Jackie Heffer-Cooke: zenmuma.co.uk. @Jackie.freedomseekers. Photographer: Jess Wilkins Photography

Teacher Training Guide

2022

Yoga Teacher Training: Special Report

2022

Welcome

Welcome to OM’s yoga teacher training guide. If you’re a yoga student looking to make the leap into teaching, or just keen to explore the practice more deeply, then you’re in the right place. Inside, there’s everything you need to know about choosing the right course for you, what to expect, and what life’s like after training, plus other insight, expert advice and tips from top teachers. A yoga teacher training should be one of most memorable experiences of your life, but how do you really know you’re ready for it? And what’s it really like during the course? Afterwards, how do you begin to build a teaching career? Here, you’ll find answers to all the key questions from some of the world’s most experienced yoga teachers. Enjoy the journey. You can do it!

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Cover

Before 82 What Makes A Great Teacher? 84 Online Learning 85 Confessions Of A Yoga Teacher 86 Preparing For Yoga Teacher Training 88 What’s Your Motivation? 90 Ready Or Not? 92 Where Old Meets New 94 7 Things To Think About Before Signing Up 96 Find The Right Course You 98 Before You Begin 100 Blended Learning: Teaching The Future

Jackie Heffer-Cooke: zenmuma.co.uk. @Jackie.freedomseekers. Photographer: Jess Wilkins Photography 80

102 A Very Special Time To Be Alive

After 124 Yoga Teacher Jobs 126 How To Thrive As A Yoga Teacher 128 Getting Class Confident 130 Peace Of Mind 132 Finding Your Inner Voice 134 What Next? 136 Continuing Professional Development 138 Heating The Hot Studio 140 Yoga Franchising 142 The Business Of Teaching Yoga 144 Yoga Is For Everyone 146 What’s It’s Really Like To Teach Yoga

During 104 Core Skills 106 Emotional Baggage 108 Life After Teacher Training 110 Best Of Both Worlds 112 Teaching From Within 114 Spontaneous Yoga In Teacher Training 116 Flying Fantastic 118 Reiki-Infused Yoga 120 Save The Children 122 Sam’s School

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Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

What makes a great teacher? What are the ingredients you need to be a successful yoga teacher? By Faye Shekhar The times I hear: “I can’t do handstand or forearm balance so I don’t think I’m ready for my teacher training yet, am I?” I often rephrase the question back to students. “Do you think being able to do poses such as handstand and forearm balance are vital to a practitioner wishing to become a teacher? Also consider, what growth do you think a practitioner obtains from asana practice if poses such as these are easily attainable?” You will often catch me in my classes saying that “an intermediate yogi is not someone who can access pretzel shapes, an intermediate yogi is the only person in a room who cannot do a particular pose and they feel indifferent.” It’s beautiful to see all the photographs on Instagram of advanced asana in far-flung destinations with the latest, all-singing, alldancing yoga mat and the latest matching branded yoga gear, but question the reason behind these images. Is it rooted in yoga or is it nothing at all about yoga?  I can speak from a place of experience as a traveling yoga teacher. The whole time that I was traveling from place to place, teacher to teacher, training to training, I was constantly seeking and never finding. I very much aimed to share a deeper message of all that I was learning via my images, because intellectually I was learning a lot. But I was most definitely lacking in the ‘experience’ of connection 82

to the Self. I was perpetually outward searching for the next destination, the next training, the next teacher that would make me feel whole. In all of these pilgrimages I was taking, I had completely missed that what I actually needed was a pilgrimage home. I realise now that I would have found wholeness there inside of me if I’d only taken the time to stop, be still more often and spend time focusing more on being present to all that was there within my own Self.  What is absolutely relevant in terms of becoming a good teacher is your commitment to showing up for your Self so that our humanness becomes infused with divine truth, and so that all thoughts, words and actions derive from that place of truth. When I sit with a teacher now, it wouldn’t even cross my mind to consider whether they can handstand or not. I want to know if they can be my guide home to that place of potency and possibility, to that vibrantly alive wholeness that is within me.  We spend so much time concerned with perfecting what’s on the outside and our material selves, about whether we match up to everyone else around us, our attractions and aversions to worldly things, people and ideas when, in fact, what we should be looking to perfect and purify is that which is on the inside, to tackle what the Vedic scriptures note as our ‘real

enemies’…lust, anger, greed, envy and ignorance, all of which, of course, reside within our own selves.  

ātmasaṃyama 

(Discipline of practice)

The amount of hours we put into practice whether that be asana (postures), pranayama (breath work), dhyana (meditation), shastra (ancient texts), and many other avenues of practice is directly relative to what we will become. The Bhagavad Gita reminds us that the manas (mind) is like a double-edged sword.

"For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; for one who has failed to do so, their mind may be their greatest enemy." ~ Bhagavad Gita 6:6

Time spent worrying about other places, other people and other things is time wasted and exacerbates the enemies of the Self whilst spiritual practice trains the buddhi (the intellect) and purifies the mind.   When I applied for my first 200hr YTT back in 2005 having spent 18 months with a teacher, I was told that I wasn’t ready and

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE that I needed to take a further six months with practice and to re-apply. Had I been ready, there wouldn’t have been an ounce of me that didn’t agree. Of course, all these years later I have great respect for those teachers pointing me back to my Self and to a consistent practice. I’m just not sure I fully understood that at the time.

samāveśa nyāya

(The method of immersing in one’s own divinity)

I received a profound teaching from my beloved meditation teacher Paul Muller Ortega who said: “Worry not about how the practice manifests, what matters is the amount of time spent and the imprint of practice.” He likened this to the beautiful coloured fabrics we see in India and how at first they are colourless but get put into these large vats of dye. When hung in the sun, the dye fades but a little imprint of the dye is left on the cloth and the process is repeated and the colour becomes greater. Similarly, our intellect is imprinted by the consciousness on the inside rather than all of the stress and worry that is on the outside. He never messed around with ‘try 5 minutes, then 10’, he made no bones of saying that practice should be 20 minutes twice a day. Just as an old zen saying says. 

"You should sit for 20 minutes a day, unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour." ~Zen Proverb

ātma sāt kāra

(Assimilating practices, teachings and understandings and making them your own)

Once you have a developed and sustained practice then it’s about beginning to make them your own. In what ways have these practices been of benefit to you and your life? What do these teachings mean to you? How are they relevant in your life? How might you be able to share them from your own experience sufficiently enough so that they become meaningful, available and useful to others?  This is a very focused part of our 250hr YTT at Same Star Yoga. We want to see that you have some understanding of how some of the shastra (ancient texts) are still relevant to you in the modern world, and how you are able to articulate and share that from a place of experience and coherence.

"I honour all of the teachings & my teachers seen & unseen but I am mostly grateful for and I honour the true guru that resides within my own self." ~ Om Bolo Shri Sat Guru Bhagavan Ki Jai

ūrmi sāgara nyāya

(Teaching principle of ocean and wave)  Our experience as householder

practitioners is relative to spanda, the pulse of life itself, the inherent creative vibration of universal consciousness as it moves into and out of form. Life is full of ups and downs and a yogic path isn’t always an easy path; you will definitely experience adversity as you begin to untangle all of the conditionings of life. However, this beautiful ancient teaching helps us to understand and to remember that when the wave of life comes crashing down and the many times in life where we are called or even pushed to turn in and to contract back into the ocean of consciousness are for great purpose, and that this is a natural occurrence in order for there to be a relative expansion back into our own individual wave of consciousness again.   May you always ride the waves of life infused with the ocean of grace.  Faye Shekhar is a (primarily) Jivamukti yoga teacher and the co-owner of Same Star Yoga Studio in Suffolk. Visit: samestaryoga.com

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Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

ONLINE learning

To online or not to online? That is the question. Gopala Amir Yaffa explores the emergence of online trainings In 2016, after years of resisting making technology a big part of my yoga training business, and on the verge of releasing my first online children’s yoga teacher training, I reflected on the benefits and harms of screen time. Read below… I was never a big admirer of technology. In fact, I hardly let my kids use it; I only use it because I need to for my work. I get annoyed when my wife looks at her phone instead of at me, and she rightfully gets upset if I look at my work emails when it is family time. We really try to avoid being trapped in those modern habits because we believe in love. My nine-year-old boy has been asking us to let him play computer games for years. But our answer is always: “There is a beautiful and fascinating world all around you; we want you to explore it and engage with it.” I believe in nature, real-life connections, communication, touch, play, and love. There is no real love in computers and phones. You can communicate love through electronic media, but it will never feel like holding a puppy or hugging a loved one. Looking at Facebook on your smartphone is a very different experience of connectedness than actually looking at the face of someone you love. These devices steal time that actually belongs to our family, our love life and our friends. Relationships, whether they are with our 84

children, partners, or friends, need nurturing and care. To grow and to thrive, our relationships need us to invest time in them. Now, I have a big family of four children and a successful yoga business that just keeps growing and demanding more time. I also have passions, interests, and a need to learn new things and without these, I don’t feel alive amid all of life’s busy-ness. So, when do I find time for me, my ambitions, and my growth? Well, now I have come to realise some of the benefits of technology; it is a great way to share knowledge at a time that’s convenient for us. There is so much more I want to learn in the short time I was given on earth, but it is not always available to me where I live, or at a time that is practical for me and my family and business. So I started taking online training courses on different topics that intrigue me both professionally and personally. When? When everyone else is sleeping! I gain the knowledge online, and I put it into practice in my work and in my teaching and even in my parenting. The internet is a magical place full of information that can be translated into action in real life. With all of its drawbacks, the internet has its benefits; I remember one of my teachers, Geshe Michael Roach, leading a year-long project to put Tibetan manuscripts that

have been saved from the Chinese invasion online. What a great way to distribute this knowledge that otherwise might have been totally lost! I was a Hindu monk in an Ashram for 10 years, I have spent the last 27 years teaching yoga to people of all ages and more than 20 years training teachers; I have a lot to share with the world too. We have invested a lot in our online trainings so that they are able to replicate the experience of being in the presence and learning directly from a person who is experienced and passionate about what they teach. This is great for busy people like me. And that is why I believe that our Online Rainbow Kids Yoga Teacher Training is an amazing and easy way to spread this practice to more children, families, and schools all around the world. Communication is a powerful instrument that can heal or destroy. There are lots of negative things on the web, so now I feel compelled to fill it with more positive knowledge, joy and fun. We are here to make the world a better place, and our impact can be bigger if we use the communication tools the modern world has to offer us. Gopala Amir Yaffa is the founder of Rainbow Kids Yoga (rainbowyogatraining.com)

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

Confessions of a yoga teacher Jackie Heffer-Cooke The reality of yoga in the modern era I sat down to meditate on my confessions, and thought, ‘sh*t, there are so many’! For one I swear. Once (or maybe twice) I’ve yelled at my kids (and my husband). I lied when I told my friend I liked her hair. I stole onions. I have outrageously flirted with people I shouldn’t have. I can be possessive of my yoga mat. I got cross at a waitress who wasn’t paying attention. I get really distracted by shiny things. I walk past people collecting for charity. I have said something and done the other. Occasionally, at a very good party, I drink too much tequila and dance on tables. I buy veggies I wish I had grown, sometimes in plastic packaging. I can get moody on grey days and can’t see the beauty in a tree.

I have got envious of other yogi’s practice. I do not do enough. There is some deep stuff I’m still holding on to for dear life, even though I want to let go. Goddamit what am I doing being a yoga teacher? Ah, Being human. In the human condition. Meditating on watching it. And noticing, when I need to turn my face back to the sun. Jackie Heffer-Cooke is a yoga teacher trainer, with one foot in the pragmatic. Her teachings focus on doing your best to be a yogi in our modern, western, world. With an approachable style she helps guide mums, parents and children with ZenMuma and ZenKids, and trains in pregnancy, baby, kids’ yoga and alongside her swami also teaches the 200-hour foundation course. Visit: zenmuma.co.uk @Jackie.freedomseekers

https://rainbowyogatraining.com https://instagram.com/ rainbowkidsyoga

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Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

Preparing for yoga teacher training

What can a student do to be ready for a teacher training course? By Sally Parkes Having taught yoga teacher trainings since 2010 I have noticed a huge increase in students enrolling in the now many various yoga trainings being offered. And whilst many students are very enthusiastic about their upcoming training, it can be challenging to know the best way in which to prepare mentally and physically in order to enjoy the optimum learning experience. So, what can we do to make the relationship between student and training school more effective and bring the student closer to an authentic outcome? Let’s take a look at some ideas that many of my students have found helpful. Yoga asana practice: The regular and steady practice of yoga asana (yoga postures) is of course a wonderfully effective way in which we can prepare for a yoga training and is also known as Sadhana. On a subtle realm, it helps to clear energetic blockages in our chakras system, positively effecting our koshas. And on a more physical level, it helps us to build stamina across all the components of fitness. We also build the mental focus and strength required to deal with challenges that may arise during the course of the training, and throughout a yoga career. On a more practical level, learning the names of at least some of the yoga asanas in both English and Sanskrit can help you feel 86

more confident going into the training. This can also help you follow the lessons more easily. Different styles of yoga: Most of us have a favourite style of yoga which we tend to stick to, but by exploring the differing styles available, we can sometimes further uncover and clear energetic blockages that would not have been unearthed otherwise. This is because different methods of yoga place differing emphasis on the various elements of yoga, with some going deeply into chanting, some more into meditation and some the act of karma yoga, all of which can potentially help to polish and refine our insight more deeply than if we had we stuck to a single approach. Practice meditation: With our busy minds as they are, meditation is often perceived as the more challenging part of the yoga system to learn. But even a regular practice of 10 minutes a day can really help us to arrange our thoughts more helpfully, hone our insight, and connect with our intuition. The result is that we can then more thoughtfully and calmly guide ourselves through yoga teacher training and life beyond. Create a sacred space: Having a designated space in your home can assist you in maintaining consistency in your

practice, be it yoga asana or mediation. And if you are limited on space, creating a small altar area with some objects and imagery that are personal to you, can be a great idea. This is a way to create a safe space to process and work through emotions that arise during your teacher training journey. And then, over time, it can become a valuable tool in helping you to feel more connected to your consciousness each time you take a quiet moment to reflect upon it. Detox your lifestyle: You may have found already that with the regular practice of yoga, certain unhelpful lifestyle choices have already dropped away. But to prepare for your yoga training further, we can cleanse our digestive system, organs and energy field by refining our diets and upping our nutritional intake. This could be as simple as increasing water, fruit and vegetable consumption in your meals and/or pausing or stopping alcoholic drinks during the week for example, to a more thorough approach like switching to a Sattvic diet. Earlier nights and being mindful of what we ingest through the media can also be helpful ways to detox the mind and remain focused on the task at hand. Study yoga philosophy: By learning the Eight Limbs of Yoga, the system which underpins a life as a yogi, we can really get a

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

sense of why we are practicing yoga asana in the first place, and the context in which it actually exists. This provides us with the ideal setting for us to practice the physical and subtle side of yoga, and ultimately for it to make more sense. Journaling: Regularly writing down thoughts and questions, lines of inquiry regarding ourselves and the world around us, and our responses and reactions to situations for example, can all assist in our personal self-development, and therefore our preparation for yoga training. It can also be helpful to look back and see how your inner dialogue has changed posttraining too so you can see how far you have come. Know the course materials: It can be quite overwhelming for some to be in a new environment with new people and then be expected to make sense of new training manuals and other materials as well. So, if at all possible, obtain copies of the course material prior to the start dates so you can get to know them a little beforehand so it’s easier to make notes

and again feel more confident going into the training. Managing expectations: And lastly, it is near impossible to embark on such a potentially profound journey of learning without some pretty solid expectations. However, yoga has a way of shifting us towards the unexpected, and so by cultivating the practice of non-attachment to a specific outcome, we can simply see what comes up, and this can be helpful in making the experience more true. For example, sometimes students move in a different direction in the style of yoga that they are intuitively led towards teaching to what they had expected, whilst others don’t teach at all. Others teach full-time and never look back. It really is a personal journey, and the destination can be very unknown…and that’s okay too. Sally Parkes BSc is the founder of The Sally Parkes Yoga Teacher Training Academy and author of the bestselling book The Manual of Yoga Anatomy @sallyparkesyoga

https://sallyparkesyoga.com

[email protected] https://instagram.com/sallyparkesyoga

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

What's your motivation? The importance of knowing why you're doing a yoga teacher training: to deepen your own practice or to launch a new career? By Lucy Leslie

Thinking back to when I made my decision to become a yoga teacher, I remember being on the sofa, heavily pregnant, and my then-husband asking me what I was going to do after the baby was born. I hadn't given much thought to going back to work. I immediately answered: “I'm going to become a yoga teacher.” I loved that pregnancy with my first child. I had looked for yoga classes when pregnant truthfully because I had wanted to control my weight. I had always been fit and athletic. I waited many years to become pregnant. Once I was with child, an uncomfortable desire still lingered… pressure to not gain weight. Yoga, then, I decided! Safe exercise when pregnant. I’d already practiced strong, hot and flowing yoga methods – pregnancy yoga must do the same job I assumed. I attended classes in a basement on the Fulham Road with a wonderful teacher called Miranda. It was in her classes that I learned something that has been the touchstone of my entire career since - I was moving my body, with my beautiful unborn baby boy inside me and for the first time in my entire life I was being gentle with myself. I was aware and vigilant. Until that point, I felt my body had never been quite right; it never looked slim enough, never did exactly what I 88

wanted it to, it could've been stronger, and it should've been more defined. And yet with this beautiful baby inside me I was 100% mindful of the way that I moved. I did not want to injure, hurt or cause any discomfort or damage to my unborn child in that moment. I also felt great sadness. I realised that if I would afford that kindness to my unborn child, why would I not afford that same benevolence to myself? I understood that there was a part of me,

my essence, or soul perhaps, that cared about me and wanted me to extend the same compassion to the mother of this child. And that's why I became a yoga teacher. Yoga allowed me to connect to the part of me I had spent years drowning out. My spirit was there, just waiting to be heard in that yoga class. I knew I had touched upon something that practically every woman deals with. If I could provide a place for others to connect to their true

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

self and change some unhelpful patterns, as was done for me in a yoga class, I would be happy with my decision. This was my own motivation for becoming a yoga teacher. And so, in choosing why you become a yoga teacher, my advice would be to let your motivation come from a place that is felt and from the heart. The teachers I see, to whom my students warm best, have used yoga to support their own journey and have a calling to share the yoga that helped them. I teach trainings now and I become friends with the teachers who I train, they become lifelong friends of my studio. I would say that about 40% of my trainees say they don't want to become yoga teachers when we have the preenrolment meeting, these trainees just want to immerse themselves deeper in the teachings. Interestingly, by the end of the nine months, their practice becomes so entirely committed, I see them at the studio every day; gentle, quiet, mindful, thoughtful practitioners who are the support and lifeblood of my studio. The 200hr teacher trainings are full on.

