"The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal - that you can gather votes like box tops - is, I think, the ultimate indignity to the democratic process."Adlai E. Stevenson
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Paths of Yoga I
With dozens of Hollywood celebrities following in their Guru's lotus footsteps and the sick Western commercial behaviour exploding Yogas popularity to a system that simply enhances people's health, Yoga remains a system of spiritual unity of mind, body ...
Yoga and Neck Problems: What's the Risk?
Firstly, a Yoga student, who has such a serious ailment, should get their doctor's permission before starting to practice Yoga with a teacher. If possible, get a doctor's referral to a particular Yoga teacher, who is more knowledgeable in this area. Many ...
Yoga in Practice: Projecting Happiness
We are all human, living life with its many "ups and downs," but how can we keep our spirits up in difficult times? There are many types of Yoga, and not all are physical styles, like the many popular Hatha Yoga sub-styles. To name one that is not Hatha, ...
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Here is an oxymoron for you: Some of the best Yoga teachers are great listeners. This is a general guideline for Yoga students who aspire to teach some day. Listening skills, in Yoga, start when you take your first class, as you learn by hearing, watching, and doing.
The Yoga student who learns predominantly by listening will be able to verbally communicate the finer techniques to others in the future. This is not to say that other methods of learning have less value, but a skilled Yoga teacher must be a communicator and be able to reach into each individual student's mind.
Therefore, not all Yoga students can learn from you in the same way. Some will learn by listening carefully to your cues, others will gain more from an assist, and some will be able to copy just by watching. As a Yoga instructor, you still have to be a good listener when it comes to all of your students' questions.
Most Yoga teachers do a good job with handling student questions. However, here is something to think about: Do you try to clarify why a question is being asked? Consider that your student may not be clear in his or her communication skills and you need to "get to the heart of the matter."
The motivation behind a question is more important than the question itself. You don't want to waste your time giving unrelated information before, after, or during a Yoga class. So, get a clarification about what you are being asked, and learn why your Yoga student is truly asking you this question. This will benefit the both of you and avoid wasting your student's time, as well.
If a student asks you a simple question, with a "yes" or "no" answer, you can still find out the motivational source by saying, "Yes, but why do you ask?" This technique is really that simple, and you may find the question is much deeper than you originally perceived.
Another mistake some Yoga teachers make is handling a question defensively. Your student thinks enough of you to ask for your opinion and is interested in your answer. If he or she had no respect for you, your opinion would not be important. Now, whether you perceive an objection or not, you should ask for a clarification before answering.
There is a positive side to all of the questions your Yoga students ask, but you must clearly see the motive behind the question in order to give the best answer. The bottom line is: Even though you are now at the front of the Yoga class, your listening skills must be better than your best listeners in your class.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
About the author:
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
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Yoga in the Nairobi Slums Provides Empowerment, HopeVoice of AmericaYoga wouldn't appear to be the most obvious solution to helping these residents, but the Africa Yoga Project is trying to do just that. Paige Elenson has been teaching yoga for 15 years. The former Wall Street consultant came to Kenya in 2007 to live ...and more » |
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