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| Hi there,
I've only been practicing yoga for 6 months but absolutely love it. I want to learn as much as I can about it. I've considered doing a teachers training course, not to teach it right now, but to learn all about the philosophy, and everything else that goes along with yoga. I believe this will help me along in my practice. Do you think this would be a good idea? | |
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| yes, it is a good idea. a lot of people utilize teacher trainings in this way. | |
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Location: Upstate NY | Om Namah Sivaya
Sumbuddy,
Great idea....... I of course am rather biased when it comes to this and would like to suggest one of the teacher training programs offered at one of the Sivananda Ashrams..... check out
www.sivananda.org
Philosophy and tradition are focused on a great deal during the TTC
Food for thought and my two cents
Om Shanti,
Ravi | |
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| Niki,
a teacher training is certainly one avenue. Another is an all-levels intensive or week-long workshop. I have the benefit of hindsight. I'm 1,000 through a 2,000 training. Before that I had a week long "boot camp" training, a few asana intensives and an additional week-long with my current teacher.
In the first week long the information was not too deep and the topics were many. I learned some basics about several segments of yoga. And it was, at the time, a superb experience. I would nto be where or who I am today had it not been for that teacher, his teachers, and the staff.
This all can also depend on where you are. If you are in remote locations your choices are more limited.
A teacher training, if well contstructed should contain some applied anatomy, philosophy, ethics, asana/pranayama, and teaching skills like diction, pressentation, curriculums...how much of that do you want? An intensive might be more appropriate. If you are interested in coming to the Pacific Northwest here in the U.S. we'd love to have you.
Either way, pursuing the path you mention, the one for which you have passion right here, right now, is perfection. Go for it - eyes open.
It will not only change your practice, it will change your LIFE!
Edited by purnayoga 2007-01-09 7:46 PM
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| Hi Niki,
If (as you state) you are considering teacher training, not to teach but to learn more about philosophy, I suggest choosing a Yogic Philosophy course.
Traditional Yoga Studies (TYS), the company of my favourite Yoga author, Georg Feuerstein offer a 250 hour distance learning program on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and an 800 hour distance learning program on the history, philosophy and literature of Yoga. His wife posted information on these a few months ago.
http://www.traditionalyogastudies.com
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana tradition offer distance learning programs (with optional study at their centers) in Tibetan Buddhism.
http://www.fpmt.org/
Jonathon | |
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| Awesome, thanks so much for all the advice and suggestions. I'll definitely look into all options and keep you posted on the events of my journey | |
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| Try an intensive or weeklong workshop (as mentionned above) or some styles (Anusara) have immersions - sort of a cross between a workshop and a teacher training. | |
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| Hi, I was in the same position you're in, in fact I'm still sort of there myself right now. After about only a year of regular practice at a studio that's practically in my backyard, I realized I needed more, so I enrolled in the 200+ hour teacher training program there (started this past September, will finish in June). I work with people one-on-one as a personal trainer, so my goals aren't really set at teaching classes, nor have they ever been either. I do teach a couple fitness classes once a week and it's been a love-hate relationship for me for pretty much the entire time I've been doing that (three years or so). I find it difficult to feel effective for a group of people, rather than when it's only one person at a time. I don't know, maybe if and when I teach a yoga class, since the audience will be different (fitness vs. yoga), that issue won't be a factor. I've been told that what I'm trying to convey in my fitness classes is too subtle for "the masses" (YogaFit anyone?) and that people who attend those classes don't want to think so much, they just want the burn. Now I know that I definitely want to help other people learn and experience what I've been getting from all of my yoga practice (and we're not just talking asana here), so I do believe learning to be a yoga teacher is the right calling for me. If you feel drawn to learn more, to study deeper, by all means go for it, and give no thought to your longer range plans right now. Though the general policy of my teacher is to have been practicing for at least a year before commiting to a teacher training program, and I tend to agree with that. Her suggestion when I first came to talk to her about wanting to sign up (and this was also after only about 6 months of practice) was to immerse myself in other aspects of yoga and attend the various other classes and workshops offered: sacred text study, meditation class, Kundalini, mantra practice, etc. At my studio, many of these classes are offered on a weekly basis, so I've been lucky enough to be practicing svadhyaya (self-study) pretty much as regularly as I do asana. If nothing else, delving into something like will definitely help inform you of what you really want in (and from) your yoga. Hope that helped and good luck! OM | |
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| I've been told that what I'm trying to convey in my fitness classes is too subtle for "the masses" (YogaFit anyone?) and that people who attend those classes don't want to think so much, they just want the burn.
