your tense muscles, breathe correctly, relax, meditate and much more. Regular Yoga practice will help you develop your focus and turn stress “on its head.” As a result of Yoga practice, you will easily be able to handle life’s daily stress.

Whether the form of Yoga you practice is holding postures for a while, or flowing from one posture to the next, your body will be relieved of stress. Hatha Yoga sub-styles such as, Restorative Yoga and Iyengar Yoga, hold the Yoga Postures a bit longer than most.

The controlled breathing, practiced while holding a posture, enables the Yoga student to release stress, and walk away from a Yoga class feeling better than he or she did before the start of the class.

On the other hand, Hatha Yoga sub-styles that flow such as, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, and Ashtanga Yoga, have more movement, but the repetition of movement will also release stress from your body.

So, which is the best style for you? Most Yoga studios and wellness centers realize that students do not all “dance to the same beat.”

These movement-based Yoga classes differ from a gentle Restorative Yoga style. Each Yoga style has its own flavor, but a prospective student should talk to a Yoga teacher prior to the particular class. This is the wisest course of action, when considering your own goals.

Yoga is not a complete cure for stress, but it does cause the opposite effects of stress. Most Yoga students do find themselves living a calmer, more relaxed, and healthier life style as a result of practicing Yoga on and off the mat. This is why so many doctors recommend Yoga to their patients.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Joseph Pilates, a German immigrant, developed the famous and highly popular Pilates exercise program, designed to get you fit without the bulky muscle of the Mr. America type. He spent many years, beginning as an adolescent, studying various body disciplines in his search for a program of exercises to promote health and fitness with a lean look and a graceful demeanor. Among the disciplines he studied was yoga, which he integrated into his method. Developed in the late 1920’s, Pilates yoga today is a well respected and wildly popular form of this ancient art and body discipline.

Although Joseph Pilates did not achieve fame in his lifetime, his work was practiced and carried on by a small group of devotees to his methods, for decades, before the recent explosion of Pilates exercise programs and Pilates yoga. Today, Pilates’ form of yoga is at the forefront of exercise and self discipline regimes. Pilates yoga is especially popular with dancers and athletes, as well as celebrities who’ve caught on to the superior benefits of Pilates’ methodology.

Pilates yoga requires an instructor to have expertise in human anatomy and movement, physiology and the principles of yoga. In order to evaluate the knowledge and integrity of the yoga instructor, several yoga organizations offer online information on choosing a qualified yoga instructor. There are even certification programs which require months or even years of study.

If you choose to pursue a Pilates oriented yoga program, you’ll want a well qualified person as your instructor. Be aware that some “certified” instructors may have as little as a day’s or one weekend’s training. In order to gain maximum benefit of a Pilates yoga class, look for a teacher with at least the minimum certification of 250 hours of training. An instructor with a 500 hour training certification will likely prove a good choice.

With the current popularity of the Pilates programs, you need to be careful in choosing an instructor, as certification programs are not standardized and vary widely in both standards and depth of training a certification may represent. So how do you make an intelligent assessment of your Pilates yoga instructor?

The Pilates Method Alliance (pilates method alliance on the web) has a database allowing you to search for qualified Pilates instructors in your locale. In addition, they give you a run down on the profile and standards of a qualified instructor, as well as tips on interviewing your potential instructor.

Another resource is the non-profit Yoga Alliance group (yoga alliance on the web), dedicated to serving the yoga community with resources and their own searchable database of Pilates yoga instructors meeting their strict standards of qualifications.

If the Pilates yoga program holds an appeal for you, invest a little time in finding the right instructor and you’ll soon be on your way to that fit, lean body you always wanted.

You may be one of the many people who have heard about the benefits of Pilates excercise, but just really don’t know what it’s all about. If that describes you then this article will help you better understand this fantastic exercise program.

The Pilates Method was developed by German-born Joseph Pilates in the 1920s by combining mind and body work through a controlled sequence of movement. Joseph Pilates developed these movements based on his experiences with yoga, Zen meditation, martial arts, and other fitness techniques. Many dancers soon became avid practitioners and displayed the benefits of Pilates’ method through their fluid movements. Regular practice and mastery of the technique stretches, strengthens, and tones muscle, improves posture, flexibility, and balance, and unites mind and body. Almost nine decades later, the benefits of Pilates continue to be recognized by people who want to take a more controlled low-impact approach to fitness.

