focus on all the alignment adjustments for each pose while doing a flow class, but an instructor can focus on key alignment adjustments for the purpose of safety throughout the class. I stopped right in the middle of class and did some neck stretches that my chiropractor had suggested for helping my neck get back into alignment. It helped, but I dealt with that injury for weeks after that class. It was an often frustrating recovery.
That was an eye opening experience for me. Focusing more on alignment and on a more controlled and purposeful yoga can help you obtain core strengthening, increase in flexibility, and an overall strength in all your muscles. I found that by doing the pose correctly you can increase the difficulty level and you are focusing on muscles that you need to focus on. Now some might be reading this and think ' Yoga is already hard for me, I don't know if I want it harder!' Don't worry. There are props available to insure that each student practices yoga safely and at a difficulty level that is comfortable with the student. Even though this experience was not a pleasant one, I am grateful for that chance to take a look at what is most important in practicing yoga. I now have a firm understanding of what makes my studio different from other studios.
I am not one to sit still. I have a lot of energy and a desire to learn all that I can. I am currently considering different programs to receive my 500hr certificate as well as many workshops that offer specialized knowledge in different aspects of yoga. I also continue my education at home. I read many books to help me further my knowledge on my own. It is important for a teacher to continue learning. I do not think I will ever stop being a student of yoga.
The last thing I want to touch on before I sign off from my note about myself is that I am not a naturally flexible person. Every bit of flexibility I have I have had to work on it. I've enjoyed being able to see progress there, but just as anything you work hard at it is something that is a continual process. I understand people who are flexible and seem to achieve poses easily can sometimes intimidate others that are struggling. If you are someone who has to work at becoming more flexible then props will become your best friend! They are there to help you, use them! If you have no difficulty with flexibility you may not always need a prop, but sometimes may be asked to use one when I have a certain focus in a lesson that I am teaching. Props can aide you in learning an aspect about a pose at a modified level before trying it without the props. It is interesting to see how you have changed in a pose after each class.
Thank you for taking time to listen to my story. I hope to see you in my class soon. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from B.K.S. Iyengar...
"If you look after the root of the tree, the fragrance & flowering will come by itself. If you look after the body, the fragrance of the mind and spirit will come of itself."
That was an eye opening experience for me. Focusing more on alignment and on a more controlled and purposeful yoga can help you obtain core strengthening, increase in flexibility, and an overall strength in all your muscles. I found that by doing the pose correctly you can increase the difficulty level and you are focusing on muscles that you need to focus on. Now some might be reading this and think ' Yoga is already hard for me, I don't know if I want it harder!' Don't worry. There are props available to insure that each student practices yoga safely and at a difficulty level that is comfortable with the student. Even though this experience was not a pleasant one, I am grateful for that chance to take a look at what is most important in practicing yoga. I now have a firm understanding of what makes my studio different from other studios.
I am not one to sit still. I have a lot of energy and a desire to learn all that I can. I am currently considering different programs to receive my 500hr certificate as well as many workshops that offer specialized knowledge in different aspects of yoga. I also continue my education at home. I read many books to help me further my knowledge on my own. It is important for a teacher to continue learning. I do not think I will ever stop being a student of yoga.
The last thing I want to touch on before I sign off from my note about myself is that I am not a naturally flexible person. Every bit of flexibility I have I have had to work on it. I've enjoyed being able to see progress there, but just as anything you work hard at it is something that is a continual process. I understand people who are flexible and seem to achieve poses easily can sometimes intimidate others that are struggling. If you are someone who has to work at becoming more flexible then props will become your best friend! They are there to help you, use them! If you have no difficulty with flexibility you may not always need a prop, but sometimes may be asked to use one when I have a certain focus in a lesson that I am teaching. Props can aide you in learning an aspect about a pose at a modified level before trying it without the props. It is interesting to see how you have changed in a pose after each class.
Thank you for taking time to listen to my story. I hope to see you in my class soon. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from B.K.S. Iyengar...
"If you look after the root of the tree, the fragrance & flowering will come by itself. If you look after the body, the fragrance of the mind and spirit will come of itself."
Morgan
I started doing yoga after my first child was born, a little over 7 years ago. It was like love at first site. I felt so full of energy after that first class. Because I loved yoga I started thinking about teaching it to others. I wanted others to feel what I felt. My sister in-law teaches yoga and was the one to introduce it to me. It was silly of me, but one of the reasons I held back from receiving my certificate was because I did not want to feel like I was competing with her. I finally discussed this silly notation with her after she asked me why I had not become a teacher during a conversation that we were having. She told me how silly I was being and that hurdle jumped, I then enrolled in the next class at Scottsdale Community College for their 200 hr program which is approved by Yoga Alliance. This is an intense program that lasts about a year and a half. It was the best move that I have ever made. I have learned more about yoga in one semester than I had in the previous years that I had taken classes. I developed a firm understanding of what yoga means to me and what I want to bring to others. I've been using this knowledge and started teaching in October 2009.
About a year ago I received a neck injury while taking a fast paced flow class at a local studio. I was shocked! I had taken yoga for years as well as gone through the teacher training, but a lot of the classes that I had taken near my home did not focus on alignment or if they did it was very limited. I was following the instructor and not listening to my body and not taking the time to follow all the instructions that I know to do for a pose. I admit, it is hard to
About a year ago I received a neck injury while taking a fast paced flow class at a local studio. I was shocked! I had taken yoga for years as well as gone through the teacher training, but a lot of the classes that I had taken near my home did not focus on alignment or if they did it was very limited. I was following the instructor and not listening to my body and not taking the time to follow all the instructions that I know to do for a pose. I admit, it is hard to