this has not been true in my experience.  i wrote about it many times--but as i've said, i teach in gyms and they're smart enough and interested in the 'subtleties' of yoga, often even more so than those clients going to yoga studios. in fact, i've been 'let go' of by studios for 'teaching to much yoga when these students really just want asana." but at the gyms, i have freedom to teach what i feel i am lead to teach, what the students need--and the classes are large, people love the classes, and a number of my clients from studios have left those studios to take my classes in a dirty, messy room because they want yoga "not just the burn."
also, since you're already PTing, why not just add a bit of yoga to that? i teach a number of private clients--which i love and it's a totally different dynamic from teaching a class which i also love. so it's definately an option for you *if* you want to teach. | |
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| I think you may have misunderstood me (sorry about that)... I was talking about attempting to present subtlies when teaching FITNESS classes, not yoga classes. I don't presently teach yoga classes, in a gym or elsewhere. What I've been finding out is that the subtlies that I find so fascinating in yoga that I intuitively apply to my fitness teaching aren't as readily welcomed as I would've hoped for (I teach core training, interval strength and balance-based classes using the BOSU). A fitness audience isn't a yoga audience and vice versa, gym setting or otherwise, so yes I do agree with you on that point that yoga in a gym definitely does work. I've been working with my private clients in yoga for a while now, so thanks, yes, I do know how rewarding that is . Again, unfortunately, it is met with some resistance, because for the most part, they really just don't want to think or feel, just move and do. So my client base isn't that huge. But I really couldn't imagine another way of training, honest. I guess my main point was to say that as much as there is lots of asana classes out there that are really just fitness in the setting of yoga (my personal experience with the YF training), what I do is present yoga in the setting of fitness. Yet another sublety, so there ya go. | |
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| i see what you are saying!
i know a couple of PTs who do a yoga segment at the end of the weights/cardio session--as the 'stretching' and then while doing it just talk about the subtler stuff in a "isn't this interesting?" tone. | |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 1738
  
Location: right where I'm supposed to be | It's funny, this one gym I work at I teach two back to back classes. The first being a gentle yoga, then followed by a high intensity Pilates class. The girls in the pilates class didn't want to do yoga because they thought it wasn't a good workout. OK  well I'm with these girls for 1.5 years (approx 30 women).
Slowly I am introducing them to Yoga (and the unity concept of self). Some absolutely love it but others said they want a heads up when I'm teaching it (I get to decide what class format to dish, poor girls ) because they think it's too difficult (the concentration).
They are definitely resistant but I'm working on the days we can practice straight Yoga for the 1 hour and 20 minutes I have them.
No ohming in Bally's. That's a No-No!
I do believe Crunch allows all Mind Body Teachers to express themselves based on their knowledge. I love working at Crunch. They created a Yoga room that is perfecto. They keep it 78-80 degrees with one uplight. Beautiful wood floors.
Edited by mishoga 2007-01-18 12:40 PM
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| i taught at bally's here for 1 year (then they changed rooms, did a whole push-pull thing with me, and so i gave another teacher the position), and i OMed there.
i had a lot of guys in that class, come to think of it. very interesting. i have a lot of male clients, now that i think of it, and even odder--i taught a class earlier this week that had only one female and 13 males.
i don't know what that has to do with anything, but it just occured to me. | |
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| zoebird - 2007-01-19 2:31 PM
i taught at bally's here for 1 year (then they changed rooms, did a whole push-pull thing with me, and so i gave another teacher the position ), and i OMed there.
i had a lot of guys in that class, come to think of it. very interesting. i have a lot of male clients, now that i think of it, and even odder--i taught a class earlier this week that had only one female and 13 males.
i don't know what that has to do with anything, but it just occured to me.
Here is a guess: you present yourself as someone who insists on proper alignment and as somone who will correct a student who isn't doing the pose properly.
