| When teaching Yoga classes, the modern student is | | | | create spiritual transformation. The average student |
| likely to question many aspects of Yoga. Students | | | | might ask, "Transformation into what?" If you want an |
| have to feel results in order to believe in Yogic | | | | effective method to scare away students, who are on |
| methods. Until a student feels improvement, he or she | | | | the fence about anything spiritual, then by all means, tell |
| may need information to explain why we practice | | | | them they will be transformed into something else. |
| specific techniques. | | | | Mantra is a Yogic practice, which is beneficial for |
| Some Yogic methods leave students thinking, "Why | | | | students who have difficulty concentrating on the |
| am I doing this?" Common student questions are | | | | present moment. The sound of mantra manages to |
| something Yoga teachers should be prepared to | | | | drown out all of the background noise. This allows the |
| answer in simplistic terms. Be prepared to hear the | | | | mind to focus on one sound, which brings the mind into |
| following questions, and have answers prepared for | | | | the present moment. |
| them. What are the benefits of mantra and | | | | Affirmation is a universal technique, which is a solemn |
| affirmation? What is the value of mantra? What is the | | | | oath, or declaration, based upon truth and one's life |
| value of affirmation? | | | | objectives. Positive affirmations create a state of mind |
| The common link between mantra and affirmation is | | | | that can change one's direction in life for the best. |
| that both methods constructively use mind chatter as | | | | Negative mind chatter is rounded up, and converted |
| raw energy. Mind chatter is random and unharnessed | | | | into focused thought, by practicing positive affirmations. |
| energy, which can be focused to train one's mind. | | | | There are many variations of positive affirmation, |
| While it is true the mind can be as wild as a monkey, it | | | | which can be taught in a Yoga class. After a |
| can also be tamed and trained. | | | | meditation or pranayama session, students could |
| Those who have a trained mind, have a great ally. | | | | mentally focus on a message. One example is: "I have |
| Those who have a mind, that is out of control, are | | | | absolute control over my thoughts." This may seem to |
| dealing with internal turmoil, depression, chronic stress | | | | be a simplistic message, but it beats some of the |
| disorders, and the physical ailments that follow. The | | | | negative thought that can crop up in one's mind during |
| mind is just as important as the body, when we | | | | the course of a day. |
| assess complete health. | | | | When teaching Yoga classes, some additional |
| Mantra is a traditional Yogic method. Some Yoga | | | | methods for focusing are - Brahmari Pranayama, |
| teachers explain mantra as mystical sounds that can | | | | Udgeeth Pranayama, and Meditation - to name a few. |