The benefits of Pilates are many, and through continued patience and dedication, movements can be mastered and the benefits clearly defined. In addition to the benefits of Pilates mentioned above, regular practice of the method builds a strong, long, and lean body core using deep abdominal muscles. Pilates movements also reduce stress and tension, increase energy, improve circulation and range of motion, and strengthen the spine improving flexibility, which promotes back health and recovery from injury.

The benefits of Pilates matwork emphasizes the point that the body is the only tool needed to achieve physical fitness. There really is not need to exercise full speed ahead and possibly cause injury to your body. The old adage, “no pain no gain” is simply not true. A good work out does not have to leave you exhausted and sore. That will only leave you feeling like quitting. No one wants to feel like they can’t walk the day after working out.

The benefits of Pilates was again resurrected with a resurge in popularity along side yoga, tae chi, meditation, and turning the focus toward safer and more sensible forms of exercise and total body fitness. Joseph Pilates said, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” This is another example of the benefits of Pilates; mental and spiritual health gained through controlled mind/body movements that increase blood flow and improve circulation throughout the body. The entire body functions better with regular exercise; endorphins are released that improve out mood and outlook on life.

Pilates is not just a passing fad, it has been proven to be effective and beneficial to people of all ages. Joseph Pilates also said, “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, and in thirty you’ll have a whole new body.” I can attest that you will start feeling more toned after only three sessions, so go ahead and experience the benefits of Pilates for yourself!

Donna and I began attending yoga class about eight years ago, largely due to health concerns. Doctors wanted her to have surgery on her spine to correct a troubling stress injury. The prospect of surgery scared us enough that we were soon looking for every alternative we could find.

We became regulars at a chiropractor’s office, one who specialized in the treatment of athletic injuries, though Donna’s injury was more work related. He recommended regular massage, so we found a gifted massage therapist. We often drove to an acupuncture school where we learned the basics of Chinese medicine, and she found a little relief there. All these treatments served to strengthen her muscles and joints, and relieve stress.

We heard about a weekly restorative yoga class at a nearby church. My doctor encouraged me also to take better care of myself, to get regular exercise, and because I was driving anyway, I joined Donna for the class, discovering quickly that my body liked this restorative pampering and relaxation. The yoga style we first learned was called Svaroopa, and I remember using lots of props: cushions, blocks and straps (bondage?) to hold certain poses, allowing us to surrender more deeply into them.

A few months later, we decided to relocate to shorten our commute, giving us more time to get our domestic things in order, and just plain have a life outside the rush hour traffic congestion. After our move, we re-thought our health care, finding a new chiropractor just a couple blocks away, complete with an acupuncturist and massage therapists regularly using his extra office space.

Turns out our new chiropractor has treated many yoga instructors and students for years. He recommended an instructor who herself began practicing yoga years before, because of a horse riding injury.

We began enjoying her classes at a new studio for us, learning more about yoga as a healing practice for our bodies and minds – and also – very important – how to take care of yourself in class.

If a teacher doesn’t offer alternative postures, or suggest backing out of uncomfortable positions, or encourage you to honor your body’s abilities, then you’re on your own, you need to do these things for yourself.

It’s very easy to want to please a yoga teacher in a yoga class, in part because they create a safe place to learn outside your comfort zone, to stretch your limits, doing so in a compassionate and forgiving way. And the safe place is central to learning the practice, a learning that takes years. We have so few truly non-judgmental spaces in our cities and towns, that this freedom at the yoga studio – to just be – is refreshing, an oasis and balm to the endless hustle and stress outside.

We soon found our two weekly basic Iyengar classes with Lori were making a significant, if gradual, improvement in Donna’s strength and range of motion, and in my own flexibility and sense of well being as well. The Iyengar approach, as taught by Lori, was the perfect transition from the purely restorative to a more active style for us, with the easy flow between postures serving to get us moving more comfortably and breathing more deeply in the classes.

