By Faye Martins and Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP
When you take a Yoga certification online, you can expect to learn about the different styles, the history, and the benefits of Yoga. You will also learn how to teach Yoga classes, create a safe and effective practice, and market yourself as a Yoga teacher. You’ll also learn how to properly instruct students in Yoga poses, meditation, and breathing exercises. In addition, you’ll learn about anatomy and physiology to understand how the body works and how to keep students safe while practicing Yoga. No matter what your goals are, there is a course that can help you achieve them.
Variety of Courses to Choose From
At Aura Wellness Center, there are many Yoga certification online courses to choose from. Each course is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need to become a certified Yoga teacher. The course content varies depending on the program you choose, but most courses cover topics such as anatomy, physiology, and philosophy. You’ll also learn about different types of Yoga, such as Vinyasa, Hatha, Restorative, and Chair Yoga. Once you complete a course, you’ll be able to take the final exam and earn your certification.
Hatha Yoga Instructor
If you’re considering becoming a certified Yoga instructor, you may be wondering what to expect in a Hatha Yoga Instructor Course. The course will cover the basic principles of Hatha Yoga, including the history and philosophy, as well as the physical techniques. You’ll learn how to properly execute and teach the various Yoga poses and modify them for different levels of students. The course will also cover pranayama (breath control) and meditation techniques. Upon completion of the course, you’ll be prepared to teach Hatha Yoga classes.
Vinyasa Teacher Training
A Vinyasa Yoga certification online course will cover the basic principles of Yoga and how to apply them to a Vinyasa class. You will learn about the different types of Yoga poses and how to sequence them into a flowing class. You will also learn how to cue students and provide modifications. The course will also cover anatomy and physiology so that you can understand how the body moves (transitions) into and out of Yoga poses. Vinyasa yoga instructor courses cover a lot of information. The first part of the course is usually dedicated to learning the theory behind Vinyasa Yoga. The second part of the course is focused on teaching methods. This includes how to teach a Vinyasa Yoga class, how to cue students, and how to make adjustments. The last part of the course is typically a practicum, where students have the opportunity to teach a Yoga class.
Restorative Yoga Teacher
Aura Wellness Center’s Restorative Yoga certification online program offers a comprehensive education in restorative yoga practice. Restorative Yoga is a division of Hatha Yoga and a therapeutic style that uses props to support the body in order to allow the practitioner to experience complete relaxation. The use of props such as blankets, chairs, blocks, bolsters, and straps allow the practitioner to completely relax the muscles and release all tension from the body. In addition to learning about the practice of Restorative Yoga, students will also learn how to teach Restorative Classes. Additionally, every Restorative teacher has a Hatha Yoga foundational base. A solid foundation helps our graduates develop creativity in helping students.
Chair Yoga Instructor
A Chair Yoga certification online course provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach Chair Yoga classes. The course will cover topics such as anatomy and physiology, Chair Yoga Poses and sequences, breathing techniques, and how to modify poses for different students. You will also learn how to create a safe and supportive environment for your students. After completing the certification, you can offer Chair yoga classes accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
Since COVID arrived, many instructors are interested in teaching online Yoga for beginners at home. Generally speaking, we are moving into warmer temperatures in the northern hemisphere, which changes, restrictions, mask use, and so on. However, we don’t know what the restrictions will be in the near or distant future. If you were to ask any Yoga instructor, he or she would surely agree that videos are useful educational tools, but not all videos are equal. Yet, he or she would also probably admit that the right Yoga videos could enrich your experience. For the most part, video training helps you gain more insight into this incredible health maintenance system.
Live or Pre-Recorded Classes?
With cloud-based video communication apps such as Zoom, it’s possible to learn or teach Yoga live. This gives brand new students a way to begin learning Yoga and receive live feedback. So, when does it make sense for beginners to use pre-recorded streaming videos or DVDs at home? What are the main benefits of doing so? If a student understands the basics, pre-recorded classes make sense. In fact, pre-recorded classes take place when the student has time. For instance, videos offer exceptional educational value and can go a long way toward enhancing a student’s Yoga experience.
Can Students Learn Yoga from Scratch with Videos?
