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3 days ago
- General
- News18
Want To Be A Good Yoga Teacher? Here Are The Qualities That Matter
Last Updated: A student may not remember your Sanskrit verses or the jargon you use, but they will always remember how you made them feel At a Yoga centre where I was attending a programme some months ago, I happened to encounter a person from Russia as he was exiting the classroom. Red-faced, he was walking out in a huff, preparing to pack his bags and leave. He let loose when I asked what had happened: 'The teacher thinks she's an enlightened soul and so superior! I find people here are so rigid about what's wrong and right. Worst is they themselves don't practice what they teach!" It was a long list of complaints. It occurred to me that students were not content to just learn Yoga poses and practices from teachers — that their teachers needed to measure up in other ways, too. So, what are the qualities that make a successful Yoga teacher? We approached veteran Yoga teacher and guru, Dr Hansaji Yogendra, Director of The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai, for answers. Here are edited excerpts from an interview. A good Yoga teacher is not just someone who knows asanas, pranayamas or the scriptures – she or he must embody the practice. Inner stillness, compassion and humility are absolute musts. I always say to teachers — be still. Stillness requires courage. The ability to be quiet and to observe, without judgment, reflects an inner strength. The Inner Motivation The motivation to teach must come from a place of seva — selfless service — and not from a desire to impress, preach, or seek recognition or validation. A true teacher doesn't teach in order to be seen, but rather to help others see themselves more clearly. Empathy, kindness, and genuine human connection are needed. I often remind new teachers that people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Knowledge And Skills, but Also Own Practice A Yoga teacher should understand all three — the body and how it functions, the mind and how it behaves, and the spirit and how it seeks. More importantly, they must remain dedicated to their own practice. All of Yoga is abhyasa —so, practice, practice, practice! The teaching carries authenticity and depth only if the teacher is first a sincere practitioner. Perfection is a myth — but progress is essential. And it is only through consistent sadhana that skills transform into wisdom. Your Class Should Be A Space of Peace, Not Pressure For this, some do's are: Do practice what you teach. Keep learning. Respect each student's unique journey. Create a safe and inclusive space where everyone feels seen and supported. And some don'ts are: Don't impose, compare, or preach. Teaching is about guiding and about not showing off — remember, there is a difference between teaching and preaching. Inspire through your own lived experience; don't just share information or bookish knowledge. And always remember: anything that doesn't bring psychological balance is not Yoga. Let your class be a space of peace, not pressure. How To Be More Confident Confidence comes from clarity and consistent practice. When you engage in daily sadhana and witness the subtle shifts in your own body and mind, you begin to teach from a place of truth. And that truth builds authentic confidence. Yoga doesn't make your life better; Yoga makes you better at life. Live Yoga fully, and the confidence to teach will arise naturally and effortlessly. The Test of A Good Teacher A student may not remember your Sanskrit verses or the jargon you use from anatomy, but they will always remember how you made them feel. A good teacher helps students feel seen and safe, and inspired. The real test? When a student begins to practice on their own—not out of pressure, but out of joy. That's when you know that Yoga has truly happened. Be Morally and Ethically Sound You have to be morally and ethically sound, only then can there be true spiritual progress. That moral compass can only develop when all three pillars of Yoga — the body, the mind, and the soul — are nurtured through a balanced integration of Physiology, Psychology, and Philosophy. A good teacher must be well-versed in all three dimensions of Yoga — Physiology, Philosophy, and Psychology. At The Yoga Institute, we emphasise all three. Here, Yoga is not confined to physical postures, but is embraced as a way of purposeful living. The emphasis is not merely on flexibility of the body, but on cultivating stability of the mind, along with clarity and inner resilience. The philosophy taught is not rooted in rigid beliefs, but in practical wisdom that can be meaningfully applied to everyday life. The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@ Watch CNN-News18 here. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
News18
03-05-2025
- Health
- News18
Simple Calming Yoga Poses To Try With Your Children This Summer
