How to Teach Yoga with Intention
Yoga and Ayurveda say that like increases like and opposing qualities heal us. It’s simple and uncomplicated
In yoga, not everything you do or are taught will be helpful. Like everything, yoga has the potential to bring you to a state of equilibrium or imbalance.
I’ve been reflecting on this lately and as wonderful as it is to see more people practicing yoga, the intention behind why we practice, I feel, has been forgotten. Further, the intention of why we practice certain postures, techniques, meditations, mudras etc, is lacking connection to yoga, which I feel has the potential to disconnect us to our power.
Here’s why.
Think about it this way. If we don’t know what the true intended power of a yogic technique, like a bandha for example, and engage with it, then we disconnect from our power. How? If we don’t understand the true power of bandha, and we don’t understand how it impacts our physical bodies, energy bodies and minds, then we have potential to create imbalance within our system.
When there is a lack of understanding and a lack of awareness about how powerful these practices can be and when is an appropriate time to practice them, WHY we practice them, as well as considering individual nature, we can take ourselves further away from our inner home.
If we reflect on our life (or our students through conversation) and we see there is too much thought, too much overwhelm, constant stress, lack of sleep etc then we do not need a yoga practice to be stimulating.
Sure it’s easy enough to say okay I need less stimulation (less backbends, less laterals, less extensions) however, a class that is more grounding, stabilising and nourishing (forward folds and twists) in nature probably won’t feel good if you or your student is over stimulated. What will feel good is to keep yourself in ‘sameness’.
In other words, if you’re already feeling too much movement, then continuing to move is most likely going to feel good, because it’s not creating friction. But why does it feel good if it’s unhelpful? It only feels good because it’s the same, familiar and known.
It’s sometimes feels easier to look away and not address this happening; teaching what’s popular and entertaining or what’s most liked, but I would be doing you and yoga a disservice if I looked away.
To truly experience evolution on all levels of our being, in life and in practice, we must utilise Yoga to its fullest capacity and include all of its limbs not just asana. This is what we call Sarvanga Sadhana - complete practice. It’s also important to move away from the idea that yoga and asana are the same thing.
CONSIDER THESE ASPECTS WHEN PLANNING YOUR CLASS
How am I feeling right now?
What is my intention? Do I want create an experience of grounding, stimulation or balance?
Based on my intention which of the 5 Prana Vayu’s am I working with? (Apana, Prana, Samana, Udana, Vyana)
What poses/pose categories support that Vayu? (twists, forward folds, laterals, extensions, backbends, inversions)
What time of day is this sequence appropriate for?
Which Ayurvedic Dosha/s is being increased or decreased?
Include Pranayama and Meditation techniques that support the asana practice and intention
Have I embodied this practice and teaching?
I know it can feel daunting to teach in a way that isn’t the popular norm, but it is far more rewarding for you as a student and teacher to consider these aspects.
If you’re passionate about teaching and practicing in a way that honours tradition and intention and you’d like to explore this more I have spaces available for 1:1 Yoga Teacher Mentoring and I would be so honoured to guide you through this. You can apply here: