...traindications for particular asanas.

You should always be ready to use props, modify poses, or suggest and alternative pose.

A complete discussion of this subject is a whole other article, but I will say that you should carefully quiz new students about health problems and physical limitations, and always recommend checking with doctor.

Some will be conservative in their manner and dress

Some of your students will wear workout clothes, but others will come to class in casual street clothes that you would not see in most studios. It is not uncommon for them to leave their socks on, and we have seen a few that do not even take off their shoes.

Be especially cautious about doing adjustments least you offend someone.

Liz does not invite them to spread their buttock flesh to make contact with the sits bones after all, you do not touch that part of your body in public!

Do not say much about the spiritual aspects of yoga

There are some fundamentalist Christians that put forth the idea that yoga is the work of the devil. Liz had one class sabotaged by a woman who insisted that chanting OM was calling the devil. There is not much you can do to change peoples minds about this, but you should be aware of this problem.

You also need to think about everything you say in class and decide if that could be misinterpreted as a call to change ones spiritual attitude. Most of your students will have established their religious outlook on life long before they start a chair yoga class. You probably shouldn't talk much about chakras, the Sanskrit names for asanas, awakening Kundlini energy, or any of the more spiritual as...more

What is Yoga?

...of poses (asanas) with particular attention being paid to breathing. Practicing asanas is one of the 8 "limbs" of yoga. Traditionally practiced to achieve unity between the body and mind, which in turn elevates the spirit.

Many people are intimidated to practice yoga due to the misconceptions that one must be naturally flexib...more

The Purpose of Yoga - stress Coping Solutions for Survival

... stress management over the past 5,000 years. With that said, we know that Yoga is the oldest existing form of stress management. People have always had stress, when gathered into cities, but why do we see higher stress levels in concentrated populations? Why do we see less stress, when we visit the countryside?

One problem is collective thoughts, which exist in larger communities. An accepted, but flawed, belief can become an urban legend. For example: Co...more

Yoga Insights: Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations), Part 2

... coordination are also benefits that Yoga students can expect to see and feel. During my experience while teaching Yoga classes, I have noticed that students, at any age, noticeably improved in strength, muscle tone, and overall coordination, when they regularly practice Sun Salutations.

Some of them even loss weight, but diet is also a large factor in this. Yet, some that did not lose weight did lower body fat. We know this because privately- trained Yoga students do have their body fat checked when they start. This is not a requirement, but it is an option. Some Yoga students must see and feel the physical benefits first, in order to stick with the program.

Mental healt...more

Yoga Ball Instructions