As educational and as well-made as Yoga videos can be, they may not be suitable for true beginners. There are plenty of instructional videos and DVDs about Yoga for beginners, but many personal variables can get in the way. By getting some in-person instruction first, you can ensure that you are performing your poses properly. With the guidance of a skilled Yoga instructor, you will receive the personalized attention that you need to get off to the best possible start. Therefore, learning the basics of Yoga for beginners at home with a video is a reality.
Developing Self-Confidence at Home
Practicing at home, when you feel self-conscious about doing Yoga in front of others makes sense. Under those circumstances, at home Yoga videos give you the opportunity to try different techniques before heading out to class. In effect, videos allow you to gain some much-needed confidence before stepping into a Yoga school. Videos and DVDs also come in handy for people who travel a great deal for business. When used properly, streaming videos or DVDs can enrich a student’s Yoga training experience. Whether you’re just learning the basics, or have been teaching for years, there are sure to be videos out there that truly bring value to your life.
For Yoga Teachers Only
For experienced teachers who already have a good foundation in the basics of a particular style, videos, from different styles, can really broaden horizons. If you don’t live in a big city, for instance, you may struggle to find specialized Yoga classes. If you’re curious about Bikram, Ashtanga, Kundalini, or other styles of Yoga, but cannot find suitable classes in your area, DVDs are excellent alternatives. From the comfort of home, you can learn the basics of different styles and gain a lot of advanced knowledge about Yoga, in general. Indeed, this is also a great way to zero in on a particular style. Before signing up for teacher workshops, intensive training, or continuing education courses, you have a basic understanding.
Building on Foundations of Knowledge
In a word, continuing education is an important factor in teaching skills. Additionally, specialist teacher training courses with videos or DVDs give an experienced teacher a foundation from which to expand knowledge and develop new teaching skills. Obviously, constructive knowledge in the hands of an experienced Yoga instructor can enhance a Yoga teacher’s skills and performance. At the same time, videos are a great way to introduce yourself to the public. Certainly, reaching out on the Internet with a “Yoga for beginners at home” program is a great way to meet new students.
All you need is a comfortable space to place your yoga mat…preferably just over an inch thick to protect the median nerve in the wrist joint.
Sit down in a crossed leg position with the sit bones rooting to the floor…As you push down through your sit bones, lift up, through the entire torso….Visualize the top of the head reaching toward the ceiling. Draw your shoulder blades into your back. Broaden your collar bones, spreading the chest muscles without pushing your front ribs forward. Pull your belly up and in toward the spine… With each inhalation expand through your front ribs as if you had a balloon in the belly. With each exhalation contract your belly, working the abdominal muscles to keep your lower back lifting out of the hips as you sit. Hold this for 5 to 10 minutes or until you feel like you are struggling to stay lifted. Avoid any compression through the low back and use a blanket or pillow to sit up on if the exercise alone is challenging for you. You would also benefit from the aid of a prop if your knees are not able to drop toward the floor, which is an indication of extremely tight hips and/ or hamstrings. Lifting yourself up onto a prop will help you to feel much more at ease in the pose.
The beauty of yoga is that we do what we can, when we can. It is your time with you…Listen to your body and adjust accordingly. We all have good days and bad days and part of yoga is heightening the internal awareness so that we embrace exactly where we are today.
Staying seated in this position, drop the head toward the floor gently and roll the neck side to side… Do this for a few breathes or until your feel like your ready for the next pose..Let each breathe initiate each movement and not the reverse. Stay connected with the breathe. If you lose the breathe, stop, and reconnect.
Next inhale the arms up over your head, interlace them with the palm of the hands toward the ceiling. Hold this for 5-15 breaths. Release the fingers and reach the torso forward, folding out front until you feel a stretch in the hips and lower back. Hold for 5-15 breaths. Reach to the left, hold for 5 breaths, and reach to the right, hold for 5 breaths. Bring the arms back to the center, begin to flatten the back and bring the arms back in toward the shins until your back to a seated, upright position.
Come to the hands and knees on your mat. Bring the wrists directly under the shoulders, and the knees directly below the hips. Begin to round the back, seperating the shoulder blades, and then reverse the motion, drawing the shoulder blades down the back, lifting the tail bone and then top of the head simultaneously. Do this for 2 minutes or until the muscles that house the spine begin to feel warm and more elastic.