Guys tend to like that (many of us got used to football and wrestling coaches  ) | |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 1738
Location: right where I'm supposed to be | I like teaching men. I don't have many classes that men participate but Bally's is one. About a dozen to 15 (class size is 35-40, I know, a lot)
Men are good when they focus. So are women but men, well........ men are men. And that's a compliment. I like Chaturanga Dandasana a lot. And men enjoy the challnege of that, at least in my opinion and experience. | |
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| my husband insists that guys really do like to be tortured by women. | |
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| zoebird - 2007-01-19 4:03 PM
my husband insists that guys really do like to be tortured by women.
Yep. That is one reason we get married. | |
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| OrangeMat,
I don't know you well, so I may be way off base here, but I think people have to want yoga, you can't try to make them want it. You sound dissapointed that they are not getting the yoga in your fitness classes, but that makes sense to me. I love yoga (all of it, not just asana) but don't love certain other types of exercise. If went into a yoga class and the teacher was slipping in some other format in, I'd be a little cheesed. There is a yoga teacher I know who slips in pilates, and it's not advertised as a piyo class, and it sort of bugs me. I'm paying for yoga, expect yoga, and want my yoga! So, someone who comes in and wants the burn and wants to kill her abs, or whatever, is not going to be that thrilled, IMO, to get yoga in the mix.
Even if I were seeing a personal trainer, I'd want what is being advertised. Again, as much as I LOVE yoga, I would be paying for a PT to teach me something different. Unless you are advertising that you are a PT who teaches pranayama, or meditation, or whatever, as well, then I'd keep them seperate. People may be interpreting that you are pushing your agenda on them, sort of like an evangelist.
I don't mean any offense. I'm just pointing out why you are getting resistance. Like ZB, I work in a gym, and I use sanskrit, definitely teach pranayama, occasionaly use imagery to bring in the emotional aspect of yoga, etc. They like it and my classes are packed. When you are ready to teach yoga, it will be a whole different ballgame b/c the people who show up want yoga. | |
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| OrangeMat - 2007-01-18 7:54 AM
I've been told that what I'm trying to convey in my fitness classes is too subtle for "the masses" (YogaFit anyone?) and that people who attend those classes don't want to think so much, they just want the burn.
I didn't understand that. Did you mean YF is only for the burn? How far did you go in your training with them? | |
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| I didn't take any offense to your comments, but I do appreciate you being so careful in your words, really. I totally agree with your point about the expectation of the class participant is what matters the most, and I also don't like that much myself either (is piyo the same as yogalates? probably). But when I'm teaching crunches lying over the BOSU in my core training class and no one is feeling the muscles being engaged because they're all using secondary muscles to make their bodies make the "appropriate" shapes, that's what I'm talking about by being too subtle, or ineffective, or whatever. I don't teach pranayama or meditation in my classes; I teach isolation of certain muscle groups in order to work other muscle groups, such as stabilizing the lower back and hip flexors, and not pulling up with the arms and shoulders when doing crunches, in order for the exercise to really be performed by the muscles we're trying to target. In other words, I teach PROPER FORM. I try to teach concepts for how to hold and use the body functionally as a unit, and maybe that's just not what is wanted. For me, that's a yogic way of thinking, incorporating the entire body as a unit to make it do work, not just working the legs today, the arms tomorrow, and do my crunches as the end of every workout. I was just discussing this dilemma of mine with a friend a little while ago, and it's her opinion as well that I get out of teaching fitness and move toward teaching a formal yoga class already. Thing is, I still really believe you can be successful working the body in a fitness setting with the mindset I have and want to share. I also have a problem with quitting (but that's a whole 'nother story!). We'll see. Oh yes, and to address your comment about my PT clients... here's a great example: I have clients that say they hate lunges because it hurts their legs. So I tell them (and show them, and try over and over again to teach them) that lunges aren't so much about their legs but their core muscles, hips, pelvis, all that, and that they can use the strength there to hold themselves up. That's too hard to think like that, I'm told. It's really hard for me to forget all that I know and just give them what they want. According to my friend (also a yoga teacher trainee), I'm very effective when teaching yoga, so that's what lends me to believe that the audiences do differ in how they learn, process and execute, regardless of what I'm actually teaching. Maybe I'm totally wrong, though. Who knows. OM | |
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| I completed Level I, Level II, Level III, Seniors and Core. About 2/3 of the way through the 200 hours, if I did the math right. I'm now about halfway through a different 200 hour RYT which I started this past September. I did learn quite a bit at YogaFit, especially in terms of alignment and adjusting in that I felt I was well prepared for the training in currently enrolled in. I know there have been many negative comments about Beth Shaw's form and alignment in this forum, but I've honestly got to say, I never really watched her when doing the home DVDs. I would only listen to her cues and then see if I felt how I'm supposed to feel in the pose (I supplemented that information with independent reading, YJ.com articles, etc.). When I finally did watch her once, I was appalled! Glad I never really looked. OM | |
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| Well, not that it matters, but you did 7 days of training, (the core is no longer part of the hours needed for Alliance.) You'd need 4 days for retrain of level 1 & 2, 2 days for Anantomy and Alignment, and you'd need 4 days for level 4, 2 days for level 5, and one more full day of either prenatal or kids. That totals 13 more days, so what is that? About 1/3 finished?
