Person-Based Yoga for Every Body
Person-Based Yoga for Every Body
These days, students often practice yoga primarily as asana (or “poses”) in the modern studio yoga session. As valuable as it can be to enjoy a mindful physical practice, the physical asana group class can be exclusionary to some and lacking in spiritual guidance to others.
How can we become more inclusive yoga teachers and create a yogic environment that supports all bodies and all minds? By training to teach for individual anatomy, spirituality, and agency for our students.
Today's yoga teacher can evolve to be more than a teacher of poses and sequences. Opportunities abound to advance your yoga teaching knowledge, which only serves your community better to include a more diverse population. Additionally, the possibilities for influencing more yogis are endless by expanding your knowledge with continuing education and advanced yoga teacher training.
Person-based Yoga Better Serves Your Students
What is person-based yoga? It is simply the consideration of all the differences between individuals. Person-based yoga removes the "shoulds" that so often infiltrate yoga. Notions that we should wear certain clothes, have goals, look like prescribed shapes, and meet perceived physical and mental requirements do not exist in people-based teachings.
Advanced anatomy studies teach the differences between bodies - the biodiversity of the human form. Two identical skeletal systems may have vastly different ranges of motion and strength because of the differences in how muscles, tendons, and ligaments influence the joints and bones. Understanding the differences between individual anatomy creates a method to teach the person and not the pose.
Knowledge of functional anatomy also shines a light on the accessibility of yoga for everybody. Adaptive yoga principles give everybody space to participate with the focus on themselves, without the interference of limitations, perceived or otherwise. The use of props and modifications for asana provides confidence and stability for every person in their yoga practice. This lines up nicely with the concept of being a yoga teacher that teaches the human, not the textbook pose.
Addressing Your Students' Spiritual Needs
While the biodiversity of the individual's inner and outer anatomy creates personalized asana, the mind must also be addressed. People gravitate to yoga for many reasons, but fears about ability, being excluded, or carrying trauma can diminish the experience. Advancing your yoga teacher training to include training on ancient yoga may give you the skills to convey the mindfulness accompanying asana, further serving your student's well-being. Confidence and independence replace any fear or hesitation.
Deeply exploring the Yoga Sutras and the history of yoga in advanced yoga teacher training reminds us that yoga is not just movement - it's peace, quiet, and true liberation. The Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and other historically significant scripture is investigated with continuing education. Everybody benefits when asana is paired with pranayama techniques, guided meditation, and the true nature of yoga.
Advancing Your Yoga Teacher Training to Become a More Inclusive Yoga Teacher
Advanced yoga teacher trainings dive deep into the details, expanding your teaching skillset. You become more qualified yoga teacher to lead your students and fellow teachers. Your students will have a personalized experience based on your understanding of the body and mind. Real and imagined barriers to the yoga journey disappear as everyone is included.
Advanced yoga teacher trainings also make your teachings safer, more functional, and realistic. Your students are empowered to be comfortable with their bodies and experiences, which carries outward into all aspects of life.
While you are here – learn about Advanced YTT at Prema Yoga Institute
Did you know you can advance your skills as a yoga teacher online with Online Advanced YTT Trainings?
For example, our Functional Anatomy Training is now available online and trains yoga teachers how to:
Develop your confidence teaching to all different types of bodies
Think critically about biases that often go overlooked in anatomy and movement science
Gain support and education to skillfully move away from a "one size fits all" type of teaching
Learn to better see and "Read" bodies in order to better meet your student's varying needs
Interface more effectively with doctors and health care professionals
Advance your teaching towards a Yoga Therapy Certification
And more (click here for details)
Additionally, The Functional Anatomy Training counts as 50 CE Credits with Yoga Alliance OR towards your RYT500 at Prema Yoga Institute.
Visit Prema Yoga Institute to learn more about our training, which is now available online with interactive trainings through 2022!
PYI is an accredited program based in New York city, teaching students around the globe through online classes. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you advance your yoga practice and teaching!
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