Archive for August, 2006

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

What you are about to read applies to teaching, in general. In fact, we are all teachers, to some degree. You teach your friends, co-workers, strangers, and family members on a daily basis.

The example you set teaches someone in some way. Whether you are a positive role model, or not, people, and the world, react to you. Sorry to say, you have more responsibility than you thought possible.

Do you realize that when you hurt one person, it will set a chain of events into motion? Even worse is that, most violent acts were stimulated by smaller, seemingly unimportant events.

When you talk to your Yoga students, always show mutual respect. Don’t take advantage of your position as a Yoga teacher to temporarily feed your ego.

The first thing a Yoga teacher should instill, in his or her students, is self-motivation. The serious Yoga student must be a self starter. This is a person who practices Yoga at home, as well as in class. They don’t depend on their friends to come to class, and they show up like “clockwork.”

How can you make your Yoga students become self motivators?

You must show up to Yoga class early, enthused, and energized. Encourage all of your students and sincerely praise their achievements. The truth is, Yoga is like music, you can teach a student the basics, but to be a master Yoga teacher, you want to stir the creativity from within.

When your Yoga students become creators, you can help them refine their Yoga practice and watch them become self motivators.

A truly great Yoga teacher will produce teachers, who surpass him or her; and isn’t “passing the torch” what it’s all about?

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Yoga Training for students and Yoga teachers: http://www.riyoga.com
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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

I am often asked by Yoga students about how to evaluate a Yoga Teacher?

The following is the “CALM check list.” These factors are basic criteria that your Yoga Instructor should meet before you continue on to a second Yoga class.

CALM gets it name from four main factors: Communication, Assist, Listen, and Modification. For the right Yoga teacher, you should be answering with a “yes” to all questions.

• Communication: Does your Yoga teacher talk to you, and other students, in a manner of mutual respect? Can you ask a question during class time?

Does your teacher show compassion for you and other students? Does your Yoga teacher take the time to lead you through a guided meditation or relaxation? Meditation and relaxation are major aspects of Yoga practice.

There are Yoga teachers who just want to get “their workout” done. Beware of Yoga teachers, who are so important, they don’t have time for you.

Some students love this air of superiority and, unfortunately, some people love abuse. If you want to learn Yoga, you need an open line of communication with your Yoga teacher.

• Assist: Does your teacher care about your form? Will your teacher give you a verbal or physical assist during your Yoga class? Are props encouraged in your Yoga classes?

Some students never have major problems with alignment and some do, but if your teacher doesn’t give verbal cues, what does that tell you?

• Listen: Does your Yoga teacher take the time to listen to your feedback? Is your teacher “in the moment” with the class?

Once in a while, there is a Yoga instructor who runs, “The-it’s-all-about-me-show.” You are not going to learn anything from this type of teaching. Beginners will be put at risk, trying to keep up with a seasoned Yoga teacher who doesn’t explain anything.

• Modification: Does your Yoga teacher allow modifications and props? If your teacher discourages props, you are in the wrong place.

Some students will need props for life depending upon their range of motion. Just because a teacher can do a posture without props, doesn’t mean every student can.

Summary: Stay away from abusive Yoga teachers, and if you are attracted to abuse, there is always professional help. Some Yoga students crave “the stern, but loving parent” types. They will push you harder, but how much pushing do you really need?

Respect is a two way street, and you deserve as much respect as your Yoga teacher does. Let common sense be your guide. You should feel good after a Yoga class, and you might even feel muscle soreness days after a vigorous class.

Make sure your Yoga teacher meets the above criteria before making a commitment.

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Yoga Training for students and Yoga teachers: http://www.riyoga.com
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The last day of Yoga classes, at our North Providence location, will be September 21, 2006. After that, Aura Wellness Center will have a Grand Opening on Monday, October 2, 2006, at our new Attleboro, MA location.
So, which styles of Yoga can you expect to participate in?

You can expect to see Restorative Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Pilates Body Sculpt, Yoga Fusion, Kids Yoga, Private Yoga or Pilates Sessions, Personal Fitness Training, and other Wellness Sessions.

Aura Wellness Center holds many workshops for local Yoga teachers. We will continue to meet the standards of the Yoga Alliance in regard to contact hours for Yoga teachers. Some of these Yoga teacher workshops will start in January of 2007. We had guest Yoga teachers visit us from California to Turkey in 2006.

However, we want to stress that you do not have to be a Yoga teacher to participate in our workshops. If you are a serious Yoga practitioner, you are more than welcome to take part in our Yoga workshops.

We also have two CPR certification sessions per year. Our next CPR certification session will be scheduled in November, 2006.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

Best Regards,
Paul, Marie, Paul III, and Jackie

Contact Information:

AURA Wellness Center
21 Park Street, Suite 202
Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: 508-222-0092 (Our phone will be activated in mid-September.)
RI Phone: 401-725-5133
Fax: 401-633-6081
Email: aurayoga@aol.com

Kids Yoga: Stress Management Sessions for Children

By Paul Jerard

Let’s think about it: Being a kid these days is not what it used to be. If you grew up watching “Leave it to Beaver,” you cannot really relate to the current peer pressure, multi-tasking, sub-par education programs, and daily distractions that our children and grandchildren accept as part of daily life.

Family structure is not what it used to be either. Many children live in single parent households. This has become a painful fact of life for children to accept growing up without both of their parents. The family unit has changed and parents need practical solutions a lot more than criticism or a lecture.

Peer pressure in school is much more than just drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. Children are harassed by their peers, over every issue, including the clothes they wear. These days, children are pressured into pretending they are rich or joining a gang. This causes children more stress, at an early age, than they need.

So, what is a caring parent to do? Kids Yoga is one answer. Yoga classes for children offer a positive refuge from life outside the Yoga studio. Just by stretching muscles, deep breathing, laughing, getting proper exercise, learning how to relax, meditating, and playing “Yoga games,” a child can be a kid again.

Kids Yoga allows a child to deal with daily stress. Each time a child enters a Yoga class for kids, he or she can “close the door” on negative feelings that stress overload brings. Children who attend Yoga classes have one common thread: Their parents care about their well being.

It is not easy for children to socialize with other “good kids,” at a time when physical education, recess, children’s programs, manners, and social skills are being placed “on the back burner.” Yet the structure of a Yoga class allows children to bond, socialize, learn, and improve their lives, with new life skills.

Yoga classes are usually non-competitive, but a parent can easily observe just to make sure. Competition is everywhere, but there is no need for it in Yoga or any form of Mind and Body health maintenance.

Lastly, Yoga has many benefits for both genders. Yoga is good for both boys and girls to learn. The physical skills and knowledge will carry over into other hobbies and sports. Most of today’s elite athletes learn Yoga for cross training purposes. An athlete, who is flexible, strong, and calm under fire, is a formidable opponent. This is the reason why so many of the world’s professional sports teams cross train their players and teach them Yoga.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

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Yoga Training for students and Yoga teachers: http://www.riyoga.com
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