Seems like to me you aren't explaining things in a difficult way! I don't know why people are thinking that. Maybe, like you said, they don't understand their bodies as well as some yoga people. When you practice yoga long enough, you do become very in tune with your body. Now, I have to admit, my anatomy terms are maybe not as technical as some people with more anatomy than me. I was a school teacher and school librarian with no formal education in group fitness. I will eventually learn it, but I have only read half of Coulter's book!  Even still, not all the terminology is sticking with me. Maybe you are using technical terms? Some of that would go over my head. But, what you described (pelvic bowl) I'd understand. | |
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| Ollie, one of my personal heroes even though he didn't tell me he was coming to Texas wrote:
"Yep. That is one reason we get married."
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA--I needed that today! | |
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| Kym - 2007-01-24 5:03 PM Well, not that it matters, but you did 7 days of training, (the core is no longer part of the hours needed for Alliance.) You'd need 4 days for retrain of level 1 & 2, 2 days for Anantomy and Alignment, and you'd need 4 days for level 4, 2 days for level 5, and one more full day of either prenatal or kids. That totals 13 more days, so what is that? About 1/3 finished? Yes, you're absolutely right, only ONE-third finished. Pesky typo monster struck again! | |
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| Kym - 2007-01-24 12:06 PM When you are ready to teach yoga, it will be a whole different ballgame b/c the people who show up want yoga. That's exactly what my trainee friend keeps telling me as well. Maybe if I were to meet some yoga teachers who also teach fitness, then I'd be able to gain a bit more perspective in that area. Anybody know of any? | |
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| My boss is an incredible fitness teacher, but also teaches yoga. I think she keeps it seperate. But, tho I love her, she's not your typical yoga teacher. She is more asana, and the pranayama is almost an afterthought, if it's even brought up at all. I think sometimes you have a calling, but you can try to spread yourself too thin. In the sutras it says to be very good at one thing,and it's better to be true to what your calling is and be not so good, than do something well that is not your calling. (Or is that the Gita? Read them both one after the other.) Maybe you are good at fitness, but your calling is yoga. Once you start teaching it, it will all fall in place.
PS Sorry if that was not very clear-I'm tired.
Edited by Kym 2007-01-25 12:06 AM
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| i think mishoga would be a good resource for you. i don't know if she teaches fitness classes anymore, but i know that she did teach fitness classes for a long time before teaching yoga. | |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 1738
Location: right where I'm supposed to be | Hey, I'm here. Just returned home from class and enjoying a yummy stir fry tofu, veggie, and brown rice lunch.
What's the questions referencing?
I don't really teach fitness based classes (except for a Friday morning Pilates Blast class that involves Hip Hop dance warm-up)
Is this in reference to introducing more traditional yoga in the gym setting? | |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 1738
Location: right where I'm supposed to be | OK Orangemat, I just read a few of the posts in this thread and think I have an idea of what you're talking about.
The decision to primarily teach yoga was one from the heart. I kind of feel that it just came to be. There wasn't a time when a lightbulb went off. It just felt right but it was a slow process. Personally I gave up the high energy workouts and stayed exclusively with yoga because it made me feel whole. Teaching high energy classes, especially one after another, is really draining on the body. I've felt weak in my muscles from teaching yoga but never exhausted.
I think my strength as a teacher comes from my love, and my complete surrender to yoga. Sometimes I have to stop myself when speaking about yoga because I know to people who have no interest, or who haven't tried it, I sound like a Yoga freak.