It’s nine months of learning and opening up; it's a rollercoaster of emotion and there's a fair bit of written work to do. Friendships are formed, feelings are felt; the entire experience is life changing. I’m delighted every intake to see students whose lives have been touched, transformed and edified by immersing in their yoga trainings. In readiness for making the decision, be sure you have enough time. It’s a commitment that requires you not only to study but also to practice yoga yourself. It’s super important to have a ‘unique selling point’. We need to have some idea of where we might go after investing in a big course like this. Investigate the many forms and lineages and work with as many teachers as you can. Our interests change as does our body over the years; I like to stay open-hearted and open-minded always learning from different teachers. Once you graduate, be in the now. Try to teach straight away, or be open to not using the training the way you originally thought. I encourage my graduates to monetise the six-week beginners’ course they have designed for their training. Hire

the hall, get the slot at your local yoga studio and begin. I also advise not being in a rush to take too many further trainings; there is great pressure on us as teachers to continue to take big trainings. Instead, look at interesting workshops, CPDs and short trainings. Try and hone your skills with your clients before investing again. As teachers, old and new, we all feel as though we will never know enough. Yet the more we teach, the more we watch our clients, the more we feel their responses to our interpretation of these ancient teachings, the more we can shape our class plans to really support those people that support us…the students and clients who entrust their bodies into our hands each time they come to our class. Lucy is the founder, owner & director of Lake View Yoga Ltd & Sussex Yoga Training Ltd Practicing for 25 years, teaching since 2010, Lucy is a Yoga Alliance Senior Yoga Teacher & Trainer, British Wheel of Yoga L4 Diploma Teacher & SYT500. Certified to teach Pregnancy, Postnatal, Hot Yoga & Restorative Yoga her life is all yoga & pretty fabulous because of it.

https://sussexyogatraining.uk

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Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

Ready

or not?

There’s no time like the present! Suzanne Davies explores the common reasons students delay taking the plunge into teacher training How do you know when you’re ready to embark on a yoga teacher training? Well chances are, if you’re reading this, you already are! But if you still need convincing, here are my responses to the concerns I hear the most.

something much deeper. So, if you’re really concerned about your ability to demonstrate posture, choose a stye of yoga that places more emphasis on pranayama and meditation.

I’m not good enough

You will never know enough so don’t let this hold you back. Yoga is a journey down a rabbit hole to the very meaning of existence. You’re not expected to fully grasp that for a 200-hour teacher training! If you have been practicing yoga regularly for a couple of years, understand the structure of a class, and are aware that yoga is more than stretching, you know enough to sign up. Tried to read Patanjali’s Sutras and failed? You’re not alone. Yoga texts are often deliberately vague to allow students the gift of self-discovery. Plus, a lot of this stuff is beyond words. Accepting that you don’t know it all, and maybe never will, and being curious is more than enough to see you through a teacher training.

This is what I hear the most. How can I train to be a teacher when I can’t do all the poses properly? Well, here’s the thing: it doesn’t matter. I had these thoughts when I signed up to my teacher training. A couple of months before the training was due to start, I entered a wild panic. I tried to force my body into poses it wasn’t designed for and attempted to lose a stone in weight with some crazy idea of trying to look more ‘yogic’. It was, of course, irrational, but, in my apprehensive state, the course was going to be full of young, slim contortionists, and I was going to be the old fraud. As it turned out my fellow trainees mirrored the wider public, with different ages, and shapes, strengths, and weaknesses. And the training was much richer for it. We are all unique and bring different perspectives and voices that broaden yoga’s appeal. And we might think our perceived ‘flaws’ will make us a bad teacher, but often they make us better. When I see someone struggling in my class to touch their toes, or to sit cross-legged, I can put myself in their position because I’ve been there too. Raising self-awareness is a key element of yoga. Taking a yoga teacher training can highlight the way you respond to challenge and being uncomfortable. My experience revealed so much about my thought processes, and habitual ways of responding to life – in many ways that was the most transformative part, and still informs the way I teach. And let’s not forget that yoga isn’t about posture. Asana merely leads the way to 90

I don’t know enough

I’m not sure I want to teach yet

A lot of people don’t take teacher training courses with the aim of becoming a teacher. Wanting to learn more about the practice and spend some time deeply immersed in it is a great reason to sign up. Sure, on most courses you will be expected to lead a class at some stage. But if you’re not planning to teach, then what does this matter? An hour or so of being nervous and an experience never to be repeated! Learning to teach a subject is a great way to deepen your understanding of it, so, perhaps, try looking at it like that.

I don’t have the confidence to teach

If, like me, you’re introverted, then putting yourself out there and teaching is challenging. When I trained, I thought I’d be smart and chose to teach my assessed class as early morning sadhana, figuring no one

would get up early. Little did I know that the date I had chosen coincided with an all-night event at the venue, so I ended up teaching sadhana to 100 people! As awful as it was, it was also a gift – nothing has been that challenging for me as a teacher since. That’s an extreme example, but most yoga teachers will tell you that teaching on the training course is the hardest. You’re new to it, and you’re being monitored. But it’s like taking your driving test; just a few nervous hours and then a lifetime on the open road. And don’t forget a teacher training course is exactly that…a course designed to train teachers, to give you the knowledge and skills you need to teach confidently.

I’m not sure I have enough time

A teacher training can be a transformative experience, and you want to give it the time it deserves. Not just for the course, but also for deepening your personal practice. Make an honest assessment of your current commitments and figure out how much spare time you have. And then look around – there are so many different styles of teacher training now – online, intensive, spread out over several months. Figure out what works for you and what you can commit to.

But…..

We can spend our whole life wondering if we’re ready, waiting for the right moment to act. But is there ever a right time for anything? Sometimes we just need to set our doubts and fears to one side and take a leap, trusting that we can make it work. If yoga makes you excited and gets you out of bed in the morning, what are you waiting for? Suzanne Davies is a Senior Yoga Teacher and Trainer Pro (Yoga Alliance Professionals) in Hertfordshire. She runs babacool.net with her husband, Alex. They offer Yoga Teacher Training and Gong Practitioner Training in London.

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

https://samestaryoga.com/yoga-teacher-training

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Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

Where old

meets new Balancing traditional lineage-based yoga approaches with the demands of the modern world. By Zahir Akram The 200hr TT programme at Akram Yoga honours the lineage of yoga. From the very first yogi, Shiva and his wife Parvati, to contemporary teachers like BKS Iyengar. And yet, although we honour the masters of yesteryear, our training is not dictated by ‘yoga tradition’. In modern times, when more and more vulnerable people are taking up yoga, we feel we have a responsibility to ensure the yoga we teach is available for everyone and accessible to all body types. For this reason, our TT course considers science and understanding of the human body as well as yoga lineage.

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Certain elements of the Yoga Sutras and The Vigyan Bhairava Tantra are touched upon, and we do have interesting discussions to see how relevant they may be in modern times. But the physical yoga module of our TT is not an Iyengar

or Ashtanga or any other lineage-based programme. We take the classic yoga poses as taught by BKS Iyengar and we try to add our modern understanding of human movement to these poses. We aim through diligent discussion and dissection to learn how to make each pose accessible to all body types. Which ironically invokes what the grandfather of modern-day yoga, Krishnamacharya, once said. We try to make the poses fit the body rather than try to make the body fit into a pose. We don’t teach poses and ask that a certain foot position look a certain way or point at a specific angle, as per some lineage-based yoga programmes; we look to see what foot position best accommodates that body on that day.  The human body is dynamic and constantly evolving, so we attempt to understand the fascinating architecture of the body by studying biomechanics and anatomical variations. At the same time, this is not an anatomy course. We learn the fundamentals of anatomy to understand the body, which in turn helps us better understand our students. The gradual evolution of our TT to a more science-based programme mirrors our growth as yoga teachers and as human beings. When one first qualifies as a teacher there is safety in teaching what your teacher has taught you, or what is

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

https://akramyoga.co.uk

consistent with your training lineage. But time, experience, personal growth, and reflection help you realise that you cannot fit square pegs into round holes as the saying goes. A typical yoga class isn’t one where all your students are super confident and bendy. A modern-day class is full of people from all walks of life and with a catalogue of injuries and illnesses. They all come to classes, and they are all welcome simply because we don’t try and mould anyone into a perfect yoga practitioner. We constantly remind students to do the best they can with the body they have on that day. This is what someone interested in becoming a yoga teacher needs to understand: yoga classes should be accessible to every body type with any injury or illness. These people are often the ones who need yoga the most. More and more vulnerable people take up yoga each day. As a studio owner for nearly 10 years, I can tell you that more people come to our studio who are batting with something physical or emotional than those who are not. Very few, if anyone, is ready to do each pose perfectly. So, you must ask yourself: is the training you are about to embark on helping you keep these potentially vulnerable students safe? Also, what is a yoga teacher today in 2022? Is a yoga teacher an actual teacher? Someone who inspires people to see the best in themselves? Or is today’s modern day yoga teacher just a choreographer? A pre-rehearsed script reader who copies the dialogue of their own teacher who, in turn, teaches and talks as their teacher did, all in the name of tradition or lineage. The great Swami Vivekananda (who we do reference in our TT courses) once said that man covers his eyes with his own hands and then cries that it is dark. He talked constantly of self-belief and as yoga being a process to realise and embrace our authentic nature and self. This authenticity is not found in falling to our knees in the name of yoga lineage. It is found through being unashamedly ourselves. With all our quirks, insecurities, and eccentricities. We encourage and empower yoga teacher trainees to be as they are and teach in a way that empowers them as well as the student. By Zahir Akram, owner of Akram Yoga Studio akramyoga.co.uk 93

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

7 things to think about before signing up

There’s a myriad of YTT choices on offer today, but which is going to be right for you? By Audrey Blow With seemingly endless choice can come overwhelm. One of the best ways to nip that in the bud is to focus on who you are now and where you want to go with your YTT. Do you really want a career in teaching, or do you want to experience yoga at a deeper level? Where do you want to teach? What’s your lifestyle like? How much time can you give to this ambition? As you consider these questions more are bound to pop up. Here are key considerations where the reality of YTT may surprise you. Get ready for a little myth-busting: 1. This is going to sound counter-intuitive, but a longer course can mean you’ll be teaching with confidence sooner. Why? Because longer courses often have live teaching requirements within them. You’ll be out there teaching while you’re on the course and that means your first year or so teaching will be supported by your YTT tutor and the people studying with you. On a BWY diploma course, for example, you’ll graduate with experience in teaching, having benefited from your YTT tutor and fellow trainee teachers’ support during your early yoga teacher life. They’ll give you valuable insights and feedback that’ll help you grow. 2. Who you are is what’s important, not what you look like. Contrary to what you might imagine looking at mass media, yoga teachers do come in all shapes and sizes – and with just as many life challenges. And those challenges can be your unique yoga power; your skills will be developed in unique ways that students can highly value. 94

For example, I studied to be a YTT tutor with a yoga teacher colleague who’s hard of hearing and deaf to certain pitch ranges. Yes, they’re always going to be mindful of students who might have hearing issues too and they’re an experienced lipreader, a useful communication skill alone. But what struck me was the acute skill this teacher had in tuning into the quality of a student’s movement ­– it was just extraordinary. What makes you different makes you a stronger teacher. 3. You don’t have to be bendy or be able to do headstand to be a yoga teacher. Yoga is about a whole lot more than postures. And do you know what? Your students will appreciate that you’re like them – you’re a teacher, not a superhero. Of course, you’ll doubt whether you’re ‘good enough’ but please believe that you are. Yoga is not a performance, you’re there to help and inspire people on their yoga journey. It’s not the Olympics. 4. Your YTT needs to fit around your lifestyle, not the other way around. Do think about how much time you have available to devote to studying. Trips abroad to be immersed in YTT for months at a time might sound appealing, but will that work for you if you’ve a young family or other commitments? A diploma or certificate course in the UK can take about three hours of your time for study weekly. Is that a good fit for you? Ask about how much time you need to put aside each week – that’s essential to know and plan for.

5. Is your YTT qualification your flexible friend? Okay, so you don’t need to be bendy, but how elastic is your future as a yoga teacher? Not every yoga teacher employer is going to insist on this, but there are organisations who’ll want your YTT qualification to be recognised by a professional standards organisation, such as CIMSPA, before you work with them. It’s worth doing your homework before you begin and not discovering further down the line that your YTT qualification doesn’t give you all the flexibility you want or is not recognised by the relevant authorities. 6. Just like any other career, yoga comes with continual professional development too. Life-long learning is as a big a part of a yoga teacher’s world as anyone else’s. If you want to progress with your teaching, what YTT organisation offers the best choice? Do they offer the support of teachers’ meetings? More questions you might ask while you’re doing that early days’ research. 7. There’s no better job in the world! Alright, I may be biased here but when you look out at your students, lying in Savasana, relaxed and rested… there’s nothing like it. As a yoga teacher you’re inspiring their journey as you share yours. I sincerely wish your journey is as fulfilling as mine proves to be. South Wales-based Audrey Blow is Chair of the British Wheel of Yoga’s Training Committee and has been a BWY Diploma and Certificate course tutor for nine years. Visit: bwy.org.uk

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

https://bwy.org.uk

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

Find the right course for you

Key things to look for when selecting the right yoga teacher training course for you. By Ram Jain So, you have made the choice to become a yoga teacher. An amazing journey awaits you. Whether you are leaving behind the corporate world or simply want to dive deeper into yoga, get ready to embark on a life-changing journey! Now, there are definitely a few things to consider. There are plenty of yoga teacher training courses to choose from, both online and in-person options. This may be very daunting. How do you know which one is right for you? Well, read the following tips so you know what to look out for when selecting the course that is right for you.

focused and consistent on your path. The answer to this question will give you a sense of direction in your search. It is helpful to consider just how serious you are about the subject of yoga. There is a difference between learning more about yoga on a relaxing trip to Bali and taking a teacher training course. If you prefer the former, then it’s suggested you choose a yoga retreat.

What is your ‘why?’

Where should you do your teacher training?

The first step is to discover your ‘why?’ When you figure this out, it helps keep you 96

Which yoga style should you choose?

There are various styles of yoga; Hatha Yoga, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Yin Yoga, to name a few. Note that each has its own theory and practice. Choose a style that feels good and right to you. Be led by passion in this choice as it will not only be beneficial to you but your students too.

These days, yoga courses are available

all over the world. To make the selection easier, research different cities to find which place appeals to you. Consider the weather, culture, and travel time. Also, factor in your expenses, your available time, and what is on offer locally and internationally. You will also have to choose between a residential and a non-residential course. A non-residential course means that you can check out the yoga school and its classes before you make the commitment to joining a course. Usually, the training is spread over a longer period of time and you get the chance to connect with other students and teachers in your area. However, you will miss the opportunity to experience the total yogic immersion of a residential course. Imagine being in a space that is solely dedicated to yoga on a daily basis, from the schedule to the environment to the food. An oasis free from distractions, hustle and bustle so you can truly make the most of your course. It's beneficial to choose a residential

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE course if you have a month to devote to an authentic yoga immersion. The course will require effort and determination for about four weeks with classes six days a week with one day off for study and relaxation.

What’s life like at an ashram?

If you have chosen a residential course, you may have the opportunity to experience an ashram. This is a place for practicing yoga, meditation, and other practices to evolve and grow spiritually. Ashrams are found away from the busyness of cities and metropolitan life, usually in a peaceful village or town. The facilities are simple: basic living quarters, a dining hall and a yoga hall, a library and gardens. The experience is about getting back to basics and becoming independent of normal habits, patterns, and indulgences. There are so many things an ashram can offer that matter. You rise early with the sun and get the chance to make the most of your day. The body can be improved with breathing exercises, meditation, chanting, eating simple food, practicing yoga asana, and discussing philosophy to open the mind. Throughout the day, you follow a strict routine in a basic setting without any distractions. This simplicity helps us

https://arhantayoga.org

understand the importance of the things in life we generally take for granted. It also helps us reflect on our mental conditioning, our habits, and our addictions, which we sometimes confuse for necessities. Choosing the right ashram is crucial. An authentic ashram is non-sectarian in nature, following no particular religion, faith, or guru. Only ashrams that promote a healthy lifestyle and self-awareness through reflection and discipline can be called ashrams. Arhanta Yoga Ashrams offers two unforgettable yogic immersion experiences. One in the motherland of yoga, India, and another in the countryside in a picturesque village in the Netherlands. Both offer reputable yoga teacher training and have a similar atmosphere, discipline, and lifestyle.

How many hours should my course be?

During your research, you will come across 200-, 300-, and 500-hour teacher training courses. You're probably wondering what the difference is between these courses, besides the number of hours. Completion of a certified 200–hour programme means you can start your teaching career with a basic certificate that

is recognised by Yoga Alliance (USA), the International Yoga Federation, and most local alliances. A 300-hour course is a level 2 certification for which the 200-hour programme is a prerequisite. It is far more intense. It is often referred to as ‘advanced yoga teacher training’. A 500-hour yoga teacher training course is typically a combination of 200-hour and 300-hour training courses. Ram Jain is the founding director of the Arhanta Yoga Ashrams (India and The Netherlands) & Arhanta Online Academy. Visit: arhantayoga.org

https://instagram.com/arhanta.yoga

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Teacher zone :Training: TEACHERS' TALES Yoga Teacher BEFORE

Before you begin 7 things to consider when choosing a teacher training course. By Yogacharini Kalavathi Devi

The Teacher  It is important to find the right person

so do your research and look into the qualifications and teaching career of the teacher rather than relying on an accreditation logo as ‘accreditors’ don’t always regulate. Experience is really important. A minimum of 10 years teaching with regular CPD training would be a good place to start. When you have found someone you think is suitable, get in contact. Ring them for a chat or ask to meet them and make sure you find them approachable and likable. You can ask them if they will put you in contact with their graduated students to ask their opinion. If you can, attend some of their classes. Signing up for a few sessions would give you a good experience of their teaching style and ability. 

