| When considering a Yoga teacher training program, an | | | | who has difficulty learning, holds each teacher to a |
| intern should consider the value of pre-existing training, | | | | higher standard of practicing what we preach. |
| knowledge, and experience. The fundamentals of | | | | 3. Social Skills: Courtesy, good manners, and mutual |
| Yoga are treasures to be enjoyed. All too often, we | | | | respect are part of teaching. Students learn much |
| miss the finer points of life, by rushing through it. The | | | | better, by following a good example, than by |
| following are four qualities that will help each intern | | | | domination. Some will say these sports are brutal, but in |
| throughout the training process. | | | | boxing, martial arts, and other highly contact sports, the |
| 1. Enjoy Your Time: Foundational training and research | | | | most successful teams and competitiors have |
| is a must before entering into the Yoga certification | | | | coaches who are rich in social skills. In contrast, Yoga |
| process. Learning the basics of Yoga should not be a | | | | is a very gentle science of life, without combat or |
| race. Why rush? Each aspect of Yoga is like a flower. | | | | competition. Therefore, each Yoga teacher candidate |
| Stop and smell the flowers - one at a time. | | | | should have excellent social skills. |
| If learning terminology becomes a pressure situation, | | | | 4. Suppression of Ego: Among Hatha Yoga teachers, |
| take your time with it. You can easily spend time | | | | there are not many who posture their egos. The |
| learning under the guidance of a competent teacher, | | | | suppression of ego is a fundamental step in reaching |
| take an introductory course, and develop a solid | | | | self-realization. However, when they do show up, |
| foundation. You should read classical texts, which | | | | egotistical teachers usually fall into one of the following |
| explain the many facets of Yoga. | | | | categories, and they tend to focus on the mastery of |
| The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Gheranda Samhita, the | | | | physical techniques only. |
| Yoga Sutras, and the Shiva Samhita would be a good | | | | A. The Olympic Gold Medalist: He or she stands on |
| start. Knowing who wrote the Yoga Sutras, and what | | | | one hand, while putting the legs into Lotus, and can do |
| the Eight Limbs of Yoga are, is basic material teacher | | | | full splits in every direction. He or she cannot |
| interns should research while building their foundational | | | | understand why other students have difficulty with |
| knowledge. | | | | performing the same feats. If this person teaches |
| Interns should know that The Eight Limbs of Yoga | | | | classes, the Yoga session resembles a "three ring |
| start with Yama and Niyama. Interns should not only | | | | circus," complete with injuries for students who |
| know them, but they should become a way of life. | | | | attempt to force their bodies into postures that might |
| Moral codes, found in Yoga, are universal laws, which | | | | be impossible to master. |
| build character. It goes much deeper than this, but lying, | | | | B. The Technician: In these classes, no student ever |
| cheating, and stealing are not acceptable in any | | | | performs an asana correctly. Students feel worse |
| society. Acts of giving, kindness, and tolerance are | | | | about themselves, after a class, than they did before |
| acceptable. | | | | the class. If this person teaches classes, each session |
| Therefore, the moral standards of Yoga are | | | | serves as a platform to give prominence to the |
| something most of us were taught before our first | | | | teacher. |
| class. Making morality a significant part of our lifestyle | | | | It is easier to help someone with self-esteem issues, |
| is part of the process toward self-awareness. To be | | | | than it is to capture the attention of an egotist. If the |
| mindful of our actions should reduce or eliminate | | | | ego is out of balance, we have difficulty listening to |
| conflicts with others. | | | | suggestions. In the case of anyone who teaches |
| 2. Compassion: To have respect for the limitations of | | | | Yoga classes, there is one fundamental rule |
| each student is part of teaching. To realize that we | | | | concerning class structure: Class time is for students. |
| are here to help students makes each of us a better | | | | Therefore, it is best to focus on the needs of the |
| teacher. To be kind and gentle toward the student, | | | | students and for each of us to leave our egos behind. |