Now as far as a gym setting, it's dificult teaching in a gym. I was lucky in one place because they had three yoga classes a week for over two years. Both teachers (one in her 40's and one in her late 70's) were teaching basic, and I mean basic movement (stretching) but they had their client base hooked. Their students were practicing yoga as far as they were concerned. I wasn't going to say they weren't. I just came in and said my style will be somewhat different then what they are used to.
I walked in and they didn't take to me at first (I hate subbing in). But as they came to know me I introduced dirgha breathing and explained everything inside out and why it works. They knew absolutely nothing about breathing. They only practiced asanas which were strictly called poses. They felt the immediate calming reaction to controlled breathing and started to believe the information I was sharing. I then introduced the sanskrit terms, mudras, vinyasa, the concept of listening with their ears and not their eyes. It's typical in gyms and you should know if you intruct any fitness classes that most will look for cueing into movement. They were sponges.
I was lucky. I feel they were ready to move on. Unfortunately, the yoga Teachers and Pilate's teacher are not happy with my arrival because now the client base is questioning their knowledge.
Actually, the Pilate's Instructor asked if I have time to give her some private instruction. I actually that after these teachers attended my class, they were trying to give some breathing instruction with no knowledge of movment and breath. I taught my students the mechanics of movement with breath so they said something didn't feel right when they were told to fold into Uttanasana on the inhale. Go figure. Unfortunately, imitation is the highest form of flattery to the detriment of the students. I was also told that one of the Yoga teachers made a comment such as "Mish is a good teacher but she really should teach in a studio, not in a gym". How sad is that. Why shouldn't the gym members be expoxed to yoga in true form, not a watered down fitness class claiming to be yoga. I think it's sad a teacher who teaches yoga would have that attitude.Not very yogiv, I'm sure we would all agree on that.
The other gym, well they have such a strong base of educated and experienced yoga teachers in all their other locations (I wish I could take classes in Manhattan) that this gym is their baby in the suburbs. They are looking to expand their Mind, Body, class line-up. And the students, well it seems the younger ones want the burn. They come in to try the yoga classes (ya know, it's chich to say you took a yoga class) but do not feel inclined to stick with it. They feel if they are not sweating, well they are wasting time. But the older students love the yoga classes (four different teachers in different styles)
Humor is important too. You can't be too serious. That can scare off some gym people.
Be patient, have fun with them and teach with compassion. The people will come when you are ready for them. Like field of dreams "Build it and they will come" Think of it as building your practice.
Gym mentality is so different. Yoga studios have students who want to grow in their yoga practice. All who come want yoga, where as in gyms, it is nice if it's offered but there is such a large selection of activities, that a yoga class can be switched for a spin class, especially if the student feels they drank one too many martinis with their calorie rich dinner the night before.
You kind of just have to go with it. Try doing some seva work just teaching yoga and see how you feel about it. It might be so tremendous that you decide to ditch your fitness/PT.
Either way, I wish you mucho luck and success in finding your ground.
Edited by mishoga 2007-01-25 2:01 PM
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| Well I just lost my whole longwinded reply, so it's for the best, considering how much I was whining . Thanks so much for your kind words, Mishoga. It's not so much that I'm on the fence about teaching yoga, it's that I'm still teaching fitness classes and I don't want to be doing that anymore. I realized that pretty much once I started my teacher training in September. So I need to quit teaching those classes at my gym because my heart is telling me it's the right thing for me to do. I'm just not sure it'll go over well with the fitness director at the facility when I tell him I'm quitting because I'm following my heart. Yeeeeeah, that's a REAL responsible thing to do. OM | |
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| what's irresponsible about quitting because you want to follow up on other opportunities? or create those opportunities?
if you don't want to teach fitness classes anymore, it means that you're no longer what the employer wants. by letting him find another, you're doing him a favor. You should give him enough notice, of course, to find someone to take your place--or even better get the names of a few people who would be willing/interested in taking your place.
i do this all the time. when a yoga position at a certain place isn't working for me, i ask around to see who might be looking for work. i get their names and numbers and then pass them along to my boss. I tell the boss when i'm going and that i'm simply "seeking different opportunities at this time."
there's nothing irresponsible about this. | |
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| Zoebird, you are absolutely right -- thank you! I just finished writing an email to one of the instructors that subbed for me last week when my knee was injured (funny how as soon as I found those subs, my knee felt fine...). It's amazing to me how sometimes the simplest way to approach a solution is never the one that's thought of first (or by yourself). Thanks again! OM | |
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