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Hatha Yoga classes have been increasingly available for some time now in the St. Louis area, with the result that many folks find themselves committed to a regular, consistent practice. This has led them to consider the next step. Students fall in love with yoga and how it makes them feel, and they know they want to share it with others. Even with limited exposure to yoga, some are drawn to the prospect of advanced study and teaching for a variety of personal reasons.

Here in the St. Louis area teaching yoga and deepening one’s study has become a viable event on the horizon of one’s yoga practice. As with all important decisions, it is helpful to have clarity about intentions, directions, needs, and realistic concerns. A yoga student who is considering possibilities might ask herself the following:

1. Do I want to teach yoga? What is the personal fulfillment and personal gain? 

2. Would I prefer to deepen my practice and explore the option of teaching as I learn more?

3. What style and what types of yoga appeal to me? What would be most appropriate for me to teach?

4. What are my time and financial...

The Fundamentals of Inversions Workshop was generally successful; six people attended and everyone was able to experience being upside down without injury. Based on the evaluations attendees got most of their needs met; they were able to extend boundaries and experience new and somewhat scary postures! Most important, the workshop emphasized that safety and enjoyment are the key elements rather than simply attaining a risky or improperly aligned posture.

Currently WellSpring is offering an Introduction to Hatha Yoga series at YogaSource at 4:30pm on Tuesdays. The series runs from June 17 through July 22. Another series will start in September 2008.

The advantage of this series is primarily in its hierarchal nature. Each class builds on the previous one and the student who commits to coming to all six receives a solid grounding in the basic postures, alignment principles, breathing technique, as well as an introduction to meditation/relaxation methodology. There is also information on yoga philosophy, including the importance of  unity and community; most classes include some partner work. Because it is a series, the same students attend every week, building familiarity and a group support in everyone's positive experience.

In these stressful, fast-paced times, with the cost of everything rising and the concern about...

Many yoga classes are open levels, which means that inversions such as headstand, shoulderstand, or arm balances may be included. But if the student has concerns or even fears about being upside down, a pleasant yoga experience can turn into a nightmare. It is not uncommon for students to fall on their heads, run into walls, or simply become nervous and uncomfortable when inversions included in a class.

So why do them? Inversions such as Headstand and Shoulderstand present risk to the cervical spine sometimes even when done properly with good alignment. Arm balances are tricky and can land even an experienced student on her head. However, these poses reverse the effects of gravity on the spine, creating a tractioning effect, as well as calming the nervous system. They are great for the sinus and respiratory systems, and give the integumentary system (the skin) a lift. Salamba Sirsasana (Headstand) and Salamba Sarvagasana (All Limbs pose or Shoulderstand) are actually restorative and designed to be held for longer periods of up to ten and twenty minutes respectively. This is too daunting for a beginner and it is recommended that one start with shorter periods of no more than five minutes. Even five minutes can be too long for those with contra-indications,...