With the spine neutral and back to the hands and the knees, curl the toes, lift the hips and move into downward facing dog. Allow the knees to be slightly bent and shift the weight back into the legs. Move the shoulder blades down the back, and squeeze the arms into the ears. Continue to lengthen the spine and gentle start to work the top of the thighs, dropping the heels toward the floor, without forcing… Hold for 5- 10 breaths and come down to the floor, resting into “child’s pose”… (knees to the floor, hips drop back into the heels, arms rest along your sides). Continue this until you feel like you need rest and try again…
You are on your way to a yoga practice! Each day you will feel like you can hold each pose a little bit longer. Stay present with the breath. The breathe is the single most important component to the practice.
There are several books and videos to help ease you into your practice.
Michelle Marie Chant is an Exercise physiologist B.S., that has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 10 yrs. She has been in the fitness industry for two decades and feels yoga has been extremely instrumental in encompassing the intensity of her favorite workouts yet focusing equally on creating balance in the body and peace in the mind. And… as we get older, we learn to appreciate this concept! Feel free to contact Michelle at mmc.mmdesigns@gmail.com with any questions.
To start with, you are going to read a lot more than ten tips in this article to begin teaching Yoga online. This is a subject that has been asked about more frequently these days and if you are interested, you need to see the big picture. Many Yoga teachers have turned to the Internet to teach Yoga classes. At the same time, technology makes it easy to teach without leaving the comfort of your own home. Your students can also take advantage of the convenience. That said, teaching Yoga online can be daunting if you’re just getting started. Here are some tips for getting started teaching online.
1. Live or Recorded?
Before you begin teaching Yoga online, decide whether you want to stream live classes, recordings, or both. Live classes give you a chance to answer questions in real time and offer solutions to students who may be having trouble.
However, if you’re just getting started with how to begin teaching Yoga online, doing so live may be daunting. You not only have to deal with technological issues, but you also have to determine how you’re going to handle nervousness or mistakes. Plus, if you don’t have a huge following, you could become discouraged when only one person shows up to a live class.
Creating recordings of your classes will give you a chance to test everything out before you present it to the public. If you make a mistake, erase it and record it again. You’ll get to practice in front of the camera, fine-tune your setup and show your audience what you offer without the pressure of doing it live. The more you teach in front of a camera, the better your classes will be.
2. Choose a Platform
The type of class that you want to offer will help you choose a platform. Many Yoga teachers use Zoom for live classes because they can view what their students are doing if their students have webcams. Zoom also records your sessions, and you can choose to offer them for a fee on your website after the fact.
You can also teach real-time classes on Facebook Live or YouTube Live. If you use either of these platforms, you won’t be able to see your students. However, they can ask questions in the comments, and you can choose to answer them during or after the class.
There are several options for producing pre-recorded classes, including:
Teachable
Vimeo
You Tube
Patreon
Your Own Website
Facebook
Dailymotion
3. Where to Find Your Students
Where do your students hang out the most? Knowing the types of platforms that they frequent may help you decide which ones to use. For example, you might want to teach Yoga classes on Twitch. If your target audience doesn’t use that platform frequently, you could have trouble competing with teachers who use more popular platforms for Yoga classes.
Think about where you go online to look for Yoga classes. The chances are high that your potential students are also heading to the same places.
4. Get Creative with Your Promotions
Once you have decided how you’re going to record and broadcast your classes, you’ll need to develop a marketing strategy. It’s nice to think that once you build it, your audience will find you. However, there is a great deal of competition online. You’ll need to put yourself out there if you want people to find you.
Put yourself in front of as many people as possible. You can do this without shelling out a penny for ads. Some free places where you can promote your classes include:
Your personal and business Facebook pages
Facebook groups geared toward Yoga (make sure that you are allowed to promote in these). If you are an Aura Wellness Center intern or graduate, you are welcome to post your classes on the Aura Wellness Collaborative.
Email newsletters
5. Offer Free Previews
If you’re charging for your online Yoga classes, you’ll need to develop a rapport with your client base first. They will want to know that they vibe with you and you know what you’re doing before shelling out their hard-earned cash.
