Within Yoga practice is a secret, which should be easy enough for the public to grasp. Meditation and visualization could advance all of human kind. The power of visualization is enough by itself, but meditation teaches us to focus on one thought at a time. This is such a challenge, that most of the public would rather practice Yoga postures, and forget about meditation. If you have practiced Yoga for one session, you realize that Yoga postures are much easier to focus on than it is to control your mind. Many people feel very uncomfortable trying to harness their minds. No wonder the ancient Yogis compare the mind to a monkey. The mind is restless and resists the concept of self-mastery.
In Yoga practice, you are taught to listen and observe. Within a Yoga class, self-observation is addressed frequently. Pranayama and meditation require that you first, listen to the world from within - then you can better understand the world outside your body. To observe the world, you must listen carefully. When meeting others, one key to remember is that people love to talk about themselves. If you want to diffuse a situation, ask a person to explain his or her viewpoint, and just listen.
Brahmacharya: The fourth Yama brings to mind words like chastity, celibacy, or abstinence. Consider this Yama to refer to restraining sensual or sexual pleasure; but also consider moderation as a key element. Moderation is a key to quality life. To deprive the senses, tends to create frustrated people. How many of us have seen someone enter into a diet, and make everyone else miserable? The person who lives on a “lettuce diet,” out of necessity, has a right to be frustrated. However, if it is a diet of choice, then this person could apply a little spice, other vegetables, whole grains, herbs, legumes, and any anything else it takes to live a quality life.
“Time flies, when your having fun,” but does aging sometimes make you feel sad or slightly depressed? Yoga classes have given students a new appreciation of life. The realization that the “clock is ticking;” appears to be a path of physical and mental limitations for some of us. As we age, will we be less mobile, less wise, or a bit slow on our feet. Let’s discuss why; as you continue to practice Yoga, you will age gracefully and happily. How many times has your Yoga teacher told you to be present for practice or to “live in the moment?” Yoga teaches us to live right now as if it was our last day on earth.
Could Yoga have all the answers to anxiety? Why is it that anxiety, stress, and unhappiness take over so many people’s lives? If you listen to a “doubting Thomas,” nothing works, but if you read below, you will see some solutions. In fact, all forms of Yoga are good for our mental health. This does not mean that anxiety will disappear, but Yoga gives us the tools to put anxiety in the “back seat,” while we determine a positive direction in life. The struggle for direction is within our minds. We must be aware of the struggle from within.
What separates successful Yoga teachers from the rest? Yoga studios and ashrams are founded on a core of students who keep coming back to classes. We often refer to this as “student retention.” Let’s look at some methods to keep your students coming back for more Yoga classes. Learn new techniques and integrate them into your Yoga classes. Many Yoga teachers think about changing asana sequencing to spice up their classes. You should also teach your students more Pranayama and meditation techniques. The eight limbs of Yoga, described by Patanjali, should all be covered in your classes, so that your students are familiar with the many aspects of Yoga. |