 Duration

These days we want to do things as quickly as possible but that isn’t always the best way for yoga training. Yoga teacher training is best done over a longer period. We teach best by experience and understanding so we need to spend time with the concepts and practices so that we really get to know them. Short intensive courses pack a lot into a short time but don’t allow you to really feel, understand and develop the practices. This is especially so with pranayama which can take a considerable time to learn to breathe properly before you are able to learn different pranayamas effectively. Since the content will be 98

limited on a short course you will probably find yourself looking at more training afterwards. Check the training dates work for you. An occasional unforeseen absence could be acceptable but you should expect to have good attendance.

Content  Have a look at the content of the course

to make sure it is what you are looking for. You don’t want to be doing something that doesn’t suit you or who you want to teach. Doing a traditional training is a good place to start so that you get a good grounding in all aspects of yoga. This should ensure that you can teach anyone of any age and ability rather than focusing on a ‘style’ that won’t suit everyone. Short courses of different styles can be added on later if you want to do them. You should expect to take regular classes with your teacher whilst training. This will enhance your training since it will support your learning the teachings of your teacher. If you go elsewhere for classes it might get confusing as the detail of the practices can differ between teachers and traditions. You should expect a good amount of homework to do in between the meetings as well as having a personal physical daily practice. Commitment is a must.

Location  Location is important as you need to

consider how you will get there. Is it close enough to commute and are there good public transport links or roads? Will you

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

need to get accommodation if the venue is a little further away? Often the teacher will be able to recommend accommodation and you can often find reasonable places on airbnb or cheaper ones in hostels. There is also the possibility to stay with another student on the course when you make friends. When you do stay away to do your training you have the added benefit of not having any of life’s interruptions when you go home in the evenings.

Online v In-Person  Ideally you will do it in person since it is

love a bargain but although cheap may be attractive, it won’t mean best! Quite often, if you pay peanuts, you will get peanuts! Look at what you will get for the money. Look at how many hours are spent with the teacher, look at the teacher’s qualifications, look at the duration and check the content. All of these things should reflect the price. A year’s training is usually around £2,500, so this should give you a rough idea of costs when looking at shorter or longer courses. Prices can differ depending on location so looking around could save money.

much better for you and the teacher that you are present. However, if the teacher is a good communicator and considerate to how the training will come across online and how the online students are integrated into the group energy then online is not out of the question. If you are considering online or a hybrid course, which offers both, then take an online class with the teacher to see if you think you could work this way. Before Covid-19, I never thought I would ever teach online or that it was possible to do a good job online but when we went into lockdown we had to quickly jump online at the beginning of a new training course. We spent 70% of the course online and I thought I would have to add some extra sessions to cover anything the students hadn’t picked up. But my students proved me wrong and did an amazing job and graduated on time.

Support  This can make a huge difference to your

Cost  When it comes to the price, remember the

Yogacharini Kalavathi Devi is senior teacher and trainer of the Gitananda Tradition and owner of Om Studio in Cardiff (omstudio.co.uk)

saying: ‘You get what you pay for’. We all

experience. Find a friendly approachable teacher that is happy to support you whenever you need it. Finding a course that integrates new and old students is really worthwhile as you can draw on their experience and advice. Some courses also offer mentoring. Most teachers have their own teachers and having access to them is really beneficial and shows a path of progression where more courses and experiences open up. Make sure there is teaching practice and guidance whilst on your course so that you learn how to teach whilst training and aren’t expected to learn this afterwards ‘on the job’. Teaching yoga is more than teaching some physical practices, it is a transformational journey which you share with others. It can be hard work but so very worth it. Good luck!

https://omstudio.co.uk [email protected]

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

Blended learning:

teaching the future

How the emergence of blended learning styles is changing yoga teacher trainings. By Fenella Lindsell Like it or not, 2020 forced our hand and we learned to adapt and accept the changes that came with it. People have been affected drastically in different ways and many continue to be. However, when it came to new ways of living, the clearest technological change was an increased reliance on virtual platforms. This paved a way for a new mode of learning.

Blended learning

In some ways, the pandemic catapulted us into the future, accelerating the arrival of virtual practices that were likely to become commonplace within the decade. As with anything, balance is essential and for those who were forced to go exclusively online, lacking any in-person learning, it was a harsh transition. Similarly, for children that rely on a classroom environment, the totality of online learning was a mountain to climb. As the world eases its grasp on our freedom, an effective middle ground has come to fruition in virtual learning. Blended learning is the combination of both inperson and online approaches - a hybrid method that respects people’s diverse and busy schedules while maintaining the importance of direct human interaction. It 100

is from this base that we set sail with a new style of teacher training.

Busy schedules

Whether unemployed, running a company or working part-time, if you’re a human in the 21st century, you probably feel quite busy. A blended teaching style considers this because the course is flexible to varying schedules. In-person teacher training is still important and something I have done for most of my adult life, but to teach in the real world involves meeting at an agreed date, time and venue leaving little room for manoeuvrability and other commitments. The rigidity arises from the fact that a teaching location has been paid for and if you cannot attend the session, you are likely to miss out.

Hybrid approach

To make the most of the virtual tools at our disposal, we have blended our course to be partially in-person combined with some virtual learning. This virtual learning offers students lifetime access to online resources such as the yoga sutras combined with anatomy and physiology, which underpins the theory behind what we teach. Moreover,

timeframes for learning can be extended to accommodate students in a way that is not possible with the in-person model. We still appreciate that some elements of teacher training must remain face-to-face, so our asana training does exactly that, with all the practical posture help, guidance on injury management options, assistance and the class sequencing you need. This is essential given the personal element that is inherently a part of yoga. As a teacher, you will come into close physical proximity with the clients who attend classes, and we like to maintain this aspect in a realistic setting with our students. These elements of the course stay fixed in a time and place and allow for personal interaction between teacher and student to learn some of the most valuable

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE elements of teaching yoga. Moreover, we have found that being able to engage with manual posture adaptation and practice alongside an experienced teacher is invaluable.

Teaching standards

Underpinning this hybrid approach is a backbone of world-class yoga teachers. Without highly experienced teaching professionals, this style of hybrid learning would not be possible. The teachers who help deliver this teaching qualification all have experience in hybrid teaching and mentoring. For those who were teaching throughout the pandemic (like myself), we were forced to adapt with online classes, seminars and one-to-one guidance. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We draw directly from our tried and tested experience when it comes to delivering the Three Trees Teacher Training Course in the UK. This teaching experience springs from a deep and diverse well of knowledge, with teachers who have practiced in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa. This backdrop is vital because we can help our students to navigate real-life scenarios that we have experienced ourselves.

Over the last few years, I have fortified my teaching platform with a range of online approaches. As lockdown struck, I was forced to go online, which I met with initial reluctance, but quickly saw there were colossal advantages like no travel time, studio rental or set-up time. Staying with this new momentum, I also delivered online talks and mentoring for students and teachers. Owning this new approach has shown me the value of hybrid learning, added more flexibility to my life and allowed me to keep an income flowing through times of unprecedented social and economic restriction. Of course, the virtual presence we have and educate our students through is backed with decades of hands-on teaching that formed the bulk of our teaching careers. This element is not disappearing and remains quintessentially important to the practice of teaching yoga professionally. The difference now is that it is complemented with online learning.

Seeing the bigger picture

If you had asked me three years ago if yoga could be taught online I would have struggled to support the idea, but times

change. We are forced to adapt to continue doing what we love and remain open to any prospects that will allow us to keep teaching to provide support for our clients, students and friends. The content in our blended learning course comes with lifetime access, a schedule that works for you and reiterates the essential in-person practical elements necessary for teaching. Fenella Lindsell has been teaching yoga for over 30 years to children and to people at all stages of their life. She continues to teach regular classes in London and runs overseas yoga holidays. Fenella now also represents the UK arm of threetreesyoga.com/uk-teacher-training

[email protected]

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Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

A very special time to be alive

Why becoming a yoga teacher in 2022 requires deeper kindness and a more impactful loving presence. By Jyoti ‘Jo’ Manuel We are living in unprecedented times. For the first time in my life time, the level of fear, anxiety, terror, trauma and stress are way beyond what we have been taught to manage and live with. I believe we are being invited to connect with ourselves in a much deeper and much more authentic way. We are being invited to change our ways, to review our priorities, to really consider what truly matters for ourselves, for the planet, and for our children and the children of the world. We have an opportunity to connect more deeply with ourselves, with the world around us and with what the yogis might call Bhrama. And make different choices, wiser choices, more authentic choices, and become the masters of our thoughts.

This is what the practice of yoga offers

Teaching yoga today requires us to be really authentic, to really understand ourselves and to invite a much higher level of consciousness and awareness of how we show up in the world and what we bring. We generally underestimate the 102

power of our state of being and how that impacts another. Every thought we have is energy and at some level that energy is received by everyone that is in our energy field. Our yoga classes will have people whose trauma is greater than we may have experienced. They may present with behaviours that make us uncomfortable. So being present to our experience and developing a really deep level of selfkindness and self-acceptance allows us to cultivate a presence for others that is equally kind and accepting. Often the language that is used by yoga teachers is ‘holding space’. Actually, we cannot ‘hold space’ (think about it!), but what we can do is to cultivate a kind and gentle open heart without judgement, and regulate our autonomic nervous system so that our energy field creates a circle of safety and care for everyone who joins us in our yoga sessions. In that way, our personal practice matters more than our teaching. Yoga is an amazing tool that can be adapted to meet everyone’s needs.

“Yoga offers such a powerful profound path for self-healing, to allow us to move into wherever the world is taking us next and to healing ourselves and others.” Learning what our students need requires a very quiet presence within ourselves, and the ability to deeply listen to our own needs. When we can truly learn how to take care of ourselves and understand how we function, process, meet ourselves, we can learn what our students need. Yoga is not just an asana practice, it also offers a profound and beautiful journey of self-development, self-awareness, compassion and kindness to ourselves. I have often been heard in our teacher training programmes saying that my life won’t change if I can get my leg behind my head, but my life will change if I can learn to regulate myself, have choice over

Yoga Teacher Training: BEFORE

the thoughts I choose to think, and open my heart to develop greater kindness, generosity of spirit and compassion. When I started teaching yoga in the late

80s, its was for the select few who didn’t think it was ‘weird’ or ‘wacky’, or for those who had enough money to participate. Very early on in my teaching journey, my path was opened up to me…to work with people with physical and learning challenges (special needs) and children. Any thoughts I had about what yoga ‘should’ look like went out the window along with class plans. I quickly had to respond to teaching a blind man and his dog, a woman with cerebral palsy, and another woman who was terrified of dogs in the same class. At that time, I was asked to teach yoga in a school in a very deprived part of London before ADHD and autism were even vaguely understood, let alone diagnosed. Again, I had to be fully present, no class plans, no expectations, just my own embodied experience of what the practices felt like for me. Trial and error, learning how to be present, to deeply listen beyond language, feel my way. I saw in the children a disconnect that I witness with those carrying trauma, those with autism, ADHD and other diagnoses of physical and learning difficulties and I learned how to share yoga in a way that brought them safely back into their bodies. I have learned how to be really

comfortable in my body, and what practices at different times offer me that. I have learned how to ‘be’, how to deeply relax and feel safe. I have learned how to rebalance my autonomic nervous system and what practices support me when I feel dis-regulated, disorganised, on red alert, and generally out of kilter. I’m aware how easy it is for that to happen in the madness of the world we are living in. I am seeing more and more people disturbed, deeply anxious, stressed and fearful of the future. Sometimes I notice that I am holding onto fear and anxiety that doesn’t even belong to me. Yoga helps! Yoga offers such a powerful profound path for self-healing, to allow us to move into wherever the world is taking us next and to healing ourselves and others. May your choice of training support you to support others in the best possible way and to raise the consciousness of the world. By Jyoti ‘Jo’ Manuel Special Yoga (specialyoga.co.uk) Jyoti is the founder and lead-trainer at Special Yoga. Special Yoga is a training organisation, sharing yoga, breathwork and mindfulness practices to support everyone affected by physical and neuro-diversity. 103

Teacher zone Training: DURING Yoga Teacher

Core skills What are the core skills you should cover on a yoga teacher training course? By Jacqueline Godfrey Training to teach yoga is a huge investment, in terms of your time, energy and of course, your hard-earned money. It is not to be taken lightly as any course you choose will help shape you into the teacher that you become. Choosing carefully, with a balance between your heart and your head is vital to ensure you receive a solid grounding from which to teach. With close to two decades worth of yoga trainings, in the roles of trainee, mentor and trainer, I have put together some of the core aspects which I feel are essential in a YTT. My own initial 200 hours training was spent far away from home in the Keralan jungle, in a sacred ashram setting. Every day began rigorously at 5am with meditation in an open-sided temple. Each day was steeped in Vedantic philosophy, Sanskrit chanting and spiritual discourses, surrounded by statues of deities and the more than occasional mosquito. Physical practices involved traditional asana but also pranayama and kriya. Karma yoga was an integral part of the experience and every trainee had a daily job to do around the ashram. This training gave me a huge 104 94

respect for the origins of yoga and yet, whilst I personally thrived in and loved this immersive atmosphere, it was super-tough and not everyone was as beguiled as me by the emphasis on the many hours of philosophy and spirituality. This training provided anatomy lessons but these were academic and pretty dry, as opposed to practical and engaging. I subsequently took a variety of different trainings: one, in particular, which introduced me to the world of biomechanics and functional anatomy. This level of practicality is incredibly valuable in order to have a really solid grounding in the way different bodies work. You are never going to see identikit students in your class. This will improve your confidence and versatility as a teacher, enabling you to really ‘see’ the students in front of you and help them practice confidently with their different bodies. Some skills which should be included are ‘subtle’ skills that cannot be seen or measured tangibly but which provide you as a yoga teacher with a strong bedrock of integrity and presence and thereby adding

maturity to your teaching. In the 200 hours course which I run, trainees work on the concept of ‘holding space’, which is not so much something to ‘do’ but it is the art of elevating your own energy and presence to a level where you are able to calmly and effectively offer energy and support to those around you. Learning the actual skill of teaching is, of course, an absolute non-negotiable. There is more to it than appears and it takes a lot of practice. By the time you decide to undertake a teacher training, the chances are you feel that your own life has been changed by yoga for the better. The best trainings should therefore enable you to be able to share generously, whether this means in terms of meditation, pranayama, mindfulness, philosophy, whether traditional or not.    As a trainee you want to feel you are in competent and caring hands and to get honest, regular feedback on how you are doing. Knowing that you will have access to your teacher(s) and or mentors and teaching assistants at certain times (whether in person or by way of ongoing

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: DURING communication) is extremely important. Here are the core components which go towards a wellbalanced yoga training: Lots of regular teaching practice in which you are regularly  given feedback from teachers, mentors and peers on all skill components. 

A thorough grounding in practical (functional) anatomy  and the bio-mechanics of the body – this is a great way to

feel more confident about teaching all shapes of body and different abilities. The course must also include learning contraindications to ensure student safety.   A range of yoga philosophy to ensure you are equipped to  teach from a place of knowledge about yoga’s origins. You will

in time find your own way to convey the essence of yoga, which may be either traditional or contemporary.  Pranayama and meditation. There must be some  component on how to teach these effectively. Yoga is not just asana.

‘Subtle’ skills, such as holding space and ‘the voice of the  teacher’ – these add layering to your teaching which improve confidence. Being able to ‘read the room’ and pick up on the energy of your students takes practice.

Ethics and diversity. Taking on the role of a yoga teacher  places you into a position of trust and you will encounter a wide variety of dilemmas over time. Working with these in a safe environment helps prepare you.

Hands-on work. If you envisage being a teacher who is able  to offer effective ‘hands-on assists’, any training you choose should include learning this skill.

Essential core business skills and regulation of the  profession, such as the laws of confidentiality, maintaining

client records, how to set up as self-employed, dealing with tax obligations and how to invoice etc. These are surprisingly missing from some trainings but are essential to know if you are about to embark on a career teaching yoga.  Look for an inspiring and encouraging vibe which feels  right to you, ignites your passion and keeps you engaged and supported. 

