Yoga for Inner Peace

By Faye Martins

We live in a chaotic world, and we blame everything from technology to our jobs and families for the stress we feel. The truth is that we decide how we will react to any given situation, and the path we choose determines the outcome. The Dalai Lama said it this way: "Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace."

While it is comforting to know we can control our feelings, the process is not a simple one. Creating inner peace is an ongoing process, much like forgiveness. It is something we do again and again. We can, however, learn to do it more easily, and Yoga can help us.

Although the practice has been around for thousands of years, Patanjali first described the eight-limbed path of classical Yoga in his "Yoga Sutras" around the 1st or 2nd century A.D. His writing outlined a path that included morals, ethics, poses, breath control, self-reflection, concentration, meditation, and bliss.

Today, these principles remain an important part of many styles of Yoga. While its practice is less comprehensive in the modern world, Yogic concepts still hold the key to finding inner peace. Around the world, Yoga schools encourage clean living as a complement to physical exercise. Emphasis, however, usually rests on three limbs -  asanas, pranayma, and meditation.

·         Asana is the Sanskrit word for “posture.”  Patanjali says we should hold poses without exceeding out physical limitations and with the intention of deepening our experience.  Poses work well with the breath to prepare us for meditation. Some practitioners get sidetracked into thinking that asana alone is Yoga, but it is only one of eight critical pieces.

·         Pranayama, the Sanskrit word for “controlled breathing,” allows us to regulate our inhalations and exhalations in order to take vital life energy, or prana, into the body. Most breathing exercises can be easily learned. Pranayama can literally change your life, but its value is often underrated.

·         Meditation usually comes at the end of a Yoga training session, but it can be practiced anywhere at any time.  Meditation makes us aware of our minds, bodies, and world around us. It also helps us to connect to something larger than ourselves. Meditation is more difficult than it appears to an outsider and it takes time to master the mind.

Although any of these techniques can help us in the search for inner peace, they are most effective when used together as part of a consistent practice of Yogic methods.

© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

Do you want to become a yoga teacher? See our selection of 200 hour yoga teacher training intensive courses. 

Please feel free to share our posts with your friends, colleagues, and favorite social media networks.

How to Inspire Yoga Students

Prenatal yoga teacher training

By Gopi Rao

Does yoga come naturally to you? Are you passionate about yoga training? If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, you may be wondering why anyone would need inspiration to practice. You love it. Why wouldn’t everyone love it? The problem is you are a yoga teacher who needs to think from a student’s perspective.

Most people realize yoga has a lot of health benefits. However, yogic methodology doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people and not everyone is passionate about it from the start. You can help your yoga students become passionate about yoga by finding ways to inspire them. If you are looking for some ideas on how to inspire yoga students, consider some of the following suggestions.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere of the yoga school makes a huge impact on your students. The studio should be a warm, welcoming, and relaxing place. Being greeted by a friendly, smiling face can make all the difference in the world when someone walks in the door. Low lighting and calming music can provide relaxation to students who may be seeking a place of refuge from the outside world.

Kindness and Encouragement

Kind and encouraging words can make students feel more comfortable. Beginning students may need a lot of coaching, so be prepared to help them with poses and let them know that they need not struggle alone. You are there to guide and encourage them. Intermediate and advanced students also need encouragement from time to time. Words of encouragement go a long way for students at all levels.

If you sense someone is having a bad day, make sure to offer an encouraging comment. Pull them aside after class and ask them how they are doing. Lend a listening ear if they need to vent about their day for a few minutes. Be kind and encouraging to your students and you will inspire them to not only be better yoga students, but to be better people as well.

Attitude

Keep a positive attitude and your yoga students will keep coming back for more. Your attitude will rub off on your students. The smiling face that greets them at the door and the kind, encouraging words that students hear are all part of the positive attitude you want to convey to them. End your class with a positive affirmation so that your students will leave class feeling inspired and ready to take on the world.

© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

Read more articles about teaching classes or 200 hour yoga teacher training intensive courses.