I hope this doesn't seem like a very naive question as I admit to being rather uninformed on the principles and practices of yoga, but I wondered if there was a particular type of yoga, or series of positions, that are most suited to a relative yoga new-comer?
I have always been active as a child, though since coming to University 3 years my levels of exercise have dropped a little, as has my flexability. I was hoping to find a branch of yoga which may help me regain my flexability before I can progress to more difficult poses and stretches.
I also suffer with mild lower back pain and shoulder pain as a result of horse-riding injuries as a youngster, so stretches which may help these areas would be particularly useful!
Hi there are several branches of yoga. Hatha yoga which is part of Raja yoga is one you refer to regarding physical postures. The others include karma, bhakti, jnana, and tantra yoga.
I feel you are asking for styles of yoga as the physical branch of Hatha is concerned with postures.
This branch of Raja Yoga uses physical poses or Asana, Breathing Techniques or Pranayama, and Meditation to achieve better health, as well as spirituality. There are many styles to choose from.
I reccomend finding a teacher you like who blends physical asana with breathing techniques which are so important. Hatha yoga will help balance the body, mind and senses. It prepares you for a much higher yoga.
A beginners class with a good teacher will concentrate on working a slow approach to ready you for what your body will allow.
Hello Ayehasherayeh - I have been teaching hatha for several years in the uk - last year I was offered work at a local gym teaching 3 classes on one day - with my own studio class it meant 4 classes on that day (total of 4 and half hours) - things were ok at first, I was just a little tired on the following day and that fortunately is the one day I do not teach - but in the last few months I have been experiencing heavy fatige and a feeling of high stress on the days following these classes, even headaches - it is now taking me two days to recover from this heavy teaching day - I have tried to cut down on my input (posture demonstrating)and have a very healthy Diet but this doesn't seem to help - is there anything I can do with my yoga to counter these effects?
Best Wishes
Yama
Hello Yama,
I do not teach though I am around lots of teachers. 4 classes in one day is a lot even if they are not more than 1 1/2 hr sessions. You seem to be saying this is your only teaching day or perhaps you teach again but not heavy like this day?
To do demonstrations enough that one would become heavily fatigued is not good. You should have your own daily practice complete with meditation, pranayama and asanas. Allow this to be your inward practice as opposed to outward demonstration for others. It will be quite balancing for you. We believe in allowing students to perform asanas from instruction and may give some assisatnce or adjustement but demonstration is rarely necessary. It is better for the students to just 'do' and to learn balance. They as well as you as teacher need not worry so much about doing asana perfectly. Perfection comes mostly through 'doing' and little from observing.
So recommendations for yoga are simple find time to meditate daily. Try to have your own personal practice if you can before classes. Include daily pranayama exercises to build prana and perform your asanas. Be sure to include the phases of shavasan especially at the beginning and end of your practice to balance and equalize prana. I find that many do not include full phases of shavasan to cheat time and it is super beneficial.
Get away from the practice of so much demonstration in class and teach your students to focus inwardly and not have attention on outward things including other students and even teacher. Your presence as a teacher should be to always point them inwardly and not depend on external source. I feel this will help you also become more sensitive to your own self inwardly and draw closer to balance and equilibrium your self. As far as diet I am sure it is well. Stay away from tamas and rajas and heavy intake before and after your practice.
Hello Aye,
Many thanks for your wise comments. I suppose I have suspected my old demonstrative teaching technique has been inappropriate for some time as friends have said to me but I needed someone independent to alert me to this. In the beginning I taught only once per day and demonstrating was not so demanding - then with 4 classes in one day I should have adjusted my approach. Since your kind message I have at least scaled down my demonstrating to half the class time and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. This I feel I owe to my students who have been with me some years and for whom an abrupt change might be offputting - also for my self. I have also included a separate pranayama and shavasana for myself when student have left the studio and this has reduced my tensions.
Once again many thanks for your message.
Best
Yama
Good for you, I spoke with two teachers today who have a similar schedule and they agree.
Pranayama at the end of your practice is also a benefit over doing it before. At Sivananda we follow Swami Vishnu-Devanada's instructions to do pranayama after other asanas also as one is more open after the asanas. I know a lot of classes do it (if they even do) before asanas.
You are wise to scale down in the method you have chosen as the sudden shock could be unnerving. It will give your students greater opportunity for independence and allow them to gain more depth....watch and see.