July 14, 2022
I often hear that people want to do yoga but the yoga classes are costly or the teacher’s fees are costly.
People also say that since Yoga is about ‘giving’, it should be offered as a free service.
While most of the Yoga teachers do offer complimentary classes as a community service often, I do want to share the Importance of a Yoga teacher and why you should consider learning from one.
We all know that Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India. A consistent practice of Yoga and Asana can help one to life a healthy life.
Here are some of the factors why one pays for the Yoga class –
1. Teacher’s deep knowledge on Yoga
The teacher has deep knowledge of Yoga by practicing for many years who herself/himself have studied from a Yoga master.
Yoga is a life-long journey of learning and practicing.
A teacher who is also continuously studying and evolving can teach more effectively.
2. Teacher’s knowledge on Anatomy
The teacher understands and teaches from anatomy perspective to keep the body safe.
The teacher asks you to engage certain muscles in a pose to build strength.
A well-defined sequence will help to keep your joints safe and healthy.
3. Teacher designs an Asana(poses) sequence for the participants
Once the student is committed to the class, the teacher designs a sequence by keeping the participants in mind. The teacher knows your level of flexibility and limitations and provides a variation in a pose if needed.
This sequence not only keeps the body safe but also provides many benefits to the body.
For example, Did you know that –
Backbends are usually done after Twists and it is extremely beneficial to the Spine.
Active Poses (Sirsasana) should be followed by a Passive Pose (Balasana) to bring balance in the mind and body.
Females should avoid ‘Downward Facing Dog Pose’ and all inverted poses during the menstrual period, as toxics are being released from the body. Inverting the body reverses this action and can cause hormonal imbalance.
4. Teacher helps you to deepen your practice
A teacher can guide one to use a prop to achieve the benefits in a pose.
A simple prop or a variation can also help to open the stiff muscles or get relief from an ailment.
It is the teacher who understands your practice and helps you to deepen it, pushes you to your maximum limit to build strength and confidence.
Teacher helps you to progress on this path.
5. Teacher shares her/his energy
Above everything, a teacher shares her/his energy that was built over several years or decades(known as 'tapas').
It is the energy about one’s belief, one’s dedication and one’s consistent practice of Yoga.
Practicing Yoga in the presence of this energy is not only motivating but it is priceless.
Yoga teachers not only share their knowledge, they also share the energy of their own practice, their devotion to living yoga, where they themselves have invested years of time, effort and money while learning from a guru.
6. Teacher cares for you
The teacher not only helps you to deepen and progress in your practice but also motivates and cares for you.
The teacher helps to keep you safe in the poses.
Overall, it goes without saying that to live a healthy and yogic life, one needs an experienced and a passionate Yoga Teacher who can help you on this journey.
For those who are looking for an easy or a free solution, you can find thousands of free YouTube videos and information on google.
For more serious people who wants to progress, find a yoga teacher because more than sharing their knowledge, wisdom or energy, it is a yoga teacher who “cares” for you.
Guru - Shishya ancient Tradition
Guru-Shishya tradition from the ancient times when Yoga was offered for Free and the student offered Seva in return –
During ancient times in India Yoga was taught by a saint ‘Guru’ (teacher) to a ‘Shishya’ (student) on a one-to-one basis. The student lived with the guru for many months & years in the Ashram.
Guru who had himself practiced Yogic principles – Yamas and Niyamas for decades taught these principles to the student. The student while practicing these Yamas and Niyamas, would help the guru with daily chores for example - help him get the woods to fire to cook food, keep the Ashram clean etc. This is called ‘Seva’ (service) which means a selfless act. 'Shishya' offered 'Seva' to their 'Guru'.
Asana was taught only after several years by the Guru when he knew that the Shishya had followed and weaved the Yamas and Niyamas in his daily life. The Shishya then learned these poses.
Asana is a small part of Yoga.
So there was an understanding between the Guru and the Shishya. The Guru will share his teachings without asking for money. And Shishya will provide ‘Seva’ without paying money to his Guru.
Both offerings from the Guru and Shishya had an underlining Yogic principle where –
“Giving is more than receiving.”
This is the yogic life style.
What the Guru gave was way more than the money could buy as he shared his years of learnings with 'tapas'(tapasya) and his ‘energy’. From those days, it is believed that in Yoga and in humanity, that – “Giving should be more than receiving.”
It is true till date. If a yoga teacher has studied for many years from a yoga master and has followed the Yogic principles, the fees that are asked in today’s world has no match to what was offered to the Gurus in the form of 'Seva' in ancient days.
Namaste!