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By Jenny Park Every teacher has his or her special mat. One of the many benefits of practicing yoga training is that practitioners need few pieces of equipment. While some classes may use props, the most basic piece of equipment in a yoga class is the mat. Lightweight and small, mats afford a yoga student the luxury to practice pretty much anywhere.

By Faye Martins What is pet yoga all about? According to a 2004 BBC article, New York City-based yoga teacher Suzi Teitelman invented doggie yoga, or "doga" as it's sometimes called. As an instructor for the fitness chain Crunch, she had an inspiration and decided to include her cocker spaniel in the class, since he frequently joined her on the mat during her home practice and "Ruff Yoga" was born. Since then, a flood of doga classes have emerged across the United States. There's even a book, called "Doga: Yoga For Dogs," by Jennifer Brilliant and William Berloni.

By Faye Martins Considering the many physical styles of Yoga, not to mention the diverse philosophies considering its practice, it is little wonder that there is controversy over the use of props. According to some purists, ancient Yogis never used props, and neither should modern ones. While opinions vary, mats are props and most Yoga instructors agree that props can be helpful. After all, most western contemporary Yoga enthusiasts do not spend long hours practicing in ashrams, these days. How many modern Yoga students would like to go back to the past and practice Yoga in dirt, mud or on grass?

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Can Yoga improve the lives of active seniors? An active lifestyle is one of the keys to a long life. In our elder years, it is important to keep moving in order to enjoy the wonderful essence of life. Yoga is a fantastic activity for seniors, as it is low impact, promotes overall wellness, and can be modified to suit the mobility of any practitioner. If you have been practicing Yoga for many years, you will see your youth extended, and your ability to practice is mildly affected as you age. Even if you are well into your senior years, and have never stepped foot on Yoga mat, it is never too late to start a healthy habit (though it is important to follow your body's own pace).

If you practice yoga to keep fit, you'll know that it is important to feel comfortable. If you don't, it can impact on your enjoyment and may eventually cause you to skip classes or give up altogether. In addition, when you are uncomfortable it interferes with your concentration, and this is essential to get the best out of yoga and many other kinds of exercise.

If you practice yoga to keep fit, you'll know that it is important to feel comfortable. If you don't, it can impact on your enjoyment and may eventually cause you to skip classes or give up altogether. In addition, when you are uncomfortable it interferes with your concentration, and this is essential to get the best out of yoga and many other kinds of exercise.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 We often talk about the benefits of Yoga we enjoy in our daily life "off the mat." However, there are also plenty of Yoga techniques we can do off the mat to make sure our practice improves! Here are some easy to incorporate exercises that will help deepen your daily Yoga practice.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed It is not uncommon for many Yoga practitioners to put on a few extra pounds during the winter season. If this is the case for you, practicing a vigorous, flowing series of Yoga postures, that includes a series of core strengthening poses, will help you to maintain a healthy weight and a strong core. Strong core abdominal muscles are very important for stabilizing the entire body, including the lower back. When the abdominal muscles are weak, the lower back is much more vulnerable to strain and injury, both on and off the Yoga mat.

By Gopi Rao Becoming a yoga teacher - for many people, it's the positive achievement that comes after years of practice, hundreds of hours spent in intensive teacher training, and buckets of sweat and tears spilled on yoga mats. It's the final culmination of hard work, something to celebrate and cherish. However, many teachers run into unexpected problems, as they become a popular yoga teacher in their community. These problems can lead to instructor burnout, stress, and even depression. Watch out for these issues many popular yoga teachers struggle with so that you can be prepared in the event they arise in your own teaching experiences.

By Shahid Mishra Yoga props are a helpful and useful way to introduce beginners to yoga and allow them to hold the correct pose without an excess of difficulty. A prop is anything that is used to aid in the practice of posturing. Some of the more common props are mats, blankets, yoga bolsters (shaped pillows), belts, chairs and sanded wooden blocks.

