Teach People Not Poses

In yoga teacher training you are taught how to teach the yoga poses but not necessarily much about the art of teaching. Or perhaps I should say the heart of teaching-how to show up as a human being with all of your gifts, passions, fears and insecurities and teach the best class you can. Whether a total newbie to teaching or a seasoned veteran, the 12 Principles for Teaching People, Not Poses are pillars to support you in being a truly remarkable yoga teacher. 1. Be yourself. 2. Practice. 3. Show your vulnerability and your expertise. 4. Teach from your own experience. 5. If you don't know, say you don't know. 6. Stay in your body. 7. Don't take it all so seriously. 8. Remember that your students are people. 9. Learn anatomy. 10. Plan enough so that you can be spontaneous. 11. Remember who and what supports you. 12. Don't try to please everyone. With a chapter dedicated to each principle, stories from Jay's fourteen years of experience as a yoga teacher, teaching tips and questions for you to reflect upon about your own experience as a teacher, this book helps you to find the truth of your own teaching. In turn, you become the most confident, real and inspiring yoga teacher you can be.

​Honor your yoga students' unique practice with this essential guide to identifying and supporting healthy, safe movement for every body. Includes more than 80 exercises and 43 instructional drawings. Teach People, Not Poses is the manual that yoga teachers and yoga therapists need to help their students step onto the mat on their own terms, comfortably and safely. Mary Richards, a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and expert in kinesiology and anatomy, says that we leave too many people off the mat, due to overly aggressive pace, sequence, and ambition in asana. She offers advice, techniques, observations, practices, and sequences to give teachers and yoga therapists the tools they need to move beyond the popular ideas of “should” on the mat. To safely guide others in asana, especially when people come to the mat for relief from residual effects of acute injuries, chronic pain, and repetitive strain, yoga teachers need to understand what is typical and atypical in terms of posture and movement. Richards offers teachers myriad exercises to address imbalances and strengthen, such as "Tighten the Corset" for deep core training "Forearm Chaturanga/Plank" to develop core strength and stability "Revolved Warrior I with Resistance Band" for core stabilization "Wall-supported Downward-facing Dog" to activate the abdominal muscles and support the lower back and much more This unique book masterfully blends yoga philosophy with practical body knowledge and physical core stabilization skills, so that asana is truly an individualized expression—and what the Yoga Sutras describe as sthira sukham asanam, asana that is steady and comfortable.

Create class themes with yoga philosophy, inspirational quotes, and simple concepts to inspire and motivate students Experienced yoga instructors Sage Rountree and Alexandra DeSiato give yoga teachers the tools to find their voice and tap into innate wisdom. The authors offer ready-made, detailed themes to use in classes and provide flexible templates for building a toolkit of themes for future use. Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses offers guidance for both new and experienced teachers starting with a section on voice, authenticity, emulation, phrasing, practice, repetition, and finding inspiration. It continues with a second section that contains fifty-four complete themes that instructors can easily use in their own classes. The final section includes blank templates for instructors to create their own class themes and notes. With a unique angle and practical feel, this workbook will appeal to yoga teachers, teacher trainers, and at-home practitioners who want to move to the next level.

This is a full-color yoga book like no other on the market. Meta Hirschl opens the door to the full vision of yoga with graphics, photographs, and personal stories. Interwoven with discussions about the eight limbs of yoga as presented in the original literature, including the core principles, Sanskrit Devanagari, mantras, poses, breath work, mediation, a derivation of terms, compassionate communication guidelines, basic teaching principles, wisdom and photos of the great sages, recipes, and illuminating accounts by contemporary yogis. Throughout, readers are guided to connect with their inner selves, transcend fear, emotional turmoil, and attachment to the stresses of life. This informative reference features a highly visual format, including a first-ever historical timeline of yogic philosophies, texts, and key figures. Introduced too is yoga therapy for everything from low back or knee pain to depression. Each chapter concludes with specific invitations to delve further into the heart of yoga. It is designed to enrich any chosen style of practice, and this book is ideal not only for yoga students and aspiring yoga teachers, but also for healing arts practitioners and their patients, as well as anyone seeking to cultivate a vibrantly healthy body, mind, and spirit.

The yoga teacher’s guide to planning and sequencing yoga classes—with over 2,000 instructional photos and 67 yoga pose sequences for students of all skill levels. Also features additional resources, including yoga class planning worksheets, comprehensive glossaries, and much more! Addressing one of the most popular topics in the yoga profession, this book offers 67 model sequences of yoga poses (asanas) that cover the broad range of yoga student experience. Inside, established and aspiring yoga teachers will find: • Over 2,000 instructional photos and guide to over 150 yoga asanas • Multiple sequences for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students • Yoga sequences for kids, teens, seniors, and women across their life cycle • Yoga classes designed for relieving depression and anxiety • Sequences for each of the major chakras and ayurvedic constitutions • Guidance for teaching breathing (pranayama) and meditation techniques • Glossary of terms and alphabetical asana index with thumbnail photographs • Yoga class planning worksheets • Representative sequences from several popular styles of hatha yoga • And many more resources for further reading! Drawing on ancient yoga philosophy and contemporary insights into functional anatomy, biomechanics, and kinesiology, Yoga Sequencing is the ultimate guide teachers looking to bring the transformative power of yoga into their practice and classes.

This is a one-of-a-kind, interactive book which incorporates math and yoga. Discover the math needed to complete each yoga pose correctly, as Mrs. Moonflower takes her students on a journey exploring the geometry of yoga!

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF YOGA: Discover the history and philosophy of yoga—plus tools for teaching 108 yoga poses, planning and sequencing your yoga classes, and much more. “Will help [yoga] instructors fine-tune their classroom skills and empower their personal practice.” —Yoga + Joyful Living Drawing on a wide spectrum of perspectives and featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, Teaching Yoga covers the fundamental topics of yoga for new and experienced yoga teachers. Inside, you’ll find: • A foundational overview of yoga philosophy and history • Presentations of yoga classics like Vedas; Upanishads; Bhagavad Gita; Yoga Sutras of Patanjali • Profiles of the 11 styles of contemporary yoga, including their history and distinguishing elements • Support and tools for teaching 108 yoga poses, breathing techniques, and meditations • Practical advice for classroom setup, and planning and sequencing yoga classes • Guidance through the process of starting and sustaining a career as a yoga teacher • Over 200 bibliographic sources and a comprehensive index • A useful appendix listing associations, institutes, organizations, and professional resources Addressing 100% of the teacher training curriculum standards set by Yoga Alliance—the world’s leading registry and accreditation source for yoga teachers and schools—Teaching Yoga is the perfect resource for experienced yoga teachers, teachers in training, and anyone interesed in deepening their understanding of their yoga practice.

The best-selling anatomy guide for yoga is now updated, expanded, and better than ever! With more asanas, vinyasas, full-color anatomical illustrations, and in-depth information, the second edition of YogaAnatomy provides you with a deeper understanding of the structures and principles underlying each movement and of yoga itself. From breathing to inversions to standing poses, see how specific muscles respond to the movements of the joints; how alterations of a pose can enhance or reduce effectiveness; and how the spine, breathing, and body position are all fundamentally linked. Whether you are just beginning your journey or have been practicing yoga for years, Yoga Anatomy will be an invaluable resource—one that allows you to see each movement in an entirely new light. With Yoga Anatomy, Second Edition, authors Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews, both internationally recognized experts and teachers in anatomy, breathing, and bodywork, have created the ultimate reference for yoga practitioners, instructors, and enthusiasts alike.

"Published by the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on the occasion of the exhibition Yoga: The Art of Transformation, October 19, 2013 - January 26, 2014. Organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the exhibition travels to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, February 22-May 18, 2014, and the Cleveland Museum of Art, June 22-September 7, 2014."

Yoga can benefit every body, including yours! Discover how to take advantage of all yoga has to offer with this all-encompassing yoga guide. No matter who you are or what your abilities are, Yoga for Everyone includes a fabulous 50 poses proving something for everyone to love. From plus size yoga and pregnancy yoga, to yoga for the elderly or disabled, you can explore variations and modifications to much-loved yoga poses, from the comfort of your own home. Every exercise utilizes the essential elements of yoga to ensure you can gain all the physical and mental benefits, and will also allow you to perform all 10 sequences, which combine different poses into one singular experience and focus on specific health benefits each pose has on your body. Dive straight in to discover: - A visually illustrated yoga guide showcasing diversity in people and their mixed fitness abilities - 50 yoga exercises with a minimum of 3 modifications for varying body types - 10 sequences that combine the above-mentioned exercise - Expert information in Yoga and how to incorporate these exercises into everyday life For years, books on yoga have asked readers to bend over backward (literally!) to conform to their physical demands. At DK, we believe it’s time to change that! Why not allow for readers to demand that yoga conform to their individual needs instead? This is yoga for real people! Once you familiarise yourself with the yoga exercises that best suit you and your abilities, you’ll begin to notice the benefits of yoga and positive changes they have on your body, whether it’s your enhanced flexibility, your improved posture or your stronger core. What a rewarding experience for readers! Yoga for Everyone aims to teach readers that with a little modification, anyone can practice Yoga, perfect their poses and become stronger and more confident as you go. Whether you want to structure your sun salutation or demand more from your downward dog, this all-encompassing yoga book will be your one-stop guide to achieving perfection with each pose no matter your physical ability, and learn some top tips on yoga anatomy and yoga science along the way. A must-have volume for those who want to take up yoga but don’t know where to begin, or simply those seeking to start a low-impact exercise, Yoga for Everyone can be tailored to your individual fitness needs, so you make the most out of your poses! Why not stretch yourself, literally, this New Year and try something new? Your mind, body and soul will thank you!