Answers (16)
4
I was trained in a very spiritual yoga school. I received fantastic training but after a while I began to feel coerced to adopt a belief system that I didn't necessarily agree with. Now I teach freelance at a few places, and teach Silver Age yoga for seniors. It is important to me that each student be able to accept and enjoy yoga on their own terms. If they enjoy the physical well being, they will continue to come to class and eventually they may benefit from the calm that control of breathing can offer them, as well as coming to understand more about their own bodies. Over time they will learn more about themselves and their abilities. Whatever form that takes for each student it is always a positive experience. To say that yoga must be a certain way is to disrespect the very nature of yoga. If you embrace all the limbs of yoga you will incorporate a spiritual practice. However that is not a necessity and this kind of inflexible (pardon the pun) approach turns students (and even teachers like me) off where a more open minded approach can allow everyone to realize benefits in their own way.
3
I utilize yoga everyday with many of my clients and classes. It is a wonderful way way to teach/practice balance and body positioning, as well as, stability and flexibility through breathing, plus strength and endurance from postures (how long can we hold chair pose?) Its fun to incorporate it along side normal stretching routines, too. Everyone who knows me can probably do upward facing dog, downward facing dog, child, and pigeon. ;)
2
Many (maybe most) new yoga students in our American culture decide to try a class because they have heard about the physical conditioning and/or stress relieving benefits it can provide. We certainly want to make yoga accessible to everyone, so if "exercise" is what brings a new student in, that is a perfectly valid reason. However, it has been my experience as a yoga teacher that many of these same "exercisers" begin to develop their own interest in understanding more about yoga as a system, as they begin to realize deeper benefits than they ever imagined. They learn to connect with their breath, calm their thoughts, become more aware of their bodies, and sometimes even connect more deeply with their own spirituality. It is our responsibility as yoga teachers to meet our students where they are, not to push them in a direction they don't want to go, and to show them that yoga is a deeply personal practice that they, themselves can guide in a direction that aligns with their own values.
1
I agree with Charla. As an aerobics instructor converted to yoga teacher, I understand how yoga taught in a gym and yoga practiced in a truly yoga setting are different, BUT the teachings are in the practice itself. Once someone embraces it, they will learn something about themselves and that is the essence. Although, doing a triangle pose here and a warrior pose there in between sets on the bench press isn't necessarily doing yoga.
I think it's okay to teach yoga as exercise in the beginning (to an intimidated client). I did that in the small, conservative town where I live. I called my first class "stretch and relax". Once I gained the trust of my students, I began to spoon feed them yoga philosophy and concepts. Just like Charla said, "meet students where they are" so they can relate the teachings to their own lives. Now I have a group of dedicated "yogis" and they are mostly people who ..... you guessed it....thought "yoga isn't for me".
I think it's okay to teach yoga as exercise in the beginning (to an intimidated client). I did that in the small, conservative town where I live. I called my first class "stretch and relax". Once I gained the trust of my students, I began to spoon feed them yoga philosophy and concepts. Just like Charla said, "meet students where they are" so they can relate the teachings to their own lives. Now I have a group of dedicated "yogis" and they are mostly people who ..... you guessed it....thought "yoga isn't for me".
1
I think there is a difference in true yoga and mainstream yoga. I feel mainstream yoga is a stepping stone for many to become yogis. Some prefer to practice yoga on a deeper level, others not. It is important to know your audience.
1
I don't teach traditional Yoga but I do implement some Yoga movements into many of my class formats. As a dance educator first and kinesiologist, Tree Pose is just a Passe. Also, it's just a hip flexion, then hip lateral rotation and knee flexion. I'm focus is just on body alignment, technique...you know the body mechanics of the movement. It's about increasing body awareness, injury prevention, exercise modification/progression, etc.
It's great to offer traditional and non-traditional Yoga so that the participants have more exercise options keep them active through their entire lifespan.
It's great to offer traditional and non-traditional Yoga so that the participants have more exercise options keep them active through their entire lifespan.
1
Hello Megan,
Absolutely! Yoga is just that..."An Exercise". How intense you make it depends on the advanced class you take.
Wishing You Great Success!
Michael
Absolutely! Yoga is just that..."An Exercise". How intense you make it depends on the advanced class you take.
Wishing You Great Success!
Michael
0
Yoga, like anything else, can be whatever the participant wants or needs it to be. Think of all the outraged yoga professionals a few years back when achieving a "yoga butt" was the most coveted benefit of the practice? I understand why some people were offended; but really, as long as the people were coming into the studios, who cares if they're looking for the ultimate butt versus bliss and peace? Education is an ongoing process; it'll happen when and for whom it's supposed to.
0
Yoga can be what you want it to be. Yes I think it can be just exercise. I really do hope that in time though it becomes more than just exercise for everyone. Yoga is away for you to work out what you need to in your own way surrounded by positive energy. It is away to have a dialogue with your body, mind and spirit if you are willing to listen. I started my journey just thinking of it as exercise and little did I know it would change my life forever. I'd say be open to the journey because each time you step off the mat you step off a new self.
