| Many times, a lack of student attendance has nothing | | | | throughout the day. Granted, we may not want to |
| to do with the Yoga teacher. For example: When | | | | practice all of them in a public place, but breathing |
| students experience job changes, divorce, illness, a | | | | correctly, and fully, will increase the quality of our lives. |
| death in the family, or an automobile accident - these | | | | Are students learning anything about Yamas and |
| are circumstances, which are beyond the control of a | | | | Niyamas in your classes? They do not have to learn |
| Yoga instructor. | | | | them all at once. You could briefly cover one aspect, |
| Yet, student motivation is an area where we can | | | | over the course a week, at the end of your class, or |
| definitely help. The following are some methods for | | | | after meditation. This would give your Yoga students |
| raising the motivation level in our students, in anyone | | | | motivation and encouragement. |
| we meet, and within oneself. | | | | Mantra and Japa can be practiced mentally, at home, |
| Record keeping, or documenting goals achieved, is a | | | | while traveling, or in between tasks. Regardless of |
| great way to measure our progress toward our | | | | religion, prayer is a universal concept. We live at a time |
| objectives. When students have a track record of all | | | | when people say they are too busy to pray. They are |
| their successes in life, they become inspired and | | | | busy working and making money. While it is true we |
| motivated. This not only applies to Yoga, but to life | | | | need money to survive, it is false to claim we have no |
| itself. | | | | time for prayer. |
| It is easy to lose the will to go on, if we believe we are | | | | Most Hatha Yoga classes do not discuss religion or |
| not worthy of anything. One's inner vision can easily | | | | prayer. In fact, praying and spiritual growth are not |
| become so distorted, that we believe we are failures, | | | | covered in detail, because there have been many |
| and we do not deserve to succeed. If we believe | | | | conflicts over religion. Yet, the concepts and benefits |
| anything about ourselves, it should be positive, inspiring, | | | | of prayer are universal to all religions. Praying is good |
| and raise our spirits. | | | | for spiritual health and motivation. |
| Yoga must become a lifestyle for students to | | | | Making quiet time for a short meditation is something |
| experience complete health. Students should be | | | | very few people do. Meditation can help us in many |
| constantly reminded to practice Yoga at home, while | | | | ways, but mental focus also brings about a new state |
| traveling, or in any place they go. Sitting up straight, | | | | of awareness, and the motivation to make positive |
| walking tall, and standing erect, are every day | | | | changes. |
| examples of correct posturing and proper alignment | | | | Yoga teachers should also develop a handout - to |
| (asanas). Good posture can be practiced at any time. | | | | cover living a Yogic lifestyle. This would provide |
| The same can be said for Yogic breathing techniques | | | | information about the benefits of developing a "home |
| (pranayama). We breathe all day; therefore, why not | | | | Yoga practice." Students can then make healthy |
| make a conscious effort to breathe correctly? | | | | changes gradually, as a result of the information you |
| Bastrika, Udgeeth, Nadi Shodana, Shitali, Ujjayi, Dirgha, | | | | provide. |
| and Kapalabhati pranayama can be practiced | | | | |