TEACHING YOGA IN OUR MODERN WORLD
When asked to write this article about Teaching Yoga in our Modern World I wondered,
“what is our modern world?” How modern is modern when compared to an ancient form
of practice that we realistically can’t even find exact dates of origin. In fact, it appears
that yogic practices have been around in some form or another since the beginning of
mankind. Cool. We can watch wonderful videos of Modern Day yogis travelling
through India (see Yoga Origins with Georg Feuerstein on U-Tube); however, this isn’t
what yoga looks like to most of us living in the rest of the world. Our modern world in
British Columbia, Canada in 2013 is a much similar world to smaller towns all up and
down the Western Coast of Canada and into California, but different as we move South
into Mexico and on into South America. The modern world of The Greater Vancouver
area, or the Greater Edmonton Area, or the Greater Toronto Area differs greatly from
yoga in my small town. In fact, my area is vastly different from some of the rural towns
in Saskatchewan or Alberta or Manitoba or Prince Edward Island. Yoga is practiced in
homes, on beaches, in recreation centres, in gyms, in places of business where tables and
chairs are moved out of the way, in lovely bright open airy studios, or dark rooms with
heat and no windows. Yoga is practiced on golf courses, in forests, on beaches, on
quads, on horses, in swimming pools, with partners, or singularly alone in a mountain
cabin. Yoga in our modern world is as diverse as each of us. No right or wrong way
approaches us in this quest for enlightenment and transcendence. True yogis understand
this – there is no right and no wrong way – there is only the way, the path, the journey,
the everyday trying of being better today than yesterday in all that we do, say, how we
move, and what we learn from practice.
We are truly blessed to have an abundance of yoga in our world. Wherever we are in the
world we can practice yoga. I love that many of my yogi and yogini friends travel the
world and have exuberant and crazy adventures they share with me. I’m not currently
travelling the world physically in my yogic path, but enjoying living in a wonderfully
secluded quiet place. It is here where I feel the quiet wisdom of old growth forests,
delight as eagles soar over my head each day, and love being gently nudged by a sweet
chocolate lab telling me to go to my mat or simply to get off the computer and go to bed.
My friends experience circles of light; asana practices that maybe I would’ve tried when I
was in my 30s or 40s, but certainly not my late 50s; but we all commune in this
wonderful thing we call yoga. The modern world and teaching yoga allows us to explore
the ages and phases of life in all its wonders. I revel in the kids and parents classes we
teach and seeing videos of my golf buddies 2-year-old grand children practicing, “yoga”.
I love it when my own grandchildren show up in my studio and want to dance and “do”
yoga. I especially love it when I have older women and men come into my studio and
realize there is still joy in their aging and painful bodies. I find exuberance is seeing the
smiles that come about when moments of Samadhi are reached.
Of course, the business of yoga creeps into the joy of teaching. We have to make money
to exist and live. Sometimes there are unfair practices for teachers by studio owners,
blatant and in-your-face advertising practices, but the closer studio owners and yogis can
come to living a true yogic lifestyle, the easier and more joyful the path for teachers
becomes. The resulting efforts will translate directly in happier classes and contented
students. Whether you enjoy a noisy, boisterous, friendly class; a quiet, individualized,
come in the room and no one talks but the teacher class; or, you simply want your own
private personal practice in your special place – be it the deck, the gazebo, the extra room
in your house, or the beach, you can have the experience your heart calls for. Yoga in
our Modern world means yoga for you – yoga for the individual. You can commune with
a class, get your sweat on in another, quietly chant mantras in another, and learn how to
move in safer ways in therapy classes. I love Yoga in our Modern World. Yoga is so
much more than an exercise class at the gym that helps you have a firm body – yoga
helps you transcend the noise of the modern world and find your own true path to
transcendence and joy.
(Con't from CYA WRITERS bio )Dr. Black turned to an intensive and active personal yoga and meditation practice to manage chronic illnesses. Her yoga practice has been wide and varied over the past 20 years with her personal focus on Ashtanga and Anusara Based Hatha methods. Dr. Black obtained her 200 Hour Level Certification in the Ashtanga Hatha Yoga System from Caroline Klebl, E-RYT at Source of Yoga and her 500 Hour Level Certification in Yoga Therapy from Karen Heaven Claffey, Certified Anusara Instructor and E-RYT. Dr. Black is an active member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the Canadian Reiki Association. She is the author of three books, numerous academic research papers and conference presentations and is a co-owner in Blackstone Saunas, primary owner of Ravenrock Publishing, Inc., and owner/director/therapist of Heat to Heal™ Therapy and Heat to Heal™ Sanctuary. Heat to Heal™ and Blackstone Saunas are registered businesses with the Canadian Yoga Alliance since 2011. Heat to Heal offers Yoga Teacher Trainings at the 200, 500, and Continuing Education Levels.
Dr. Black is a Certified Yoga Therapist (CYT), Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500+), Holistic Healing Therapist, and Reiki Master with a solid knowledge of science, the human body, and human spirit. Dr. Black’s educational philosophies reach to each student’s personal needs with the main focus on helping the student move toward effective healing of mind/body/spirit and sharing their inspiration and lifestyle skills with others.