Clearly, a balanced practice of Yoga postures, breathing exercises and contemplative techniques lends itself quite easily to improving one's physical capabilities and mental outlook on life. By weaving some of the timeless wisdom of Yoga into your classes, you will further support your students in applying the wisdom of the ancient scriptures to their practice and to their lives off the mat. Furthermore, if you teach your Yoga classes in a disciplined manner, with a higher goal in mind, your students will pick up on how you approach your own professional role as their teacher, and they will quite naturally apply the same dedication to their own practice.

By Narendra Maheshri Why should we be concerned with safety tips? Yoga is good for the body. There are many aspects of practice, but posture (asana) is most commonly learned first in modern classes. Additionally, asana practice is also good for one's emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being. You can take yoga with you anywhere you go and roll it out like a yoga mat. It will contribute to giving you abundant energy and healthy sleep cycles.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed. How can you start teaching Yoga by example? One of the most transformational aspects of Yoga "on the mat," is how this practice transforms our lives "off the mat." As a professional teacher, you are probably well aware of how your own practice of asanas, pranayama exercises and breathing techniques has transformed your own life. This may have been one of your main reasons for pursuing a teacher certification, so that you are able to share the profound physical and psychological benefits of this practice with others in your community.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed. What is the link between discipline and teaching Yoga? As a professional Yoga teacher, you have a great deal of opportunity to truly influence your students in the way that they move both on and off the mat. Of course, while you are leading a class, your students will practice the asanas according to your guidance. However, what is often overlooked is the impact that you can have on your students, both verbally and nonverbally, through the way that you approach challenges in your classes. Just as a child takes cues from his or her parents about the appropriate steps needed to address problematic situations in their lives, your students will also take cues from you about how to approach obstacles and challenges both on and off the mat, as their practice unfolds and deepens.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed Do you want more tips about how to teach Yoga by example? Like most dedicated teachers, you continually strive to make progress in your practice. Most likely, this drive to succeed comes into play in your life, both on and off the mat. As a professional Yoga instructor, you may find that many of your students will emulate your way of approaching the practice in the way that they, themselves, approach their own practice. In addition, many of your students will also model your psychological approach to difficult poses and other personal challenges that arise during class, in their daily interactions off the mat.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed If you are teaching a number of Yoga classes on a regular basis to a diversity of students, you probably notice that many of your students are just as stressed about "getting a good workout in" and practicing as many challenging postures as possible during class, just as they are about accomplishing as much as possible "off the mat" in their daily lives! This level of frenetic activity can undermine the more grounding and replenishing aspects of a well-rounded Yoga class.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How serious should teachers be about student safety precautions? Yoga is considered healing for injuries, but that does not mean the potential for damage does not exist. Accidents and injuries are possible in every Yoga class, and instructors must be aware and take steps to minimize these problems. Beginner classes are especially fraught with potential for injury: Students unfamiliar with any particular movement have the potential to push themselves too far, fall from an unstable position, or try to compete with the practitioner on the next mat.

By Faye Martins There are challenges of teaching kids inherent in many activities. Quite frankly, the challenges of teaching kids yoga could be endless! These challenges could range from protests about stomachaches and sore arms to not having the correct clothing. There may also be a lack of Yoga mats or the room may be too hot or too cold. The challenges will be similar to the same kind of issues a teacher would run into trying to teach kids chemistry or how to avoid dangling modifiers, with a P.E. twist of course.

Yoga needs few accessories. It implements your own weight instead of dumbbells. No machines are necessary. When you are travelling, it is easy to wrap up your mat with a yoga belt and throw it in the car or tie it to your carry-on bag. Your phone will always be there to provide the soothing music you may want to incorporate into your routine.

By Gopi Rao Yoga needs few accessories. It implements your own weight instead of dumbbells. No machines are necessary. When you are travelling, it is easy to wrap up your mat with a yoga belt and throw it in the car or tie it to your carry-on bag. Your phone will always be there to provide the soothing music you may want to incorporate into your routine.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed. Why is compassion such an important aspect of teaching? During the course of your Yoga teaching training program, you are probably immersed in a great deal of information about correct alignment principals during the practice of the postures, the intricacies of human anatomy and learning the classical Sanskrit names of the asanas. What you may not be so closely connected to is the profound importance of compassion and teaching the finer aspects of how to incorporate the teachings of Yoga into your students' daily lives "off the mat."