You can give them a glimpse of what you offer by posting free content online. Provide some one-minute snippets of your classes. Give other valuable content, such as:
Tips for beginners
Advice for modifying poses
Quick demonstrations of poses that are geared toward specific purposes, such as relieving stress or improving gut health
Many teachers provide sped-up clips of interesting Yoga sequences. However, you would be surprised how many people will ask if they have to go that fast.
6. Start Small
Many online entrepreneurs feel as though they have to wait until everything is perfect to launch their main offering. If you do this, you could be missing out on clients. Instead of learning more about you, your audience will be getting cozy with the competition.
Starting out small allows you to tweak your classes as you go. Let’s say that you make a mistake while demonstrating a pose in your first live class. That could derail a teacher who has hundreds of viewers. Make your mistakes in front of a smaller audience so that you can learn from them without ruining your reputation.
7. Invite Friends and Family
Ask friends and family members to sit in on your first classes. You can offer them for free and ask for feedback. If this small group loves what you have to offer, they can share your class with their friends. People who know and love you will be glad to help promote your online classes via word of mouth.
8. Use the Right Equipment
You don’t need a lot to get started teaching online Yoga classes, but you do need a great webcam. Most phones have excellent cameras and can be used to stream or record classes. One of the biggest challenges that online Yoga instructors have is recording high-quality sound. When your students are focusing on their poses, they might not be able to look up at the screen. Since they’ll be relying on your voice for details and instruction, you should make sure that you have a top-notch microphone. The internal microphone on most smartphones won’t cut it, but many headsets and air pods are extremely useful for this purpose.
9. Consider your Environment
Yoga classes are typically held in a streamlined, uncluttered, pleasant environment. Make sure that your class setting is uncluttered and inviting. Set up a space in your home or studio where you can quickly set up and break down after a class. Make sure that your lighting is effective, and consider adding small pops of color or natural items, such as plants, to add to the ambiance.
10. Don’t Overthink it
If yoga has taught you anything, it’s to go with the flow and find your place in the practice. You can apply the same principles to teaching an online Yoga class. There is no such thing as perfection. Begin where you are, remain open to learning, and don’t be hard on yourself if things don’t go as smoothly as you planned. This is a journey, and you can’t get on your way if you don’t start.
Create Your Own Online Yoga Studio
Okay, now we’re really going deep into how to begin teaching Yoga online and creating your own online studio. If you teach Yoga or would like to get started, you are probably wondering how you can get the most from your effort. Consider the benefits of teaching Yoga from an online studio:
Save Money
Reach a Global Audience
Earn a Passive Income
Brick and Mortar vs. Online
Running a Yoga studio is not cheap. You must rent a space and pay for utilities, but that is not all. You must also put in the effort to maintain your space. Hosting an online Yoga studio is much cheaper because you don’t have to worry about those things. When you run a brick-and-mortar Yoga studio, your reach is limited. You can only teach people in your area. An online Yoga studio empowers you to expand your reach further than you once thought possible.
Get a Website
Yes, you can get a free blog and promote it on social media, but the first serious step in hosting an online yoga studio is getting a website with a blog. If you are serious about moving forward, you want a professional website that comes with quality support. Depending on the number of customers you expect, you can find hosting plans starting at reasonable prices. You can find cheaper websites if you can’t afford high-quality ones, but keep in mind that cheap websites often load slowly and don’t always offer the support you need. Find a hosting provider that meets your needs without breaking your budget.
Get a Membership Package
If you want to get the most from your effort, get a website that’s compatible with membership software. Membership software allows you to create different accounts for your students. The type of account your student has determines what videos they can access. For example, you can offer basic memberships that only have a few yoga videos, and you can also provide premium memberships that have even more videos. Having a membership website makes it easy to teach yoga from the comfort of your home.
Decide How to Accept Payments
Deciding how you will accept payments is another important part of the process. Will you collect payments over the phone or online? If you run a brick-and-mortar Yoga studio, you can accept cash payments from your students. Keep in mind, though, that you should also collect online payments if you want the most from your online studio. You can accept credit card payments or use PayPal or Stripe. PayPal is a great resource for any online business, and you will be glad you used it when you see what it can do. You can accept credit card payments and bank transactions without effort.
Choose a Niche
Choosing a niche is a vital part of the process if you have not yet done so. Some people want to reach people of all backgrounds when teaching a Yoga class, but you get the most return when you find a niche and offer them something they otherwise can’t get. For example, consider whether you will teach busy business people, soccer moms or teens who want to calm their minds and get in shape. Once you find a niche, do market research to uncover their hidden needs and motives, and you give your profit a boost.
