| All too frequently, I am asked by middle-aged or senior | | | | Pranayama (cultivation of life force through breath) is |
| students, who aspire to become a Yoga teacher, | | | | the ruler of body, mind, spirit, and emotions. Pranayama |
| "When is the best time to become a Yoga teacher?" | | | | keeps you healthy in all aspects of existence, and |
| Has the window of time passed for this opportunity, | | | | Pranayama governs many asana techniques. If you |
| and is a younger Yoga instructor better suited to | | | | cannot breathe correctly, asana performance can be |
| teach Yoga to the public? | | | | very frustrating - when folding, balancing, or twisting. |
| Some of these veteran Yoga students have decades | | | | Pranayama makes mudra (gestures), and bandha |
| of experience, but feel intimidated by the "young hard | | | | (locks), purification of the nadis (energy channels), and |
| bodies." This is a deep subject, so let's take a closer | | | | meditation, much more powerful. |
| look at what holds some of us back from becoming a | | | | However, Pranayama is not the only aspect of Hatha |
| Yoga teacher. | | | | Yoga. It is just one of the many aspects mentioned |
| The following three issues are worth mentioning at this | | | | within the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Maharishi Patanjali |
| point: | | | | mentions eight limbs within the Yoga Sutras. Asana is |
| 1. Is Hatha Yoga strictly a physical practice? | | | | just one of the eight limbs of Yoga, but asana can be |
| 2. If Hatha Yoga were an exercise class, the value of | | | | seen, and can be performed, to impress the public. |
| a "coach" is worthy of note. | | | | Would the public be impressed by Samadhi (the settled |
| 3. There are so many Yoga students over 40 years | | | | mind)? You already know the answer - The general |
| of age, who desire a knowledgeable, mature, and | | | | public is impressed by the superficial aspects of Yoga, |
| careful Yoga teacher. | | | | but Yoga is much more than one aspect. |
| Is Hatha Yoga strictly a physical practice? No - Hatha | | | | If Hatha Yoga were simply an exercise class, the |
| Yoga covers mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects, | | | | value of a "coach" is still worthy of note. The definition |
| as well as the physical aspects of life. The public has | | | | of a "teacher" in most languages is, "One who has |
| been duped by pretzel asanas (postures) on the | | | | been there before." |
| covers of magazines. | | | | When you can teach a Yoga student how to perform |
| If you never studied Yoga, you might not know better, | | | | an asana technique correctly, but you cannot perform |
| but I am surprised when a student, with ten or more | | | | the same asana perfectly, that is a part of being a |
| years of practice, still sees asana as the "Holy Grail" of | | | | teacher. The fact is - you understand the mechanics |
| Hatha Yoga. Asana is very valuable, but does not | | | | as good as anyone. |
| govern Hatha Yoga. | | | | |