What Should a Hatha Yoga Teacher Know? - Part 2

Yoga teachers should have good working knowledge of Yoga posture alignment and know how to assist a Yoga student who is holding an asana. When you are about to give an assist - ask for permission first; as this might be considered an invasion of privacy by some of your Yoga students. Yoga teachers should not take for granted that all students want a physical assist and should respect their space.

Yogic philosophy: Yamas and Niyamas are the ethical principles of Yoga. Most of us read Patanjalis guidelines from the Yoga Sutras. If you want to become a Yoga teacher, you should get your own copy of the Yoga Sutras. The Yamas contain the following five self restraints.

Ahimsa: A Yoga teacher should be a living example of how to avoid violence, harming, and especially killing. This principle can be carried further, as you should avoid purposely injuring yourself in any way. To avoid harming animals could also be included within this principle of Yoga. It is one more reason to consider vegetarianism or, at least, to cut back on meat consumption.

Satya: To be true and honest in every way. This is a very simplistic principle and includes avoiding deception of any kind, shape, or form. However, the truth can sometimes hurt people deeply, so you must use your best judgment when you want to avoid harming someone, but do not lie.

Asteya: This is to avoid stealing in any way. This is a simple principle, but throughout history, laws were sometimes modified to justify stealing. The problem is the desire of something - to the point of jealousy, and finally outright theft. The elimination of the Cathars, Africans, and Native Americans are just three examples of people who suffered from modified laws that took away their land.

Brahmacharya: To be free from sensual imprisonment and to live in moderation. At first we might think of lust, and correct this by seeing another person as more than a sexual object. However, most obesity can be found within industrialized nations, where the lust that may kill most people, is over consumption of food.

Therefore, we should strive to be moderate in eating, drinking, sex, Internet use, consumerism, computer games, television, and our behavior. With that said, the use of any illegal drugs is very far from moderate or responsible behavior.

Aparigraha: To be free from greed, wanting, hoarding, and to avoid being selfish. This is one more good reason to give to charity, and help those in need.

Yoga teachers should not only know these principles, but should live by them.

Copyright 2006 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Jerard

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What is Yoga?

Yoga comes from a Hindu philosophy used to attain spiritual insight and harmony, but generally refers in common use to a system of exercises that is practiced as part of this discipline. The word itself is derived from the Sanskrit "yeung", meaning to join. A yoke as used on oxen is closely related, but also the same root gives us "join", "junction", "junta", "adjust", "joust", and "juxapose" to name a few. The Mueller Center offers classes for both beginners and those more advanced. ...
Meaning union with the divine, yoga is a philosophy and discipline applied to the development of mind, body, and spirit. There are many disciplines of yoga emphasizing different aspects or combination of mind body spirit. Through practices of holding a variety of body positions or asanas, and the centering of the mind and breath in a meditative way, the practitioner increases body awareness, posture, flexibility of body and mind and calmness of spirit.
An ancient system of practices originating in India. It is aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit to enhance health and well-being. There are many different forms of yoga. Hatha yoga — the most widely practised form of yoga in the Western world — uses specific postures and breathing exercises.