Frequently Asked Questions:
1.
What style of
yoga do you teach?
2. If yoga is essentially 'mind-training', why does it involve physical postures?
3. What do I wear in class—and do you have some other tips around class attendance?
4. Do I need to bring my own mat to class?
5. Is the yoga that you teach relaxing?
6. Is yoga difficult to grasp, I mean intellectually?
7. Why are you teaching if you haven't yet completed your teacher training?
2. If yoga is essentially 'mind-training', why does it involve physical postures?
3. What do I wear in class—and do you have some other tips around class attendance?
4. Do I need to bring my own mat to class?
5. Is the yoga that you teach relaxing?
6. Is yoga difficult to grasp, I mean intellectually?
7. Why are you teaching if you haven't yet completed your teacher training?
1. What style of yoga do you teach?
Operating
under a particular 'yoga brand' can be limiting and much of what the
public recognise today is late 20th century
vocabulary anyways. So in my view there's little value to put a label
on yoga.
I'd rather take the needs of an individual, or small group, as the starting point—and use all that I know to create a unique practice that's meeting student requirements. My preference is to just speak of 'yoga'.
This is in line with Patañjali, who does the same thing in his Yoga Sutras, which were believed to be recorded around 2,000 years ago.
But if one would insist, I think the term 'holistic yoga' is quite descriptive, because in a practice various yoga tools are being used jointly, for instance, āsana (postures), prānāyāma (breathing techniques), dhyānam (meditation), sound, ayurveda, philosophy, and so on.
This is in contrast with many yoga classes today, which mainly focus on āsana.
2. If yoga is
essentially 'mind-training', why does it involve physical postures?I'd rather take the needs of an individual, or small group, as the starting point—and use all that I know to create a unique practice that's meeting student requirements. My preference is to just speak of 'yoga'.
This is in line with Patañjali, who does the same thing in his Yoga Sutras, which were believed to be recorded around 2,000 years ago.
But if one would insist, I think the term 'holistic yoga' is quite descriptive, because in a practice various yoga tools are being used jointly, for instance, āsana (postures), prānāyāma (breathing techniques), dhyānam (meditation), sound, ayurveda, philosophy, and so on.
This is in contrast with many yoga classes today, which mainly focus on āsana.
Due to
life-style and years of neglect, most yoga practitioners in the West
are unable
to sit quietly even for short periods of time.
The posture work is done to develop the strength, flexibility, breath-control, and mental equilibrium that is required to be able to sit still for meditation. In essence, we're moving from the gross to the subtle.
Aspects of prānāyāma (breathing techniques) and dhyānam (meditation) are integrated into the posture work. Physical postures become a moving meditation.
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3. What do I wear in class—and do you have some other tips around class attendance?The posture work is done to develop the strength, flexibility, breath-control, and mental equilibrium that is required to be able to sit still for meditation. In essence, we're moving from the gross to the subtle.
Aspects of prānāyāma (breathing techniques) and dhyānam (meditation) are integrated into the posture work. Physical postures become a moving meditation.
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A few
tips:
- Wear loose-fitting clothes. I tend to wear shorts and have long trousers nearby if I get cold.
- Avoid solid food at least two hours prior to class; if your digestion is weak allow 3-4 hours.
- Please plan to arrive on time, at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time. If you're late, you'll miss a valuable part of the tonic postures that warm you up in the beginning and, hence, increase your risk of injury.
- Spend a quiet evening when you go to class. Gently let the effects of the yoga class 'spill over' to your normal life.
- Practice in between yoga classes, even if it's for 15 minutes only. Soon enough you will find it difficult to not practice! I'll advise you on how to practice safely and effectively.
4. Do I need to bring my own mat to class?
5. Is the yoga that you teach relaxing?
The
relaxation comes from
higher levels of attention and presence, which simply don't
leave any 'space' for mulling over the day's activities after
a
busy day. So I like to think it's very
relaxing...
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6.
Is yoga difficult to grasp, I mean intellectually?
If it is, something isn't right in the way I teach! I will do my utmost to explain the concepts clearly and in simple terms. And if anything doesn't make sense, I very much appreciate it if students let me know or challenge the idea.
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If it is, something isn't right in the way I teach! I will do my utmost to explain the concepts clearly and in simple terms. And if anything doesn't make sense, I very much appreciate it if students let me know or challenge the idea.
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7. Why are you teaching if you haven't yet completed your teacher training?
Nowadays, one can obtain a yoga teaching certificate by attending a one month training program. This is the 'fast food' of yoga. It's quick and cheap, but how effective is it? This clearly is not a road that I want to travel. Yoga is about profound inner transformation, not spraying some paint on the outside.
I've been practicing yoga since 2003. In 2006 I embarked on an intensive study programme with a top UK teacher who I also consult with one-to-one on a regular basis. My yoga teacher training programme spans several years and in terms of study load and scope it exceeds most alternatives in the UK. Teaching yoga classes is an integral part of the programme.
I am confident that I can achieve great results with students that have 0-6 years of yoga experience. Should a student be unhappy about the class content or approach, an unconditional money-back guarantee is offered.
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Nowadays, one can obtain a yoga teaching certificate by attending a one month training program. This is the 'fast food' of yoga. It's quick and cheap, but how effective is it? This clearly is not a road that I want to travel. Yoga is about profound inner transformation, not spraying some paint on the outside.
I've been practicing yoga since 2003. In 2006 I embarked on an intensive study programme with a top UK teacher who I also consult with one-to-one on a regular basis. My yoga teacher training programme spans several years and in terms of study load and scope it exceeds most alternatives in the UK. Teaching yoga classes is an integral part of the programme.
I am confident that I can achieve great results with students that have 0-6 years of yoga experience. Should a student be unhappy about the class content or approach, an unconditional money-back guarantee is offered.
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© Luc Glasbeek 2008 — contact: info@YogaWithLuc.co.uk
Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom