Can yoga be “just” exercise or must it be more?
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”.