| Iyengar Yoga provides great stress relief and | | | | Question 4: What Type of Yoga Teacher Training |
| other health benefits. The Mayo Clinic | | | | Have You Had? |
| recommends yoga for stress management and | | | | Ideal Answer: I have completed (or am currently |
| relaxation, and medical journal articles have | | | | enrolled in) a 500 hour teacher training program |
| proven that you can use Iyengar Yoga for stress | | | | which includes classes, examinations and |
| relief and to treat serious medical conditions such | | | | apprentice teaching. |
| as arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, | | | | Suppose a pipe burst in your house and sent a |
| depression and multiple sclerosis. | | | | fountain of water gushing through your kitchen. |
| How do you make sure that you get the great | | | | Uh-oh, you need a plumber! There are two |
| stress relief and other benefits of yoga? Easy! | | | | plumbers in your neighborhood: Plumber Smith and |
| Ask any yoga teacher the questions listed below. | | | | Plumber Jones. Plumber Smith used to be an |
| If the answers you receive closely match the | | | | electrician but took a one weekend plumber |
| ideal answers, you have found a great teacher. | | | | certification course and is now a plumber. Plumber |
| Question 1: Do You Practice Yoga Now? | | | | Jones enrolled in a year long plumbing certification |
| Ideal Answer: Yes, I practice yoga every day. | | | | course at a special plumber training school, passed |
| If you wanted to learn to ride a bicycle, would | | | | the plumbing certification exam, and apprenticed |
| you take lessons from someone who wrote a | | | | for one year under a master plumber. Which |
| book about bicycles but had never actually ridden | | | | plumber would you choose? Since yoga can have |
| a bike? Only if you wanted to find the quickest | | | | an enormous impact on your health, it would |
| way to fall off the bicycle! No amount of reading | | | | probably be a good idea to take as much care in |
| or theoretical knowledge will enable you to | | | | choosing a yoga teacher as you would in choosing |
| understand how to ride a bicycle. Sooner or later | | | | a plumber. |
| you have to get on the bike. The same is true of | | | | Your yoga teacher should be enrolled in or have |
| yoga. Only someone who is currently practicing | | | | completed a yoga teacher training course that |
| yoga can safely and effectively teach you how to | | | | lasts at least one year, and includes classes on |
| do yoga. | | | | how to do yoga, classes on how to teach yoga, |
| Question 2: Are You Currently Taking Lessons | | | | apprentice teaching under a certified and |
| With a Yoga Teacher? | | | | experienced teacher, and certification exams. One |
| Ideal Answer: Yes, I study with a qualified teacher | | | | of the most comprehensive yoga teacher training |
| in a recognized yoga teaching style. | | | | programs in existence is the Iyengar Yoga |
| Even your yoga teacher needs a yoga teacher. | | | | Teacher Certification Program. If you are new to |
| Why? Yoga is a process, and there is always | | | | yoga, or suffer from a disease or injury, or want |
| more to learn. Everyone learns more about yoga | | | | to use Iyengar Yoga for stress relief, I strongly |
| by getting feedback from a great teacher. You | | | | recommend that you seek out a certified Iyengar |
| want your yoga teacher to be aware of the | | | | Yoga teacher. |
| latest discoveries on how to teach yoga. The | | | | Question 5: Does Your Yoga Teacher Have A |
| best way for your teacher to do this is to take | | | | Kind and Empathetic Heart? |
| lessons with another yoga teacher. | | | | Ideal Answer: Yes. |
| Question 3: What Type of Yoga Do You Teach, | | | | Only you can determine if the answer to this |
| and How Did That Style of Teaching Yoga | | | | question is yes. A kind yoga teacher really cares |
| Develop? | | | | about his or her students. This doesn't necessarily |
| Ideal Answer: I teach "y" style of yoga which has | | | | mean that a teacher is quiet or a pushover. A |
| existed for at least 10 years. | | | | teacher may speak loudly because your attention |
| If a yoga teaching style has existed for at least | | | | has wandered off and he or she is trying to get |
| 10 years, the teachers in that style know the | | | | your attention back. A kind yoga teacher will |
| best ways to teach and the pitfalls to be avoided. | | | | carefully watch what you are doing, and guide |
| In addition, if a situation comes up that your | | | | you into doing yoga more correctly. Find a great |
| teacher does not know how to handle, your | | | | yoga teacher, follow his or her instructions, and |
| teacher will be able to ask a more experienced | | | | the health and stress relief benefits of yoga will |
| teacher in that teaching style for advice. | | | | be yours! |