I have been in the fitness industry in one way or another for almost 20 years, and yoga is the next frontier. I have done personal training, both at gyms and in home (which is far more lucrative, of course). I have taught just about every kind of group fitness class imaginable. Now I am pondering the best direction to take for yoga, and it will probably be the same as personal training - a combination. It is nice to have the exposure that working in a gym guarantees, but of course, in-home training is more financially rewarding, and with a bit of marketing, you can gain valuable exposure to potential clients as well. That being said, I do believe that yoga can help just about everyone, and they shouldn't have to pay through the nose for it. A sliding scale, perhaps? A basic price, with the occasional discount for special needs situations? Win the lottery and teach yoga for free in as many places as I can? I like the last option the best. Here's hoping! And as always, be ready with a plan B, just in case.
Yoga for Busy People: Learn More
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Yogafit Level One
I attended Yogafit Level One Training this weekend, and it was brilliant. I had always heard that Yogafit was a watered down version of yoga - too westernized, and therefore not "real" yoga. However, given that I want to bring yoga to the masses of stressed out individuals, I think I have found my path. We've all walked into, or at least seen through the glass, yoga classes that are intimidating, where people are doing exercises we can barely wrap our heads around, much less our bodies. Of course once you start doing yoga, you do become amazed at yourself and the things you can do with just a bit of courage, but there are loads of people out there who would never even give it a try because of that first impression. They look at the advanced yoga-doers and write it off as something they could never do. People think they're too fat, too inflexible, too injured or whatever. But Yogafit can accommodate these people. That doesn't mean it does not go deep into yoga, to advanced levels. It does. I think in due time, and with due resources, I'd like to do the entire 200 hour Yogafit certification, and then do a "real" yoga certification, just to see the discrepancies. Or if I can find an unbiased person to tell me, that would be nice too. But there does seem to be some bias out there. Maybe I'll check out Yoga Alliance's requirements, as they are the overseeing body - see what a program needs to be accepted by them.
Anyway, I heart Yogafit! I really enjoyed the training - it was a lot of fun!
Pregnancy and Fitness Link
For Personal Trainers
Anyway, I heart Yogafit! I really enjoyed the training - it was a lot of fun!
Pregnancy and Fitness Link
For Personal Trainers
Monday, March 9, 2009
Free Online Yoga - Safe?
Free Online Yoga
Yoga has become very popular these days, and consequently free online yoga is in great demand. But can you really learn yoga safely and effectively without a proper yoga school?
Of course yoga originated in India, but now yoga schools, studios, and classes are available all over the world. Because it has been adapted by so many people of various cultures, yoga now means different things to different people. Some people cling to a more traditional approach, while others seek a more "western" adaptation.
We all know that the internet is a wonderful way to gain knowledge - we have the world at our fingertips! Why should yoga be any different? Free online yoga is available to everyone - no fancy equipment, clothing or studio fees required. I'm not recommending nude yoga here - I'm just saying you don't need fancy yoga pants! Sheesh. Stay focused, people!
I am saying that if you have the desire to learn yoga, the internet is a great resource. If you have some familiarity with your body (one would hope so, but as a former personal trainer I can tell you, it is not necessarily so) and know how to read, you have the capacity to learn some yoga online. Let's face it - people are looking to save money every way they can these days. And some people are simply not comfortable exercising around other people. Home exercise is a great option for these folks.
Many people would argue that yoga positions can be confusing, and without an instructor present, people should not attempt it. I agree that instructors are incredibly beneficial - they can see how you are actually doing the poses and instruct you specifically on what you may need to change. Even advanced yoga-doers benefit from personal instruction. Of course the same is true for any kind of exercise - the guidance of a personal trainer is beneficial for weight training, for example.
However, even real live yoga instructors can teach poorly, and who's to say you're doing anything right if your instructor is merely teaching yoga because it's popular right now? The bottom line is that you want to seek instruction that is sound and reputable. Read through the site and watch before you do. If it seems screwy, it probably is. If you can't handle it, it's probably not for you. Keep looking. There are loads of resources out there.
Yoga has become very popular these days, and consequently free online yoga is in great demand. But can you really learn yoga safely and effectively without a proper yoga school?
Of course yoga originated in India, but now yoga schools, studios, and classes are available all over the world. Because it has been adapted by so many people of various cultures, yoga now means different things to different people. Some people cling to a more traditional approach, while others seek a more "western" adaptation.
We all know that the internet is a wonderful way to gain knowledge - we have the world at our fingertips! Why should yoga be any different? Free online yoga is available to everyone - no fancy equipment, clothing or studio fees required. I'm not recommending nude yoga here - I'm just saying you don't need fancy yoga pants! Sheesh. Stay focused, people!
I am saying that if you have the desire to learn yoga, the internet is a great resource. If you have some familiarity with your body (one would hope so, but as a former personal trainer I can tell you, it is not necessarily so) and know how to read, you have the capacity to learn some yoga online. Let's face it - people are looking to save money every way they can these days. And some people are simply not comfortable exercising around other people. Home exercise is a great option for these folks.
Many people would argue that yoga positions can be confusing, and without an instructor present, people should not attempt it. I agree that instructors are incredibly beneficial - they can see how you are actually doing the poses and instruct you specifically on what you may need to change. Even advanced yoga-doers benefit from personal instruction. Of course the same is true for any kind of exercise - the guidance of a personal trainer is beneficial for weight training, for example.
However, even real live yoga instructors can teach poorly, and who's to say you're doing anything right if your instructor is merely teaching yoga because it's popular right now? The bottom line is that you want to seek instruction that is sound and reputable. Read through the site and watch before you do. If it seems screwy, it probably is. If you can't handle it, it's probably not for you. Keep looking. There are loads of resources out there.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Keeping Calm with Yoga
Practicing yoga is one of the best ways to quiet your mind and relax deeply.
After enduring a stressful situation, we find that our minds are stressed, our bodies fatigued. Whether the stress is caused by an interaction with another person, or by an event that brings us frustration, anger, or disappointment, the resulting wear and tear on body and mind is undeniable. The best thing we can do is release the emotions formed out of these stressing circumstances, so that we can live happier, more peaceful lives.
Sometimes it is not an acute event or interaction that causes us stress, but merely the daily grind. Get up after too little sleep, get kids ready for school, get self ready for work, fret about what to make for dinner tonight, think about who will drive child A to ballet, which reminds you child A’s friend is having a birthday party for which you have to buy a gift, which reminds you that you promised you would be classroom parent for child B’s class on Thursday, which means you’ll miss the morning at work that day, and did you remember to… AND YOU ARE NOT EVEN AT WORK YET!!!
Yes, life can be hectic. Relaxing and caring for yourself is a MUST. So let me repeat: Practicing yoga is one of the best ways to quiet your mind and relax deeply. Believe it or not, doing yoga exercises is an excellent method for expressing and releasing your emotions. Yoga can certainly be learned in yoga schools or studios. The personal guidance is wonderful, and hopefully you will be able to practice what you have learned on your own at home. More and more workplaces are offering yoga classes, which is brilliant. But let’s face it – not everyone will be comfortable doing yoga will co-workers. (Take for example the downward facing dog pose – hands and feet on floor, butt way up in the air. Just saying.) So for the timid, there happen to be a plethora of great yoga videos out there, and you can learn yoga at home all by yourself. The instruction on many videos is quite thorough. Did you know you can order exercise videos on Netflix? What a great way to try something out!Look for “Hatha” yoga, which tends to be gentle and excellent for relaxation. I know your days are full, but if you can put just a little time into performing yoga exercises, you will reap the benefits. A little every day is a great way to start. Hey, if the video you chose is an hour and you don’t have an hour, just do 15 minutes. It’s better than nothing and you have to start somewhere. Please note, though (little secret here) that one of the most important postures in yoga is always done last, at the end of the practice. It has an unpleasant name (“corpse pose” – sorry), but it is the pose where you just lay there and let go. I know, it sounds like a waste of time to the American mind, but in yoga, this is where the integration of the health benefits occurs. If you are not doing the whole video, do some and then skip to the end to do corpse pose. You can do yoga at any time of the day or night, though traditional yoga teachings say morning is the best time to practice. Let’s face it - your mind is calm, distractions are fewer, and the “off to the races” feeling hasn’t kicked in yet. This makes morning the perfect time for yoga. HOWEVER, life is not perfect is it? So you go do yoga whenever you darn well please – or can.
Yoga For Busy People: Learn More
http://tinyurl.com/cvke7e
http://tinyurl.com/afzjhj
After enduring a stressful situation, we find that our minds are stressed, our bodies fatigued. Whether the stress is caused by an interaction with another person, or by an event that brings us frustration, anger, or disappointment, the resulting wear and tear on body and mind is undeniable. The best thing we can do is release the emotions formed out of these stressing circumstances, so that we can live happier, more peaceful lives.
Sometimes it is not an acute event or interaction that causes us stress, but merely the daily grind. Get up after too little sleep, get kids ready for school, get self ready for work, fret about what to make for dinner tonight, think about who will drive child A to ballet, which reminds you child A’s friend is having a birthday party for which you have to buy a gift, which reminds you that you promised you would be classroom parent for child B’s class on Thursday, which means you’ll miss the morning at work that day, and did you remember to… AND YOU ARE NOT EVEN AT WORK YET!!!
Yes, life can be hectic. Relaxing and caring for yourself is a MUST. So let me repeat: Practicing yoga is one of the best ways to quiet your mind and relax deeply. Believe it or not, doing yoga exercises is an excellent method for expressing and releasing your emotions. Yoga can certainly be learned in yoga schools or studios. The personal guidance is wonderful, and hopefully you will be able to practice what you have learned on your own at home. More and more workplaces are offering yoga classes, which is brilliant. But let’s face it – not everyone will be comfortable doing yoga will co-workers. (Take for example the downward facing dog pose – hands and feet on floor, butt way up in the air. Just saying.) So for the timid, there happen to be a plethora of great yoga videos out there, and you can learn yoga at home all by yourself. The instruction on many videos is quite thorough. Did you know you can order exercise videos on Netflix? What a great way to try something out!Look for “Hatha” yoga, which tends to be gentle and excellent for relaxation. I know your days are full, but if you can put just a little time into performing yoga exercises, you will reap the benefits. A little every day is a great way to start. Hey, if the video you chose is an hour and you don’t have an hour, just do 15 minutes. It’s better than nothing and you have to start somewhere. Please note, though (little secret here) that one of the most important postures in yoga is always done last, at the end of the practice. It has an unpleasant name (“corpse pose” – sorry), but it is the pose where you just lay there and let go. I know, it sounds like a waste of time to the American mind, but in yoga, this is where the integration of the health benefits occurs. If you are not doing the whole video, do some and then skip to the end to do corpse pose. You can do yoga at any time of the day or night, though traditional yoga teachings say morning is the best time to practice. Let’s face it - your mind is calm, distractions are fewer, and the “off to the races” feeling hasn’t kicked in yet. This makes morning the perfect time for yoga. HOWEVER, life is not perfect is it? So you go do yoga whenever you darn well please – or can.
Yoga For Busy People: Learn More
http://tinyurl.com/cvke7e
http://tinyurl.com/afzjhj
Sunday, March 1, 2009
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