I got some razzing from my brothers about turning myself into pretzels and getting all new age-y around them, as was to be expected. But when I noticed them complaining about the inevitable aches and pains of aging, I was able to offer a couple exercises like the cat-cow and variations on long deep breathing. They felt some immediate effect, and soon backed off from their initial skepticism.

It was during this time that I came up with the idea of 60% Yoga. In this approach, it didn’t matter what style of yoga was being taught, only that the teacher encouraged each student to think of the experience as their own personalized class. Each student is always responsible for taking care of themselves, backing out of uncomfortable poses, checking in with the teacher whenever they need any kind of help.

The 60% figure is the result of two self scores. You get 50% just for showing up, starting with a credit rather than a deficit. And you’re required to attempt only 10% of what the teacher is suggesting, thus 60% total. The showing up is key, and 10% is never too much to ask, the threshold always providing an easy permission to begin as modestly and gently as you wish.

It’s important to understand that a yoga practice is about showing up, becoming more present in your body, in your interactions with others, in your better estimations of yourself. If you begin with 10% and hold that as a baseline, then the time will come when you’ll naturally adjust what that 10% means for you. Each class truly becomes YOUR class.

I am an often lazy yogi. We’ve been at this still new practice for over eight years now. Donna has almost 100% range of motion back, and much less pain. We’ve taken up dance classes for a couple seasons (something that never could have happened without the yoga) and have several new projects we’re looking to immerse ourselves in,even entering a new graduate school course of study.

When we found ourselves in yoga teacher training a year ago, along with an enviably younger and truly enthusiastic group, my 60% yoga idea required some explanation, so I refined it, just as I was exploring a new style for me, kundalini yoga.

Kundalini is not quite as approachable with the 10% criterion to begin, as it’s designed to engage your whole self, keeping you so busy, inwardly and outwardly, that there’s little room to think. But I do allow myself as a new student again to take time in the breathing and movements, some days giving it more like 95%, but always respecting the journey I’ve taken, keeping the 60% Yoga as a kind of beginner’s touchstone, one that carries great value for the skeptical and still reluctant parts of me.

I’m grateful for how far I’ve come with these varieties of yoga, especially since this physical yoga experience was nowhere on my radar of possibility until Donna’s injury.

We’re both much healthier now, with reasonable strength, endurance, even a few decent dance moves, and great yoga friends, some of whom started as we did, with very little interest beyond feeling better or tagging along with a spouse, without much more than a 10% capacity to begin. Some exercises and poses are still uncomfortable, but I have my own inner permission to back off and take a pass when that suits me. I do find it interesting how some poses that were beyond me at the beginning are now a piece of cake – tree pose for instance. I could not for the life of me maintain any consistent balance on one leg, and now I hold myself still as long as I wish. My 10% became 11%, then more, until it all became easier as I kept showing up – at class, in the poses, in the breathing, in my life. And the idea of surgery for Donna was laid aside a long time ago. There are far better choices, and yoga offers some surprising new ways of thinking and being, in addition to the health benefits over time. A great yoga instructor is worth going out of your way for. Find someone you can trust, and your life will change – for the better.

Anyone who cares about their health often focuses on keeping his or her body in peak condition. Who considers the health of the mind? A psychiatrist or a psychologist is concerned with behavior, and mental health, but how can Yoga help you?

We have all heard Yoga is a good “mind and body exercise,” but how does a Yoga student exercise his or her mind through Yoga practice. How can Yoga help you develop mental strength? Let’s look at one of the many styles of Yoga, to find answers, and acquire optimum mental health.

Jnana Yoga is the union of mind, body, and spirit, through acquired knowledge. It is true that reading will make your mind sharp, but what do Jnana Yogis read? Traditionally, Jnana Yogis read Hindu scriptures to expand their knowledge.

Yoga has been around for thousands of years. The Brahmin caste would have had more access to Yogic philosophy, and the scriptures (Vedas), than the average person, at that time.

This same parallel can be made to any holy man of any religion. Access to written knowledge, books, and Holy Scriptures was not common place, in any religion, hundreds of years ago. There was a time when the average person was forbidden to have a copy of the Bible. The early Bibles were very big, expensive to produce, and not meant for the public to interpret. Whether we like it, or not, this is a part of history.

