Sunday, 29 July 2012
Thursday, 26 July 2012
12 Qualities to be a Great Yoga Teacher
A yogi is the one who tries to implement the eight limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) into his life. Here are the few qualities inevitable for a Yoga Teacher to imbibe in order to become a great Yoga Teacher.
1. Walk the talk: teach the postures on which you have spent hours on the mat. If you try to teach something you have just read in a book without a solid understanding, the teaching doesn’t translate into students. Try to talk which you practice in your life and practice what you speak in front of your students.
2. Faith in your Practice: Have Faith on your Yoga practice. Every time you step on the mat have faith on your practice and believe that it reflects in your teaching.
3. Courage: Yoga teachers are fearless. And as a teacher you need to be. For those of us that have a fear of speaking in front of groups, being a yoga teacher puts us face-to-face with that fear but we do it anyway. Take out the fear of being watched by many eyes, talking to a group etc from your mind.
4. Be Punctual: Starting and finishing the classes in time is one of the important aspects of teaching. Never make it late to the class and of course, never cross the time limit of the class. Try to be 10 mins prior to the class and greet the students and create a friendly atmosphere for new students. Remind your students often before or after class that you are available to answer their questions.
5. Passion for learning constantly: Your practice and teaching has to evolve constantly. Read more about Yoga, its practice and philosophy. As you push yourself to the next level, your classes will get more authentic and creative. The way you teach in the first year has to be different from the next year. Constantly learn more and adapt yourself for new doors of life.
6. Smile fully: You know how it looks when someone fakes a smile? A great yoga teacher is willing to really smile and you can feel the warmth. Grow this inner glow into your mind by smiling fully, freely and often.
7. No need of Approval: Do not expect every single student to appreciate you and you class. The need of approval will put you in a place where you go on feeding your ego and it is inversely proportional to your teaching of Yoga.
8. Be Creative: Try to be creative in everything you do. Creativity can be working for non-profits, teaching children, serving people that are facing many different kinds of physical and emotional challenges and much more. You can also be creative in the expression of the sequence in the classes, the way you manage the classes, the way you offer modifications and the inspiring thoughts you share.
9. Be Flexible: Being yoga teacher is not only being flexible physically, but being flexible mentally too. Do not possess a rigid approach about how we are, who we are, how the students are. Let the students make mistakes and show the emotions. Your approach to think on their feet will drag your students closer to you.
10. Be Humble and Honest: Be ready to say “I don’t know” if you don’t know. Be humble about your knowledge and speak positively about other teachers, yoga styles which will build a positive perception towards you.
11. Make eye contacts: Convey your messages by making eye contacts during the class and even outside the class too. It leads to a deeper relationship with the students and makes them closer to you.
12. Happily dissatisfied: You do not need to be perfect. Learning is a lifetime process. Be happy with what you have. But try to improve yourself in directions, your leaning, teaching style, the presentation, the appearance etc. Be content and try to explore more ways to improve yourself.
Note!!: Yoga doesn’t end with the mat. It’s a lifestyle. Therefore always make sure that you are in the path of progress!!!
About Yogi Rakesh
Yogi Rakesh is a Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher and RYT 200 HR with Yoga Alliance. He is the founder of Samyak Yoga and Academic In-charge, which is the best destination for Yoga Teacher Training in India. He holds masters in Yoga and Spirituality, Masters and Mphil in Sanskrit, apart from his root in Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, an ancient learning center for Yogic and Vedic studies. In his yoga teaching Rakesh combines the Eastern yogic wisdom with the Western anatomical knowledge to explain how students can activate their body's own healing mechanisms.
To reach him, click here http://www.samyakyoga.in
1. Walk the talk: teach the postures on which you have spent hours on the mat. If you try to teach something you have just read in a book without a solid understanding, the teaching doesn’t translate into students. Try to talk which you practice in your life and practice what you speak in front of your students.
2. Faith in your Practice: Have Faith on your Yoga practice. Every time you step on the mat have faith on your practice and believe that it reflects in your teaching.
3. Courage: Yoga teachers are fearless. And as a teacher you need to be. For those of us that have a fear of speaking in front of groups, being a yoga teacher puts us face-to-face with that fear but we do it anyway. Take out the fear of being watched by many eyes, talking to a group etc from your mind.
4. Be Punctual: Starting and finishing the classes in time is one of the important aspects of teaching. Never make it late to the class and of course, never cross the time limit of the class. Try to be 10 mins prior to the class and greet the students and create a friendly atmosphere for new students. Remind your students often before or after class that you are available to answer their questions.
5. Passion for learning constantly: Your practice and teaching has to evolve constantly. Read more about Yoga, its practice and philosophy. As you push yourself to the next level, your classes will get more authentic and creative. The way you teach in the first year has to be different from the next year. Constantly learn more and adapt yourself for new doors of life.
6. Smile fully: You know how it looks when someone fakes a smile? A great yoga teacher is willing to really smile and you can feel the warmth. Grow this inner glow into your mind by smiling fully, freely and often.
7. No need of Approval: Do not expect every single student to appreciate you and you class. The need of approval will put you in a place where you go on feeding your ego and it is inversely proportional to your teaching of Yoga.
8. Be Creative: Try to be creative in everything you do. Creativity can be working for non-profits, teaching children, serving people that are facing many different kinds of physical and emotional challenges and much more. You can also be creative in the expression of the sequence in the classes, the way you manage the classes, the way you offer modifications and the inspiring thoughts you share.
9. Be Flexible: Being yoga teacher is not only being flexible physically, but being flexible mentally too. Do not possess a rigid approach about how we are, who we are, how the students are. Let the students make mistakes and show the emotions. Your approach to think on their feet will drag your students closer to you.
10. Be Humble and Honest: Be ready to say “I don’t know” if you don’t know. Be humble about your knowledge and speak positively about other teachers, yoga styles which will build a positive perception towards you.
11. Make eye contacts: Convey your messages by making eye contacts during the class and even outside the class too. It leads to a deeper relationship with the students and makes them closer to you.
12. Happily dissatisfied: You do not need to be perfect. Learning is a lifetime process. Be happy with what you have. But try to improve yourself in directions, your leaning, teaching style, the presentation, the appearance etc. Be content and try to explore more ways to improve yourself.
Note!!: Yoga doesn’t end with the mat. It’s a lifestyle. Therefore always make sure that you are in the path of progress!!!
About Yogi Rakesh
Yogi Rakesh is a Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher and RYT 200 HR with Yoga Alliance. He is the founder of Samyak Yoga and Academic In-charge, which is the best destination for Yoga Teacher Training in India. He holds masters in Yoga and Spirituality, Masters and Mphil in Sanskrit, apart from his root in Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, an ancient learning center for Yogic and Vedic studies. In his yoga teaching Rakesh combines the Eastern yogic wisdom with the Western anatomical knowledge to explain how students can activate their body's own healing mechanisms.
To reach him, click here http://www.samyakyoga.in
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
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