| How much attention, to proper alignment, do you see in | | | | This may sound prudent, but no student should be |
| Yoga classes? How fast is the pace of the class? | | | | allowed to compromise established safety precautions. |
| Are students being asked about pre-existing injuries | | | | Letting a student arrive late, and thereby skipping the |
| before participating in a Yoga session? | | | | warm-up component of a class, is a risky policy. If that |
| Proper alignment, while practicing, is so important | | | | same student is injured, due to by-passing warm-ups, |
| because of the benefits over time. At the same time, | | | | who will be blamed for it? |
| poor alignment can cause injuries. Yoga should be | | | | This leads to another issue, which Yoga studios are |
| taught by a competent instructor, who is watching | | | | very casual about - the establishment of firm policies |
| participants perform a given technique. | | | | to avoid injuries. For example: You should post student |
| Yoga teachers should demonstrate how a technique is | | | | policies on your bulletin board, on your website, as well |
| to be performed. At the same time, teachers should | | | | as hand them out to new students. |
| observe their students perform that specific technique. | | | | In your application process, you should inquire about |
| At no time should teachers take their eyes off their | | | | pre-existing injuries. If a student has a pre-existing neck |
| students and relax. The teacher's experience is in | | | | injury, aneurism, or glaucoma, a Yoga teacher would |
| stark contrast to that of the student. | | | | not want to put a student at risk of worsening his/her |
| Teaching Yoga posture (asana), or breathing | | | | present condition. |
| techniques (pranayama), requires a sincere effort to | | | | In the case of a new student, who arrives late for the |
| guide students safely. This brings to mind an issue, | | | | first class, that person should not be admitted to the |
| which is of prime importance: Is the pace of the class | | | | practice. The reason being - how would a Yoga |
| geared toward the level of the student? How many | | | | teacher know anything about the health of a student, |
| Sun Salutations or Vinyasa sequences start with a | | | | who the teacher has never had a chance to talk with |
| slow and mindful pace? | | | | prior to that class? If this student has any pre-existing |
| The reason why a series of postures should be | | | | health conditions, everyone is put at risk, as the |
| performed slowly, on the first few rounds, is so that | | | | student's well-being, the Yoga studio, and the Yoga |
| students are reminded of proper alignment. | | | | teacher's career, are all in jeopardy. |
| Experienced students, who have left their practice | | | | All of this adds up to setting firm safety policies in |
| aside for months, or years, should not jump into a class | | | | place. At the same time, Yoga teachers should |
| without a refresher class that is geared toward | | | | continue their education and be prepared for a variety |
| beginners. | | | | of diversified situations. |