By: Virginia Iversen,
M.Ed.
If you
are fluent in two or more languages, you have probably noticed that there are
slight qualitative differences in the way that cultures describe daily life
events, various emotions and states of being. The ancient language of Yoga,
Sanskrit, has a word "niscintata" that refers to being in a state of
harmony, both with oneself and one's surroundings. The many-layered meaning of
niscintata is encapsulated by B.K.S. Iyengar's definition of vibrant physical
health and mental well being.
B.K.S. Iyengar
is one of the most well-known and highly reputed Yoga teachers. He brought this
ancient practice to the west several decades ago. He stated that: "Health
is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free
from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open
up." This is a beautiful way of describing the state of harmony with one's
self and one's surroundings, which is enfolded in the layered meanings of the
ancient Sanskrit term, niscintata. This state of well being is also grounded in
being free from mental agitation.
When
you're teaching a Yoga class, there is a very fine balance between honoring and
standing in your own truth as a certified instructor and honoring the truth of
your students' experiences. There is also a shared experience that is created
between a Yoga teacher and his or her students. Honoring the interplay between
you and your students is important, as you fine-tune your method of teaching.
As a professional Yoga instructor, you are undoubtedly well versed in the
precise, correct alignment of the asanas and human anatomy. In addition, you
are probably well versed in how to sequence a class so that it is balanced,
challenging and safe for your students.
However,
you may not have been trained in the art of deep listening and mindful
awareness practices. These practices will help augment the training that you
received during your Yoga certification program. In many ways, it is just as
important to be able to listen to your students with mindful awareness, as it
is to know the precise drishti point in a Yoga posture. If you do not listen to
your students with compassionate, mindful awareness, you may end up pushing
some of your students too hard into postures that they are not yet ready to
practice, or you may not provide your students with the type and intensity of
Yoga class from which they would most benefit.
Of
course, it is critically important to know how to teach Yoga postures,
pranayama exercises and meditation techniques correctly and with precision.
When you incorporate being mindfully aware of how your students are approaching
their time on the Yoga mat, you will be more able to subtly shift the practice,
in order to fully support your students in coming into harmony, both with
themselves and with their surroundings. The ability to effectively support your
students in the unfolding process of coming into a state of union or harmony
with themselves truly underlies the essential intention of a Yoga
practice.
In
addition to standing in your own truth as a professional Yoga teacher, it is
also important to honor the subjective experience of your students. For
instance, you may have a student in your class who suffered a knee injury while
skiing several years ago. As you guide your students through a series of
postures, including kneeling postures such as Camel Pose, this student may feel
more comfortable using a folded blanket on his or her Yoga mat, in order to
provide extra padding for the knees. By listening to your students’ needs and
concerns during class, you will be respecting and honoring the innate wisdom of
your students, which will further nurture a state of harmonious equanimity in
your Yoga classes.
Virginia
Iversen, M.Ed, has been practicing and studying the art of Yoga for over twenty
years. She lives in Woodstock, New York, where she works as a writer and an
academic support specialist. She is currently accepting Yoga and health-related
writing orders and may be contacted at: enchantress108@gmail.com.
© Copyright
2016 – Virginia Iversen / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
See our
testimonials to find out what our graduates have to say about our selection of
online teacher certification courses.
Please
feel free to share our posts with your friends, colleagues, and favorite social
media networks.
1 comment:
Thank you for posting this informative article.
Post a Comment