Who can be a Yoga Teacher?

Can I be a Yoga Teacher? Should I perform handstand to become a Yoga Teacher? Should I be super-flexible? I do not know Sanskrit names of the postures... I don't even know the philosophy of it... But I love practicing Yoga... I am passionate to teach and spread Yoga. I practice what I teach. I am introduced to Yoga recently. Do I need to wait for a few years to be a proper yoga teacher? 

These are a few questions that arise in the minds of people when they start practicing yoga.

I don't mind to be hated... Difficulty of Being Good

You read it right. I don't mind to be hated and I do not want to be remembered as one of the good people by everybody. The reason is to be good to everybody, all the time is impossible....

As you all know, we all the three male teachers here at Samyak Yoga were fortunate enough to study in an ancient system of education "Gurukula System of Education" prevailed during the time of Buddha, Patanjali etc. The replica of the same education system is created in the outskirts of Bangalore, South India. During our studies there, my master used to tell me "it is your main problem that you want to be good to everybody, every time and that leads to chaos". I took much time to understand the essence of his teaching. What I understood later as time passed was very interesting and made my life comfortable and less-complicated. 

Moon days and Ashtanga Yoga Practice

What is the significance of Full moon days and New moon days and why the Ashtanga Yoga is not practiced during those days?

It is the tradition of ancient wisdom of India that they are not taught during the moon days. They are termed as “Anadhyapana” (days with absence of lessons from the Master). As these moon days will have their influence on human system, it will not be a balanced perspective as it will be otherwise. It does not mean, negative / positive. The students will not be able to digest the new lessons during these days. Hence, new lessons are not taught and besides, there are a special rituals (mainly fire ceremonies) performed by the teachers and students during these days. You need to have a balanced inner system for any knowledge intake. 

What should my students carry after attending my Yoga Class?

Yes... ! You read it write. What should my students be carrying after attending your yoga class? Should it be "feeling happy", "Feeling Flexible" "Feeling not flexible, like my teacher", "I respect my body", "Wow, Yoga is too good" or anything else...

What would you like your students to feel at the end of the class? The outcome of your teaching. You have invested your time, money, energy to build this career for those a few hours wherein you are passionate to teach and spread Yoga. And you love the process of teaching where in you get opportunities to share the wisdom of yoga life. It feels great. But Have you ever thought how should they feel? 

Practical ways to recharge your Yoga Life...

We had  a series of Yoga Teacher Training Courses until the end of July 2014 for four months. And now it is a break time. This is the time to recharge our spiritual batteries and rejuvenate ourselves. Hence I would love to share the way we use this quality time. 

You give more when you have more!

That's right. You can give more only when you take more. If you remember your first few months of being yoga teacher, you were so enthusiastic about your career and were into everything that was related to teaching and practicing yoga.

All about Patanjali

The second article in the series of Exploration of Patanjali discusses about the meaning of the name " Patanjali" on the basis of Sanskrit grammar and also tries to shed light on the scholarly references about the contribution of Patanjali to the humanity.

Meaning of “Patanjali”

The compound name Patañjali has been explained by Sanskrit commentators in two ways. 

The first explanation of the word is añjalau patan iti patañjali (Patañjali is one falling into folded hands).

The untold stories about Patanjali

Most of Patanjali’s personal history is engulfed with mystery and myth; (much like any of the world’s spiritual super heroes) the tale of Patanjali’s birth has taken on legendary dimensions.

The only thing I need for Yoga Life

There are only a few fields wherein this beautiful word "Practice" is used. For example, Doctors do not say that they work, but they practice. It is a profession which requires every day practice. The same is applied for the law experts too. 

The beauty is here. This is the same word used for yoga too. It's Yoga practice (abhyaasa in Sanskrit)! Even if you teach, in the reality, you practice the teaching of Yoga.