Last Updated: Yoga can gradually lead children to a state where they don't need to be constantly stimulated, distracted, or kept busy Ten-year-old Mira wakes up on a summer morning and, hugging her stuffed toy, walks into the living room and flops onto the sofa. Her parents are getting ready for work. Little Mira feels lost — summer holidays are so boring, she thinks. Like many parents, her mother has planned several activities to keep her engaged. Activities such as camps, treks, art and craft, music, dance, book clubs, family outings, and home chores are good distractions during the summer break. They help stave off boredom, but crucially, they also reduce digital overload and screen exposure. Yoga as an activity has an added advantage — and we are not referring to flexibility, coordination, concentration, or memory here — which is this: Yoga can gradually lead children to a state where they don't need to be constantly stimulated, distracted, or kept busy. CONTROLLING 'INTERNAL CHAOS' THROUGH BODY AWARENESS AND DISCIPLINE According to Yoga guru and scholar Dr Jayadeva Yogendra (1929–2018), Yoga can help control the 'internal chaos" — and this, in turn, may help correct the external chaos we see in the world today. Dr Jayadeva — then president of The Yoga Institute, Santacruz — had prepared the NCERT syllabus for teaching Yoga in Indian schools in 1991. He firmly believed that without experiencing peace within herself, a child could not contribute to peace in the world. advetisement In his book Yoga for Children, Dr Jayadeva writes that it is important to give children 'building blocks from which they could build a lasting edifice to live and grow in." His choice of yoga practices centres around the correct way of being — starting with the correct way to sit and stand, and progressing to the development of 'self-direction" and 'objectivity of perception". Body awareness and relaxation are the first steps to achieving better physical and mental states of being. Here are some related practices from the book, based on his unique approach. STHITHAPRARTHANASANA: THE STANDING PRAYER POSE This pose helps with the correct way of standing. It prevents the tendency to shift weight from one leg to the other and, in doing so, aids concentration. How To Do It: Keep your feet together, firmly on the ground. Ensure the knees are straight (not bent), the head is held high, the abdomen is flat, and the chest is lifted. Draw the shoulders back and let the arms hang loosely at your sides. Now join your hands in front of your chest and close your eyes. Breathe normally and keep your attention on the breath. Stay in this position for three minutes. KAPĀLARANDHRADHOUTI KRIYĀ: A FACE MASSAGE Beyond body awareness, this practice subtly teaches children that the body is an instrument. It also gives the face a soothing massage and helps clear the sinuses. How To Do It: Place your thumbs on your temples. Using your fingertips, gently massage the forehead — moving from the centre outwards. Next, massage around the eyes in a circular motion, move down towards the nose, and return to the centre of the forehead. Using your thumbs and forefingers, gently press the eyebrows from the centre towards the sides. Keep your thumbs at the sides of your neck. With your index and middle fingers, massage the sides of your face and the area behind your ears in a back-and-forth motion. Massage the areas above and below your lips. Massage your cheeks using both hands in an upward direction. Finally, massage your neck with upward strokes while looking upwards. YOGENDRA VIRĀSANA: THE HEROIC POSE Similar to what is widely known as the Half Hero Pose (Ardha Virāsana), this seemingly simple āsana imparts many qualities — a state of readiness and alertness, a disciplined mind and body, and a sense of fixity and firmness. It also helps reduce the number of thoughts and can often lead to a state of 'not thinking at all'. How To Do It: Sit on the floor on a mat. Bend the right leg and tuck the foot under the right buttock (sit comfortably on the heel). Fold the left leg so that it is perpendicular to the floor, with the left foot flat on the ground. Place the right hand close to the right knee, and the left hand on the left knee. Keep the back upright, head straight, elbows relaxed, and eyes closed. Observe your breath in this position for three minutes. ŚAVĀSANA: THE CORPSE POSE Children often experience stress due to assignments, parental and peer pressure, punishment, or ridicule. This practice builds awareness of the need for relaxation and teaches them how to release stored tension. Śavāsana helps children consciously erase tension from different parts of the body and relax fully. Advertisement How To Do It: Lie flat on your back on a mat placed on the floor. Keep the feet about 20 inches apart. With palms facing upwards, keep the hands roughly 10 inches away from the body. Close your eyes. Feel the body completely sink into the mat. Allow the weight of the body to 'let go' into the ground. Mentally scan the body — start with the feet. Notice any tension in the feet, calves, thighs, arms, shoulders, or abdomen. Consciously release it. Continue breathing normally, releasing any tension as you become aware of it in any body part. Remain in this position for five minutes. * Yoga for Children: Teachers Handbook; The Yoga Institute Santacruz; 2022. * top videos View All (Note: This article is for information purposes only. Please consult your Physician before starting any Yoga practices. Always learn Yoga from an experienced Yoga teacher.) The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@ The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : summer activities Yoga poses yogmantra Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 03, 2025, 11:47 IST News lifestyle YogMantra | Simple Calming Yoga Poses To Try With Your Children This Summer