Jacqueline Godfrey is a senior yoga teacher and teacher trainer based in Saffron Walden, Essex and leads a nine-month-long 200hr in-person training, together with a faculty of teachers and mentors. Contact: [email protected] 

https://jacquelinegodfreyyoga.co.uk 104

Yoga Teacher Training: DURING

Emotional baggage

Dealing with your own mental and emotional issues on a yoga teacher training course Every trainee at some point during their training will have a personal challenge to overcome, especially as the veil of illusion (maya) is lifted with our yoga practices. Life will inevitably throw us curveballs, and it’s up to us how we perceive these challenges. Thankfully, if a belief is not supporting us, it can be changed. Emotional responses are provoked by thoughts. Some thoughts are repetitive, strong, and/or unconscious and have therefore become our beliefs. Arguably, the primary benefit from changing unhelpful beliefs is the resulting ability to change emotions. We use the image of a glass half-full or half-empty to describe how different people see the world. The proverbial glass is the same, but where an optimist sees abundance and opportunity, a pessimist sees a reason to despair. The sutras (and neuroscience) tell us that you have a choice in how you interpret that glass, as long as you put a conscious effort into it. Since our emotions flow out of our perception of the world, if that perception is reframed, our emotions will change, too. This applies to mundane experiences (for example, 106

choosing not to be bothered by traffic and instead enjoy an audio book that you are listening to) and life-altering events (for example, choosing to see downsizing at work as an opportunity to pursue your true calling). Science shows that just having a perception of choice in any given situation helps you feel less fearful and uncertain. If you’ve tried to address a problem but it keeps reappearing, it may be a subconscious programme that is thwarting your efforts. To change a belief is to embark on a process of evolution and transformation. Here are a few things to consider when engaging in such inner work. 1. Be kind to yourself and make time for quiet rest each day. 2. Acknowledge that emotions and the consideration of new ways of being may at times seem overwhelming. 3. Remember that you are not alone, and you’ve done nothing wrong. Meditation and daily gratitude journaling can help to feel these truths. 4. Know that the ego is likely to send a barrage of thoughts that changing your thinking around a deep issue (core

belief) would be akin to dying. But remember that in reality, consciously changing mental patterns and beliefs will expand your choices and bring relief and freedom. 5. Make simple changes to your routine such as taking a new route when walking or commuting. Begin something new, whether it be a class, a book or some other undertaking. 6. Find a supportive community. 7. Volunteer. Give without expecting anything in return. 8. Cultivate loving relationships based on mutual support. Most techniques for overcoming limiting beliefs are based on a foundation of self-study (svadhyaya) and mindfulness. Becoming present and mindful gives you access to the body’s innate ‘navigational system’ — the ability to discern what is happening internally and externally. This is the doorway that enables you to notice patterns and uncover hidden beliefs. By definition, subconscious beliefs run our lives from behind the scenes. In order to gain more control, it becomes necessary to identify unconscious programming and patterns. For example, a belief that ‘life is just too hard’ can cause a person to take half-hearted action toward goals, leading to disappointing results, which then ‘proves’ the limiting belief. To uncover limiting beliefs, commit to being open and curious about your feelings and emotions. This means working

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: DURING Teacher zone to change any patterns of suppressing emotions when they arise. By definition, core beliefs carry emotional attachments and thus, emotions are an inseparable aspect of working with limiting beliefs. In order to make the unconscious conscious, we must commit to allowing emotions to surface — and then to ride the waves. This doesn’t mean indulging in discomfort by acting out in anger, nor does it mean getting caught in the endless looping of associated thoughts. Instead, the task is to stay with bodily sensations and feelings as they arise, using the breath and awareness to ‘ride the wave’ of the emotion as it arises, crests and falls; suppressing emotions goes against a natural gift of human life. Suppression or excessive mental reacting prevents the emotion (energy in motion) from moving and releasing energy. Allowing emotions to arise and pass can release tension, open space, and inspire insight, among many other potential benefits. Typically, behaviours (which are reflecting beliefs) are an effort to get something we want or think we need, such as acceptance, love or safety. How emotions play into this picture can add a level of complexity and intensity, with emotions keeping us tethered to beliefs. For example, if you absorbed toxic beliefs early in life, you may unconsciously believe you aren’t good enough and find yourself expressing your fears to others. It may be that your friends feel sorry for you and try to support you by commiserating and giving you attention. This can subconsciously feel like an emotional payoff for self-pity. While none of this may be conscious, you feel good when you have support and love and this emotional connection may then perpetuate a cycle where you highlight your inadequacies in order to gain help, attention and love, which in turn creates more people feeling

sorry for you, thus reinforcing beliefs of inadequacy. Once you’ve identified limiting beliefs, a key tool is pratipaksha bhavana, or cultivating opposing thoughts, as described in Sutra 2.33. What’s on the flip side of your thought? Rephrase it in the positive opposite. Challenge it, explore it, look in and see if there is any other meaning for you. How else might you express it? Open yourself up to awareness. Ask yourself questions that can help to open your mind to different possibilities: • Is this belief true? Is it absolutely true? How do I know it’s true? • How might someone else see this? • What’s an example of how it’s not true? • Where does the story of this belief begin? • What is my earliest related memory? Perhaps you will notice less power and energy around the replacement thought in comparison to the ingrained belief that you have imbued with the power of repetition. Recognise that this is natural; have faith that momentum will build as you find more and more proof of the opposing thought and feel the expanded energy of the associated feelings. We all look at the world through a clouded and coloured lens that contains our past experiences and current beliefs. By practicing yoga, we are trying to purify that lens, so that “it becomes like a transparent crystal, able to reflect clearly the object of perception, the perceiver and the act of perceiving.” (Sutra 1.41) That is a pretty tall order, but the ability to reframe our view of the situation on demand is a giant step toward it. Louisa Craig (also LouisaYoga on social media) is a Yoga Trainer Pro & owner of LKY Yoga School. (lkyyogaschool.thinkific.com & yogateachertrainer.co.uk)

Develop your own authentic teaching style with course leader, LouisaYoga Online YAP accredited courses tailored to the individual: ◉ ◉ RYT200 YTT ◉ ◉ 300hrs YTT (modules below) ◉ ◉ Ayurveda, Mythology & Moonology, 100hrs Advanced Yoga (includes Tantra), Yoga for Mental Health (includes Restorative Yoga), Yin Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Childrens Yoga, Teen Yoga, AstroYoga — these are all stand-alone courses, and also part of the 300hrs training. All courses can be done as intensives or you can complete in your own time within a year (300hrs can be taken over 2 years). ◉ ◉ Yoga Teacher Mentorship ◉ ◉ Yoga Retreats Worldwide

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Life after teacher training Integrating your learnings into your way of life. By Vidya Heisel Students on my YTT courses often tell me that they are worried and even a little anxious about going home and returning to their everyday life. Attending an intensive training can be such a unique and brilliant experience! Students often say that it has been the high point of their lives! It’s not surprising that you might not be looking forward to going back to your office job in the city! And you might be wondering how you will be able to maintain all of the many benefits and the sense of profound wellbeing you have acquired throughout what many regard as a life-changing journey. Every morning, on the training, you get to spend half an hour meditating as the sun rises, two hours practicing pranayama and yoga masterclasses, followed by a super healthy breakfast. The remainder of the day is spent diving deeply into a subject you are totally in love with. On top of that, there is plenty more sumptuous organic vegetarian food to delight the senses throughout the day, and the cherry on the cake is that you are surrounded by supportive and likeminded new friends, having profound and meaningful conversations. Perhaps your world has just been turned inside out and upside down as you have listened to, discussed, and begun to assimilate some deep existential ideas about the meaning of life. You are leaving the training with a different worldview. You have experienced a way of life that is deeply nourishing to your soul. You may find yourself uncertain about the direction your life has been moving in. Yoga is teaching you a more sane relationship to life and to think deeply about everything, so you might feel you need to make some big changes in your life to bring it into alignment with your new and more wholesome perspective. However, it is important not to make changes that are too drastic, too soon. The best way to transition back into daily life is to think about what lasting changes are both realistic and doable right away. For example, you might decide to continue with a vegetarian diet, which is a healthy 108

and easy to maintain change to make. Make sure to invest in a few really good veggie cookbooks. Come up with a practice plan. It may not be realistic to practice for two and a half hours before starting your workday but maybe you could decide to go to bed earlier. Going to bed earlier at 10 pm instead of 11.30 pm (after binge-watching a new series on Netflix) could reward you with an extra 90 minutes to use wisely in the morning. So maybe you will now have the time to do 20 minutes of meditation, 10 minutes of pranayama, and 60 minutes of yoga practice, before starting your day. If you are able to do this four or five days a week whilst building in a realistic break from the routine at the weekend, it will be a wonderful start to your new way of life! Maybe you attended a training to deepen your own yoga practice, but if you plan to teach, it’s important that you start teaching right away, even if it’s just to your best friend or your mum. Don’t wait, as the longer you wait, the harder it will be. Make a plan to teach friends a couple of times a week until you feel more relaxed and comfortable teaching and are ready to look for some paid teaching jobs. Continue to consciously practice the Yamas and the Niyamas, the 10 commandments of yoga, by endeavouring to be vigilant about your own behaviour, practicing the art of not gossiping, of being kind, generous, transparent, grateful and appreciative for what you have in life, and surrendering gracefully to what is. Be compassionate with yourself and know that change happens little by little, with patience and right effort. You may find that you need to develop new friendships with others who are endeavouring to live a more wholesome life. You may make new friends at your local yoga studio or meditation centre and slowly drift away from friends that you used to go out drinking with. Above all, take advantage of the new

friendships that you developed on your YTT. Stay in touch with your fellow graduates. They will probably be experiencing the same challenges integrating their newly found wisdom and positive habits into their daily life. They will be a wonderful support group. Hopefully, some might live nearby, but if not, stay in touch as much as you can. I have seen many new lifelong friendships formed on trainings. Hopefully, you can also stay in touch with your teachers for support and advice when needed. Maybe your training will have provided you with a suggested reading list of inspiring books to read to keep you on track. If not, here are some of my favourites: · The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer · The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle · Light on Life by BKS Iyengar · Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg · The Essence of Enlightenment by James Swartz · The Bhagavad Gita; The Divine Song by Rory Mackay. May your landing be happy and easeful, as you integrate your yoga studies gracefully and harmoniously into your life! Vidya Heisel has been running YTT programmes for 22 years as the founder and lead trainer of Frog Lotus Yoga International (froglotusyogainternational.com). She is also the founder and owner of Suryalila Retreat Centre (suryalila.com)

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Best of both worlds How triyoga’s yoga for cancer teacher training transitioned into a hybrid online/in-person course in the wake of the lockdowns. By Vicky Fox

The yoga for cancer TT changed overnight from being a London-based course to one that could be taken by anyone, anywhere in the world. It made it financially more accessible for some people as it meant that they didn’t have to add on the cost of travel or overnight stays in London. I wasn’t sure how my yoga for cancer 40hour training would work online, because a key part of this training is compassion and learning to create and hold safe spaces for people impacted by cancer. However, having seen how this intimacy and warmth could be created in my online yoga for cancer classes at triyoga, I felt confident that this could be recreated in an online training. There is one aspect of the training that I changed: teachers now have to include a 40-minute video of themselves teaching a yoga for cancer class. I hadn’t previously considered teachers recording themselves 110

teaching, as it wasn’t something I felt comfortable with – until I was thrown in at the deep end with lockdown and given no choice but to either teach online or not teach at all. I think we all became more comfortable with recording ourselves teaching and using Zoom to connect with students. As we weren’t in a studio where I could move around the room, easily observing teachers working in groups, I was only able to see teaching in breakout rooms. The recorded video homework has enabled me to see how participants teach, the language they use and whether they are applying the principles learnt on the training. This also created a level playing field once we went into hybrid trainings for all teachers, whether in-studio or online, to produce a recorded class. We ran three trainings that were purely online and in January 2022 we ran the

first hybrid training. I took advice from a fellow triyoga teacher, Jean Hall, who had been successfully running hybrid trainings, and I am grateful for her time giving me tips. Hybrid trainings bring their own challenges on how you can make online students feel that energy that is in the room and have a connection with each other. In-studio, students can interact with each other easily in breaks and when arriving and leaving at the end of the day. Students support each other with these spontaneous connections. I didn’t want the online students to miss out on this. On Jean Hall’s advice I decided to have some assistance with juggling the online and in-studio students. I was fortunate enough to have another yoga for cancer teacher — the wonderful Flavia Cerrone — assist me with the online students. It meant she could be fully present there and

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if there were any technical difficulties, as there inevitably are in a four-day training, she could be on hand to communicate to the online group. I didn’t want them to feel they were not getting the same experience as those in the studio or missing out on some of that support. Flavia Cerrone was able to make me aware of anything happening with the online group that I may have missed while also holding space in the room. She also had my number so could connect to me if everything failed or communicate with me in a frank way on behalf of the online participants, if something wasn’t translating from the room to the Zoom. Hopefully, students come with a nonjudgemental mind and some patience to this new way of teaching. You definitely need this when trying to create the same experience on a screen as in a studio. Technology is great when it works but can challenge even the calmest of us when it doesn’t, especially if you're not someone who considers themselves very tech-friendly and would rather not be embracing more time spent on a computer screen.

In the training we have a tonglen practice, which involves working with a partner keeping eye-to-eye contact while following a guided meditation that involves taking in that person's hurt and pain and breathing back out to them kindness and love. On screen, the technical challenge was how every individual could pin one person to create the same feeling as standing directly in front of them. When we're face-to-face this is an easy thing to do but on screen it's necessary to make all the participants a host so that they have the ability to pin. A process of trial and error meant we got there in the end and the response from students in the room and online was that it was an emotional and intimate experience. It's estimated that one in two people will have a cancer diagnosis in their lives so a yoga for cancer training can bring up all kinds of emotions, as most people have been impacted by cancer. In a room/ Zoom there will be teachers with their own diagnosis of cancer or who have friends or family members with cancer. It's often the reason people take the training – to learn more and to help empower people to take

back some control when life gets taken out of their control. Inevitably, there are parts of the training that are emotionally challenging for people and as a teacher you need to be aware and hold space for whatever comes up. For some this might be the first time they have embraced their own mortality or maybe the first time they have fully connected with their changing bodies or processed what they may have been through. One online student who'd had treatment for cancer was generously able to share their personal experience. They emailed to say, “You allowed me to see myself as an entirely different entity just when I needed it.” There were intense moments where I know this training was particularly difficult for them and I hope that I was able to be as supportive to someone all the way in Scotland as I was to the students with me in the room in our Camden studio. Vicky Fox is leading the Yoga for Cancer Teacher Training course at triyoga Camden and online from June 13–16, 2022. Cost: £650. Visit: triyoga.co.uk

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Teaching from within

Understanding the physical, mental and emotional challenges during a yoga teacher training course. By Sevanti When we sign up to a YTT course, we direct our compass to potentially one of the most meaningful paths we can possibly take. Meaningful because we step onto a sacred path that can expand our self-awareness through learning and facilitating. Quite simply, we are committing to a path of integrity, to stand strong in our values and our truth, to make a profound difference by supporting others to do the same. The humility of a yoga teacher is balanced with the underlying and unmovable dedication; I see such softness yet immense strength in my community of teachers. This path is a courageous one. I see yoga teachers as true warriors; warriors of peace, in a world of great change. How do we establish inner peace and balance in a place of community facilitation and responsibility? How do we integrate our new meaningful vocation into our existing everyday lives? The notion of work/ life balance is an interesting subject when sharing such a personal approach to our ‘work’. After 25

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years of teaching; the two are intimately fused, my life experiences inform my teaching and vice versa. Whilst authentic integration is so meaningful, it is not always an easy path. This integrated lifestyle and the balance of our inner/outer world begins on the YTT. To help us remain focused, we need to never lose sight of the ‘why’ we signed up. I like to repeatedly ask my students what triggered their decision to train, how do they visualise their ideal setting, structure and purpose of sharing their passion of yoga? How will it deepen their own enjoyment and understanding of life? There will be moments when this vision is so clear and exciting, particularly at the start and the end of the training. During the journey, the paradoxes and juggles of life will be evident. The sacred and profound will need to be balanced with the study, practice and reflections, home life and family commitments. Therefore, I would always highlight the importance of being able to self-organise efficiently before the course starts. To allocate time for personal practice and study aside from other responsibilities. This is a good opportunity to set up a distinction between how yoga can feed and nourish us and how we feed and nourish others through yoga.

We need to call upon the wisdom and support of our practice more than ever in our training, to support us in the adjustment from practitioner to teacher. The many aspects of being a practitioner and a facilitator can easily fuse together as yoga permeates through everything. If we are not careful, we can lose our own practice and experience stress and anxiety trying to apply ourselves to study whilst going about our other life commitments. This is where the paradox is. Yoga is unifying by nature, it allows us to find equanimity in many opposing forces. This is the beauty of such a sacred life choice as our work is deeply authentic and alive in us. Yet, we also must be able to differentiate our inner needs from what our study or ultimate work path demands from us, otherwise we are in danger of losing ourselves as we learn how to share something so intimate with others. The training is where we start to figure all of this out. We are aware of the profound step we have taken, the ‘yes’ in our hearts as we embark on learning how to share what we love. We are then also presented with learning, discussion, study, research, class planning and assessments. Understanding the ‘how to’ in such a practice of simplicity, presence and awareness can feel like two opposing worlds at times. The solution is to have an expectation that the melting of the left/ right brain

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requirements won’t always be easy. But that it is necessary. I always suggest allocating time in three ways (in any order): 1. Existing life experiences/needs 2. Course study 3. Personal practice Our brain will operate on different levels. We need to ‘switch channels’ smoothly between doing/learning and experiencing. The art of adjusting our ‘frequency’ from immersive practice to cognitive study is the key to a smooth training journey. Yoga is so rich, so alive, so multi-dimensional, that once anchored within us it becomes a permanent resource through the ups and downs of life. It has been the thread that helps me make sense of it all, an inner sanctuary to anchor into in the biggest of storms. If we learn how to do this on our training, yoga can equip us in the face of adversity as a teacher as well as a practitioner for the rest of our lives. The training deepens our relationship with yoga way beyond what we may even imagine, it is a deep dive into ourselves. This is not always easy and as the sutras of Patanjali teach us, yoga is a discipline; something we start to fully understand on a teacher training course. Being with a like-minded committed peer group supports us to journey together with focus and commitment. After all these years, I feel that I have such immense understanding of myself and life, yet I also know nothing at all! Entering this journey with curiosity and humility is essential. We need to be aware that it is all an exploration with no fixed answers. This is what I love about it, the world is dynamic and changeable and yoga is a beautiful resource that helps us respond to its many uncertainties. We can only teach from within. Yoga is an authentic path of presence and self-awareness;for us to be an effective teacher we need to establish a safe, nurturing and awakening environment for our students. This can only happen if we remain responsive to our own needs for practice, rest and self-care. I have learned, from not doing this at times, how essential it is for my own wellbeing and to be able to remain in service to others longterm. So the truth of undertaking a YTT is that it is not an easy path. If it is, are we really exploring the depths of potential awakening? To be able to offer restoration and rejuvenation to others, we must be able to segregate and fulfill our own needs from those whom we support. So, my suggestion to any prospective student is to step onto the course with clarity, awareness and integrity. To know why you are doing it, what you visualise the outcome to be, and to be willing to, at times, find separation in order to find unity. Diving deeply within to connect authentically with others, whilst never losing the discipline to remain grounded in our own sacred practice. Sevanti is the Director of 'The Unity Centre CIC', an inclusive not-for-profit centre for yoga and wellbeing near Brighton. She has been running her Yoga Teacher Training school since 2002. Visit: being-in-unity.com