Now, let’s fast forward to the 21st century. Millions of new computer users are accessing the Internet every year. So, how is it that more people, than ever, are disconnected from their mind, body, and spirit? We have attention disorders, multi-tasking, and many distractions to keep us far from tranquility.

Even in a Yoga class, you may hear a cell phone go off – despite the fact there are rules and a sign on the entrance of most Yoga studios. The sign might read, “Turn your cell phone off,” but people do not see it, even if it is right under their nose. Why?

Unfortunately, people do not read or pursue vital information. Cable television has hundreds of channels and the Internet has millions of sites. Do you really think the masses are trying to expand their minds by reading?

Jnana Yoga practice, and regular meditation, raises the “Level of Consciousness.” Yet it seems that prosperity seems to breed poor mental and physical health. When given the choice, children would rather play video games than watch the History Channel. Therefore, many adults must be getting in touch with their “inner child.”

Now, let’s come full circle. Entertainment is a wonderful thing, but we should be deliberate in our efforts to challenge our minds. Creativity cannot be found in games that are programmed or in viewing stories where you can easily guess the ending.

Your mind must be challenged on a daily basis by reading good quality writing and watching entertainment that is true art. The modern Jnana Yoga practitioner has much more access to education, information, art, and entertainment. However, he or she must be much more selective than ever before.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

funny clip – a yoga guy fights 2 kungfu-fighters from the movie “KungFu vs. Yoga” ( www.rottentomatoes.com )

If you practice Pilates and you are ready to try other Pilates equipment, read on for the various purposes these equipment serve.

1) The Cadillac

The Cadillac is one of the most commonly used types of these Pilates machines. You can usually find the Cadillac at any of your local fitness stores. This Pilates apparatus uses that of variable-length and gauge springs to lengthen and strengthen a person’s muscles all at the same time and to improve that of joint flexibility and range of motion.

2) The aero Pilates treadmill is one of the best and perhaps the most versatile type of treadmill which will enable you to carry out some 50 plus Pilates exercises effortlessly.

There are many reasons that make the aero Pilates machine exceptional:

(i) it has padded jump-board which is easy on the joints when practicing the exercises,

(ii) the machine is created to stay about 10 inches off the floor which helps in the performances of advanced Pilate exercises,

(iii) it offers a total and highly efficient cardio-vascular workout,

(iv) it has four levels of elastic chords for four different levels of workout, and

(v) it supports 50 Pilates exercises which can tone, strengthen and shape every muscle in the body.

The aero Pilates also has an extremely strong stainless steel body, with adjustable headset. The machine has also extra shoulder pads installed.

3) The Pilates studio reformer is the first choice of professionals since 1976. It provides the smoothest and quietest ride of other similar product on the market. The Pilates reformer should be comfortable and have good craftsmanship with every edge being sculpted and smooth. In addition, it is also possible to design one’s own reformer by choosing from the many innovative footbar and springbar systems that are easily adjustable and which also very much reduces the interruptions to a workout.

4) There is other Pilates equipment such as the Pilates trapeze tables, half trapezes and towers which provide the best in spring-assisted, integrated Pilates workouts. There are many different exercises that can be performed on these Pilates trapeze tables and there is even the Five-in-one exercise system called the Allegro Tower and Reformer which includes two mat stations, a Half Trapeze and the integrated Tower and moving carriage system.

The Allegro Tower of Power features consist of the expandable 5-in-one exercise system that enables the exerciser to start with the Allegro Reformer and may also include the Tower, if so required. It also retrofits any Allegro and the simple mat conversion enables the exerciser to move the carriage to the head of the machine and also drop in the mat.

5) The Pilates chair is another Pilates equipment which is the most ideal for space-saving Pilates. It also has with wheels that enable easy movement. These Pilates chair has been intended to allow stretching and strengthening of the muscle groups that cannot be easily accessed by conventional training and equipment. The Pilates chair has evolved from the Wunda Chair system with the padded split step giving extra dimension of rotational and reciprocal movement of the extremities. It is also most suited for use at the end of a Trapeze table.

Where Do You Go To Own A Pilates Equipment

If you are wondering as to where you can go to find a Pilates equipment, you should be able to find all the different machines at your local fitness store or gym, and if you know a place that caters exclusively to the matter of Pilates, then you should check there first.

