by Cara Butler As both a yoga student and teacher, I have practiced and studied with the intention that I am not seeking the ‘fruits’ of my practice. Being a very competitive girl by nature with a strong Pitta constitution this has definately been a challenge at times .... however I do strongly believe the value really is in the journey, not in the destination. I can say more authentically now as I move into my 40s that I practice and also teach yoga, not for any rewards it might offer but as … [Read more...]
Taking your yoga classes online: the challenge and the reward
by Erica Viedma, Mindful Movement “What can we do when fear comes up for us or for our students during the practice?”. Geeta Iyengar replied, “When fear arises, you must lift your chest. You must lift your heart.” A Posture of Courage by Christina Sell The third week of our national lockdown and many yoga teachers around New Zealand, (and the world), have started teaching online. Some teachers are on Facebook Live or pre-recorded classes. I even attended a yoga class based in … [Read more...]
Yogic hyperventilation syndrome – are your cues creating dysfunctional breathing?
by Dr Jane Hardcastle, Movewell: therapeutic yoga, massage, and movement “Take a deep breath in…and out” is synonymous with many yoga classes as yoga teachers encourage students to better access their breath, become aware of chest (or reverse) breathing and use their breath as a barometer of where, and how they are. Classes are often accompanied by publicly audible ‘ujjayi’ breath…even though students are only required to use that breath to raise or lower an arm. We witness bellies … [Read more...]
The Teachers Contract
by Donna Farhi, Beyond Methods: Yoga as Self-Inquiry Relationships with yoga students can take many forms: from a clear cut and dried professional boundary between teacher and student that has never extended beyond the perimeters of time spent together in a class, intensive, retreat or teacher training; to the less distinct delineation that happens when a student also happens to be a personal friend; to that of a peer exchange that takes place at a collegial level in which there may be a … [Read more...]
Spirit Festival NZ 2020
by Sonya Simpson, An Interview with Franko and Nikki I first shared space with Franko at Soul in Titirangi where he was leading Kirtan to a small and humble gathering. It was, to be honest, quite dazzling, and I left telling everyone who would listen to get along when they could to be part of the experience – because in my words “he wouldn’t be doing it for long”, he had far too much star quality to stick around offering something so… well… humble. I was wrong. A year or two later he is … [Read more...]
Vincent Bolletta on Developing Physical Intelligence Through Yoga
by Lucinda Staniland, Vincent Bolletta, one of New Zealand's foremost yoga instructors and teacher trainers, has decades of experience in working with movement and yoga. With 30 years of teaching and practice experience, Vincent spends much of his time travelling internationally to teach hañsa Yoga, a unique style of yoga, of which he is the founder, that integrates both eastern and western thought and methodologies. We were lucky enough to catch Vincent for this video interview, where … [Read more...]
A Return Home – I hoki mai ki te wā kāinga
by Jase Te Patu, Awhi Yoga & M3 Mindfulness for Children They say that the practice of yoga is a return to self, our true nature, a return home! Almost four years ago, I packed up my life in Australia and returned to Aotearoa to share my personal love and practice of yoga with our people. Little did I know that that decision was going to be the biggest yoga practice I had ever undertaken. I had fallen in love with yoga, since being in Australia. Yoga was my preferred way as a … [Read more...]
5 Social Media Strategies for Yoga Teachers & Studios
by Travis Mattern, Fitness Education Online I’ll start this off by saying I am by no means a yoga expert! But, the good news for you, is that over the last five or so years my company, Fitness Education Online, has been helping fitness professionals build their Bootcamps and improve their social media presence through some simple hacks. So today I’m going to share with you 5 key strategies you can implement to improve your social media presence as a yoga teacher or studio. Don’t rely on … [Read more...]
How to Find Your Niche & Make Your Yoga Teaching Career Sustainable
by Rebecca Harford, Adapted Yoga & Pilates As a businesswoman, teacher, mother, wife, friend and family member I have the responsibility and pleasure to support many people. In order to uphold this responsibility, I must be sustainable, along with my business as it supports our students, family and the families of our team. Being sustainable as a teacher means that you can share the best of your experience with your student (s). Being tired, hungry, cold and stressed does not become a … [Read more...]
A Non-Profit Model to Make Yoga Accessible & Affordable
By Sue Furey, Tauranga Yoga Centre An Iyengar yoga class in a small town hall, some 35 years ago, was my initiation into my relationship with a yoga practice and that exploration continues. I am grateful every day that I decided to try that class. Like many people’s experience of their first few classes, I had no preconceptions or expectations of yoga; all I knew was that when I left after 1.5 hours I felt way better on every level than I had before class. During a class I was able to … [Read more...]