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Spontaneous yoga in teacher training Make room for spontaneity to keep your yoga passion and creativity firing forever. By Julian Daizan Skinner Over my 30-year yoga journey my greatest teacher has been the body. Learning to trust this teacher arose (appropriately enough) spontaneously during my early years living in a Zen monastery. Monastery life was anything but spontaneous. Posture and alignment were rigidly emphasised, in sitting as well as in movement and even in the simple acts of daily life. I lived with the other young monks in the meditation hall so there was almost no privacy. The intense practice was causing my system to open up energetically. My body started developing an overwhelming urge to release and move. I had to hide in the bathroom, among the trees, anywhere I could be unseen and let it happen; and happen it did. I was amazed at the precision of the impulse in my body, moving me in exactly the way it needed for release. And the journey continues. From then till now a thread of this spontaneous movement has been continuously part of my life. I’ve found for myself that this moving from the inside-out complements perfectly 114

the outside-in approach of more formal yogic alignment work. In fact, I think of it as a source of alignment. In discussing the relationship of these two approaches, Wisconsin yoga and meditation teacher, Betsy Rabjor writes: “Yoga is thought to have originated from spontaneous movements happening to long-time meditators. In other words, the yoga poses came afterwards as a tool or technique to hopefully get the awakening result.” Over the years, I’ve experienced a powerful healing aspect to this spontaneous work and I’m not the only one. In the Journal of Authentic Movement and Somatic Enquiry (2012/01/02), psychotherapist and yogini Joan S. Harrigan writes that this practice will, “purge and purify the subtle system from toxins…I’m talking about negative thought patterns. In a time of trauma or life shock, what we experience around that goes deep into our system. It is stored in our molecules; it is stored in our muscles; it is stored in our organ systems.” In his book, Buddhist Yoga, Japanese author Rev. Kanjitsu Iijima describes this

practice, calling it “Divine Exercise”, writing: “This is the most authentic yoga exercise.” In the modern world perhaps the most prominent practitioner of spontaneous yoga was Swami Kripalvananda (1913-1981). Known to spend 10 hours a day engaged in this practice, he discussed how this work tended to interiorise: “This spontaneous dance has two phases: external and internal. At first, the dance has external movements. Gradually these movements cease until there is complete stillness, externally. Yet the dance continues inside.” I’ve found that this kind of practice is not only transformative but opens wellsprings of deep joy. In Japan, my Zen teacher took me to Iwatakisan, a mountain about 10 km from our temple where the famous seventeenth century Zen master Hakuin spent almost two years in solitary retreat. Writing about this time, Hakuin notes: “How many times did I jump up and jubilantly dance around oblivious of all else…As for sitting, sitting is something that should include fits of ecstatic laughter… brayings that make you slump to the ground

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: DURING OTHER clutching your belly. And when you struggle to your feet after the first spasm passes, it should send you kneeling to earth in yet further contortions of joy.” Hakuin describes how in the early stages of his retreat, many fearful experiences arose. But through continuing the practice these feelings resolved and he reached a point where for the rest of his life he never again felt fear. Zen master Shinzan, my teacher, as a young monk practiced in a similar way alone on this mountain and he wanted me to experience it too. In our Zenways yoga teacher training we include a period of spontaneous yoga every day. We’ve found it gives the new teacher access to a source of renewal and inspiration that is truly inexhaustible. I recommend you explore tapping into the wisdom and vitality of your body. In embarking on this journey here are some tips that others have found useful:

1. Delimit time and space

Life is so busy these days. You need an undisturbed quiet room and some time. Some of our teachers find a daily period, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes works well, others include a spontaneous practice once a week where they give it an hour or more. I recommend setting an alarm so you don’t have to keep checking the time.

2. Just start to move

To start, it can help to stand and centre your attention on the central energy point, three-fingers’ width below the navel in the centre of the belly known as ‘tanden’ in Japanese. Then gently sway from side-toside, or find some other simple movement, and then just let things take off from there. While the body may move quite strongly, you may equally find your system tending towards stillness or very subtle movements.

3. Explore the edge

When you’re familiarising yourself with the spontaneous movement zone, it’s helpful to come in and out of it several times. We all have something of an inner control freak and when we’re confident we can retake conscious control any time, it becomes easier to fully let go. Similarly, any time the feelings or experiences seem too strong, you can always take a break.

4. Don’t expect

Each time you enter this spontaneous zone it’s new and fresh. Just invite the wisdom of your body to take over and enjoy. Don’t try to replay the past or anticipate what needs to happen. Fundamentally we’re dealing with a practice of surrender.

5. Drop in a question

Like dropping a pebble into a pool, you can ask a question like: “What needs to happen

to re-align this shoulder?” “How can I best make a difference in the world?” “What do I need to learn right now?” Almost anything you need to know. While nothing is ever infallible you can expect a deeply wise response to come, sometimes a veritable fountain of responses.

6. Be surprised

Your body often knows better than your mind what direction your life needs to take. This profound and simple practice may well set you on an extraordinary adventure into healing, wholeness and awakening. In illustrating this spontaneous adventure, Sri Aurobindo, Vivekananda, Ramakrishna and a number of other notable yogis from the past told variations of a story about an ancient Indian sage, Narada, who was known to have a hotline to the wisdom of the heavenly realms. Once, Narada was walking through the forest and came across a yogi sitting beneath a tree in such fierce and fixed stillness that an anthill had grown up around him. The yogi recognised Narada and called out to him: “Narada, please grant me a boon. Please ask the heavens for me, how long before I achieve complete liberation?” Narada agreed and continued walking. Sometime later he encountered another yogi. This one was joyfully dancing, the currents rippling through his body, mirroring the flow of life around him. “Narada,” he laughingly called out, “Please grant me a boon. Please ask how long before I achieve complete liberation?” Narada agreed to ask for him and walked on. Some time later, Narada came upon the first yogi, still sitting fiercely. “How long, Narada, how long?” He asked. “I asked the heavens for you,” Narada replied. “It will be four lifetimes before your complete liberation.” “Four lifetimes!” shouted the yogi. “I curse the heavens.” Through his resentment and anger the yogi hurled himself into hell. Further on, Narada encountered the dancing yogi. “How long, Narada?” Narada replied, “Look up at the leaves of the tree you’re dancing beneath – that number of lives before you achieve complete liberation.” “How wonderful!” the yogi exclaimed. “All this time for my beautiful practice.” Immediately he found himself embraced by the heavens. Julian Daizan Skinner is a Zen master with over 30 years experience teaching meditation and yoga and the founder of Zenways (zenways.org)

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Flying fantastic Why become an aerial yoga teacher? By Gillian Watt

Aerial Yoga is growing in popularity and has a worldwide community of teachers and students. The yoga hammock might just be the most creative prop you will ever use in your class. Whatever style of yoga you teach or practice, the aerial hammock can be a great tool to use. BKS Iyengar introduced props into the modern practice of yoga to allow all practitioners access to the benefits of the postures regardless of physical condition, age, or length of study. For everyone from the most flexible and strong practitioner to the least, a strategically placed yoga prop can elevate the physical and spiritual trajectory of the yoga practice. 116

Using the aerial yoga hammock as the prop can help practitioners at all levels gain the sensitivity of a pose while receiving the benefits over time without overextending themselves. They allow students to practice asanas and pranayama with greater effectiveness, ease, and stability. Not only will the hammock help you find more space, freedom and stability in your poses, they’re also great teaching tools with endless uses if you get creative! Many asanas bring us face to face with our fears. The prospect of inversions or backbends may be terrifying to a student. In this case, the hammock is an amazing

friend in your practice to face, alleviate, and overcome the fear. For example, learning to do advanced asanas such as headstand, arm balances, handstands and many more. The aerial hammock can support the student to overcome the fear of falling. One of the simplest advantages of the aerial hammock is offering a comfortable seat to your students. For so many students sitting comfortably on the floor is not an option! Inside an aerial hammock a comfortable and steady seat awaits! As

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AERIAL YOGA Teacher Training This course is all about training you to use an Aerial Yoga hammock safely, creatively and relevant to enhance your own yoga style and practice. Aerial Yoga is growing in popularity and isn’t just another yoga fad! The yoga hammock might be the most creative prop you will ever use in your class, but it is that simple, it is a prop. Whatever style of yoga you teach or practice, the Aerial hammock can be a great tool to use. This is an in-person course completed over a full two days.

n COURSE TEACHER

My name is Gillian Watt my company is Aerial Yoga Edinburgh. I have been teaching yoga since 2007 and Aerial Yoga from 2012. Additionally, I have practiced aerial skills in trapeze, silks and hoop since 2009. I completed my Introductions to teaching Aerial trapeze and silks with NECCA circus school, Level 1 in silks and cocoon.

PREREQUISITES

This course is only for certified yoga teachers that are looking to develop a new and rewarding career in teaching Aerial Yoga or those who are training to be a yoga teacher and are interested in learning more about Aerial Yoga.

COURSE CONTENT

Learn to: - Adapt Aerial Yoga practices to meet participants needs during a yoga session - Use an Aerial hammock to take yoga postures into the air - Use the hammock at different heights to include restorative/yin practices near the ground - Plan, prepare, instruct and adapt Aerial Yoga sessions - Design a balanced Aerial Yoga class

COURSE DATES

2nd-3rd September 9am-4.30pm

defined in the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali. It defines asana as follows: “Sthiram sukham aasanam” which means, “asana is a steady and comfortable seat.” The sutras refer to asana in relation to being a posture to be assumed for meditation, and says little more about it — no instructions, and certainly no descriptions of particular asanas. So whatever your yoga teaching focus is, keep an open mind to the benefits of aerial yoga. The hammock as a prop can offer so many people adventure, advantages and experiences. As an aerial yoga teacher, it’ll be your job to deliver this wonderful experience! Gillian Watt, Aerial Yoga Edinburgh (aerialyogaedinburgh.co.uk)

COURSE CERTIFICATION Aerial Yoga Instructor Active IQ endorsed certificate

COURSE PRICE £750 including a £200 non-refundable deposit to secure your place Early bird offer of £650 (saving £100) if booked and paid for by 28th June 2022 To book or for more information contact Gillian email:

[email protected] [email protected] Mobile:07971605433

Teacher zone Training: DURING Yoga Teacher

Reiki-Infused Yoga Reap the benefits of becoming a Reiki-Infused Yogi: a marriage of ancient traditions that together offer supercharged healing for teacher and student. By Michelle Maslin-Taylor

The world of yoga studios is back up and running — and health and wellness is big business, with more people than ever realising how important their physical and mental wellbeing is after it being front and centre for the past two years. How can we, as yoga teachers, really up our game when it comes to facilitating deep emotional healing and support our clients beyond making some pretty shapes on a mat?

The burnt-out yoga teacher epidemic

As yoga teachers, we are in the business of teaching balance, relaxation, and deep inner peace. But the reality is that so many teachers are finding themselves on the verge of burnout. If you’re exhausted running from studio to studio, holding space, and sharing the magic of yoga whilst simultaneously struggling to find the time for your own practice then know that you are not alone. Reiki is an energy healing technique that is first and foremost a system for self-healing. Integrating this energy work with your own sadhana and yoga practice is deeply magical. It can help you to feel reconnected to your intuition, sense where you’re out of balance energetically, and gently offer yourself healing without controlling the outcome. It is the perfect restorative companion to your own spiritual practices to allow you to bring the best of yourself to your clients too.

Facilitate deep energetic healing for your clients

We have all been through a collective trauma over the past couple of years. We have all experienced it differently but we all have healing to do. Yoga is incredible at bridging the mind-body connection to release physical tension through poses and work with the energy body, even when it’s not the direct intention. But how do we harness and increase the energetic healing

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value of the practice? Reiki is a universal energy healing that is available to all and can super-charge the healing experienced by clients when combined with yoga asana and other practices.

Precepts to guide your life and yoga business

Just like in yoga, reiki has a philosophy attached complete with the reiki precepts. The interpretations vary slightly depending on the version that has been passed to your reiki master but the values remain the same, with guidelines that read like a cheat sheet of how to create a happy and balanced life…and business.

The precepts read:

Just for today, do not anger Just for today, do not worry Just for today, be grateful Just for today, earn your living honestly Just for today, be kind to every living thing We are encouraged to remain in this present moment, just for today. The essence of mindfulness is woven into both yoga and reiki. Reiki teaches us kindness, compassion, and deep love and respect for everyone and everything around us along with its gentle reminder to be true to ourselves. It teaches us how to handle uncertainty (hello, the last two years!) and the difficulties of managing all areas of your yoga business with a side of positive

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psychology, being grateful for all you already have — key to manifesting more of what you want. These principles when applied to your life and business will see you both flourish as you align energetically and with your actions to your soul purpose.

Walk your talk & live your purpose

Reiki has many positive benefits from improved sleep, decreased anxiety, and increased relaxation, mirroring what clients come to yoga classes for. Imagine the combination of two powerful healing practices, doubling down on healing for clients for exactly the things most people come to yoga for. Pretty awesome, right? But hold on, it’s so important to think not only of your client but yourself too. Yogi heal thyself! We spend so much time and energy nurturing others and that is so beautiful but one of the greatest blessings of reiki is that it asks you to put your own healing first and helps clear the way for you to truly tune in to your intuition to let it guide you and your business. There was once a study on mindfulness. It demonstrated how a school teacher who practices mindfulness, but doesn’t teach it, actually had a greater impact in terms of the mindfulness of their students than a teacher who studied and taught mindfulness to their students but didn't practice it themselves. Let that sink in for a second. The teacher who didn’t even teach their students mindfulness but simply modelled it taught them more about it.

By leading by example you are going to have a far greater impact than if you simply teach and let your own practices fall into low priority. The energy that you take to the mat and into your teaching will lead the way for your students too.

Abundance as a side-effect to alignment

We have all heard that money is simply energy, everything is, so how can we harness our own energy to create successful yoga businesses? Reiki has an important reminder to us that the goal is making a living honestly, in alignment with your soul purpose. Yoga teachers can, and should, be financially abundant but in the words of Old Dominion, “Chase after the dream, Don’t chase after the money”. When you can master tuning in to intuition and get more confident in taking action on the nudges from your soul, your life will feel ‘flowy’ and wonderful (how very yogi!) but also attract in what you need, without the pressure of the purely financial focus. When your energy aligns and you find and follow your dharma, the rest will fall into place. Let abundance be the side effect of living your purpose, not the mission. Michelle Maslin-Taylor is an experienced yoga teacher and founder of The ReikiInfused Yogi, CPD accredited training and mentoring for yoga teachers and dedicated students in energy systems and healing. Visit: reiki-infused.yoga

https://reiki-infused.yoga

Teacher zone Training: DURING Yoga Teacher

Save the children

At a time of great need, with mental health issues in the young climbing fast, becoming a children's yoga and mindfulness teacher is the ultimate rewarding work. By Patricia Maddalena The mental, emotional health and wellbeing of children in our communities is on the decline. Anxiety and stress are fast becoming the new pandemic and, as such, we need a new toolbox that will help support families and schools in these critical times. I've been a therapist for nearly 20 years. I know first-hand the impact life has on mental health. If left unchecked, it can lead to mental health disorders and diagnoses that could have been prevented. According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly one in 10 children aged 5 to 16 is affected by a mental health problem such as stress, anxiety, depression or behavioural disorders…and this was before

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the pandemic! I hate to think about what it is now and in the years to come. To help remedy this, I founded WiggleBums and WiggleKids — a yoga, mindfulness, and meditation teacher training. We now have teachers all over the world bringing our unique fusion of NLP, mindfulness, and yoga to the children, their families, and schools in their communities. When children experience this toolbox for life, they build new neural pathways that enhance memory, coordination, and enable self-regulation to help lessen the levels of stress and anxiety day-to-day. Yoga is suitable for all ages, abilities, genders and body types. As a society, we tend to pigeonhole children into specific roles from a young age based on their strengths, likes, dislikes and gender. Yoga is non-competitive, inclusive and fun and teaches children that they don’t have to fit the mould or excel at a sport. It

encourages them to be aware of what their bodies are capable of doing regardless of their age, gender or ability. It teaches them that they are all unique, wonderful and have something special to offer this world.  Childhood anxiety has been reported as one of the most significant mental health issues facing children today. It is estimated that one in four children will experience some form of psychological distress by the time they leave primary school. Yoga and mindfulness for children can help with this. The benefits of kids’ yoga include: • Improved health and fitness. • Increased flexibility, strength, balance, coordination and body awareness. • Boosted confidence, self-esteem and selfexpression. • Relaxation techniques to help them cope better with life. Yoga classes for children are a fun way to introduce a child to mindfulness and help them manage stress and improve their emotional health and wellbeing. Mindfulness simply means being fully present in the moment. It helps you slow down, tune in and listen to your body's needs. Mindfulness for kids helps them regulate their emotions and have a clearer understanding of the world around them. This reduces the amount of stress that they

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cope with on a daily basis. With the increasing pressures on schools to perform, it is important to bring this kind of work into the classroom and to the children who would never have the opportunity to access these kinds of tools. The mindfulness toolbox can help with social, emotional and psychological development, aid academic learning and reduce peer aggression, giving children a greater sense of self-worth and wellbeing. Mindfulness doesn’t require any equipment, special location or anything except your own mind. That means you can do it anywhere! Using your breath to anchor you back into your body, back into the present moment is a wonderful tool a child can use when they are in a stressful situation. It is something they can do without others knowing about it and will help reduce fear and anxiety over things that are out of their control. Settling the nervous system and bringing them back into a calm state of being. Yoga and mindfulness is something that helps children and their families navigate the trickier times in life. Simply put, it's a toolbox for life. And to be able to share that within our communities is probably the best job ever! You don’t need to be a teacher, a yoga teacher, a social worker or even a parent to become an effective children’s yoga and mindfulness teacher. You just need to love children and want to make the world a better place for them and the next generation. There are so many great benefits of becoming a children’s yoga and mindfulness teacher such as: •    Children’s mental health is on the decline and you can help remedy that. •    An excellent career path if you are considering a more nourishing and rewarding work-life balance. •    You are your own boss.

