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Learning yoga: is your yoga teacher a bad teacher?

October 19th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If yoga is new to you, the best way to learn is to find a good yoga teacher. However, the growing popularity of yoga has meant that many instructors look on yoga as just another form of physical exercise - they have no real understanding of yoga, and may even allow students to injure themselves,

“Meditation Expert Offers Advice on Avoiding Bad Yoga Teachers” describes the red flags you should watch out for with a yoga teacher:

“Another red flag is if the teacher expects the class to be able to get into poses without walking and talking students through the steps, or encourages injured students to do poses that will aggravate the pain.

‘Teachers should keep students’ injuries in mind when they are choosing poses,’ Desjardins said. ‘They should choose poses that won’t stress injuries, but will still challenge the uninjured students.’”

So how do you find a good yoga teacher?

The best guide is other students. If friends recommend a teacher, and if you can see that yoga has helped them - they’re kinder, more relaxed, and are less stressed - then this may a sign of a good yoga teacher.

On the other hand, if a yoga teacher is recommended by students who focus solely on how much weight they’ve lost, or how hard the yoga teacher makes them work in class, or have been injured in a yoga class, then this teacher may be one you should avoid.

Want to learn yoga?

July 13th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you’re new to yoga, the number of different styles and forms can be confusing. Your best option is to take a class at your local gym, or at a local studio - most beginners start with Hatha Yoga.

If you’re in a location where classes are not available, or you can’t travel, then you certainly can learn yoga from a book or DVD.

If you’re learning on your own, here are some tips which will help:

* Choose a book or DVD which is clearly marked as a “beginners” instruction manual. Although yoga may look relaxing, it’s not. You’ll find that you’re using every muscle in your body, even if it looks as if you’re standing still. If you try to perform at an Intermediate level you may hurt yourself, or decide that yoga is too difficult ;

* Focus on one pose at a time. You don’t need to learn every single yoga asana (pose) - and you can’t, because there are thousands of them. Just spend ten to 15 minutes a day on one pose, as well as a meditation;

* Remember that you’re not in competition with anyone, and there’s no such thing as “perfect” form. You don’t need to perform any of the poses perfectly to get a great workout.

Learn Yoga At Yoga Toes - a yoga studio

May 2nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Yoga Toes’ Amanda Giacomini has more than a decade’s experience with yoga and is a qualified teacher. She formed Yoga Toes with the aim of conducting workshops and providing training to students interested in yoga.

Having traveled to India more than once, the couple has obtained yoga training from the leading teachers of yoga in India and they believe that gentle as well as intelligent adjustments to the art taught to them will help others to learn the practice of yoga more easily. As yoga is believed to have originated in India, they felt going to the roots for the training was the best course of action.

Accomplished Yoga Teachers

Another notable person associated with Yoga Toes, besides the Giacominis, is Wendy McLaughlin who also has many years of teaching experience of yoga. She can teach the physical, emotional as well as psychological aspects of yoga and is the person providing focus on Restorative Yoga which essentially is gentle poses that help to open the body and release tension as well as permit energy that heals the nervous and immune system.

At Yoga Toes, you will find that it is also possible to get personalized attention. This is especially useful for beginners who need to understand the basics before joining group classes. It is also useful for those that are injured, but who still wish to learn how to practice yoga in a safe manner. The costs to you would be around $75 for an hour and $100 for 90 minutes.

Beyond Asanas

At Yoga Toes, it is also possible to come together on a birthday, or to celebrate a wedding, or enjoy a family reunion for a reasonable fee. You can also bring your children to Yoga Toes for them to learn yoga as both the Giacominis are trained to teach yoga to kids. Besides learning yoga, you can get life coaching, massages; have acupuncture performed as well as avail of facial rejuvenation. It is kind of a spa where you can begin the session with meditation and exercise and then relax with a facial or massage.

And, if you want to learn different forms of yoga, then Yoga Toes will teach you ashtanga yoga, vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, restorative yoga, and meditation as well as offer lessons in groups, or in private.

Yoga Studios near YOU

There’s bound to be a yoga studio near you. So if you want personalized instruction, look in the Yellow Pages or in your local newspaper.

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