#6: Gratitude
5 weeks past by too quickly. On the first day of our course, it felt like a torture having to wake up at 530, and then coming to class at 730 for practical lessons. By the end of second week, my classmates and I look like we were zombies practicing yoga in a studio. But as the weeks go by, we got used to practicing yoga in the morning, and classes became so much more enjoyable as we start to understand each other better. I look forward to every lesson I had with my highly enthusiastic classmates and trainers. Today marks the 2nd last day of our course, and tomorrow we will be collecting our certificates before embarking on to the next chapter in our lives as certified yoga instructors. To Jessica, We always look forward to your laughter in the mornings, especially when we are so tired from the previous day of practice, because it’s so contagious. Your patience and guidance has helped all of us improve so much in our postures and alignments and the way we conduct lessons. I never thought I could do a pincha, not even a proper headstand, and we could never have achieve all these without the help from you. To Nicole, You may look stern at times during our practical, but we understand that everybody teaches differently, and I really appreciate the effort that you put in when you conduct our practical lessons. We love your energy when you are around us, and everytime you conduct theory lessons, its nothing but joy and laughter. To Alexis, The lady behind all our photos, which made all of us look so good. The amount of time you put in to read through our assignments, that must have really tiring. Thank you for managing everything during our YTT course. And lastly, to my pretty and one handsome classmates, I never thought that all of us could click together so well, especially when 2 from Thailand, 1 from china, and the other a celebrity background. Without these people, we wouldn’t have such an enjoyable 5 weeks, and classes wouldn’t be as fun as it would be. Thank you for always lending a hand to one another when we needed help for theory, or when we conduct our very stressful classes. Ending this last blogpost and writing it with so many emotions right now. Congratulations to all my classmates, I believe all of us will be really good teachers, if not, successful people. I’m already missing all of them. [Estee Ng, June 2015 Hatha Vinyasa YTTC]
#5: Pranayamas
In every yoga class that I have been, most of the teachers do not teach us the proper breathing methods. Most often, I would be breathing through my mouth instead of my nose. However, after attending this course, I realized the importance of having right Pranayama techniques. Pranayama is referred to as the expansion of our vital energy, and the major role of pranayama allow the nervous system to be soothed and be calmed during the process. Pranayama techniques are also essential for people who have anxiety issues or depression. People with such issues usually have breaths that are really shallow and rapid, which decreases the average percentage of oxygen entering the victim’s lungs. Doing proper breathing exercises will allow more oxygen to enter our body, thus helping in rejuvenating our mind and organs. I have learnt in class that there are several breathing techniques that we can use to teach our future students. In this blog, I would like to talk two breathing techniques that I want to teach my students and the reasons for it. One of the first and most important breathing techniques, that we as yogis do everyday, is the Ujjayi breathing. Ujjayi breathing is basically breathing from the throat through the nose. We are told to seal our lips during ujjayi breathing so that the circulation of oxygen would be at its maximum. During ujjayi breathing, we inhale and exhale through our nose, but create the hissing sounds from the throat. Ujjayi breathing is vital during yoga practices because this helps us to stay in any pose longer. It can also reduce the chance of having muscle aches after practice because our muscles will have oxygen supplied to them properly. Students who do not do proper ujjayi breathing tend to be more breathless during yoga practices, and might not feel as refreshed as they should have felt. Another breathing method that I would want to teach my future students would be Anulom Vilom. This breathing is very useful because in Singapore, there are many people who has sinus, or other common issues that has to do with the lungs, throat, nose and eyes. Anulom Vilom targets the 3 energy channels in our body, the Shushoma, Ida and Pingala nadis. When activating the 3 channels in our body, we tend to get instant stress relief, and this technique even helps to strengthen the nervous system. Read it in several articles, it is believed that this technique can help people with diabetes, heart diseases and even reduces the high cholesterol levels. In our urbanized society, these three are one of the few leading medical conditions and it would be good if we can relief and reverse these conditions. [Estee Ng, June 2015 Hatha Vinyasa YTTC]
All Learning in IHAYOGA and teaching
