One facet, sadly that one sees often are the “quick certification” courses offered to being an instructor, be wary of any such course. This is one of the problems with yoga teacher training today. The sad thing is these teachers end up paying all over again for a proper course as they realize later that they been taught only the basic few asanas .A good yoga teacher training course should cover not just the Yoga aspect of it but also special sections like teaching the physically challenged like the aged or children and natal groups, in addition to teaching you detailed Anatomy and meditation etc
Yoga Teacher Education
The fact is, Yoga is much more than an exercise program. Yoga is the most complete health maintenance system known to mankind, with a lineage of thousands of years. Unfortunately, a lot of yoga teacher training courses are often trained to teach Yoga as an exercise program by learning a dozen or two dozen asanas, and not much beyond this. IN a good yoga teacher training course , the whole health needs to be addressed of body and mind.
On-site training is not cheap and can vary from the low $2000.00 range to very expensive. A typical yoga teacher training may well cost you $6000 when you consider the travel, lodging and all other exenses involved.00 or more at a credited asharam or institute.
Yoga Teacher Correspondence Courses
On the other hand, Yoga teacher correspondence courses are much more reasonable, but be vary of short courses. A 50 hour course is just not enough time for anyone to safely learn a good yoga teacher training course. Once again, you should research the syllabus and get a complete Yoga teacher training course like a grade I or grade II
If you are considering a Yoga teacher training correspondence course, you should have sufficient knowledge of Yoga. While you are at it, make sure that you are calling a Yoga teacher training center and not a “diploma house.” If they certify everything from cake icing diplomas to plumbing, do you really think they would specialize in yoga and its vast teachings?
Most importantly, once you have received the study material, there will undoubtedly be questions, concerns, or need for further assistance, via email, or telephone, from the intern who has purchased the Yoga teacher course. Make sure you get answers if you are “stuck” during your Yoga teacher internship.
Check the options available here and study the various types of certifications on offer.
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Yoga teacher training is one of the best forms of having a career, in a field that you have a passion and belief for. There are of course the added benefits of yoga teacher training, like ones own health being maintained, apart from the financial benefits.
We are currently going through a touch time financially and this are trying times hence taking on the course of Yoga Teacher Training is a good way to add to your income. But this is a career that needs a total commitment and more than that , a belief in this way of life , and the benefits that yoga adds to ones life.
Before taking on a Yoga Teacher Training course one should ask oneself a few questions.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE BECOMING A YOGA TEACHER
Heres some things that you should check, look into before going down this career path….
1. do you, yourself actively follow a yoga program
2. do you consciously look into improving your own health and well being with regular practice of yoga and its beliefs.
3. to follow the path of yoga teacher training, you should yourself set a high standard for healthy living, and be a good example of a person living a healthy lifestyle , and avoiding substance abuse etc.
4. Commitment to a Personal Yoga Practice and a Personal Physical Conditioning Program
5. If you already have done a basic course in yoga teacher training , and are looking to go up to the next level, ask yourself if you have enjoyed the earlier classes you have given , your commitment to them & your students , and if you would like to continue down this career path.
STARTING ON THE PREPERATIONS FOR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
If you feel that you fulfill the above criteria, and would like to proceed with this career path, then there are some things that you should look into.
1. if you are looking to do an advanced course , beyond level one , then study the different types of yoga genres that you would like to teach/ qualify in—e.g. bhakti yoga, hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, iyengar yoga etc.
2.Look out for the courses that are available in the market. In today’s date there are a variety of choices in the mediums that you can do your course in- like the internet, or teaching DVD/CD etc or books.
Apart from attending physical classes of yoga teacher training, you also have a wide variety of choices in e-yoga classes on the internet, and long distance home study yoga teacher training courses that you can do.
3.Its always a good thing to study the opinions and feed backs from other users that have used the site for yoga teacher training. This kind of feedback is valuable in choosing a correct course.
4.Make sure that the course for yoga teacher training is certifited by recognized institutions.g. National Yoga Alliance or other such recognized yoga bodies.
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Peaceful, serene, strong, relaxed, pure — this is how you will feel after participating in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. This ancient method is based around the idea of “flow” and connected movements. Like most forms of yoga, it’s not just a series of “stretches” or exercises — but rather, a combination of philosophy, moral code, meditation and healthy habits. Muscle definition or flexibility may attract athletes to a yoga center, but for others it’s that spiritual yoga meditation that entices — resulting in a calmer mind, improved circulation and more energy.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga was first brought to the Western world by the teachings of Patanjali Maharishi, a sage from Mysore India. He spoke about the significance of reaching internal purification and reconnecting with the “Universal Soul” through eight principles: moral codes, self-purification and study, posture, breath control, sense control, concentration, meditation and contemplation. He believed that each step built upon one another, much in the same way each posture (or “asana”) builds upon the next.
In the beginning of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a yoga instructor will help students master “external cleansing practices.” They learn about morality and study, while practicing specific postures and breathing. Instructors help beginners find the correct positions and inspire students to live a just and moral existence. Next, after days of mastering the proper poses and gaining strength, students will learn to control their minds. Through posture, breathing and focusing, the practice purifies the body, nervous system and mind over time.
In practice, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga involves six specific postures (otherwise known as “asanas”) that are always completed in the same order. In the opening asana, there are ten standing “Sun Salutations” or “The Primary Series,” which is intended to align and detoxify the body. The “Intermediate Series” works on the nervous system by opening and clearing internal energy pathways. “The Advanced Series A, B, C and D” helps students achieve maximum flexibility, strength, definition and humility. Teachers emphasize the mastering of each level before moving on, with special focus and attention given to each step of progress.
The ujjayi (meaning “victorious breath”) method of exhaling and inhaling, combined with the fluid, dynamic asanas, heats the blood and generates a detoxifying sweat, or what is known as “internal cleansing.” Advanced methods of breathing techniques (bandhas) teach students how to “lock” or “seal” energy and redirect it to one of the 72,000 energy channels within the body. To obtain maximum benefit from the asanas, learning to lock in positive energy is crucial. Nine different focus points seek to purify and stabilize the mind, facilitating concentration.
The spiritual and physical impact has roughly 16.5 million Americans practicing their “sun salutations” and “downward dogs” at their local yoga studio. You needn’t go to Mysore India to learn. Yoga.com can give you a listing of classes near you. Whether you’re looking for relaxation and spirituality or muscle-definition and a rigorous workout, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a great match.
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