•    You’ll have the opportunity to work with some amazing people who will share your vision and passion for bringing these lifechanging tools to young people and their families. •    You will be part of a global movement in education and health that’s making huge strides in helping children develop more self-awareness, focus, empathy and resilience. Becoming a children’s yoga and mindfulness teacher is not just about teaching yoga and meditation to kids, it’s about giving them life-changing tools they can use throughout their lives. They will learn how to manage stress and anxiety, be calmer, more focused and resilient. You will be the change you wish to see in the world and be part of a grassroots movement that provides a deeper understanding, for the next generation, of who we are, why we are here, and what we can do to make the world a better place. It’s probably the best job in the world providing life-changing tools the children can use now and long into their adult life. Just imagine if you had this kind of toolbox when you were young, how different your life would have been. The need is great! We need teachers right now to help the children through these critical times. If you are reading this and are interested in teaching kids’ yoga and mindfulness and you can feel it igniting something deep inside of you, then you already have what it takes. I urge you to feel the fear and do it anyway because your community needs you right now. Find a course that resonates and jump right in. I guarantee it will be the best thing you ever do. Patricia Maddalena is founder and lead mindfulness tutor of WiggleBums Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Academy. Visit: wigglebums.uk

https://wigglebums.uk

Teacher zone Training: DURING Yoga Teacher

Sam’s school

Introducing the Sam Rao Yoga Teacher Training School. By Sam Rao

Here at the Sam Rao Yoga Teacher Training School, we have a saying: “If you want to become a yoga teacher, become the best yoga teacher you can be!” We offer a complete package for anyone looking to become a world-class yoga teacher. We take the responsibility of training our teachers to the highest standard, making sure they confidently pass their 10 weekends with flying colours to gain their 250 hours yoga teacher certificate. And we are very proud of our 100% pass rate! We treat everyone that joins our school as an individual and pride ourselves in

nurturing each trainee in the ways that best suit their needs, encouraging them to develop their own style of teaching to take out into their communities. We are now in our 11th year and have attained the Yoga Alliance Professional’s highest Trainer Pro status. We have over 100 qualified teachers who are all now building their successful yoga businesses — from local weekly classes to popular international retreats. Our main focus is to develop each teacher to be skilled and confident enough to expertly teach their own classes, and we encourage all of trainees to start teaching as soon as they begin the course. We therefore provide a warm, inclusive environment where teachers can practice building their new skills in a safe space, building their

confidence and self-belief. We work closely with our trainees, addressing any fears or limiting beliefs they may have and creating goals for achievement and success. Our YTT covers five main categories: Anatomy & Physiology sessions cover the whole body broken down into manageable sections, where we discuss ailments in each particular part of the body, and the postures that can be used to help them. We are renowned for our attention to detail in this section, and we use a special software (Visualbody 2022) to project details of the human body in order to enhance our trainees’ visualisation and learning. Teaching Practice covers extensive examination of all yoga asanas and their benefits. We learn how to effectively teach and modify each asana for the requirements of all the types of students that teachers will encounter — to make the practice attainable to a wide range of bodies and ages. Methodology of Yoga. Each trainee will take part in class planning and leading a group to deliver a class on in-person training day. We develop business plans with all our trainers, covering all of the

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Personal Practice. Trainees are encouraged to maintain a regular practice and embrace all styles of yoga.

BKS Iyengar and the origins of Hatha Yoga. There are no written papers or exams, everyone teaches and learns from their practice. Each trainee will give a final presentation to the rest of the group based on their yoga journey The venue for the in-person training is located in the heart of Hampshire, at beautiful Highfield Park, Heckfield, a stately home once owned by the Duke of Wellington. The estate provides a wonderful opportunity to practice yoga outdoors, or in the fully air-conditioned rooms. Accommodation for trainees coming from long distances can also be provided at a discounted rate at Highfield Park. All potential teacher trainees are welcome to attend a taster day at the school completely free of charge.

Philosophy and History of Yoga. We study the Sutras and other ancient texts and also the lineage of our programme going back to

Sam Rao is the founder of the Sam Rao Yoga Teacher Training School (samraoyoga.com)

steps they need to create the yoga business that each trainee desires. This section includes tips on marketing and accounting and a step-by-step guide as to what steps to take to create a yoga retreat business or other larger yoga events.

   Practical, empowering & fun!

Sam brings warmth and clarity to yoga teacher training, encouraging his students to extend their potential and work through their limitations. Our Yoga Alliance approved courses are practical, empowering and fun! Why not become part of our growing yoga teacher family today?

Apply for a free trial day via the website. For more information please visit

www.samraoyoga.com or call 07775 770 526 https://samraoyoga.com 123

Teacher zone Training: AFTER Yoga Teacher

Yoga teacher

Your formal teacher training has come to an end and your certificate is in your hand... but where do you go from here?

Photography - Jackie Wood

jobs

A brief outline and exploration of possible careers and where to teach. By Victoria James Your formal teacher training has come to an end and your certificate is in your hand…but where do you go from here? Perhaps you are unsure about where you will fit in among all the different styles of yoga and whether you should hire a studio or a church hall to run your own class, or sign up to teach at the local leisure centre. The answer is that you decide what feels right for you. Do you want to write up a CV and send it to every leisure centre or hotel spa, throw the net wide, then take every opportunity that comes back? Or do you want to start slowly, get on the cover list of a local sports centre and just do the classes that you are comfortable with? I qualified with FRYOG (Friends of Yoga) in 2004 and had some experience of teaching my fellow diploma students whilst doing the course. I had also taught my friends, (for free) while I was on my course, so I had a tiny bit of experience. When it came to teaching ‘for real’ I was quite nervous, but I pushed myself to hire a local school hall and taught there for a few months. Life took a turn at this point and my husband’s job took us to live in Sweden where I had a really nice introduction into teaching a group of expat mums who were keen to come to my house and practice yoga. After five years, I returned to the UK and realised that, while I had been abroad, yoga had grown in popularity and it was now not quite so easy to find an available/affordable room to hire, locally, or vacancies in spas or 124

leisure centres for yoga teachers. After a few months I had a call from a leisure centre that needed cover and I taught there for a while before they asked me to teach the class permanently. This gave me my introduction into teaching more regularly and over the next 10-plus years I acquired some valuable experience by teaching in many varied environments, which I would like to share with you here.

Teaching in your own home

If you are lucky enough to have the space at home to teach your classes, this can be a really nice way to start, but you do need to check such things as: • Does your house insurance cover you to use your home as a business? • The business rates connected with teaching within your home. • Risk assessments for health and safety. The above are not relevant if you are teaching on Zoom. Also, if you play music you will need to buy a music licence.

Hiring a local space to teach your class

Some questions I have learned to consider, when hiring a venue are: • What is the availability of parking for those attending the class and does it affect the local neighbours? • Can the room be warmed up in winter or cooled in summer? • Does the local environment have any causes of noise pollution (such as a Zumba class next door or perhaps a factory that creates an unpleasant smell) at the time when you plan to run the class? • Is the room clean and safe? • Is the room a reasonable price to hire? • Do they have a music licence? If the event space is hired out for parties, they should already have a licence. The main positive of creating your own yoga class is that, after a little while, you have a group who are quite bonded and come back regularly for the social benefits as well as the physical/mental benefits.

Teaching at a leisure centre

There are a number of benefits to teaching in a leisure centre. In short, you just need to turn up on time to teach the class as all of the administration is done for you. You don’t need to provide mats because they are there. There will be a first aider in

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: AFTER the building, so you don’t need to be first aid qualified (although I would advise that you do a first aid course anyway). The classes are usually quite big (perhaps 25-30 people) and the pay is usually quite minimal.

Teaching at a hotel spa

Hotel spas are usually nice spaces to be in. They have a designated studio, away from the noise of other classes and, in a similar way to leisure centres, all of the administration is managed for you. By teaching in spas and leisure centres you meet a lot of different people with a variety of reasons for coming to a class, providing you with a wide range of experience.

Teaching at an adult learning or education centre

This can be a very rewarding place to teach. I gained a lot of experience teaching a group of more mature/retired ladies and gentlemen. Adult learning centres do require that you complete quite a lot of paperwork, similar to a regular teacher. You do get a break during the school holidays, but the pay is generally lower than you would get from, for example, a privately-run spa.

Teaching in a secondary school

This is usually done for a limited period, such as a term or for just a few occasions when the topic that the children are being taught is wellness or mindfulness. In my experience, the children are well behaved if they are aged 16 and above and especially if they have chosen to do the class. If you are teaching younger children, under the age of 13, then they are still learning how to behave and, unless you are experienced in behaviour management, you will need to request to have one of the teachers present throughout the class. Usually, they are present in a guardian role, but, in my experience, they don’t always like to interrupt your class to control behaviour. Also, an important thing to remember, is you do need some training in teaching yoga to younger, developing bodies and minds.

Yoga TEACHER

TRAINING

Corporate settings

Teaching in an office environment can be a lovely way to help those folks who spend a lot of time at desks and will come to the class quite stiff, tired and maybe even stressed. You may need to provide the yoga mats, although since Covid-19 has been around, most people bring their own mats. You can agree a price with the company for the teaching. Some corporate yoga classes are arranged by the staff and the company allows them to use a room. Other classes are arranged by the organisation itself and, generally, you could be paid more by the business than you would be paid by the individuals.

Private tuition

This can be quite varied and the need to tailor the class to the client(s) is quite important. I would suggest gaining a few years’ experience of teaching before taking on a private class.

One-off yoga classes

You can also get some one-off bookings by promoting yourself on Google or social media. I was booked by a hen party, who had hired a house for the weekend. I taught yoga to the group in the garden of the mansion for a pre-agreed price. Also, you may receive a request to teach a one-off yoga class for a corporate event. These events typically have a budget for the staff to do some leisure activities which allows for a higher rate than you might expect to be paid in other settings. Victoria James (victoriajamesyoga.com) is a yoga teacher and chief area officer for FRYOG (Friends of Yoga) Visit: friendsofyoga.co.uk

FOUNDATION COURSE Teach the 200 HOUR TT 500 HOUR TT

you love

CPD DAYS https://friendsofyoga.co.uk www.friendsofyoga.co.uk [email protected] [email protected]

Offering professional yoga training since 1972

https://facebook.com/FRYOG 125

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How to thrive as a

yoga teacher

Why do some yoga teachers succeed in building a thriving career in yoga while others fail? Top tips to help you thrive and survive after graduation. By Allie Hill

Yoga has grown into a highly successful, competitive, commercial industry. Because of this, teaching yoga is on the rise. Yoga teachers come and go, burn out, and get pushed out of the industry. Only some stay for the long haul. The same scenario plays out time and time again. After graduating from your first teacher training, you’re full of enthusiasm and happy to take on over 16 classes a week. You quit your day job to build a career in yoga. You race all over town saying “yes!” to as many classes as possible – teaching here, there, and everywhere. You’ve got bills to pay! You’re desperately trying to be seen and create a name for yourself in

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this competitive yoga industry. Inevitably, around 18 months or so later, the cracks start to show (as do the bags under your eyes). You burn out. A more sustainable approach during the fledgling years is to teach yoga alongside another part-time job and slowly build your classes and following. Find an experienced teacher that you connect with and ask them if they’d be willing to mentor you. Gradually gather some corporate and one-on-one clients as these are often much more lucrative than studio classes. Eventually, you’ll be able to leave your part-time job and make a career in yoga work financially – teaching less, earning more, and enjoying what you do for a long time. Aside from the burn out of teachers doing too much physically, there’s also a disconnection between yoga teachers and their practice. They lose their inspiration and connection as to why they chose to become a yoga teacher in the first place.  If you find yourself a bit stagnant, reflect on why you first started practicing yoga, what it meant to you at that time, and how it had a positive impact on your life. Go back to the beginning, back to your roots, and allow that passion to reignite your career in yoga.

In order to keep the fire burning, you should also be continuously open to learning. Whatever path you take as a yoga teacher, no matter what style you teach, all the best teachers continue to study themselves. Yoga is a vast subject and, at different times in your teaching journey, you’ll delve into different parts of it, becoming inspired by new learnings and discoveries that help you to evolve. 5 tips to create a thriving career in yoga Use these five tips to help support you as a new teacher so you can maintain that all-important connection to your practice, yourself, and your commitment to growth throughout your career in yoga.   1. Stay grounded and open to serve We all know there’s no such thing as a perfect yoga pose, and nothing worse than a show off yoga teacher. While standing on your hands in a deep backbend, with your feet pointing down toward your head is certainly impressive – and for those who watch on, perhaps inspirational – it doesn’t mean that you have what it takes to deliver an incredible yoga class. The best yoga teachers are those who come to class willing to serve their students, hold space, and be present. Not those who use it as an opportunity to show

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: AFTER off what they are able to do. Compassion toward our students, our attitude toward the practice of yoga, and our ability to care and connect with our students goes far. Stay grounded. It’s only yoga – not brain surgery. Leave your ego at the door. 2. Find your authentic voice Avoid the 'yoga voice’…it’s fake and it shows. Finding your own voice, your own language, and simply being yourself makes for a better experience. Allow your personality to shine through. Perhaps share some personal, spiritual stories or relevant thought-provoking quotes. Trust yourself, have faith in the yoga teacher you’ve become, and be at ease. It’s also important to note that this is a skill that comes over time with continual practice. 3. Forge connections Our connection to our yoga students – before and after class – means a great deal. Learn names and chat with students to forge deeper connections. Notice when a student is having an 'off day’ and take the time to check in with them. If someone is struggling, encourage them and they’ll be back for sure. 4. Plan, plan, plan and then adapt Memorise your yoga sequence. But, also, be ready to adapt it if you have beginners rock up to your strong Vinyasa class. Adapting a yoga sequence on the spot is a

skill and it comes with practice. Offer modifications to the newbies and advanced variations to the more experienced crew to keep everyone stimulated. 5. Be present Once you’ve been teaching for a while, take time out for yourself – especially if you teach yoga full-time. Do something other than yoga, otherwise your love and passion may dissipate and you will not be present for your students. Taking time out enables us to be more fully present in the moment when we

need to be engaged as teachers. Faking it will only get you so far and it’s not recommended.   Create your successful career in yoga Within the past two decades, we’ve seen yoga blossom into the mainstream. We’ve had the privilege to witness first-hand how yoga serves the individual in such a powerful way. Yoga works its remarkable magic to allow students to notice incredible transformations. At the heart of this metamorphosis quietly sits the yoga teacher – who can easily enable or equally disable the journey. The world certainly needs more passionate people doing what they truly love. If, for you, that’s teaching yoga then the work should always begin with yourself. The world certainly needs more passionate people doing what they truly love. The more we can work on being the best version of ourselves in a real genuine, compassionate way, the more that will shine through in our classes. It is this that makes for an excellent yoga teacher who will last the distance and go on to create a thriving career in yoga. So, take on board all the tips, do the best you can, be committed and open to continuously learning, and – above all else – take good care of yourself. Allie Hill is the founder of yogahaven and has been delivering training for 15 years. Follow her @yogahaven and @yogahaven_teach for her top tips on teaching yoga Email [email protected] using code "Let's Get it OM" for a £200 discount on a YH training in 2022 127

Teacher zone Training: AFTER Yoga Teacher

Getting class

confident

How to boost your confidence as a newly-qualified teacher. By Jessica Banks aka Sat Shakti Kaur As a newly-minted teacher, are you feeling a bit apprehensive? Unsure of your readiness to take on a class? You’re not alone. It’s common for new teachers to feel a bit short on confidence. But probably you’ve got more to offer than you realise. And there are some things you can do to help you boost your confidence. Getting started, you might need to adjust your expectations. The teachers who trained you, those you most admire, likely have decades of experience under their belt. They have an ease on the teacher’s platform, a broad knowledge base, and charisma that’s hard to emulate when you’re just coming out of teacher

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training. Don’t even try. Instead, be you. You have your own strengths, your own perspective. Accept your innocence as an asset. (More on this in a moment!) When you’re freshly certified to teach, you may not feel fully qualified. This is normal. Teacher training is just part of your journey with yoga. It can be a lifelong journey and you have the opportunity to keep learning for the duration. There's no point where you’ll have learned all the things there are to learn about yoga and subsequently feel ready to teach. So just jump in and get started. You’ll continue to learn as you teach. Students will play a role in your growth

as a teacher. You’ll develop your teaching vocabulary – like what cues they respond to – through trial and error in class. There’s nothing like a whole class moving in the wrong direction to highlight that you’ve muddled your words. Don’t sweat it. As you go, you'll find certain words and phrases work better than others. Each time you teach, the words will flow more easily. There will be times students ask questions about the practice that you can’t answer. Be honest. You can point them to possible sources for more information or you can do the research yourself and follow up with an answer later on. Either