0
Why does this exercise class need to be a YOGA class. Yoga is to yoke, come together, unify..... To recognize the mind-body-emotion-intellect are all one. The depth and connection is what makes a class "yoga". Just because you use yoga terms doesn't mean it's a yoga class. You should consider learning about the value of meditation/relaxation, and yogic principles and include these before you call your exercise class YOGA. Lots of students are not ready or interested in all that a traditional yoga class has to offer... thus they will not be interested in YOGA class. I believe if you are offering a YOGA class, and, instead teach an exercise class, your credibility will be questioned by all. I would find it all very confusing as well. If people show up for a yoga class you should give them YOGA. Teach what you know. It doesn't sound like you are comfortable with teaching YOGA. Don't pressure yourself or be pressured into teaching a class when you don't feel you are ready or able to. Follow your instincts on this.... You wouldn't have asked the question if you were not in doubt. Good luck. Namaste'
0
Absolutely! Yoga is whatever the instructor or the participant makes it.
For me, yoga is not about exercise in the traditional sense. It is about pain management. I have very tight hamstrings (both) and a tight piriformis on one side. If those muscles are not stretched regularly, then I experience constant pain in the knee & buttocks. Consistent participation in a yoga class with poses that target those areas relieves the pain. I focus on my exhales to help deepen the poses.
If I do not focus on the meditative/spiritual aspect, is it still yoga? To me, yes.
For me, yoga is not about exercise in the traditional sense. It is about pain management. I have very tight hamstrings (both) and a tight piriformis on one side. If those muscles are not stretched regularly, then I experience constant pain in the knee & buttocks. Consistent participation in a yoga class with poses that target those areas relieves the pain. I focus on my exhales to help deepen the poses.
If I do not focus on the meditative/spiritual aspect, is it still yoga? To me, yes.
0
I think it's important to stay true to YOUR style. If you like to teach philosophy and pranayama, stick with it. If the asanas only are what move you, then teach that. I think students get the most benefit from us teaching what we're passionate about.
0
/agree with top posts.
An exercise is just what you make it to be. It can simply be contorting the body, or you can contort the mind and body. Depends mostly on the teacher and client.
An exercise is just what you make it to be. It can simply be contorting the body, or you can contort the mind and body. Depends mostly on the teacher and client.
0
With the explosion of yoga over the past decade, we've seen a Westernization of traditional practices to make yoga more accessible to a Western audience. While the intention to make yoga more inclusive is a good one, sometimes the result is a trivialization of the practice to the extent that it barely scratches the surface of its traditional purpose. In many facilities, we end up with yoga as not much more than an Eastern form of calisthenics or a fashionable and exotic form of "working out".
0
As an older man teaching in a gym setting I don't think that yoga should be considered as an "exercise" class. There are much better cardio formats and better strength building activities. Yoga should be what it is, a centering practice that brings the mind, body, sprirt together. My classes are always focused on feeling good in you body--"digesting" the work they did in the other fitness activities. What good is a buff body or a yoga butt if you are miserable nervous wreck? I teach all of the classical ideas but leave out most of the sandkrit and Vedic terms. It works for me.
0
My Name is Henning Papendorf (Brunswick, Germany)
Dear Megan,
Yoga means union. The only way to realize Union with the Divine or with the eternal all pervading Being or the very Self (dwelling within yourself and within every other being) is to let the mind go BEYOND all sensual impressions, thoughts and feelings, beyond all mental activities.
Yoga Asanas have a good cleaning and supporting influence on the body and nervous system in order to realize higher states of consciousness, but... most of the time, the practice of asanas does not lead to this "going beyond" or transcending of everything. The easiest way to realize the Self or Being is to minimize mental activity until pure awareness is all that remains. Complete stillness of the mind, but wide awake in it-Self!
"Be still and realize: I am GOD"
I am practicing a very simple transcending method of meditation for almost 43 years and I enjoy it every single day - morning and evening. In almost every meditation, after I have finished my yoga asanas and pranayama (breething excercizes), my mind comes 2-3 or even more times to this status of Non-activity and of "loosing the world", but gaining THAT.
I am That, you are That and all this is That.
www.einheitsbewusstsein.de
But to tell you the truth, already since I was a preschool kid, I realized this experience once in a while, which is as - I believe - very natural to everyone. Later on I forgot about it until I found it again and was trained systematically when I was a student.
The combination of asanas, pranayama and a transcending meditation (without concentration!) technique is perfect and very soothing for the mind, body and nervous system.
please excuse my linguistic errors :-)
Dear Megan,
Yoga means union. The only way to realize Union with the Divine or with the eternal all pervading Being or the very Self (dwelling within yourself and within every other being) is to let the mind go BEYOND all sensual impressions, thoughts and feelings, beyond all mental activities.
Yoga Asanas have a good cleaning and supporting influence on the body and nervous system in order to realize higher states of consciousness, but... most of the time, the practice of asanas does not lead to this "going beyond" or transcending of everything. The easiest way to realize the Self or Being is to minimize mental activity until pure awareness is all that remains. Complete stillness of the mind, but wide awake in it-Self!
"Be still and realize: I am GOD"
I am practicing a very simple transcending method of meditation for almost 43 years and I enjoy it every single day - morning and evening. In almost every meditation, after I have finished my yoga asanas and pranayama (breething excercizes), my mind comes 2-3 or even more times to this status of Non-activity and of "loosing the world", but gaining THAT.
I am That, you are That and all this is That.
www.einheitsbewusstsein.de
But to tell you the truth, already since I was a preschool kid, I realized this experience once in a while, which is as - I believe - very natural to everyone. Later on I forgot about it until I found it again and was trained systematically when I was a student.
The combination of asanas, pranayama and a transcending meditation (without concentration!) technique is perfect and very soothing for the mind, body and nervous system.
please excuse my linguistic errors :-)
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