The Yoga rules

By Tracy Renning

By Paul Jerard

If you have your heart set on becoming a Yoga teacher, but your budget will not allow you to spend ten, fifteen, or twenty thousand dollars, on a certification course, you have to consider a few options. Should you talk to your family about a loan? Should you wait a few years? Should you give up or go after your dream?

No matter how much they love you, your family members may not be able to finance ten, fifteen, or twenty thousand dollars, in the current economy. You will have to teach hundreds of hours to pay back your relatives.

You will also have to learn about marketing, business, networking, and develop a whole new skill set after you finish your Yoga teacher training. After all, most Yoga certification courses focus on techniques like asanas, Pranayama, mudras, meditation, mantras, and other aspects.

So, you may also want to take a few courses, at a local college, for marketing, business, networking, and communication; or you may want to search for an instructor training course, which covers every aspect of teaching Yoga, and contains useful information for running a business.

For what it's worth, there are very few teacher training courses that cover business and marketing skills specific to the Yoga industry. Where could you find such a course and how much would it cost?

Maybe you are thinking: "The price must be through the roof." It could be, if you consider taking each course separately - between college tuition and on-site Yoga teacher training.

However, you can save a lot of money with an online home study course. As you shop around, look for a course, which contains, at least, 200 hours of study. You want a course that prepares you to teach, and prepares you to be teaching, for years to come.

The business learning curve can set you back financially, if you are not prepared for it. This is why business tools, for Yoga teachers, are so important. Therefore, make sure every aspect of teaching and business are covered.

An on-line course for Yoga instructors is self-paced, affordable, and you can study in the comfort of your own home.

Correspondence courses have existed for years, but thanks to the Internet, you can contact a tutor by Email and receive answers within 24 hours or less. The better online Yoga teacher courses will allow you unlimited support by phone and Email.

Therefore, be certain that the course you select meets all of the above criteria and any other specific needs you have.

ฉ Copyright 2008 - 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.aurawellnesscenter.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

By Tracy Renning

A hamstring refers to one of the tendons that make up the borders of space behind the knee. It usually includes tendons of semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris. The main job of the hamstring is to extend the hip joint and flex the knee. Runners are more likely to have hamstring problems because of overuse. Sometimes the pain is not experienced because it suddenly comes and goes i.e. it vanishes after the muscles warm up. Stretching in a wrong way may worsen the pain. The hamstrings are activated with increasing workout in activities involving sudden movements and jerks. Lack of movement may cause tightening of the hamstrings.

Hamstring flexibility is crucial for runners. Professional runners, workout under the supervision of certified trainers and hamstring flexibility yoga stretches form a major part of the flexibility stretches. Amateur runners may make the mistake of not realizing the importance of these yoga stretches and will soon feel the adverse effects. Including yoga in your daily pre-running practice is absolutely essential to avoid injuries to the hamstrings.

A few yoga stretches for hamstring flexibility development are listed below:

Forward bend - Stand straight with both legs together. Now slowly raise your hands and bend forward and try to touch your feet, maintain this posture for a few seconds and return to the start position. Repeat 3-4 times.

Backward Bend - Stand straight with both legs together. Now slowly raise both your hands and bend backward as much as you can. Maintain this posture for a few seconds. Return to the start position. Repeat 3-4 times.

Supine leg stretches (Supta Padangushthasana). - Lie down straight,. Now slowly raise the right leg with the knee straight. Try and grasp the thigh and stretch as much as you can. Repeat for the left leg. Repeat 3-4 times with each leg.

Locust posture (Salabhasana) - Lie on your stomach, make fists of your hands and place them below you thighs, keep your head straight with chin on the floor and raise your legs as high as possible keeping them straight at the knees slowly. Repeat 3-4 times.

Parvottasana - Lie flat on your stomach, both hands near your chest. Now raise your body slowly to form an inverted V (or mountain) with your hips at the highest position supported by your hands and feet. Maintain this posture for a few seconds. Return to the start position. Repeat 3-4 times.

Seated Wide Legged Straddle (Upavistha Konasana)- Sit straight and open the legs out as wide as possible. Make sure that the toes are pointing towards the ceiling. Try and press the legs down to the floor as much as possible. Maintain the posture for a few seconds. Repeat 3-4 times.

There are a lot of other options too. Now all runners run along and plan a routine for a small hamstring yoga flexibility workout. Remember, in the long and hard run, flexible hamstrings are the greatest assets of a runner!

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By Tracy Renning

By Paul Jerard

Many Yoga practitioners go to retreats, ashrams, or intensives, while they are on vacation. Travel expenses, and a dull economy, are keeping many Yogis closer to home this year. No matter what you decide to do, your vacation days should be memorable and filled with fun.

A sudden jump in fuel costs may alter your vacation plans, but it is important to get away from your regular working routine. Let's look at options you can do during vacation, without costing you "an arm and a leg."

Challenge yourself by doing something different. Most of us have a comfort zone, and we do not get out of it much. This does not mean you have to take up sky diving tomorrow, but look at your routine to see what you could do that you have never done before.

The challenges we overcome, put our fears in their place; and it is important to realize that fear often holds us back from making progress in life. For example: A person, who has never learned to swim, might consider swimming lessons with a qualified instructor, while on vacation.

The results of this challenge could be life changing. It takes regular practice to become a competent swimmer, but the basic skills can be learned in a short time. The result is a feeling of empowerment, a positive attitude, and accomplishment.

We all know a friend who would like to visit a Yoga class, but never does, due to an inner fear. Even though there are many forms of Yoga, our friend claims that he or she would feel embarrassed. At first, we might think that this is just an excuse, but on further observation, we realize there is a deep rooted fear.

For example: A friend believes that she must lose weight before attending a Hatha Yoga class. You might try to convince her otherwise, but she has seen pictures of difficult poses, performed by slim, young women. Her mind's eye pictures herself being in a class, surrounded by slim, young women, who are performing difficult poses.

We all know the feeling of embarrassment, and very few of us learn to laugh at ourselves. Someone else's fear may seem silly, but each of us has our own worries. Fears of criticism and judgment are often the root of inaction.

The results of overcoming a personal challenge are a newfound form of optimism, which stem from self-confidence. These are priceless qualities, which will carry you far throughout the rest of the year. Your vacation should be an adventure, but the good memories, and new life skills, could last a lifetime.

ฉ Copyright 2008 - 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.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html