| Do you cover a prenatal warning before the start of a | | | | should be performed in Yoga classes, only after gentle |
| Yoga class? Every Yoga teacher should thoroughly | | | | isometric exercises for the neck. You should combine |
| go over it when adult female students come to your | | | | Pranayama with these isometric exercises for |
| Yoga classes. You would be surprised how many will | | | | maximum benefits. |
| not tell you before class. | | | | Lunge posture in Sun Salutations: The knee should be |
| Also, you may want to add a Prenatal Yoga warning | | | | right above the ankle during this posture. When the |
| to your initial handout, waiver, or questionnaire, for new | | | | knee is more forward than the ankle, this can cause |
| students. Prenatal Yoga classes are specifically | | | | premature wear of soft tissue within the knee joint. |
| designed for the safety of pregnant Yoga students. | | | | The only exception to this is when the back knee is on |
| Do not teach pregnant Yoga students without Prenatal | | | | the floor, as this takes pressure off the forward knee. |
| and Postnatal Yoga teacher training. | | | | However, if a Yoga student has an existing knee |
| Forward Bend: For students who are in good health | | | | ailment, or is prone to knee problems, the knee should |
| and who are not pregnant; the fold should be guided | | | | stay directly above the ankle and not beyond it. This |
| by the breath, while elongating the spine. Then the | | | | may be considered very cautious by some teachers, |
| waistline will gently draw in to a point, while the heart | | | | but Hatha Yoga teachers are supposed to teach |
| draws toward the toes. This is easier said than done, | | | | restraint and safety during asana practice, at all times. |
| but will help guide your students. | | | | As a Yoga teacher, your form might be very good, |
| Neck Rolls, with the head tilted back, can grind the | | | | but you will still need to correct all student alignment |
| cervical vertebrae against each other, causing | | | | problems when they arise. In Warrior II, some of your |
| premature wear. This is not suggested for Yoga | | | | students will need to be reminded to keep the back |
| students of any age, especially middle age and up. | | | | arm level. It feels normal to them when the back arm |
| Your Yoga students might do this warm- up exercise | | | | is lower. |
| slowly - and that is much better than doing it fast, but it | | | | Tree Pose: Are some of your students are pressing |
| is still not acceptable. | | | | the foot against the side of the knee on the balancing |
| Also related to neck movement - linear movement, | | | | leg? The knee is not designed to take pressure from |
| and the front part of the neck circle, are fine - if done | | | | the side. This could cause premature wear over time. |
| very slowly, but this still may not be a good idea for | | | | The foot should always be above, or below, the side |
| your older Yoga students. Any neck movements | | | | of the knee - and never to the side. |