Finding The Right Teacher

There are as many styles of yoga as there are types of people. So how do you find the style for you, or the right teacher? First, you need a little background on what yoga is.

There are many forms of yoga, offering different paths for different personalities.

Jnana Yoga – union through knowledge and study.
Bhakti Yoga – union through devotion and selfless love.
Karma Yoga – union through service, work and action.
Mantra Yoga – union through sound vibration and speech.
Raja Yoga – union through control of the mind.
Hatha Yoga – union through self-exploration, conscious exploration on a physical level.

The heart of yogic teaching lies in the belief that a self fulfilled person is a healthy person, free from disease caused by stress and improper living habits. The practice of Hatha Yoga is designed to lead the student to an ever- increasing knowledge of himself and the needs of his body and mind in order to achieve and maintain good physical and mental health, and spiritual harmony. Yoga, in short, is a science of self-improvement that deals with the whole human being.

The word yoga is derived from the root yuj meaning to join, to yoke, to concentrate one's attention on. Yoga in its largest sense of the word refers to man's aspiration to achieve union with Supreme, or Cosmic Consciousness.

Yoga is not religion, but it is spiritual. By practicing hatha yoga, your relationship between your mind, body and spirit deepens. You will become increasingly more aware of your true nature, or the spirit within no matter what your belief is.

Hatha Yoga usually begins the practice of this ancient science for most western students.
The Sanskrit root, ha, means sun, or positive aspect, and tha means moon, or negative aspect. Hatha Yoga is that part of yoga that seeks to unite our polarities and conflicts into a state of harmony. Through its related series of exercises for both body and mind, Hatha Yoga techniques are intended to rejuvenate and bring into proper balance all aspects of the body: endocrine system, vascular system, nervous system and musculature. Gentle stretching exercises, rhythmic breathing and deep relaxation techniques are stressed in the beginning. Through continued practice of these techniques, the student of Hatha Yoga quickly experiences the benefits of increased relaxation, normalized blood pressure, the relief of minor back problems, and a steadied metabolism. When combined with deep breathing exercises and meditation techniques, these practices also bring the student a sense of emotional calmness and a feeling of mental peace.

There are many styles of Hatha Yoga. The most popular and widely accepted, listed in alphabetical order is Astanga, Bikram, Iyengar, Kripalu, Kundalini, Sivananda, and Vini. There are many others, some are variations of the ones mentioned. Many teachers are trained or inspired by a particular style, and as they grow as teachers they create their own style. The popularity of a particular style is usually due to its acceptance in our culture, and if it's well promoted, it may become highly recognized. An example of popularity is Power Yoga, a variation of Ashtanga Yoga. Some styles develop from a teacher having a background in something and then adding yoga into their classes or practice, (dance and yoga =Yoga Rhythmics), or (acupressure and yoga =Acu-Yoga) or if the person has a background in medicine, Yoga for Health. All styles of Yoga are beneficial to practice.

Astanga Yoga – Fast, strength oriented, repetitious series of postures, goal oriented. If you like to work out and sweat, this style may be for you.
Bikram Yoga – popular in California, often called movie star yoga. A repetitive sequence of postures is practiced in a heated room (104 degrees), along with some breath work. The emphasis is on doing not necessarily on feeling.
Iyengar Yoga – Challenging, perfection in each posture is emphasized. B.K.S. Iyengar is thought of as an authority on yoga postures and their beneficial qualities. Classes are usually postures only, although he teaches many breathing and relaxation techniques. This is a difficult style for a beginner.
Kripalu Yoga – focuses on awareness, perfection of the moment not the posture, self-accepting, and honoring individuality. Uses postures, breathing, relaxation, and meditation techniques to explore the connection between mind, body and spirit. This style is particularly good for providing an opportunity for self-exploration. Kripalu has been labeled as the yoga of consciousness. Good for beginner and advanced students.
Kundalini Yoga – prolonged holding of postures, breathing techniques and using mantras to awaken the energy channels. Powerful and challenging.
Sivananda Yoga – Uses postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation. Peaceful and nurturing.
Vini Yoga – Vinyasa style, fluid movement into and out of postures, mindful and physical. Great for joint mobility.

So, how do you decide which style is right for you? In each style of Hatha Yoga there are different teaching methodologies, techniques, flows and focuses. The best thing to do is go to the library, local bookstore or the Internet and read a little about several different types of Hatha Yoga. One style or another will probably stand out as the best suited for your personality. Then look in the yellow pages, local advertising bulletins, or on the Internet for class availability in your area. Due to the cost of internet advertising not all yoga teacher are listed. The larger schools of yoga offer an internet search for their certified teachers in your area by zip code, city or state, or you can Google "yoga teachers" and find plenty. Talk to a professionally trained yoga instructor; let them know what you're looking for. Ask them about the style that they teach and their credentials, where they studied and, if they have a certification in a particular style. This way you'll know that they were not only taught how to teach, but know what it is that they are teaching. Also ask if you can try a class to determine if what they're offering is something you're interested in doing. Like finding the right doctor, sometimes you have to try several before you find the right one. Chances are you'll be taking yoga classes for a long time if you find the right teacher, one that you can continue to grow with.

There are a lot of people teaching Hatha Yoga now. Unfortunately, many of them are looking at it as a marketable income, not really teaching yoga as yoga but as an activity or fitness program. That's not what yoga is all about. Hatha Yoga postures are very different from other forms of physical exercise. Unlike calisthenics and sports, which emphasize stamina and vigorous muscular activity, often to the point of exhaustion, Hatha Yoga postures encourage concentration, perseverance and steady progress. They can be practiced and enjoyed by young and old, healthy and unhealthy, strong and week. People of all ages, nationalities, races, creeds, religions, and of both sexes can benefit from the practice of Hatha Yoga. Because of the complexity of what's going on individually for the students during a yoga class, it's important that the teacher you choose is a professional, qualified to teach yoga, and has completed some kind of teaching certification program. There are teachers out there that figure because they took a few classes or enrolled in a weekend intensive that they are now "Yoga Teachers." When you go to a doctor, you assume that the doctor is in fact a professional and that they keep themselves up to date on the latest innovations, techniques or procedures, and read medical journals relative to their profession. Likewise with a yoga teacher, if they were not certified on a professional level then they wouldn't have the ability for continuing education hours or have programs available to them to help them grow as teachers and/or get feed back from other professionals in their field. Anyone that has completed a specific Yoga Teaching Certification Program earns the right to display the name of the specific yoga style that they are trained in and proudly displays their credentials after their name. This way where ever you go, world wide, you can expect the same teaching methodologies from a teacher with the same credentials

Yoga is a great way to bring wellness back into your life. Whether you're looking for ways to maintain your good health, recover from illness, injury or just out balance, then the practice of Hatha Yoga may be for you. You will stretch and strengthen skeletal and muscular systems, stimulate and regulate the hormonal and immune systems, improve digestion, circulation, and respiration. You'll feel a new vitality and a calmer, more focused mind. Check it out; see for your self.

Om, Shanti
Tony Riposo, Professional Level Kripalu Yoga Teacher, (500hr)
Member of the Kripalu Yoga Teacher Association (KYTA)
Yoga Alliance (E-RYT) Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (500hr)

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