Plan Your Lessons
Rather than throwing a lesson together at the last minute, plan it out in advance. Decide how long each lesson will be and what you will cover. You should also consider how your lessons will relate to each other over the long run. Plan an entire month or year of lessons in advance. Consider the topics you want to cover in each lesson plan so that you appear dedicated and professional. Your students will get more from each session, and you can then charge more for your classes.
Start a Blog
Some people hide their best information until a customer signs up for memberships, but that is not always the best approach. You want to show your prospective customers why they should trust you instead of going to another company or Yoga studio. Hosting a high-quality blog is a great way to reach that goal. With your blog, teach your students and prospective students different things about yoga they might not have considered. They will see you as an expert in your field and be much more likely to take your classes.
Create Videos
You have everything else in place, and you are ready to craft your videos. To begin teaching Yoga online, the best option is to have high-quality and professional video equipment. If you don’t have that, do the best you can with what you have. If you don’t have high-quality cameras, use that in your marketing.
Present yourself as a normal person who happens to be a Yoga teacher. Doing this the right way makes you much more relatable, and it can increase your sales. Dedicate one room in your home to shooting the videos, and keep them as professional as possible. Eliminate outside noises and ensure that you focus your camera.
Decide How Much to Charge
Deciding how much to charge is another important step. If you charge too much, nobody will want to buy your membership package. Supply and demand are vital factors you can never overlook. On the other hand, you don’t want to sell yourself short. Look online to see what other online studios charge. If you want to charge more than them, ensure you offer something extra that they don’t.
You maximize your profit when you choose the right price range for your online Yoga classes. Some people think that having the cheapest classes is the best option, but that is not always true. Some people are more willing to spend their money if you charge higher rates. When you increase your price, you also increase the perceived value of your products and services.
Food for Thought
If you would like to begin teaching Yoga online and get the most from your studio, ensure you follow these tips and keep an open mind. Planning everything from the start is a great way to begin, and you will have no trouble moving forward from there. No matter where you are right now, you can get your online Yoga studio up and running with enough dedication.
Teaching private yoga in your students’ homes is about personalization. It allows you to cater to the student’s individual needs, both physically and emotionally. There are many benefits to this method. Additionally, it helps provide variety and gives you feedback on how your students need more support. Lastly, teaching private yoga classes helps maintain the student’s long-term motivation.
Online Ideas
Just think: In the privacy of their own home, you can teach them online. Not all beginners are ready to practice yoga in a studio. For some people, it feels too intimidating or public to take their first steps on the mat. However, students can get the same benefits of yoga every day, in privacy! Yoga instructors can learn how to teach safe yoga at their student’s homes.
Creating a Safe Environment
You always want to be sure that your students are practicing the yoga poses at the intensity level that is right for them. It’s also important to keep an eye on things like how easily they can reach their feet and ankles when practicing Forward Bend Pose. If this proves difficult, they need your support so they can release their abdominal muscles and lower back muscles without their joints taking the brunt of the position. Ensure that there are mats and pillows for each person in your group.
What Should Teachers Know?
In case of an emergency, teachers should heed safety considerations. As always, it’s useful for teachers to be current with their CPR training. Teachers should be aware of potential dangers linked to student health, the surrounding environment, and the students’ home life. If you’re going to a private residence then let your family members know. In case you have to be reached, it’s helpful for your family to where you are. It’s also helpful for them to know that you are teaching a yoga class at a client’s property.
Family Classes
Whether you teach online or in a home, some clients will want their children to participate. While this might seem like an attractive option, student safety is a priority. For example: Are you trained and certified to teach children? At the same time, it’s important to teach in your comfort zone. When parents are first exploring this option, it is important to discuss safety with the entire family first. Unlike working with adults, children don’t know their physical limits and they may take risks.
Outside Class
There is the option to practice outdoors, depending on the weather or your student’s family obligations. For years, those who practice at home have been stuck in four walls, chasing that elusive white light, and the pitter-patter of little feet (or paws). Well, say goodbye to the fixed rules of indoor classes! Yoga outdoors is a beautiful tapestry of colors, sounds, and fresh air. Uniquely, classes outside give students a taste of freedom, while they practice in familiar surroundings.