Alternatively you could go to a fitness center and ask one of the fitness professionals there where you can go to purchase the Pilates equipment. In addition, you should not have to pay an insanely high price for one of these machines, as you can also find them at discounted prices from companies that are selling them wholesale.

However, you should also be aware that it can be dangerous to buy a device that is used. It is more advisable to spend a bit of extra money to get a brand new one as opposed to risking your health by purchasing a used one.

The first choice before beginning any research is of course to look it up on the internet. Find a reliable website for your information and you should be prepared to ask any questions before owning a Pilates equipment.

At one time, Pilates was a specialized form of exercise limited to a handful of professional practitioners. In recent times, Pilates has become one of the biggest exercise fads in America. Almost every town and city across this great country has a professional Pilates studio, staffed by certified instructors. Pilates, however, is not just another passing fad. Pilates is here to stay.

Practitioners of Pilates can experience countless benefits including improved posture, flexibility, and balance. This presents a remarkable opportunity for an aging population to perform a series of exercises that are both safe and effective. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the stretching and strengthening of core muscles through the practice of Pilates is an effective strategy for combating the effects of aging.

Aside from the benefits noted above, Pilates can also help with relief from stress and mental tension. It can also have a direct impact on maintaining strength and range of motion, both of which are especially important for our aging populace. Studies have shown that Pilates can also provide relief from back pain and other physical injuries, which are often a primary cause of pain and discomfort.

The wonderful thing about Pilates, and the reason it is so effective for people getting on in age, is that it is a highly effective form of soft exercise. Pilates can be performed at a pace dictated by the strength and stamina of the individual. It is not goal driven, in the way that traditional weight training or body building is. With Pilates, the effectiveness of the exercise is determined by the overall impact on the health of the practitioner. Pilates is all about achieving long term, tangible results.

The key to the effective practice of Pilates is to make the connection between mind and body. Concentration plays a significant role in Pilates. One of the core principles of Pilates is to establish control of the body through discipline and focused thought. Much like Yoga, controlled breathing plays a pivotal role in achieving results in Pilates. Pilates teaches a form of breathing called Lateral Breathing. This is performed by inhaling deeply through one’s nose, and allowing the inhaled air to expand one’s ribcage. This form of breathing is also called Thoracic Breathing.

Pilates is a highly effective approach to maintaining health and vitality, regardless of one’s age or stage in life. While the practice of Pilates is beneficial for many people, it is especially important for our aging population. Aging individuals often lose control of their coordination and muscles, and this can lead to a sense of frustration and mental anguish for people that have grown accustomed to their sense of independence. Pilates can provide people with the tools and techniques they need to age with dignity and a sense of well being. Pilates isn’t for everyone, but it could be ideal for you.

Yoga Practice – Combating Middle Age Bulge

Yoga aims “to unite”. Basically, an exercise in ethical and mental development of poses and practices that concentrates towards balancing your body, mind and spirit to attain a state of unity. Thus, it is an integrated system for the benefit of the body, mind and spirit.

A regular yoga practice means practicing yoga as a minimum of 30 minutes one time a week around four or more years. Yoga practice can assist those who are middle aged and lose weight.

Yoga practice of asanas, breathing exercises and meditation can relieve from miscellaneous diseases such as diabetes, digestive disorders, blood pressure, varicose veins, arteriosclerosis, chronic weaknesses, arthritis, asthma, and heart conditions and many more.

Thus, yoga acts as a healing and preventive therapy. The importance of yoga lies in achieving mental peace, improved concentration, and relaxation. A yoga practice can help to become more aware of the interconnectedness among our mental, emotional, and physical levels.

Regular yoga practice can help in weight management. Yoga exercises are not enough to lose weight. However, yoga makes you more aware of your body. It aids you to act in response to your body sayings. When you are more responsive to your body, then you can simply make out the fact that you are complete.

Thus, you will be more attuned to what your body wants to tell you and provides you the willpower and self-control to reside from the unhealthy food you crave.

Body awareness is a big factor in the practice of yoga. It can be attained through meditation. Yoga practice help you to pay attention to your body, focus on your body, blocking out outer sights and sounds.