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: AFTER

way, you can take the opportunity to explore the subject. The next time someone asks that question, you'll be prepared. Every body is different. Be alert to how the students move through space. You'll gain insight just by watching them. Unintentional mistakes will happen. Accept them as part of the teaching experience and, more importantly, learn from them. You'll give instructions in a convoluted way, you'll mix up your words, you'll forget a sequence. Don’t worry! You’ll be in good company: there’s not a teacher who hasn’t done these things. Each hiccup you have is an opportunity for refinement. Teaching is a form of public speaking. The bad news is that you can’t avoid speaking in your classes. The good news is that there are no special skills required to do it. Get started, keep it simple and focus on the yoga. You don’t need to tell stories, you don’t need to entertain. Guide students safely into and out of postures and they’ll have a good experience. Each class you teach will develop you as a teacher. But practice at home too. The more you prepare to teach a class, the easier it will be to deliver. Go through the postures. Internalise the physical practice, so your body knows what to do when you step up to the mat to lead class. As you go through the postures at home, practice giving the instructions out loud. Your body may

be 100% clear on what you intend to teach. You may have words lined up in your head. But unless you’ve said them out loud, you can’t be sure what will actually come out of your mouth. The more you teach, the more experience you accumulate, the more you’ll have to offer students in your classes. But you have plenty to share when you’re starting out. You’re probably teaching, or considering teacher training, because you have a great love for yoga. Likely, it's impacted you in some profound way. You have an innocence and enthusiasm that will shine through and inspire students in your classes. While what you're offering may not be new (there’s no shortage of yoga classes), how you deliver it is. Some teachers are down to earth, some have humour, some have a commanding presence, some are understated. Your attitude towards the practice, your reasons for teaching, will frame your delivery. And there are students out there who will most resonate with what you have to say and how you say it. As you progress on the yogic path, your teaching style may shift. Always be true to you. Be open, honest, earnest. You have distinct gifts, a unique perspective, your own voice. You have value. When you teach, just be you. Jessica Banks aka Sat Shakti Kaur is the founder of JOY Yoga (joy.yoga)

https:/joy.yoga

Teacher zone Training: AFTER Yoga Teacher

Peace of mind

Insurance considerations for yoga teachers and their businesses. By Claire Squire As the UK has transitioned in and out of lockdowns over the last two years, we have found that yoga teachers have worked creatively to offer options for their clients, including online and open-air sessions. While there are many challenges that still face us in 2022, summer is classically a time of hope and optimism, and there are opportunities still available for creative individuals who are able to take advantage of pent-up consumer demand. Nonetheless, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of ensuring safety nets are in place…insurance is one such safety net. Whether you are standing on the threshold of a new career or are a seasoned professional, some time spent on the disciplines of risk management and insurance could save you many hours at a later date, should the worst occur and a claim be made against you. The complexities of insurance can often be daunting. It is therefore advisable to seek professional guidance at every stage of your business development, to 130

ensure you are getting the right cover for your own particular circumstances. Many years ago there were few insurance solutions that adequately met the needs of wellbeing professionals such as yoga teachers. David Balen, Balens chair, was one such yoga teacher. His personal knowledge and experience of these areas, combined with his family’s roots in insurance, enabled him to tailor a pioneering Professional Liability policy that would provide comprehensive insurance cover to people in similar professions, and working with insurers to provide a range of options to meet the business insurance needs of health and wellbeing professionals. The following is a brief guide to some of the insurance policies for yoga teachers to consider for themselves and their business. • Professional Liability Insurance: As a business owner or individual practitioner/ tutor you can be held legally liable for injury, harm or financial loss alleged to have been caused to your clients or other

parties, and/or loss/damage to their property. As such, you may choose to purchase Professional Liability insurance, to help defend you in any claim situation and meet the cost of these liabilities. Good quality cover will include Professional Liability and Public Liability as standard. It is also useful to consider other elements, for example: any advice given or cover for mental anguish caused; manual or electrical equipment used as part of your profession; additional therapies or activities that you are qualified in; and whether the policy will cover you for online work, which has been particularly important during the current pandemic. • All Risks Cover: For items you take with you, such as mobile equipment or laptops. This may be of particular use for yoga teachers who travel to various locations. • Personal Accident and Sickness: Various options available; cover may be of particular importance for those that are self-employed and have no alternative income if they are unable to work due to

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: AFTER particularly important if you have a trading name for your business as a yoga teacher that others are working under; can also include Professional Liability insurance for named employees.

For Buildings, Contents, Stock and when employing others: • Employers Liability Insurance: Typically a legal requirement if you have anyone working for you, including volunteers. an accident or illness. • Legal Expenses: Covers criminal defence and legal advice, may also include legal and taxation advice lines. Potentially included as part of a Professional Liability Insurance package. • Entity or Contingent Insurance: Covers the business name and any insurable claims that are directed towards it,

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• Stock and Contents Insurance: Take care not to under insure (i.e. not cover the full value of your contents or stock), as claims may be proportionately reduced if you do so. • Buildings Insurance: A consideration if you are the owner or responsible for this in any rental agreement. May also be a requirement of any mortgage agreement on the property.

• Tenants’ Improvements: Any improvements you have made to a rental property may be your responsibility to insure against damage (for example, from a fire or flood). • Business Interruption: Cover for financial losses and/or increased costs to your business when unable to operate due to property damage arising from an insured peril, such as fire or flood. Check the policy wording to see what you will actually be covered for; lower premiums may equal inadequate protection in the event of a claim. Terms and conditions will apply to all insurance policies and it is important that you comply with these to ensure that cover remains in place. Time spent focusing on this in advance, will hopefully ensure full peace of mind should the worst occur. Claire Squire, Balens Specialist Insurance Brokers. Further information on the different forms of insurance, including a glossary of terms, and what to do in some common complaint or claim situations, is available on the Balens website: balens.co.uk

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Teacher zone Training: AFTER Yoga Teacher

Finding your inner voice

Developing your own personal teaching style: how to find your inner voice

How do you develop your own personal teaching style and find your inner voice? Start with: how did you get here? What was it that motivated you to book that training course? People love yoga for many different reasons. For some, it’s all about physical training; for others, the mental training. Some people love travelling outside their comfort zone, others love to practice restorative self-care. There are individuals who live for perfecting asana; there are those embarked on a deep, spiritual exploration. Of course, I bet most of us reading this are thinking ALL the things! That’s the beauty of yoga, the fullness of it. But, when you are communicating to others, in all your ‘you-ness’, what you teach and how you like to teach it, you can’t just say ALL the things! You need some focus, some direction, some ‘this is the kind of teacher I am, and this is what I teach’. The fun of this is when you start voicing the individual you, you will begin to gather the natural attraction of your personal tribe. This is what makes teaching thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable, a whole bunch of people on the same page, ready and willing to love the same yoga, together! When we can be one-focused on understanding our aim, our mission and our 132

authenticity in teaching yoga, that’s when it all begins to flow. Here are a few steps to help you find your inner voice and truly be the teacher you want to embody.

Step 1 - Workshop it

This is a very simple, but very effective, exercise. Get yourself a little pack of post-it notes. On individual post-it notes, one note to one word, write: ▪ Up to 5 things, on separate notes, that make you really happy. Example: yoga, travel, festivals etc ▪ Up to 5 things that really interest you. Be as general or specific as you like. Example: music, philosophy, pranayama etc ▪ Up to 5 ways people would describe you. Example: caring, compassionate, good energy etc ▪ Up to 5 specific aspects of yoga you love the most. Example: meditation, koshas, vinyasa etc. ▪ Up to 5 groups of people you would most like to work with. Example: pregnancy, postcancer, beginner yogis. Pop all your words up on the wall in front of you – wonder at it – what a beautiful representation of you and your voice! Now. Be brave and see if you can reduce

the amount of words. In particular, see if you can get the ‘groups of people’ down to just one or two. This is what people in the corporate world call ‘Personality Branding’, and it’s the big news marketing baby on the block. But don’t let this put you off! Corporate sales are just catching up with what yoga already knows, it’s our true authentic voice that matters, or what we might call our Sankalpa, or our Dharma. Marketing has noticed that those who are most successful, are those who are being true to themselves, working within their peaceful state of meaning, rather than trying to be, or sell, something that they are not. So, let’s come back to your map of yourself that you are gazing at on the wall, your array of post-its...

Step 2 - Now it’s time to meditate

You can lead yourself into a personal visualisation of tending to all these attributes in a beautiful garden, or popping them all into a brimming, full, water well. You could enjoy a fire elemental yoga practice to alchemise your heat, your prana, and pop all the attributes into your fire to give them the energy they deserve. Soon, without trying, the visualisation will speak your inner voice, your only intention

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now is to witness it and serve it.

Step 3 - And so to joyful expression

To serve our authentic inner voice we can then use the modern messaging vehicles if we wish…websites, blogs, social media. Now it should become easy, creative, and enjoyable as you are expressing yourself, who you are, and who and what you want to teach. The play here is to make sure you don’t deviate too far from your sunny path. Occasionally, we will get drawn over here, interested over there. Use this in the same way you do your thoughts in meditation, notice… then come back to the sunny path. Enjoy your expression, play creatively, but do stay focused.

Step 4 – Your voice and its authentic content

So now we know our expression we come to the actual content. This will be led by your voice. If you want to support pregnant women, for example, it may be a series of pregnancy yoga then baby yoga classes over a space of perhaps two years. The work next is putting your passion and your knowledge into lesson themes and plans, in a way that your antenatal women will find inspirational. If you want to support post-cancer patients perhaps it is a series of private sessions in their home, with the content focused on a short daily practice that they can use as healing. If it’s beginner yogis then perhaps the way to really inspire them, and kick-start their yoga passion, is to offer them a weekend retreat where they can experience a level of transformation. Here the voice, and the content, will dictate the vehicle needed. When I am lesson planning first

comes the research, the referencing, the knowledge, the intellect. The energy is a very physical, pranic and mental energy. Being held by these koshas I can map out and plan, whilst content shape shifts and moves around, until I have a personal feeling of satisfaction.

Step 5 – Moving into your deeper voice

Then, I hand it over to yoga and the wisdom. The recognition that this isn’t really my voice after all, it’s just an expression of the deeper universal voice which is the divinity of yoga. Before I teach a retreat, I usually enter a period of deep meditation myself, a few days if I can. I need to let go of the domesticity, the manomaya chat, the everyday pushes and pulls, and become a steady holder of deeper truth. Simply a vessel, a channel for yoga teaching. As I write this, I feel the familiar warmth in my heart of what I am. The oneness of it all. There becomes a bliss-like state that holds me and my students in the beautiful sharing of truth. So, what to remember? Just teach what you are. Yoke the two together, it’s as simple as that. The So Hum meditation, “I Am That’, will guide you every step of the way. Just tune into your yoga practice, and your inner voice will become crystal clear. Jackie Heffer-Cooke is a senior yoga teacher and runs a successful training centre in specialised pregnancy, baby and children’s yoga called zenmuma.co.uk @Jackie. freedomseekers. She also holds retreats around the world with Freedom Yoga and Retreats and teaches the Freedom Yoga TT 200 with her friend and guru Swami Atma Gyanam Saraswati. Get in touch: hello@ zenmuma.co.uk

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What next?

Logical career steps after your teacher training course. By Nicole Zimbler

So, you have gone through the personal journey and commitment of a YTT. If you are anything like me (who attended their first training in 1998 in the traditional ashram Sivananda style yoga), this has totally whet your appetite for the many layers of what more yoga can offer personally and professionally. You may feel that, depending on your individual life experiences, interests or preferences, you are drawn to deepen your knowledge in a more specialist field of teaching, and this is the wonderful thing about yoga. It is incredibly versatile, authentic and accessible in meeting the direct needs of others as a support for their overall health and wellbeing. Yoga, in itself, is naturally therapeutic,

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diverse and inclusive. Therefore, with a little extra input it has enormous potential to branch into areas of health or wellbeing that you are drawn towards and reach numerous sub-sectors of the population, such as pregnancy or baby yoga, children’s yoga, teen yoga, women’s/ men’s healthcare, or in support of a medical condition such as cancer care, Multiple Sclerosis, rehabilitation, or mental health conditions, which may lead to a more specialist trauma-informed yoga approach. You may be drawn to extend your knowledge and skill to teach in particular areas of yoga such as meditation or yoga nidra, or even want to go that bit further and train fully as a yoga therapist. Luckily, yoga fits into a wide spectrum and we have a wealth of highly educated and experienced yoga teachers, therapists, and specialist training schools who have broadened and shaped their direct knowledge and practice to provide further specialist education for the yoga practitioner community. One of the most interesting and nourishing parts of this career choice is, as teachers, we never stop being the student. So we are very lucky to have the continuing scope of exploration through short courses, CPDs and extended TT programmes. These provide the opportunity to specialise in and broaden a specific skill-based practice and

keep us fulfilled in continuation of learning from our students. Another element is the scope this offers you professionally as a yoga teacher to change and grow as you do as an individual. For instance, maybe you start teaching more generally and then find that life seems to be presenting a new path (such as a personal health experience, having children or people approaching you to ask if you can work with something more specific) and you are able to extend and expand your expertise in a way that flows well with your life path and choices. The professional flexibility this offers someone is quite unique and for me has always been humbling, as it means I get to hone in on what I am passionate about and work within a community that I authentically connect to. It also means that my job is versatile enough to change as I change, grow as I grow, and to keep on meeting the direct needs of others. So where to start in the world of additional or specialist teacher trainings as the next logical step in finding your niche on this career path? As I have said, there are a wide range of short courses that can

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be taken as separate additional learning modules, that may consist of a day to a few days learning, or up to further 500hr teacher trainings. If you are already established in what you are drawn towards, or know where your additional learning passion lies, then see if you can gather advice from within the yoga community. You can do this through asking other local teachers or joining specialist forums or groups on what courses are advised for that area of interest. As you filter through the advice, take a moment to trust your intuition and feel into what that training school or course will be offering you directly. Bear in mind there are lots of courses offering learning styles that may or may not suit you. For instance, you might ask yourself if an online learning environment is right for you, or would you prefer face to face teaching, or even a blended learning course? Do you prefer smaller/larger groups? Maybe you want to find a good blend of science and spiritual, or maybe you want a more traditional style of yoga. Or if you are at the starting point and want to take the first steps into exploring a new passionate area of professional development, this may be the time where you take up a shorter learning course and go from there. Shorter CPD courses have a lot to offer: they can be more affordable, highly informative and be put towards additional hours of professional teaching practice. I would also advise you to make contact with the training school directly to initiate some communication. Another tip is to check that your chosen training school is accredited by a yoga standards or certification body. Most organisations will be running training courses throughout the year, unless there is a particularly well renowned teacher that you hope to learn from. Therefore, take your time to decide, don’t feel as if you have to rush into anything and listen to your intuition. Nicole Zimbler is the founder of Yotism (yotism.com)

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Continuing

professional

development CPD: the importance of ongoing yoga learning and training throughout your career. By Catherine Mitchell

A good teacher training (TT) course is just the start of what can be an extremely fulfilling, sometimes challenging and, more often than not, transformative journey as a yoga teacher. During the course, elements of philosophy, anatomy and physiology complement practical teaching skills and other aspects relevant to teaching yoga in the real world. But once you have smiled for the group photo and framed your certificate, what next? Continuing professional development, or CPD, is a vital component of being a safe and inspired yoga teacher, and keeping your teaching relevant for your students and the world around us. If you qualified as a teacher long ago, you may well have a wealth of practical experience and knowledge to draw upon, but is it still relevant? Are you receiving renewed inspiration to share with your classes? If you are new to teaching and enjoyed a wonderfully comprehensive anatomy module on your TT, you may find further questions arise after a year of teaching different bodies, each with their own ways of moving, history or injuries – perhaps further training on the body is now timely. Maybe your personal circumstances have changed. Injury may have led you from a physical practice towards more contemplation and meditation and you may wish to explore the benefits of teaching a quieter practice. Or a similar injury might 136

lead you down the path of rehabilitation and physical recovery. It is unlikely that a lifetime of yoga teaching (from whatever age you start) will or even should remain static. As we change in response to our situation and circumstances so will our personal practice and the yoga we want to share in a clear and honest way. Dynamic physical teaching may move into an interest in perinatal teaching or teaching yoga to children for example, which may again develop into an interest in yoga for menopause. Perhaps personal or close experience of an illness or addiction may draw us to specialise in learning how to share yoga for others in need of those practices. Feeling overwhelmed by the philosophy on your original teacher training may inspire a return to a more specialised course, to help reinvigorate those old texts and make them applicable for us today. Personal circumstances often open our ears and hearts to the teachings from the right teacher, at the right time, in a different way – to pass them on, with a renewed level of authenticity to our students. Alongside a varied curriculum, the 500hour Yoga Scotland Teacher Training. encourages students to develop their own Sadhana, personal practice; Abhyasa, regular and repeated practice; and Svadhyaya, self-directed learning. One current student on the course, Shelley, says she finds “the focus on a personal practice

is really helping me to bring an authentic approach to my yoga teaching.” So much of our learning as yoga teachers is not stored in our heads but in our bodies, our breath and personal practice. When we build on the foundation of our original training with ongoing training, attending the event is again, only the start. Our work as yoga teachers is to turn our knowledge, through the alchemy of our practice and developing understanding, into wisdom we can share in a clear and accessible way. Any learning we do needs to be practiced, consolidated and made our own through different levels of ongoing study, in groups and by ourselves. Yoga Scotland’s ongoing training offers teachers, as well as those with an interest in yoga, the opportunity to explore, expand and experience aspects of yoga, not only to deepen their personal practice and teaching, but also as an invitation to connect with others within the yoga community. The community element is recognised as important and something we have come to cherish more than ever in the last two years. In recent times, many of us learned how to deliver classes or receive trainings online (there has been a wealth of sharing of knowledge to facilitate this in the yoga community). But beyond the practicalities of online platforms and webcams, we need to consider how people’s needs have changed. Yoga teaches us to be present, to

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: AFTER pay attention to the world around us: who is here today, in the room in front of us, and what do they need? As yoga teachers, how can we support them? We need to be responsive to how people in our classes are doing and offer appropriate support. To consider how we can help people with resilience, with mental health challenges. Are we even aware of these challenges, often hidden beneath the surface? The more tools we have in our toolbox, the better skilled we can be to both notice and respond to a range of needs and situations. In society we are becoming more aware of the need for trauma awareness, for example, in a wide range of settings. Some TT courses are starting to include an element of this and there are now opportunities, through specialist training, for teachers to go on to become fully trauma-informed yoga teachers and lead dedicated classes. What is sometimes harder to see is those who are missing from our classes and why. How can we challenge inequity and inequality to truly make classes accessible and inclusive? Let’s learn about race and equality, and mental health inclusive language, or become aware of potential gender bias or cultural appropriation. Let’s think about how to make classes work

for neuro-diverse students and teachers, or those with different bodies. What new (or old) knowledge and awareness can be brought into classes to enhance and promote the root aims of yoga and acknowledge where it comes from? As the world around us changes, so too does our yoga teaching. Ongoing training allows us to adapt, to be fluid in our approach to yoga. We don’t all need to specialise in everything. We don’t even need

to teach everything we know. We can enjoy, but never take for granted the abundance of collective knowledge and practical experience, acknowledging the need to stay humble and to carry on learning to inspire our students and keep them safe. Together we are more than the sum of our parts. Catherine Mitchell is the administration officer for Yoga Scotland, she also teaches yoga in Fort William (yogascotland.org.uk)