Outside the Box
Many yoga teachers are exploring creative ways to expand their current clientele, and one method that is seeing a surge in popularity is teaching private yoga classes. The private in-home class has worked for personal trainers for decades, so why shouldn’t it work for teaching private yoga classes? As great as this new teaching opportunity is, there are some pros and cons that should be taken into consideration to ensure a fair price for teachers and students alike.
About Fees
When setting fees for teaching private yoga classes, care must be taken to make it worth your while as a teacher. Initially, it might seem like teaching in the home of a student is basically the same as teaching in the studio, but travel and setup time should be accounted for. Even driving just a few miles each way can easily end up taking a significant amount of time. Gas prices are also an issue and may limit the geographical range a teacher is able to serve. In order to be worthwhile for a teacher, the rate per private class should cover mileage and travel time, in addition to compensating for the time that could have been spent teaching an entire class of paying students.
Fairness in Pricing
Most students understand the need for higher costs and are more than willing to pay a fair amount for the undivided, individualized experience that a private class offers. Teaching private yoga classes in a home is a very different experience than teaching in a studio. Yoga studios have lots of free, open space that is perfect for laying out yoga mats and getting right to work. Few homes have rooms devoid of furnishings, and this physical or visual clutter will need to be worked around. Most rooms have ample space for one individual to practice yoga, but they may not have enough room for two or more. Routines will be established within the first few private classes, and this will make future classes run smoother and faster.
About Pets
Depending on the behavior of pets, and the teacher’s past experience, animals can be present in a successful class. After all, there are pet yoga classes, right? Pets can be another potential obstacle that teachers may have to deal with. When teaching private yoga classes in a student’s home, be prepared for the unexpected. Depending on animal behavior, it is reasonable to request that students kindly crate their dogs prior to the start of the private class. Of course, this will prevent any unpleasant run-ins between the yoga teacher and territorial dogs.
Wide Reach
Offering private yoga classes gives teachers the opportunity to teach a wider variety of students. Many shy and private individuals are too uncomfortable to attend a class in a yoga school but would love to have the instruction needed to go deeper into the practice. Private classes fill this need. As we continue to embrace yoga in the years to come, in-home private classes will become more and more commonplace. Teachers who embrace this trend will help bring yoga to more people than ever before.
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If you do not take yoga classes, but enjoy practicing, you are not alone! Many yoga en thusiasts prefer the comfort of their own home and enjoy doing yoga on their own schedule. While this approach to yoga can slow down progress, mostly by not having a teacher explain and correct, it is still easy to progress with a rewarding home practice.
Follow these simple tips for an improved at home yoga practice:
1. PRACTICE!
If you are serious about strengthening your yoga routine it is essential that you practice for at least 20 minutes two to three times a week. This is primarily important for muscle memory and retaining achieved flexibility. Have you ever made progress in flexibility, taken a week off, and then realized you were back to square one? It is important to build momentum with any exercise routine. Yoga will improve strength, flexibility, balance and co ordination and the more you improve the better you can get in to poses and learn about the way your body works and moves, which ultimately, makes a better student.
2. Listen/Read
Whether you learn yoga from a DVD, book or online it is helpful to constantly review your material. Even basic poses such as the warrior or strength exercises like the squat need constant form reviews to perfect. If you practice yoga to a DVD listen to instructions carefully, as the most subtle movement or placement in yoga can make a world of difference. Practicing on your own requires more in depth research and persistence to make the most of your sessions. I also find it to be extremely helpful to watch videos online from yoga blogs, youtube and podcasts.
3. Hire an In Home Yoga Teacher
It is a great idea to hire a yoga instructor periodically. A teacher will help to correct form and to make sure you are on the right track. I would recommend seeking extra help every other month or so. About a week before your session start to write down any questions or concerns that come to mind during your practice to make the most out of a professionally trained yoga teacher.
Yoga is a wonderful exercise full of both physical and mental benefits. It is not uncommon to practice on your own but follow these tips to make the most out of your growing yoga practice for effective and safe sessions.