You grow up habituated to a little discomfort while working on the postures and that in turn, helps you to fight the discomfort you feel when you crave unhealthy food. It can permit your body to eliminate the junk food and receive the food that’s good and healthy for your body.

Yoga practice for beginners

So, here are some of the tips for those who would like to follow a regular yoga practice for weight maintenance or weight loss.

* Practicing yoga sitting in a comfortable place without mirrors helps you to focus on what is happening inside of you rather than the way you perform your yoga postures.

* As you are practicing yoga, it is better learn to feel sensations even the subtlest of movements in order that you become more involved and curious about these micro-movements.

* Whenever you practice your poses better find a position where you are challenged but do not allow yourself physically become overwhelmed. Whenever you approach at this edge between challenges and overwhelmed, try to practice with a clear, open and accepting state of mind.

* Go easy on yourself; when you feel overworked then give yourself consent to rest.

* Self-talk is very important while practicing yoga. Make sure to pass good comments to yourself, praising your inner self with your efforts and your goodness on the whole.

* It is good if you belong to a yoga class, go to the class regularly, faithfully and talk to people before your class begins. Try to make yourself to be open to those around you in the class.

* It will be better to get your own mat to class because you will find that it is more comfortable when you use the mat that you are familiar with.

* Search for a yoga instructor who instructs you with a balance of determination and gentleness and inspires you to rise to a higher level.

* Remember that just by going to the class, you are making a statement that you are taking care of yourself and developing the courage to make the changes in your life, which makes you to inspire others as you reach your deepest dream.

* The development of qualities like patience, kindness, wisdom, discipline, and gratitude originate from your regular yoga practice. Yoga helps you produce a calm and gentle mind.

* Challenging and rewarding and help with weight loss and control can get from regular yoga practice. Control your cravings and allow your body to wish for a healthy food and learning self-control, is the secret to your weight control yoga routine.

If you are a Yoga teacher, or thinking about becoming a Yoga teacher, the concepts contained within this series will save you money and, potentially, earn you a lot more money. How much money you want to earn as a Yoga teacher, is up to you. If you are willing to put in your time, marketing your Yoga teaching skills, the sky is the limit. None of us has to teach Yoga; we choose to teach Yoga because we love it and know the many rewards of steady Yoga practice.

That is why I pass on Yoga Business and Marketing information to my Yoga teacher interns, friends, peers, Yoga coaching clients, and competitors. Many great Yoga teachers are guilty of unwise business decisions, and desperately scratch out a living, without the proper business skills.

Speaking of Yoga business competitors, you would be better off to network with other local Yoga teachers. Some of the neighboring Yoga studios, in Providence, RI, refer prospective Yoga students to me, and I do the same for them. You can’t fill every Yoga niche and do you want to really try? Even McDonald’s has a limit on the menu and we can all learn from this. Better to do one or a few things very well, than do nothing well at all.

“Yoga Business” – Is this an Oxymoron, a Conflict of Interest, or Blasphemy? Do you feel guilty taking a Yoga students’ money? Why should you? What do your Yoga students expect you to live on? Would you feel bad paying for scuba lessons, skiing instruction, golf instruction, or a day with a fishing guide?

Of course not – because these instructors put in the time, practicing a skill, and are worth the money you pay them. If you have Yoga students who do not appreciate your skills in the same way – refuse to teach Yoga to them. You put in 200 or 500 hours of Yoga teacher training, worked on refining each aspect of teaching Yoga, and invested years of training as a Yoga student before that.

Yoga instructors deserve to be paid well. Continuing education courses for Yoga teachers, Yoga retreats, workshops, Yoga teacher seminars, books, Yoga correspondence courses for instructors, and Yoga videos are rarely free. If you join a local Yoga teacher association, or decide to become a registered Yoga teacher, that’s not free either.

So, where does all this guilt about taking money for your Yoga teaching services come from? It comes from being a “giver.” Yoga teachers are some of the biggest givers I have ever met. Which is nice, and restores my faith in humanity, but Yoga teachers are also supposed to be a living example of quality life. You cannot support your family, pay your rent, eat properly, or receive medical care by teaching Yoga for free.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications