HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD YOGA INSTRUCTOR

 

If you are a beginner and you are not aware of how to practice yoga, then you should hire a yoga trainer or teacher.

You will find many yoga teachers who are available online and that can provide online classes, so you won’t have to step out of your house for yoga training.

You can also look for a yoga trainer who can come to your home and train you or a small group of your friends personally.

Even though there are no strict legislative requirements set down for yoga instructors, that does not mean that there are no guidelines you should follow to find a great teacher.

Here you will find what some believe are the 9 minimum requirements for a competent instructor.

9 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A GOOD YOGA TEACHER

1. MUST PRACTICE YOGA

Must practice yoga exercise, breathing, and meditation daily. 

You can’t take a teacher seriously if they do not have a sound foundation and are committed to yoga daily.

     2.  CONTINUE THEIR YOGA LEARNING 

They should have regular contact with their teacher.

No good teacher can ever work effectively on his own, nor no one teacher can become so advanced that they do not need the continual guidance and support from their teacher.

    3.  CONTINUE TO STUDY YOGA TEXTS

They should continue to study the important yoga texts.

Study is one of the special five observances that are part of the eight limbs of the yoga practice.

A good teacher needs to have some knowledge that includes Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and the Bhagavad Gita.

This is the minimum, ideally, they should know all world philosophies revolving around yoga.

   4.  PRACTICE ONLY ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

A good teacher is going to be well versed in the five Yamas which means the five restraints that include non-violence, truthfulness,

non-stealing, times of celibacy, and non-hoarding.

They also need to practice the five Niyamas which means observances such as purity, contentment, tolerance, study, and the first two limbs of classical yoga.

When a teacher practices this type of behavior, the student is protected especially during any personal experience in a meditation state.

   5.  HAVE ONLY SMALL CLASSES THAT GIVE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION 

You will find that an ethical yoga instructor will conduct class in a safe, aware and responsible manner and makes sure that classes are not too large so students can receive individual attention from the instructor.

  6.  BE A VEGETARIAN AND USE NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL 

Observe a healthy vegetarian diet – Of course, you don’t need to be a vegetarian to practice yoga, a yoga instructor should conform to different standards than the student. They also should not smoke, drink alcohol or take any kind of drugs.

   7.  BE TRAINED IN BASIC ANATOMY & HEALTH CONDITIONS

A good yoga teacher should have training in basic anatomy and the effects of yoga techniques.

They should be trained enough to be able to vary the yoga techniques for each student according to their abilities.

They also should be trained well enough to advise their students when it comes to the more common medical conditions like high blood pressure, back problems, and arthritis.

   8.  BE AWARE OF EMOTIONAL AND FRAGILE MENTAL STATES 

They also should be trained well enough to notice when a student might need psychological counseling and have knowledge of the community services in the area.

   9. KEEP THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS SEPARATE FROM YOGA 

Have the ability to separate yoga from any religious beliefs.

Yoga is not a religion and it even predates Hinduism as well as many other well-known religions.

Yoga is a practice of non-religious techniques, trans-cultural practices, and these practices help people develop greater self-awareness.

It doesn’t require that students stick to a particular creed or belief or that they obey any prophet or God.

It also is not ritualistic nor is it occult and the texts of yoga are not scripture but guidelines on how to practice yoga safely.

So, a good yoga teacher should never allow their religious beliefs to intertwine with the practice of yoga.

Summary to choosing a Good Yoga Teachers:

These are the 9 key points that you need to look for when you are trying to find a good yoga teacher.

It will take time to research, but in the end, it will be well worth your time and effort.