Facts about Successful Yoga Teachers, Part 1

Should a Yoga teacher take money for classes? How do you define success for a Yoga teacher? Is it your contribution to the common good? Is it by producing successful teachers? Is it by technical prowess? Is it by how many students you have? Or, is it a combination of these factors?

First things first: Are you "selling Yoga?" If you accept a fee for teaching Yoga, no matter how small or large, you are selling Yoga. If you do not like my frank approach to this issue, then teach Yoga for free. This is not a problem, and that is good Karma Yoga.

However, do not open next to a commercially aggressive Yoga studio or ashram. If you decide to do this, you will see your finances "crash and burn" - while your students flock to the wealthy Guru down the street. Yoga students often think that free Yoga is "junk."

Once upon a time, I taught free Yoga too. It is not easy to explain a passion to your family, which drains your finances and challenges the quality of your life on a daily basis. If you keep teaching Yoga for free, you will lose a lot of sleep, before you live on the street, with the homeless, or finally, start charging for Yoga lessons.

It is amusing when very wealthy Yoga Gurus claim Yoga is not for making money. My answer: "Excuse me, how did you acquire all that wealth?" Why would a rich Yoga Guru lead anyone to think that taking a payment for teaching Yoga is wrong?

This is why we should appreciate Bikram Choudry's candid remarks. He says what he thinks and makes no secret about living a life of luxury, due to teaching Yoga. At least, he is honest about his ideas, and he is not a hypocrite.

Therefore, if you accept payments from your students, be honest with yourself. You can always use the money to help others, but you need to pay your overhead costs, eat, and sleep with a roof over your head, first.

If you still feel bad about taking money for teaching Yoga, please open a studio down the street from my North Providence location. We will regularly donate toward your meals at the local soup kitchens. I hope you clearly see my point. So, please do not listen to anyone who tells you that taking money for teaching Yoga is wrong.

Whether a Yoga teacher is rich or poor, a successful Yoga teacher does not worry about money - the universe will supply it.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

The Advantages of Weight Loss Health Spas - Useful Facts You Might Not Know

Weight loss health spas are now common destinations for those seeking to, you got it, shed off those excess pounds. Unlike traditional health spas that only cater to rest and wellness packages, spas that aim to make their clients lose weight combine the luxuries of a health spa with the single-minded focus that defines a weight loss camp. By putting together a regular workout routine, a delicious healthy meal, relaxation and beauty treatments and group talks, weight loss health spas offer immense benefits.

1. Participants experience accelerated weight loss. In a weight loss spa, the exercise sessions often take up several hours. While some spas specifically focus on a particular exercise regimen to shed off the fat, there will most likely be cardiovascular and strength training workouts included in the package. It is not unlikely that Yoga, hiking and Pilates classes are also offered.

2. Participants are fed healthy and nutritionally-balanced foods. Depending on the spa, the dietary plans could include vegetarian or low-calorie diets. In other spas, delicious, low-calorie meals are prepared. For long-lasting lifestyle changes, healthy cooking classes are offered to teach participants recipes and meal preparations that they can do at home so they can continue with their fat loss regimen.

3. Participants get the benefit of stress-relief through relaxation, meditation and Yoga techniques. Learning these strategies is important in order to help participants manage their stress that, most of the time, lead them to overeat.

4. Participants experience the added benefit of beauty treatments. Facials, massages and spa treatments are often included in a weight loss spa package. Thus, aside from shedding off the excess pounds, participants also get to feel and look beautiful with the beauty treatments included in the package.

5. Participants get the chance to learn from motivational coaches and like-minded people who are facing the same problems they are on their journey towards better health. Peer-facilitated or life or fitness coach-led group sessions allow participants to share their experiences so that everyone can learn from it. These discussions are also therapeutic since these are avenues by which participants can vent out their frustrations about the obstacles that prevent them from reaching their desired weight goal.

If there is any downside to weight loss health spas, it is probably the expense that goes with it. Since these are not merely overnight programs and are held in fine resorts, you will have to save up enough money to get the pampering you want. Moreover, you will need to really psyche yourself up to lose the weight and actually commit to following the routines set. Otherwise, the beautiful surroundings and other amenities of the spa might just tempt you to do something else entirely and that would curtail your fat loss efforts.

Other than these minor considerations, weight loss health spas can really jumpstart any fitness regimen. Instead of a boring exercise routine, these spas make the road to fitness actually fun. So if you're thinking of something to motivate you to actually begin to shed off those belly bulges, try enrolling yourself in one such spa today. The benefits are really well-worth it.

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