Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Certification
Becoming an Ashtanga yoga teacher takes years of practice, patience and dedication. To attain certification the teacher must learn more than the poses, and must be prepared to teach a lifestyle as opposed to a fitness method.
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Ashtanga Yoga
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Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga that synchronizes breath and asanas or yoga postures. This method uses a progressive series of postures to increase internal body heat and create a purifying sweat to detoxify the muscles of the body. This is to improve circulation as well as creating core strength. Ashtanga Yoga is based on 8 principles working with the mind and body to create a whole body balance and wellness.
Teaching
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Teaching traditional yoga is a mind and body altering activity. However most yoga classes focus on the actual asanas or yoga postures. Teaching Ashtanga yoga incorporates all the principles, including moral codes and self study. The teacher of Ashtanga yoga needs to be prepared to guide pupils through the Ashtanga lifestyle.
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The Ashtanga Yoga Principles
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A teacher must be familiar with all 8 limbs of Ashtanga yoga before he is truly qualified to teach. It can take years for the Ashtanga yoga student to truly learn and understand these principles.
Yama (moral codes): The moral code incorporates truthfulness, non violence and celibacy. It is rooted in the Buddhist religion.
Niyama (self-purification and study): This principle is rooted in self discipline and study. It also incorporates the idea of self purity and contentment.
Asana (posture): This is a stable posture meant to increase mental control and enlightenment.
Pranayama (breath control): This is the extension and control of breath.
Pratyahara (sense control): This is a mental preparation for enlightenment.
Dharana (concentration): This is a mental practice to help attain enlightenment and focus.
Dhyana (meditation): A practice of withdrawing the mind to attain inner peace.
Samadhi (total peace): State of bliss and the merging of one's physical, mental and spiritual self with the universe.
Becoming Certified
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The first step in becoming a certified Ashtanga yoga is to become a student of the practice. After years of being a dedicated student, a practitioner may elect to go to India to Mysore to study at the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. This is where students become certified and registered to teach Ashtanga yoga. Students must gain the blessing of an Indian master to be allowed to teach. It is believed that without truly understanding and going through the training process herself, the teacher is not able to fully guide someone else on the path. This direct experience is said to raise the quality of teachers.
After Certification
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After certification the Ashtanga yoga teacher is able to list himself as a registered teacher. He is able to teach students the discipline of Ashtanga including the principles as well as all of the lifestyle. The teacher is expected to make a trip back to the Institute every two years to make sure that his certification is still valid and that his path is clear.
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References
- Photo Credit yoga image by Jiang Bin Ping from Fotolia.com