There could be no better workout regimen than yoga training for a busy mom. Whether you are a busy mom, or know a busy mom, you are aware that there is one constant – stress. From running kids to school, activities, the homes of friends; from doing homework, rushing to the store for school and lunch supplies, the activity is nonstop. As enjoyable and rewarding as it is, moms tend to lose themselves while putting everyone else first. Unfortunately, this can lead to depression, anxiety, and even sickness.
Once mom has taken the first step, to learn a yoga practice and make time for herself; there is still the problem of finding that time. Most believe the best time for yoga is early morning or just before bed for at least a half an hour. It could be before the kids wake up, or after they go to sleep. This is the perfect time to rejuvenate the body, mind and soul to face the day, or wind down after. At least thirty minutes is suggested, but any time is better than none at all. She can also focus on restorative poses like Child’s Pose, or simply meditate.
Although it’s important for mom to attend at least one studio class a week, for instructional purposes, there are many resources for at-home practice including DVD’s, books, phone apps, video games, and on demand cable shows. If all that is impossible still in her mind, then there is no reason why she cannot include the kids. There are mommy and me or family yoga classes that she can do together with her children. What better way to avoid the guilt of leaving them, and instill the good habit of yoga training at an early age?
Yoga is completely safe for children as long as they are doing it correctly, and that is where a certified yoga instructor can help. Both mom and her kids should be encouraged to execute poses at their own pace, with gentle instruction that makes practice fun. Of course, depending on the age of the child their attention span may determine the effectiveness. Nevertheless it is a good place to start. Once the benefits of regular practice are realized, it is hard to stop! Most practitioners confess that their whole life has been improved by taking up practice. All it takes is the initial commitment and time, and anyone can do it.
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Where can I go to study Yoga? Now, is the best time to study Yoga in the comfort of your home then ever before. Online educational opportunities are vast, with more and more institutions offering online courses, certifications, and degrees by the minute. High school students can study distance learning classes to round out their studies, working moms and dads can earn a degree in their spare time, and anyone can take a variety of personal or professional development courses without leaving the comforts of home.
The study of yoga is no exception. If you have ever considered taking your yoga practice to the next level, now is the time to do it. You can study yoga in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, and with your own goals in mind. Perhaps you want to study yoga to learn more about its history, philosophies, and practices. Some people just want to go deeper into the subject within a structured yoga course. Maybe you intend to use the knowledge you gain to become a yoga instructor, or to extend your understandings of meditation practices. Whatever your reason, it will never be easier to pull up to your desktop or laptop computer, and login to broaden your future.
Online yoga courses are convenient because you can work at your own pace. Maybe you can only devote a couple hours each week to the coursework, or perhaps you are unemployed at the moment and want to get it done rapidly. You can choose what works best for you. Some people might be wary of obtaining online degrees and certifications because they seem a little less “real” than something you obtain by being physically present at a class. No worries, with so many online courses being offered in reputable universities and so many different disciplines today, an online degree/certification is becoming the norm.
Another concern some have about taking online classes is the possible lack of support. You might feel like you are alone in your studies without anywhere to go for answers to your questions. The online yoga study program should include a network of yoga professionals that you can consult with at any time. They also have a forum, which is much like an encyclopedia of yoga with help from experienced teachers in every part of the world. You can participate in blogs, forums, Facebook, and access numerous resources to help you throughout your studies so you will never feel alone. So go ahead and take the leap to better your future, and the futures of the people around you.
Yoga is one of the safest forms of exercise and can be practiced by people of all ages with relatively low risks. As a result, doing yoga at home can be a smart health investment, as long as careful preparations and a few minor investments are made.
Preparation
Preparing your body, knowledge base, and space are necessary for practicing yoga at home. Becoming accustomed to proper yoga poses and creating an appropriate place to practice will get you ready to start.
Take a Class if Possible
With time being scarce, family obligations, and pandemics in the mix, home practice might be your only option. It is always a good idea to attend classes under the supervision of a certified yoga instructor before performing the exercises in an at-home session. Doing so will ensure you receive proper beginner instruction as well as knowledge of several techniques appropriate to your level of skill and health. Although yoga is a relatively low-risk form of exercise, certain poses and pranayama techniques, when done incorrectly or too soon, can present a much higher risk of injury than others. Therefore, proper instruction about and pose sequence are necessary to avoid injury.
Prepare your Yoga Space
Physical forms of yoga should be, if possible, practiced on a hardwood floor to provide the optimum surface for balancing and pose posture. Be sure to clear a wide space free of furniture, toys, books, or other distractions or potential safety hazards. Keeping the space clean and free of clutter is an important factor in removing all possible mental distractions from the area so that you can be as relaxed and stress-free as possible. Cuing your iPod or music library with peaceful instrumental music can also soothe and relax your mind.
Modest Investments
Investing in the right equipment is important to doing at-home yoga safely and properly. DVDs and online yoga forums can complement an array of inexpensive but indispensable yoga equipment to get you ready for your at-home yoga practice.
Choose your Yoga Tutor
Online yoga forums, practice blogs, yoga teacher blogs, DVDs or online yoga tutorials all exist to offer what you’d miss in a yoga class – community and instruction. You can invest in several videos designed for your personalized yoga training sessions, or you can join an online forum for helpful tips and answers to questions. YouTube, Facebook and Daily Motion have many good quality videos from a variety of teachers around the world.
The Right Equipment
There is a wide array of hatha yoga equipment available for purchase, but the basics include comfortable clothing, a yoga sticky mat, a yoga blanket, a bolster or two, and inexpensive blocks and straps. Make sure your clothing isn’t too big as that can get in the way of the poses, and remember that most healthy beginners need only a sticky mat and a blanket or bolster to achieve proper alignment. As you move into more advanced poses, or if you start out with strength or flexibility limitations, you will find the straps and blocks more helpful.
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Practicing at home might be the only choice Yoga practitioners have during a pandemic or a lock down. While practicing yoga in one’s home is typically a safe choice for the general population, it is a good option to take a yoga class before beginning at-home yoga training sessions. Yoga is designed to stretch muscles, loosen joints, and relax the body, and although it can be practiced by the healthy, injured, young or elderly, there are some risks involved.
Yoga Risks
Practicing at home can be safe, if you are patient and research the risks. Many flows, such as the sun salutation series, are achieved by moving through a sequence of preparation postures. Some are not easy to perform, and others can cause harm when performed quickly or incorrectly. Another problem with not attending a yoga class first is working without an instructor. Teachers help students throughout the session. Many teachers carefully observe their students to keep them out of harm’s way. A beginner who is practicing at home should research the risks of each posture and should have medical clearance before starting a new physical activity.
Especially as beginners, yogis need instruction on correct postures, ways of breathing, and methods of relaxation and focus. A person who begins yoga at home will not have the benefit of feedback on form or technique. Not only can this add up to a difficult learning curve, but it also means the beginner will need to research videos, contraindications, and alignment. This is not entirely a bad thing, because beginners will find some great teachers online, but learning always requires patience with one’s self. That said, Yoga is a journey of patience throughout one’s life.
Yoga Class Atmosphere
An additional reason to attend a yoga class before practicing at home is that taking part in a class also gets a person out of the house and into a new atmosphere. It can be very difficult for someone doing yoga at home to fully relax; at home, the intentionally-structured calm and quiet atmosphere of a yoga class is missing. Even attending a yoga class one time can help practitioners prepare their space for a relaxing, at-home yoga session.
Participation
Although most yoga experiences are individualized, attending a class with other participants and seeing their satisfaction or progress tends to provide a separate, though just as satisfying, characteristic of yoga practice. Being around yogis who are highly energized and passionate about yoga can be the motivation a person needs to continue practicing. If, on the other hand, that person begins yoga at home, it can be easy to discontinue practice because the motivation of a support group is not part of the at home experience, unless the practitioner joins an online yoga support group.
Yoga At Home
Practicing at home can still be a very safe activity. Beginners should take care to find a video with a complete session designed by a knowledgeable instructor, and should ensure they have all the proper equipment suggested by the video’s producers. New students should watch a video first and take notes. Work with 15-minute sections of the video and note any parts that need further research. Practicing with an experienced friend who can help with pose instruction is also a smart choice. If a student pays attention to the natural limits of his or her body, that is the most important part of student safety. No teacher can feel your pain and pain is a signal from the body to stop and find another way.
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See our testimonials to find out what our graduates have to say about our selection of affordable hatha yoga instructor certification programs.
If you are a teacher, yoga school manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!
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