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Yoga - Its Roots and Relevance

The intense stress and strain of modern life has drawn people towards the Oriental fitness form called yoga. Its popularity has risen to such a level that it’s become a mainstay of modern life, though its origins date back to thousands of years.

Most people consider yoga to only be a form of physical exercise that promotes fitness. In reality, yoga is far more than that. In fact, its core is meditation and Hindu spirituality that also hold relevance for Buddhism and Jainism. 

The Origins

The origins of yoga are inconclusive and are being debated. Many scholars place the origins of yoga, as a developed form of meditation, in the Vedic period dating 1700 to 500 BCE and also the later “sramana” movements. But yogic postures seem to have been mentioned in texts and excavated material dating way beyond this period, leading some scholars to date the origins to the Indus Valley Civilization of 3300 to 1900 BCE. In later years, other yoga traditions appeared, particularly during the Middle Ages.   

As a Physical Exercise Discipline

Yoga has gained immense popularity in the Western world as an exercise and fitness measure. It is an ideal discipline to follow in our stress-filled lives. It promotes peace and calm, which in turn enhances health and wellbeing. It contributes to efficiency at the workplace and can make you a better individual. 

The Early Teachers and Scholars in the West

You and I would not be talking about yoga were it not for the efforts of some 19th century Indian, European and American philosophers and scholars. The New England Transcendentalists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and European scholars and philosophers such as Max Mueller and G.W.F. Hegel were deeply interested in Oriental concepts including yoga.  

Of course the first ever revelation of yoga by an Indian Hindu teacher to a Western audience was made by Swami Vivekananda during his tour of the United States and Europe during the 1890s. It sparked an interest and things just took on from there. With the efforts of N.C. Paul, a 19th-century Bengali physician and scientist, the scientific study of yoga began. The 1980s witnessed significant boom in yoga interest thanks to Dean Ornish, who researched the benefits of lifestyle medicine and linked practicing yoga to heart health. Many newer yoga asanas or postures have been developed in line with the exercise traditions of the Western world. 

With yoga participation at an all-time high in the U.S. and other Western countries, there is an increased interest in yoga teacher training. Peter Theodorou has experienced yoga firsthand from India, where he had his training. It doesn’t get much better than having someone who’s learnt yoga from its place of origin imparting it to you.

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Your Checklist before You Embark on a Yoga Trainer Career

To become a yoga trainer, you need to have a passion for it. Don’t just think of it as a means to make money. You must be deeply passionate about this Eastern fitness regimen. You must have experienced yoga in its various forms. Moreover, since you can never stop learning, you must continue enrich your yoga experience and advance your knowledge by attending classes, workshops and retreats so that you can fully uncover its massive potential. 

The process never stops, since the untapped potential is like an ocean. But as you begin to live these experiences through more and more yoga sessions and workshops, you’ll begin to discover yourself more. And that’s when you are ready to teach yoga. 

First, you must learn the different kinds of yoga out there. There may be certain disciplines you are more comfortable with. You need to focus on that since you’ll be able to impart training better in them.   

Equally important as understanding what you’re comfortable with is understanding the requirements of your students. Get to know them well as they enrol for a yoga course with you. What are their expectations? Why are they so interested in learning yoga? Are they learning it for improving fitness? Or are they just learning for gaining more acceptance in society? Is it because they have a fascination towards its oriental connections?   

Before you can get to that point, make sure that you are enrolled in a teacher training course. Passion is important, but teaching requires a certain set of skills. Yoga teacher training will give you insight into physiology and anatomy, the yoga philosophy, and the all-important teaching techniques. These are invaluable in helping you teach more efficiently and satisfactorily, from the perspective of your students which will in turn win you greater recognition. Certification in CPR helps and makes you more competent as a yoga trainer. 

Browse online for open yoga teaching positions in your area and send out applications via email. You could also call local gyms or recreation centers, and ask if they would like to conduct a yoga session. 

These are the strategies that made Peter Theodorou the successful yoga trainer that he is today. He was always obsessed with fitness since his childhood, thanks to his physical trainer dad. Later, he found himself attracted to the oriental regimen of yoga, and though the passion made him an enthusiastic learner, he ensured that he had all the required competencies before he started his career as a yoga trainer. 

So should you!