My Philosophy on Teaching

My philosophy on teaching yoga to the students is to always move from your heart space and breathe, allowing the mind to rest and renew while being in their yoga practice. I offer them the principles and practices of the 5000 year old philosophy of healing and inner development of Hatha yoga, through understanding basic asanas correctly and safely, explaining the basic theory, introduce the Sanskrit names for each of the asanas, breathing techniques, meditation, to have them experience the benefits of a yoga practice as it relates to other physical activities in their daily lives. I will invite questions and ideas to encourage them to deepen their studies and practice. I love to see the change in the students as they walk out of the class having more self esteem and feeling good about them self. It can be very challenging and frustrating to a student in the classroom, so I bring in a lot of humor and show them it is okay to laugh and not to be so serious and critical about them self and life. I love to say to the students, “Let your inner child out be playful with yourself and life”.

I was reading in a book called Yoga Gems and found this passage by Swami Chetananada, The Dual Purpose of the Teacher

The role of the teacher is basically twofold: to arouse the deepest creative power of Life present within you; then, to support you as this power unfolds. As this happens, the creative power of Life makes you aware of the intimate inter-relationship of all spirit and matter, and of the oneness of all spirit. Supported by the teacher, you enter into an experience of union not only with the teacher, but also with that teacher in whom your own teacher is unified, and with the Teacher from whom all things have come forth….