...There seems to be a stereotypical view of what a yoga teacher should look like. Worse yet, there seems to be a preconceived notion about what a yoga teacher should weigh. There are many reasons for this Athletes, doctors, and exercise instructors are expected to be slim and trim. Hatha yoga teachers are also expected to be role models of good heath.

This type of thinking will not change, but we can make the public aware that stereotypes are often wrong. Most of the adult population in the West is overweight. Some yoga teachers also fall into this category.

Many adults can identify with the daily struggle at the plate and on the scales. Does this mean a person should go through a weigh in, before deciding to become a yoga teacher?

Consider this: Any style of yoga causes lifestyle changes. yoga students, and yoga teachers, make gradual changes that result in weight control. These are not the changes of instant gratification that we are so familiar with.

We are not talking about, Losing 30 pounds in 30 days. The many Yo-Yo diets and weight loss pills can make tho...more

What Should a Hatha yoga Teacher Know about Pranayama?

...Pranayama is possibly the most overlooked aspect of Hatha yoga. Every yoga teacher training course includes a significant segment about Pranayama. Although B.K.S. Iyengar wrote detailed works on the subject, some Hatha yoga teachers barely scratch the surface on the subject of cultivating vital energy through breathing. Why is this happening in yoga classes?

Proper breathing is most likely the most important physical aspect of Hatha yoga training. Yes, proper breathing is more important than fancy Asanas. Should this lack of attention to the importance of Pranayama, within the yoga class, be corrected by those groups who certify Yoga teachers? Why do some ...more

Yoga and Losing Weight

... the proper ways to breathe and do the yoga postures. Proper yoga breathing, or pranayama, decreases stress and increases the efficiency of all bodily systems.

Circulation is improved by the breathing, and by the series of poses and stretches, performed during a Hatha yoga class. Improved circulation increases energy levels, dispelling fatigue and allowing you to be more active. After practicing yoga for awhile, you will want to take the stairs!

Yoga improves one's idea of self-worth, and that is the beginning of any path to improved health or appearance. Instructors create a soothing and comfortable, yet challenging...more

Oh What a Feeling! - One Session and Youll be Hooked

...Why is it exactly that so many people employ yoga in their daily lives? Simply put, because youll feel so darn amazing during and especially after youve completed a session.

Even first-timers, though they might be using muscles they didnt even know they have, always feel a sense of euphoria settle over them when theyre done their routine.

People simply rave about how good their bodies feel after a session. They feel stronger, more flexible and fit, a...more

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