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Heating the hot studio Reliable humidity control for a hot yoga studio

Hot yoga, as well as Bikram Yoga, requires strict control over the temperature and humidity of the environment as it’s designed to mimic the climate of India. Typically, a hot yoga studio needs to be maintained at a temperature of 35°C to 40°C, with a relative humidity (rh) of at least 40%. The humidity level is particularly important, because at 40%rh perspiration won’t evaporate as quickly which prevents the body from being cooled. This increases the amount of healthy sweating, makes stretching more effective and helps to prevent injuries. Humidity Solutions, a leading independent supplier in humidity control, has been working with many hot yoga studios across the UK to achieve the right conditions for this type of practice. Its most recent customer, Yoga in the Lanes, is a Bikram Yoga school based by the seafront in Brighton. The School is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Simon and Bridgett Ane (BA) Goddard who both regularly practice and teach. In 2020, just before the pandemic, they moved into their new yoga school and soon realised the heaters they were using to heat the studio weren’t good enough. “When you run a hot yoga studio, the last thing you need

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is the room not being hot enough” says Simon. The couple soon turned to Humidity Solutions for help. When Simon and BA moved into the studio, they purchased three plug-in heaters to heat the studio to the optimal temperature of 40°C. However, they soon realised that the heaters weren’t doing the job. There were a few reasons for this. Firstly, the heaters were placed up high to avoid heat being directly applied to the skin of the yoga practitioners, and secondly to save valuable floor space being taken up by equipment. The problem is that hot air rises so the ground level temperature was only reaching 32°C at best. To add to the problem, fresh air was being brought into the space through a heat recovery unit and cooling the temperature of the room as the heaters could not cope with the load. Providing fresh oxygen into the space is necessary to be able to breathe so it was impossible to reach a 40°C room temperature. The reliability of the equipment was another factor adding to the issue. Three to four months after installing the heaters, they began to break down. This meant they couldn’t rely on all three heaters working at the same time. The heaters

were placed in three corners of the room, which meant there was no consistency of temperature from one side to the other. As the UK lockdown began and classes at the yoga school moved online, Simon knew it was time to investigate a new solution and contacted Humidity Solutions for help and advice. Before coming to Humidity Solutions, Simon considered alternative ways to heat the space. These alternatives included infrared heaters suspended from the ceiling but these were soon ruled out on basis that they wouldn’t achieve the results. Simon and BA were also after a solution that would be safe for students and were concerned that infrared heaters could potentially inflame any health issues the yoga practitioners may have. Humidity Solutions managing director and humidification expert, John Barker, recommended the Vesuvius unit to Yoga in the Lanes. The Vesuvius has been uniquely designed and developed by the Humidity Solutions team specifically for applications like this. The unit has many benefits including stable and reliable humidity and temperature control, energy efficiencies, reliability and durability (it has a typical

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lifespan of 10-15 years) and it doesn’t take up too much space. The Vesuvius was installed into a small kitchen space at the back of the studio. “One of the biggest selling points was the compactness of the unit, the fact it could fit into our room and take up no more space than a fridge freezer was a big advantage,” said Simon. The Vesuvius works together with the heat recovery unit to maintain the heat within the room. The fresh air was routed from the heat recovery unit into the Vesuvius, having the capacity to heat and humidify. That meant that the space was always maintained at the set temperature and fresh oxygen was also being provided. The system also provides preloaded settings which automate the system to turn on and off, so Simon and BA have complete control of the environment whenever they need it. In just 20 minutes the room can reach the optimal temperature of 40°C, which is an incredible time and energy saving from using plug-in heaters. As well as providing the Vesuvius, Humidity Solutions also assisted with the duct work to help soften the sound of the equipment which was located right next to the yoga studio. Attenuators were installed to the duct work to dampen the sound and remove any concerns that the noise could distract from the calmness of the yoga practice. Simon and BA are delighted with the consistency and reliability from the Vesuvius unit and have already noticed a difference in their customers’ reaction. Simon said: “We want our customers to feel the heat when they walk in, it heightens their experience and is what brings them back. Since we’ve installed the Vesuvius, we can notice the difference in our customers’ reaction”. Besides the performance of the unit, Simon also praised Humidity solutions for their outstanding advice, customer service and speedy delivery and installation to get their studio up and running in time to welcome their student back after the lockdown regulations. John Barker, commented: “Humidity Solutions is all about providing the right solution to the customer through expertise, equipment and installation. We are thrilled that Yoga in the Lanes now have the equipment they need to provide the best hot yoga experience for their students and are proud to be involved in the project”. For more information on how to create the perfect environment for Hot Yoga and Bikram Yoga, contact Humidity Solutions at: [email protected]

https://humiditysolutions.co.uk

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Yoga

franchising Have you thought about taking on a yoga franchise? Benefit from an instant business package, training and on-tap support. By Sam Petter established brand as a franchisee or partner. With 15 years franchising behind me, and as a practicing adult teacher, I can see the pros and cons of both models. For me, the franchising model has allowed me freedoms in my life that my yoga teaching never could. Many people see the word ‘franchising’ and think of big corporations…often, this is accompanied, involuntarily, with a negative viewpoint! But franchising is just the name for the replication of a successful business model. It's a model of collaboration, without competition, and the sharing of best practice. It's much more of a community than you might imagine. When I started Tatty Bumpkin, it was with a social enterprise award for helping mothers back into the workplace with a low-cost children’s yoga teacher training. We had lots of take-up and enthusiasm. Ultimately, very few of those who trained were successful. Why? As yoga teachers, we love yoga, we love to teach and we pride ourselves in our empathy and our communication. Some of us have compatible skills that enable us to market and sell our yoga classes with success. From the experience I had with Tatty Bumpkin I could see that those multiskilled teachers were a minority. It wasn't that they couldn't learn business skills, it was more that their interest lay in teaching. After four years we made the decision to franchise the business. Having talked to thousands of (mainly) women about their aspirations, here are my observations on whether to be a yoga teacher or join an 140

Autonomy

When you are a yoga teacher, you are in charge. It’s your business to do with as you choose. As a franchisee you are making the commitment to a brand. This means you need to feel as passionate about that brand and its values as you would about your own business. There is freedom to run your business as you chose, but there are certain guidelines and agreements you have to adhere to for the benefit of the brand and its community.

Scale

This is the biggest one for me. As a yoga teacher, I know I only have 12 hours in a day; additionally, I have a personal limit on how many hours teaching I want to do. In creating a scalable model, I love that franchising has self-employed teachers. This frees up your time and instead of having 12 hours in the day you might have one, two, three or four x 12 hours in the day. As a franchise grows, in the case of some of our franchisees, they no longer even live in their territory, or even in the country, as the teachers do 100% of the work. This ‘time leverage’ is the best thing about buying into a franchise. It buys you freedom.

Support

Instead of working by yourself and in competition with other yoga teachers, you are working in a supportive like-minded, sharing community. Sharing the highs and lows, the things that work, and those that don’t. You do pay a royalty on your earnings to the head office, but that is your back office and the future development of your asset, the only additional overhead in your business.

Shared resources

Collectively we save time and energy and leverage all the skills within the

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: AFTER community. Every time a lesson plan or marketing document is created, everyone gets to benefit. There are shared groups, and crucially no one is in competition, each having an exclusive geographical area — unique in the business world. Additionally, we all know yoga is non-competitive, so that fits well with our core values.

Saleability

You earn twice: in the short term and again when you sell up. As your business grows, you create a saleable asset. All your work is invested in an entity that one day you may decide to pass on (sell) when your life goals change.

Cost

Probably the main reason people choose teacher training over franchising, but over 15 years of research, development and refinement have gone into that brand. Think how much it would cost you to get all the trainings, the materials, the class plans, and so on. In my business, there are three distinct yoga brands for different ages, and each one has 500 accompanying documents, not to mention the music, the illustrations and more. You get everything you need

to start earning from day one. How much would that cost if you were creating this yourself? Most banks lend on franchises on very preferable terms because they have a proven track record. If you could pay £260 a month interest to earn £1,500-£9k, that would be considered a cost worth bearing. Especially if you then sell your business for more than you bought it for at the end. You can tell, I’m a convert! Of course, I know that both models have their pros and cons, and you’ll know straight away which model suits you – I’d never try to persuade anyone out of being a self-employed yoga teacher. It’s a fantastic, low cost, rewarding vocation. But if you have already started thinking about how you might generate a more flexible income, leverage your time and possibly earn money when you are not even there, plus build a future asset,

then just maybe this might be the start of something new! Myself, I truly understand both perspectives - I still run my adult classes as self-employed teacher but for growth & freedom I run a more scaleable model for my business. Sam Petter is founder of Children Inspired by Yoga (childreninspiredbyyoga.com)

https://babacool.net [email protected] https://childreninspiredbyyoga.com

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The business of teaching yoga Getting started with your own small yoga business. By Ann-Marie Mainprize “Turn your passion into a career and you will never work a day in your life”, is undoubtedly one of the greatest quotes… but when it comes to the business of yoga it can be a very different story and hard work. Emerging from your TT course to the real world of yoga teaching can be incredibly daunting and learning

how to build your foundations, market yourself and make connections can be challenging. Rest assured though: once you overcome the challenges and gain confidence it will be the most fulfilling, incredible journey to finally share your amazing teaching skills and passion to

teach others the wonderful therapeutic benefits from yoga practice. The greatest tips I give to newly qualified yoga teachers is to trust your instincts, be authentic and cultivate patience and perseverance. Feel and listen to exactly what you want to do with your teaching qualification. It’s not every one's cup of tea to dive straight into teaching large classes and you may want to specialise in one-to-one yoga lessons or run retreats or workshops. Always Listen to your heart and instincts and follow your own path. Here are a few tips to help guide you as you establish your yoga business:

"The greatest tips I give to newly qualified yoga teachers is to trust your instincts, be authentic and cultivate patience and perseverance." 142

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Setting up a class

Approach local gyms, athletic clubs, disability groups, local organisations, community groups, church halls and village halls and see if you could hire their facilities to provide a weekly yoga class or see if they are interested in adding yoga to their existing timetable. Promote corporate yoga and wellness packages to local businesses and offer staff discounts to your weekly classes. A great way to get yourself established in your community is to organise volunteer classes in local schools, workplaces and gyms or provide a free taster class at local community or charity events and festivals.

Branding your business

Choose a name, design a logo and have a colour theme for your business which is unique and personal that resonates with you.

Marketing

Don't be shy in promoting yourself. Think big. Your marketing tools are a valuable asset to promote your knowledge, passion and build up your business. Social media is an enormous platform for the yoga community and to connect with like- minded souls. I advise creating a unique page for your yoga business, which allows you to post content, create and share events and advertise. Don’t be afraid to pay to promote your classes or events on social media as it’s incredible the audience you can reach through targeting.

Take advantage of freebies, business seminars, or online marketing training. The market is flooded with free ‘design your own flyer’ templates and website pages and it’s not as scary as it seems once you get started.

Comparison is the thief of joy

This is your own amazing adventure into creating your own unique business. Avoid comparing yourself to what you see others creating especially on social media. Comparison starts a downward spiral and it’s very easy to soon start feeling not good enough which will influence your ability and confidence to promote yourself. Running a yoga business comes from within your heart and your intentions.

Feel the fear but do it anyway

It’s always scary marketing yourself, teaching your first classes and building your foundations and these fears will continue to raise their ugly head whenever you are pushed out of your comfort zone. Fear and anxiety can stop you from achieving your desires but once you embrace the fear and do it anyway you will feel complete joy and happiness with your outcome. Wherever you are on your journey, I wish you all the luck in the world: be you, trust, believe, achieve. Ann-Marie Mainprize is a senior yoga teacher trainer in East Yorkshire and owner of the Yoga Studio and Training Academy. Visit: amiyogateachertraining.co.uk

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Teacher zone Training: AFTER Yoga Teacher

Yoga is for

everyone

Exploring career prospects and possibilities for yoga teachers in the post-pandemic era. By Michael Hammond The last two years have been really challenging. As a studio owner, it’s not only your own livelihood that’s at stake, but you also feel responsible for all the other teachers at the studio.  The enforced lockdown break, however, gave me the chance to take a step back and review the studio and its direction without the pressure of rushing to teach the next class.  This turned out to be a real blessing and started a chain of events that has seen the studio expand in a number of directions.  Firstly, I decided I enjoyed not rushing around teaching class after class and giving more time to my own practice, so l

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dropped a number of classes and actually took on six new teachers. Again, this turned out to be an important decision as three of my existing teachers decided to stop teaching postpandemic.  Secondly, I sat down and designed the Tall Trees teacher training programme along with one of my lead teachers, Karen. We wanted a completely different way of delivering a TT course to ensure that our graduates would be confident to teach yoga to anyone, whatever their clients’ needs might be. I had been shocked that a friend of mine who was a newlyqualified Ashtanga teacher had not felt comfortable taking on a

Teacher zone

Tall Trees Yoga and Pilates Studio Hyssop Court, Woodfield Park, Tickhill Road, Doncaster, DN4 8QN

Yoga Alliance Trainer PRO private client with a shoulder injury even though my friend was also a sports injury massage therapist.  Thirdly, and this is where it all started to come together, I was approached by Doncaster Council to help in their Get Doncaster Moving campaign, and myself and my team started to take yoga classes to our local Multiple Sclerosis Society. Through this, we have become service providers for the NHS, Flourish Enterprises, Be Well Doncaster, as well the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and also run regular classes for fibromyalgia and diabetic groups as well as patients suffering with mental health problems. We are also about to start research for the NHS on the effects of yoga for long Covid sufferers.  To cap it off, the site the yoga studio is on has been selected to become a Green Prescription site, with the studio being at the heart of the enterprise, so I already have classes for this year’s graduates to teach. 

With all the pressures on the NHS and GPs in general, the modern yoga teacher can fulfil an important role in the health and wellbeing of their community. When we were collecting data for the Green Prescription project it was found that 80% of the reasons people called their health providers were down to social problems and only 20% were purely medical reasons…this opens a number of doors for the modern, well-rounded yoga teacher.  So, to finish, yes, your normal day-today classes are very important to you as a teacher, but if you get the opportunity to teach a class to a group of people who sometimes feel as if they have been cut away from the rest of society, the rewards are endless! After all, yoga is, and should always be, for everyone.  Michael Hammond is the owner of Tall Trees Yoga Studio in Doncaster South Yorkshire (talltreesyoga.co.uk)

Lay down your roots, grow tall and blossom into the best Yoga Teacher you can be with Tall Trees Yoga Teacher Training program. Book your place now for our 2022 course. Visit

www.talltreesyoga.co.uk

for more information and to secure your place.

www.talltreesyoga.co.uk https://talltreesyoga.co.uk https://www.facebook. Tall Trees Yoga com/talltreesyoga/

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Teacher zone Training: AFTER Yoga Teacher

What it's really like to teach yoga - Michele Pernetta

I have been teaching for 28 years. The journey teaching takes you on is as fascinating and rewarding as the one that practising yoga takes you on. Every teacher has their own individual experience based on their style, method of teaching, how long they have been teaching and who they teach. But one thing we all share, is the experience that sometimes a “magic” happens in class – a magic that is experienced by everyone in the room. Being a relatively inexperienced teacher is hard. You are thrilled and terrified in equal measure. You're trying to remember the instructions, safety protocols, modifications. You are making moment to moment decisions about what and whom to correct. All the while trying to be clear, inspiring and compassionate. It’s intense mentally and emotionally. It's also easy to feel rejected, ignored, disliked even (you aren’t! People are inherently kind, but yoga is hard and students are mainly just navigating that.) Your own insecurities can get magnified. If you demo people might think you’re showing off. If you don’t they might think you can’t. You worry you went too fast. Or too slow. Or that you missed stuff out. You will be acutely aware of things you don’t know. You learn to surrender all of it and move on. You’re here to serve. Care. Help. You take your attention off yourself and onto others. You go through so many emotions in one class - rejection, appreciation, gratitude, self 146

criticism, frustration and elation. The senior teacher has a different experience. I am happy to report that eventually all of the ‘skills’ part of teaching becomes second nature. It’s all just ‘there’. You no longer have a single thought when you are teaching. It is instinct and sensitivity alone. You have no idea what you are going to do or say next. It just happens. It is very responsive and immediate. You feel what your students are feeling. They carry you on their wave. In my experience, I find that the ‘work’ has become to orchestrate the energies of each individual and support them, while being sensitive to their signals and their own process. You give the technical instructions, correct misalignments and inspire and instruct, of course. But yoga is more than that. You are connecting to each person's inner world. I often find myself doing the pose through their body so to speak, feeling what they are feeling. Someone is struggling, another is about to give up, another going too far. Several are in a dance with you directly responding to every word you say. You direct people to the breath, their own sensations, their feeling being. The separation between yourself and the students becomes thin as if you were experiencing exactly what they are experiencing. It’s a sort of sci-fi style altered reality where you live for 90 minutes through the bodies, eyes and feelings of a group of strangers. It’s wild!

Like sunlight on a pond, yoga shows up everything that is swimming beneath the surface. And each person is being shone on. And whatever is not needed is being brought to the surface and purified. All the messiness, the falls, the body’s complaints, the stiffness, discomfort, the wobbles, the doubts. Everything that arises in the yoga shala is necessary and perfect. The people who have taken the time and paid the dime to join you to share their suffering, sweat and joy are the shrine to which you have given your life. At some point in the class something great and pure and visceral arises and joins everyone together. A roaring silence of power and bliss. The suffering forgotten, the pose forgotten. All washed clean in the indescribable moments that make it all worthwhile. I have realised that you cannot ‘teach’ yoga. The instructor simply facilitates people dropping into their natural, mindless state of union. The ‘work’ of the facilitator is to not interfere with that process. I am certain that being a yoga teacher is as transformational as practicing yoga. It places you in a crucible, a fire of intensity where both teacher and students emerge transformed. Michele Pernetta is the course leader of Fierce Grace Teacher Training. She also teaches in her London studios, on Fierce Grace TV, Fierce Grace Yoga retreats, and at studios and events all over the world. Visit: fiercegrace.com

Teacher zone Yoga Teacher Training: AFTER

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