Why Do I Teach Yoga?
I had a conversation with a fellow yoga teacher the other day. We discussed many things about ourselves, our lives, and of course, about yoga. As we came to the end of our conversation we talked about our different teaching styles: to align, not to align; to touch, not to touch; dharma talk, not to talk. As we said goodnight it lead me to thinking, why do we choose to teach in the manner we do? And ultimately, why do we teach yoga?
As I drove home, I thought about it. At 4:24am, I had an idea. I’ve been teaching for some time now, and my style has changed a bit over time. Perhaps moving a bit away from the shock and awe of my previous ways. I’m older now, and hopefully wiser, and I’m sure my motivation over time has changed too.
I ask myself again, why do I do it? It can’t be about the money, I don’t make a lot. It’s not about power or fame, I don’t make a lot of that either. It’s not about my health or well-being so much anymore; I got that pretty down now, I think.
It’s about my students.
I want to create a community of students and friends that lead a better life and have a better experience this time around due to their connection to their practice. I am passionate about the practice, about the connection, about the compassion, about the awareness that yoga can, and does, bring me and others every day.
My life has been changed for the better, by yoga.
Yoga can change lives. It can make you both emotionally and physically healthier, stronger, and more balanced. It can motivate people to make better choices in their lives. Yoga can light the way to be more compassionate, more serving, more concerned, more human. Coming from that place we can help others do the same. Yoga is not exercise, it’s a way of life.
Why do I teach yoga?
I am a yogini. Join me it’s pretty cool!
About the Author
10 Reasons to Eat Raw During Your Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga teacher training is a life-changing experience that will require you to find focus, strength and energy if you want to learn, achieve, feel, experience and become your higher self. Being your true self means being devoid of the need to be egotistical, small-minded and petty. Remember that you are part of a much bigger picture that is inextricably connected to all life forms, including nature. Only then do you have the ability to share your knowledge through teaching.
Teaching is the absolute best way to continue this lifelong discovery at an extensive level of depth. It is a natural and likely consequence of a teacher training. In this way, sincere students learn yoga for the correct reasons and become great teachers for the correct reasons.
During a teacher training, help is needed from your teachers, fellow students, inner self, mind and body. One of the strongest tools for helping your body to function well, is eating the correct diet. Raw food has the nourishment and components that supply you with all the necessary energy, vitality and optimal cell reproduction. It helps you to keep going.
Good food has to be pure in order to keep your body healthy and alert, strong and light. Raw food helps your body and mind cope with the intense schedule and inner exploration that the best yoga teacher trainings provide. This also correlates with the first yama: Ahimsa (Ahimsa meaning nonviolence in thought, word and action to yourself and others). This promise to yourself is taken from the Yoga Sutra’s (2.35), the definitive description of yoga recorded and inspired through experiential research. I look at ahimsa as an enlightened commandment.
How Raw Food Will Help You Keep Up With the High Demands of a Yoga Teacher Training
1. Raw food leads your body towards natural health.
By eating raw you are on your way to a state of self-fixing. As the human body has the ability to regenerate cells continuously, having a raw food diet will enable your body to become pure and renewed through the intake of uncooked food.
2. Your body performs better when eating raw.
Eating in this way allows your body to feel agile and manageable. Your digestion uses less energy therefore giving you more vitality for your yoga practice. When you only practice a few times a week this might not be so important for you, but during four or more weeks of intensive training you will need your body in order to keep up with this experience.
3. Your body needs vitamins and minerals.
Raw food is rich in natural vitamins and minerals that are easily digested and absorbed by your body.
4. Raw food increases your awareness mentally, physically and spiritually.
This is important if you want to have the capacity to collect and process all the information given to you.
5. Raw food boosts your natural energy levels
In abundance, so you can rely on it to function at a top level during this extended time.
6. During a life changing experience, changes need to happen in your body too.
The body purifies itself from toxins with a raw food diet. Being clean and unpolluted allows you to reconnect with your true inner self.
7. Eating raw food puts you in a harmony with nature.
Mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body). To become a more hale and hearty, happy and sensitive person you need to have a coherent, high functioning body.
8. Food promotes longevity
According to the Bhagavad Gita (xsll.8), saatvic (pure) food promotes longevity, wellbeing, strength, goodness, happiness and pleasure. They are also rich, juicy, agreeable and nourishing.
9. Raw food prepared with an attitude of love increases our prana (life-force energy)
Which is essential if we want to sustain and utilize our maximum amount of effort wisely.
10. Raw food helps to turn your body into a temple for your mind and soul.
According to Patanjali, who wrote the most classical text on yoga, “the purpose of yoga is to lead to a silence of the mind” (yoga sutra 1.2). Through yoga, commitment, patience and compassion for yourself, you can achieve the silence of the mind, the freedom of the soul and joyfulness in your life.
