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By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed As the popularity and availability of Yoga classes continues to expand throughout the world, many teachers are finding that they are teaching a specific group of students who need the support of a chair to practice Yoga safely and effectively. This is particularly true if you are teaching a group of elderly students or students who are disabled from head injuries or chronic disease. By offering these students fun and engaging Chair Yoga classes, you will enable them to participate in a comprehensive practice, while improving their safety with the support of a chair.

By Kimaya Singh There are many variables in the type of Yoga training each of us might choose to practice and there are many ways to injure one's knee. Let's look at the safest way for a person to enter a class, without slowing down the recovery process or causing self-injury. Therefore, medical clearance in the form of your doctor's approval is imperative before considering asana (posture) practice. A conference explaining your surgery, with a certified Yoga instructor before you take a class, insures that you will get proper attention.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How can we inspire our students? Did you ever consider how much impact teachers have on the lives of their Yoga students? Years can go by, and you meet an old student at a local market and he or she tells you how much your classes changed his or her life. Within a month, that same student resurfaces in your Yoga class. It does not always happen like this, but a Yoga teacher's impact on the community has a lasting effect.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What are group dynamics and how do they apply to Yoga classes? "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." The sentiment rang true when Aristotle said it; and it's still true today. Many of us have experienced it in class: The dynamic energy of a room full of Yoga practitioners, all practicing together on a day when every student's practice is going well. It is an exhilarating sensation. Yes, but how can this mindset be cultivated?

As the spring season begins to enter into full bloom, many Yoga students are interested in participating in a detoxifying Yoga class. The spring season is one of the most optimal times of the year for doing spring-cleaning, both externally and internally.

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed. There is a great deal of courage required to teach Yoga in such a way that your classes are safe, effective and transformational. Of course, one of the most important aspects of any class is to maintain the safety and comfort of your students.

Ever since you decided to become a yoga instructor, you've dreamed of teaching a full class of athletic students. Now that you have them, you're concerned about safety and you want your students to have the best possible experience in your classes.

By Sarah Fisher After graduating from Yoga teacher training, I look back at where I was when I went to my first class. I was so stressed that it was difficult to get up for work. I was starting to make excuses to avoid leaving my home. Jobs are stressful, but these days, you want to keep the one you have. At the same time, I needed to get some physical activity. Luckily, my friends got me out of the house and into a fitness-based Yoga class.

Whether you graduate from a 1000-hour or a 200-hour Yoga teacher certification course, your students will look at you the same. Whether you have taught ten classes or one thousand classes your students see you as an expert.

I was getting a little older and I had decided it was time to take better care of my physical health, so I joined the local YMCA. I didn't pick that gym for any particular reason, it just happened to be close by and it looked nice, so I signed up. One day, after working out on the treadmill, I walked by the front desk on my way out and saw a display of class schedules for the different locations around town. One of the locations was very close to my current gym and it advertised mind/body classes such as meditation and yoga.

There are still a lot of precautions for women in their first trimester and beyond. Additionally, practicing yoga for years before pregnancy is much different than spending years on a couch. It seems like common sense, but some women believe they have to join a class because they just became pregnant. The first place to start getting proper advice is in their doctor's office and then, if they are cleared, they can inquire about prenatal classes.

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.

Kirtan chanting can be introduced into a Yoga class by a Yoga teacher in several ways. A Yoga teacher may choose to commence a Yoga...

Becoming a yoga instructor is more than just teaching yoga in a class. You must be an effective instructor who will provide up-to-date, correct, and safe...

Most yoga classes feature common asanas which are performed to provide full-body stretching and strengthening. Asanas are often paired...

Children can begin to feel the positive results of a yoga class, making them more likely to choose yoga as a lifelong activity. Yoga...

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed One of the most important aspects of sharing the transformational power of Yoga with your students is to truly honor your own truth. This truth could be either physical or emotional in nature. For instance, if you are teaching a Yoga class with a slight back injury, and you are forthright with your students about your current physical limitations, they will be more easily able to identify with you when they come up against their own physical challenges during class.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Where did this ball come from? Is the stability ball a legitimate Yoga prop or just a marketing gimmick for equipment sales? Who could benefit from the use of the ball in a class? When can the stability ball fit into a Hatha class? Where did this ball come from? Stability balls have been around since 1963, originating in Italy. The first time I saw a stability ball, we called it a, "Swiss Ball." Yet, the Swiss Balls at that time, were all made in Italy. American Physical Therapists saw the ball, in use, within physical therapy Swiss units.

By Faye Martins Yoga conjures up images of peaceful meditation, relaxing stretches and trips to the emergency room. Wait, emergency room? Just as with any other activity people can suffer injuries from yoga. Yoga injuries are most commonly mild muscle strains, but torn tendons and severe back injuries have been known to occur. Teachers need to think about yoga student safety when preparing for classes and during classes.

By Sangeetha Saran Hot yoga has become a popular option in gyms and fitness centers around the world. It's based on the idea of creating a warm, moist environment to imitate the climate of India. Since its introduction to the United States around 1970, Bikram's heated style has morphed into other various forms of hot yoga. Class structures can vary, but a heated yoga class basically involves a room that's heated to around 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity.