Archive for category Yoga

Teaching Fitness Yoga Classes

Posted by admin in Yoga on January 9, 2012

In the 1890s, Swami Vivekananda was the first yogi to tour the Americas and Europe. The free-loving 1960s ushered in renewed interest in the ancient Indian practice, and Dean Ornish, in the 1980s, popularized the healthy yoga movement. Today, yoga has arrived as a standard offering at most gyms, health spas and even cruises!

Yet, as instructors, we know that life is largely about balance. While yoga may have officially arrived on the exercise scene, its increased popularity can sometimes present a problem for yogis and yoginis who take a more spiritual approach to practice; because let’s face it, not everybody wants to be bothered with ancient Indian religions.

Many folks would rather just focus on fitness. And that’s all right! After all, one of the essential aspects of yoga is seva – or service – and as evangelists for yoga, part of our job is listening to what students want and servicing their needs to the best of our ability.

Below are a few quick tips for yoga teachers about how to promote and fill a fitness-focused yoga class.

Visit the Other Side of the Yogic Fence

Do you teach a physically challenging yoga style? Do you know the ins-and-outs of Bikram and Vinyasa yoga? How about Ashtanga – or “power”-yoga? If not, get to class yourself and start learning from a competent fitness yoga teacher. Power yoga teacher training may be the answer. Today’s yoga-as-exercise enthusiasts tend towards the sweat-inducing, quick-moving styles, so study up! Teaching a different style of yoga is a challenge, but you can do it.

Prepare Fitness Yoga Handouts

Once you have mastered a routine and feel comfortable with a gym-friendly school of yoga practice and land yourself a job teaching class, it’s time to do some homework. Gather information about yoga’s health benefits and make hand-outs for after class. In can be a one page sheet and most gyms will have a photocopier available for use. Not only will it give your students a broader picture of yoga’s fitness benefits, but it’s also a way to stand out in the yoga-teaching pack. There may be dozens of instructors at your gym; if you can think of novel ways to connect with members, your attendance will skyrocket. Read the rest of this entry »

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Energy Meditation

Posted by admin in Yoga on January 9, 2012

Meditation should be incorporated in our life. Our busy schedule and life does not give us time to relax our mind and body. We get rid of the body strain or exertion but it does not relax your body and soul completely. Thus, meditation is necessary for inner relaxation of your body and mind and rejuvenating it for a new tomorrow. This rejuvenation is essential because your mind and body not only needs to relax but also rejuvenate so that it continues functioning effectively even at a later stage in your life. If you too wish to keep your mind and body healthy ‘Energy Meditation’ is the best thing for you. You do not need a meditation retreat for this; you can practice it at your home, office or park.

Yoga is a blend of meditation, postures, therapies, etc. the postures are also varied. In hot yoga and power yoga the poses require you to stretch your body to the limit so that you lose weight, maintain your body, etc. However, when your cross a certain age the type of exercise you choose is very important. This exercise has to be such that your body is relaxed and energized as well. Simple asanas like pranayam, butterfly, etc. are very simple but help your body muscles relax. The muscles at a senior age tend to get brittle. Any careless behaviour might lead to serious muscle injuries, also the flexibility of the muscles decreases. A simple exercise that can help you get back the flexibility as well as relive you of bone and muscle pain is yoga.

• If you are a beginner, this meditation is excellent for you as it strengthens the aura when practiced regularly.

• Firstly relax your entire body. The deeper the trance, the more effective. You can meditate at any time and no specific trance is necessary for you.

• For beginners, you should visualize while at the same time, draw in energy from all sides of your body, front, back, top of your head and bottom of brilliant light, like the sun. Working with colors is more advanced and most effective when you are a bit more experienced.

• While exhaling visualizing the aura that is expanding besides you

• Breathe in again and visualize the energy getting brighter and more powerful, radiating from your entire being.

• Exhale again and visualize the energy and expansion of your aura, and feel the center of your body shining brilliantly like the sun.

• Repeat this several times, each time visualizing the energy becoming brighter and brighter as it increases in intensity. Read the rest of this entry »

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