Hi.. All 5 weeks study yoga 200hr. At IHAYOGA very good happy and tired too .but good for work hard and get back good too.all Practice and Theory. About Theory :8 limbs yoga and Chaknsa very important for learning for to be teacher yoga a lot a think before I never know.and know bone muscle ,respiratory system,,blood,endocrine system,homies and nervous system All very important the for example talk about BONE and MUSCLE how working when we do the Pose and can make muscle and what the pose good for people do yoga too.yoga very delicate but take time for understand example: Bone all body 1.Pivot joint:can open 80-100 degree of the first and second vertebrae of the NECK that allows the head to move back and forth.and Elbows 2.Ball-and-Socket joint:shoulder and hip can open 300degree 3.Hinge joint:elbow,ankle,interject-phalange all 4.Saddle joint:between trapezium carpal bone and 1st.metacarpal bone. 5.Gliding joint:between tarsal bones 6.Condyloid joint:between radius and carpal bones of wrist. I know 6 bone more after exam!!! Today I teaching yoga for 60 min. Not easy to do nature when teaching feeling shy to say want students to do.but all students today do very good and pose hard to a lot sweating after I done asked all say good pose strong. Happy time to do today next time I do for job I sure work herd more. First I fine student. I hope good luck. Thanks Da
#4: Teaching Yoga
Teaching in a class isn’t as easy as we thought it would be. When we stand in front of the studio and knowing that even a pair of eyes will be looking at you, and waiting for your instructions and guidance to the poses, the confidence level goes from THIS to this . However, as we continue to instruct our classmates, and conducting several classes together, we start to get use to people looking at us. Knowing that they are able to get into the pose with the given instructions increases the level of confidence, making us feel proud and satisfied. Before we begin the class, we first introduce ourselves to the students, and the most important thing to know before we conduct the class is their medical conditions or pains, if any. As yoga teachers, because we have to do adjustments for our students, understanding that they have issues on various body parts, or understanding their medical conditions will decrease the risk of them getting injured. After introduction, we start our yoga sessions by the sequence using the lesson plans that we create. We learnt that lesson plans shouldn’t be the same for all classes. Humans being humans, we get bored if we do the same thing over and over again. It is very important for a yoga teacher to plan the lessons beforehand, and it is more important for a teacher to be creative by creating variations to the poses for people who are not able to do it. Apart from creativity, any yoga class should be fun and organized so that students will enjoy and at the same time, work their chakras and have them feel refreshed and energised. We have learnt that it is essential for teachers to conduct a class with the proper sequence that works the right chakras at all times. As teachers, we want to feel the satisfaction while teaching, and we also want students to feel good about themselves and their body after every yoga class. I shall end my post with a quote from Kevin Trudeau, he states that, “Most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel” [Estee Ng, June’15 Weekday Hatha Vinyasa YTTC]
Yoga is for everyone
A lot of people have a misconception that yoga is a light and relaxing practice but in the last five weeks I have learned that it is probably the most versatile exercise that anyone can do. It can complement an existing regime such as weightlifting and running, provide stress relief especially in our fast paced urban society, as well as provide a complete cardiovascular and core workout for those who don’t do other forms of physical activity. Athletes In most other sports, muscle exertion tends to be isolated to only a few parts of the body and this often results in muscle tightness in specific areas of the body. For example; runners tend to have tight hamstrings and knee injuries while a tennis player would likely experience elbow injuries, coupled with shoulder and arm tension. Yoga can be very therapeutic for all athletes- with a tailored program, there are many asanas that can help relieve muscle tension by lengthening the muscles in areas of tightness and strengthening other regions of the body that are not engaged as often. Stress and sleep The reason our levels of stress and quality of sleep go hand in hand is because our nervous system shifts between the parasympathetic state (relaxation) and sympathetic state (fight or flight mode). Given the stressors from living in the corporate world or even by-products of urban issues such as getting stuck in traffic and stimulation from smart devices, our bodies are typically in a sympathetic state. We can train our bodies to have an “off” button through yoga by activating the parasympathetic nervous system- the first method being pranayama. By inhaling and exhaling only through the left nostril in anulom vilom, the body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate will lower, which is imperative to relaxation. The next is to have a routine of relaxing postures at bedtime, such as deep stretches and inversions. On a similar note, shoulder stands increase blood circulation and stimulation of the pituitary gland which releases melatonin, the hormone responsible for causing us to feel drowsy. Weight loss In order to lose weight, we need a balance of cardiovascular activity as well as muscle building for slow burn of fats after exercise. This is why many classes are named “cardio core”. A faster paced class and several rounds of surya namaskara will provide the cardiovascular activity needed while core building through the right engagement of muscles in each and every pose will help to build lean muscle. Furthermore, there are many poses that stimulate blood flow and activity in the thyroid gland which is responsible for the metabolic activity in our body. In summary, there are thousands of asanas in yoga. By combining these with breathing techniques, yoga becomes a very personal journey that can be practiced by anyone with almost any condition, and has so many benefits that can be reaped long after the practice is over. Stephanie 200h Hatha Vinyasa YTTC June weekday
Exam..
