...re about the training and guidance they are receiving.)

Besides his experience and credentials in traditional Hatha yoga, he has degrees in science and business, and was an executive for pharmaceutical company based in india. From this connection to the scientific community, he participated in scientific research studies of the affects of yoga on the body and immune system. This experience gives him a unique perspective, one based on both the traditional Eastern philosophy of Ayurveda and Yoga, and the science based Western philosophy of show us proof and we will believe.

Admittedly, it may be very hard to find a teacher that happens to have this unique combination of experience, background, and credentials. And to begin studying yoga, you dont necessarily need someone as qualified as my teacher.

The important thing is that the yoga teacher has some verifiable training or certification that can vouch for the fact that they know both the theory and application of what they are teaching. Ideally, this will be someone that has valid certification as a teacher. Whether your teacher attended free classes at the local community center for long enough to absorb a good foundation, or paid lots of money to attend every certification program and yoga retreat available, they both are valid paths to teaching. How qualified they are depends on the individuals natural talent, the time they spent training, and how qualified their teachers were.

2.Character and Motivation
This might be even more important than point 1 above. With the very best of credentials, if the person you are considering as a teacher has alterior motives outside of helping people advance both as students of yoga, and on their journey towards (yes, I am going to say it) enlightenment, then it could be a red flag.

Now, I am not claiming that yoga teachers should only teach from the goodness of their heart with no eye towards creating a viable business and livelihood for themselves with their teaching endeavors. What I am saying is, if their motivation is inappropriately slanted towards personal gain (whether financial, sexual, or otherwise) or if they are overly obsessed with a power dynamic associated with being in the role of a te...more

Who Should Be Allowed To Teach Yoga To The Public?

...ch more. The reason why Yoga has become self-regulated is due to the proactive attitude of teachers and organizations from within the industry.

On top of that, Yoga is diversified. Some styles address physical health, while others address mental, spiritual, or emotional health. Some Yoga styles contain a mix of methods for all forms of health. Despite a sudden growth in global popularity, most of the world population is still unclear as to what is Yoga.

Just ask your family physician ...more

The Purpose of Yoga - Spiritual Health

...ablish a unified front. All religious leaders and practitioners must put our differences aside. We are being undermined by groups who have tried to turn the name of God into something shameful.

A society, which has a spiritual health deficit, becomes ill, because the ethical structure erodes. This is one of the problems the Roman Empire faced. As Roman society became decadent; everyone began to make their own rules.

Lets learn from the past. Ethical guidelines exist within all religions, but they also exist within Yoga. We call them Yamas and Niyamas.

The spiritual aspect of Yoga is rarely discussed in Yoga studios and health clubs outside of india. The style of Yoga most commonly seen, in the west, is Hatha Yoga,...more

Facts about Successful Yoga Teachers, Part 1

...cially 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 v...more

Music For Meditation And Yoga