| Whether a Yoga class should start from a standing, or | | | | teacher's prerogative; and some health clubs may not |
| seated, position has always been a subject for debate, | | | | want meditation in Yoga classes. |
| but both methods are fine; and many Yoga teachers | | | | When you are teaching Hatha Yoga, you are teaching |
| do both, depending on the particular lesson plan. | | | | mental, physical, and sometimes, spiritual health. |
| One thing that should not be missing from your Yoga | | | | Meditation addresses a very valuable health |
| class is a warm-up and proper warm-up exercises, | | | | component, but exercise alone is not a guarantee of |
| which will slowly warm up joints, connective tissue, and | | | | good mental health. Hence, if you are teaching any |
| muscle tissue. Some Yoga teachers might feel that | | | | style of Yoga, you should, at least, be teaching the |
| advanced Yoga practitioners do not need to do a | | | | basics of meditation as part of your Yoga classes. |
| detailed warm up, and I totally disagree with this | | | | How should you incorporate Pranayama within your |
| philosophy. | | | | Yoga class? With beginners, you should cover at least |
| Consider this: Professional athletes, who practice, and | | | | three Pranayama techniques that you commonly use |
| train, almost every day, are always instructed to | | | | during the course of a Yoga class. If you make |
| perform warm-up exercises. This is very cautious, but | | | | Pranayama an extra curricular part of the class, you |
| with professional athletes, thousands, or millions, of | | | | may find some beginners will try to avoid that particular |
| dollars could be on the line. | | | | time of Yoga class. |
| Yoga students do not usually have such "high stakes" | | | | Many Yoga teachers have become accustomed to |
| involved within the physical performance of their jobs, | | | | full classes, and it was not that long ago, when we |
| but each student should be taught with safety | | | | taught to small dedicated groups of students. |
| guidelines intact. This is why I feel so strongly about the | | | | Therefore, we want to maintain popularity, but any |
| value of a warm-up at the beginning of a Yoga class: | | | | component of Yoga can become unpopular. |
| It's just common sense to take care of your students. | | | | This creates a delicate line for full-time Yoga teachers |
| Should you start or finish a Yoga class with | | | | to walk. You know the benefits of long-term Yoga |
| meditation? Some Yoga teachers guide students | | | | practice, but beginners have to stay long enough to |
| through meditation at the beginning, and the end, of the | | | | "feel the results." This is much different from exercise, |
| same Yoga class, while some teach meditation only | | | | where a practitioner might see visual results in a month |
| after asana practice. | | | | or two. |
| Unfortunately, a comparatively small number of Hatha | | | | The many health benefits of a well prepared Yoga |
| Yoga teachers do not include meditation at all. This | | | | class require time, and you must use public relations |
| happens when a Hatha Yoga class is converted into a | | | | skills along the way for students to see the "big picture. |
| "fitness only" atmosphere. In truth, this is every Yoga | | | | |