Dr. Black will be teaching the Anatomy category for CYA'S YTT INTENSIVE, OCTOBER 2013 in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario.
“what is our modern world?” How modern is modern when compared to an ancient form
of practice that we realistically can’t even find exact dates of origin. In fact, it appears
that yogic practices have been around in some form or another since the beginning of
mankind. Cool. We can watch wonderful videos of Modern Day yogis travelling
through India (see Yoga Origins with Georg Feuerstein on U-Tube); however, this isn’t
what yoga looks like to most of us living in the rest of the world. Our modern world in
British Columbia, Canada in 2013 is a much similar world to smaller towns all up and
down the Western Coast of Canada and into California, but different as we move South
into Mexico and on into South America. The modern world of The Greater Vancouver
area, or the Greater Edmonton Area, or the Greater Toronto Area differs greatly from
yoga in my small town. In fact, my area is vastly different from some of the rural towns
in Saskatchewan or Alberta or Manitoba or Prince Edward Island. Yoga is practiced in
homes, on beaches, in recreation centres, in gyms, in places of business where tables and
chairs are moved out of the way, in lovely bright open airy studios, or dark rooms with
heat and no windows. Yoga is practiced on golf courses, in forests, on beaches, on
quads, on horses, in swimming pools, with partners, or singularly alone in a mountain
cabin. Yoga in our modern world is as diverse as each of us. No right or wrong way
approaches us in this quest for enlightenment and transcendence. True yogis understand
this – there is no right and no wrong way – there is only the way, the path, the journey,
the everyday trying of being better today than yesterday in all that we do, say, how we
move, and what we learn from practice.
We are truly blessed to have an abundance of yoga in our world. Wherever we are in the
world we can practice yoga. I love that many of my yogi and yogini friends travel the
world and have exuberant and crazy adventures they share with me. I’m not currently
travelling the world physically in my yogic path, but enjoying living in a wonderfully
secluded quiet place. It is here where I feel the quiet wisdom of old growth forests,
delight as eagles soar over my head each day, and love being gently nudged by a sweet
chocolate lab telling me to go to my mat or simply to get off the computer and go to bed.
My friends experience circles of light; asana practices that maybe I would’ve tried when I
was in my 30s or 40s, but certainly not my late 50s; but we all commune in this
wonderful thing we call yoga. The modern world and teaching yoga allows us to explore
the ages and phases of life in all its wonders. I revel in the kids and parents classes we
teach and seeing videos of my golf buddies 2-year-old grand children practicing, “yoga”.
I love it when my own grandchildren show up in my studio and want to dance and “do”
yoga. I especially love it when I have older women and men come into my studio and
realize there is still joy in their aging and painful bodies. I find exuberance is seeing the
smiles that come about when moments of Samadhi are reached.
Of course, the business of yoga creeps into the joy of teaching. We have to make money
to exist and live. Sometimes there are unfair practices for teachers by studio owners,
blatant and in-your-face advertising practices, but the closer studio owners and yogis can
come to living a true yogic lifestyle, the easier and more joyful the path for teachers
becomes. The resulting efforts will translate directly in happier classes and contented
students. Whether you enjoy a noisy, boisterous, friendly class; a quiet, individualized,
come in the room and no one talks but the teacher class; or, you simply want your own
private personal practice in your special place – be it the deck, the gazebo, the extra room
in your house, or the beach, you can have the experience your heart calls for. Yoga in
our Modern world means yoga for you – yoga for the individual. You can commune with
a class, get your sweat on in another, quietly chant mantras in another, and learn how to
move in safer ways in therapy classes. I love Yoga in our Modern World. Yoga is so
much more than an exercise class at the gym that helps you have a firm body – yoga
helps you transcend the noise of the modern world and find your own true path to
transcendence and joy.
(Con't from CYA WRITERS bio )Dr. Black turned to an intensive and active personal yoga and meditation practice to manage chronic illnesses. Her yoga practice has been wide and varied over the past 20 years with her personal focus on Ashtanga and Anusara Based Hatha methods. Dr. Black obtained her 200 Hour Level Certification in the Ashtanga Hatha Yoga System from Caroline Klebl, E-RYT at Source of Yoga and her 500 Hour Level Certification in Yoga Therapy from Karen Heaven Claffey, Certified Anusara Instructor and E-RYT. Dr. Black is an active member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the Canadian Reiki Association. She is the author of three books, numerous academic research papers and conference presentations and is a co-owner in Blackstone Saunas, primary owner of Ravenrock Publishing, Inc., and owner/director/therapist of Heat to Heal™ Therapy and Heat to Heal™ Sanctuary. Heat to Heal™ and Blackstone Saunas are registered businesses with the Canadian Yoga Alliance since 2011. Heat to Heal offers Yoga Teacher Trainings at the 200, 500, and Continuing Education Levels.
Dr. Black is a Certified Yoga Therapist (CYT), Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500+), Holistic Healing Therapist, and Reiki Master with a solid knowledge of science, the human body, and human spirit. Dr. Black’s educational philosophies reach to each student’s personal needs with the main focus on helping the student move toward effective healing of mind/body/spirit and sharing their inspiration and lifestyle skills with others.
Dr. Black will be teaching the Anatomy category for CYA'S YTT INTENSIVE, OCTOBER 2013 in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario.