Ever since COVID hit, the world has changed drastically. It has forced almost every business to change its way of operations by switching to some form of online operations through remote access. The world of yoga is no different, with most yoga instructors having switched to online teaching. Lots of yoga teacher training schools have also adopted online yoga teacher trainings, including hybrid yoga teacher training programs, to certify yoga teachers. Now as the world seemingly comes back to normal, there is possibility that online yoga classes and online yoga training programs become the new norm.
Given that the world of remote yoga teaching may be here to stay, as yoga teachers we also need to train ourselves to better serve the yoga practitioners or yoga students virtually. The lack of personal touch, that normally enables a yoga teacher to adjust the students in yoga classes, is now compensated with detailed yoga asana instructions.
Salamba Yoga’s approach has always been instructions centric. Our yoga teachers emphasize proper yoga instructions to achieve better results in yoga practice.
This blog on online yoga and the power of proper asana instructions takes you through some key points to keep in mind with online yoga teacher training or other online yoga training.
How proper instructions in asanas can help minimize the chance of injuries when teaching yoga virtually.
Let’s face it, yoga injuries are common and they should be forthrightly and openly discussed. Lots of ashtangis and vinyasa lovers along with hatha yoga practitioners do get injured when the range of motion exceeds the normal. Moreover, initiating any movement from a joint which should not be involved actively in the pose causes wear and tear in the ligaments and other joint structures. Knowing how to instruct on the initiation and completion of a yoga asana makes a lot of difference in its quality and reduces unnecessary pain and chances of injury as well.
Organic body wakes up with proper yoga instructions.
The purpose of yoga asanas is not just to make muscles stretch and contract. These actions have a much deeper meaning to them and that’s one of the reasons why yoga is not movement centric as we assume it to be. By staying in one position or yoga asana and by aligning our 3 cavities we allow the effect of yoga asana penetrate into the organic body. This brings strength and vigor in our internal system.
Instructions can bring a deeper awareness of oneself.
Meaningful instructions in a yoga asana can take the yoga practitioner’s awareness deeper into their bodies that help instill stillness and stability of the mind. Without knowing where to pay attention in a yoga asana a yoga practitioner cannot read the feedback given by body and mind. Skin, muscle and bones interact with each other while initiating, attaining and retaining a yoga posture. Proper instructions enable us to read this communication and analyze the feedback in a better way so as to add a deeper meaning to a yoga asana.
Variations and adaptations of a yoga pose can be well taught with better instructions.
Variations and adaptations of a yoga pose are very important tools at the hand of a yoga instructor. All bodies are different with respect of movability and adaptability. Thus, yoga asana has to be modified and adapted according to varying body needs and capabilities. Through proper and detailed instructions we can achieve the objective of catering to different bodies and minds.
Salamba Yoga’s 200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training Programs conducted in Nepal are specially designed and updated keeping in mind the changed environment in which yoga teachers have to work, in the age of the ongoing COVID pandemic. Our art of teaching curriculum has been modified keeping in view the changes the world of yoga has gone through. We seek sincere yoga practitioners to become a part of our yoga teacher training journey so that we can add conscious and aware teachers to the global community of yoga. Please contact us to learn more.