Teaching Hatha Yoga - Be Thankful for Difficult Students

Every once in a while I will meet a veteran Yoga teacher who is disgruntled over difficult students. the complaining Yoga student, the student who has not washed for days, the student who harasses other students, and the student who believes you should teach Yoga for free, can all challenge your purpose in life. So what can you do to get through to difficult Yoga students?

Firstly, you must go back to the Law of Karma, which states that for every action, there is an equal reaction. With a difficult student, it may appear as though he or she selected you, and now you are the victim. This is absolutely wrong. Due to your personality, or the atmosphere of your Yoga class, the student has detected something magnetic.

In fact, you or your center, attracted all of the students you had, presently have, and will have, in the future. You must look at what draws students into your Yoga classes. It may not be obvious to you, so it will require some research, and you may need some objective opinions.

Here is a good example: Bikram Choudhurys schools and style exude discipline. When you enter one of Bikram Choudhurys Yoga studios, you do not have to guess what the rules are. You know the rules. You can complain, but you will be escorted to the exit in short time. You would not show up late, leave your cell phone on, avoid taking a bath for a month, or whine about the temperature.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.

To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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What You Need to Know When You Start Yoga Exercises

No down you have heard about yoga for years but you may not really know much about it. If you are just a beginner in the yoga world, here are some things that you need to know about before you start.

There are several different styles or kinds of yoga exercises, that range from very gentle and relaxing positions to fairly fast-paced cardio workouts. So first decide what you want to accomplish with yoga. If you have suffered an injury or are trying to manage pain, then perhaps one of the more gentle types of yoga will be best at least for now.

So how do you learn how to practice yoga? Well, there are plenty of DVDs and videos available that can help you learn more about it. However, it's usually best to learn the exercises from a quality instructor instead. There are many yoga classes available at studios and gyms all across the country. It may be a good idea to ask around and get recommendations from others about the best yoga instructors in your area. A good instructor will be very patient with you as you start out and will focus on teaching you not only the exercises themselves, but also how to maintain proper body alignment and breathing techniques throughout the positions and poses. It's a good idea to visit a few yoga classes and perhaps sit in on a session or two to learn more about each instructor, and then choose the one that you like best.

It's important that you approach yoga with the right mental attitude. It is not a competition. It is not a challenge. You are not trying to do something better than anyone else. In fact, yoga is a very personal experience. So listen to your own body as you learn the exercises and you can't go wrong.

So what equipment are you going to need for this new adventure? Well, wearing the right clothing will be important. Your clothing needs to be comfortable and not restrictive. And since you can get very warm from practicing the poses and positions, your clothing should also be breathable and keep your skin as dry as possible.

Perhaps the most common piece of equipment is a yoga mat. They can actually come in handy for a couple of reasons. First of all, the mat can help keep you from slipping as you exercise on the floor. This gets more important as the session progresses and you perspire at your body heats up. The other benefit of using a yoga mat is that it keeps you from having to sit on a hard bare floor. There are several types of mats available, so just choose the one that fits you best.

Water will be important to have handy as you will need to stay hydrated as you exercise and replace any lost fluids. Generally, it's best to practice yoga on an empty stomach, so try to avoid eating heavy meals very soon beforehand too.

Many people have found that yoga makes a very important contribution to their mental and physical well-being. Hopefully, it can do the same for you.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including fitness. You can find free yoga exercises and free yoga poses by visiting our Home Fitness website.

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