Yoga Instructor Careers

Learn About the Different Types of Yoga Instructor Career Paths

If you thought all yoga instructors taught basically the same thing, think again. From ancient traditions to modern interpretations, there are many different ways to teach yoga. Some yoga teachers emphasize chanting or breathing. Some yoga instructors use props. Classes can be slow and gentle or fast-paced and aerobic. They often incorporate dietary or spiritual device, and yoga poses.

When you’re considering a yoga teacher training career path, it’s important to take some time to explore the many approaches to yoga and think about which one suits your personality and interests—especially because most yoga instructor schools emphasize one particular style of yoga. The following is an overview of the most popular disciplines being taught by yoga teachers today.

Hatha yoga

• Hatha. Originally introduced by a sage in 15th century India, Hatha yoga is the foundation of all yoga styles. It incorporates postures, breathing techniques and meditation. Hatha yoga instructors typically teach at a gentle pace with a focus on basic poses and time for meditation at the end of each class.

• Vinyasa. This more vigorous form of yoga focuses on coordinating breath and movement. Vinyasa yoga teachers keep students moving constantly, building classes around variations on the traditional “sun salutation” series of poses.

• Iyengar. One of the most popular yoga career paths, Iyengar yoga prioritizes correct body alignment to maximize benefits and avoid injury. With a gentle pace and extensive use of props such as cushions and straps, Iyengar yoga instructors make yoga accessible to virtually anyone, including the elderly, sick and disabled.

• Kundalini. This form of yoga seeks to free energy in the lower body and allow this energy to move upward. Kundalini yoga teachers teach their students to coordinate all postures and movements with the breath. Poses are rapid and repetitive, and classes often include call and response chanting.

• Bikram / Hot Yoga. This modern interpretation of yoga was developed by gold medal Olympic weight lifter Bikram Choudhury to emphasize the development of strength, endurance and cardiovascular health. Bikram yoga instructors teach in rooms heated to 95 to105 degrees to increase flexibility and detoxification benefits, while also preventing injuries.

• Ashtanga and Power Yoga. Ashtanga yoga careers require profound fitness and stamina. This highly athletic style of “flow” yoga involves moving continuously through a set series of progressively more difficult poses with synchronized breathing. Power yoga is a related style that is inspired by Ashtanga but may not follow the specific Ashtanga series of poses.

• Anusara. Developed by John Friend in 1997, this relatively new form of yoga centers on a gentle spiritual philosophy of opening the heart and connecting with the goodness in all beings. Physical alignment is also emphasized. Classes are welcoming and accessible to students of all ages and abilities.

• Jivamukti. Inspired by Ashtanga yoga, this style of yoga was developed by David Life and Shannon Gannon, owners of Jivamukti (appropriately named for their yoga discipline creation)—one of the most popular yoga studios in New York City. Jivamukti yoga teachers combine vigorous flow yoga practice with instruction on chanting, meditation, music, vegetarianism and ancient Sanskrit scriptures.

• Forrest. California yoga teacher Ana Forrest developed this emerging yoga form, which uses vigorous yoga sequences to release painful emotions and promote healing. Forrest yoga integrates deep breathing techniques with strengthening poses that emphasize the abdominal core.

• Kripalu. Known as the “yoga of consciousness,” Kripalu is a gentle yoga style that teaches three stages of increasing concentration and inner awareness. The Kripalu yoga center was founded by yoga teacher Amrit Desai in Massachusetts in the 1960s.

• Integral. Yoga careers based on the Integral style follow the example of Sri Swami Sachidananda, who founded the famous Yogaville Ashram in Virginia, as well as many other Integral Yoga Institutes. Integral yoga incorporates gentle postures, breathing exercises, meditation, chanting and self-inquiry.

• Sivananda. This yoga style is similar to Integral yoga and features five core principles, including proper exercise focused on twelve key yoga postures, proper breathing, proper relaxation, a vegetarian diet and positive thinking combined with meditation.

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8 FULL-BODY BENEFITS FOR GETTING YOUR REGULAR MASSAGES – BESIDES FEELING GREAT

You look forward to your regular massage. Maybe it relaxes you. Maybe it energizes you. Maybe it helps relieve the tension in your back. Whatever it is, you know you like it. But massage has more benefits than you probably realize.

"Regular massage keeps the body working at optimal levels," says C.G. Funk, VP of industry relations and product development for Massage Envy. "It keeps people well-physically and emotionally."

secret key message

Here are eight interesting benefits of massage for your body.

1. Fighting Fibromyalgia Symptoms Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by muscle pain, fatigue and tenderness, according to the American College of Rheumatology. Symptoms can be brought on or exacerbated by stress and lack of sleep. Frequent Fibromyalgia massageshave been found to help relieve stress as well as alleviate muscle pain, discomfort and spasms in patients suffering from fibromyalgia. In fact, it's one of the most effective complementary treatments, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association, which reports that about 40 percent of sufferers have used it as part of their treatment plan.

2. Easing Surgical Effects Postsurgical rehabilitation is one of the most important aspects of undergoing any procedure. And massage can help get you back on your feet by increasing circulation, relaxing muscles, and improving joint movement and flexibility. It's even been found to promote tissue regeneration and reduce postsurgical adhesions and swelling, according to the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.

3. Improving Mood It's no secret that massage can relax you and make you feel good mentally. But did you know that it may even help treat anxiety and depression? According to a review by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, massage is able to lower the body's level of cortisol, a stress hormone, by as much as 53 percent. Massage also appears to increase the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine.

4. Headache Relief Approximately 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, according to the National Headache Foundation. Often, migraines are triggered or exacerbated by stress and poor sleep. In a study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers found that participants who received massages had better quality sleep and fewer migraines than participants who didn't. Effects even lasted up to three weeks after therapy ended. Massage therapy can help relieve headaches if you suffer from them.

5. Lowering Blood Pressure About 72 million Americans have high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and heart attack. A study in the journal Biological Research for Nursing found that people who had at least three 10-minute back massages a week lowered their blood pressure more than people who spent the same amount of time just relaxing.

6. Increasing Flexibility Whether you're an avid athlete who is constantly putting stress on your knees or a middle-aged adult who has lost some range of motion in your hips, staying flexible is key. Massage can help you maintain flexibility and range of motion by working the muscles, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments, and by stimulating the production and retention of the natural lubricants between the connective tissue fibers.

7. Breaking Back Pain While back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek massage, many are not aware of just how helpful a treatment it is. In fact, a study in theAnnals of Internal Medicine found that massage therapy was more effective at relieving back pain than other therapies such as acupuncture and spinal modification. It even appeared to reduce the use of painkillers by 36 percent.

8. Curbing Carpal Tunnel Carpal tunnel is a painful condition in which the median nerve that connects the forearm and hand becomes pinched at the wrist, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Symptoms include burning, tingling or numbness in the palm, thumb and middle fingers. It can also lead to difficulty forming a fist or gripping small objects. Treatments usually consist of medication, wrist braces and surgery. But a study in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement reported that carpal tunnel patients receiving regular massage had less pain, reduced symptoms and improved grip strength.