Hello…I my name is KANTHALADA now last week for teacher training . But very herd week too. Monday do exam Theory So make I sad because I do not finished time not enough for do it and all English too.not easy to understand for answer as we’ll .but I have problem with English .i have a lot paper for answer but when do exam so excited then forget a lot the think.and running time also 60 minter very fast. I back home remember picture and trying again to understand for do answer. But have some I not understand I can’t answer .if tomorrow I do again for exam no have book or paper how I can answer Teacher!!so big job I sure can’t to hard .and tomorrow I do exam teaching I promise my self I do my best. Thanks all teachers from IHAYOGA Thanks DA
7 Chakras from Bebe
Chakras 1.Muladhara Chakra the base of the spine , Colured Red , the sound is Lam 2.Swadhishthana Chakar the lower abdomen in the physical body. Colured Orange the sound is Vam 3.Manipura Chakra at the Nevel Colured Yellow the sound is Ram 4.Anahata in the heart Colured Green the sound is Yam 5.Vishuddha Chakra at the base of the throat Colured Blue the sound is Ham 6.Ajna Chrkra at between the eyebrows Colured Puple the sound is Om 7.Sahasrara Chakra above and beyond the other six centres is situated at the crow of the head , and become a fully developed jnani
Become Last Week from Bebe
I’m so great that I have join the class 200hr Hatha Vinyasa I have to say that I’m leaning and leaned so many lessons and I’m still want to join another courses if I can I already start to missing all of Teacher that I meet almost every day for 5week Teacher Nicole I have learned a lot from you specially for my headstand and Theory study so many new thing that I have leaned Teacher Jessica my powerful women my Asana a lotttttt betterrrrrrr and My body are Strongerrrrrrrr in 5week because of you and Theory study Alexis Home work QC and follow update Home work DJ Chris Brown and Usher Song during Lunch time and a very cool Sunglasses To All My Dear friend Da , Estée,Steph,Jenni,and Mr.Muscles your guys are wonderful person funny , friendly , kindly Specially Thank you Estée,Steph Always helpful to explain and Correctly my English Language We’re all smiles ,laugh helping Ect (and never be angry when I’m teasing your guys) Definitely I will missing all of you Thank you IHA Yoga
Ujjayi Breathing From Bebe
Hi All Yoga Lover Ujja Breathing 1.Siting shoulder relaxing eyes closed palm on your knee during your Ujjayi Breathing in and out through your nose (mouth are closed ) 2.Inhale breath in slowly through your nose and throat holding for 5count bring oxygen to your body 3.exhale breath out slowly 5count with the air from lower belly button and then up to the rib cage and up to your throat (with a sound like whisper)air out of the body benefits 1.oxygen to your body 2.Keep your mind calm and focus 3.It helps to warm up the body to ready for the class 4.Detoxifies body Notes is not good for 1.Pregnant women 2.People who have cancer 3.Woman during a period
Big day for exam!!!
Hello…I name KANTHALADA “DA” Today very big day for me I so worry a lot and feeling Excited for exam I not feeling 100% .not sure I do good or wrong . but I very Sorry today when do exam I asked so many time for name Poses today.i not good when reading name Poses not correct ,that why I asked Teacher again but I know myself I do wrong the poses!!!!but after done exam I feeling happy thanks DA
