In my yoga teacher training, I find this reminder keeps coming up “teach and share to where the participants are in any given day”. This seems like a tall order for a teacher. It is simpler to say this is level 1, or 2 or so on. The challenge, or at least one of the challenges, can be that someone at an advanced level of practice might have an injury, or an emotional or physical challenge, on a particular day. Hence, a safe teaching cue could be a constant reminder to move with energetic awareness, to allow the exhale to stabilize the form. Use verbal cues to remind students of their structural form. Breathe!
Once the body and mind have settled into the session, add variations that are more challenging. Sometimes a person will feel the challenge when they are asked to slow down, and sometimes when asked to move too fast.
This brings us into a little discussion on doshas, which can be roughly translated into our physical and mental constitution. Doshas are made up of the five elements or building blocks of the universe, expressed in the universe, and also in us:
1. Ether or space
2. Air
3. Fire
4. Water
5. Earth
2. Air
3. Fire
4. Water
5. Earth
From this Ayurvedic perspective we can look and understand the self.
Prakriti is the prime material energy of which all matter is composed, hence, prakriti can be considered one’s “elemental nature” at the time of conception. What brings disharmony or imbalance is called vikriti. It is the imbalance that impedes the natural functioning of one’s physical, mental and emotional bodies. Vikriti changes with the seasons and with other life happenings.
Hence, time of the day, seasons and specific demographics are important considerations when leading a yoga practice.
If we take this thought a little further and ask, “what is the purpose of yoga”, we might conclude that keeping the agni, or the inner intelligence, that governs us “in tune” is optimal.
Some of the manifestations that show that the agni is functioning well include:
Mental clarity
Digestion
General good health
Ability to move forward
Digestion
General good health
Ability to move forward
When agni is not functioning well:
We don't have the inner locus of knowing.
We take everyone else's opinion, have self-doubt or are not sure of oneself.
We are stuck or not spending time to move forward.
We experience diseases (when ama is present).
We take everyone else's opinion, have self-doubt or are not sure of oneself.
We are stuck or not spending time to move forward.
We experience diseases (when ama is present).
In the limited time-frame of a 60 to 90 minute yoga session, we can begin to bring the participants to understand their bodies, their minds and their feelings, through breath reminder. The yoga session needs to be balanced between “effort and ease”, by guiding students through forms and postures that will leave them feeling refreshed, energized and relaxed.
Irum Naqvi