Internal defeat is a state of mind, where you begin to believe that most new ideas will fail. You might think -After all, what I tried in last week's Yoga class, failed.

You will always learn from mistakes. When you see them clearly as a test, examine the results, and study them closely for the reason why they went wrong.

Whether it is a lesson plan, trying mantras, Hot Yoga, Gentle Yoga, a pro shop, or trying anything new, it is better to make mistakes than do nothing at all.

Some of the most successful Yoga teachers, I know, deal with mistakes as part of the learning curve. They turn all of their defeats into learning experiences. This is extremely powerful when you consider the cost of learning anything of value.

After all, what did you spend on your education, so far? Did you think you would stop learning at a certain point in life? Did you learn from your past mistakes? Of course you did, and now you are stronger due to the corrective adjustments, you have made.

When a child learns to ride a bicycle, there are plenty of falls along the way, and then the falling stops. However, even skilled adults fall off bicycles, sometimes.

So, dont take past failures personally. Put them behind you and learn from each one.

Henry Ford and the Wright Brothers had failures, but nobody seems to remember that. Just like them, you are not a failure, but you may have failed in the past, just like they did. When you get down on yourself, look back at what you have accomplished.

When you take on your next project, do the research first, assemble a team, make a full commitment to succeed, and never mentally quit before you start.

Lastly, whenever it is possible, learn from the mistakes of others. This is why Yoga businesses approach me for consulting services: To save money by avoiding known mistakes, pitfalls, and traps.

Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

¶ 2:17 PM 0 comments

Where does a student of Yoga start his or her practice? What is the foundation of Yoga practice? Why do so many Yoga classes and teachers avoid approaching the foundation of Yoga?

Where does a student of Yoga start his or her practice? Much like the desire to learn Yoga, the practice of any form, or style, of Yoga, comes from within the self. You should seek a Yoga teacher to act as a guide. Not all forms of Yoga are physical, but if physical mastery is what you seek, there are Hatha, Raja, and Kundalini, Yoga to consider. These are just three of the nine main forms of Yoga and there are many sub-styles to consider, as well. You must also take the availability of styles within your local area into consideration.

Researching may take some time before visiting a Yoga teacher. When you make an appointment for a discussion, find out what your Yoga teachers methods are. Does this teacher have patience, understanding, and compassion?

A Yoga teacher is a guide, who teaches you to eventually become your own teacher. This does not mean to visit a Yoga teacher every so often, but it does mean to practice what is learned in each lesson by bringing it home.

Unfortunately, many Yoga instructors do not place enough emphasis on the value of home practice. If a student practices in Yoga, casually, once a week, takes the summer and Christmas season off, that is thirty-three lessons per year, without any home practice. After three years, how much has this student learned?

What is the foundation of Yoga practice? The foundation of Yoga is to be totally present within the lesson, and if possible, to be without distractions. If there are any distractions going on in the mind, you should learn not to judge yourself harshly because you were not mentally present in your Yoga class.

To be in the moment, or to be mentally present for your Yoga practice, is the key to advancing your practice in Yoga. In fact, physical postures (Asanas) are part of the practice, but they are not the primary emphasis of most forms of Yoga.

Why do so many Yoga classes and teachers avoid approaching the foundation of Yoga? People are stimulated by superficial things. In the case of Yoga, the results of Asana practice can be felt immediately. Many Yoga instructors give up on teaching meditation and the deeper aspects of Yoga. The result is the perception that Yoga is an exercise class only. The myth stems from the classification of Asanas as beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

It is true that Yoga posture should be classified according to difficulty level, but Asana has little to do with classifying a Yoga student. Consider this: Is a gymnast who is completely stressed out, and who knows nothing about meditation, an advanced Yoga practitioner?

If this is so, then we do not need Yoga teachers at all. Yoga studios can hire teenage gymnasts to perform physical feats, and wow the students, with their prowess. This would be very cost effective for Yoga studios, and most young gymnasts would love to perform physical feats to impress crowds of adults for a salary.

This may seem riduculous, but it does bring your view full circle. People have been duped into seeing Yoga as a gymnastic event. Asanas are one component of Yoga, but they are one of the eight limbs. All of the eight limbs of Yoga, described by Patanjali, should operate together for a complete practice.

If we practice Asanas without higher forms awareness, and that is it, we are not practicing Yoga. We are then focusing on muscles and breath, which is fine for weight resistance. In truth, Yoga requires the eight limbs described within the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

The many healing aspects of Yoga are barely realized, when we consider it a physical competition.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

¶ 4:13 AM 0 comments