| People start yoga for many reasons. They may want | | | | bodyweight to help you go further into a position - |
| to increase their levels of health, fitness, and | | | | without really finding out whether a person has any |
| flexibility. Or improve their muscle tone. Reducing | | | | injuries. And some simply do it too overzealously. A |
| levels of stress and anxiety are also high on the list, | | | | student in that situation may feel that the 'teacher |
| as is personal development, and the desire to follow | | | | knows best'. But it's important to listen to your own |
| a more spiritual path. Some may have a particular | | | | body, and understand that not all yoga training is |
| medical condition or health problem they want to | | | | equal. And, not all teachers are equal, in all areas, |
| address. | | | | either. |
| One's reason for starting yoga may have a bearing | | | | Some other things to consider when choosing a yoga |
| on both the type of yoga that makes a 'best fit', as | | | | teacher are: |
| well as the particular teacher chosen within a yoga | | | | * Are they dogmatic? Do they push a certain |
| discipline. Whilst the different types of yoga obviously | | | | philosophical or spiritual viewpoint? Is there a subtle |
| suit some aims better than others, the teacher you | | | | (or not so subtle) manipulation that implies that |
| practice with will also make a difference to achieving | | | | without their 'guru', your spiritual evolution is on shaky |
| what you want with yoga. Or not. | | | | ground. In fact, do they suggest that you 'need' a |
| Foe example, if you have a specific medical condition, | | | | guru (their guru) as a 'guide' in matters of spirituality |
| it would be better to informally interview prospective | | | | because your own connection to Source-God isn't |
| yoga teachers beforehand. First, to find out which | | | | good enough. In other words, are they suggesting |
| classes might be suitable, and to see whether that | | | | you place your power outside of yourself, or do they |
| teacher has a real grasp of what the condition or | | | | reiterate that you in fact are your own guide, and |
| problem implies for a yoga practice. Some people, | | | | can get their quite well under your own steam. |
| whether they are yoga teachers or not, have a | | | | * Are they (or the prominent representatives of their |
| more rigid outlook, and may not be able to | | | | yoga discipline) overly concerned with money, fame, |
| appreciate that a flexible approach in such | | | | power, the size of their organization, or their degree |
| circumstances is important. Or, they may not have | | | | of influence? If they (the organization) certify yoga |
| sufficient training or experience. Perhaps they are | | | | teachers, how long do the teachers have to train |
| even too busy to be available in a more personal | | | | for? What are they trained in and what aren't they |
| way. | | | | taught about? |
| When choosing a yoga teacher, it's important to use | | | | * How well does the teacher embody the basic |
| your intuition. And to understand that we, as | | | | spiritual qualities of compassion, kindness, peace, joy, |
| individuals, may not find our needs met by a class | | | | and equanimity? Whilst we are all beings at various |
| even if others do. Some teachers are more nurturing | | | | stages of the journey, it helps to look at a teacher's |
| than others, some are more focused on the spiritual | | | | character, and ethics. No-one needs to be perfect, |
| aspects of yoga (which may or may not align with | | | | but what qualities, of themselves, are they bringing |
| our own spiritual outlook). Some perform | | | | to class. |
| adjustments - which is where a teacher will use their | | | | |