This basic pranayama, breath awareness, helped reduce the angst and anxiety that had been my shadow companion.

Meditation had been part of my daily routine for many years. Yet angst and anxiety was my shadow companion. Sure, I was definitely peaceful. Yoga philosophy had answered many of life’s big questions for me. I could accept life’s dramas, and understand that we were all actors. The law of karma and reincarnation I got. This knowledge had brought a great deal of calm.

So how come I was still anxious? The fact that my breath was shallow would have contributed significantly to the angst. I remember once a massage therapist said to me something like, “Your breath is high up. Try to get it down here.” Her hand was resting on my belly and I couldn’t get my breath down there.

In my heart of hearts, I prayed for an answer to this anxiety, which would step out from the shadows every now and then. One day I suddenly realized my prayers had been answered. I couldn’t remember the last time I was anxious. What was it that had changed things for me?

I had begun to practice the basic pranayama breathing exercise – simple breath awareness; being aware of the breath. Breath awareness is vital in yoga therapy. My meditation practice changed and became this basic breath awareness; sitting and following the breath in and out. I don’t remember exactly how long each practice was. I know it was at least 10 minutes. And it was definitely in the morning. Meditation is also important in yoga therapy.

If you have used any no cost pranayama, breathing exercise, to cope with anxiety, or to reduce the number of times you take medication, I’d like to hear your story.  Comment below.

This is the 6th in a series of interviews with graduates from the Integrative Yoga Therapy teacher training program offered through Body Therapies Yoga Training.

1. What is one thing that every yoga teacher trainee must do?

Know that it is your journey and it can only be travelled by you.  You must be true to yourself and that means honouring both strengths and limitations.  Like all travels you will forget some of the experiences so keep a journal and remember that the destination is the ability to know your true self.

2. What is one thing that every yoga teacher trainee must avoid?

Do not compare yourself to the person beside you.  Yoga can never be a group sport nor a competition.  Yoga can only be about your own personal practice. Anything else and it is not yoga.

3. Is being a yoga teacher just trendy or is it here to stay?

Yoga has been practised for over 3000 years and it will continue to be practised but I believe the practise of yoga in North America will go through changes until it will find it’s own balance. Yoga is about finding a balance, individually and universally.

4.  Can a yoga teacher still be successful if they are in a crowded niche?

Absolutely.  It may seem crowded because of the attention it is gaining in every gym and health centre but that is only one very small representation of yoga.  Yoga is about adapting a practise to individual needs.  Yoga can be practised by everyone no matter their limitations.  The very young, the very old, the sick and the healthy, yoga can benefit all.

5. What has the yoga teacher training done for you?
Yoga teacher training has changed the way that I think about myself, about other people and about the journey that I am on.  It has taught me how I must continue to remove the obstacles that I have so carefully constructed around me, obstacles that have prevented me from living in the moment.

We hope you are enjoying reading the experiences of these lovely teachers. If you are,  let us know. And if you’d like to learn more about our Integrative Yoga Therapy yoga teacher training program, check for information send us an email or give us a call at 905-628-6463.

Yoga Therapy is not just for the person with a health condition. And it is not simply a prescription for yoga exercises. If you are going through a life change, or a transition, you can benefit from yoga therapy.

Yoga Therapy is a holistic mind body approach to health and healing that embraces the traditional elements of yoga together with the latest advances in mind body medicine. Yoga stress management techniques are used within sessions to reduce stress.

Foundation of Yoga Therapy

The foundation of yoga therapy is yoga philosophy and yoga psychology. The Yoga Therapist shares skills and resources, and creates a safer space for you to examine life’s challenges. This can be done in a group or individual sessions.

If you are having an individual session, the yoga therapist will select and adapt the techniques from the yoga tradition according to your age, culture, religion, and specific physical challenge. Yoga therapy does not have a one size fits all approach to self healing. The holistic mind body approach is customized and takes into consideration your Ayurvedic mind body constitution and your strengths and weaknesses.

The 3 plus 1 A’s of Yoga Therapy

1.  Awareness – Are you only deeply connected to your health or life challenge? How aware of you of all parts of your being?
2. Acceptance – Can you find a way to accept whatever condition does exist?
3. Adjustment – What are the yoga techniques that will create balance and bring more freedom and joy?

And the 4th A – Awakening – Using yoga philosophy the yoga therapist seeks to highlight the question: What is preventing this individual from experiencing the whole person?

This is my brief overview of Yoga Therapy that focuses on these 4 “A”s.  If you would like to bring balance and harmony to your life, consider the 4 questions and accept support available  for your healing journey.

As we sincerely practice any skill over years and years, our confidence and comfort level increase, together with the quality of our performance. Whether it is dancing, writing, sailing, or designing a building, we understand ourselves and our object of study better.

As a beginner yoga teacher, my attention was focused on increasing:

1. Knowledge of postures and breathing exercises
2. The art of creating curriculum
3. Skill of hands-on assisting
4. Developing style of language and delivery
5. Meditation practice

These were the skills that I paid attention to, to become more and more comfortable teaching yoga. The skill set of a yoga teacher is different to that of a yoga therapist.

Each individual brings to his teaching and practice his/her own experience and formal training. To build on my own strengths as well as boost my knowledge in vital areas, as a yoga therapist I pay attention to increasing these skills:

1. Listening deeply to the individual
2. Quickly identifying strengths within the individual
3. Facilitating the experience of the whole self
4. Knowledge of subtle and physical anatomy
5. Knowledge of healing tools and techniques from Yoga philosophy and psychology

Yoga and Yoga Therapy are vast topics with great diversity from traditionalists to revisionists. Each individual touches a part and can experience the Self as whole.

It is said, “If you want to learn something, teach it.”  I invite you to learn more about Yoga and embark on a healing journey. Check our website www.yogatogo.com and contact us if you have any questions.